lh.narcissusinchains-第85部分

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y。　The　gun　at　the　small　of　her　back　wasn't　nearly　as　noticeable　as　Igor's。　Her　black　hair　was　still　pulled　back　in　a　tight　ponytail；　leaving　her　face　clean　and　empty；　and　that　included　her　eyes。　Claudia　had　cop　eyes；　or　bad…guy　eyes；　the　eyes　of　someone　who　doesn't　let　you　see　what's　inside。　I　didn't　meet　many　women　with　eyes　like　that；　outside　of　the　police。　If　her　face　had　been　a　little　softer；　she'd　have　been　beautiful。　But　there　was　something　in　the　set　of　her　jaw；　the　way　she　held　that　full　mouth　that　said；　back　off；　no　touching。　It　robbed　her　of　something　that　would　have　changed　everything　about　her。
　The　two　of　them　came　to　take　up　posts　to　either　side　and　a　little　behind　me。　I　would　have　protested；　but　I'd　discovered　last　night　that　it　didn't　do　much　good。　They　took　orders　from　Rafael；　not　me。　He'd　said；　〃Keep　her　safe；〃　and　that　was　what　they　were　going　to　do。　I　was　too　。。。　whatever　the　hell　I　was　to　waste　energy　on　telling　them　to　back　off。　They　could　follow　me　around　if　it　made　them　feel　better。　This　afternoon　I　just　didn't　care。
　Merle　was　standing　in　the　corner　of　the　cabinets；　near　enough　to　the　coffeemaker　that　Igor　crowded　him　while　I　poured　my　coffee。　I　didn't　know　who　had　made　a　fresh　pot；　and　I　didn't　care；　just　the　sight　and　smell　of　it　made　me　feel　better。
　Merle　was　wearing　the　cowboy　boots；　jeans；　and　jean　jacket　over　bare　chest　that　he'd　had　on　last　night。　He　was　sipping　coffee　out　of　one　of　the　few　plain　mugs　I　owned。　The　scar　on　his　chest　was　very　white；　ragged；　pitted　in　one　spot　as　if　that　had　been　the　deepest　part　of　the　wound。　It　did　look　like　lightning　carved　into　his　chest　and　stomach。　I　wanted　to　ask　what　had　happened；　but　there　was　a　look　to　his　eyes　as　he　watched　the　kitchen　that　said　he　probably　wouldn't　tell　me；　and　he'd　definitely　see　it　as　intrusive。　None　of　my　business　anyway。
　The　only　chairs　open　at　the　table　gave　their　backs　to　the　bay　window　and　the　sliding　glass　door。　I　hated　sitting　with　my　back　to　a　window　or　a　door　　especially　a　door。　Nathaniel　touched　Zane's　arm。　He　glanced　back　at　me　then　got　up；　coffee　cup　and　all；　and　went　around　to　the　chair　that　backed　the　door。　Cherry　sat　beside　him；　though　her　chair　had　been　Claudia's；　and　it　was　turned　so　that　she　had　the　view　of　both　doors。　Cherry　moved　the　chair　closer　to　Zane；　giving　her　back　to　all　that　glass。
　There'd　been　a　time　when　I　wasn't　this　careful；　especially　at　home；　but　today　was　going　to　be　one　of　my　paranoid　days。　Insecurity　had　that　effect　on　me；　even　emotional　insecurity。
　Claudia　sat　beside　me。　Igor　leaned　against　the　island　behind　me；　keeping　an　eye　on　Merle；　I　think。　They　didn't　seem　to　like　each　other。
　I　took　the　first　sip　of　coffee；　hot；　black；　and　let　the　warmth　fill　me　for　a　few　seconds；　before　I　asked；　〃Where's　Gregory？〃
　〃Stephen　and　Vivian　took　him　back　to　their　apartment；〃　Cherry　said。
　〃But　he's　alright？〃　I　asked。
　She　nodded；　smiling　that　smile　that　made　her　look　years　younger　than　we　both　were。　〃He's　healed；　Anita。　You　healed　him。〃
　〃I　called　his　beast；　I　didn't　heal　him。〃
　She　shrugged。　〃Same　difference。〃
　I　shook　my　head。　〃No；　I　couldn't　heal　him　last　night。〃
　She　frowned；　and　even　that　was　pretty。　She　was　buzzed　today；　shining　with　it。　I　glanced　at　Zane；　who　was　still　gazing　at　her。　Maybe　it　was　love　for　both　of　them。　Something　had　certainly　put　a　twinkle　in　her　eye。
　〃For　heaven's　sake；　Anita；　you　saved　him；　does　it　really　matter　how　you　did　it？〃
　It　was　my　turn　to　shrug。　〃I　just　don't　like　the　fact　that　Raina's　munin　seems　to　be　interfering　more　and　more　when　I　try　to　heal。〃
　The　doorbell　rang；　and　I　jumped　like　I'd　been　shot。　Nervous　　who　me？
　〃I　ordered　take…out；〃　Nathaniel　said。
　I　looked　at　him。　〃Please　tell　me　it's　Chinese。〃
　He　nodded；　smiling；　I　think　at　my　pleased　expression。　We'd　discovered　that　though　no　Chinese　restaurant　would　ordinarily　deliver　out　this　far；　that　for　a　sizable　tip；　and　I　mean　sizable；　they'd　make　an　exception　for　us。　Nathaniel　got　up；　but　Caleb　pushed　away　from　the　door。　〃I'll　get　it。　I　don't　seem　to　be　much　use　for　anything　else。〃　He　set　his　mug　on　the　island　and　threaded　his　way　between　us　to　vanish　into　the　living　room。
　〃What's　his　problem　today？〃　I　asked。
　Igor　answered；　〃He　tried　to　get　friendly　with　Claudia。〃
　〃And　me；〃　Cherry　said。
　I　looked　from　Cherry's　smiling　face　to　Claudia's　frown。　〃And　he's　not　bleeding　or　bruised？〃
　〃It　wasn't　necessary　to　hurt　him；〃　Claudia　said；　〃only　to　be　very；　very　clear。〃　The　tone　in　her　voice　and　the　look　in　her　eyes　made　my　own　eyes　go　cold。　I　don't　know　if　I'd　ever　met　a　woman　that　had　that　effect　on　me。　It　made　me　feel　sexist　to　say　that　it　was　more　unnerving　because　she　was　a　woman；　but　it　was　still　true。
　Her　nostrils　flared；　and　I　watched　all　of　them　sniff　the　air。　Everyone　moved　at　once；　scattering　around　the　room。　Claudia　stood；　grabbed　my　arm　　my　gun　arm　　and　pulled　me　back　towards　the　far　side　of　the　kitchen　and　the　wall。　She　already　had　her　gun　out　in　her　right　hand。　I　jerked　my　gun　arm　free　as　Igor　moved　with　her　and　they　stood　in　front　of　me；　blocking　my　view。　Igor　had　his　gun　out；　too。　I　was　about　to　ask　what　the　hell　was　going　on；　when　I　smelled　it。　The　acrid；　musty　scent　of　snakes。
　I　had　the　Browning　out　and　pointed　at　the　door；　sighted　two…handed　when　the　first　snake　man　came　through　the　kitchen　doorway　with　Caleb　in　front　of　him；　a　sawed…off　shotgun　pressed　into　the　angle　of　his　jaw。　〃Anyone　moves；　and　he　dies。〃
　
　40
　
　EVERYONE　FROZE；　AS　if　we'd　all　taken　a　collective　breath　and　held　it。　〃No　one　has　to　die　here；〃　the　snake　man　said。　He　looked　at　me　with　a　huge　copper…colored　eye。　The　strong　black　stripe　that　edged　the　eyes　looked　like　dramatic　makeup。　There　were　no　scars　on　this　one's　face。　He　was　shorter　and　seemed　younger。　His　scaled　face　almost　managed　a　smile；　but　the　jaw　of　a　snake　is　just　not　made　for　smiling。　His　eyes　were　as　empty　and　alien　as　the　rest　of　him。　〃Our　boss　just　wants　to　talk　to　Ms。　Blake；　that's　all。〃
　〃Have　him　pick　up　the　damn　phone　and　make　an　appointment；〃　I　said。　I　was　staring　down　the　barrel　of　the　Browning　at　a　point　near　the　center　of　his　chest；　far　enough　up　from　Caleb's　head　that　I　wasn't　worried　about　shooting　him；　but　close　enough　to　the　throat　that　with　the　ammo　I　had　in　the　gun　it　might　pretty　much　decapitate　him。　If　he　ever　moved　the　gun　barrel　out　of　Caleb's　jaw。　A　sawed…off　shotgun；　with　silver　shot　at　touching　range；　and　Caleb　would　be　gone。　I　didn't　much　like　him；　but　I　couldn't　let　the　bad　guys　blow　his　head　off；　could　I？
　〃He　didn't　think　you'd　e；〃　the　snake　man　said。
　〃You　go　away；　have　him　call；　and　I　promise　to　give　it　the　consideration　it　deserves。〃　My　voice　was　quiet　because　I　was　stilling　my　breath　as　much　as　I　could；　waiting　for　that　one　shot；　if　it　ever　came。
　The　snake　man　ground　the　barrel　into　Caleb's　neck；　until　he　forced　a　small　pain　sound　from　him。　〃This　is　silver　shot；　Ms。　Blake。　At　this　range　it'll　take　his　head。〃
　〃The　second　after　he　dies；　so　do　you。〃　Claudia　said　it；　her　voice　as　quiet　and　steady　as　the　arm　that　held　the　gun　that　was　pointed　at　the　snake　man's　head。
　He　gave　a　hissing　laugh；　and　it　was　echoed　from　behind　him。　More　of　the　things　started　to　move　up　in　the　open　doorway。　I　caught　a　flash　of　silver　metal；　more　guns。　〃No　one　else　es　through　that　doorway；　or　I'll　blow　you　away　and　let　Caleb　take　his　chances。〃
　He　pushed　the　barrel　of　the　shotgun　into　Caleb's　jaw　until　the　smaller　man　had　to　rise　on　tiptoe；　and　I　saw　the　first　hints　of　panic　on　his　face。　〃I　don't　think　she　likes　you　very　much；〃　the　snake　man　hissed。
　〃Doesn't　matter；〃　I　said。　〃I'm　not　letting　you　bring　more　guns　into　this　room。〃
　〃You　promise　not　to　hurt　Anita。〃　It　was　Merle。　I'd　almost　forgotten　him　standing　to　one　side　and　behind　us。
　〃We　won't　harm　a　hair　on　her　head。〃
　〃We　can　smell　that　you're　lying；〃　Claudia　said。
　The　snake　head　turned　to　one　side；　birdlike。　〃Most　people　can't　smell　changes　in　us；　can't　smell　anything　but　the　stink　of　snake。〃
　Cherry's　voice。　〃Anita。〃
　My　eyes　flickered　to　her；　and　I　saw　movement　outside　the　sliding　glass　doors。　They　were　trying　to　flank　us。　〃We've　got　movement　on　this　side；〃　Igor　said。
　For　once　other　people　had　guns；　and　they　seemed　to　know　what　they　were　doing。　How　refreshing。　My　gaze　turned　back　to　the　snake　man　in　time　to　see　him　motion　with　the　barrel　of　the　gun　towards　the　glass。　〃We　have　the　house　surrounded。　There　is　no　need　for　all　of　you　to　die。〃
　Claudia　fired　a　second　before　I　did。　Her　bullet　hit　him　in　the　face；　mine　took　him　high　on　the　chest；　low　on　the　neck。　His　head　vanished　in　a　welter　of　blood　and　thicker　things。　My　ears　rang　with　the　shots　in　the　small　space。　The　snake's　body　jerked　back；　the　shotgun　went　off　as　his　hand　convulsed。　Caleb　threw　himself　to　the　floor　towards　us。　Two　more　snake　men　came　through　the　door　shoulder…to…shoulder；　both　with　shotguns。　Claudia　said；　〃Left。〃
　I　shot　the　one　on　the　right；　and　she　took　the　one　on　the　left。　Both　of　us　hit　what　we　aimed　at；　and　the　two　fell　to　the　floor；　one　shotgun　skidding　across　the　floor　towards　us。
　Another　shotgun　blast　exploded　to　our　left。　I　turned　towards　the　noise；　I　couldn't　help　it。　The　sliding　glass　door　had　shattered；　and　I　hadn't　heard　the　sound　of　falling　glass；　just　the　shotgun　roaring。　Igor　was　kneeling；　using　the　island　as　cover；　as　he　put　two　shots　into　the　chest　of　a　man。　The　man　fell　to　his　knees；　abruptly；　like　a　puppet　whose　strings　had　been　cut。
　〃Ining；〃　Claudia　said；　and　I　turned　back　to　the　other　door。　I　could　see　the　barrel　of　a　shiny　revolver；　something　nickel　plated。　Claudia　was　standing　with　her　body　pressed　to　the　cabinets　on　the　near　wall；　almost　hidden　from　the　door。　She　fired　twice　at　that　shiny　barrel；　and　there　was　a　scream　that　overrode　the　ringing　in　my　ears。　A　screaming　that　went　on　and　on　like　the　squeal　of　a　baby　rabbit　when　a　cat　gets　it。　Dimly；　I　heard　someone　yell；　〃Shut　up；　Felix！〃
　Shots　showered　into　the　room　from　the　side　of　the　inner　door　that　neither　Claudia　nor　I　could　see　and　still　stay　hidden。　Someone　touched　my　arm；　and　I　whirled；　smacking　into　Nathaniel　with　the　barrel　of　the　Browning。　He　pointed。　Igor　was　on　the　floor；　on　his　side；　with　the　first　hint　of　crimson　trickling　across　the　floor。　I　saw　Zane　and　Cherry　under　the