cb.damnationgame-第31节

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es。〃　〃I　was　stupid。　I　played　even　when　the　chips　didn't　tingle；　when　I　knew　I　was　on　a　losing　streak。〃　〃Why？〃　Marty　glowered。
　　〃What　do　you　want；　a　signed　confession？〃　he　snapped。　〃I　was　greedy；　what　do　you　think？　And　I　loved　playing；　even　when　I　didn't　have　a　chance　of　winning。　I　still　wanted　to　play。〃　〃For　the　game's　sake。〃　〃I　suppose　so。　Yes。　For　the　game。〃　A　look；　impossibly　plex；　crossed　Whitehead's　face。　There　was　regret　in　it；　and　a　terrible；　aching　loss；　and　more：　inprehension。　Whitehead　the　master；　Whitehead　the　lord　of　all　he　surveyed；　suddenly　showed…all　too　briefly…another；　more　accessible；　face：　that　of　a　man　confused　to　the　point　of　despair。
　　〃I　wanted　someone　with　your　weaknesses；〃　he　explained　now；　and　suddenly　he　was　the　one　doing　the　confessing。　〃Because　sooner　or　later　I　believed　a　day　like　today　would　e；　and　I'd　have　to　ask　you　to　take　a　risk　with　me。〃　〃What　sort　of　risk？〃　〃Nothing　so　simple　as　a　wheel；　or　a　game　of　cards。　I　wish　it　were。　Then　maybe　I　could　explain　to　you；　instead　of　asking　for　an　act　of　faith。　But　it's　so　plicated。　And　I'm　tired。〃　〃Bill　said　something…〃　Whitehead　broke　in。
　　〃Toy's　left　the　estate。　You　won't　be　seeing　him　again。〃　〃When　did　he　go？〃　〃Earlier　in　the　week。　Relations　between　us　have　been　deteriorating　for　a　while。〃　He　caught　Marty's　dismay。　〃Don't　fret　about　it。　Your　position　here　is　as　secure　as　it　ever　was。　But　you　must　trust　me　absolutely。〃　〃Sir…〃　〃No　affirmations　of　loyalty；　they're　wasted　on　me。　Not　because　I　don't　believe　you're　sincere。　But　I'm　surrounded　by　people　who　tell　me　whatever　they　think　I　want　to　hear。　That's　how　they　keep　their　wives　in　furs　and　their　sons　in　cocaine。〃　His　gloved　fingers　clawed　at　his　bearded　cheek　as　he　spoke。　〃So　few　honest　people。　Toy　was　one。　Evangeline；　my　wife；　was　another。　But　so　very　few。　I　just　have　to　trust　to　instinct；　I　have　to　blot　out　all　the　talk　and　follow　what　my　head　tells　me。　And　it　trusts　you；　Martin。〃　Marty　said　nothing；　just　listened　as　Whitehead's　voice　became　quieter；　his　eyes　so　intense　now　a　glance　from　them　might　have　ignited　tinder。
　　〃If　you　stay　with　me…if　you　keep　me　safe…there's　nothing　you　can't　be　or　have。　Understand　me？　Nothing。〃　This　was　not　the　first　time　the　old　man　had　offered　this　seduction；　but　circumstances　had　clearly　changed　since　Marty　first　arrived　at　the　Sanctuary。　There　was　more　at　risk　now。　〃What's　the　worst　that　can　happen？〃　he　asked。
　　The　mazed　face　had　slackened：　only　the　incendiary　eyes　still　showed　life。
　　〃The　worst？〃　Whitehead　said。　〃Who　knows　the　worst？〃　The　burning　eyes　seemed　about　to　be　extinguished　by　tears；　he　fought　them。　〃I　have　seen　such　things。　And　passed　by　them　on　the　other　side。　Never　thought　。　。　。　not　once　。　。　。〃　A　pattering　announced　rain；　its　soft　percussion　acpanied　Whitehead　as　he　stumbled　to　speak。　All　his　verbal　skills　had　deserted　him　suddenly；　he　was　bereft。　But　something…a　vast　something…demanded　to　be　said。
　　〃Never　thought　。　。　。　it　would　ever　happen　to　me。〃　He　bit　back　more　words；　and　shook　his　head　at　his　own　absurdity。
　　〃Will　you　help　me？〃　he　asked；　in　place　of　further　explanation。
　　〃Of　course。〃　〃Well；〃　he　replied。　〃We'll　see；　eh？〃　Without　warning　he　suddenly　stepped　past　Marty　and　returned　the　way　they'd　e。　The　jaunt　was　apparently　over。　For　several　minutes　they　walked　as　they　had；　Whitehead　taking　the　lead；　with　Marty　trailing　a　discreet　two　yards　behind。　Just　before　they　came　in　sight　of　the　house　Whitehead　spoke　again。　This　time　he　didn't　break　the　rhythm　of　his　step；　but　threw　the　inquiry　over　his　shoulder。　Just　four　words。
　　〃And　the　Devil；　Marty？〃　〃What；　sir？〃　〃The　Devil。　Did　you　ever　pray　to　him？〃　It　was　a　joke。　A　little　leaden　maybe；　but　the　old　man's　way　of　making　light　of　his　confessional。
　　〃Well；　did　you？〃　〃Once　or　twice；〃　Marty　answered；　skirting　a　smile。　As　the　words　left　his　lips　Whitehead　froze　dead　in　his　tracks；　a　hand　outstretched　behind　him　to　check　Marty。
　　〃Ssh。〃　Twenty　yards　ahead；　arrested　as　it　crossed　their　path；　was　a　fox。　It　hadn't　seen　its　observers　yet；　but　it　could　only　be　a　matter　of　moments　before　their　scent　reached　its　nostrils。
　　〃Which　way？〃　Whitehead　hissed。
　　〃What？〃　〃Which　way　will　it　run？　A　thousand　pounds。　Straight　bet。〃　〃I　haven't　got…〃　Marty　began。
　　〃Against　a　week's　pay。〃　Marty　began　to　smile。　What　was　a　week's　pay？　He　couldn't　spend　it　anyway。
　　〃A　thousand　pounds　says　it　runs　to　the　right；〃　said　Whitehead。
　　Marty　hesitated。
　　〃Quickly；　man…〃　〃Done。〃　Even　on　the　word；　the　animal　caught　their　scent。　Its　ears　pricked；　its　head　turned；　and　it　saw　them。　For　an　instant　it　was　too　stupefied　by　surprise　to　move；　then　it　ran。　For　several　yards　it　took　off　away　from　them　along　the　path；　not　veering　to　one　side　or　the　other；　its　heels　kicking　up　dead　leaves　as　it　went。　Then；　without　warning；　it　sliced　away　into　the　cover　of　the　trees；　to　the　left。　There　was　no　ambiguity　about　the　victory。
　　〃Well　done；〃　said　Whitehead；　pulling　off　his　glove　and　extending　his　hand　to　Marty。　When　he　shook　it；　Marty　felt　it　tingle　like　the　chips　had　on　a　winning　night。
　　
　　By　the　time　they　got　back；　the　rain　was　beginning　to　e　on　more　heavily。　A　wele　hush　had　descended　on　the　house。　Apparently　Pearl；　unable　to　bear　the　barbarians　in　her　kitchen　any　longer；　had　thrown　a　fit　and　left。　Though　she'd　gone；　the　offending　parties　seemed　well　chastened。　Their　babble　was　reduced　to　a　murmur；　and　few　of　them　made　any　approach　to　Whitehead　as　he　entered。　Those　few　that　did　were　quickly　slapped　down。　〃Are　you　still　here；　Munrow？〃　he　said　to　one　devotee；　to　another；　who　made　the　error　of　thrusting　a　sheaf　of　papers　at　him；　he　quietly　suggested　the　man　〃choke　on　them。〃　They　reached　the　study　with　the　minimum　of　interruptions。　Whitehead　unlocked　the　wall　safe。
　　〃You　would　prefer　cash；　I'm　sure。〃　Marty　studied　the　carpet。　Though　he'd　won　the　bet　fairly；　he　was　embarrassed　by　the　payoff。
　　〃Cash　is　fine；〃　he　murmured。
　　Whitehead　counted　out　a　wad　of　twenty…pound　notes　and　handed　them　across。
　　〃Enjoy；〃　he　said。
　　〃Thank　you。〃　〃Don't　thank　me；〃　Whitehead　said。　〃It　was　a　straight　bet。　I　lost。〃　An　awkward　silence　fell　while　Marty　pocketed　the　money。
　　〃Our　talk　。　。　。〃　the　old　man　said；　〃。　。　。　is　in　the　strictest　confidence；　you　understand？〃　〃Of　course。　I　wouldn't…〃　Whitehead　raised　his　hand　to　ward　off　his　protestations。
　　〃…The　strictest　confidence。　My　enemies　have　agents。〃　Marty　nodded　as　though　he　understood。　In　a　way；　of　course；　he　did。　Perhaps　Whitehead　suspected　Luther　or　Pearl。　Maybe　even　Toy；　who　was　so　abruptly　persona　non　grata。
　　〃These　people　are　responsible　for　the　present　fall　in　my　fortunes。　It's　all　meticulously　engineered。〃　He　shrugged；　eyes　like　slits。　God；　Marty　thought；　I'd　never　want　to　be　on　the　wrong　side　of　this　man。　〃I　don't　fret　about　these　things。　If　they　want　to　plan　my　ruin；　let　them。　But　I　wouldn't　like　to　think　that　my　most　intimate　feelings　were　available　to　them。　Do　you　see？〃　〃They　won't　be。〃　〃No。〃　He　pursed　his　lips；　a　cold　kiss　of　satisfaction。
　　〃You've　seen　something　of　Carys；　I　gather？　Pearl　says　you　spend　time　together；　is　that　right？〃　〃Yes。〃　Whitehead　came　back　with　a　tone　of　detachment　that　was　patently　fake。
　　〃She　seems　stable　much　of　the　time；　but　essentially　that's　a　performance。　I'm　afraid　she's　not　well；　and　hasn't　been　for　several　years。　Of　course　she's　seen　the　best　psychiatrists　money　can　buy　but　I'm　afraid　it's　done　no　good。　Her　mother　went　the　same　way　in　the　end。〃　〃Are　you　telling　me　not　to　see　her？〃　Whitehead　looked　genuinely　surprised。
　　〃No；　not　at　all。　The　panionship　may　be　good　for　her。　But　please；　bear　in　mind　she's　a　highly　disturbed　girl。　Don't　take　her　pronouncements　too　seriously。　Half　the　time　she　doesn't　know　what　she's　saying。　Well；　I　think　that's　it。　You'd　better　go　and　pay　off　your　fox。〃　He　laughed；　gently。
　　〃Clever　fox；〃　he　said。
　　
　　In　the　two　and　a　half　months　Marty　had　been　at　the　Sanctuary　Whitehead　had　been　an　iceberg。　Now　he　had　to　think　about　revising　that　description。　Today　he'd　glimpsed　another　man　altogether：　inarticulate；　alone；　talking　of　God　and　prayer。　Not　just　God。　There　had　been　that　final　question；　the　one　he'd　thrown　away　so　carelessly：　〃And　the　Devil？　Did　you　ever　pray　to　him？〃　Marty　felt　he'd　been　handed　a　pile　of　jigsaw　pieces；　none　of　which　seemed　to　belong　to　the　same　portrait。　Fragments　of　a　dozen　scenes：　Whitehead　resplendent　among　his　acolytes；　or　sitting　at　a　window　watching　the　night；　Whitehead　the　potentate；　lord　of　all　he　surveyed；　or　betting　like　a　drunken　porter　on　the　way　a　fox　might　run。
　　This　last　fragment　puzzled　Marty　the　most。　In　it；　he　sensed；　was　a　clue　that　could　unite　these　disparate　images。　He　had　the　strangest　feeling　that　the　bet　on　the　fox　had　been　fixed。　Impossible；　of　course；　and　yet；　and　yet　。　。　。　Suppose　Whitehead　could　put　his　finger　on　the　wheel　anytime　he　wanted　to；　so　that　even　the　petty　chance　of　a　fox　running　to　the　right　or　left　was　available　to　him？　Could　he　know　the　future　before　it　happened…as　that　why　the　chips　tingled；　and　fingers　too？…or　was　he　shaping　it？
　　An　earlier　self　would　have　rejected　these　subtleties　out　of　hand。　But　Marty　had　changed。　Being　in　the　Sanctuary　had　changed　him；　Carys〃　ellipses　had　changed　him。　In　a　hun