cb.coldheart canyon-第38部分

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　 〃You？〃
　 〃Me。〃
　 〃I　don't　think　that　would　work　for　modern　audiences。〃
　 〃Oh　it　didn't　work　in　1923。　They　stayed　away　in　droves。〃　They　walked　on　for　a　while　in　silence。　Finally　Katya　said：　〃What's　troubling　you？〃
　 〃I　can't　make　sense　of　what　you're　telling　me。　The　pieces　don't　fit…〃
　 〃And　it　frustrates　you。〃
　 〃Yes。〃
　 〃Maybe　it's　best　you　just　don't　think　about　it。〃
　 〃How　can　I　not　think　about　it？〃　he　said。　〃This　place。　You。　The　posters。　The　bed。　What　am　I　supposed　to　make　of　it　all？〃
　 〃Make　whatever　pleases　you；〃　she　said。　〃Why's　it　so　important　that　you　have　an　explanation　for　everything？　I　told　you：　things　are　different　here。〃
　 She　caught　hold　of　his　hand；　and　they　stopped　walking。　There　were　insects　in　the　grass　all　around　them；　making　music；　overhead；　the　stars　were　ing　out；　their　patterns　as　familiar　as　the　din　of　cicadas；　and　tonight；　as　strange。　His　doubts　were　contagious。　The　fact　that　he　didn't　understand　how　it　was　possible　this　woman　could　have　lived　the　life　she　claimed　to　have　lived　spread　confusion　into　every　other　sign　the　world　brought　him。　What　was　he　doing　here；　in　between　the　music　in　the　grass　and　the　brightening　stars？　He　suddenly　seemed　to　understand　nothing。　His　face　throbbed；　and　his　eyes　stung。
　 〃It's　all　right；〃　she　said　softly。　〃There's　nothing　to　be　afraid　of。〃
　 〃I'm　not　afraid；〃　he　said。
　 It　was　the　truth；　in　a　way。　What　he　felt　was　not　fear；　it　was　something　far　more　distressing。　He　felt　lost；　cast　off　from　every　certainty。
　 But　then　he　looked　at　her　face；　at　her　perfect　face；　and　he　felt　a　calm　e　over　him。　So　what　if　he　was　adrift？　So　were　they　both。　And　wasn't　it　better　to　be　with　her；　sharing　her　gentle　madness；　than　to　be　alone　in　this　unforgiving　world？
　 He　leaned　towards　her；　and　kissed　her　on　the　lips。　Nothing　overtly　sexual；　just　a　tender　kiss。
　 〃What　was　that　for？〃　she　asked　him；　smiling。
　
　 〃For　being　here。〃
　 〃Even　though　you　think　I'm　a　lunatic？〃
　 〃I　didn't　say　that。〃
　 〃No；　but　you　think　it。　Don't　you？　You　think　I'm　living　in　a　fantasy　land。〃
　 〃I'm　taking　your　advice；〃　he　replied。　〃I'm　making　whatever　I　like　of　it。　And　I　like　being　here；　right　now；　with　you。　So　the　rest　can　go　to　hell。〃
　 〃The　rest？〃
　 〃Out　there；〃　he　said；　waving　his　arm　in　the　general　direction　of　the　city。　〃The　people　who　used　to　run　my　life。〃
　 〃To　hell　with　them？〃
　 〃To　hell　with　them！〃
　 Katya　laughed。　〃I　like　that；〃　she　said；　returning　his　kiss　in　the　midst　of　their　laughter。
　 〃Where　now？〃　he　said。
　 〃Down　to　the　pool？〃　she　replied。
　 〃You　know　the　way？〃
　 〃Trust　me；〃　she　said；　kissing　him　again。　This　time　he　didn't　let　her　escape　so　lightly；　but　returned　her　kiss　with　some　force。　His　hand　slipped　up　into　her　hair　and　made　a　cradle　for　her　head。　She　put　her　arms　around　his　waist；　pressing　so　hard　against　him　it　was　as　though　she　wanted　to　climb　inside　his　skin。
　 When　they　broke　the　kiss　they　gazed　at　one　another　for　a　little　time。
　 〃I　thought　we　were　going　walking；〃　he　said。
　 〃So　we　were；〃　she　said；　taking　his　hand　again。　〃The　pool；　yes？〃
　 〃Do　you　want　to　go　back　to　the　house？〃
　 〃Plenty　of　time　for　that　later；〃　she　said。　〃Let's　go　down　to　the　pool　while　there's　still　some　light。〃
　 So　they　continued　their　descent；　hand　in　hand。　They　said　nothing　now。　There　was　no　need。
　 Across　the　other　side　of　the　Canyon；　a　lone　coyote　began　to　yap；　his　voice　was　answered　by　another　higher　up　on　the　ridge　behind　them；　then　another　two　in　the　same　vicinity；　and　now　another；　and　another；　until　the　entire　Canyon　was　filled　with　their　glorious　din。
　 When　Todd　and　Katya　reached　the　lawn　there　was　a　small；　scrawny　coyote　loping　across　it；　giving　them　a　guilty　backward　glance　as　he　disappeared　into　the　undergrowth。　As　he　vanished　from　sight；　the　pack　ceased　its　din。　There　were　a　few　moments　of　silence。　Then　the　insects　took　up　their　music　again。
　 〃It's　sad；　the　way　things　have　declined。〃　Katya　said；　looking　at　the　sight　before　them。　The　starlight　was　forgiving；　but　it　couldn't　conceal　the　general　condition　of　the　place：　the　statues　missing　limbs；　or　toppled　over　and　buried　in　vines；　the　pavement　around　the　pool　cracked　and　mossy；　the　pool　itself　stained　and　stinking。
　 〃What's　that？〃　Todd　said；　pointing　out　the　one…story　mock…classical　structure　half…hidden　by　the　cypresses　around　the　pool。
　 〃That's　the　Pool　House。　I　haven't　been　in　there　in　a　very　long　time。〃
　 〃I　want　to　see　it。〃
　 It　was　a　larger　building　than　it　had　appeared　from　the　front；　and　uncannily　bright。　There　were　several　skylights　in　the　ceiling；　which　ushered　in　the　brightness　of　moon　and　stars；　their　light　bouncing　off〃　the　silky　marble　floor。　In　the　centre　stood　a　cocktail　bar　with　mirrors　of　marbled　glass　behind　the　glass　shelves。　After　all　these　years　there　were　dozens　of　bottles　on　the　shelves…brandies；　whiskies　and　liqueurs。　〃You　used　the　pool　a　lot？〃　Todd　said。　〃We　had　the　best　pool…parties　in　Hollywood。〃　Their　voices　echoed　off　the　glacial　walls　as　they　spoke；　ing　back　to　meet　them。　〃And　the　people　who　came　here；　knew。。。〃　Katya　said。　〃They　knew。〃　Letting　the　thought　go　unfinished；　she　moved　past　him　to　the　bar。
　 〃What　did　they　know？〃　he　said。
　 〃Not　to　make　any　judgments；〃　she　replied。　She　slipped　behind　the　bar；　and　began　to　survey　the　rows　of　bottles。
　 〃I　don't　think　we　should　try　drinking　any　of　that　stuff；〃　he　said。　〃I've　got　fresh　booze　in　the　house　if　that's　what　you　want。〃
　 She　didn't　reply；　simply　continued　to　survey　the　selection。　Finally　she　decided　upon　one　of　the　brandies；　and　taking　the　bottle　by　the　neck　she　pulled　it　forward。　There　was　a　grinding　noise　from　behind　the　mirror　as　some　antiquated　mechanism　was　activated。　Then　the　mirror　slid　sideways　three　or　four　feet；　revealing　a　small　safe。
　 Todd　was　intrigued。　He　hopped　over　the　bar　to　get　a　better　look　at　what　Katya　was　up　to。　She　was　working　on　the　tumble　lock；　he　could　hear　a　faint　clicking　as　she　flipped　it　back　and　forth。
　 〃What's　in　there？〃　he　said。
　 〃We　used　to　have　a　book…〃
　 〃We？〃
　 〃Zeffer　and　I。　We　just　kept　it　for　fun。〃
　 〃A　book　of　what？〃
　 〃Of　party　pieces。〃　she　said；　with　a　little　smile。　〃Who　did　what　to　whom。　And　how　many　times。〃
　 〃You're　kidding！〃
　 She　turned　the　lock　one　more　time；　and　then　pushed　down　on　the　handle　and　pulled　the　door。　There　was　a　cracking　sound；　as　the　decayed　rubber　seal　broke。　Then　the　door　swung　wide。
　 〃Are　there　any　candles？〃　she　said　to　him。　〃Look　in　the　cupboard　there　between　the　columns；　will　you？〃
　 Todd　did　as　he　was　instructed；　and　found　several　boxes　of　plain　white　candles　on　the　shelves。　One　was　open；　and　the　heat　of　many　summers　had　turned　the　contents　into　a　single　box…shaped　slab　of　white　wax。　But　the　contents　of　the　other　two　boxes　were　in　better　condition：　under　the　first　layer；　which　was　partially　melted；　there　were　salvageable　candles。　He　set　up　six　of　them　on　the　bar；　seating　them　in　their　own　dribblings　so　that　they　wouldn't　fall　over。
　 Their　flickering　yellow　light　flattered　the　marble　interior；　and　by　some　strange　arrangement　of　the　walls　it　seemed　he　heard　the　whispering　of　the　flames　multiplied。　Indeed　they　almost　sounded　like　voices；　uncannily　so。　He　looked　around；　half…expecting　to　see　somebody　flitting　between　the　columns。
　 〃Ah；　voilá！〃　said　Katya；　reaching　into　the　depths　of　the　safe。
　 She　brought　a　small；　thick　book　out　of　the　little　safe　along　with　a　sheaf　of　photographs　and　set　them　all　down　on　the　bar　in　the　light　from　the　candles。　The　book　looked　like　a　journal；　bound　in　dark　red　leather。　When　she　opened　it　he　saw　that　its　handwritten　contents　were　arranged　symmetrically；　two　columns　to　each　page。
　 〃Take　a　look；〃　she　said；　obviously　delighted　with　her　find。
　 He　picked　up　the　book　and　flicked　through　it。　Almost　three…quarters　of　its　pages　were　written　on；　sometimes　in　the　two…column　configuration；　sometimes　simply　filled　up　from　top　to　bottom。　He　turned　to　a　page　of　the　former　variety。　On　the　left　hand　side　of　the　pages　was　a　column　of　names；　on　the　right　hand；　a　column　that　was　far　harder　to　make　sense　of。　Occasionally　there　were　names；　but　more　often　letters　and　symbols；　some　of　them　resembling　obscure　mathematical　equations。　His　puzzlement　amused　her。
　 〃Think　of　it　as　a　history　book；〃　she　said；　offering　a　teasing　smile　along　with　the　clue。
　 〃A　history　of　what？〃
　 〃Of　better　times。〃
　 Todd　flipped　through　the　pages。　Now　and　again；　amongst　the　names；　he　came　upon　some　he　knew：　Norma　Talmadge；　Theda　Bara；　John　Gilbert；　Clara　Bow；　all　movie　stars　of　another　era。
　 〃You　knew　all　these　people？〃　he　said　to　her。
　 〃Yes；　of　course。　This　was　the　place　to　e；　when　you　wanted　to　have　some　fun。　Every　weekend；　we'd　have　parties。　Sometimes　in　the　pool。　Sometimes　in　the　house。　Sometimes　we'd　have　hunts；　all　through　the　Canyon。〃
　 〃Animal　hunts？〃
　 〃No。　People　hunts。　People　treated　like　animals。　We　whipped　them　and　we　chained　them　up　and。。。well；　you　can　imagine。〃
　 〃I'm　beginning　to。　Wow。　You　had　Charlie　Chaplin　up　here；　I　see。〃
　 〃Yes；　he　came　up　here　often。　He　used　to　bring　his　little　girls。〃
　 〃Little　girls？〃
　 〃He　liked　them　young。〃
　 Todd　raised　a　quizzical　eyebrow。　〃And　you　didn't　mind？〃
　 〃I　don't　believe　in　Thou　Shall　Not。　That's　for　people　who　are　afraid　to　follow　their　own　instincts。　Of　course　when　you're　out　there　in　the　world　you've　got　to　play　by　the　rules；　or　you'll　spend　your　life　behind　bars。　They'd　lock　you　up　and　throw　away　the　key。　But　this　isn't　the　world。　This　is　my　Canyon。　They　called　it　Coldheart　Canyon；　because　they　said　I　have　a　soul　like　ice。　But　why　should　I　care　what　people　say？　Let　them　say　whatever　they　want　to　say；　as　long　as　their　money　pays　for　the　little　luxuries　in　life。　I　want　my　Kingdom　to　be　a　place　where　people　could　take　their　pleasures　freely；　without　judgment　or　punishment。
　 〃This　is　Eden；　you　see？　Only　there's　no　snake。　No　angel　to　drive　you　out　either；　because　you　did　a　bad　thing。　Why？　Because　there　were　no　bad　things。〃
　 〃Literally　none？〃
　 She　looked　at　him；　her　stare　luminous。　〃Oh　you　mean　murder；　perhaps？　We　had　one　or　two　murderers　here。　And　we　had　sisters　who'd　fucked　their　brothers；　and　sons　who　fucked　their　mothers；　and　a　man　who　liked　having　children　suck　him　off。〃
　 〃What？〃
　 〃Ha！　Now　you're　shocked。　His　name　was　Laurence　Skimpell；　and　he　was　as　handsome　a　man　as　I've　ever　met。　He　had　a　contract　at　Warner　Brothers；　and　they　were　going　to　make　him　a　star。　A　big　star。　Then　this　woman　turns　up　at　the　studios　with　a　child；　who　she　said　was　Skimpell's。　Warner　Brothers　have　always　been　very　loyal。　They　offered　the　woman　money；　said　they'd　put　the　child　up　for　adoption。　But　as　she　got　up　and　left　she　said：　you　don't　understand；　this　isn't　his　offspring。　This　is　his　lover。〃
　 〃Oh　Jesus　Christ。〃
　 〃That　was　the　last　we　ever　heard　of　Laurence　Skimpell。〃
　 〃That's　a　ridiculous　story。　I　don't　believe　a　word　of　it。〃
　 She　laughed；　as　though　perhaps　this　time　she　was　inventing　a　little。　〃You're　in　here；〃　he　said；　ing　to　some　mentions　of　Katya　Lupi。　〃And　there's　a　long　list　of　Men。。。〃
　 〃Oh　that　was　a　petition　we　had。〃
　 〃You　had　all　these　men？〃
　 〃It　was　my　canyon。　It　still　is。　I　can　do　what　I　like　here。〃
　 〃So　you　let　people　do　what　they　wanted？〃
　 〃More　or　less。〃　She　returned　to　the　book。　〃You