ss.iftomorrowcomes-第56部分

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　He's　so　damned　convincing；　Tracy　thought。　If　I　didn't　know　better；　I'd　believe　him。
　
　〃Let's　order；〃　Tracy　said。　〃I'm　starved。〃
　
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　In　the　days　that　followed；　Jeff　and　Tracy　explored　Madrid。　They　were　never　alone。　Two　of　mandant　Ramiro's　men　followed　them　everywhere；　acpanied　by　the　strange　American。　Ramiro　had　given　permission　for　Cooper　to　be　a　part　of　the　surveillance　team　simply　to　keep　the　man　out　of　his　hair。　The　American　was　loco；　convinced　that　the　Whitney　woman　was　somehow　going　to　steal　some　great　treasure　from　under　the　noses　of　the　police。　iQue　ridículo！
　
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　Tracy　and　Jeff　dined　at　Madrid's　classic　restaurants…　Horcher；　the　Príncipe　de　Viana；　and　Casa　Botín…　but　Jeff　also　knew　the　places　undiscovered　by　tourists：　Casa　Paco　and　La　Chuletta　and　El　Lacón；　where　he　and　Tracy　dined　on　delicious　native　stews　like　cocido　madrile？o　and　olla　podrida；　and　then　visited　a　small　bar　where　they　had　delicious　tapas。
　
　Wherever　they　went；　Daniel　Cooper　and　the　two　detectives　were　never　far　behind。
　
　Watching　them　from　a　careful　distance；　Daniel　Cooper　was　puzzled　by　Jeff　Stevens's　role　in　the　drama　that　was　being　played　out。　Who　was　he？　Tracy's　next　victim？　Or　were　they　plotting　something　together？
　
　Cooper　talked　to　mandant　Ramiro。　〃What　information　do　you　have　on　Jeff　Stevens？〃　Cooper　asked。
　
　〃Nada。　He　has　no　criminal　record　and　is　registered　as　a　tourist。　I　think　he　is　just　a　panion　the　lady　picked　up。〃
　
　Cooper's　instincts　told　him　differently。　But　it　was　not　Jeff　Stevens　he　was　after。　Tracy；　he　thought。　I　want　you；　Tracy。
　
　When　Tracy　and　Jeff　returned　to　the　Ritz　at　the　end　of　a　late　evening；　Jeff　escorted　Tracy　to　her　door。　〃Why　don't　I　e　in　for　a　nightcap？〃　he　suggested。
　
　Tracy　was　almost　tempted。　She　leaned　forward　and　kissed　him　lightly　on　the　cheek。　〃Think　of　me　as　your　sister；　Jeff。〃
　
　〃What's　your　position　on　incest？〃
　
　But　she　had　closed　the　door。
　
　A　few　minutes　later　he　telephoned　her　from　his　room。　〃How　would　you　like　to　spend　tomorrow　with　me　in　Segovia？　It's　a　fascinating　old　city　just　a　few　hours　outside　of　Madrid。〃
　
　〃It　sounds　wonderful。　Thanks　for　a　lovely　evening；〃　Tracy。　said。　〃Good　night；　Jeff。〃
　
　She　lay　awake　a　long　time；　her　mind　filled　with　thoughts　she　had　no　right　to　be　thinking。　It　had　been　so　long　since　she　had　been　emotionally　involved　with　a　man。　Charles　had　hurt　her　badly；　and　she　had　no　wish　to　be　hurt　again。　Jeff　Stevens　was　an　amusing　panion；　but　she　knew　she　must　never　allow　him　to　bee　any　more　than　that。　It　would　be　easy　to　fall　in　love　with　him。　And　foolish。
　
　Ruinous。
　
　Fun。
　
　Tracy　had　difficulty　falling　asleep。
　
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　The　trip　to　Segovia　was　perfect。　Jeff　had　rented　a　small　car；　and　they　drove　out　of　the　city　into　the　beautiful　wine　country　of　Spain。　An　unmarked　Seat　trailed　behind　them　during　the　entire　day；　but　it　was　not　an　ordinary　car。
　
　The　Seat　is　the　only　automobile　manufactured　in　Spain；　and　it　is　the　official　car　of　the　Spanish　police。　The　regular　model　has　only　100　horsepower；　but　the　ones　sold　to　the　Policía　Nacional　and　the　Guardia　Civil　are　souped　up　to　150　horsepower；　so　there　was　no　danger　that　Tracy　Whitney　and　Jeff　Stevens　would　elude　Daniel　Cooper　and　the　two　detectives。
　
　Tracy　and　Jeff　arrived　at　Segovia　in　time　for　lunch　and　dined　at　a　charming　restaurant　in　the　main　square　under　the　shadow　of　the　two…thousand…year…old　aqueduct　built　by　the　Romans。　After　lunch　they　wandered　around　the　medieval　city　and　visited　the　old　Cathedral　of　Santa　Maria　and　the　Renaissance　town　hall；　and　then　drove　up　to　the　Alcázar；　the　old　Roman　fortress　perched　on　a　rocky　spur　high　over　the　city。　The　view　was　breathtaking。
　
　〃I'll　bet　if　we　stayed　here　long　enough；　we'd　see　Don　Quixote　and　Sancho　Panza　riding　along　the　plains　below；〃　Jeff　said。
　
　She　studied　him。　〃You　enjoy　tilting　at　windmills；　don't　you？〃
　
　〃Depends　on　the　shape　of　the　windmill；〃　he　said　softly。　He　moved　closer　to　her。
　
　Tracy　stepped　away　from　the　edge　of　the　cliff。　〃Tell　me　more　about　Segovia。〃
　
　And　the　spell　was　broken。
　
　Jeff　was　an　enthusiastic　guide；　knowledgeable　about　history；　archaeology；　and　architecture；　and　Tracy　had　to　keep　reminding　herself　that　he　was　also　a　con　artist。　It　was　the　most　pleasant　day　Tracy　could　remember。
　
　One　of　the　Spanish　detectives；　José　Pereira；　grumbled　to　Cooper；　〃The　only　thing　they're　stealing　is　our　time。　They're　just　two　people　in　love；　can't　you　see　that？　Are　you　sure　she's　planning　something？〃
　
　〃I'm　sure；〃　Cooper　snarled。　He　was　puzzled　by　his　own　reactions。　All　he　wanted　was　to　catch　Tracy　Whitney；　to　punish　her；　as　she　deserved。　She　was　just　another　criminal；　an　assignment。　Yet；　every　time　Tracy's　panion　took　her　arm；　Cooper　found　himself　stung　with　fury。
　
　When　Tracy　and　Jeff　arrived　back　in　Madrid；　Jeff　said；　〃If　you're　not　too　exhausted；　I　know　a　special　place　for　dinner。〃
　
　〃Lovely。〃　Tracy　did　not　want　the　day　to　end。　I'll　give　myself　this　day；　this　one　day　to　be　like　other　women。
　
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　Madrile？os　dine　late；　and　few　restaurants　open　for　dinner　before　9：00　P。M。　Jeff　made　a　reservation　for　10：00　at　the　Zalacaín；　an　elegant　restaurant　where　the　food　was　superb　and　perfectly　served。　Tracy　ordered　no　dessert；　but　the　captain　brought　a　delicate　flaky　pastry　that　was　the　most　delicious　thing　she　had　ever　tasted。　She　sat　back　in　her　chair；　sated　and　happy。
　
　〃It　was　a　wonderful　dinner。　Thank　you。〃
　
　〃I'm　glad　you　enjoyed　it。　This　is　the　place　to　bnng　people　if　you　want　to　impress　them。〃
　
　She　studied　him。　〃Are　you　trying　to　impress　me；　Jeff？〃
　
　He　grinned。　〃You　bet　I　am。　Wait　until　you　see　what's　next。〃
　
　What　was　next　was　an　unprepossessing　bodega；　a　smoky　café　filled　with　leather　jacketed　Spanish　workmen　drinking　at　the　bar　and　at　the　dozen　tables　in　the　room。　At　one　end　was　a　tablado；　a　slightly　elevated　platform；　where　two　men　strummed　guitars。　Tracy　and　Jeff　were　seated　at　a　small　table　near　the　platform。
　
　〃Do　you　know　anything　about　flamenco？〃　Jeff　asked。　He　had　to　raise　his　voice　over　the　noise　level　in　the　bar。
　
　〃Only　that　it's　a　Spanish　dance。〃
　
　〃Gypsy；　originally。　You　can　go　to　fancy　nightclubs　in　Madrid　and　see　imitations　of　flamenco；　but　tonight　you'll　see　the　real　thing。〃
　
　Tracy　smiled　at　the　enthusiasm　in　Jeff's　voice。
　
　〃You're　going　to　see　a　classic　cuadro　flamenco。　That's　a　group　of　singers；　dancers；　and　guitarists。　First　they　perform　together；　then　each　one　takes　his　turn。〃
　
　Watching　Tracy　and　Jeff　from　a　table　in　the　corner　near　the　kitchen；　Daniel　Cooper　wondered　what　they　were　discussing　intently。
　
　〃The　dance　is　very　subtle；　because　everything　has　to　work　together…　movements；　music；　costumes；　the　building　of　the　rhythm。。。。〃
　
　〃How　do　you　know　so　much　about　it？〃　Tracy　asked。
　
　〃I　used　to　know　a　flamenco　dancer。〃
　
　Naturally；　Tracy　thought。
　
　The　lights　in　the　bodega　dimmed；　and　the　small　stage　was　lit　by　spotlights。　Then　the　magic　began。　It　started　slowly。　A　group　of　performers　casually　ascended　to　the　platform。　The　women　wore　colorful　skirts　and　blouses；　and　high　bs　with　flowers　banked　on　their　beautiful　Andalusian　coiffures。　The　male　dancers　were　dressed　in　the　traditional　tight　trousers　and　vests　and　wore　gleaming　cordovan…leather　half　boots。　The　guitarists　strummed　a　wistful　melody；　while　one　of　the　seated　women　sang　in　Spanish。
　
　Yo　quería　dejar
　A　mi　amante；
　Pero　antes　de　que　pudiera；
　Hacerlo　ella　me　abandonó
　Y　destrozó　mi　corazón。
　
　〃Do　you　understand　what　she's　saying？〃　Tracy　whispered。
　
　〃Yes。　'I　wanted　to　leave　my　lover；　but　before　I　could；　he　left　me　and　he　broke　my　heart。'　〃
　
　A　dancer　moved　to　the　center　of　the　stage。　She　started　with　a　simple　zapateado；　a　beginning　stamping　step；　gradually　pushed　faster　and　faster　by　the　pulsating　guitars。　The　rhythm　grew；　and　the　dancing　became　a　form　of　sensual　violence；　variations　on　steps　that　had　been　born　in　gypsy　caves　a　hundred　years　earlier。　As　the　music　mounted　in　intensity　and　excitement；　moving　through　the　classic　figures　of　the　dance；　from　alegría　to　fandanguillo　to　zambra　to　seguiriya；　and　as　the　frantic　pace　increased；　there　were　shouts　of　encouragement　from　the　performers　at　the　side　of　the　stage。
　
　Cries　of　〃Olé　tu　madre；〃　and　〃Olé　tus　santos；〃　and　〃Ands；　anda；〃　the　traditional　jaleos　and　piropos；　or　shouts　of　encouragement；　goaded　the　dancers　on　to　wilder；　more　frantic　rhythms。
　
　When　the　music　and　dancing　ended　abruptly；　a　silence　roared　through　the　bar；　and　then　there　was　a　loud　burst　of　applause。
　
　〃She's　marvelous！〃　Tracy　exclaimed。
　
　〃Wait；〃　Jeff　told　her。
　
　A　second　woman　stepped　to　the　center　of　the　stage。　She　had　a　dark；　classical　Castilian　beauty　and　seemed　deeply　aloof；　pletely　unaware　of　the　audience。　The　guitars　began　to　play　a　bolero；　plaintive　and　low　key；　an　Oriental…sounding　canto。　A　male　dancer　joined　her；　and　the　castanets　began　to　click　in　a　steady；　driving　beat。
　
　The　seated　performers　joined　in　with　the　jaleo；　and　the　handclaps　that　acpany　the　flamenco　dance；　and　the　rhythmic　beat　of　the　palms　enhanced　the　music　and　dancing；　lifting　it；　building　it；　until　the　room　began　to　rock　with　the　echo　of　the　zapateado；　the　hypnotic　beat　of　the　half　toe；　the　heel；　and　the　full　sole　clacking　out　an　endless　variation　of　tone　and　rhythmic　sensations。
　
　Their　bodies　moved　apart　and　came　together　in　a　growing　frenzy　of　desire；　until　they　were　making　mad；　violent；　animal　love　without　ever　touching；　moving　to　a　wild；　passionate　climax　that　had　the　audience　screaming。　As　the　lights　blacked　out　and　came　on　again；　the　crowd　roared；　and　Tracy　found　herself　screaming　with　the　others。　To　her　embarrassment；　she　was　sexually　aroused。　She　was　afraid　to　meet　Jeff's　eyes。　The　air　between　them　vibrated　with　tension。　Tracy　looked　down　at　the　table；　at　his　strong；　tanned　hands；　and　she　could　feel　them　caressing　her　body；　slowly；　swiftly；　urgently；　and　she　quickly　put　her　hands　in　her　lap　to　hide　their　trembling。
　
　They　said　very　little　during　the　ride　back　to　the　hotel。　At　the　door　to　Tracy's　room；　she　turned　and　said；　〃It's　b