Commitments
Thepackagearrivedwithaveryjet-laggedCaptainattheNavy‘sintelligenceheadquartersinSuitland,Maryland.On-staffphoto-interpretationexpertsweresupplementedbyspecialistsfromtheAirForce‘s1127thFieldActivitiesGroupatFortBelvoir.Ittooktwentyhourstogothroughtheentireprocess,buttheframesfromtheBuffaloHunterwereunusuallygood,andtheAmericanonthegroundhaddonewhathewassupposedtodo:lookupandstareatthepassingreconnaissancedrone.
‘Poorbastardpaidthepriceforit,‘aNavychiefobservedtohisAirForcecounterpart.JustbehindhimthephotocaughtanNVAsoldierwithhisrifleupandreversed.‘I‘dliketomeetyouinadarkalley,youlittlefuck.‘
‘Whatdoyouthink?‘TheAirForceseniormastersergeantslidanIDphotoover.
‘CloseenoughI‘dbetmoneyonit.‘Bothintelligencespecialiststhoughtitoddthattheyhadsuchathincollectionoffilestocomparewiththesephotographs,butwhoeverhadguessedhadguessedwell.Theyhadamatch.Theydidn‘tknowthatwhattheyhadwasaseriesofphotographsofadeadman.
Kellylethersleep,gladthatshewasabletowithoutanychemicalhelp.Hegothimselfdressed,wentoutside,andranaroundhisislandtwice-thecircumferencewasaboutthreequartersofamile-toworkupasweatinthestillmorningair.SamandSarah,earlyrisersalso,bumpedintohimwhilehewascoolingdownonthedock.
‘Thechangeinyouisremarkable,too,‘sheobserved.Shepausedforamoment.‘HowwasPamlastnight?‘
ThequestionjarredKellyintoabriefsilence,followedby:‘What?‘
‘Oh,shit,Sarah‘Samlookedawayandnearlylaughed.Hiswifeflushedalmostascrimsonasthedawn.
‘Shepersuadedmenottomedicateherlastnight,‘Sarahexplained.‘Shewasalittlenervous,butshewantedtotryandIlethertalkmeoutofit.That‘swhatImeant,John.Sorry.‘
Howtoexplainlastnight?Firsthe‘dbeenafraidtotouchher,afraidtoseemtobepressinghimselfonher,andthenshe‘dtakenthatasasignthathedidn‘tlikeheranymore,andthenthingshadworkedout.
‘Mainlyshehassomedamned-foolidea-‘Kellystoppedhimself.Pamcouldtalktoheraboutthis,butitwasn‘tproperforhimtodoso,wasit?‘Shesleptfine,Sarah.Shereallyworeherselfoutyesterday.‘
‘Idon‘tknowthatI‘veeverhadamoredeterminedpatient.‘ShestabbedahardfingerintoKelly‘schest.‘You‘vehelpedalot,youngman.‘
Kellylookedaway,notknowingwhathewassupposedtosay.Thepleasurewasallmine?Partofhimstillbelievedthathewastakingadvantageofher.He‘dstumbleduponatroubledgirlandexploitedher?No,thatwasn‘ttrue.Helovedher.Amazingasthatseemed.Hislifewaschangingintosomethingrecognizablynormal-probably.Hewashealingher,butshewashealinghimaswell.
‘She‘s-she‘sworriedthatIwon‘t-thestuffinherpast,Imean.Ireallydon‘tcaremuchaboutthat.You‘reright,she‘saverystronggirl.Hell,Ihaveasomewhatcheckeredpast,too,y‘know?Iain‘tnopriest,guys.‘
‘Lethertalkitout,‘Samsaid.‘Sheneedsthat.Youhavetoletthingsintheopenbeforeyoustartdealingwiththem.‘
‘You‘resureitwon‘taffectyou?Itmightbesomeprettyuglystuff,‘Sarahobserved,watchinghiseyes.
‘Uglierthanwar?‘Kellyshookhishead.Thenhechangedthesubject.‘Whataboutthemedications?‘
Thequestionrelievedeveryone,andSarahwastalkingworkagain.‘She‘sbeenthroughthemostcrucialperiod.Ifthereweregoingtobeaseriouswithdrawalreaction,itwouldhavehappenedalready.Shemaystillhaveperiodsofagitation,broughtonbyexternalstress,forexample.Inthatcaseyouhavethephenobarb,andI‘vealreadywrittenoutinstructionsforyou,butshe‘sguttingitout.Herpersonalityisfarstrongerthansheappreciates.You‘resmartenoughtoseeifshe‘shavingabadtime.Ifso,makeher-makeher-takeoneofthetablets.‘
TheideaofforcinghertodoanythingbridledKelly.‘Look,doc,Ican‘t-‘
‘Shutup,John.Idon‘tmeanjammingitdownherthroat.Ifyoutellherthatshereallyneedsit,she‘sgoingtolistentoyou,okay?‘
‘Howlong?‘
‘Foranotherweek,maybetendays,‘Sarahsaidafteramoment‘sreflection.
‘Andthen?‘
‘Thenyoucanthinkaboutthefutureyoutwomighthavetogether,‘Sarahtoldhim.
Samfeltuneasygettingthispersonal.‘Iwantherfullycheckedout,Kelly.When‘sthenexttimeyou‘redueintoBaltimore?‘
‘Acoupleofweeks,maybesooner.Why?‘
Sarahhandledthat:‘Iwasn‘tabletodoaverythoroughexam.Shehasn‘tseenaphysicianinalongtime,andI‘llfeelbetterifshehasaCPX-completehistoryandphysical.Whodoyouthink,Sam?‘
‘YouknowMadgeNorth?‘
‘She‘lldo,‘Sarahthought.‘Youknow,Kelly,itwouldn‘thurtforyoutogetcheckedout,too.‘
‘DoIlooksick?‘Kellyheldhisarmsout,allowingthemtosurveythemagnificenceofhisbody.
‘Don‘tgivemethatcrap,‘Sarahsnappedback.‘Whensheshowsup,youshowup.Iwanttomakesureyou‘rebothcompletelyhealthy-period.Gotit?‘
‘Yes,ma‘am.‘
‘Onemorething,andIwantyoutohearmethrough,‘Sarahwenton.‘Sheneedstoseeapsychiatrist.‘
‘Why?‘
‘John,lifeisn‘tamovie.Peopledon‘tputtheirproblemsbehindandrideintoasunsetinreallife,okay?She‘sbeensexuallyabused.She‘sbeenondrugs.Herself-esteemisn‘tveryhighrightnow.Peopleinherpositionblamethemselvesforbeingvictims.Therightkindoftherapycanhelptofixthat.Whatyou‘redoingisimportant,butsheneedsprofessionalhelp,too.Okay?‘
Kellynodded.‘Okay.‘
‘Good,‘Sarahsaid,lookingupathim.‘Ilikeyou.Youlistenwell.‘
‘DoIhaveachoice,ma‘am?‘Kellyinquiredwithatwistedgrin.
Shelaughed.‘No,notreally.‘
‘She‘salwaysthispushy,‘SamtoldKelly.‘Shereallyoughttobeanurse.Docsaresupposedtobemorecivilized.Nursesaretheoneswhopushusaround.‘Sarahkickedherhusbandplayfully.
‘ThenIbetterneverrunintoanurse,‘Kellysaid,leadingthembackoffthedock.
Pamendedupsleepingjustovertenhours,andwithoutbenefitofbarbiturates,thoughshedidawakenwithacrushingheadachewhichKellytreatedwithaspirin.
‘GetTylenol,‘Sarahtoldhim.‘Easieronthestomach.‘ThepharmacologistmadeashowofcheckingPamagainwhileSampackeduptheirgear.Onthewholeshelikedwhatshesaw.‘IwantyoutogainfivepoundsbeforeIseeyouagain.‘
‘But-‘
‘AndJohn‘sgoingtobringyouintoseeussothatwecangetyoucompletelycheckedout-twoweeks,say?‘
‘Yes,ma‘am.‘Kellynoddedsurrenderagain.
‘But-‘
‘Pam,theygangeduponme.Ihavetogoin,too,‘Kellyreportedinaremarkablydocilevoice.
‘Youhavetoleavesoearly?‘
Sarahnodded.‘Wereallyshouldhaveleftlastnight,butwhatthehell.‘ShelookedatKelly.‘Ifyoudon‘tshowuplikeIsaid,I‘llcallyouandscream.‘
‘Sarah.Jesus,you‘reapushybroad!‘
‘YoushouldhearwhatSamsays.‘
Kellywalkedherouttothedock,whereSam‘sboatwasalreadyrumblingwithlife.SheandPamhugged.Kellytriedjusttoshakehands,buthadtosubmittoakiss.Samjumpeddowntoshaketheirhands.
‘Newcharts!‘Kellytoldthesurgeon.
‘Aye,Cap‘n.‘
‘I‘llgetthelines.‘
Rosenwasanxioustoshowhimwhathe‘dlearned.Hebackedout,drawingmainlyonhisstarboardshaftandturninghisHatteraswithinherownlength.Themandidn‘tforget.AmomentlaterSamincreasedpoweronbothenginesanddrovestraightout,headingdirectlyforwaterheknewtobedeep.Pamjuststoodthere,holdingKelly‘shand,untiltheboatwasawhitespeckonthehorizon.
‘Iforgottothankher,‘Pamsaidfinally.
‘No,youdidn‘t.Youjustdidn‘tsayit,that‘sall.Sohowareyoutoday?‘
‘Myheadache‘sgone.‘Shelookedupathim.Herhairneededwashing,buthereyeswereclearandtherewasaspringinherstep.Kellyfelttheneedtokissher,whichhedid.‘Sowhatdowedonow?‘
‘Weneedtotalk,‘Pamsaidquietly.‘It‘stime.‘
‘Waithere.‘Kellywentbackintotheshopandreturnedwithapairoffoldingloungechairs.Hegesturedherintoone.‘Nowtellmehowterribleyouare.‘
PamelaStarrMaddenwasthreeweeksshyofhertwenty-firstbirthday,Kellylearned,finallydiscoveringhersurnameaswell.Borntoalower-working-classfamilyinthePanhandleregionofnorthernTexas,she‘dgrownupunderthefirmhandofafatherwhowasthesortofmantomakeaBaptistministerdespair.DonaldMaddenwasamanwhounderstoodtheformofreligion,butnotthesubstance,whowasstrictbecausehedidn‘tknowhowtolove,whodrankfromfrustrationwithlife-andwasangryathimselfforthat,too-yetnevermanagedtocometotermswithit.Whenhischildrenmisbehaved,hebeatthem,usuallywithabeltoraswitchofwooduntilhisconsciencekickedin,somethingwhichdidnotalwayshappensoonerthanfatigue.Neverahappychild,thefinalstrawforPamhadcomeonthedayafterhersixteenthbirthday,whenshe‘dstayedlateatachurchfunctionandendedupgoingonwhatwasalmostadatewithfriends,feelingthatshefinallyhadtherighttodoso.Therehadn‘tevenbeenakissattheendofitfromtheboywhosehouseholdwasalmostasrestrictiveasherown.Butthathadn‘tmatteredtoDonaldMadden.Arrivinghomeatten-twentyonaFridayevening,Pamcameintoahousewhoselightsblazedwithanger,theretofaceanenragedfatherandathoroughlycowedmother.
‘Thethingshesaid‘Pamwaslookingdownatthegrassasshespoke.‘Ididn‘tdoanyofthat.Ididn‘teventhinkofdoingit,andAlbertwassoinnocentbutsowasI,then.‘
Kellysqueezedherhand.‘Youdon‘thavetotellmeanyofthis,Pam.‘Butshedidhaveto,andKellyknewthat,andsohecontinuedtolisten.
Aftersustainingtheworstbeatingofhersixteenyears,PamelaMaddenhadslippedoutherfirst-floorbedroomwindowandwalkedthefourmilestothecenterofthebleak,dustytown.She‘dcaughtaGreyhoundbusforHoustonbeforedawn,onlybecauseithadbeenthefirstbus,andithadn‘toccurredtohertogetoffanywhereinbetween.Sofarasshecoulddetermine,herparentshadneverevenreportedherasmissing.AseriesofmenialjobsandevenworsehousinginHoustonhadmerelygivenemphasistohermisery,andinshortordershe‘ddecidedtoheadelsewhere.Withwhatlittlemoneyshe‘dsaved,she‘dcaughtyetanotherbus-thisoneContinentalTrailways-andstoppedinNewOrleans.Scared,thin,andyoung,Pamhadneverlearnedthatthereweremenwhopreyedonyoungrunaways.Spottedalmostatoncebyawell-dressedandsmooth-talkingtwenty-five-year-oldnamedPierreLamarck,she‘dtakenhisofferofshelterandassistanceafterhehadsprungfordinnerandsympathy.Threedayslaterhehadbecomeherfirstlover.Aweekafterthat,afirmslapacrossthefacehadcoercedthesixteen-year-oldgirlintohersecondsexualadventure,thisonewithasalesmanfromSpringfield,Illinois,whomPamhadremindedofhisowndaughter-somuchsothathe‘dengagedherfortheentireevening,payingLamarcktwohundredfiftydollarsfortheexperience.Thedayafterthat,Pamhademptiedoneofherpimp‘spillcontainersdownherthroat,butonlymanagedtomakeherselfvomit,earningasavagebeatingforthedefiance.
Kellylistenedtothestorywithaserenelackofreaction,hiseyessteady,hisbreathingregular.Inwardlyitwasanotherstoryentirely.Thegirlshe‘dhadinVietnam,thelittlechildlikeones,andthefewhe‘dtakensinceTish‘sdeath.Ithadneveroccurredtohimthatthoseyoungwomenmightnothaveenjoyedtheirlifeandwork.He‘dnevereventhoughtaboutit,acceptingtheirfeignedreactionsasgenuinehumanfeelings-forwasn‘theadecent,honorableman?ButhehadpaidfortheservicesofyoungwomenwhosecollectivestorymightnothavebeentheleastbitdifferentfromPam‘s,andtheshameofitburnedinsidehimlikeatorch.
Bynineteen,she‘descapedLamarckandthreemorepimps,alwaysfindingherselfcaughtwithanother.OneinAtlantahadenjoyedwhippinghisgirlsinfrontofhispeers,usuallyusinglightcords.AnotherinChicagohadstartedPamonheroin,thebettertocontrolagirlhedeemedalittletooindependent,butshe‘dlefthimthenextday,provinghimright.She‘dwatchedanothergirldieinfrontofhereyesfromahot-shotofuncutdrugs,andthatfrightenedhermorethanthethreatofabeating.Unabletogohome-she‘dcalledonceandhadthephoneslammeddownbyhermotherevenbeforeshecouldbegforhelp-andnottrustingthesocialserviceswhichmighthavehelpedheralongadifferentpath,shefinallyfoundherselfinWashington,DC,anexperiencedstreetprostitutewithadrughabitthathelpedhertohidefromwhatshethoughtofherself.Butnotenough.Andthat,Kellythought,wasprobablywhathadsavedher.Alongthewayshe‘shadtwoabortions,threecasesofvenerealdisease,andfourarrests,noneofwhichhadevercometotrial.Pamwascryingnow,andKellymovedtositbesideher.
‘YouseewhatIreallyam?‘
‘Yes,Pam.WhatIseeisoneverycourageouslady.‘Hewrappedhisarmtightlyaroundher.‘Honey,it‘sokay.Anybodycanmessup.Ittakesgutstochange,anditreallytakesgutstotalkaboutit.‘
ThefinalchapterhadbeguninWashingtonwithsomeonenamedRoscoeFleming.BythistimePamwashookedsolidlyonbarbiturates,butstillfreshandpretty-lookingwhensomeonetookthetimetomakeherso,enoughtocommandagoodpricefromthosewholikedyoungfaces.Onesuchmanhadcomeupwithanidea,asideline.Thisman,whosenamewasHenry,hadwantedtobroadenhisdrugbusiness,andbeingacarefulchapwhowasusedtohavingothersdohisbidding,he‘dsetupastableofgirlstorundrugsfromhisoperationtohisdistributors.Thegirlsheboughtfromestablishedpimpsinothercities,ineachcaseastraightcashtransaction,whicheachofthegirlsfoundominous.ThistimePamtriedtorunalmostatonce,butshe‘dbeencaughtandbeatenseverelyenoughtobreakthreeribs,onlylatertolearnofhergoodfortunethatthefirstlessonhadn‘tgonefurther.Henryhadalsousedtheopportunitytocrambarbituratesintoher,whichbothattenuatedthepainandincreasedherdependence.He‘daugmentedthetreatmentbymakingheravailabletoanyofhisassociateswhowantedher.Inthis,Henryhadachievedwhatalltheothershadfailedtodo.Hehadfinallycowedherspirit.
Overaperiodoffivemonths,thecombinationofbeatings,sexualabuse,anddrugshaddepressedhertoanearlycatatonicstateuntilshe‘dbeenjarredbacktorealityonlyfourweeksearlierbytrippingoverthebodyofatwelve-year-oldboyinadoorway,aneedlestillinhisarm.Remainingoutwardlydocile,Pamhadstruggledtocutherdruguse.Henry‘sotherfriendshadn‘tcomplained.Shewasamuchbetterlaythisway,theythought,andtheirmaleegoshadattributedittotheirprowessratherthanherincreasedlevelofconsciousness.She‘dwaitedforherchance,waitingforatimewhenHenrywasawaysomewhere,becausetheothersgotlooserwhenhewasn‘taround.Onlyfivedaysearliershe‘dpackedwhatlittleshehadandbolted.Penniless-Henryhadneverletthemhavemoney-she‘dhitchedherwayoutoftown.m.XiaoShuo530.Com
‘TellmeaboutHenry,‘Kellysaidsoftlywhenshe‘dfinished.
‘Thirty,black,aboutyourheight.‘
‘Didanyothergirlsgetaway?‘
Pam‘svoicewentcoldasice.‘Ionlyknowofonewhotried.ItwasaroundNovember.Hekilledher.Hethoughtshewasgoingtothecops,and‘-shelookedup-‘hemadeusallwatch.Itwasterrible.‘
Kellysaidquietly,‘Sowhydidyoutry,Pam?‘
‘I‘dratherdiethandothatagain,‘shewhispered,thethoughtnowoutintheopen.‘Iwantedtodie.Thatlittleboy.Doyouknowwhathappens?Youjuststop.Everythingstops.AndIwashelping.Ihelpedkillhim.‘
‘Howdidyougetout?‘
‘NightbeforeIfuckedthemallsothey‘dlikeme,letmeletmeoutoftheirsight.Youunderstandnow?‘
‘Youdidwhatwasnecessarytoescape,‘Kellyreplied.Itrequiredeverybitofhisstrengthtokeephisvoiceeven.‘ThankGod.‘
‘Iwouldn‘tblameyouifyoutookmebackandsetmeonmyway.MaybeDaddywasright,whathesaidaboutme.‘
‘Pam,doyouremembergoingtochurch?‘
‘Yes.‘
‘Doyourememberthestorythatends,&"Goforthandsinnomore&"?YouthinkthatI‘veneverdonesomethingwrong?Neverbeenashamed?Neverbeenscared?You‘renotalone,Pam.Doyouhaveanyideahowbraveyou‘vebeentotellmeallthis?‘
Hervoicebynowwasentirelydevoidofemotion.‘Youhavearighttoknow.‘
‘AndnowIdo,anditdoesn‘tchangeanything.‘Hepausedforasecond.‘Yes,itdoes.You‘reevengutsierthanIthoughtyouwere,honey.‘
‘Areyousure?Whataboutlater?‘
‘Theonly&"later&"thingI‘mworriedaboutisthosepeopleyouleftbehind,‘Kellysaid.
‘Iftheyeverfindme‘Emotionwascomingbacknow.Fear.‘Everytimewegobacktothecity,theymightseeme.‘
‘We‘llbecarefulaboutthat,‘Kellysaid.
‘I‘llneverbesafe.Never.‘
‘Yeah,well,there‘stwowaystohandlethat.Yoncanjustkeeprunningandhiding.Oryoucanhelpputthemaway.‘
Sheshookherheademphatically.‘Thegirltheykilled.Theyknew.Theyknewshewasgoingtothecops.That‘swhyIcan‘ttrustthepolice.Besides,youdon‘tknowhowscarythesepeopleare.‘
Sarahhadbeenrightaboutsomethingelse,Kellysaw.Pamwaswearingherhalteragain,andthesunhadgivendefinitiontothemarksonherback.Therewereplaceswhichthesundidn‘tdarkenasitdidtheothers.Echoesoftheweltsandbloodymarksthatothershadmadefortheirpleasure.IthadallstartedwithPierreLamarck,ormorecorrectly,DonaldMadden,small,cowardlymenwhomanagedtheirrelationswithwomenthroughforce.
Men?Kellyaskedhimself.
No.
Kellytoldhertostayinplaceforaminuteandheadedoffintothemachinerybunker.Hereturnedwitheightemptysodaandbeercans,whichhesetonthegroundperhapsthirtyfeetfromtheirchairs.
‘Putyourfingersinyourears,‘Kellytoldher.
‘Why?‘
‘Please,‘hereplied.Whenshedid,Kelly‘srighthandmovedinablur,pullinga.45Coltautomaticfromunderhisshirt.Hebroughtitupintoatwo-handhold,goinglefttoright.Oneatatime,perhapshalfasecondapart,thecansalternativelyfelloverorflewafootortwointheairtothecrashingreportofthepistol.Beforethelastwasbackonthegroundfromitsbriefflight,Kellyhadejectedthespentmagazineandwasinsertinganother,andsevenofthecansmovedalittlemore.Hecheckedtobesuretheweaponwasclear,droppedthehammer,andreplaceditinhisbeltbeforesittingdownnexttoher.
‘Itdoesn‘ttakeallthatmuchtobescarytoayounggirlwithoutfriends.Ittakesalittlemoretoscareme.Pam,ifanybodyeventhinksabouthurtingyou,hehastotalktomefirst.‘
Shelookedoveratthecans,thenupatKelly,whowaspleasedwithhimselfandhismarksmanship.Thedemonstrationhadbeenausefulreleaseforhim,andinthebriefflurryofactivity,he‘dassignedanameorafacetoeachofthecans.Buthecouldseeshestillwasnotconvinced.Itwouldtakealittletime.
‘Anyway.‘HesatdownwithPamagain.‘Okay,youtoldmeyourstory,right?‘
‘Yes.‘
‘Doyoustillthinkitmakesadifferencetome?‘
‘No.Yousayitdoesn‘t.IguessIbelieveyou.‘
‘Pam,notallthemenintheworldarelikethat-notverymany,asamatteroftact.You‘vebeenunlucky,that‘sall.Thereisn‘tanythingwrongwithyou.Somepeoplegethurtinaccidentsorgetsick.OverinVietnamIsawmengetkilledfrombadluck.Italmosthappenedtome.Itwasn‘tbecausetherewassomethingwrongwiththem.Itwasjustbadluck,beinginthewrongplace,turningleftinsteadofright,lookingthewrongway.Sarahwantsyoutomeetsomedocsandtalkitthrough.Ithinkshe‘sright.We‘regoingtogetyouallfixedup.‘
‘Andthen?‘PamMaddenasked.Hetookaverydeepbreath,butitwastoolatetostopnow.
‘Willyoustaywithme,Pam?‘
Shelookedasthoughshe‘dbeenslapped.Kellywasstunnedbyherreaction.‘Youcan‘t,you‘rejustdoingitbecause-‘
Kellystoodandliftedherbythearms.‘Listentome,okay?You‘vebeensick.You‘regettingbetter.You‘vetakeneverythingthatgoddamnedworldcouldtossatyou,andyoudidn‘tquit.Ibelieveinyou!It‘sgoingtotaketime.Everythingdoes.Butattheendofit,youwillbeonegoddamnedfineperson.‘Hesetherdownonherfeetandsteppedback.Hewasshakingwithrage,notonlyatwhathadhappenedtoher,butathimselfforstartingtoimposehiswillonher.‘I‘msorry.Ishouldn‘thavedonethat.Please,Pamjustbelieveinyourselfalittle.‘
‘It‘shard.I‘vedoneterriblethings.‘
Sarahwasright.Shedidneedprofessionalhelp.Hewasangryathimselffornotknowingexactlywhattosay.
Thenextfewdayssettledintoasurprisinglyeasyroutine.Whateverherotherqualities,Pamwasahorriblecook,whichfailingmadehercrytwicewithfrustration,thoughKellymanagedtochokedowneverythingshepreparedwithasmileandakindword.Butshelearnedquickly,too,andbyFridayshe‘dfiguredouthowtomakehamburgerintosomethingtastierthanapieceofcharcoal.Throughitall,Kellywasthere,encouragingher,tryinghardnottobeoverpoweringandmainlysucceeding.Aquietword,agentletouch,andasmilewerehistools.Shewassoonapinghishabitofrisingbeforedawn.Hestartedgettinghertoexercise.Thiscameveryhardindeed.Thoughbasicallyhealthy,shehadn‘trunmorethanhalfablockinyears,andsohemadeherwalkaroundtheisland,startingwithtwolaps,bytheendoftheweekuptofive.Shespentherafternoonsinthesun,andwithoutmuchtowearshemostoftendidsoinherpantiesandbra.Sheacquiredthebeginningsofatan,andneverseemedtonoticethethin,palemarksonherbackthatmadeKelly‘sbloodchillwithanger.Shebegantopaymoreseriousattentiontoherappearance,showeringandwashingherhairatleastonceperday,brushingitouttoasilkygloss,andKellywasalwaystheretocommentonit.NotoncedidsheappeartoneedthephenobarbitalSarahhadleftbehind.Perhapsshestruggledonceortwice,butbyusingexerciseinsteadofchemicals,sheworkedherselfontoanormalwake-sleeproutine.Hersmilesacquiredmoreconfidence,andtwicehecaughtherlookingintothemirrorwithsomethingotherthanpaininhereyes.
‘Prettynice,isn‘tit?‘heaskedSaturdayevening,justafterhershower.
‘Maybe,‘sheallowed.
Kellyliftedacombfromthesinkandstartedgoingthroughherwethair.‘Thesunhasreallylighteneditupforyou.‘
‘Ittookawhiletogetallthedirtout,‘shesaid,relaxingtohistouch.
Kellystruggledwithatangle,carefulnottopulltoohard.‘Butitdidcomeout,Pammy,didn‘tit?‘
‘Yeah,Iguessso,maybe,‘shetoldthefaceinthemirror.
‘Howhardwasthattosay,honey?‘
‘Prettyhard.‘Asmile,arealonewithwarmthandconviction.
Kellysetthecombdownandkissedthebaseofherneck,lettingherwatchinthemirror.Kellygotthecombbackandcontinuedhiswork.Itstruckhimasveryunmanly,butheloveddoingthis.‘There,allstraight,notangles.‘
‘Youreallyoughttobuyahair-dryer.‘
Kellyshrugged.‘I‘veneverneededone.‘
Pamturnedaroundandtookhishands.‘Youwill,ifyoustillwantto.‘
Hewasquietforperhapstenseconds,andwhenhespoke,thewordsdidn‘tquitecomeoutattheyshould,fornowthefearwashis.‘Yousure?‘
‘Doyoustill-‘
‘Yes!‘Itwashardliftingherwithwethair,stillnudeanddampfromtheshower,butamanhadtoholdhiswomanatatimelikethis.Shewaschanging.Herribswerelesspronounced.She‘dgainedweightonaregular,healthydiet.Butitwasthepersoninsidewhohadchangedthemost.Kellywonderedwhatmiraclehadtakenplace,afraidtobelievethathewaspartofit,butknowingthatitwasso.Hesetherdownafteramoment,lookingatthemirthinhereyes,proudthathe‘dhelpedtoputitthere.
‘Ihavemyroughedges,too,‘Kellywarnedher,unawareofthelookinhiseyes.
‘I‘veseenmostofthem,‘sheassuredhim.Herhandsstartedrubbingoverhischest,tannedandmattedwithdarkhair,markedwithscarsfromcombatoperationsinafarawayplace.Herscarswereinside,butsoweresomeofhis,andtogethereachwouldhealtheother.Pamwassureofthatnow.She‘dbeguntolookatthefutureasmorethanadarkplacewhereshecouldhideandforget.Itwasnowaplaceofhope.</div> 有的人死了，但没有完全死……
无尽的昏迷过后，时宇猛地从床上起身。想要看最新章节内容，请下载爱阅小说app，无广告免费阅读最新章节内容。网站已经不更新最新章节内容，已经爱阅小说APP更新最新章节内容。
他大口的呼吸起新鲜的空气，胸口一颤一颤。
迷茫、不解，各种情绪涌上心头。
这是哪？
随后，时宇下意识观察四周，然后更茫然了。
一个单人宿舍？
就算他成功得到救援，现在也应该在病房才对。
还有自己的身体……怎么会一点伤也没有。
带着疑惑，时宇的视线快速从房间扫过，最终目光停留在了床头的一面镜子上。
镜子照出他现在的模样，大约十七八岁的年龄，外貌很帅。
可问题是，这不是他！下载爱阅小说app，阅读最新章节内容无广告免费
之前的自己，是一位二十多岁气宇不凡的帅气青年，工作有段时间了。
而现在，这相貌怎么看都只是高中生的年纪……
这个变化，让时宇发愣很久。
千万别告诉他，手术很成功……
身体、面貌都变了，这根本不是手术不手术的问题了，而是仙术。
他竟完全变成了另外一个人！
难道……是自己穿越了？
除了床头那摆放位置明显风水不好的镜子，时宇还在旁边发现了三本书。
时宇拿起一看，书名瞬间让他沉默。
《新手饲养员必备育兽手册》
《宠兽产后的护理》
《异种族兽耳娘评鉴指南》
时宇：？？？
前两本书的名字还算正常，最后一本你是怎么回事？
“咳。”
时宇目光一肃，伸出手来，不过很快手臂一僵。
就在他想翻开第三本书，看看这究竟是个什么东西时，他的大脑猛地一阵刺痛，大量的记忆如潮水般涌现。
冰原市。
宠兽饲养基地。
实习宠兽饲养员。网站即将关闭，下载爱阅app为您提供大神璇玑的璇玑之心刃·冷血悍将
御兽师？
章节错误,点此报送(免注册),
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