if.thespywholovedme-第12章

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ps　toward　me；　and　I　backed　away　to　the　door。　I　pretended　to　be　even　more　frightened　than　I　was；　and　when　he　got　within　range　I　slapped　him　as　hard　as　I　could　across　the　face　and；　before　he　could　recover　from　his　surprise；　I　had　darted　sideways　behind　a　table　and　picked　up　one　of　the　little　metal　chairs　and　held　it　with　the　feet　pointing　at　him。
　The　thin　man　gave　a　short；　barking　laugh。　〃Ixnay；　Sluggsy。　I　said　later。　Leave　the　stupid　slot　be。　There's　all　night　for　that。　Git　goin'　like　I　said。〃
　The　eyes　in　the　pale　moon…face　were　now　red　with　excitement。　The　man　rubbed　his　cheek。　The　wet　lips　parted　in　a　slow　smile。　〃You　know　what；　baby？　You　just　earned　yourself　one　whale　of　a　night。　An'　it's　goin'　to　be　long　and　slow　an'　again　and　again。　Get　me？〃
　I　looked　at　them　both　from　behind　the　raised　chair。　Inside　I　was　whimpering。　These　men　were　dynamite　from　Nightmare…Land。　Somehow　I　kept　my　voice　steady。　〃Who　are　you？　What's　this　all　about？　Let's　see　those　credentials。　The　next　car　that　es　by；　I'll　break　a　window　and　get　help。　I'm　from　Canada。　You　do　anything　to　me　and　you'll　be　in　bad　trouble　tomorrow。〃
　Sluggsy　laughed。　〃Tomorrow's　tomorrow。　What　you　got　to　worry　about's　tonight；　baby。〃　He　turned　to　the　thin　man。　〃Mebbe　you　better　wise　her　up；　Horror。　Then　mebbe　we'll　get　some　cooperation。〃
　Horror　looked　across　at　me。　His　expression　was　cold；　uninterested。　〃Ya　shouldn't　of　hit　Sluggsy；　lady。　The　boy's　tough。　He　don't　like　the　dames　not　to　go　for　him。　Thinks　it　may　be　on　account　of　his　kisser。　Been　like　that　since　he　done　a　spell　in　solitary　at　San　Q。　Nervous　sickness。　What's　that　the　docs　call　it；　Sluggsy？〃
　Sluggsy　looked　proud。　He　brought　the　Latin　words　out　carefully。　〃Alopecia　totalis。　That　means　no　hair；　see？　Not　a　one。〃　He　gestured　at　his　body。　〃Not　here；　or　here；　or　here。　What　d'ya　know　about　that；　eh；　bimbo？〃
　Horror　continued。　〃So　Sluggsy　gets　mad　easy。　Thinks　he　ain't　had　a　fair　deal　from　society。　You　had　that　puss　of　his；　mebbe　you'd　be　the　same。　So　he's　what　we　call　in　Troy　an　enforcer。　Guys　hire　him　to　make　other　guys　do　what　they　want；　if　you　get　me。　He's　on　Mr。　Sanguinetti's　roll；　and　Mr。　Sanguinetti　thought　he　and　I　better　e　along　and　keep　an　eye　on　this　joint　till　the　truckers　e。　Mr。　Sanguinetti　didn't　care　for　a　young　lady　like　you　bein'　all　alone　here　at　night。　So　he　sent　us　along　for　pany。　Ain't　that　so；　Sluggsy？〃
　〃That's　the　spiel。　Sure　is。〃　He　giggled。　〃Just　to　keep　you　pany；　bimbo。　Keep　the　wolves　away。　With　them　statistics　of　yours；　there　must　be　times　when　you　need　protection　real　bad。　Right？〃
　I　lowered　the　chair　onto　the　table　top。　〃Well；　what　are　your　names？　What　about　these　credentials？〃
　There　was　a　single　tin　of　Maxwell　House　coffee　on　the　shelf　above　the　bar　counter；　all　by　itself。　Sluggsy　suddenly　swiveled；　and　his　right　hand…I　hadn't　even　seen　him　draw　a　gun…shot　flame。　There　was　the　crash　of　gunfire。　The　tin　jumped　sideways　and　then　fell。　In　midair　Sluggsy　hit　it　again　and　there　was　a　brown　explosion　of　coffee。　Then　a　deafening　silence　in　which　the　last　empty　shell　tinkled　away　on　the　floor。　Sluggsy　turned　back　to　me。　His　hands　were　empty。　The　gun　had　gone。　His　eyes　were　dreamy　with　pleasure　at　his　marksmanship。　He　said　softly；　〃How's　them　for　credentials；　baby？〃
　The　small　cloud　of　blue　smoke　had　reached　me；　and　I　smelled　the　cordite。　My　legs　were　trembling。　I　said；　scornfully　I　hope；　〃That's　a　lot　of　wasted　coffee。　Now；　what　about　your　names？〃
　The　thin　man　said；　〃The　lady's　right。　You　didn't　ought　to　of　spilled　that　java；　Sluggsy。　But　ya　see；　lady；　that's　why　they　call　him　Sluggsy；　on　account　he's　smart　with　the　hardware。　Sluggsy　Morant。　Me；　I'm　Sol　Horowitz。　They　call　me　'Horror。'　Can't　say　why。　Kin　you；　Sluggsy？〃
　Sluggsy　giggled。　〃Mebbe　one　time　you　gave　some　guy　a　scare；　Horror。　Mebbe　a　whole　bunch　of　guys。　Leastwise　that's　what　they　tell　me。〃
　Horror　made　no　ment。　He　said　quietly；　〃Okay。　Let's　go！　Sluggsy；　see　to　the　cabins　like　I　said。　Lady；　you　make　us　some　chow。　Keep　ya　nose　clean　and　cooperate　and　ya　won't　get　hurt。　Okay？〃
　Sluggsy　looked　me　over　greedily。　He　said；　〃Not　much；　that　is。　Eh；　bimbo？〃　and　walked　over　to　the　key　rack　behind　the　desk　and　took　down　all　the　keys　and　let　himself　out　through　the　back　entrance。　I　put　down　the　chair　and；　as　coolly　as　I　knew　how；　but　painfully　aware　of　my　toreador　pants；　walked　across　the　room　and　went　behind　the　counter。
　The　man　called　Horror　sauntered　slowly　over　to　the　cafeteria　table　farthest　from　me。　He　pulled　a　chair　away　from　the　table；　twisted　it　in　his　hand；　and　pushed　it　between　his　legs。　He　sat　down　and　leaned　his　folded　arms　along　the　back　and　rested　his　chin　on　them　and　watched　me　with　unwavering；　indifferent　eyes。　He　said　softly；　so　softly　that　I　could　only　just　hear　him；　〃I'll　take　mine　scrambled　too；　lady。　Plenty　crisp　bacon。　Buttered　toast　Howsabout　coffee？〃
　〃I'll　see　what's　left。〃　I　got　down　on　my　hands　and　knees　behind　the　bar。　The　tin　had　four　holes　right　through　it。　There　was　about　an　inch　of　coffee　left　and　a　whole　lot　scattered　over　the　floor。　I　put　the　tin　aside　and　scraped　what　I　could　from　the　floor　onto　a　plate；　not　caring　how　much　dust　went　with　it。　The　unspoiled　remains　of　the　tin　I　would　keep　for　myself。
　I　spent　about　five　minutes　down　there；　taking　my　time；　desperately　trying　to　think；　to　plan。　These　men　were　gangsters。　They　worked　〃for　this　Mr。　Sanguinetti。　That　seemed　certain　because　they　had　got　my　name　from　him　or　from　the　Phanceys。　The　rest　of　their　story　was　lies。　They　had　been　sent　up　here；　through　the　storm；　for　a　purpose。　What　was　it？　They　knew　1　was　a　Canadian；　a　foreigner；　and　that　I　could　easily　go　to　the　police　the　next　day　and　get　them　into　trouble。　The　man　called　Sluggsy　had　been　in　San　Quentin。　And　the　other？　Of　course！　That　was　why　he　looked　gray　and　sort　of　dead！　He　had　probably　just　e　out　of　prison　too。　He　smelled　of　it；　somehow。　So　I　could　get　them　into　real　trouble；　tell　the　police　that　I　was　a　journalist；　that　I　was　going　to　write　up　what　happened　to　girls　alone　in　the　States。　But　would　I　be　believed？　That　VACANCY　sign！　I　was　alone　in　the　place；　yet　I　had　left　it　on。　Wasn't　that　because　I　wanted　pany？　Why　had　I　dressed　up　like　that；　to　kill；　if　I　expected　to　be　alone？　1　dodged　away　from　that　line　of　thought。　But；　to　get　back。　What　did　these　two　men　want　here？　They　had　an　ordinary　car。　If　they　had　wanted　to　clean　the　place　out；　they　would　have　brought　a　truck。　Perhaps　they　really　had　been　sent　up　to　guard　the　place；　and　they　just　treated　me　as　they　did　because　that　was　the　way　gangsters　behaved。　But　how　much　worse　were　they　going　to　get？　What　was　going　to　happen　to　me　tonight？
　I　got　to　my　feet　and　began　to　busy　myself　with　the　cooking。　Better　give　them　what　they　wanted。　There　must　be　no　excuse　for　them　to　set　on　me。
　Jed's　apron　was　rolled　up　and　thrown　into　a　corner。　I　picked　it　up　and　put　it　round　my　waist。　A　weapon？　There　was　an　ice…pick　in　the　cutlery　drawer　and　a　long；　very　sharp　carving　knife。　I　took　the　pick　and　stuck　it；　handle　first；　down　the　front　of　my　pants　under　the　apron。　The　knife　I　hid　under　a　dishcloth　beside　the　sink。　I　left　the　cutlery　drawer　open　and　lined　up　beside　it　a　row　of　glasses　and　cups　for　throwing。　Childish？　It　was　all　I　had。
　Every　now　and　then　I　glanced　across　the　room。　Always　the　thin　man's　eyes　were　on　me；　old　in　crime　and　its　counter…moves；　knowing　what　was　in　my　mind；　what　defenses　I　was　preparing。　I　sensed　this；　but　I　went　on　with　my　little　preparations；　thinking；　as　I　Lad　at　the　English　school；　When　they　hurt　me；　and　I　know　they're　meaning　to　hurt　me；　I　must　somehow　hurt　them　back。　When　they　get　me；　rape　me；　kill　me；　they　mustn't　find　it　easy。
　Rape？　Kill？　What　did　I　think　was　really　going　to　happen　to　me？　I　didn't　know。　1　only　knew　that　I　was　in　desperate　trouble。　The　men's　faces　said　so…the　indifferent　face　and　the　greedy　face。　They　both　had　it　in　for　me。　Why？　I　didn't　know。　But　I　was　absolutely　certain　of　it。
　I　had　broken　eight　eggs　into　a　bowl　and　had　whipped　them　gently　with　a　fork。　The　huge　chunk　of　butter　had　melted　in　the　saucepan。　Beside　it；　in　the　frying　pan；　the　bacon　was　beginning　to　sizzle。　I　poured　the　eggs　into　the　saucepan　and　began　to　stir。　While　my　hands　concentrated；　my　mind　was　busy　on　ways　to　escape。　Everything　depended　on　whether　the　man　called　Sluggsy；　when　he　came　back　from　his　inspection；　remembered　to　lock　the　back　door。　If　he　didn't；　I　could　make　a　dash　for　it。　There　would　be　no　question　of　using　the　Vespa。　I　hadn't　run　it　for　a　week。　Priming　the　carburetor；　and　the　three　kicks　that　might　be　necessary　to　start　it　from　cold；　would　be　too　long。　I　would　have　to　leave　my　belongings；　all　my　precious　money；　and　just　go　like　a　hare　to　right　or　left；　get　round　the　end　of　the　cabins　and　in　among　the　trees。　I　reflected　that　of　course　I　wouldn't　run　to　the　right。　The　lake　behind　the　cabins　would　narrow　my　escape　route。　I　would　run　to　the　left。　There；　there　was　nothing　but　miles　of　trees。　I　would　be　soaked　to　the　skin　within　a　few　yards　of　the　door；　and　freezing　cold　for　the　rest　of　the　night。　My　feet；　in　their　stupid　little　sandals；　would　be　cut　to　ribbons。　I　might　easily　get　lost　into　the　bargain。　But　those　were　problems　I　would　have　to　cope　with。　The　main　thing　was　to　get　away　from　these　men。　Nothing　else　mattered。
　The　eggs　were　ready　and　I　heaped　them　out；　still　very　soft；　onto　a　flat　dish　and　added　the　bacon　round　the　sides。　I　put　the　pile　of　toast　from　the　Toastmaster　on　another　plate；　together　with　a　slab　of　butter　still　in　its　paper；　and　put　the　whole　lot　on　a　tray。　I　was　glad　to　see　that　plenty　of　dust　rose　to　the　top　when　I　poured　boiling　water　over　the　coffee；　and　I　hoped　it　would　choke　them。　Then　I　carried　the　tray　out　from　behind　the　bar　and；　feeling　more　respectable　in　my　apron；　took　it　over　to　where　the　thin　man　was　sitting。
　As　I　put　it　down；　I　heard　the　back　door　open　and　then　slam　shut。　There　had　been　no　click　of　a　lock。　I　looked　quickly　round。　Sluggsy's　hands　were　empty。　My　heart　began　to　beat　wildly。　Sluggsy　came　over　to　the　table。　I　was　taking　things　off　the　tray。　He　looked　the　meal　over　and　came　swiftly　behind　me　and　seized　me　round　the　waist；　nuzzling　his　ghastly　face　into　my　neck。　〃Just　like　mother　made　'em；　baby。　Howsabout　you　and　me　shacking　up　together？　If　you　can…　like　you　can　cook；　you're　the　gal　of　my　dreams。　What　say；　bimbo？　Is　it　a　deal？〃
　I　had　my　hand　on　the　coffee　pot；　and　he　was　just　going　to　get　the　boiling　contents　slung　over　my　shoulder。　Horror　saw　my　intention。　He　said　sharply；　〃Leave　her　be；　Sluggsy。　I　said　later。〃　The　words　came　out　like　a　whiplash；　and　at　once　Sluggsy　let　me　go。　The　thin　man　said；　〃Ya　nearly　got　ya　eyeballs　fried。　Ya　want　to　watch　this　dame。　Quit　foolin'　around　and　sit　down。　We're　on　a　job。〃
　Sluggsy's　face　showed　bravado；　but　also　obedience。　〃Have　a　heart；　pal！　I　want　a　piece　of　this　baby。　But　now！〃　But　he　pulled　out　a　chair　and　sat　down；　and　I　moved　quickly　away。
　The　big　radio　and　TV　was　on　a　pedestal　near　the　back　door。　It　had　been　playing　softly　all　this　time；　although　I　had　been　quite　unconscious　of　it。　I　went　to　the　machine　and　fiddled　with　the　dials；　putting　the　volume　up。　The　two　men　were　talking　to　each　other　quietly　and　there　was　the　clatter　of　cutlery。　Now　or　never！　I　measured　my　distance　to　the　door　handle　and　dived　to　the　left。