dk.nightchills-第15章

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　by　chance；　every　contaminated　substance。
　There　was　a　second　possibility。　It　was　conceivable；　although　highly　improbable；　that　the　Edisons　had　taken　the　drug　but　hadn't　e　into　contact　with　any　of　the　sophisticated　subliminal　programming　that　had　been　designed　with　such　care　for　the　Black　River　experiment　and　that　had　inundated　the　town　through　half　a　dozen　forms　of　print　and　electronic　media　for　a　period　of　seven　days。
　Salsbury　was　nearly　certain　that　neither　of　these　explanations　was　correct；　and　that　the　truth　was　both　plex　and　technical。　Even　the　most　beneficial　drugs　did　not　have　a　benign　effect　on　everyone；　any　drug　could　be　counted　upon　to　sicken　or　kill　at　least　a　tiny　percentage　of　those　people　to　whom　it　was　administered。　Moreover；　for　virtually　every　drug；　there　were　some　people；　another　extremely　small　group；　who　were　either　minimally　affected　or　utterly　untouched　by　it；　owing　to　differences　in　metabolisms；　variances　in　body　chemistries；　and　unknown　factors。　More　likely　than　not；　Jenny　and　Sam　Edison　had　taken　the　subliminal　primer　in　water　or　food　but　hadn't　been　altered　by　it…either　not　at　all　or　not　as　they　should　have　been…and　subsequently　were　unimpressed　by　the　subliminals　because　they　hadn't　been　made　ready　for　them。
　Eventually　he　would　have　to　give　the　two　of　them　a　series　of　examinations　and　tests　at　a　fully　equipped　medical　clinic；　with　the　hope　that　he　could　find　what　it　was　that　made　them　impervious　to　the　drug。　But　that　could　wait。　During　the　next　three　weeks　he　would　be　quietly　recording　and　studying　the　effects　that　the　drug　and　subliminals　produced　in　the　other　people　of　Black　River。
　Although　Salsbury　was　more　interested　in　Jenny　than　in　any　of　the　other　customers；　most　of　the　time　his　attention　was　focused　on　the　younger　of　Ultman's　two　waitresses。　She　was　a　lean；　lithe　brunette　with　dark　eyes　and　a　honey　plexion。　Perhaps　twenty…five　years　old。　A　captivating　smile。　A　rich；　throaty　voice　perfect　for　the　bedroom。　To　Salsbury；　her　every　movement　was　filled　with　sexual　innuendo　and　an　all　but　open　invitation　to　violation。
　More　important；　however；　the　waitress　reminded　him　of　Miriam；　the　wife　he　had　divorced　twenty…seven　years　ago。　Like　Miriam；　she　had　small；　high…set　breasts　and　very　beautiful；　supple　legs。　Her　throaty　voice　resembled　Miriam's。　And　she　had　Miriam's　walk：　an　unstudied　grace　in　every　step；　an　unconscious　and　sinuous　rolling　of　the　hips　that　took　his　breath　away。
　He　wanted　her。
　But　he　would　never　take　her　because　she　reminded　him　too　much　of　Miriam；　reminded　him　of　the　frustrations；　angers；　and　disappointments　of　that　awful　five…year　marriage。　She　stirred　his　lust…but　she　also　stirred　his　somewhat　suppressed；　long…nurtured　hatred　of　Miriam　and；　by　extension；　of　women　in　general。　He　knew　that；　in　the　act；　as　he　achieved　penetration　and　began　to　move；　her　resemblance　to　Miriam　would　leave　him　impotent。
　When　she　brought　the　check　for　his　lunch；　flashing　that　dazzling　smile　that　had　begun　to　seem　smug　and　superior　to　him；　he　said；　〃I　am　the　key。〃
　He　was　taking　an　unwarranted　risk。　He　couldn't　defend　it　even　to　himself。　Until　he　was　certain　that　everyone　in　town；　other　than　the　Edisons　and　a　handful　of　children；　was　properly　programmed；　he　should　restrict　the　use　of　the　mand　phrase　to　telephone　conversations；　as　with　Troutman；　and　to　situations　wherein　he　was　alone　with　the　subject　and　free　from　fear　of　interruption。　Only　after　three　weeks　of　observation　and　individual　Contact　could　he　even　begin　to　assume　there　was　no　risk　involved；　and　now；　on　one　level；　he　was　a　bit　disturbed　that　he
　was　conducting　himself　irresponsibly　on　his　first　day　in　town。　He　didn't　particularly　mind　if　absolute　power　corrupted　him　absolutely…just　so　it　didn't　make　him　overconfident　and　careless。　On　the　other　hand；　so　long　as　they　kept　their　voices　low；　there　was　little　chance　that　they　would　be　overheard。　The　elderly　couple　in　the　booth　by　the　door　was　nearer　to　Salsbury　than　anyone　else　in　the　cafe；　and　they　were　half　a　room　away。　Besides；　unwarranted　risk　or　not；　he　couldn't　resist　taking　control　of　this　woman。　His　emotions　had　unseated　his　reason；　and　he　was　riding　with　them。
　〃I　am　the　lock；〃　she　said。
　〃Keep　your　voice　low。〃　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃What's　your　name？〃　〃Alice。〃
　〃How　old　are　you？〃　〃Twenty…six。〃
　〃You're　lovely；〃　he　said。
　She　said　nothing。
　〃Smile　for　me；　Alice。〃
　She　smiled。　She　didn't　look　the　least　bit　dazed。　Even　her　big；　dark　eyes　held　no　hint　of　a　trance。　Yet　she　was　unhesitatingly　obedient。
　He　said；　〃You've　got　a　nice　body。〃
　〃Thank　you。〃
　〃Do　you　like　sex？〃
　〃Yeah。〃
　〃Do　you　like　it　very　much？〃
　〃Yeah。　I　like　it。〃
　〃When　you're　in　bed　with　a　man；　is　there　anything　you　won't　let　him　do　to　you？〃
　〃Yeah。　Greek。〃
　〃You　won't　let　him　take　you　in　the　ass？〃
　She　blushed　and　said；　〃Yeah。　I　don't　like　that。〃
　〃If　I　wanted　you；　I　could　have　you。〃
　She　stared　at　him。
　〃Couldn't　I？〃
　〃Yeah。〃
　〃If　I　wanted　you；　I　could　have　you　right　now；　right　here；　on　top　of　this　table。〃
　〃Yeah。〃
　〃If　I　wanted　to　take　you　Greek…style；　I　could。〃
　She　resisted　the　idea　but　finally　said；　〃Is　that　what　you　want？〃
　〃If　I　did　want　it；　I　could　have　it。　You'd　let　me。〃
　〃Yeah。〃
　It　was　his　turn　to　smile。　He　glanced　around　the　cafe。　No　one　was　looking　at　them；　no　one　had　heard。　〃Are　you　married；　Alice？〃
　〃No。　Divorced。〃
　〃Why　did　you　get　a　divorce？〃
　〃He　couldn't　hold　a　job。〃
　〃Your　husband　couldn't？〃
　〃Yeah；　him。〃
　〃Was　he　good　in　bed？〃
　〃Not　very。〃
　She　was　even　more　like　Miriam　than　he　had　thought。　After　all　these　years　he　could　still　remember　what　Miriam　had　said　to　him　the　day　she　left。　You're　not　just　bad　in　bed；　Ogden。　You're　terrible。　And　you've　no　inclination　to　learn。　But　you　know；　I　could　live　with　that　if　there　were　pensations。　If　you　had　money　and　could　buy　me　things；　maybe　I　could　live　with　your　fumbling　sex。　When　I　said　I'd　marry　you；　I　thought　you　were　going　to　make　lots　of　money。　Jesus　Christ；　you　were　at　the　top　of　your　class　at　Harvard！　When　you　pleted　your　doctorate；　everyone　wanted　to　hire　you。　If　you　had　any　ambition　whatsoever；　you'd　have　already　gotten　your　hands　on　a　decent　piece　of　money。　You　know　what；　Ogden？　I　think　you're　as　inept　and　unimaginative　in　your　research　as　you　are　in　bed。　You're　never　going　to　get　anywhere；　but　I　am。　I'm　getting　out。　What　a　bitch　she　had　been。　Just　thinking　about　her；　he　began　to　tremble　and　perspire。
　Alice　was　still　smiling　at　him。
　〃Stop　smiling；〃　he　said　softly。　〃I　don't　like　it。〃
　She　did　as　she　was　told。
　〃What　am　I；　Alice？〃
　〃You're　the　key。〃
　〃And　what　are　you？〃
　〃The　lock。〃
　〃Now　that　I've　opened　you；　you'll　do　whatever　I　tell　you　to　do。　Isn't　that　true？〃
　〃Yeah。〃
　He　took　three　one…dollar　bills　from　his　wallet　and　put　them　on　top　of　the　lunch　check。　〃I'm　going　to　test　you；　Alice。　I'm　going　to　see　just　how　obedient　you　are。〃
　She　waited　docilely。
　〃When　you　leave　this　table；〃　he　said；　〃you'll　take　the　check　and　money　to　the　cash　register。　You'll　ring　up　the　sale　and　take　your　tip　from　whatever's　left　of　the　three　dollars。　Is　that　clear？〃
　〃Yeah。〃
　〃Then　you　will　go　to　the　kitchen。　Is　there　anyone　back　there？〃
　〃No。　Randy　went　to　the　bank。〃
　〃Randy　Ultman？〃
　〃Yeah。〃
　〃That's　good；〃　Salsbury　said。　〃Now；　when　you　go　to　the　kitchen；　you'll　pick　up　a　meat　fork；　a　cook's　fork。　One　of　those　big；　two…pronged　forks。　Is　there　one　of　those　in　the　kitchen？〃
　〃Yeah。　Several。〃
　〃You'll　pick　one　of　them　up　and　stab　yourself　with　it；　run　it　all　the　way　through　your　left　hand。〃
　She　didn't　even　blink。
　〃Is　that　understood；　Alice？〃
　〃Yeah。　I　understand。〃
　〃When　you　turn　away　from　this　table；　you'll　forget　everything　we've　said　to　each　other。　Understood？〃
　〃Yeah。〃
　〃When　you　run　the　fork　through　your　hand；　you'll　think　it　was　an　accident。　A　freak　accident。　Won't　you；　Alice？〃
　〃Sure。　An　accident。〃
　〃Go　away；　then。〃
　She　turned　and　walked　to　the　half…door　at　the　end　of　the
　lunch　counter；　her　smooth　hips　rolling　provocatively。
　When　she　reached　the　cash　register　and　began　to　ring　up　the　sale；　Salsbury　slid　out　of　the　booth　and　started　toward　the　door。
　She　dropped　her　tip　into　a　pocket　of　her　uniform；　closed　the　cash　register　drawer；　and　went　into　the　kitchen。
　At　the　entrance　Salsbury　stopped　and　put　a　quarter　in　the　newspaper　vending　machine。
　Bob　Thorp　laughed　loudly　at　some　joke；　and　the　waitress　named　Bess　giggled　like　a　young　girl。
　Salsbury　took　a　copy　of　the　Black　River　Bulletin　from　the　wire　rack；　folded　it；　put　it　under　his　arm；　and　opened　the　door　to　the　foyer。　He　stepped　across　the　sill　and　began　to　pull　the　door　shut　behind　him；　thinking　all　the　while：　e　on；　you　bitch；　e　on！　His　heart　was　pounding；　and　he　felt　slightly　dizzy。
　Alice　began　to　scream。
　Grinning；　Salsbury　closed　the　first　door；　pushed　through　the　outer　door；　went　down　the　steps；　and　walked　east　on　Main　Street；　as　if　he　were　unaware　of　the　uproar　in　the　cafe。
　The　day　was　bright　and　warm。　The　sky　was　cloudless。
　He　had　never　been　happier。
　Paul　shouldered　past　Bob　Thorp　and　stepped　into　the　kitchen。　The　young　waitress　was　standing　at　a　counter　that　lay　between　two　upright　food　freezers。　Her　left　hand　was　palm　down　on　a　wooden　cutting　board。　With　her　right　hand　she　gripped　an　eighteen…inch…long　meat　fork。　The　two　wickedly　sharp　prongs　appeared　to　have　been　driven　all　the　way　through　her　left　hand　and　into　the　wood　beneath。　Blood　spotted　her　light　blue　uniform；　glistened　on　the　cutting　board；　and　dripped　from　the　edge　of　the　Formica…topped　counter。　She　was　screaming　and　gasping　for　breath　between　the　screams　and　shaking　and　trying　to　wrench　the　fork　loose。
　Turning　back　to　Bob　Thorp；　who　stood　transfixed　in　the　doorway；　Paul　said；　〃Get　Doc　Troutman。〃
　Thorp　didn't　have　to　be　told　again。　He　hurried　away。
　Taking　hold　of　the　woman's　right　hand；　Paul　said；　〃Let　go
　of　the　fork。　I　want　you　to　let　go　of　the　fork。　You're　doing　more　harm　than　good。〃
　She　raised　her　head　and　seemed　to　look　straight　through　him。　Her　face　was　chalky　beneath　her　dark　plexion；　she　was　obviously　in　shock。　She　couldn't　stop　screaming…an　ululating　wail　more　animal　than　human…and　she　probably　didn't　even　know　that　he　had　spoken　to　her。
　He　had　to　pry　her　fingers　from　the　handle　of　the　fork。
　At　his　side　Jenny　said；　〃Oh；　my　God！〃
　〃Hold　her　for　me；〃　he　said。　〃Don't　let　her　grab　the　fork。〃
　Jenny　gripped　the　woman's　right　wrist。　She　said；　〃I　think　I'm　going　to　be　sick。〃
　Paul　wouldn't　have　blamed　her　if　she　had　been　just　that。　In　the　tiny　restaurant　kitchen；　with　the　ceiling　only　a　few　inches　above　their　heads；　the　screams　were　deafening。　The　sight　of　that　slender　hand　with　the　fork　embedded　in　it　was　horrifying；　the　stuff　of　nightmares。　The　air　was　thick　with　the　stale　odors　of　baked　ham；　roast　beef；　fried　onions；　grease…and　the　fresh；　metallic　tang　of　blood。　It　was　enough　to　nauseate　anyone。　But　he　said；　〃You　won't　be　sick。　You're　a　tough　lady。〃
　She　bit　her　lower　lip　and　nodded。
　Quickly；　as　if　he　had　been　prepared　and　waiting　for　exactly　this　emergency；　Paul　took　a　dishcloth　from　the　towel　rack　and　tore　it　into　two　strips。　He　threw　one　of　these　aside。　With　the　other　length　of　cloth　and　a　long　wooden　tasting　spoon；　he　fashioned　a　tourniquet　for　the　waitress's　left