Eagle in the Sky - Smith Wilbur (бесплатные версии книг .txt) 📗

made strong and vigorous progress, it could happen much sooner than I

expected.  I'll do it, said David.

Can't you stop pushing me?  I said I'll do it, and I will.  just get off

my back, won't you.

Right.  The Brig was brisk now.  You've got until noon tomorrow.  If you

haven't told her by then, I'm going to do it.

You're a hard old bastard, aren't you.  David said bitterly, and anger

paled the Brig's lips and they could see the effort he made to force it

down.

I understand your reluctance, he spoke carefully.  I sympathize.

However, my first and only concern is for Debra.  You are indulging

yourself, David.  You are wallowing in self-pity, but I am not going to

allow that to hurt her more.  She has had enough.  No more delay.  Tell

her, and have done.

Yes, David nodded, all the fight gone out of him.  I will tell her.

When?  the Brig persisted.

Tomorrow, said David.  I will tell her tomorrow morning.

It was a bright warm morning, and the garden below his room was gay with

colour.  David lingered over breakfast in his suite, and he read all of

the morning papers from end to end, drawing out the moment to its

utmost.  He dressed with care afterwards, in a dark suit and a soft

lilac shirt, then, when he was ready to leave, he surveyed his image in

the full-length mirror of the dressing-room.

It's been a long time, and I'm still not at ease with you, he told the

figure in the mirror.  Let's pray that somebody loves you more than I

do.

The doorman had a cab ready for him under the portico, and he settled in

the back seat with the leaden feeling in his stomach.  The drive seemed

much shorter this morning, and when he paid off the cab and climbed the

steps to the main entrance of Groote Schuur, he glanced at his

wrist-watch.  It was a few minutes after eleven o'clock.  He was hardly

aware of the curious glances as he crossed the lobby to the elevators.

The Brig was waiting for him in the visitors room on Debra's floor.  He

came out into the corridor, tall and grim, and unfamiliar in his

civilian clothes.

What are you doing here?  David demanded, it was the ultimate intrusion

and he resented it fiercely.  I thought I might be of help.

Good on you!  said David sardonically, making no effort to hide his

anger.

The Brig let the anger slide past him, not acknowledging it with either

word or expression as he asked mildly, Would you like me to be with you?

No.  David turned away from him as he spoke.  I can manage, thank you,

and he set off along the corridor.

David!  the Brig called softly, and David hesitated and then turned

back.

What is it?  he asked.

For a long moment they stared at each other, then abruptly the Brig

shook his head.  No, he said.  It's nothin&'and watched the tall young

man with the monstrous head turn and walk swiftly towards Debra's room.

His footsteps echoed hollowly along the empty corridor, like the tread

of a man upon the gallows steps.

The morning was warm with a light breeze off the sea.  Debra sat in her

chair by the open window, and the warm air wafted the scent of the pine

forests to her.

Resinous and clean-smelling, it mingled with the faint whiff of the sea

and the kelp beds.  She felt quiet and deeply contented, even though

David was late this morning.  She had spoken to Ruby Friedman when he

made his rounds earlier, and he had teased her and hinted that she would

be able to leave in a week or so, and the knowledge rounded out her

happiness.

The warmth of the morning was drowsy, and she closed her eyes subduing

the strong rich flow of colour into a lulling cocoon of soft shades

which enfolded her, and she lay on the downy edges of sleep.

David found her like that, sitting in the deep chair with her legs

curled sideways under her and her face side-lit by the reflected

sunlight from the window.  The turban of white bandages that swathed her

head were crisp and fresh and her gown was white as a bride's, with

cascades of filmy lace.

He stood before her chair studying her with care, her face was pale, but

the dark bruises below her eyes had cleared and the set of her full lips

was serene and peaceful, With infinite tenderness he leaned forward and

laid his open hand against her cheek.  She stiffed drowsily, and opened

eyes that were honey brown and flecked with bright flakes of gold.  They

were beautiful, and vague, misty and sightless, then suddenly he saw

them change, the look of them was sharp and aware.  Her gaze focused,

and steadied.  She was looking at him, and seeing him.

Debra was roused from the warm edge of sleep by the touch upon her

cheek, as light as the fall of an autumn leaf.  She opened her eyes to

soft golden clouds, then suddenly like the morning wind slashing away

the sea mist, the clouds rolled open and she looked beyond to the

monster's head that swam towards her, a colossal disembodied head that

seemed must arise from the halls of hell itself, a head so riven with

livid lines and set with the bestial, crudely worked features of one of

the dark hosts, that she flung herself back in her chair, cringing away

from the terror of it, and she lifted her hands to her face and she

screamed.

David turned and ran from the room, slamming the door behind him, his

feet pounded down the passage and the Brig heard him coming and stepped

into the corridor.

David!  He reached out a hand to him, to hold him back, but David struck

out at him wildly, a blow that caught him in the chest throwing him back

heavily against the wall.  When he regained his balance, and staggered

from the wall clutching his chest, David was gone.  His frantic

footsteps clattered up from the well of the stairs.

David!  he called, his voice croaking.  Wait!  But he was gone, his

footsteps fading, and the Brig let him go.

instead he turned and hurried painfully down the corridor to where the

hysterical sobs of his daughter rang from behind the closed door.

She looked up from her cupped hands when she heard the door open, and

wonder dawned through the terror in her eyes.  I can see you, she

whispered, I can see.  He went to her quickly and took her in the

protective circle of his arms.

It's all right, he told her awkwardly, it's going to be all right.  She

clung to him, stifling the last of her sobs.

I had a dream, she murmured, a terrible dream, and she shuddered against

him.  Then suddenly she pulled away.

David, she cried, where is David?  I must see him.  The Brig stiffened,

realizing that she had not recognized reality.

I must see him, she repeated, and he replied heavily, You have already

seen him, my child.  For many seconds she did not understand, and then

slowly it came to her.

David?  she whispered, her voice catching and breaking.  That was David?

The Brig nodded, watching her face for the revulsion and the horror.

oh dear God, Debra's voice was fierce.  What have I done?  I screamed

when I saw him.  What have I done to him?  I've driven him away.  So you

still want to see him again?  the Brig asked.

How can you say that?  Debra blazed at him.  More than anything on this

earth.  You must know that!

even the way he is now?

If you think that would make any difference to me then you don't know me

very well.  Her expression changed again, becoming concerned.  Find him

for me, she ordered.  Quickly, before he has a chance to do something