dk.nightchills-第7章

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ed　him　to　know　that　she　was　judging　him　by　grown…up　standards；　and　she　had　used　grown…up　language。
　〃You　really　think　so？〃　he　asked。
　〃Jenny　won't　be　able　to　resist　you；〃　she　said。
　He　made　a　face　at　her。
　〃It's　true；〃　Rya　said。
　〃What　makes　you　think　I　care　whether　or　not　Jenny　can　resist　me？〃
　Her　expression　said　he　should　stop　treating　her　as　a　child。　〃When　Jenny　came　down　to　Boston　in　March；　you　were　altogether　different。〃
　〃Different　from　what？〃
　〃Different　from　the　way　you　usually　are。　For　two　whole　weeks；〃　she　said；　〃when　you　came　home　from　the　clinic；　you　didn't　once　grump　about　sick　poodles　and　Siamese　cats。〃
　〃Well；　that's　because　the　only　patients　I　had　for　those　two　weeks　were　elephants　and　giraffes。〃
　〃Oh；　daddy。〃
　〃And　a　pregnant　kangaroo。〃
　Rya　sat　on　the　bed。　〃Are　you　going　to　ask　her　to　marry　you？〃
　〃The　kangaroo？〃
　She　grinned；　partly　at　the　joke　and　partly　at　the　way　he　was　trying　to　evade　the　question。　〃I'm　not　sure　I'd　like　a　kangaroo　for　a　mother；〃　she　said。　〃But　if　the　baby　is　yours；　you're　going　to　have　to　marry　her　if　you　want　to　do　the　right　thing。〃
　〃I　swear　it's　not　mine；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　not　romantically　inclined　toward　kangaroos。〃
　〃Toward　Jenny？〃　she　asked。
　〃Whether　or　nor　I'm　attracted　to　her；　the　important　question　is　whether　Jenny　likes　me。〃
　〃You　don't　know？〃　Rya　asked。　〃Well　。　。　。　I'll　find　out　for　you。〃
　Teasing　her；　he　said；　〃How　will　you　do　that？〃
　〃Ask　her。〃
　〃And　make　me　look　like　Miles　Standish？〃
　〃Oh；　no；〃　she　said。　〃I'll　be　subtle　about　it。〃　She　got　up　from　the　bed　and　went　to　the　door。　〃Mark　must　have　eaten　three…fourths　of　the　food　by　now。〃
　〃Rya？〃
　She　looked　back　at　him。
　〃Do　you　like　Jenny？〃
　She　grinned。　〃Oh；　very　much。〃
　For　seven　years；　since　Mark　was　two　and　Rya　four；　the　Annendales　had　been　taking　their　summer　vacation　in　the　mountains　above　Black　River。　Paul　wanted　to　municate　to　his　children　his　own　love　of　wild　places　and　wild　things。　During　these　four…　and　six…week　vacations；　he　educated　them　in　the　ways　of　nature　so　that　they　might　know　the　satisfaction　of　being　in　harmony　with　it。　This　was　a　joyous　education；　and　they　looked　forward　to　each　outing。
　The　year　that　Annie　died；　he　almost　canceled　the　trip。　At
　first　it　had　seemed　to　him　that　going　without　her　would　only　make　their　loss　more　evident。　Rya　had　convinced　him　otherwise。　〃It's　like　Mommy　is　still　in　this　house；〃　Rya　had　said。　〃When　I　go　from　one　room　to　another；　I　expect　to　find　her　there；　all　pale　and　drawn　like　she　was　near　the　end。　If　we　go　camping　up　beyond　Black　River；　I　guess　maybe　I'll　expect　to　see　her　in　the　woods　too；　but　at　least　I　won't　expect　to　see　her　pale　and　drawn。　When　we　went　to　Black　River；　she　was　so　pretty　and　healthy。　And　she　was　always　so　happy　when　we　were　out　in　the　forest。〃　Because　of　Rya；　they　took　their　vacation　as　usual　that　year；　and　it　proved　to　be　the　best　thing　they　could　have　done。
　The　first　year　that　he　and　Annie　took　the　children　to　Black　River；　they　bought　their　dry　goods　and　supplies　at　Edison's　General　Store。　Mark　and　Rya　had　fallen　in　love　with　Sam　Edison　the　day　they　met　him。　Annie　and　Paul　came　under　his　spell　nearly　as　quickly。　By　the　end　of　their　four…week　vacation；　they　had　e　down　from　the　mountain　twice　to　have　dinner　at　Edison's；　and　when　they　left　for　home　they　had　promised　to　keep　in　touch　with　an　occasional　letter。　The　following　year；　Sam　told　them　that　they　were　not　to　go　up　into　the　mountains　to　set　up　camp　after　the　long　tiring　drive　from　Boston。　Instead；　he　insisted　they　spend　the　night　at　his　place　and　get　a　fresh　start　in　the　morning。　That　first…night　stop…over　had　bee　their　yearly　routine。　By　now　Sam　was　like　a　grandfather　to　Rya　and　Mark。　For　the　past　two　years；　Paul　had　brought　the　children　north　to　spend　Christmas　week　at　Edison's。
　Paul　had　met　Jenny　Edison　just　last　year。　Of　course；　Sam　fiad　mentioned　his　daughter　many　times。　She　had　gone　to　Columbia　and　majored　in　music。　In　her　senior　year　she　married　a　musician　and　moved　to　California　where　he　was　playing　in　a　band。　But　after　more　than　seven　years；　the　marriage　had　turned　sour；　and　she　had　e　home　to　get　her　wits　about　her　and　to　decide　what　she　wanted　to　do　next。　As　proud　a　father　as　he　had　been；　Sam　had　never　shown　pictures　of　her。　That　was　not　his　style。　On　his　first　day　in　Black　River　last　year；　walking　into　Edison's　where　she　was　waiting　on　children　at　the　candy
　counter…and　catching　sight　of　her…Paul　had　for　a　moment　been　unable　to　get　his　breath。
　It　happened　that　quickly　between　them。　Not　love　at　first　sight。　Something　more　fundamental　than　love。　Something　more　basic　that　had　to　e　first；　before　love　could　develop。　Instinctively；　intuitively；　even　though　he　had　been　certain　there　could　be　no　one　after　Annie；　he　had　known　that　she　was　right　for　him。　Jenny　felt　the　attraction　too；　powerfully；　immediately
　…but　almost　unwillingly。
　If　he　had　told　all　of　this　to　Rya；　she　would　have　said；　〃So　why　aren't　you　married？〃　If　life　were　only　that　simple　。
　After　dinner；　while　Sam　and　the　children　washed　the　dishes；　Paul　and　Jenny　retired　to　the　den。　They　propped　their　feet　up　on　an　antique　woodcarver's　bench；　and　he　put　his　arm　around　her　shoulder。　Their　conversation　had　been　free　and　easy　at　the　table；　but　now　it　was　stilted。　She　was　hard　and　angular　under　his　arm；　tense。　Twice；　he　leaned　over　and　kissed　her　gently　on　the　corner　of　the　mouth；　but　she　remained　stiff　and　cool。　He　decided　that　she　was　inhibited　by　the　possibility　that　Rya　or　Mark　or　her　father　might　walk　into　the　room　at　any　moment；　and　he　suggested　they　take　a　drive。
　〃I　don't　know　。　。
　He　stood　up。　〃e　on。　Some　fresh　night　air　will　be　good　for　you。〃
　Outside；　the　night　was　chilly。　As　they　got　in　the　car；　she　said；　〃We　almost　need　the　heater。〃
　〃Not　at　all；〃　he　said。　〃Just　snuggle　up　and　share　body　heat。〃　He　grinned　at　her。　〃Where　to？〃
　〃I　know　a　nice　quiet　little　bar　in　Bexford。〃
　〃I　thought　we　were　staying　out　of　public　places？〃
　〃They　don't　have　the　flu　in　Bexford；〃　she　said。
　〃They　don't？　It's　only　thirty　miles　down　the　road。〃
　She　shrugged。　〃That's　just　one　of　the　curiosities　of　this　plague。〃
　He　put　the　car　in　gear　and　drove　out　into　the　street。　〃So　be　it。　A　quiet　little　bar　in　Bexford。〃
　She　found　an　all…night　Canadian　radio　station　playing　American　swing　music　from　the　1940s。　〃No　more　talk　for　a　while；〃　she　said。　She　sat　close　to　him　with　her　head　against　his　shoulder。
　The　drive　from　Black　River　to　Bexford　was　a　pleasant　one。　The　narrow　black…top　road　rose　and　fell　and　twisted　gracefully　through　the　lightless；　leafy　countryside。　For　miles　at　a　time；　trees　arched　across　the　roadway；　forming　a　tunnel　of　cool　night　air。　After　a　while；　in　spite　of　the　Benny　Goodman　music；　Paul　felt　that　they　were　the　only　two　people　in　the　world…and　that　was　a　surprisingly　agreeable　thought。
　She　was　even　lovelier　than　the　mountain　night；　and　as　mysterious　in　her　silence　as　some　of　the　deep；　unsettled　northern　hollows　through　which　they　passed。　For　such　a　slender　woman；　she　had　great　presence。　She　took　up　very　little　space　on　the　seat；　and　yet　she　seemed　to　dominate　the　car　and　overwhelm　him。　Her　eyes；　so　large　and　dark；　were　closed；　yet　he　felt　as　if　she　were　watching　him。　Her　face…too　beautiful　to　appear　in　Vogue：　she　would　have　made　the　other　models　in　the　magazine　look　like　horses…was　in　repose。　Her　full　lips　were　slightly　parted　as　she　sang　softly　with　the　music；　and　this　bit　of　animation；　this　parting　of　the　lips　had　more　sensual　impact　than　a　heavy…eyed；　full…faced　leer　from　Elizabeth　Taylor。　As　she　leaned　against　him；　her　dark　hair　fanned　across　his　shoulder；　and　her　scent…clean　and　soapy…rose　to　him。
　In　Bexford；　he　parked　across　the　street　from　the　tavern。
　She　switched　off　the　radio　and　kissed　him　once；　quickly；　as　a　sister　might。　〃You're　a　nice　man。〃
　〃What　did　I　do？〃
　〃I　didn't　want　to　talk；　and　you　didn't　make　me。〃
　〃It　wasn't　any　hardship；〃　he　said。　〃You　and　me。　。　。　we　municate　with　silence　as　well　as　with　words。　Hadn't　you　noticed？〃
　She　smiled。　〃I've　noticed。〃
　〃But　maybe　you　don't　put　enough　value　on　that。　Not　as　much　as　you　should。〃
　〃I　put　a　great　deal　of　value　on　it；〃　she　said。
　〃Jenny；　what　we　have　is…〃
　She　put　one　hand　on　his　lips。　〃I　didn't　mean　for　the　conversation　to　take　such　a　serious　turn；〃　she　said。
　〃But　I　think　we　should　talk　seriously。　We're　long　overdue　for　that。〃
　〃No；〃　she　said。　〃I　don't　want　to　talk　about　us；　not　seriously。　And　because　you're　such　a　nice　man；　you're　going　to　do　what　I　want。〃　She　kissed　him　again；　opened　her　door；　and　got　out　of　the　car。
　The　tavern　was　a　warm；　cozy　place。　There　was　a　rustic　bar　along　the　left…hand　wall；　about　fifteen　tables　in　the　center　of　the　room；　and　a　row　of　maroon　leatherette　booths　along　the　right　wall。　The　shelves　behind　the　bar　were　lit　with　soft　blue　bulbs。　Each　of　the　tables　in　the　center　of　the　room　held　a　tall　candle　in　a　red　glass　lantern；　and　an　imitation　stained…glass　Tiffany　lamp　hung　over　each　of　the　booths。　The　jukebox　was　playing　a　soulful　country　ballad　by　Charlie　Rich。　The　bartender；　a　heavyset　man　with　a　walrus　mustache；　joked　continuously　with　the　customers。　Without　trying　for　it；　without　being　aware　of　it；　he　sounded　like　W。　C。　Fields。　There　were　four　men　at　the　bar；　half　a　dozen　couples　at　the　tables；　and　other　couples　in　the　booths。　The　last　booth　was　open；　and　they　took　it。
　When　they　had　ordered　and　received　their　drinks　from　a　perky　red…headed　waitress…Scotch　for　him　and　a　dry　vodka　martini　for　her…Paul　said；　〃Why　don't　you　e　up　and　spend　a　few　days　with　us　at　camp？　We　have　an　extra　sleeping　bag。〃
　〃I'd　like　that；〃　she　said。
　〃When？〃
　〃Maybe　next　week。〃
　〃I'll　tell　the　kids。　Once　they're　expecting　you；　you　won't　be　able　to　back　out　of　it。〃
　She　laughed。　〃Those　two　are　something　else；〃　she　said。
　〃How　true。〃
　〃Do　you　know　what　Rya　said　to　me　when　she　was　helping　me　pour　the　coffee　after　dinner？〃　Jenny　took　a　sip　of　her　drink。　〃She　asked　if　I　had　divorced　my　first　husband　because　he　was　a　lousy　lover。〃
　〃Oh；　no！　She　didn't　really。〃
　〃Oh；　yes；　she　did。〃
　〃I　know　that　girl's　only　eleven。　But　sometimes　I　wonder。。
　〃Reincarnation？〃　Jenny　asked。
　〃Maybe　that's　it。　She's　only　eleven　years　old　in　this　life；　but　maybe　she　lived　to　be　seventy　in　another　life。　What　did　you　say　to　her　when　she　asked？〃
　Jenny　shook　her　head　as　if　she　were　amazed　at　her　gullibility。　Her　black　hair　swung　away　from　her　face。　〃Well；　when　she　saw　that　I　was　about　to　tell　her　it　was　none　of　her　business　whether　or　not　my　first　husband　was　a　lousy　lover；　she　told　me　I　mustn't　be　cross　with　her。　She　said　she　wasn't　just　being　nosy。　She　said　she　was　just　a　growing　girl；　a　bit　mature　for　her　age；　who　had　a　perfectly　understandable　curiosity　about　adults；　love　and　marriage。　Then　she　really　began　to　con　me。〃
　Paul　grimaced。　〃I　can　tell　you　the　line　she　used：　Poor　little　orphan　girl。　Confused　by　her　own　pubescence。　Bewildered　by　a　new　set　of　emotions　and　body　chemistry。〃
　〃So　she's　used　it　on　you。〃
　〃Many　times。〃
　〃And　you　fell　for　it？〃
　〃Everyone　falls　for　it。〃
　〃I　sure　did。　I　felt　so　sorry　for　her。　She　had　a　hundred　questions…〃
　〃All　of　them　intimate；〃　Paul　said。
　〃…and　I　answered　all　of　them。　And　then　I　found　out　the　whole　conversation　was　mean