dk.intensity-第3部分

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d　what　freedom　really　means　ifyou　don't　watch　this。　Chyna　had　closed　her　eyes；　but　she　had　still　been　able　to　hear　the　old　woman　screaming　into　the　big　air　bubble　inside　the　submerged　car。　Muffled　screaming。
　〃Then　gradually　the　screaming　faded　。。。　finally　stopped；〃　Chyna　told　Laura。　〃When　I　opened　my　eyes；　twilight　had　gone　and　night　had　e。　There　was　still　light　in　the　Mercedes；　and　the　woman's　face　was　still　pressed　to　the　glass；　but　a　breeze　had　risen；　rippling　the　water　in　the　canal；　and　her　features　were　a　blur。　I　knew　she　was　dead。　She　and　her　husband。　I　started　to　cry。　Woltz　didn't　like　that。　He　threatened　to　drag　me　into　the　canal；　open　a　door　on　the　Mercedes；　and　shove　me　inside　with　the　dead　people。　My　mother　made　me　drink　some　grapefruit　juice　with　vodka。　I　was　only　seven。　The　rest　of　the　way　back　to　Key　West；　I　lay　on　the　backseat；　dizzy　from　the　vodka；　half　drunk　and　a　little　sick；　still　crying　but　quietly；　so　I　wouldn't　make　Woltz　angry；　crying　quietly　until　I　fell　asleep。〃
　In　Laura's　Mustang；　the　only　sounds　were　the　soft　rumble　of　the　engine　and　the　singing　of　the　tires　on　the　blacktop。
　Chyna　finally　opened　her　eyes　and　came　back　from　the　memory　of　Florida；　from　the　long…ago　humid　twilight　to　the　Napa　Valley；　where　most　of　the　red　light　had　gone　out　of　the　sky　and　darkness　encroached　on　all　sides。
　The　old　man　in　the　Buick　was　no　longer　in　front　of　them。　They　were　not　driving　as　fast　as　before；　and　evidently　he　had　gotten　far　ahead　of　them。
　Laura　said　softly；　〃Dear　God。〃
　Chyna　was　shaking　uncontrollably。　She　plucked　a　few　Kleeney　from　the　console　box　between　the　seats；　blew　her　nose；　and　blotted　her　eyes。　Over　the　past　two　years；　she　had　shared　part　of　her　childhood　with　Laura；　but　every　new　revelation…and　there　was　much　still　to　reveal…was　as　difficult　as　the　one　before　it。　When　she　spoke　of　the　past；　she　always　burned　with　shame；　as　though　she　had　been　as　guilty　as　her　mother；　as　if　every　criminal　act　and　spell　of　madness　could　be　blamed　on　her；　though　she　had　been　only　a　helpless　child　trapped　in　the　insanity　of　others。
　〃Will　you　ever　see　her　again？〃　Laura　asked。
　Recollection　had　left　Chyna　half　numb　with　horror。　〃I　don't　know。〃
　〃Would　you　want　to？〃
　Chyna　hesitated。　Her　hands　were　curled　into　fists；　the　damp　Kleenex　wadded　in　the　right　one。　〃Maybe。〃
　〃For　God's　sake　why？〃
　〃To　ask　her　why。　To　try　to　understand。　To　settle　some　things。　But　。。。　maybe　not。〃
　〃Do　you　even　know　where　she　is？〃
　〃No。　But　it　wouldn't　surprise　me　if　she　was　in　jail。　Or　dead。　You　can't　live　like　that　and　hope　to　grow　old。〃
　They　drove　down　out　of　the　foothills　into　the　valley。　
　Eventually　Chyna　said；　〃I　can　still　see　her　standing　in　the　steamy　darkness　on　the　banks　of　that　canal；　greasy　with　sweat；　her　hair　hanging　damp　and　all　tangled；　covered　with　mosquito　bites；　eyes　bleary　from　vodka。　Laura；　even　then　she　was　still　the　most　beautiful　woman　you've　ever　seen。　She　was　always　so　beautiful；　so　perfect　on　the　outside；　like　someone　out　of　a　dream；　like　an　angel　。。。　but　she　was　never　half　as　beautiful　as　when　she　was　excited；　when　there'd　been　violence。　I　can　see　her　standing　there；　only　visible　because　of　the　greenish　glow　from　the　headlights　of　the　Mercedes　rising　through　the　murky　canal　water；　so　ravishing　in　that　green　light；　glorious；　the　most　beautiful　person　you've　ever　seen；　like　a　goddess　from　another　world。〃
　Gradually　Chyna's　trembling　subsided。　The　heat　of　shame　faded　from　her　face；　but　slowly。
　She　was　immeasurably　grateful　for　Laura's　concern　and　support。　A　friend。　Until　Laura；　Chyna　had　lived　secretly　with　her　past；　unable　to　speak　of　it　to　anyone。　Now；　having；　unburdened　herself　of　another　hateful　corrupting　memory；　she　couldn't　begin　to　put　her　gratitude　into　words。　
　〃It's　okay；〃　Laura　said；　as　if　reading　Chyna's　mind。
　They　rode　in　silence。　They　were　late　for　dinner。
　
　To　Chyna；　the　Templeton　house　looked　inviting　at　first　glimpse：　Victorian；　gabled；　roomy；　with　deep　porches　front　and　rear。　It　stood　a　half　mile　off　the　county　road；　at　the　end　of　a　gravel　driveway；　surrounded　by　one　hundred　twenty　acres　of　vineyards。
　For　three　generations；　the　Templetons　had　grown　grapes；　but　they　had　never　made　wine。　They　were　under　contract　to　one　of　the　finest　vintners　in　the　valley；　and　because　they　owned　fertile　land　with　the　highest…quality　vines；　they　received　an　excellent　price　for　their　crop。
　Sarah　Templeton　appeared　on　the　front　porch　when　she　heard　the　Mustang　in　the　driveway；　and　she　came　quickly　down　the　steps　to　the　stone　walkway　to　greet　Laura　and　Chyna。　She　was　a　lovely；　girlishly　slim　woman　in　her　early　or　mid　forties；　with　stylishly　short　blond　hair；　wearing　tan　jeans　and　a　long…sleeved　emerald…green　blouse　with　green　embroidery　on　the　collar；　simultaneously　chic　aq　motherly。　When　Sarah　hugged　Laura　and　kissed　her　and　held　her　with　such　evident　and　fierce　love；　Chyna　was　struck　by　a　pang　of　envy　and　by　a　shiver　of　misery　at　never　having　known　a　mother's　love。
　She　was　surprised　again　when　Sarah　turned　to　her；　embraced　her；　kissed　her　on　the　cheek；　and；　still　holding　her　close；　said；　〃Laura　tells　me　you're　the　sister　she　never　had；　so　I　want　you　to　feel　at　home　here；　sweetheart。　When　you're　here　with　us；　this　is　your　place　as　much　as　ours。〃
　Chyna　stood　stiffly　at　first；　so　unfamiliar　with　the　rituals　of　family　affection　that　she　didn't　know　quite　how　to　respond。　Then　she　returned　the　embrace　awkwardly　and　murmured　an　inadequate　thankyou。　Her　throat　was　suddenly　so　tight　that　she　was　amazed　to　be　able　to　speak　at　all。
　Putting　her　arms　around　both　Laura　and　Chyna；　guiding　them　to　the　broad　flight　of　porch　steps；　Sarah　said；　〃We'll　get　your　luggage　later。　Dinner's　ready　now。　e　along。　Laura's　told　me　so　much　about　you；　Chyna。〃
　〃Well；　Mom；〃　said　Laura；　〃I　didn't　tell　you　about　Chyna　being　into　voodoo。　I　sort　of　hid　that　part。　She'll　need　to　sacrifice　a　live　chicken　every　night　at　midnight　while　she's　staying　with　us。〃
　〃We　only　grow　grapes。　We　don't　have　any　chickens；　dear；〃　Sarah　said。　〃But　after　dinner　we　can　drive　to　one　of　the　farms　in　the　area　and　buy　a　few。〃
　Chyna　laughed　and　looked　at　Laura　as　if　to　say；　〃Were　it　the　Infamous　Look？
　Laura　understood。　〃In　your　honor；　Chyna；　all　wire　coat　hangers　and　equivalent　devices　have　been　put　away。〃
　〃Whatever　are　you　talking　about？〃　Sarah　asked。　〃You　know　me；　Mom…a　babbling　ditz。　Sometimes　not　even　I　know　what　I'm　talking　about。〃
　Paul　Templeton；　Laura's　father；　was　in　the　big　kitchen；　taking　a　potato…and…cheese　casserole　out　of　the　oven。　He　was　a　neat；　pact　man；　five　feet　ten；　with　thick　dark　hair　and　a　ruddy　plexion。　He　set　the　steaming　dish　aside；　stripped　off　a　pair　of　oven　mitts；　and　greeted　Laura　as　warmly　as　Sarah　had　done。　After　being　introduced　to　Chyna；　he　took　one　of　her　hands　in　both　of　his；　which　were　rough　and　work　worn；　and　with　feigned　solemnity　he　said；　〃We　prayed　you'd　make　the　trip　in　one　piece。　Does　my　little　girl　still　handle　that　Mustang　as　if　she　thinks　it's　the　Batmobile？〃
　〃Hey；　Dad；〃　Laura　said；　〃I　guess　you've　forgotten　who　taught　me　to　drive。〃
　〃I　was　instructing　you　in　the　basic　techniques；〃　Paul　said。　〃I　didn't　expect　you　to　acquire　my　style。〃
　Sarah　said；　〃I　refuse　to　think　about　Laura's　driving。　I'd　just　be　worried　sick　all　the　time。〃
　〃Face　it；　Mom；　there's　an　Indianapolis　500　gene　on　Dad's　side　of　the　family；　and　he　passed　it　to　me。〃
　〃She's　an　excellent　driver；〃　Chyna　said。　〃I　always　feel　safe　with　Laura。
　Laura　grinned　at　her　and　gave　a　thumbs…up　sign。　Dinner　was　a　long；　leisurely　affair　because　the　Templetons　liked　to　talk　to　one　another；　thrived　on　talking　to　one　another。　They　were　careful　to　include　Chyna　and　seemed　genuinely　interested　in　what　she　had　to　say；　but　even　when　the　conversation　wandered　to　family　matters　of　which　Chyna　had　little　knowledge；　she　somehow　felt　a　part　of　it；　as　though　she　was；　by　a　magical　osmosis；　actually　being　absorbed　into　the　Templeton　clan。
　Laura's　thirtyish　brother；　Jack；　and　his　wife；　Nina；　lived　in　the　caretaker's　bungalow　elsewhere　in　the　vineyard；　but　a　previous　obligation　had　prevented　them　from　joining　the　family　for　dinner。　Chyna　was　assured　that　she　would　see　them　in　the　morning；　and　she　felt　no　trepidation　about　meeting　them；　as　she'd　felt　before　she'd　met　Sarahand　Paul。　Throughout　her　troubled　life；　there　had　been　no　place'…where　she　had　truly　felt　at　home；　while　she　might　never　fe　61　entirely　at　home　in　this　place　either；　at　least　she　felt　wele　here。
　After　dinner；　Chyna　and　Laura　went　for　a　walk　in　the　moonlit　vineyards；　between　the　rows　of　low　pruned　vines　that　had　not　yet　begun　to　sprout　either　leafy　trailers　or　fruit。　The　cool　air　was　redolent　with　the　'47。　pleasant　fecund　smell　of　freshly　plowed　earth；　and　there　was　a　sense　of　mystery　in　the　dark　fields　that　she　found　intriguing；　enchanting…but　at　times　disconcerting；　as　if　they　were　among　unseen　presences；　ancient　spirits　that　were　not　all　benign。
　When　they　had　strolled　deep　into　the　vines　and　then　turned　back　toward　the　house；　Chyna　said；　〃You're　the　best　friend　I've　ever　had。〃
　〃Me　too；〃　Laura　said。
　〃More　than　that。。。〃　Chyna's　voice　trembled。　She　had　been　about　to　say；　'You're　the　only　friend　I've　ever　had；　but　that　made　her　seem　so　lame　and；　besides；　was　still　an　inadequate　expression　of　what　she　felt　for　this　girl。　They　were；　indeed；　in　one　sense　sisters'。
　Laura　linked　arms　with　her　and　merely　said；　〃I　know。〃
　〃When　you　have　babies；　I　want　them　to　call　me　Aunt　Chyna。〃
　〃Listen；　Shepherd；　don't　you　think　I　should　find　a　guy　and　get　married　before　I　start　pumping　out　the　babies？〃
　〃Whoever　he　is；　he　better　be　the　best　husband　in　the　world　to　you；　or　I　promise　I'll　cut　his　cock　off。〃
　〃Do　me　a　favor；　okay？〃　Laura　said。　〃Don't　tell　him　about　this　promise　until　after　the　wedding。　Some　guys　might　be　put　off　by　it。〃
　From　elsewhere　in　the　vineyards　came　a　disquieting　sound　that　stopped　Chyna。　A　protracted　creaking。　
　〃It's　just　the　breeze　working　at　a　loose　bam　door；　rusty　hinges；〃　Laura　said。
　But　it　sounded　as　if　someone　were　opening　a　giant　door　in　the　wall　of　night　itself　and　stepping　in　from　another　world。
　
　Chyna　Shepherd　could　not　sleep　fortably　in　strange　houses。　Throughout　her　childhood　and　adolescence；　her　mother　had　dragged