e a stretcher i always knew i’d t good out of that boy sut trag” he handed the fshlight and the bottle to helene, addg, “for the love of ike, don’t trip over anythg that bottle of rye is all the lior we’ve got”

他們抬著失去知覺的羅斯·麥克勞林，輕鬆地穿過樹林裡怪異的黑暗，走過寬闊的白色草坪，來到小門邊。

they carried the unnscio ross cur back through the eerie darkness of the woods, across the broad, white expanse of wn, and up to the little gate, by easy stas

他們在那裡停下來，等著哈里·科瓦爾克和他的靈車到來。馬龍利用這個間歇點了一支雪茄，又拿回了那瓶黑麥威士忌。

there they paed, waitg for the arrival of harry kowalke and his hearse alone took advanta of the pae to light a cigar and retrieve the bottle of rye

“當然，”海倫說，“我們來這裡是為了監視伊迪莎·文寧。也許馬龍應該留在這裡保持警惕，而我們把羅斯送回芝加哥。”

“of urse,” helene said, “we ca out here to watch for editha venng aybe alone ought to stay out here and keep his eyes open, while we take ross back to chicago”

幸運的是，馬龍的回答沒有被聽到。

fortunately alone’s reply was lost

羅斯·麥克勞林微微動了一下，喃喃地說著：“蒼白的手，指尖粉紅，像漂浮在……我們曾經居住的芬芳水域上的蓮花苞……”然後又陷入了昏迷。

ross cur stirred fatly and urured thg about, “pale hands, pk-tipped, like lot buds that floated—on scented waters where we ed to dwell—” and psed to unnscioness aga

，！

“他在說他的女朋友。”海倫溫柔地說。

“he’s talkg about his girl friend,” helene said ntly

“如果他活下來，”馬龍嚴峻地說，“等他甦醒過來，他會告訴我們他發生了什麼事。他會知道是誰刺傷了他。然後，謝天謝地，這個案子就差不多結了。”他把黑麥威士忌遞給傑克。

“if he lives,” alone said grily, “when he es to, he’ll tell what happened to hi he’ll know who knifed hi then, heave