cp.reddice-第12部分
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't have been responsible for my luminous skin。 Yet the fact that the level is high confirms that there are nuclear warheads in the vicinity。 I suspect I am sitting above them； that they are stored in the caves the military has dug into this hill。 The caves are now an established fact。 I watch as men and equipment ride a miniature railroad beneath me into and out of the hill。 This is how the human race gets into trouble。 The danger of renegade vampires is nothing pared to the folly of handing unlimited sums of money over to people who like to keep 〃secrets。〃 Who have on their payroll physicists and chemists and genetic engineers who； as children； rooted for Pandora to open her box of evils。
How Andrew Kane has partially managed to duplicate Arturo Evola's work continues to preoccupy me。 I cannot imagine an explanation。
A black cart rides beneath me into the hill。 Soldiers sit on it； smoking cigarettes and talking about babes。 My Geiger counter momentarily jumps。 The level is not high enough to harm the human body； but it does confirm that the boys in uniform are sitting next to a thermonuclear device。 I know the famed fail…safe system is a joke； as do most people in the government。 The President of the United States is not the only one who can order an American…made nuclear device to explode。 In West Germany； before the Wall came down； the authority to fire a miniature neutron bomb was often in the hands of a lieutenant。 Currently； all the nuclear submarine captains in the U。S。 Navy have the authority to launch their missiles without the required presidential black box and secret codes。 It is argued that the captains must have this authority because if the country is attacked the President would most likely be one of the first to die。
Still； it makes me nervous。
The general must have the authority to trigger these bombs if he wishes。
It is good to know。
I have finished my study of the pound and am walking back to my Jeep when I notice that my legs are glowing again； as are my hands and arms。 Once more； every square inch of my exposed skin is faintly shining with the whiteness of the moon…not good here at a top…secret camp。 It makes me that much more visible。 I hurry to my Jeep； climb inside； and drive away。
But long before I reach Las Vegas； I pull over； far off the road。
A bizarre idea has occurred to me。
The problem is not radiation。 It is not man…made。
Climbing out of the Jeep； I remove all my clothing and stand naked with my arms outstretched to the moon； as if I were worshipping the astronomical satellite； bowing to it； drinking up her rays。 Slowly the skin on my chest and thighs begins to take on the milky radiance。 And it seems the more I invite the moonlight onto my skin； into my heart； the brighter it bees。 Because if I will it to stop； my skin returns to normal。
〃What does it mean； Yaksha？〃 I whisper to my dead creator。
My right arm； as the moonlight floods in； shines particularly bright。 Holding it close to my eyes； / can see through it！ 1 can actually see the ground through my flesh！
I put my clothes back on。
I can't look like a Christmas light when I try to seduce Andrew Kane。
6
I am Lara Adams as I enter the casino later that night and stand beside Andrew Kane at the dice table。 I'm still a redhead； with a soft southern accent and a prim and proper smile。 The name is not new to me。 I used it to enroll at Mayfair High in Oregon； where I met Ray and Seymour。 It's hard to believe that was less than two months ago。 How life can change when you're a vampire on the run。
Andy glances over at me and smiles。 He has the dice in his hands。 He has been in the casino five minutes but already he's had a couple of drinks。
〃Do you want to place a bet？〃 he asks。
I smile。 〃Do you feel hot？〃
He shakes the dice in his palm。 〃I am hot。〃
I remove a stack of black hundred…dollar chips from my bag and place one on the pass line； his favorite bet…seven or eleven。 Andy rolls the dice。 They dance over the green felt。 ing to a halt； the numbers four and three smile up at us。
〃Lucky seven；〃 the croupier says and pays off our bets。 Andy flashes me another smile。
〃You must be good luck；〃 he says。
I double my bet。 〃I have a feeling this is my night；〃 I say。
By the time the dice e to me； Andy and I have lost a bined total of eight hundred dollars。 That is about to change。 With my supernatural balance and reflexes； with practice； I can roll any number I desire。 I have been practicing in my suite since I returned from the pound。 Carefully I set the dice upright in my left palm in the configuration： five and six。 In a blur； I toss them out。 They bounce happily； seemingly randomly to human eyes。 But they e to a halt in the same position they started out。 Andy and I each win a hundred dollars on the number eleven。 Since I threw a pass； I am invited to throw another…which I do。 The people at the table like me。 Most bet on the pass line。
I throw ten passes in a row before I let the dice go。 We mustn't get greedy。 Andy appreciates my style。
〃What's your name？〃 he asks。
〃Lara Adams。 What's yours？〃
〃Andrew Kane。 Are you here alone？〃
I pout。 〃I did e with a friend。 But it seems I'll be going home alone。〃
Andy chuckles。 〃Not necessarily。 The night's still young。〃
〃It's five in the morning；〃 I remind him。
He nods at the glass of water I sip。 〃Can I get you something stronger？〃
I lean against the table。 〃I think I need something stronger。〃
We continue to play craps； winning better than honest wages when I am throwing the dice。 The people at the table don't want me to surrender the designated high roller position； but I am careful not to appear superhuman； just damn lucky。 Andy bets heavily and wins back all the money he lost the night before； and then some。 We both drink too much。 I have four margaritas； Andy five Scotches and water； on top of what he had drunk before I entered。 The alcohol has no effect on me。 My liver neutralizes it almost the instant it enters my system。 I can take in all kinds of poisons and remain undisturbed。 Andy； however； is now drunk； just the way the casinos like people。 He is betting five hundred dollars a roll when I pull him away from the table。
〃What's the matter？〃 he protests。 〃We're winning。〃
〃You can be winning and courting disaster at the same time。 e on； let's have some coffee。 I'm buying。〃
He stumbles as he walks beside me。 〃I've been at work all night。 I'd like a steak。〃
〃〃You shall have whatever you want。〃
The Mirage coffee shop is open twenty…four hours a day。 The menu is flexible…Andy is able to get his steak。 He orders it medium rare with a baked potato。 He wants a beer； but I insist he have a glass of milk。 〃You're going to destroy your stomach；〃 I say as we wait for our food。 I do have favorite foods； besides blood。 I have ordered roast chicken with rice and vegetable。 Surprisingly； for a vampire； I eat plenty of vegetables。 Nothing is as good for the body as those fresh greens； except； perhaps； those dripping reds。 Sitting with Andy； I bee thirsty for blood as well。 Before I rest； I will grab some male tourist off the streets； show him a good time。 That is； if I don't spend the night…the day…sleeping beside Andy。 His eyes shine as he looks me over。
〃I can always have it removed；〃 he replies。
〃Why not just drink less？〃
〃I'm on vacation。〃
〃Where are you from？〃
He chuckles。 〃Here！〃 He is serious for a moment 〃You know you are one beautiful young woman。 But I suppose you know that。〃
〃It's always nice to hear；〃
〃Where are you from？〃
〃The South…Florida。 I came with a boyfriend for a few days； but he got angry with me。〃
〃Why？〃
〃I told him I wanted to break up。〃 I add； 〃He's got a nasty temper。〃 I sip my milk； wishing I could squeeze our waitress's veins into it； add a little flavor。 〃What about you？ What do you do？〃
〃I'm a mad scientist。〃
〃Really？ What are you mad about？〃
〃You mean； what kind of scientist am I？〃
〃Yes。 And do you work around here？〃 His voice takes on a guarded note； even though he is still quite drunk。 〃I'm a genetic engineer。 I work for the go
