dk.nightchills-第8章

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　〃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　meant　to　lead　up　to　one　line。　After　she　had　learned　more　about　my　husband　than　she　could　ever　want　to　know；　she　told　me　that　she　and　her　mother　had　had　long　talks　a　year　or　so　before　Annie　died；　and　that　her　mother　told　her　you　were　just　a　fantastic　lover。〃
　Paul　groaned。
　〃I　said　to　her；　'Rya；　I　believe　you're　trying　to　sell　your　father　to　me。'　She　got　indignant　and　said　that　was　a　terrible　thing　to　think。　I　said；　'Well；　I　can't　believe　that　your　mother　ever　said　anything　of　the　sort　to　you。　How　old　would　you　have　been　then？　Six？'　And　she　said；　'Six；　that's　right。　But　even　when　I　was　six；　I　was　very　mature　for　my　age。'〃
　Vhen　he　was　done　laughing；　Paul　said；　〃Well；　you　can't
　blame　her。　She's　only　playing　the　matchmaker　because　she　likes　you。　So　does　Mark。〃　He　leaned　toward　her　and　lowered　his　voice　slightly。　〃So　do　I。〃
　She　looked　down　at　her　drink。　〃Read　any　good　books　lately？〃　He　stirred　his　Scotch　and　sighed。　〃Since　I'm　such　a　nice　man；　I'm　supposed　to　let　you　change　the　subject　that　easily。〃
　〃That's　right。〃
　Jenny　Leigh　Edison　distrusted　romance　and　feared　marriage。　Her　ex…husband；　whose　name　she　had　gladly　surrendered；　was　one　of　those　men　who　despise　education；　work；　and　sacrifice；　but　who　nonetheless　think　they　deserve　fame　and　fortune。　Because；　year　after　year；　he　achieved　neither　goal；　he　needed　some　excuse　for　failure。　She　made　a　good　one。　He　said　he　hadn't　been　able　to　put　together　a　successful　band　because　of　her。　He　hadn't　been　able　to　get　a　recording　contract　with　a　major　pany　because　of　her。　She　was　holding　him　back；　he　said。　She　was　getting　in　his　way；　he　said。　After　seven　years　of　supporting　him　by　playing　cocktail…bar　piano；　she　suggested　that　they　would　both　be　happier　if　the　marriage　were　dissolved。　At　first；　he　accused　her　of　deserting　him；　and　then　he　threatened　to　kill　her　if　she　left。　She　divorced　him。　〃Love　and　romance　aren't　enough　to　make　a　marriage　work；〃　she　had　once　told　Paul。　〃You　need　something　else。　Maybe　it's　respect。　Until　I　do　know　what　it　is；　I'm　in　no　hurry　to　get　back　to　the　altar。〃
　Like　the　nice　man　that　he　was；　he　had　changed　the　subject　at　her　request。　They　were　talking　about　music　when　Bob　and　Emma　Thorp　came　over　to　the　booth　and　said　hello。
　Bob　Thorp　was　chief　of　the　four…man　police　force　in　Black　River。　Ordinarily；　a　town　so　small　would　have　boasted　no　more　than　a　single　constable。　But　in　Black　River；　more　than　a　constable　was　needed　to　maintain　order　when　the　logging　camp　men　came　into　town　for　some　relaxation；　therefore；　Big　Union　Supply　pany　paid　for　the　four…man　force。　Bob　was　a　six…foot…two；　two…hundred…pound　ex…MP　with　martial　arts　training。　With　his　square　face；　deep…set　eyes；　and　low　forehead；　he　looked　both　dangerous　and　dim…witted。　He　could　be　dangerous；　but　he　was　not　stupid。　He　wrote　an　amusing　column　for　Black　River's　weekly　newspaper；　and　the　quality　of　thought　and　language　in　those　pieces　would　have　been　a　credit　to　any　big　city　newspaper's　editorial　page。　This　bination　of　brute　strength　and　unexpected　intelligence　made　Bob　a　match　even　for　lumbermen　much　bigger　than　he　was。
　At　thirty…five　Emma　Thorp　was　still　the　prettiest　woman　in　Black　River。　She　was　a　green…eyed　blonde　with　a　spectacular　figure；　a　bination　of　beauty　and　sex　appeal　that　had　gotten　her　into　the　finals　of　the　Miss　U。S。A。　Contest　ten　years　ago。　That　achievement　made　her　Black　River's　only　genuine　celebrity。　Her　son；　Jeremy；　was　the　same　age　as　Mark。　Jeremy　stayed　at　the　Annendale　camp　for　a　few　days　every　year。　Mark　valued　him　as　a　playmate…but　valued　him　more　because　his　mother　was　Emma。　Mark　was　deeply　in　puppy　love　with　Emma　and　mooned　around　her　every　chance　he　got。
　〃Are　you　here　on　vacation？〃　Bob　asked。
　〃Just　got　in　this　afternoon。〃
　Jenny　said；　〃We'd　ask　you　to　sit　down；　but　Paul's　trying　to　keep　an　arm's　length　from　everyone　who　has　the　flu。　If　he　picked　it　up；　he'd　just　pass　it　on　to　the　kids。〃
　〃It's　nothing　serious；〃　Bob　said。　〃Not　the　flu；　really。　Just　night　chills。〃
　〃Maybe　you　can　live　with　them；〃　Emma　said。　〃But　I　think　they're　pretty　serious。　I　haven't　had　a　good　sleep　all　week。　They　aren't　just　night　chills。　I　tried　to　take　a　nap　this　afternoon；　and　I　woke　up　shaking　and　sweating。〃
　Paul　said；　〃You　both　look　very　good。〃
　〃I　tell　you；〃　Bob　said；　〃it's　nothing　serious。　Night　chills。　My　grandmother　used　to　plain　of　them。〃
　〃Your　grandmother　plained　of　everything；〃　Emma　said。　〃Night　chills；　rheumatiz；　the　ague；　hot　flashes　。　。
　Paul　hesitated；　smiled；　and　said；　〃Oh　hell；　sit　down。　Let　me　buy　you　a　drink。〃
　Glancing　at　his　watch；　Bob　said；　〃Thanks；　but　we　really　can't。　They　have　a　poker　game　in　the　back　room　here　every　Saturday　night。　Emma　and　I　usually　play。　They're　expecting　us。〃
　〃You　play；　Emma？〃　Jenny　asked。
　〃Better　than　Bob　does；〃　Emma　said。　〃Last　time；　he　lost　fifteen　dollars；　and　I　won　thirty…two。〃
　Bob　grinned　at　his　wife　and　said；　〃Tell　the　truth　now。　It's　not　so　much　skill。　It's　just　that　when　you're　playing；　most　of　the　men　don't　spend　enough　time　looking　at　their　cards。〃
　Emma　touched　the　low…cut　neckline　of　her　sweater。　〃Well；　bluffing　is　an　important　part　of　good　poker　playing。　If　the　damn　fools　can　be　bluffed　by　some　cleavage；　then　they　just　don't　play　as　well　as　I　do。〃
　On　the　way　home；　ten　miles　out　of　Bexford；　Paul　started　to　turn　off　the　blacktop　road　onto　a　scenic　overlook　that　was　a　favorite　lovers'　lane。
　〃Please；　don't　stop；〃　Jenny　said。
　〃Why　not？〃
　〃I　want　you。〃
　He　put　the　car　in　park；　half　on　the　road；　half　off。　〃And　that's　a　reason　not　to　stop？〃
　She　avoided　looking　at　him。　〃I　want　you；　but　you　aren't　the　kind　of　man　that　can　be　satisfied　with　just　the　sex。　You　want　something　more　from　me。　It's　got　to　be　a　deeper　mitment　with　you…love；　emotion；　caring。　I'm　not　up　to　that　part　of　it。〃
　Cupping　her　chin　in　his　hand；　he　gently　turned　her　face　to　him。　〃When　you　were　down　to　Boston　in　March；　you　were　very　changeable。　One　moment　you　thought　we　could　make　it　together；　and　the　next　moment　you　thought　we　couldn't。　But　then；　the　last　few　days；　just　before　you　went　home；　you　seemed　to　have　made　up　your　mind。　You　said　that　we　were　right　for　each　other；　that　you　just　needed　a　little　more　time。〃　He　had　proposed　to　her　last　Christmas。　Ever　since；　in　bed　and　out；　he　had　been　trying　to　convince　her　that　they　were　two　halves　of　an　organism；　that　neither　of　them　could　be　whole　without　the　other。　In　March；　he　thought　he　had　made　some　headway。　〃Now；〃　he　said；　〃you've　changed　your　mind　again。〃
　She　took　his　hand　from　her　chin；　and　kissed　the　palm。　〃I've　got　to　be　sure。〃
　〃I'm　not　like　your　husband；〃　he　said。
　〃I　know　you're　not。　You're　a…〃
　〃Very　nice　man？〃　he　asked。
　〃I　need　more　time。〃
　〃How　much　more？〃
　〃I　don't　know。〃
　He　studied　her　for　a　moment；　then　put　the　car　in　gear　and　drove　back　onto　the　blacktop。　He　switched　on　the　radio。
　A　few　minutes　later　she　said；　〃Are　you　angry？〃
　〃No。　Just　disappointed。〃
　〃You're　too　positive　about　us；〃　she　said。　〃You　should　be　more　careful。　You　should　have　some　doubts　like　I　do。〃
　〃I　have　no　doubts；〃　he　said。　〃We're　right　for　each　other。〃
　〃But　you　should　have　doubts；〃　she　said。　〃For　instance；　doesn't　it　seem　odd　to　you　that　I'm　such　a　physical　match　for　your　first　wife；　for　Annie？　She　was　the　same　build　as　I　am；　the　same　size。　She　had　the　same　color　hair；　the　same　eyes。　I've　seen　those　photographs　of　her。〃
　He　was　a　little　upset　by　that。　〃Do　you　think　I've　fallen　for　you　only　because　you　remind　me　of　her？〃
　〃You　loved　her　a　great　deal。〃
　〃That　has　nothing　to　do　with　us。　I　just　like　sexy；　dark　women。〃　He　smiled；　trying　to　make　a　joke　of　it…both　to　convince　her　and　to　stop　himself　from　wondering　if　she　was　at　least　partly　right。
　She　said；　〃Maybe。〃
　〃Dammit；　there's　no　maybe　about　it。　I　love　you　because　you're　you；　not　because　you're　like　anyone　else。〃
　They　rode　in　silence。
　The　eyes　of　several　deer　glittered　in　the　brush　at　the　side　of　the　road。　When　the　car　passed；　the　herd　moved。　Paul　caught　a　glimpse　of　them　in　the　rearview　mirror…graceful；　ghostly　figures…as　they　crossed　the　pavement。
　At　last　Jenny　said；　〃You're　so　sure　we're　meant　for　each　other。　Maybe　we　are…under　the　right　circumstances。　But　Paul；　all　We've　ever　shared　is　good　times。　We've　never　known　adversity　together。　We've　never　shared　a　painful　experience。　Marriage　is
　full　of　big　and　little　crises。　My　husband　and　I　were　fairly　good　together　too；　until　the　crises　came。　Then　we　were　at　each　other's　throats。　I　just　can't　。　。　。　I　won't　gamble　my　future　on　a　relationship　that　has　never　been　tested　with　hard　times。〃
　〃Should　I　start　praying　for　sickness；　financial　ruin；　and　bad　luck？〃
　She　sighed　and　leaned　against　him。　〃You　make　me　sound　foolish。〃
　〃I　don't　mean　to。〃
　〃I　know。〃
　Back　in　Black　River；　they　shared　one　kiss　and　went　to　separate　rooms　to　lie　awake　most　of　the　night。
　4
　Twenty…eight　Months　Earlier：
　Saturday；　April　12；　1975
　　
　THE　HELICOPTER…A　PLUSH；　luxuriously　appointed　Bell　JetRanger　TI…chopped　up　the　dry　Nevada　air　and　flung　it　down　at　the　Las　Vegas　Strip。　The　pilot　gingerly　approached　the　landing　pad　on　the　roof　of　the　Fortunata　Hotel；　hovered　over　the　red　target　circle　for　a　moment；　then　put　down　with　consummate　skill。
　As　the　rotors　stopped　churning　overhead；　Ogden　Salsbury　slid　open　his　door　and　stepped　out　onto　the　hotel　roof。　For　a　few　seconds　he　was　disoriented。　The　cabin　of　the　JetRanger　had　been　air…conditioned。　Out　here；　the　air　was　like　a　parching　gust　from　a　furnace。　A　Frank　Sinatra　album　was　playing　on　a　stereo；　blasting　forth　from　speakers　mounted　on　six…foot…high　poles。　Sunlight　reflected　from　the　rippling　water　in　the　roof…top　pool；　and　Salsbury　was　partially　blinded　in　spite　of　his　sunglasses。　Somehow；　he　had　expected　the　roof　to　bobble　and　sway　under　him　as　the　helicopter　had　done；　and　when　it　did　not；　he　staggered　slightly。
　The　swimming　pool　and　the　glass…walled　recreation　room　beside　it　were　adjuncts　of　the　enormous　thirtieth…floor　presidential　suite　of　the　Fortunata　Hotel。　This　afternoon　there　were　only　two　people　using　it：　a　pair　of　voluptuous　young　women　in　skimpy　white　string　bikinis。　They　were　sitting　on　the　edge　of　the　pool；　near　the　deep　end；　dangling　their　legs　in　the　water。
　A　squat；　powerfully　built　man　in　gray　slacks　and　a　short…sleeved　white　silk　shirt：　was　hunkered　down　beside　them；　talking　to　them。　All　three　had　the　perfect　nonchalance　that；　Ogden　thought；　came　only　with　power　or　money。　They　appeared　not　even　to　have　noticed　the　arrival　of　the　helicopter。
　Salsbury　crossed　the　roof　to　them。　〃General　Klinger？〃
　The　squat　man　looked　up　at　him。
　The　girls　didn't　seem　to　know　that　he　existed。　The　blonde　had　begun　to　lather　the　brunette　with　tanning　lotion。　Her　hands　lingered　on　the　other　girl's　calves　and　knees；　then　inched　lovingly　along　her　taut　brown　thighs。　Obviously；　they　were　more　than　just　good　friends。
　〃My　name's　Salsbury。〃
　Klinger　stood　up。　He　didn't　offer　to　shake　hands。　〃I've　got　one　suitcase。　Be　with　you　in　a　minute。〃　He　walked　back　toward　the　glass…walled　recreation　room。
　Salsbury　stared　at　the　girls。　They