ericlustbader.the ninja-第27节

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g　to　try。　On　the　way　back　to　Terry's　she　stopped　at　a　liquor　store　and　bought　a　bottle　of　1970　Dom　Perignon。
　It　was　still　light　when　she　reached　Terry's　brownstone。　She　put　the　champagne　in　the　refrigerator　and　threw　her　Blooming…dale's　packages　on　the　wide　bed。　Returning　to　the　kitchen；　she　put　four　eggs　in　to　boil　for　the　caviar；　checked　to　make　sure　there　were　enough　onions；　and　bread　for　toast。
　Then　she　went　through　into　the　bedroom　and；　crossing　its　ample　width；　into　the　bathroom；　turning　on　the　shower。　She　undressed　and　was　about　to　step　into　the　stall　when　she　remembered　something。　Without　bothering　to　wrap　a　towel
　round　her；　she　returned　to　the　living…room　and　put　a　record　on　the　stereo；　turning　it　up　so　that　she　could　hear　it　in　the　shower。
　She　sang　with　the　water　beating　down　on　her；　hearing　the　distant　sounds　of　the　music　as　if　from　the　far　side　of　a　waterfall。　She　imagined　herself　on　a　tropical　island；　bathing　in　the　turquoise　water　of　a　deserted　lagoon。　She　washed　her　hair　and　soaped　her　body；　revelling　in　the　slipperiness　against　her　skin。
　She　turned　off　the　water　and　got　out；　towelling　her　hair　first。　In　Terry's　full…length　mirror；　she　regarded　her　naked　self　critically。　She　was　proud　of　her　body。　Her　skin　was　sleek　and　unblemished；　her　flesh　firm　despite　her　age。　Her　neck　was　long　and　slender；　her　shoulders　as　delicate　as　a　china　doll's。　Her　breasts；　sloping　gently；　were　still　ripe　and　firm；　the　nipples　dark　and　long。　Her　waist　was　narrow；　her　hips　flaring　gently。　But　it　was　her　legs　of　which　she　was　most　proud。　They　were　long　and　firm；　the　muscles　taut　and　supple；　the　ankles　narrow；　her　feet　small。　She　watched　her　muscles　rippling　as　she　worked　the　thick　blue…green　towel　over　her　wet　flesh。　Her　nipples　sprang　erect　at　the　rough　contact　and　she　felt　the　first　beginning　warmth　as　she　moved　the　towel　slowly　down　her　belly；　between　her　thighs；　back　and　forth；　anticipating　Terry's　arrival。　She　loved　his　hands　on　her　body；　they　were　so　soft　and　gentle　and　knowing；　she　abhorred　anything　rough；　he　knew　she　loved　that　part　as　much　as　when　he　was　inside　her；　both　of　them　ing　in　concert。　She　loved　to　make　love　to　music；　the　changing　melodies；　harmonies；　tempi　somehow　enhancing　the　process。　And；　of　course；　the　added　sounds　made　vocalizing　easier　for　both　of　them。　She　watched　the　flush　of　blood　throughout　her　body　reflected　in　the　mirror　as　her　thoughts　pushed　onward；　inward。　She　imagined　that　Terry　was　already　home；　moving　around　the　living…room；　preparing　the　caviar　and　champagne。　She　dropped　the　towel　as；　with　one　hand；　she　rubbed　her　nipples；　with　the　other　she　probed　gently　between　her　thighs。
　After　a　time；　she　sighed　deeply　and　stepped　out　into　the　bedroom。　She　crossed　to　the　bed　and；　bending　over；　slit　open　the　bag。　She　took　out　the　bottle　of　cologne；　Chanel　No。　19；　opened　it　and　dabbed　it　on　her　richly　glowing　skin。　Then　she
　stepped　into　the　cream　silk　teddy　she　had　bought；　luxuriating　in　the　feel　of　the　sensuous　fabric。　This　was　how　Terry　would　see　her　when　he　arrived。
　She　turned　towards　the　open　doorway　and　a　frown　creased　her　brow。　Darkness　prevailed　there　and；　while　it　was　night　now；　the　sunset　having　slipped　away　while　she　was　in　the　shower；　she　was　certain　she　had　turned　on　the　lights　there　when　she　had　e　in。　Or　had　she？　She　shrugged　and　went　through　the　doorway。
　Half　way　to　the　small　porcelain　lamp　on　the　table　next　to　the　sofa；　she　paused；　turning　her　head。　Had　there　been　some　movement　in　the　room　to　her　exfreme　left？　Now　she　saw　only　clumps　of　dense　shadows。　Outside；　a　cat　yowled　twice　as　if　it　were　being　skinned　alive；　then　there　was　the　brief　clatter　of　metal　garbage…can　lids　in　the　cement　alley　at　the　side　of　the　house；　ing　clear　through　the　wall。　The　music　was　still　playing。　Henry　Mancini。　A　bitter…sweet　melody　that　she　knew　ended　the　side　of　the　record。　Mancini　was　so　romantic。
　She　crossed　to　the　table　and　pressed　the　switch；　the　lights　in　the　bedroom　went　out。　She　turned　round；　oblivious　for　a　moment　of　the　fact　that　the　lamp　had　not　lit。　The　music　was　over　and　she　was　conscious　of　the　minute　sounds　of　the　tone　arm　lifting；　setting　down　on　its　cradle　and　the　turn…table　stopping。　There　was　only　one　sound　now；　very　close　to　her；　and　she　realized　that　it　was　her　harsh　breathing。
　'Is　anyone　there？'　She　felt　foolish。
　The　total　absence　of　sound　was　infinitely　more　frightening　than　if　she　had　heard　a　voice　reply。　She　looked　down　at　the　glowing　dial　of　her　watch　and　all　she　could　think　of　was：　Terry　will　be　home　soon。
　As　if　drawn　towards　the　unknown；　she　went　slowly　across　the　living…room　until　she　was　standing　at　the　doorway。　She　peered　in；　trying　to　see　in　the　gloom；　the　curtains　were　closed　and　here；　at　the　back　of　the　house；　the　trees　of　the　back　yard　intervened　behind　the　closed　windows；　the　working　air…conditioner；　vitiating　the　lamps　from　the　neighbouring　houses。
　She　went　into　the　bedroom；　her　hand　feeling　along　the　wall　for　the　light…switch。　But　before　she　got　to　it；　she　heard　the　click　of　the　stereo　from　the　other　room；　heard；　after　a　tiny
　delay；　Mancini's　piano　and　the　double　bass　begin　a　jazz　duet。　Soon　the　drums　joined　them　and　then　the　strings。　Last　of　all　was　the　sax；　a　crying；　almost　human　voice　among　the　myriad　instruments。　The　music　was　filled　with　tension。
　She　whirled　towards　the　doorway；　could　not　see　through　it。　Something　or　someone　blocked　her　view。　She　took　a　step　forward　and　gasped　as　something　slithered　towards　her　in　a　blur；　wrapped　itself　around　her　right　wrist。
　Crying　out　inarticulately；　she　stumbled　backwards。　She　flung　up　her　arm　in　an　attempt　to　free　herself　but　the　thing　…　whatever　it　was　…　followed　her　silently；　relentlessly；　the　grip　on　her　wrist　tightened　until　she　thought　her　bones　might　break。
　'What　do　you　want？〃　she　said　inanely。　'What　do　you　want？'　Her　mind；　numbed　by　fear；　could　think　of　nothing　else　to　say。　It　was　as　if　the　night；　through　some　magical　incantation；　had　bee　a　sentient　being。
　She　felt　the　edge　of　the　bed　against　the　backs　of　her　knees　and；　as　if　this　solid　barrier　brought　her　back　to　reality；　she　launched　herself　forward。　She　did　not　believe　in　ghosts；　not　even　in　the　fomi　of　her　ancestors；　as　tangible　objects　able　to　grasp　out　at　the　living。　Her　mouth　opened　and　she　bared　her　teeth；　ready　to　bite　into　whatever　had　hold　of　her。
　She　felt　the　solidness　of　pressure　in　front　of　her　and　bit　down。　But　at　that　moment　her　head　was　jerked　backwards　and　upwards　and　her　teeth　snapped　together　painfully。
　'Oh；　my　God！'　she　heard　herself　say。　It　seemed　to　e　from　another　world。
　She　stared　into　a　face。　The　head；　as；　she　supposed；　was　the　body；　swathed　in　matt　black　fabric。　A　tight　hood　and　a　mask　that　left　only　the　eyes　exposed。　These　were　no　more　than　six　inches　from　her　own。　They　were　as　dead　as　stones　in　a　pond。
　'Oh；　my　God　I'　She　felt　so　vulnerable；　bent　back　in　a　grip　she　had　no　hope　of　breaking；　and　this；　more　than　anything　else；　terrified　her。
　When　he　moved　he　was　upon　her　before　she　could　even　cry　out。　She　felt　his　grip　shift　and　it　seemed　that　she　was　in　the　grasp　of　something　elemental；　like　a　whirlwind；　a　force　of　nature。　For　surely　no　man　…　nothing　that　was　human　…　could　have　so　much　power。
　Where　his　gloved　fingers　dug　into　her；　they　seemed　to　dissolve　her　flesh　and　pulverize　the　bone　beneath。　All　air　was　abruptly　gone　from　her　lungs；　it　felt　as　if　she　had　been　thrust　to　the　bottom　of　the　sea。　Her　insides　turned　to　water。　Death　rose　up　on　all　sides　like　a　spectre　on　an　enormous　poster。　Her　gorge　rose　and　she　tried　to　vomit。　She　retched　pathetically　against　the　restraint　to　her　mouth。　She　tried　to　swallow　and　could　not。　Her　eyes　were　blurry　with　tears。　She　blinked　wildly；　began　to　choke　on　her　own　vomit。
　His　face　was　quite　close　to　hers；　but　it　was　as　if　she　had　been　attacked　by　an　inanimate　object　suddenly　given　life。　She　could　smell　nothing；　see　nothing；　'she　had　no　clue　as　to　what　he　was　feeling；　what　he　might　want。　She　could　not　even　turn　her　head　from　side　to　side；　so　intense　was　his　grip　upon　her。　Still　she　struggled　merely　to　swallow　and　she　did；　given　life　once　more。　But　now　she　saw　before　her　the　sloping　mountainside　in　the　south　of　Japan　where　she　had　stayed　as　a　child　during　the　last　days　of　the　war。　She　saw　as　clearly　as　if　she　were　there　again　the　tall　stately　pines　swaying　in　the　westerly　winds；　the　straggle　of　soaij'm　toiling　up　the　long　slope；　a　thin　battered　line；　an　exhausted　snake　that　seemed　to　have　no　end；　no　beginning；　merely　one　vast　body。　She　thought　of　the　zosui；　the　vegetable　stew；　which　had　bee　their　staple；　the　taste　of　it　was　strong　in　her　mouth；　the　smell　of　the　mountain　turnips　filled　her　nostrils。　She　had　never　thought　that　she　would　recall　them　with　such　full…bodied　accuracy；　it　was　in　the　nature　of　human　beings　to　remember　pleasure　with　more　clarity　than　pain。
　There　was　swift　movement　above　her　and　her　silk　teddy　shredded；　parting　from　her　body。　She　was　naked　now。　Her　mind　was　filled　up　with　Terry　now　because　she　was　quite　certain　that　this　terrifying　being　would　rape　her；　this　secret　knowledge　of　why　he　had　e　outraged　her　and　calmed　her　at　the　same　time。　Death　seemed　to　stand　away；　only　a　visitor　at　this　feast　instead　of　the　guest　of　honour。
　She　felt　his