第41部分(第1/7 頁)

ould　likely　be　watching　for　me　already。　It　would　be　smart　to　stay　right　where　I　was　。。。　except　I　couldn't。

〃Paul？〃

I　turned　around　so　fast　I　almost　fell　down。　It　was　my　friend　Elaine　Connelly。　Her　eyes　widened　and　she　put　out　her　hands；　as　if　to　catch　me。　Lucky　for　her　I　caught　my　balance；　Elaine's　arthritis　is　terrible；　and　I　probably　would　have　broken　her　in　two　like　a　dry　stick　if　I'd　fallen　into　her　arms。　Romance　doesn't　die　when　you　pass　into　the　strange　country　that　lies　beyond　eighty；　but　you　can　forget　the　Cone　with　the　Wind　crap。

〃I'm　sorry；〃　she　said。　〃I　didn't　mean　to　startle　you。〃

〃That's　all　right；〃　I　said；　and　gave　her　a　feeble　smile。　〃It's　a　better　wake…up　than　a　faceful　of　cold　water。　I　should　hire　you　to　do　it　every　morning。〃

〃You　were　looking　for　his　car；　weren't　you？　Dolan's　car。〃

There　was　no　sense　kidding　her　about　it；　so　I　nodded。　〃I　wish　I　could　be　sure　he's　over　in　the　west　wing。　I'd　like　to　slip　out　for　a　little　while；　but　I　don't　want　him　to　see　me。〃

She　smiled　…　a　ghost　of　the　teasing　imp's　smile　she　must　have　had　as　a　girl。　〃Nosy　bastard；　isn't　he？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃He's　not　in　the　west　wing；　either。　I've　already　been　down　to　breakfast；　sleepyhead；　and　I　can　tell　you　where　he　is；　because　I　peeked。　He's　in　the　kitchen。〃

I　looked　at　her；　dismayed。　I　had　known　Dolan　was　curious；　but　not　how　curious。

〃Can　you　put　your　morning　walk　off？〃　Elaine　asked。

I　thought　about　it。　〃I　could；　I　suppose；　but。。。〃

〃You　shouldn't。〃

〃No。　I　shouldn't。〃

Now；　I　thought；　she'll　ask　me　where　I　go；　what　I　have　to　do　down　in　those　woods　that's　so　damned　important。

But　she　didn't。　Instead　she　gave　me　that　imp's　smile　again。　It　looked　strange　and　absolutely　wonderful