iancaldwell&dustinthomason.theruleoffour-第31节

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d　in　a　city　built　for　all　ages。　The　walls　and　bridges　of　the　emperors　stand　after　a　thousand　years；　and　the　words　of　my　ancient　countrymen　have　multiplied；　reprinted　today　by　Aldus　and　his　colleagues　at　their　presses。　Inspired　by　these　creators　of　the　old　world；　I　have　chosen　the　same　vessels：　a　book　and　a　great　work　of　stones。　Together　they　house　what　I　will　give　to　you；　reader；　if　you　can　understand　my　meaning。
　To　learn　what　I　wish　to　tell；　you　must　know　the　world　as　we　have　known　it；　who　studied　it　most　of　any　men　in　our　time。　You　must　prove　yourself　a　lover　of　wisdom；　and　of　man's　potential；　so　that　I　will　know　you　are　no　enemy。　For　there　is　an　evil　abroad；　and　even　we；　the　princes　of　our　day；　do　fear　it。
　Carry　on；　then；　reader。　Strive　wisely　for　my　meaning。　Poliphilo's　journey　grows　harder；　as　does　mine；　but　I　have　much　more　to　tell。
　
　I　turned　the　sheet　over；　looking　for　more。　〃Where's　the　rest　of　it？〃
　〃That's　it；〃　he　said。　〃We　have　to　solve　more　to　get　more。〃
　I　looked　at　the　page；　then　up　at　him　in　amazement。　In　the　back　of　my　mind；　from　a　corner　of　unsettled　thoughts；　came　a　tapping　noise；　the　sound　my　father　always　made　when　he　was　excited。　His　fingers　would　drum　the　rhythm　of　Corelli's　Christmas　Concerto；　twice　as　fast　as　any　allegro　movement；　on　whatever　surface　he　could　find。
　〃What　are　you　going　to　do　now？〃　I　asked；　trying　to　stay　afloat　in　the　present。
　But　the　thought　occurred　to　me　anyway；　putting　the　discovery　in　perspective：　Arcangelo　Corelli　finished　his　concerto　in　the　early　days　of　classical　music；　more　than　one　hundred　years　before　Beethoven's　Ninth　Symphony。　Even　in　Corelli's　day；　though；　Colonna's　message　had　been　awaiting　its　first　reader　for　more　than　two　centuries。
　〃The　same　thing　you　are；〃　Paul　said。　〃We're　going　to　find　Francesco's　next　riddle。〃
　
　Chapter　13
　
　Every　hallway　in　Dod　is　empty　as　Gil　and　I　return　to　the　room；　numbed　by　the　long　walk　north　from　the　parking　lot。　An　airy　silence　prevails　throughout　the　building。　Between　the　Nude　Olympics　and　the　Easter　festivities；　every　soul　is　accounted　for。
　I　turn　on　the　television　for　word　of　what's　happened。　The　local　networks　carry　the　Nude　Olympics　on　the　late　news；　after　there's　been　time　to　edit　the　footage；　and　the　runners　in　Holder　Courtyard　float　across　the　screen　in　a　blur　of　whites；　blinking　under　the　glass　like　fireflies　trapped　in　a　jar。
　At　last　the　female　news　anchor　returns　to　the　screen。
　〃We　have　breaking　news　on　our　top　story。〃
　Gil　emerges　from　his　bedroom　to　listen。
　〃Earlier　tonight　we　reported　to　you　about　what　may　be　a　related　incident　at　Princeton　University。　At　this　hour　the　accident　at　Dickinson　Hall；　which　some　witnesses　describe　as　a　fraternity　stunt　gone　wrong；　has　taken　a　tragic　turn。　Officials　at　Princeton　Medical　Center　confirm　that　the　man；　reportedly　a　university　student；　has　died。　In　a　prepared　statement；　Borough　Police　Chief　Daniel　Stout　repeated　that　investigators　would　continue　to　examine　the　possibility　that；　quote；　nonaccidental　factors　had　played　a　role。　In　the　meantime；　university　administrators　are　asking　students　to　remain　in　their　rooms；　or　to　travel　in　groups　if　they　need　to　be　outside　tonight。〃
　In　the　studio；　the　anchor　turns　to　her　cohost。　〃Clearly　a　difficult　situation；　given　what　we　saw　earlier　at　Holder　Hall。〃　Returning　to　the　camera；　she　adds；　〃We'll　be　ing　back　to　this　story　later　in　the　hour。〃
　〃He　died？〃　Gil　repeats；　unable　to　believe　it。　〃But　I　thought　Charlie　。　。　。〃　He　lets　the　thought　trail　off。
　〃A　university　student；〃　I　say。
　Gil　looks　up　at　me　after　a　long　silence。　〃Don't　think　like　that；　Tom。　Charlie　would've　called。〃
　Against　the　far　wall；　the　framed　picture　I　bought　for　Katie　sits　at　an　unfortable　cant。　I　dial　Taft's　office；　just　as　Gil　returns　from　his　bedroom　and　hands　me　a　bottle　of　wine。
　〃What's　this？〃　I　ask。
　The　phone　at　the　Institute　rings　over　and　over。　Nothing。
　Gil　steps　toward　the　makeshift　bar　he　keeps　in　the　corner　of　the　room；　grabbing　two　wineglasses　and　a　corkscrew。　〃I　need　to　relax。〃
　There's　still　no　answer　at　Taft's；　so　I　reluctantly　put　down　the　receiver。　I'm　just　about　to　tell　Gil　how　sick　I　feel；　when　I　glance　over　and　realize　that　he　looks　even　worse。
　〃What's　wrong？〃　I　ask。
　He　tops　the　glasses　off。　Taking　one　in　his　hand；　he　raises　it　to　me；　then　takes　a　sip。
　〃Have　some；〃　he　says。　〃It's　good。〃
　〃Sure；〃　I　say；　wondering　if　he　just　wants　someone　to　drink　with。　But　the　thought　of　wine　is　turning　my　stomach。
　He　waits；　so　I　nip　at　my　share。　The　burgundy　stings　going　down；　but　it　has　the　opposite　effect　on　Gil。　The　more　he's　got　in　him；　the　better　he　starts　to　look。
　I　tip　my　glass　back。　Snow　rolls　across　the　pools　of　light　from　the　post　lanterns　in　the　distance。　Gil　drains　his　second　glass。
　〃Take　it　easy；　chief；〃　I　say；　trying　to　sound　nice　about　it。　〃You　don't　want　to　have　a　hangover　at　the　ball。〃
　〃Yeah；　right；〃　he　says。　〃I　have　to　be　at　the　caterer's　tomorrow　by　nine。　I　should've　told　them　I　don't　even　go　to　class　that　early。〃
　It　es　out　sharp；　and　Gil　seems　to　catch　himself。　Picking　up　the　remote　from　the　floor；　he　says；　〃Let's　see　if　there's　anything　else　on。〃
　Three　different　networks　are　broadcasting　from　somewhere　on　campus；　but　when　there　doesn't　seem　to　be　any　new　information；　Gil　gets　up　and　starts　a　movie。
　〃Roman　Holiday；〃　he　says；　sitting　back　down。　A　distant　ease　es　over　his　face。　Audrey　Hepburn　again。　He　puts　down　the　wine。
　The　longer　the　movie　stays　on；　the　more　I　find　that　Gil　is　right。　No　matter　how　heavy　my　thoughts　are；　sooner　or　later　I　keep　ing　back　to　Audrey。　I　can't　get　my　eyes　off　her。
　After　a　while；　Gil's　focus　seems　to　cloud　over　a　little。　The　wine；　I　guess。　But　when　he　rubs　his　forehead　and　focuses　a　second　too　long　on　his　hands；　I　sense　there's　more　to　it。　Maybe　he's　thinking　of　Anna；　who　broke　up　with　him　while　I　was　at　home。　Thesis　deadlines　and　planning　the　ball　undid　them；　Charlie　told　me；　but　Gil　never　wanted　to　talk　about　it。　Anna　was　a　mystery　to　us　from　the　beginning；　he　almost　never　brought　her　to　the　room；　though　at　Ivy；　I'd　heard；　they　were　never　apart。　She　was　the　first　of　his　girlfriends　who　couldn't　recognize　which　one　of　us　was　picking　up　the　phone；　the　first　who　sometimes　forgot　Paul's　name；　and　she　never　stopped　by　the　room　if　she　knew　Gil　wasn't　there。
　〃You　know　who　looks　a　little　like　Audrey　Hepburn？〃　Gil　asks　suddenly；　catching　me　off　guard。
　〃Who？〃　I　say；　dialing　Taft's　office　again。
　He　surprises　me。　〃Katie。〃
　〃What　made　you　think　of　that？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　I　was　watching　you　two　tonight。　You're　great　together。〃
　He　says　it　as　if　he's　trying　to　remind　himself　of　something　dependable。　I　want　to　tell　him　that　Katie　and　I　have　had　our　ups　and　downs　too；　that　he's　not　the　only　one　who　struggles　in　a　relationship；　but　it　would　be　the　wrong　thing　to　say。
　〃She's　your　type；　Tom；〃　he　goes　on。　〃She's　smart。　I　don't　even　understand　what　she's　saying　half　the　time。〃
　I　hang　up　the　phone　when　there's　still　no　answer。　〃Where　is　he？〃
　〃He'll　call。〃　Gil　takes　a　long　breath；　trying　to　ignore　the　possibilities。　〃How　long's　it　been　with　Katie？〃
　〃Next　Wednesday　makes　four　months　for　us。〃
　Gil　shakes　his　head。　He's　broken　up　three　times　since　Katie　and　I　met。
　〃Do　you　ever　wonder　if　she's　the　one？〃
　It's　the　first　time　anyone　has　asked　that　question。
　〃Sometimes。　I　wish　we　had　more　time。　I　worry　about　next　year。〃
　〃You　should　hear　how　she　talks　about　you。　It's　like　you've　known　each　other　since　you　were　kids。〃
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　〃I　found　her　at　Ivy　once；　taping　a　basketball　game　for　you　on　the　TV　upstairs。　She　said　it　was　because　you　and　your　dad　used　to　go　to　the　Michigan…Ohio　State　game　together。〃
　I　hadn't　even　asked　her　to　do　it。　Until　we　met；　she'd　never　followed　basketball。
　〃You're　lucky；〃　he　says。
　I　nod　my　agreement。
　We　talk　a　little　more　about　Katie；　then　Gil　slowly　returns　to　Audrey。　His　expression　lightens；　but　eventually　I　can　see　the　old　thoughts　return。　Paul。　Anna。　The　ball。　Before　long　he　reaches　for　the　bottle。　I'm　just　about　to　suggest　that　he's　had　enough　to　drink；　when　a　dragging　sound　es　from　the　hallway。　The　outside　door　opens；　and　Charlie　stands　in　the　sallow　light　of　the　hall。　He　looks　bad。　There　are　blood…colored　stains　on　the　cuffs　of　his　clothes。
　〃You　okay？〃　Gil　asks；　standing　up。
　〃We've　got　to　talk；〃　Charlie　says；　with　an　edge　to　his　voice。
　Gil　mutes　the　television。
　Charlie　goes　to　the　refrigerator　and　pulls　out　a　bottle　of　water。　He　drinks　half　of　it；　then　pours　some　over　his　hands　to　wet　his　face。　His　focus　is　unsteady。　Finally　he　sits　down　and　says；　〃The　man　who　fell　from　Dickinson　was　Bill　Stein。〃
　〃Jesus；〃　Gil　whispers。
　I　feel　myself　go　cold。　〃I　don't　understand。〃
　Charlie　confirms　it　by　the　look　on　his　face。　〃He　was　in　his　office　in　the　history　department。　Someone　came　in　and　shot　him。〃
　〃Who？〃
　〃They　don't　know。〃
　〃What　do　you　mean；　they　don't　know？〃
　A　beat　of　silence　passes。　Charlie　focuses　on　me。　〃What　was　that　pager　message　about？　What　did　Bill　Stein　want　from　Paul？〃
　〃I　told　you。　He　wanted　to　give　Paul　a　book　he　found。　I　can't　believe　this；　Charlie。〃
　〃He　didn't　say　anything　else？　Where　he　was　going？　Who　he　was　going　to　see？〃
　I　shake　my