綠裡奇蹟(英文版)

第51部分 (第4/7頁)

ll　n　testicles？〃

He　came　forward；　craning。　I　slapped　my　hand　over　the　page　I'd　been　working　on。　The　rest　of　them　I　began　to　rake　together　with　my　free　hand；　crumpling　some　in　my　hurry　to　get　them　under　my　arm　and　under　cover。

〃Now；〃　he　said；　as　if　speaking　to　a　baby；　〃that　ain't　going　to　work；　you　old　sweetheart。　If　Brad　wants　to　look；　Brad　is　going　to　look。　And　you　can　take　that　to　the　everfucking　bank。〃

His　hand；　young　and　hideously　strong；　closed　over　my　wrist；　and　squeezed。　Pain　sank　into　my　hand　like　teeth；　and　I　groaned。

〃Let　go；〃　I　managed。

〃When　you　let　me　see；〃　he　replied；　and　he　was　no　longer　smiling。　His　face　was　cheerful；　though；　the　kind　of　good　cheer　you　only　see　on　the　faces　of　folks　who　enjoy　being　mean。　〃Let　me　see；　Paulie。　I　want　to　know　what　you're　writing。〃　My　hand　began　to　move　away　from　the　top　page。　From　our　trip　with　John　back　through　the　tunnel　under　the　road。　〃I　want　to　see　if　it　has　anything　to　do　with　where　you…''

〃Let　that　man　alone。〃

The　voice　was　like　a　harsh　whipcrack　on　a　dry；　hot　day　。。。　and　the　way　Brad　Dolan　jumped；　you　would　have　thought　his　ass　had　been　the　target。　He　let　go　of　my　hand；　which　thumped　back　down　on　my　paperwork；　and　we　both　looked　toward　the　door。

Elaine　Connelly　was　standing　there；　looking　fresh　and　stronger　than　she　had　in　days。　She　wore　jeans　that　showed　off　her　slim　hips　and　long　legs；　there　was　a　blue　ribbon　in　her　hair。　She　had　a　tray　in　her　arthritic　hands　…　juice；　a　scrambled　egg；　toast；　more　tea。　And　her　eyes　were　blazing。

〃What　do　you　think　you're　doing？〃　Brad　asked。　〃He　can't　eat　up　here。〃

〃He　can；　and　he's　going　to；〃　she　said　in　that　same　dry　tone　of　mand。　I　had　never　heard　it　before；　but　I　weled　it　now。　I　looked　for　fear　in　her　eyes　and