ch.nakedcamethemanatee-第8节

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shallows　just　off　her　beach。　It　was　there　that　she　had　made　a　habit　of　grooming　Booger；　clearing　him　of　the　flotsam　and　jetsam　that　he　regularly　snagged　in　his　journeys　around　the　bay。
　She　let　her　legs　dangle　down；　caught　the　bottom；　then　trudged　up　to　the　shore；　shedding　water　like　sparkling　confetti。　Booger　bobbed　nearby；　his　skin　silvered　by　the　moon。　Tonight　he　was　even　more　of　a　mess　than　usual。　He　looked　like　a　honeymoon　car　with　strings　of　tin　cans　dragging　behind　him。　Fishing　line　was　wrapped　around　his　fins；　twigs　and　broken　driftwood　trapped　in　the　line。　There　were　two　plastic　six…pack　holders　caught　on　a　notch　near　his　back　flipper；　and　knotted　to　them　was　a　mooring　line　that　trailed　off　behind　him　for　twenty　feet。
　Marion　dragged　the　line　hand　over　hand；　hauling　the　heavy　mass　across　the　soft　bay　bottom。　It　was　a　wonder　that　Booger　had　been　able　to　swim　at　all　so　entangled　in　trash。　She　hauled　it　out　of　the　water　and　held　it　up　to　the　soft　moonlight。　Splintered　wood　and　elastic　cords　and　another　nest　of　snarled　fishing　line　that　ensnared　a　silver　canister。
　Marion　patted　Booger；　told　him　to　wait；　then　walked　up　the　shore　to　her　chikee　hut；　where　she　kept　a　razor…edged　fillet　knife　for　just　such　tasks　as　this。　She　came　back　to　Booger；　cut　him　free　of　his　clutter　of　trash；　gave　him　a　stroke　along　his　broad　slick　forehead；　and　watched　him　turn　and　wrallow　away　into　the　night。
　
　Hector　and　Phil　took　Fay　to　their　hideout。　Actually；　it　was　an　efficiency　apartment　off　Tigertail　Avenue　in　the　Grove。　But　Hector　liked　calling　it　their　hideout　even　though　they　hadn't　had　to　hide　out　in　it　yet；　'cause　they　hadn't　succeeded　in　doing　anything　bad　enough　to　be　pursued。
　Hector　had　found　the　apartment；　liked　the　view　of　the　pool；　and　given　the　manager　first　and　last　month's　rent　on　the　spot。　Then　he'd　found　he　couldn't　afford　it；　and　asked　Phil　if　he　wanted　to　share　the　rent。　Phil；　recently　split　from　his　wife；　had　said　sure。　So　they'd　laid　out　two　pool　floats　on　the　middle　of　the　living　room　floor；　the　red　one　for　Hector；　the　blue　one　for　Phil；　and　called　it　home。　Fine　by　Hector。　Pool　floats　were　better　beds　than　he'd　had　at　the　Dade　County　Jail　or　Raiford。　Better　than　when　he　was　growing　up　in　Havana；　sleeping　on　the　mud　floor　of　the　little　barn。　A　goat　for　a　roommate；　chickens　for　panions。
　This　apartment　was　a　perfect　spot　for　spying　on　the　babes　who　used　the　pool。　Lots　of　them；　secretaries　mainly；　a　couple　he'd　gotten　to　know　lately。　Or　at　least　he'd　said　a　couple　of　words　to　them　and　given　them　a　tongue　flick。　That　tongue　flick　almost　always　worked　on　the　average　woman。　But　no　luck　so　far　with　the　fussy　secretaries。
　〃Hey；　man；〃　Hector　said。　〃I　got　an　idea　what　we　can　do　with　this　pretty　lady　she　doesn't　tell　us　what　she　knows。〃
　Phil　was　sitting　up　on　the　kitchen　counter；　legs　dangling。　They　didn't　have　furniture　yet；　so　counter…sitting　was　about　it　for　taking　a　load　off　your　feet；　except　for　the　floats；　and　you　couldn't　use　them　too　much　or　they'd　spring　more　leaks。
　Phil　was　staring　at　Fay；　a　weird　look　in　his　eyes。　Fay　was　dressed　in　the　yellow　plastic　foul…weather　gear　they'd　found　on　the　Whaler。　Looking　cute。　Pouty　lips；　with　some　bite　in　her　green　eyes。
　Hector　liked　women　with　sharp　teeth；　women　who　liked　to　bite。　He　liked　teeth　marks　on　his　shoulders。　He　liked　giving　them　back；　a　nice　oval　bruise　on　their　inner　thighs。　Yeah。　Hector　had　a　way　with　women。
　Phil　told　Hector　to　stop　looking　at　Fay　that　way。　And　Hector　said　a　very　bad　thing　to　Phil。　Phil　said　a　very　bad　thing　back　to　Hector。　Hector　said　two　very　bad　things。　And　Phil　replied　with　three　very　bad　things。
　〃Knock　it　off；〃　Fay　said。　She　stalked　around；　staring　at　each　of　them。　Hector　smiling　at　her；　trying　to　decide　where　he　wanted　to　plant　his　first　teeth　marks。
　〃Now；〃　Fay　said。　〃Which　of　you　idiots　is　going　to　tell　me　what　this　is　all　about？〃
　〃You　tell　us；　pussy　boots；〃　Hector　said。　〃That's　what　you　here　for。　You　here　to　tell　us　whatever　we　ask　you。〃　Phil　said　a　very　bad　thing。　And　Hector　replied　in　kind。
　〃OK；　dammit；　what's　going　on；　Phil？〃　Fay　said。　〃What　the　hell　are　you　doing　hanging　out　with　this　creep？〃
　Hector　spun　around。　〃Hey；　man。　How　e　she　know　your　name；　Phil？　She　said　your　name；　man。　How　she　know　that？　You　tell　her　your　name；　you　stupid　moron　breath？〃
　Phil　said　a　very　bad　thing。
　Fay　said；　〃I　asked　you　a　question；　Phil。〃
　〃So　did　I；　Phil。　How　she　know　your　name；　man？　You　know　this　broad？〃
　〃She's　my　wife；〃　Phil　said。
　Under　his　breath　Hector　said　a　very　bad　thing。　Then　he　said　three　very　bad　things　out　loud。
　〃Ex…wife；〃　Fay　said。　〃Ex；　Phil；　ex。　And　this　is　why。　This；　right　here；　what's　going　on　this　very　minute；　this　is　exactly　why　you　don't　live　at　home　anymore。　This　is　why　it's　finished。〃
　
　Marion　lugged　the　silver　canister　up　to　her　house。　She　laid　it　on　the　glider　on　her　front　porch　and　went　inside　to　shower　and　dress。　Her　windows　were　all　open　and　the　first　cool　breezes　of　the　new　season　were　sighing　through　them　tonight。　She　dressed　in　long　khaki　pants　and　a　plaid　flannel　shirt。　She　put　on　her　brogans　and　rubbed　some　lavender…scented　face　cream　into　the　grooves　that　lined　her　cheeks。　She　put　a　Band…Aid　on　the　cut　that　Booger　had　given　her。
　She　went　back　down　to　the　porch　and　sat　down　in　a　wicker　rocker　across　from　the　glider。　Something　had　shifted　inside　her。　She　had　felt　it　happen　earlier。　Some　tectonic　realignment　that　was　sending　tremors　up　to　her　flesh。　She　quivered　with　excitement　for　the　first　time　in　decades。
　Quivering　was　dangerous　at　her　age。　But　quiver　she　did。　She　had　something　in　her　possession　that　was　worth　something　to　the　world　at　large。　She　sensed　it。　She　knew　that　the　placid　young　man　she　had　pulled　from　the　bay　and　nursed　with　Sawgrass　Juice　had　found　a　similar　canister　and　was　queerly　excited　by　its　existence。
　She　was　not　sure　what　it　meant。　Canisters　washing　ashore？　Perhaps　hundreds　or　even　thousands　of　silver　containers　drifting　along　the　bottom　of　the　bay。　She　knew　she　was　onto　something。　Something　of　major　proportions。　A　shipwreck　out　in　the　Gulf　Stream；　the　canisters　just　now　working　their　way　to　shore？　Some　high…tech　note　in　a　bottle　thrown　out　from　a　passing　spaceship？　This　was　something　new。　Rejuvenating。　Something　that　might　just　rescue　her　from　the　doldrums　of　old　age。
　She　watched　the　bay　brightening；　saw　the　raspberry　clouds　out　beyond　Stiltsville；　like　streaks　of　jam　across　a　doughy　sky。　She　stiffened　when　she　heard　a　car　door　slam　nearby。　But　then　relaxed；　for　she　had　recognized　it。　She　looked　out　at　the　dawn　and　sighed　to　herself。　She　had　made　it　another　day。　Another　miracle。　And　now　this；　a　second　miracle。　A　new　adventure。
　She　stood　up；　stepped　to　the　edge　of　the　porch。　Her　granddaughter　was　ing　down　the　long　sandy　path。　A　beautiful　young　woman。　Hard　to　believe　she　was　carrying　Marion's　blood　and　marrow；　so　full　of　tough　energy　as　she　came　striding　up　to　the　porch　and　halted。　Her　young　face　was　seamed　with　worry。
　〃I　need　help；　Granny。〃
　〃Not　even　a　hello？〃
　〃I'm　sorry；　I'm　sorry。　It's　just　that　I'm　so　。。。　oh；　I　don't　know　what　I　am　at　the　moment。　Hello；　Granny。〃
　〃Hello；　Fay。　Now　what's　the　matter；　dear？〃
　But　Fay　was　no　longer　holding　Marion's　gaze。　Her　eyes　had　shifted　to　the　glittering　canister　and　her　mouth　was　working　soundlessly；　words　without　breath。
　
　6。　HEADING　TO　HAVANA…Carolina　Hospital
　Another　cigar…smoking　Don　Johnson　look…alike　is　all　I　need　tonight；　thought　Mike　Weston；　as　he　exited　the　1956　Buick　nicknamed　El　Frankenstein　by　the　driver。　He　wondered　how　a　car　could　run　with　so　many　dead　parts　and　why　Cuban　government　officials　were　the　only　ones　who　didn't　know　Miami　Vice　had　been　canceled　ten　years　ago。　It　had　taken　Mike　two　hours　to　get　from　the　Jose　Marti　International　Airport　to　the　house　in　El　Vedado。　This　time；　they　had　insisted　the　meeting　be　on　the　island。　He　was　told　it　would　take　place　in　one　of　Robert　Vesco's　mansions；　abandoned　since　he'd　fled　the　country　for　the　safer　haven　of　Libya。
　Mike　had　lived　in　Miami　for　a　while；　so　he　was　prepared　for　his　Cuba　visit。　Same　difference；　he　said　to　himself；　as　he　approached　the　front　gate。　This　house　and　others　in　the　neighborhood　reminded　him　of　those　in　Coral　Gables；　with　their　red　tile　roofs；　quaint　iron　works；　and　privileged　Cubans。
　Robertico　Robles　walked　in　a　few　minutes　later。　Mike　smiled　and　returned　his　enthusiastic　handshake。　Something　about　Robertico's　slick　attitude　made　Mike　think　this　one　would　not　be　as　easy　to　convince　as　the　others。　He　was　glad　Robertico　was　amenable　to　using　English。　Even　though　Mike　spoke　Spanish　rather　fluently…one　of　the　reasons　he　had　been　chosen　for　the　job…he　always　preferred　to　negotiate　in　English。　He　thought　it　gave　him　the　edge。　They　sat　down　in　what　must　have　been　a　library　in　the　back　of　the　house。　Because　of　the　empty　shelves；　their　voices　echoed　throughout　the　room。
　〃So；　Mike；〃　began　Robertico；　without　wasting　time…something　Mike　found　unusual　in　a　Cuban…〃what　has　happened　to　the　canisters？　The　surgeon　hasn't　received　them。〃
　〃I　know；〃　said　Mike。
　〃We　used　your　people；〃　continued　Robertico；　still　maintaining　an　almost　offhand　tone；　〃and　now　the　goods　are　gone。〃
　〃I　know；　I　know；　let　me　explain；〃　sai