dk.coldfire-第18章

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　Viola　said；　〃It　wasn't　casual　with　him；　either。　Every　day　after　school　he　went　for　a　lesson　at　a　place　in　Newport　Beach。　He　became　obsessive。　
　I　worried　about　him。　So　in　January；　when　he　won　the　lottery；　I　was　happy　Six　million　dollars！　That's　such　a　good　thing；　such　big　luck；　it　seemed　like　it　would　have　to　turn　his　life　around；　bring　him　out　of　his　depression。〃　
　〃But　it　didn't？〃　〃No。　He　didn't　seem　all　that　surprised　or　pleased　by　it。　He　quit　t　；　moved　out　of　his　apartment　into　a　house。　。　。　and　pulled　back　even　further　from　his　friends。〃　She　turned　to　Holly　and　smiled。　It　was　the　first　smile　she　had　managed　for　a　while。　〃That's　why　I　was　so　excited　when　ya　told　me　you　were　his　sister；　a　sister　he　doesn't　even　know　he　has。　maybe　you　can　do　for　him　what　winning　six　million　dollars　couldn't　The　guilt　over　her　deception　suffused　Holly　again；　bringing　a　hot　blush　to　her　face。　She　hoped　Viola　would　mistake　it　for　a　blush　of　pleasure　and　excitement。　〃It　would　be　wonderful　if　I　could。〃　
　〃You　can；　I'm　sure。　He's　alone；　or　feels　that　he　is。　That's　part　of　his　problem。　With　a　sister；　he　won't　be　alone　any　more。　Go　see　him　today　right　now。〃　
　Holly　shook　her　head。　〃Soon。　But　not　yet。　I　need　to。　。　。　build　my　confidence。　You　won't　tell　him　about　me；　will　you？〃　〃Of　course　not；　dear。　You　should　have　all　the　fun　of　telling　him；　an　what　a　wonderful　moment　that'll　be。〃　
　Holly's　smile　felt　like　a　pair　of　rigid　plastic　lips　glued　to　her　face；　as　fake　as　part　of　a　Halloween　costume。　
　A　few　minutes　later；　at　the　front　door；　as　Holly　was　leaving；　Viola　put　her　hand　on　her　arm　and　said；　〃I　don't　want　to　give　you　the　wrong　idea。it　won't　be　easy　lifting　his　spirits；　getting　him　back　on　track。　As　long　as　I've　known　Jim；　I've　felt　there's　a　sadness　deep　down　in　him；　like　a　stain　that　won't　e　out；　which　isn't　such　a　surprise；　really；　when　you　consider　what　happened　to　his　parents…his　being　orphaned　when　he　was　only　ten　all　of　that。〃　
　Holly　nodded。　〃Thanks。　You've　been　a　real　help。〃　
　Viola　impulsively　hugged　her；　planted　a　kiss　on　her　cheek；　and　said；　I　want　to　have　both　you　and　Jim　to　dinner　as　soon　as　possible。　
　Homems　green…corn　tamales；　black　beans；　and　jalapeno　rice　so　hot　it'll　melt　ya　dental　fillings！〃　Holly　was　simultaneously　pleased　and　dismayed：　pleased　to　have　met　this　woman；　who　so　quickly　seemed　to　be　a　favorite　aunt　of　long　acquaintance　dismayed　because　she　had　met　her　and　been　accepted　by　her　under　false　pretenses。　
　All　the　way　back　to　her　rental　car；　Holly　fiercely　berated　herself　under　her　breath。　She　was　at　no　loss　for　ugly　words　and　clever　damning　phrases。　
　Twelve　years　in　newsrooms；　in　the　pany　of　reporters；　had　acquainted　her　with　enough　obscene　language　to　insure　her　the　trophy　in　a　cursing　contest　with　even　the　most　foul…mouthed　victim　of　Tourette's　syndrome。　
　The　Yellow　Pages　listed　only　one　Tae　Kwon　Do　school　in　Newport　beach。　It　was　in　a　shopping　center　off　Newport　Boulevard；　between　a　custom　window…covering　store　and　a　bakery。　
　The　place　was　called　Dojo；　the　Japanese　word　for　a　martial…arts　practice　ball；　which　was　like　naming　a　restaurant　〃Restaurant〃　or　a　dress　shop　〃Dress　Shop。〃　Holly　was　surprised　by　the　generic　name；　because　Asian　businessmen　often　brought　a　poetic　sensibility　to　the　titling　of　their　enterprises。　Three　people　were　standing　on　the　sidewalk　in　front　of　Dojo's　big　window；　eating　eclairs　and　awash　in　the　delicious　aromas　wafting　from　the　adjacent　bakery；　watching　a　class　of　six　students　go　through　their　routines　with　a　squat　but　exceptionally　limber　Korean　instructor　in　black　pajamas。　
　When　the　teacher　threw　a　pupil　to　the　mat　inside；　the　plate…glass　window　vibrated。　
　Entering；　Holly　passed　out　of　the　chocolate…；　cinnamon…；　sugar…；　yeast　scented　air　into　an　acidic　environment　of　stale　incense　laced　with　a　vague　perspiration　odor。　Because　of　a　story　she'd　written　about　a　Portland　teenager　who　won　a　medal　in　a　national　petition；　she　knew　Tae　Kwon　Do　was　an　aggressive　Korean　form　of　karate；　using　fierce　punches；　lightning…quick　jabs；　chops；　blocks；　choke　holds；　and　devastatingly　powerful；　leaping　kicks。　The　teacher　was　pulling　his　blows；　but　there　were　still　a　lot　of　grunts；　wheezes；　guttural　exclamations；　and　jarring　thuds　as　students　slammed　to　the　mat。　
　In　the　far　right　corner　of　the　room；　a　brunette　sat　on　a　stool　behind　a　counter；　doing　paperwork。　Every　aspect　and　detail　of　her　dress　and　grooming　were　advertisements　for　her　sexuality。　Her　tight　red　T…shirt　emphasized　her　ample　chest　and　outlined　nipples　as　large　as　cherries。　
　With　a　touseled　mane　of　chestnut　hair　given　luster　by　artfully　applied　blond　highlights；　eyes　subtly　but　exotically　shadowed；　mouth　too　lushly　painted　with　deep…coral　lipstick；　a　just…right　tan；　disablingly　long　fingernails　painted　to　match　the　lipstick；　and　enough　silvery　costume　jewelry　to　stock　a　display　case；　she　would　have　been　the　perfect　advertisement　if　women　had　been　a　product　for　sale　in　every　local　market。　
　〃Does　this　thudding　and　grunting　go　on　all　day？〃　Holly　asked。　
　〃Most　of　the　day；　yeah。〃　
　〃Doesn't　it　get　to　you？〃　〃Oh；　yeah；〃　the　brunette　said　with　a　lascivious　wink；　〃I　know　what　ya　mean。　They're　like　a　bunch　of　bulls　ramming　at　each　other。　I'm　not　had　an　hour　every　day　till　I'm　so　horny　I　can't　stand　it。〃　
　That　was　not　what　Holly　had　meant。　She　was　suggesting　that　the　noise　was　headache…inducing；　not　arousing。　But　she　winked　back；　girl…to…girl　and　said；　〃The　boss　in？〃　〃Eddie？　He's　doing　a　couple　hundred　flights　of　stairs；〃　the　woman　said　cryptically。　〃What'd　you　want？〃　Holly　explained　that　she　was　a　reporter；　working　on　a　story　that　had　connection　with　Dojo。　
　The　receptionist；　if　that's　what　she　was；　brightened　at　this　news　instead　of　glowering；　as　was　often　the　case。　Eddie；　she　said；　was　always　looking　to　get　publicity　for　the　business。　She　rose　from　her　stool　and　stepped　to　a　door　behind　the　counter；　revealing　that　she　was　wearing　high…heeled　sandals　and　tight　white　shorts。　that　clung　to　her　butt　as　snugly　as　a　coat　of　paint。　
　Holly　was　beginning　to　feel　like　a　boy。　
　As　the　brunette　had　indicated；　Eddie　was　delighted　to　hear　that　Dojo　would　be　mentioned　in　a　newspaper　piece；　even　if　tangentially；　but　wanted　her　to　interview　him　while　he　continued　to　do　stairs。　He　was　not　Asian；　which　perhaps　explained　the　unimaginative　generic　name　of　the　business。　Tall；　blond；　shaggy…haired；　blue…eyed；　he　was　dressed　only　in　muscles　and　a　pair　of　black　spandex　cyclist's　shorts。　He　was　on　a　StairMaster　exercise　machine；　climbing　briskly　to　nowhere。　
　〃It's　great；〃　he　said；　pumping　his　exquisitely　developed　legs。　
　〃Six　more　flights；　and　I'll　be　at　the　top　of　the　Washington　monument。〃　
　He　was　breathing　hard　but　not　as　hard　as　Holly　would　have　been　breathing　after　running　up　six　flights　to　her　third…floor　apartment　in　Portland。　
　She　sat　in　a　chair　he　had　indicated；　which　put　the　StairMaster　directly　in　front　of　her；　giving　her　a　full　side　view　of　him。　His　sun…bronzed　glistened　with　sweat；　which　also　darkened　the　hair　at　the　nape　of　his　neck。　The　spandex　embraced　him　as　intimately　as　the　white　shorts　clung　to　the　receptionist。　It　almost　seemed　as　if　he　had　known　Holly　was　ing　and　had　carefully　arranged　the　StairMaster　and　her　chair　to　play　himself　to　his　best　advantage。　
　Although　she　was　plunging　into　deception　again；　Holly　did　not　feel　as　bad　about　lying　to　Eddie　as　she　had　felt　when　lying　to　Viola　Moreno。　
　For　one　thing；　her　cover　story　this　time　was　somewhat　less　fanciful：　that　she　was　doing　a　multipart；　in…depth　piece　about　James　Ironheart　（the　truth）；　focusing　on　the　effect　that　winning　a　lottery　had　upon　his　life　（a　lie）；　all　with　his　approval　（a　lie）。　A　veracity　percentage　as　high　as　thirty…three　percent　was　enough　to　salve　her　guilt；　which　she　supposed　didn't　say　much　for　the　quality　of　her　conscience。　
　〃Just　so　you　spell　Dojo　right；〃　Eddie　said。　Looking　back　and　down　at　his　right　leg；　he　added　happily；　〃Look　at　that　calf；　hard　as　rock。〃　
　As　if　she　hadn't　been　looking　at　it　all　along。　
　〃The　fat　layer　between　my　skin　and　the　muscle　underneath；　it's　hardly　there；　burned　it　all　away。〃　
　Another　reason　she　didn't　mind　lying　to　Eddie　was　because　he　was　a　vain；　self　involved　jerk。　
　〃Three　more　flights　to　the　top　of　the　monument；〃　he　said。　The　rhythm　of　his　speech　was　tied　to　the　pattern　of　his　breathing；　the　words　rising　and　falling　with　each　inhalation　and　exhalation。　
　〃Just　three？　Then　I'll　wait。〃　
　〃No；　no。　Ask　your　questions。　I　won't　stop　at　the　top。　I'm　gonna　see　how　much　of　the　Empire　State　Building　I　can　climb　next。〃　
　〃Ironheart　was　a　student　of　yours。〃　
　〃Yeah。　Taught　him　myself〃　〃He　came　to　you　long　before　he　won　the　lottery。〃　
　〃Yeah。　More　than　a　year　ago。〃　
　〃May　of　last　year；　I　think。〃　
　〃Mighta　been。〃　
　〃Did　he　tell　you　why　he　wanted　to　learn　Tae　Kwon　Do？〃　〃Nope。　But　he　had　a　passion。〃　He　almost　shouted　his　next　words；　as　if　he'd　triumphantly　pleted　a　real　climb：　〃Top　of　the　monument！〃　He　increased　his　pace　instead　of　slacking　off　〃Did　you　think　it　was　odd？〃　〃Why？〃　〃Him　being　a　schoolteacher；　I　mean。〃　
　〃We　get　schoolteachers。　We　get　all　kinds。　Everyone　wants　to　kick　ass。〃　
　He　sucked　in　a　very　deep　breath；　blew　it　out；　and　said；　〃In　the　Empire　State　now；　going　up。〃　
　〃Was　Ironheart　good？〃　〃Excellent！　Coulda　been　a　petitor。〃　
　〃Could've　been？　You　mean　he　dropped　out？〃　Breathing　a　little　harder　than　before；　the　words　ing　in　a　quicker　though　similar　rhythm；　he　said：　〃Hung　in　there　seven　or　eight　months。　
　Every　day。　He　was　a　real　glutton　for　punishment。　Pumping　iron　and　doing　aerobics　plus　martial　arts。　Ate　his　way　through　the　pain。　Man　was　getting　tough　enough　to　fuck　a　rock。　Sorry。　
　But　he　was。　Then　he　quit。　Two　weeks　after　he　won　the　bucks。〃　
　〃Ah；　I　see。〃　
　〃Don't　get　me　wrong。　Wasn't　the　money　that　made　him　quit。〃　
　〃Then　what？〃　〃He　said　I'd　given　him　what　he　needed；　he　didn't　want　any　more。〃　
　〃What　he　needed？〃　she　asked。　
　〃Enough　Tae　Kwon　Do　for　what　he　wanted　to　do。〃　
　〃Did　he　say　what　he　wanted　to　do？〃　〃Nope。　Kick　someone's　ass；　I　guess。〃　
　Eddie　was　really　pushing　himself　now；　ramming　his　feet　down　on　the　StairMaster；　pumping　and　pumping；　so　much　sweat　on　his　body　that　it　appeared　to　be　coated　in　oil；　droplets　spraying　off　his　hair　when　he　shoot　his　head；　the　muscles　in　his　arms　and　across　his　broad　back　bulging　almost　as　fiercely　as　those　in　his　thighs　and　calves。　
　Sitting　in　the　chair　about　eight　feet　from　the　man；　Holly　felt　as　if　she　were　ringside　at　some　sleazy　strip　club　where　the　gender　roles　had　reversed。　She　got　up。　
　Eddie　was　staring　straight　ahead　at　the　wall。　His　face　was　creased　lines　of　strain；　but　he　had　a　dreamy；　faraway　look　in　his　eyes。　Maybe　instead　of　the　wall；　he　saw　the　endless　stairwell　in　the　Empire　State　building。　
　〃Anything　else　he　ever　told　you　that　seemed。　。　。　interesting；　unusual？〃〃　she　asked。　
　Eddie　didn't　answer。　He　was　concentrating　on　the　climb。　The　arteries　in　his　neck　had　swelled　and　were　throbbing　as　if　evenly　spaced；　small；　fish　were　schooling　through　his　bloodstream。　
　As　Holly　reached　the　door；　Eddie　said；　〃Three　things。〃　；　She　turned　to　him　again。　〃Yeah？〃　Without　looking　at　her；　his　eyes　still　out　of　focus；　not　for　an　instant　slackening　his　pace；　speaking　to　her　from　the　stairwell　of　th