cspector.worldwithoutend-第24部分

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　I　clapped　my　hands　softly　together。
　〃Bravo；〃　I　said。　〃Nicely　told。　You　will　go　far　should　you　ever　bee　the　wife　of　a　sultan。〃
　〃Am　I　to　take　it　that　you　have　no　desire　to　bee　my　Scheherazade？〃
　〃I　think　now　would　not　be　the　time　for　those　stories。　I　would　not　cloud　the　danger　of　the　present　with　tales　from　the　past。〃　〃And　if　I　were　to　insist？〃　I　shut　my　eyes。　〃Then　I　would　oblige；〃　I　said。　〃Then　this　must　be　a　very　serious　matter　indeed；〃　he　said。
　
　I　opened　my　eyes。　He　was　looking　at　me　with　an　unreadable　expression。　I　knew　then　that　I　would　never　willingly　make　an　enemy　of　him。　To　do　so　would　be　far　too　dangerous；　even　for　me。　〃I　would　not　e　here　otherwise；〃　I　said。　〃Very　well；〃　he　said。　〃What　is　it　you　wish？〃　〃For　you　to　call　an　emergency　meeting　of　the　High　Council。〃
　
　She's　in　a　dark　house。　At　first；　she　thinks　it　is　Lugh　Surehand's　mansion；　but　then　she　realises　this　is　no　place　she's　been　before。
　
　Outside；　she　hears　the　roar　of　helicopters。　Brilliant　lights　e　streaming　around　the　edges　of　the　drawn　shades。　Then　the　door　bursts　open　and　shadow　figures　are　ing　inside。　They　hold　weapons　and　they　are　grabbing。　Grabbing　the　other　people　who　are　here。　There　are　screams　and　she　starts　to　run。　Run　away　from　the　faceless　things　breaking　into　her　dream。
　
　
　
　
　〃It　went　well　then？〃　asked　Caimbeul。
　
　We　were　in　the　back　of　the　limo　again。　I　still　had　Surehand's　jacket　around　my　shoulders。　I'd　forgotten　to　take　it　off　as　he　led　me　back　to　the　party。
　
　〃He　agreed　to　call　a　meeting　of　the　High　Council；〃　I　replied。　〃It　went　much　better　than　I　expected。　But　I　suspect　he'll　want　something　in　return。〃
　〃And　what　might　that　be？〃
　〃I　have　no　idea；〃　I　said。　〃But　I　think　he　might　be　more　dangerous　than　both　Aithne　and　Alachia。〃
　〃Lugh　Surehand？〃　Caimbeul　was　incredulous。　
　〃He's　good　enough　at　promise　and　juggling　the　players；　but　a　threat？　Please。〃
　
　Ignoring　his　arrogance；　I　stared　out　the　tinted　windows。　The　rain…slick　streets　flashed　by。　On　a　corner　I　saw　a　pair　of　trolls　dressed　in　the　height　of　fashion。　I　wondered　briefly　what　they　were　doing　here　in　this　neighborhood；　then　let　them　fade　from　my　mind。
　
　〃You're　a　fool　if　you　underestimate　him；　Caimbeui。　He　has　neither　Aithne's　temper　nor　Alachia's　ego。　How　has　he　managed　to　stay　in　power　all　this　time？　That　isn't　the　feat　of　someone　who　should　be　taken　lightly。
　
　〃Didn't　I　read　something　about　an　assassination　attempt；　not　too　long　ago？　Despite　that；　he's　still　in　power。　More　the　wonder　if　one　of　us　was　behind　it。〃
　
　〃You　sound　impressed；〃　he　said。　〃I　can't　remember　the　last　time　anyone　impressed　you。〃
　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃
　〃You　sound　like　a　school　girl。〃
　〃Don't　be　asinine；〃　I　said。　I　was　getting　impatient。　〃You　haven't　been　listening。　Yes；　I　find　him　interesting；　but　not　in　the　way　you　seem　to　think。　He's　a　force　to　be　reckoned　with　and　not　just　some　puppet　put　in　place　by　Aithne；　Ehran；　and　Laverty。〃
　
　Caimbeui　made　a　smug　little　noise。　I　turned　toward　him。
　
　〃What　was　that？〃　I　asked。
　〃Nothing；〃　he　said。
　〃Why　are　you　making　such　an　issue　out　of　this？〃
　〃You're　the　one　who　won't　let　it　drop。〃
　
　I　gave　an　exasperated　sigh　and　turned　away　from　him。　Sometimes　there　was　no　knowing　what　was　in　Caimbeul's　head。
　
　The　main　room　of　the　penthouse　was　dark　when　we　entered。　Some　pale　light　filtered　in　through　the　terrace　windows。　The　light　from　the　hallway　made　a　wide　triangular　shape　on　the　floor　and　cast　our　shadows　long　in　it。
　
　I　banged　my　injured　knee　on　something　and　let　out　a　curse。　Enough　of　this；　I　thought；　and　caused　a　light　to　appear。　The　room　leapt　into　view；　and　it　took　my　eyes　a　moment　to　adjust　to　the　light。
　
　There；　sitting　on　the　couch；　was　Aithne's　son；　Glasgian　Oakforest。
　
　〃Ah；　perhaps　the　very　last　person　I　might　have　expected；〃　said　Caimbeul。　His　voice　was　pleasant；　but　I　knew　from　his　far　too　casual　stance　that　he　was　very　angry。
　
　Glasgian　stretched　and　made　himself　more　…sortable。　A　trick　he'd　learned　from　his　father。
　
　〃My　business　doesn't　concern　you。　Harlequin；〃　he　said。　He　had　a　spoiled　rich…kid　way　of　speaking。　I　didn't　know　who　I　was　more　disappointed　in…him　or　Aithne。
　〃I　beg　to　differ；〃　said　Harlequin。　〃It　most　cer…fainly　is　my　business　when　I　find　an　intruder　in　my　hotel　room。　Besides；　aren't　you　worried　about　what　Daddy　would　say？〃
　Glasgian　blanched　and　clenched　his　fists。　That　was　his　father's　temper　showing。　〃I've　reached　my　majority；　Harlequin。　I　don't　answer　to　my　fa。。。　Aithne　anymore。〃
　〃Stop　it；　Caimbeul；〃　I　said。　〃Just　let　him　state　his　business；　then　he'll　be　on　his　way。〃
　〃I　don't　want　to　talk　with　him　around；〃　said　Glasgian。
　〃Why　should　I　talk　to　you　alone？〃　I　asked。
　〃Because　of　who　my　father　is。〃
　〃All　the　more　reason　not　to　trust　you。〃
　
　Glasgian　began　to　look　a　little　desperate。　What　a　baby　he　was；　trying　so　hard　to　play　in　a　game　he　didn't　even　begin　to　understand。
　
　〃Very　well；〃　I　said。　〃Caimbeul；　I'll　deal　with　him。〃
　〃But。。。〃
　〃What　can　he　do？〃　I　asked　in　Theran。　〃He's　a　child。〃
　〃What　better　way　to　get　your　guard　down？〃
　〃Aithne　would　not　sacrifice　his　son。　Not　to　me。〃
　
　Caimbeul　shrugged；　then　gave　Glasgian　one　last　hard　look　before　casually　moving　off　toward　his　bedroom。
　
　I　slipped　off　my　high…heeled　shoes；　giving　a　little　sigh　as　I　did　so。　Murderous　things；　high　heels。　Impractical　too。　Who　could　run　or　defend　herself　in　them？　I　stayed　away　from　them　as　much　as　possible。
　
　Ignoring　Glasgian　for　the　moment；　I　went　to　the　portable　　bar。　My　feet　sank　into　the　thick　carpeting　and　I　wriggled　my　toes　against　it　as　I　poured　myself　a　healthy　snifter　of　cognac。　I　didn't　bother　to　ask　Glasgian　if　he　wanted　any。　He'd　already　helped　himself。
　
　I　was　tired　and　didn't　relish　any　more　verbal　wrangling。　Lugh　Surehand　had　worn　out　what　little　sociability　I　had　in　me。　What　I　wanted　right　now　was　to　be　alone。　The　Council　meeting　would　be　held　day　after　tomorrow；　and　I　would　need　all　my　energy　for　that。
　
　I　turned　and　looked　Glasgian　over。　Here；　one　on　one；　he　seemed　less　cocksure　and　full　of　himself。　For　a　moment；　I　felt　a　surge　of　protectiveness；　but　I　pushed　it　aside。　Those　sorts　of　things　were　always　messy；　in　my　experience。
　
　〃What　do　you　want？〃　I　asked。　It　came　out　sharper　than　I'd　intended。　He　looked　a　bit　wounded。
　〃I。。。　I　was　wondering。。。　That　is。。。　uh。。。What　are　you　to　my　father？〃　he　blurted　out。
　I　walked　over　to　one　of　the　large　armchairs　that　flanked　the　couch　and　sat　down。　The　polished　cotton　fabric　was　cool　against　my　back。
　〃Why　do　you　ask？〃
　〃Because　he　hates　you　more　than　he　loves　my　mother。〃
　〃They　are　separated　now；　are　they　not？〃
　He　nodded　and　looked　more　like　a　child　than　the　man　he　had　just　bee。
　〃I　am　his　past；〃　I　said。　〃And　he　would　rather　not　remember　it。　I　don't　think　anyone　reaches　a　reasonable　age　without　some　regrets。　Not　if　you're　doing　it　right。〃
　〃But；　were　you　in　love？　He　won't　say　anything　about　it。　Just　that　you　are　something　awful。　When　I　saw　you；　I　couldn't　believe　you　were　the　one　he'd　been　talking　about。〃
　〃What　did　you　expect？　Horns　sprouting　from　my　forehead　and　long　fangs？〃　
　〃I　guess　I　thought　I'd　see　something　that　would　explain；　but　all　I　see　is　you。　And　you　don't　look　so　terrifying。〃
　I　laughed。　〃I'm　surprised　you're　allowed　out　on　your　own；　Glasgian。　You　are　refreshingly　naive；　but　I　fear　you're　a　bit　stupid　as　well。〃
　
　He　flushed　deep　red　at　that。
　
　〃Where　did　you　get　the　rather　peculiar　idea　that　you　could　tell　how　dangerous　someone　is　by　their　appearance？　Good　heavens；　not　from　your　father；　I'm　sure。〃
　〃I　didn't　e　here　to　be　insulted；〃　he　said。
　〃No；　you　came　here　to　invade　my　privacy　and　your　father's。　Not　terribly　polite　of　you；　if　we're　counting　coup。　If　that　is　the　reason　you　came；　you'd　better　go　now。　I'm　tired　and　I　have　no　patience　for　indulging　a　child's　curiosity。〃
　
　I　thought　this　would　send　him　on　his　way　in　an　indignant　huff；　but　he　surprised　me。　He　got　up　and　came　toward　me；　sinking　to　his　knees　in　front　of　me。　Taking　my　free　hand　in　his；　he　brought　it　to　his　lips　and　kissed　it。　Quite　a　workout　that　hand　was　getting　tonight；　I　thought。
　
　〃Do　you　think　you'll　send　me　on　my　way　with　in…suits？〃　he　asked。
　
　〃Yes；　that　was　the　idea。〃
　
　〃It　won't　work。　I　saw　how　you　looked　at　me　when　you　first　saw　me。　Don't　deny　it；　you　wanted　me。〃
　
　I　snatched　my　hand　away　from　him。　〃Stop　it；〃　I　said　angrily。　〃This　has　really　gone　far　enough。　I　was　startled　for　a　moment　because　you　look　like　your　father。　For　obvious　reasons；　I　didn't　want　to　encounter　him。〃
　
　〃Yes；　I　do　look　like　him；〃　he　said　softly；　leaning　toward　me　until　I　could　smell　the　whiskey　and　cinnamon　on　his　breath。　〃You　could　pretend　I　am　him。　Imagine　it；　a　way　to　go　back　and　undo　the　past。〃
　
　I　stood　up　and　stared　down　at　him。　How　very　like　Aithne　he　looked　at　that　moment。　But　he　was　only　a　simulacrum；　a　faint　copy　of　his　father。　And　twisted　in　such　ways　that　I　wondered　at　what　had　caused　it。
　
　〃What　sort　of　rotten　plan　do　you　have　in　mind？〃　I　asked。　〃You　thought　you'd　e　here；　seduce　me；　then　run　back　to　Aithne　and　throw　it　in　his　face。　I　can't　imagine　what　your　father　may　have　done　to　make　you　angry　enough　at　him　to　do　such　a　thing。〃
　
　Glasgian　wrapped　his　arms　around　my　legs　and　buried　his　face　in　the　material　of　my　skirt。　〃It's　more　than　that；〃　he　said。　〃When　I　saw　you　tonight；　something　happened　to　me。。。　I've　never　felt　like　this。〃
　
　With　a　quick　jerk；　I　put　my　knee　to　his　chest。　He　toppled　over；　letting　go　of　my　dress。　I　danced　away　from　him；　putting　several　pieces　of　furniture　between　us。
　
　〃It　is　only　my　respect　for　your　father　that　keeps　me　from　treating　you　as　you　deserve。　This　display　was　shameful　and　not　worthy　of　either　me　or　your　father。　Get　out　before　I　lose　my　temper。〃
　
　He　gave　me　a　smug　smile　as　he　straightened　his　clothes。　〃It　doesn't　matter　that　nothing　happened　here　tonight。　I'll　tell　Aithne　it　did。〃
　〃You　are　an　evil　little　shit；〃　I　said　flatly。
　
　He　gave　me　a　low　bow；　but　before　he　could　straighten；　something　caught　my　attention。　Spinning　about；　I　saw　that　the　doors　to　the　terrace　had　blown　open。　There；　standing　in　the　doorway　was　the　Hor