cb.booksofblood-第23章

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I　am　Viola。〃　The　voice　was　light　and　musical；　but　it　seemed　to　resound　in　her　body；　filling　each　phrase　with　an　undercurrent　of　suppressed　passion。
　　And　that　face。　It　was　wonderfully　alive；　the　features　playing　the　story　of　her　speech　with　delicate　economy。
　　She　was　enchanting。
　　〃I'm　sorry；〃　said　Hammersmith；　〃but　there　are　rules　and　regulations　about　this　sort　of　thing。　Is　she　Equity？〃
　　〃No；〃　said　Lichfield。
　　〃Well　you　see；　it's　impossible。　The　union　strictly　precludes　this　kind　of　thing。　They'd　flay　us　alive。〃
　　〃What's　it　to　you；　Hammersmith？〃　said　Galloway。　〃What　the　fuck　do　you　care？　You'll　never　need　set　foot　in　a　theatre　again　once　this　place　is　demolished。〃
　　〃My　wife　has　watched　the　rehearsals。　She　is　word　perfect。〃
　　〃It　could　be　magic；〃　said　Galloway；　his　enthusiasm　firing　up　with　every　moment　he　looked　at　Constantia。
　　〃You're　risking　the　Union；　Galloway；〃　Hammersmith　chided。
　　〃I'll　take　that　risk。〃
　　〃As　you　say；　it's　nothing　to　me。　But　if　a　little　bird　was　to　tell　them；　you'd　have　egg　on　your　face。〃
　　〃Hammersmith：　give　her　a　chance。　Give　all　of　us　a　chance。　If　Equity　blacks　me；　that's　my　look…out。〃　Hammersmith　sat　down　again。
　　〃Nobody'll　e；　you　know　that；　don't　you？　Diane　Duvall　was　a　star；　they　would　have　sat　through　your　turgid　production　to　see　her；　Galloway。　But　an　unknown。。。　Well；　it's　your　funeral。　Go　ahead　and　do　it；　I　wash　my　hands　of　the　whole　thing。　It's　on　your　head　Galloway；　remember　that。　I　hope　they　flay　you　for　it。〃
　　〃Thank　you；〃　said　Lichfield。　〃Most　kind。〃　Hammersmith　began　to　rearrange　his　desk；　to　give　more　prominence　to　the　bottle　and　the　glass。　The　interview　was　over：　he　wasn't　interested　in　these　butterifies　any　longer。
　　〃Go　away；〃　he　said。　〃Just　go　away。〃
　　
　　〃I　have　one　or　two　requests　to　make；〃　Lichfield　told　Galloway　as　they　left　the　office。　〃Alterations　to　the　production　which　would　enhance　my　wife's　performance。〃
　　〃What　are　they？〃
　　〃For　Constantia's　fort；　I　would　ask　that　the　lighting　levels　be　taken　down　substantially。　She's　simply　not　accustomed　to　performing　under　such　hot；　bright　lights。〃
　　〃Very　well。〃
　　〃I'd　also　request　that　we　install　a　row　of　footlights。〃
　　〃Footlights？〃
　　〃An　odd　requirement；　I　realize；　but　she　feels　much　happier　with　footlights。〃
　　〃They　tend　to　dazzle　the　actors；〃　said　Galloway。　〃It　bees　difficult　to　see　the　audience。〃
　　〃Nevertheless。。。　I　have　to　stipulate　their　installation。〃
　　〃OK。〃
　　〃Thirdly…I　would　ask　that　all　scenes　involving　kissing；　embracing　or　otherwise　touching　Constantia　be　re…directed　to　remove　every　instance　of　physical　contact　whatsoever。〃
　　〃Everything？〃
　　〃Everything。〃
　　〃For　God's　sake　why？〃
　　〃My　wife　needs　no　business　to　dramatize　the　working　of　the　heart；　Terence。〃　That　curious　intonation　on　the　word　〃heart〃。　Working　of　the　heart。
　　Galloway　caught　Constantia's　eye　for　the　merest　of　moments。　It　was　like　being　blessed。
　　〃Shall　we　introduce　our　new　Viola　to　the　pany？〃　Lichfield　suggested。
　　〃Why　not？〃　The　trio　went　into　the　theatre。
　　
　　The　re…arranging　of　the　blocking　and　the　business　to　exclude　any　physical　contact　was　simple。　And　though　the　rest　of　the　cast　were　initially　wary　of　their　new　colleague；　her　unaffected　manner　and　her　natural　grace　soon　had　them　at　her　feet。　Besides；　her　presence　meant　that　the　show　would　go　on。
　　
　　At　six；　Galloway　called　a　break；　announcing　that　they'd　begin　the　Dress　at　eight；　and　telling　them　to　go　out　and　enjoy　themselves　for　an　hour　or　so。　The　pany　went　their　ways；　buzzing　with　a　new…found　enthusiasm　for　the　production。　What　had　looked　like　a　shambles　half　a　day　earlier　now　seemed　to　be　shaping　up　quite　well。　There　were　a　thousand　things　to　be　sniped　at；　of　course：　technical　shortings；　costumes　that　fitted　badly；　directorial　foibles。　All　par　for　the　course。　In　fact；　the　actors　were　happier　than　they'd　been　in　a　good　while。　Even　Ed　Cunningham　was　not　above　passing　a　pliment　or　two。
　　
　　Lichfield　found　Tallulah　in　the　Green　Room；　tidying。
　　〃Tonight。　。　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　〃You　must　not　be　afraid。〃
　　〃I'm　not　afraid；〃　Tallulah　replied。　What　a　thought。　As　if…'
　　〃There　may　be　some　pain；　which　I　regret。　For　you；　indeed　for　all　of　us。〃
　　〃I　understand。〃
　　〃Of　course　you　do。　You　love　the　theatre　as　I　love　it：　you　know　the　paradox　of　this　profession。　To　play　life。　ah；　Tallulah；　to　play　life。。。　what　a　curious　thing　it　is。　Sometimes　I　wonder；　you　know；　how　long　I　can　keep　up　the　illusion。〃
　　〃It's　a　wonderful　performance；〃　she　said。
　　〃Do　you　think　so？　Do　you　really　think　so？〃　He　was　encouraged　by　her　favourable　review。　It　was　so　gaffing；　to　have　to　pretend　all　the　time；　to　fake　the　flesh；　the　breath；　the　look　of　life。　Grateful　for　Tallulah's　opinion；　he　reached　for　her。
　　〃Would　you　like　to　die；　Tallulah？〃
　　〃Does　it　hurt？〃
　　〃Scarcely　at　all。〃
　　〃It　would　make　me　very　happy。〃
　　〃And　so　it　should。〃　His　mouth　covered　her　mouth；　and　she　was　dead　in　less　than　a　minute；　conceding　happily　to　his　inquiring　tongue。　He　laid　her　out　on　the　threadbare　couch　and　locked　the　door　of　the　Green　Room　with　her　own　key。　She'd　cool　easily　in　the　chill　of　the　room；　and　be　up　and　about　again　by　the　time　the　audience　arrived。
　　
　　At　six…fifteen　Diane　Duvall　got　out　of　a　taxi　at　the　front　of　the　Elysium。　It　was　well　dark；　a　windy　November　night；　but　she　felt　fine；　nothing　could　depress　tonight。　Not　the　dark；　not　the　cold。
　　Unseen；　she　made　her　way　past　the　posters　that　bore　her　face　and　name；　and　through　the　empty　auditorium　to　her　dressing…room。　There；　smoking　his　way　through　a　pack　of　cigarettes；　she　found　the　object　of　her　affection。
　　〃Terry。〃　She　posed　in　the　doorway　for　a　moment；　letting　the　fact　of　her　reappearance　sink　in。　He　went　quite　white　at　the　sight　of　her；　so　she　pouted　a　little。　It　wasn't　easy　to　pout。　There　was　a　stiffness　in　the　muscles　of　her　face　but　she　carried　off　the　effect　to　her　satisfaction。
　　Galloway　was　lost　for　words。　Diane　looked　ill；　no　two　ways　about　it；　and　if　she'd　left　the　hospital　to　take　up　her　part　in　the　Dress　Rehearsal　he　was　going　to　have　to　convince　her　otherwise。　She　was　wearing　no　make…up；　and　her　ash…blonde　hair　needed　a　wash。
　　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃　he　asked；　as　she　closed　the　door　behind　her。
　　〃Unfinished　business；〃　she　said。
　　〃Listen。。　。　I've　got　something　to　tell　you。　。
　　God；　this　was　going　to　be　messy。　〃We've　found　a　replacement；　in　the　show。〃　She　looked　at　him　blankly。　He　hurried　on；　tripping　over　his　own　words；　〃We　thought　you　were　out　of　mission；　I　mean；　not　permanently；　but；　you　know；　for　the　opening　at　least。　。　。〃
　　〃Don't　worry；〃　she　said。　His　jaw　dropped　a　little。　〃Don't　worry？〃　〃What's　it　to　me？〃
　　〃You　said　you　came　back　to　finish…；　He　stopped。　She　was　unbuttoning　the　top　of　her　dress。
　　She's　not　serious；　he　thought；　she　can't　be　serious。　Sex？　Now？
　　〃I've　done　a　lot　of　thinking　in　the　last　few　hours；〃　she　said　as　she　shimmied　the　crumpled　dress　over　her　hips；　let　it　fall；　and　stepped　out　of　it。　She　was　wearing　a　white　bra；　which　she　tried；　unsuccessfully；　to　unhook。　〃I've　decided　I　don't　care　about　the　theatre。　Help　me；　will　you？〃　She　turned　round　and　presented　her　back　to　him。　Automatically　he　unhooked　the　bra；　not　really　analysing　whether　he　wanted　this　or　not。　It　seemed　to　be　a　fait　acpli。　She'd　e　back　to　finish　what　they'd　been　interrupted　doing；　simple　as　that。　And　despite　the　bizarre　noises　she　was　making　in　the　back　of　her　throat；　and　the　glassy　look　in　her　eyes；　she　was　still　an　attractive　woman。　She　turned　again；　and　Galloway　stared　at　the　fullness　of　her　breasts；　paler　than　he'd　remembered　them；　but　lovely。　His　trousers　were　being　unfortably　tight；　and　her　performance　was　only　worsening　his　situation；　the　way　she　was　grinding　her　hips　like　the　rawest　of　Soho　strippers；　running　her　hands　between　her　legs。
　　〃Don't　worry　about　me；〃　she　said。　〃I've　made　up　my　mind。　All　I　really　want。　。　。〃　She　put　her　hands；　so　recently　at　her　groin；　on　his　face。　They　were　icy　cold。
　　〃All　I　really　want　is　you。　I　can't　have　sex　and　the　stage　There　es　a　time　in　everyone's　life　when　decisions　have　to　be　made。〃　She　licked　her　lips。　There　was　no　film　of　moisture　left　on　her　mouth　when　her　tongue　had　passed　over　it。
　　〃The　accident　made　me　think；　made　me　analyse　what　it　is　I　really　care　about。　And　frankly…〃　She　was　unbuckling　his　belt。　〃…I　don't　give　a　shit…〃　Now　the　zip。
　　〃…about　this；　or　any　other　fucking　play。〃　His　trousers　fell　down。
　　〃…I'll　show　you　what　I　care　about。〃　She　reached　into　his　briefs；　and　clasped　him。　Her　cold　hand　somehow　made　the　touch　sexier。　He　laughed；　closing　his　eyes　as　she　pulled　his　briefs　down　to　the　middle　of　his　thigh　and　knelt　at　his　feet。
　　She　was　as　expert　as　ever；　her　throat　open　like　a　drain。　Her　mouth　was　somewhat　drier　than　usual；　her　tongue　scouring　him；　but　the　sensations　drove　him　wild。　It　was　so　good；　he　scarcely　noticed　the　ease　with　which　she　devoured　him；　taking　him　deeper　than　she'd　ever　managed　previously；　using　every　trick　she　knew　to　goad　him　higher　and　higher。　Slow　and　deep；　then　picking　up　speed　until　he　almost　came；　then　slowing　again　until　the　need　passed。　He　was　pletely　at　her　mercy。
　　He　opened　his　eyes　to　watch　her　at　work。　She　was　skewering　herself　upon　him；　face　in　rapture。
　　〃God；〃　he　gasped；　〃that　is　so　good。　Oh　yes；　oh　yes。〃　Her　face　didn't　even　flicker　in　response　to　his　words；　she　just　continued　to　work　at　him　soundlessly。　She　wasn't　making　her　usual　noises；　the　small　grunts　of　satisfaction；　the　heavy　breathing　through　the　nose。　She　just　ate　his　flesh　in　absolute　silence。
　　He　held　his　breath　a　moment；　while　an　idea　was　born　in　his　belly。　The　bobbing　head　bobbed　on；　eyes　closed；　lips　clamped　around　his　member；　utterly　engrossed。　Half　a　minute　passed；　a　minute；　a　minute　and　a　half。　And　now　his　belly　was　full　of　terrors。
　　She　wasn't　breathing。　She　was　giving　this　matchless　blow…job　because　she　wasn't　stopping；　even　for　a　moment；　to　inhale　or　exhale。
　　Calloway　felt　his　body　go　rigid；　while　his　erection　wilted　in　her　throat。　She　didn't　falter　in　her　labour；　the　relentless　pumping　continued　at　his　groin　even　as　his　mind　formed　the　unthinkable　thought：　She's　dead。
　　She　has　me　in　her　mouth；　in　her　cold　mouth；　and　she's　dead。　That's　why　she'd　e　back；　got　up　off　her　mortuary　slab　and　e　back。　She　was　eager　to　finish　what　she'd　started；　no　longer　caring　about　the　play；　or　her　usurper。　It　was　this　act　she　valued；　this　act　alone。　She'd　chosen　to　perform　it　for　eternity。
　　Galloway　could　do　nothing　with　the　realization　but　stare　down　like　a　damn　fool　while　this　corpse　gave　him　head。
　　Then　it　seemed　she　sensed　his　horror。　She　opened　her　eyes　and　looked　up　at　him。　How　could　he　ever　have　mistaken　that　dead　stare　for　life？　Gently；　she　withdrew　his　shrunken　manhood　from　between　her　lips。
　　〃What　is　it？〃　she　asked；　her　fluting　voice　still　affecting　life。
　　〃You。　。　。　you're　not。　。　。　breathing。〃　Her　face　fell。　She　let　him　go。
　　〃Oh　darling；〃　she　said；　letting　all　pretence　to　life　disappear；　〃I'm　not　so　good　at　playing　the　part；　am　I？〃　Her　voice　was　a　ghost's　voice：　thin；　forlorn。　Her　skin；　which　he　had　thought　so　flatteringly　pale　was；　on　second　view；　a　waxen　white。
　　〃You　are　dead？〃　he　said