cp.reddice-第15部分

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　　Ralphe's　body　in　my　arms；　weeping　like　a　mon　mortal。　My　ancient　daughter；　my　young　son…God　had　stolen　them　both　from　me。
　　The　mob　surrounded　me。
　　They　wanted　to　know　how　I　had　stopped　the　demon　child。
　　A　few　in　the　mob　knew　me。
　　〃〃You　take　care　of　this　boy！〃　they　cried。　〃We　saw　you　and　the　priest　with　him！〃
　　I　could　have　kilted　them　right　then；　all　fifty　of　them。　But　the　night　had　seen　too　much　death。　I　let　them　drag　me　back　to　the　town；　their　torches　burning　in　my　bleary　eyes。　They　threw　me　in　a　dungeon　near　the　center　of　town；　where　the　executions　took　place；　taunting　me　that　they　were　going　to　get　to　the　bottom　of　how　this　abomination　was　created。　Before　the　sun　rose；　I　knew　they　would　be　pounding　on　Arturo's　door；　digging　into　his　secret　underground　chamber；　collecting　the　necessary　evidence　to　show　the　feared　inquisitors。　There　would　be　a　trial　and　there　would　be　a　judge。　The　only　problem　was；　there　could　be　only　one　sentence。
　　Yet　I　was　Sita；　a　vampire　of　inparable　power。　Even　the　hard　hand　of　the　Church　could　not　dose　around　my　throat　unless　I　allowed　it。　But　what　about　Arturo？　I　loved　him　but　could　not　trust　him。　If　he　lived；　he　would　continue　his　experiments。　It　was　inevitable　because　he　believed　it　was　his　destiny。　He　had　enough　of　my　blood　left　to　make　another　Ralphe；　or　worse。
　　A　few　hours　later　they　threw　him　in　a　cell　across　from　me。　I　begged　him　to　talk　to　me　but　he　refused。　Huddled　up　in　a　corner；　staring　at　the　wall　with　eyes　as　vacant　as　dusty　mirrors；　he　gave　no　indication　of　what　was　going　through　his　mind。　His　God　did　not　e　to　save　him。　That　was　left　for　me　to　do。
　　I　ended　up　testifying　against　him。
　　The　inquisitor　told　me　it　was　the　only　way　to　save　my　life。　Even　chained　in　the　middle　of　the　high　court　with　soldiers　surrounding　me；　I　could　have　broken　free　and　destroyed　them　all。　How　tempting　it　was　for　me　to　reach　out　and　rip　open　the　throat　of　the　evil…faced　priest；　who　conducted　his　investigation　like　a　hungry　dog　on　a　battlefield　searching　for　fresh　meat。　Yet　I　could　not　kill　Arturo　with　my　own　hands。　It　would　have　been　impossible。　But　I　could　not　have　him　live　and　continue　his　search　for　the　sacred　blood　of　Jesus　Christ。　Jesus　had　died　twelve　hundred　years　ago；　and　the　search　would　never　end。　It　was　a　paradox…　the　only　solution　was　agonizing。　I　could　not　stop　Arturo　so　I　had　to　let　others　stop　him。
　　〃Yes；〃　I　swore　on　the　Holy　Bible。　〃He　created　the　abomination。　I　saw　him　do　it　with　my　own　eyes。　He　changed　that　boy。　Then　he　tried　to　seduce　me　with　the　black　arts。　He　is　a　witch；　Father；　that　fact　is　indisputable。　God　strike　me　down　if　I　lie！〃
　　The　old　friar　at　the　church　also　testified　against　Arturo；　although　the　inquisitor　had　to　first　stretch　him　on　the　strappado　to　get　the　words　out　of　his　mouth。　It　broke　the　friar's　heart　to　condemn　Arturo。　He　was　not　alone　in　his　guilt。
　　Arturo　never　confessed；　no　matter　how　much　they　tortured　him。　He　was　too　proud；　his　cause　too　noble；　in　his　mind。　After　the　trial；　we　never　spoke。　Indeed；　I　never　saw　him　again。　I　didn't　attend　his　execution。　But　I　heard　they　burned　him　at　the　stake。
　　Like　any　witch。
　　　
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　　I　sit　at　a　poker　table　trying　to　bluff　a　high　roller　from　Texas　into　folding。　The　game　has　been　going　on　awhile。　There　is　one　hundred　thousand　dollars　in　cash　and　chips　on　the　table。　His　hand　is　better　than　mine。　Yaksha's　mind…reading　gift　has　grown　more　powerful　in　me…I　can　now　see　the　man's　cards　as　if　viewing　them　through　his　eyes。　He　has　three　aces；　two　jacks…a　full　house。　I　have　three　sixes…Satan's　favorite　number。　He　has　the　winning　hand。
　　The　Texan　wears　leather　cowboy　boots；　a　five…gallon　hat。　The　smoke　from　his　fat　cigar　does　not　irritate　my　eyes。　He　blows　a　smelly　cloud　my　way　as　if　to　intimidate　me。　I　smile　and　match　his　last　bet；　then　raise　him　another　fifty　thousand。　We　are　enjoying　a　private　game；　in　a　luxurious　corner　of　the　casino；　　where　only　fat　cats　hang　out　Three　other　men　sit　with　us　at　the　table；　but　they　have　since　folded。　They　follow　the　action　closely…they　all　know　each　other。　The　Texan　will　not　like　to　be　humiliated　in　front　of　them。
　　〃You　must　have　a　royal　flush；　honey　child；〃　he　says。　〃Betting　the　way　you　do。〃　He　leans　across　the　table。　〃Or　else　you　got　a　sugar　daddy　paying　your　bills。〃
　　〃Honey　and　sugar；〃　I　muse　aloud。　〃Both　like　me。〃　I　add；　sharpening　my　tone；　〃But　I　pay　my　own　bills。〃
　　He　laughs　and　slaps　his　leg。　〃Are　you　trying　to　bluff　me？〃
　　〃Maybe。　Match　my　bet　and　find　out〃
　　He　hesitates　a　moment；　glancing　at　the　pot。　〃The　action　is　getting　kind　of　heavy。　What　do　you　do；　child；　to　have　so　much　dough？　Your　daddy　must　have　given　it　to　you。〃
　　He　is　trying　to　ascertain　how　important　the　money　is　to　me。　If　it　means　a　lot；　in　my　mind；　then　I　will　be　betting　heavily　only　if　I　have　an　unbeatable　hand。　Leaning　across　the　table；　I　stare　him　in　the　eye；　not　strong　enough　to　fry　his　synapses　but　hard　enough　to　shake　him。　I　don't　like　being　called　a　child。　I　am　five　thousand　years　old　after　all。
　　〃I　earned　every　penny　of　it；〃　I　tell　him。　〃The　hard　way。　Where　did　you　get　your　money；　old　man？〃
　　He　sits　back　quickly；　ruffled　by　my　tone；　my　laser　vision。　〃I　earned　it　by　honest　labor；〃　he　says；　lying。
　　I　sit　back　as　well。　〃Then　lose　it　honestly。　Match　my　bet　or　fold。　I　don't　care　which。　Just　quit　stalling。〃
　　He　flushes。　〃I'm　not　stalling。〃
　　I　shrug；　cool　as　ice。　〃Whatever　you　want　to　call　it；　old　man。〃
　　〃Damn　you；〃　he　swears；　throwing　his　cards　down。　〃I　fold。〃
　　My　arms　reach　out　and　rake　in　the　money。　They're　all　staring　at　me。　〃Oh；〃　I　say。　〃I　bet　you're　wondering　what　I　had？　But　you're　all　too　professional　to　ask；　aren't　you？〃　I　stand　and　start　to　stuff　the　cash　and　chips　in　my　purse。　〃I　think　I'll　call　it　a　night。〃
　　〃Wait　right　there；〃　the　Texan　says；　getting　up。　〃I　want　to　see　those　cards。〃
　　〃Really？　I　thought　you　had　to　pay　to　see　them。　Are　the　rules　different　for　Texans？〃
　　〃They　are　when　you've　got　fifty　grand　of　my　money；　bitch。　Now　show　me。〃
　　I　dislike　being　called　a　〃bitch〃　more　than　a　〃child。〃
　　〃Very　well；〃　I　say；　flipping　over　my　cards。　〃You　would　have　won。　That's　the　last　time　I　show　a　hand　you　didn't　pay　to　see。　Now　do　you　feel　better？　You　were　bluffed　out　of　your　wrinkled　skin；　old　man。〃
　　He　slams　the　table　with　his　fist。　〃Who　are　you　anyway？〃
　　I　shake　my　head。　〃You're　a　sore　loser；　and　I've　wasted　enough　time　on　you。〃　I　turn　away。　One　of　his　partners　grabs　my　arm。　That　is　a　mistake。
　　〃Hold　on　now；　honey；〃　he　says。　The　others　move　closer。
　　I　smile。　〃Yes？〃　Of　course　I　am　protected　by　the　casino。　I　need　only　raise　my　voice　and　these　men　will　be　thrown　out　But　I　dislike　going　to　others　for　help；　when　I　am　so　capable　of　taking　care　of　myself。　Dinner　will　be　a　four…course　meal　tonight；　I　think。　〃What　can　I　do　for　you？〃　I　ask。
　　The　man　continues　to　hold　on　to　my　arm　but　doesn't　respond。　He　glances　at　the　Texan；　who　is　clearly　the　boss。　The　Texan　has　regained　his　smile。
　　〃We　would　just　like　to　play　some　more；　honey；〃　he　says。　〃That's　only　fair。　We　need　a　chance　to　win　our　money　back。〃
　　My　smile　widens。　〃Why　don't　I　just　give　you　the　money　back？〃
　　My　offer　confuses　him。　The　Texan　shrugs。　〃If　you　want。　I'll　be　happy　to　accept　it。〃
　　〃Good；〃　I　say。　〃Meet　me　at　the　west　end　of　the　hotel　parking　lot　in　ten　minutes。　We'll　go　for　a　little　drive。　You'll　get　all　your　money　back。〃　I　glance　at　the　others。　〃The　only　condition　is　you　must　all　e。〃
　　〃Why　do　we　have　to　go　anywhere？〃　the　Texan　asks。　〃Just　give　it　to　us　now。〃
　　I　shake　off　the　other's　hold　on　me。　〃Surely　you're　not　afraid　of　little　old　me；　sugar　daddy？〃　I　say　sweetly。
　　The　men　laugh　together；　a　bit　uneasily。　The　Texan　points　a　finger　at　me。
　　〃In　ten　minutes；〃　he　says。　〃Don't　be　late。〃
　　〃I　never　am；〃　I　reply。
　　We　meet　as　planned　and　drive　a　short　distance　from　town；　each　in　bur　own　cars。　Then　I　lead　them　off　the　road　and　into　the　desert　a　few　miles；　stopping　near　a　low…lying　hill。　The　time　is　eleven　at　night；　the　evening　cool　and　clear；　the　almost　full　moon　brilliant　against　the　night　sky。　The　men　park　beside　me　and　climb　out　They　are　afraid　of　me。　I　can　smell　their　fear。　Except　for　the　big　boss；　they　are　armed。　The　bulges　beneath　their　coats　are　noticeable。　I　smell　the　gunpowder　in　their　bullets。　They　probably　figure　I　am　setting　them　up　to　be　robbed。　They　study　the　terrain　as　they　walk　toward　me；　puzzled　that　I　am　alone。　They　are　not　very…subtle。　Two　of　them　have　their　hands　thrust　in　their　coat　pockets；　their　fingers　wound　around　their　handguns。　The　Texan　steps　in　front　and　reaches　out　to　me。
　　〃Give　us　your　bag；〃　Tex　orders。
　　〃All　right。〃　I　hand　him　my　bag。　The　money　is　inside；　much　to　his　pleasure。　His　eyes　are　wide　as　he　counts　it。　I　know　he　had　expected　to　find　a　gun　in　the　bag。　〃Are　you　satisfied？〃　I　ask。
　　Tex　nods　to　a　partner。　I　am　frisked。　Roughly。
　　〃She's　cool；〃　the　partner　mumbles　a　moment　later；　backing　away。
　　Tex　stuffs　the　money　in　his　pockets。　〃Yeah；　I'm　satisfied。　But　I　don't　get　it。　Why　did　you　drag　us　all　the　way　out　here？〃
　　〃I'm　hungry；〃　I　say。
　　He　grins　like　the　crooked　oil　baron　that　he　is。　〃We　would　have　been　happy　to　have　taken　you　to　dinner；　honey　pie。