cp.reddice-第17部分
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not have him live and continue his search for the sacred blood of Jesus Christ。 Jesus had died twelve hundred years ago； and the search would never end。 It was a paradox… the only solution was agonizing。 I could not stop Arturo so I had to let others stop him。
〃Yes；〃 I swore on the Holy Bible。 〃He created the abomination。 I saw him do it with my own eyes。 He changed that boy。 Then he tried to seduce me with the black arts。 He is a witch； Father； that fact is indisputable。 God strike me down if I lie！〃
The old friar at the church also testified against Arturo； although the inquisitor had to first stretch him on the strappado to get the words out of his mouth。 It broke the friar's heart to condemn Arturo。 He was not alone in his guilt。
Arturo never confessed； no matter how much they tortured him。 He was too proud； his cause too noble； in his mind。 After the trial； we never spoke。 Indeed； I never saw him again。 I didn't attend his execution。 But I heard they burned him at the stake。
Like any witch。
9
I sit at a poker table trying to bluff a high roller from Texas into folding。 The game has been going on awhile。 There is one hundred thousand dollars in cash and chips on the table。 His hand is better than mine。 Yaksha's mind…reading gift has grown more powerful in me…I can now see the man's cards as if viewing them through his eyes。 He has three aces； two jacks…a full house。 I have three sixes…Satan's favorite number。 He has the winning hand。
The Texan wears leather cowboy boots； a five…gallon hat。 The smoke from his fat cigar does not irritate my eyes。 He blows a smelly cloud my way as if to intimidate me。 I smile and match his last bet； then raise him another fifty thousand。 We are enjoying a private game； in a luxurious corner of the casino； where only fat cats hang out Three other men sit with us at the table； but they have since folded。 They follow the action closely…they all know each other。 The Texan will not like to be humiliated in front of them。
〃You must have a royal flush； honey child；〃 he says。 〃Betting the way you do。〃 He leans across the table。 〃Or else you got a sugar daddy paying your bills。〃
〃Honey and sugar；〃 I muse aloud。 〃Both like me。〃 I add； sharpening my tone； 〃But I pay my own bills。〃
He laughs and slaps his leg。 〃Are you trying to bluff me？〃
〃Maybe。 Match my bet and find out〃
He hesitates a moment； glancing at the pot。 〃The action is getting kind of heavy。 What do you do； child； to have so much dough？ Your daddy must have given it to you。〃
He is trying to ascertain how important the money is to me。 If it means a lot； in my mind； then I will be betting heavily only if I have an unbeatable hand。 Leaning across the table； I stare him in the eye； not strong enough to fry his synapses but hard enough to shake him。 I don't like being called a child。 I am five thousand years old after all。
〃I earned every penny of it；〃 I tell him。 〃The hard way。 Where did you get your money； old man？〃
He sits back quickly； ruffled by my tone； my laser vision。 〃I earned it by honest labor；〃 he says； lying。
I sit back as well。 〃Then lose it honestly。 Match my bet or fold。 I don't care which。 Just quit stalling。〃
He flushes。 〃I'm not stalling。〃
I shrug； cool as ice。 〃Whatever you want to call it； old man。〃
〃Damn you；〃 he swears； throwing his cards down。 〃I fold。〃
My arms reach out and rake in the money。 They're all staring at me。 〃Oh；〃 I say。 〃I bet you're wondering what I had？ But you're all too professional to ask； aren't you？〃 I stand and start to stuff the cash and chips in my purse。 〃I think I'll call it a night。〃
〃Wait right there；〃 the Texan says； getting up。 〃I want to see those cards。〃
〃Really？ I thought you had to pay to see them。 Are the rules different for Texans？〃
〃They are when you've got fifty grand of my money； bitch。 Now show me。〃
I dislike being called a 〃bitch〃 more than a 〃child。〃
〃Very well；〃 I say； flipping over my cards。 〃You would have won。 That's the last time I show a hand 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。 〃Bit
