dclegg.purity-第7章

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　Then；　he　noticed　that　one　of　the　guest　room　windows　was　open；　too。
　That　would　be　Jimmy's。　The　bastard。
　Owen　glanced　along　the　trellis　and　gutters；　and　decided　he'd　try　that　route　first。　He　climbed　the　trellis　with　the　agility　of　a　monkey；　although　it　threatened　to　pull　away　if　he　didn't　balance　his　weight　just　right。　It　wasn't　much　different　from　the　rope　climb　in　gym。　When　he　worried　that　he　wouldn't　make　it　to　the　third　story　roof；　he　remembered　the　breathing　trick　and　began　inhaling　and　exhaling　carefully。　That　was　where　the　balance　was：　in　the　breathing。　Then；　he　grabbed　the　rain　gutter；　and　scaled　the　slant　of　the　roof。　He　crawled　along　it；　slowly；　cautiously；　and　went　to　look　in　on　Jenna　while　she　slept。　He　felt　himself　grow　hard；　imagining　how　he　could　hold　her　while　she　slept；　imagining　how　he　would　smell　her　hair。
　When　he　looked　through　the　open　window；　he　saw　the　other　boy　there；　Jimmy；　in　bed　with　her；　holding　her；　moving　against　her。
　Owen　caught　his　breath　and　held　it　for　what　felt　like　the　longest　time。
　He　could　hold　his　breath　under　water　for　a　few　minutes；　and　holding　it　now　while　he　watched　Jimmy　press　himself　into　her；　like　a　hummingbird　jabbing　at　a　flower；　but　not　as　pretty；　just　dark　and　murky；　Jimmy's　body　rising　and　falling　as　he　plunged　into　her；　not　gently　the　way　she　would　want　it；　but　like　he　was　a　jackal　tearing　apart　some　carcass。
　
　
　Chapter　Three
　The　morning　swim　
　1
　〃The　Salty　Dog；〃　Owen　said；　lifting　himself　from　the　swimming　pool。
　〃Waiting　tables。　Since　Memorial　Day　weekend。　Lifting　weights；　too。〃
　〃That　must　be　delightful；〃　Mrs。　M　said。　She　stood　near　the　changing　rooms；　swathed　in　a　red　bathrobe；　dark　glasses　covering　her　eyes。　She　looked　like　a　movie　star。　She　had　a　cigarette　in　her　hand；　which　she　waved　dramatically。　〃I　imagine　you　meet　lots　of　girls　and　boys　your　age　at　that　dive。〃
　〃Some。〃
　〃You're　still　very　young　for　your　age；〃　she　said；　and　then　caught　her　breath　for　a　moment。　〃I'm　sorry。　I　didn't　mean　that　in　a　negative　way。　I　meant　it　as。。。as。。。you're　so　innocent　pared　to　the　boys　at　that　school　she　goes　to。
　They've　already　begun　those　patterns　they'll　have　for　life。〃　She　exhaled　a　lungful　of　smoke。　She　was　like　a　beautiful　dragon；　he　thought。　A　jade　dragon　with　sparkling　eyes。
　Owen　drew　himself　up　the　rest　of　the　way　over　the　pool's　edge。　He　exhaled　deeply；　coughing。
　〃My　smoking　bother　you？〃
　〃No；〃　he　said；　swiveling　to　sit　down　more　fortably；　his　legs　still　in　the　water。　〃Just　holding　my　breath。　Trying；　anyway。〃
　〃Trying　to　reach　some　goal？　Underwater？〃　She　took　her　sunglasses　off；　and　dropped　them　carelessly　on　the　tile。
　He　nodded。　〃To　beat　the　Guinness　Book　of　World　Records。　This　guy；　he　held　his　breath。　Thirteen　minutes。〃
　〃That's　impossible。〃　She　walked　casually　over　to　him。　He　could　see　her　sapphire　bathing　suit　top；　and　her　sparrowish　breasts　cupped　within　it　as　her　robe　fell　open。　She　stepped　out　of　her　sandals。　For　a　moment；　he　thought　of　what　she　would　look　like　with　her　suit　ripped　from　chin　to　thigh；　with　him　pressing　into　her　…　no；　not　him；　Jimmy；　the　way　he　had　torn　into　Jenna。　Mrs。
　M；　a　smile　on　her　face；　could　not　read　his　thoughts；　he　hoped。　〃No　one　can　hold　his　breath　that　long；〃　she　said。　〃It　must've　been　a　cheat。〃
　〃If　you　believe　in　something；　maybe　you　can　do　impossible　stuff；　Mrs。
　M。〃
　〃That's　magical　thinking；　sweetie。　And　Mrs。　M；　good　lord。〃　She　laughed；　dropping　her　robe　pletely。　She　shimmered。　〃You're　a　man　now。
　You'll　have　to　start　calling　people　by　their　first　names；　Owen。　I　feel　like　a　schoolmarm　when　you　call　me　that。　Is　that　what　you　want　me　to　feel　like？　A　haggish　old　schoolmarm？　I'm　forty；　not　seventy。　Catherine。　Or　Cathy。〃
　〃Oh；　yeah；　okay；〃　he　said；　grinning。　〃Cathy。〃
　As　she　walked　along　the　edge　of　the　pool　to　the　far　end；　she　pulled　her　hair　back　and　tucked　it　into　her　white　bathing　cap。　She　lifted　her　arm　in　a　certain　way　to　him；　like　a　salute。　Then；　Jenna's　mother　dove　into　the　pool；　graceful　as　a　mermaid。　He　watched　her　do　laps　while　he　caught　his　breath。
　2
　When　he　went　to　shower　off；　Owen　saw　the　other　boy's　towel　hanging　from　the　bathroom　stall。　Steam　began　to　fill　the　changing　room。　He　pulled　his　wet　trunks　down；　and　tossed　them　on　a　chair。　He　grabbed　one　of　the　long　white　towels　that　the　Montgomery's'　maid　kept　neatly　rolled　in　the　cabinet　over　the　toilet。　Then；　he　walked　the　narrow　hallway　to　the　large　shower。　All　three　shower　heads　were　running；　and　the　boy　stood　there　rubbing　soap　along　his　arms；　his　face　frothy　with　white　soap　foam。　Owen　ignored　him；　stepping　beneath　the　furthest　shower　head；　and　grabbed　a　bar　of　Ivory　from　the　holder。
　〃Mooncalf；〃　Jimmy　said；　as　the　foam　rinsed　from　his　face。　His　hair　stuck　up　high　on　his　head。　The　smell　of　Ivory　soap　was　overpowering。　〃Haven't　seen　you　in　awhile。〃
　〃I　know；〃　Owen　said；　his　voice　husky。　He　didn't　feel　the　way　he　did　in　school　with　the　other　boys；　not　with　this　Jimmy；　this　eighteen…year…old　who　he　had　watched　deflower　Jenna。　He　felt　disgusted。　〃Been　busy。〃　He　turned　his　back　on　Jimmy　for　the　rest　of　the　shower；　hoping　the　other　boy　would　leave　to　go　swim　in　the　pool。　But　Jimmy　toweled　off；　and　began　dressing　just　as　Owen　turned　off　the　water。　He　slipped　his　shorts　on；　and　reached　for　his　t…shirt。
　〃You've　been　working　out　a　lot。　Me；　too。　I　run　every　morning。　I　play　tennis。〃
　〃Swim；〃　Owen　said。　He　walked　back　to　the　toilet　to　take　a　leak。
　〃Swim？〃
　〃I　swim。〃
　〃Ah；　a　plete　sentence　out　of　the　Mooncalf；〃　Jimmy　chuckled。
　〃That's　the　first　thing　I　noticed　about　you；　you　know。〃
　Owen　said　nothing；　flushed　the　toilet。　Sat　down　on　one　of　the　chairs；　and　reached　for　his　shirt。
　〃You　talk　in　bits　of　sentences。　Well；　that　and　your　hair。〃
　Owen　twisted　back　to　look　at　him；　his　t…shirt　shirt　half　over　his　head。
　〃My　hair？　What's　your　problem？〃
　〃You've　got　pretty　hair。　It's　soft；　too。　Most　guys'　hair　is　like　bristles。〃
　〃Weirdo；〃　Owen　said；　then；　〃Sleep　in　the　guest　room　much？〃　He　pulled　the　shirt　down；　and　then　went　to　grab　his　socks。　Jimmy　followed　him；　sitting　down　on　a　short　bench。
　〃No。　That　bother　you？〃
　〃No。　It's　weird　that　her　parents　don't　care。〃
　〃They　don't。　Well；　her　mother　doesn't。　Her　father's　still　down　in　the　city。　And　I　thought　you　were　hot　for　Jenna。　That's　the　third　thing　I　noticed　about　you。〃
　〃We're　friends。　That's　all。〃
　〃Boys　can't　just　be　friends　with　girls。〃
　〃Okay；〃　Owen　said。　He　laughed；　but　it　was　a　fake。　It　echoed　off　the　turquoise　tile　and　sounded　less　genuine　as　it　went。　He　looked　at　Jimmy；　who　was　watching　him　with　a　sort　of　paternal　take　…　the　way　Owen's　father　would　look　at　him　when　he　didn't　understand　him。
　〃You　know；　Mooncalf；　you　b　your　hair　to　the　left　a　little　more　…　make　the　part　slightly　higher；　and　you'd　look　top　drawer。　You　really　would。
　Your　chin's　strong；　your　body's　in　excellent　shape。　You　need　to　get　rid　of　these；〃　Jimmy　pointed　at　Owen's　red　t…shirt；　〃and　start　wearing　some　oxford　cloths；　button…downs。　With　sleeves。　Short　sleeves　are　for　kids。　It　would　show　your　best　side。　And　maybe　some　khakis。　When　you　grin；　don't　show　all　your　teeth。〃
　〃Bite　me。〃
　Jimmy　laughed；　and　reached　out；　pressing　his　hand　against　Owen's　shoulder　in　what　could　only　be　a　casual　and　friendly　…　even　brotherly　…　gesture。　〃Good。　Some　spirit。　I'm　just　trying　to　help。　You　look　good；　but　you　look　too　island。　You　need　a　little　charm。　All　guys　do。　Swimming　only　goes　so　far；　after　all。〃　Jimmy；　ever…annoying；　kept　up　the　jabber。　〃I'm　not　much　of　a　swimmer。　I　sail；　but　the　idea　of　water；　well；　let's　just　say　I　do　a　passable　dog　paddle。　But　you've　got　those　biceps。　Amazing　shoulders　for　such　a　Mooncalf　runt。　Pretty　good。　How　much　you　bench？〃
　〃Who　cares？〃
　A　brief　silence。
　Then；　〃I　do。〃
　〃Well；　not　all　that　much；〃　Owen　said。　〃I　just　stack　the　weights　on　and　push。　I　don't　notice　how　much。〃
　〃Don't　notice？　My　god；　sport；　you　mean　to　say　your　goal　isn't　the　weights？〃
　Owen　shrugged。　〃I　never　think　about　it。　I　just　want　to　be　powerful。　I　mean　strong。〃
　〃You　said　powerful。〃
　〃Same　thing。〃
　Another　brief　silence。
　〃You　ever　up　for　tennis？〃　Jimmy　asked。
　〃Not　really。〃
　〃I　can　teach　you　if　you　like。　It　would　be　fun　to　play　a　doubles　match　one　day。