cw.blackalibi-第31节

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　　〃Yeah；〃　said　Sally；　shaking　her　head；　〃but　I　don't　like　'em　with　shoeshines　on　the　hair。〃
　　This　brought　on　another　gale　of　risibility。
　　〃Have　they　a　union？　They'll　be　picketing　this　table；　the　first　thing　we　know。〃
　　〃Say；　wouldn't　that　look　funny？〃　visualized　Marjorie。　〃Three　or　four　of　them　carrying　signs　and　doing　little　dance　steps　back　and　forth　in　front　of　us…〃　The　mental　image　she　managed　to　convey　sent　them　into　still　another　spasm。
　　〃e　on；　we're　going　to　have　wine　with　these　jokes！〃　Sally　said　masterfully；　beckoning　the　waiter。
　　〃Old　P。　J。　should　see　his　hard…working　secretary　now！〃　Marjorie　gloated　a　few　minutes　later；　tilting　a　ruddy　glass　toward　her　friend。
　　Sally　turned　and　looked　the　other　way；　away　from　the　crowd　out　into　the　marginal　darkness；　for　almost　the　first　time　since　they'd　seated　themselves。　She　decided　to　kid　her　panion　a　little。　〃It　may　be　hiding　out　there　right　now；　watching　us　through　the　trees；〃　she　said　mischievously。　〃Do　you　suppose　they　pick　out　whom　their　next　meal　is　going　to　be　ahead　of　time　and　then　follow　them　around？　I　heard　a　story　once…〃
　　〃Brrh！　Don't！〃　pleaded　Marjorie。　〃I　was　just　beginning　to　forget　it。　You　had　to　remind　me。〃
　　〃Nobody　else　here　seems　to　take　it　seriously；　why　should　we？　Look　at　the　mob　here　tonight。　That　alone　shows　it's　just　some　sort　of　an　idle　rumor。〃
　　Under　those　gay…colored　lanterns　strung　from　the　trees；　with　music　playing；　glasses　clinking；　waiters　hustling　around；　shoals　of　men　and　women　in　evening　dress　on　every　side　of　them；　Marjorie　had　to　admit　to　herself　it　was　hard　really　to　believe　that　there　was　violent　death　stalking　somewhere　about　the　city　at　that　very　moment；　on　four　velvety；　relentless　paws。
　　By　the　time　they　were　ready　to　leave；　an　hour　later；　they　had　both　forgotten　all　about　it　once　again。　They　returned　in　high　good　humor　to　where　their　carriage　was　waiting　for　them；　still　laughing　intermittently　and　for　as　little　reason　as　ever。
　　〃I　liked　that　place。　Aren't　you　glad　we　took　it　in？〃
　　〃Wouldn't　have　missed　it　for　the　world；〃　Marjorie　agreed。
　　〃Drive　us　around　awhile；　slowly；〃　Sally　told　the　coachman　as　they　got　in。　〃It's　a　shame　to　go　back　to　the　hotel　so　soon。　Isn't　it　beautiful　out　here　in　the　moonlight？〃
　　〃Don't　let's　run　up　too　big　a　bill；〃　Marjorie　cautioned。
　　〃Forget　it；　this　is　my　night。　What's　a　vacation　for　anyway？〃　An　empty　side　lane　had　opened　out　beside　them。　〃Turn　up　that　way；〃　she　ordered　the　driver。　〃Take　us　off　this　main　driveway；　it's　too　full　of　exhaust　fumes　from　all　the　traffic。〃
　　There　wasn't　another　vehicle　in　sight　on　it。　It　stretched　barren　into　the　night；　in　a　ruler…straight　line　before　them。
　　〃There；　isn't　this　much　better？　We've　got　it　all　to　ourselves；〃　said　the　headstrong　Sally。　〃I　like　to　explore　new　roads；　don't　you？〃
　　〃I　can　take　them　or　leave　them　alone；〃　Marjorie　had　to　admit。　It　was　just　a　little　too　lifeless　to　appeal　to　her；　but　she　didn't　like　to　spoil　her　friend's　good　time。
　　It　began　to　curve　slowly　around　to　the　left　presently；　and　as　it　did　so；　a　sheet　of　burnished　silver；　glistening　like　a　mirror　under　the　moon；　came　into　view　through　the　trees。
　　〃Look　at　that　lake　with　the　swans　on　it！〃　Sally　enthused。　〃Did　you　ever　see　anything　so　exquisite？〃
　　The　horse　was　going　at　a　slow　walk。　Presently　the　trees　between　it　and　them　had　thinned　to　extinctiOn；　and　only　a　grassy；　downward　slope　lay　between　the　road　and　it。　〃Let's　get　Out　and　walk　down　to　the　edge　of　it；〃　was　Sally's　next　suggestion。　〃Stretch　our　legs　a　little　after　sitting　so　long。　I　love　to　walk　along　beside　water；　don't　you？〃
　　〃Not　at　this　hour　of　the　night；〃　Marjorie　said　halfheartedly。　〃Let's　turn　around　and　go　back　where　there　are　more　people。　It's　getting　late；　and　we're　awfully　far　in…〃
　　〃Don't　be　that　way。　You're　a　big　girl　now。　Nothing　can　happen　to　us　as　long　as　we　stay　in　sight　of　the　coach；　don't　go　roaming　too　far　off。　I　promise　you　we　won't　let　it　out　of　our　sight。〃　She　already　had　one　foot　poised　out　of　the　carriage。
　　Marjorie　gave　in　once　more；　but　this　time　it　was　the　coachman　who　began　to　jabber　objections　to　them　when　he　saw　them　about　to　descend。
　　〃What's　he　saying？〃　asked　Marjorie。
　　〃just　about　what　everyone　else　has　been；　I　guess。　Advising　us　not　to　leave　the　carriage　and　go　walking　around　on　foot；　most　likely。　I　think　it's　a　conspiracy　on　the　part　of　everyone。　These　high…strung　Latins！〃
　　〃They　live　here；　after　all；〃　Marjorie　pointed　out。
　　But　the　impulsive　little　redhead　hadn't　waited；　was　already　picking　her　way　down　the　gently　inclined　sward　toward　the　lake　below；　flashing　blindingly　in　the　moonlight。　Marjorie　turned　to　the　driver；　warned　him　with　one　Spanish　word　and　a　dozen　English　ones；　her　usual　ratio：　〃　Espera。　Don't　you　dare　budge　from　here；　understand？　We'll　be　back　in　a　minute。〃
　　He　nodded　in　disapproving　acquiescence；　but　the　horse；　meanwhile；　was　pawing　the　ground　uneasily　and　shifting　about　between　the　traces。　He　had　to　tighten　his　grip　on　the　reins　to　steady　it。　She　saw　its　ears　standing　stiffly　erect；　as　though　it　heard　or　sensed　something　that　the　humans　about　it　were　still　unaware　of。
　　〃Sal；〃　she　called　down　the　slope。　〃I　think　we'd　better　get　back　in　again。　I　don't　like　the　way　this　horse　is　acting。〃　But　even　the　attempt　to　overrule　her　friend　and　bring　her　back　again；　in　itself；　was　carrying　her　involuntarily　down　toward　the　water's　edge　herself。
　　Sally　had　already　reached　it；　was　crouched　there　on　her　heels；　crumbling　some　after…dinner　wafers　she　had　brought　along　from　the　restaurant　and　holding　them　out　enticingly　toward　a　flotilla　of　magnificent　black　swans；　who　came　streaking　up　from　all　directions。　〃Aren't　they　beauts？〃　she　called　obviously　over　her　shoulder。　〃C'mon　down；　what're　you　afraid　of？〃
　　Marjorie　made　her　way　down　to　her；　still　only　to　persuade　her　to　e　back。　〃e　on；　Sal；〃　she　said　reasonably。　〃Something's　making　that　horse　fidget　up　there。　Let's　get　out　of　here。〃
　　〃Oh；　it　probably　just　wants　to　get　back　to　the　stable；　you　know　how　horses　are。〃　She　went　on　paying　out　crumbs。　〃Look　at　them　fight　one　another。　That's　what　you　call　muscling　in！〃
　　Suddenly　they　all　began　to　reverse；　dart　out　into　the　middle　of　the　lake　again　as　swiftly　as　they　had　drawn　shoreward　just　now。
　　〃What's　the　matter　with　them；　what're　they　doing　that　for？〃　Sally　asked　blankly。
　　〃Something's　frightened　them…and　it　wasn't　ourselves。　They　were　practically　snatching　those　crumbs　out　of　your　hand　a　minute　before。　I　told　you　we'd　better　get　out　of　here！〃　She　began　pulling　the　other　girl　insistently　by　the　arm　to　get　her　to　e　away。　〃This　is　just　the　sort　of　place　we　were　warned　to　stay　away　from。〃
　　〃Oh；　all　right；〃　Sally　said　weariedly。　She　straightened　her　feet　and　brushed　the　front　of　her　dress。　〃Don't　be　such　a　wet　blanket。〃
　　They　turned　to　face　the　roadway　up　above　once　more；　just　in　time　to　witness　the　horse　rearing　violently　upward　on　its　hind　legs　until　it　was　nearly　vertical　within　its　traces。　It　whinnied　with　shrill　fearfulness。　The　coachman；　nearly　overturned；　gave　an　alarmed　shout。　The　animal　dropped　back　again；　sparks　flashing　out　from　its　shoes；　and　then　it　plunged　forward；　bolting　off　under　their　very　eyes　while　they　stood　there　rooted　helplessly　to　the　spot。　In　another　moment　the　rapid　clatter　of　its　hoofbeats　and　the　driver's　excited　yells　had　both　alike　died　away　far　down　the　driveway。
　　They　came　running　up　to　the　edge　of　it　a　moment　later；　stood　there　aghast；　looking　down　its　empty　moon…speckled　length。　A　little　blue　dust；　siowly　settling　in　places　from　the　vehicle's　headlong　flight；　was　the　only　trace　left　of　it。
　　Marjorie's　hands　struck　her　sides；　rebounded　again。　〃　Now　are　you　satisfied？〃　she　said　pointedly。　〃You　would　get　out　and　leave　it。〃
　　〃How　did　I　know　that　was　going　to　happen？　He'll　get　him　under　control　in　a　minute　or　two　and　e　back　to　get　us。　That's　the　only　way　he　can　get　his　money　for　the　whole　night's　excursion。〃
　　Marjorie；　however；　wasn't　taking　such　a　calm　view　of　it。　〃Well；　we're　not　waiting　around　here　until　he　does！〃　she　let　her　panion　know　sharply。　〃There's　something　around　here　that　there　shouldn't　be；　and　I　know　what　I'm　saying。　First　the　swans；　and　then　that　horse…〃
　　They　started　to　walk　briskly　along　by　the　side　of　the　road；　following　in　the　same　direction　the　runaway　horse　had　taken。　Even　though　they　had　no　idea　where　the　road　led；　to　keep　on　along　it　was　their　only　hope　of　meeting　the　carriage　again　on　its　return　trip。
　　They　were　alternately　in　shadow　and　moonlight。　The　macadam　surface　was　hard　on　their　feet　after　a　while；　in　the　thin…soled　evening　slippers　they　were　wearing。　First　one；　then　the　other；　changed　over　to　the　turf　on　the　outside　of　the　roadway；　where　the　walking　was　easier。　This　brought　them　into　single　file；　however；　for　trees；　tree　roots3　and　bushes　impinged　quite　closely　on　the　road　strip　in　places。　Marjorie　was　in　the　lead。
　　Their　tread　fell　silently　on　the　soft　earth　now。　It　was　when　they　had　been　doing　this　for　several　minutes　that　they　first　became　aware　of　something。　A　soft　intermittent　rustling　sound；　a　sort　of　whispering　slither；　was　ing　from　the　foliage　a　little　behind　and　off　to　one　side　of　them