綠裡奇蹟(英文版)

第51部分 (第3/7頁)

　I　stood　inside　there；　urinating；　I　happened　to　glance　up　at　the　smoke　detector　on　the　ceiling。　That　made　me　think　of　Elaine；　and　how　she　had　distracted　Dolan　so　I　could　go　for　my　walk　and　do　my　little　chore　the　day　before。　I　finished　peeing　with　a　grin　on　my　face。

I　walked　back　to　the　sunroom；　feeling　better　（and　a　lot　fier　in　my　her　regions）。　Someone　…　Elaine；　I　have　no　doubt　…　had　set　down　a　pot　of　tea　beside　my　pages。　I　drank　greedily；　first　one　cup；　then　another；　before　I　even　sat　down。　Then　I　resumed　my　place；　uncapped　the　fountain　pen；　and　once　more　began　to　write。

I　was　just　slipping　fully　into　my　story　when　a　shadow　fell　on　me。　I　looked　up　and　felt　a　sinking　in　MY　stomach。　It　was　Dolan　standing　between　me　and　the　windows。　He　was　grinning。

〃Missed　you　going　on　your　morning　walk；　Paulie；　he　said；　〃so　I　thought　I'd　e　and　see　what　you　were　up　to。　Make　sure　you　weren't；　you　know；　sick。〃

〃You're　all　heart　and　a　mile　wide；〃　I　said。　My　voice　sounded　all　right　…　so　far；　anyway　…　but　my　heart　was　pounding　hard。　I　was　afraid　of　him；　and　I　don't　think　that　realization　was　entirely　new。　He　reminded　me　of　Percy　Wetmore；　and　I'd　never　been　afraid　of　him　。。。　but　when　I　knew　Percy；　I　had　been　young。

Brad's　smile　widened；　but　became　no　less　pleasant。

〃Folks　tellin　me　you　been　in　here　all　night；　Paulie；　just　writing　your　little　report。　Now；　that's　just　no　good。　Old　farts　like　you　need　their　beauty　rest。〃

〃Percy　…　〃　I　began；　then　saw　a　frown　crease　his　grin　and　realized　my　mistake。　I　took　a　deep　breath　and　began　again。　〃Brad；　what　have　you　got　against　me？〃

He　looked　puzzled　for　a　moment；　maybe　a　bit　unsettled。　Then　the　grin　returned。　〃Old…timer；〃　he　said；　〃could　be　I　just　don't　like　your　face。　What　you　writin；　anyway？　Last　wi