第72部分(第1/7 頁)

top　managerial　timber；　does　it？〃

A　pulse　began　to　beat　in　the　clockspring　of　veins　at　Jack's　right　temple。　〃Let

me　out；　Grady。　I'll　take　care　of　them。〃

〃Will　you　indeed；　sir？　I　wonder。〃　Well…bred　surprise　was　replaced　by　well…bred

regret。　〃I'm　pained　to　say　that　I　doubt　it。　I　—　and　others　—　have　really　e　to

believe　that　your　heart　is　not　in　this；　sir。　That　you　haven't　the　。。。　the

belly　for　it〃

〃I　do！〃　Jack　shouted。　〃I　do；　I　swear　it！〃

〃You　would　bring　us　your　son？〃

〃Yes！　Yes！〃

〃Your　wife　would　object　to　that　very　strongly；　Mr。　Torrance。　And　she　appears

to　be　。。。　somewhat　stronger　than　we　had　imagined。　Somewhat　more　resourceful。

She　certainly　seems　to　have　gotten　the　better　of　you。〃

Grady　tittered。

〃Perhaps；　Mr。　Torrance；　we　should　have　been　dealing　with　her　all　along。〃

〃I'll　bring　him；　I　swear　it；〃　Jack　said。　His　face　was　against　the　door　now。　He

was　sweating。　〃She　won't　object。　I　swear　she　won't。　She　won't　be　able　to。〃

〃You　would　have　to　kill　her；　I　fear；〃　Grady　said　coldly。

〃I'll　do　what　I　have　to　do。　Just　let　me　out。〃

〃You'll　give　your　word　on　it；　sir？〃　Grady　persisted。

〃My　word；　my　promise；　my　sacred　vow；　whatever　in　hell　you　want。　If　you　—　〃

There　was　a　flat　snap　as　the　bolt　was　drawn　back。　The　door　shivered　open　a

quarter　of　an　inch。　Jack's　words　and　breath　halted。　For　a　moment　he　felt　that

death　itself　was　outside　that　door。

The　feeling　passed。

He　whispered：　〃Thank　you；　Grady。　I　swear　you　won't　regret　it。　I　swear　you

won't。〃

There　was　no　answer。　He　became　aware　that　all　sounds　had　stopped　except　for

the　cold　swooping　of　the　wind　outside。

He　pushed　the　pantry　d