cp.reddice-第13章

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you　didn't　pay　to　see。　Now　do　you　feel　better？　You　were　bluffed　out　of　your　wrinkled　skin；　old　man。〃
　　He　slams　the　table　with　his　fist。　〃Who　are　you　anyway？〃
　　I　shake　my　head。　〃You're　a　sore　loser；　and　I've　wasted　enough　time　on　you。〃　I　turn　away。　One　of　his　partners　grabs　my　arm。　That　is　a　mistake。
　　〃Hold　on　now；　honey；〃　he　says。　The　others　move　closer。
　　I　smile。　〃Yes？〃　Of　course　I　am　protected　by　the　casino。　I　need　only　raise　my　voice　and　these　men　will　be　thrown　out　But　I　dislike　going　to　others　for　help；　when　I　am　so　capable　of　taking　care　of　myself。　Dinner　will　be　a　four…course　meal　tonight；　I　think。　〃What　can　I　do　for　you？〃　I　ask。
　　The　man　continues　to　hold　on　to　my　arm　but　doesn't　respond。　He　glances　at　the　Texan；　who　is　clearly　the　boss。　The　Texan　has　regained　his　smile。
　　〃We　would　just　like　to　play　some　more；　honey；〃　he　says。　〃That's　only　fair。　We　need　a　chance　to　win　our　money　back。〃
　　My　smile　widens。　〃Why　don't　I　just　give　you　the　money　back？〃
　　My　offer　confuses　him。　The　Texan　shrugs。　〃If　you　want。　I'll　be　happy　to　accept　it。〃
　　〃Good；〃　I　say。　〃Meet　me　at　the　west　end　of　the　hotel　parking　lot　in　ten　minutes。　We'll　go　for　a　little　drive。　You'll　get　all　your　money　back。〃　I　glance　at　the　others。　〃The　only　condition　is　you　must　all　e。〃
　　〃Why　do　we　have　to　go　anywhere？〃　the　Texan　asks。　〃Just　give　it　to　us　now。〃
　　I　shake　off　the　other's　hold　on　me。　〃Surely　you're　not　afraid　of　little　old　me；　sugar　daddy？〃　I　say　sweetly。
　　The　men　laugh　together；　a　bit　uneasily。　The　Texan　points　a　finger　at　me。
　　〃In　ten　minutes；〃　he　says。　〃Don't　be　late。〃
　　〃I　never　am；〃　I　reply。
　　We　meet　as　planned　and　drive　a　short　distance　from　town；　each　in　bur　own　cars。　Then　I　lead　them　off　the　road　and　into　the　desert　a　few　miles；　stopping　near　a　low…lying　hill。　The　time　is　eleven　at　night；　the　evening　cool　and　clear；　the　almost　full　moon　brilliant　against　the　night　sky。　The　men　park　beside　me　and　climb　out　They　are　afraid　of　me。　I　can　smell　their　fear。　Except　for　the　big　boss；　they　are　armed。　The　bulges　beneath　their　coats　are　noticeable。　I　smell　the　gunpowder　in　their　bullets。　They　probably　figure　I　am　setting　them　up　to　be　robbed。　They　study　the　terrain　as　they　walk　toward　me；　puzzled　that　I　am　alone。　They　are　not　very…subtle。　Two　of　them　have　their　hands　thrust　in　their　coat　pockets；　their　fingers　wound　around　their　handguns。　The　Texan　steps　in　front　and　reaches　out　to　me。
　　〃Give　us　your　bag；〃　Tex　orders。
　　〃All　right。〃　I　hand　him　my　bag。　The　money　is　inside；　much　to　his　pleasure。　His　eyes　are　wide　as　he　counts　it。　I　know　he　had　expected　to　find　a　gun　in　the　bag。　〃Are　you　satisfied？〃　I　ask。
　　Tex　nods　to　a　partner。　I　am　frisked。　Roughly。
　　〃She's　cool；〃　the　partner　mumbles　a　moment　later；　backing　away。
　　Tex　stuffs　the　money　in　his　pockets。　〃Yeah；　I'm　satisfied。　But　I　don't　get　it。　Why　did　you　drag　us　all　the　way　out　here？〃
　　〃I'm　hungry；〃　I　say。
　　He　grins　like　the　crooked　oil　baron　that　he　is。　〃We　would　have　been　happy　to　have　taken　you　to　dinner；　honey　pie。　We　still　can。　What　would　you　like？〃
　　〃Prime　ribs；〃　I　say。
　　He　slaps　his　leg　again。　Must　be　a　nervous　gesture　with　him。　〃Goddamn！　That's　my　favorite。　Ribs　dripping　with　red　juice。　We'll　take　you　out　and　get　you　some　right　now。〃　He　adds　with　a　phony　wink；　〃Then　maybe　we　can　have　a　little　fun　afterward。〃
　　I　shake　my　head　as　I　take　a　step　toward　him。　〃We　can　eat　here。　We　can　have　a　picnic。　Just　the　five　of　us。〃
　　He　glances　at　my　car。　〃Did　you　bring　some　goodies？〃
　　〃No。　You　did。〃
　　His　impatience　is　never　far　away。　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃
　　I　throw　my　head　back　and　laugh。　〃You're　such　a　fake！　Your　politeness　only　appears　when　it　is　useful　to　you。　Now　that　you　have　stolen　the　money　I　won　fair　and　square；　you　want　to　take　me　out　for　dinner。〃
　　Tex　is　indignant。　〃We　did　not　steal　this　money。　You　offered　to　return　it　to　us。〃
　　〃After　pressure　from　you。　Let's　call　a　spade　a　spade。　You're　a　crook。〃
　　〃No　one　calls　me　that　and　gets　away　with　it！〃
　　〃Really？　What　are　you　going　to　do？　Kill　me？〃
　　He　steps　forward　and　slaps　me　across　the　face　with　the　back　of　his　hand。　〃Bitch！　You　just　be　happy　I'm　not　that　kind　of　man。〃
　　I　put　a　hand　to　my　mouth。　〃Aren't　you　that　kind　of　man？〃　I　ask　softly。　〃I　see　your　heart；　Mr。　Money　Bags。　You　have　killed　before。　It's　good　we　meet　tonight；　out　here　in　the　desert。　If　you　lived；　you　would　probably　kill　again。〃
　　He　turns　to　leave。　〃Let's　get　out　of　here；　boys。〃
　　〃Wait；〃　I　say。　〃I　have　something　else　to　give　you。〃
　　He　glances　over　his　shoulder。　〃What？〃
　　I　take　another　step　forward。　〃I　have　to　tell　you　who　I　really　am。　You　did　ask；　remember？〃
　　Tex　is　in　a　hurry。　〃So；　who　are　you？　A　Hollywood　star？〃
　　〃Close。　I　am　famous；　in　certain　circles。　Why　just　a　few　days　ago　the　entire　LAPD　was　chasing　me　around　town。　You　read　about　it　in　the　papers？〃
　　A　wary　note　enters　his　voice。　Once　again；　his　men　glance　around；　this　time　looking　for　Arab　backups。　〃You're　not　connected　to　that　group　of　terrorists；　are　you？〃
　　〃There　were　no　terrorists。　That　was　just　the　cops　trying　to　cover　their　asses。　It　was　just　me　and　my　partner。　We　caused　all　the　ruckus。〃
　　He　snorts。　〃Right。　You　and　your　partner　wasted　twenty　cops。　You　must　be　a　terminator；　huh？〃
　　〃Close。　I'm　a　vampire。　I'm　five　thousand　years　old。〃
　　He　snickers。　〃You're　a　psycho；　and　you're　wasting　my　time。〃　He　turns　again。　〃Good　night。〃
　　I　grab　him　by　the　back　of　his　collar　and　yank　him　close；　pressing　his　cheek　next　to　mine。　He　is　so　startled…he　hardly　reacts。　But　his　men　are　better　trained。　Suddenly　I　have　three　revolvers　pointed　at　me。　Quickly；　I　shield　myself　with　Tex。　My　grip　on　him　tightens；　cutting　off　his　air。　He　gags　loudly。
　　〃I　am　in　a　generous　mood；〃　I　say　calmly　to　the　others。　〃I　will　give　you　men　a　chance　to　escape。　Ordinarily　I　would　not　even　consider　it。　But　since　my　cover　has　been　blown；　I　am　not　so　picky　about　destroying　every　shred　of　evidence。〃　I　pause　and　catch　　each　of　their　eyes；　no　doubt　sending　a　shiver　to　the　base　of　their　spines。　〃I　suggest　you　get　in　your　cars　and　get　out　of　here…out　of　Las　Vegas　pletely。　If　you　don't；　you　will　die。　It　is　that　simple。〃　I　throttle　Tex　and　he　moans　in　pain。　My　voice　takes　on　a　mocking　tone；　〃You　can　see　how　strong　I　am　for　a　honey　child。〃
　　〃Shoot　her；〃　Tex　gasps　as　I　allow　him　a　little　air。
　　〃That　is　a　bad　idea；〃　I　say。　〃To　shoot　me　they　have　to　shoot　you　first　because　you　are　standing　in　front　of　me。　Really；　Tex；　you　should　think　these　things　out　before　giving　such　orders。〃　I　glance　at　the　others。　〃If　you　don't　get　out　of　here；　I'll　have　you　for　dinner　as　well。　I　really　am　a　vampire　and；　for　me；　prime　ribs　e　in　all　shapes　and　forms。〃　With　one　hand；　I　lift　Tex　two　feet　off　the　ground。　〃Do　you　want　to　see　what　I　do　to　him？　I　guarantee　it　will　make　you　sick　to　your　stomach。〃
　　〃God；〃　one　of　the　men　whispers　and　turns　to　flee。　He　doesn't　bother　with　the　car。　He　just　runs　into　the　desert；　anywhere　to　get　away　from　me。　Another　fellow　edges　toward　the　periphery。　But　the　remaining　man…　the　guy　who　grabbed　me　in　the　casino；　the　same　one　who　frisked　me…snaps　at　him。
　　〃She's　not　a　vampire；〃　he　says。　〃She's　just　some　kind　of　freak。〃
　　〃That's　it；〃　I　agree。　〃I　take　steroids。〃　I　glance　at　the　guy　who　wants　to　leave。　〃Get　out　of　here　while　you　still　can。　You　will　see　neither　of　these　men　alive　again。　Believe　me；　you'll　hear　their　screams　echoing　over　the　desert。〃
　　My　tone　is　persuasive。　The　guy　leaves；　chasing　after　the　first　one。　Now　there　are　just　the　three　of　us。　How　cozy。　In　reality；　I　was　not　looking　forward　to　having　to　dodge　the　bullets　fired　by　three　separate　men。　I　allow　Tex　a　little　more　air；　let　him　say　his　last　words。　His　tune　has　not　changed。
　　〃Shoot　her；〃　he　croaks　at　his　partner。
　　〃You　could　try　it　and　see　what　happens；〃　I　remark。
　　The　hired　hand　is　unsure。　His　gun　wavers　in　the　air。　〃I　can't　get　a　clear　shot。〃
　　Tex　tries　to　turn　toward　me。　〃We　can　make　a　deal。　I　have　money。〃
　　I　shake　my　head。　〃Too　late。　I　don't　want　your　money。　I　just　want　your　blood。〃
　　Tex　sees　I　am　serious。　My　eyes　and　voice　appear　devilishly　wicked　when　I　am　in　the　mood；　and　I'm　starving　right　now。　Tex　turns　deathly　pale；　matching　the　color　of　the　moonlight　that　pours　down　on　us。
　　〃You　can't　kill　me！〃　he　cries。
　　I　laugh。　〃Yes。　It　will　be　very　easy　to　kill　you。　Do　you　want　me　to　demonstrate？〃
　　He　trembles。　〃No！〃
　　〃I　will　give　you　a　demonstration　anyway。〃　I　call　over　to　Tex's　partner；　who　has　begun　to　perspire　heavily。　〃What　is　your　name？〃
　　〃Go　to　hell；〃　he　swears；　trying　to　circle　around　us；　to　get　off　a　lucky　shot。
　　〃That　cannot　be　your　name；〃　I　say。　〃〃Your　mother　would　never　have　called　you　that。　It　doesn't　matter。　You　are　going　to　be　nobody　in　a　minute。　But　before　I　kill　you；　is　there　anything　you　want　to　say？〃
　　He　pauses；　angry。　〃Say　to　who？〃
　　I　shrug。　〃I　don't　know。　God；　maybe。　Do　you　believe　in　God？〃
　　I　exasperate　him。　〃You　are　one　weird　bitch。〃
　　I　nod　solemnly。　〃I　am　weird。〃　The　full　power　of　my　gaze　locks　into　his　eyes。　With　me　boring　into　him；　he　is　unable　to　look　away。　All　he　sees；　I　know；　is　my　fathomless　pupils；　swelling　in　size　like　black　holes。　I　speak　very　slowly；　softly。　〃Now　my　dear　man；　you　are　going　to　take　your　gun　and　put　it　in　your　mouth。〃
　　The　man　freezes　for　a　moment。
　　Then；　as　if　in　a　dream；　he　opens　his　mouth　and　puts　the　gun　between　his　lips。
　　〃Chuck！〃　Tex　screams。　〃Don't　listen　to　her！　She's　trying　to　hypnotize　you！〃
　　〃Now　I　want　you　to　grasp　the　trigger；〃　I　continue　in　my　penetrating　voice。　〃I　want　you　to　place　a　certain　amount　of　pressure　on　the　trigger。　Not　enough　to　fire　the　bullet；　mind　you；　but　almost　enough。　There；　that　is　perfect；　you　have　done　well。　You　are　half　an　inch　from　death。〃　I　pause　and　turn　down　the　power　of　my　eyes。　My　voice　returns　to　normal。　〃How　does　it　feel？〃
　　The　man　blinks　and　then　notices　the　barrel　in　his　mouth。　He　almost　has　a　heart　attack。　He　is　so　scared；　he　actually　drops　the　gun。　〃Jesus　Christ！〃　he　cries。
　　〃See；〃　I　say。　〃You　must　believe　in　God。　And　because　I　do　as　well；　and　I　can　only　drink　the　blood　of　one　of　you　at　a　time；　I　think　I　will　let　you　go　as　well。　Quick；　join　your　partners　out　in　the　desert；　before　I　change　my　mind。〃
　　The　man　nods。　〃No　problem。〃　He　dashes　away。
　　〃Chuck！〃　Tex　screams。　〃e　back　here！〃
　　〃He　is　not　ing　back；〃　I　tell　Tex　seriously。　〃You　cannot　buy　that　kind　of　loyalty。　You　certainly　cannot　buy　me。　You　can't　even　buy　my　dinner。〃　I　pause。　〃You　must　understand　by　now　that　you　are　dinner。〃
　　He　weeps　like　a　child。　〃Please！　I　don't　want　to　die。〃
　　I　pull　him　closer；　whisper　my　favorite　line。
　　〃Then　you　should　never　have　been　born；〃　I　say。
　　I　enjoy　my　meal
　　When　I　am　finished　draining　the　Texan　and　have　buried　him　far　from　his　car；　I　go　for　a　walk　in　the　desert。　My　thirst　is　satisfied　but　my　mind　is　restless。　Andy　will　be　off　work　in　a　few　hours。　I　should　be　planning　how　I　will　convince　him　to　help　me；　yet　I　cannot　concentrate。　I　keep　thinking　I'm　missing　something　important。　I　contemplate　the　last　few　days　and　somehow　I　know　something　is　missing…a　piece　of　the　puzzle。　This　piece　exists　just　beyond　the　edge　of　my　vision。　What　it　is；　I　cannot