cw.blackalibi-第24节

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！


er　of　sidewalk；　took　the　indented　middle　of　the　narrow　thoroughfare；　undeterred　by　the　thread　of　open　sewage　coiled　along　it。　A　moment　later　she　was　glad　she'd　done　so。　A　columnar　blackness　standing　unsuspected　in　the　niche　of　a　setback　doorway　found　voice　as　she　went　by；　slurred　softly：　〃Hey；　what's　your　hurry？〃
　　〃Shop　closed！〃　she　snapped；　and　quickened　to　a　run；　and　kept　it　up　until　she'd　reached　the　lower　end　of　San　Rafael；　and　it　had　opened　up　into　one　of　the　subsidiary　plazas　that　dotted　the　town。　This　one　had　palms；　a　bandstand　kiosk；　a　gleaming　white　statue　of　one　of　the　heroes　of　independence；　and　faint　arc　lights　gleaming　in　misty　violet　around　the　four　sides　of　it。　It　was　dead　to　the　world。
　　She　cut　across　it；　and　on　the　other　side　had　a　choice　of　two。　San　Jacinto　was　the　shortest　way　out　to　her　own　place；　but　it　was　another　of　those　long；　dismal；　poorly　lighted　lanes　like　the　one　she'd　just　left。　i5th　of　May　would　take　her　a　little　out　of　her　way；　but　it　boasted　a　little　better　lighting　and　there　was　an　occasional　food　or　drink　shop　to　be　found　along　it。　Other　nights　when　she　came　along　here　she　never　hesitated；　she　took　the　quickest　way。　Tonight；　for　some　reason；　she　was　in　a　creepy　mood；　shy　of　dark　and　lonely　places。　She　entered　the　Calle　Quince　de　Mayo。　The　two　diverged　like　the　arms　of　a　narrow　V。
　　She　had　just　gone　past　a　small；　dimly…lighted　bodega；　a　drinking　and　eating　place　patronized　by　the　poor；　a　few　moments　later；　when　someone　came　out　and　hailed　her。
　　〃Hola！　Is　that　you；　Clo…Clo？〃
　　It　was　one　of　the　others　of　her　own　immediate　sorority；　a　girl　known　as　La　Bruja　（the　witch）。　She　had　a　shawl　coifed　around　her　head　to　ward　off　the　night　chill；　and　might　have　looked　almost　nun…like　save　for　the　cigarette　suspended　between　her　lips　without　benefit　of　fingers。　She　stood　there　arms　akimbo。
　　Clo…Clo　turned　and　went　back　to　her；　glad　to　find　herself　in　someone　else's　pany；　even　though　it　meant　a　tethporary　delay　in　her　return　home。　After　all；　you　didn't　have　to　be　afraid　of　another　girl。
　　〃What's　the　matter；　you　getting　airy？〃　La　Bru；ja　demanded。
　　〃Get　out；〃　Clo…Clo　chuckled　disarmingly。
　　〃Going　home　already？　How　are　things？〃
　　Clo…Clo　hooked　two　fingers；　kissed　their　tips　to　denote　the　indescribable。　〃What　a　night！　I　ran　into　Croesus　himself。〃
　　〃Who's　he；　one　of　these　rich　paisanos　in　town　for　a　spree？〃
　　〃No；　it's　somebody　my　mother's　always　talking　about。〃　She　described　the　supper　in　glowing　terms；　prudently　omitting　all　reference　to　the　hundred…and…fifty…peso　bonus。　It　probably　wouldn't　have　been　believed　anyway。　〃You　know；　I'm　almost　frightened。　When　things　are　so　good；　they　say　it's　a　sign　you're　in　for　trouble；　to　watch　out。　I　hope　this　night　don't　end　up　bad。〃
　　They　stood　for　a　while　like　that　chatting；　two　lone　figures　on　the　night…bound　sidewalk。　〃Knocking　off？〃　La　Bruja　asked　finally。
　　〃Sure　am。　I　don't　want　to　crowd　my　luck　any。〃
　　〃I　guess　I　will　too。　Got　a　cigarette　left　on　you？〃
　　〃I'll　do　better　than　that　for　you。　e　on；　I'll　blow　you　to　a　cup　of　steaming　coffee。　I　keep　feeling　chilly　down　the　middle　of　my　back。〃
　　They　went　back　inside　the　place　La　Bruja　had　just　left。　There　was　no　one　in　it　but　the　proprietor；　a　weary…looking　man　in　rolled　shirt　sleeves　and　a　floor…length　apron。　They　sat　down　at　one　of　the　battered　wooden　tables。
　　The　first　thing　Clo…Clo　did　was　kick　off　her　shoes　under　it；　wiggle　her　toes。　〃Some　relief；　huh？〃
　　La　Bruja　brooded　dully　down　on　the　table　top；　flicked　a　leftover　matchstick　away；　flapped　her　band　in　disgusted　agreement　toward　her。
　　〃This　is　the　part　I　like　best；　when　'it's　all　over。　Don't　have　to　smile；　don't　have　to　listen；　don't　have　to　watch　what　you　say　next。〃
　　〃Are　you　that　way？　I'm　that　way；　too；〃　Clo…Clo　admitted。　She　siphoned　hot；　watery　coffee　noisily　into　her　mouth　without　lifting　the　cup　from　the　table　at　all。
　　Presently；　the　warm　brew　flooding　through　her；　she　began　to　wax　philosophical。　〃I　wonder　where　we'll　all　be　a　year　from　now。〃
　　〃Tomorrow　night；　for　that　matter；〃　said　the　disgruntled　La　Bruja；　continuing　to　lower　down　upon　the　table。
　　〃Tell　my　fortune；〃　Clo…Clo　urged。　〃e　on；　chica。〃
　　La　Bruja　grinned　lopsidedly　at　her。　〃I　know　you；　you　little　monkey；　that's　the　reason　you　offered　me　the　cup　of　coffee。〃
　　Clo…Clo　didn't　try　to　deny　it。　〃After　all；　it's　the　only　relaxation　I　ever　get　during　the　course　of　an　evening。〃
　　La　Bruja　balanced　her　cigarette　on　the　edge　of　the　table。　〃All　right；〃　she　acceded　wearily；　〃pass　me　your　mitt。〃
　　〃No；　try　it　with　the　cards。　I　like　it　better　with　the　cards；　there's　more　stuff　to　it。〃　Clo…Clo　raised　her　voice　to　the　shopkeeper　in　the　shadowy　background。　〃Hey；　got　a　deck　of　cards？〃
　　〃Yes；　but　I'm　going　to　close　up。〃　He　turned　off　a　light；　and　doubled　the　previous　dimness。
　　Clo…Clo　looked　around　at　him　with　a　mixture　of　sudden　annoyance　and　nervousness；　totally　unlike　her　usual　self。　〃Couldn't　you　wait　a　minute；　what's　your　hurry？〃　she　said　sharply。
　　〃I　want　to　get　some　sleep　myself；〃　he　grumbled。　〃Think　all　I've　got　to　do　is　stay　up　all　night　for　two　hustlers？〃
　　Clo…Clo　gave　the　table　a　smack。　〃You　bring　us　those　cards！〃　She　wanted　respect　for　her　ten　centavos。　She　was；　for　once；　in　the　unusual　position　of　being　the　customer　in　her　own　right；　and　she　was　going　to　get　everything　out　of　it　that　was　ing　to　her。
　　He　shuffled　grudgingly　forward　and　slapped　an　insanitary　deck　down　between　them。　〃Five　more　minutes；　you　two；〃　he　grunted。　On　his　way　back　he　turned　out　another　light。　There　was　only　one　left　now　in　the　entire　place；　casting　a　smoky　pooi　of　light　down　over　their　immediate　table　and　nothing　else。　The　rest　was　all　shadows。
　　〃Will　you　be　able　to　see？〃　Clo…Clo　asked　anxiously。
　　〃Good　enough。〃　La　Bruja；　cigarette　vibrating　unsupported　between　her　lips　once　more；　shuffled　deftly　with　a　low　whirring　noise。　〃Cut；〃　she　ordered。　She　began　to　pay　them　out。
　　Clo…Clo　pointed　both　elbows　to　the　table　top；　rested　her　face　between　her　hands；　looked　on　absorbedly。　A　period　of　low…voiced　intermittent　recital　ensued；　all　on　La　Bruja's　part。　Then　it　broke　off　again　suddenly。　There　was　a　long　pause。
　　Clo…Clo　raised　her　eyes　from　the　cards　to　the　other　girl's　face。　〃What's　the　matter？　Something　go　wrong？〃　Le　Bruja　had　mangled　them　all　together；　was　restacking　them　to　start　over。
　　〃What're　you　doing　that　for？〃
　　〃I　want　to　try　it　over；〃　La　Bruja　said　nonmittally。
　　The　low…voiced　recital　began　again。　Then　it　stopped　short　again；　just　as　before。
　　Once　more　she　began　over。　Once　more　she　stopped；　as　though　at　a　loss。
　　〃What　do　you　keep　quitting　bike　that　for？〃　Clo…Clo　asked。
　　La　Bruja　shook　her　head　slightly；　whether　at　the　question　itsebf　or　at　the　condition　that　had　caused　the　question　to　be　asked　she　left　unresobved。
　　〃It's　still　here；〃　she　murmured　finabby。
　　Clo…Clo　booked　them　over。　〃I　know；　but　what　is　it？〃
　　〃It's　something；　but　I　can't　make　out　myself　what　it　is。　It's　nothing　good。　Wait　a　minute；　I'll　see　if　I　can　get　it　for　you。　It's　dark；　and　that　means　some　kind　of　trouble。　It's　a　four　card。　It's　the　four　of　spades　and　it's　right　over　you。　Every　time　I　shuffle　them　it　keeps　ing　Out　right　over　you。　Whatever　it　is；　it's　something　that's　hanging　over　you；　that's　nearing　you；　that's　on　its　way。〃　She　spread　her　hands　helpbessby。
　　Clo…Clo　rolled　her　eyeballs　upwards　half　under　her　lids　in　unspoken　dismay。
　　〃Wait　a　minute；　I'll　try　it　again。〃　La　Bruja's　hands　reached　out；　harvested　the　cards　into　a　bristling　heap。
　　Clo…Clo　turned　her　head　stiffly　aside；　booked　off　into　the　shadows。　〃Gall　me　if…if　it　es　back　again。〃　She　cross…barred　one　index　finger　over　the　other；　held　them　that　way。
　　There　was　a　period　of　bated　waiting。　She　could　hear　the　faint　tick　the　cards　made　going　down　on　the　wood。　It　was　very　stibb　in　the　room。　The　only　thing　that　moved　was　a　silent　thing；　the　shadow　of　La　Bruja's　hand　on　the　floor；　rising　and　fabling；　rising　and　fabling；　where　Clo…Clo　was　booking　down　with　averted　head。
　　The　hand　stopped。　The　ticks　of　cardboard　stopped。　La　Bruja　spoke。
　　〃It's　back　again。　Fourth　time　in　a　row。〃
　　Clo…Clo　bunched　her　shoulders。　〃It's　drafty　in　here；〃　she　said。　She　turned　slowly；　glanced　down　as　at　something　coiled　to　strike　her。　〃But　isn't　it　you　that　puts　them　there？　Isn't　it…isn't　it　your　hand？〃
　　〃They　e　in　rotation。　What　have　I　to　do　with　that？　As　soon　as　you　e　out；　and　fall　into　the　center　place；　all　those　that　follow　have　their　places　in　order　around　you。　If　I　meddled　with　that；　the　fortune　would　be　worthless。〃
　　〃You　mean　it　has　been　in　that　exact…upper　corner　of　my　card；　each　of　the　four　times？〃
　　〃No；　but　it　has　been　in　the　row　over　you　each　time。　It　has　e　out　within　three　or　four　cards　of　your　own。　It　is　something　on　its　way　to　you。〃
　　Clo…Clo　slashed　out；　caught　the　other's　wrist　in　frightened　appeal。　Her　voice　broke。　〃Bruja。　Brujita。　You　gotta　figure　out…you　gotta　tell　me　what　it　is！　Try！〃
　　She　waited；　then　seeing　that　no　answer　was　forthing；　began　to　try　to　coach　her　in　her　own　metier。　〃What　does　the　four　mean？　Is　it　a　date　I　should　beware　of？　Today's　the；　bet　me　see…〃
　　〃No；　it's　no　date。　There　are　no　dates　i