cpike.thelastvampire-第16章

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　〃I　have　to　go　bad。　I　drank　an　entire　bottle　of　Coke　before　meeting　you。〃
　〃I　don't　care。　We　are　not　stopping。〃
　〃I'll　pee　all　over　the　seat。　You'll　have　to　sit　in　it。〃
　〃Pee　if　you　must。〃
　〃I　will　do　it。〃
　He　doesn't　respond。　More　miles　go　by。　Since　Slim　carried　the　cuffs；　I　decide　he　must　be　the　one　who　has　the　key　to　open　them。　The　arm　of　the　woman　beside　me　begins　to　tire。　She　lowers　her　weapon　hand：　I　hear　the　rustling　of　her　clothing。　I　estimate　our　speed　to　be　sixty　miles　an　hour。　We　are　maybe　fifty　miles　south　of　Water　Cove。　Seaside　is　approaching；　I　can　hear　the　town　up　ahead；　the　two　all　night　gas　stations；　the　twenty…four…hour　doughnut　shop。
　〃Slim；〃　I　say。
　〃What？〃
　〃I　have　a　problem　besides　having　to　pee。〃
　〃What　is　it？〃
　〃I'm　having　my　period。　I　have　to　get　to　a　rest　room。　I　need　only　two　minutes。　You　and　your　lady　friend　can　e　with　me　into　the　rest　room。　You　can　point　your　guns　at　me　the　whole　time　if　you　want；　I　don't　care。　If　you　do　not　stop；　we　will　have　a　mess　here　and　we　will　have　it　soon。〃
　〃We　are　not　stopping。〃
　I　raise　my　voice。　〃This　is　ridiculous！　I　am　bound　hand　and　foot。　You　are　armed　left　and　right。　I　just　have　to　go　to　the　bathroom　for　two　minutes。　For　God's　sake；　what　kind　of　sick　person　are　you？　Do　you　like　piss　and　blood？〃
　Slim　considers。　I　hear　him　lean　forward　and　glance　at　the　woman。　〃What　do　you　think？〃　he　asks。
　〃We　are　not　supposed　to　stop　for　any　reason；〃　she　says。
　〃Yeah；　but　what　the　hell。〃　He　adds　a　line；　and　as　he　does　so；　I　hear　my　implanted　suggestion。　〃What　harm　can　she　do？〃
　〃She　must　be　guarded　at　all　times；〃　the　woman　insists。
　〃I　already　said　you　two　can　follow　me　into　the　rest　room；〃　I　say。
　〃So　we　have　your　permission？〃　the　woman　asks　sarcastically。　The　sound　of　her　voice　is　aggravating。　She　is　from　Germany…the　east　side。　I　hope　she　follows　me　into　the　bathroom。　I　have　a　surprise　for　her。　〃I　have　no　sanitary　napkins；〃　she　says。
　〃I　will　use　whatever　is　available；〃　I　say　softly。
　〃It　is　up　to　you；〃　the　woman　says　to　Slim。
　He　considers；　studying　me；　I　know。　Then　he　decides。　〃Hell；　call　the　others。　Tell　them　we're　stopping　at　the　first　gas　station。　We'll　pull　around　back。〃
　〃They　won't　like　that；〃　the　man　up　front　says。
　〃Tell　them　they　can　talk　to　me　if　they　are　worried；〃　Slim　says。　He　turns　toward　me。　〃Happy？〃
　〃Thank　you；〃　I　say　in　my　velvety　voice。　〃I　won't　cause　any　problems。　You　really　can　acpany　me　if　you　want。〃
　〃You　can　be　sure　I　will；　sister；〃　Slim　says…as　if　it　were　his　own　idea。　I　want　those　keys。
　The　call　is　made。　We　slow　as　we　enter　Seaside。　The　driver　spots　a　gas　station。　I　hear　the　all…night　attendant　making　change。　We　drive　around　the　side；　the　second　limousine　close　behind　us。　The　car　stops。　Slim　opens　his　door。
　〃Stay　here；〃　he　says。
　We　wait　for　Slim　to　return。　The　woman　has　her　gun　pointed　at　my　head　again。　She　just　doesn't　like　my　looks；　I　suppose。　But　the　men　are　relaxed。　They　are　thinking；　all　this　security　for　what？　Slim　es　back。　I　hear　him　unholster　his　weapon。
　〃There　will　be　two　of　us　on　you；〃　he　says。　〃Don't　get　smart。〃
　〃You　have　to　take　this　thing　off　my　eyes；〃　I　say。　〃I'll　make　a　mess　if　I　can't　see。〃
　Of　course　I　can　reach　up　and　remove　it　myself；　when　I　make　my　move。　But　to　have　it　removed　now　will　save　me　the　extra　step。　Also；　I　want　my　vision　to　plan　when　to　attack。　Finally；　by　asking　them　to　take　it　off；　I　emphasize　my　helplessness。
　〃Any　other　requests？〃　Slim　asks。
　〃No。〃
　He　reaches　over　and　pulls　off　the　mask。　〃Happy？〃
　I　smile　at　him；　grateful。　〃I　will　be　when　I　get　in　the　bathroom。〃
　He　stares　at　me；　doubt　and　confusion　touching　his　face。　〃Who　the　hell　are　you？〃
　〃A　girl　with　a　bad　attitude；〃　I　say。
　The　woman　pokes　her　pistol　at　my　temple。　〃Get　out。　You　have　two　minutes。　No　more。〃
　I　climb　out　of　the　car。　The　guys　in　the　other　limousine　are　all　out；　their　weapons　hidden　but　handy。　They　form　a　wall　between　me　and　the　front　of　the　gas　station。　I　hope　none　of　them　acpanies　me　into　the　rest　room。　But　Slim　and　the　woman　are　determined　to　stay　with　me。　I　give　the　watching　gang　a　timid　smile　as　I　shuffle　past。　They　chew　gum。　They　stare　at　my　body。　They；　too；　wonder　what　all　the　fuss　is　about。　The　woman　goes　into　the　bathroom　first。　I　follow；　Slim　on　my　tail。　No　one　else　es　in。　The　door　closes　behind　us。
　I　strike　immediately。　I　have　it　all　planned。
　In　a　move　too　fast　for　a　mortal　eye　to　follow；　I　whirl　and　knock　Slim's　pistol　away。　Raising　my　cuffed　hands　over　my　head；　I　bring　them　down　on　top　of　his　skull。　I　use　only　a　fraction　of　my　strength；　I　want　to　stun　him；　no　more。　He　topples　to　the　floor　as　the　woman　turns；　bringing　up　her　gun。　I　kick　it　from　her　hand　by　lashing　out　with　both　my　feet。　She　blinks　as　I　land　upright。　She　opens　her　mouth　to　say　something　when　I　grab　her　face　with　both　my　hands。　My　grip　is　ferocious；　there　is　blood　even　before　I　kill　her；　around　her　eyes。　My　nails　destroy　her　vision　permanently。
　There　is　lots　more　blood　when　I　smash　the　back　of　her　head　on　the　tiled　wall。　The　plaster　cracks　under　the　blow　sending　up　a　miniature　cloud　of　white　dust　shot　through　with　streaks　of　red。　Likewise　her　skull　cracks；　in　many　places。　She　sags　in　my　arms；　the　blood　from　her　mortal　wounds　soaking　the　front　of　my　leather　jacket。　She　is　dead；　I　let　her　drop。
　The　door　is　closed　but　not　locked。　Quickly　I　press　it　tight　and　lock　it。　At　my　feet　Slim　lets　out　a　moan。　I　reach　down　and　grab　him　and　press　him　against　the　wall　beside　the　stain　of　the　dead　woman's　brains。　My　hands　go　around　his　throat。　Perhaps　five　seconds　have　elapsed　since　we　entered　the　bathroom。　Slim　winces　and　opens　his　eyes。　They　focus　quickly　when　they　see　me。
　〃Slim；〃　I　say　softly。　〃Look　around　you。　Look　at　your　dead　partner。　Her　brains　are　leaking　out　of　her　head。　She's　a　mess…it's　terrible。　I'm　a　terrible　person。　I'm　also　a　very　strong　person。　You　can　feel　how　strong　I　am；　can't　you？　That's　why　your　boss　wanted　you　to　be　so　careful　with　me。　You　can't　screw　with　me　and　get　away　with　it。　Please　don't　even　consider　it。　Now；　let　me　tell　you　what　I　want。　Reach　in　your　pocket　and　pull　out　the　key　to　these　cuffs。　Unlock　them。　Don't　shout　out　to　the　others。　If　you　do　these　things；　then　maybe　I　will　let　you　go。　If　you　don't；　your　brains　will　be　all　over　the　floor　like　your　partner's。
　Think　about　it　for　a　moment；　if　you　want；　but　don't　think　too　long。　You　can　see　what　an　impatient　person　I　am。〃
　He　stammers。　〃I　don't　have　the　keys。〃
　I　smile。　〃Bad　answer；　Slim。　Now　I　will　have　to　go　through　your　pockets　and　find　them。　But　I'll　have　to　make　sure　you're　lying　perfectly　still　while　I　do　so。　I'm　going　to　have　to　kill　you。〃
　He's　scared。　He　can　hardly　talk。　He　accidentally　steps　in　the　mess　dripping　out　of　the　woman's　head。　〃No。　Wait。　Please。　I　have　the　keys。　I　will　give　you　the　keys。〃
　〃That's　good。　Good　for　you。〃　I　release　my　grip　slightly。　〃Undo　the　locks。　Remember；　if　you　shout　out；　you　die。〃
　His　hands　shake　badly。　All　his　training　has　not　prepared　him　for　me。　His　eyes　keep　straying　to　what　I　have　done　to　the　woman's　head。　A　crumpled　accordion　of　bloody　assault。　Finally；　though；　Slim　gets　my　cuffs　off。　My　relief　at　being　free　is　great。　Once　more；　I　feel　my　usual　invincibility。　I　am　a　wolf　among　sheep。　The　slaughter　will　be　a　pleasure。　I　toss　the　cuffs　in　the　wastebasket。　Just　then　someone　knocks　at　the　door。　I　press　my　fingers　deep　into　the　sides　of　Slim's　throat。
　〃Ask　what　it　is；〃　I　say。　I　let　go　just　enough　to　allow　him　to　speak。
　He　coughs。　〃What　is　it？〃
　〃Everything　OK　in　there？〃　a　man　asks。　They　have　heard　noise。
　〃Yeah；〃　I　whisper。
　〃Yeah；〃　Slim　says。
　The　man　outside　tries　the　doorknob。　Of　course　it　is　locked。　〃What's　happening？〃　the　man　asks。　He　is　the　suspicious　type；　to　be　sure。
　〃Everything　is　cool；〃　I　whisper。
　〃Everything　is　cool；〃　Slim　manages。　It　is　no　wonder　the　guy　outside　doesn't　believe　Slim；　he　sounds　like　he's　about　to　weep。　The　guy　outside　tries　the　door　again。
　〃Open　the　door；〃　he　demands。
　〃If　we　go　out　that　way；〃　I　ask　Slim；　〃will　they　shoot　us　both？〃
　He　croaks。　〃Yes。〃
　I　study　the　bathroom。　The　wall　against　which　I　hold　Slim　is　pletely　tiled；　it　appears　to　be　the　thickest　wall　in　the　rest　room。　But　the　wall　behind　the　lone　toilet