dk.nightchills-第26章

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　Salsbury　depressed　a　tab　on　the　programming　keyboard　and　cleared　the　screen。　〃In　1960；　Leonard　bankrolled　a　pany　named　Statistical　Profiles　Incorporated。　It　does　all　the　marketing　research　for　his　other　panies…and　for　panies　he　doesn't　own。　It　pays　for　a　trunk　line　to　the　Census　Bureau　data　banks。　Ve　used　Statistical　Profiles　to　run　a　search　for　the　ideal　test　site。　Of　course；　they　didn't　know　why　we　were　interested　in　a　town　that　met　these　particular　requirements。〃
　Frowning；　the　general　said；　〃How　many　people　at　Statistical　Profiles　were　involved　in　the　search？〃
　〃Two；〃　Salsbury　said。　〃I　know　what　you're　thinking。　Don't　worry。　They're　both　scheduled　to　die　in　accidents　well　before　we　begin　the　field　test。〃
　〃I　suppose　we'll　send　Rossner　and　Holbrook　to　contaminate　the　reservoir。〃
　〃Then　we　get　rid　of　them。〃
　The　general　raised　his　bushy　eyebrows。　〃Kill　them？〃
　〃Or　order　them　to　mit　suicide。〃
　〃Why　not　just　tell　them　to　forget　everything　they've　done；　to　wipe　it　from　their　minds？〃
　〃That　might　save　them　from　prosecution　if　things　went　badly　wrong。　But　it　wouldn't　save　us。　We　can't　wipe　from　our　minds　all　memory　of　what　we　had　them　do。　If　problems　develop　with　the　field　test；　serious　problems　that　throw　our　entire　Operation　in　the　garbage；　and　if　it　turns　out　that　Rossner　and　Holbrook　were　seen　at　the　reservoir　or　left　any　clues　behind…
　well；　we　don't　want　the　authorities　to　connect　us　with　Glenn　and　Peter。〃
　〃What　problems　could　arise　that　would　be　that　serious？〃
　〃Anything。　Nothing。　I　don't　know。〃
　After　he　bad　thought　about　it　for　a　while；　Klinger　said；　〃Yes；　I　suppose　you're　right。〃
　〃I　know　I　am。〃
　〃Have　you　set　a　date　yet？　For　the　field　test？〃
　〃We　should　be　ready　by　August；〃　Salsbury　said。
　9
　Friday；　August　26；　1977
　TAT…TAT…TAT…TAT…TAT…TAT　。　。　Since　his　experience　with　Brenda　Mackim　on　Monday；
　Salsbury　had　been　able　to　resist　temptation。　At　any　time　he　could　have　taken　full　control　of　another　good…looking　woman；　could　have　raped　her　and　erased　all　memory　of　the　act　from　her　mind。　He　took　strength　from　the　knowledge　that　the　bitches　were　his　for　the　asking。　Whenever　he　could　honestly　conclude　that　the　field　test　was　a　smashing　success；　and　that　no　danger　of　discovery　existed；　he　would　screw　every　one　of　them　that　he　wanted。　The　bitches。　Animals。　Little　animals。　Dozens　of　them。　All　of　them。　Because　he　knew　the　future　held　an　almost　endless　orgy　for　him；　be　was　able　to　cop；　if　only　temporarily；　with　his　desire。　He　went　from　house　to　house；　using　the　key…lock　code　phrase；　interviewing　his　subjects；　observing　and　testing。　Denying　himself。　Working　hard。　Doing　his　job。　So　strict　with　himself。　。　。　He　was　proud　of　his　will　power。
　This　morning　his　will　power　shattered。　For　the　past　four　nights；　his　sleep　had　been　disturbed　by　grotesque　dreams　that　featured　his　mother　and　Miriam　and　sudden　violence　and　blood　and　an　eerie；　indescribable　atmosphere　of　perverted　sex。　When　he　came　awake　this　morning；　shouting　and　flailing　at　the　bedclothes；　he　thought　of　Emma　Thorp…deep　cleavage　in　an　orange　sweater…and　she　seemed　to　him　like　an　antidote　for　the　poisons　that　had　churned　through　him　while　he　slept　he　had　to　have　her；　was　going　to　have　her；　today；　soon；　and　to　hell　with　self…denial。
　The　smooth　stream　of　power　in　him　was　again　transformed　into　a　rhythmic；　alternating　current；　crackling　across　countless　arcs；　a　hundred　million　synapses。　His　thoughts　ricocheted　with　great　energy　from　one　subject　to　another；　submachine…gun　thoughts：　tat…tat…tat…tat…tat…tat…tat
　At　7：45　he　left　Pauline　Vicker's　rooming　house　and　went　to　the　cafe　on　the　square。
　The　sky　was　cloudy；　the　air　humid。
　At　8：25　he　finished　breakfast　and　left　the　cafe。
　At　8：40　he　reached　the　Thorps'　place；　the　Last　house　on　Union　Road；　next　to　the　river。
　He　rang　the　doorbell　twice。
　The　chief　of　police　himself　answered。　He　hadn't　gone　to　work　yet。　Good。　Wonderful。
　Salsbury　said；　〃I　am　the　key。〃
　〃I　am　the　lock。〃
　〃Let　me　in。〃
　Bob　Thorp　stepped　out　of　his　way；　let　him　by；　then　closed　the　door　after　him。
　〃Is　your　wife　here？〃　〃Yes。〃
　〃Your　son？〃
　〃He's　here　too。〃
　〃Anyone　else？〃
　〃Just　you　and　me。〃　〃Your　son's　name？〃　〃Jeremy。〃
　〃Where　are　they？〃　〃In　the　kitchen。〃
　〃Take　me　to　them。〃　Thorp　hesitated。
　〃Take　me　to　them！〃
　They　went　along　a　narrow　but　brightly　papered　hallway。
　The　kitchen　was　modem　and　stylish。　Mediterranean　cupboards　and　fixtures。　Coppertone　refrigerator　and　upright　freezer。　A　microwave　oven。　A　television　set　was　suspended　from　the
　ceiling　in　one　corner　and　angled　toward　the　big　round　table　by　the　window。
　Jeremy　was　at　the　table；　eating　eggs　and　toast；　facing　the　hall。　To　the　boy's　right；　Emma　sat　with　one　elbow　on　the　table；　drinking　a　glass　of　orange　juice。　She　was　wearing　a　blue；　floor…length　corduroy　housecoat。　Her　hair　was　as　golden　and　full　as　he　remembered　it。　As　she　turned　to　ask　her　husband　who　had　rung　the　bell；　he　saw　that　her　lovely　face　was　still　soft　with　sleep…and　for　some　reason　that　aroused　him。
　She　said；　〃Bob？　Who's　this？〃
　Salsbury　said；　〃I　am　the　key。〃
　Two　voices　responded。
　At　8：55；　making　the　weekly　trip　into　town　to　lay　in　a　fresh　supply　of　perishables；　Paul　Annendale　braked　at　the　end　of　the　gravel　road；　looked　both　ways；　then　turned　left　Onto　Main　Street。
　From　the　back　seat　Mark　said；　〃Don't　take　me　all　the　way　to　Sam's　place。　Let　me　out　at　the　square。〃
　Looking　in　the　rearview　mirror；　Paul　said；　〃Where　are　you　going？〃
　Mark　patted　the　large　canary　cage　that　stood　on　the　seat　beside　him。　The　squirrel　danced　about　and　chattered。　〃I　want　to　take　Buster　to　see　Jeremy。〃
　Swiveling　around　in　her　seat　and　looking　back　at　her　brother；　Rya　said；　〃Why　don't　you　admit　that　you　don't　go　over　to　their　house　to　see　Jeremy？　We　all　know　you've　got　a　crush　on　Emma。〃
　〃Not　so！〃　Mark　said　in　such　a　way　that　he　proved　absolutely　that　what　she　said　was　true。
　〃Oh；　Mark；〃　she　said　exasperatingly。
　〃Well；　it's　a　lie；〃　Mark　insisted。　〃I　don't　have　a　crush　on　Emma。　I'm　not　some　sappy　kid。〃
　Rya　turned　around　again。
　〃No　fights；〃　Paul　said。　〃We'll　leave　Mark　off　at　the　square　with　Buster；　and　there　will　be　no　fights。〃
　　
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　Salsbury　said；　〃Do　you　understand　that；　Bob？〃
　〃I　understand。〃
　〃You　will　not　speak　unless　spoken　to。　And　you　will　not　move　from　that　chair　unless　I　tell　you　to　move。〃
　〃I　won't　move。〃
　〃But　you'll　watch。〃
　〃I'll　watch。〃
　〃Jeremy？〃
　〃I'll　watch　too。〃
　〃Watch　what？〃　Salsbury　asked。
　〃Watch　you…screw　her。〃
　Dumb　cop。　Dumb　kid。
　He　stood　by　the　sink；　leaned　against　the　counter。　〃e　here；　Emma。〃
　She　got　up。　Came　to　him。
　〃Take　off　your　robe。〃
　She　took　it　off。　She　was　wearing　a　yellow　bra　and　yellow　panties　with　three　embroidered　red　flowers　at　the　left　hip。
　〃Take　off　your　bra。〃
　Her　breasts　fell　free。　Heavy。　Beautiful。
　〃Jeremy；　did　you　know　your　mother　looked　so　nice？〃
　The　boy　swallowed　hard。　〃No。〃
　Thorp's　hands　were　on　the　table。　They　had　curled　into　fists。
　〃Relax；　Bob。　You're　going　to　enjoy　this。　You're　going　to　love　it。　You　can't　wait　far　me　to　have　her。〃
　Thorp's　hands　opened。　He　leaned　back　in　his　chair。　Touching　her　breasts；　staring　into　her　shimmering　green　eyes；　Salsbury　had　a　delightful　idea。　Marvelous。　Exciting。　He　said；　〃Emma；　I　think　this　would　be　more　enjoyable　if　you　resisted　me　a　bit。　Not　seriously；　you　understand。　Not　physically。　Just　keep　asking　me　not　to　hurt　you。　And　cry。〃
　She　stared　at　him。
　〃Could　you　cry　for　me；　Emma？〃
　〃I'm　so　scared。〃
　〃Good！　Excellent！　I　didn't　tell　you　to　relax；　did　I？　You　should　be　scared。　Damned　scared。　And　obedient。　Are　you　frightened　enough　to　cry；　Emma？〃
　She　shivered。　〃You're　very　firm。〃　She　said　nothing。　〃Cry　for　me。〃　〃Bob。。
　〃He　can't　help　you。〃　He　squeezed　her　breasts。　〃My　son　。　。
　〃He's　watching。　It's　all　right　if　he　watches。　Didn't　he　suck　these　when　he　was　a　baby？〃
　Tears　formed　at　the　corners　of　her　eyes。
　〃Fine；〃　he　said。　〃Oh；　that's　sweet。〃
　Mark　could　only　carry　the　squirrel　and　the　cage　for　fifteen　or　twenty　steps　at　a　time。　Then　he　had　to　put　it　down　and　shake　his　arms　to　get　the　pain　out　of　them。
　〃Cup　your　breasts　with　your　hands。〃　She　did　as　she　was　told。
　She　wept。
　〃Pull　on　the　nipples。〃
　〃Don't　make　me　do　this。〃
　〃e　on；　little　animal。〃
　At　first；　upset　by　all　the　jerking　and　shaking　and　swinging　of　his　cage；　Buster　ran　in　tight　little　circles　and　squealed　like　an　injured　rabbit。
　〃You　sound　like　a　rabbit；〃　Mark　told　him　during　one　of　the　rest　stops。
　Buster　squealed；　unconcerned　with　his　image。
　〃You　should　be　ashamed　of　yourself。　You're　not　a　dumb　bunny。　You're　a　squirrel。〃
　In　front　of　Edison's　store；　as　he　was　closing　the　car　door；　Paul　Saw　something　gleam　on　the　back　seat。　〃What's　that？〃
　Rya　was　still　in　the　car；　undoing　her　safety　belt。　〃What's　what？〃
　〃On　the　back　seat。　It's　the　key　to　Buster's　cage。〃
　Rya　squirmed　into　the　back　seat。　〃I'd　better　take　it　to　him。〃
　〃He　won't　need　it；〃　Paul　said。　〃Just　don't　lose　it。〃
　〃No；〃　she　said。　〃I'd　better　take　it　to　him。　He'll　want　to　let　Buster　out　so　he　can　show　off　for　Emma。〃
　〃Who　are　you…Cupid？〃
　She　grinned　at　him。
　〃Unzip　my　trousers。〃
　〃I　don't　want　to。〃
　〃Do　it！〃
　She　did。
　〃Enjoying　yourself；　Bob？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　He　laughed。　〃Dumb　cop。〃
　By　the　time　he　reached　the　edge　of　the　Thorp　property；　Mark　had　found　a　better　way　to　grip　the　cage。　The　new　method　didn't　strain　his　arms　so　much；　and　he　didn't　have　to　stop　every　few　yards　to　rest。
　Buster　had　bee　so　upset　by　the　erratic　movement　of　his　pen　that　he　had　stopped　squealing。　He　was　gripping　the　bars　with　all　four　feet；　hanging　on　the　side　of　the　cage；　very　stiU　and　quiet；　frozen　as　if　he　were　in　the　woods　and　had　just　seen　a　predator　creeping　through　the　brush。
　〃They'll　be　eating　breakfast；〃　Mark　said。　〃We'll　go　around　to　the　back　door。〃
　〃Squeeze　it。〃　She　did。
　〃Hot？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Little　animal。〃
　〃Don't　hurt　me。〃　〃Is　it　hard？〃
　〃Yes。〃　Crying。
　〃Bend　over。〃
　Sobbing；　shaking；　begging　him　not　to　hurt　her；　she　did　as　she　had　been　told。　Her　face　glistened　with　tears。　She　was　almost　hysterical。　So　beautiful。。。
　Mark　was　passing　the　kitchen　window　when　he　heard　the　woman　crying。　He　stopped　and　listened　closely　to　the　broken　words；　the　pitiful　pleas　that　were　punctuated　by　long　sobs。　He　knew　at　once　that　it　was　Emma。
　The　window　was　only　two　feet　away；　and　it　seemed　to　beckon　him。　He　couldn't　resist。　He　went　to　it。
　The　curtains　were　drawn　shut；　but　there　was　a　narrow　gap　between　them。　He　pressed　his　face　to　the　windowpane。
　　
　10
　Sixteen　Days　Earlier：
　Wednesday；　August　10；　1977
　AT　TRREE　O'CLOCK　in　the　morning；　Salsbury　joined　Dawson　in　the　first…floor　study　of　the　Greenwich　house。
　〃Have　they　begun　already？〃
　〃Ten　minutes　ago；〃　Dawson　said。
　〃What's　ing　in？〃
　〃Exactly　what　we'd　hoped　for。〃
　Four　men　sat　on　straight…backed　chairs　around　a　massive　walnut　desk；　one　at　each　side　of　it。　They　were　all　household　servants：　the　butler；　the　chauffeur；　the　cook；　and　the　gardener。　Three　months　ago　the　entire　staff　of　the　house　had　been　given　the　drug　and　treated　to　the　subliminal　program；　and　there　was　no　longer　any　need　to　hide　the　project　from　them。　On　occasion；　as　now；　they　made　very　useful　tools。　There　were　four　te