sidneysheldon.astrangerinthemirror-第51章
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〃I'll look after him；〃 Jill said。 She put down her book and went down the hall to Toby's bedroom。 The moment Jill walked into the room； her nostrils were assailed by the familiar stench of sickness。 In an instant； every fiber of her being was flooded with memories of those long； dreadful months when she had fought to save Toby。 Toby's head was propped up on a large pillow。 As he watched Jill enter； his eyes suddenly came alive； flashing out frantic messages。 Where have you been？ Why have you stayed away from me？ I need you。 Help me！ It was as though his eyes had a voice。 Jill looked down at the loathsome； twisted body with the grinning death's mask and she felt nauseated。 You'll never get well； damn you！ You've got to die！ I want you to die！ As Jill stared at Toby； she watched the expression in his eyes change。 They registered shock and disbelief and then they began to fill with such hatred； such naked malevolence； that Jill involuntarily took a step away from the bed。 She realized then what had happened。 She had spoken her thoughts aloud。 She turned and fled from the room。
In the morning； the rain stopped。 Toby's old wheelchair had been brought up from the basement。 The day nurse； Frances Gordon； was wheeling Toby out in his chair to the garden to get some sun。 Jill listened to the sound of the wheelchair moving down the hall toward the elevator。 She waited a few minutes； then she went downstairs。 She was passing the library when the phone rang。 It was David； calling from Washington。
〃How are you today？〃 He sounded warm and caring。 She had never been so glad to hear his voice。
〃I'm fine； David。〃
〃I wish you were with me； darling。〃
〃So do I。 I love you so much。 And I want you。 I want you to hold me in your arms again。 Oh； David。。。〃
Some instinct made Jill turn。 Toby was in the hallway； strapped in the wheelchair where the nurse had left him for a moment。 His blue eyes blazed at Jill with such loathing； such malice that it was like a physical blow。 His mind was speaking to her through his eyes； screaming at her； I'm going to kill you！ Jill dropped the telephone in panic。 She ran out of the room and up the stairs； and she could feel Toby's hatred pursuing her； like some violent； evil force。 She stayed in her bedroom all day； refusing food。 She sat in a chair； in a trancelike state； her mind going over and over the moment at the telephone。 Toby knew。 He knew。 She could not face him again。 Finally； night came。 It was the middle of July； and the air still held the heat of the day。 Jill opened her bedroom windows wide to catch whatever faint breeze there might be。
In Toby's room Nurse Gallagher was on duty。 She tiptoed in to take a look at her patient。 Nurse Gallagher wished she could read his mind； then perhaps she might be able to help the poor man。 She tucked the covers around Toby。
〃You get a good night's sleep now；〃 she said； cheerily。 〃I'll be back to check on you。〃 There was no reaction。 He did not even move his eyes to look at her。 Perhaps its just as well I can't read his mind。 Nurse Gallagher thought。 She took one last look at him and retired to her little sitting room to watch some late…night television。 Nurse Gallagher enjoyed the talk shows。 She loved to watch movie stars chat about themselves。 It made them terribly human； just like ordinary； everyday people。 She kept the sound low； so that it would not disturb her patient。 But Toby Temple would not have heard it in any case。 His thoughts were elsewhere。
The house was asleep； safe in the guarded fastness of the Bel…Air woods。 A few faint sounds of traffic drifted up from Sunset Boulevard far below。 Nurse Gallagher was watching a late night movie。 She wished they would run an old Toby Temple film。 It would be so exciting to watch Mr。 Temple on television and know that he was here in person； just a few feet away。 At four a。m。。 Nurse Gallagher dozed off in the middle of a horror film。 In Toby's bedroom there was a deep silence。 In Jill's room； the only sound that could be heard was the ticking of the bedside clock。 Jill lay in her bed； naked； sound asleep； one arm hugging a pillow； her body dark against the white sheets。 The street noises were muffled and far away。 Jill turned restlessly in her sleep and shivered。 She dreamed that she and David were in Alaska on their honeymoon。 They were on a vast frozen plain and a sudden storm had e up。 The wind was blowing the icy air into their faces； and it was difficult to breathe。 She turned toward David； bat he was gone。 She was alone in the frigid Arctic； coughing； fighting to get her breath。
It was the sound of someone choking that woke Jill up。 She heard a horrid； gasping wheeze； a death rattle； and she opened her eyes； and the sound was ing from her own throat。 She could not breathe。 An icy cloak of air covered her like some obscene blanket； caressing her nude body； stroking her breasts； kissing her lips with a frigid； malodorous breath that reeked of the grave。 Jill's heart was pounding wildly now； as she fought for air。 Her lungs felt seared from the cold。 She tried to sit up； and it was as though there was an invisible weight holding her down。 She knew this had to be a dream； but at the same time she could hear that hideous rattle from her throat as she fought for breath。 She was dying。 But could a person die during a nightmare？ Jill could feel the cold tendrils exploring her body； moving in between her legs； inside her now； filling her； and with a heart…stopping suddenness； she realized it was Toby。 Somehow； by some means； it was Toby。 And the quick rush of terror in Jill gave her the strength to claw her way to the foot of the bed； gasping for breath； mind and body fighting to stay alive。 She reached the floor and struggled to her feet and ran for the door； feeling the cold pursuing her； surrounding her； clutching at her。 Her fingers found the door knob and twisted it open。 She ran out into the hallway； panting for air； filling her starved lungs with oxygen。 The hallway was warm； quiet； still。 Jill stood there； swaying； her teeth chattering uncontrollably。 She turned to look into her room。 It was normal and peaceful。 She had had a nightmare。 Jill hesitated a moment； then slowly walked back through the doorway。 Her room was warm。 There was nothing to be afraid of。 Of course； Toby could not harm her。 In her sitting room； Nurse Gallagher awakened and went in to check on her patient。 Toby Temple was lying in his bed； exactly as she had left him。 His eyes were staring at the ceiling； focused on something that Nurse Gallagher could not see。
After that the nightmare kept recurring regularly； like a black omen of doom； a prescience of some horror to e。 Slowly； a terror began to build up in Jill。 Wherever she went in the house； she could feel Toby's presence。 When the nurse took him out； Jill could hear him。 Toby's wheelchair had developed a high…pitched creak； and it got on Jill's nerves every time she heard it。 I must have it fixed； she thought。
She avoided going anywhere near Toby's room； but it did not matter。 He was everywhere； waiting for her。 The headaches were constant now； a savage； rhythmic pounding that would not let her rest。 Jill wished that the pain would stop for an hour； a minute； a second。 She had to sleep。 She went into the maid's room behind the kitchen； as far away from Toby's quarters as she could get。 The room was warm and quiet。 Jill lay down on the bed and closed her eyes。 She was asleep almost instantly。 She was awakened by the fetid； icy air； filling the room； clutching at her； trying to entomb her。 Jill leaped up and ran out the door。
The days were horrible enough； but the nights were terrifying。 They followed the same pattern。 Jill would go to her room and huddle in her bed； fighting to stay awake； afraid to go to sleep； knowing that Toby would e。 But her exhausted body would take over and she would finally doze off。 She would be awakened by the cold。 She would lie shivering in her bed； feeling the icy air creeping toward her； an evil presence enveloping her like a terrible malediction。 She would get up and flee in silent terror。
It was three a。m。 Jill had fallen asleep in her chair； reading a book。 She came out of her sleep gradually； slowly； and she op
