js&cs.thebridge-第6章

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　　The　EMPLOYEES　ONLY　door　slid　open　at　last；　and　Jennie's　sneakers　smacked　the　tiles　behind　him。　He　half…turned　toward　her；　felt　her　arms　snake　around　his　waist；　giving　him　a　python…squeeze　of　love。
　　〃Mmmm；〃　she　purred；　and　pecked　him　on　the　back　of　the　neck。　At　five…foot…four；　it　was　a　stretch。　〃Good　news。〃
　　〃Do　tell。〃　He　turned　in　her　embrace；　smiled　down　upon　her。
　　〃I　called　everyone　on　the　list；〃　she　continued；　〃at　least　a　dozen　times；　before　I　finally　got　through　to　Babs。　But　she　says　she　can　definitely　e　in　at　three。〃
　　〃Three？〃　Deitz　lamented；　the　smile　disappearing；　the　disappointment　clear　in　his　voice。　The　Aquarium　closed　at　five；　and　with　an　hour　to　get　down　and　another　twenty　minutes　to　park；　that　gave　them　a　little　over　an　hour　to　take　in　the　sights　。。。
　　〃Sorry；〃　she　said；　and　meant　it。　〃Best　I　can　do。　Unless　you　want　to　just　take　a　rain　check　or　。。。　〃
　　〃Nuh…uh…uh。　No　way。〃　He　reversed　his　spirits；　tried　to　send　his　smile　all　the　way　down　to　her　toes。　〃On　this　point；　I'm　afraid　that　I'll　have　to　insist。〃
　　〃Okay；〃　she　smiled　back；　just　as　hard。　〃Then　don't　be　afraid。　We're　gonna　have　a　wonderful　time。〃
　　She　punctuated　the　vow　with　another　squeeze　and　smile；　and　damned　if　he　didn't　believe　her。　There　was　just　something　about　her：　an　indefatigable　buoyancy　of　spirit　that　snuck　through　every　chink　in　his　defenses；　like　a　spring　breeze　blowing　through　the　rusty　armor　around　his　soul。
　　One　look　at　her；　and　Deitz　believed。
　　〃This　power；〃　he　murmured；　low　in　his　throat；　〃must　only　be　used　for　good。〃
　　She　laughed。　〃So　you'll　be　here　at　three？〃
　　〃At　least。〃
　　〃At　most。〃　She　made　big　pleading　black　velvet　eyes　at　him。　〃You're　my　ride；　remember？〃
　　〃Mmm…hmmm。〃　They　kissed：　a　quick　whisper　of　tongue；　lest　God's　little　consumers　saw　fit　to　plain。　〃I'll　be　here　before　three。〃
　　〃But　not　too　early　。。。　〃
　　〃At　exactly　two　minutes　to　three；　I'll　be　here。〃　It　was　a　deadpan；　solemn　vow。　〃I　swear　upon　my　soul。〃
　　〃It's　a　deal。〃　Jennie　smiled　and　disengaged；　then　moved　across　the　bustling　room　and　slid　behind　the　counter。　Deitz　watched　as　she　passed　the　microwave　and　lunch　meats；　a　regular　smorgasbord　of　nitrates　and　low…level　radiation。
　　〃Thanks　so　much　for　staying　on；　Patty；〃　he　heard　Jennie　say。　〃I'm　real　sorry　'bout　that。〃
　　〃S'okay。〃　Patty　smiled；　her　dull　stare　brightening　by　several　degrees。　〃It's　not　like　it's　your　fault　or　anything。〃
　　And　suddenly；　Pat　the　Eating　Machine　magically　transformed　back　into　a　real　flesh…and…bone　person。　By　the　simple　miracle　of　Jennie's　kindness；　Pat　became　Patty：　a　tired　girl　who'd　thoughtfully；　responsibly　stayed　an　hour　and　a　half　past　her　normal　graveyard　shift；　all　because　of　some　irresponsible　jerkoff　named　Ozzie。　Pat；　the　odious　Monster　From　Hell；　became　a　very　nice　and　extremely　relieved　young　woman　named　Patty；　who　at　long　last　could　finally　go　home。
　　Deitz　saw　the　unabashed　gratitude　on　Patty's　face　as　she　handed　over　the　reins　to　Jennie；　who'd　left　breakfast　in　bed　and　a　half…read　Sunday　Baltimore　Sun　to　e　in　and　save　the　day。　And　who　hadn't　bitched　or　pissed　and　moaned　about　it；　either；　but　had　simply　taken　it　all　in　stride。
　　Yep；　he　mused。　No　doubt　about　it。　Jennie　Quirez　could　change　your　whole　outlook　on　life　。。。
　　The　front　door　opened。　He　paid　it　no　mind。　His　eyes　were　on　Jennie's　lips；　which　were　puckering　up　for　his　benefit　from　halfway　across　the　room。　He　smiled；　catching　the　flurry　of　black…and…white　movement　in　his　farthest　peripheral　range。
　　It　caught　him。　He　started　to　turn。　A　wild　shock　of　bone…white　hair　appeared；　framing　a　pale；　broad；　deathlike　face。　It　belonged　to　a　punked…out　teenage　girl　with　deep　flaming　green　eyes　and　thin　lips　etched　in　darkness。
　　She　was；　of　course；　dressed　entirely　in　black：　black　shirt；　black　leggings；　and　those　clunky　black　shitkicker　jump　boots。　At　first；　he　hadn't　realized　what　a　tiny　thing　she　was：　the　hair　gave　her　an　easy　five　inches　of　height；　which　only　placed　her　eye　level　with　Deitz's　breastbone。　There　was　a　little　downy　stubble　at　her　close…shaved　temples。　The　stubble　was　white　as　well。
　　Deitz　caught　himself　staring；　looked　away　sharply；　wasn't　all　that　surprised　to　discover　that　everyone　else　was　doing　it；　too。　She　certainly　didn't　look　like　she　was　heading　for　Sunday　services。　Every　gaze　in　the　place　dragged　with　her　as　she　crossed　the　room；　face　groggy　with　unrequited　need　for　sleep。　Or　maybe　drugs。　Or　maybe　both。
　　He　looked　to　Jennie；　who　was　grinning　broadly。　Check　her　out；　Jennie　mouthed；　drawing　it　out　for　prehension's　sake。　She's　ree…lee　strange。　Deitz　nodded；　grinning　as　well；　and　turned　back　to　watch　the　girl　advance　toward　him。
　　She　stopped　at　the　coffee　station　and　proceeded　to　fill　up　a　thirty…two…ounce　Big　Gulp　with　steamin'　joe。　Yikes；　he　thought。　Thank　God　she's　not　going　to　church。　She'd　be　bouncing　of　the　pews。　He　observed　discreetly　as　she　dumped　about　four　packets　of　sugar　into　the　cup　and　swirled　it　around；　then　reached　for　the　little　nondairy…creamer　units。
　　And　then；　to　his　astonishment；　she　paused　to　read　the　label。
　　Deitz　was　stunned。　Even　his　internal　dialogue　dried　up　for　a　moment。　Not　another　single　person；　in　the　whole　time　he'd　been　waiting；　had　bothered　to　so　much　as　think　about　what　they　were　putting　in　their　mouths。　It　privately　pleased　him；　surprisingly　so；　that　the　black　sheep　would　prove　to　be　the　only　one　aware。
　　For　a　second；　he　entertained　the　notion　that　she　was　just　reading　the　brand　name。　But　no。　She　twisted　the　thing　slowly　between　her　fingers；　like　a　volume　knob；　while　her　lips　silently　moved　in　accordance　with　the　list　of　ingredients　ribboned　around　the　label's　edge：　contains　water；　salt；　partially　hydrogenated　soybean　oil　。。。
　　When　she　smiled　and　struggled　with　the　pronunciation　of　sodium　stearoyl　lactylate；　he　could　restrain　himself　no　longer。
　　〃It's　poison；〃　he　said；　stepping　a　little　closer。
　　She　looked　up；　annoyed；　and　her　sneer　instantaneously　sucked　wind　from　his　cheerful　sails。　〃What　。。。　？〃　she　said。　The　addendum　you　cretin　was　unspoken。
　　〃Um　。。。　〃　Feeling　suddenly；　horribly　foolish。　〃All　that　stuff。　Sodium　stearoyl　lactylate。　Monoglycerides。　Dipotassium　phosphate。〃　He　shrugged。　Her　gaze　upon　him　was　utterly　frank；　not　giving　him　an　inch。
　　〃You　know　。。。　〃　he　concluded；　and　let　his　voice　trail　off。
　　〃Yeah；　well。〃　For　a　moment；　she　seemed　uncertain　whether　to　be　civil　or　not。　〃Not　that　it's　really　gonna　make　a　fuckin'　bit　of　difference；　right？〃　Cocking　her　head　and　watching　his　reaction　very　closely。
　　〃Well；　uh　。。。　〃　he　began。
　　And　then；　just　as　suddenly；　started　to　laugh。
　　〃Well；　actually；　no；〃　he　concluded。　It　was　as　if　some　tiny　but　significant　weight　had　been　lifted　off　his　shoulders。　〃Not　even　a　little。〃
　　She　smiled；　then；　and　in　that　moment；　their　shared　awareness　made　them　members　of　a　very　exclusive　club。
　　In　that　moment；　they　understood　each　other　pletely。
　　Then　she　set　the　nondairy　creamer　aside；　picked　up　her　cup；　and　headed　back　to　take　her　place　in　line。
　　Deitz　watched　her　go；　and　thought　of　Jennie。　Would　she　have　understood？　He　suspected　she　would　have；　but　he　couldn't　be　sure；　you　never　knew　what　was　under　that　kind　of　an　optimistic　demeanor。　A　lot　of　insecurities　and　un…voiced　fears　could　thrive；　hidden；　beneath　that　kind　of　warmth；　a　lot　of　stubborn　refusal　to　acknowledge　the　ugly　facts　of　life　。。。
　　〃Wait　a　second；〃　he　scolded；　catching　himself　for　the　second　time　today。　〃You　promised；　remember？　Today；　nothing　gets　to　you。
　　〃Today；　you're　the　happiest　man　on　earth。〃
　　And；　of　course；　it　was　true。
　　But　some　things　were　far　easier　said　than　done。
　　
　　
　　　Seven
　　　
　　Ah；　the　power　of　faith。
　　Werner　Blake　loved　his　front…row　seat　at　Trinity　Lutheran　Church。　It　was　a　great　place　for　people…watching；　and　Blake　was　a　people　person。　He'd　held　this　pew　every　Sunday　for　ten　years　running；　watching　the　sacramental　conveyor　belt　deliver　its　wine…and…wafer　fix　to　the　herd。
　　So　far　as　he　was　concerned；　there　was　no　finer　place　on　Earth。
　　Take　this　ritual；　for　example；　and　the　principle　that　powered　it。　Transubstantiation；　they　called　it；　though　he　doubted　if　more　than　three　people　in　the　entire　synod　could　spell　the　word；　much　less　grasp　an　inkling　of　its　actual　intent。
　　Transubstantiation　was　really　quite　the　little　miracle：　the　mystical　transformation　of　flour　and　grape　juice　into　not　just　symbols　of　the　Eucharist；　but　the　actual　flesh　and　blood　itself。　Eternal　Life；　breathed　into　inanimate　glop　by　the　kiss　of　God。　Kinda　like　the　ultimate　parlor　trick。
　　There　was　something　perversely　cannibalistic　about　the　whole　thing；　too；　but　then；　what　did　you　expect　from　the　world's　most　successful；　longest…running　blood　cult？
　　What　the　hell；　Blake　mused；　nodding　and　smiling　as　the　parishioners　filed　past。　Name　of　the　game。　Keeps　'em　in'　back　for　more。
　　Werner　Blake　was　a　dapper；　distinguished　man；　in　his　fifties　and　his　prime。　He　was　head　of　the　Paradise　Industrial　Development　Authority；　pointman　for　Paradise　Emergency　Management　Agency；　general　solid　citizen；　and　all…around　pillar　of　the　munity。　He　was　directly　responsible　for　courting　out…of…state　industry　to　move　into　the　area；　thus　bringing　jobs　and　opportunity　to　thousands　across　the　county。　His　connections　were　many。　He　belonged　to　the　Chamber　of　merce　and　the　Jaycees；　had　a　wife　and　son　and　a　house　in　Wyndham　Hills；　and　kept　a　sophomore　ski　bunny　in　a　condo　at　Cedar　Village。　He　played　tennis　for　fitness；　piloted　light　aircraft　and　skied　for　fun。　He　ate　well；　drank　in　moderation；　and　slept　soundly　at　night。
　　And　every　Sunday…without　fail…he　donned　the　wool　and　grazed　with　the　flock；　holding　his　wife's　hand　and　staring　with　clear…eyed　purpose　into　the　vaulted　chapel　arches。　That　he　looked　at　the　huge　suspended　cross　and　saw　only　sticks　and　brass　and　plaster　mattered　not　at　all。
　　Because　they　saw　something。　They　believed　it；　even　if　they　didn't　see　it。　And　even　if　they　didn't　see　it　or　believe　it；　they　came　anyway。　That　was　the　real　beauty　of　the　game。　They　came　for　the　same　reasons　they　believed。
　　Because　they　were　supposed　to。
　　Nodding　and　smiling；　as　the　parishioners　filed　past　。。。
　　There　was　power　here；　Werner　knew；　in　all　that　blind　faith　and　obedience。　It　could　be　harnessed；　like　any　other　natural　resource。　To　Blake's　way　of　thinking；　that's　what　it　was　there　for。　And　Trinity　Lutheran　was　a　money　congregation；　a　fount　for　the　local　Brahmins；　which　meant　that　seeds　planted　on　Sunday　often　bore　fruit　before　the　end　of　business　Friday　next。
　　That　was　miracle　enough　for　him。
　　Still；　by　the　end　of　services；　Werner　Blake　had　probed　the　outer　limits　of　his　civility。　You　could　only　graze　so　long　with　sheep；　after　all；　before　the　clothing　became　oppressive；　the　smile　a　bit　cramped　and　the　eyes　a　bit　too　hard。
　　So　when　Leonard　leaned　over　from　the　next　pew　back；　Blake　almost　weled　the　diversion。
　　〃Mornin〃；　Harry；〃　he　whispered。　〃What's　up？〃
　　〃Well；　uh；〃　Harold　began　and　then　stalled；　eyes　searching　the　shadows　in　the　far　ers　of　the　chapel。　Up　close　now；　Blake　could　smell　the　tang　of　his　sweat。
　　〃Is　there　a　problem？〃　Blake's　psyche　clicked　calmly　over　to　yellow　alert。
　　〃I　think　so。　Yes。〃　Leona