The Flesh of The Orchid by James Hadley Chase Read Free Book Online Page A

take advantage of it, and he kept a tight reign on his feelings for her, refusing to believe that this love was anything more than an odd mental twist that would pass when her memory returned.
    On the other hand, Roy was quick to realize that she might be easy prey, and she was seldom out of his mind. Although she paid him no attention, her mind being continually focussed on Steve, he was confident that, given the right opportunity, he would make her yield to him.
    One morning, as he was lounging by the lake, he saw her coming down the path through the pine trees. Steve was busy in the cabin and out of sight, and seizing this opportunity of having her to himself, Roy stepped squarely in her path.
    “Hello,” he said, eying her over. She looked radiant in the pale sunshine and her beauty quickened his blood. “Where have you been?”
    “To feed the foxes,” she said, her voice flat and casual. “I want to find Steve,” she went on; added, “You’re in my way.”
    “But I want to talk to you,” Roy said, moving closer. “It’s time you and me got to know each other.”
    “I want to find Steve,” she repeated; tried to step round him, but he prevented her.
    “Never mind Steve. Come on, be nice. I like you, kid. I could go for you in a big way.” He caught hold of her, pulled her to him. She stood against him, unresisting, uninterested, her eyes still looking towards the cabin. His hands went round her back and he held her close, feeling her soft hair against” his face. It was like holding a tailor’s dummy, but Roy was scarcely aware of her apathy. He had been without a woman for three weeks, and to Roy that was three weeks too long. He didn’t care how apathetic a woman was so long as he could have his hands on her body and she didn’t resist him.
    “Please let me go,” Carol said seriously. “I want to find Steve.”
    “He won’t run away,” Roy said thickly, swung her round, bending her back. He looked into her blank serene eyes, then crushed his mouth down on hers. Her lips were hard and tight under his, but her hands hung limply at her sides. She neither resisted nor complied.
    Blood hammered inside his head as his hands slid over her. and he bent her further back, holding her close to him.
    Then suddenly he was dragged round, and releasing Carol with an oath he caught a glimpse of Steve’s infuriated face. Before he had a chance to reach for his gun Steve’s fist crashed to his jaw and he fell heavily and lay on the pine needles, stunned.
    “Do that again and I’ll break your neck,” Steve said evenly; put his arm round Carol, drew her away. “Come on,” he said to her. “Let’s get back to the cabin.”
    “Why did you hit him?” Carol asked, walking contentedly by Steve’s side. “I didn’t mind.”
    “I didn’t want him to frighten you,” Steve returned, giving her a quick, puzzled glance.
    “I wasn’t frightened. But I don’t like him,” Carol said. “If you don’t want him to do that to me again I won’t let him. I didn’t know if that’s what you wanted.”
    “No,” Steve said, bewildered by this reasoning. “I don’t want him to do that again.”
    Roy watched them go, then he got slowly to his feet. He was so elated that Carol hadn’t resisted him that he almost forgot that Steve had knocked him down. He had kissed her! It had been like taking candy from a kid. If Steve hadn’t shoved his oar in . . . why, she was a push-over!
    That night, when Roy was in bed, Steve came into the bedroom after locking up. Roy had kept out of the way all day, but now, face to face once more with Steve, he decided to take the initiative before his brother slanged him.
    “You watch your fists, you big hick,” he said, scowling. “The next time you start something like that you’ll pick lead out of your belly.”
    “Then keep your hands off the girl,” Steve said, sitting on the edge of his bed. “Can’t you see she’s not normal? That bang on the head’s done something