Читать книгу Skulduggery Pleasant: Books 10 - 12 - Derek Landy - Страница 47

“This is not my first rescue mission,” Sebastian whispered to Bennet as they crouched around the corner from the tiny house. “Let me go in first. I’ll clear the room of hostiles. When I give you the all-clear, you come in. Understand?”

Bennet nodded. He was visibly shaking. A quick peek through the dirty window had shown them Odetta sitting at a table, a Hollow Man standing right behind her. They had no idea how many other Hollow Men might be in there with them.

Sebastian patted Bennet on the shoulder. He felt an urge to repeat his instructions, but decided against it. Bennet was a grown man, not a child.

Keeping low, Sebastian jogged to the front door. He took a deep breath to steady himself and then kicked, the wood splintering beneath his boot, the door crashing open, and then Bennet lunged past him, pulling his gun from his pocket. There was a scream. Sebastian ran in, but saw Odetta throwing herself in front of the Hollow Man.

“Don’t!” she cried.

Bennet kept shifting his aim. “I can’t … Sweetheart, if you don’t move out of the way, I can’t shoot it.”

“He’s not an it!” Odetta said. “His name is Conrad!”

Bennet hesitated. “I’m sorry?”

“Excuse me,” Sebastian said, satisfied that there were no other Hollow Men in the building, “but what exactly is going on here?”

“We’re in love!” Odetta said.

“Yes, we are,” said Bennet.

“Not me and you!” Odetta said, almost angrily. “We! We are in love!”

Bennet looked at his wife and the Hollow Man. “I’m missing something here.”

“I … I think she’s leaving you,” said Sebastian. “I think she wants to spend the rest of her life with it. Sorry. Him. What’s his name again?”

“Conrad,” said Odetta.

Bennet laughed. Then his laugh failed and he lowered the gun. “What?”

“It’s true,” Odetta said. “I’m so sorry, Bennet. I didn’t want you to find out this way, but I didn’t know how to tell you. I got scared. I thought just walking away would be the best thing, but then I knew you’d be worrying, so I had one of Conrad’s friends deliver that message … I suppose it’s good, that you’re here. We can finally talk about it.”

“You’re … in love with … with that?”

“With him,” Sebastian corrected.

“But he’s a Hollow Man,” Bennet said. “He’s made of paper. I don’t get how this is remotely possible?” Tears brimmed. The gun fell to the floor. “You’re leaving me?”

“I’m so sorry.”

“You’re leaving me for a man made out of paper?”

Odetta wept. “Please don’t be nasty,” she said.

“But we’re married. Why are you leaving me? You can’t leave me – we’re married. What about our son?”

“Kase knows. He understands.”

“But we were going to have more children. We talked about it, about giving Kase a little brother or sister.”

“He can still have that. But you won’t be the father.”

“Odetta, come on,” Bennet said, moving forward. “Be reasonable. You can’t have children with a Hollow Man.”

“He has a name!” Odetta said, her anger rising again.

“This is ridiculous! The only way you could have children with it is if they’re on a paper chain!”

“How dare you!”

“Is that what you want, Odetta? You want paper-chain children? Is that it? You want origami kids?”

Odetta punched Bennet so hard his knees buckled and he fell.

“Don’t say nasty things!” Odetta shouted. “You know why I fell in love with him? Because he listens! You say nasty things whenever you get upset! You’re a nasty man! I can’t stand it! I can’t stand it any more!”

“But … but I love you …” Bennet said, struggling to get up.

“The only person you love is Darquesse,” Odetta spat. “And that is sick beyond reason! There is something seriously wrong with you if you worship that monster! She murdered over a thousand people! How can you talk about her like she’s this majestic, heavenly creature when she’s killed so many? You, you and your sick friends, there’s something wrong with you all!”

Sebastian hesitated, then helped Bennet to his feet. The man felt like kindling in his hands.

“Odetta …”

“I don’t want to hear it,” Odetta said. “And I think you should move out. I’ll be back on Sunday. You better not be there.”

“Can we … can we just talk about it?”

“Talking to you has never got me anywhere,” Odetta said. “Go home now, Bennet. The next time I talk to you, I’ll be divorcing you.”

“No, no, please …”

“I’m going to say this once and once only, so open your ears and listen to it. It’s only one word. Even you can absorb one word. Ready? Here it comes.”

“No. Don’t. Please. Who else will love me?”

She leaned in. “Goodbye.”