ericlustbader.the ninja-第11章

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Is　this　why　you　flew　me　home？〃　I　asked。　〃Well；　yes。　I　want　you　to　meet　him。　He's　ideal　for　you。　His　family's　in　the　right　bracket　and　quite　well　connected。　He's　good…looking　and　a　three…letter　man　to　boot。〃　〃Father；〃　I　said；　〃you　scared　me　half　to　death　over　some　mad　idea　that　…〃　〃I　scared　you？〃　〃Yes；　I　thought　something　had　happened；　to　Mother　or　…〃　〃Don't　be　so　idiotic；　Justine！　I　can't　think　what　I'm　going　to　do　with　you。〃　I　stormed　out；　furious；　and　he　just　couldn't　understand　what　he　had　done　to　upset　me。　It　was　all　done　out　of　love；　he　told　me。　〃Do　you　know　how　much　time　I　spent　making　this　selection？〃　he　said　as　I　went　out　the　door。'　She　sighed。　'For　my　father；　time　was　always　his　most　precious　modity。'
　'People　don't　do　that〃　any　more；'　he　said。　'Trade　off　other　people　as　if　they　were　things。'
　'Oh　no？'　She　laughed　sardonically。　'It　happens　all　the　time；　all　around。'　She　spread　out　her　arms。　'In　marriages；　when　die　woman's　expected　to　perform　certain　duties；　in　divorces；　when　the　kids　are　used　as　bargaining　points；　in　affairs。　All　the　time；　Nick。　Grow　up；　will　you？'
　He　got　up　off　the　sofa；　annoyed　at　her　height　advantage。　'I'll　bet　your　father　used　to　say　that　to　you。　〃Grow　up；　Justine。〃'
　'You're　a　bastard；　you　know　that？'
　'C'mon。　You're　not　going　to　start　another　fight　now；　are　you？　I　told　you　…'
　'Bastard！'　She　leaped　across　the　intervening　coffee　table；　her　body　crashing　against　his；　her　hands　flailing　against　him；　but　he　caught　her　slender　wrists　without　difficulty；　pinioning　her。
　'Now；　listen；'　he　said。　'I　don't　mind　horsing　around　with　you；　but　I　told　you；　I'm　not　Chris　and　you're　not　going　to　provoke　a　fight　with　me　every　time　you　want　some　attention。　There're　other　ways　to　get　it。　For　instance；　you　could　ask。'
　'I　shouldn't　have　to　ask；'　she　said。
　'Oho！　So　that's　it。　I　don't　have　ESP。　I'm　just　a　human　being。　And　I　don't　need　psychodramas。'
　'But　I　do。'
　'No；'　he　said；　'you　don't。'　He　let　her　go。
　'Prove　it。'
　'You're　the　only　one　who　can　do　that。'
　'Not　alone；　I　can't。'　She　stared　up　into　his　face。　Her　hand　lifted。　Her　fingertips　grazed　his　cheek。　'Help　me；'　she　whispered。　'Help　me。'
　His　mouth　covered　her　open　lips。
　It　seemed　highly　improbable　that　Billy　Shawtuck　should　have　got　the　nickname　'Wild　Bill'　but　nevertheless　there　it　was。　He　was　a　ruddy…plexioned　man　in　his　early　forties；　shortish　and　not　even　stocky。　He　always　wore　long…sleeved　shirts；　even　at　the　height　of　summer　when；　even　out　here　near　the　shore；　there　was　more　sweat　than　wind　around。
　Ask　his　buddies　at　Grendel's　and　they　would　tell　you　that　was　because　he　didn't　like　to　show　off　his　enormous　biceps。　Of　course；　if　pressed；　they　would　also　tell　you　he　came　to　his　nickname　by　way　of　eschewing　beers　for　a　double　Scotch　on　the　rocks　every　time。　Apparently　the　heat　didn't　bother　him　much。
　Billy　worked　for　Lilco；　riding　power…lines；　and；　he　always　said　to　those　he　beat　at　arm　wrestling　off…hours　at　Grendel's；　he　came　by　his　muscles　honestly。　'I　didn't　have　to　go　to　no　fag　gym　every　day　to　get　these；'　he'd　say；　downing　the　double　Scotch　on　the　rocks　in　a　swallow　and　raising　his　arm　to　order　another。　'Shit；　my　job　does　all　that。　Honest　work　you　can　sweat　at。'　Then　he　would　shake　his　head　full　of　sandy　hair。　'I'm　not　one　of　those　goddamned　desk　jockeys。'
　Grendel's　was　a　local　watering　hole　…　almost　exclusively　blue…collar　（the　writers　had　their　own　favourite）　…　several　miles　outside　West　Bay　Bridge；　roadside　to　Montauk　Highway。
　Late　in　the　evening；　Billy　Shawtuck　stood　in　the　doorway　of　Grendel's　preparatory　to　leaving。　The　sky　was　turning　from　indigo　to　black；　the　traffic　from　the　highway　taking　on　a　spectral　quality　as　headlights　and　tail…lights　flicked　by　like　the　inquisitive　eyes　of　nocturnal　animals。
　On　the　top　of　the　steps；　Billy　took　a　deep　breath　and　cursed　the　summer　influx。　We're　all　gonna　die　of　carbon　monoxide　poisoning　one　of　these　days；　he　thought。
　Not　four　paces　away；　his　Lilco　truck　stood　waiting　for　him；　but　this　evening　he　was　reluctant　to　leave　the　cheery　warmth　of　the　bar。　Music　blatted　at　his　back　from　the　juke　inside。　Tony　Bennett　singing　'I　Left　My　Heart　in　San　Francisco〃。
　You　could　take　San　Francisco；　Billy　thought；　take　the　whole　of　the　West　Coast　and　shove　it　up　your　ass。　He'd　been　out　there　in　the　Army　and　had　e　to　hate　it。　I　didn't　leave　anything　there　but　a　good　case　of　the　clap。　He　laughed。　But；　damn；　I'm　sure　sorry　I　took　this　late　job。　Time　and　a　half　was　all　well　and　good　but　some　days　…　well；　some　days　it　just　wasn't　worth　it。　He　had　a　feeling　that　this　was　one　of　those　days。
　Sighing　deeply；　he　went　down　the　stairs　but　not　before　giving　the　finger　to　Tony　Bennett　and　his　shit…ass　city。
　His　mood　changed；　however；　as　he　banged　down　one　of　the　dark　side　roads　and　he　began　to　whistle　tunelessly。　He　didn't　think　this　job　was　going　to　take　too　long。

　And；　of　course；　by　that　time　he　was　thinking　of　Helene　and　the　stuff　he　had　bought　her　from　the　Frederick's　of　Hollywood　catalogue。　Agh；　he　thought；　maybe　it　came　in　the　mail　today。　It　was　about　due。
　He　was　picturing　Helene's　long…legged　frame　in　the　clothes　…he　laughed：　if　you　could　call　them　that　…　as　he　came　around　the　last　bend　to　the　beach…front　property　and　saw　the　black…clad　figure　step　right　into　the　beam　of　his　left…side　headlight。
　'What　the　fuck！'　He　stepped　on　the　brakes　and　swerved　over　to　the　right　shoulder。　Leaning　out　of　the　window；　he　called；　'You　stupid　bastard！　I　mighta　killed　you。　What's　the　matter　with　…'
　The　door　on　his　side　crashed　open　and　it　felt　as　if　a　tornado　hurled　him　out　of　the　cab。　'Hey！'　He　rolled　across　the　cool　tarmac。　'Hey；　buddy！'
　He　got　to　his　feet　in　a　boxer's　semi…crouch；　his　fists　up　in　front　of　his　chest。
　'Not　to　fool　around；　you　sonovabitch。'
　His　eyes　opened　wide　as　he　saw　the　flash　of　the　long　blade　in　the　wash　of　the　headlights。　Christ；　he　thought；　a　sword。　A　sword？　Jesus；　I　must　be　drunk。
　A　moth　batted　in　the　headlight；　dazzled；　and　the　cicadas　sizzled。　Close　at　hand；　the　surf　hissed　and　shushed　like　a　nanny　calming　a　crying　baby。
　He　threw　a　punch。　It　never　connected。
　The　air　in　front　of　him　seemed　to　split　apart　and　vibrated　like　a　bead　curtain。
　He　felt　two　sensations　almost　simultaneously。　They　were　the　sharpest；　most　exquisitely　painful　feelings　he　had　ever　experienced。
　Once；　just　outside　the　base；　he　had　had　a　scuffle　with　an　M。P。　and　the　bastard　had　managed　to　slash　him　with　a　knife；　wounding　him　in　the　side；　before　he　had　had　a　chance　to　bury　his　fist　in　the　M。P。's　face。　It　was　the　guardhouse　for　him　for　that；　but　he　had　never　felt　so　satisfied　in　his　life。
　But　that　pain；　that　burning　was　nothing　to　what　Billy　Shaw…tuck　felt　now。　The　blur　of　the　blade　pierced　the　night　and　then　pierced　Billy。　From　the　top　of　his　right　shoulder　down　across　his　abdomen　to　the　left　side　of　his　pelvis。　His　guts　began　to　spill　out　and　his　nostrils　were　suffused　with　a　nauseating　stench。
　'Jesus　Chri　…'
　Then　the　round　wooden　pole　crashed；　whistling　like　a　boy　at　play；　onto　his　shoulder。　He　heard　the　sharp　crack　as　the　bones　broke　but；　astoundingly；　there　was　absolutely　no　pain。　Only　the　feeling　that　he　had　been　driven　straight　through　the　tarmac　of　the　road。
　Tears　came　to　Billy's　eyes　for　the　first　time　in　years。　Momma；　he　thought；　Momma；　I'm　in'　home。
　'I　think　I　know　what　it　is；'　she　said。
　Night　had　e　and　a　strong　wind；　springing　up　from　the　landward　side　of　the　house；　rattled　the　trees　outside。　Far　off　a　boat　hooted　once　and　was　still。　They　lay　close　together　on　the　bed；　enjoying　the　nearness　of　their　flesh；　nothing　sexual　in　it；　just　two　beings；　together。
　'You　won't　laugh；'　she　said；　turning　her　face　towards　his。　'Promise　me　you　won't　laugh。'
　'I　promise。'
　'If　I'm　hurt　…　physically　…　it　prepared　me；　sort　of。'
　'For　what？'
　'For　the　other　kind　of　hurt。　The　breaking　up；　the　leaving。'
　'That　seems　to　me　an　awfully　pessimistic　view　of　life。'
　'Yes；　it　does。'
　'He　put　his　arm　around　her　and　she　put　one　foot　between　his；　rubbing　his　shins。
　After　a　time；　he　said；　'What　is　it　you　want？'
　'To　be　happy；'　she　said。　'That's　all。'　There　is　nothing　else　in　the　world；　she　thought；　but　our　linked　bodies；　our　twined　souls；　and　she　thought　that　she　had　never　been　as　close　to　anyone　as　she　felt　at　that　moment　to　Nicholas。　Trust　had　to　begin　somewhere。　Perhaps　this　was　the　place　for　her　to　start。
　She　jumped　at　the　sound　of　an　enormous　crash　that　seemed　to　e　from　near　the　front　of　the　house；　the　kitchen。　She　cried　out　as　if　a　cold　hand　had　clutched　at　her　vitals；　saw　Nicholas　sit　up；　swing　his　legs　over　the　side　of　the　bed。
　He　stood　up；　and　as　he　began　to　move　towards　the　bedroom　door　he　seemed　totally　transformed　to　her。　Standing　there　stark　naked；　he　nevertheless　seemed　fully　clothed；　as　if　his　rippling　muscles　and　gleaming　sweat…streaked　skin　were　some　mysterious　raiment　cloaking　him。
　He　moved　silently　towards　the　lemon　light　streaming　down　the　hallway。　He　led　with　his　left　foot；　his　body　sideways　as　if　he　were　a　fencer；　knees　slightly　bent；　feet　not　leaving　the　floor。　Down　the　hallway。　He　had　said　not　a　word　to　her。
　Gathering　her　wits；　she　went　after　him。
　His　hands　were　up　before　him；　she　saw；　their　　　　　edges　reminded　her　oddly　of　blades；　the　fingers　as　stiff　as　steel　as　he　moved　steadily　into　the　kitchen。
　Past　the　table；　she　saw　that　the　window　over　the　sink　had　been　shattered　inwards　and　shards　of　glass　gleamed　in　the　light。　She　dared　not　move　farther　on　bare　feet。　The　curtains　flapped　in　the　wind　rushing　in　through　the　rent；　whipping　against　the　enameled　walls。
　She　watched　Nicholas　move　forwards；　stop　as　still　as　a　statue　as　he　peered　down　at　something　on　the　floor　on　the　far　side　of　the　table　near　the　window。　He　stayed　in　that　position　for　such　a　long　time　that　she　went　cautiously　across　the　littered　floor　to　stand　behind　him。　She　gasped　and　turned　away。　But　something　drew　her　eyes　inexorably　back　and　she　looked　again。
　On　the　floor　was　a　black　furry　mass；　large　and　unmoving。　Blood　seeped　along　the　floor　in　several　places　from　under　the　body；　glistening　where　it　shone　upon　the　ruined　glass。　A　strange；　astringent　smell　assaulted　her　nostrils　and　she　gagged。　Her　eyes　began　to　blur。
　'What　…'　She　gagged　again；　swallowed　hard。　'What　is　that　thing？'
　'I'm　not　sure；'　he　said　slowly。　'It's　too　big　for　a　bat；　at　least　in　this　part　of　the　country；　and　it's　not　a　flying　squirrel。'
　The　phone　began　to　ring　and　Justine　jumped。　Her　hands　gripped　her　arms。　'I've　got　goose…flesh；'　she　said。　Nicholas　remained　where　he　was；　staring　down　at　the　black　thing　that　had　crashed　through　the　window。　'Blinded　by　the　light；'　he　said。
　Justine　went　to　the　far　wall　and　picked　up　the　phone　but　he　seemed　oblivious　as　she　spoke　for　several　moments。　She　had　to　e　back　and　touch　him　on　the　arm。　'Vincent　wants　to　speak　to　you；'　she　said。
　He　looked　at　her　then；　tearing　his　eyes　away。　'All　right。'　His　voice　seemed　thick；　his　droughts　far　away。　'Don't　go　near　it；'
　he　warned　as　he　went　to　the　phone。　'What　is　it？'　he　said　abruptly。
　'I　tried　you　at　your　place；'　Vincent　said。　'When　there　was　no　answer；　I　took　a　chance。'　Nicholas　said　nothing。　'Look；　I　know　what　time　it　is。'　His　voice　rattled　against　Nicholas's　ear；　an　odd　note　settled　in　it。　'It