sidneysheldon.astrangerinthemirror-第57部分

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s　the　face。　She　fell　to　her　knees；　clutching　her　head　in　agony。　Clifton　stood　looking　at　her　for　a　long　moment。　This　was　how　he　wanted　to　remember　her。　
　〃So　long；　Josephine　Czinski；〃　he　said。　
　Clifton　left　Jill's　cabin　and　walked　up　to　the　boat　deck；　keeping　the　lower　half　of　his　face　covered　with　the　handkerchief。　He　walked　slowly；　studying　the　faces　of　the　passengers；　looking　for　a　fresh　face；　an　unusual　type。　You　never　knew　when　you　might　stumble　across　new　talent。　He　felt　ready　to　go　back　to　work　again。　Who　could　tell？　Maybe　he　would　get　lucky　and　discover　another　Toby　Temple。　
　Shortly　after　Clifton　left；　Claude　Dessard　walked　up　to　Jill's　cabin　and　knocked　at　the　door。　There　was　no　response；　but　the　chief　purser　could　hear　sounds　inside　the　room。　He　waited　a　moment；　then　raised　his　voice　and　said；　
　〃Mrs。　Temple；　this　is　Claude　Dessard；　the　chief　purser。　I　was　wondering　if　I　might　be　of　service？〃　
　There　was　no　answer。　By　now　Dessard's　internal　warning　system　was　screaming。　His　instincts　told　him　that　there　was　something　terribly　wrong；　and　he　had　a　premonition　that　it　centered；　somehow；　around　this　woman。　A　series　of　wild；　outrageous　thoughts　danced　through　his　brain。　She　had　been　murdered　or　kidnapped　or　　He　tried　the　handle　of　the　door。　It　was　unlocked。　Slowly；　Dessard　pushed　the　door　open；　Jill　Tample　was　standing　at　the　far　end　of　the　cabin；　looking　out　the　porthole；　her　back　to　him。　
　Dessard　opened　his　mouth　to　speak；　but　something　in　the　frozen　rigidity　of　the　figure　stopped　him。　He　stood　there　awkwardly　for　a　moment；　debating　wheather　to　quietly　withdraw；　when　suddenly　the　cabin　was　filled　with　an　unearthly；　keening　sound；　like　an　animal　in　pain。　Helpless　before　such　a　deep　private　agony；　Dessard　withdrew；　refully　closing　the　door　behind　him。　Dessard　stood　outside　the　cabin　a　moment；　listening　to　the　wordless　cry　from　within；　then；　deeply　disturbed；　turned　and　headed　for　the　theater　on　the　main　deck。　
　At　dinner　that　evening；　there　were　two　empty　seats　at　the　captain's　table。　Halfway　through　the　meal；　the　captain　called　to　Dessard；　who　was　hosting　a　party　of　less　important　ssengers　two　tables　away。　Dessard　excused　himself　and　hurried　over　to　the　captain's　table。　
　〃Ah；　Dessard；〃　the　captain　said；　genially。　He　lowered　his　voice　and　his　tone　changed。　〃What　happened　with　Mrs。　Temple　and　Mr。　Kenyon？〃　
　Dessard　looked　around　at　the　other　guests　and　whispered；　〃As　you　know；　Mr。　Kenyon　left　with　the　pilot　at　the　Ambrose　ship。　Mrs。　Temple　is　in　her　cabin。〃　The　captain　swore　under　his　breath。　He　was　a　methodical　and　the　one　who　did　not　like　to　have　his　routine　interfered　with。　
　〃Merde！　All　the　wedding　arrangements　have　been　made；〃　he　said。　
　〃I　know；　Captain。〃　Dessard　shrugged　and　rolled　his　eyes　ward。　〃Americans；〃　he　said。　
　
　Jill　sat　alone　in　the　darkened　cabin；　huddled　in　a　chair；　her　knees　pulled　up　to　her　chest；　staring　into　nothingness。　She　was　grieving；　but　it　was　not　for　David　Kenyon　or　Toby　Tample　or　for　herself。　She　was　grieving　for　a　little　girl　named　Josephine　Czinsi。　Jill　had　wanted　to　do　so　much　for　that　little　girl；　and　now　all　the　wonderful　magical　dreams　she　had　had　for　her　were　finished。　
　Jill　sat　there；　unseeing；　numbed　by　a　defeat　that　was　beyond　prehension。　Only　a　few　hours　ago　she　had　owned　the　world；　she　had　everything　she　ever　wanted；　and　now　she　had　nothing。　She　became　slowly　aware　that　her　headache　had　returned。　She　had　not　noticed　it　before　because　of　the　other　pain；　the　agonizing　pain　that　was　tearing　deep　into　her　bowels。　But　now　she　could　feel　the　band　around　her　forehead　tightening。　She　pulled　her　knees　up　closer　against　her　chest；　in　the　fetal　position；　trying　to　shut　out　everything。　She　was　so　tired；　so　terribly　tired。　All　she　wanted　to　do　was　to　sit　here　forever　and　not　have　to　think。　Then　maybe　the　pain　would　stop；　at　least　for　a　little　while。　Jill　dragged　herself　over　to　the　bed　and　lay　down　and　closed　her　eyes。　Then　she　felt　it。　A　wave　of　cold；　foul…smelling　air　moving　toward　her；　surrounding　her；　caressing　her。　And　she　heard　his　voice；　calling　her　name。　Yes；　she　thought；　yes。　Slowly；　almost　in　a　trance；　Jill　got　to　her　feet　and　walked　out　of　her　cabin；　following　the　beckoning　voice　in　her　head。　
　If　was　two　o'clock　in　the　morning　and　the　decks　were　deserted　when　Jill　emerged　from　her　cabin。　She　stared　down　at　the　sea；　watching　the　gentle　splashing　of　the　waves　against　the　ship　as　it　cut　through　the　water；　listening　to　the　voice。　Jill's　headache　was　worse　now；　a　tight　vise　of　agony。　But　the　voice　was　telling　her　not　to　worry；　telling　her　that；　everything　was　going　to　be　fine。　Look　down；　the　voice　said。　Jill　looked　down　into　the　water　and　saw　something　floating　there。　It　was　a　face。　Toby's　face；　smiling　at　her；　the　drowned　blue　eyes　looking　up　at　her。　The　icy　breeze　began　to　blow；　gently　pushing　her　closer　to　the　rail。　
　〃I　had　to　do　it；　Toby；〃　she　whispered。　〃You　see　that；　don't　you？〃　
　The　head　in　the　water　was　nodding；　bobbing；　inviting　her　to　e　and　join　it。　The　wind　grew　colder　and　Jill's　body　began　trembling。　Don't　be　afraid；　the　voice　told　her。　The　water　is　deep　and　warm。。。。　You'll　be　here　with　me。。。。　Forever。　e；　Jill。　She　closed　her　eyes　a　moment；　but　when　she　opened　tham；　the　smiling　face　was　still　there；　keeping　pace　with　the　ship；　the　mutilated　limbs　dangling　in　the　water。　e　to　me；　the　voice　said。　She　leaned　over　to　explain　to　Toby；　so　that　he　would　leave　her　in　peace；　and　the　icy　wind　pushed　against　her；　and　suddenly　she　was　floating　in　the　soft　velvet　night　air；　pirouetting　inspace。　Toby's　face　was　ing　closer；　ing　to　meet　her；　and　she　felt　the　paralyzed　arms　go　around　her　body；　holding　her。　And　they　were　together；　forever　and　ever。　Then　there　was　only　the　soft　night　wind　and　the　timeless　sea。　And　the　stars　above；　where　it　had　all　been　written。　
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