cb.coldheart canyon-第46章

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rpreted　the　lights　more　benignly。　They　were　messengers　from　God；　this　faction　claimed；　angels　sent　to　guide　the　deceased　out　of　the　coil　of　mortal　confusions　into　the　next　life。　If　this　was　the　case　then　these　heavenly　presences　were　not　happy　that　Hell　now　had　a　stronghold　in　the　Canyon。　Though　the　dead　came　there；　the　lights　did　not。　Indeed　on　several　occasions　they　were　seen　at　the　bottom　of　the　hill；　three　or　four　of　them　gathered　in　a　cloud　of　luminescence；　plainly　unwilling　to　venture　into　the　Canyon。
　 For　her　part；　Katya　took　such　reports　as　evidence　that　her　defenses　were　working。　Nobody　could　get　into　her　precious　Canyon。　Or　such　was　her　conviction。
　 In　fact　her　sense　of　security；　like　so　much　else　in　her　increasingly　fragile　life；　was　an　illusion。
　 One　evening；　walking　in　the　garden；　the　dogs　suddenly　got　crazy；　and　out　of　the　darkness　stepped　Rudy　Valentino。　He　looked　entirely　unchanged　by　death：　his　skin　as　smooth　as　ever；　his　hair　as　brilliantly　coifed；　his　clothes　as　flawless。
　 He　bowed　deeply　to　her。
　 〃My　apologies；〃　he　said；　〃for　ing　here。　I　know　I'm　not　wele。　
　
　But　frankly；　I　didn't　know　where　else　to　go。〃
　 There　was　no　hint　of　manipulation　in　this；　it　seemed　to　be　the　unvarnished　truth。
　 〃I　went　home　to　Falcon　Lair；〃　Rudy　went　on；　〃but　it's　been　trampled　over　by　so　many　people；　it　doesn't　feel　as　though　it's　mine　any　more。　Please。。。I　beg　you。。。don't　be　afraid　of　me。〃
　 〃I'm　not　afraid　of　you；〃　Katya　replied；　quite　truthfully。　〃There　were　always　ghosts　in　my　village。　We　used　to　see　them　all　the　time。　My　grandmother　used　to　sing　me　to　sleep；　and　she'd　been　dead　ten　years。　But　Rudy；　let's　be　honest。　I　know　why　you're　up　here。　You　want　to　get　in　to　see　the　Hunt…〃
　 〃…just　for　a　little　while。〃
　 〃No。〃
　 〃Please。〃
　 〃No！〃　she　said；　waving　him　away；　〃I　really　don't　want　to　hear　any　more　of　this。　Why　don't　you　just　go　back　to　Sicily？〃
　 〃Costellaneta。〃
　 〃Wherever。　I'm　sure　they'll　be　pleased　to　see　the　ghost　of　their　favorite　son。〃
　 She　turned　her　back　on　him　and　walked　back　towards　the　house。　She　heard　him　following　on　after　her；　his　heels　light　on　the　grass；　but　solid　enough。
　 〃It's　true　what　they　said　about　you。　Cold　heart。〃
　 〃You　say　whatever　you　like；　Rudy。　Just　leave　me　alone。〃
　 He　stopped　following　her。
　 〃You　think　I'm　the　only　one？〃　he　said　to　her。
　 His　words　brought　her　to　a　halt。
　 〃They're　all　going　to　e　up　here；　in　time。　It　doesn't　matter　how　many　dogs　you　have；　how　many　guards。　They'll　get　in。　Your　beautiful　Canyon's　going　to　be　full　of　ghosts。〃
　 〃Stop　being　childish；　Rudy；〃　she　said；　turning　back　to　look　at　him。
　 〃Is　that　how　you　want　to　live；　Katya？　Like　a　prisoner；　surrounded　by　the　dead？　Is　that　the　life　you　had　in　mind　for　yourself？〃
　 〃I'm　not　a　prisoner。　I　can　leave　whenever　I　want　to。〃
　 〃And　still　be　a　great　star？　No。　To　be　a　star　you　will　have　to　be　here；　in　Hollywood。〃
　 〃So？〃
　 〃So　you　will　have　pany；　night　and　day。　The　dead　will　be　here　with　you；　night　and　day。　We　will　not　be　ignored。〃
　 〃You　keep　saying　we；　Rudy。　But　I　only　see　you。〃
　 〃The　others　will　e。　They'll　all　find　their　way　here；　sooner　or　later。　Did　you　know　Virginia　Maple　hanged　herself　last　night？　You　remember　Virginia？　Or　perhaps　you　don't。　She　was…〃
　 〃I　know　Virginia。　And　no；　I　didn't　know　she　hanged　herself。　Nor；　frankly；　do　I　much　care。〃
　 〃She　couldn't　take　the　pain。〃
　 〃The　pain？〃
　 〃Of　being　kept　out　of　this　house！　Being　kept　away　from　the　Devil's　Country。〃
　 〃It's　my　house。　I　have　a　perfect　right　to　invite　whoever　I　like　into　it。〃
　 〃You　see　nothing　but　yourself；　do　you？〃
　 〃Oh　please；　Rudy；　no　lectures　on　narcissism。　Not　from　you；　of　all　people。〃
　 〃I　see　things　differently　now。〃
　 〃Oh　I'm　sure　you　do。　I'm　sure　you　regret　every　self…obsessed　moment　of　your　petty　little　life。　But　that's　really　not　my　problem；　now　is　it？〃
　
　 The　color　of　the　ghost　before　her　suddenly　changed。　In　a　heartbeat　he　became　a　stain　of　yellow　and　gray；　his　fury　rising　in　palpable　waves　off　his　face。
　 〃I　will　make　it　your　problem；〃　he　shrieked。　He　strode　towards　her。　〃You　selfish　bitch。〃
　 〃And　what　did　they　call　you？〃　she　snapped　back。　〃Powder…puff；　was　it？〃
　 It　was　an　insult　she　knew　would　strike　him　hard。　Just　the　year　before　an　anonymous　journalist　in　the　Chicago　Tribune　had　called　him　'a　pink　powder　puff'。　'Why　didn't　somebody　quietly　drown　Rudolph　Guglielmi；　alias　Valentino；　years　ago？'　he'd　written。　Rudy　had　challenged　the　man　to　a　boxing　match；　to　see　which　of　them　was　truly　the　more　virile。　The　journalist　had　of　course　never　shown　his　face。　But　the　insult　had　stuck。　And　hearing　it　repeated　now　threw　Valentino　into　such　a　rage　that　he　pitched　himself　at　Katya；　reaching　for　her　throat。　She　had　half…expected　his　phantom　body　to　be　so　unsubstantial　that　his　hands　would　fail　to　make　any　real　contact。　But　not　so。　Though　the　flesh　and　blood　of　him　had　been　reduced　to　an　urn　full　of　ashes；　his　spirit…form　had　a　force　of　its　own。　She　felt　his　fingers　at　her　neck　as　though　they　were　living　tissue。　They　stopped　her　breath。
　 She　was　no　passive　victim。　She　pushed　him　back　with　the　heel　of　one　hand；　raking　his　features　from　brow　to　mid…cheek　with　the　other。　Blood　came　from　the　wounds；　stinking　faintly　of　bad　meat。　A　disgusted　expression　crossed　Valentino's　face；　as　he　caught　a　whiff　of　his　own　excremental　self。　The　shock　of　it　made　him　loose　his　hold　on　her；　and　she　quickly　pulled　away　from　him。
　 In　life；　she'd　remembered；　he'd　always　been　overly　sensitive　to　smells；　a　consequence；　perhaps；　of　the　fact　that　he'd　been　brought　up　in　the　stench　of　poverty。　His　hand　went　up　his　wounded　face；　and　he　sniffed　his　fingers；　a　look　of　profound　revulsion　on　his　face。
　 She　laughed　out　loud　at　the　sight。　Valentino's　fury　had　suddenly　lost　its　bite。　It　was　as　though　in　that　moment　he　suddenly　understood　the　depths　to　which　the　Devil's　Country　had　brought　him。
　 And　then；　out　of　the　darkness；　Zeffer　called：　〃What　the　hell's　going　on　out…〃
　 He　didn't　finish　his　question：　he'd　seen　Valentino。
　 〃Oh；　Jesus　Christ　Almighty；〃　he　said。
　 Hearing　the　Lord's　name　taken　in　vein；　Valentino…good　Catholic　boy　that　he　was…crossed　himself；　and　fled　into　the　darkness。
　
　 Valentino's　vengeful　prediction　proved　entirely　accurate：　in　the　next　few　weeks　the　haunting　of　Coldheart　Canyon　began。
　 At　first　the　signs　were　nothing　too　terrible：　a　change　in　the　timbre　of　the　coyotes'　yelps；　the　heads　torn　off　all　the　roses　one　night；　the　next　all　the　petals　off　the　bougainvillea；　the　appearance　on　the　lawn　of　a　frightened　deer；　throwing　its　glassy　gaze　back　towards　the　thicket　in　terror。　It　was　Zeffer's　opinion　that　they　were　somehow　going　to　need　to　make　peace　with　'our　unwanted　guests'；　as　he　put　it；　or　the　consequences　would　surely　be　traumatic。　These　were　not　ethereal　presences；　he　pointed　out；　wafting　around　in　a　hapless　daze。　If　they　were　all　like　Valentino　（and　why　should　they　not　be？）　then　they　posed　a　physical　threat。
　 〃They　could　murder　us　in　our　beds；　Katya；〃　he　said　to　her。
　 〃Valentino　wouldn't…〃
　 〃Maybe　not　Valentino；　but　there　are　others；　plenty　of　others；　who　hated　you　with　a　vengeance。　Virginia　Maple　for　one。　She　was　a　jealous　woman。　Remember？　And　then　to　hang　herself　because　of　something　you　did　to　her…〃
　 〃I　did　nothing　to　her！　I　just　let　her　play　in　that　damn　room。　A　room　which　you　brought　into　our　lives。〃
　 Zeffer　covered　his　face。　〃I　knew　it　would　e　down　to　that　eventually。　Yes；　I'm　responsible。　I　was　a　fool　to　bring　it　here。　I　just　thought　it　would　amuse　you。〃
　 She　gave　him　a　strangely　ambiguous　look。　〃Well；　you　know；　it　did。　How　can　I　deny　that？　It　still　does。　I　love　the　feeling　I　get　when　I'm　in　there；　touching　the　tiles。　I　feel　more　alive。〃　She　walked　over　to　him；　and　for　a　moment　he　thought　she　was　going　to　grant　him　some　physical　contact：　a　stroke；　a　blow；　a　kiss。　He　didn't　really　mind。　Anything　was　better　than　her　indifference。　But　she　simply　said：　〃You　caused　this；　Willem。　You　have　to　solve　it。〃
　 〃But　how？　Perhaps　if　I　could　find　Father　Sandru…〃
　 〃He's　not　going　to　take　the　tiles　back；　Willem。〃
　 〃I　don't　see　why　not。〃
　 〃Because　I　won't　let　him！　Christ；　Willem！　I've　been　in　there　every　day　since　you　gave　me　the　key。　It's　in　my　blood　now。　If　I　lose　the　room；　it'll　be　the　death　of　me。〃
　 〃So　we'll　move　and　we'll　take　the　room　with　us。　It's　been　moved　before。　We'll　leave　the　ghosts　behind。〃
　 〃Wherever　the　Hunt　goes；　they'll　follow。　And　sooner　or　later　they'll　get　so　impatient；　they'll　hurt　us。〃
　 Zeffer　nodded。　There　was　truth　in　all　of　this；　bitter　though　it　was。
　 〃What　in　God's　name　have　we　done？〃　he　said。
　 〃Nothing　we　can't　mend；〃　Katya　replied。　〃You　should　go　back　to　Romania；　and　find　Sandru。　Maybe　there's　some　defense　we　can　put　up　against　the　ghosts。〃
　 〃Where　will　you　stay　while　I'm　gone？〃
　 〃I'll　stay　here。　I'm　not　afraid　of　Rudy　Valentino；　dead　or　alive。　Nor　that　idiotic　bitch　Virginia　Maple。　If　I　don't　stay；　they'll　find　their　way　in。〃
　 〃Would　that　be　such　a　bad　thing？　Why　not　let　them　share　the　place？　We　could　make　a　pile　of　them　on　the　lawn　and…〃
　 〃No。　That　room　is　mine。　All　of　it。　Every　damn　tile。〃
　 The　quiet　ferocity　with　which　she　spoke　silenced　him。　He　just　stared　at　her　for　perhaps　a　minute；　while　she　lit　a　cigarette；　her　fingers　trembling。　Finally；　he　summoned　up　enough　courage　to　say：　〃You　are　afraid。〃
　 She　stared　out　of　the　window；　almost　as　though　she　hadn't　heard　him。　When　she　spoke　again　her　voice　was　as　soft　as　it　had　been　strident　a　minute　ago。
　 〃I'm　not　afraid　of　the　dead；　Willem。　But　I　am　afraid　of　what　will　happen　to　me　if　I　lose　the　room。〃　She　looked　at　the　palm　of　her　hand；　as　though　she　might　find　her　future　written　there。　But　it　wasn't　the　lines　of　her　hand　she　was　admiring；　it　was　its　smoothness。　〃Being　in　the　Devil's　Country　has　made　me　feel　younger；　Willem。　It　did　that　to　everybody。　Younger。　Sexier。　But　as　soon　as　it's　taken　away。。。〃
　 〃。。。yes。　You'll　get　sick。〃
　 〃I'm　never　going　to　get　sick。〃　She　allowed　herself　the　time　for　a　smile。　〃Perhaps　I'm　never　going　to　die。〃
　 〃Don't　be　foolish。〃
　 〃I　mean　it。〃
　 〃So　do　I。　Don't　be　foolish。　Whatever　you　think　the　room　can　do；　it　won't　make　you　immortal。〃
　 The　wisp　of　a　smile　remained　on　her　face。　〃Wouldn't　you　like　that；　Willem？〃
　 〃No。〃
　 〃Just　a　little　bit？〃
　 〃I　said　no；〃　he　shook　his　head；　his　voice　dropping。　〃Not　any　more。〃
　 〃Meaning　what？〃
　 〃What　do　you　think　I　mean？　This　life　of　ours。。。isn't　worth　living。〃
　 There　was　a　silence　between　them。　It　lasted　two；　three；　four　minutes。　Rain　began　to　hit　the　window；　fat　spots　of　it　bursting　against　the　glass。
　 〃I'll　find　Sandru　for　you；〃　Willem　said　finally。　〃Or　if　not　him；　somebody　who　knows　how　to　deal　with　these　things。　I'll　find　a　solution。〃
　 〃Do　that；〃　she　said。　〃And　if　you　can't；　don't　bother　to　e　back。〃
　
　
　PART　SIX
　THE　DEVIL'S　COUNTRY
　
　ONE
　 Todd　knew　the　mechanics　of　illusion　passably　well。　He'd　always　enjoyed　watching　the　special　effects　guys　at　work；　or　the　stuntmen　with　their　rigs；　and　now　there　was　a　new　generation　of　illusionists　who　worked　with　tools　that　the　old　matte　painters　and　model…makers　of　an　earlier　time　could　not　even　have　imagined。　He'd　been　in　a　couple　of　pictures　in　which　he'd　played　entire