cb.imajica1-第14部分

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d　in　pursuit。
　The　snow　had　e　again；　its　veil　dropping　between　Gentle　and　Pie。　The　assassin　was　fast；　despite　the　hurt　done　him；　but　Gentle　was　determined　not　to　let　the　bastard　slip。　He　chased　He　across　Park　Avenue　and　west　on　80th；　his　heels　sliding　on　the　sleet…slickened　ground。　Twice　his　quarry　threw　him　backward　glances；　and　on　the　second　occasion　seemed　to　slow　his　pace；　as　if　he　might　stop　and　attempt　a　truce；　but　then　thought　better　of　it　and　put　on　an　extra　turn　of　speed。　It　carried　him　over　Madison　towards　Central　Park。　If　he　reached　its　sanctuary；　Gentle　knew；　he'd　be　gone。　Throwing　every　last　ounce　of　energy　into　the　pursuit；　Gentle　came　within　snatching　distance。　But　even　as　he　reached　for　the　man　he　lost　his　footing。　He　fell　headlong；　his　arms　flailing；　and　struck　the　street　hard　enough　to　lose　consciousness　for　a　few　seconds。　When　he　opened　his　eyes；　the　taste　of　blood　sharp　in　his　mouth；　he　expected　to　see　the　assassin　disappearing　into　the　shadows　of　the　park；　but　the　bizarre　Mr。　Pie　was　standing　at　the　curb；　looking　back　at　him。　He　continued　to　watch　as　Gentle　got　up；　his　face　betraying　a　mournful　empathy　with　Gentle's　bruising。　Before　the　chase　could　begin　again　he　spoke；　his　voice　as　soft　and　melting　as　the　sleet。
　〃Don't　follow　me；〃　he　said。
　〃You　leave　her　。　。　。　the　fuck　。　。　。　alone；〃　Gentle　gasped；　knowing　even　as　he　spoke　he　had　no　way　of　enforcing　this　edict　in　his　present　state。
　But　the　man's　reply　was　affirmation。　〃I　will；〃　he　said。　〃But　please；　I　beg　you　。　。　。　forget　you　ever　set　eyes　on　me。〃
　As　he　spoke　he　began　to　take　a　backward　step；　and　for　an　instant　Gentle's　dizzied　brain　almost　thought　it　possible　the　man　would　retreat　into　nothingness：　be　proved　spirit　rather　than　substance。
　〃Who　are　you？〃　he　found　himself　asking。
　〃Pie　'oh'　pah；〃　the　man　returned；　his　voice　perfectly　matched　to　the　soft　expellations　of　those　syllables。
　〃But　who？〃
　〃Nobody　and　nothing；〃　came　the　second　reply；　acpanied　by　a　backward　step。
　He　took　another　and　another；　each　pace　putting　further　layers　of　sleet　between　them。　Gentle　began　to　follow；　but　the　fall　had　left　him　aching　in　every　joint；　and　he　knew　the　chase　was　lost　before　he'd　hobbled　three　yards。　He　pushed　himself　on；　however；　reaching　one　side　of　Fifth　Avenue　as　Pie　'oh'　pah　made　the　other。　The　street　between　them　was　empty；　but　the　assassin　spoke　across　it　as　if　across　a　raging　river。
　〃Go　back；〃　he　said。　〃Or　if　you　e；　be　prepared。。；。〃　Absurd　as　it　was；　Gentle　answered　as　if　there　were　white　waters　between　them。　〃Prepared　for　what？〃　he　shouted。
　The　man　shook　his　head；　and　even　across　the　street；　with　the　sleet　between　them；　Gentle　could　see　how　much　despair　and　confusion　there　was　on　his　face。　He　wasn't　certain　why　the　expression　made　his　stomach　churn；　but　chum　it　did。　He　started　to　cross　the　street；　plunging　a　foot　into　the　imaginary　flood。　The　expression　on　the　assassin's　face　changed：　despair　gave　way　to　disbelief；　and　disbelief　to　a　kind　of　terror；　as　though　this　fording　was　unthinkable；　unbearable。　With　Gentle　halfway　across　the　street　the　man's　courage　broke。　The　shaking　of　the　head　became　a　violent　fit　of　denial；　and　he　let　out　a　strange　sob；　throwing　back　his　head　as　he　did　so。　Then　he　retreated；　as　he　had　before；　stepping　away　from　the　object　of　his　terror…Gentle…as　though　expecting　to　forfeit　his　visibility。　If　there　was　such　magic　in　the　world…and　tonight　Gentle　could　believe　it…the　assassin　was　not　an　adept。　But　his　feet　could　do　what　magic　could　not。　As　Gentle　reached　the　river's　other　bank　Pie　'oh'　pah　turned　and　fled；　throwing　himself　over　the　wall　into　the　park　without　seeming　to　care　what　lay　on　the　other　side：　anything　to　be　out　of　Gentle's　sight。
　There　was　no　purpose　in　following　any　further。　The　cold　was　already　making　Gentle's　bruised　bones　ache　fiercely；　and　in　such　a　condition　the　two'blocks　back　to　Jude's　apartment　would　be　a　long　and　painful　trek。　By　the　time　he　made　it　the　sleet　had　soaked　through　every　layer　of　his　clothing。　With　his　teeth　chattering；　his　mouth　bleeding；　and　his　hair　flattened　to　his　skull　he　could　not　have　looked　less　appealing　as　he　presented　himself　at　the　front　door。　Jude　was　waiting　in　the　lobby；　with　the　shame…faced　doorman。　She　came　to　Gentle's　aid　as　soon　as　he　appeared；　the　exchange　between　them　short　and　functional：　Was　he　badly　hurt？　No。　Did　the　man　get　away？　Yes。
　〃e　upstairs；〃　she　said。　〃You　need　some　medical　attention。〃
　
　There　had　been　too　much　drama　in　Jude　and　Gentle's　reunion　already　tonight　for　them　to　add　more　to　it；　so　there　was　no　gushing　forth　of　sentiment　on　either　side。　Jude　attended　to　Gentle　with　her　usual　pragmatism。　He　declined　a　shower　but　bathed　his　face　and　wounded　extremities；　delicately　sluicing　the　grit　from　the　palms　of　his　hands。　Then　he　changed　into　a　selection　of　dry　clothes　she'd　found　in　Mar…lin's　wardrobe；　though　Gentle　was　both　taller　and　leaner　than　the　absent　lender。　As　he　did　so；　Jude　asked　if　he　wanted　to　have　a　doctor　examine　him。　He　thanked　her　but　said　no；　he'd　be　fine。　And　so　he　was；　once　dry　and　clean：　aching；　but　fine。
　〃Did　you　call　the　police？〃　he　asked；　as　he　stood　at　the　kitchen　door　watching　her　brew　Darjeeling。
　〃It's　not　worth　it；〃　she　said。　〃They　already　know　about　this　guy　from　the　last　time。　Maybe　I'll　get　Marlin　to　call　them　later。〃
　〃This　is　his　second　try？〃　She　nodded。　〃Well；　if　it's　any　fort；　I　don't　think　he'll　try　again。〃
　〃What　makes　you　say　that？〃
　〃Because　he　looked　about　ready　to　throw　himself　under　a　car。〃
　〃I　don't　think　that'd　do　him　much　harm；〃　she　said；　and　went　on　to　tell　him　about　the　incident　in　the　Village；　finishing　up　with　the　assassin's　miraculous　recovery。
　〃He　should　be　dead；〃　she　said。　〃His　face　was　smashed　up　。　。　。　it　was　a　wonder　he　could　even　stand。　Do　you　want　sugar　or　milk？〃
　〃Maybe　a　dash　of　Scotch。　Does　Marlin　drink？〃
　〃He's　not　a　connoisseur　like　you。〃
　Gentle　laughed。　〃Is　that　how　you　describe　me？　The　alcoholic　Gentle？〃
　〃No。　To　tell　the　truth；　I　don't　really　describe　you　at　all；〃　she　said；　slightly　abashed。　〃I　mean　I'm　sure　I've　mentioned　you　to　Marlin　in　passing；　but　you're　。　。　。　I　don't　know　。　。　。　you're　a　guilty　secret。〃
　This　echo　of　Kite　Hill　brought　his　hirer　to　mind。　〃Have　you　spoken　to　Estabrook？〃　he　said。
　〃Why　should　I　do　that？〃
　〃He's　been　trying　to　contact　you。〃
　〃I　don't　want　to　talk　to　him。〃
　She　put　his　tea　down　on　the　table　in　the　living　room；　sought　out　the　Scotch；　and　set　it　beside　the　cup。
　〃Help　yourself；〃　she　said。
　〃You're　not　having　a　dram？〃
　〃Tea；　but　no　whisky。　My　brain's　crazed　enough　as　it　is。〃　She　crossed　back　to　the　window；　taking　her　tea。　〃There's　so　much　I　don't　understand　about　all　of　this；〃　she　said。　〃To　start　with；　why　are　you　here？〃
　〃I　hate　to　sound　melodramatic；　but　I　really　think　you　should　sit　down　before　we　have　this　discussion。〃
　〃Just　tell　me　what's　going　on；〃　she　said；　her　voice　tainted　with　accusation。　〃How　long　have　you　been　watching　me？〃
　〃Just　a　few　hours。〃
　〃I　thought　I　saw　you　following　me　a　couple　of　days　ago。〃
　〃Not　me。　I　was　in　London　until　this　morning。〃
　She　looked　puzzled　at　this。　〃So　what　do　you　know　about　this　man　who's　trying　to　kill　me？〃
　〃He　said　his　name　was　Pie　'oh'　pah。〃
　〃I　don't　give　a　fuck　what　his　name　is；〃　she　said；　her　show　of　detachment　finally　dropping　away。　〃Who　is　he？　Why　does　he　want　to　hurt　me？〃
　〃Because　he　was　hired。〃
　〃He　was　what？〃
　〃He　was　hired。　By　Estabrook。〃
　Tea　slopped　from　her　cup　as　a　shudder　passed　through　her。　〃To　kill　me？〃　she　said。　〃He　hired　someone　to　kill　me？　I　don't　believe　you。　That's　crazy。〃
　〃He's　obsessed　with　you；　Jude。　It's　his　way　of　making　sure　you　don't　belong　to　anybody　else。〃
　She　drew　the　cup　up　to　her　face；　both　hands　clutched　around　it；　the　knuckles　so　white　it　was　a　wonder　the　china　didn't　crack　like　an　egg。　She　sipped；　her　face　obscured。　Then；　the　same　denial；　but　more　flatly：　〃I　don't　believe　you。〃
　〃He's　been　trying　to　speak　to　you　to　warn　you。　He　hired　this　man；　then　changed　his　mind。〃
　〃How　do　you　know　all　of…this？〃　Again；　the　accusation。
　〃He　sent　me　to　stop　it。〃
　〃Hired　you　too？〃
　It　wasn't　pleasant　to　hear　it　from　her　lips；　but　yes；　he　said；　he　was　just　another　hireling。　It　was　as　though　Estabrook　had　set　two　dogs　on　Judith's　heels…one　bringing　death；　the　other　life…and　let　fate　decide　which　caught　up　with　her　first。
　〃Maybe　I　will　have　some　booze；〃　she　said；　and　crossed　to　the　table　to　pick　up　the　bottle。
　He　stood　to　pour　for　her　but　his　motion　was　enough　to　stop　her　in　her　tracks；　and　he　realized　she　was　afraid　of　him。　He　handed　her　the　bottle　at　arm's　length。　She　didn't。take　it。
　〃I　think　maybe　you　should　go；〃　she　said。　〃Marlin'll　be　home　soon。　I　don't　want　you　here。　。　。。〃
　He　understood　her　nervousness　but　felt　ill　treated　by　this　change　of　tone。　As　he'd　hobbled　back　through　the　sleet　a　tiny　part　of　him　had　hoped　her　gratitude　would　include　an　embrace；　or　at　least　a　few　words　that　would　let　him　know　she　felt　something　for　him。　But　he　was　tarred　with　Esta…brook's　guilt。　He　wasn't　her　champion；　he　was　her　enemy's　agent。
　〃If　that's　what　you　want；〃　he　said。
　〃It's　what　I　want。〃
　〃Just　one　request？　If　you　tell　the　police　about　Estabrook；　will　you　keep　me　out　of　it？〃
　〃Why？　Are　you　back　at　the　old　business　with　Klein？〃
　〃Let's　not　get　into　why。　Just　pretend　you　never　saw
　me。
　She　shrugged。　〃I　suppose　I　can　do　that。〃
　〃Thank　you；〃　he　said。　〃Where　did　you　put　my　clothes？〃
　〃They　won't　be　dry。　Why　don't　you　just　keep　the　stuff　you're　wearing？〃
　〃Better　not；〃　he　said；　unable　to　resist　a　tiny　jab。　〃You　never　know　what　Marlin　might　think。〃
　She　didn't　rise　to　the　remark；　but　let　him　go　and　change。　The　clothes　had　been　left　on　the　heated　towel　rack　in　the　bathroom；　which　had　taken　some　of　the　chill　off　them；　but　insinuating　himself　into　their　dampness　was　almost　enough　to　make　him　retract　his　jibe　and　wear　the　absent　lover's　clothes。　Almost；　but　not　quite。　Changed；　he　returned　to　the　living　room　to　find　her　standing　at　the　window　again；　as　if　watching　for　the　assassin's　return。
　〃What　did　you　say　his　name　was？〃　she　said。
　〃Something　like　Pie　'oh'　pah。〃
　〃What　language　is　that？　Arabic？〃
　〃I　don't　know。〃
　〃Well；　did　you　tell　him　Estabrook　had　changed　his　mind？　Did　you　tell　him　t