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why & 
 Why what? Danny said.
 That s why I ve always gotten treatments from Simon! She reached up and unbuttoned the top of her
blouse and pulled it open.  This is what you saw the night of the dance. Yes, I m a bleeder! I ve been
one since I was seventeen years old, and yes, Daddy did take me to Simon Gray when he was practicing
in New York. He operated on me and installed something inside my throat to make it easier for him to
treat me.
 To drink blood, you mean.
 No! I ve never done that! But every six months I went to Simon, and he washed my blood. I m not sure
what he does, exactly. It s always done under anesthetic. And it keeps my bleeding under control. I can
live normally. I forget I even have chronic HF most of the time, except when I m about due for another
wash. That s what the scar s all about, and yes, I am ashamed of it! All the time I think it s only my
money that s saved me, that I have no right to be alive when so many other people have died. That s why
I try to do so much. That s why I created & her. The Archangel doesn t have a past. She s a voice
without memories, or obligations, or sins on her soul! She s what I want to be, what I really wish I was,
and oh, the record s finished. Let me go, please. Let me be her again. Just once more. You can do what
you want after that, but let me at least tell the people what I know!
Danny closed his eyes and leaned against the wall, fighting the dizziness that swept over him.  I have to
get out of here, he said.  Where s your car?
 I don t have one. You know I don t drive.
 How do you get here, then?
 I ve a chauffeur. But there s no way to call him from here.
 Look. My friend Kal never misses your program. Tell him to meet me here.
 I won t give her away!
 You don t have to. Just say to meet the man who interviewed you at the spot where he took pictures of
the moon. He ll understand. Say the message is for Kal Hromatka.
 How do you know he ll hear it?
 Because he s in love with you, too! Danny said softly.
 What? Selena said, wonderingly.  What did you just say?
 Just tell him, Selena!
She nodded and they went back into the studio. Selena lifted the arm from the record player, and slid
into the chair in front of the microphone.
 Pardon me, friends, she began.
Her voice is changing! Danny thought.
 It s not like me to let you alone for so long. It s because  well, I suppose there s no other way
of putting it  your Archangel s had a visitor. A young gentleman, actually.
Selena glanced back at him with a dreamy expression. She didn t look like Sonja anymore. She seemed
to have changed somehow, her form less physical, as if there were a halo surrounding her now.
 I know what you are probably thinking, and I don t blame you. When a lady such as myself
entertains a gentleman in her rooms alone, naturally the eyebrows will go up. And if you could see
this gentleman, I m sure at least the ladies, and some of the men, would find it difficult to believe
what I m about to say, but here s the truth: I ve stayed chastely away from him, despite all
temptation. Romance, alas, is a luxury we can t afford in our present circumstances. We can think
about it, though, and I m afraid this young man has no idea of the kind of thoughts I have had
about him since we first met in a very cold room in the Ice Palace last February. And that,
listeners, I must leave to your imagination as well!
 This young man tells me that Mr. Kal Hromatka is a devoted listener. Kal, if you are listening, hello! Can
you hear me clearly? If so, listen carefully, Kal. My visitor wants to see you right away. Please come,
with a car, to the place where he shot pictures of the moon. Do you understand? He ll be waiting nearby.
Please hurry, Kal, as a special favor to the Archangel.
 In the meantime, while we re waiting, let there be music!
 Selena, Danny whispered, as the record started.
 Shhh, she said, putting her fingers to her lips. And then, softly, gently, and finally, touching them to his
own.
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Chapter
34
At that moment, Dooley Willson
was cutting into a piece of
squirrel roulade in the back room
of Rostek s Restaurant. Theo sat [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]