第33节

    【】baheektohisskin.

    inthefragntalgloinynightlight,hesarib,

    polkadotbuers,abilehrareaturesdpasted

    ineverylinable,ahit,hisangrydaughter.

    theohebackedaking

    herarahelittlepest.”theyretuedtobedandlay

    entinute,listeningtoafuryofcries,beforerachel

    snakedfree.”shesoafrenzy,”shesaidand

    disappearedintothenight.

    sendslater,thebed

    batobed.theyheldtheirbreaths,listening,holdingeachother,

    ohatdidit,thatdidit,”jackwhisperedhopefully.

    santhascread.

    rachellaughed.”whoa.”

    ”whoseideaine,”shesaid,

    laughingagain.

    ”hegescalated.

    ”letherkwhispered.

    rachelsnuggledcloser.”shell.”

    ”justatterofti.”buttheye

    shelannouncedfullvoice,”itsleephthat

    noise.”

    ”you.”rollingaofbedandclosedallbutinches

    oftheirdoor.babed,shepulledhiheversagainto

    dullthesoundingthroughthee,”shesaid.”drown

    itout.

    ””thisisasexynththatracketgoingon””kissings

    startedit,isntitsofightfirehfire.”jackhadto

    adtitdesehefirstkisshegaveherlackedpassion,he

    putreintothesend.bythethird,hehe

    bed.hisndth

    ofheruth,thess,thegentlecurveofher

    belly.

    hehaddispensedhhershirtandh

    anaudiblesle,”itsw.”

    ”oh,boy,”hisvoiceever.”shelaughed

    brightly.

    ”santha,notyou.”sureenough,thenoisefroheotherrooas

    sloothesoundsofatiredbabyonthevergeofsleep.butwas

    jacktirednotonyourlife”thatsnitically

    purred.

    ”ghtasabit.”laghisfingershrachelson

    thepilloeoverher,foundjusttherightspotbetweenher

    openthighs,andthrustin.

    anaersunhunglohehorizonheyarrivedbabig

    sur.

    santhaheadedforthehouse.hopeheadedforduns.notknowing

    quiteaiandingbythecar.hetook

    severaldeepbreaths.curiousaboutitheairthathe

    foundsoappealing,hehegraveldrive,through

    alteatingpatchesofredh,toa

    fallentree.

    purplefloheloofthedeadbranches.he

    satdoidhetrunk.

    lookingstraightup,hefouopsoftheredhe

    foliageovent.itool,dry,

    quietynight.theairslledofthicktexturedbark,ofpatchesof

    ss,ofstheloasoundontheforest

    floor,hespottedaraggedbirdhoppingangthebrush.itwasa

    stellersjay,itsfeathersatleyslateblueandgray.

    ”youuchhere,bud,”herred.theforestfloorwas

    tooheavilyshadedtoalloore

    plentifulbeheliveoaksanddrones.

    stillthejayfed,hoppingdohenup.jahedfora

    bit.itindlessinterludethatendedbeforehee

    ready.

    atthesoundoffootstepsintheundergroued.hopewas

    ingtocradliabby.herfacehatfor

    anutehefearedthecathaddied.butitseyesopenedanditspaws

    andtailshiftedthesllestbitdoree.

    ”shedidoday.nothing.”jackdidntknoonsole

    her.

    ratherthansaysothingduandaningless,heslidalongthe

    brai,running

    hersllhasfur,froosetoears,oveeck,bad

    ru,alltheotionagainand

    agzun,ahypnoticstroking.inthesileheforest,jackheard

    thecatspurr.

    ”shelikesthat,”herred.

    hopenodded.shekeptupthepetting.thepurringon.

    afterabit,curious,jackstuorokebethe

    catsfur.hetrieditagain,

    halfexpegthatthecatwouldraiseherheadandexpressher

    objeterstouch.butguineveredidnt.oving

    her

    htotaltrust.

    itnearlydidhin.

    chaptereight.

    byfridaying,hereillnogeinrachels

    ndition,jackrequestedansultationaniy,

    breen.

    jackhadeveryhatthe.notonlyhadtina

    eupe,butvitheverysa

    one.

    theookplacebyphoevebauersoffice.besides

    bauer,therees,dyon,andjack.

    thelateststatsputer.bauerorallyreviewed

    thekaragaveinterpretationsbasedonherobservationofthe

    patient.

    dydeshelslackofresponseduringbathing,tuing,and

    raionexercises.

    jackkeptthinkingthatthellionspouredintoresearhyear

    eproedicationtohelp

    rachel,butintheend,breensaid,”iheres

    sothiotry,butbedoinganythingdifferentif

    sheypical.shentiohold

    heroa

    tolasttuch.

    ”n,thathedoctorresponded,”buthead

    injuriesdontalsnissreisholding

    steady.

    ””yeah,”ja.”hehadleaedaboutthe

    glasgoaserachelshowednoeyeopening,noverbal

    response,andnotorresponse,shehadthelopossiblesre.

    ”butthedatasaysshesingworse.”

    ”hereaceshelltakeasudden

    tu”hestillfeltaethephone

    rang,everytihearrivedatthehospitalafterbeingoutofntact

    forevenabriefti.

    ”sheuld,”saidthedoctor.”butifthat

    diatelyandbeabletoact.as,itsaing

    ga.iill.iknohatisntyouto

    hear,butitsalittlelikedefusingabo.hurrytheprocess,and

    itsapttoexpl

    ...