el.angeleyes-第9节

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　increasing　focus…that　his　sense　of　being　in　total　control　of　the　Mall　was　more　illusory　than　real；　and　abruptly　he　felt　the　heavy　yoke　of　servitude　to　this　one　man　stamped　upon　his　flesh　like　stigmata。
　〃One　must　consider　the　method　of　Solares's　death；''　Godwin　was　saying。　〃Whoever　killed　him　didn't　just　put　a　gun　to　his　head。　They　made　a　lot　of　noise。　They　wanted　us　to　know　right　away　all　the　way　back　east。　Goddamnit；　they　wanted　to　embarrass　us。〃　He　tore　off　an　azalea　blossom　and；　making　a　show　of　it；　used　the　pads　of　his　thumb　and　forefinger　to　squeeze　the　petals。　〃There　can　only　be　one　response　to　that。〃　He　shook　the　flower；　and　the　bumblebee　dropped　at　their　feet。　〃Go　for　the　throat；　that's　what's　called　for。〃　Godwin　placed　the　beautiful；　unbruised　azalea　in　his　buttonhole。　〃When　you've　been　set　back　on　your　heels；　it's　the　only　strategy　that's　worth　a　damn；　take　it　from　me。〃
　Russell　Slade；　staring　at　the　lifeless　bee；　wondered　how　he　could　free　himself　from　Bernard　Godwin's　tyranny　and　still　be　privy　to　his　secrets。　He　would　discover　who　had　murdered　Ariel　Solares　in　his　own　way　but；　being　the　brilliant　administrator　that　he　was；　he　would　also　devote　himself　to　his　own　agenda。　Why　not？　he　thought。　Bernard　has　his　hidden　agenda　with　his　Soviet　dissidents；　why　shouldn't　I　have　mine？
　
　Tori　awoke　to　the　sound　of　a　bobwhite。　It　was　sitting　in　among　the　bougainvilleas　which；　if　she　turned　onto　her　right　side；　she　could　see　through　the　open　jalousied　window。
　For　a　moment　she　could　not　think　where　she　was。　Then　she　remembered：　Los　Angeles。　Home。
　The　huge　bed　seemed　like　heaven；　she　did　not　want　to　leave　it。　She　stirred；　and　as　she　did　so；　heard　the　door　to　the　bedroom　open。　She　saw　her　mother　e　quietly　in。　She　was　wearing　a　chic　silk　and　chenille　robe；　calfskin　slippers。　She　carried　a　tray　filled　with　food；　juice；　coffee。
　She　smiled。　〃You're　up；　darling。〃
　How　did　I　get　here？　Tori　blinked　into　the　sunlight；　closed　her　eyes；　and　remembered　。。。
　。。。　the　scents　of　cigar　smoke　and　marzipan；　exhaust　fumes　and　expensive　suntan　oil。　Decaying　earth　and　mold。　Light　and　shadow；　a　crazy　quilt　of　images；　a　jumble　of　sound　。　。　。　The　squeal　of　a　rat。　。　。　the　stench　of　fear　as　they　were　buried　alive　。　。　。
　/　don't　want　to　be　back。
　。。。　the　aromas　of　love；　an　intimate　steam；　a　delicious　dissolving　of　defenses；　an　intoxicating　wine　taken　in　through　the　pores　of　the　skin。　And　then　。。。　a　death's…head　blossoming；　and　the　stench　of　fear　again；　ing　to　claim　her　。。。　plastique　detonating；　destroying　her　lover；　shattering　her　aerie；　her　new…found　peace；　her　sanctuary。
　I　don't　want　to　be　back。
　〃It's　so　wonderful　to　have　you　home　again；　darling；〃　Laura　Nunn　said　as　she　set　the　tray　down　across　her　daughter's　lap。　〃We　were　so　worried　when　we　got　your　call。　What　were　you　doing　in　a　San　Francisco　police　precinct？〃
　But　what　Tori　really　meant　was；　Don't　be　dead；　Ariel。　Please　e　back。　Greg　is　dead。　It's　more　than　I　can　bear　for　you　to　be　dead；　too。
　Tori　pushed　the　dark　thoughts　away　from　her　as　if　they　had　an　insupportable　weight。　She　forced　herself　to　sit　up　and　say；　with　a　mixture　of　apprehension　and　fatalism；　〃Where's　Dad？〃
　〃Ellis　is　at　the　office。〃　Laura　Nunn　settled　the　tray　around　Tori。　〃He　sends　his　apologies；　but　you　know　your　father；　he's　like　quicksand…〃　She　put　her　hand　over　her　mouth。　〃Did　I　say　quicksand？　Well；　of　course　I　meant　quicksilver。〃　She　gave　a　small；　embarrassed　laugh。　〃I　never　understood　how　a　human　being　could　get　along　on　three　hours　sleep　a　night。　But　Ellis　is　a　creature　of　habit。　He　still　sleeps　from　three　to　six；　and　not　an　instant　more。〃
　Tori　studied　her　mother：　so　beautiful　as　a　young　woman；　so　exquisite　as　a　mature　one；　and　now；　in　her　early　sixties；　her　hair　was　still　a　long　chestnut　cascade；　her　eyes　brilliant　green；　her　skin；　devoid　of　makeup；　without　serious　line　or　flaw。　It　was　difficult　to　believe　that　any　time　had　passed　for　her。　Ah；　well；　Tori　thought；　that　was　L。A。　for　you。　With　a　bination　of　good　genes　and　even　better　plastic　surgeons；　the　society　here　had　banished　age　just　as　surely　as　God　had　banished　Adam　and　Eve　from　Eden。　Except　that　here　sin　was　accepted…cherished；　even；　as　a　trait　of　success；　hadn't　Ellis　Nunn's　favorite　twist　on　a　phrase　always　been。　In　Los　Angeles；　nothing　succeeds　like　sin？　And；　like　undergoing　a　skin　peel；　it　was　acknowledged　that　you　could　always　shed　your　immediate　past；　as　long　as　you　played　the　game。　You　could　continually　get　away　with　stepping　on　the　people　you　didn't　need；　as　long　as　you　kissed　the　asses　of　the　people　you　did　need。
　Laura　Nunn　snapped　out　the　linen　napkin；　placed　it　over　the　bedcovers。　〃Now；　Maria　has　gone　to　great　pains　to　cook　everything　you　love。〃
　Tori　looked　at　the　flower　pattern　Limoges　china；　the　1930s　Tiffany　silverware。　They　brought　back　dizzying　images　of　her　youth；　growing　up　within　the　boundaries　of　Diana's　Garden；　this　modern…day　Xanadu　that　her　parents　had　built。
　Mistaking　her　hesitation；　Laura　Nunn　said；''Darling；　it　would　be　a　sin　to　leave　all　this　delectable　food。　You　know　what　a　marvelous　cook　Maria　is；　and　she's　always　had　a　tendency　to　spoil　you。〃
　Tori　gave　her　mother　a　distant　smile；　slipping　on　a　childhood　mask　so　familiar　she　did　it　without　being　altogether　aware　of　it。　As　soon　as　she　took　her　first　bite　of　food；　she　found　that　she　was　famished。
　Laura　Nunn　watched　Tori　devour　her　breakfast　with　the　kind　of　pleased　attention　one　normally　gives　to　one's　key　light；　the　light　that　illuminates　the　star。　〃Ellis　promised　he'd　be　home　early　today。　Now；　you　promise　me；　darling；　you　won't　get　into　a　fight　with　him。〃
　〃/　never　get　into　a　fight　with　him；〃　Tori　said　as　if　in　knee…jerk　response。
　Laura　Nunn　rose。　〃Perhaps　you'd　like　a　little　time　to　yourself。〃
　〃No。〃　Tori　reached　out；　drew　her　mother　back　down　to　the　side　of　the　bed。　〃I'm　just　a　little　。　。　。　disoriented。〃　She　smiled。　〃Of　course　I　won't　get　into　a　fight　with　Dad。　That's　all　over　and　done　with。　I　promise。〃
　〃Good。〃　Laura　Nunn　smiled　at　her　daughter。　〃Now　we　can　get　to　what　really　matters。　Your　happiness。　I　see　that　you're　still　alone。　I　was　half　expecting　you　to　show　up　with　a　boyfriend　or；　well；　a　male　friend　of　some　kind。''
　Tori　felt　her　heart　contract。　〃Mother；　I　appreciate　your　concern。　But　I　rather　think　I've　given　up　men　for　a　while。''　She　saw　her　mother　blanch；　then　laughed　despite　herself。　〃No；　no。　What　I　meant　is；　for　me　moment　at　least　I　feel　like　being　on　my　own。〃
　〃Oh；　darling；　that's　so　sad；〃　Laura　Nunn　said。　There　was　a　role　in　Possessed；　one　of　her　films；　where　she　played　the　mother　of　an　innocent　outcast；　that　Tori　thought　her　mother　kept　falling　into。　Or　was　that　an　unfair　assessment？　〃But　you　must　have　panionship…everyone　must。　It's　like　heat　or　light；　an　essential　one　simply　cannot　live　without。〃
　As　usual；　Tori　thought；　Laura　Nunn's　opinion　was　the　world's　opinion。　But　perhaps　she　should　not　be　so　hard　on　her　mother。　It　was　true　that　she　carried　her　mother's　expectations　for　herself　as　if　they　could　be　a　cure　for　her　own　heartache。　〃People　do　it
all　the　time；　Mom；〃　she　said　with　a　minimum　of　conviction。　Just　another　knee…jerk　response。
　〃But　of　course　they　do；〃　Laura　Nunn　said。　〃That　hardly　makes　it　right。　I　want　you　to　be　happy。　That's　all　I've　ever　wanted　for　you　and　。　。　。　for　Greg。〃
　〃Whereas　Dad…〃
　〃Now；　darling；　you　promised。　Your　father's　like　a　dog　with　a　bone。　I'm　afraid　he'll　never　put　anything　like　that　away。〃　Laura　Nunn　looked　at　her　daughter；　then　hugged　her。　〃Oh；　Tori；　you're　so　much　like　him　in　so　many　ways。〃
　''Well；　perhaps　that's　why　he　disapproves　of　me　so　strongly。''　She　had　meant　it　to　e　out　in　a　light　tone；　but　the　bitterness　was　unmistakable。
　Laura　took　Tori's　hands　in　hers。　〃Oh；　my　dear；　he　doesn't　disapprove　of　you。　I　can't　think　where　you　get　your　notions。　It's　just　that　he　was　so　。。。　disappointed〃…was　that　a　catch　in　her　throat；　or　merely　that　she　had　almost　used　another；　more　appropriate；　word？…〃when　Greg　。　。　。　failed　to　live　up　to　his　expectations。〃
　〃Jesus；　Mom；〃　Tori　cried；　〃Greg　didn't　fail　to　live　up　to　Dad's　expectations。　Greg　was　killed。〃
　〃Well；　your　father…〃
　〃I　know。　He　could　never　tell　the　difference。''　All　at　once　she　was　aware　of　how　soft　her　mother's　hands　were　against　her　own　callused　ones。
　〃Now　I've　upset　you。　Darling；　I　never　meant　to。〃
　What　part　was　Laura　Nunn　playing　now？　Tori　wondered　numbly。　〃You　haven't　upset　me；〃　she　said；　slumping　back　into　her　pillows。　〃I'm　just　。　。　。　tired。〃　If　her　mother　could　use　euphemisms；　why　couldn't　she？
　〃Of　course。〃　Rising；　Laura　Nunn　picked　up　the　tray。　〃You　get　some　sleep；　darling。　I've　left　instructions　with　everyone　that　you're　not　to　be　disturbed。　There'll　be　no　vacuuming　on　this　floor　today。〃
　That　was　something；　Tori　thought。　Her　mother　was　notorious　for　demanding　that　her　house　be　vacuumed　daily；　including　Sundays。　Tori　had　always　harbored　the　suspicion　that　in　years　past　she　had　had　this　done　at　least　in　part　to　keep　her　children　from　sleeping　late　on　weekends。　Sleeping　late　was；　in　Laura　Nunn's　opinion；　a　sign　of　laziness。
　〃Mom；　will　you　be　here　this　afternoon？〃
　Laura　Nunn　smiled。　〃I've　got　a　meeting　at　the　studio　at　three。''　She　always　said　''the　studio；''　whether　it　was　Paramount　or　Warners　o