cpike.thelastvampire-第14节

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　〃Alisa；〃　he　says　patiently。　〃I　would　like　you　to　put　one　pair　of　these　around　your　wrists；　the　other　pair　around　your　ankles。〃
　〃Why？〃　Now　I　want　to　stall　for　time。　Maybe　a　police　officer　will　e　by。　Of　course；　these　people　would　just　kill　the　officer。
　〃We　have　a　long　drive　ahead　of　us；　and　we　want　you　safely　tucked　away　before　we　allow　you　in　our　car；〃　Slim　says。
　〃You　said　we　didn't　have　far　to　go？〃
　〃Put　on　the　cuffs。〃
　〃All　right。〃　I　put　them　on；　marveling　once　more　at　their　preparation。
　〃Press　them　together　so　that　they　lock；〃　Slim　suggests。
　I　do　so。　They　click。　〃Happy？〃　I　ask。　〃Can　we　go？〃
　Slim　removes　a　black　eye　mask　from　his　pocket；　similar　to　the　kind　people　wear　to　bed。　He　steps　toward　me。　〃I　want　you　to　put　this　on；〃　he　says。
　I　hold　out　my　cuffed　hands。　〃You'll　have　to　put　it　on　me。〃
　He　takes　another　step　toward　me。　〃Your　hands　are　free　enough　to　put　it　on。〃
　I　catch　his　eye　again；　it　may　be　my　last　chance。　〃You　do　not　have　to　be　so　afraid　of　me；　Slim。　Your　fear　is　ridiculous。〃
　He　hurries　toward　me　and　covers　my　eyes。　I　hear　his　voice。
　〃You're　right；　Alisa；〃　he　says。
　He　grabs　my　arm　and　pulls　me　toward　the　limousine。
　We　drive　south　on　the　Coast　Highway。　All　is　dark；　but　I　still　have　my　sense　of　direction。　All　my　senses　with　the　exception　of　my　eyes　are　very　alert。　Slim　sits　on　my　right；　the　woman　on　my　left。　Four　burly　men　sit　across　from　us；　two　up　front。　I　count　the　breaths。　The　second　limousine　follows　a　hundred　yards　behind。　They　picked　up　their　three　marksmen　before　we　hit　the　road。
　There　are　no　incidental　smells　in　the　limousine。　The　car　is　new。　There　is　no　food　in　the　limousine；　but　there　is　drink　in　the　bar：　sodas；　juice；　water。　There　is　a　faint　smell　of　gunpowder　in　the　air。　One　or　more　of　the　guns　in　the　vehicle　has　recently　been　fired。　Everybody　has　his　gun　out；　in　his　hands　or　resting　in　his　lap。　Only　the　woman　keeps　hers　aimed　at　me。　She　is　the　most　afraid　of　me。
　Several　miles　go　by。　The　breathing　of　the　people　around　me　begins　to　slow；　to　lengthen　and　deepen。　They　are　relaxing；　except　for　the　woman。　They　think　the　difficult　part　is　over。　Careful；　I　test　the　strength　of　the　cuffs。　The　metal　is　incredibly　hard。　I　will　not　be　able　to　break　it。　But　that　doesn't　mean　I　can't　get　around。　I　can　hop；　even　bound；　far　more　quickly　than　any　mortal　can　run。　I　might　be　able　to　grab　one　of　the　automatic　weapons　from　the　lap　of　one　of　the　men　across　from　me　and　shoot　and　kill　most　of　the　people　in　the　limousine　before　they　can　shoot　me　back。　Then　again；　the　woman　might　put　a　bullet　in　my　brain　first。　Also；　I　know　the　car　behind　us　is　operating　under　strict　instructions。　The　pattern　in　the　abduction　is　clear。　If　they　see　me　attacking；　they　will　open　fire　without　hesitation。　Everyone　in　the　first　limousine　will　die；　and　I　will　be　one　of　them。　This　is　why　there　are　two　cars；　not　one。
　I　must　try　another　way。
　I　let　another　thirty　minutes　go　by。　Then　I　speak。
　〃Slim。　I　have　to　go　to　the　bathroom。〃
　〃I'm　sorry；　that's　not　possible；〃　he　says。
　〃I　have　to　go　bad。　I　drank　an　entire　bottle　of　Coke　before　meeting　you。〃
　〃I　don't　care。　We　are　not　stopping。〃
　〃I'll　pee　all　over　the　seat。　You'll　have　to　sit　in　it。〃
　〃Pee　if　you　must。〃
　〃I　will　do　it。〃
　He　doesn't　respond。　More　miles　go　by。　Since　Slim　carried　the　cuffs；　I　decide　he　must　be　the　one　who　has　the　key　to　open　them。　The　arm　of　the　woman　beside　me　begins　to　tire。　She　lowers　her　weapon　hand：　I　hear　the　rustling　of　her　clothing。　I　estimate　our　speed　to　be　sixty　miles　an　hour。　We　are　maybe　fifty　miles　south　of　Water　Cove。　Seaside　is　approaching；　I　can　hear　the　town　up　ahead；　the　two　all　night　gas　stations；　the　twenty…four…hour　doughnut　shop。
　〃Slim；〃　I　say。
　〃What？〃
　〃I　have　a　problem　besides　having　to　pee。〃
　〃What　is　it？〃
　〃I'm　having　my　period。　I　have　to　get　to　a　rest　room。　I　need　only　two　minutes。　You　and　your　lady　friend　can　e　with　me　into　the　rest　room。　You　can　point　your　guns　at　me　the　whole　time　if　you　want；　I　don't　care。　If　you　do　not　stop；　we　will　have　a　mess　here　and　we　will　have　it　soon。〃
　〃We　are　not　stopping。〃
　I　raise　my　voice。　〃This　is　ridiculous！　I　am　bound　hand　and　foot。　You　are　armed　left　and　right。　I　just　have　to　go　to　the　bathroom　for　two　minutes。　For　God's　sake；　what　kind　of　sick　person　are　you？　Do　you　like　piss　and　blood？〃
　Slim　considers。　I　hear　him　lean　forward　and　glance　at　the　woman。　〃What　do　you　think？〃　he　asks。
　〃We　are　not　supposed　to　stop　for　any　reason；〃　she　says。
　〃Yeah；　but　what　the　hell。〃　He　adds　a　line；　and　as　he　does　so；　I　hear　my　implanted　suggestion。　〃What　harm　can　she　do？〃
　〃She　must　be　guarded　at　all　times；〃　the　woman　insists。
　〃I　already　said　you　two　can　follow　me　into　the　rest　room；〃　I　say。
　〃So　we　have　your　permission？〃　the　woman　asks　sarcastically。　The　sound　of　her　voice　is　aggravating。　She　is　from　Germany…the　east　side。　I　hope　she　follows　me　into　the　bathroom。　I　have　a　surprise　for　her。　〃I　have　no　sanitary　napkins；〃　she　says。
　〃I　will　use　whatever　is　available；〃　I　say　softly。
　〃It　is　up　to　you；〃　the　woman　says　to　Slim。
　He　considers；　studying　me；　I　know。　Then　he　decides。　〃Hell；　call　the　others。　Tell　them　we're　stopping　at　the　first　gas　station。　We'll　pull　around　back。〃
　〃They　won't　like　that；〃　the　man　up　front　says。
　〃Tell　them　they　can　talk　to　me　if　they　are　worried；〃　Slim　says。　He　turns　toward　me。　〃Happy？〃
　〃Thank　you；〃　I　say　in　my　velvety　voice。　〃I　won't　cause　any　problems。　You　really　can　acpany　me　if　you　want。〃
　〃You　can　be　sure　I　will；　sister；〃　Slim　says…as　if　it　were　his　own　idea。　I　want　those　keys。
　The　call　is　made。　We　slow　as　we　enter　Seaside。　The　driver　spots　a　gas　station。　I　hear　the　all…night　attendant　making　change。　We　drive　around　the　side；　the　second　limousine　close　behind　us。　The　car　stops。　Slim　opens　his　door。
　〃Stay　here；〃　he　says。
　We　wait　for　Slim　to　return。　The　woman　has　her　gun　pointed　at　my　head　again。　She　just　doesn't　like　my　looks；　I　suppose。　But　the　men　are　relaxed。　They　are　thinking；　all　this　security　for　what？　Slim　es　back。　I　hear　him　unholster　his　weapon。
　〃There　will　be　two　of　us　on　you；〃　he　says。　〃Don't　get　smart。〃
　〃You　have　to　take　this　thing　off　my　eyes；〃　I　say。　〃I'll　make　a　mess　if　I　can't　see。〃
　Of　course　I　can　reach　up　and　remove　it　myself；　when　I　make　my　move。　But　to　have　it　removed　now　will　save　me　the　extra　step。　Also；　I　want　my　vision　to　plan　when　to　attack。　Finally；　by　asking　them　to　take　it　off；　I　emphasize　my　helplessness。
　〃Any　other　requests？〃　Slim　asks。
　〃No。〃
　He　reaches　over　and　pulls　off　the　mask。　〃Happy？〃
　I　smile　at　him；　grateful。　〃I　will　be　when　I　get　in　the　bathroom。〃
　He　stares　at　me；　doubt　and　confusion　touching　his　face。　〃Who　the　hell　are　you？〃
　〃A　girl　with　a　bad　attitude；〃　I　say。
　The　woman　pokes　her　pistol　at　my　temple。　〃Get　out。　You　have　two　minutes。　No　more。〃
　I　climb　out　of　the　car。　The　guys　in　the　other　limousine　are　all　out；　their　weapons　hidden　but　handy。　They　form　a　wall　between　me　and　the　front　of　the　gas　station。　I　hope　none　of　them　acpanies　me　into　the　rest　room。　But　Slim　and　the　woman　are　determined　to　stay　with　me。　I　give　the　watching　gang　a　timid　smile　as　I　shuffle　past。　They　chew　gum。　They　stare　at　my　body。　They；　too；　wonder　what　all　the　fuss　is　about。　The　woman　goes　into　the　bathroom　first。　I　follow；　Slim　on　my　tail。　No　one　else　es　in。　The　door　closes　behind　us。
　I　strike　immediately。　I　have　it　all　planned。
　In　a　move　too　fast　for　a　mortal　eye　to　follow；　I　whirl　and　knock　Slim's　pistol　away。　Raising　my　cuffed　hands　over　my　head；　I　bring　them　down　on　top　of　his　skull。　I　use　only　a　fraction　of　my　strength；　I　want　to　stun　him；　no　more。　He　topples　to　the　floor　as　the　woman　turns；　bringing　up　her　gun。　I　kick　it　from　her　hand　by　lashing　out　with　both　my　feet。　She　blinks　as　I　land　upright。　She　opens　her　mouth　to　say　something　when　I　grab　her　face　with　both　my　hands。　My　grip　is　ferocious；　there　is　blood　even　before　I　kill　her；　around　her　eyes。　My　nails　destroy　her　vision　permanently。
　There　is　lots　more　blood　when　I　smash　the　back　of　her　head　on　the　tiled　wall。　The　plaster　cracks　under　the　blow　sending　up　a　miniature　cloud　of　white　dust　shot　through　with　streaks　of　red。　Likewise　her　skull　cracks；　in　many　places。　She　sags　in　my　arms；　the　blood　from　her　mortal　wounds　soaking　the　front　of　my　leather　jacket。　She　is　dead；　I　let　her　drop。
　The　door　is　closed　but　not　locked。　Quickly　I　press　it　tight　and　lock　it。　At　my　feet　Slim　lets　out　a　moan。　I　reach　down　and　grab　him　and　press　him　against　the　wall　beside　the　stain　of　the　dead　woman's　brains。　My　hands　go　around　his　throat。　Perhaps　five　seconds　have　elapsed　since　we　entered　the　bathroom。　Slim　winces　and　opens　his　eyes。　They　focus　quickly　when　they　see　me。
　〃Slim；〃　I　say　softly。　〃Look　around　you。　Look　at　your　dead　partner。　Her　brains　are　leaking　out　of　her　head。　She's　a　mess…it's　terrible。　I'm　a　terrible　person。　I'm　also　a　very　strong　person。　You　can　feel　how　strong　I　am；　can't　you？　That's　why　your　boss　wanted　you　to　be　so　careful　with　me。　You　can't　screw　with　me　and　get　away　with　it。　Please　don't　even　consider　it。　Now；　let　me　tell　you　what　I　want。　Reach　in　your　pocket　and　pull　out　the　key　to　these　cuffs。　Unlock　them。　Don't　shout　out　to　the　others。　If　you　do　these　things；　then　maybe　I　will