cb.coldheart canyon-第43部分

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ar　that　the　freaks　would　e　and　find　her。　But　they　didn't　e；　at　least　by　daylight。　Perhaps；　she　thought；　they　were　waiting　for　darkness。　Meanwhile；　there　were　plenty　of　things　that　did　e：　flies；　dragonflies；　humming…birds；　all　flitting　around。
　 As　for　the　summonings　from　Arnie　and　Mr。　O'　Brien　and　Todd；　once　she　was　down　on　the　ground　none　of　these　came　either。　The　Canyon　knew　it　had　her　beaten。　All　it　had　to　do　was　wait；　and　she'd　perish　where　she　lay。
　
　 The　day　crept　on。　In　the　middle　of　the　afternoon　she　fell　into　a　stupefied　daze；　and　when　she　woke　experienced　a　short　and　surprising　burst　of　renewed　ambition　to　save　herself。　After　much　effort　she　managed　to　get　to　her　feet；　and　started　to　walk　in　what　she　thought　was　the　direction　of　the　house　（sometimes　she　seemed　to　see　the　roof　through　the　trees；　sometimes　not）；　but　after　ten　minutes　the　Canyon　seemed　to　realize　she　was　up　and　walking；　and　it　began　its　little　tricks　afresh。　The　colors　came　back。　So　did　the　voices。
　 She　fell　to　her　knees；　crying；　begging　it　to　leave　her　alone。　But　it　was　merciless；　the　voices　were　louder　than　ever；　yelling　incoherently　in　her　head；　the　sky　was　every　color　but　blue。
　 〃Okay；〃　she　said。　〃Okay；　okay。　Just　leave　me　alone　to　die。　I　won't　get　up　again。　I　promise。　I　swear。　Just　leave　me　be。〃
　 It　seemed　to　get　the　message；　because　by　degrees　the　yelling　receded；　and　the　colors　dimmed。
　 She　lay　back　in　the　foliage；　and　watched　the　sky　darken；　the　stars　emerge。　Birds　flew　overhead；　returning　to　their　nests　before　the　onset　of　night。　She　envied　them；　just　a　little；　but　then　what　did　she　have　to　go　home　to；　in　truth？　A　house　in　the　suburbs　she'd　never　really　loved；　a　husband；　the　same。　What　a　mess　she'd　made　of　her　life！　What　a　ridiculous；　empty　mess！　All　that　time　wasted　doting　on　a　man　she'd　seen　on　a　screen；　hours　spent　flicking　through　her　treasures；　fantasizing。　Never　really　living。　That　was　the　horror　of　it。　She　was　going　to　die　and　she'd　never　really　lived。
　 The　sky　was　almost　lightless　now。　She　could　barely　see　her　hand　in　front　of　her　face。　She　let　her　eyes　slide　closed；　draping　the　stars。　In　the　grass　around　her；　the　cicadas　sang　a　rhythmical　lullaby。
　 Suddenly；　somewhere　not　very　far　off；　there　rose　an　unholy　din；　part　howl；　part　yelp；　part　laughter。　Her　eyes　sprang　open。　The　hairs　at　her　nape　stood　on　end。　Was　this　a　farewell　performance　by　the　Canyon？　One　last　attempt　to　squeeze　her　wits　dry？
　 No；　no。　This　wasn't　for　her　benefit。　It　was　too　far　away。　Up　at　the　house。　Yes；　that　was　it；　somebody　up　at　the　house　was　having　one　hell　of　a　party。
　 Curiosity　got　the　better　of　her　fatigue。　Tammy　pushed　herself　up　onto　her　knees；　and　attempted　to　figure　out　where　the　cacophony　was　ing　from。　There　was　light　visible　between　the　trees；　flickering；　but　not　flames。　This　was　too　cold　a　light　to　be　fire。
　 Perhaps　this　wasn't　a　party　after　all。　The　din　was　as　nasty　as　it　was　raucous。　Who　the　hell　could　be　making　such　a　noise？　The　freaks　perhaps？　It　seemed　the　likeliest　source。　She　pictured　them　laying　siege　to　the　house。　Oh　God　in　Heaven；　suppose　they'd　gone　after　Todd？　Sniffed　him　out　in　his　weakened　state；　and　attacked　him？
　 The　thought　of　harm　ing　to　him　was　unbearable；　even　now。　It　forced　her　to　get　up　off　the　ground；　something　she　couldn't　have　done　on　her　own　behalf。　For　a　few　seconds　she　stood　with　legs　wide　planted；　uncertain　whether　she　was　going　to　fall　down　again。　Then；　she　told　herself　to　move；　and　much　to　her　surprise　her　body　obeyed　the　instruction。　Her　legs　felt　like　lead　and　her　head　as　light　as　a　helium　balloon；　but　she　managed　to　stagger　five　or　six　steps　without　falling　down。
　 The　noise　from　the　house　had　subsided　somewhat；　but　the　lights　were　still　visible　between　the　trees。　She　paused　for　a　moment　to　catch　her　breath；　and　while　she　did　so　she　studied　the　lights；　trying　to　make　sense　of　them。　Was　it　possible　what　she　was　seeing　were　people？　Yes　it　was。　Several　of　the　figures　had　slipped　away　from　the　immediate　vicinity　of　the　house；　and　were　ing　closer　to　her。　Some　were　zigzagging　through　the　trees；　as　though　they　were　engaged　in　a　game　of　some　kind。　What　sort　of　creatures　were　these；　she　wondered；　that　capered　like　children　playing；　but　had　such　luminescence　about　them？
　 She　stumbled　on　another　two　or　three　steps；　but　her　body　wasn't　going　to　carry　her　much　further；　she　knew。　It　was　only　a　matter　of　time　before　she　fell　down　again；　and　next　time　she　knew　she　wouldn't　have　the　strength　to　pick　herself　up。
　 Then；　very　close　by；　she　heard　the　sound　of　something　moving　through　the　thicket。　She　looked　in　the　direction　of　the　sound。　An　animal　perhaps？　A　coyote；　or…
　 〃Tammy？〃
　 She　held　her　breath；　not　quite　daring　to　believe　that　she　recognized　the　voice。
　 〃It's　Willem；〃　he　said。
　 Her　legs　almost　gave　out　from　sheer　gratitude。　He　came　out　of　the　bushes　and　caught　hold　of　her　before　she　fell。
　 〃I'm　heavy；〃　she　warned　him。

　 〃I'm　strong；〃　he　said。
　 So　she　let　him　take　her　weight；　sinking　against　his　chest。　As　she　relinquished　herself　to　him　she　heard　a　little　girl　somewhere　nearby；　sobbing　pitifully。　She　was　about　to　ask　who　the　hell　it　was　making　such　a　noise　when　she　realized　it　was　her　own　voice。
　 〃It's　all　right；〃　Zeffer　said。　〃I'm　here　now。　Everything's　going　to　be　fine。〃
　 She　wasn't　sure　that　she　believed　him；　it　sounded　like　a　bad　piece　of　dialogue　to　her。　But　this　was　no　time　to　be　judgmental。　He'd　e　to　look　for　her；　and　she　was　grateful。　She　put　her　head　on　his　chest；　like　a　B…movie　heroine　snatched　from　the　jaws　of　death；　and　laughing；　then　sobbing；　then　laughing　again；　let　him　put　his　arms　around　her；　and　rock　her　awhile。
　
　
　SEVEN
　 Finally；　it　had　not　been　Todd　who'd　lost　control；　but　her　other　lover。
　
　 〃I　can't。。。hold　back。。。much　longer；〃　he　said。
　 The　girl　was　beyond　giving　even　the　most　rudimentary　instructions：　she　lay　in　a　daze　of　pleasure；　her　legs　hoisted　up　by　Todd　so　that　he　could　see　the　wonderful　machinery　of　their　interconnected　anatomies。
　 〃Are　you　ready？〃　the　other　man　said　to　him。　His　face　was　liquid　shadow；　his　eyes　wild。
　 〃You　say　the　word。〃
　 〃Lift　her　legs　higher。〃
　 Todd　did　as　he　was　instructed；　noticing　as　he　did　so　that　their　game　had　brought　all　the　other　games　in　the　immediate　vicinity　to　a　halt。　Everyone　was　watching　the　spectacle；　their　gazes　ravenous。
　 The　girl's　eyes　were　closed　but　there　was　no　doubt　that　she　had　achieved；　and　was　sustaining；　some　state　of　sexual　Nirvana。　There　was　a　Gioconda　smile　on　her　wet　lips；　and　when　on　occasion　her　lids　did　flutter　open；　only　the　whites　of　her　eyes　were　visible。
　 The　girl's　other　lover　had　one　hand　on　her　face；　a　thumb　pressed　between　her　lips；　but　his　other　hand　was　gripping　the　muscle　that　ran　from　Todd's　nape　to　his　shoulder；　gripping　it　so　hard　it　hurt。　Todd　was　glad　of　the　pain。　It　was　just　enough　to　keep　him　distracted　from　emptying　himself。
　 The　man's　eyes　opened　wide。　〃Oh　yeah！〃　he　bellowed；　and　Todd　came　the　closest　he'd　ever　e　to　feeling　another　man's　orgasm。
　 The　girl　opened　her　eyes；　and　looked　at　Todd。　〃You　too；〃　she　said。
　 〃No；〃　said　another　voice。
　 Todd　looked　up。　It　was　Katya　who　had　spoken。　She　was　looking　at　him　with　an　appreciative　smile　on　her　face。　Clearly　she'd　enjoyed　watching　the　ménage…à…trois。　But　it　was　clear　she　now　wanted　Todd　to　leave　the　game。
　 〃Gotta　go；〃　he　said　to　the　girl。
　 She　put　her　hand　down　between　their　legs；　as　though　to　hold　him　inside。
　 〃Sorry；〃　he　said；　and　pulled　out　of　her。
　 As　he　stood　up　there　was　a　light　patter　of　applause　from　the　vicinity　of　the　bower。
　 〃Quite　the　performer。〃　Katya　said；　as　she　stood　up。　She　had　his　pants。　He　started　to　put　them　on；　pressing　his　dick　out　of　sight。
　 〃You　can　e　back　and　find　them　again　another　night。〃　Katya　said；　as　she　hooked　her　arm　through　Todd's；　and　escorted　him　away　from　the　place。
　 It　seemed　the　scene　in　the　night…blooming　jasmine　had　begun　a　chain　reaction　amongst　the　ghosts。　As　they　walked　through　the　warm　darkness　he　saw　orgiasts　on　every　side；　involved　in　pleasuring　themselves　and　one　another。　Clothes　had　been　shed　in　the　grass　or　hung　in　the　branches　like　Hallowe'en　spooks；　kisses　were　being　exchanged；　murmurs　of　passion。　As　he'd　already　discovered；　death　had　done　nothing　to　dim　the　libidos　of　these　people。　Though　their　dust　and　bones　lay　in　cold　tombs　and　mausoleums　across　the　city；　their　spirits　were　very　much　in　heat　here。　And；　as　Katya　had　told　him；　nothing　was　forbidden。　It　was　only　curious　to　see　so　many　familiar　faces　amongst　the　orgiasts。　Faces　he　associated　with　everything　but　this：　edians　and　adventurers　and　players　of　melodrama。　But　never　naked；　never　aroused。　And　again；　as　had　been　true　in　the　bower；　what　he　would　have　turned　away　from　in　revulsion　in　the　pany　of　the　living；　intrigued　and　inflamed　him　here；　amongst　the　famous　dead。　Was　that　Gary　Grant　with　his　trousers　around　his　ankles；　and　Randolph　Scott　paying　tribute　below？　Was　that　Jean　Harlow　lying　on　one　of　the　lower　boughs　of　a　tree；　with　her　foot　running　up　and　down　the　erection　of　a　man　standing　devotedly　by？　There　were　others；　many　others；　he　only　half…recognized；　or　didn't　recognize　at　all。　But　Katya　supplied　names　as　they　wandered　back　to　the　house：　Gilbert　Roland　and　Carole　Lombard；　Frances　X。　Bushman　and　Errol　Flynn。　A　dozen　times；　seeing　some　coupling　in　progress；　he　wanted　to　ask；　was　that　so…and…so？　Three　of　four　times　he　did。　When　the　answer　was　consistently　yes；　he　gave　up　asking。　As　for　what　was　actually　going　on；　well　the　pictures　in　the　Pool　House　had　given　him　a　good　idea　of　how　wild　things　could　get；　and　now　he　was　seeing　those　excesses　proved　in　the　flesh；　for　just　about　every　sexual　peccadillo　was　being　indulged　somewhere　in　the　Canyon　tonight。　Nor　did　Todd　discount　the　possibility　that　even　more　extreme　configurations　than　those　he　could　see　were　going　on　in　the　murk　between　the　trees。　Given　what　he'd　ended　up　doing　after　only　a　short　night　here；　imagine　the　possibilities　an　occupant　in　the　Canyon　might　invent　with　an　indeterminate　number　of　nights　to　pass：　knowing　you　were　dead　but　denied　a　resting…place？
　 What　new　perversions　would　a　soul　invent　to　distract　itself　from　the　constant　threat　of　ennui？
　 At　last　the　crowd　of　fornicators　thinned；　and　Katya　led　him…by　a　path　he　hadn't　previously　seen；　it　being　so　overgrown…back　to　the　big　house。
　 〃What　I　am　about　to　show　you；〃　she　warned　him　as　they　went；　〃will　change　your　life。　Are　you　ready　for　that？〃
　 〃Is　it　something　to　do　with　why　you're　here？〃
　 〃Why　I'm　here；　why　they're　here。　Why　the　Canyon　is　the　most　sacred　place　in　this　city。　Yes。　All　of　the　above。〃
　 〃Then　show　me；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　ready。〃
　 She　took　a　tighter　hold　of　his　hand。　〃There's　no　way　back；〃　she　warned　him。　〃I　want　you　to　understand　that。　There　is　no　way　back。〃
　 He　glanced　over　his　shoulder　at　the　party…goers　cavorting　between　the　trees。　〃I　think　that　was　true　a　long　time　ago；〃　he　said。
　 〃I　suppose　it　was；〃　Katya　replied；　with　a　little　smile；　and　led　him　out　of　the　darkened　garden　and　back　into　her　dream　palace。
　
　
　EIGHT
　 〃I'm　hungry；〃　Tammy　told　Zeffer。　〃Can't　we　get　some　food　from　the　house　before　we　leave？〃
　 〃You　really　want　to　find　Todd；〃　Zeffer　said。　〃Admit　it。〃
　 〃No；　I　don't　care。〃　She　stopped