dk.coldfire-第24章

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　〃Jim　had　worked　so　hard　with　the　boy。　I　don't　mean　just　on　his　English　lessons；　not　just　academically。　Lary　had　opened　up　to　him　in　a　way　he'd　never　been　able　to　open　to　anyone　else；　and　Jim　had　been　counseling　him　with　the　help　of　Dr。　Lansing；　a　psychologist　who　works　part…time　for　the　school　district。　Larry　seemed　to　be　ing　around；　struggling　to　understand　his　mother　and　himself　and　to　some　extent　succeeding。　Then　one　night；　May　fifteenth　of　last　yearover　fifteen　months　ago；　though　it's　hard　to　believe　it's　been　that　long…Larry　Kakonis　took　a　gun　from　his　father's　collection；　loaded　it；　put　the　barrel　in　his　mouth。　。　。　and　fired　one　bullet　up　into　his　brain。〃　
　Holly　flinched　as　if　struck。　In　fact　she　had　been　struck；　though　the　blows　…two　of　them…were　not　physical。　She　was　jolted；　first；　by　the　thought　of　a　thirteen…year…old　mitting　suicide　when　the　best　of　life　lay　ahead　of　him。　A　small　problem　could　seem　like　a　large　one　at　that　age；　and　a　genuinely　serious　problem　could　seem　catastrophic　and　hopeless。　Holly　felt　a　pang　of　grief　for　Larry　Kakonis；　and　an　undirected　anger　because　the　kid　had　not　been　given　time　enough　to　learn　that　all　horrors　can　be　dealt　with　and　that；　on　balance；　life　offered　far　more　joy　than　despair。　But　she　was　equally　rattled　by　the　date　on　which　the　boy　had　killed　himself：　May　15。　
　One　year　later；　this　past　May　15；　Jim　Ironheart　had　performed　his　first　miraculous　rescue。　Sam　and　Emily　Newsome。　Atlanta；　Georgia。　Saved　from　murder　at　the　hands　of　a　sociopathic　holdup　man　named　Norman　Rink。　
　Holly　could　sit　still　no　longer。　She　got　up　and　joined　Viola　at　the　edge　of　the　patio。　They　watched　the　squirrels。　
　〃Jim　blamed　himself；〃　Viola　said。　
　〃For　Lary　Kakonis？　But　he　wasn't　responsible。〃　
　〃He　blamed　himself　anyway。　That's　how　he　is。　But　his　reaction　seemed　excessive；　even　for　Jim。　After　Larry's　death；　he　lost　interest　in　teaching。　He　stopped　believing　he　could　make　a　difference。　He'd　had　so　many　successes；　more　than　any　teacher　I've　ever　known；　but　that　one　failure　was　too　much　for　him。〃　
　Holly　remembered　the　boldness　with　which　Ironheart　had　scooped　Billy　Jenkins　out　of　the　path　of　the　hurtling　pickup　truck。　That　certainly　had　not　been　a　failure。　
　〃He　just　sort　of　spiraled　down　into　gloom；〃　Viola　said；　〃couldn't　pull　himself　out　of　it。〃　
　The　man　Holly　had　met　in　Portland　had　not　seemed　depressive。　
　Mysterious；　yes；　and　self　contained。　But　he'd　had　a　good　sense　of　humor；　and　he'd　been　quick　to　smile。　
　Viola　took　a　sip　of　her　lemonade。　〃Funny；　it　tastes　too　sour　now。〃　
　She　set　the　glass　down　on　the　concrete　near　her　feet　and　wiped　her　damp　hand　on　her　slacks。　She　started　to　speak　again；　hesitated；　but　finally　said；　〃Then。　。　he　got　a　little　strange。〃　
　〃Strange？　In　what　way？〃　〃Withdrawn。　Quiet。　He　started　taking　martial…arts　training。　Tae　Kwa　Do。　Lots　of　people　are　interested　in　that　sort　of　thing；　I　guess；　but　it　seemed　so　out　of　character　for　Jim。〃　
　It　didn't　seem　out　of　character　for　the　Jim　Ironheart　that　Holly　knew。　
　Viola　said；　〃It　wasn't　casual　with　him；　either。　Every　day　after　school　he　went　for　a　lesson　at　a　place　in　Newport　Beach。　He　became　obsessive。　
　I　worried　about　him。　So　in　January；　when　he　won　the　lottery；　I　was　happy　Six　million　dollars！　That's　such　a　good　thing；　such　big　luck；　it　seemed　like　it　would　have　to　turn　his　life　around；　bring　him　out　of　his　depression。〃　
　〃But　it　didn't？〃　〃No。　He　didn't　seem　all　that　surprised　or　pleased　by　it。　He　quit　t　；　moved　out　of　his　apartment　into　a　house。　。　。　and　pulled　back　even　further　from　his　friends。〃　She　turned　to　Holly　and　smiled。　It　was　the　first　smile　she　had　managed　for　a　while。　〃That's　why　I　was　so　excited　when　ya　told　me　you　were　his　sister；　a　sister　he　doesn't　even　know　he　has。　maybe　you　can　do　for　him　what　winning　six　million　dollars　couldn't　The　guilt　over　her　deception　suffused　Holly　again；　bringing　a　hot　blush　to　her　face。　She　hoped　Viola　would　mistake　it　for　a　blush　of　pleasure　and　excitement。　〃It　would　be　wonderful　if　I　could。〃　
　〃You　can；　I'm　sure。　He's　alone；　or　feels　that　he　is。　That's　part　of　his　problem。　With　a　sister；　he　won't　be　alone　any　more。　Go　see　him　today　right　now。〃　
　Holly　shook　her　head。　〃Soon。　But　not　yet。　I　need　to。　。　。　build　my　confidence。　You　won't　tell　him　about　me；　will　you？〃　〃Of　course　not；　dear。　You　should　have　all　the　fun　of　telling　him；　an　what　a　wonderful　moment　that'll　be。〃　
　Holly's　smile　felt　like　a　pair　of　rigid　plastic　lips　glued　to　her　face；　as　fake　as　part　of　a　Halloween　costume。　
　A　few　minutes　later；　at　the　front　door；　as　Holly　was　leaving；　Viola　put　her　hand　on　her　arm　and　said；　〃I　don't　want　to　give　you　the　wrong　idea。it　won't　be　easy　lifting　his　spirits；　getting　him　back　on　track。　As　long　as　I've　known　Jim；　I've　felt　there's　a　sadness　deep　down　in　him；　like　a　stain　that　won't　e　out；　which　isn't　such　a　surprise；　really；　when　you　consider　what　happened　to　his　parents…his　being　orphaned　when　he　was　only　ten　all　of　that。〃　
　Holly　nodded。　〃Thanks。　You've　been　a　real　help。〃　
　Viola　impulsively　hugged　her；　planted　a　kiss　on　her　cheek；　and　said；　I　want　to　have　both　you　and　Jim　to　dinner　as　soon　as　possible。　
　Homems　green…corn　tamales；　black　beans；　and　jalapeno　rice　so　hot　it'll　melt　ya　dental　fillings！〃　Holly　was　simultaneously　pleased　and　dismayed：　pleased　to　have　met　this　woman；　who　so　quickly　seemed　to　be　a　favorite　aunt　of　long　acquaintance　dismayed　because　she　had　met　her　and　been　accepted　by　her　under　false　pretenses。　
　All　the　way　back　to　her　rental　car；　Holly　fiercely　berated　herself　under　her　breath。　She　was　at　no　loss　for　ugly　words　and　clever　damning　phrases。　
　Twelve　years　in　newsrooms；　in　the　pany　of　reporters；　had　acquainted　her　with　enough　obscene　language　to　insure　her　the　trophy　in　a　cursing　contest　with　even　the　most　foul…mouthed　victim　of　Tourette's　syndrome。　
　The　Yellow　Pages　listed　only　one　Tae　Kwon　Do　school　in　Newport　beach。　It　was　in　a　shopping　center　off　Newport　Boulevard；　between　a　custom　window…covering　store　and　a　bakery。　
　The　place　was　called　Dojo；　the　Japanese　word　for　a　martial…arts　practice　ball；　which　was　like　naming　a　restaurant　〃Restaurant〃　or　a　dress　shop　〃Dress　Shop。〃　Holly　was　surprised　by　the　generic　name；　because　Asian　businessmen　often　brought　a　poetic　sensibility　to　the　titling　of　their　enterprises。　Three　people　were　standing　on　the　sidewalk　in　front　of　Dojo's　big　window；　eating　eclairs　and　awash　in　the　delicious　aromas　wafting　from　the　adjacent　bakery；　watching　a　class　of　six　students　go　through　their　routines　with　a　squat　but　exceptionally　limber　Korean　instructor　in　black　pajamas。　
　When　the　teacher　threw　a　pupil　to　the　mat　inside；　the　plate…glass　window　vibrated。　
　Entering；　Holly　passed　out　of　the　chocolate…；　cinnamon…；　sugar…；　yeast　scented　air　into　an　acidic　environment　of　stale　incense　laced　with　a　vague　perspiration　odor。　Because　of　a　story　she'd　written　about　a　Portland　teenager　who　won　a　medal　in　a　national　petition；　she　knew　Tae　Kwon　Do　was　an　aggressive　Korean　form　of　karate；　using　fierce　punches；　lightning…quick　jabs；　chops；　blocks；　choke　holds；　and　devastatingly　powerful；　leaping　kicks。　The　teacher　was　pulling　his　blows；　but　there　were　still　a　lot　of　grunts；　wheezes；　guttural　exclamations；　and　jarring　thuds　as　students　slammed　to　the　mat。　
　In　the　far　right　corner　of　the　room；　a　brunette　sat　on　a　stool　behind　a　counter；　doing　paperwork。　Every　aspect　and　detail　of　her　dress　and　grooming　were　advertisements　for　her　sexuality。　Her　tight　red　T…shirt　emphasized　her　ample　chest　and　outlined　nipples　as　large　as　cherries。　
　With　a　touseled　mane　of　chestnut　hair　given　luster　by　artfully　applied　blond　highlights；　eyes　subtly　but　exotically　shadowed；　mouth　too　lushly　painted　with　deep…coral　lipstick；　a　just…right　tan；　disablingly　long　fingernails　painted　to　match　the　lipstick；　and　enough　silvery　costume　jewelry　to　stock　a　display　case；　she　would　have　been　the　perfect　advertisement　if　women　had　been　a　product　for　sale　in　every　local　market。　
　〃Does　this　thudding　and　grunting　go　on　all　day？〃　Holly　asked。　
　〃Most　of　the　day；　yeah。〃　
　〃Doesn't　it　get　to　you？〃　〃Oh；　yeah；〃　the　brunette　said　with　a　lascivious　wink；　〃I　know　what　ya　mean。　They're　like　a　bunch　of　bulls　ramming　at　each　othe