¡¶cb.damnationgame¡·

ÏÂÔر¾Êé

Ìí¼ÓÊéÇ©

cb.damnationgame- µÚ53½Ú


°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
d¡¡water¡£¡¡But¡¡we¡¡had¡¡one¡¡fellow¡¡came¡¡here£»¡¡this¡¡is¡¡a¡¡couple¡¡of¡¡years¡¡ago¡¡now£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡American£»¡¡over¡¡from¡¡Boston¡£¡¡He¡¡saw¡¡Mamoulian¡¡and¡¡let¡¡me¡¡tell¡¡you¡­he¡¡freaked¡¡out¡£¡¡Seems¡¡he'd¡¡played¡¡with¡¡a¡¡guy¡¡who¡¡was¡¡his¡¡spitting¡¡image£»¡¡this¡¡is¡¡in¡¡the¡¡1920s¡£¡¡That¡¡caused¡¡quite¡¡a¡¡buzz¡£¡¡I¡¡mean£»¡¡he¡¡doesn't¡¡look¡¡like¡¡the¡¡type¡¡to¡¡have¡¡a¡¡father£»¡¡does¡¡he£¿¡¨¡¡The¡¡waiter¡¡had¡¡something¡¡there¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡impossible¡¡to¡¡imagine¡¡this¡¡Mamoulian¡¡as¡¡a¡¡child¡¡or¡¡a¡¡pimply¡¡adolescent¡£¡¡Had¡¡he¡¡suffered¡¡infatuation£»¡¡the¡¡death¡¡of¡¡pets£»¡¡of¡¡parents£¿¡¡It¡¡seemed¡¡so¡¡unlikely¡¡as¡¡to¡¡be¡¡laughable¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨That's¡¡all¡¡I¡¡know£»¡¡really¡£¡¨¡¡¡¨Thank¡¡you£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Marty¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡enough¡£
¡¡¡¡The¡¡waiter¡¡walked¡¡away£»¡¡leaving¡¡Marty¡¡with¡¡an¡¡armful¡¡of¡¡possibilities¡£¡¡Apocryphal¡¡tales£»¡¡most¡¡likely£º¡¡the¡¡Greek¡¡with¡¡the¡¡system£»¡¡the¡¡panicking¡¡American¡£¡¡A¡¡man¡¡like¡¡Mamoulian¡¡was¡¡bound¡¡to¡¡collect¡¡rumors£»¡¡his¡¡air¡¡of¡¡lost¡¡aristocracy¡¡invited¡¡invented¡¡histories¡£¡¡Like¡¡an¡¡onion£»¡¡unwrapped¡¡and¡¡unwrapped¡¡and¡¡unwrapped¡¡again£»¡¡each¡¡skin¡¡giving¡¡way¡¡not¡¡to¡¡the¡¡core¡¡but¡¡to¡¡another¡¡skin¡£
¡¡¡¡Tired£»¡¡and¡¡dizzy¡¡with¡¡too¡¡much¡¡drink¡¡and¡¡too¡¡little¡¡sleep£»¡¡Marty¡¡decided¡¡to¡¡call¡¡it¡¡a¡¡night¡£¡¡He'd¡¡use¡¡the¡¡hundred¡¡or¡¡so¡¡left¡¡in¡¡his¡¡wallet¡¡to¡¡bribe¡¡a¡¡taxi¡¡driver¡¡to¡¡drive¡¡him¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡estate£»¡¡and¡¡leave¡¡the¡¡car¡¡to¡¡be¡¡picked¡¡up¡¡another¡¡day¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡too¡¡drunk¡¡to¡¡drive¡£¡¡He¡¡glanced¡¡one¡¡final¡¡time¡¡into¡¡the¡¡baccarat¡¡room¡£¡¡The¡¡game¡¡was¡¡still¡¡going¡¡on£»¡¡Mamoulian¡¡had¡¡not¡¡moved¡¡from¡¡his¡¡station¡£
¡¡¡¡Marty¡¡went¡¡downstairs¡¡to¡¡the¡¡bathroom¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡few¡¡degrees¡¡colder¡¡than¡¡the¡¡interior¡¡of¡¡the¡¡club£»¡¡its¡¡rococo¡¡plasterwork¡¡facetious¡¡in¡¡the¡¡face¡¡of¡¡its¡¡lowly¡¡function¡£¡¡He¡¡glanced¡¡at¡¡his¡¡weariness¡¡in¡¡the¡¡mirror£»¡¡then¡¡went¡¡to¡¡relieve¡¡himself¡¡at¡¡the¡¡urinal¡£
¡¡¡¡In¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡stalls£»¡¡somebody¡¡had¡¡begun¡¡to¡¡sob£»¡¡very¡¡quietly£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡attempting¡¡to¡¡stifle¡¡the¡¡sound¡£¡¡Despite¡¡his¡¡aching¡¡bladder£»¡¡Marty¡¡found¡¡he¡¡was¡¡unable¡¡to¡¡piss£»¡¡the¡¡anonymous¡¡grief¡¡distressed¡¡him¡¡too¡¡much¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡ing¡¡from¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡locked¡¡door¡¡of¡¡the¡¡stalls¡£¡¡Probably¡¡some¡¡optimist¡¡who'd¡¡lost¡¡his¡¡shirt¡¡on¡¡a¡¡roll¡¡of¡¡the¡¡dice£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡now¡¡contemplating¡¡the¡¡consequences¡£¡¡Marty¡¡left¡¡him¡¡to¡¡it¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡nothing¡¡he¡¡could¡¡say¡¡or¡¡do£»¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡from¡¡bitter¡¡experience¡£
¡¡¡¡Out¡¡in¡¡the¡¡foyer£»¡¡the¡¡woman¡¡on¡¡the¡¡desk¡¡called¡¡after¡¡him¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨Mr¡£¡¡Strauss£¿¡¨¡¡It¡¡was¡¡the¡¡English¡¡rose¡£¡¡She¡¡showed¡¡no¡¡sign¡¡of¡¡wilting£»¡¡despite¡¡the¡¡hour¡£¡¡¡¨Did¡¡you¡¡find¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Toy£¿¡¨¡¡¡¨No£»¡¡I¡¡didn't¡£¡¨¡¡¡¨Oh£»¡¡that's¡¡odd¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡here¡£¡¨¡¡¡¨Are¡¡you¡¡sure£¿¡¨¡¡¡¨Yes¡£¡¡He¡¡came¡¡with¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Mamoulian¡£¡¡I¡¡told¡¡him¡¡you¡¡were¡¡here£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡you'd¡¡asked¡¡after¡¡him¡£¡¨¡¡¡¨And¡¡what¡¡did¡¡he¡¡say£¿¡¨¡¡¡¨Nothing£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡girl¡¡replied¡£¡¡¡¨Not¡¡a¡¡word¡£¡¨¡¡She¡¡dropped¡¡her¡¡voice¡£¡¡¡¨Is¡¡he¡¡well£¿¡¡I¡¡mean£»¡¡he¡¡looked¡¡really¡¡terrible£»¡¡if¡¡you¡¡don't¡¡mind¡¡me¡¡saying¡¡so¡£¡¡Awful¡¡color¡£¡¨¡¡Marty¡¡glanced¡¡up¡¡the¡¡stairs£»¡¡scanned¡¡the¡¡landing¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨Is¡¡he¡¡still¡¡here£¿¡¨¡¡¡¨Well£»¡¡I¡¡haven't¡¡been¡¡on¡¡the¡¡desk¡¡all¡¡evening£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡didn't¡¡see¡¡him¡¡leave¡£¡¨¡¡Marty¡¡took¡¡the¡¡stairs¡¡two¡¡at¡¡a¡¡time¡£¡¡He¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡see¡¡Toy¡¡so¡¡much¡£¡¡There¡¡were¡¡questions¡¡to¡¡ask£»¡¡confidences¡¡to¡¡exchange¡£¡¡He¡¡scoured¡¡the¡¡rooms£»¡¡looking¡¡for¡¡that¡¡worn¡­leather¡¡face¡£¡¡But¡¡though¡¡Mamoulian¡¡was¡¡still¡¡there£»¡¡sipping¡¡his¡¡water£»¡¡Toy¡¡was¡¡not¡¡with¡¡him¡£¡¡Nor¡¡was¡¡he¡¡to¡¡be¡¡found¡¡in¡¡any¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bars¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡clearly¡¡e¡¡and¡¡gone¡£¡¡Disappointed£»¡¡Marty¡¡went¡¡back¡¡downstairs£»¡¡thanked¡¡the¡¡girl¡¡for¡¡her¡¡help£»¡¡tipped¡¡her¡¡well£»¡¡and¡¡left¡£
¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡only¡¡when¡¡he¡¡had¡¡put¡¡a¡¡good¡¡distance¡¡between¡¡himself¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Academy£»¡¡walking¡¡in¡¡the¡¡middle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡road¡¡to¡¡waylay¡¡the¡¡first¡¡available¡¡taxi£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡remembered¡¡the¡¡sobbing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡bathroom¡£¡¡His¡¡pace¡¡slowed¡£¡¡Eventually¡¡he¡¡stopped¡¡in¡¡the¡¡street£»¡¡his¡¡head¡¡echoing¡¡to¡¡the¡¡thump¡¡of¡¡his¡¡heart¡£¡¡Was¡¡it¡¡just¡¡hindsight£»¡¡or¡¡had¡¡that¡¡ragged¡¡voice¡¡sounded¡¡familiar£»¡¡as¡¡it¡¡chewed¡¡on¡¡its¡¡grief£¿¡¡Had¡¡it¡¡been¡¡Toy¡¡sitting¡¡there¡¡in¡¡the¡¡questionable¡¡privacy¡¡of¡¡a¡¡toilet¡¡stall£»¡¡crying¡¡like¡¡a¡¡lost¡¡child£¿
¡¡¡¡Dreamily£»¡¡Marty¡¡glanced¡¡back¡¡the¡¡way¡¡he'd¡¡e¡£¡¡If¡¡he¡¡suspected¡¡Toy¡¡was¡¡still¡¡at¡¡the¡¡club£»¡¡shouldn't¡¡he¡¡go¡¡back¡¡and¡¡find¡¡out£¿¡¡But¡¡his¡¡head¡¡was¡¡making¡¡unpleasant¡¡connections¡£¡¡The¡¡woman¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Pimlico¡¡number¡¡whose¡¡voice¡¡was¡¡too¡¡horrid¡¡to¡¡listen¡¡to£»¡¡the¡¡desk¡­girl's¡¡question£º¡¡¡¨Is¡¡he¡¡well£¿¡¨£»¡¡the¡¡profundity¡¡of¡¡despair¡¡he¡¡had¡¡heard¡¡from¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡locked¡¡door¡£¡¡No£»¡¡he¡¡couldn't¡¡go¡¡back¡£¡¡Nothing£»¡¡not¡¡even¡¡the¡¡promise¡¡of¡¡a¡¡faultless¡¡system¡¡to¡¡beat¡¡every¡¡table¡¡in¡¡the¡¡house£»¡¡would¡¡induce¡¡him¡¡to¡¡return¡£¡¡There¡¡was£»¡¡after¡¡all£»¡¡such¡¡a¡¡thing¡¡as¡¡reasonable¡¡doubt£»¡¡and¡¡on¡¡occasion¡¡it¡¡could¡¡be¡¡a¡¡balm¡¡without¡¡equal¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡VIII¡£
¡¡¡¡Raising¡¡Cain
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡45
¡¡¡¡The¡¡day¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Last¡¡Supper£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡was¡¡to¡¡e¡¡to¡¡think¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡Marty¡¡shaved¡¡three¡¡times£»¡¡once¡¡in¡¡the¡¡morning¡¡and¡¡twice¡¡in¡¡the¡¡afternoon¡£¡¡The¡¡initial¡¡flattery¡¡of¡¡the¡¡invitation¡¡had¡¡long¡¡since¡¡faded¡£¡¡Now¡¡all¡¡he¡¡prayed¡¡for¡¡was¡¡some¡¡convenient¡¡get¡­out¡¡clause£»¡¡a¡¡means¡¡by¡¡which¡¡he¡¡could¡¡politely¡¡escape¡¡what¡¡he¡¡was¡¡certain¡¡would¡¡be¡¡an¡¡excruciating¡¡evening¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡no¡¡place¡¡in¡¡Whitehead's¡¡entourage¡£¡¡Their¡¡values¡¡were¡¡not¡¡his£»¡¡their¡¡world¡¡was¡¡one¡¡in¡¡which¡¡he¡¡was¡¡no¡¡more¡¡than¡¡a¡¡functionary¡£¡¡There¡¡could¡¡be¡¡nothing¡¡about¡¡him¡¡that¡¡would¡¡give¡¡them¡¡more¡¡than¡¡a¡¡moment's¡¡entertainment¡£
¡¡¡¡It¡¡wasn't¡¡until¡¡he¡¡put¡¡on¡¡the¡¡evening¡¡jacket¡¡again¡¡that¡¡he¡¡began¡¡to¡¡feel¡¡more¡¡courageous¡£¡¡In¡¡this¡¡world¡¡of¡¡appearances£»¡¡why¡¡shouldn't¡¡he¡¡carry¡¡off¡¡the¡¡illusion¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡the¡¡next¡¡man£¿¡¡After¡¡all£»¡¡he'd¡¡succeeded¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Academy¡£¡¡The¡¡trick¡¡was¡¡to¡¡get¡¡the¡¡superficies¡¡right¡­the¡¡proper¡¡dress¡¡code£»¡¡the¡¡correct¡¡direction¡¡in¡¡which¡¡to¡¡pass¡¡the¡¡port¡£¡¡He¡¡began¡¡to¡¡view¡¡the¡¡evening¡¡ahead¡¡as¡¡a¡¡test¡¡of¡¡his¡¡wits£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡petitive¡¡spirit¡¡began¡¡to¡¡rise¡¡to¡¡the¡¡challenge¡£¡¡He¡¡would¡¡play¡¡them¡¡at¡¡their¡¡own¡¡game£»¡¡among¡¡the¡¡clinking¡¡glasses¡¡and¡¡the¡¡chatter¡¡of¡¡opera¡¡and¡¡high¡¡finance¡£
¡¡¡¡Triply¡¡shaved£»¡¡dressed¡¡and¡¡cologned£»¡¡he¡¡went¡¡down¡¡to¡¡the¡¡kitchen¡£¡¡Oddly£»¡¡Pearl¡¡wasn't¡¡in¡¡the¡¡house£º¡¡Luther¡¡had¡¡been¡¡left¡¡in¡¡charge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡night's¡¡gourmandizing¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡opening¡¡bottles¡¡of¡¡wine£º¡¡the¡¡room¡¡was¡¡fragrant¡¡with¡¡the¡¡mingled¡¡bouquets¡£¡¡Though¡¡Marty¡¡had¡¡understood¡¡the¡¡gathering¡¡to¡¡be¡¡small£»¡¡several¡¡dozen¡¡bottles¡¡were¡¡assembled¡¡on¡¡the¡¡table£»¡¡the¡¡labels¡¡on¡¡many¡¡were¡¡dirtied¡¡to¡¡illegibility¡£¡¡It¡¡looked¡¡as¡¡though¡¡the¡¡cellar¡¡were¡¡being¡¡stripped¡¡of¡¡its¡¡finest¡¡vintages¡£
¡¡¡¡Luther¡¡looked¡¡Marty¡¡up¡¡and¡¡down¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨Who'd¡¡you¡¡steal¡¡the¡¡suit¡¡off£¿¡¨¡¡Marty¡¡picked¡¡up¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡open¡¡bottles¡¡and¡¡sniffed¡¡it£»¡¡ignoring¡¡the¡¡remark¡£¡¡Tonight¡¡he¡¡wasn't¡¡going¡¡to¡¡be¡¡needled£º¡¡tonight¡¡he¡¡had¡¡things¡¡figured¡¡out£»¡¡and¡¡he'd¡¡let¡¡no¡¡one¡¡burst¡¡the¡¡bubble¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡said£º¡¡where'd¡¡you¡­¡¨¡¡¡¨I¡¡heard¡¡you¡¡first¡¡time¡£¡¡I¡¡bought¡¡it¡£¡¨¡¡¡¨What¡¡with£¿¡¨¡¡Marty¡¡put¡¡the¡¡bottle¡¡down¡¡heavily¡£¡¡Glasses¡¡on¡¡the¡¡table¡¡clinked¡¡together¡£¡¡¡¨Why¡¡don't¡¡you¡¡shut¡¡up£¿¡¨¡¡Luther¡¡shrugged¡£¡¡¡¨Old¡¡man¡¡give¡¡it¡¡to¡¡you£¿¡¨¡¡¡¨I¡¡told¡¡you¡£¡¡Shove¡¡it¡£¡¨¡¡¡¨Seems¡¡to¡¡me¡¡you're¡¡getting¡¡in¡¡deep£»¡¡man¡£¡¡You¡¡know¡¡you're¡¡guest¡¡of¡¡honor¡¡at¡¡this¡¡shindig£¿¡¨¡¡¡¨I'm¡¡going¡¡along¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡old¡¡man's¡¡friends£»¡¡that's¡¡all¡£¡¨¡¡¡¨You¡¡mean¡¡Dwoskin¡¡and¡¡those¡¡fuckheads£¿¡¡Aren't¡¡you¡¡the¡¡lucky¡¡one£¿¡¨¡¡¡¨And¡¡what¡¡are¡¡you¡¡tonight£º¡¡the¡¡wine¡­boy£¿¡¨¡¡Luther¡¡grimaced¡¡as¡¡he¡¡pulled¡¡the¡¡cork¡¡on¡¡another¡¡bottle¡£¡¡¡¨They¡¡don't¡¡have¡¡no¡¡waiters¡¡at¡¡their¡¡special¡¡parties¡£¡¡They're¡¡very¡¡private¡£¡¨¡¡¡¨What¡¡do¡¡you¡¡mean£¿¡¨¡¡¡¨What¡¡do¡¡I¡¡know£¿¡¨¡¡Luther¡¡said£»¡¡shrugging¡£¡¡¡¨I'm¡¡a¡¡monkey£»¡¡right£¿¡¨¡¡Between¡¡eight¡¡and¡¡eight¡­thirty£»¡¡the¡¡cars¡¡started¡¡to¡¡arrive¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Sanctuary¡£¡¡Marty¡¡waited¡¡in¡¡his¡¡room¡¡for¡¡a¡¡summons¡¡to¡¡join¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡guests¡£¡¡He¡¡heard¡¡Curtsinger's¡¡voice£»¡¡and¡¡those¡¡of¡¡women£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡laughter£»¡¡some¡¡of¡¡it¡¡shrill¡£¡¡He¡¡wondered¡¡if¡¡it¡¡was¡¡just¡¡the¡¡wives¡¡they'd¡¡brought£»¡¡or¡¡their¡¡daughters¡¡too¡£
¡¡¡¡The¡¡phone¡¡rang¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨Marty¡£¡¨¡¡It¡¡was¡¡Whitehead¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨Sir£¿¡¨¡¡¡¨Why¡¡not¡¡e¡¡up¡¡and¡¡join¡¡us£¿¡¡We're¡¡waiting¡¡for¡¡you¡£¡¨¡¡¡¨Right¡£¡¨¡¡¡¨We're¡¡in¡¡the¡¡white¡¡room¡£¡¨¡¡Another¡¡surprise¡£¡¡That¡¡bare¡¡room£»¡¡with¡¡its¡¡ugly¡¡altarpiece£»¡¡seemed¡¡an¡¡unlikely¡¡venue¡¡for¡¡a¡¡dinner¡¡party¡£
¡¡¡¡Evening¡¡was¡¡drawing¡¡on¡¡outside£»¡¡and¡¡before¡¡going¡¡on¡¡up¡¡to¡¡the¡¡room£»¡¡Marty¡¡switched¡¡the¡¡lawn¡¡floods¡¡on¡£¡¡They¡¡blazed£»¡¡their¡¡illumination¡¡echoing¡¡through¡¡the¡¡house¡£¡¡His¡¡earlier¡¡trepidation¡¡had¡¡been¡¡entirely¡¡replaced¡¡by¡¡a¡¡mixture¡¡of¡¡defiance¡¡and¡¡fatalism¡£¡¡As¡¡long¡¡as¡¡he¡¡didn't¡¡spit¡¡in¡¡the¡¡soup£»¡¡he¡¡told¡¡himself£»¡¡he'd¡¡get¡¡through¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨e¡¡on¡¡in£»¡¡Marty¡£¡¨¡¡The¡¡atmosphere¡¡inside¡¡the¡¡white¡¡room¡¡was¡¡already¡¡chokingly¡¡thick¡¡with¡¡cigar¡¡and¡¡cigarette¡¡smoke¡£¡¡No¡¡attempt¡¡had¡¡been¡¡made¡¡to¡¡prettify¡¡the¡¡place¡£¡¡The¡¡only¡¡decoration¡¡was¡¡the¡¡triptych£º¡¡its¡¡crucifixion¡¡as¡¡vicious¡¡as¡¡Marty¡¡remembered¡¡it¡£¡¡Whitehead¡¡stood¡¡as¡¡Marty¡¡entered£»¡¡and¡¡extended¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡in¡¡wele£»¡¡an¡¡almost¡¡garish¡¡smile¡¡on¡¡his¡¡face¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨Close¡¡the¡¡door£»¡¡will¡¡yo
СÌáʾ£º°´ »Ø³µ [Enter] ¼ü ·µ»ØÊéÄ¿£¬°´ ¡û ¼ü ·µ»ØÉÏÒ»Ò³£¬ °´ ¡ú ¼ü ½øÈëÏÂÒ»Ò³¡£ ÔÞһϠÌí¼ÓÊéÇ©¼ÓÈëÊé¼Ü