cb.coldheart canyon-第55章

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　the　doors？
　 The　question　went　from　her　head　the　next　instant；　driven　out　by　a　wail　of　demand　from　below。
　 〃Todd？〃
　 It　was　Katya；　of　course。　She　had　finally　stirred　from　her　fugue　state　and　was　ing　up　the　stairs　after　them。　Speaking　in　her　sweetest　voice。　Her　e…hither　voice。
　 〃Todd；　where　are　you　going？〃
　 Tammy　felt　nauseous。　Katya　could　still　do　them　harm。　She　still　had　power　over　Todd　and　she　knew　it。　That　was　why　she　put　on　that　little　girl　questioning　voice。
　 〃Todd？〃　Katya　said　again。　〃Wait；　darling。〃
　 If　she　let　go　of　him；　Tammy　guessed；　he　would　obey　Katya's　request。　And　then　they'd　be　lost。　Katya　would　never　let　him　go。　She'd　kill　him　rather　than　let　him　escape　her　a　second　time。
　 There　wasn't　much　advice　Tammy　could　give　to　Todd　except：　〃Don't　look　back。〃
　 He　glanced　at　her；　his　expression　plaintive。　It　made　her　feel　as　though　she　were　leading　a　child　rather　than　a　grown　man。
　 〃We　can't　just　leave　her　here；〃　he　said。
　 〃After　what　she　just　did！〃
　 〃Don't　listen　to　her；〃　Katya　said；　her　voice　suddenly　a　siren…song；　the　little…girl　lightness　erased　in　favor　of　something　more　velvety。　〃She　just　wants　you　for　herself。〃
　 Todd　frowned。
　 〃You　can't　leave　me；　Todd。〃
　 And　then　more　softly　still：　〃I　won't　let　you　leave　me。〃
　 〃Just　remember　what　she　did　down　there；〃　Tammy　said　to　Todd。

　 〃Zeffer　was　a　nuisance；〃　Katya　said。　She　was　getting　closer；　Tammy　knew；　her　voice　had　dropped　to　a　sultry　murmur。　〃I　never　loved　him；　Todd。　You　know　that。　He　hung　around　causing　trouble。　Listen　to　me。　You　don't　want　to　go　with　this　woman。　Look　at　her；　then　look　at　me。　See　what　a　choice　you're　making。〃
　 Tammy　half…expected　Todd　to　obey　Katya's　instruction。　But　Todd　simply　studied　the　stairs　as　they　climbed；　which　under　the　circumstances　was　a　minor　triumph。　Perhaps　he　still　had　the　will…power　in　him　to　resist　Katya；　Tammy　thought。　He　wasn't　her　object　yet。
　 Even　so　the　murdering　bitch　wasn't　ready　to　give　up。
　 〃Todd？〃　Katya　said；　now　casual；　as　though　none　of　this　was　of　any　great　significance。　〃Will　you　turn　round　for　a　moment？　Just　for　a　moment？　Please。　I　want　to　see　your　face　before　you　go。　That's　not　asking　much；　now　is　it？　Just　one　more　time。　I　can't　bear　it。　Please。　Todd。。。I。。。can't。。。bear　it。〃
　 Oh　Lord；　Tammy　thought；　she's　turning　on　the　tears。　She　knew　how　potent　a　well…timed　flood　of　tears　could　be。　Her　sister　had　always　been　very　quick　to　turn　on　the　waterworks　when　she　wanted　something；　and　it　had　usually　done　the　trick。
　 〃Please；　my　love。。。〃
　 It　was　almost　believable；　the　words　catching　in　her　throat；　the　soft　sob。
　 〃。。。don't　go。　I　won't　be　able　to　live　without　you。〃
　 They　were　still　a　few　strides　from　the　front　door。　Then；　once　they　were　out；　they　had　to　get　along　the　pathway　and　onto　the　street。　Somehow　she　doubted　Katya's　power　extended　far　beyond　the　limits　of　the　house。　The　Canyon　might　have　been　hers　once　upon　a　time；　but　she'd　lost　control　of　it　in　the　decades　since　her　heyday。　Now　it　belonged　to　the　ghosts　and　the　animals；　and　the　bestial　offspring　of　both。
　 Still　coaxing　Todd　after　her；　Tammy　made　her　way　across　the　hallway　to　the　front　door。
　 Behind　them；　Katya　kept　up　her　tearful　appeals：　declarations　of　love；　interspersed　with　sobs。　Then　more　appeals　for　him　to　turn　around　and　look　at　her。
　 〃You　don't　want　to　go；〃　she　called　to　Todd；　〃you　know　you　don't。　Especially　with　her。　Lord；　Todd；　look　at　her。　You　really　want　that？〃
　 Finally；　Tammy　snapped。　〃How　the　hell　do　you　know　what　he　wants；　bitch？〃　she　said；　turning　to　look　round　at　the　woman　on　their　heels。
　 〃Because　we're　soul…mates；〃　Katya　said。
　 Her　eyes　were　swollen　and　red；　Tammy　noted　with　some　satisfaction；　and　there　were　tears　pouring　down　her　face。　Her　mascara　was　running　down　her　pale　cheeks　in　two　black　rivulets。　〃He　knows　it's　true；〃　Katya　went　on。　〃We've　suffered　the　same　way。　Haven't　we；　Todd？　Remember　how　you　said　it　was　like　I　was　reading　your　mind？　And　I　said　it　was　because　we　were　the　same；　deep　down？　Remember　that？〃
　 〃Ignore　her；〃　Tammy　said。　They　were　no　more　than　three　strides　from　the　front　door。
　 But　Katya…realizing　she　was　close　to　losing…had　one　last　trick　up　her　sleeve。　One　final　power…play。　〃If　you　step　out　of　this　house；〃　she　said　to　Todd；　〃then　it's　over　between　us。　Do　you　understand　me？　If　you　stay…oh；　if　you　stay；　my　darling…then　I'm　yours。　I'm　yours　body　and　soul…I　mean　it：　body　and　soul。　But　if　you　go　it'll　be　as　though　you　never　existed。〃
　 Finally；　something　she　said　carried　enough　weight　to　stop　Todd　in　his　tracks。
　 〃Ignore　her；〃　Tammy　said。　〃Please。〃
　 〃You　know　I　can　do　that；〃　Katya　went　on。
　 Todd　turned；　and　looked　back　at　her；　which　was　exactly　what　Tammy　was　praying　he　wouldn't　do。　Katya　was　standing　in　the　darkness　close　to　the　top　of　the　stairs　but　the　shadows　did　not　conceal　the　fierce　brilliance　of　her　stare。　Her　eyes　seemed　to　flicker　in　the　murk；　as　though　there　were　flames　behind　them。
　 Now　she　had　succeeded　in　making　him　look　at　her　again；　she　softened　her　tone。　She　certainly　had　quite　a　repertoire；　Tammy　thought。　First　demands；　then　pleas　and　siren…songs；　then　tears　and　threats。　Now　what？
　 〃I　know　what　you're　thinking。。。〃　she　said。
　 Ah；　mind　reading。
　 〃。。。you're　thinking　that　you've　got　a　life　out　there。　And　it's　calling　you　back〃
　 Tammy　was　puzzled。　This　sounded　like　a　self…defeating　argument。　〃You're　thinking　you　want　to　be　back　in　the　spotlight；　where　you　belong。。。〃
　 While　Katya　talked；　Tammy　made　a　momentous　decision。　She　let　go　of　Todd's　hand。　She'd　done　all　that　she　could。　If　after　all　this　Todd　decided　that　he　wanted　to　turn　back　and　give　himself　to　the　wretched　woman；　then　there　was　nothing　more　Tammy　could　do　about　it。　He　was　a　lost　cause。
　 She　crossed　swiftly　to　the　front　door；　and　opened　it。　The　first　tug　was　a　little　difficult。　Then　the　door　swung　open　easily；　majestically。　There　were　no　ghosts　on　the　threshold；　only　the　refreshing　night　air；　sweetened　by　the　scent　of　night…blooming　jasmine。
　 Behind　her；　in　the　house；　Katya　was　finishing　her　argument。　〃The　fact　is；〃　she　said；　〃there's　nothing　out　there　for　you　now。　Do　you　understand　me；　Todd？　There's　nothing。〃
　 Tammy　stepped　out　onto　the　front　steps。　She　looked　back　at　Todd；　in　time　to　catch　a　look　of　pitiful　confusion　on　his　face。　He　literally　didn't　know　which　way　to　turn。
　 〃Don't　look　at　me；〃　Tammy　said　to　him。　〃It's　your　choice。〃
　 His　expression　became　still　more　pained。　That　wasn't　what　he　wanted　to　hear。
　 〃Look；　you're　a　grown　man；〃　Tammy　said。　〃If　you　want　to　stay　with　her；　knowing　what　she's　capable　of；　then　you　stay。　I　hope　you'll　be　very　happy　together。〃
　 〃Todd。。。〃　Katya　murmured。
　 She　stepped　out　of　the　shadows　now；　choosing　her　moment；　as　ever；　beautifully。　The　demonic　Katya；　the　woman　who'd　thrashed　Zeffer　then　thrown　him　to　Goga；　had　vanished　pletely。　In　her　place　was　a　sad；　gentle　woman…or　the　appearance　of　such…who　opened　her　arms　to　Todd　like　a　loving　mother。
　 〃e　back　to　me；〃　she　said。
　 He　made　the　tiniest　nod　of　his　head　and　Tammy's　heart　sank。
　 He　started　to　turn　his　back　on　the　door；　but　as　he　did　so　there　was　a　sudden　and　furious　eruption　of　noise　from　the　depths　of　the　house。　Somebody　in　the　Devil's　Country　was　beating　on　the　door：　a　furious　tattoo。
　 It　came　at　the　perfect　moment。　At　the　sound　from　below　Todd　seemed　to　snap　out　of　his　mesmerized　state　and　instead　of　heading　for　Katya's　open　arms　he　began　to　retreat　towards　the　door。
　 〃You　know　what？〃　he　said　to　Katya。　〃I　can't　take　this　place　any　longer。　I'm　sorry。　I've　got　to　get　out。〃
　 Katya　flew　at　him；　her　arms　outstretched；　her　eyes　wide。　〃No！〃　she　cried。　〃I　want　you　here！〃
　 It　was　more　than　Todd　could　take。　He　backed　away　from　her　and　stumbled　out　over　the　step。
　 〃Finally；〃　Tammy　said。
　 He　grabbed　hold　of　her　hand。　〃Get　me　the　fuck　out　of　here；〃　he　said。
　 This　time　there　was　no　hesitation　in　his　voice；　no　turning　back。　They　ran　to　the　gate　and　out　into　the　street；　not　stopping　for　a　moment。　Tammy　slammed　the　gate　loudly；　not　so　much　because　she　felt　it　would　keep　the　bitch　from　following；　but　because　it　made　the　point　to　the　entire　Canyon　that　they　were　indeed　out　of　the　house　and　away。
　 〃My　car's　up　the　road；〃　she　told　Todd；　though　of　course　it　was　now　three　days　since　she'd　left　it；　and　there　was　no　guarantee　it　would　still　be　sitting　there。　And　the　keys；　what　about　the　keys？　Had　she　left　them　in　the　ignition？　She　thought　she　had；　but　she　was　by　no　means　certain。　So　much　had　happened　to　her　in　the　intervening　time；　she　had　no　clear　memory　of　what　she'd　done　with　the　keys。
　 〃I'm　assuming　you're　going　to　e　with　me？〃　she　said　to　Todd。　He　looked　at　her　blankly。　〃To　the　car；〃　she　said；　for　emphasis。
　 〃Yes。〃
　 〃It's　up　the　street。〃
　 〃Yes。　I　heard　you。〃
　 〃Well；　shall　we　go　then？〃
　 He　nodded；　but　he　didn't　move。　His　gaze　had　drifted　back　to　the　house。　Leaving　him　to　stare；　Tammy　set　off　up　the　road　to　where　she'd　left　the　car。　There　was　neither　moon　nor　stars　in　the　sky；　just　a　blanket　of　amber…tinted　cloud。　She　soon　lost　sight　of　Todd　as　she　headed　up　the　benighted　road。　Memories　of　her　night…journey　through　the　place；　with　all　its　attendant　miseries　and　hallucinations；　rose　up　before　her；　but　she　told　herself　to　put　them　out　of　her　head。　She　was　going　to　be　out　of　this　damn　Canyon　in　a　few　minutes；　long　before　it　got　back　into　her　mind　again；　and　started　its　tricks。
　 The　car；　when　she　reached　it；　was　unlocked。　She　opened　the　door　and　slipped　into　the　driver's　seat；　fumbling　for　the　ignition。　Yes！　The　keys　were　there。　〃Thank　you；　God；〃　she　said；　with　a　late　show　of　piety。
　 She　turned　on　the　engine；　and　switched　on　the　headlights。　They　lit　up　the　whole　street　ahead。　She　put　the　car　into　gear　and　brought　the　car　roaring　around　the　corner。　Todd　had　wandered　out　into　the　middle　of　the　road；　and　she　could　have　ploughed　into　him　（which　would　have　made　an　ignominious　end　to　the　night's　adventures）　had　he　not　stepped　out　of　her　way。　But　at　least　the　distracted　look　had　gone　from　his　face。　When　he　got　into　the　car　there　was　a　new　and　wele　urgency　about　his　manner。　〃We're　out　of　here；〃　he　said。
　 〃I　thought　for　a　moment　that　you　were　planning　to　stay。〃
　 〃No。。。I　was　just　thinking。。。about　what　a　fool　I'd　been。〃
　 〃Well　stop　thinking　for　a　while；〃　Tammy　said。　〃It'll　slow　us　down。〃　She　put　her　foot　down　and　they　sped　off　down　the　winding　street。　About　halfway　down　the　Canyon　he　said：　〃Do　you　think　she's　going　to　e　after　us？〃
　 〃No；〃　Tammy　said。　〃I　don't　think　her　pride　would　let　her。〃
　 She　had　no　sooner　spoken　than　something　sprang　into　the　glare　of　the　headlights。　Todd　let　out　a　yelp　of　surprise；　but　Tammy　knew　in　a　heartbeat　what　it　was：　one　of　the　hybrids　she'd　encountered　on　the　slopes。　It　was　ugly；　even　by　the　standards　of　its　malformed　breed：　a　loping；　pasty　thing　with　the　flesh　missing　from　the　lower　half　of　its　face；　exposing　a　sickly　rictus。
　 Tammy　made　no　attempt　to　avoid　striking　the　beast。　Instead　she　drove　straight　into　it。　The　moment　before　it　was　struck　the　thing　opened　its　lipless　mouth　horribly　wide；　as　though　it　thought　it　might　scare　the　vehicle　off。　Then　the　front　of　the　car　struck　it；　and　its　body　rolled　up　onto　the　hood；　momentarily　sprawling　over　the　windshield。　For　a　few　seconds；　Tamm