ch.nakedcamethemanatee-第4节

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　〃I　showed　it　to　Booger；　though；〃　she　cackled。　〃Fried　his　apples；　I'll　tell　you。　See　there；　I　told　'im。　Here　es　the　end　of　the　world；　Booger；　just　like　I　said。〃
　He　hadn't　the　slightest　idea　what　she　was　talking　about；　but　she'd　get　no　argument　from　him。　Not　this　night。　She　was　still　cackling　when　he　went　under　for　good。
　
　3。　BISCAYNE　BLUES…Paul　Levine
　Just　how　much　is　a　whiplash　worth？〃　John　Deal　asked；　twisting　awkwardly　in　his　cervical　collar。
　〃That　depends　on　whether　Dr。　Scheinblum　is　sober　when　he　testifies；〃　his　lawyer；　Jake　Lassiter；　answered。
　Deal　hadn't　been　in　court　since　an　action　film　star　had　sued　him　over　a　broken　pump　motor　in　a　custom…built　Jacuzzi。　Lassiter　had　won　the　case；　cleverly　arguing　that　the　tub　hadn't　been　intended　for　a　dozen　persons；　eleven　of　whom　happened　to　be　strippers　from　Club　Plutonium；　bobbing　for　apples　and　whatnot　in　the　foamy　water。
　Deal　had　nearly　been　late　this　morning。　Though　a　native　of　Miami　who　had　built　houses　in　virtually　every　neighborhood；　he　had　bee　lost　on　a　stretch　of　Eighth　Street…Calle　Ocho…recently　renamed　Olga　Guillot　Way。　A　few　blocks　to　the　west；　the　same　street　was　called　Celia　Cruz　Way；　then　Loring　P。　Evans　Memorial　Boulevard。　He'd　turned　north　on　what　had　been　a　familiar　avenue；　now　renamed　General　Maximo　Gomez　Boulevard；　and　followed　a　Porsche　with　the　personalized　plate　LAWYER。　Like　boasting　about　having　the　clap；　Deal　thought。
　Heading　downtown；　he'd　vaguely　wondered　how　he　could　get　the　street　sign　contract　for　the　city；　something　he　figured　would　keep　him　as　busy　as　a　coffin　maker　in　a　spaghetti　western。　The　construction　business　was　slow；　and　Deal　was　hoping　for　a　decent　settlement　on　his　personal…injury　claim；　at　least　enough　to　lift　the　subcontractors'　liens　on　his　latest　job　and　get　his　backhoe　out　of　hock。
　Once　on　Flagler　Street；　Deal　had　paid　a　shoeless　guy　five　bucks　to　clean　the　windshield　and　watch　over　the　rental　Taurus　in　a　rubble…strewn　spot　under　the　I…95　ramp。　Walking　two　blocks　to　the　courthouse；　he'd　woven　through　a　crowd　of　demonstrators　who　were　protesting　conditions　on　a　Caribbean　island　that　Deal　could　not　place　on　a　map。　On　the　courthouse　steps；　the　Voodoo　Squad；　two　janitors　with　buckets　and　brooms；　were　gathering　up　a　dead　chicken；　a　goat's　head；　and　a　cake　with　frosted　icing；　all　intended　to　cast　various　spells　on　judges　and　juries。　Overhead；　the　turkey　vultures　circled　in　the　updrafts；　while　inside；　their　double…breasted；　dark…suited　cousins　hustled　clients　at　the　elevators。
　Now；　as　the　day　wound　down；　Deal　sat　in　a　fourth…floor　courtroom；　listening　as　his　lawyer　wrapped　up　his　opening　statement。　He　hoped　this　was　a　good　idea。　He'd　let　Jake　talk　him　into　it　only　because　his　debts　were　piling　up　so　high；　but　now；　listening　to　Jake's　best　over…the…top；　never…overestimate…the…intelligence…of…the…jury　histrionics；　he　was　having　his　doubts。　Well；　too　late　now。　He　didn't　know　what　strings　Jake　had　pulled　to　get　the　case　to　court　so　fast；　but　here　they　were。
　〃An　unprotected　hazard！〃　Jake　Lassiter　thundered；　moving　closer　to　the　jury　box　where　he　planted　his　225　pounds　like　an　oak　among　saplings。　〃A　death　trap！　A　terrifying　plunge　into　darkness　and　fear！〃　Lassiter　paused　and　studied　the　jury。　By　Miami　standards；　it　was　a　typical　collection　of　strangers：　a　tattooed　lobster　pot　poacher；　a　nipple　ring　designer　with　a　shaved　head；　a　santero　who　chanted　prayers　to　Babalu　Aye　during　recess；　a　cross…dressing　doorman　from　a　South　Beach　club；　and　two　Kendall　housewives　who　nervously　clutched　their　purses。　〃Thank　heavens　for　John　Deal's　extraordinary　physical　condition；〃　Lassiter　proclaimed　reverently；　〃and　thank　heavens　for　his　fervent　will　to　live。〃
　Not　to　mention　a　manatee　named　Booger；　Deal　thought。　He　hadn't　told　Lassiter　he'd　been　saved　from　drowning　by　a　barnacle…encrusted　sea　mammal；　then　nursed　back　to　health　by　a　102…year…old　woman　who　brewed　medicinal　potions　from　swamp　grass。　And　of　course；　he　hadn't　mentioned　the　box。
　The　box。
　The　best　he　could　figure；　it　must　have　been　attached　by　the　bungee　lines　to　the　manatee　named　Booger。　Somehow　Deal　had　gotten　tangled　in　the　bungee　when　he'd　floated　out　of　the　Hog　into　the　cold；　wet　darkness。　It　had　all　been　too　weird。
　〃The　city　of　Miami　recklessly　maintained　a　hazard　at　its　marina；〃　Lassiter　told　the　jury。　〃The　city　breached　its　duty　of　reasonable　care　in　failing　to　properly　light　the　street　and　failing　to　warn　of　the　sheer　drop…off　to　a　watery　grave。〃
　〃Objection；　Your　Honor！〃　shouted　Russell　B。　Whittaker　III。　The　city's　insurance　lawyer　jumped　to　his　feet　and　tugged　at　his　suspenders。　〃That's　closing　argument；　not　opening　statement。〃
　〃Sustained；〃　Judge　Manuel　Dominguez　announced　gravely；　then　shot　a　look　at　the　wall　clock。　He　hated　to　miss　the　first　game　at　Miami　Jai…alai。　〃Move　it　along；　Mr。　Lassiter。〃　Maria；　the　court　clerk　and　the　judge's　favorite　niece；　held　up　eight　fingers；　alerting　Lassiter　to　his　remaining　time。　The　judge's　secretary；　Ileana　Josefina　Dominguez…Zaldivar；　slipped　into　the　courtroom　from　chambers　and　whispered　something　into　the　judge's　ear；　though　she　probably　didn't　call　him　〃Your　Honor。〃　Ileana　was　his　older　sister；　and　insisted　on　calling　the　judge　Manuelito；　even　in　court。　Lassiter　took　a　slow　turn　to　gather　his　thoughts。　Victor；　the　bailiff；　sat　in　the　back　row　of　the　gallery。　A　handsome　if　vapid　lad；　he　was　the　judge's　son…in…law；　and　he　was　happy　to　be　in　uniform　after　flunking　the　police　academy　entrance　exam　twice　and　the　firefighters'　test　four　times。
　The　courtroom　door　squeaked　open。　Britt　Montero；　the　Miami　News　reporter　with　the　luminous　green　eyes；　peered　in；　didn't　find　anything　worthy　of　a　two…column　headline；　and　left。　Back　when　Lassiter　had　been　in　night　law　school；　having　finally　been　cut　by　the　Dolphins　after　a　few　undistinguished　years　on　special　teams；　he　had　had　a　date　with　Britt；　but　she'd　stood　him　up　for　a　three…alarm　fire。
　He　faced　front。　Time　to　crank　it　up　again。　〃The　evidence　will　show　that　John　Deal　is　a　building　contractor　of　impeccable　reputation　who　has　been　injured　through　no　fault　of　his　own；〃　Lassiter　rumbled　on。　〃You　will　hear　the　testimony　of　Dr。　Irwin　Scheinblum；　a　respected　physician　with　forty　years'　experience　in　two　states。〃
　Deal　smiled　to　himself。　Hadn't　Lassiter　called　Scheinblum　a　senile；　alcoholic　quack　who'd　lost　his　license　in　Rhode　Island…something　about　penile　enlargement　surgery　that　had　resulted　in　a　net　loss…before　hanging　out　his　shingle　on　Coral　Way？　The　courtroom　door　squeaked　open　again；　and　Deal　glanced　in　that　direction。　The　man　who　walked　in　looked　familiar。　Dark　hair；　short　and　muscular；　with　a　mustache；　a　vaguely　Hispanic　look。　Where　had　he　seen　him　before？
　〃Yes；　ladies　and　gentlemen；〃　Lassiter　continued。　〃Dr。　Scheinblum　will　describe　Mr。　Deal's　severe　musculo…skeletal…ligamentous　trauma。〃
　In　other　words；　whiplash。
　This　morning；　Deal　thought。　I　saw　him　this　morning　when　I　did　the　U…ey　on　Eighth　Street；　or　whatever　the　hell　it's　called　now。　He　was　in　the　black　Camaro　right　behind　me。　Deal　turned　again；　stiffly；　his　neck　flaring　with　pain。　He　squinted　and　envisioned　the　man　at　night；　draped　in　a　tangle　of　old　shrimp　netting；　leaning　on　an　oar　on　the　little　street　running　along　the　marina。　The　guy　he'd　almost　flattened　seconds　before　his　beloved　and　battered　Hog　had　plunged　off　the　dock。　What　the　hell　was　he　doing　here？
　Jake　Lassiter　sipped　his　Grolsch　and　tried　not　to　look　toward　the　table　closest　to　the　bay。　〃Him？〃
　〃Yeah；〃　Deal　said。　〃He's　following　me。〃
　The　guy　sat　alone　near　the　end　of　the　wooden　deck　at　Scotty's　Landing　in　the　Grove。　At　a　table　next　to　him；　two　Yuppie　insurance　lawyers　in　white　shirts　and　yellow　ties　were　trying　to　score　with　two　young　women　from　the　all…female　America's　Cup　team。
　A　light　breeze　stirred　from　the　east；　and　a　three…quarter　moon　was　rising　over　Key　Biscayne。　Jake　Lassiter　and　John　Deal　were　drinking　beer；　eating　grilled　dolphin；　and　preparing　the　next　day's　testimony。
　〃No；　no；　no！　Your　neck　isn't　simply　sore；〃　Lassiter　told　him。　〃It　throbs。　It　aches。　The　pain　is　excruciating。　Every　breath　is　torture；　every　movement　torment。　Get　it？〃
　〃Yeah；　my　life　is　a　living　hell；〃　Deal　said　dryly。
　〃That's　good；　John。　Have　you　done　this　before？〃　Deal　shrugged　and　looked　toward　the　table　nearest　the　bay；　where　the　guy's　face　was　hidden　behind　a　copy　of　Diario　las　Americas。
　〃Could　be　an　insurance　investigator；〃　Lassiter　said；　〃making　sure　you're　not　doing　the　lambada　at　Club　Taj。〃
　Deal　crumbled　some　crackers　into　his　conch　chowder。　〃No。　He　was　there　the　night　I　went　off　the　dock。〃
　〃There　was　a　witness？　Why　the　hell　didn't　you　tell　me？〃　He　studied　his　client　a　moment。　〃John；　I　may　not　be　the　best　lawyer　in　town；　but　。。。　〃
　〃Don't　belittle　yourself；　Jake。〃
　〃No；　it's　true。　I'm　one　of　the　few　lawyers　in　the　country　who　wasn't　asked　to　ment　on　the　O。　J。　Simpson　case；　even　though　I'm　probably　the　only　one　to　have　tackled　him。〃
　〃For　a　second…string　linebacker；　you're　not　a　bad　lawyer；　Jake；　but　as　I　recall；　you　usually　missed　tackling　him。〃
　〃Thanks。　But　you　gotta　trust　me　now。　What　else　have　you　left　out？〃
　Now　Deal　told　him　everything。　The　traffic　jam　that　turned　into　bedlam　in　Coconut　Grove；　then　wheeling　th