el.angeleyes-第28部分

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right　moment。
　〃Do　you　know　what　this　country　would　be　without　me　and　the　people　like　me？〃　Cruz　said。　〃Fucked。〃　He　laughed。　〃Ask　the　economists；　if　you　doubt　me。　The　Colombian　economy　is　so　fragile；　like　the　glass　of　one　of　my　Ming　vases。　Without　cocaine　trafficking　to　prop　it　up；　our　country　would　be　plunged　into　a　recession　so　severe　I　fear　there　would　be　no　end。　No；　no；　on　second　thought　don't　ask　the　economists；　they're　a　bunch　of　maricones。　Ask　the　people　of　Colombia；　they　will　tell　you　the　truth。　They　do　not　want　this　internal　war　the　president　has　pushed　on　the　country。　They　are　sick　of　their　government。　And　I　am　sick　of　planting　bombs　in　post　offices　and　government　buildings。　In　my　opinion　the　government　of　Colombia　is　dead。〃
　His　self…promotion　was　like　a　cheap　perfume；　Tori　thought；　making　everything　around　it　reek。　She　already　felt　contaminated　by　his　braggadocio。
　Cruz's　woman；　Sonia；　was　servilely　making　the　rounds；　getting　drinks　for　everyone。　Tori　thought　she　looked　a　little　pale　beneath　her　rich　tan。
　Tori　sat　next　to　Russell　on　a　long　sofa　covered　in　pinto　horse…hide。　A　Chinese　vase…one　of　several　throughout　the　room…sat　on　the　center　of　a　Lalique　crystal　cocktail　table　just　in　front　of　her。　She　noticed　that　the　brocade　curtains　half　closed　across　the　windows　were　lined　with　metal　foil。　She　wondered　whether　this　made　them　bulletproof　as　well　as　soundproof。　〃Do　you　know　what　you're　doing？〃　Russell　asked　her。
　She　said；　〃Are　you　good　at　improvisation；　Russ？　I　hope　so。〃
　Cruz　grunted。　〃So。　Now　you　are　here。''　His　tone　and　manner　suggested　that　this　was　all　she　was　likely　to　get　from　him　by　way　of　a　thank…you　for　saving　his　life：　an　invitation　to　the　great　man's　sanctuary。　He　gave　the　impression　that　he　was　already　bored　with　their　pany。　Perhaps　he　had　e　to　believe　that　he　was　immortal；　that　her　intervention　had　been　irrelevant。　Or；　just　as　likely；　his　absolute　power　had　corrupted　him　absolutely；　and　he　was　now　nothing　more　than　a　pig。
　Either　way；　Tori　decided；　she　was　going　to　shake　him。　This　fat　man；　Cruz；　was　not　so　different　from　others　of　his　ilk。　She　knew　what　made　him　tick：　power　and　sex；　in　that　order。　But　for　him；　as　for　the　others　like　him；　sex　was　not　so　far　away　from　power；　and　often　the　two　were　inextricably　entwined。
　Sonia　was　important　to　him。　When　she　ceased　to　be　important；　Cruz　would　see　to　it　that　she　disappeared　from　his　life。　She　would　be　thrown　into　the　gutter　and　made　to　stay　there。　But　for　now　he　conferred　his　power　upon　her　like　a　shadow；　and　she　in　turn　gave　to　him　the　aura　of　her　sexuality。　And　this　aura　of　hers　had　about　it　a　kind　of　magic。　Like　a　dice　shooter　on　a　roll；　Cruz　was　convinced　he　had　luck　on　his　side。　Luck　in　the　form　of　Sonia。　This；　too；　made　her　his　showpiece；　in　bed　as　well　as　out　there　in　the　streets　of　Machine…Gun　City；　where　he　cut　his　deals；　cut　down　his　enemies；　where　he　was　king。　The　paisas　watched　her　ing　and　going；　and　they　envied　Cruz　his　ability　to　attract　and　keep　this　woman　with　the　sultry　eyes。
　Cruz　was　looking　pointedly　at　his　watch　when　Estilo　rose　from　the　plush　sofa　and　said；　''Are　you　sure　it's　secure　in　here？''
　Cruz　looked　up。　〃Secure？　What　do　you　mean　by　secure？〃
　〃I　was　wondering　about　the　Orolas；〃　Estilo　said。　〃Was　that　man　the　only　assassin　they　have　in　Medellin？〃
　Cruz　snorted　derisively。　〃Are　you　crazy？〃　He　pounded　has　chest　like　a　gorilla；　only　with　a　good　deal　less　charm。　〃This　is　my　heart。　My　empire　extends　in　all　directions　from　this　point。　The　Orolas　are　nothing。　They　have　always　been　nothing。　They　do　not　have　the　cojones　to　worm　their　way　into　this　building。〃
　Sonia　excused　herself；　and　a　moment　later　Tori　did　the　same。　Quickly；　she　followed　Sonia　through　the　apartment。　As　Sonia　closed　the　door　to　one　of　the　bathrooms；　Tori　stuck　her　shoe　in　the　doorway；　shoved　the　door　open　and　stepped　inside。
　''Jesus。''　The　place　was　as　big　as　a　football　field。　There　were　two　of　everything；　including　six…foot　whirlpool　spas　and　live　palm　trees。　Tori　could　not　tell　whether　there　was　more　marble　or　mirror。　She　locked　the　door　behind　her；　watched　carefully　the　play　of　emotions　on　Sonia's　face。
　〃Your　days　are　numbered　here；〃　she　said　to　Sonia。　〃Any　fortune…teller　would　tell　you　that。''
　〃In　fact；　one　already　has；〃　Sonia　said　with　surprising　candor。　〃Her　face　was　white　when　she　told　me。〃　Sonia　waited　a　minute；　trying　and　failing　to　get　the　measure　of　Tori。　''Did　Cruz　send　you？〃　She　seemed　unafraid；　almost　defiant。
　Tori　laughed。　〃Madre　de　Dios；　no。〃
　''But　you're　a　friend　of　his。〃
　〃I　want　something　from　him。　That's　not　the　same　thing。〃
　〃Almost；〃　Sonia　said。　〃But　no；　not　quite。〃　Her　shoulders　slumped　a　little；　as　if　she　had　been　maintaining　a　pose。　〃You're　just　another　business　associate　here　to　cut　a　deal。〃
　〃Maybe；〃　Tori　said。　〃But　if　I　do；　it　won't　be　with　Cruz。〃　She　put　her　back　against　the　door。　〃Whose　mistress　are　you？〃　She　said　it　so　abruptly　and　in　such　a　different　tone　of　voice　that　Sonia　started。　〃Which　one　of　the　Orola　brothers　do　you　sleep　with？〃
　〃You　must　be　crazy！''
　Tori　said；　〃There's　someone　in　here　who's　crazy；　but　it　isn't　me。　I　saw　you　signaling　the　Orola　assassin　at　the　corrida。　What　do　you　think　you're　doing？　This　isn't　a　game。〃
　〃Of　course　it　isn't；〃　Sonia　hissed。　Her　handsome　face　was　twisted　into　a　mask　of　hate。　〃The　man　who　Cruz　murdered　at　El　Cerrito；　Ruben　Orola；　was　my　lover。　When　his　brothers　told　me　what　I　had　to　do；　I　didn't　think　twice。　Why　should　I？　What　is　left　of　my　life？　Nothing。　Nothing　but　revenge。　I　have　a　purpose　now。〃
　〃What　kind　of　purpose？〃　Tori　took　Sonia　by　the　shoulders；　faced　her　toward　the　mirror。　〃Look　at　yourself。　You're　a　walking；　talking　automaton；　nothing　more。〃
　Sonia　licked　her　lips。　〃I　appear　just　as　Cruz　wants　me　to　appear。　The　man　is　crazy。〃
　〃So　are　a　lot　of　people。〃
　〃You　don't　understand。　This　man　is　insane。　All　the　cartel　heads　are。　There　is　something　in　the　air　here；　or　maybe　it's　a　by…product　of　the　power　they　lust　after　with　their　very　hearts。　Cruz　is　dangerous…as　much　to　me　as　he　is　to　you。　When　maniacs　move；　you　get　out　of　the　way。　Period。''
　〃Then　you　have　to　find　some　way　to　immobilize　him。〃
　Sonia　stared　at　Tori　in　the　mirror。　〃The　moment　Cruz　is　dead；　I　will　put　a　gun　to　my　head　and　pull　the　trigger。〃
　Tori　spun　her　around。　〃Is　that　so？　Is　your　life　worth　as　little　as　that　punk　assassin　Cruz　killed　as　casually　as　a　fly？　Then　why　haven't　you　killed　Cruz　yet？　How　many　opportunities　have　you　had　lying　beside　him　while　he　sleeps？''
　〃At　night；　after　we　have　made　love；　when　I　hear　his　snores；　when　I　see　the　rhythmic　rise　and　fall　of　his　belly；　even　then　I　am　afraid　to　move。　His　power　paralyzes　me；　his　wealth　surrounds　me　like　a　prison。〃　She　shrugged。　〃But　I　don't　expect　you　to　understand　what　I　am　telling　you。''
　But　Tori　did　understand；　better　than　Sonia　could　ever　imagine。　〃There　must　be　a　way　for　you　to　break　his　power。〃
　〃You　know　nothing；〃　Sonia　said。　〃Cruz　is　already　dead；　he　just　doesn't　know　it　yet。　But　it　is　the　manner　of　his　death　that　is　of　importance　to　Ruben's　brothers。〃
　〃A　public　execution；〃　Tori　said。　〃Like　today。〃
　〃Why　did　you　stop　it？　You're　no　friend　of　Cruz's。〃
　〃He　has　information　I　must　have；〃　Tori　said。　〃After　I　get　what　I　want；　the　war　can　resume。　I　am　not　involved。〃
　Sonia　gave　her　a　cold　smile。　〃But　you　are　involved。　It　is　not　a　matter　of　choice。　Wars　are　enormous　things；　unwieldy；　difficult　to　stop。　You　have　gotten　in　the　way。　Now　you　and　your　friends　are　part　of　it。〃
　When　Tori　said　nothing；　Sonia　continued。　〃Tell　me　what　you　want　from　Cruz；　and　I　will　ensure　you　get　it。　But；　in　return；　you　and　your　friends　must　help　me　kill　him。〃
　〃Why　should　I　bother？　This　is　your　vendetta；　not　mine；〃　Tori　said。　〃I　can　get　what　I　want　from　Cruz　just　by　turning　you　in。　Knowing　you　work　for　the　Orolas　will　shake　him　to　his　core。　He'll　be　so　grateful；　he'll　give　me　anything　I　want。〃
　〃Then　you　don't　know　Cruz。〃　Sonia　took　out　a　Marlboro　cigarette　but　did　not　light　it。　She　studied　Tori's　face　much　as　a　fencer　will　study　her　adversary　before　they　put　on　their　masks。　〃He　takes；　but　he　does　not　give。　Unless　proper　payment　is　presented；　you'll　get　nothing　from　him。〃　She　shrugged；　placed　the　Marlboro　on　the　vanity　top；　slit　it　neatly　open。　〃Besides；　I　am　not　the　only　plant　the　Orolas　have　here。　One　of　Cruz's　lieutenants；　Jorge；　works　for　them　as　well。　The　Orolas　are　freer　with　their　money　than　Cruz　is。　Jorge　does　not　know　about　me；　but　I　know　about　him。''
　Estilo　was　right；　Tori　thought。　There　is　no　loyalty　here　but　to　money。　She　said；　''Why　should　I　care　about　you　or　the　Orolas？''
　〃You　owe　me；〃　Sonia　said。　〃You　destroyed　something　that　was　mine：　Cruz's　death。　Now　you　are　obliged　to　re…create　it。〃
　For　the　first　time　her　face　held　a　measure　of　doubt；　and　Tori　understood　just　how　important　her　revenge　was　to　her。　It　might　destroy　her；　in　the　end；　but　it　was　the　only　thing　she　could　call　her　own。　She　had　already　given　up　on　herself。
　Sonia　produced　a　sheet　of　rolling　paper；　transferred　the　tobacco　into　it。　To　it　she　added　what　Tori　recognized　as　cocaine　base。　She　rolled　the　mixture　in　the　paper；　sealed　it。　Then　she　lit　up；　inhaling　the　smoke　deep　into　her　lungs。　In　a　moment　her　brown　eyes　went　opaque；　the　pupils　expanding。
　Tori　wanted　to　help　her；　to　reach　out　and　show　her　that　she；　Sonia；　still　existed；　independent　of　Cruz；　the　Orolas；　even　the　ghost　of　her　lover；　Ruben。　But　she　could　see　that　it　was　useless。　She　had　no　illusions　that　Sonia　was　a　good　woman　trapped　in　a　bad　situation。　At　the　moment　Sonia　had　agreed　to　the　Orolas'　plan；　she　had　sold　her　soul　to　the　devil。　There　was　no　turning　back　now；　and　Tori　recognized　that　all　she　could　do　for　this　woman　was　to　make　her　journey　as　painless　as　possible。
　Tori　wondered　to　what　degree　she　could　trust　anyone　here。　For　trust；　one　needed　people；　but　there　were　none　here；　only　soulless　husks　driven　by　greed；　lust；　vengeance。　The　sins　of　the　damned。　The　cocaine…impregnated　smoke　filled　the　room；　making　her　slightly　sick　to　her　stomach。　The　stink　of　corruption　was　everywhere　in　flower。
　〃All　right；〃　Tori　nodded。　But　the　tiny　hairs　at　the　back　of　her　neck　were　stirring。　This　mission　had　bee　a　two…edged　sword；　as　perilous　a　situation　as　was　possible。　She　might