cb.damnationgame-第43节
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〃She's been taken away； Marty。 At my request。 Somewhere where her problems can be dealt with in a proper manner。〃 〃The drugs？〃 〃You must have realized her addiction has worsened considerably in the last few weeks。 I had hoped to contain it by giving her enough to keep her content； while slowly reducing her supply。 It was working too； until recently。〃 He sighed； a hand went up to his face。 〃I've been stupid。 I should have conceded defeat a long time ago； and sent her to a clinic。 But I didn't want to have her taken from me； it was as simple as that。 Then last night…our visitors； the slaughter of the dogs…I realized how selfish I was； subjecting her to such pressures。 It's too late in the day for possessiveness or pride。 If people find out my daughter's a junkie； then so be it。〃 〃I see。〃 〃You were fond of her。〃 〃Yes。〃 〃She's a beautiful girl； and you're lonely。 She spoke warmly of you。 In time we'll have her back amongst us； I'm sure。〃 〃I'd like to visit her。〃 〃Again； in time。 I'm told they demand isolation in the first few weeks。 of treatment。 But rest assured； she's in good hands。〃 It was all so persuasive。 But lies。 Surely； lies。 Carys〃 room had been stripped： was that in anticipation of her being 〃amongst them again〃 in a few weeks？ This was all another fiction。 Before Marty could protest； however； Whitehead was speaking again； a measured cadence。
〃You're so close to me now； Marty。 The way Bill used to be。 In fact； I really think you should be weled into the inner circle； don't you？ I'm having a dinner party next Sunday。 I'd like you to be there。 Our guest of honor。〃 This was fine； flattering talk。 Effortlessly； the old man had gained the upper hand。 〃In the week I think you should go down to London and buy yourself something decent to wear。 I'm afraid my dinner parties are rather formal。〃 He reached for the paperback again and opened it。
〃Here's a check。〃 It lay in the fold of the book； already signed； ready for Marty。 〃It should cover the price of a good suit； shirts； shoes。 Whatever else you want to treat yourself to。〃 The check was proffered between fore and middle finger。 〃Take it； please。〃 Marty stepped forward and took the check。
〃Thank you。〃 〃It can be cashed at my bank in the Strand。 They'll be expecting you。 Whatever you don't spend； I want you to gamble。〃 〃Sir？〃 Marty wasn't certain he was hearing the invitation properly。
〃I insist you gamble it； Marty。 Horses； cards； whatever you like。 Enjoy it。 Would you do that for me？ And when you e back you can make an old man envious with tales of your adventures。〃 So it was bribery after all。 The fact of the check made Marty more certain than ever that the old man was lying about Carys； but he lacked the courage to press the issue。 It wasn't just cowardice； however； that made him hold back： it was burgeoning excitement。 He had been bribed twice。 Once with the money； again with the invitation to gamble it。 It was years since he'd had a chance like this。 Money in abundance； and time on his hands。 The day might e when he'd hate Papa for waking the virus in his system： but before then a fortune could be won and lost and won again。 He stood in front of the old man with the fever already on him。
〃You're a good man； Strauss。〃 Whitehead's words rose from the shadowed chair like a prophet's from a cleft rock。 Though he couldn't see the potentate's face； Marty knew he was smiling。
42
Despite her years on the sunshine island； Carys had a healthy sense of reality。 Or had； until they took her to that cold； bare house on Caliban Street。 There； nothing was certain anymore。 It was Mamoulian's doing。 That； perhaps； was the only thing that was certain。 Houses weren't haunted； only human minds。 Whatever moved in the air there； or flitted along the bare boards with the dust balls and the cockroaches； whatever scintillated； like light on water； at the corners of her eyes； it was all of Mamoulian's manufacture。
For three days after her arrival at the new house she had refused even to speak to her host or captor； whichever he was。 She couldn't recall why she'd e； but she knew he'd conned her into it…his mind breathing at her neck…and she'd resented his manipulations。 Breer； the fat one； had brought her food； and； on the second day； dope too； but she wouldn't eat or say a word。 The room they'd locked her in was quite fortable。 She had books； and a television too； but the atmosphere was too unstable for her to be at ease。 She couldn't read； nor could she watch the inanities on the box。 Sometimes she found it difficult to remember her own name； it was as if his constant proximity was wiping her clean。 Perhaps he could do that。 After all； he'd got into her head； hadn't he？ Surreptitiously wormed his way into her psyche God knows how many times。 He'd been in her； in her for Christ's sake； and she'd never known。
〃Don't be frightened。〃 It was three A。M。 on the fourth day； and another sleepless night。 He had e into her room so silently she'd looked down to see if his feet were making contact with the floor。
〃I hate this place；〃 she informed him。
〃Would you like to explore； rather than being locked up in here？〃 〃It's haunted；〃 she said； expecting him to laugh at her。 He didn't； however。 So she went on。 〃Are you the ghost？〃 〃What I am is a mystery；〃 he replied； 〃even to myself。〃 His voice was softened by introspection。 〃But I'm no ghost。 You may be certain of that。 Don't fear me； Carys。 Anything you feel； I share； in some measure。〃 She remembered acutely this man's revulsion at the sex act。 What a pale； sickly thing he was； for all his powers。 She couldn't bring herself to hate him； though she had reason enough。
〃I don't like to be used；〃 she said。
〃I did you no harm。 I do you no harm now； do I？〃 〃I want to see Marty。〃 Mamoulian had started to try to clench his mutilated hand。 〃I'm afraid that's not possible；〃 he said。 The scar tissue of his hand； pulled tight； shone； but the mishealed anatomy wouldn't give。
〃Why not？ Why won't you let me see him？〃 〃You'll have everything you need。 Ample supplies of food； of heroin。〃 It suddenly crossed her mind that Marty might be on the European's execution list。 Might； in fact； already be dead。
〃Please don't harm him；〃 she said。
〃Thieves e and thieves go；〃 he replied。 〃I can't be responsible for what happens to him。〃 〃I'll never forgive you；〃 she said。
〃Yes you will；〃 he replied； his voice so soft now it was practically illusory。 〃I'm your protector now； Carys。 Had I been allowed； I would have nurtured you from childhood； and you would have been spared the humiliations he's made you suffer。 But it's too late。 All I can do is shelter you from further corruption。〃 He gave up trying to make a fist。 She saw how the wounded hand disgusted him。 He would cut it off if he could； she thought； it's not just sex he loathes； it's flesh。
〃No more；〃 he said； apropos of the hand； or debate； or nothing at all。
When he left her to sleep； he didn't lock the door behind him。
The next day； she began her exploration of the house。 There was nothing very remarkable about the place； it was simply a large； empty； three…story house。 In the street beyond the dirty windows ordinary people passed by； too locked in their heads even to glance around。 Though her first instinct was to knock on the glass； to mouth some appeal to them； the urge was easily conquered by reason。 If she slipped away what would she be escaping from； or to？ She had safety here； of a kind； and drugs。 Though at first she resisted them； they were too attractive to flush away down the toilet。 And after a few days of the pills； she gave in to the heroin too。 It came in steady supply： never too much； never too little； and always good stuff。
Only Breer； the fat one； upset her。 He would e； some days； and watch her； his eyes sloppy in his head like partially poached eggs。 She told Mamoulian about him； and the next day he didn't linger； just brought the pills and hurried away。 And the days flowed into one another； and sometimes she didn't remember where she was or how she'd got here； sometimes she remembered her name； sometimes not。 Once； maybe twice； she tried to think her way to Marty； but he was too far from her。 Either that； or the house subdued her powers。 Whichever； her thoughts lost their way a few miles from Caliban Street； and she returned there sweating and afraid。
She had been in the house almost a week when things took a turn for the worse。
〃I'd like you to do something for me；〃 the European said。
〃What？〃 〃I'd like you to find Mr。 Toy。 You do remember Mr。 Toy？〃 Of course she remembered。 Not well； but she remembered。 His broken nose； those cautious eyes that had always looked at her so sadly。
〃Do you think you could locate him？〃 〃I don't know how to。〃 〃Let your mind go to him。 You know the way； Carys。〃 〃Why can't you do it？〃 〃Because he'll be expecting me。 He'll have defenses； and I'm too tired to fight with him at the moment。〃 〃Is he afraid of you？〃 〃Probably。〃 〃Why？〃 〃You were a babe in arms when Mr。 Toy and I last met。 He and I parted as enemies； he presumes we are still enemies 。 。 。〃 〃You're going to harm him；〃 she said。
〃That's my business； Carys。〃 She stood； sliding up the wall aga
