p&c.brimstone-第22节

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　An　even　better　question。　〃Yes；　in　fact；　there　were。　The　bedposts；　which　were　varnished　pine；　showed　signs　of　heat　stress；　as　did　the　wall　behind　the　bed；　which　was　painted　pine。　In　some　areas；　the　paint　had　softened　and　bubbled。〃　
　He　moused　his　way　through　the　on…screen　menu　and　pulled　up　another　image。　〃Here's　a　cross　section　of　the　wall；　showing　four　layers　of　paint。　Now　here's　yet　another　small　mystery：　only　thelowest　layer　of　paint　seems　to　have　heated　up　and　bubbled。　The　others　were　undisturbed　and　remained　chemically　unaltered。〃　
　〃Did　you　analyze　all　four　layers　of　paint？〃　Pendergast　asked。　
　Dienphong　nodded。　
　〃Was　the　bottom　layer　a　lead…based　paint？〃　
　Dienphong　felt　a　sudden　surprise。　He　quickly　saw　where　the　line　of　questioning　would　lead；　and　it　was　something　that　he　had　not　thought　of。　〃Let　me　check　the　book。〃　He　flipped　through　the　lab　reports；　organized　and　categorized　in　a　three…ring　binder　labeledBrimstone　。　All　FBI　investigations　get　a　nickname；　and　this　was　the　one　he　had　given　this　case。　Melodramatic；　perhaps；　but　appropriate。　
　He　looked　up　from　the　binder。　〃Yes；　as　a　matter　of　fact　it　was　lead…based。〃　
　〃And　the　rest　were　not？〃　
　〃That's　correct。〃　
　〃Further　proof　that　we　are　dealing　with　some　kind　of　radiation。〃　
　〃Very　good；　Agent　Pendergast。〃　It　was　the　first　time　in　his　career　that　an　FBI　agent　had　beaten　him　to　a　conclusion。　This　Pendergast　was　living　up　to　his　reputation。　Dienphong　cleared　his　throat。　〃Any　other　questions　or　ments？〃　
　Carlton　sat　down　again；　raised　a　weary　hand。　
　〃Yes？〃　
　〃I'm　missing　something。　How　could　something　affect　thebottom　layer　of　paint　and　not　the　upper　ones？〃　
　Pendergast　turned。　〃It　was　thelead　in　the　paint　that　reacted；　like　the　metal　in　the　cross。　It　absorbed　the　radiation　more　strongly。　Was　there　any　radioactivity　present　at　the　site；　Doctor；　during　follow…up　investigation？〃　
　〃None　whatsoever。〃　
　Carlton　nodded。　〃Check　into　that；　Sam；　will　you？〃　
　〃Of　course；　sir；〃　one　of　the　junior　agents　replied。　
　Dienphong　went　to　the　next　image。　〃Here's　the　final　image：　a　close…up　of　a　section　of　the　cross。　Note　the　very　localized　melting；　pletely　inconsistent　with　a　convective　source　of　heat。　Again　an　indication　that　radiation　played　a　role。〃　
　〃What　type　of　radiation　would　selectively　heat　metal　more　than　flesh？〃　Pendergast　asked。　
　〃X…rays；　gamma　rays；　microwave；　far　infrared；　certain　wavelengths　in　the　radio　spectrum；　not　to　mention　alpha　radiation　and　a　flux　of　fast　neutrons。　This　is　not　very　unusual。　What　is　unusual　is　theintensity　。〃　
　Dienphong　waited　for　the　inevitable　expostulation　from　Carlton；　but　this　time　the　agent　in　charge　said　nothing。　
　〃The　pitting　on　the　cross；〃　Pendergast　said；　〃might　suggest　to　you　something？〃　
　〃Not　so　far。〃　
　〃Speculations？〃　
　〃I　never　speculate；　Mr。　Pendergast。〃　
　〃An　intense　electron　beam　could　cause　it；　don't　you　think？〃　
　〃Yes；　but　an　electron　beam　would　have　to　propagate　through　a　vacuum。　Air　would　disperse　it　in；　say；　a　millimeter　or　two。　As　I　said；　it　might　have　been　in　the　infrared；　microwave；　or　X…ray　spectrum；　except　that　it　would　take　a　transmitter　of　several　tons　to　generate　a　beam　that　intense。〃　
　〃Quite　so。　What　do　you　think；　Doctor；　of　the　theory　being　pushed　by　theNew　York　Post　？〃　
　Dienphong　paused　briefly　at　this　sudden　change　of　tack。　〃I　am　not　in　the　habit　of　taking　my　theories　from　the　pages　of　thePost　。〃　
　〃They've　published　speculation　that　the　devil　took　his　soul。〃　
　There　was　a　brief　silence；　and　then　there　was　a　smattering　of　nervous　chuckles。　Pendergast　was　evidently　making　a　joke。　Or　was　he？　He　didn't　seem　to　be　laughing。　
　〃Mr。　Pendergast；　that's　a　theory　I　don't　subscribe　to。〃　
　〃No？〃　
　Dienphong　smiled。　〃I　am　a　Buddhist。　The　only　devil　we　believe　in　is　the　one　inside　the　human　heart。〃　
　　　
　18　
　
　Not　much　scanning　of　the　crowd　streaming　into　the　Metropolitan　Opera　Housewas　needed　to　locate　Count　Isidor　Fosco：　his　huge　presence；　striking　a　dramatic　pose　beside　the　Lincoln　Center　fountain；　was　unmistakable。　Pendergast　drifted　toward　him　with　the　crowd。　All　around；　men　in　tuxedos　and　women　in　pearl　necklaces　were　babbling　excitedly。　It　was　opening　night　at　the　Metropolitan　Opera；　and　the　program　was　Donizetti'sLucrezia　Borgia。　The　count　was　wearing　white　tie　and　tails；　beautifully　tailored　to　his　enormously　fat　figure。　The　cut　was　old…fashioned；　and　in　place　of　the　usual　white　waistcoat；　Fosco　was　sporting　one　in　gorgeous　Hong　Kong　silk　brocaded　in　white　and　dove　gray。　A　gardenia　was　stuck　in　his　buttonhole；　his　handsome　face　was　patted　and　shaved　and　powdered　to　pink　perfection；　and　his　thick　mane　of　gray　hair　was　brushed　back　into　leonine　curls。　His　small；　plump　hands　were　perfectly　fitted　in　gray　kid　gloves。　
　〃My　dear　Pendergast；　I　washoping　you'd　e　in　white　tie！〃　Fosco　said；　rejoicing。　〃I　cannot　understand　why　people　dress　down　so　barbarously　on　a　night　such　as　this。〃　He　waved　a　dismissive　hand　at　the　tuxedoed　patrons　streaming　past　them　into　the　hall。　〃There　are　only　three　occasions　left　to　truly　dress　up　in　these　dark　days：　at　one's　nuptials；　at　one's　funeral；　and　at　opening　night　at　the　opera。　By　far　the　happiest　of　these　three　is　the　last。〃　
　〃That　depends　on　your　point　of　view；〃　said　Pendergast　dryly。　
　〃You　are　happily　married；　then？〃　
　〃I　was　referring　to　the　other　occasion。〃　
　〃Ah！〃　Fosco　laughed　silently。　〃You　are　right；　Pendergast。　I've　never　seen　a　more　contented　smile　on　some　people　than　at　their　own　wake。〃　
　〃I　was　referring　to　the　deceased's　heirs。〃　
　〃You　wicked　fellow。　Shall　we　go　inside？　I　hope　you　don't　mind　sitting　in　the　pit…I　avoid　the　boxes　because　the　acoustics　are　muddy。　We　have　tickets　for　row　N；　center　right；　which　I　have　found　from　experimentation　to　be　the　acoustical　sweet　spot　in　this　hall；　particularly　seats　twenty…three　through　thirty…one。　But　look；　there　go　the　houselights：　we　had　better　sit　down。〃　And　with　his　giant　head　held　erect；　chin　raised；　Fosco　moved　swiftly　through　the　milling　crowd；　which　parted　instinctively。　For　his　part；　Fosco　looked　neither　to　the　right　nor　to　the　left　as　they　moved　through　the　central　doors；　brushing　past　several　ushers　offering　programs　and　sweeping　down　the　central　aisle　to　row　N。　Fosco　waited　at　the　end　of　the　row；　gesturing　a　dozen　people　out　of　their　seats　and　into　the　far　aisle　so　he　could　make　his　way　undisturbed。　The　count　had　purchased　three　seats　for　himself；　and　he　seated　himself　in　the　center　one；　stretching　his　arms　on　the　upturned　seats　on　either　side。　
　〃Forgive　me　if　we　don't　sit　jowl…to…jowl；　my　dear　Pendergast。　My　corpulence　demands　its　space　and　will　not　be　reined　in。〃　He　slipped　a　small　pair　of　bejeweled；　pearl…inlaid　opera　glasses　out　of　his　waistcoat　and　placed　them　on　the　empty　seat　next　to　him。　A　more　powerful　brass　spyglass　also　made　an　appearance　and　was　arranged　on　the　other　seat。　
　The　great　house　was　filling　up；　and　there　was　an　air　of　excitement。　From　the　orchestra　pit　came　the　murmur　of　instruments　tuning；　playing　snatches　of　the　opera　to　e。　
　Fosco　leaned　toward　Pendergast；　placing　a　neat　gloved　hand　on　his　arm。　〃No　one　who　loves　music　can　fail　to　be　moved　byLucrezia　Borgia　。　But　wait…what　is　this？〃　He　peered　more　closely　at　Pendergast。　〃You　are　not　wearing　earplugs；　are　you；　sir？〃　
　〃Not　plugs；　no。　These　merely　attenuate　the　sound…my　hearing　is　exceptionally　acute；　and　any　volume　above　a　normal　conversation　is　quite　painful　to　me。　Fear　not；　the　music　will　get　through　all　too　well；　I　assure　you。〃　
　〃All　too　well；　you　say！〃　
　〃Count　Fosco；　I　thank　you　for　this　invitation。　But　as　I　warned　you　once；　I　have　yet　to　meet　an　opera　I　liked。　Pure　music　and　vulgar　spectacle　are　fundamentally　inpatible。　Beethoven's　string　quartets　are　by　far　my　preference…and　even　those；　to　be　honest；　I　enjoy　for　their　intellectual　content　more　than　their　musical。〃　
　Fosco　winced。　〃What；　may　I　ask；　is　wrong　with　spectacle？〃　He　spread　his　hands。　〃Isn't　life　itself　a　spectacle？〃　
　〃All　the　color；　noise；　flash；　the　embonpoint　diva　prowling　the　stage；　shrieking　and　howling　and　throwing　herself　from　the　ramparts　of　some　castle…it　distracts　the　mind　from　the　music。〃　
　〃But　that　is　exactly　what　opera　is！　A　feast　of　sightand　sound。　There　is　humor！　There　is　tragedy！　There　are　soaring　heights　of　passion　and　depths　of　cruelty！　There　is　love　and　betrayal！〃　
　〃You　are　making　my　points　even　better　than　I　could；　Count。〃　
　〃Your　mistake；　Pendergast；　is　to　think　of　opera　as　solelymusic　。　It　is　more　than　music。　It　islife　！　You　must　abandon　yourself　to　it；　throw　yourself　at　its　mercy。〃　
　Pendergast　smiled。　〃I　am　afraid；　Count；　I　never　abandon　myself　to　anything。〃　
　Fosco　patted　his　arm。　〃You　may　have　a　French　name；　but　you　have　an　English　heart。　The　English　can　never　step　outside　themselves。　Wherever　they　go　they　feel　self…conscious。　That　is　why　the　English　make　excellent　anthropologists　but　dreadful　posers。〃　Fosco　snorted。　〃Purcell。Britten。　〃　
　〃You're　forgetting　Handel。〃　
　〃A　transplanted　German。〃　Fosco　chuckled。　〃I　am　glad　to　have　you　here；　Pendergast；　and　Ishall　show　you　the　error　of　your　ways。〃　
　〃Speaking　of　that；　how　did　you　know　where　to　deliver　the　invitation？〃　
　The　count　turned　a　triumphant　smile　on　Pendergast。　〃It　was　quite　simp