"Энди Макнаб. Удаленный контроль (engl) " - читать интересную книгу автора As I opened it I said, "I've got loads of things-I've got candy,
sandwiches, chips-and I've even got you a Goose-bumps book to read." I figured it was better to buy stuff to occupy her mind rather than try to cuddle or console her. I'd have felt really uncomfortable with that anyway. She was lying on the bed exactly where I'd left her, staring in the direction of the television set, but not really watching, her eyes glazed over. As I put everything down on the other bed I said, "Right, I reckon what you need now is a nice hot bath. I've even bought some Buzz Lightyear bubble bath." It would give her something to do, and maybe relax her out of the catatonic state she was in. Apart from that, when I handed her over to the Firm I wanted them to see that I'd made an effort and that she was all nice and clean. After all, she was my friend's kid. I turned the taps on and called back into the room, "Come on then, get undressed." She didn't reply. I went back into the bedroom, sat at the end of the bed, and started undressing her. I thought she might resist, but instead she sat placidly as I pulled off her shirt. "You do your jeans," I said. She was only seven, but I felt awkward about taking those off. "Come on, undo your buttons." In the end, I had to. She was miles away. I carried her into the bathroom. Good old Buzz Lightyear had done his job; the bubbles were halfway to the ceiling. I tested the water, lifted her "There's loads of soap and shampoo," I said. "Do you want me to help you wash your hair?" She sat stock-still in the water. I gave her the soap, which she just stared at. It was nearly time to call London again. At least I wouldn't have to go to a phone booth for this one; she'd be out of earshot in the bath. Just in case, I kept the TV on. There was some weird and wonderful cartoon on: three characters in jeans, half man, half shark, who said things like "Fin-tastic!" and "Shark time!" Apparently they didn't kick ass, they kicked dorsal. The Street Sharks. The opening credits finished and I dialed London. Immediately I heard "PIN number, please?" I gave it. She went, "One moment." A few seconds later the phone went dead. That was strange. I dialed again, gave my PIN number, and again got cut off. What the fuck was going on? I tried to reason with my self, tried to tell myself that this was just a fuck-up. But really, inside, I knew the truth. It had to be deliberate. Either that, or maybe, just maybe, the phone line was down. No good thinking about it. Take action. I went into the bathroom. "The phone's not working," I said. "I'll just go down to the one on the corner. Is there anything else we need from the store? I tell you what, we'll go down there later on, the two |
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