p&c.brimstone-第76节

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　Grable　swallowed；　hiked　up　his　belt。　〃Captain；　unlike　some　in　the　force；　I　didn't　waste　my　time　in　the　classroom　piling　up　degrees。　I　came　up　through　the　rank　and　file。　I　know　what　I'm　doing。〃　
　There　was　a　long　moment　while　Grable　looked　down　on　the　slumbering　tent　city。　Hayward　glanced　at　her　watch。　The　light　was　ing　up　moment　by　moment；　and　the　sun　would　rise　within　minutes。　Why　the　hell　was　Grable　waiting？　
　〃We're　running　a　little　late；　if　you　don't　mind　me　saying　so；〃　she　said。　
　〃I　don't　operate　on　a　timetable；　Captain。〃　
　Hayward　tried　to　suppress　her　misgivings。　This　was　Grable's　operation…Rocker　had　made　that　clear…and　she　was　to　follow　his　lead。　Going　in　with　a　bad　attitude　wasn't　going　to　do　any　good。　And　the　plan　might　work。　Hell；　itwould　work　if　they　could　just　get　in　and　out　fast　enough；　drag　Buck　to　the　waiting　squad　car　before　he'd　even　managed　to　wake　up。It　could　work　；　she　told　herself；as　long　as　Grable　moves　fast。　If　you're　going　to　arrest　someone；　you　do　it。　You　don't　give　them　time　to　think　about　it　first。　She　glanced　at　Grable　again；　wondering　why　he　was　taking　so　long。　
　〃Right；〃　said　Grable；　noticing　the　glance。　〃Let's　go。〃　
　They　cut　west　through　the　low　trees　and　brushy　undergrowth；　circling　the　flank　of　the　tent　city；　sticking　close　to　one　side　of　a　shallow　defile。　Soon　they　reached　what　looked　like　a　herd　path　leading　directly　into　the　makeshift　munity。　They　were　downwind　now；　and　the　odor　of　raw　sewage　and　unwashed　humanity　hit　Hayward　hard。　
　Grable　quickened　his　pace　as　they　approached　the　fringes。　A　few　people　were　already　up；　some　cooking　on　little　backpacking　stoves；　others　wandering　around。　
　Grable　hesitated　just　inside　the　ragged　outer　ring　of　tents。　Then　he　nodded　brusquely　to　Hayward　and　they　started　forward　again。　Hayward　nodded　in　a　friendly　way　to　those　who　were　up　and　watching　them　pass。　The　ground　flattened　and　the　tents　huddled　closer　together；　forming　narrow　lanes　and　alleys。　In　a　few　minutes　they　had　arrived　at　the　center　clearing　around　Buck's　tent。　
　So　far；　so　good；thought　Hayward。　
　The　front　flap　was　tied　on　two　side　posts。　Grable　stopped　before　the　entrance　and　called　in　a　loud　voice：　〃Buck？　This　is　Captain　Grable　of　the　NYPD。〃　
　〃Hey！〃　A　tall；　clean…cut　fellow　appeared　out　of　nowhere。　〃What　are　you　doing？〃　
　〃None　of　your　business；〃　said　Grable　brusquely。　
　Shit；thought　Hayward。Not　like　that。　
　〃There's　no　problem；〃　she　said。　〃We're　just　here　to　talk　to　the　reverend。〃　
　〃Yeah？　What　about？〃　
　〃Back　off；　pal；〃　said　Grable。　
　〃What　is　it？〃　came　a　muffled　voice　from　inside　the　tent。　〃Who's　there？〃　
　〃Captain　Grable；　NYPD。〃　Grable　began　untying　the　knotted　drawstring　that　held　the　flap　shut　against　one　of　the　side　poles。　He　had　it　almost　undone　when　a　hand　reached　from　inside；　closed　over　his；　and　removed　it。　The　flap　lifted　and　then　Buck　stood　there；　straight　and　stern。　〃This　is　my　home；〃　he　said　coldly　and　with　dignity。　〃Do　not　violate　it。〃　
　Cuff　him；　Hayward　thought。Cuff　the　son　of　a　bitch　and　get　the　hell　out。　
　〃We're　New　York　City　police　officers；　and　this　is　public　land。　This　isn't　some　private　dwelling。〃　
　〃Sir；　I　ask　you　once　again　to　stand　back　from　my　home。〃　
　Hayward　was　astonished　by　the　man's　presence。　She　turned　to　see　how　Grable　was　going　to　handle　it。　She　was　shocked　to　see　his　face　paling　beneath　the　sheen　of　sweat。　
　〃Wayne　Buck；　you　are　under　arrest。〃　Grable　tried　to　unclip　his　handcuffs；　but　his　hands　were　shaking　slightly　and　it　took　longer　than　it　should　have。　
　Hayward　couldn't　believe　it。　Grable　was　out　of　his　depth。　That　was　the　only　answer。　He'd　ridden　a　desk　so　long　he'd　lost　his　street　smarts…if　he　ever　had　them…and　he'd　forgotten　how　to　deal　with　a　fluid　situation　like　this。　That　explained　his　hesitation　back　at　the　arsenal；　his　sweating；　everything。　He'd　wanted　the　missioner　to　send　in　a　large　party　to　deal　with　Buck；　but　when　Rocker　had　given　the　job　directly　to　him；　he　couldn't　refuse。　Now；　with　no　SWAT　team　to　back　him　up；　confronted　by　the　implacable　Buck；　he　was　losing　his　nerve。　
　Buck　stared；　making　no　move　to　cooperate；　but　not　doing　anything　to　resist；　either。　
　The　clean…cut　man；　who　seemed　to　be　Buck's　bodyguard　or　aide…de…camp；　turned；　cupped　his　hands；　and　cried　out　in　a　tremendous　voice；〃Arise！　Arise！　The　cops　are　here　to　arrest　the　reverend！〃　
　There　was　a　stirring；　a　sudden　murmur　of　voices。　
　〃Turn　around　and　place　your　hands　behind　your　back；　sir；〃　said　Grable；　but　his　voice　was　trembling。　
　Still　Buck　made　no　move。　
　〃Arise！〃　
　〃Captain；〃　said　Hayward；　her　voice　low；　〃he's　resisting　arrest。Cuff　him　。〃　
　But　Grable　made　no　move。　
　In　an　instant；　Hayward　sized　up　the　situation　and　realized　their　window　of　opportunity　had　already　closed。　Looking　around；　she　recalled　the　time　when…as　a　kid　on　a　dare…she'd　poked　a　stick　into　a　hornet's　nest。　There　was　a　moment；　just　a　moment；　of　suspension　。　。　。　then　a　muffled　hum　just　before　the　hornets　came　boiling　out；　madder　than　hell。　That's　what　the　tent　city　felt　like。　People　were　up　but　not　yet　out　of　their　tents；　a　dull　hum　of　activity　that　was　about　to　explode。　
　〃Defend　the　reverend！　The　police　are　here　to　arrest　him！　Arise！〃　
　Now　came　the　boiling。　Suddenly；　hundreds　of　people　were　up　and　out　of　their　tents；　pulling　on　shirts；　moving　toward　them。　
　Hayward　leaned　in　toward　Grable。　〃Captain？　We　got　trouble。　Just　be　cool。〃　
　Grable's　mouth　sagged　but　no　sound　came　out。　
　The　crowd　was　pressing　in；　a　wall　of　people　quickly　forming　at　the　front；　others　streaming　in　from　every　direction；　ringing　the　tent；　a　babble　of　angry　voices。　
　Shit。She　turned　to　face　the　crowd。　〃Look；　friends；　we're　not　here　to　cause　trouble。〃　
　〃Liar！〃　
　The　cry　went　up。　〃Blasphemers！〃　
　They　pressed　in。　Buck　said　nothing；　did　nothing；　he　just　stood　there；　the　picture　of　dignity。　
　〃Look；〃　said　Hayward；　holding　out　her　hands；　keeping　her　voice　calm；　〃there's　just　the　two　of　us。　Nothing　to　get　excited　about。〃　
　〃Godless　soldiers　of　Rome！〃　
　〃Keep　your　filthy　hands　off　the　reverend！〃　
　This　was　even　uglier　than　she　thought。　Grable　was　backing　up　instinctively；　eyes　roaming　for　an　escape　route　that　did　not　exist。　
　The　crowd　surged　forward；　growing　angrier。　
　〃Touch　either　one　of　us　and　it's　assault；〃　Hayward　said；　loudly　but　calmly。　
　This　paused　the　front　of　the　crowd；　but　with　others　behind　pressing　forward；　it　was　only　a　matter　of　time　before　they　were　overwhelmed。　
　Grable　dropped　the　handcuffs　and　went　for　his　gun。　
　〃Grable；no　！〃　Hayward　yelled。　
　Immediately；　a　roar　went　up。〃He's　going　to　shoot！　Murderer！　Judas！〃　The　front　wall　surged　forward。　
　Whang！went　the　gun　into　the　air；　the　reaction　to　the　sudden　sound　rippling　through　the　crowd。　And　in　that　instant；　Buck；　standing　only　a　few　feet　behind　Grable；　knocked　the　gun　from　his　hand　with　one　swift；　sure　motion。　
　Thank　God；thought　Hayward；　keeping　her　hands　in　sight　and　well　away　from　her　own　piece。　Something　had　to　be　done　right　away；　or　they　were　toast。　She　turned　and　spoke　to　Buck。　〃You　better　do　something；　Reverend。　It's　all　in　your　hands。〃　
　Buck　stepped　forward；　raising　his　hands。　There　was　silence　from　the　crowd；　an　instant　stillness。　
　He　let　a　moment　pass；　and　then　slowly　lowered　his　arm　and　aimed　a　steady　finger　at　Grable。　〃This　man　came　here　under　the　cloak　of　the　Prince　of　Darkness　to　arrest　me。　But　God　has　exposed　his　deceit。〃　
　Grable　appeared　speechless。　
　〃These　centurions；　these　soldiers　of　Rome；　entered　our　encampment　like　skulking　snakes；　on　the　devil's　own　errand。　And　they　have　been　defeated　by　their　own　shame　and　cowardice。〃　
　〃Shame；　cowards！〃　
　Hayward　took　advantage　of　a　lull　to　speak　quietly　to　Buck。　〃We'd　like　to　go　now。〃　
　Another　roar　erupted　from　the　crowd。〃Shame！〃　
　A　stick　flew　out　of　the　crowd；　landing　in　the　dust　by　their　feet。　She　could　see　others　being　brandished　above　the　crowd。　People　on　the　fringes　had　begun　to　hunt　among　the　shrubbery　for　rocks。　
　Hayward　leaned　forward；　speaking　again　in　a　low　voice　she　hoped　only　Buck　could　hear。　〃Reverend　Buck？　What's　going　to　happen　to　you　and　your　followers　if　we　get　injured？　Or　taken　hostage？　How　do　you　think　the　NYPD　will　react　to　that？〃　She　smiled　coldly。　〃It'll　make　Waco　look　like　a　Sunday　barbecue。〃　
　There　was　a　moment　of　silence。　Then；　not　even　acknowledging　he'd　heard；　Buck　raised　his　hands　again　and　bowed　his　head。　Once　more　a　silence　immediately　fell。　
　〃My　people；〃　he　said。　〃My　people。　We　are　Christians。　They　may　e　with　malice；　but　we　must　show　them　passion　and　forgiveness。〃　He　turned　to　his　aide…de…camp。　〃Open　a　way　for　the　unclean　ones；　Todd。　Let　them　go　in　peace。〃　
　Slowly；　the　sticks　were　lowered。　A　lane　appeared　amidst　the　shuffling　throng。　Hayward　bent　forward；　face　burning；　picked　up　Grable's　gun；　tucked　it　into　her　belt。　She　turned　away　only　to　realize　Grable　wasn't　following。　He　was　still　rooted　in　place。　
　〃You　ing；Captain　？〃　
　He　started；　looked　around；　then　walked　past　without　looking　at　her。　After　a　moment；　he　broke　into　a　trot。　A　great　cheer　rose　up　from　the　crowd。　Hayward　followed　at　a　dignified　walk；　eyes　straight　ahead；　struggling　not　to　betray　in　any　way…through　expression；　posture；　voice…that　she　was　enduring　the　worst　humiliation　of