ss.iftomorrowcomes-第64部分

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　mashed　up　four　aspirins；　placed　the　powder　between　Tracy's　lips；　and　gently　spooned　water　into　her　mouth　until　she　finally　swallowed。　Once　again　he　bathed　her　body。　After　he　had　finished　drying　her；　it　seemed　to　him　that　her　skin　was　not　as　hot　as　it　had　been。　He　checked　her　pulse　once　more。　It　seemed　steadier。　He　put　his　head　to　her　chest　and　listened。　Was　her　breathing　less　congested？　He　could　not　be　certain。　He　was　sure　of　only　one　thing；　and　he　repeated　it　over　and　over　until　it　became　a　litany：　〃You're　going　to　get　well。〃　He　kissed　her　gently　on　the　forehead。
　
　Jeff　had　not　slept　in　forty…eight　hours；　and　he　was　exhausted　and　hollow…eyed。　I'll　sleep　later；　he　promised　himself。　I'll　close　my　eyes　to　rest　them　a　moment。
　
　He　slept。
　
　**********
　
　When　Tracy　opened　her　eyes　and　watched　the　ceiling　slowly　e　into　focus；　she　had　no　idea　where　she　was。　It　took　long　minutes　for　awareness　to　seep　into　her　consciousness。　Her　body　felt　battered　and　sore；　and　she　had　the　feeling　that　she　had　returned　from　a　long；　wearying　journey。　Drowsily；　she　looked　around　the　unfamiliar　room；　and　her　heart　suddenly　skipped　a　beat。　Jeff　was　slumped　in　an　armchair　near　the　window；　asleep。　It　was　impossible。　The　last　time　she　had　seen　him；　he　had　taken　the　diamonds　and　left。　What　was　he　doing　here？　And　with　a　sudden；　sinking　sensation；　Tracy　knew　the　answer：　She　had　given　him　the　wrong　box…　the　box　with　the　fake　diamonds…　and　Jeff　thought　she　had　cheated　him。　He　must　have　picked　her　up　at　the　safe　house　and　taken　her　to　wherever　this　place　was。
　
　As　she　sat　up；　Jeff　stirred　and　opened　his　eyes。　When　he　saw　Tracy　looking　at　him；　a　slow；　happy　grin　lit　his　face。
　
　〃Wele　back。〃　There　was　a　note　of　such　intense　relief　in　his　voice　that　Tracy　was　confused。
　
　〃I'm　sorry；〃　Tracy　said。　Her　voice　was　a　hoarse　whisper。　〃I　gave　you　the　wrong　box。〃
　
　〃What？〃'
　
　〃I　mixed　up　the　boxes。〃
　
　He　walked　over　to　her　and　said　gently；　〃No；　Tracy。　You　gave　me　the　real　diamonds。　They're　on　their　way　to　Gunther。〃
　
　She　looked　at　him　in　bewilderment。　〃Then…　why…　why　are　you　here？〃
　
　He　sat　on　the　edge　of　the　bed。　〃When　you　handed　me　the　diamonds；　you　looked　like　death。　I　decided　I'd　better　wait　at　the　airport　to　make　sure　you　caught　your　flight。　You　didn't　show　up；　and　I　knew　you　were　in　trouble。　I　went　to　the　safe　house　and　found　you。　I　couldn't　just　let　you　die　there；〃　he　said　lightly。　〃It　would　have　been　a　clue　for　the　police。〃
　
　She　was　watching　him；　puzzled。　〃Tell　me　the　real　reason　you　came　back　for　me。〃
　
　〃Time　to　take　your　temperature；〃　he　said　briskly。
　
　〃Not　bad；〃　he　told　her　a　few　minutes　later。　〃Little　over　a　hundred。　You're　a　wonderful　patient。〃
　
　〃Jeff…〃
　
　〃Trust　me；〃　he　said。　〃Hungry？〃
　
　Tracy　was　suddenly　ravenous。　〃Starved。〃
　
　〃Good。　I'll　bring　something　in。〃
　
　**********
　
　He　returned　from　shopping　with　a　bag　full　of　orange　juice；　milk；　and　fresh　fruit；　and　large　Dutch　broodjes；　rolls　filled　with　different　kinds　of　cheese；　meat；　and　fish。
　
　〃This　seems　to　be　the　Dutch　version　of　chicken　soup；　but　it　should　do　the　trick。　Now；　eat　slowly。〃
　
　He　helped　her　sit　up；　and　fed　her。　He　was　careful　and　tender；　and　Tracy　thought；　warily；　He's　after　something。
　
　As　they　were　eating；　Jeff　said；　〃While　I　was　out；　I　telephoned　Gunther。　He　received　the　diamonds。　He　deposited　your　share　of　the　money　in　your　Swiss　bank　account。〃
　
　She　could　not　keep　herself　from　asking；　〃Why　didn't　you　keep　it　all？〃
　
　When　Jeff　answered；　his　tone　was　serious。　〃Because　it's　time　we　stopped　playing　games　with　each　other；　Tracy。　Okay？〃
　
　It　was　another　one　of　his　tricks；　of　course；　but　she　was　too　tired　to　worry　about　it。　〃Okay。〃
　
　〃If　you'll　tell　me　your　sizes；〃　Jeff　said；　〃I'll　go　out　and　buy　some　clothes　for　you。　The　Dutch　are　liberal；　but　I　think　if　you　walked　around　like　that　they　might　be　shocked。〃
　
　Tracy　pulled　the　covers　up　closer　around　her；　suddenly　aware　of　her　nakedness。　She　had　a　vague　impression　of　Jeff's　undressing　her　and　bathing　her。　He　had　risked　his　own　safety　to　nurse　her。　Why？　She　had　believed　she　understood　him。　I　don't　understand　him　at　all；　Tracy　thought。　Not　at　all。
　
　She　slept。
　
　**********
　
　In　the　afternoon　Jeff　brought　back　two　suitcases　filled　with　robes　and　nightgowns；　underwear；　dresses；　and　shoes；　and　a　makeup　kit　and　a　b　and　brush　and　hair　dryer；　toothbrushes　and　toothpaste。　He　also　had　purchased　several　changes　of　clothes　for　himself　and　brought　back　the　International　Herald　Tribune。　On　the　front　page　was　a　story　about　the　diamond　hijacking；　the　police　had　figured　out　how　it　had　been　mitted；　but　according to　the　newspaper；　the　thieves　had　left　no　clues。
　
　Jeff　said　cheerfully；　〃We're　home　free！　Now　all　we　have　to　do　is　get　you　well。〃
　
　**********
　
　It　was　Daniel　Cooper　who　had　suggested　that　the　scarf　with　the　initials　TW　be　kept　from　the　press。　〃We　know；〃　he　had　told　Inspector　Trignant；　〃who　it　belongs　to；　but　it's　not　enough　evidence　for　an　indictment。　Her　lawyers　would　produce　every　woman　in　Europe　with　the　same　initials　and　make　fools　of　you。〃
　
　In　Cooper's　opinion；　the　police　had　already　made　fools　of　themselves。　God　will　give　her　to　me。
　
　He　sat　in　the　darkness　of　the　small　church；　on　a　hard　wooden　bench；　and　he　prayed：　Oh；　make　her　mine；　Father。　Give　her　to　me　to　punish　so　that　I　may　wash　myself　of　my　sins。　The　evil　in　her　spirit　shall　be　exorcised；　and　her　naked　body　shall　bef　fagellated。。。。　And　he　thought　about　Tracy's　naked　body　in　his　power　and　felt　himself　getting　an　erection。　He　hurried　from　the　church　in　terror　that　God　would　see　and　inflict　further　punishment　on　him。
　
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　When　Tracy　awoke；　it　was　dark。　She　sat　up　and　turned　on　the　lamp　on　the　bedside　table。　She　was　alone。　He　had　gone。　A　feeling　of　panic　washed　over　her。　She　had　allowed　herself　to　grow　dependent　on　Jeff；　and　that　had　been　a　stupid　mistake。　It　serves　me　right；　Tracy　thought　bitterly。　〃Trust　me；〃　Jeff　had　said；　and　she　had。　He　had　taken　care　of　her　only　to　protect　himself；　not　for　any　other　reason。　She　had　e　to　believe　that　he　felt　something　for　her。　She　had　wanted　to　trust　him；　wanted　to　feel　that　she　meant　something　to　him。　She　lay　back　on　her　pillow　and　closed　her　eyes；　thinking；　I'm　going　to　miss　him。　Heaven　help　me；　I'm　going　to　miss　him。
　
　God　had　played　a　cosmic　joke　on　her。　Why　did　it　have　to　be　him？　she　wondered；　but　the　reason　did　not　matter。　She　would　have　to　make　plans　to　leave　this　place　as　soon　as　possible；　find　someplace　where　she　could　get　well；　where　she　could　feel　safe。　Oh；　you　bloody　fool；　she　thought。　You…
　
　There　was　the　sound　of　the　door　opening；　and　Jeff's　voice　called　out；　〃Tracy；　are　you　awake？　I　brought　you　some　books　and　magazines。　I　thought　you　might…〃　He　stopped　as　he　saw　the　expression　on　her　face。　〃Hey！　Is　something　wrong？〃
　
　〃Not　now；〃　Tracy　whispered。　〃Not　now。〃
　
　The　following　morning　Tracy's　fever　was　gone。
　
　〃I'd　like　to　get　out；〃　she　said。　〃Do　you　think　we　could　go　for　a　walk；　Jeff？〃
　
　They　were　a　curiosity　in　the　lobby。　The　couple　who　owned　the　hotel　were　delighted　by　Tracy's　recovery。　〃Your　husband　was　so　wonderful。　He　insisted　on　doing　everything　for　you　himself。　He　was　so　worried。　A　woman　is　lucky　to　have　a　man　who　loves　her　so　much。〃
　
　Tracy　looked　at　Jeff；　and　she　could　have　sworn　he　was　blushing。
　
　Outside；　Tracy　said；　〃They're　very　sweet。〃
　
　〃Sentimentalists；〃　Jeff　retorted。
　
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　Jeff　had　arranged　for　a　cot　to　sleep　on；　placed　next　to　Tracy's　bed。　As　Tracy　lay　in　bed　that　night；　she　remembered　again　how　Jeff　had　taken　care　of　her；　tended　to　her　needs；　and　nursed　her　and　bathed　her　naked　body。　She　was　powerfully　aware　of　his　presence。　It　made　her　feel　protected。
　
　It　made　her　feel　nervous。
　
　**********
　
　Slowly；　as　Tracy　grew　stronger；　she　and　Jeff　spent　more　time　exploring　the　quaint　little　town。　They　walked　to　the　Alkmaarder　Meer；　along　winding；　cobblestone　streets　that　dated　from　the　Middle　Ages；　and　spent　hours　at　the　tulip　fields　on　the　outskirts　of　the　city。　They　visited　the　cheese　market　and　the　old　weighing　house；　and　went　through　the　municipal　museum。　To　Tracy's　surprise；　Jeff　spoke　to　the　townspeople　in　Dutch。
　
　〃Where　did　you　learn　that？〃　Tracy　asked。
　
　〃I　used　to　know　a　Dutch　girl。〃
　
　She　was　sorry　she　had　asked。
　
　As　the　days　passed　Tracy's　healthy　young　body　gradually　healed　itself。　When　Jeff　felt　that　Tracy　was　strong　enough；　he　rented　bicycles；　and　they　visited　the　windmills　that　dotted　the　countryside。　Each　day　was　a　lovely　holiday；　and　Tracy　wanted　it　never　to　end。
　
　Jeff　was　a　constant　surprise。　He　treated　Tracy　with　a　concern　and　tenderness　that　melted　her　defenses　against　him；　yet　he　made　no　sexual　advances。　He　was　an　enigma　to　Tracy。　She　thought　of　the　beautiful　women　with　whom　she　had　seen　him；　and　she　was　sure　he　could　have　had　any　of　them。　Why　was　he　staying　by　her　side　in　this　tiny　backwater　of　the　world？
　
　Tracy　found　herself　talking　about　things　she　had　thought　she　would　never　discuss　with　anyone。　She　told　Jeff　about　Joe　Romano　and　Tony　Orsatti；　and　about　Ernestine　Littlechap　and　Big　Bertha　and　little　Amy　Brannigan。　Jeff　was　by　turns　outraged　and　distressed　and　sympathetic。　Jeff　told　her　about　his　stepmother　and　his　Uncle　Willie　and　about　his　carnival　days　and　his　marriage　to　Louise。　Tracy　had　never　felt　so　close　to　anyone。
　
　Suddenly　it　was　time　to　leave。
　
　One　morning　Jeff　said；　〃The　police　aren't　looking　for　us；　Tracy。　I　think　we　should　be　moving　on。〃
　
　Tracy　felt　a　stab　of　disappointment。　〃All　right。　When？〃
　
　〃Tomorrow。〃
　
　She　nodded。　〃I'll　pack　in　the　morning。〃
　
　**********
　
　That　night　Tracy　lay　awake；　unable　to　sleep。　Jeff's　presence　seemed　to　fill　the　room　as　never　before。　This　had　been　an　unforgettable　period　in　her　life；　and　it　was　ing　to　an　end。　She　looked　over　at　the　cot　where　Jeff　lay。
　
　〃Are　you　asleep？〃　Tracy　whispered。
　
　〃No。。。〃
　
　〃What　are　you　thinking　about？〃
　
　〃Tomorrow。　Leaving　this　place。　I'll　miss　it。〃
　
　〃I'm　going　to　miss　you；　Jeff。〃　The　words　were　out　before　she　could　stop　herself。
　
　Jeff　sat　up　slowly　and　looked　at　her。　〃How　muc