第33节

  【】baheektohisskin.</p>

  inthefragntalgloinynightlight,hesarib,</p>

  polkadotbuers,abilehrareaturesdpasted</p>

  ineverylinable,ahit,hisangrydaughter.</p>

  theohebackedaking</p>

  herarahelittlepest.”theyretuedtobedandlay</p>

  entinute,listeningtoafuryofcries,beforerachel</p>

  snakedfree.”shesoafrenzy,”shesaidand</p>

  disappearedintothenight.</p>

  sendslater,thebed</p>

  batobed.theyheldtheirbreaths,listening,holdingeachother,</p>

  ohatdidit,thatdidit,”jackwhisperedhopefully.</p>

  santhascread.</p>

  rachellaughed.”whoa.”</p>

  ”whoseideaine,”shesaid,</p>

  laughingagain.</p>

  ”hegescalated.</p>

  ”letherkwhispered.</p>

  rachelsnuggledcloser.”shell.”</p>

  ”justatterofti.”buttheye</p>

  shelannouncedfullvoice,”itsleephthat</p>

  noise.”</p>

  ”you.”rollingaofbedandclosedallbutinches</p>

  oftheirdoor.babed,shepulledhiheversagainto</p>

  dullthesoundingthroughthee,”shesaid.”drown</p>

  itout.</p>

  ””thisisasexynththatracketgoingon””kissings</p>

  startedit,isntitsofightfirehfire.”jackhadto</p>

  adtitdesehefirstkisshegaveherlackedpassion,he</p>

  putreintothesend.bythethird,hehe</p>

  bed.hisndth</p>

  ofheruth,thess,thegentlecurveofher</p>

  belly.</p>

  hehaddispensedhhershirtandh</p>

  anaudiblesle,”itsw.”</p>

  ”oh,boy,”hisvoiceever.”shelaughed</p>

  brightly.</p>

  ”santha,notyou.”sureenough,thenoisefroheotherrooas</p>

  sloothesoundsofatiredbabyonthevergeofsleep.butwas</p>

  jacktirednotonyourlife”thatsnitically</p>

  purred.</p>

  ”ghtasabit.”laghisfingershrachelson</p>

  thepilloeoverher,foundjusttherightspotbetweenher</p>

  openthighs,andthrustin.</p>

  anaersunhunglohehorizonheyarrivedbabig</p>

  sur.</p>

  santhaheadedforthehouse.hopeheadedforduns.notknowing</p>

  quiteaiandingbythecar.hetook</p>

  severaldeepbreaths.curiousaboutitheairthathe</p>

  foundsoappealing,hehegraveldrive,through</p>

  alteatingpatchesofredh,toa</p>

  fallentree.</p>

  purplefloheloofthedeadbranches.he</p>

  satdoidhetrunk.</p>

  lookingstraightup,hefouopsoftheredhe</p>

  foliageovent.itool,dry,</p>

  quietynight.theairslledofthicktexturedbark,ofpatchesof</p>

  ss,ofstheloasoundontheforest</p>

  floor,hespottedaraggedbirdhoppingangthebrush.itwasa</p>

  stellersjay,itsfeathersatleyslateblueandgray.</p>

  ”youuchhere,bud,”herred.theforestfloorwas</p>

  tooheavilyshadedtoalloore</p>

  plentifulbeheliveoaksanddrones.</p>

  stillthejayfed,hoppingdohenup.jahedfora</p>

  bit.itindlessinterludethatendedbeforehee</p>

  ready.</p>

  atthesoundoffootstepsintheundergroued.hopewas</p>

  ingtocradliabby.herfacehatfor</p>

  anutehefearedthecathaddied.butitseyesopenedanditspaws</p>

  andtailshiftedthesllestbitdoree.</p>

  ”shedidoday.nothing.”jackdidntknoonsole</p>

  her.</p>

  ratherthansaysothingduandaningless,heslidalongthe</p>

  brai,running</p>

  hersllhasfur,froosetoears,oveeck,bad</p>

  ru,alltheotionagainand</p>

  agzun,ahypnoticstroking.inthesileheforest,jackheard</p>

  thecatspurr.</p>

  ”shelikesthat,”herred.</p>

  hopenodded.shekeptupthepetting.thepurringon.</p>

  afterabit,curious,jackstuorokebethe</p>

  catsfur.hetrieditagain,</p>

  halfexpegthatthecatwouldraiseherheadandexpressher</p>

  objeterstouch.butguineveredidnt.oving</p>

  her</p>

  htotaltrust.</p>

  itnearlydidhin.</p>

  chaptereight.</p>

  byfridaying,hereillnogeinrachels</p>

  ndition,jackrequestedansultationaniy,</p>

  breen.</p>

  jackhadeveryhatthe.notonlyhadtina</p>

  eupe,butvitheverysa</p>

  one.</p>

  theookplacebyphoevebauersoffice.besides</p>

  bauer,therees,dyon,andjack.</p>

  thelateststatsputer.bauerorallyreviewed</p>

  thekaragaveinterpretationsbasedonherobservationofthe</p>

  patient.</p>

  dydeshelslackofresponseduringbathing,tuing,and</p>

  raionexercises.</p>

  jackkeptthinkingthatthellionspouredintoresearhyear</p>

  eproedicationtohelp</p>

  rachel,butintheend,breensaid,”iheres</p>

  sothiotry,butbedoinganythingdifferentif</p>

  sheypical.shentiohold</p>

  heroa</p>

  tolasttuch.</p>

  ”n,thathedoctorresponded,”buthead</p>

  injuriesdontalsnissreisholding</p>

  steady.</p>

  ””yeah,”ja.”hehadleaedaboutthe</p>

  glasgoaserachelshowednoeyeopening,noverbal</p>

  response,andnotorresponse,shehadthelopossiblesre.</p>

  ”butthedatasaysshesingworse.”</p>

  ”hereaceshelltakeasudden</p>

  tu”hestillfeltaethephone</p>

  rang,everytihearrivedatthehospitalafterbeingoutofntact</p>

  forevenabriefti.</p>

  ”sheuld,”saidthedoctor.”butifthat</p>

  diatelyandbeabletoact.as,itsaing</p>

  ga.iill.iknohatisntyouto</p>

  hear,butitsalittlelikedefusingabo.hurrytheprocess,and</p>

  itsapttoexpl</p>

  ...</p>