Chapter 6 Chapter 5 Snow Maiden
They are going to murder the Snow Maiden.If protective measures are not taken, she will disappear forever.Under her icy robe, there are endless wealth.
Susie was still asleep, curled up on the floor.
Andrew walked to the kitchen with the materials Ben Morton gave him in his hand.He made a cup of coffee and sat down at the dining table.His hands were shaking more and more, and it took two tries to get the coffee cup to his lips.He wiped the coffee that had spilled on the materials, but found that there was a fold in the notebook that was particularly heavy. He carefully opened the fold and found that there were two printed materials inside.
Morton's investigation actually goes deeper than he claims.He even interviewed relatives and friends around Lillian Walker, although not many people were willing to accept his interview.
Lillian's piano teacher said on the phone that his student had revealed something to him.But the face-to-face interview between Ben Morton and him failed in the end, because the old man died of a myocardial infarction the day before the agreed date.
Jeremiah Fishburne, head of a charity founded by the Walker family, noted a contradiction that other reporters hadn't noticed.If Lillian Walker was determined to sacrifice so many soldiers in Vietnam, why did she also spend so much time and money on philanthropy?
Another friend, who asked not to be named, said Lillian Walker's life was not as peaceful as it seemed.She once heard Lilian's appointment with a female friend. This friend lied to Lilian's family that he accompanied her to Clark Island, but in fact Lilian went there alone.
Andrew copied down the name of the island and continued to look down.
He heard the shower and waited.After the sound of the water stopped, he went to the bedroom, where Susie had borrowed his bathrobe.
"Did you know your grandmother could play the piano?"
“My first piano was her Steinway. She played jazz when my grandfather gave parties.”
"Clark Island, can you remember anything?"
"Should I remember something?"
Andrew opened the closet and took out two pairs of trousers, two thick sweaters, and a small suitcase.
"We'll go to your house right away, and you'll get something too. Get dressed quickly."
In the afternoon, the plane stopped on the runway of the airport in Ticonderoga.In the Adirondacks, winters can be particularly cold, with the trees covered in snow.
"It's not far from the Canadian border." Andrew got into his rented car.
"How far is it?" Susie turned on the heater in the car.
"About half an hour, but maybe a little longer in this weather. I'm afraid there's going to be a storm."
Susie looked preoccupied, looking at the scenery outside the car.The wind blew in gusts, kicking up the dust from the field, and even blowing it into the interior of the car.Susie rolled down the window, stuck her head out, and then tapped Andrew's knee to signal him to stop.
The car stopped on the side of the road, and Susie immediately rushed down the roadbed and vomited out all the sandwiches she ate at the airport.
Andrew walked up to her and held her shoulders.After Susie threw up, he helped her into the car and sat at the wheel again.
"Sorry, I'm sorry," Susie said.
"You never know what the business puts in this packaged food."
"In the beginning," Susie's voice was barely audible, "I would wake up every morning and think it was just a nightmare. He had already made breakfast in the kitchen and waited for me. Although I usually wake up before him Early, but I always pretended to sleep so he could make breakfast so I could just sit at the kitchen table. I was that lazy. The first few months he was gone, I would often get dressed and go out in the Walking aimlessly on the street. Sometimes, I will go to the supermarket, I push the cart, up and down the aisles, but I don’t buy anything. I look at the people around me, and I envy them. Once I lose The ones you love, the days will be so long."
Andrew opened a window, adjusted the rearview mirror, and thought about what he should say.
"After I got out of the hospital," he said finally, "I used to sit under Valerie's window in the afternoon. I just stayed there, sitting on the bench, for hours without moving, looking at the door of the apartment. "
"Has she never met you?"
"No, no, she's moved. That's why I'm sitting there."
Susie stopped talking, just staring at the storm outside the window.While turning, the car slid sideways.Andrew immediately let go of the accelerator, but the car still slid forward obliquely, and finally hit a snowdrift.
"It's still a good skating rink." Andrew laughed.
"you've been drinking?"
"Drank a little on the plane, but really just a little."
"Stop immediately."
Andrew didn't listen to her, so Susie's fists fell on his arms and chest like raindrops.Andrew grabbed Susie's hand and tried to calm her down.
"Shamir is gone, and Valerie has left me. It's just us, and we can't do anything. Now, be quiet. I can let you drive if you want. But even if I Without drinking, the icy road just now would be equally dangerous."
Susie took her hand out of Andrew's palm, turned around and continued to look out the window.
Andrew continued to drive forward.The wind is getting stronger and stronger, and the car body even bumps up because of it.Visibility is getting worse as night approaches.They passed a run-down town, and Andrew couldn't help thinking: I don't know what kind of poor people live here.In the snowstorm, he saw a sign reading "Dixie Lee" and pulled over.
"Don't hurry today." He said as he pulled out the key.
There were only two diners in the restaurant, and the environment was dilapidated enough to make a horror movie.The waiter brought them coffee and two menus.Andrew ordered pancakes, but Susie didn't choose anything.
"You should eat something."
"I'm not hungry."
"Have you ever thought that maybe your grandmother was actually guilty?"
"there has never been."
"I'm not saying she's necessarily guilty, but if you go into an investigation with prejudice, you're likely to delude yourself."
A truck driver sitting in front of the bar kept looking at Susie with uncomfortable eyes, and Andrew met his eyes.
"No, don't pretend to be a cowboy," Susie said to Andrew.
"This man pissed me off."
Susie stepped forward and took the initiative to talk to the driver.
"Do you want to eat with us? After driving for a day and eating alone, why don't you all come together? It's more lively." Her tone was very sincere, without any hint of sarcasm.
The driver looked surprised.
"I just ask you one thing, don't look at my boobs anymore. It's making my boyfriend uncomfortable, and I'm afraid your wife won't be happy either," Susie added, glancing at him. Wedding rings on hand.
The truck driver paid and got out of the restaurant immediately.
Susie sat back next to Andrew.
"The biggest weakness of you men is that you don't know how to answer the conversation."
"There's a motel across the road. Shall we just spend the night there?" Andrew suggested.
"There's a bar next to the hotel." Susie looked out the window, "Are you going to sneak there as soon as I fall asleep?"
"It's possible, but what does that have to do with you?"
"It doesn't matter, but when I see your hands shaking, I feel sick."
The waiter brought over what Andrew had ordered.He pushed the plate into the middle of the table.
"I'm not going to drink tonight if you'll have something to eat."
Susie looked at Andrew.She took a fork, split the pancake in half, and dipped her own half in the maple syrup.
"Lake Schulen isn't far from here," she said. "What do we do when we get there?"
"I haven't thought about it yet, let's talk about it tomorrow."
After dinner, Andrew went to the bathroom.As soon as he turned around, Susie took advantage of the gap to take out her mobile phone.
"Where are you? I've been looking for you for two days."
"I'm out to relax." Susie replied.
"Are you worried?"
"Did you know my grandmother loved to spend the weekends on an island?"
Knopf fell silent.
"Are you acquiescing?"
"For whatever reason you have, don't go," said Knopf at last.
"Do you have other things to hide from me?"
"I hide these things from you, all in order not to hurt you."
"What do you mean don't let me get hurt?"
"Shatter all your illusions about Lilian. These illusions accompanied you throughout your childhood, but how can I blame you? You are so lonely."
"What do you want to say to me?"
"Grandmother was a hero in your mind. You recreated Mathilde's life with a few words from her, but Susie, I'm sorry, she's not who you imagined her to be."
"Knopf, don't lie to me anymore, I'm already an adult."
"She betrayed your grandfather."
"Does he know?"
"Of course he knew, but he chose to turn a blind eye to it. He loved Lilian too much and didn't want to lose her."
"I do not believe."
"No one will make you believe it. You can find out the truth for yourself anyway, and I think you should be on your way to the lake."
This time it was Susie's turn to be silent.
"When you get to Lake Shuron, you can go to the owner of Murakami's grocery store. You can't be mistaken, there is only one store there. After that, it will be up to you, but I sincerely advise you not to go."
"why?"
"Because you are more vulnerable than you think, you can't get rid of your fantasy."
"Who is her lover?" Susie gritted her teeth and asked Knopf.
But the other party hung up the phone without answering.
Andrew has been standing by the cigarette vending machine, and he came over after Susie finished calling.
Knopf put down the receiver and put his hands under his head.
"Can't we have a quiet night's rest?" Knopf's boyfriend asked.
"Sleep, Stanley, it's getting late."
"And let you suffer insomnia here alone? Look at your own face. What is it that bothers you so much?"
"Nothing, I'm just a little tired."
"Is it her?"
"yes."
"Are you worried?"
"I don't know, sometimes I worry, sometimes I don't."
"Why?" Stanley took Knopf's hand.
"Because I don't know which one is the truth."
"This family has been giving you trouble for as long as I've known you, and we've been together for forty years now. Whatever it turns out to be, I hope it ends sooner so I can I can really feel relieved.”
"That promise ruined our lives."
"You made this commitment because you were young and in love with a senator. And because we never had kids, you chose a role that wasn't yours. How many times have I reminded you Next time, you can't keep playing double agent, or you're going to die on it one day."
"I have reached this age, what is there to be afraid of? Don't be silly, I just admire Walker, he is a good teacher and friend to me."
"I'm afraid it's more than that. Shall we turn off the lights?" Stanley asked.
"I hope it didn't bother you to wait," Andrew said as he sat down.
"No, I'm looking at the snow outside. It's like the firewood burning in the fireplace. I'll never be bored."
The waiter came again to refill their coffee.Andrew looked at the work card on her chest, which had her name written on it.
"Anita, how's that motel?"
Anita looks to be in her sixties, her false eyelashes are as exaggerated as a rag doll, the lipstick on her lips is dazzling, and the powder on her cheeks accentuates her wrinkles, as if implying that in such a How boring it is to be a restaurant waiter in a remote place.
"You're from New York?" Anita chewed her gum. "I've been there once. Times Square and Broadway, they're beautiful, I remember them now. We walked the streets for hours to see the skyscrapers , My neck is sore. But what a pity about the twin towers of the World Trade Center, whoever did this should really be hanged!"
"Yes, should be hanged."
"When Osama bin Laden was killed, we all cried with excitement. And you, I guess there was a lot of celebration in Manhattan."
"It should be," Andrew said, "Unfortunately, I didn't participate."
"That's a pity. I told my husband I'd go to New York again when I was seventy. Fortunately, there's no rush. I still have time."
"And the hotel, Anita? How's it going?"
"My boy, the hotel is clean and that's good enough. You're taking such a beautiful girl on your honeymoon, even though it's not Copacabana," Anita said, in a voice as sharp as her heels." There's a Holiday Inn twenty miles further on that'll be a little better, but I'm not going to be on the road anyway, looking at the weather. Besides, as long as the two of you are on good terms, a good pillow is all you need. Shall I get you something else? The kitchen will be closing soon."
Andrew handed her twenty dollars and thanked her for her kind service.Anita happily accepted his compliment and tip.
"Tell the boss you're my friend and he can give you a discount. Remember to ask for a room at the back of the hotel, a room facing the street can be noisy in the morning because of the trucks going by."
Andrew and Susie walked across the road.Andrew asked the boss for two rooms, but Susie insisted that one room was enough.
A large bed, an old synthetic rug, an older chair, dining table and TV from the 70s, that's all the amenities of this ground floor hotel room.
The condition of the bathroom is also not so good, but the water is hot enough.
Andrew took out a quilt from the closet, pulled a pillow from the bed, and made a cot under the window.He got under the covers on the bed and turned on the bedside lamp while Susie was taking a shower inside.When Susie came out, she only wrapped a bath towel around her waist, her upper body was naked, and she lay beside Andrew.
"Don't do that," Andrew said.
"I haven't done anything yet."
"I haven't seen a naked woman in a long time."
"Do you like this?" Susie put her hand under the covers.
Her hand stroked Andrew's lower body back and forth, and Andrew's Adam's apple couldn't help but move, unable to speak a word.Susie continued what she had just done until Andrew was actually released.He wanted to pay Susie back and started kissing her breasts, but Susie pushed him away and turned off the light.
"I can't do it," she murmured, "not yet."
Then, she hugged Andrew and closed her eyes.
Andrew kept his eyes wide open, staring at the ceiling, trying to breathe evenly.His belly was sticky, making him feel uncomfortable.He felt a sense of guilt, a sense of powerlessness that could not resist the temptation, and after the passion, he suddenly felt dirty.
Susie was fast asleep.Andrew sat up and opened the wine cabinet under the TV.He greedily looked at the bottles of shiny wine inside, and finally made up his mind to close the door of the wine cabinet.
He went into the bathroom and leaned against the window.The storm has swept everything outside, and even the horizon has become blurred.In the distance, there is a windmill whimpering, the roof of the barn makes a loud noise under the attack of the wind, and the scarecrow in the field is blown to pieces, making this picture even more weird.New York was far away, Andrew thought, but his childhood America was here, and he longed suddenly, if only for a moment, to see his father's face again.
When he returned to the room, Susie was no longer on the bed, but sleeping on the floor.
The lobby of "Dixie Lee" was very different from last night, and the various voices made people feel the vitality of the morning.All the round stools at the tables were already full of guests.Anita ran from table to table, carrying several plates at once with her forearms and hands, like a circus performer.
She winked at Andrew, signaling to him that two truck drivers at the next table were leaving.
Andrew and Susie sat down.
"How, did you sleep well last night? The wind is too strong, you should go and see the road outside, it's all white, and the snow is 30 centimeters thick. How about I get you a hamburger ? Haha, just kidding, you just had pancakes last night."
"Two cups of coffee, two fried eggs, mine without ham," Susie replied.
"Ah, this little princess has finally spoken. I thought you couldn't speak yesterday! Two fried eggs, one without ham, and two cups of coffee." Anita walked towards the bar while muttering.
"I think she wants me to say that I let this man across from me sleep in my bed last night." Susie let out a long sigh of relief.
"I think she's not bad, she should be pretty when she was young."
"Broadway is really good!" Susie made her voice high-pitched on purpose, and moved her lips to imitate Anita's chewing gum.
"I grew up in a village like this," Andrew said. "The people here are more welcoming than my neighbors in New York."
"Then change the block!"
"May I ask why you are in such a bad mood?"
"Because I didn't sleep well last night and I especially hate the noise around me when I'm empty in my stomach."
"last night……"
"It's over, I don't want to mention it again."
Anita delivered their breakfast.
"Why are you here?" she asked as she served the food.
"For vacation," Andrew replied, "we want to visit the Adirondack Forest Park."
"Go and see Tupe Lake. Although it is not the most beautiful time, the scenery in winter is not bad."
"Yes, we're going to Lake Tupe."
"Better go to the Natural History Museum, it's worth a visit."
Susie couldn't take it anymore.She asks Anita for the bill, who immediately understands that she doesn't seem too popular.She wrote in the notebook, tore off the paper and handed it to Susie.
"The service fee is already included." Anita left their table with a haughty expression on her face.
Half an hour later, they came to a small village by Lake Shulun.
Andrew stopped the car on the main road in the village.
"Park in front of the grocery store," Susie said.
"and then?"
"In a village like this, the owner of the grocery store is generally very prestigious. Don't worry, I know it well."
This grocery store looks more like a department store.Vegetables and fruits are placed on one side of the entrance, some household items are piled in the center of the store, and hardware building materials and repair tools are placed in the innermost part.All of these things can be found in department stores in New York, just a little bit older.Susie said hello to the man behind the cash register and asked to see his boss.
"I'm the boss," replied Dillon Brody, who looked to be in his thirties.
"I'm looking for someone older than you."
"Jack is in Afghanistan and Jason is in Iraq. You're not here to give us bad news, are you?"
"I'm looking for someone from a previous generation in your family," Susie said. "I don't have any bad news for you."
"My father is inside to settle accounts, it's best not to bother him now."
Susie walked through the shop and knocked on the inner door, and Andrew stood beside her.
"Dillon, don't bother me, I haven't finished the calculation yet!" A voice came from inside.
Susie walked in first.Elliot Brody was a small man with a wrinkled face.He raised his head from the ledger, frowned and looked at the unexpected guest.He pushed his glasses and continued to settle accounts.
"If you're selling something, don't bother. I'm taking inventory and my stupid son still doesn't know how to manage inventory."
Susie took a photo from her pocket and put it on the ledger.
"Do you know this woman?"
The old shopkeeper looked at the yellowed photo, and then carefully looked at Susie's face.Then, standing up, he held the photo up to Susie's face, and saw that the two faces were strikingly similar.
"How do you look like her?" Brody said. "It's been so long. But I don't understand. How could her daughter be so young?"
"Lillian is my grandmother. You know her?"
"Close the door and sit down. Come on," he said to himself, "don't stay here."
He picked up the leather coat on the hanger and turned the handle of the other door in the room, and there was an open space outside.
"I usually come here secretly to smoke." Brody rummaged in a tree hole a few times and took out a pack of cigarettes.He first asked the other two if they needed it, then lit one and smoked it.
Susie's heart was about to jump out of her chest.Andrew put his hand on her shoulder, motioning her not to show anything.
"In the village, everyone calls your grandmother Mata Hari."
"Why this nickname?"
"Because people knew exactly what she was here for. It wasn't accepted at first, but your grandma was a great person, she was charming and generous. So people turned a blind eye. Close one eye."
"What do you turn a blind eye to?"
"That doesn't matter anymore. It's a thing of the past. The important thing is what she left for you. I always thought that someone might come here one day. After all, I gave so much money, but I thought the one who came would come here." It's her daughter."
"She left me something, right here? In your store?"
Elliot Brody laughed.
"I can't fit that in my warehouse."
"Put what?"
"Come on, follow me." Elliott took out a bunch of keys from his pocket.
He walked toward a pickup truck parked in the clearing.
"All three of us sit in front." He opened the car door, "Come on!"
There were almost as many cracks in the car seat as there were wrinkles on his face.The cab was filled with a pungent gasoline smell.The engine roared and started to run.Elliott stepped on the gas pedal, and the truck shot forward.
He drove the truck around, past the store, and said hello to his son, while Dillon looked surprised.After walking about three kilometers, the truck got onto a dirt road and stopped in front of a ferry.
"It'll be there soon." He stepped out of the truck.
On the pier, he put Susie and Andrew in a tied boat.Elliott rubbed his hands, and pulled the belt on the boat's engine with all his strength. It took three attempts before he succeeded.Andrew offered to help, but only got a blank stare.
Rippled in the calm water, the boat headed for a verdant island that looked like an oasis in a white desert.
"Where are we going?" Susie asked.
Elliot Brody smiled before answering her:
"We're going back in time to meet your grandmother."
The boat drove around the island and moored beside a certain embankment.Elliott turned off the engine, jumped out of the boat, and tied the boat to the stakes on the shore. He did this series of actions with great skill.Andrew and Susie followed behind him.
They followed a winding path into the heart of the island, and a gray chimney could be seen in the distance against the dark sky.
"Go from here," they came to a fork in the road, and there was a gardener's hut beside it. Brody led them on one of the roads, "if you keep going to the left, you will see a beautiful beach. In the evening Your grandmother liked to walk there when I was there, but it's not the right season. We're just a few steps away," he added.
Through a pine forest, Susie and Andrew saw a quiet cabin.
"This is your grandmother's house," said Elliot Brody. "The whole island belonged to her, but I think it should be yours now."
"I don't quite understand the situation," Susie said.
"At that time, there was a small airfield north of the village. Two Friday nights a month, a helicopter would take your grandmother here. She would spend the weekend here and leave on Monday. My father was in charge I'm only sixteen and help out with the property. The house was unoccupied until 1966. Then a year after your grandmother's accident, her husband came by and told us he wanted to Keep the family business, because it is the only property of the family that has not been confiscated by the government. He also explained that because the island is under the name of a company, the state did not find it. However, this has nothing to do with us, but at the time The atmosphere was too awkward for us to ask. Every month we received a remittance to maintain the house and trim the trees. After my father passed away, I took over the job."
"Did you do this voluntarily and without compensation?"
"No, there are still remittances every month, and it will increase a little every year. The house is well maintained, but I still can't say that you can't see dust in it. I have tried my best with my son. Now that two of my sons have joined the army, the task has become heavier. All the facilities can be used. The boiler was replaced last year, the roof is also regularly inspected, the chimneys are all open, and the liquefied gas tank should still be full. As long as This place can be turned into a new house with a little cleaning. Miss, you are home now, this is your grandfather's wish." Elliott handed the key to Susie.
Susie kept looking at the house.She went up the front steps and put the key in the lock.
"Let me help you," Elliott stepped forward, "This door is not easy to open, and requires a little skill."
The door opened, and inside was a spacious living room, all the furniture was covered with white cloth.
Elliott drew back the curtains, and light flooded the room.Above the fireplace, Susie saw a portrait of her grandmother, smiling at her.
"It's unbelievable how much you resemble her!" Andrew said. "You all have the same eyes, and your jaws and lips are all carved out of the same mold."
As Susie approached the portrait, her emotions were fully revealed.Standing on tiptoe, she touches the canvas gently, but there is a touch of sentimentality in her movements.She turned around and looked into the living room.
"Should I take all the cloth off the furniture?" Brody asked.
"No, I want to go to the second floor to have a look."
"Wait a minute." Brody left the room.
Susie surveyed the room, running her fingers over every piece of furniture, even the edges of the windows.She changed various angles, admiring every item here.Andrew just looked at her quietly.
Then they heard a roar, and the lights in the ceiling came on.
Brody went back into the room.
"It's powered by a generator set, you get used to the noise. If it stalls, you can go to the gardener's shed to check it. I run it once a month, so the current storage is still full .The voltage is fairly stable, but don't turn on everything at once. The bathroom and bedroom are upstairs, come with me."
The stairs smelled of maple and the railing creaked a little.On the second floor, Susie suddenly hesitated in front of the bedroom door.
Andrew turned away and motioned for Brody to go down with him.
Susie didn't notice their departure, she turned the handle and walked into Lilian's room.
In the bedroom, all the furniture remained as it was, and there was no white cloth covering it, as if the owner would return that night.In the center of the room was a large bed covered with a red and green Indian coverlet.There was a low table and a chaise longue between the two windows, and there were even vine branches on the table.The floor was pine with a circular pattern larger than a man's fist, covered with an Alracian rug.On the left wall was a stone fireplace, blackened with smoke.
Susie opened a wardrobe drawer.Lilian's clothes were neatly placed inside, covered with silk cloth.
Susie uncovered the silk cloth, picked up a shawl, draped it over her body, and looked at herself in the mirror.Then she went into the bathroom again and stood in front of the sink.There are two toothbrushes in the mug, and two bottles of perfume on the shelf, one for men and one for women.Susie sniffed, closed the lid again, and left the room.
After returning to the living room, she saw Andrew was removing the white cloth from the furniture.
"Where's Brody?"
"He's gone. He thinks we're going to spend the night here. His son will bring us groceries by boat. He also tells me there's plenty of firewood in the warehouse, and I'll look for it later. After that, if you want , we can inspect this territory."
"I really didn't think of it."
"I didn't expect to own such a beautiful island?"
"I didn't expect my grandmother to have a secret lover."
"Isn't this a rumor from the villagers?"
"I saw a bottle of men's perfume on it, it wasn't my grandfather's."
The door opened, and Elliot Brody came in, panting.
"I forgot to leave you my phone number. If you need anything, you can call me."
"Mr. Brody, who is my grandmother's lover?"
"No one has seen him. He always arrives on Friday night, later than your grandmother. Usually everyone in the town has gone to bed by then, and he will quietly leave on Sunday night. Usually he We will send the necessities before we come, and no one is allowed around the island at weekends. Even my father cannot violate this prohibition, and your grandmother is very cautious in this matter."
Andrew walked up to Brody.
"I don't doubt your father, but a sixteen-year-old boy certainly cannot resist the temptation to violate the prohibition."
Brody lowered his head and coughed a few times.
"I need to know," continued Susie, "you said it yourself that all this is in the past. What does it matter?"
"I've been maintaining this home for forty years. I get paid every month without rushing, which isn't something every customer can do and I don't want to bother myself."
"What is asking for trouble?"
"Your grandfather made my father swear on his honor that he would not tell anyone about Mrs. Walker's presence. If anyone else knew, the island would be sold and I would have no money."
Andrew rummaged through his pockets and took out five twenty-dollar bills.
"I'll just ask two questions, Mr. Brody. The first question: Who sent you the money?"
"Although I don't have to answer, but out of integrity, I will give you an answer." Brody said as he took the money. "I receive four thousand dollars a month. Of course, this job is worth the price. The money came from a company, and I don't know. I can only see the name of the company."
"What's its name?"
"Norwegian Bleu Water."
"Okay, second question: Who was the man Lillian Walker spent the weekend with?"
"We were teenagers. Your grandmother liked to swim in the lake with him in the summer. She was really beautiful. We would sometimes sneak up and hide in the bushes on the bank. The man was not Even if he is famous, I promise I only met him twice. I didn’t know who he was until later.”
"Okay, okay, okay," Susie began impatiently, "Who the hell?"
"It's funny how your grandmother expresses impatience in exactly the same way as you. This is a rich and powerful man," continued Elliott Brody, "not the annoying type. Ironically, you Your grandfather and his grandma aren't just competing with your grandmother. You know, a Democrat senator's wife had an affair with a Republican. But that's a thing of the past, and it should be. I How can I tell you these things?"
Susie walked up to Brody and took his hand.
"I will not tell any of these family secrets, and besides, from now on," she said, "I will pay you. Now, Mr. Brody, you will obey the first order of your employer, I'm as stubborn and demanding as my grandmother, so tell me all you know."
Brody hesitated.
"Come with me to the boat, I must go back."
On the way to the lake Elliot Brody spoke.
"I should tell you one thing. I told your grandfather when he came. Your grandmother and her lover broke up on this island. I was on the island that day with a few friends. We don't know Why are they arguing, at first their voices were so low that we couldn't hear them at all. Then they all turned up and we could hear them insulting each other.. I've never been in someone else's argument听过这么多侮辱性的词汇，虽然我也知道其中的一些。她骂那个男人是懦夫、垃圾，我就不一一重复了，我也不敢全部说给你听。她说自己以后不会再见他，会不计代价地做完这件事情。那个男人发了火，给了她好几个耳光，特别重的耳光，重到我和朋友们都想要不要从藏身的地方出来阻止那个男人。无论如何都是不可以打女人的。但是在你外祖母摔倒在地之后，他就冷静了下来，收拾起所有的行李，坐船离开了小岛。”
“那我的外祖母呢？她又做了什么？”苏茜坚持问道。
“小姐，我向你发誓，如果是我的父亲这样打我，我一定会大哭大闹。你的外祖母当然也不例外。我们当时很想出来安慰她，但是我们实在没胆量。她在地上跪坐了一会儿，就站了起来，沿着小路回了房子。第二天我又来小岛，想看看她怎么样了，可是她已经离开了，之后我就再没见过她。”
“那个男人到底是谁？”
“他之后就结婚了，在仕途上一路高升，一直坐到了最高的位置，当然这已经是多年之后的事情了。现在，我说得已经够多了，”艾略特·布鲁迪跳上了船，“我就先走了。等我儿子来送东西的时候，请不要问他什么，他什么都不知道。好好享受岛上的时光，这里很安静，风光也好。”
布鲁迪的船很快就变成了地平线上的一个小点儿。苏茜和安德鲁面面相觑，都是一副震惊的样子。
“信息量还真是很大，我们现在有了很多线索。”安德鲁说道。
“为什么外祖父要留下这个地方，难道这儿对他来说不是噩梦般的所在吗？”
“我觉得不应该从这里开始，但这的确是个值得思考的问题。这种家族秘密还是留给你来想吧，我感兴趣的是那家一直在给布鲁迪这个老滑头汇钱的公司。我还想知道你外祖母说的那件不计代价一定会做完的事情究竟是什么。”
“布鲁迪说的'一直坐到了最高的位置'是什么意思？”
“我也不清楚。”安德鲁说。
他们两人在岔路口分开了，安德鲁去了仓库，而苏茜则穿过那片松树林回到了房间里面。
客厅的一角有个东西隐隐像是钢琴的形状。苏茜掀起了上面的盖布，打开钢琴盖，把手放在琴键上。
安德鲁也回到了屋里，手里抱着木柴。
“你给我们弹点儿什么吧，这儿安静得都有点儿压抑了。”他对苏茜说。
苏茜抬起了手，指着自己残缺的食指和中指苦笑了一下。安德鲁把木柴放在壁炉的旁边，在她身侧坐下了。他用右手弹了几个音符，并示意苏茜和他一起。苏茜犹豫了一下，用左手和安德鲁的旋律配合起来。
“你看，我们是可以互补的。”安德鲁边说边加快了节奏。
之后，两个人就开始各自忙自己的事情。安德鲁拿的木柴已经远远超出了需要，但是他还是觉得有点儿事情做的感觉是很好的，就好像是搬运柴草可以帮助他平静心绪。苏茜则是机械地检查着每个抽屉和壁橱。
“你是在浪费时间。这座房子肯定不知道被翻过多少次了。”安德鲁边说边把头伸进了壁炉里面。
他拉住一根链子，打开了烟道。从那儿可以看到一块灰蒙蒙的天空，有不少烟灰落了下来。
“你是在扮演圣诞老人吗？”苏茜看着安德鲁把头又伸进了烟道。
“你能帮我把包里的手电拿来吗？”
苏茜照做了。
“有件奇怪的事情。”安德鲁说。
壁炉足够大，他和苏茜可以一起待在里面。
“看，”安德鲁拿手电照着烟道，“这上面全部都是烟灰。但是在我们的头上面一点儿的地方，却一点儿烟灰都没有。那个棚屋里应该有工具，跟我来。”
一走到门外苏茜就打了个冷战，安德鲁脱下外套披在她的肩上。
“看来天气真的转冷了。”他说。
就在他们往园丁的小屋走的时候，湖边的方向传来了船靠岸的声音。
“应该是布鲁迪的儿子来给我们送东西了。来得真好，我都已经饿了。记得帮我找一把螺丝刀，还有一把锤子。我取了东西就立刻回来。”
苏茜看着安德鲁向岸边走去，就走进了那间小屋。
刚一推开门，她就听到了一片工具倒地的声音，有锄头、耙子、铁锹和草叉。她弯腰把这些东西一一扶正，又费劲地把它们靠回墙上。墙上的挂钩上挂着不同尺寸的锯子，还有很多各种各样的工具。她想了想，选了一把园艺剪、一把锤子和一把锉刀。
她走出了储物间。夜晚的寒风中，桦树光秃秃的枝干正在随风摆动。苏茜机械性地看了看表，渐渐不耐烦起来。安德鲁早就该回来了。她猜测是不是他又逼问了布鲁迪的儿子一些相关事情。虽然她不愿意再走路了，但是也许安德鲁需要人帮忙拿东西。于是她把工具放在了门前，手插在口袋里向湖边走去。
走近码头的时候，她听到一阵水声，还有越来越大的类似波浪的声音。她加快了步伐，却听到了一阵痛苦的叫喊声。苏茜猛地停下步伐，看见一个强壮的男人正跪在船的一端，两条手臂都没在水里，似乎在摁着什么东西。接着，苏茜就看到水面上出现了安德鲁就快窒息的脸，那个男人还是不停地把他摁到水里。
苏茜却一点儿都不害怕。她只是觉得时间静止了，她很清楚应该怎么做，所有的动作也都一气呵成。安德鲁的头又短暂地冒出了水面。在那个男人没注意到她之前，苏茜从安德鲁的外套里拿出了手枪，打开了保险栓。
她连开了两枪，第一枪打在了男人的肩胛骨上，他惨叫了一声，刚要站起来，第二颗子弹就射中了他的脖子。子弹先打在一节颈椎骨上，又穿过了他的颈动脉。他倒在地上，脸朝着地面，流出的血染红了周围的湖水。
苏茜手里的枪掉在地上，她冲向安德鲁，而安德鲁当时还在水里挣扎。苏茜探出身体，试图把他拉出水面。最后安德鲁抓住了浮桥的一侧，上岸的时候，他们都摔倒在地。
“嘘，”苏茜摩擦着他的身体，“没事了，深呼吸，不要想别的事情。”她边说边抚摸着安德鲁的面颊。
安德鲁侧过身子，剧烈地咳嗽起来，吐出了很多水。苏茜脱下外套，把他裹了起来。
安德鲁推开她，跪在那个袭击者的旁边，用手捂着脸。苏茜站在他身后，一言未发。
“我还以为是布鲁迪的儿子，”安德鲁仍然在咳嗽，“我甚至还帮他把船靠了岸。后来我发现不是小布鲁迪，但也没有怀疑。他就突然跳到浮桥上，我还没来得及说话，他就掐住了我的脖子，想要掐死我，然后把我摁到了水里……”
“之后我就到了。”苏茜看着那具尸体。
“我们可以开他的摩托艇去报警。”
“你要先换衣服，不然你会被冻死。然后我们再报警。”苏茜的声音很坚定。
回到屋子里之后，她让安德鲁上了二层，带着他进了卧室。
“把衣服脱下来。”她命令道，然后走进了浴室。
安德鲁听见了水流声，苏茜拿着一条浴巾走了出来。
“虽然这浴巾比木头还要硬，但总比没有要好，”她把浴巾递给了安德鲁，“立刻去洗澡，不然你会感染肺炎。”
安德鲁听了苏茜的话，拿着浴巾进了浴室。
过了好大一会儿，他的身体才渐渐暖和过来。他看着镜中的自己，打开了旁边的柜子。他找到了一把肥皂刷、一把剃须刀和一块放在中式漆盒里的香皂。他在洗手池里放满了水，把肥皂刷浸在热水里，犹豫了一下，开始剔去之前的胡子。
慢慢地，他原来的样子就在镜子中展现了出来。
从浴室里出来之后，他看到床上放着一条麻质的裤子、一件衬衫和一件羊毛开衫。他穿上衣服，在客厅里找到了苏茜。
“这些衣服是谁的？”他问道。
“总之不是我外祖母的。我现在至少知道了她的情人和你穿一个尺码。”
苏茜走上前来，把手放在了安德鲁的面颊上。
“在我面前的好像是另外一个男人。”
“你喜欢之前的样子？”安德鲁推开她的手，问道。
“两个都喜欢。”苏茜回答。
“我们该走了。”
“不，我们哪儿也不去。”
“你真是有主见。”
“我可以把这个当成赞美吗？”
“你刚刚才杀了人，现在却像什么都没发生过一样。”
“为了救我，沙米尔放弃了生命，从那之后，我所有的情绪好像都消失了。是的，我杀了人，这很可怕，但是他可是想要淹死你，你希望我为他难过？”
“也许吧。不过你至少应该显得内疚一点儿，不然我会觉得恶心。”
“好吧，那我就是要坚持自己的看法，我一直都是这样。有问题吗？你想让警察来翻你的包，那就去报警吧，门就在那边。”苏茜喊道，满脸都是怒气。
“天色太晚了，我们没法渡湖，已经是夜里了，”安德鲁看着窗外，平静地说，“我的手机在外套里面，我去打电话。”
“我已经试过了，没有信号，门厅那里的座机也打不通。”
安德鲁坐在椅子上，脸色苍白。只要一闭上眼，他就会想到浮桥上的那一幕。
苏茜跪在他面前，把头放在了他的膝盖上。
“我希望时光可以倒流，我们从来没有来过这个被诅咒的小岛。”
她的手在发抖，安德鲁无法忽视这一点。
很长时间，他们没有再说一句话。苏茜颤抖着，安德鲁抚摸着她的头发。
“既然电话不通，布鲁迪为什么要回来留下他的电话号码？”苏茜在自言自语。
“好让我们相信他。这样他一上船，就立即切断了我们和外界的联系。”
“你认为这是他主使的？”
“还有别人知道我们在岛上吗？”安德鲁反问道。
他站起身来，走到壁橱的旁边。
“之前把莫顿街的公寓租给你的那个朋友，你最近有她的消息吗？”
“没有，怎么突然问这个？”
“因为这也是你的小伎俩，好让我对你的事情感兴趣，你好像一直把我当成傻瓜。”
“我没有搞什么阴谋诡计。”
“你只要再撒一次谎，我就立即回纽约。”安德鲁发火了。
“你应该回去，我没有权利让你涉险。”
“对，你没有权利。那好，那个朋友，你认识她很久了吗？”
苏茜没有回答。
“我之前一直被你牵着鼻子走，我已经付出了代价，现在事情已经超出了我掌控的范围。昨天在'迪克西·李'，当我看到你背着我打电话的时候，我就已经决定放弃了。”
"Have you changed your mind?"
“我不知道你的外祖母有没有为那些社会主义国家传递过消息。但是如果当时她有别的同伙可以逃脱制裁，那他们现在就会不惜一切代价来掩盖真相！之前在浮桥上发生的事情就已经证明了这一点！现在，你可以告诉我你在餐厅是给谁打的电话了吗？”
“给克诺夫打的。”苏茜低低地说。
“那就在刚才，你发现我们的手机没有信号，也是因为想给他打电话？”
“我心里想着那具尸体。袭击你的人没有携带武器，但是我却有。如果报警的话，我们的调查就要到此为止了。克诺夫很了解这种事情，我想问他应该怎么做。”
“看来你的朋友倒是有一技之长！他给了你什么建议？”
“他会派人来。”
“你就没有想过他是不是已经派人来了？”
“你说这个杀手是克诺夫派来的？这不可能！他从我还是小女孩起就一直照顾我。他不会伤我一根头发的。”
“他也许不会伤害你，可这并不代表他不会伤害我！布鲁迪根本没有时间来策划这次袭击。但是克诺夫，因为你的通风报信，昨天就已经知道了我们的位置。”
“但也许是布鲁迪想要私吞这座房子，我们的到来打乱了他的计划。”
“不要随便乱说！你觉得那个戴着眼镜拿着账本的小男人像杀人犯吗？”
“那之前那个打破你头的女人第一眼看上去像是暴徒吗？”
Andrew didn't answer.
“那，现在的话，”苏茜说，“我们现在该怎么做？”
安德鲁在房间里走来走去，想让头脑恢复清醒。没有酒精，他很难冷静地思考，也很难反对苏茜这个有悖于他的原则的决定。他看了苏茜一眼，就摔门走出了房间。
苏茜在草坪那里找到了他，安德鲁正坐在栏杆上。
“我们把尸体埋了吧。”他开口说。
“为什么不沉在湖里呢？”
“没什么能让你放弃调查，是吗？”
“要是在夜里挖一个墓穴，再把人埋进去，你不觉得太可怕了吗？”
安德鲁跳下了栏杆，面对着苏茜。
“好吧，如果能找到什么绑在尸体上的东西的话。”
他取下了进门处的那盏煤油灯，苏茜跟着他走进了树林。
“我的外祖母是如何有勇气在这个岛上独自度过周末的？”
“她应该和你一样，都是很有主意的人。”安德鲁走进了仓库，“这些应该就够了。”他拎起了工具台上的一大袋子工具。
“布鲁迪肯定会想他的工具哪里去了。”
“他肯定会想的，毕竟你都认定了他是主谋。如果他真是主使者的话，我不认为他有必要在忙活过这些维护的工作后把我们留在岛上。”
“我向你保证克诺夫绝对和这件事毫无关系。”
“那就走着瞧。拿着这根绳子，我们把问题解决掉。”
他们回到了码头。安德鲁把煤油灯放在了尸体的旁边。他用绳子的一头把工具袋的手柄和男人的手腕绑在一起，又用另一头捆住了他的上半身。
“给我帮个忙。”他对苏茜说。
苏茜做了个鬼脸，帮他抬起了尸体的双腿，安德鲁则托着肩膀。他们一起把尸体放在了船里。
“拿着灯等在这里，我可以看着光回来。”
苏茜却把它放在了浮桥上，也跳进了船。
“我和你一起去！”
“我看到了。”安德鲁边说边发动了船。
他们朝着湖面开去。
“如果灯灭掉的话，我们就永远也找不到码头了。”安德鲁回头看了看。
灯的火苗越来越暗。安德鲁关掉了发动机，船在水面上漂着，最后停了下来。
他们抬起了绑着工具袋的尸体，看着它沉入了漆黑的湖水中。
“我们应该把东西绑在他的脚上的。”苏茜看着尸体沉没的过程，突然说道。
"why?"
“因为这样他就得一直头朝下待着了。多不幸啊，这么干的人真应该被绞死！”苏茜还在模仿安妮塔。
“你的玩世不恭让我很害怕。”
“是我杀了人，你却一脸悲愤的样子。走吧，趁着灯还没灭赶紧回去。”
他们在回去的路上一句话都没有说。冰冷的夜风吹在他们的脸上，但是也带来了雪和树的味道，让他们觉得又重回人世。
“布鲁迪的儿子最后也没有给我们送东西来。”苏茜走进了房间。
安德鲁吹灭了灯，把它放回原位，然后进了厨房。
“你饿了？”他边说边洗了洗手。
“难道你不饿？”
“不，我一点儿也不饿。”
“那如果我要跟你分享呢？”苏茜从外衣的口袋里掏出了一条谷物棒。
她大口大口地吃着，又拿出一条给了安德鲁。
“我们接下来唯一要做的事就是去睡觉。这样可以放松你的神经，明天我们去报警。”
她走上二楼，进了卧室。
过了一会儿，安德鲁也走了进来。苏茜躺在床上，未着寸缕。安德鲁脱去衣服，伏在她的身上，急切而又笨拙。他温暖的身体唤醒了苏茜的欲望，而苏茜只觉得小腹那里有某种温热的东西。她抱住了安德鲁，用舌头舔吻着他的脖子。
安德鲁的嘴唇在苏茜身上游走，他亲吻着她的乳房、肩膀和嘴唇。苏茜的腿盘在安德鲁的腰间，用手引导着他。在安德鲁进入她的时候，她轻轻推开他，随后又将他搂得更紧。他们的呼吸融合在一起，充满了热量与激情，让他们暂时忘却了之前不愉快的经历。苏茜坐在了安德鲁的身上，胸部剧烈地抖动着，双手摁着安德鲁的大腿，不停地上下起伏。安德鲁又反身压了下来，苏茜发出了一声呻吟。
她睡在安德鲁的旁边，安德鲁握住她的手，想要亲吻她。但是苏茜却一言不发地起身进了浴室。
等她回到卧室的时候，安德鲁已经离开了。客厅里传来他的脚步声。苏茜缩进被子里，关了灯，咬住枕头好不让安德鲁听到她的抽泣声。
楼下传来连续不断的敲击声。苏茜睁开了眼，意识到她竟然睡在了一张床上。噪声丝毫没有停下的迹象，她拿起衣服，下楼到了客厅里。
安德鲁把头伸进了烟道里面，苏茜只能看见他的腿和腰部。
“你不用睡觉吗？”
“我觉很少，而且我睡得很快。”安德鲁边说边继续忙着手里的活计。
“可以问一下你在干什么吗？”
“我睡不着，所以就开始做这件事了，但是光线不好，我老是看不太清楚。”
苏茜走到了进门处，取下了那盏煤油灯，点亮了灯芯，把它放在了壁炉的上方。
“这样是不是好一点儿？”
“嗯，好多了。”安德鲁回答道。他发现了一块上面完全没有烟灰的砖，把它敲下，又递给了苏茜。
“把灯举起来。”他用一种命令的语气说。
苏茜立即照做了。
安德鲁好像在里面拿到了什么东西，他从壁炉里欠身出来，正好迎上苏茜的目光。
"What's wrong?"
“没什么，只是我和某个男人度过了一晚，可是他却宁愿睡在壁炉里。除了这个就没什么了。”
“给。”安德鲁递给她一个牛皮纸包。
“这是什么？”苏茜的脸上满是惊讶。
“我去找把小刀，我们很快就知道这是什么了。”
苏茜跟着他来到厨房，他们坐在了餐桌旁边。
纸包里有一些莉莉安的照片，拍照的人肯定是那个和她一起在这座小岛上共度周末的神秘情人，还有一段乐谱，最后他们看到了一封写给玛蒂尔德的信。
苏茜抢过了信封。
“你不要把它交给收信人吗？”
“玛蒂尔德从波士顿的海边被救之后，就决定换一种生活方式，我不想再让她为此烦心了。”
苏茜拆开信封，展开了手中的信。
苏茜把信递给了安德鲁，让他也读一读。
“真希望这一切都没有发生。”她低声说。
“你知道她说的常和你妈妈去的地方是哪里吗？”
"have no idea."
“那份乐谱呢，你能看明白吗？”
“我很多年没有弹过钢琴了，也许我没法弹出来，但是说不定可以看懂。”
“如果那些想除掉我们的人知道之前的行动失败了，那他们一定会再派人来的。赶紧想一下，玛蒂尔德有没有跟你提过什么地方，是她和你的外祖母经常去的？”
“现在你也叫她玛蒂尔德了？我真的不知道，什么都想不起来，不过克诺夫可能知道。我愿意相信莉莉安的信里说的朋友就是他，莉莉安肯定是打算把包裹交给克诺夫的。”
“可是我却在壁炉里找到了这个包裹，她最后肯定突然改变了主意！”
“但也可能只是因为她没有时间了。”
安德鲁把照片摆在桌上，全部都是莉莉安在岛上拍的。照片上，她有时躺在沙滩上，有时拿着斧头站在木屋的门前，有时在草地上种花，有时跪坐在壁炉前，或者只是做了个鬼脸。但是有一幅照片上她是全身赤裸的，站在浴室的洗手台前，回头望着那个给她拍照的人。
“你是想趁机偷窥我的外祖母吗？”苏茜从安德鲁的手里夺下了照片。
“那个时候你还没出生呢，有什么好介意的。”
“她真的很美。”苏茜说。
“你也不差。”
苏茜端详着这张照片，仔细辨认着每一个细节。
“看，”她对安德鲁说，“在洗手台上面的镜子里，好像照出了她情人的脸。”
安德鲁拿过照片，也开始研究起来。
“也许吧，不过我看不清他的五官。”
“沙发旁边的矮桌上有放大镜。”苏茜立刻站起身来。
她把照片一起拿了过去。安德鲁在厨房里等着她，她却一直没有回来。安德鲁就干脆去了客厅。
苏茜正用放大镜检视着那张照片。
“现在我明白克诺夫为什么要说莉莉安很新潮了。”
“什么意思？”安德鲁坐在了她的身侧。
“她的情人看上去至少比她年轻二十岁。”
“可以看出来吗？”安德鲁拿过了苏茜手里的放大镜。
“现在，我明白为什么布鲁迪要说这个男人'一直坐到了最高的位置'了，”安德鲁吃惊地大张着嘴，“他在三十多年后成为了美国历史上最有权势的副总统，也肯定是最可怕的一个。”
“他还活着吗？”
“还活着。”
“我一定要和他谈谈。”
“你不仅疯狂，而且还天真。你简直是我这辈子见过的最天真的女人。”
“你见过很多别的女人？”
“你根本不知道这个男人是什么样的人，不知道他这副宽厚的外表下藏着一颗怎样的心。也许最后你的外祖母在和他争执时发现了这一点。”
“他们曾经相爱过，他肯定知道一些关于莉莉安的事情。”
“你想问事情？那如果我告诉你，这个男人是美国历史上最具权势也是最危险的领导人之一，你还想见他吗？”
"How do you know?"
“也