飘天文学

第35部分（第1页）

carried　the　rough　edge　of　a　local　pickup　truck。

〃Mrs。　Boulton？〃　barked　a　gruff　voice。　The　stocky　form　of　a　farmer；　clad

in　heavy　wool　jacket；　baggy　overalls；　and　aged　work　boots；　stepped　from

the　cab　of　the　truck　and　strode　toward　her。

〃Yes？〃　She　didnt　recognize　the　man。

〃Gut　a　message　for　ya。　From　a　fella　named　Cooper。　Phoned　the　police

station。　Sorry　for　the　delay。〃　He　handed　the　crumpled　paper　into　Annes

outstretched　hand；　touched　a　callused　hand　to　his　caps　bill；　climbed

back　in　his　truck；　and　was　gone。

Nervously　she　unfolded　the　paper。　The　scrawl　was　nearly　illegible。

〃Unavoidable　delay。　Mitch　arriving　Sunday　night。　Miles　Cooper。〃

With　a　tired　sigh　she　cast　a　glance　down　the　empty　road。　Another　whole

day　to　wait。　Unavoidable　delay。　She　wondered　what　that　meant　but　it

didnt　keep　her　awake　that　night。　Exhausted　from　the　night　before；　she

slept　deeply。

Sunday　brought　rain；　and　a　dark；　gloomy　day。　Anne　went　out　for　a　walk

anyway；　did　a　crossword　puzzle；　sat　at　the　window　for　what　seemed　hours。

By　midafternoon；　she　was　champing　at　the　bit。　With　neither　cleaning　nor

baking　left　to　do；　she　did　some　translating。　When　she　finally　heard　a

distant　car；　the　dim　light　of　day　had　long　since　yielded　to　night。　But

the　growing　purr　was　familiar。　Without　doubt；　it　was　the　Honda。

Excited；　she　opened　the　front　door。　It　seemed　an　eternity　before　he

finally　climbed　from　the　car；　wrested　his　bags　from　the　trunk；　and

bolted　through　the　rain　toward　the　house。　When　he　brushed　past　her

without　a　direct　glance；　she　knew　something　was　wrong。

She　closed　the　door　on　the　rawness　of　the　night；　and　turned　to　see　him

drop　the　bags；　throw　off　his　overcoat；　and　head　for　the　fire；　all

without　a　word。　Unsure；　she　sank　down　on　the　sofa　and　waited。

The　man　reached　out　to　her　both　physically　and　emotionally。　He　wore　a

beige　sweater　and　brown　corduroy　slacks；　and　looked　as　strong　and　fit　as

ever。　But　it　was　the　fatigue；　suggested　by　his　bent　head　and　the　limp

hand　in　his　pocket；　that　made　the　greatest　impression　on　her。　She　ached

to　help；　but　she　feared　rebuff。　So　she　remained　silent。

For　a　time；　frowning　at　the　fire；　Mitch　seemed　oblivious　to　her

presence。　Needing　to　make　some　small　gesture；　she　went　quietly　to　the

kitchen　and　returned　with　a　mug　of　strong　black　coffee。

〃Have　something　hot；　Mitch。　It　was　a　long　drive。〃

He　looked　at　her　so　suddenly　that　she　knew　his　mind　had　been　miles　away。

Without　a　word　of　either　greeting　or　explanation；　he　accepted　the　cup

and　returned　to　his　brooding。　Again　Anne　waited；　fearing　what　was　wrong；

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