Outfitters
63VW,LOWMLGE,RAD,HTR
Kellydroppedadimeinthepayphoneandcalledthenumber.ItwasablazinghotSaturday,temperatureandhumidityinaneck-and-neckracefortripledigitswhileKellyfumedathisownstupidity.Somethingsweresoblatantlyobviousthatyoudidn‘tseethemuntilyournosesplitopenandstartedbleeding.
‘Hello?I‘mcallingabouttheadforthecarthat‘sright,‘Kellysaid.‘RightnowifyouwantOkay,sayaboutfifteenminutes?Fine,thankyou,ma‘am.I‘llberightthere.‘Bye.‘Hehungup.Atleastsomethinghadgoneright.Kellygrimacedattheinsideofthephonebooth.SpringerwastiedupinaguestslipatoneofthemarinasonthePotomac.Hehadtobuyanewcar,buthowdidyougettowherethenewcarwas?Ifyoudrovethere,thenyoucoulddrivethenewcarback,butwhatabouttheoneyoutook?Itwasfunnyenoughthathestartedlaughingathimself.Thenfateintervened,andanemptycabwentdrivingpastthemanna‘sentrance,allowinghimtokeephispromisetoalittleoldlady.
&"The4500block,EssexAvenue,‘hetoldthedriver.
‘Where‘sthat,man?‘
‘Bethesda.‘
‘Gonnacostextra,man,‘thedriverpointedout,turningnorth.
Kellyhandedaten-dollarbillacross.‘Anotheroneifyougetmethereinfifteenminutes.‘
‘Cool.‘AndtheaccelerationdroppedKellybackinhisseat.ThetaxiavoidedWisconsinAvenuemostoftheway.AtaredlightthedriverfoundEssexAvenueonhismap,andheendedupcollectingtheextratenwithabouttwentysecondstospare.
Itwasanupscaleresidentialneighborhood,andthehousewaseasytospot.Thereitwas,aVWBeetle,anawfulpeanut-buttercolorspeckledwithalittlebodyrust.Itcouldnothavebeenmuchbetter.Kellyhoppedupthefourwoodenfrontstepsandknockedonthedoor.
‘Hello?‘Itwasafacetomatchthevoice.Shehadtobeeightyorso,smallandfrail,butwithfeygreeneyesthathintedatwhathadbeen,enlargedbythethickglassesshewore.Herhairstillhadsomeyellowinthegray.
‘MrsBoyd?Icalledalittlewhileagoaboutthecar.‘
‘What‘syourname?‘
‘BillMurphy,ma‘am.‘Kellysmiledbenignly.‘Awfulhot,isn‘tit?‘
‘T‘rble,‘shesaid,meaningterrible.‘Waitaminute.‘GloriaBoyddisappearedandthencamebackamomentlaterwiththekeys.Sheevencameouttowalkhimtothecar.Kellytookherarmtohelpherdownthesteps.
‘Thankyou,youngman.‘
‘Mypleasure,ma‘am,‘herepliedgallantly.
‘Wegotthecarformygranddaughter.Whenshewenttocollege,thenKenusedit,‘shesaid,expectingKellytoknowwhoKenwas.
‘Excuseme?‘
‘Myhusband,‘Gloriasaidwithoutturning.‘Hediedamonthago.‘
‘I‘mverysorrytohearthat,ma‘am.‘
‘Hewassickalongtime,‘saidthewoman,notyetrecoveredfromtheshockofherlossbutacceptingthefactofit.Shehandedhimthekeys.‘Here,takealook.‘
Kellyunlockedthedoor.Itlookedlikethecarusedbyacollegestudentandthenbyanelderlyman.Theseatswerewellworn,andonehadalongslashinit,probablybyapackingboxofclothesorbooks.Heturnedthekeyinthelockandtheenginestartedimmediately.Therewasevenafulltankofgas.Theadhadn‘tliedaboutthemileage,only52,000milesontheodometer.Heaskedforandgotpermissiontotakeitaroundtheblock.Thecarwasmechanicallysound,hedecided,bringingitbacktothewaitingowner.
‘Wheredidalltherustcomefrom?‘heaskedher,givingthekeysback.
‘ShewenttoschoolinChicago,atNorthwestern,allthatterriblesnowandsalt.‘
‘That‘sagoodschool.Let‘sgetyoubackinside,‘Kellytookherarmanddirectedherbacktothehouse.Itsmelledlikeanoldperson‘shouse,theairheavywithdustthatshewastootiredtowipe,andstalefood,forthemealsshestillfixedwerefortwo,notone.
‘Areyouthirsty?‘
‘Yes,ma‘am,thankyou.Waterwillbejustfine.‘Kellylookedaroundwhileshewenttothekitchen.Therewasaphotoonthewall,amaninahigh-neckeduniformandSamBrownebelt,holdingthearmofayoungwomaninaverytight,almostcylindrical,whiteweddingdress.OtherphotoscatalogedthemarriedlifeofKennethandGloriaBoyd.Twodaughtersandason,atriptotheocean,anoldcar,grandchildren,allthethingsearnedinafullandusefullife.
‘Hereyougo.‘Shehandedoveraglass.
‘Thankyou.Whatdidyourhusbanddo?‘
‘HeworkedfortheCommerceDepartmentforforty-twoyears.WeweregoingtomovetoFlorida,butthenhegotsicksonowI‘mgoingalone.MysisterlivesinFortPierce,she‘sawidowtoo,herhusbandwasapoliceman‘Hervoicetrailedoffasthecatcameintoexaminethenewvisitor.ThatseemedtoinvigorateMrsBoyd.‘I‘mmovingdowntherenextweek.Thehouseisalreadysold,havetogetoutnextThursday.Isoldittoaniceyoungdoctor.‘
‘Ihopeyoulikeitdownthere,ma‘am.Howmuchdoyouwantforthecar?‘
‘Ican‘tdriveanymorebecauseofmyeyes,cataracts.PeoplehavetodrivemeeverywhereIgo.Mygrandsonsaysit‘sworthonethousandfivehundreddollars.‘
Yourgrandsonmustbealawyertobethatgreedy,Kellythought.‘Howabouttwelvehundred?Icanpaycash.‘
‘Cash?‘Hereyesbecamefeyagain.
‘Yes,ma‘am.‘
‘Thenyoucanhavethecar.‘SheheldoutherhandandKellytookitcarefully.
‘Doyouhavethepaperwork?‘ItmadeKellyfeelguiltythatshehadtogetupagain,thistimeheadingupstairs,slowly,holdingontothebanisterwhileKellytookouthiswalletandcountedofftwelvecrispbills.
Itshouldhavetakenonlyanothertenminutes,butinsteaditwasthirty.Kellyhadalreadycheckeduponhowtodothemechanicsofatitletransfer,andbesides,hewasn‘tgoingtodoallofthat.Theauto-insurancepolicywastuckedintothesamecardboardenvelopeasthetitle,inthenameofKennethW.Boyd.Kellypromisedtotakecareofthatforher,andthetags,too,ofcourse.ButitturnedoutthatallthecashmadeMrsBoydnervous,andsoKellyhelpedherfilloutadepositticket,andthendrovehertoherbank,whereshecoulddropitintothenightdepository.Thenhestoppedoffatthesupermarketformilkandcatfoodbeforebringingherhomeandwalkinghertothedooragain.
‘Thankyouforthecar,MrsBoyd,‘hesaidinparting.
‘Whatareyougoingtouseitfor?‘
‘Business.‘Kellysmiledandleft.
Atquarterofninethatnight,twocarspulledintotheserviceareaonInterstate95.TheoneinfrontwasaDodgeDartandtheonebehinditaredPlymouthRoadrunner.Roughlyfiftyfeetapart,theypickedahalf-fullareanorthofMarylandHouse,areststopsetinthemedianoftheJohnF.KennedyHighway,offeringfullrestaurantservicesalongwithgasandoil-goodcoffee,but,understandably,noalcoholicbeverages.TheDarttookafewmeanderingturnsintheparkinglot,finallystoppingthreespacesfromawhiteOldsmobilewithPennsylvaniatagsandabrownvinyltop.TheRoadrunnertookaspaceinthenextrow.Awomangotoutandwalkedtowardsthebrickrestaurant,apaththattookherpasttheOlds.
‘Hey,baby,‘amansaid.Thewomanstoppedandtookafewstepstowardsthevinyl-toppedautomobile.ThemanwasCaucasian,withlongbutneatlycombedblackhairandanopen-neckedwhiteshirt.
‘Henrysentme,‘shesaid.
‘Iknow.‘Hereachedouttostrokeherface,agesturewhichshedidnotresist.Helookedaroundalittlebeforemovinghishanddownwards.‘YouhavewhatIwant,baby?‘
‘Yes.‘Shesmiled.Itwasaforced,uneasysmile,frightenedbutnotembarrassed.Doriswasmonthsbeyondembarrassment.
‘Nicetits,‘themansaidwithnoemotionalcontentatallinhisvoice.‘Getthestuff.‘
Doriswalkedbacktohercar,asthoughshe‘dforgottensomething.Shereturnedwithalargepurse,almostasmallduffel,really.AsshewalkedpasttheOlds,theman‘shandreachedoutandtookit.Dorisproceededintothebuilding,returningaminutelaterholdingacanofsoda,hereyesontheRoadrunner,hopingthatshe‘ddoneeverythingright.TheOldshaditsmotorrunning,andthedriverblewherakiss,towhichsherespondedwithawansmile.
‘Thatwaseasyenough,‘HenryTuckersaid,fiftyyardsaway,attheoutdooreatingareaontheothersideofthebuilding.
‘Goodstuff?‘anothermanaskedTonyPiaggi.Thethreeofthemsatatthesametable,‘enjoying‘thesultryeveningwhilethemajorityofthepatronswereinsidewiththeairconditioning.
‘Thebest.Sameasthesamplewegaveyoutwoweeksago.Sameshipmentandeverything,‘Piaggiassuredhim.
‘Andifthemulegetsburned?‘themanfromPhiladelphiaasked.
‘Shewon‘ttalk,‘Tuckerassuredhim.‘They‘veallseenwhathappenstobadgirls.‘Astheywatched,amangotoutoftheRoadrunnerandgotintotheDart‘sdriver‘sseat.
‘Verygood,‘RicktoldDoris.
‘Canwegonow?‘sheaskedhim,shakingnowthatthejobwasover,sippingnervouslyathersoda.
‘Sure,baby,Iknowwhatyouwant.‘Ricksmiledandstartedthecar.‘Benice,now.Showmesomething.‘
‘There‘speoplearound,‘Dorissaid.
‘So?‘
Withoutanotherword,Dorisunbuttonedhershirt-itwasaman‘sshin-leavingittuckedintoherfadedshorts.Rickreachedinandsmiled,turningthewheelwithhislefthand.Itcouldhavebeenworse,Doristoldherself,closinghereyes,pretendingthatshewassomeoneelseinsomeotherplace,wonderinghowlongbeforeherlifewouldendtoo,hopingitwouldn‘tbelong.
‘Themoney?‘Piaggiasked.
‘Ineedacupofcoffee.‘Theothermangotupandwalkedinside,leavinghisbriefcase,whichPiaggitookinhishand.HeandTuckerwalkedofftohiscar,ablueCadillac,withoutwaitingfortheothermantocomeback.
‘Notgoingtocountit?‘Tuckeraskedhalfwayacrosstheparkinglot.
‘Ifhestiffsus,heknowswhathappens.Thisisbusiness,Henry.‘
&"That‘sright,‘Tuckeragreed.
‘BillMurphy,‘Kellysaid.‘Iunderstandyouhavesomevacantapartments.‘HehelduptheSundaypaper.m.XiaoShuo530.Com
‘Whatareyoulookingfor?‘
‘Aone-bedroomwouldbefine.Ireallyjustneedaplacetohangmyclothes,‘Kellytoldtheman.‘Itravelalot.‘
‘Salesman?‘themanagerasked.
‘That‘sright.Machinetools.I‘mnewhere-newterritory,Imean.‘
Itwasanoldgarden-apartmentcomplex,builtsoonaftertheSecondWorldWarforreturningveterans,composedexclusivelyofthree-storybrickstructures.Thetreeslookedaboutrightforthattimeperiod.They‘dbeenplantedthenandgrownwell,tallenoughnowtosupportagoodpopulationofsquirrels,wideenoughtogiveshadetotheparkingareas.Kellylookedaroundapprovinglyasthemanagertookhimtoafirst-floorfurnishedunit.
‘Thisisjustfine,‘Kellyannounced.Helookedaround,testingthekitchensinkandotherplumbingfixtures.Thefurniturewasobviouslyused,butindecentshape.Therewereevenairconditionersinthewindowsofeveryroom.
‘Ihaveotherones-‘
‘ThisisjustwhatIneed.Howmuch?‘
‘Oneseventy-fiveamonth,onemonthsecuritydeposit.‘
‘Utilities?‘
‘Youcanpaythemyourselforwecanbillit.Someofourrenterspreferthat.They‘llaverageaboutforty-fivedollarsamonth.‘
‘Easiertopayonebillthantwoorthree.Let‘ssee.Oneseventy-five,plusforty-five‘
‘Two-twenty,‘themanagerassuredhim.
‘Fine.‘Kellytookouthiswallet,handingoverthebills.Hestopped.‘No,six-sixty,we‘llmakeitthreemonths,ifthat‘sokay.AndIneedareceipt.‘Thehelpfulmanagerpulledapadfromhispocketandwroteoneuponthespot.‘Howaboutaphone?‘Kellyasked.
‘IcanhavethatdonebyTuesdayifyouwant.There‘sanotherdepositforthat.‘
‘Pleasetakecareofthat,ifyouwould.‘Kellyhandedoversomemoremoney.‘Mystuffwon‘tbehereforawhile.WherecanIgetsheetsandstuff?‘
‘Nothingmuchopentoday.Tomorrow,lotsof‘em.‘
Kellylookedthroughthebedroomdooratthebaremattress.Hecouldseethelumpsfromthisdistance.Heshrugged.‘Well,I‘vesleptonworse.‘
‘Veteran?‘
‘Marine,‘Kellysaid.
‘SowasIonce,‘themanagerreplied,surprisingKelly.‘Youdon‘tdoanythingwild,doyou?‘Hedidn‘texpectso,buttheownerinsistedthatheask,evenex-Marines.Theanswerwasasheepish,reassuringgrin.
‘Isnoreprettybad,theytellme.‘
TwentyminuteslaterKellywasinacabheadingdowntown.HegotoutatPennStationandcaughtthenexttraintoDC,whereanothertaxideliveredhimtohisboat.BynightfallSpringerwasheadeddownthePotomac.Itwouldhavebeensomucheasier,Kellytoldhimself,iftherewerejustonepersontohelphim.Somuchofhistimewastiedupwithuselesscommuting.Butwasitreallyuseless?Maybenot.Hewasgettingalotofthinkingdone,andthatwasasimportantashisphysicalpreparations.Kellyarrivedathishomejustbeforemidnightaftersiхcontinuoushoursofthinkingandplanning.
Despiteaweekendofalmostnonstopmotion,therewasnotimetodawdle.Kellypackedclothing,mostofitpurchasedinthesuburbsofWashington.LinenshewouldbuyinBaltimore.Foodthesame.His.45automatic,plusthe.22.45conversionkit,waspackedinwitholdclothing,alongwithtwoboxesofammunition.Heshouldn‘tneedmorethanthat,Kellythought,andammowasheavy.Whilehefabricatedonemoresilencer,thisonefortheWoodsman,hethoughtthroughhispreparations.Hisphysicalconditionwasexcellent,nearlyasgoodasithadbeenin3rdSOG,andhe‘dbeenshootingeveryday.Hisaimwasprobablybetterthanithadeverbeen,hetoldhimself,goingthroughwhatwerenowalmostmindlessmechanicaloperationsonthemachinetools.BythreeinthemorningthenewsuppressorwasfittedtotheWoodsmanandtested.ThirtyminutesafterthathewasbackaboardSpringer,headednorth,lookingforwardtoafewhours‘sleeponcehegotpastAnnapolis.
Itwasalonelynight,withscatteredclouds,andhisminddriftedsomewhatbeforehecommandedhimselftoconcentrate.Hewasnotalazyciviliananymore,butKellyallowedhimselfhisfirstbeerinweekswhilehismindchurnedovervariables.Whathadheforgotten?Thereassuringanswerwasthathecouldthinkofnothing.Theless-than-satisfactorythoughtwasthathestillknewlittle.BillywithhisredPlymouthmusclecar.AblackguynamedHenry.Heknewtheirareaofoperation.Andthatwasall.
But.
Buthe‘dfoughtarmedandtrainedenemieswithlessknowledgethanthat,andthoughhewouldforcehimselftobejustascarefulnowashehadbeenthere,deepdownheknewthathewouldaccomplishthismission.Partlyitwasbecausehewasmoreformidablethanthey,andfarmorehighlymotivated.Theotherpart,Kellyrealizedwithsurprise,wasbecausehedidn‘tcareabouttheconsequences,onlytheresults.HerememberedsomethingfromhisCatholicprepschool,apassagefromVirgil‘sAeneidthathaddefinedhismissionalmosttwothousandyearsbefore:Unasalusvictusnullamsperaresalutem.Theonehopeofthedoomedisnottohopeforsafety.Theverygrimnessofthethoughtmadehimsmileashesailedunderthestars,lightdispatchedfromdistancessovastthatithadbegunitsjourneylongbeforeKelly,orevenVirgil,hadbeenborn.
Thepillshelpedshutoutreality,butnotalltheway.Dorisdidn‘tsomuchthinkthethoughtaslistentoit,senseit,likerecognizingsomethingthatshedidn‘twishtofacebutrefusedtogoaway.Shewastoodependentonthebarbituratesnow.Sleepcamehardtoher,andintheemptinessoftheroomshewasunabletoavoidherself.Shewouldhavetakenmorepillsifshecould,buttheydidn‘tallowherwhatshewanted,notthatshewantedmuch.Justbriefoblivion,ashort-termliberationfromherfear,thatwasall-andthatwassomethingtheyhadnointerestingrantingher.Shecouldseemorethantheykneworwouldhaveexpected,shecouldpeerintothefuture,butthatwaslittleconsolation.Soonerorlatershewouldbecaughtbythepolice.She‘dbeenarrestedbefore,butnotforsomethingofthismagnitude,andshe‘dgoawayforalongtimeforthis.Thepolicewouldtrytogethertotalk,promiseherprotection.Sheknewbetter.Twicenowshe‘dseenfriendsdie.Friends?Asclosetothataswaspossible,someonetotalkto,someonewhosharedherlife,suchasitwas,andeveninthiscaptivitytherewerelittlejokes,smallvictoriesagainsttheforcesthatruledherexistence,likedistantlightsinagloomysky.Someonetocrywith.Buttwoofthemweredead,andshe‘dwatchedthemdie,sittingthere,druggedbutunabletosleepandblotitout,thehorrorsovastthatitbecamenumbing,watchingtheireyes,seeingandfeelingthepain,knowingthatshecoulddonothing,knowingeventhattheyknewitaswell.Anightmarewasbadenough,butoneofthosecouldn‘treachoutandtouchyou.Youcouldwakeupandfleefromoneofthose.Notthis.Shecouldwatchherselffromoutside,asthoughshewerearobotoutsideherowncommandbutnotthatofothers.Herbodywouldnotmoveunlessotherscommandedit,andsheevenhadtoconcealherthoughts,wasevenafraidtovoicethemwithinherownmindlesttheyhearthemorseethemonherface,butnow,tryasshemight,shecouldnotforcethemaway.
Ricklaynexttoher,breathingslowlyinthedarkness.PartofherlikedRick.Hewasthegentlestofthem,andsometimessheallowedherselftothinkthathelikedher,maybealittle,becausehedidn‘tbeatherbadly.Shehadtostayinline,ofcourse,becausehisangerwaseverybitasbadasBilly‘s,andsoaroundRickshetriedveryhardtobegood.Partofherknewthatitwasfoolish,butherrealitywasdefinedbyotherpeoplenow.Andshe‘dseentheresultsofrealresistance.AfteroneespeciallybadnightPamhadheldher,andwhisperedherdesirestoescape.Later,Dorishadprayedthatshehadgottenaway,thattheremightbehopeafterall,onlytoseeherdraggedinandtowatchherdie,sittinghelplesslyfifteenfeetawaywhiletheydideverythingtoherthattheycouldimagine.Watchingherlifeend,herbodyconvulsingfromlackofoxygenwiththeman‘sfacestaringather,laughingatherfromaninchaway.Heronlyactofresistance,thankfullyunnoticedbythemen,hadbeentobrushoutherfriend‘shair,cryingallthewhile,hopingsomehowthatPamwouldknowtherewassomeonewhocared,evenindeath.Butthegesturehadseemedemptyevenasshe‘ddoneit,makinghertearsallthemorebitter.
Whathadshedonewrong?Doriswondered,howbadlyhadsheoffendedGodthatherlifeshouldbethisway?Howcouldanyonepossiblydeservesuchableakandhopelessexistence?
***
‘I‘mimpressed,John,‘Rosensaid,staringathispatient.Kellysatontheexaminingtable,hisshirtoff.‘Whathaveyoubeendoing?‘
‘Five-mileswimfortheshoulders.Betterthanweights,butalittleofthat,too,intheevening.Alittlerunning.AboutwhatIusedtodobackintheolddays.‘
‘IwishIhadyourbloodpressure,‘thesurgeonobserved,removingthecuff.He‘ddoneamajorprocedurethatmorning,buthemadetimeforhisfriend.
‘Exercise,Sam,‘Kellyadvised.
‘Idon‘thavethetime,John,‘thesurgeonsaid-ratherweakly,boththought.
‘Adocshouldknowbetter.‘
‘True,‘Rosenconceded.‘Howareyouotherwise?‘
Thereplywasjustalook,neitherasmilenoragrimace,justaneutralexpressionthattoldRosenallheneededtoknow.Onemoretry:‘There‘sanoldsaying:Beforesettingoutonrevenge,digtwograves.‘
‘Onlytwo?‘Kellyaskedlightly.
Rosennodded.‘Ireadthepostreport,too.Ican‘ttalkyououtofit?‘
‘How‘sSarah?‘
Rosenacceptedthedeflectionwithgoodgrace.‘Deepintoherproject.She‘sexcitedenoughthatshe‘stellingmeaboutit.It‘sprettyinterestingstuff.‘
JustthenSandyO‘Toolecamein.KellystartledbothofthembyliftinghisT-shirtandcoveringhischest.‘Please!‘
Thenursewassostartledthatshelaughed,andsodidSamuntilherealizedthatKellywasindeedreadyforwhateverhewasplanning.Theconditioning,thelooseness,thesteady,seriouseyesthatchangedtomirthwhenhewantedthemto.Likeasurgeon,Rosenthought,andwhatastrangethoughtthatwas,butthemorehelookedatthisman,themoreintelligencehesaw.
‘You‘relookinghealthyforaguywhogotshotafewweeksago,‘O‘Toolesaidwithafriendlylook.
‘Cleanliving,ma‘am.Onlyonebeerinthirty-somedays.‘
‘MrsLottisconsciousnow,DoctorRosen,‘thenursereported.‘Nothingunusual,sheappearstobedoingfine.Herhusband‘sbeenintoseeher.Ithinkhe‘llbeokay,too.Ihadmydoubts.‘
‘Thanks,Sandy.‘
‘Well,John,you‘rehealthy,too.PutyourshirtonbeforeSandystartsblushing,‘Rosenaddedwithachuckle.
‘Wheredoyougetluncharoundhere?‘Kellyasked.
‘I‘dshowyoumyself,butIhaveaconferenceinabouttenminutes.Sandy?‘
Shecheckedherwatch.‘Abouttimeformine.Youwanttoriskhospitalfoodorsomethingoutside?‘
‘You‘rethetourguide,ma‘am.‘
Sheguidedhimtothecafeteria,wherethefoodwashospital-bland,butyoucouldaddsaltandotherspicesifyouwanted.Kellyselectedsomethingthatmightbefilling,evenhealthy,tocompensateforthelackoftaste.
‘Haveyoubeenkeepingbusy?‘heaskedaftertheyselectedatable.
‘Always,‘Sandyassuredhim.
‘Wheredoyoulive?‘
‘OffLochRavenBoulevard,justintheCounty.‘Shehadn‘tchanged,Kellysaw.SandyO‘Toolewasfunctioning,quitewellinfact,buttheemptinessinherlifewasn‘tqualitativelydifferentfromhis.Therealdifferencewasthathecoulddosomething;shecouldnot.Shewasreachingout,shehadacapacityforgoodhumor,buthergriefovercameitateveryturn.Apowerfulforce,grief.Therewereadvantagesinhavingenemiesyoucouldseekoutandeliminate.Fightingashadowwasfarmoredifficult.
‘Rowhouse,liketheyhavearoundhere?‘
‘No,it‘sanoldbungalow,whateveryoucallit,bigsquaretwo-storyhouse.Halfanacre.Thatremindsme,‘sheadded.‘Ihavetocutthegrassthisweekend.‘ThensherememberedthatTimhadlikedcuttinggrass,haddecidedtoleavetheArmyafterhissecondVietnamtourandgethislawdegreeandliveanormalkindoflife,allofthattakenawayfromherbylittlepeopleinadistantplace.
Kellydidn‘tknowwhatshewasthinking,exactly,buthedidn‘thaveto.Thechangeinherexpression,thewayhervoicetrailedoff,saiditall.Howtocheerherup?Itwasastrangequestionforhim,consideringhisplansforthenextfewweeks.
‘YouwereverykindtomewhileI.wasupstairs.Thanks.‘
‘Wetrytotakecareofourpatients,‘shesaidwithafriendlyandunaccustomedexpression.
‘Afaceasprettyasyoursshoulddothatmore,‘Kellytoldher.
‘Dowhat?‘
‘Smile.‘
‘It‘shard,‘shesaid,seriousagain.
‘Iknow,ma‘am.ButIdidhaveyoulaughingbefore,‘Kellytoldher.
‘Yousurprisedme.‘
‘It‘sTim,isn‘tit?‘heasked,joltingher.Peopleweren‘tsupposedtotalkaboutthat,werethey?
ShestaredintoKelly‘seyesforperhapsfiveseconds.‘Ijustdon‘tunderstand.‘
‘Insomewaysit‘seasy.Insomewaysit‘shard.Thehardpart,‘Kellysaid,thinkingitthroughhimselfashedidso,‘isunderstandingwhypeoplemakeitnecessary,whypeopledothingslikethat.Whatitcomesdowntois,therearebadpeopleoutthere,andsomebodyhastodealwiththem,‘cuzifyoudon‘t,thensomedaythey‘lldealwithyou.Youcantryignoringthem,butthatdoesn‘teverwork,really.Andsometimesyouseethingsyoujustcan‘tignore.‘Kellyleanedback,searchingformorewords.‘Youseelotsofbadthingshere,Sandy.I‘veseenworse.I‘vewatchedpeopledoingthings-‘
‘Yournightmare?‘
Kellynodded.‘That‘sright.Ialmostgotmyselfkilledthatnight.‘
‘Whatwas-‘
‘Youdon‘twanttoknow,honest.Imean,Idon‘tunderstandthatparteither,howpeoplecandothingslikethat.Maybetheybelieveinsomethingsomuchthattheystoprememberingthatit‘simportanttobehuman.Maybetheywantsomethingsomuchthattheydon‘tcare.Maybethere‘sjustsomethingwrongwiththem,howtheythink,howtheyfeel.Idon‘tknow.Butwhattheydoisreal.Somebodyhastotryandstopit.‘Evenwhenyouknowit‘snotgoingtowork,Kellydidn‘thavethehearttoadd.Howcouldhetellherthatherhusbandhaddiedforafailure?
‘Myhusbandwasaknightinshinyarmoronawhitehorse?Isthatwhatyou‘retellingme?‘
‘You‘retheonewearingwhite,Sandy.Youfightagainstonekindofenemy.There‘sotherkinds.Somebodyhastofightagainstthem,too.‘
‘I‘llneverunderstandwhyTimhadtodie.‘
Itreallycamedowntothat,Kellythought.Itwasn‘taboutgreatpoliticalorsocialissues.Everyonehadalife,whichwassupposedtohaveanaturalendafteranamountoftimedeterminedbyGodorFateorsomethingmenweren‘tsupposedtocontrol.He‘dseenyoungmendie,andcausedhisshareofdeaths,eachlifesomethingofvaluetoitsownerandothers,andhowdidyouexplaintotheotherswhatitwasallabout?Forthatmatter,howdidyouexplainittoyourself?Butthatwasfromtheoutside.Fromtheinsideitwassomethingelse.Maybethatwastheanswer.
‘Youdosomeprettyhardwork,right?‘
‘Yes,‘Sandysaid,noddingalittle.
‘Whynotdosomethingeasier?Imean,workadepartmentwhereit‘sdifferent,Idon‘tknow-thenursery,maybe?That‘sahappyplace,right?‘
‘Prettymuch,‘thenurseadmitted.
‘It‘sstillimportant,too,right?Takingcareoflittlebabies,it‘sroutine,yeah,butitstillhastobedonetherightway,doesn‘tit?‘
‘Ofcourse.‘
‘Butyoudon‘tdothat.YouworkNeuro.Youdothehardstuff.‘
‘Somebodyhasto-‘Bingo!Kellythought,cuttingheroff.
‘It‘shard-hardtodothework,hardonyou-ithurtsyousome,right?‘
‘Sometimes.‘
‘Butyoudoitanyway,‘Kellypointedout.
‘Yes,‘Sandysaid,notasanadmission,butsomethingstronger.
‘That‘swhyTimdidwhathedid.‘Hesawtheunderstandingthere,orperhapsthebeginningsofit,justforamomentbeforeherlingeringgriefpushedtheargumentaside.
‘Itstilldoesn‘tmakesense.‘
‘Maybethethingdoesn‘tmakesense,butthepeopledo,‘Kellysuggested.Thatwasaboutasfarashismindstretched.‘Sorry,I‘mnotapriest,justabroken-downNavychief.‘
‘Nottoobrokendown,‘O‘Toolesaid,finishingherlunch.
‘Andpartofthatisyourdoing,ma‘am.Thankyou.‘Thatearnedhimanothersmile.
‘Notallourpatientsgetbetter.We‘rekindofproudofthosewhodo.‘
‘Maybewe‘realltryingtosavetheworld,Sandy,onelittlebitatatime,‘Kellysaid.Heroseandinsistedonwalkingherbacktotheunit.Ittookthewholefiveminutestosaywhathewantedtosay.
‘Youknow,I‘dliketohavedinnerwithyou,maybe?Notnow,but,well-‘
‘I‘llthinkaboutit,‘sheallowed,halfdismissingtheidea,halfwonderingaboutit,knowingasKellydidthatitwastoosoonforbothofthem,thoughprobablynotasmuchforher.Whatsortofmanwasthis?sheaskedherself.Whatwerethedangersofknowinghim?</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),
报送后维护人员会在两分钟内校正章节内容,请耐心等待