dk.intensity-第31章

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me　to　time　the　killer　invited　people　into　his　home。　Perhaps　to　dinner。　Or　to　have　a　few　beers　and　watch　a　football　game。　That　he　would　dare　such　a　thing　was　only　one　more　proof　of　his　outrageous　boldness。
　But　that　he　would　have　friends　at　all　chilled　Chyna；　friends　not　demented　like　him；　who　would　be　horrified　to　discover　the　girl　in　his　cellar　and　to　know　that　their　host　slaughtered　whole　families　for　his　entertainment。　He　passed　for　human　in　the　workaday　world。　People　laughed　at　his　jokes。　Sought　his　advice。　Shared　their　joys　and　sorrows　with　him。　Perhaps　he　attended　church。　On　some　Saturday　nights；　did　he　go　dancing；　smoothly　two…stepping　around　the　floor　with　a　smiling　woman　in　his　arms；　keeping　time　to　the　same　music　everyone　else　heard？
　Chyna　raised　her　voice：　〃Ariel。〃　The　girl　failed　to　look　up。　Louder　still；　all　but　shouting　it　through　the　screened　port　in　the　padded　door：　〃Ariel！〃
　In　the　chair；　knees　primly　together；　the　book　in　her　lap；　head　bowed　to　the　page；　wings　of　hair　hiding　most　of　her　face；　Ariel　sat　as　if　deaf…or　as　if　she　were　a　girl　in　the　back　of　a　closet；　tuning　out　the　shouted　arguments　of　drunk　and　drug…sodden　adults；　tuning　out　further　and　further　until　she　was　in　a　great　deep　silent　place　of　her　own；　untouchable。
　Chyna　recalled　times；　as　a　young　girl；　when　simply　hiding　from　her　mother　and　her　mother's　more　dangerous　friends　had　not　provided　her　with　a　sufficient　sense　of　security。　Sometimes　the　arguments　or　the　celebrations　became　too　violent　or　too　boisterous；　the　chaos　of　noise　and　crazy　laughter　and　cursing　spun　like　a　tornado　around　her　even　where　she　had　concealed　herself；　and　her　fear　spiraled　out　of　control；　until　she　thought　that　her　heart　would　burst　or　her　head　explode。　Then　she　went　away　to　more　weling　places　in　her　mind；　through　the　back　of　the　old　wardrobe　into　the　land　of　Narnia；　which　she　had　read　about　in　the　wonderful　books　of　Mr。C。S。　Lewis；　or　to　visit　Toad　Hall　and　the　Wild　Wood　from　The　Wind　in　the　Willows；　or　into　realms　that　she　herself　invented。
　She　had　always　been　able　to　e　back　from　those　escapements。　But　on　occasion；　she　had　thought　about　how　wonderful　it　would　be　to　stay　in　that　faraway　place；　where　neither　her　mother　nor　her　mother's　kind　would　ever　be　able　to　find　her　again；　no　matter　how　hard　they　looked。　In　those　exotic　kingdoms；　there　was　often　danger；　but　there　were　also　true　and　faithful　friends　like　none　found　on　this　side　of　magical　wardrobes。
　Now；　peering　through　the　screened　port　at　the　girl　in　the　chair；　Chyna　was　sure　that　Ariel　had　sought　refuge　in　just　such　a　far　place　and　was　detached　from　this　sorry　world　in　every　way　that　counted。　After　a　year　in　this　dismal　hole；　from　time　to　time　suffering　the　attentions　of　the　sociopath　upstairs；　perhaps　she　had　wandered　so　far　along　the　road　of　inner　adventure　that　she　could　not　easily…or　everreturn。
　In　fact；　the　girl　raised　her　gaze　from　the　book　and　sat　staring　neither　at　Chyna's　face　in　the　door　port　nor　apparently　at　anything　in　the　room；　but　at　something　in　a　world　twice　removed　from　this　one。　Even　in　the　inadequate　rose　light；　Chyna　could　see　that　Ariel's　eyes　were　out　of　focus　and　as　strange　as　the　eyes　of　any　of　the　dolls　that　surrounded　her。
　The　killer　had　told　the　men　at　the　service　station　that　he　had　not　yet　touched　Ariel　in　〃that　way；〃　and　Chyna　believed　him。　Because　once　he　had　taken　her　innocence；　he　would　need　to　smash　her　beauty；　and　when　that　was　done；　he　would　kill　her。　The　fact　that　she　was　alive　argued　that　she　was　still　untouched。
　Yet　day　after　day；　month　after　dreadful　month；　she　had　lived　in　exhausting　suspense；　waiting　for　the　hateful　son　of　a　bitch　to　decide　that　she　was　〃ripe；〃　waiting　for　his　brutal　assault；　his　sour　breath　on　her　face；　his　hot　and　insistent　hands；　the　terrible　irresistible　weight　of　him；　every　indignity　and　humiliation。　In　her　single　room；　there　had　been　nowhere　to　hide；　she　could　not　escape　to　the　rooftop；　to　the　beach；　to　the　attic；　to　the　crawlspace；　to　the　upper　limbs　of　the　tree　in　the　backyard。　〃Ariel。〃
　The　refuge　to　which　she　had　escaped　might　be　in　the　pages　of　the　book　that　she　now　held。　She　functioned　in　this　world；　grooming　and　feeding　and　bathing　and　dressing　herself；　but　she　lived　in　some　other　dimension。
　Chyna's　heart　rolled　in　a　sea　of　sorrow　in　a　storm　of　rage；　and　through　the　port　in　the　upholstered　door；　she　said；　〃I'm　here；　Ariel。　I'm　here。　You　aren't　alone　any　more。〃
　Ariel's　gaze　didn't　shift　out　of　dreams；　and　she　was　as　still　as　any　of　the　dolls。
　〃I　am　your　guardian；　Ariel。　I'll　keep　you　safe。〃
　As　the　girl　followed　a　long　and　winding　road　farther　into　her　private　Elsewhere；　her　hands　relaxed；　and　the　book　slipped　out　of　them。　It　slid　off　the　edge　of　the　chair　and　thumped　to　the　floor；　and　all　except　a　whisper　of　the　sound　was　absorbed　by　the　special　walls　and　ceiling。　She　was　not　aware　of　having　dropped　the　volume；　and　she　sat　unmoving。
　〃I'm　your　guardian；〃　Chyna　repeated；　and　wondered　vaguely　at　her　choice　of　words。
　She　was　more　afraid　for　Ariel　than　for　herself；　and　her　heart　was　racing　faster　than　ever　before。　〃Your　guardian。〃
　Hot　tears　blurred　Chyna's　vision；　disabling　tears；　an　indulgence　she　could　not　afford。　She　blinked　furiously　until　her　eyes　were　dry　and　her　vision　was　clear。
　She　turned　from　the　locked　inner　door　and　angrily　pushed　open　the　outer　one。
　Tatta…tatta…tatta…tatta…tatta　。。。　As　she　stepped　out　of　the　heavy　sound…baffling　of　the　vestibule　and　into　the　first　room　in　the　basement；　the　rattling　pipe　seemed　louder　than　she　remembered。
　Tatta…tatta…tatta　。。。　Perhaps　a　minute　had　passed　since　she'd　slid　aside　the　padded　panel　on　the　view　port。
　The　son　of　a　bitch　bastard　freak　was　still　in　his　shower；　naked　and　defenseless。　And　now　that　Chyna　knew　where　Ariel　was；　she　didn't　have　to　worry　that　the　cops　would　need　him　to　lead　them　to　the　girl。
　The　gun　felt　good　in　her　hand。　It　felt　wonderful　in　her　hand。　If　she　could　have　freed　Ariel　and　gotten　her　out　of　there；　she　would　have　done　that　rather　than　take　the　violent　option。　But　she　didn't　possess　a　key；　and　that　inner　door　was　not　going　to　be　easy　to　break　down。
　Tatta…tatta…tatta　。。。　She　had　only　one　choice。　She　went　to　the　cellar　stairs。　Blue　steel　gleaming　in　her　hand。　Even　if　he　finished　showering　and　shut　off　the　water　before　Chyna　was　able　to　reach　him；　he'd　still　be　naked　and　defenseless；　toweling　off；　so　she　would　go　in　there；　into　the　bathroom；　and　open　fire　on　him　point…blank；　shoot　him　down；　empty　the　revolver　into　him；　the　first　shot　right　through　his　fucking　heart；　then　put　at　least　one　round　in　his　face；　to　be　sure　that　he　was　really　done　for。　Take　no　chances。　No　chances　at　all。　Use　every　round；　squeeze　the　trigger　until　the　hammer　click…click…clicked　on　the　expended　cartridges　in　a　totally　empty　cylinder。　She　could　do　it。　Kill　the　crazy　freak；　kill　him　over　and　over　again；　kill　him　until　he　stayed　killed。　She　could　do　it；　would　do　it。
　She　climbed　the　steep　stairs；　treading　on　wet　footprints　that　she'd　left　in　her　descent：　Chyna　Shepherd　no　longer　hiding；　up　and　out　of　that　hole；　untouched；　alive；　ing　out　of　Narnia　forever。
　Tatta…tatta…tatta　。。。　Thinking　ahead　as　she　moved；　Chyna　wondered　if　she　should　shoot　him　through　the　shower　curtain…if　it　was；　in　fact；　a　curtain　instead　of　a　glass　door…because　if　she　didn't　shoot　him　through　it；　then　she　would　have　to　hold　the　revolver　in　just　one　hand　while　she　yanked　the　curtain　or　the　door　aside。　That　would　be　risky；　because　a　strange　and　dismaying　weakness　was　creeping　into　her　fingers　and　into　her　wrists。　Her　arms　were　shaking　so　badly　that　already　she　had　to　grip　the　weapon　with　both　hands　to　prevent　herself　from　dropping　it。
　Her　heart　rattling　like　the　copper　pipe；　scared　about　the　ing　confrontation　even　if　the　crazy　geek　was　naked　and　defenseless；　Chyna　reached　the　upper　landing　and　entered　the　laundry　room。
　She　couldn't　shoot　him　through　the　curtain；　because　she　wouldn't　know　whether　she'd　hit　him　or　not。　She'd　be　shooting　blind；　unable　to　aim　for　his　chest　or　head。
　Past　the　dryer　and　the　washer；　through　the　fragrance　of　laundry　detergent；　she　reached　the　open　door　to　the　kitchen。　Crossing　the　threshold；　she　belatedly　registered　the　important　thing　that　she　had　seen　on　the　landing　at　the　head　of　the　cellar　stairs：　wet　shoeprints　larger　than　her　own；　among　her　prints；　overlapping　her　prints；　where　he　had　stood　only　a　short　while　ago。
　She　was　already　rushing　into　the　kitchen；　with　too　much　momentum　to　halt；　and　the　killer　came　at　her　from　the　right；　past　the　dinette　set。　He　was　big；　strong；　a　juggernaut；　neither　naked　nor　defenseless；　the　shower　having　been　a　ruse　all　along。
　He　was　fast；　but　she　was　marginally　faster。　He　tried　to　drive　her　backward　and　slam　her　against　the　cabinets；　but　she　slid　out　of　the　way；　raising　the　revolver；　with　the　muzzle　three　feet　from　his　face；　and　she　pulled　the　trigger；　and　the　hammer　made　a　dry；　stick…breaking　sound　as　it　fell　on　an　empty　chamber。
　She　backed　hard　into　the　side　of　the　refrigerator；　dislodging　the　kittens…and…lilies　calendar；　which　clattered　to　the　floor　at　her　feet。
　The　killer　was　still　rushing　at　her。　She　squeezed　the　trigger；　and　the　revolver　clicked　again；　which　made　no　sense…shit…because　the　clerk　in　the　service　station　never　had　a　chance　to　fire　it　before　he　had　been　blown　away　by　the　shotgun。　No　cartridges　should　be　missing。
　This　was　the　first　time　that　she　had　seen　the　killer's　face。　Always　before；　she'd　glimpsed　just　the　back　of　his　head；　the　top　of　his　skull；　the　side　of　his　face　but　from　a　distance。　He　was　not　what　she　had　expected；　not　moon…faced　and　pale…lipped　and　heavy…jawed。　He　was　handsome；　with　blue　eyes　that　were　a　beautiful　contrast　with　his　dark　hair…nothing　crazy　in　his　clear　eyes…broad　clean　features；　and　a　nice　smile。
　Smiling；　he　continued　to　e　straight　at　her　as　she　squeezed　the　trigger　a　third　time；　and　the　hammer　fell　yet　again　on　an　empty　chamber。　Smiling；　he　tore　the　revolver　out　of　her　hand　with　such　force　that　she　thought　her　finger　broke　before　it　slipped　through　the　trigger　guard；　and　she　squealed　in　pain。
　The　killer　backed　away　from　her；　holding　the　weapon；　his　eyes　sparkling　with　excitement。　〃What　a　kick　that　was。〃
　Chyna　huddled　against　the　side　of　the　refrigerator；　tramping　on　kitten　faces。
　〃I　knew　it　was　the　same　gun；〃　he　said；　〃but　what　if　I'd　been　wrong？　I'd　have　one　big　hole　in　my　face　right　now；　wouldn't　1；　little　lady？〃
　Weak　and　dizzy　with　terror；　she　looked　around　desperately　for　anything　that　could　be　used　as　a　weapon；　but　there　was　nothing　close　at　hand。
　〃One　big　hole　in　my　face；〃　he　repeated；　as　if　he　found　that　prospect　amusing。
　One　of　the　cabinets　might　contain　knives；　but　she　had　no　way　of　knowing　which　drawer　to　check。
　〃Intense；〃　he　said；　smiling　at　the　revolver　in　his　hand。
　A　pistol　lay　on　the　counter　across　the　kitchen；　beside　the　sink；　well　out　of　her　reach。　Chyna　couldn't　believe　this：　He　had　brought　a　gun　of　his　own；　but　he　hadn't　used　it；　had　set　it　aside；　and　had　gone　for　her　barehanded　instead。　
　〃You're　an　attractive　woman。〃
　She　looked　away　from　the　pistol；　hoping　he　hadn't　noticed　that　she'd　seen　it。　But　she　was　fooling　herself；　and　she　knew　it；　because　he　saw　everything；　everything。
　He　pointed　the　revolver　at　her。