"Barker, Clive - The Great and Secret Show v1" - читать интересную книгу автора (Barker Clive)

It was more than despair; it was fear.
"Howie—" she began.
"Christ, was I dumb," Tommy-Ray went on.
She tried a smile as she turned back to him. "Tommy," she said, "I want you to meet Howie."
She'd never seen a look on Tommy-Ray's face like the look she was witnessing now; hadn't known those idolized features capable of such malice.
"Howie?" he said. "As in Howard?"
She nodded, glancing back at Howie. "I'd like you to meet my brother," she said. "My twin brother. Howie, this is Tommy-Ray."
Both men stepped forward to shake hands, bringing them into her vision at the same time. The sun shone with equal strength on both, but it didn't flatter Tommy-Ray, despite his tan. He looked sickly beneath the veneer of health he wore; his eyes sunk without a gleam, his skin too tightly drawn over his cheeks and temples. He looks dead, she found herself thinking. Tommy-Ray looks dead.
Though Howie extended his hand to be shaken Tommy-Ray ignored it, suddenly turning to his sister.
"Later," he said, so softly.
His murmur was almost drowned out by the din of complaints from behind him but she caught its menace clearly enough. Having spoken he turned his back and returned to the car. She couldn't see the mollifying smile he was putting on, but she could imagine it. Mr. Golden, raising his arms in mock-surrender, knowing his captors didn't have a hope.
"What was that about?" Howie said.
"I don't exactly know. He's been odd since—"
She was going to say since yesterday, but she'd seen a canker in his beauty moments ago that must have been there always, except that she—like the rest of the world—had been too dazzled to recognize it.
"Does he need help?" Howie asked.
"I think it's better we let him go."
"Jo-Beth!" somebody called. A middle-aged woman was striding towards them, both dress and features plain to the point of severity.
"Was that Tommy-Ray?" she said as she approached.
"Yes it was."
"He never stops by any longer." She had come to a halt a yard from Howie, staring at him with a look of mild puzzlement on her face. "Are you coming to the store, Jo-Beth?" she said, not looking away from Howie. "We're already late opening."
"I'm coming."
"Is your friend coming too?" the woman asked pointedly.
"Oh yes...I'm sorry...Howie...this is Lois Knapp."
"Mrs., " the woman put in, as though her marital status were a talisman against strange young men.
"Lois...this is Howie Katz."
"Katz?" Mrs. Knapp replied. "Katz?" She removed her gaze from Howie, and studied her watch. "Five minutes late," she said.
"It's no problem," Jo-Beth said. "We never get anyone in before noon."
Mrs. Knapp looked shocked at this indiscretion.
"The Lord's work is not to be taken lightly," she remarked. "Please be quick." Then she stalked off. "Fun lady," Howie commented.
"She's not as bad as she looks."
"That'd be difficult."
"I'd better go."
"Why?" Howie said. "It's a beautiful day. We could go someplace. Make the most of the weather."
"It'll be a beautiful day tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after that. This is California, Howie."
"Come with me anyway."
"Let me try to make my peace with Lois first. I don't want to be on everyone's shit list. It'll upset Momma."
"So when?"
"When what?"
"When will you be free?"
"You don't give up, do you?"
"Nope."
"I'll tell Lois I'm going back home to look after Tommy-Ray this afternoon. Tell her he's sick. It's only half a lie. Then I'll come by the motel. How's that?"
"Promise?"
"Promise." She began to move away, then said: "What's wrong?"
"Don't want to...kiss...kiss me in public, huh?"
"Certainly not."
"How about in private?"
She half-heartedly shushed him as she backed away.
"Just say yes."
"Howie."