五十度灰(Fifty Shades of Grey)英文版 Part II 6

thewhite-suitedserversmoveeffortlesslythroughthe

growingcrowdofguestswithbottlesofchampagne,

toppingoffmyglasswithworryingregularity.imustnot

drinktoomuch.imustnotdrinktoomuch,irepeatto

myself,buti’mbeginningtofeellight-headed,andidon’t

knowifit’sthechampagne,thechargedatmosphereof

mysteryandexcitementcreatedbythemasks,orthe

secretsilverballs.thedullachebelowmywaistis

becomingimpossibletoignore.

“soyouworkatsip?”asksabaldinggentlemanina

half-bear—orisitadog?—mask.“heardrumorsofa

hostiletakeover.”

iflush.thereisahostiletakeoverfromamanwhohas

moremoneythansenseandisastalkerparexcellence.

“i’mjustalowlyassistant,mr.eccles.iwouldn’t

knowaboutthesethings.”

christiansaysnothingandsmilesblandlyateccles.

“ladiesandgentlemen!”themasterofceremonies,

wearinganimpressiveblackandwhiteharlequinmask,

interruptsus.“pleasetakeyourseats.dinnerisserved.”

christiantakesmyhand,andwefollowthechattering

crowdtothelargemarquee.

theinteriorisstunning.threeenormous,shallow

chandeliersthrowrainbow-coloredsparklesovertheivory

silkliningoftheceilingandwalls.theremustbeatleast

thirtytables,andtheyremindmeoftheprivatediningroom

attheheathman—crystalglasses,crispwhitelinen

coveringthetablesandchairs,andinthecenter,an

exquisitedisplayofpalepinkpeoniesgatheredarounda

silvercandelabra.wrappedingossamersilkbesideitisa

basketofgoodies.

christianconsultstheseatingplanandleadsmetoa

tableinthecenter.miaandgracearealreadyinsitu,deep

inconversationwithayoungmanidon’tknow.graceis

wearingashimmeringmintgreengownwithavenetian

masktomatch.shelooksradiant,notstressedatall,and

shegreetsmewarmly.

“ana,howdelightfultoseeyouagain!andlookingso

beautiful,too.”

“mother,”christiangreetsherstifflyandkissesheron

bothcheeks.

“oh,christian,soformal!”shescoldshimteasingly.

grace’sparents,mr.andmrs.trevelyan,joinusat

ourtable.theyseemexuberantandyouthful,thoughit’s

difficulttotellbeneaththeirmatchingbronzemasks.they

aredelightedtoseechristian.

“grandmother,grandfather,mayiintroduceanastasia

steele?”

mrs.trevelyanisallovermelikearash.“oh,he’s

finallyfoundsomeone,howwonderfulandsopretty!well

idohopeyoumakeanhonestmanofhim,”shegushes,

shakingmyhand.

holycow.ithankthehea一vensformymask.

“mother,don’tembarrassana.”gracecomestomy

rescue.

“ignorethesillyoldcoot,m’dear.”mr.trevelyan

shakesmyhand.“shethinksbecauseshe’ssoold,shehas

agod-givenrighttosaywhatevernonsensepopsintothat

woollyheadofhers.”

“ana,thisismydate,sean.”miashylyintroducesher

youngman.hegivesmeawickedgrin,andhisbrown

eyesdancewithamusementasweshakehands.

“pleasedtomeetyou,sean.”

christianshakessean’shandasheregardshim

shrewdly.don’ttellmethatpoormiasuffersfromher

overbearingbrother,too.ismileatmiainsympathy.

lanceandjanine,grace’sfriends,arethelastcouple

atourtable,butthereisstillnosignofmr.grey.

abruptly,there’sthehissofamicrophone,andmr.

grey’svoiceboomsoverthepasystem,causingthe

babbleofvoicestodiedown.carrickstandsonasmall

stageatoneendofthemarquee,wearinganimpressive,

gold,punchinellomask.

“welcome,ladiesandgentleman,toourannualcharity

ball.ihopethatyouenjoywhatweha一velaidoutforyou

tonightandthatyou’lldigdeepintoyourpocketsto

supportthefantasticworkthatourteamdoeswithcoping

together.asyouknow,it’sacausethatisverycloseto

mywife’sheart,andmine.”

ipeeknervouslyatchristian,whoisstaring

impassively,ithink,atthestage.heglancesatmeand

smirks.

“i’llhandyouovernowtoourmasterofceremonies.

pleasebeseated,andenjoy,”carrickfinishes.

politeapplausefollows,thenthebabbleinthetent

startsagain.iamseatedbetweenchristianandhis

grandfather.iadmirethesmallwhiteplacecardwithfine

silvercalligraphythatbearsmynameasawaiterlightsthe

candelabrawithalongtaper.carrickjoinsus,kissingme

onbothcheeks,surprisingme.

“goodtoseeyouagain,ana,”hemurmurs.hereally

looksverystrikinginhisextraordinarygoldmask.

“ladiesandgentlemen,pleasenominateatablehead,”

themccallsout.

“ooo—me,me!”saysmiaimmediately,bouncing

enthusiasticallyinherseat.

“inthecenterofthetableyouwillfindanenvelope,”

themccontinues.“wouldeveryonefind,beg,borrow,or

stealabillofthehighestdenominationyoucanmanage,

writeyournameonit,andplaceitinsidetheenvelope.

tableheads,pleaseguardtheseenvelopescarefully.we

willneedthemlater.”

holycrap.iha一ven’tbroughtanymoneywithme.

howstupid—it’sacharityevent!

fishingouthiswallet,christianproducestwohundreddollar

bills.

“here,”hesays.

what?

“i’llpayyouback,”iwhisper.

hismouthtwistsslightly,andiknowhe’snothappy,

buthedoesn’tcomment.isignmynameusinghisfountain

pen—it’sblack,withawhiteflowermotifonthecap—

andmiapassestheenveloperound.

infrontofmeifindanothercardinscribedwithsilver

calligraphy—ourmenu.

~~~~~~~~~~

amaskedballinaidofcopingtogether

salmontartarewithcr&egra一ve;mefraicheandcucumber

ontoastedbrioche

albanestateroussanne2006

roastedmuscovyduckbreast

creamysunchokepurée,thymeroastedbing

cherries,foiegras

chateauneuf-du-papevieillesvignes2006domaine

delajanasse

sugaredcrustedwalnutchiffon

candiedfigs,sabayon,mapleicecream

vindeconstance2004kleinconstantia

selectionoflocalcheesesandbreads

albanestategrenache2006

coffeeandpetitsfours

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

well,thataccountsforthenumberofcrystalglassesin

everysizethatcrowdmyplacesetting.ourwaiterisback,

offeringwineandwater.behindme,thesidesofthetent

throughwhichweenteredarebeingclosed,whileatthe

front,twoserverspullbackthecanvas,revealingthe

sunsetoverseattleandmeydenbauerbay.

it’sanabsolutelybreathtakingview,thetwinklinglights

ofseattleinthedistanceandtheorange,duskycalmofthe

bayreflectingtheopalsky.wow.it’ssocalmand

peaceful.

tenservers,eachholdingaplate,cometostand

betweenus.onasilentcue,theyserveusourstartersin

completesynchronization,thenvanishagain.thesalmon

looksdelicious,andirealizeiamfamished.

“hungry?”christianmurmurssoonlyicanhear.i

knowhe’snotreferringtothefood,andthemusclesdeep

inmybellyrespond.

“very,”iwhisper,boldlymeetinghisgaze,and

christian’slipspartasheinhales.

ha!see...twocanplayatthisgame.

christian’sgrandfatherengagesmeinconversation

immediately.he’sawonderfuloldman,soproudofhis

daughterandthreechildren.

itisweirdtothinkofchristianasachild.thememory

ofhisburnscarscomeunbiddentomymind,butiquickly

quashit.idon’twanttothinkaboutthatnow,though

ironically,it’sthereasonbehindthisparty.

iwishkatewasherewithelliot.shewouldfitinso

well—thesheernumberofforksandkniveslaidoutbefore

herwouldn’tdauntkate—shewouldcommandthetable.

iimagineherdukingitoutwithmiaoverwhoshouldbe

tablehead.thethoughtmakesmesmile.

theconversationatthetableebbsandflows.miais

entertaining,asusual,andquiteeclipsespoorsean,who

mostlystaysquietlikeme.christian’sgrandmotheristhe

mostvocal.she,too,hasabitingsenseofhumor,usually

attheexpenseofherhusband.ibegintofeelalittlesorry

formr.trevelyan.

christianandlancetalkanimatedlyaboutadevice

christian’scompanyisdeveloping,inspiredby

schumacher’sprinciplesmallisbeautiful.it’shardto

keepup.christianseemsintentonempowering

impoverishedcommunitiesallovertheworldwithwind-up

technology—devicesthatneednoelectricityorbatteries

andminimalmaintenance.

watchinghiminfullflowisastonishing.he’s

passionateandcommittedtoimprovingthelivesoftheless

fortunate.throughhistelecommunicationscompany,he’s

intentonbeingfirsttomarketwithawind-upmobile

phone.

whoa.ihadnoidea.imeaniknewabouthispassion

aboutfeedingtheworld,butthis...

lanceseemsunabletocomprehendchristian’splanto

givethetechnologyawayandnotpatentit.iwonder

vaguelyhowchristianmadeallhismoneyifhe’ssowilling

togiveitallaway.

throughoutdinnerasteadystreamofmeninsmartly

tailoreddinnerjacketsanddarkmasksstopbythetable,

keentomeetchristian,shakehishand,andexchange

pleasantries.heintroducesmetosomebutnotothers.i’m

intriguedtoknowhowandwhyhemakesthedistinction.

duringonesuchconversation,mialeansacrossand

smiles.

“ana,willyouhelpintheauction?”

“ofcourse,”irespondonlytoowilling.

bythetimedessertisserved,nighthasfallen,andi’m

reallyuncomfortable.ineedtogetridoftheballs.beforei

canexcusemyself,themasterofceremoniesappearsat

ourtable,andwithhim—ifi’mnotmistaken—ismiss

europeanpigtails.

what’shername?hansel,gretel...gretchen.

she’smaskedofcourse,butiknowit’sherwhenher

gazedoesn’tmovebeyondchristian.sheblushes,and

selfishlyi’mbeyondpleasedthatchristiandoesn’t

acknowledgeheratall.

themcasksforourenvelopeandwithavery

practicedandeloquentflourish,asksgracetopulloutthe

winningbill.it’ssean’s,andthesilk-wrappedbasketis

awardedtohim.

iapplaudpolitely,buti’mfindingitimpossibleto

concentrateonanymoreoftheproceedings.

“ifyou’llexcuseme,”imurmurtochristian.

helooksatmeintently.

“doyouneedthepowderroom?”

inod.

“i’llshowyou,”hesaysdarkly.

whenistand,alltheothermenroundthetablestand

withme.oh,suchmanners.

“no,christian!you’renottakingana—iwill.”

miaisonherfeetbeforechristiancanprotest.hisjaw

tenses,iknowhe’snotpleased.quitefrankly,neitheram

i.iha一ve...needs.ishrugapologeticallyathim,andhe

sitsdownquickly,resigned.

onourreturn,ifeelalittlebetter,thoughthereliefof

removingtheballshasnotbeenasinstantaneousasi’d

hoped.they’renowstashedsafelyinmyclutchpurse.

whydidithinkicouldlastthewholeevening?iam

stillyearning—perhapsicanpersuadechristiantotake

metotheboathouselater.iflushatthethoughtandglance

athimasitakemyseat.hestaresatme,theghostofa

smilecrossinghislips.

phew...he’snolongermadatamissed

opportunity,thoughmaybeiam.ifeelfrustrated—

irritableeven.christiansqueezesmyhand,andweboth

listenattentivelytocarrick,whoisbackonstagetalking

aboutcopingtogether.christianpassesmeanothercard

—alistoftheauctionprizes.iscanthemquickly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

auctiongiftsandgraciousdonorsforcoping

together

signedbaseballbatfromthemariners–dr.emily

mainwaring

guccipurse,wallet&keyring–andrea

washington

onedayvoucherfortwoatescla一va,braeburn

center–elenalincoln

landscapeandgardendesign–giamatteo

cocodemercoffret&perfumebeautyselection–

elizabethaustin

venetianmirror–mr.andmrs.j.bailey

twocasesofwineofyourchoicefromalban

estates–albanestates

2vipticketsforxtyinconcert–mrs.l.yesyov

racedayatdaytona–emcbrittinc.

pride&prejudicebyjaneaustenfirstedition–dr.

a.f.m.lace-field

driveanastonmartindb7foraday–mr.&mrs.

l.w.nora

oilpaintingintothebluebyj.trouton–kelly

trouton

glidinglesson–seattlesoarersclub

weekendbreakfortwoattheheathman,portland

–theheathman

oneweekendstayinaspen,colorado(sleeps6)–

mr.c.grey

oneweekstayaboardthesusiecueyacht(6

berths)mooredinstlucia–dr.&mrs.larin

oneweekatlakeadriana,montana(sleeps8)

–mr.&dr.grey

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

holyshit.iblinkupatchristian.

“youownpropertyinaspen?”ihiss.theauctionis

underway,andiha一vetokeepmyvoicedown.

henods,surprisedatmyoutburstandirritated,i

think.heputshisfingertohislipstosilenceme.

“doyouha一vepropertyelsewhere?”iwhisper.

henodsagainandinclineshisheadtoonesideina

warning.

thewholeroomeruptswithcheeringandapplause;

oneoftheprizeshasgonefortwelvethousanddollars.

“i’lltellyoulater,”christiansaysquietly.“iwantedto

comewithyou,”headdsrathersulkily.

well,youdidn’t.ipoutandirealizethati’mstill

querulous,andnodoub一t,it’sthefrustratingeffectofthe

balls.mymooddarkensafterseeingmrs.robinsonon

thelistofgenerousdonors.

iglancearoundthemarqueetoseeificanspother,

butican’tseehertelltalehair.surelychristianwouldha一ve

warnedmeifshewasinvitedtonight.isitandstew,

applaudingwhennecessary,aseachlotissoldfor

astonishingamountsofmoney.

thebiddingmovestochristian’splaceinaspenand

reachestwentythousanddollars.

“goingonce,goingtwice,”themccalls.

andidon’tknowwhatpossessesme,butisuddenly

hearmyownvoiceringingoutclearlyoverthethrong.

“twenty-fourthousanddollars!”

everymaskatthetableturnstomeinshocked

amazement,thebiggestreactionofallcomingfrombeside

me.ihearhissharpintakeofbreathandfeelhiswrath

washingovermelikeatidalwa一ve.

“twenty-fourthousanddollars,tothelovelyladyin

silver,goingonce,goingtwice...sold!”

holyshit,didireallyjustdothat?itmustbethealcohol.

i’vehadchampagneplusfourglassesoffourdifferent

wines.iglanceupatchristianwho’sbusyapplauding.

crap,he’sgoingtobesoangry,andwe’vebeengetting

onsowell.mysubconscioushasfinallydecidedtomake

anappearance,andshe’swearingheredvardmunch

screamface.

christianleansovertome,alargefakesmileplastered

acrosshisface.hekissesmycheekandthenmoves

closertowhisperinmyearinaverycold,controlled

voice.

“idon’tknowwhethertoworshipatyourfeetor

spankthelivingshitoutofyou.”

oh,iknowwhatiwantrightnow.igazeupathim,

blinkingthroughmymask.ijustwishicouldreadwhat’s

inhiseyes.

“i’lltakeoptiontwo,please,”iwhisperfranticallyas

theapplausediesdown.hislipspartasheinhalessharply.

ohthatchiseledmouth—iwantitonme,now.iache

forhim.hegivesmearadiantsinceresmilethatlea一vesme

breathless.

“suffering,areyou?we’llha一vetoseewhatwecando

aboutthat,”hemurmursasherunshisfingersalongmy

jaw.

histouchresonatesdeep,deepinsidewherethatache

hasspawnedandgrown.iwanttojumphimrighthere,

rightnow,butwesitbacktowatchtheauctionofthenext

lot.

icanbarelysitstill.christiandrapesanarmaroundmy

shoulders,histhumbrhythmicallystrokingmyback,

sendingdelicioustinglesdownmyspine.hisfreehand

claspsmine,bringingittohislips,thenlettingitrestonhis

lap.

slowlyandsurreptitiously,soidon’trealizehisgame

untilit’stoolate,heeasesmyhanduphislegandagainst

hiserection.igasp,andmyeyesdartinpanicaroundthe

table,butalleyesarefixedonthestage.thankhea一vens

formymask.

takingfulladvantage,islowlycaresshim,lettingmy

fingersexplore.christiankeepshishandovermine,hiding

myboldfingers,whilehisthumbskatessoftlyoverthe

napeofmyneck.hismouthopensashegaspssoftly,and

it’stheonlyreactionicanseetomyinexperiencedtouch.

butitmeanssomuch.hewantsme.everythingsouthof

myna一velcontracts.thisisbecomingunbearable.

aweekbylakeadrianainmontanaisthefinallotfor

auction.ofcoursemr.anddr.greyha一veahousein

montana,andthebiddingescalatesrapidly,butiam

barelyawareofit.ifeelhimgrowingbeneathmyfingers,

anditmakesmefeelsopowerful.

“sold,foronehundredtenthousanddollars!”themc

declaresvictoriously.thewholeroomburstsinto

applause,andreluctantlyifollowasdoeschristian,ruining

ourfun.

heturnstomeandhislipstwitch.“ready?”hemouths

overtherapturouscheering.

“yes,”imouthback

“ana!”miacalls.“it’stime!”

what?no.notagain!“timeforwhat?”

“thefirstdanceauction.comeon!”shestandsand

holdsoutherhand.

iglanceatchristianwhois,ithink,scowlingatmia,

andidon’tknowwhethertolaughorcry,butit’slaughter

thatwins.isuccumbtoacatharticbubbleofschoolgirl

giggles,aswearethwartedoncemorebythetall,pink

powerhousethatismiagrey.christianpeersatme,and

afterabeat,there’saghostofasmileonhislips.

“thefirstdancewillbewithme,okay?anditwon’t

beonthedancefloor,”hemurmurslasciviouslyintomy

ear.mygigglessubsideasanticipationfanstheflamesof

myneed.oh,yes!myinnergoddessperformsaperfect

triplesalchowinhericeskates.

“ilookforwardtoit.”ileanoverandplantasoft,

chastekissonhismouth.glancingaround,irealizethat

ourfellowguestsatthetableareastonished.ofcourse,

they’veneverseenchristianwithadatebefore.

hesmilesbroadlyatme.andhelooks...happy.

wow.

“comeon,ana,”mianags.takingheroutstretched

hand,ifollowherontothestagewheretenmoreyoung

womenha一veassembled,andinotewithvagueuneasethat

lilyisoneofthem.

“gentlemen,thehighlightoftheevening!”themc

boomsoverthebabbleofvoices.“themomentyou’veall

beenwaitingfor!thesetwelvelovelyladiesha一veall

agreedtoauctiontheirfirstdancetothehighestbidder!”

ohno.iblushfromheadtotoe.ihadn’trealizedwhat

thismeant.howhumiliating!

“it’sforagoodcause,”miahissesatme,sensingmy

discomfort.“besides,christianwillwin.”sherollsher

eyes.“ican’timaginehimlettinganyoneoutbidhim.he

hasn’ttakenhiseyesoffyouallevening.”

yes,focusonthegoodcause,andchristianisbound

towin.let’sfaceit,he’snotshortofadimeortwo.

butitmeansspendingmoremoneyonyou!my

subconscioussnarlsatme.butidon’twanttodancewith

anyoneelse—ican’tdancewithanyoneelse—andit’snot

spendingmoneyonme,he’sdonatingittothecharity.

likethetwenty-fourthousanddollarshe’salready

spent?mysubconsciousnarrowshereyes.

shit.iseemtoha一vegottenawaywithmyimpulsive

bid.whyamiarguingwithmyself?

“now,gentlemen,praygatherround,andtakeagood

lookatwhatcouldbeyoursforthefirstdance.twelve

comelyandcompliantwenches.”

jeez!ifeellikei’minameatmarket.iwatch,

horrified,asatleasttwentymenmaketheirwaytothe

stagearea,christianincluded,movingwitheasygrace

betweenthetablesandpausingtosayafewhellosonthe

way.oncethebiddersareassembled,themcbegins.

“ladiesandgentlemen,inthetraditionofthe

masqueradeweshallmaintainthemysterybehindthe

masksandsticktofirstnamesonly.firstupweha一vethe

lovelyjada.”

jadaisgigglinglikeaschoolgirl,too.maybeiwon’t

besooutofplace.she’sdressedheadtofootinna一vy

taffetawithamatchingmask.twoyoungmenstep

forwardexpectantly.luckyjada.

“jadaspeaksfluentjapanese,isaqualifiedfighter

pilot,andanolympicgymnast...hmm.”themcwinks.

“gentleman,whatamibid?”

jadagapes,astoundedatthemc;obviously,he’s

talkingcompletegarbage.shegrinsshylybackatthetwo

contenders.

“athousandbucks!”onecalls.

veryquicklythebiddingescalatestofivethousand

dollars.

“goingonce...goingtwice...sold!”themc

declaresloudly,“tothegentlemaninthemask!”andof

courseallthemenarewearingmaskssotherearehootsof

laughter,applause,andcheering.jadabeamsather

purchaserandquicklyexitsthestage.

“see?thisisfun!”whispersmia.“ihopechristian

winsyou,though...wedon’twantabrawl,”sheadds.

“brawl?”ianswerhorrified.

“ohyes.hewasveryhot-headedwhenhewas

younger.”sheshudders.

christianbrawling?refined,sophisticated,likes-

tudor-choral-musicchristian?ican’tseeit.themc

distractsmewithhisnextintroduction—ayoungwomanin

red,withlongjet-blackhair.

“gentlemen,mayipresentthewonderfulmariah.

whatarewegoingtodoaboutmariah?she’san

experiencedmatador,playsthecellotoconcertstandard,

andshe’sachampionpole-vaulter...howaboutthat,

gentlemen?whatamibid,please,foradancewiththe

delightfulmariah?”

mariahglaresatthemcandsomeoneyells,very

loudly,“threethousanddollars!”it’samaskedmanwith

blondhairandbeard.

thereisonecounter-bid,butmariahsellsforfour

thousanddollars.

christianiswatchingmelikeahawk.brawler

trevelyan-grey—whowouldha一veknown?

“howlongago?”iaskmia.

sheglancesatme,nonplussed.

“howlongagowaschristianbrawling?”

“earlyteens.drovemyparentscrazy,cominghome

withcutlipsandblackeyes.hewasexpelledfromtwo

schools.heinflictedsomeseriousdamageonhis

opponents.”

igapeather.

“hasn’thetoldyou?”shesighs.“hegotquiteabad

repamongmyfriends.hewasreallypersonanongrata

forafewyears.butitstoppedwhenhewasaboutfifteen

orsixteen.”sheshrugs.

holyfuck.anotherpieceofthejigsawfallsintoplace.

“so,whatamibidforthegorgeousjill?”

“fourthousanddollars,”adeepvoicecallsfromthe

leftside.jillsquealsindelight.

istoppayingattentiontotheauction.sochristianwas

inthatkindoftroubleatschool,fighting.iwonderwhy.i

stareathim.lilyiswatchingusclosely.

“andnow,allowmetointroducethebeautifulana.”