cw.blackalibi-第28部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


it　a　date　I　should　beware　of？　Today's　the；　bet　me　see…〃
　　〃No；　it's　no　date。　There　are　no　dates　in　these　cards。　It's　in　the　first　row　over　you；　so　it's　soon。〃
　　〃Well；　is　it　a　man？〃
　　〃No；　the　picture　cards　are　men；　the　jacks　and　kings。〃
　　〃Well；　what　could　it　be　then？　Something　with　four　legs？　Maybe　it　means　I'm　going　to　be　trampled　by　a　black　horse。〃
　　La　Bruja　shrugged。
　　Clo…Clo　snapped　her　fingers。　〃I've　got　it。　Four。　Something　with　four　wheels。　I　should　stay　out　of　a　black　automobile　or　I'm　going　to　get　smashed　up。
　　〃It　could　be；〃　Le　Bruja　said　uncertainly。　Whatever　it　was；　it　was　as　disturbing　to　her　as　to　her　client；　she　wasn't　taking　it　bightby。　Perhaps　because　it　was　a　challenge　to　her　professional　skill。　She　continued　to　stare　downward　in　stony　concentration　at　it；　the　brick　of　still…unused　cards　retained　in　her　hand；　kneading　a　corner　of　her　lip　every　now　and　then　between　her　teeth。
　　The　proprietor　had　fallen　into　a　doze　somewhere　in　the　dusk…laden　background。　His　heavy　breathing　was　the　only　sound　to　be　heard　in　the　silences　between　their　remarks。
　　〃But　they're　your　cards。　Gan't　you　read　them？〃
　　〃Sure　I　can　read　them…as　far　as　they　go。　The　spades　suit　is　always　trouble　or　misfortune。　The　ace　of　spades　itself　is　the　one　to　book　out　for；　that's　the　death　card。〃
　　Clo…Clo　took　a　deep　breath　of　unutterable　relief。　〃It's　not　out。　So　maybe　if　I　just　steer　clear　of　a　black　car…〃　She　lit　a　cigarette　with　a　hand　that　was　shaking　so；　the　match　singed　the　paper　all　down　one　side　nearly　to　her　lips。　〃Go　ahead　a　little　further；　instead　of　turning　back。　Pay　more　out。　Maybe　something'lb　e　out　after　that'bl…　that'll　make　it　clearer。〃
　　La　Bruja　lidded　her　eyes　acquiescently。　Her　hand　moved。　〃That's　a　money　card。〃　Her　hand　moved　again。　〃That's　a　card　that　means　a　trip　or　journey；　a　small　one。〃
　　〃I'm　to　get　more　money　and　go　on　a　trip　or　journey？〃　suggested　Clo…Clo　hopefully。
　　〃No；　they're　in　reverse。　That　means；　a　trip　back　because　of　money。　Money　is　going　to　cause　you　to　make　a　return　trip　to　somewhere。〃
　　This　time　Clo…Clo　didn't　ment；　she　kept〃　her　own　counsel。　She　thought：　〃Sounds　like　I'm　going　back　to　the　Tabarin　one　of　these　nights'　and　meet　that　same　darling　of　a　papacito　and　be　given　another…〃
　　〃Go　ahead；〃　she　urged；　〃put　the　next　one　in　line　down。〃
　　La　Bruja's　free　hand　moved　to　the　brick　she　held；　stripped　the　top　of　it；　carried　it　to　the　table；　reversed　it　with　a　deft　twist。
　　There　was　a　sort　of　impalpable　detonation　between　them；　unseen；　unheard；　but　as　keenly　felt　as　the　flare　of　flashlight　powder。
　　〃Wait　a　minute；　what'd　you　say　just　now　was　the…？〃
　　Clo…Clo；　eyes　dilated　craned　her　neck　toward　the　layout。　Before　she　could　verify　it；　La　Bruja　had　slapped　her　hand　over　it；　effacing　it。
　　〃Don't　look　at　it。〃　La　Bruja　suddenly　whipped　it　out　of　the　set…up　and　left　a　blank　space　where　it　had　been。
　　〃The　death　card；〃　Clo…Clo　whispered。
　　〃It　wasn't　right　over　you；〃　La　Bruja　said　roughly。
　　〃But　it　was　right　over　this　other　one；　this　four　thing。　And　that　was　touching　me。　Corner　to　corner！〃
　　〃Now　look　at　your　face；〃　La　Bruja　said　accusingly。　〃You're　all　white。　You　shouldn't　have　asked　me…〃　She　swept　her　hand　back　and　forth　across　the　cards；　obliterating　their　arrangement　beyond　repair。　She　jogged　her　chair　back。　〃Let's　get　out　of　here；〃　she　said　impatiently。
　　Clo…Clo　didn't　move　for　a　minute；　didn't　act　as　though　she'd　heard　her。　Her　eyes　were　still　fixed　unseeingby　on　the　barren　table　top；　where　the　cards　had　been　until　now；　as　though　she　could　stilb　see　them。　Once　she　backed　her　hand　across　the　brow　fringe　of　the　chrysanthemum　hair　mop；　leaving　a　little　indentation　in　its　evenness　of　line　through　which　a　triangular　wedge　of　forehead　peered。
　　〃Gome　on；　don't　take　it　like　that；〃　La　Bruja　tried　to　cheer　her　up。
　　Clo…Clo　moved　her　head　at　bast；　but　not　toward　her　panion。　She　turned　it　slowly；　warily；　the　other　way　around；　toward　the　half…visible　streetbevel　window　of　the　shop；　across　the　room　from　them；　with　its　shutters　already　backed　together　behind　it　in　closure　for　the　night。
　　She　writhed　slightly；　as　if　trying　to　throw　some　thing　off。　〃I　keep　getting　a　feeling　of　somebody　looking　at　me；　somebody　looking　at　me　hard。　I　already　had　it　once　before；　tonight；　before　I　even　came　in　here　〃
　　〃Maybe　somebody　just　took　a　squint　in；　in　passing；　to　see　if　Pepito　is　still　open。　I　was　sitting　facing　that　way　the　whole　time；　and　I　didn't　see　anyone。　Pay　the　guy　and　let's　get　out　of　here；〃　La　Bruja　said；　in　reminder　that　it　was　her　invitation。　〃You'll　feel　better　outside。〃
　　Clo…Clo　put　on　one　shoe。　Then　she　felt　underneath　the　shredded　inner　sole　of　the　other；　dredged　up　a　thin　ten…centavo　piece；　and　put　it　on　the　table。
　　La　Bruja　had　opened　the　door　and　gone　out　ahead。　〃There's　nobody　out　here；〃　she　called　back　reassuringly。　〃The　street's　empty！〃
　　Clo…Clo　came　out　after　her。　She　drew　her　short　elbow　jacket　closer　around　her　as　though　she　were　cold。　There　wasn't　another　moving　thing　in　sight　but　the　two　of　them。　Gable　Quince　de　Mayo　lay　desolate　ifi　the　gloom　around　them；　a　blue…black　tunnel　running　through　the　night。
　　〃The　tailings　of　the　night；〃　La　Bruja　grimaced。　〃I　always　hate　it。　Webb；　until　next…〃　She　took　a　preliminary　step　away　from　her。
　　Clo…Clo　grabbed　her　almost　spasmodically　by　the　arm。　〃La　Bruja；　walk　part　of　the　way　back　with　me；　will　you？　You　can　go　my　way　as　well　as　the　other；　it's　just　as　near　for　you。〃
　　La　Bruja　jeered；　〃What's　the　matter　with　you　all　of　a　sudden？〃　She　turned　nevertheless　and　fell　into　step　alongside　her。
　　〃I　dunno；　I've　got　a　funny　feeling　I　can't　throw　off。〃
　　〃That　fortune　got　you。〃
　　〃No；　I　had　it　even　before　I　met　you；　but　not　as　strong　as　now。　I　was　feeling　leery　already　back　at　the　Tabarin。〃
　　〃I　can　tell　you　what's　the　matter　with　you；〃　La　Bruja　told　her；　with　the　wisdom　born　of　greater　experience。　〃Don't　go　in　too　heavy　for　this　distilled　stuff；　like　brandy　or　aguardiente。　It　overstimulates　and　then　depresses　you。　I　used　to　make　that　mistake　when　I　was　first　beginning　to　go　around；　too。　Don't　let　them　buy　you　just　anything　they　feel　like。　Stick　to　wine　and　light　stuff。　These　cheap　guys　are　only　too　glad　to　daze　you；　if　you　give　them　the　chance。　Unless　you　get　some　system　into　your　drinking；　you'll　find　yourself；　at　the　end　of　a　hard　night；　with　the　horrors。〃
　　They　had　reached　the　lower　end　of　the　street　by　now。　〃Well；　here's　where　we　split　up；〃　La　Bruja　let　her　know。　〃I'm　not　going　out　of　my　way　for　you；　I've　done　enough　tramping　around　already　for　one　evening。　Take　it　easy。〃
　　She　turned　sharply　left；　and　the　tap　of　her　heels；　for　a　moment　or　two；　could　be　heard　receding　along　the　sidewalk。　Clo…Clo　continued　on　alone　in　their　original　direction。　Just　before　the　opposite　corner　line　cut　them　off　from　one　another　for　good；　she　called　out；　almost　despairingly：　〃See　you　around　tomorrow　night。〃
　　〃Maybe；〃　came　echoing　back　blurredly　along　the　resonant；　empty　stone　chasm　of　the　street。
　　Clo…Clo　went　her　way。　To　her　surprise；　she　discovered　she　felt　a　little　better　after　leaving　the　other　girl；　rather　than　worse。　La　Bruja　had　a　sort　of　dampening　personality；　she　was　well　known　for　that；　maybe　that　was　it。　Or　maybe　there　had　been　a　lack　of　sympathy　there。　Not　that　she　didn't　hurry；　and　not　that　she　wasn't　stibb　uneasy。　Plenty　of　both。　The　way　home　was　a　long　one；　and　it　had　never　seemed　longer　than　it　did　tonight。　Her　feet　played　chopsticks　under　her　along　the　sidewalk；　and　the　tubular　street；　like　a　megaphone；　seemed　to　carry　the　sound　far　in　advance　of　her。　They　went：　tickchock；　tick…chock；　tick…chock…　And　then　suddenly　they　had　stopped。
　　What　was　that？
　　It　had　coursed　out　swiftly　before　her；　made　a　wide　turn　around　her　out　into　the　middle　of　the　road；　before　she　could　identify　it。　Then　it　fell　motionless　out　there；　poised　for　further　flight；　uncertainly　booking　over　at　her。　It　went　〃Miaow；〃　in　slurred　remonstrance。
　　A　thrill　of　horror　surged　through　her。　Oh　God；　no；　not　tonight；　after　that　card…！
　　Black；　inky　black　from　nose　to　tail　tip；　not　a　white　hair　in　its　coat。
　　She　started　to　draw　warily　backwards　a　step　at　a　time；　hand　out