rz.nineprincesinamber-第2部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　He　shrugged。
　〃Nevertheless。。。〃
　〃Where's　she　staying　now？　I　want　to　call　her；〃　I　said。
　〃I　don't　have　her　address　handy。〃
　〃Get　it。〃
　He　rose；　crossed　to　a　filing　cabinet；　opened　it；　riffled；　withdrew　a　card。
　I　studied　it。　Mrs。　Evelyn　Flaumel。。。　The　New　York　address　was　not　familiar　either；　but　I　mitted　it　to　memory。　As　the　card　said；　my　first　name　was　Carl。　Good。　More　data。
　I　stuck　the　gun　in　my　belt　beside　the　strut　then；　safety　back　on；　of　course。
　〃Okay；〃　I　told　him。　〃Where　are　my　clothes；　and　what're　you　going　to　pay　me？〃
　〃Your　clothes　were　destroyed　in　the　accident；〃　he　said；　〃and　I　must　tell　you　that　your　legs　were　definitely　broken　…　the　left　one　in　two　places。　Frankly；　I　can't　see　how　you're　managing　to　stay　on　your　feet。　It's　only　been　two　weeks　…　〃
　〃I　always　heal　fast；〃　I　said。　〃Now；　about　the　money。。。〃
　〃What　money？〃
　〃The　out…of…court　settlement　for　my　malpractice　plaint；　and　the　other　one。〃
　〃Don't　be　ridiculous！〃
　〃Who's　being　ridiculous？　I'll　settle　for　a　thousand；　cash；　right　now。〃
　〃I　won't　even　discuss　such　a　thing。〃
　〃Well；　you'd　better　consider　it　…　and　win　or　lose；　think　about　the　name　it　will　give　this　place　if　I　manage　enough　pretrial　publicity。　I'll　certainly　get　in　touch　with　the　AMA；　the　newspapers；　the　…　〃
　〃Blackmail；〃　he　said；　〃and　I'll　have　nothing　to　do　with　it。〃
　〃Pay　now；　or　pay　later；　after　a　court　order；〃　I　said。　〃I　don't　care。　But　it'll　be　cheaper　this　way。〃
　If　he　came　across；　I'd　know　my　guesses　were　right　and　there　was　something　crooked　involved。
　He　glared　at　me；　I　don't　know　how　long。
　Finally；　〃I　haven't　got　a　thousand　here；〃　he　said。
　〃Name　a　promise　figure；〃　I　said。
　After　another　pause；　〃It's　larceny。〃
　〃Not　if　it's　cash…and…carry；　Charlie。　So；　call　it。〃
　〃I　might　have　five　hundred　in　my　safe。〃
　〃Get　it。〃
　He　told　me；　after　inspecting　the　contents　of　a　small　wall　safe；　there　was　four…thirty；　and　I　didn't　want　to　leave　fingerprints　on　the　safe；　just　to　check　him　out。　So　I　accepted　and　stuffed　the　bills　into　my　side　pocket。
　〃Now　what's　the　nearest　cab　pany　that　serves　this　place？〃
　He　named　it；　and　I　checked　in　the　phone　book；　which　told　me　I　was　upstate。
　I　made　him　dial　it　and　call　me　a　cab；　because　I　didn't　know　the　name　of　the　place　and　didn't　want　him　to　know　the　condition　of　my　memory。　One　of　the　bandages　I　had　removed　had　been　around　my　head。
　While　he　was　making　the　arrangement　I　heard　him　name　the　place：　it　was　called　Greenwood　Private　Hospital。
　I　snubbed　out　my　cigarette；　picked　up　another；　and　removed　perhaps　two　hundred　pounds　from　my　feet　by　resting　in　a　brown　upholstered　chair　beside　his　bookcase。
　〃We　wait　here　and　you'll　see　me　to　the　door；〃　I　said。
　I　never　heard　another　word　out　of　him。
　
　
　Chapter　2
　
　It　was　about　eight　o'clock　when　the　cab　deposited　me　on　a　random　corner　in　the　nearest　town。　I　paid　off　the　driver　and　walked　for　around　twenty　minutes。　Then　I　stopped　in　a　diner；　found　a　booth　and　had　juice；　a　couple　of　eggs；　toast；　bacon　and　three　cups　of　coffee。　The　bacon　was　too　greasy。
　After　giving　breakfast　a　good　hour；　I　started　walking；　found　a　clothing　store；　and　waited　till　its　nine…thirty　opening。
　I　bought　a　pair　of　slacks；　three　sport　shirts；　a　belt；　some　underwear；　and　a　pair　of　shoes　that　fit。　I　also　picked　up　a　handkerchief；　a　wallet；　and　pocket　b。
　Then　I　found　a　Greyhound　station　and　boarded　a　bus　for　New　York。　No　one　tried　to　stop　me。　No　one　seemed　to　be　looking　for　me。
　Sitting　there；　watching　the　countryside　all　autumn…colored　and　tickled　by　brisk　winds　beneath　a　bright；　cold　sky；　I　reviewed　everything　I　knew　about　myself　and　my　circumstances。
　I　had　been　registered　at　Greenwood　as　Carl　Corey　by　my　sister　Evelyn　Flaumel。　This　had　been　subsequent　to　an　auto　accident　some　fifteen　or　so　days　past；　in　which　I　had　suffered　broken　bones　which　no　longer　troubled　me。　I　didn't　remember　Sister　Evelyn。　The　Greenwood　people　had　been　instructed　to　keep　me　passive；　were　afraid　of　the　law　when　I　got　loose　and　threatened　them　with　it。　Okay。　Someone　was　afraid　of　me；　for　some　reason。　I'd　play　it　for　all　it　was　worth。
　I　forced　my　mind　back　to　the　accident；　dwelled　upon　it　till　my　head　hurt。　It　was　no　accident。　I　had　that　impression；　though　I　didn't　know　why。　I　would　find　out；　and　someone　would　pay。　Very；　very　much　would　they　pay。　An　anger；　a　terrible　one；　flared　within　the　middle　of　my　body。　Anyone　who　tried　to　hurt　me；　to　use　me；　did　so　at　his　own　peril　and　now　he　would　receive　his　due；　whoever　he　was；　this　one。　I　felt　a　strong　desire　to　kill；　to　destroy　whoever　had　been　responsible；　and　I　knew　that　it　was　not　the　first　time　in　my　life　that　I　had　felt　this　thing；　and　I　knew；　too；　that　I　had　followed　through　on　it　in　the　past。　More　than　once。
　I　stared　out　the　window；　watching　the　dead　leaves　fall。
　When　I　hit　the　Big　City；　the　first　thing　I　did　was　to　get　a　shave　and　haircut　in　the　nearest　clip　joint；　and　the　second　was　to　change　my　shirt　and　undershirt　in　the　men's　room；　because　I　can't　stand　hair　down　my　back。　The　。32　automatic；　belonging　to　the　nameless　individual　at　Greenwood；　was　in　my　right…hand　jacket　pocket。　I　suppose　that　if　Greenwood　or　my　sister　wanted　me　picked　up　in　a　hurry；　a　Sullivan　violation　would　e　in　handy。　But　I　decided　to　hang　onto　it。　They'd　have　to　find　me　first；　and　I　wanted　a　reason。　I　ate　a　quick　lunch；　rode　subways　and　buses　for　an　hour；　then　got　a　cab　to　take　me　out　to　the　Westchester　address　of　Evelyn；　my　nominal　sister　and　hopeful　jogger　of　memories。
　Before　I　arrived；　I'd　already　decided　on　the　tack　I'd　take。
　So；　when　the　door　to　the　huge　old　place　opened　in　response　to　my　knock；　after　about　a　thirty…second　wait；　I　knew　what　I　was　going　to　say。　I　had　thought　about　it　as　I'd　walked　up　the　long；　winding；　white　gravel　driveway；　between　the　dark　oaks　and　the　bright　maples；　leaves　crunching　beneath　my　feet；　and　the　wind　cold　on　my　fresh…scraped　neck　within　the　raised　collar　of　my　jacket。　The　smell　of　my　hair　tonic　mingled　with　a　musty　odor　from　the　ropes　of　ivy　that　crowded　all　over　the　walls　of　that　old；　brick　place。　There　was　no　sense　of　familiarity。　I　didn't　think　I　had　ever　been　here　before。
　I　had　knocked；　and　there　had　e　an　echo。
　Then　I'd　jammed　my　hands　into　my　pockets　and　waited。
　When　the　door　opened；　I　had　smiled　and　nodded　toward　the　mole…flecked　maid　with　a　swarthy　plexion　and　a　Puerto　Rican　accent。
　〃Yes？〃　she　said；
　〃I'd　like　to　see　Mrs。　Evelyn　Flaumel；　please。〃
　〃Who　shall　I　say　is　calling？〃
　〃Her　brother　Carl。〃
　〃Oh　e　in　please；〃　she　told　me。
　I　entered　a　hallway；　the　floor　a　mosaic　of　tiny　salmon　and　turquoise　tiles；　the　wall　mahogany；　a　trough　of　big…leafed　green　things　occupying　a　room　divider　to　my　left。　From　overhead；　a　cube　of　glass　and　enamel　threw　down　a　yellow　light。
　The　gal　departed；　and　I　sought　around　me　for　something　familiar。
　Nothing。
　So　I　waited。
　Presently；　the　maid　returned；　smiled；　nodded；　and　said；　〃Please　follow　me。　She　will　see　you　in　the　library。〃
　I　followed；　up　three　stairs　and　down　a　corridor　past　two　closed　doors。　The　third　one　to　my　left　was　open；　and　the　maid　indicated　I　should　enter　it。　I　did　so；　then　paused　on　the　threshold。
　Like　all　libraries；　it　was　full　of　books。　It　also　held　three　paintings；　two　indicating　quiet　landscapes　and　one　a　peaceful　seascape。　The　floor　was　heavily　carpeted　in　green。　There　was　a　big　globe　beside　the　big　desk　with　Africa　facing　me　and　a　wall…to…wall　window　behind　it；　eight　stepladders　of　glass。　But　none　of　these　was　the　reason　I'd　paused。
　The　woman　behind　the　desk　wore　a　wide…collared；　V…necked　dress　of　blue…green；　had　long　hair　and　low　bangs；　all　of　a　cross　between　sunset　clouds　and　the　outer　edge　of　a　candle　flame　in　an　otherwise　dark　room；　and　natural；　I　somehow　knew；　and　her　eyes　behind　glasses　I　didn't　think　she　needed　were　as　blue　as　Lake　Erie　at　three　o'clock　on　a　cloudless　summer　afternoon；　and　the　color　of　her　pressed　smile　matched　her　hair。　But　none　of　these　was　the　reason　I'd　paused。
　I　knew　her；　from　somewhere；　though　I　couldn't　say　where。
　I　advanced；　holding　my　own　smile。
　〃Hello；〃　I　said。
　〃Sit　down；〃　said　she；　〃please；〃　indicating　a　high…backed；　big…armed　chair　that　bulged　and　was　orange；　of　the　kind　just　tilted　at　the　angle　in　which　I　loved　to　loaf。
　I　did　so；　and　she　studied　me。
　〃Glad　to　see　you're　up　and　around　again。〃
　〃Me；　too。　How've　you　been？〃
　〃Fine；　thank　you。　I　must　say　I　didn't　expect　to　see　you　here。〃
　〃I　know；〃　I　fibbed；　〃but　here　I　am；　to　thank　you　for　your　sisterly　kindness　and　care。〃　I　let　a　slight　note　of　irony　sound　within　the　sentence　just　to　observe　her　response。
　At　that　point　an　enormous　dog　entered　the　room　…　an　Irish　wolfhound　…　and　it　curled　up　in　front　of　the　desk。　Another　followed　and　circled　the　globe　twice　before　lying　down。
　〃Well；〃　said　she；　returning　the　irony；　〃it　was　the　least　I　could　do　for　you。　You　should　drive　more　carefully。〃
　〃In　the　future；〃　I　said；　〃I'll　take　greater　precautions；　I　promise。〃　I　didn't　know　what　sort　of　game　I　was　playing；　but　since　she　didn't　know　that　I　didn't　know；　I'd　decided　to　take　her　for　all　the　information　I　could。　〃I　figured　you　would　be　curious　as　to　the　shape　I　was　in；　so　I　came　to　let　you　see。〃
　〃I　was；　am；〃　she　replied。　〃Have　you　eaten？〃
　〃A　light　lunch；　several　hours　ago。〃　I　said。
　So　she　rang　up　the　maid　and　ordered　food。　Then　〃I　thought　you　might　take　it　upon　yourself　to　leave　Greenwood；〃　she　said；　〃when　you　were　able；　I　didn't　think　it　would　be　so　soon；　though；　and　I　didn't　think　you'd　e　here。〃
　〃I　know；〃　I　said；　〃that's　why　I　did。〃
　She　offered　me　a　cigarette　and　I　took　it；　lit　hers；　lit　mine。
　〃You　always　were　unpredictable；〃　she　finally　told　me。　〃While　this　has　helped　you　often　in　the　past；　however；　I　wouldn't　count　on　it　now。〃
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　I　said。
　〃The　stakes　are　far　too　high　for　a　bluff；　and　I　think　that's　what　you're　trying；　walking　in　here　like　this。　I've　always　admired　your　courage；　Corwin；　but　don't　be　a　fool。　You　know　the　score。〃
　Corwin？　File　it　away；　under　〃Corey。〃
　〃Maybe　I　don't；〃　I　said。　〃I've　been　asleep　for　a　while；　remember？〃
　〃You　mean　you　haven't　been　in　touch？〃
　〃Haven't　had　a　chance；　since　I　woke　up。〃
　She　leaned　her　head　to　one　side　and　narrowed　her　wonderful　eyes。