dk.intensity-第31部分

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　He　retrieves　his　pistol　from　the　nightstand　and　glides　quietly　across　the　wall…to…wall　carpet　into　the　open　doorway。　He　steps　into　the　hall　and　quickly　to　the　head　of　the　enclosed　stairs；　where　he　stops。　He　can　see　only　the　landing　below；　not　the　living　room；　but　he　listens。
　If　she　opens　the　front　door；　he　will　know；　because　one　of　the　hinges　makes　a　dry　ratcheting　sound。　It's　not　a　loud　noise；　but　it　is　distinctive。　Because　he's　listening　specifically　for　that　corroded　hinge；　not　even　the　drumming　of　the　rain　on　the　roof；　the　pounding　of　the　shower　into　e　bathtub；　and　〃In　the　Mood〃　on　the　radio　can　entirely　mask　the　sound。
　Crazy。　But　she　was　going　to　do　it。　For　Ariel。　For　Laura。　But　also　for　herself。　Maybe　most　of　all　for　herself。
　After　all　these　years　under　beds；　in　closets；　in　attic　shadows…no　more　hiding。　After　all　these　years　of　getting　by；　keeping　her　head　down；　drawing　no　attention　to　herself…suddenly　she　had　to　do　something　or　explode。　She'd　been　living　in　a　prison　since　the　day　she'd　been　bom；　even　after　leaving　her　mother；　a　prison　of　fear　and　shame　and　lowered　expectations；　and　she'd　been　so　accustomed　to　her　circumscribed　life　that　she　had　not　recognized　the　bars。　Now　righteous　rage　released　her；　and　she　was　crazy　with　freedom。
　The　chilly　wind　kicked　up；　and　shatters　of　rain　blasted　under　the　porch　roof。
　Seashell　wind　chimes　clattered；　an　irritation　of　flat　notes。　Chyna　eased　past　the　window；　trying　to　avoid　several　snails　on　the　porch　floor。　The　drapes　remained　tightly　shut。
　The　front　door　was　closed　but　unlocked。　She　slowly　pushed　it　inward。　One　hinge　rasped。
　The　big…band　tune　finished　with　a　flourish；　and　at　once　two　voices　arose　from　deeper　in　the　house。　Chyna　froze　on　the　threshold；　but　then　she　realized　that　she　was　listening　to　an　advertisement。　The　music　had　been　ing　from　a　radio。
　It　was　possible　that　the　killer　shared　the　house　with　someone　other　than　Ariel；　and　other　than　the　procession　of　victims　or　dead　bodies　brought　back　from　his　road　trips。　Chyna　couldn't　conceive　of　his　having　a　family；　a　wife　and　children；　a　psychotic　Brady　Bunch　waiting　for　him；　but　there　were　rare　cases　on　record　of　homicidal　sociopaths　working　together；　like　the　two　men　who　proved　to　be　the　Hillside　Strangler　in　Los　Angeles　a　couple　of　decades　ago。
　Voices　on　a　radio；　however；　were　no　threat。　With　the　revolver　held　in　front　of　her；　she　went　inside。　The　ining　wind　whistled　into　the　house；　rattling　a　wobbly　lampshade　and　threatening　to　betray　her；　so　she　closed　the　door。
　The　radio　voices　came　down　an　enclosed　stairwell　to　her　left。　She　kept　one　eye　on　the　doorless　opening　at　the　foot　of　those　steps；　in　case　more　than　voices　descended。
　The　front　room　on　the　ground　floor　ran　the　entire　width　of　the　small　house；　and　although　it　was　illuminated　only　by　the　gray　light　from　the　windows；　it　was　nothing　like　what　she　had　expected　to　find。　There　were　hunter…green　leather　armchairs　with　footstools；　a　tartan…plaid　sofa　on　large　ball　feet；　rustic　oak　end　tables；　and　a　section　of　bookshelves　that　held　perhaps　three　hundred　volumes。　On　the　hearth　of　the　big　river…rock　'fireplace　were　gleaming　brass　andirons；　and　on　the　mantel　was　an　old　clock　with　two　bronze　stags　rearing　up　on　their　hind　legs。　The　decor　was　thoroughly　but　not　aggressively　masculineno　glassily　staring　deer　or　bear　heads　on　the　walls；　no　hunting　prints；　no　rifles　on　display；　just　cozy　and　fortable。　Where　she　had　been　expecting　pervasive　clutter　as　evidence　of　his　seriously　disordered　mind；　there　was　neatness。　Instead　of　filth；　cleanliness；　even　in　the　shadows；　Chyna　could　see　that　the　room　was　well　dusted　and　swept。　Rather　than　being　burdened　with　the　stench　of　death；　the　house　was　redolent　of　lemon…oil　furniture　polish　and　a　subtle　pine…scented　air　freshener；　as　well　as　the　faint　and　pleasant　smell　of　char　from　the　fireplace。
　Selling　H　&　R　Block　tax　services　and　then　doughnuts；　the　radio　voices　bounced　with　enthusiasm　down　the　stairs。　The　killer　had　it　cranked　up　too　loud；　the　volume　level　seemed　wrong　to　Chyna；　as　if　he　was　trying　to　mask　other　sounds。
　There　was　another　sound；　similar　to　but　different　from　the　rain；　and　after　a　moment　she　recognized　it。　A　shower。
　That　was　why　he　had　set　the　radio　so　loud。　He　was　listening　to　the　music　while　taking　a　shower。
　She　was　in　luck。　As　long　as　the　killer　was　in　the　shower；　she　could　search　for　Ariel　without　the　risk　of　being　discovered。
　Chyna　hurriedly　crossed　the　front　room　to　a　half…open　door；　went　through；　and　found　a　kitchen。　Canary…yellow　ceramic　tile　with　knotty…pine　cabinets。　On　the　floor；　gray　vinyl　tile　speckled　with　yellow　and　green　and　red。　Well　scrubbed。　Everything　in　its　place。
　She　was　soaked；　rain　dripping　off　her　hair　and　still　seeping　from　her　jeans　onto　the　clean　floor。
　Taped　to　the　side　of　the　refrigerator　was　a　calendar　already　turned　forward　to　April；　with　a　color　photograph　that　showed　one　white　and　one　black　kitten…both　with　dazzling　green　eyes…peering　out　from　a　huge　spray　of　lilies。
　The　normality　of　the　house　terrified　her：　the　gleaming　surfaces；　the　tidiness；　the　homey　touches；　the　sense　that　a　person　lived　here　who　might　walk　in　daylight　on　any　street　and　pass　for　human　in　spite　of　the　atrocities　that　he　had　mitted。
　Don't　think　about　it。　Keep　moving。　Safety　in　movement。
　She　went　past　the　rear　door。　Through　the　four　glass　panes　in　the　upper　half；　she　saw　a　back　porch；　a　green　yard；　a　couple　of　big　trees；　and　the　barn。
　Without　any　architectural　division；　the　kitchen　opened　into　the　dining　area；　and　the　bined　space　was　probably　two…thirds　the　width　of　the　house。　The　round　dinette　table　was　dark　pine；　supported　by　a　thick　central　drum　rather　than　legs；　the　four　heavy　pine　captain's　chairs　featured　tie…on　back　and　seat　cushions。
　Upstairs；　the　music　started　again；　but　it　was　softer　in　the　kitchen　than　in　the　front　room。　If　she　had　been　an　aficionado　of　big…band　music；　however；　she　would　have　been　able　to　recognize　the　tune　from　here。
　The　noise　of　the　running　shower　was　more　apparent　in　the　kitchen　than　in　the　living　room；　because　the　pipes　were　channeled　through　the　rear　wall　of　the　old　house。　Water　being　drawn　upward　to　the　bathroom　made　an　urgent；　hollow　rushing　sound　through　copper。　Furthermore；　the　pipe　wasn't　tied　down　and　insulated　as　well　as　it　ought　to　have　been；　and　at　some　point　along　its　course；　it　vibrated　against　a　wall　stud：　rapid　knocking　behind　plasterboard；　tatta…tatta…tatta…tatta…tatta。
　If　that　noise　abruptly　stopped；　she　would　know　that　her　safe　time　in　the　house　was　limited。　In　the　subsequent　silence；　she　could　count　on　no　more　than　a　minute　or　two　of　grace　while　he　toweled　off。　Thereafter　he　might　show　up　anywhere。
　Chyna　looked　around　for　a　telephone　but　saw　only　a　wall　jack　into　which　one　could　be　plugged。　If　there　had　been　a　phone；　she　might　have　paused　to　call　911；　supposing　there　was　911　service　out　here　in　。。。　well；　wherever　the　hell　they　were…these　boondocks。　Knowing　that　help　was　on　the　way　would　have　made　the　remainder　of　the　search　less　nerve…racking。
　At　the　north　end　of　the　dining　area　was　another　door。　Although　the　killer　was　in　the　shower　upstairs；　she　turned　the　knob　as　quietly　as　she　could　and　crossed　the　threshold　with　caution。
　Beyond　lay　a　bination　laundry　and　storage　room。　A　washer。　An　electric　dryer。　Boxes　and　bottles　of　laundry　supplies　were　stored　in　an　orderly　fashion　on　two　open　shelves；　and　the　air　smelled　like　detergent　and　bleach。
　The　rush　of　water　and　the　knocking　pipe　were　even　louder　here　than　they　had　been　in　the　kitchen。
　To　the　left；　past　the　washer　and　dryer；　was　another　door…rough　pine；　painted　lime　green。　She　opened　it　and　saw　stairs　leading　down　to　a　black　cellar；　and　her　heart　began　to　beat　faster。
　〃Ariel〃；　she　said　softly；　but　there　was　no　answer；　because　she　had　spoken　more　to　herself　than　to　the　girl。
　No　windows　at　all　below。　Not　even　a　turbid　leak　of　gray　storm　light　seeping　through　narrow　casements　or　screened　ventilation　cutouts。
　Dungeon　dark。
　But　if　the　bastard　was　keeping　a　girl　down　there；　how　odd　that　he　wouldn't　have　added　a　lock　to　this　upper　door。　It　offered　only　the　spring　latch　that　retracted　with　a　twist　of　the　knob；　not　a　real　lock　of　any　kind。
　The　captive　might　be　sealed　in　a　windowless　room　deep　below；　of　course；　or　even　manacled。　Ariel　might　have　no　hope　of　reaching　these　stairs　and　this　upper　door；　even　if　left　alone　for　days　to　worry　at　her　restraints；　which　would　explain　why　the　killer　was　confident　that　one　more　barrier　to　her　flight　wasn't　necessary　even　when　he　was　away　from　home。
　Nevertheless；　it　seemed　peculiar　that　he　wouldn't　be　concerned　about　a　thief　breaking　into　the　house　when　he　was　gone；　descending　to　the　cellar；　and　inadvertently　discovering　the　imprisoned　girl。　Considering　the　obvious　age　of　the　structure；　its　rusticity；　and　the　lack　of　any　apparent　alarm　keypads；　Chyna　doubted　that　the　house　had　a　security　system。　The　killer；　with　all　his　secrets；　ought　to　have　installed　a　steel　door　to　the　cellar；　with　locks　as　impregnable　as　those　on　a　bank　vault。
　The　lack　of　special　security　might　mean　that　the　girl；　Ariel；　was　not　here。
　Chyna　didn't　want　to　dwell　on　that　possibility。　She　bad　to　find　Ariel。
　Leaning　through　the　doorway；　she　felt　along　the　stairwell　wall　for　the　switch；　and　snapped　it　up。　Lights　came　on　both　at　the　upper　landing　and　in　the　basement。
　The　bare　concrete　steps…a　single　flight…were　steep。　They　appeared　to　be　much　newer　than　the　house　itself；　perhaps　even　a　relatively　recent　addition。
　The　high…velocity　surge　of　water　through　plumbing　and　the　hard　rapping　of　the　loose　pipe　in　the　wall　told　her　that　the　killer　was　still　busy　in　the　bathroom　above；　scrubbing　away　all　traces　of　his　crimes。　Tatta…tatta…tatta　。。。
　Louder　than　before　but　still　in　a　whisper；　she　said：　〃Ariel。〃　Out　of　the　still　air　below；　no　response。　
　Louder。　〃Ariel。〃　Nothing。　Chyna　didn't　want　to　go　down　into　this　windowless　pit；　with　no　way　out　except　the　stairs；　even　with　a　lockless　door　above。　But　she　couldn't　think　of　any　way　to　avoid　the　descent；　not　if　she　was　to　learn　for　sure　whether　Ariel　was　here。
　Tatta…tatta…tatta…tatta…tatta　。。。　It　always　came　to　this；　even　with　childhood　long　past　and　being　grown　up　and　everything　supposedly