pzb.drawingblood-第41章

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ike　a　half…remembered　bad　dream。
　　Trevor　slid　down　and　started　sucking　him；　and　the　last　of　Zach's　low…grade　wine　hangover　dissolved　like　shreds　of　a　caul　and　disappeared。　Trevor's　tongue　made　his　skin　ripple　and　his　blood　quicken。　Trevor　was　no　jaded　lover　like　most　of　the　others　he'd　had。　They　knew　the　same　things　Zach　did：　how　to　satisfy　themselves；　how　to　coax　universal　physiological　reactions　from　whatever　body　wound　up　in　bed　with　them。　But　Trevor　was　learning　how　to　pleasure　him；　and　Zach　was　figuring　out　what　Trevor　liked；　and　every　time　they　woke　up　together　they　learned　it　all　over　again。　It　made　so　much　difference。
　　So　what　changed　your　mind；　Zachary？　he　heard　Eddy's　voice　asking　him；　a　little　sad；　a　little　reproachful。　What　made　you　realize　you　might　not　turn　into　a　pumpkin　if　you　had　sex　more　than　once　with　somebody　you　actually　gave　a　damn　about？
　　He　didn't　know。　He　could　only　look　back　with　awe　on　his　life　of　three　days　ago；　his　life　that　had　not　contained　Trevor　Black；　and　wonder　how　he　had　ever　lived　it。　What　had　the　world　been　to　him　without　these　feelings；　without　this　insane；　brilliant；　beautiful　boy？　It　was　difficult　to　remember。
　　Now　Trevor's　hands　were　pulling　at　him；　that　deft　tongue　probing　him　relentlessly。　As　he　grew　surer　of　what　he　was　doing；　Trevor　was　proving　to　be　a　near…invasive　lover；　determined　to　put　his　fingers　into　every　fold　and　hollow　of　Zach's　body；　to　get　every　available　inch　of　Zach's　flesh　into　his　mouth；　to　bathe　in　the　juices　of　sex　and　perhaps　drown　in　them。　It　was　almost　painful…but　exquisitely　so；　like　a　cerulean　wave　crashing　and　foaming　on　a　pure　white　shore；　like　the　relief　of　the　swollen　vein　as　the　junkie　slides　the　needle　in。
　　But　suddenly　Zach　caught　himself　thinking　of　his　image　in　the　bathroom　mirror　before　he　had　shattered　it。　The　light　of　fever　burning　in　the　eyes；　straight　through　to　the　brain。　The　emaciated　face。　Those　lesions。　He　thought　of　all　the　fluids　that　had　passed　between　him　and　Trevor；　awash　with　whatever　strange　chemicals　and　subtle　poisons　lurked　in　their　bodies。
　　Then　he　put　the　thought　out　of　his　head；　as　he　always　did　such　thoughts。
　　But　this　time　it　was　harder。
　　
　　In　the　afternoon　they　sat　at　the　kitchen　table　together；　Trevor　drawing　while　Zach　created　a　bank　account　in　Raleigh　just　for　the　hell　of　it。　Then　they　ventured　downtown　for　dollar　plates　of　eggs　and　grits　at　the　diner；　which　served　breakfast　all　day　in　keeping　with　the　schedules　of　its　clientele。
　　Afterward；　Trevor　was　buzzed　on　brutally　strong　diner　coffee；　Zach　on　the　healing　energy　of　a　meal　he　could　keep　down。　They　wandered　up　the　street　and　stopped　into　Potter's　Store　to　let　the　air…conditioning　soothe　their　sweaty　sex…soaked　skin。
　　Zach　stopped　to　play　with　an　old　adding　machine；　lost　himself　briefly　in　the　sensual　texture　of　keys　beneath　his　fingertips；　then　looked　up　and　realized　he　was　alone。　He　found　Trevor　in　the　next　aisle　looking　at　something　called　the　Sunbeam　Hygienic　Cordless　Toothbrush。　The　box　was　decorated　in　four…pointed　starbursts；　the　bright　colors　faded。　On　its　side　were　the　disembodied　heads　of　a　WASP　family；　Mom；　Dad；　Sis；　and　Junior；　all　with　gleaming　grins　…　hygienic　ones；　presumably。　Where　were　those　facile　fifties　faces　now；　Zach　wondered；　those　vapid；　innocent　icons　of　post…war　advertising；　those　manufactured　American　archetypes？
　　〃Whatever　happened　to　those　guys？〃　he　asked　aloud。
　　Trevor　looked　up　from　his　intense　scrutiny　of　the　box　art。　His　eyes　were　sharp　and　very　clear。　〃The　sixties　came　along　and　bashed　their　little　heads　in。〃
　　Zach　was　still　turning　that　one　over　and　over　in　his　head　as　they　left　the　store。　Trevor　hadn't　had　to　think　about　it　at　all　before　he　answered：　his　life　had　been　a　study　in　exactly　what　had　happened　to　that　kind　of　mythical　family。
　　They　continued　down　Firehouse　Street　into　the　rundown　section　of　town；　past　papered…over　windows；　boarded…up　doors；　abandoned　cars　sagging　on　their　springs。　When　they　reached　the　Sacred　Yew　and　heard　drums　and　a　bass　beat　ing　from　the　club　so　early　in　the　day；　they　stopped　in　to　see　what　was　up。　It　turned　out　to　be　a　Gumbo　sound　check　in　full　swing。
　　Terry　Buckett　was　onstage　with　two　other　guys；　a　skinny　kid　with　a　bowl　haircut　and　Lennon　glasses　playing　bass　and　a　devilish…looking　bleached　blond　on　guitar。　The　blond；　Trevor　observed；　had　a　tattoo　of　Mr。　Natural　on　his　left　biceps　and　looked　as　if　he'd　been　born　with　a　Stratocaster　in　his　hands。　He　was　handsome；　too；　with　a　sybaritic　face　and　a　lanky；　muscular　build。　Trevor　caught　himself　wondering　if　Zach　had　noticed。　How　stupid；　he　thought；　but　the　thought　didn't　go　away。
　　The　song　in　progress　sounded　like　a　cross　between　the　Cramps　and　some　kind　of　old　surf　music。　When　it　ended；　Terry　got　up　from　behind　the　drums　and　crossed　the　stage　to　greet　them。　〃I　lost　my　voice！〃　he　said　in　a　hoarse；　dramatic　whisper。
　　〃Guess　we're　playing　an　instrumental　set　tonight；〃　added　the　boy　with　the　Lennon　specs。　〃Me　and　Calvin　cain't　sing。〃
　　〃Why　don't　you　cancel　the　show？〃　Zach　asked。
　　Terry　rolled　his　eyes　ruefully。　〃Kinsey　needs　the　money　real　bad。　We　do　too。　Trevor；　Zach；　this　here　is　R。J。　He's　a　nerd；　but　he's　my　oldest　buddy。　And　this　is　Calvin。〃
　　R。J。　said　〃Hey〃　and　started　tuning　his　bass。　He　didn't　seem　especially　bothered　at　being　called　a　nerd。　Calvin　looked　right　at　Zach　and　his　face　split　in　a　delighted；　dazzling　grin。　He　looked　as　if　he　would　like　to　eat　Zach　up　right　there　on　the　spot。　〃Howdy；〃　he　said。　〃You　new　in　town？〃
　　Zach　started　to　grin　right　back；　but　seemed　to　catch　himself。　He　gave　Calvin　an　unfortable　half…smile。　〃Yeah；〃　he　said。　〃We　both　are。〃
　　〃Well；　let　me　know　if　you　need　anyone　to　show　you　the　sights；　hear？〃　Calvin　laid　a　slight　emphasis　on　the　you；　which　was　obviously　meant　to　be　singular。
　　Trevor　wanted　to　drag　him　off　the　stage　and　smash　his　head　like　a　melon　on　the　sticky　floor。　Surely　he　could　see　that　the　two　of　them　were　together。　Could　he　also　see　how　clueless　Trevor　was　about　sex？　Could　he　read　some　nameless　longing　in　Zach's　eyes？
　　〃Uh；　thanks；　but　I　think　I've　already　seen　the　important　ones。〃　Zach　turned　to　Trevor；　put　an　arm　around　him。　〃e　on；〃　he　urged；　〃let's　see　what　Kinsey's　up　to。〃
　　They　walked　toward　the　back　of　the　club；　but　in　Trevor's　mind；　Calvin　had　already　suffered　all　the　torments　of　a　particularly　cruel　hell。
　　
　　Onstage；　Calvin　watched　them　walk　away；　and　Terry　watched　him　watching。　Those　evil　eyes　devoured　Zach　from　the　top　of　his　tangled　hair　to　the　soles　of　his　hightop　sneakers。　He　was　just　Calvin's　type；　Terry　knew：　skinny　bones　and　deathsome　pallor；　but　spiced　up　with　a　smartass　twist　to　his　lips。　〃You　leave　him　alone；〃　Terry　warned。
　　〃Who's　that　with　him？〃
　　〃Bobby　McGee's　kid。〃
　　Calvin's　eyes　widened。　〃Is　the　urge　to　kill　hereditary？〃
　　〃You　never　know。　I　wouldn't　fuck　with　him。　Goddamn；　my　throat　hurts。〃　Terry　grimaced　as　he　picked　up　his　drumsticks。　〃You　wanna　run　through　'Bad　Reaction'　again？〃
　　In　the　bar；　Kinsey　greeted　Trevor　and　Zach；　then　went　back　to　his　ledger。　Zach　ducked　behind　the　bar　and　helped　himself　to　a　National　Bohemian　and　a　Coke　from　the　cooler。　He　tossed　the　Coke　to　Trevor；　popped　open　the　beer；　and　dropped　three　dollars　on　the　bar。
　　Kinsey　looked　up　at　the　sound　of　the　drinks　opening；　glanced　from　the　open　beer　to　Zach's　face。　〃How　old　are　you？〃　he　asked。
　　〃Uh；　nineteen。　Why？〃
　　〃You　can　drink　that　because　we're　closed。　But　during　club　hours；　you　don't　drink　alcohol　here。　Understand？〃
　　〃Huh？〃　Zach's　face　registered　utter　shock。　〃Why？　What　did　I　do？〃
　　〃Nothing。　You're　just　too　young。　I　don't　know　what　the　drinking　age　is　where　you　e　from；　but　here　it's　twenty…one。　I　could　get　shut　down　for　serving　you。〃
　　〃But…〃
　　〃If　you　want　to　drink；　you　can　bring　in　a　flask。　Don't　flash　it　around；　and　don't　tell　anyone　I　said　you　could。　Those　are　the　rules。〃
　　〃Rules？〃
　　〃Don't　they　have　rules　in　New　York？〃
　　Zach　looked　helplessly　at　Trevor。　He　ought　to　say　something；　Trevor　guessed。　Zach　was　evidently　so　poleaxed　by　the　concept　of　an　enforced　legal　drinking　age　that　his　silver　tongue　had　deserted　him。　But　he　never　should　have　told　that　stupid　New　York　story　in　the　first　place；　he　was　about　as　much　a　native　New　Yorker　as　Trevor　was　a　Hindu　from　Calcutta。　And　anyway；　he　had　smiled　back　at　that　guitarist。　Kinsey　could　keep　him　squirming。
　　But　Kinsey　relented。　〃You're　in　the　heart　of　the　Bible　Belt；〃　he　told　Zach。　〃Just　be　glad　you　didn't　end　up　in　one　of　the　dry　counties。〃
　　Zach　shook　his　head　in　silent　wonder。　Kinsey　finished　adding　a　column　of　numbers；　unfolded　himself　from　his　bar　stool；　and　headed　for　the　back　door。　Trevor　and　Zach　were　left　alone　in　the　bar。
　　〃I　bet　you　won't　even　buy　for　me；〃　said　Zach。
　　〃You　got　that　right。〃
　　〃Shit。〃
　　The　sound　check　was　winding　down。　Zach　went　off　to　the　rest　room；　and　Terry　and　R。J。　passed　him　on　their　way　into　the　bar。　They　grabbed　frosty　bottles　from　the　cooler　and　sprawled　in　a　booth；　looking　as　if　they　had　done　all　this　millions　of　times。　〃Where's　Calvin？〃　Trevor　asked；　unable　to　help　himself。
　　Terry　pointed　down　the　street；　then　clutched　his　throat。　〃He　went　to　the　store　to　get　cigarettes；〃　R。J。　translated。
　　Good；　let　him　die　of　lung　cancer。　〃Is　he　ing　back？〃
　　Terry　looked　searchingly　at　Trevor；　then　beckoned　him　over。　Trevor　slid　into　the　booth　beside　him；　and　Terry　put　a　hand　on　his　shoulder　and　leaned　in　close　to　whisper。　A　few　days　ago　Trevor　would　have　shrunk　from　the　touch　out　of　pure　reflex；　but　now　he　was　able　to　restrain　himself。
　　〃Calvin's　all　right；〃　Terry　said。　〃He　thinks　he　has　to　flirt　with　every　good…looking　kid　he　sees；　but　he's　all　right。　Don't　let　him　bother　you。〃
　　〃He's　not　bothering　me。〃
　　〃Well；　look；　if　you　have　to　kick　his　ass；　don't　break　any　of　his　fingers。　All　the　other　decent　guitarists　are　out　of　town。〃
　　R。J。　snorted　into　his　beer。　Terry　nodded　serenely　at　Trevor。　Kinsey　came　back　in　carrying　a　bushel　basket　of　zucchini　labeled　FREE　and　set　it　on　the　bar。　Trevor　wondered　whether　anyone　in　this　town　maintained　so　much　as　a　passing　acquaintance　with　sanity。　But　he　supposed　that　was　the　pot　calling　the　kettle　black。
　　Suddenly；　from　the　rest　room；　they　heard　Zach's　voice　raised　in　song。　Apparently　he　didn't　know　how　flimsy　the　walls　were；　or　didn't　care。　All　four　heads　turned　as　his　clear；　strong　tenor　came　soaring　through　the　pipes　and　particleboard：
　　〃OLD　MAN　RIVVERRRR　。。。　HE　DON'T　LIKE　COTTON　。　。　。　TIRED　O'LIVINNN'；　SCARED　O'ROTTIN'　。　。　。〃
　　Then　they　heard　the　toilet　flush；　and　Zach　came　back　into　the　bar；　saw　them　all　looking　at　him。　〃What？〃
　　〃I　didn't　know　you　could　sing；〃　said　Trevor。
　　Zach　shrugged；　trying　and　failing　to　hide　his　pleasure　at　being　the　center　of　attention。　〃Cajun　blood。　You're　lucky　I　don't　play　the　accordion。〃
　　Trevor　winced；　and　Zach　realized　that　he　had　just　given　away　an　important　piece　of　his　background　in　front　of　Terry；　R。J。；　and　Kinsey。　He　couldn't　tell　if　the　others　had　caught　it；　but　Kinsey　looked　surprised；　then　vaguely　pleased；　as　if　Zach　had　only　confirmed　a　suspicion　he'd　harbored　all　along。
　　Well；　Kinsey　hardly　seemed　likely　to　call　the　feds　on　him。　Of　course　Clifford