"Bowes-ShadowAndGunman" - читать интересную книгу автора (Bowes Richard)

To make sure I had nothing to live for, Jim said as he dropped me off, "You've
been hiding behind women too long. Next weekend, I'm moving you out of here to
somewhere that I can keep an eye on you. Get Tay's signature. Any whining to her
and I'll kick your ass."

Tay was home when I walked in the door. "Oh, Kevin," she said and other stuff.
But my ears hummed and I didn't hear. What had happened hurt too much to tell
her. My future was hell. But it didn't matter. I wouldn't be around for it. I
fell face down on my bed and passed out.

When I awoke, it was deepest night. Confused, aching, Igot up and took off the
unfamiliar shirt with prickly hairs down the back. Guys from school had seen me
that morning. Nowhere in the city could I hold up my head. But I had the cure.

On my desk was a note from Tay, a plate of sandwiches and a glass of flat ginger
ale. The note read:

BY ALL RIGHT

I WILL COME TO YOU

It meant nothing to me. I couldn't eat. But my thirst was intense, so I drank
the soda.

The house was cold, silent. In my grungy jeans, I padded down the hall and
opened the door of what had been my mother's room. In the dream, my Shadow had
said, "Her brothers are still afraid to go in there."

Remembering, I lifted the mattress. There was the .38 and the ammunition. All I
had to do was load the revolver and blow off the side of my head. Picking it up,
I saw a vial of pills.

"Shoot yourself," said a voice behind me. "And you finish Jim's work for him.
Like our mother did. He set you up for this. Look, I laid something aside. A
couple of those codeine will cut your pain."

The magic my Shadow brought was black. But it was magic. "How's life been
without me?" he asked. "Pool parties? Manly outings with Uncle Jim? Going to
send me away? No, huh."

Back in my room, stoned, I held the revolver at the ready and looked in the
mirror again. Instead of a face I didn't recognize, I saw a face that could be
anyone: all-American boxer, army recruit, hired killer. And this time, I saw it
twice.

I slept most of Sunday. Not wanting to involve Tay, I didn't talk much. All she
could do was pat my hand. Monday morning on my way into school, I saw a familiar
face. One of the guys from the Y pool. Hate twisted me. Standing in his path, I
looked death into his eyes. By himself, he was frightened. And he should have