cpatricia.blacknotice-第83部分

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　　I　paged　Marino。　By　now　it　was　midnight。
　　〃What's　going　on？〃　he　asked。
　　I　told　him。
　　〃I'm　ing　over　right　now。〃
　　〃Listen；　I'm　all　right；〃　I　said。　〃Battled；　but　all　right。　I'd　rather　you　stay　out　there　looking　for　him　instead　of　ing　here　to　baby…sit　me；°〃
　　He　seemed　unsure。　I　knew　what　he　was　thinking。
　　〃It　doesn't　seem　his　style　is　to　break　in　anyway；〃　I　added。
　　Marino　hesitated；　then　he　said；　〃There's　something　you　ought　to　know。　I　didn't　know　if　I　should　tell　you。　Talley's　here。〃
　　I　was　stunned。
　　〃He's　the　head　of　the　squad　HIDTA　sent　in。〃
　　〃How　long　has　he　been　here？〃　I　tried　to　sound　curious　and　nothing　more。
　　〃Couple　days。〃
　　〃Tell　him　hello；〃　I　said　as　if　Talley　meant　very　little　tó　me　anymore。
　　Marino　wasn't　fooled。
　　〃Sorry　he　turned　out　to　be　such　an　asshole；〃　he　said。
　　The　minute　I　hung　up；　I　contacted　the　orthopedic　unit　at　MCV　and　the　nurse　on　duty　didn't　know　who　I　was　and　wouldn't　release　any　information　about　anything。　I　wanted　to　talk　to　Senator　Lord。　I　wanted　to　talk　to　Dr。　Zenner；　to　Lucy；　to　a　friend；　to　someone　who　cared；　and　at　that　moment　I　missed　Benton　so　acutely　I　thought　I　couldn't　go　on。　I　thought　of　being　buried　in　the　wreckage　of　my　life。　I　thought　of　dying。
　　I　tried　to　revive　the　fire；　but　it　was　stubborn　because　the　wood　I'd　carried　in　was　damp。　I　stared　at　the　pack　of　cigarettes　on　the　coffee　table　but　didn't　have　the　energy　to　light　one　up。　I　sat　on　the　couch　and　buried　my　face　in　my　hands　until　the　spasms　of　grief　subsided。　When　a　sharp　rapping　sounded　on　the　door　again；　my　nerves　ached　tut　I　was　just　so　tired。
　　〃Police；〃　a　male　voice　said　from　outside　as　he　rapped　again　with　something　hard　like　a　nightstick　or　blackjack。
　　〃I　didn't　call　the　police；〃　I　said　through　the　door。
　　〃Ma'am；　we've　gotten　a　call　about　a　suspicious　person　on　your　property；〃　he　said。　〃Are　you　all　right？〃
　　〃Yes；　yes；〃　I　said　as　I　turned　off　the　alarm　and　opened　the　door　to　let　him　in。
　　My　porch　fight　was　out；　and　it　had　never　occurred　to　me　he　might　be　able　to　speak　without　a　French　accent；　and　I　smelled　that　dirty；　wet　doglike　smell　as　he　pushed　his　way　in　and　shut　the　door　with　a　back…kick。　I　choked　on　the　scream　in　my　throat　as　he　smiled　his　hideous　smile　and　reached　out　a　hairy　hand　to　touch　my　cheek；　as　if　his　feelings　for　me　were　tender。
　　Half　of　his　face　was　lower　than　the　other　and　covered　with　a　fine　blond　stubble；　and　uneven；　crazed　eyes　burned　with　rage　and　lust　and　mockery　from　hell。　He　tore　off　his　long　black　coat　to　net　it　over　my　head　and　I　ran　and　this　all　happened　in　a　matter　of　seconds。'
　　Panic　hurled　me　into　the　great　room　and　he　was　on　my　heels　making　guttural　sounds　that　didn't　sound　human。　I　was　too　terrified　to　think。　I　was　reduced　to　the　childish　impulse　of　wanting　to　throw　something　at　him　and　the　first　thing　I　saw　was　the　jar　of　formalin　that　held　part　of　the　flesh　of　the　brother　he　had　murdered。　 …I　snatched　it　off　the　coffee　table　and　jumped　on　the　couch　and　over　the　back　of　it　and　fumbled　with　the　lid；　and　he　had　out　his　tool　now；　that　hammer　with　the　coiled　handle；　and　as　he　raised　it　and　grabbed　for　me　I　dashed　a　quart　of　formalin　in　his　face。
　　He　shrieked　and　grabbed　his　eyes　and　throat　as　the　chemical　burned　and　made　it　difficult　for　him　to　breathe。　He　squeezed　shut　his　eyes；　shrieking　and　grabbing　at　his　doused　shirt　to　rip　it　off；　gasping　arid　burning　like　fire　as　I　ran。　I　grabbed　my　gun　off　the　dining…room　table　and　hit　the　panic　alarm　as　I　fled　out　the　front　door　into　the　snow。　On　the　steps　my　feet　went　out　from　under　me　and　my　left　arm　shot　down　like　a　brace　to　stop　my　fall。　When　I　tried　to　get　up；　I　knew　I'd　broken　my　elbow；　and　I　was　shocked　to　see　him　staggering　after　me。
　　He　clutched　the　railing　as　he　blindly　made　his　way　down；　still　screaming；　and　I　was　sitting　at　the　bottom　of　the　steps；　panicking；　pushing　myself　back　as　if　I　were　crewing。　His　upper　body　was　dense　with　long　pale　hair　that　hung　from　his　arms　and　swirled　over　his　spine。　He　fell　to　his　knees；　scooping　up　handfuls　of　snow　and　rubbing　it　into　his　face　and　neck　again　and　again　as　he　fought　for　breath。
　　He　was　within　reach　of　me　and　I　imagined　him　springing　up　any　moment　like　a　monster　that　wasn't　human。　I　raised　my　pistol　but　couldn't　pull　back　the　slide。　I　tried　and　tried；　but　my　fractured　elbow　and　torn　tendons　wouldn't　let　me　bend　my　arm。　'
　　I　couldn't　get　up。　I　kept　slipping。　He　heard　my　noise　and　crawled　closer　as　I　scooted　back　and　slipped　and　then　tried　to　roll。　He　gasped　and　then　lay　facedown　in　the　snow；　the　way　children　make　angels；　as　he　tried　to　lessen　the　pain　of　his　severe　chemical　burns。　He　dug　up　snow　like　a　dog；　piling　it　over　his　head　and　holding　handfuls　against　his　neck。　He　reached　out　a　matted　arm　to　me：　I　couldn't　understand　his　French；　but　I　believed　he　was　begging　me　to　help　him。
　　He　was　crying。　Shirtless；　he　was…　shivering　from　the　cold。　His　nails　were　filthy　and　ragged；　and　he　wore　the　boots　and　pants　of　a　laborer；　perhaps　someone　who　worked　on　a　ship。　He　writhed　and　screamed；　and　I　almost　felt　sorry　for　him。　But　I　wouldn't　get　close　to　him。
　　Tissue　was　hemorrhaging　into　my　fractured　joint。　My　arm　was　swelling　and　throbbing；　and　I　didn't　hear　the　car　drive　up。　Then　Lucy　was　running　through　the　snow；　almost　losing　her　balance　several　times　as　she　racked　back　the　slide　in　the　forty…caliber　Glock　she　loved　so　much；　and　she　fell　to　her　knees　close　to　him；　assuming　a　bat　position。　She　pointed　the　stainless　steel　barrel　at　his　head。
　　〃Lucy；　don't！〃　I　said；　trying　to　pull　myself　up　to　my　knees。
　　She　was　breathing　hard；　her　finger　on　the　trigger。
　　〃You　goddamn　son　of　a　bitch；〃　she　said。　〃You　fucking　piece　of　shit；〃　she　said　as　he　continued　to　moan　and　wipe　his　eyes　with　snow。
　　〃Lucy；　no！〃　I　yelled　as　she　gripped　the　pistol　more　tightly　in　both　hands；　steadying　it。
　　〃I'm　going　to　put　you　out　of　your　misery；　you　fucking　son　of　a　bitch！〃
　　I　crawled　toward　her　as　feet　and　voices　sounded　and　car　doors　shut。
　　〃Lucy！〃　I　said。　〃No！　For　God's　sake　no！〃
　　It　was　as　if　she　didn't　hear　me　or　anyone。　She　was　in　some　hateful；　angry　world　of　her　own。　She　swallowed　hard　as　he　writhed　and　held　his　hands　over　his　eyes。
　　〃Stop　moving！〃　she　yelled　at　him。
　　〃Lucy；〃　I　moved　closer　and　closer；　〃put　the　gun　down。〃
　　But　he　couldn't　stop　moving；　and　she　was　frozen　in　her　position；　and　then　she　wavered　just　a　bit。
　　〃Lucy；　you　don't　want　to　do　this；〃　I　said。　〃Please。　Put　the　gun　down。〃
　　She　wouldn't。　She　didn't　answer　me　or　look　my　way。　I　became　aware　of　feet　all　around　me；　of　people　in　dark　battle　dress；　of　rifles　and　pistols　all　held　in　safe　positions。
　　〃Lucy；　put　the　gun　down；〃　I　heard　Marino　say。
　　She　didn't　move。　The　pistol　was　shaking　in　her　。hands。　This　wretched　man　called　Loup…Garou　struggled　for　air　and　moaned。　He　was　inches　from　her　feet　and　I　was　inches　from　her。
　　〃Lucy；　look　at　me；〃　I　said。　〃Look　at　me！〃
　　She　glanced　in　my　direction　and　a　tear　slid　down　her　cheek。
　　〃There's　been　enough　killing；〃　I　said。　〃Please。　No　more。
　　This　is　a　bad　shooting；　Lucy。　This　isn't　self…defense。　Jo's　in　the　car　waiting　for　you。　Don't　do　this。　Don't　do　this；　please。　We　love　you。〃
　　She　swallowed　hard。　I　carefully　reached　out　my　hand。
　　〃Give　me　the　gun；〃　I　said。　〃Please。　I　love　you。　Give　me　the　gun；〃
　　She　lowered　it　and　tossed　it　into　the　snow；　where　the　steel　shone　like　silver。　She　stayed　where　she　was；　her　head　bent；　and　then　Marino　was　with　her；　saying　things　I　couldn't　focus　on　as　my　elbow　throbbed　like　drums。　Someone　lifted　me　with　sure　hands。
　　〃e　on；〃　Talley　gently　said　to　me。
　　He　pulled　me　close　and　I　looked　up　at　him。　It　seemed　so　out　of　place　to　see　him　in　ATF　fatigues。　I　wasn't　sure　he　was　there。　It　was　a　dream　or　a　nightmare。　None　of　this　could　happen。　There　was　no　such　thing　as　a　werewolf　and　Lucy　wouldn't　shoot　anyone　and　Benton　wasn't　dead　and　I　was　about　to　faint　and　Talley　held　me　up。
　　〃We　need　to　get　you　to　a　hospital；　Kay。　Bet　you　could　name　a　few　around　here；〃　Jay　Talley　said。
　　〃We　need　to　get　Jo　out　of　the　car。　She　must　be　cold。　She　can't　move；〃　I　muttered。
　　My　lips　were　numb。　I　could　barely　speak。
　　〃S