lhamilton.thekillingdance-第16章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ooked　more　impressive　if　I'd　fired　into　the　overhead　lights；　but　bullets　e　down　at　the　same　speed　they　go　up；　and　I　didn't　want　to　catch　my　own　ricochet。　Holding　the　machine　gun　one…handed　was　a　trip。　I　held　on　and　sprayed　a　line　from　me　to　the　bed。　I　ended　with　the　gun　pointing　at　the　fight。　Everyone　had　frozen；　shocked。　Richard　crawled　out　of　the　mess；　bleeding。　He　got　to　his　feet；　swaying　a　bit；　but　moving　on　his　own　power。　I　could　never　have　carried　both　him　and　Stephen；　let　alone　the　machine　gun。
　He　stopped　in　front　of　the　curtain；　waiting　for　me　to　e　to　him。　Stephen　sagged　against　me；　arms　limp。　I　think　he'd　passed　out。　It　was　an　agonizingly　slow　walk　to　Richard。　If　I　tripped　and　went　down；　they'd　be　on　me。　They　watched　me　move　with　eyes；　human　and　wolf；　but　nothing　I　could　have　talked　to。　They　watched　me　like　they　wondered　what　I'd　taste　like　and　would　enjoy　finding　out。
　The　giant　man…wolf　spoke；　its　furry　jaws　thick　and　strange　around　human　words。　〃You　can't　kill　us　all；　human。〃
　He　was　right。　I　raised　the　machine　gun　a　little。　〃True；　but　who's　going　to　be　first　in　line？〃
　No　one　else　moved　as　I　walked。　When　I　reached　Richard；　he　took　Stephen　from　me；　cradling　him　in　his　arms　like　he　was　a　child。　Blood　seeped　down　his　face　from　a　cut　on　his　forehead。　It　covered　half　his　face　like　a　mask。　〃Stephen　is　never　to　e　back　here；　not　ever；〃　Richard　said。
　The　man…wolf　spoke　again；　〃You　are　not　a　killer；　Richard。　That　is　your　weakness。　Even　if　we　bring　Stephen　back　here；　you　will　not　kill　us　for　it。　You　will　hurt　us；　but　not　kill　us。〃
　Richard　didn't　say　anything。　It　was　probably　true。　Damn。
　〃I'll　kill　you；〃　I　said。
　〃Anita；　you　don't　understand　what　you're　saying；〃　Richard　said。
　I　glanced　at　him；　then　back　to　the　waiting　masses。　〃Killing　is　all　they　understand；　Richard。　If　you　aren't　willing　to　kill　them；　Stephen　isn't　safe。　I　want　him　safe。〃
　〃Enough　to　kill　for　it？〃　Richard　asked。
　〃Yeah；〃　I　said；　〃enough　to　kill　for　it。〃
　The　wolfman　stared　at　me。　〃You　are　not　one　of　us。〃
　〃It　doesn't　matter。　Stephen　is　off　limits。　Tell　Raina　if　he　gets　dragged　back　here；　I'll　hold　her　personally　responsible。〃
　〃Tell　me　yourself。〃　Raina　stood　in　the　hallway；　naked；　and　totally　fortable　as　if　she'd　been　wearing　the　finest　silk。　Gabriel　was　at　her　back。
　〃If　anyone　brings　Stephen　back　here；　tries　to　force　him　into　the　movies；　I'll　kill　you。〃
　〃Even　if　I　have　nothing　to　do　with　it。〃
　I　smiled；　like　I　would　believe　that。　〃Even　if；　no　matter　who　does　it；　or　why；　it'll　be　your　ass　on　the　line。〃
　She　nodded　her　head；　almost　a　bow。　〃So　be　it；　Anita　Blake。　But　know　this；　you　have　challenged　me　in　front　of　my　pack。　I　cannot　let　that　stand　unanswered。　If　you　were　another　shapeshifter；　we　would　duel；　but　your　being　human　poses　a　problem。〃
　〃You　know　this；　bitch。　I　am　human；　so　if　you　expect　me　to　drop　my　gun　and　fight　you　one　on　one；　you're　crazy。〃
　〃That　would　hardly　be　fair；　would　it？〃
　〃I　didn't　think　you　worried　much　about　being　fair；　after　what　I　saw　in　the　back　room。〃
　〃Oh；　that；〃　she　said；　〃Stephen　will　never　rise　in　the　pack。　There　is　no　more　challenge　to　him。　He　is　anyone's　meat　that　is　higher　in　the　pack。〃
　〃Not　anymore；〃　I　said。
　〃You　offer　him　your　protection？〃　she　asked。
　I'd　been　asked　this　question　once　before　and　knew　it　meant　more　than　it　sounded　like　it　did；　but　I　didn't　care。　I　wanted　Stephen　safe；　and　I'd　do　what　it　took；　killing　or　making　myself　a　target。　Hell；　the　assassin　would　probably　finish　me　soon；　anyway。　〃Yeah；　he's　under　my　protection。〃
　〃He's　already　under　my　protection；　Anita；〃　Richard　said。
　〃Until　you're　willing　to　kill　to　back　it　up；　it　doesn't　mean　a　whole　lot　to　these　people。〃
　〃You　will　kill　to　support　Richard's　claims　of　protection？〃　Raina　asked。
　〃She　doesn't　understand　what　you're　asking；〃　Richard　said。　〃It　isn't　a　fair　question　unless　she　understands　it。〃
　〃Then　explain　it　to　her；　Richard；　but　not　tonight。　It　grows　late；　and　if　we　are　to　get　any　filming　done；　we　must　hurry。　Take　your　little　human　and　explain　the　rules　to　her。　Explain　how　deep　a　hole　she's　dug　herself　tonight。　When　she　understands　the　rules；　call　me。　And　I　will　think　of　a　way　to　make　a　duel　between　us　as　fair　as　possible。　Perhaps　I　could　blindfold　myself　or　tie　one　arm　behind　my　back。〃
　I　started　to　say　something；　but　Richard　said；　〃e　on；　Anita。　We　have　to　go　now。〃　He　was　right。　I　could　kill　a　lot　of　them；　but　not　all。　I　hadn't　brought　a　spare　clip　for　the　machine　gun。　I　hadn't　thought　I'd　need　it。　Silly　me。
　We　got　out　the　door　with　me　walking　backwards；　ready　to　shoot　anyone　who　stuck　a　head　out。　No　one　followed　us。　Richard　carried　Stephen　through　the　late　spring　night　and　didn't　look　back；　as　if　he　knew　they　wouldn't　follow。
　I　opened　the　door；　and　he　laid　Stephen　in　the　backseat。　〃Can　you　drive　home？〃　he　asked。
　〃Yeah；　how　bad　are　you　hurt？〃
　〃Not　bad；　but　I'd　like　to　ride　back　here　with　Stephen　in　case　he　wakes　up。〃　I　couldn't　argue　with　that。　I　drove。　We　were　safe。　We　were　all　actually　still　alive。　But　if　they'd　rushed　us；　we　wouldn't　be。　Now　that　we　were　safe；　I　could　be　mad。　〃Well；　we　survived。　No　thanks　to　your　little　plan；〃　I　said。
　〃And　no　one　died；　thanks　to　my　little　plan；〃　Richard　said。
　〃Only　because　I　was　better　armed　than　usual。〃
　〃You　were　right；〃　he　said；　〃it　was　a　trap。　Happy？〃
　〃Yeah；　I'm　happy；〃　I　said。
　〃Glad　to　hear　it。〃　Underneath　the　sarcasm　he　was　tired。　I　could　hear　it　in　his　voice。
　〃What　are　you　supposed　to　explain　to　me；　Richard？〃　I　glanced　in　the　rearview　mirror　but　couldn't　see　his　face　in　the　dark。
　〃Raina　backs　up　Marcus's　orders。　She's　his　lupa。　He　uses　her　to　do　things　he　doesn't　approve　of；　like　torture。〃
　〃So　I　set　myself　up　as　your　lupa。〃
　〃Yes；　I'm　the　Fenrir。　Normally；　I'd　already　have　a　lupa　picked　out。　The　pack　is　divided；　Anita。　I've　given　my　protection　to　my　followers　so　that　if　Marcus　tries　to　hurt　them；　I　e　after　him；　or　my　followers　will　act　to　protect　each　other　with　my　blessing。　Without　a　Fenrir　or　a　pack　leader　to　back　you　up；　it's　a　sort　of　mutiny　to　go　against　the　pack　leader's　orders。〃
　〃What's　the　penalty　for　mutiny？〃
　〃Death　or　mutilation。〃
　〃I　thought　you　guys　could　heal　anything　short　of　a　death　wound。〃
　〃Not　if　you　shove　burning　metal　into　it。　Fire　purifies　and　stops　the　healing　process；　unless　you　reopen　the　wound。〃
　〃It　works　that　way　with　vampires；　too；〃　I　said。
　〃I　didn't　know　that；〃　he　said；　but　not　like　he　really　cared。
　〃How　have　you　risen　to　next　in　line　to　lead　and　not　killed　anyone？　You　had　to　fight　a　lot　of　duels　to　get　to　the　top　of　the　heap。〃
　〃Only　the　fight　for　Ulfric　has　to　be　to　the　death。　All　I　had　to　do　was　beat　them　all。〃
　〃Which　is　why　you　take　karate　and　lift　weights；　so　you'll　be　good　enough　to　beat　them。〃　We'd　had　this　discussion　before　when　I　asked　if　lifting　weights　when　you　could　bench　press　a　small　car　was　redundant。　He'd　replied；　not　if　everyone　you're　fighting　can　lift　a　car；　too。　He　had　a　point。
　〃Yes。〃
　〃But　if　you　won't　kill；　then　your　threat　doesn't　have　much　bite；　no　pun　intended。〃
　〃We're　not　animals；　Anita。　Just　because　this　is　the　way　it's　always　been　in　the　pack　doesn't　mean　things　can't　change。　We　are　still　people；　and　that　means　we　can　control　ourselves。　Dammit；　there　has　to　be　a　better　way　than　slaughtering　each　other。〃
　I　shook　my　head。　〃Don't　blame　it　on　the　animals。　Real　wolves　don't　kill　each　other　for　dominance。〃
　〃Only　werewolves；〃　he　said。　He　sounded　tired。
　〃I　admire　your　goals；　Richard。〃
　〃But　you　don't　agree。〃
　〃No；　I　don't　agree。〃
　His　voice　came　from　the　darkness　out　of　the　backseat。　〃Stephen　doesn't　have　any　wounds。　Why　was　he　screaming？〃
　My　shoulders　hunched；　and　I　made　myself　sit　up　straight。　I　turned　onto　Old　Highway　21；　and　tried　to　think　of　a　delicate　way　to　tell　him；　but　there　was　nothing　delicate　about　rape。　I　told　him　what　I'd　seen。
　The　silence　from　the　backseat　lasted　a　very　long　time。　I　was　almost　to　the　turnoff　for　his　house　when　he　said；　〃And　you　think　if　I'd　killed　a　few　people　along　the　way；　this　wouldn't　have　happened？〃
　〃I　think　they're　more　afraid　of　Raina　and　Marcus　than　they　are　of　you；　so　yeah。〃
　〃If　you　back　my　threat　with　killing；　it　undermines　everything　I've　tried　to　do。〃
　〃I　love