iancaldwell&dustinthomason.theruleoffour-第63部分

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ybe　she　already　knows　how　to　solve　my　riddle。　We　are　bigger　than　Schr？dinger's　box；　she's　saying。　Like　any　good　cat；　we　have　nine　lives。
　〃Does　it　ever　snow　like　this　in　Ohio？〃　she　says；　consciously　changing　the　subject。　Outside；　I　know；　it's　begun　again；　driving　down　with　more　power　than　before；　all　our　winter　in　this　one　storm。
　〃Not　in　April；〃　I　say。
　We're　side　by　side　on　the　table；　just　inches　apart。　〃Not　in　New　Hampshire　either；〃　she　says。　〃Not　in　April；　at　least。〃
　I　accept　what　she's　trying　to　do；　where　she's　trying　to　take　me。　Anywhere　but　here。　I've　always　wanted　to　know　more　about　what　her　life　was　like　at　home；　what　her　family　did　around　the　dinner　table。　Upper　New　England　in　my　imagination　is　the　American　Alps；　mountains　at　every　turn；　Saint　Bernards　bearing　gifts。
　〃My　little　sister　and　I　used　to　do　this　thing　in　the　snow；〃　she　says。
　〃Mary？〃
　She　nods。　〃Every　year　when　the　pond　near　our　house　would　freeze　over；　we　would　go　crack　holes　in　the　ice。〃
　〃Why？〃
　She　smiles；　beautiful。　〃So　the　fish　could　breathe。〃
　Members　pass　across　the　top　of　the　stairs；　little　pockets　of　heat　in　motion。
　〃We　would　take　the　ends　of　broomsticks；〃　she　says；　〃and　make　holes　all　the　way　across　the　lake。　Like　punching　holes　in　the　top　of　a　jar。〃
　〃For　fireflies；〃　I　say。
　She　nods　and　takes　my　hand。　〃The　ice　skaters　used　to　hate　us。〃
　〃My　sisters　used　to　take　me　sledding；〃　I　tell　her。
　Katie's　eyes　twinkle。　She　remembers　she's　got　something　on　me：　that　she's　a　big　sister；　and　I'm　a　little　brother。
　〃There　aren't　a　lot　of　big　hills　in　Columbus；〃　I　continue；　〃so　it　was　always　this　one。〃
　〃And　they　would　drag　you　up　the　hill　on　the　sled。〃
　〃Did　I　tell　you　this　already？〃
　〃That's　just　what　big　sisters　do。〃
　I　can't　imagine　her　pulling　a　sled　up　a　hill。　My　sisters　were　strong　as　pack　dogs。
　〃Did　I　ever　tell　you　about　Dick　Mayfield？〃　I　ask　her。
　〃Who？〃
　〃This　guy　my　sister　used　to　date。〃
　〃What　about　him？〃
　〃Sarah　used　to　kick　me　off　the　phone　every　time　Dick　would　call。〃
　She　hears　the　jab　in　it。　This；　too；　is　what　big　sisters　do。
　〃I　don't　think　Dick　Mayfield　had　my　number。〃　She　smiles；　folding　her　fingers　into　mine。
　I　can't　help　thinking　of　Paul；　of　the　dovetail　he　made　with　his　hands。
　〃Dick　had　my　sister's　number；〃　I　say。　〃All　it　took　was　an　old　red　Camaro　with　flames　traced　on　the　sides。〃
　Katie　shakes　her　head　disapprovingly。
　〃Studly　Dick　and　the　Chick　Machine；〃　I　tell　her。　〃I　said　that　one　night　when　he　came　over；　and　my　mother　made　me　go　to　bed　without　dinner。〃
　Dick　Mayfield；　conjured　from　thin　air。　He　called　me　Tiny　Tom。　We　went　riding　in　the　Camaro　once；　and　he　told　me　a　secret。　It　doesn't　matter　how　small　you　are。　All　that　matters　is　the　size　of　the　fire　in　your　engine。
　〃Mary　dated　a　guy　who　drove　a　'64　Mustang；〃　Katie　says。　〃I　asked　her　if　they　were　doing　anything　in　the　backseat。　She　said　he　was　too　uptight　about　messing　up　the　car。〃
　Sex　stories　sublimated　into　car　stories；　a　way　to　talk　about　everything　without　talking　about　anything　at　all。
　〃My　first　girlfriend　drove　a　water…damaged　VW；〃　I　tell　her。　〃You　would　lie　down　on　the　backseat；　and　this　smell　would　e　up；　like　sushi。　You　couldn't　do　anything　back　there。〃
　She　turns　to　me。　〃Your　first　girlfriend　could　drive？〃
　I　fumble；　realizing　what　I've　given　away。
　〃I　was　nine；〃　I　say；　clearing　my　throat。　〃She　was　seventeen。〃
　Katie　laughs；　and　a　silence　follows。　Finally；　the　moment　seems　to　have　e。
　〃I　told　Paul；〃　I　say　to　her。
　She　looks　up。
　〃I'm　not　working　on　the　book　anymore。〃
　For　a　while　she　doesn't　respond。　Her　hands　rise　to　her　shoulders；　rubbing　them　for　warmth。　I　realize；　after　so　many　hints；　so　much　contact；　that　she　hasn't　gotten　over　the　temperature　of　the　room。
　〃Do　you　want　my　jacket？〃　I　ask。
　She　nods。　〃I'm　getting　goose　bumps。〃
　It's　impossible　not　to　look。　Her　arms　are　covered　with　tiny　beads。　The　curves　of　her　breasts　are　pale；　the　skin　of　a　porcelain　dancer。
　〃Here；〃　I　say；　taking　off　the　jacket　and　placing　it　across　her　back。
　My　right　arm　passes　her　far　shoulder　just　for　a　second；　but　she　reaches　up；　holding　it　in　limbo。　With　me　half　crooked　around　her；　waiting；　she　leans　in。　The　smell　of　her　perfume　returns；　carried　in　the　bell　of　her　hair。　This；　at　last；　is　her　answer。
　Katie　cocks　her　head；　and　I　reach　inside　the　jacket；　into　the　dark　space　where　it　hangs　off　her　shoulders；　placing　a　hand　on　the　far　side　of　her　waist。　My　fingers　stick　to　the　rough　fabric　of　her　gown；　caught　by　an　unexpected　friction；　and　I　find　that　my　hold　on　her　is　tight　and　effortless　at　the　same　time。　A　strand　of　hair　falls　in　front　of　her　face；　but　she　doesn't　brush　it　back。　There　is　a　smudge　of　lipstick　just　below　her　lip；　so　small　that　it　can　only　be　seen　from　a　tiny　distance　I'm　surprised　to　find　I　have　reached。　Then　she　is　too　close　to　focus　on　anything　at　all；　and　there　is　warmth　over　my　mouth；　lips　closing　in。
　
　Chapter　27
　
　Just　as　the　kiss　deepens；　I　hear　the　door　swing　open。　I'm　about　to　snap　at　the　intruder；　when　I　see　it's　Paul　standing　before　us。
　〃What's　going　on？〃　I　say；　lurching　back。
　Paul　looks　around　the　room；　startled。　〃Vincent　was　taken　back　in　for　questioning；〃　he　manages　to　say。　His　shock　at　finding　Katie　in　his　room　is　mirrored　by　her　shock　at　seeing　him　here　at　all。
　I　hope　they're　putting　it　to　Taft。　〃When？〃
　〃An　hour　ago；　two　hours。　I　just　spoke　to　Tim　Stone　at　the　Institute。〃
　An　unfortable　hitch　follows。
　〃Did　you　find　Curry？〃　I　ask；　wiping　the　lipstick　off　my　mouth。
　But　in　the　pause　before　he　answers；　we　are　silently　rehashing　our　argument　about　the　Hypnerotomachia；　about　the　priorities　I've　set　for　myself。
　〃I　came　here　to　talk　to　Gil；〃　he　says；　cutting　the　conversation　short。
　Katie　and　I　watch　him　edge　along　the　wall　toward　the　desk；　gather　up　some　of　his　old　drawings；　the　ones　of　the　crypt　he's　been　sketching　for　months；　then　disappear　through　the　door　as　quickly　as　he　came。　Papers　swirl　on　the　floor　in　the　vortex　he　leaves　behind；　shifting　in　a　tiny　current　by　the　door。
　As　Katie　pushes　herself　off　the　table；　I　think　I　can　read　her　mind。　This　book　is　inescapable。　Not　all　the　decisions　in　the　world　will　make　it　possible　for　me　to　leave　it　behind。　Even　here　at　Ivy；　where　she　thought　we　could　shake　it　off；　the　Hypnerotomachia　is　everywhere：　on　the　walls；　in　the　air；　breaking　in　on　us　when　we　least　expect。
　But　to　my　surprise；　she's　only　focused　on　the　facts　Paul　relayed。　〃e　on；〃　she　says　with　a　burst　of　energy。　〃I　need　to　find　Sam。　If　they　arrest　Taft；　she'll　have　to　change　the　headline。〃
　Upstairs；　in　the　main　hall；　we　find　Paul　and　Gil　speaking　in　a　corner。　The　room　seems　to　have　gone　quiet　at　the　spectacle　of　the　club　recluse　making　an　appearance　at　such　a　public　event。
　〃Where　is　she？〃　Katie　asks；　speaking　to　Sam's　date。
　I'm　too　distracted　to　hear　the　answer。　For　two　years　I've　imagined　Paul　as　the　butt　of　every　Ivy　joke；　the　curiosity　chained　up　in　the　cellar。　But　now　seniors　stand　at　attention　as　if　one　of　the　old　portraits　has　e　to　life。　The　expression　on　Paul's　face　is　needful；　almost　desperate；　if　he's　aware　that　the　whole　club　is　watching　him；　he　gives　no　sign。　I　move　closer　to　them；　trying　to　hear；　as　Paul　hands　Gil　a　familiar　paper；　folded　over。　The　map　of　Colonna's　crypt。
　When　they　both　turn　to　leave；　the　membership　watches　as　Gil　exits　the　main　hall。　The　seniors　understand　it　first。　One　by　one；　on　tables　and　railings　and　old　oak　walls；　the　club　officers　begin　to　rap　their　knuckles。　Brooks；　the　vice　president；　is　first；　then　Carter　Simmons；　the　club　treasurer；　and　finally；　from　all　sides；　es　this　knocking；　tapping；　rumbling　of　good…bye。　Parker；　still　on　the　dance　floor；　begins　rapping　louder　than　all　the　rest；　hoping　one　last　time　to　stand　out。　But　it's　too　late。　Gil's　exit；　like　his　entrance　when　we　arrived；　takes　place　in　precise　time；　the　science　of　a　dance　step　to　be　performed　only　once。　As　the　noise　of　the　crowd　finally　dies；　I　follow　them　up。
　　
　〃We're　taking　Paul　to　Taft's　house；〃　Gil　says　when　I　find　them　in　the　Officers'　Room。
　〃What？〃
　〃There's　something　he　needs　to　get。　A　blueprint。〃
　〃You're　going　now？〃
　〃Taft's　at　the　police　station；〃　he　says；　parroting　what　Paul　explained。　〃Paul　needs　us　to　take　him。〃
　I　can　see　the　cogs　turning。　He　wants　to　help；　the　same　way　Charlie　did；　he　wants　to　disprove　what　I　said　in　the　hospital　parking　lot。
　Paul　says　nothing。　I　can　tell　from　his　expression　that　this　was　meant　to　be　a　trip　he　and　Gil　would　make　alone。
　I'm　about　to　explain　to　Gil　that　I　can't；　that　he　and　Paul　will　have　to　go　without　me；　when　everything　bees　more　plicated。　Katie　appears　in　the　doorway。
　〃What's　going　on？〃　she　says。
　〃Nothing；〃　I　say。　〃Let's　go　back　down。〃
　〃I　couldn't　get　Sam　on　the　phone；〃　she　says；　misunderstanding。　〃She　needs　to　know　about　Taft。　Is　it　okay　if　I　go　to　the　Prince　office？〃
　Gil　senses　his　opportunity。　〃That's　fine。　Tom's　ing　with　us　to　the　Institute。　We　can　meet　back　up　at　the　service。〃
　Katie　is　about　to　agree；　when　the　look　on　my　face　gives　us　away。
　〃Why？〃　she　asks。
　Gil　simply　says；　〃It's　important。〃　For　one　of　the　few　times　in　our　friendship；　his　tone　suggests　the　importance　he's　referring　to　is　much　larger　than　himself。
　〃Okay；〃　sh