cp.reddice-第14部分

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　　〃You　must　have　a　royal　flush；　honey　child；〃　he　says。　〃Betting　the　way　you　do。〃　He　leans　across　the　table。　〃Or　else　you　got　a　sugar　daddy　paying　your　bills。〃
　　〃Honey　and　sugar；〃　I　muse　aloud。　〃Both　like　me。〃　I　add；　sharpening　my　tone；　〃But　I　pay　my　own　bills。〃
　　He　laughs　and　slaps　his　leg。　〃Are　you　trying　to　bluff　me？〃
　　〃Maybe。　Match　my　bet　and　find　out〃
　　He　hesitates　a　moment；　glancing　at　the　pot。　〃The　action　is　getting　kind　of　heavy。　What　do　you　do；　child；　to　have　so　much　dough？　Your　daddy　must　have　given　it　to　you。〃
　　He　is　trying　to　ascertain　how　important　the　money　is　to　me。　If　it　means　a　lot；　in　my　mind；　then　I　will　be　betting　heavily　only　if　I　have　an　unbeatable　hand。　Leaning　across　the　table；　I　stare　him　in　the　eye；　not　strong　enough　to　fry　his　synapses　but　hard　enough　to　shake　him。　I　don't　like　being　called　a　child。　I　am　five　thousand　years　old　after　all。
　　〃I　earned　every　penny　of　it；〃　I　tell　him。　〃The　hard　way。　Where　did　you　get　your　money；　old　man？〃
　　He　sits　back　quickly；　ruffled　by　my　tone；　my　laser　vision。　〃I　earned　it　by　honest　labor；〃　he　says；　lying。
　　I　sit　back　as　well。　〃Then　lose　it　honestly。　Match　my　bet　or　fold。　I　don't　care　which。　Just　quit　stalling。〃
　　He　flushes。　〃I'm　not　stalling。〃
　　I　shrug；　cool　as　ice。　〃Whatever　you　want　to　call　it；　old　man。〃
　　〃Damn　you；〃　he　swears；　throwing　his　cards　down。　〃I　fold。〃
　　My　arms　reach　out　and　rake　in　the　money。　They're　all　staring　at　me。　〃Oh；〃　I　say。　〃I　bet　you're　wondering　what　I　had？　But　you're　all　too　professional　to　ask；　aren't　you？〃　I　stand　and　start　to　stuff　the　cash　and　chips　in　my　purse。　〃I　think　I'll　call　it　a　night。〃
　　〃Wait　right　there；〃　the　Texan　says；　getting　up。　〃I　want　to　see　those　cards。〃
　　〃Really？　I　thought　you　had　to　pay　to　see　them。　Are　the　rules　different　for　Texans？〃
　　〃They　are　when　you've　got　fifty　grand　of　my　money；　bitch。　Now　show　me。〃
　　I　dislike　being　called　a　〃bitch〃　more　than　a　〃child。〃
　　〃Very　well；〃　I　say；　flipping　over　my　cards。　〃You　would　have　won。　That's　the　last　time　I　show　a　hand　you　didn't　pay　to　see。　Now　do　you　feel　better？　You　were　bluffed　out　of　your　wrinkled　skin；　old　man。〃
　　He　slams　the　table　with　his　fist。　〃Who　are　you　anyway？〃
　　I　shake　my　head。　〃You're　a　sore　loser；　and　I've　wasted　enough　time　on　you。〃　I　turn　away。　One　of　his　partners　grabs　my　arm。　That　is　a　mistake。
　　〃Hold　on　now；　honey；〃　he　says。　The　others　move　closer。
　　I　smile。　〃Yes？〃　Of　course　I　am　protected　by　the　casino。　I　need　only　raise　my　voice　and　these　men　will　be　thrown　out　But　I　dislike　going　to　others　for　help；　when　I　am　so　capable　of　taking　care　of　myself。　Dinner　will　be　a　four…course　meal　tonight；　I　think。　〃What　can　I　do　for　you？〃　I　ask。
　　The　man　continues　to　hold　on　to　my　arm　but　doesn't　respond。　He　glances　at　the　Texan；　who　is　clearly　the　boss。　The　Texan　has　regained　his　smile。
　　〃We　would　just　like　to　play　some　more；　honey；〃　he　says。　〃That's　only　fair。　We　need　a　chance　to　win　our　money　back。〃
　　My　smile　widens。　〃Why　don't　I　just　give　you　the　money　back？〃
　　My　offer　confuses　him。　The　Texan　shrugs。　〃If　you　want。　I'll　be　happy　to　accept　it。〃
　　〃Good；〃　I　say。　〃Meet　me　at　the　west　end　of　the　hotel　parking　lot　in　ten　minutes。　We'll　go　for　a　little　drive。　You'll　get　all　your　money　back。〃　I　glance　at　the　others。　〃The　only　condition　is　you　must　all　e。〃
　　〃Why　do　we　have　to　go　anywhere？〃　the　Texan　asks。　〃Just　give　it　to　us　now。〃
　　I　shake　off　the　other's　hold　on　me。　〃Surely　you're　not　afraid　of　little　old　me；　sugar　daddy？〃　I　say　sweetly。
　　The　men　laugh　together；　a　bit　uneasily。　The　Texan　points　a　finger　at　me。
　　〃In　ten　minutes；〃　he　says。　〃Don't　be　late。〃
　　〃I　never　am；〃　I　reply。
　　We　meet　as　planned　and　drive　a　short　distance　from　town；　each　in　bur　own　cars。　Then　I　lead　them　off　the　road　and　into　the　desert　a　few　miles；　stopping　near　a　low…lying　hill。　The　time　is　eleven　at　night；　the　evening　cool　and　clear；　the　almost　full　moon　brilliant　against　the　night　sky。　The　men　park　beside　me　and　climb　out　They　are　afraid　of　me。　I　can　smell　their　fear。　Except　for　the　big　boss；　they　are　armed。　The　bulges　beneath　their　coats　are　noticeable。　I　smell　the　gunpowder　in　their　bullets。　They　probably　figure　I　am　setting　them　up　to　be　robbed。　They　study　the　terrain　as　they　walk　toward　me；　puzzled　that　I　am　alone。　They　are　not　very…subtle。　Two　of　them　have　their　hands　thrust　in　their　coat　pockets；　their　fingers　wound　around　their　handguns。　The　Texan　steps　in　front　and　reaches　out　to　me。
　　〃Give　us　your　bag；〃　Tex　orders。
　　〃All　right。〃　I　hand　him　my　bag。　The　money　is　inside；　much　to　his　pleasure。　His　eyes　are　wide　as　he　counts　it。　I　know　he　had　expected　to　find　a　gun　in　the　bag。　〃Are　you　satisfied？〃　I　ask。
　　Tex　nods　to　a　partner。　I　am　frisked。　Roughly。
　　〃She's　cool；〃　the　partner　mumbles　a　moment　later；　backing　away。
　　Tex　stuffs　the　money　in　his　pockets。　〃Yeah；　I'm　satisfied。　But　I　don't　get　it。　Why　did　you　drag　us　all　the　way　out　here？〃
　　〃I'm　hungry；〃　I　say。
　　He　grins　like　the　crooked　oil　baron　that　he　is。　〃We　would　have　been　happy　to　have　taken　you　to　dinner；　honey　pie。　We　still　can。　What　would　you　like？〃
　　〃Prime　ribs；〃　I　say。
　　He　slaps　his　leg　again。　Must　be　a　nervous　gesture　with　him。　〃Goddamn！　That's　my　favorite。　Ribs　dripping　with　red　juice。　We'll　take　you　out　and　get　you　some　right　now。〃　He　adds　with　a　phony　wink；　〃Then　maybe　we　can　have　a　little　fun　afterward。〃
　　I　shake　my　head　as　I　take　a　step　toward　him。　〃We　can　eat　here。　We　can　have　a　picnic。　Just　the　five　of　us。〃
　　He　glances　at　my　car。　〃Did　you　bring　some　goodies？〃
　　〃No。　You　did。〃
　　His　impatience　is　never　far　away。　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃
　　I　throw　my　head　back　and　laugh。　〃You're　such　a　fake！　Your　politeness　only　appears　when　it　is　useful　to　you。　Now　that　you　have　stolen　the　money　I　won　fair　and　square；　you　want　to　take　me　out　for　dinner。〃
　　Tex　is　indignant。　〃We　did　not　steal　this　money。　You　offered　to　return　it　to　us。〃
　　〃After　pressure　from　you。　Let's　call　a　spade　a　spade。　You're　a　crook。〃
　　〃No　one　calls　me　that　and　gets　away　with　it！〃
　　〃Really？　What　are　you　going　to　do？　Kill　me？〃
　　He　steps　forward　and　slaps　me　across　the　face　with　the　back　of　his　hand。　〃Bitch！　You　just　be　happy　I'm　not　that　kind　of　man。〃
　　I　put　a　hand　to　my　mouth。　〃Aren't　you　that　kind　of　man？〃　I　ask　softly。　〃I　see　your　heart；　Mr。　Money　Bags。　You　have　killed　before。　It's　good　we　meet　tonight；　out　here　in　the　desert。　If　you　lived；　you　would　probably　kill　again。〃
　　He　turns　to　leave。　〃Let's　get　out　of　here；　boys。〃
　　〃Wait；〃　I　say。　〃I　have　something　else　to　give　you。〃
　　He　glances　over　his　shoulder。　〃What？〃
　　I　take　another　step　forward。　〃I　have　to　tell　you　who　I　really　am。　You　did　ask；　remember？〃
　　Tex　is　in　a　hurry。　〃So；　who　are　you？　A　Hollywood　star？〃
　　〃Close。　I　am　famous；　in　certain　circles。　Why　just　a　few　days　ago　the　entire　LAPD　was　chasing　me　around　town。　You　read　about　it　in　the　papers？〃
　　A　wary　note　enters　his　voice。　Once　again；　his　men　glance　around；　this　time　looking　for　Arab　backups。　〃You're　not　connected　to　that　group　of　terrorists；　are　you？〃
　　〃There　were　no　terrorists。　That　was　just　the　cops　trying　to　cover　their　asses。　It　was　just　me　and　my　partner。　We　caused　all　the　ruckus。〃
　　He　snorts。　〃Right。　You　and　your　partner　wasted　twenty　cops。　You　must　be　a　terminator；　huh？〃
　　〃Close。　I'm　a　vampire。　I'm　five　thousand　years　old。〃
　　He　snickers。　〃You're　a　psycho；　and　you're　wasting　my　time。〃　He　turns　again。　〃Good　night。〃
　　I　grab　him　by　the　back　of　his　collar　and　yank　him　close；　pressing　his　cheek　next　to　mine。　He　is　so　startled…he　hardly　reacts。　But　his　men　are　better　trained。　Suddenly　I　have　three　revolvers　pointed　at　me。　Quickly；　I　shield　myself　with　Tex。　My　grip　on　him　tightens；　cutting　off　his　air。　He　gags　loudly。
　　〃I　am　in　a　generous　mood；〃　I　say　calmly　to　the　others。　〃I　will　give　you　men　a　chance　to　escape。　Ordinarily　I　would　not　even　consider　it。　But　since　my　cover　has　been　blown；　I　am　not　so　picky　about　destroying　every　shred　of　evidence。〃　I　pause　and　catch　　each　of　their　eyes；　no　doubt　sending　a　shiver　to　the　base　of　their　spines。　〃I　suggest　you　get　in　your　cars　and　get　out　of　here…out　of　Las　Vegas　pletely。　If　you　don't；　you　will　die。　It　is　that　simple。〃　I　throttle　Tex　and　he　moans　in　pain。　My　voice　takes　on　a　mocking　tone；　〃You　can　see　how　strong　I　am　for　a　honey　child。〃
　　〃Shoot　her；〃　Tex　gasps　as　I　allow　him　a　little　air。
　　〃That　is　a　bad　idea；〃　I　say。　〃To　shoot　me　they　have　to　shoot　you　first　because　you　are　standing　in　front　of　me。　Really；　Tex；　you　should　think　these　things　out　before　giving　such　orders。〃　I　glance　at　the　others。　〃If　you　don't　get　out　of　here；　I'll　have　you　for　dinner　as　well。　I　really　am　a　vampire　and；　for　me；　prime　ribs　e　in　all　shapes　and　forms。〃　With　one　hand；　I　lift　Tex　two　feet　off　the　ground。　〃Do　you　want　to　see　what　I　do　to　him？　I　guarantee　it　will　make　you　sick　to　your　stomach。〃
　　〃God；〃　one　of　the　men　whispers　and　turns　to　flee。　He　doesn't　bother　with　the　car。　He　just　runs　into　the　desert；　anywhere　to　get　away　from　me。　Another　fellow　edges　toward　the　periphery。　But　the　remaining　man…　the　guy　who　grabbed　me　in　the　casino；　the　same　one　who　frisked　me…snaps　at　him。
　　〃She's　not　a　vampire；〃　he　says。　〃She's　just　some　kind　of　freak。〃
　　〃That's　it；〃　I　agree。　〃I　take　steroids。〃　I　glance　at　the　guy　who　wants　to　leave。　〃Get　out　of　here　while　you　still　can。　You　will　see　neither　of　these　men　alive　again。　Believe　me；　you'll　hear　their　screams　echoing　over　the　desert。〃
　　My　tone　is　persuasive。　The　guy　leaves；　chasing　after　the　first　one。　Now　there　are　just　the　three　of　us。　How　cozy。　In　reality；　I　was　not　looking　forward　to　having　to　dodge　the　bullets　fired　by　three　separate　men。　I　allow　Tex　a　little　more　air；　let　him　say　his　last　words。　His　tune　has　not　changed。
　　〃Shoot　her；〃　he　croaks　at　his　partner。
　　〃You　could　try　it　and　see　what　happens；〃　I　remark。
　　The　hired　hand　is　unsure。　His　gun　wavers　in　the　air。　〃I　can't　get　a　clear　shot。〃
　　Tex　tries　to　turn　toward　me。　〃We　can　make　a　deal。　I　have　money。〃
　　I　shake　my　head。　〃Too　late。　I　don't　want　your　money。　I　just　want　your　blood。〃
　　Tex　sees　I　am　serious。　My　eyes　and　voice　appear　devilishly　wicked　when　I　am　in　the　mood；　and