lhamilton.thekillingdance-第63节

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　〃That　bothers　you　more　than　me　killing　for　the　first　time　tonight；　doesn't　it？〃
　〃Yeah。〃
　The　door　opened　before　we　could　continue　the　conversation。　It　was　just　as　well。　We'd　found　something　else　we　disagreed　on。　Letting　someone　tie　themselves　to　my　mind；　my　soul；　frightened　me　a　lot　more　than　killing　someone。
　The　man　that　followed　Edward　didn't　look　that　impressive。　He　was　slender；　only　a　couple　of　inches　taller　than　Edward。　He　had　curly　brownish　red　hair　receding　in　a　soft　circle　to　nearly　the　middle　of　his　head。　He　slouched　even　when　he　walked；　and　I　couldn't　tell　if　it　was　habit　or　some　sort　of　spinal　problem。　Brown　T…shirt　over　black　corduroy　pants；　and　sneakers。　Everything　looked　like　it　had　e　from　the　Salvation　Army。　He　wore　a　patched　leather　aviator's　jacket　that　might　have　been　original　World　War　II　issue。　Under　the　jacket；　I　got　a　glimpse　of　guns。
　He　was　wearing　a　double　shoulder　holster　so　that　he　had　a　9　millimeter　under　both　arms。　I'd　seen　holsters　like　it；　but　never　knew　anyone　who　actually　wore　one。　I　thought　they　were　mostly　for　show。　Very　few　people　are　equally　good　with　both　hands。　There　was　a　crisscross　of　straps　beneath　the　T…shirt　that　I　didn't　understand；　but　I　knew　it　was　for　carrying　something　lethal。　He　had　a　duffel　bag　in　one　hand；　crammed　full　and　big　enough　to　carry　a　body　in。　He　wasn't　even　straining。　Stronger　than　he　looked。
　I　met　his　eyes　last。　They　were　pale　and　greyish　green　with　lashes　so　gingery　red　they　were　almost　invisible。　The　look　in　the　eyes　was　the　emptiest　I'd　ever　seen　in　another　human　being。　It　was　as　if　when　he　looked　at　me；　he　wasn't　seeing　me　at　all。　It　wasn't　like　he　was　blind。　He　saw　something；　but　I　wasn't　sure　what　he　saw。　Not　me。　Not　a　woman。　Something　else。　That　one　look　was　enough。　I　knew　that　this　man　walked　in　a　circle　of　his　own　creation。　Saw　a　version　of　reality　that　would　send　the　rest　of　us　screaming。　But　he　functioned；　and　he　didn't　scream。
　〃This　is　Harley；〃　Edward　said。　He　introduced　us　all；　as　if　it　was　an　ordinary　meeting。
　I　stared　at　Harley's　pale　eyes　and　realized　that　he　scared　me。　It　had　been　a　long　time　since　another　human　being　frightened　me　just　by　entering　a　room。
　Richard　offered　his　hand；　and　Harley　simply　looked　at　it。　I　wanted　to　explain　to　Richard　why　he　shouldn't　have　made　the　gesture；　but　I　wasn't　sure　I　could。
　I　did　not　offer　to　shake　hands。
　〃I　found　out　the　name　of　the　money　man　behind　the　attempts　on　your　life；〃　Edward　said。　He　said　it　without　preamble。
　Three　of　us　stared　at　him。　Harley；　disquietly；　kept　staring　at　me。　〃What　did　you　say？〃　I　asked。
　〃I　know　who　we　have　to　kill。〃
　〃Who？〃　I　asked。
　〃Marcus　Fletcher。　The　head　of　our　local　werewolf　pack。〃　He　smiled；　pleased　with　himself；　on　the　effect　the　news　was　having　on　Richard。
　〃You're　sure？〃　Richard　said。　〃Absolutely　sure？〃
　Edward　nodded；　studying　Richard's　face。　〃Does　he　hate　you　enough　to　kill　Anita？〃
　〃I　didn't　think　so。〃　Richard　turned　to　me；　the　look　on　his　face　stricken；　horrified。　〃My　God；　I　never　dreamt　he'd　do　something　like　this。　Why？〃
　〃How　well　would　you　have　fought　tonight　with　ma　petite　dead？〃　Jean…Claude　asked。
　Richard　stared　at　him　so　obviously　overwhelmed　by　the　dastardliness　of　what　Marcus　had　done　that　I　wanted　to　pat　his　head　and　tell　him　it　was　all　right。　I　nearly　get　killed　twice　and　I　wanted　to　fort　him。　Love　is　just　plain　stupid　sometimes。
　〃It's　all　so　convenient；〃　Edward　said；　with　a　happy　lilt　to　his　voice。
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　Richard　asked。
　〃He　means　you　are　supposed　to　kill　him　tonight；　Richard；　so　we　don't　have　to；〃　I　said。
　〃I　just　can't　believe　that　Marcus　would　do　something　so　。　。　。〃
　〃Evil；〃　I　suggested。
　He　nodded。
　〃It　would　seem　more　Raina's　sort　of　idea　than　Marcus's；〃　Jean…Claude　said。
　〃It's　twisted　enough　for　her；〃　I　said。
　〃Marcus　could　have　said　no；〃　Richard　said。　He　ran　his　hands　through　his　hair；　bing　it　back　from　his　face。　His　handsome　face　was　set　in　very　stubborn　lines。　〃This　has　got　to　stop。　He'll　do　anything　she　asks；　anything；　and　she's　crazy。〃
　My　eyes　flicked　to　Harley。　I　couldn't　help　it。　He　caught　my　look　and　smiled。　I　didn't　know　exactly　what　he　was　thinking；　but　it　wasn't　pleasant　and　it　wasn't　pretty。　Having　Harley　as　backup　made　me　wonder　if　I　was　on　the　right　side。
　〃Edward；　can　I　talk　to　you　a　minute　in　private？〃　I　didn't　want　to　be　this　obvious；　but　Harley　was　bothering　me　that　much。
　I　walked　away　from　the　others　and　Edward　trailed　behind。　It　was　kind　of　nice　to　walk　across　the　room；　lower　my　voice；　and　know　the　person　I　was　whispering　about　wouldn't　hear　me。　Both　Jean…Claude　and　Richard　would。
　Edward　looked　at　me；　and　there　was　that　same　touch　of　amusement　to　him；　as　if　he　knew　what　I　was　going　to　say　and　thought　it　was　a　hoot。
　〃Why　does　he　keep　looking　at　me？〃
　〃You　mean　Harley？〃
　〃You　know　damn　well　who　I　mean；〃　I　said。
　〃He's　only　looking；　Anita。　No　harm。〃
　〃But　why　me？〃
　〃You're　a　girl　maybe？〃
　〃Stop　it；　Edward。　Whatever　he's　thinking；　it　isn't　sex；　and　if　it　is；　I　don't　want　to　know　the　details。〃
　Edward　stared　at　me。　〃Ask　him。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃Ask　him　why　he's　staring　at　you。〃
　〃Just　like　that？〃
　He　nodded。　〃Harley　will　probably　get　a　kick　out　of　it。〃
　〃Do　I　want　to　know？〃　I　asked。
　〃I　don't　know。　Do　you？〃
　I　took　a　deep　breath　and　let　it　out　slowly。　〃You're　stringing　me　along　here；　Edward。　What's　the　deal？〃
　〃If　something　happens　to　me　during　the　fighting；　Harley　needs　at　least　one　other　person　that　he'll　mind。〃
　〃Mind？〃
　〃He's　absolutely　reliable；　Anita。　He'll　stay　at　my　back；　never　flinch；　and　kill　anyone　I　tell　him　to；　but　he's　not　good　without　specific　orders。　And　he　doesn't　take　orders　from　just　everybody。〃
　〃So　you　designated　me？〃
　Edward　shook　his　head。　〃I　told　him　to　pick　someone　in　the　room。〃
　〃Why　me？〃
　〃Ask　him。〃
　〃Fine。〃　I　walked　back　towards　the　others；　and　Edward　followed　me。　Harley　watched　us　like　he　was　seeing　other　things。　It　was　too　damned　unnerving。
　〃Why　are　you　staring　at　me？〃　I　asked。
　His　voice　was　quiet；　as　if　he　never　yelled。　〃You're　the　scariest　motherfucker　in　the　room。〃
　〃Now　I　know　you　can't　see。〃
　〃I　see　what's　there；〃　he　said。
　〃What　the　hell　is　wrong　with　you？〃
　〃Nothing。〃
　I　tried　to　think　of　a　better　question　and　finally　asked；　〃What　do　you　see　when　you　look　at　everybody　in　the　room？〃
　〃The　same　thing　you　see：　monsters。〃
　〃Why　do　I　think　the　monsters　I　see　in　the　room　aren't　the　same　ones　you　see？〃
　He　smiled；　a　bare　upturning　of　lips。　〃They　may　look　different；　but　they're　still　monsters。　They're　all　monsters。〃
　He　was　a　card…carrying；　rubber…room…renting　psychotic。　By　the　time　most　people　got　to　the　point　where　they　weren't　seeing　reality；　they　were　so　far　gone　that　there　was　no　going　back。　Sometimes　drug　therapy　helped；　but　without　it；　the　world　was　a　frightening；　overwhelming　place。　Harley　didn't　look　frightened　or　overwhelmed。　He　looked　calm。
　〃When　you　look　at　Edward；　he　always　looks　the　same　to　you。　I　mean　you　recognize　him？〃
　Harley　nodded。
　〃You'd　recognize　me；〃　I　said。
　〃If　I　make　an　effort　to　memorize　you；　yes。〃
　〃That's　why　you　were　staring。〃
　〃Yes；〃　he　said。
　〃What　happens　if　Edward　and　I　both　go　down？〃
　Harley　smiled；　but　his　eyes　shifted　to　one　side　as　if　something　low　to　the　ground　and　rather　small　had　run　across　the　room。　The　movement　was　so　natural　that　I　looked。　Nothing。
　〃Harley；〃　I　said。
　He　looked　back　at　me；　but　his　eyes　were　just　a　little　higher　up　than　my　face　should　have　been。　〃Yes；〃　he　said；　his　voice　so　quiet。
　〃What　happens　if　Edward　and　I　are　both　killed？〃
　Harley　stared　at　me。　His　eyes　shifted　to　my　face　for　just　a　second；　as　if　the　fog　had　cleared。　〃That　would　be　bad。〃
　
　
　35
　
　There　would　be　no　backing　down　for　Marcus　tonight。　He　had　to　die；　one　way　or　another。　Richard　wasn't　arguing　anymore。　But　there　was　still　the　chance　that　Raina　would　lead　a　revolt　of　the　other　lukoi。　Their　loyalty　was　divided　enough　for　a　war；　even　with　Marcus　dead。　Jean…Claude　came　up　with　a　solution。　We'd　put　on　a　better　show。　A　better　show　than　Raina　and　Marcus？　He　had　to　be　kidding。　Richard　agreed　to　let　Jean…Claude　costume　him　up　for　the　night。　As　his　lupa；　that　meant　I　had　to　get　dressed　up；　too。
　Jean…Claude　took　Richard　off　to　dress　him。　He　sent　Cassandra　with　a　white　cardboard　clothes　box　to　me。　She　was　supposed　to　help　me　change；　she　said。
　I　opened　the　box　and　all　that　was　in　it　was　a　pile　of　black　leather　straps。　I　kid　you　not。　I　drew　it　out　of　the　box　and　it　didn't　improve。　〃I　don't　know　how　to　get　into　this；　even　if　I　was　willing　to。〃
　〃I'll　get　Stephen；〃　Cassandra　said。
　〃I　don't　want　to　undress　in　front　of　Stephen。〃
　〃He's　a　stripper；〃　she　said。　〃He　dressed　me　last　night　at　Danse　Macabre；　remember。〃　She　patted　my　hand。　〃He'll　be　a　perfect　gentleman。〃
　I　sat　down　on　the　bed　and　scowled　at　the　door。　I　was　not　wearing　this　crap。
　An　hour　later；　Stephen　and　Cassandra　were　turning　me　in　front　of　the　bathroom　mirrors　so　I　could　see　myself。　It　had　been　embarrassing　at　first　having　a　man　help　squeeze　me　into　the　thing；　but　Cassandra　was　right。　Stephen　was　not　only　a　perfect　gentleman；　he　simply　didn't　seem　to　be　moved　at　all　by　the　fact　that　I　was　mostly　naked。　It　was　like　having　two　girlfriends　help