pzb.lostsouls-第64节

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　was　stuck。　Soft　brick　crumbled　away。　Something　wriggled　against　his　back。　He　felt　his　shirt　rip。
　　Then　he　pulled　free。　He　half…ran；　half…stumbled　into　an　open　area　where　the　tombs　were　lower　and　squarer；　the　tallest　ones　only　shoulder…high。
　　In　the　center　of　the　open　area　a　girl　lay　supine　on　a　low　marble　slab。　Bunches　of　dried　long…stemmed　roses　were　arranged　around　the　slab；　crimson　gone　to　black；　white　to　ivory；　yellow　and　pink　to　dusty　echoes　of　themselves。　The　girl's　long　red…gold　hair　hung　down　over　the　edge　of　the　slab；　and　some　of　the　roses　had　bee　ensnarled　in　it。　She　was　not　visibly　breathing；　but　Ghost　felt　a　weak　tremor　of　life　as　he　approached。
　　Then　the　girl　raised　her　head；　and　Ghost　saw　what　he　had　known　all　along。　It　was　Ann。　And　she　was　sick。
　　〃Ghost。〃　Her　red…rimmed　eyes　tried　to　bring　him　into　focus。　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃
　　〃Did　you　sleep　out　here　all　night？〃
　　She　thought　about　it；　then　nodded　slowly。　〃Nowhere　else　to　go。　I　don't　have　any　money；　and　。　。　。　I　didn't　find　。　。〃　She　coughed；　spat　out　a　mouthful　of　phlegm。　It　glistened　faintly　iridescent　against　all　the　whiteness。　Ghost　heard　the　breath　rasping　in　her　chest。
　　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃　Ann　asked　again。　〃Do　you　know　where　they　are？　Where　Zillah's　staying？〃
　　Ghost　swallowed。　He　wasn't　sure　he　could　do　this。　He　hadn't　counted　on　Ann　being　sick；　it　was　too　easy；　she　had　no　chance　of　resisting。　But　the　fact　that　she　had　asked　for　Zillah　instead　of　Steve…that　helped。　As　did　the　emptiness　he　saw　when　he　met　her　eyes。
　　〃Yeah；〃　he　said。　〃I　know　where　they　are。　I　can　take　you　to　him。〃
　　He　found　the　path　that　led　to　the　gate　on　his　first　try。
　　
　　〃What's　that？〃　asked　Ann。　She　was　staring　blearily　at　the　altar　in　the　back　room　of　Arkady's　shop。　The　shop　was　dark　and　empty；　but　Arkady　had　left　the　door　unlocked。
　　Ghost　fumbled　the　velvet　curtain　back　and　ushered　her　ahead　of　him。　〃Careful　on　the　stairs；〃　he　said。　〃It's　dark　up　there。〃
　　Ann　stared　up　into　the　blackness；　then　slowly　began　to　climb。　Up　one　flight；　around　the　bend；　up　another　flight　to　the　wavering　rectangle　of　light　that　was　the　door。　Ann　went　through　it；　took　two　unsteady　steps　into　the　hall。　〃Zillah？〃　she　said。
　　And　Steve　stepped　out　from　behind　the　door　and　plastered　a　wet　cloth　over　her　face。　They　couldn't　imagine　why　Arkady　kept　a　bottle　of　ether　in　his　back　room；　but　he　had　said　it　would　work。
　　Ghost　saw　Steve's　eyes　clench　shut　as　Ann　struggled　against　the　sick…smelling　cloth。　When　she　went　limp　in　his　arms；　Steve's　face　slackened　too。　For　a　moment　he　looked　as　if　he　would　collapse　with　her。　But　he　held　Ann　upright　and　steadied　her　drooping　head　against　his　shoulder；　then　slid　his　other　arm　under　her　knees；　cradling　her。
　　Ghost　couldn't　remember　the　last　time　he　had　seen　Steve　hold　Ann　so　tenderly。
　　
　　Arkady　pulled　his　fingers　out　of　Ann's　mouth　and　wiped　them　on　her　gray　sweatshirt。　He　patted　her　cheek；　then　pushed　her　limp　jaw　shut。　〃Excellent；〃　he　muttered。
　　Ghost　leaned　his　head　back　against　the　wall　and　closed　his　eyes。　Beside　him；　Steve　shifted；　crossed　and　uncrossed　his　long　legs。　〃So　what　do　we　do　now？〃
　　〃Wait；〃　Arkady　told　him。　〃It　is　all　you　can　do。〃
　　〃Wait！〃　Steve　spat　out　the　word。　He　hauled　himself　up　and　began　to　pace；　the　heels　of　his　battered　boots　clocking　against　the　floor；　his　hands　clawing　at　his　hair。　〃I　can't　wait。　I'll　go　crazy。〃
　　Ghost　stood；　steadying　himself　against　the　wall。　He　realized　neither　of　them　had　eaten　all　day。　〃Look。　Why　don't　we　go　out　for　a　while？　Over　to　Bourbon　Street　or…〃
　　Arkady　clapped　his　hands。　The　sudden　sharp　sound　brought　all　movement　in　the　room　to　an　end：　Steve　stopped　pacing；　Ghost　shut　his　mouth　without　finishing　his　sentence；　even　the　dust　seemed　to　stop　sifting　down。　Arkady　glanced　at　the　window。　Twilight　had　begun　to　filter　through　the　glass；　sending　long　gray　fingers　of　shadow　into　the　room。　Below；　on　the　street　corners；　Ghost　could　see　lamps　lighting　one　by　one；　like　milky　yellow　fireflies。
　　〃I　know　just　the　thing；〃　said　Arkady。　〃I　will　care　for　the　girl。　I　will　watch　over　her。　You'd　only　get　in　the　way。〃　There　was　no　question　which　of　them　he　meant；　but　for　once　Steve　didn't　snarl。　〃I've　told　you　about　Ashley's　friends；　the　ones　in　the　other　guest　room。　They　are　musicians；　and　they　will　be　performing　tonight　at　a　club　on　Rue　Decatur。　The　club　serves　the　strongest　drinks　in　all　the　Vieux　Carre；　and　when　you　e　back；　everything　will　be　over。　The　child　will　be　dead；　and　you　can　take　your　Ann　home　again。〃
　　Uh…uh；　thought　Ghost。　His　brain　felt　edged　with　hysteria；　he　smelled　strawberry　incense；　cheap　wine；　clove　cigarettes。　He　closed　his　eyes。　Behind　his　lids　he　saw　a　closet　door　swinging　slowly　open；　saw　a　silken　sleeve　reaching　out　for　him；　heard　a　voice　whispering；　Easy；　Ghost　。　。　。　easy　。　。　。　He　thought；　No　way。　I　don't　want　to　see　any　band　that　came　out　of　that　closet。　We'll　find　a　two…dollar　strip　show　on　Bourbon　Street；　well　go　to　the　Ripley's　Believe　It　or　Not　Museum；　we'll　do　anything　but　see　poor　dead　Ashley　Raventon's　lovers　playing　at　some　club　on　Decatur　Street。
　　But　when　Ghost　opened　his　eyes　again；　Steve　was　looking　morbidly　interested。　He　had　perked　up　at　the　mention　of　the　strongest　drinks　in　all　the　Vieux　Carre。　〃That　sounds　pretty　good；〃　he　said。　〃I'd　like　to　check　out　the　club　scene　here。　Sure　sounds　better　than　sitting　around　waiting。〃　He　turned　to　Ghost。　〃You　want　to？〃
　　It　would　make　Steve　happy；　or　at　least　take　his　mind　off　Ann；　or　at　least　give　him　an　excuse　to　get　blind　drunk。　What　could　happen　in　a　club？　Ashley's　lovers　couldn't　fly　off　the　stage　at　Ghost；　flapping　their　silks；　whispering　easy　。。。。　He　and　Steve　would　be　safe　in　the　crowd。
　　〃Okay　by　me；〃　he　said；　hoping　he　sounded　surer　than　he　felt。
　　〃Fine　then；〃　said　Arkady。　As　he　turned　to　leave　the　room；　he　flapped　his　hand　toward　the　foot　of　the　bed。　A　tangle　of　cotton　bandages　trailed　onto　the　floor。　〃You'll　want　to　wrap　her　up；〃　Arkady　told　Steve。　〃Tightly　enough　to　keep　some　of　the　blood　in；　but　loose　enough　to　let　out　the　。　。　。　matter。〃
　　Steve　winced。　Arkady　made　his　exit；　white　robes　swirling　behind　him。
　　Ghost　stood　there　for　a　moment；　gripping　Steve's　shoulder。　Then　he　followed　Arkady　out　of　the　room　and　shut　the　door；　and　Steve　was；　alone　with　Ann。
　　
　　At　first　she　only　drifted。
　　Her　lungs　felt　stuffed　with　cotton；　and　there　was　an　acrid　chemical　burn　in　the　back　of　her　throat。　She　was　too　tired　to　open　her　eyes：　her　eyelids　were　weighted　with　sand。　She　let　herself　slip　back　into　sleep；　and　she　drifted。　The　backs　of　her　knees　and　the　back　of　her　neck　turned　to　warm　water。　Her　muscles　melted　from　her　bones。　Soon　she　began　to　see　pictures。
　　They　were　too　vivid　to　be　dreams。　Her　dreams　had　always　been　in　black　and　white；　as　precise　and　disjointed　as　Fellini　films。　The　pictures　she　saw　now　were　in　virulent　color。　For　a　time　she　struggled　against　them；　trying　to　wake　up；　then　she　gave　in；　because　the　pictures　swelled　in　her　brain　and　made　her　head　hurt　when　she　struggled。
　　She　saw　her　father's　fragile…boned　face；　weirdly　phosphorescent　in　the　gloom　of　the　living　room　back　home。　Newspapers　were　strewn　in　disarray　around　his　feet；　and　an　empty　coffee　mug　sat　on　the　arm　of　his　chair　near　his　outstretched　hand。　She　tried　to　call　his　name；　but　if　he　heard　her；　he　made　no　response。
　　She　saw　a　jack…o'…lantern　lit　orange　against　a　black　night；　bobbing　as　if　some　shadow…wraith　carried　it。　The　glowing　grin　split　open；　and　a　great　frothy　rose　blossomed　out；　withering　and　rotting　in　the　space　of　a　few　seconds。
　　She　saw　a　girl's　face　with　dark　eyes　half…hidden　by　a　curtain　of　hair；　then　the　girl's　eyes　rolled　up　white　and　silver；　and　the　girl's　mouth　opened　impossibly　wide；　and　a　gout　of　blood　and　whiskey　tumbled　down　her　chin。
　　She　saw　a　jumble　of　streets　laid　out　like　a　glowing　map。　Neon　danced　and　rippled：　purple；　green；　gold。　In　the　streets；　crowds　of　thin　children　in　black　frolicked。　They　wore　studded　belts　and　wristlets；　skull…and…crossbone　earrings；　hair　dyed　every　color；　teased　and　twisted　into　every　conceivable　style。　She　saw　pale　faces　slashed　across　with　scarlet　lipstick；　with　great　smudges　of　eyeliner。　Stalking　among　the　children；　everywhere；　were　corny　silent…film　vampires。　They　pulled　black　silk　capes　up　over　their　noses；　drew　back　in　mock　horror　at　crucifixes　dangling　from　multipierced　earlobes。　Beside　the　children　in　their　gaudy　mourning；　the　vampires　were　old…fashioned　and　hokey…except　that　all　of　them　had　green　eyes　that　glowed　and　snapped　like　strange　acid　fire。
　　As　the　final　image　dwindled　into　darkness；　Ann　realized　that　someone　was　touching　her。　Fumbling　with　the　button　of　her　skirt；　sliding　her　tights　down　over　her　hips。　She　would　know　that　touch　anywhere；　would　know　it　even　if　she　hadn't　felt　it　in　ten　years：　half…rough　but　trying　to　be　gentle；　half…desperate　but　trying　to　be　tender。
　　Steve。　At　first　she　wanted　to　push　his　hands　away；　but　she　could　not　muster　the　will　to　move；　so　she　lay　quietly　and　let　him　ease　her　panties　down。　Those　panties　are　really　skanky；　she　thought。　Then　she　thought；　Who　cares；　it's　only　Steve；　he's　smelled　me　before。　Then　some　distant　part　of　her　mind　realize