Read Online Home Fires by Gene Wolfe - Free Book Online

laughed, and I had almost forgotten that part.”
    “Tell me.”
    “I went to Simone’s and there was a woman there eating with some man. I didn’t recognize her, but she must have been much younger. Anyway, she recognized me. Her mouth dropped open. Do you know what I mean? And she positively gawked! So I pretended I hadn’t seen her and scooted, but after that I had to laugh. And—and…”
    Vanessa had begun to tremble again. Skip tightened his grip.
    “He stabbed me. Just stabbed me in the back while I was walking down Seventy-second with hundreds of people around us. He did! I know you won’t believe me, but it’s the truth.”
    He gave her his handkerchief.
    “Women were screaming and I was on the sidewalk trying to get up, only I had this thing in my back that hurt and hurt, and nobody would pull it out, and there were police all around and people saying, ‘I didn’t see it. I didn’t see it.’ Over and over.”
    “You’re not making this up?”
    Vanessa had begun unbuttoning her sleeves. “I’m going to take off my blouse. I don’t want you to pull off the bandage, and it’s too dark for you to see the place anyway. But you can feel the bandage—it’s a little bit above my bra strap. Go right ahead and feel it. Be gentle.”
    As well as he could judge, there was pad of gauze somewhat smaller than the palm of his hand, held in place by tape. It was, or might have been, stiff with blood.
    “We’ve a doctor on board—an official doctor, I mean. Dr. Prescott. He changed the bandage for me yesterday, and he says my body will absorb the stitches as the wound heals. Do you want to hear more about Tim? That’s the nice man who got me this job. He’s president of the cruise line now. I told him which ship, and I’d take any job to get on it and be there for Chelle and all that nonsense, and he said could you be a social director, we haven’t got one for the Rani ? The mandate’s five to four, you see, and every little bit helps.”
    Skip nodded.
    “Well, of course I could and I said so, so here I am.”
    When Skip did not speak, Vanessa added, “I could take off my bra so you could feel it better. Wouldn’t you like that?”
    “No. I’ll leave if you do.”
    “All right.” She sat. “Only I’m going to leave my blouse off for now. We’ve got huge fans and vents that catch the wind when there is any, but it’s so dreadfully hot all over the ship.”
    “First I should tell you that Chelle’s angry with me. I’ll answer—”
    “Of course she is. If she hadn’t been, I wouldn’t have stripped.”
    Although Vanessa could not have seen them, Skip’s eyebrows went up. “She told you?”
    “No, indeed. Your face did. When I spoke with her, she was deeply in love with you. Or that’s what she said.”
    “I see.” He took a deep breath. “I was about to say that I’d answer your questions, but you must answer mine first—my questions about the attempt on your life. I’m going to do my best to protect you, and these are things I’ll need to know. Did you see your attacker?”
    “You defend criminals, don’t you? Isn’t that your business?”
    He chuckled, surprising himself. “That’s what people think it is, and they may be half right. I defend persons accused of crime, Vanessa. They’re criminals, of course—but that’s because everyone is. Did you see your attacker? Don’t stall.”
    “No. No, I didn’t. It was somebody behind me, and then I fell down.”
    “Was it a man or a woman?”
    “I don’t know! I just told you so.”
    “You’ve been wearing ten-centimeter heels every time I’ve seen you, so I assume you were wearing them then. In those heels you must be as tall as quite a few men.”
    “Not as tall as you are, Skip. You’ve a good two fingers on me.”
    “Did you see the knife? After they pulled it out, I mean.”
    “No. They never showed it to me. I suppose the police have it. What difference does it make?”
    Skip shrugged. “It’s something we