gc.shadowslinger-第27节

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window。　Shed　did　not　expect　that　to　be　open。　He　did　hope　to　sneak　a　peek。
　　The　window　was　not　open；　but　he　could　hear。　And　the　sounds　of　lovemaking　in　no　way　approximated　what　he　wanted　to　hear。
　　He　considered　killing　himself　on　the　spot。　Considered　killing　himself　on　Sue's　doorstep。　Considered　a　dozen　other　dramatic　protests。　And　knew　none　would　move　either　of　these　villains。
　　They　began　talking。　Their　chatter　soon　killed　Shed's　hold…out　doubts。　The　name　Marron　Shed　came　up。
　　〃He's　ready；〃　the　woman　said。　〃I've　taken　him　as　far　as　I　can。　Maybe　one　more　loan　before　he　starts　remembering　his　family。〃
　　〃Do　it；　then。　I　want　him　wrapped　up。　Make　the　hill　steep；　then　grease　it。　He　got　away　from　Krage。〃
　　Shed　shook　with　anger。
　　〃How　far　down　do　you　have　him？〃
　　〃Eighteen　leva；　and　nearly　another　ten　in　interest。〃
　　〃I　can　work　him　for　another　five。〃
　　〃Do　it。　I　have　a　buyer　hot　to　go。〃
　　Shed　left。　He　wandered　the　Buskin　for　hours。　He　looked　so　grim　people　crossed　the　street。　There　is　no　vengeance　as　terrible　as　the　vengeance　a　coward　plots　in　the　dark　of　his　heart。
　　Late　that　afternoon　Shed　strolled　into　Gilbert's　office；　all　emotion　locked　back　in　the　shadows　he　had　discovered　the　night　he　had　run　with　Krage's　hunters。　〃I　need　fifteen　leva；　Gilbert。　In　a　hurry。〃
　　Gilbert　was　startled。　His　one　eye　opened　wide。　〃Fifteen？　What　the　hell　for？〃
　　〃I've　set　up　a　sweet　deal；　but　I　have　to　close　it　tonight。　I'll　go　a　couple　extra　points　if　you　want。〃
　　〃Shed；　you're　into　me　big　now。　I'm　worried　about　you　covering　that。〃
　　〃This　deal　goes　off　and　I　can　clear　it　all。〃
　　Gilbert　stared。　〃What's　up；　Shed？〃
　　〃Up？〃
　　〃You're　awful　sure　of　yourself。〃
　　Shed　told　the　lie　that　hurt　most。　〃I'm　going　to　get　married；　Gilbert。　Going　to　ask　the　lady　tonight。　I　want　to　close　this　deal　so　I　can　make　the　Lily　over　into　a　decent　place　for　her。〃
　　〃Well；〃　Gilbert　breathed。　〃Well；　well；　well。　Matron　Shed　getting　married。　Interesting。　All　right；　Shed。　It's　not　good　business；　but　I'll　take　a　chance。　Fifteen；　you　said？〃
　　〃Thank　you；　Mr。　Gilbert。　I'm　really　grateful。　。。。〃
　　〃You　sure　you　can　meet　the　payments？〃
　　〃I'll　have　you　ten　leva　before　the　end　of　the　week。　Guaranteed。　And　with　Sue　helping　out　at　the　Lily；　I'll　have　no　problem　clearing　enough　to　cover　the　rest。〃
　　Gilbert　controlled　a　thin　smile。　〃Then　you　won't　mind　putting　up　collateral　more　valuable　than　your　word？〃
　　〃Sir？〃
　　〃I　want　a　lien　on　the　Iron　Lily。〃
　　Shed　pretended　to　think　hard。　Finally：　〃All　right。　She's　worth　the　risk。〃
　　Gilbert　smiled　the　smile　of　a　hungry　stoat；　but　managed　to　look　worried　at　the　same　time。　〃Wait　here。　I'll　have　a　note　drawn　up　and　get　the　money。〃
　　Shed　smiled　nastily　as　Gilbert　departed。
　　
　　　Chapter　Twenty…Six：　JUNIPER：　LOVERS'　PARTING
　　
　　Shed　pulled　his　rig　into　the　alleyway　behind　Sue's　place；　raced　around　front；　pounded　on　the　door。　It　was　a　class　place　for　the　Buskin。　A　man　guarded　the　entrance　from　within。　Eight　women　lived　there；　each　in　her　own　apartment。　Each　in　the　same　business　as　Sue。　Each　manding　a　substantial　premium　for　her　time。
　　〃Hello；　Mr。　Shed；〃　the　door　guard　said。　〃Go　on　up。　She's　expecting　you。〃
　　Shed　tipped　him；　something　he　hadn't　done　before。　The　man　became　obsequious。　Shed　ignored　him；　mounted　the　stair。
　　Now　came　the　difficult　part。　Playing　cow…eyed　lover　when　he　was　no　longer　blind。　But　he　would　fool　her；　just　as　she　had　fooled　him。
　　She　answered　the　door；　radiantly　beautiful。　Shed's　heart　climbed　into　his　throat。　He　shoved　something　into　her　hand。　〃This　is　for　you。〃
　　〃Oh；　Marron；　you　shouldn't　have。〃　But；　if　he　hadn't；　he　would　not　have　gotten　past　her　door。　〃What　a　strange　necklace。　Are　these　serpents？〃
　　〃Real　silver；〃　he　said。　〃And　rubies。　It　caught　my　fancy。　Ugly；　but　the　craftsmanship　is　superb。〃
　　〃I　think　it's　gorgeous；　Marron。　How　much　did　it　cost？〃
　　〃Too　much；〃　Shed　replied；　smiling　sardonically。　〃I　couldn't　tell　you。　More　than　I　should　have　paid　for　anything。〃
　　Sue　did　not　press。　〃e　here；　Marron。〃　She　must　have　had　orders　to　play　him　carefully。　Usually　she　gave　him　a　hard　time　before　surrendering。　She　began　disrobing。　Shed　went。　He　took　her　rough；　something　he　had　not　done　before。　Then　he　took　her　again。　When　it　was　over；　she　asked；　〃What's　gotten　into　you？〃
　　〃I　have　a　big　surprise　for　you。　A　big　surprise。　I　know　you'll　love　it。　Can　you　sneak　out　without　anyone　knowing？〃
　　〃Of　course。　But　why？〃
　　〃That's　the　surprise。　Will　you　do　it？　You　won't　be　disappointed；　I　promise。〃
　　〃I　don't　understand。〃
　　〃Just　do　it。　Slip　out　a　few　minutes　after　I　leave。　Meet　me　in　the　alley。　I　want　to　take　you　somewhere　and　show　you　something。　Be　sure　to　wear　the　necklace。〃
　　〃What　are　you　up　to？〃　　She　seemed　amused；　　not　suspicious。
　　Good；　Shed　thought。　He　finished　dressing。　〃No　answers　now；　darling。　This　will　be　the　biggest　surprise　of　your　life。　I　don't　want　to　spoil　it。〃　He　headed　for　the　door。　
　　〃Five　minutes？〃　she　called。　
　　〃Don't　make　me　wait。　I'm　a　bear　when　I　have　to　wait。　And　don't　forget　the　necklace。〃
　　〃I　won't；　dear。〃
　　Shed　waited　nearly　fifteen　minutes。　He　grew　impatient；　but　was　certain　greed　would　bring　Sue　out。　The　hook　was　set。　She　was　playing　with　him。
　　〃Marron？〃　Her　voice　was　soft　and　musical。　His　heart　twisted。　How　could　he　do　this？
　　〃Here；　love。〃　She　came　to　him。　He　enfolded　her　in　his　arms。
　　〃Now；　now。　Enough　of　that。　I　want　my　surprise。　I　can　hardly　wait。〃
　　Shed　took　a　deep　breath。　Do　it！　he　yelled　inside。　〃I'll　help　you　up。〃　She　turned。　Now！　But　his　hands　were　made　of　lead。
　　〃e　on；　Marron。〃
　　He　swung。　Sue　slammed　into　the　wagon；　a　mewl　the　only　sound　she　made。　He　hit　her　again　as　she　bounced　back。　She　sagged。　He　took　a　gag　from　the　wagon；　forced　it　into　her　mouth　before　she　could　scream；　then　tied　her　hands　quickly。　She　began　kicking　when　he　went　for　her　ankles。　He　kicked　her　back；　nearly　let　anger　carry　him　away。
　　She　quit　fighting。　He　finished　binding　her；　then　propped　her　on　the　wagon　seat。　In　the　darkness　they　looked　like　man　and　wife　about　some　late　business。
　　He　did　not　speak　till　they　were　across　the　Port。　〃You're　probably　wondering　what's　going　on；　darling。〃
　　Sue　grunted。　She　was　pale　and　frightened。　He　retrieved　his　amulet。　While　he　was　at　it；　he　stripped　her　of　jewelry　and　valuables。
　　〃Sue；　I　loved　you。　I　really　did。　I　would　have　done　anything　for　you。　When　you　kill　a　love　like　that；　you　turn　it　into　a　big　hatred。〃　At　least　twenty　leva　worth　of　jewelry；　he　guessed。　How　many　men　had　she　destroyed？　〃Working　for　Gilbert　like　that。　Trying　to　steal　the　Lily。　Anything　else　I　could　have　forgiven。　Anything。〃
　　He　talked　all　the　way　up　the　hill。　It　distracted　her　till　the　black　castle　loomed　so　large　it　could　no　longer　be　overlooked。　Then　her　eyes　got　huge。　She　began　to　shake；　to　stink　as　she　lost　all　control。
　　〃Yes；　darling；〃　Shed　said；　voice　pleasantly　rational；　conversational。　〃Yes。　The　black　castle。　You　were　going　to　deliver　me　to　the　mercy　of　your　friends。　You　made　a　bet　and　lost。　Now　I　deliver　you　to　mine。〃　He　halted；　climbed　down；　went　to　the　gate。　It　opened　immediately。
　　The　tall　being　met　him；　wringing　spidery　hands。　〃Good；〃　it　said。　〃Very　good。　Your　partner　never　brought　healthy　game。〃
　　Shed's　guts　knotted。　He　wanted　to　change　his　mind。　He　only　wanted　to　hurt　and　humiliate　Sue。　。　。　。　But　it　was　too　late。　He　could　not　turn　back。　〃I'm　sorry；　Sue。　You　shouldn't　have　done　it。　You　and　Gilbert。　His　turn　will　e。　Marron　Shed　isn't　what　everybody　thinks。〃
　　A　whining　noise　came　from　behind　Sue's　gag。　Shed　turned　away。　He　had　to　get　out。　He　faced　the　tall　creature。
　　It　began　counting　coins　directly　into　his　hand。
　　As　always；　Shed　did　not　barter。　In　fact；　he　did　not　look　at　the　money；　just　kept　stuffing　his　pockets。　His　attention　was　on　the　darkness　behind　the　creature。
　　More　of　its　kind　were　back　there；　hissing；　jostling。　Shed　recognized　the　short　one　he'd　dealt　with　once。
　　The　tall　being　stopped　counting。　Absently；　Shed　put　the　coins　into　a　pocket；　returned　to　his　wagon。　The　things　in　shadow　swept　forward；　seized　Sue；　began　ripping　her　clothing。　One　yanked　the　gag　out　of　her　mouth。　Shed　started　packing　his　rig。
　　〃For　God's　sake；　Marron。　Don't　leave　me。〃
　　〃It's　done；　woman。　It's　done。〃　He　snapped　his　traces。
　　〃Back　up；　mules。〃
　　She　started　screaming　as　he　turned　toward　the　gate。　He　did　not　look。　He　did　not　want　to　know。　〃Keep　moving；　mules。〃
　　〃e　again　soon；　Marron　Shed；〃　the　tall　creature　called　after　him。
　　
　　　Chapter　Twenty…Seven：　JUNIPER：　BANISHED
　　
　　The　summons　from　Whisper　caught　me　unprepared。　It　was　too　early　for　the　daily　report。　I'd　barely　finished　breakfast。　I　knew　it　meant　trouble。　I　was　not　disappointed。
　　The　Taken　prowled　like　a　caged　animal；　radiating　tension　and　anger。　I　went　inside　by　the　numbers；　stood　at　a　perfect　attention；　giving　no　excuse　for　the　picking　of　nits…in　case　whatever　it　was　was　not　my　fault。
　　She　ignored　me　for　several　minutes；　working　off　energy。　Then　she　seated　herself；　stared　at　her　hands　thoughtfully。　Her　gaze　rose。　And　she　was　in　plete　control。　She　actually　smiled。　Had　she　been　as　beautiful　as　the　Lady；