cpatricia.blacknotice-第60部分

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　　〃What　he　did　to　his　victims　is　the　only　look　at　him　we　need。　The　hair　isn't　ing　from　his　head；〃　I　said。　〃He's　shedding　it　from　his　body。〃
　　　
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　　I　had　seen　only　one　case　of　hypertrichosis　in　my　life；　when　I　was　a　resident　physician　in　Miami　and　rotating　through　pediatrics。　A　Mexican　woman　gave　birth　to　a　girl；　and　two　days　later　the　infant　was　covered　with　a　fine　lightgray　hair　almost　two　inches　long。　Thick　tufts　protruded　from　her　nostrils　and　ears；　and　she　was　photophobic；　her　eyes　overly　sensitive　to　light。
　　In　most　hypertrichotic　。people；　hairiness　progressively　increases　until　the　only　areas　spared　are　mucous　membranes　and　palms　and　soles；　and　in　some　extreme　cases；　unless　the　person　frequently　shaves；　the　hair　on；the　face　and　brow　can　bee　so　long　it　has　to　be　curled　so　the　person　can　see。　Other　symptoms　can　be　anomalies　of　the　teeth；　stunted　genitalia；　more　than　the　normal　number　of　fingers　and　toes　and　nipples；　and　an　asymmetrical　face。
　　In　earlier　centuries；　some　of　these　wretched　souls　were　sold　to　carnivals　or　royal　courts　for　amusement。　Some　were　thought　to　be　werewolves。
　　〃Wet；　dirty　hair。　Like　a　wet；　dirty　animal；〃　Dr。　Ruth　Stvan　supposed。　〃I　wonder　if　the　reason　I　saw　only　his　eyes　when　he　appeared　at　my　door　is　because　his　entire　face　was　covered　with　hair？　And　maybe　he　had　his　hands　in　his　pockets　because　they　were　covered　with　hair；　too？〃
　　〃Certainly；　he　couldn't　go　out　in　normal　society　looking　like　that；〃　I　replied。　〃Unless　he　goes　out　only　after　dark。　Shame；　sensitivity　to　light　and　now　murder。　He　might　limit　his　activities　to　darkness；　anyway。〃
　　〃I　suppose　he　could　shave；〃　Stvan　pondered。　〃At　least　those　areas　people　might　see。　Face；　forehead；　neck；　tops　of　the　hands。〃
　　〃Some　of　the　hair　we　found　appeared　to　have　been　shaved；〃　I　said。　〃If　he　were　on　a　ship；　he　had　to　do　something。 〃He　must　undress；　at　least　partially；　when　he　kills；〃　she　said。
　　〃All　this　long　hair　he　leaves。〃
　　I　wondered　if　his　genitalia　were　stunted；　and　if　this　might　have　something　to　do　with　why　he　undressed　his　victims　only　from　the　waist　up。　Perhaps　to　see　normal　adult　female　genitalia　was'to　remind　him　of　his　own　inadequacy　as　a　male。　I　could　only　imagine　his　humiliation；　his　rage。　It　was　typical　for　parents　to　shun　a　hypertrichotic　infant　at　birth；　especially　if　they　were　like　the　powerful；　proud　Chandonnes　on　the　rich；　exclusive　he　Saint…Louis。
　　I　imagined　this　tormented　son；　this　espéce　de　sale　gorille；　living　in　a　dark　space　inside　his　family's　centuriesold　home　and　going　out　only　at　night。　Criminal　cartel　or　not；　a　wealthy　family　with　a　respected　name　might　not　want　the　world　to　know　he　was　their　son。
　　〃There's　always　the　hope　record　checks　can　be　run　in　France　to　see　if　there　have　been　any　babies　born　with　this　condition；〃　I　said。　〃That　shouldn't　be　hard　to　track；　since　hypertrichosis　is　so　rare。　Only　one　in　a　billion　people；　or　something　like　that。〃
　　〃There　will　be　no　records；〃　Stvan　matter…of…factly　stated。
　　I　believed　her。　His　family　would　have　made　certain　of　that。　Close　to　noon；　I　left　Dr。　Stvan　with　fear　in　my　heart　and　ill…gotten…evidence　in　my　briefcase。　I　went　out　through　the　back　of　the　building；　where　vans　with　curtains　in　the　windows　waited　for　their　next　sad　journey。　A　man　and　a　woman　in　the　drab　clothing　of　sparrows　waited　on　a　black　bench　against　the　old　brick　wall。　He　held　his　hat　in　his　hand；　staring　down　at　the　ground。　She　looked　up　at　me；　her　face　pinched　by　grief。
　　I　walked　very　fast　on　cobblestones　along　the　Seine　as　terrible　images　came　to　me。　I　imagined　his　hideous　face　flashing　out　of　the　dark　when　a　woman　opened　her　door　to　him。　I　imagined　him　wandering　like　a　nocturnal　beast；　selecting　and　stalking　until　he　struck　and　savaged　again　and　again。　His　revenge　in　life　was　to　make　his　victims　look　at　him。　His　power　was　their　terror。
　　I　stopped　and　scanned。　Cars　were　relentless　and　fast。　I　felt　dazed　as　traffic　roared　and　kicked　grit　in　my　face；　and　I　had　no　idea　how　I　was　going　to　get　a　taxi。　There　was　no　place　for　one　to　pull　over。　Side　streets　I　passed　were　empty　of　traffic　and　I　saw　no　hope　of　a　taxi　along　any　of　them；　either。
　　I　began　to　get　a　panic　attack。　I　fled　back　up　stone　steps；　back　into　the　park；　and　sat　on　a　bench；　catching　my　breath　while　the　scent　of　death　continued　to　drift　through　flowers　and　trees。　I　closed　my　eyes　and　turned　my　face　up　to　the　winter　sun；　waiting　for　my　heart　to　run　a　little　slower　while　beads　of　cold　sweat　slid　under　my　clothes。　My　hands　and　feet　were　numb；　my　aluminum　briefcase　hard　between　my　knees。
　　〃You　look　like　you　could　use　a　friend。〃　Jay　Talley's　voice　suddenly　sounded　above　me。
　　I　jumped　and　gasped。
　　〃I'm　sorry；〃　he　softly　said　as　he　sat　next　to　me。　〃I　didn't　mean　to　startle　you。〃
　　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃　I　asked　as　thoughts　madly　clashed；　muddy　and　bloody　and　slamming　into　one　another　like　foot　soldiers　on　a　battlefield。
　　〃Didn't　I　tell　you　we'd　look　after　you？〃
　　He　unbuttoned　his　tobacco…colored　cashmere　overcoat　and　slipped　out　a　pack　of　cigarettes　from　an　inside　pocket。　He　lit　one　for　each　of　us。
　　〃You　also　said　it　was　too　dangerous　for　any　of　you　to　show　up　here；〃　I　said　accusatorially。　〃So　I　go　in　and　do　my　dirty　work；　and　here　you　are；　sitting　in　the　damn　park　right　at　the　Institut's　damn　front　door。〃
　　I　angrily　blew　out　smoke　and　got　to　my　feet。　I　grabbed　my　briefcase。
　　〃Just　what　kind　of　game　are　you　playing　with　me？〃　I　asked　him。
　　He　dipped　into　another　pocket　and　pulled　out　a　cellular　phone。
　　〃I　thought　you　might　need　a　ride；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　not　playing　a　game。　Let's　go。〃
　　He　pressed　numbers　on　his　phone　and　said　something　in　French　to　whoever　was　at　the　other　end。
　　〃Now　what？　Is　the　Man　from　U。N。C。L。E。　ing　to　pick　us　up？〃　I　bitterly　said。
　　〃I　just　called　a　taxi。　I　believe　the　Man　from　U。N。C。L。E。　retired　a　few　years　ago。〃
　　We　walked　out　to　one　of　the　quiet　side　streets；　and　minutes　later　a　taxi　pulled　over。　We　climbed　in　and　Talley　stared　at　the　briefcase　in　my　lap。
　　〃Yes；〃　I　answered　his　unspoken　question。
　　When　we　reached　my　hotel；　I　took　him　up　to　my　room；　because　there　was　no　other　place　we　could　talk　without　the　risk　of　being　overheard。　I　tried　Marino；　and　he　didn't　answer。
　　〃I　need　to　get　back　to　Virginia；〃　I　said。
　　〃That's　easy　enough　to　arrange；〃　he　said。　〃Whenever　you　want。〃
　　He　hung　the　do　not　disturb　sign　outside　the　door　and　fastened　the　burglar　chain。
　　〃First　thing　in　the　morning。〃
　　We　settled　in　the　sitting　area　by　the　window；　a　small　table　between　us。
　　〃I　take　it　Madame　Stvan　opened　up　to　you；〃　he　said。　〃That　was　the　harder　nut　to　crack；　if　you　must　know。　By　now　the　poor　woman's　so　paranoid…and　for　good　reason…we　didn't　think　she'd　tell　the　truth　to　anyone。　I'm　glad　my　instincts　were　right。〃
　　〃Your　instincts？〃　I　asked。
　　〃Yes。〃　His　eyes　stayed　on　mine。　〃I　knew；　if　anyone　could　get　through　to　her；　it　would　be　you。　Your　reputation　precedes　you　and　she　can't　have　anything　but　the　utmost　respect　for　you。　But　it　helps　just　a　little　that　I　have　personal　insight　about　you；　too。〃　He　paused。　〃Because　of　Lucy。〃
　　〃You　know　my　niece？〃　I　didn't　believe　him。
　　〃We　were　in　various　training　programs　at　the　same　time　in　Glynco；〃　he　replied；　referring　to　the　national　academy　in　Glynco；　Georgia；　where　ATF；　Customs；　Secret　Service；　Border　Patrol　and　some　sixty　other　law　enforcement　agencies　did　their　basic　training。　〃I　used　to　feel　kind　of　song　for　her；　in　a　way。　Her　presence　always　managed　to　generate　a　lot　of　talk　about　you；　as　if　she　didn't　have　any　talents　on　her　own。〃
　　〃I　can't　do　a　tenth　of　what　she　can；〃　I　said。
　　〃Most　people　can't。〃
　　〃What　does　any　of　this　have　to　do　with　her？〃　I　wanted　to　know。
　　〃I　think　she　has　to　be　Icarus　and　fly　too　close　to　the　sun　because　of　you。　I　hope　she　doesn't　push　that　myth　too　far　and　fall　from　the　sky；〃
　　The　ment　shot　fear　through　me。　I　had　no　idea　what　Lucy　was　doing　right　now。　Talley　was　right　about　what　he　said；　too。　My　niece　always　had　to　do　everything　bigger；　better；　faster　and　riskier　than　I　did；　as　if　peting　against　me　would　finally　win　the　love　she　didn't　believe　she　deserved。
　　〃Hair　transferred　from　the　killer　to　his　victims　in　the　Paris　cases　is　definitely　not　the　hair　of　the　unidentified　man　in　my　cooler；〃　I　said；　and　I　explained　the　rest　to　him。
　　〃But　this　weird　hair　was　on　his　clothes？〃　Talley　tried　to　understand。
　　〃On　the　inside　of　them。　Just　think　of　this　as　a　hypothetical。　Let's　say　the　clothing　was　worn　by　the　killer　and　his　body　is　covered　with　this　dense；　long　baby…fine　hair。　Só　it　transfers　to　the　inside　of　his　clothing；　which　he　takes　off　and　makes　his　victim　put　on　before　he　drowns　him。〃
　　〃The　victim　being　the　guy　in　the　container。　Thomas。〃　Talley　paused。　'This　hair's　all　over　Loup…Garou's　body？　Then　he　obviously　doesn't　shave　it：'
　　〃It　wouldn't　be　easy　shaving　your　entire　body　on　a　regular　basis。　Most　likely；　he　shaves　only　those　areas　people　might　see：'
　　〃And　there's　no　effective　treatment。　No　drug　or　anything。〃
　　〃Lasers　are　being　used　with　some　success。　But　he　may　not　know　that。　Or　more　likely；　his　family　wasn't　going　to　permit　him　to　show　up　at　a　clinic；　especially　after　he　star