1940 - 12 Chinks and A Woman by James Hadley Chase

Author:James Hadley Chase [Chase, James Hadley]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

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The bright sunlight came through the slatted shutters and lay like prison bars across Fenner's bed.

He stirred restlessly as the clock downstairs faintly chimed ten. At the eighth chime he opened his eyes and grunted. His body still felt tired, and his head ached a little. He was dimly conscious of the sunlight, and he closed his eyes again. Then, as his mind struggled out of sleep, he was aware of a weight at the foot of his bed and scent on the air. As he groaned, Glorie giggled. He looked at her through half-closed eyes, and his half awakened senses said she looked very nice. She was curled up, with her back resting on the end of the bedstead, her long legs up to her chin, and her fingers laced round her knees. She rested her chin in the little hollow between her knees and regarded Fenner with bright eyes.

“When you're asleep, you look kind and beautiful,” she said. “Isn't that wonderful?”

Fenner struggled up in bed. He ran his fingers through his hair. He felt terrible.

“Would you mind goin' away?” he said patiently. “When I want to see you, I'll tell you. I dislike women in my bedroom on principle. I'm old-fashioned and I'm easily shocked.”

Glorie giggled. “You're cute,” she said simply.

Fenner groaned. Now he was sitting up, his head ached sharply. “Run away,” he said. “Beat it! Scram!”

Glorie threw her arms wide. Her incredibly blue eyes sparkled. “Look at me,” she said. “I'm defenseless. You could do what you liked with me.”

Fenner said unpleasantly, “Will you run away?”

Glorie slid off the bed. She looked pretty funny in Fenner's pajamas. They hung on her like a sack.

Fenner said rashly, “Anyway, you look like something the cat dragged in. Why not go away and get dressed, then maybe we'll have breakfast and another talk.

Glorie clapped her hands. “Of course,” she said, and unbuttoned the coat. She took it off and threw it across the room.

Fenner said, “Hi! Stop it!” Her body had the splendor of clean-cut marble, and the luster of a pearl.

Fenner said, “Very, very nice. Some other time, perhaps. Right now, I want some coffee, very black and strong. The early mornin' ain't the time.”

Glorie giggled and began dancing round the room. Fenner thought she was the most beautiful bit of corruption he'd ever seen.

She laughed at him. “Like me?” she said.

Fenner sat up, leaning on his elbow. He said, “Put your nice pajamas on and go away. We can't go on with this.”

Doubt had come into her eyes, like the slow movement of a cloud across the face of the moon. Her eyes began to lose their luster. She came over to the bed and sat very close to him. She said hoarsely, “What's the matter with me? Am I so horrible that you can't?”

Fenner shook his head. “You're not horrible,” he said. “But that sort of thing means more to me than it does to you. Now, will you get dressed?”

Her eyes went dull and she stood up.

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