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！
the apple； was safety； life itself…and she couldn't do it！
She cried a little with the bitterness of frustration； pleaded with those who weren't there to hear； with her head lowered toward the ground； there in the darkness at the foot of that pitiless tree。 〃Raul； Raulcito； why did you go away like that？ Mother； mother of my life； let me e back to you。 I'll never do it again。 Why didn't I listen to you？ You always were right。 You didn't want me to leave the house。〃
The words died to a blurred whimpering； the whimpering muted to disconsolate sobbing breaths。
Then suddenly as she lay there like that； head and shoulders reared off the ground； the rest of her sprawled supinely out upon it； a sound came from over the wall； so matter…of…fact； so casual； so close at hand…she couldn't believe it was real； she couldn't believe she'd actually heard it。 It was the hollow； slightly wooden…sounding clap a car door gives when it is carelessly flung closed against the chassis。 And then a lesser sound； the snap of a key in a lock。
An empty car must have been parked outside there all along； close up against the cemetery wall； waiting for someone。 And that someone had just returned to it and gotten in； and was about to drive off all unknowing！
It was down farther； a few yards below； judging by the direction of the sound。 And yet for all practical purposes； its and；her own parallel placement could be considered a freak of exactitude； they were as good as diametrically opposite one another； she and this potential savior car。 Had she seen it； known it was there all the while； she could scarcely have e to a halt much closer to it than she had。 Strange are the geometrical patterns devised by night and the stars。
Oh limbs； lift me； bear me up； just this one time more。 Oh voice； call out strongly enough in time to be heard。 Quick； quick； a second's inability may be already too late！
She opened her lips spasmodically； and a soundless gush； residue of exhaustion； was all that came the first time。 Then a second try and voice followed。 She couldn't hear it。 A torrent of mechanical noise drowned out her lungs' pitiful effort。 He'd started the motor。 Six cylinders against one fragile larynx。 It was a raucous engine； that must have needed oiling somewhat； that bombarded the night。
She was upright and thrashing； almost spinning； frenziedly along the inside of the wall； and even as she did so it already seemed to begin gliding unnoticeably ahead of her； increasing those few yards of differential there had been to start with； as the wheels began to turn。 For a long； unendurable moment there was an equipoise； a hideous contest between her fraying screams and the increasing revolutions of its cylinders。 Which could keep it up the longest？ She was so tired and the engine was so strong。
Then it began to pull away； not just glide now but accelerate into full career。 And in the very act was her salvation。 It ebbed a little in volume； the rhythm of a more even vibration set in。 Her voice found an opening in that； an echo of it managed to slash through its new regularity of tempo。
There was another ghastly equipoise； a second or two before the effects could show； while it seemed to leap away from her。 And she couldn't scream any more； that had been her last one。 Then brakes rasped and it slurred to an unwilling； unintended short stop。 She could even hear the hiss of reluctant rubber against stone。
Silence。
Then a man's voice； questioning the blank night。 〃Who is it？ Hello？ Hello？〃
She could visualize his hand starting toward the clutch once more； to continue； thinking he had been mistaken； it had been some flaw in his own car's mechanism。
Her swollen heart leaped up like a salmon； turned over； dropped down again； almost stopped beating with the effort； but she managed to get one suffocating sound out。 〃No…！〃 And the rest was just unheard lip vibration。
〃Who's that？ Where are you？〃 The car door cracked tentatively open； while he still remained in the seat。 Probably one leg out。
〃In here； in All Saints； behind this wall。〃 It was all blurred vowel sounds； she couldn't articulate consonants any more； but there were enough vowels to carry the burden of the message； to at least hold him there。
A leather sole hit stone。 The car door cracked a second time…but in token of egress。 Saved！
He said an inane thing。 〃What are you doing in there？〃 But oh； the sound of his voice alone； it held the wisdom of the ages in it； it was so wele to her。
〃I'm alone in here。 I've been locked in。 Oh； for the love of God； take me out…get me out to the other side…〃
〃Now just a second。 Don't be frightened。 I'll climb over and get you。〃
Shoe leather scorched down stone； futilely； two； three； four times。 Each time he landed back on his feet more heavily。 Then she could hear him trying to run at it； trying to hoist himself with the help of his own projected momentum。 Each time that floundering sound。
〃I can't get up it； it's too high。〃 He was breathless now himself。 〃Wait a minute； I'll get someone。 I'll get hold of someone with a ladder； and e back with that。〃
The car door splitting again； like a hinge of hell。
Her voice rose to an unendurable scream。 〃No； don't leave me！ Don't leave me； I can't stand it！〃
He held back； probably half in； half Out； trying to reason with her。 〃But you're all right now。 Someone knows you're in there。 I know you're in there。 It's just a matter of a moment。 Pequeсa； pequeсa； don't you see？〃
She screamed again。 Just instinct was screaming； there was nothing there any more he could reason with。 〃You won't e back！ Stand' there and talk to me； if you can't get me out。 At least stand there so I'll know there's someone near me。 Seсor； seсor； whoever you are； have pity on me。 Don't leave me all alone again。〃
〃But you must be gotten out。 There's a paint shop only a few blocks from here。 They must have a ladder there。 I'll get hold of the proprietor； and in less than five minutes I'll be back here again。〃
〃You won't e back； you won't e back。〃
〃Little frightened seсorita； I swear to you by all that's holy that I won't leave you in there。 Who could do such a thing？ I'm a man。 This way I'd only stand here all night without doing you any good。 Trust me。〃
She held out a moment longer； instinct against reason。 Then she gave in。 〃All right； seсor； I trust you；〃 she said in a watery voice。 〃But hurry。 It's so dark； and there are things moving in the shadows behind me。〃
〃Stand with your back to them。 Don't look around。 Stand turned toward the wall； until I can get back； and they won't hurt you。〃
〃But that way it's even worse。 Then I seem to hear them creeping up behind me； getting ready to pounce； without my seeing them。〃
His own voice was wrung with pity； whoever he was； at the state she was in。 〃 Pobrecita。 Just a minute； muchachita； just a minute and we'll have you out。〃
She couldn't resist one final bleat as the car door closed once more。 〃Don't forget me； seсor… You Won't forget me； seсor…？〃
〃Just where you are； and I'll be back in no time；〃 his voice sounded over the renewal of the engine。 〃Don't move； now；