ch.nakedcamethemanatee-第9节

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　〃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；〃　said　Mike。
　〃Fidel　is　getting　anxious。　I'm　not　sure　how　much　longer　he'll　wait　before　calling　off　the　deal；〃　Robertico　said；　his　voice　rising　for　the　first　time。
　〃We　had　an　unexpected　accident　along　the　way；　with　a　manatee…〃
　〃A　what？〃　interrupted　Robertico。
　〃A　manatee；　you　know；　a　sea　cow；〃　said　Mike。　〃Anyway；　we　have　it　under　control。　We　know　where　the　canisters　are。　We　just　need　a　little　more　time　to　recover　them　without　anyone　else　finding　out。〃
　〃I　don't　know　anything　about　sea　cows；　or　land　cows；〃　said　Robertico。　〃All　I　know　is　a　deal　is　a　deal　and　this　is　the　second　time　you　guys　have　messed　up。〃
　〃Yes；〃　agreed　Mike。
　Robertico　was　getting　agitated；　fidgeting　with　a　button　on　his　white　double…breasted　jacket。　Mike　couldn't　help　but　notice　the　canary…yellow　T…shirt　underneath。
　〃When　we　met　last　month　with　El　Maniz；　he　assured　us　this　would　be　an　easy　operation；〃　said　Robertico。
　It　took　Mike　a　few　seconds　to　realize　who　Robertico　meant　by　the　Peanut　Man：　the　former　president　who　doesn't　quit。　The　one　who　keeps　on　going　and　going　。。。　
　Robertico　continued；　his　face　flushing　red。　〃Without　the　head；　there　is　no　proof　that　he　is　dead。　And　without　proof；　the　deal　is　off。　Fidel　will　stay　put。　As　long　as　his　enemies　know　he　lives；　power　is　his　only　protection。〃
　〃Yes；　I　know；〃　Mike　interrupted。　He　felt　the　sweat　flowing　from　his　armpits。　〃But　this　is　only　a　small　detour。　Most　of　the　work　is　done。〃
　〃Of　course；〃　said　Robertico；　〃especially　since　we　supplied　you　with　the　head　to　begin　with。〃
　〃You　didn't　expect　us　to　do　that？〃　Mike　said；　seeing　an　opportunity　to　regain　the　momentum。　〃After　all；　we　just　don't　do　that　sort　of　thing　in　the　States。　Now　you；　on　the　other　hand　。。。　〃
　〃Sure；　sure；〃　said　Robertico；　waving　his　hand　dismissively。　〃But　let's　stick　to　the　point。〃
　〃Well；　we　never　anticipated　Castro　would　reject　the　head　after　we　altered　it。〃
　〃Of　course　he　rejected　it。　There　was　something　missing；〃　said　Robertico；　lifting　his　cigar　high　in　the　air。
　〃Yes；〃　said　Mike。　〃But　it　was　such　a　small　detail。　We　didn't　think　it　was　important。〃
　〃Not　important！　Anyone　close　to　him　would　have　noticed；〃　said　Robertico。　〃The　head　has　to　be　perfect。〃
　〃It　will　be　perfect；〃　said　Mike；　nodding。
　〃But　now　you　have　lost　it。〃
　〃We'll　get　it　back；　I　assure　you。　Give　us　another　week；〃　insisted　Mike。
　〃Forty…eight　hours。　That's　all　he'll　agree　to。　If　Fidel　doesn't　have　the　head　fixed　and　in　his　hands　in　forty…eight　hours；　the　deal　is　off！〃　With　that　Robertico　took　a　deep　puff　from　his　cigar；　as　if　in　slow　motion；　and　walked　out。
　This　was　one　tough　bird；　Mike　mumbled　to　himself。
　
　Fay　rushed　the　words　out；　her　eyes　fixed　on　the　silver　canister　on　the　glider。
　〃Granny；　where　did　you　find　that　canister？〃
　The　glittering　object　was　pulling　at　Fay；　she　had　seen　it　before。
　〃Booger　found　it　in　the　water　and　I　lugged　it　up　from　the　beach；　just　now。〃
　〃You　went　swimming　by　yourself　again？〃　said　Fay；　turning　her　attention　back　to　Marion；　who　was　sitting　on　the　wicker　rocker。
　〃You　don't　expect　me　to　wait　until　one　of　you　shows　up；　do　you；　dear？〃
　〃Oh；　I　know；　Granny；　I'm　sorry；〃　said　Fay；　as　she　reached　down　to　give　Marion　a　kiss。　〃Since　I　opened　up　the　dive　shop；　I　haven't　had　a　chance　to　e。〃
　〃Don't　worry；　dear；〃　said　Marion。　〃But　tell　me　what's　the　matter。　You　look　troubled。〃
　〃I　need　your　help；　Granny。　But　I　want　to　know　about　the　canister。　Have　you　opened　it　yet？〃　asked　Fay；　unable　to　contain　her　curiosity。　She　yanked　the　strands　of　her　blond　hair　tighter　in　the　ponytail　as　she　looked　back　at　the　canister。
　〃No。　To　tell　you　the　truth；〃　said　Marion；　〃I　was　too　excited　to　open　it。　But　that　can　wait；　Fay。　Tell　me　what's　wrong。〃
　〃Oh；　it's　Phil　again；〃　said　Fay。　She　didn't　look　so　tough　as　she　rested　her　body　against　the　weathered　siding　on　the　porch。　The　dawn's　salmon　hues　colored　everything；　including　Fay；　with　a　delicate　touch。
　〃Phil？　I　thought　you　weren't　even　talking　to　him。〃
　〃I'm　not；〃　said　Fay。　〃It's　very　plicated；　Granny。　The　bottom　line　is；　he's　gotten　himself　mixed　up　in　some　shady　business　with　Cubans…he　lost　some　merchandise　he　was　being　paid　to　deliver。　I　promised　to　help　him；　and　he　let　me　go。　I　know；　I　shouldn't　have；　and　it's　all　over　between　us；　but　I　think　he's　really　afraid　of　these　Cubans　ing　after　him。〃
　〃Let　you　go？〃
　〃It's　a　long　story；　Granny；　and　I'd　rather　not　get　into　it。〃
　Marion　was　not　surprised。　This　would　not　be　the　first　time　Fay　had　bailed　Phil　out　of　a　jam。　She　remembered　another　time　Phil　had　gotten　involved　with　shady　business。　It　had　had　something　to　do　with　a　crooked　Miami　missioner　accused　of　accepting　kickbacks　from　the　Society　for　the　Salvation　of　Sea　Rigs。　Phil　had　been　one　of　the　people　caught　breaking　into　his　office　attempting　to　gather　proof。　The　missioner　had　gotten　reelected　and　Fay　had　called　her　to　post　bail　for　Phil。　Marion　remembered　she　had　made　the　promise　then　never　to　get　involved　in　her　granddaughter's　private　affairs　again。
　〃What　merchandise？〃　Marion　asked　Fay。
　〃He　doesn't　know；　but　I　think　it　might　have　something　to　do　with　this　canister　you　found；〃　said　Fay；　pointing　to　the　glider。
　〃This　canister？　How　can　it　be？〃　said　Marion。
　〃I　can't　explain　it；　Granny。　I　just　know。〃
　〃Well　then；　let's　open　it；　dear。〃
　〃Yes；〃　said　Fay；　as　she　approached　the　shimmering　object　swaying　hypnotically　on　the　glider。
　Marion　knew　something　thrilling　was　awaiting　her。　The　young　man　had　disposed　of　the　first　canister　without　even　knowing　what　was　inside。　Now　here　was　a　second；　slightly　different　from　the　first　in　the　tint　of　the　metal；　but　definitely　similar。　What　could　it　be　this　time？　She　was　about　to　find　out。
　Fay；　too；　knew　this　canister　matched　the　one　she　had　hauled　out　of　the　bay　for　Jake。　Now　she　wished　she　had　never　gotten　involved。　But　it　was　too　late。　She　held　her　breath　as　she　pulled　the　wheel　lock　on　the　top。　After　a　few　seconds；　it　snapped　open。　There　was　just　enough　morning　light　to　make　out　what　was　inside。
　〃Another　one；〃　said　Marion；　almost　disappointed…sounding。　Fay；　struck　by　a　wave　of　nausea；　found　herself　unable　to　breathe；　much　less　speak。　The　air　took　on　a　red　tint　and　she　reached　to　her　grandmother's　frail　shoulder　for　support。
　〃Oh　dear；〃　Marion　said；　struggling　to　steady　her。　〃I　should　have　warned　you。〃
　Now　Fay　found　her　voice；　though　she　still　felt　ill。　〃What　do　you　mean　another　one；　Granny？〃
　〃Another　head。　The　first　canister　had　a　head　in　it　too。〃
　〃The　first　canister？〃　asked　Fay　in　amazement。
　〃The　one　that　floated　up　with　the　young　man。〃
　〃What　young　man；　Granny？　You　aren't　making　any　sense。〃
　〃The　other　day；　I　rescued　a　young　man　out　of　the　water　and　he　had　a　canister　just　like　this　one。〃
　〃But　who　was　he？　What　was　he　doing　in　the　water？〃
　〃I　don't　know；　dear。　Just　a　nice　young　man　who　floated　up　on　the　bay。　And　if　I'm　not　mistaken；〃　said　Marion；　leaning　over　to　get　a　better　look；　〃his　canister　had　the　head　of　this　same　fellow。〃
　〃What　do　you　mean　the　same　fellow？　There　can't　be　two　heads　of　the　same　fellow。''
　〃I　tell　you　it's　the　same　man。　I'm　sure　of　it；〃　Marion　said。　Her　head　was　beginning　to　hurt；　and　she　was　feeling　that　vertigo　she　felt　when　she　stood　up　too　long。
　〃Granny；〃　Fay　said　in　a　whisper。　〃Don't　you　know　who　this　is？〃
　〃No；　dear；　who？〃
　Fay　told　her。
　〃Oh　my；〃　Marion　said。　〃I　thought　he　looked　familiar。〃
　Marion　felt　the　porch　spin　lazily　around　her；　she　was　about　to　lose　her　balance。　She　grabbed　the　arms　of　the　rocker　and　slowly；　very　slowly；　put　her　102…year…old　body　to　rest。　Perhaps；　she　thought；　this　was　more　excitement　than　she　had　bargained　for。
　
　Back　in　the　office；　Britt　Montero；　an　emotional　wreck；　collapsed　at　her　desk。　She　had　not　rested　since　Jake　Lassiter's　call。　Her　mind　was　screaming。　She　tried　to　gather　her　thoughts　as　she　took　a　sip　from　her　Daffy　Duck　Christmas　mug。　Coffee　was　the　only　thing　she　knew　could　calm　her。　She　had　already　drunk　two　espressos　and　one　cafe　con　leche　at　the　Beach；　but　she　needed　more。　Britt　had　served　herself　a　mug　of　freshly　brewed　Colombian　supreme　blend　from　Publix。　As　she　breathed　in　the　aroma；　feeling　it　filtering　her　thoughts；　she　wondered：　Of　all　the　reporters　in　town；　why　had　Jake　Lassiter　called　her？　She　wasn't　the　only　one　who　could　have　identified　that　head；　the　head。
　But　she　didn't　dwell　on　that　point。　She　wanted　the　story。　She　was　dying　for　the　story。　Castro　dead！　It　could　lead　to　riots。　Too　much　was　at　stake；　she　had　to　be　sure。
　As　she　refilled　her　Daffy　Duck　mug；　Britt　considered　the　loose　threads；　mulling　over　all　the　questions。　Was　this　really　Fidel's　head？　For　that　matter；　was　it　anybody's　head？　The　thing　she'd　seen　in　Jake's　canister　looked　human　to　her；　but　maybe　she　hadn't　looked　at　it　closely　enough。　And　how　about　the　stale　aroma　of　cigar　smoke　that　had　wafted　up　from　the　canister　after　Jake　had　opened　it？　Hadn't　she　read　somewhere　that　Fidel　had　quit　smoking？　It　was　all　so　confusing。　She　needed　more　coffee。
　Britt　tossed　back　her　wavy　hair；　away　from　her　forehead；　she　needed　to　lay　out　a　pla