第41部分(第3/8 頁)

the　glassy　care　of　the　relics　we　have　now　bee；　Elaine　said：　〃Wait　at　the　foot。　I'm　going　over　to　the　west　wing；　to　the　hall　toilet　there。　You　know　the　one　I　mean；　don't　you？〃

〃Yes；〃　I　said。　〃The　one　just　outside　the　spa。　But　why？〃

〃I　haven't　had　a　cigarette　in　over　fifteen　years；〃　she　said；　〃but　I　feel　like　one　this　morning。　I　don't　know　how　many　puffs　it'll　take　to　set　off　the　smoke　detector　in　there；　but　I　intend　to　find　out。〃

I　looked　at　her　with　dawning　admiration；　thinking　how　much　she　reminded　me　of　my　wife　…　Jan　might　have　done　exactly　the　same　thing。　Elaine　looked　back　at　me；　smiling　her　saucy　imp's　smile。　I　cupped　my　hand　around　the　back　of　her　lovely　long　neck；　drew　her　face　to　mine；　and　kissed　her　mouth　lightly。　〃I　love　you；　Ellie；〃　I　said。

〃Oooh；　such　big　talk；〃　she　said；　but　I　could　tell　she　was　pleased。

〃What　about　Chuck　Howland？〃　I　asked。　〃Is　he　going　to　get　in　trouble？〃

〃No；　because　he's　in　the　TV　room；　watching　Good　Morning　America　with　about　two　dozen　other　folks。　And　I'm　going　to　make　myself　scarce　as　soon　as　the　smoke　detector　turns　on　the　west…wing　fire　alarm。〃

〃Don't　you　fall　down　and　hurt　yourself；　woman。　I'd　never　forgive　myself　if　…　〃

〃Oh；　stop　your　fussing；〃　she　said；　and　this　time　she　kissed　me。　Love　among　the　ruins。　It　probably　sounds　funny　to　some　of　you　and　grotesque　to　the　rest　of　you；　but　I'll　tell　you　something；　my　friend：　weird　love's　better　than　no　love　at　all。

I　watched　her　walk