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！
Below him； the garden was in darkness； but he had a fair idea of where the flower beds lay； and where the paving stones。 Without hesitation…the footsteps loud at his back…he clambered over the balcony。 His joints plained at this exertion； and more so when he lowered himself over the other side until he was hanging by his hands； suspended by a grip that was every second in danger of giving out。
A din in the room he'd left drew his glance； his pursuer； a bloated thug with bloody hands and the eyes of something rabid； was in the room…was crossing now toward the windows； growling his displeasure。 Toy rocked his body as best he could； praying to miss the paving he knew was directly beneath his bare feet and land in the soft earth of the herbaceous border。 There was little chance to fine…tune the maneuver。 He let go of the balustrade as the obesity reached the balcony； and for what seemed a long time fell backward through space； the window diminishing above him； until he landed； with no more injury than a bruising； among the geraniums Yvonne had planted only the week before。
He got to his feet badly winded but intact； and ran down the moonlit garden to the back gate。 It was padlocked； but he managed to climb over it with ease…adrenaline firing his muscles。 There was no sound of further pursuit； and when he glanced back he could see the fat man was still at the French windows； watching his escape as though lacking the initiative to follow。 Sick with a sudden excitement； he sprinted away down the narrow passage that led along the backs of all the gardens； caring only to put distance between himself and the house。
It was only when he reached the street； its lamps starting to go out now as dawn edged up…over the city； that he realized he was stark naked。
31
Marty had gone to bed a happy man。 Though there was still much here he didn't understand； much which the old man…despite his promises of explanations…seemed pleased to keep obscured； finally none of that was his business。 If Papa chose to have secrets； so be it。 Marty had been hired to look after him； and it appeared that he was fulfilling that obligation to his employer's satisfaction。 The results were there in the intimacies the old man had shared with him； and in the thousand pounds beneath his pillow。
Euphoria prevented sleep： Marty's heart seemed to be beating at twice its usual rate。 He got up； slipped on his bathrobe； and tried a selection of videos to take his mind off the day's events； but the boxing tapes depressed him； the； pornography too。 He wandered downstairs to the library； found a dog…eared space opera； then slipped back to his room； making a detour to the kitchen for a beer。
Carys was in his room when he got back； dressed in jeans and a sweater； barefoot。 She looked frayed； older than her nineteen years。 The smile she offered him was too stage…managed to convince。
〃You don't mind？〃 she said。 〃Only I heard you walking about。〃 〃Don't you ever sleep？〃 〃Not often。〃 〃Want some beer？〃 〃No thanks。〃 〃Sit down；〃 he said； throwing a pile of clothes off the single chair for her。 She deposited herself on the bed； however； leaving the chair for Marty。
〃I have to talk to you；〃 she said。
Marty laid down the book he'd chosen。 On the cover a naked woman； her skin a fluorescent green； emerged from an egg on a twin…sunned planet。 Carys said： 〃Do you know what's going on？〃 〃Going on？ What do you mean？〃 〃Haven't you felt anything odd in the house？〃 〃Like what？〃 Her mouth had found its favorite shape； corners turned down in exasperation。
〃I don't know 。 。 。 it's difficult to describe。〃 〃Try。〃 She hesitated； like a diver at the edge of a high board； then took the plunge。
〃Do you know what a sensitive is？〃 He shook his head。
〃It's someone who can pick up waves。 Thought waves。〃 〃Mind reading。〃 〃In a way。〃 He gave her a nonmittal look。 〃Is it something you can do？〃 he said。
〃Not do。 I don't do anything。 It's more like it's done to me。〃 Marty leaned back in the chair； flummoxed。
〃It's as though everything gets sticky。 I can't shake it off。 I hear people talking without them moving their lips。 Most of it's meaningless： just rubbish。〃 〃And it's what they're thinking？〃 〃Yes。〃 He couldn't find much to say in response； except that he doubted her； and that wasn't what she wanted to hear。 She'd e for reassurance； hadn't she？
〃That's not all；〃 she said。 〃I see shapes sometimes； around people's bodies。 Vague shapes 。 。 。 like a kind of light。〃 Marty thought of the man at the fence； of how he'd bled light； or seemed to。 He didn't interrupt her； however。
〃The point is； I feel things other people don't。 I don't think it's particularly clever of me； or anything like that。 I just do it。 And the last few weeks I've felt something in the house。 I get odd thoughts in my head； out of nowhere； I dream 。 。 。 horrible things。〃 She halted； aware that her description was getting vaguer； and she risked what little credibility this monologue had if she went on。
〃The lights you see？〃 Marty said； backtracking。
〃Yes。〃 〃I saw something like them。〃 She leaned forward。
〃When？〃 〃The man who broke in。 I thought I saw light ing from him。 From his wounds； I suppose； and his eyes and his mouth。〃 Even as he finished the sentence he was shrugging it off as if fearful of contagion。 〃I don't know；〃 he said。 〃I was drunk。〃 〃But you saw something。〃
〃…Yes；〃 he conceded； without pleasure。
She got up and crossed to the window。 Like father like daughter； he thought： window freaks； both of them。 As she stared out across the lawn…Marty never drew the curtains…he had ample opportunity to look at her。
〃Something 。 。 。〃 she said； 〃。 。 。 something。〃 The grace of her crooked leg； the displaced weight of her buttocks； her face； reflected in the cold glass； so intent on this mystery： all enthralled him。
〃That's why he doesn't talk to me any longer；〃 she said。
〃Papa？〃 〃He knows I can feel what he's thinking： and he's frightened。〃 The observation was a cul…de…sac： she started tapping her foot with irritation； her breath ghosting the window intermittently。 Then； out of the blue； she said： 〃Did you know you had a breast fixation？〃 〃What？〃 〃You look at them all the time。〃 〃Do I Hell！〃 〃And you're a liar。〃 He stood up； not knowing what he intended to do or say until the words were out。 At last； smothered in confusion； only the truth seemed appropriate。
〃I like looking at you。〃 He touched her shoulder。 At this point； if they chose； the game could stop； tenderness was a breath away。 They could take the opportunity or let it be： resume the repartee； or discard it。 The moment lay between them； awaiting instructions。
〃Babe；〃 she said。 〃Don't shake。〃 He moved a half…step closer and kissed the back of her neck。 She turned and returned the kiss； her hand moving up his spine to cup the back of his head； as if to sense the weight of his skull。
〃At last；〃 she said； when they broke。 〃I was beginning to think you were too much of a gentleman。〃 They tumbled onto the bed； and she rolled over to straddle his hips。 Without hesitation she reached to fumble with the belt of his bathrobe。 He was half…hard beneath her； and unfort