dk.coldfire-第23章

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　When　Holly　saw　him　ing　along　the　starboard　aisle；　she　was　so　startled　that　she　almost　popped　out　of　her　seat。　At　first　she　thought　he　was　looking　straight　at　her。　She　had　the　urge　to　start　blurting　out　a　confession　〃Yes；　all　right；　I've　been　following　you；　checking　up　on　you；　invading　your　privacy　with　a　vengeance〃…even　before　he　reached　her。　She　knew　precious　few　other　reporters　who　would　have　felt　guilty　about　probing　into　his　life；　but　she　couldn't　seem　to　eliminate　that　streak　of　decency　that　had　interfered　with　her　career　advancement　ever　since　she'd　gotten　her　journal　ism　degree。　It　almost　wrecked　everything　for　her　again…until　she　realized　he　was　looking　not　at　her　but　at　the　brunette　immediately　in　front　of　her　Holly　swallowed　hard；　and　slid　down　a　few　inches　in　her　seat　instead　of　leaping　up　in　a　frenzy　of　confession。　She　picked　up　the　airline's　magazine　which　she'd　previously　discarded；　slowly；　deliberately　she　opened　it　to　cover　her　face；　afraid　that　too　quick　a　move　would　draw　his　attention　before　she　had　concealed　herself　behind　those　glossy　pages。　
　The　magazine　blocked　her　view　of　him；　but　she　could　hear　everything　he　was　saying　and　most　of　the　woman's　responses。　She　listened　to　him　identify　himself　as　Steve　Harkman；　a　pany　ad　executive；　and　wondered　what　his　charade　was　all　about。　
　She　dared　to　tilt　her　head　far　enough　to　peek　around　the　magazine　with　one　eye。　Ironheart　was　hunkered　down　in　the　aisle　beside　the　woman's　seat；　so　close　that　Holly　could　have　spit　on　him；　although　she　was　no　more　practiced　at　target…spitting　than　she　was　at　clandestine　surveillance。　
　She　realized　her　hands　were　trembling；　making　the　magazine　rattle　softly。　She　untilted　her　head；　stared　at　the　pages　in　front　of　her；　and　concentrated　on　being　calm。　
　〃How　on　earth　did　you　recognize　me？〃　Christine　Dubrovek　asked。　
　〃Well；　Ed　doesn't　quite　paper　his　office　with　pictures　of　you　two；〃　Jim　said。　
　〃Oh；　that's　right；〃　she　said。　
　〃Listen；　Mrs。　Dubrovek…〃　〃Call　me　Christine。〃　
　〃Thank　you。　Christine。　。　。　I've　got　an　ulterior　motive　for　ing　over　here　and　pestering　you　like　this。　According　to　Ed；　you've　got　a　knack　for　matchmaking。〃　
　That　must　have　been　the　right　thing　to　say。　Already　aglow；　her　sweet　face　brightened　further。　〃Well；　I　do　like　getting　people　together　if　I　think　they're　right　for　each　other；　and　I've　got　to　admit　I've　had　more　than　a　little　success　at　it。〃　
　〃You　make　matches；　Mommy？〃　Casey　Dubrovek　asked。　
　Uncannily　in　synch　with　the　workings　of　her　six…year…old's　mind；　Christine　said；　〃Not　the　cigarette　kind；　honey。〃　
　〃Oh。　Good；〃　Casey　said；　then　returned　to　her　pop…up　storybook。　
　〃The　thing　is；〃　Jim　said；　〃I'm　new　in　Los　Angeles；　been　there　only　eight　weeks；　and　I'm　your　classic；　original　lonely　guy。　I　don't　like　singles'　bars；　don't　want　to　buy　a　gym　membership　just　to　meet　women；　and　figure　anybody　I'd　connect　with　through　a　puter　service　has　to　be　as　desperate　and　messed　up　as　I　am。〃　
　She　laughed。　〃You　don't　look　desperate　or　messed　up　to　me。〃　
　〃Excuse　me；　sir；〃　a　stewardess　said　with　friendly　firmness；　touching　Jim's　shoulder；　〃but　I　can't　allow　you　to　block　the　aisle。〃　
　〃Oh；　sure；　yeah；〃　he　said；　standing　up。　〃Just　give　me　a　minute。〃　
　Then　to　Christine：　〃Listen；　this　is　embarrassing；　but　I'd　really　like　to　talk　to　you；　tell　you　about　myself；　what　I'm　looking　for　in　a　woman；　and　see　if　maybe　you　know　someone。　？〃　〃Sure；　I'd　love　that；〃　Christine　said　with　such　enthusiasm　that　she　was　surely　the　reincarnation　of　either　some　hillbilly　woman　who　had　been　a　much　sought…after　troth…finder　or　a　successful　schatchen　from　Brooklyn。　
　〃Hey；　you　know；　the　two　seats　next　to　mine　are　empty；〃　he　said　〃Maybe　you　could　sit　with　me　the　rest　of　the　way。　。　。　。〃　
　He　expected　her　to　be　reluctant　to　give　up　window　seats；　and　an　unexpressable　twist　of　anxiety　knotted　his　stomach　while　he　waited　for　her　response。　
　But　she　hesitated　for　only　a　second　or　two。　〃Yes；　why　not。〃　
　The　stewardess；　still　hovering　near　them；　nodded　her　approval。　
　To　Jim；　Christine　said；　〃I　thought　Casey　would　like　the　scenery　from　way　up　here；　but　she　doesn't　seem　to　care　much。　Besides；　we're　almost　in　the　back　of　the　wing；　and　it　blocks　a　lot　of　our　view。〃　
　Jim　did　not　understand　the　reason　for　the　wave　of　relief　that　swept　through　him　when　he　secured　her　agreement　to　move；　but　a　lot　of　things　mystified　him　these　days。　〃Good；　great。　Thank　you；　Christine。〃　
　As　he　stepped　back　to　let　Christine　Dubrovek　get　up；　he　noticed　the　passenger　in　the　seat　behind　her。　The　poor　woman　was　evidently　terrified　of　flying。　She　was　holding　a　copy　of　Vis　Pis　in　front　of　her　face；　trying　to　take　her　mind　off　her　fears　with　a　little　reading；　but　her　hands　were　shaking　so　badly　that　the　magazine　rattled　continuously。　
　〃Where　are　you　sitting？〃　Christine　asked。　
　〃The　other　aisle；　row　sixteen。　e　on；　I'll　show　you。〃　
　He　lifted　her　single　piece　of　carry…on　luggage　while　she　and　Casey　gathered　up　a　few　other　small　items；　then　he　led　them　to　the　front　of　the　plane　and　around　to　the　port　aisle。　Casey　entered　row　sixteen；　and　her　mother　followed。　
　Before　Jim　settled　down　himself；　something　impelled　him　to　look　across　the　wide…bodied　plane　to　the　aerophobic　woman　whom　they　had　left　behind　in　row　twenty…three。　She　had　lowered　the　magazine。　She　was　watching　him。　He　knew　her。　
　Holly　Thorne。　
　He　was　stunned。　
　Christine　Dubrovek　said；　〃Steve？〃　Across　the　plane；　the　reporter　realized　that　Jim　had　seen　her。　She　wide…eyed；　frozen。　Like　a　deer　caught　in　car　headlights。　
　〃Steve？〃　He　looked　down　at　Christine　and　said；　Uh；　excuse　me　a　minute；　Christine　。　Just　a　minute。　I'll　be　right　back。　Wait　here。　Okay？　Wait　right　here。　
　He　went　forward　and　across　to　the　starboard　aisle　again。　
　His　heart　was　hammering。　His　throat　was　tight　with　fear。　But　he　didn't　know　why。　He　was　not　afraid　of　Holly　Thorne。　He　knew　at　once　that　her　presence　was　no　coincidence；　that　she　had　stumbled　on　to　his　secret　and　had　been　following　him。　But　right　now　he　didn't　care。　
　Discovery；　being　unmasked…that　was　not　what　frightened　him。　He　had　no　idea　what　was　cranking　up　his　anxiety；　but　it　was　escalating　to　a　level　at　which　adrenaline　would　soon　start　to　squirt　out　his　ears。　
　As　he　made　his　way　back　the　aisle　toward　the　reporter；　she　started　to　get　up。　Then　a　look　of　resignation　slid　across　her　face；　and　she　sat　down　again。　
　She　was　as　easy　to　look　at　as　he　remembered；　though　the　skin　around　her　eyes　was　slightly　dark；　as　if　from　lack　of　sleep。　
　When　he　arrived　at　row　twenty…three；　he　said；　〃e　on。〃　He　reached　for　her　hand。　
　She　did　not　give　it　to　him。　
　〃We've　got　to　talk；〃　he　said。　
　〃We　can　talk　here。〃　
　〃No；　we　can't。〃　
　The　stewardess　who　had　warned　him　about　blocking　the　aisle　was　approaching　again。　
　When　Holly　would　not　take　his　hand；　he　gripped　her　by　the　arm　and　urged　her　to　get　up；　hoping　she　would　not　force　him　to　yank　her　out　of　the　seat。　The　stewardess　probably　already　thought　he　was　some　perverted　Svengali　who　was　herding　up　the　best…looking　women　on　the　flight　to　surround　himself　with　a　harem　over　there　on　the　port　side。　Happily；　the　reporter　rose　without　further　protest。　
　He　led　her　back　through　the　plane　to　a　restroom。　It　was　not　occupied；　so　he　pushed　her　inside。　He　glanced　back；　expecting　to　see　the　stewardess　watching　him；　but　she　was　attending　to　another　passenger。　He　followed　Holly　into　the　tiny　cubicle　and　pulled　the　door　shut。　
　She　squeezed　into　the　corner；　trying　to　stay　as　far　away　from　him　as　possible；　but　they　were　still　virtually　nose　to　nose。　
　〃I'm　not　afraid　of　you；〃　she　said。　
　〃Good。　There's　no　reason　to　be。〃　
　Vibrations　were　conducted　well　by　the　burnished…steel　walls　of　the　lavatory。　The　deep　drone　of　the　engines　was　somewhat　louder　there　than　in　the　main　cabin。　
　She　said；　〃What　do　you　want？〃　〃You've　got　to　do　exactly　what　I　tell　you。〃　
　She　frowned。　〃Listen；　I〃　〃Exactly　what　I　tell　you；　and　no　arguments；　there's　no　time　for　arguments；〃　he　said　sharply；　wondering　what　the　hell　he　was　talking　about。　
　〃I　know　all　about　your〃　〃I　don't　care　what　you　know。　That's　not　important　now。〃　
　She　frowned。　〃You're　shaking　like　a　leaf〃　He　was　not　only　shaking　but　sweating。　The　lavatory　was　cool　enough　but　he　could　feel　beads　of　sweat　forming　across　his　forehead。　A　thin　trickle　coursed　down　his　right　temple　and　past　the　corner　of　his　eye。　
　Speaking　rapidly；　he　said；　〃I　want　you　to　e　forward　in　the　plane；　farther　front　near　me；　there're　a　couple　of　empty　seats　in　that　area。〃　
　〃But　I〃　〃You　can't　stay　where　you　are；　back　there　in　row　twenty…three；　no　way　She　was　not　a　docile　woman。　She　knew　her　own　mind；　and　she　was　not　used　to　being　told　what　to　do。　〃That's　my　seat。　
　Twenty…three　H。　You　can'　strongarm　me…〃　Impatiently；　he　said；　〃If　you　sit　there；　you're　going　to　die。〃　
　She　looked　no　more　surprised　than　he　felt…which　was　plenty　damned　surprised。　〃Die？　What　do　you　mean？〃　〃I　don't　know。〃　But　then　unwanted　knowledge　came　to　him。　〃Oh　Jesus。　
　Oh；　my　God。　We're　going　down。〃　
　〃What？〃　〃The　plane。〃　Now　his　heart　was　racing　faster　than　the　turbine　blades　of　the　great　engines　that　were　keeping　them　aloft。　〃Down。　All　the　way　down。〃　
　He　saw　her　inprehension　give　way　to　a　dreadful　understanding　〃Crash？〃　〃Yes。〃　
　〃When？〃　〃I　don't　know。　Soon。　Beyond　row　twenty；　almost　nobody's　going　to　survive。〃　He　did　not　know　what　he　was　going　to　say　until　he　said　it；　and　as　he　listened　to　his　own　words　he　was　horrified　by　them。　〃There'll　be　a　better　survival　rate　in　the　first　nine　rows；　but　not　good；　not　good　at　this　You've　got　to　move　into　my　section。〃　
　The　aircraft　shuddered。　
　Holly　stiffened　and　looked　around　fearfully；　as　if　she　expected　the　lavatory　walls　to　crumple　in　on　them。　
　〃Turbulence；〃　he　said。　〃Just　turbulence。　We've　got。　。　。　a　few　minutes　yet。〃　
　Evidently　she　had　learned　enough　about　him　to　have　faith　in　his　perception。　She　did　not　express　any　doubt。　〃I　don't　want　to　die。〃　
　With　an　increasing　sense　of　urgency；　Jim　gripped　her　by　the　shoulder　〃That's　why　you've　got　to　e　forward；　sit　near　me。　Nobody's　going　to　be　killed　in　rows　ten　through　twenty。　There'll　be　injuries；　a　few　of　them　serious；　but　nobody's　going　to　die　in　that　section；　and　a　lot　of　them　are　going　to　walk　out　of　it　unhurt。　Now；　for　God's　sake；　e　on。〃　
　He　reached　for　the　door　handle。　
　〃Wait。　You've　got　to　tell　the　pilot。〃　
　He　shook　his　head。　〃It　wouldn't　help。〃　
　〃But　maybe　there's　something　he　can　do；　stop　it　from　happening。〃　
　〃He　wouldn't　believe　me；　and　even　if　he　did。　。　。　I　don't　know　what　to　tell　him。　We're　going　down；　yeah；　but　I　don't　know　why。　Maybe　a　mid…air　collision；　maybe　structural　failure；　maybe　there's　a　bomb　aboard…it　could　be　anything。〃　
　〃But　you're　a　psychic；　you　must　be　able　to　see　more　details　if　you　try。〃　
　〃If　you　believe　I'm　a　psychic；　you　know　less　about　me　than　you　think　you　do。〃　
　〃You've　got　to　try。〃　
　〃Oh；　lady；　I'd　try；　I'd　try　like　a　sonofabitch　if　it　would　do　any　good。　
　But　it　won't。〃　
　Terror　and　curiosity　fought　for　control　of　her　face。　〃If　you're　not　a　psychic…what　are　you？〃　〃A　tool。〃　
　〃Tool？〃　〃Someone　or　something　uses　me。〃　
　The　DC…10　shuddered　again。　They　froze；　but　the　aircraft　did　not　take　a　sudden　plunge。　It　went　on　as　before；　its　three　big　engines　dronin