cw.blackalibi-第38节

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　have　scented　something　rather　than　heard　or　saw　it。　Suppose　there　really　is　a　jaguar　in　it…what'll　I　do？　It'll　be　a　little　harder　to　save　me　from　that。〃
　　〃There　must　be　a　jaguar　in　it　somewhere；〃　he　told　her　bluntly。　〃Too　much　of　Robles'　evidence　points　to　that。　But　my　contention　is；　it's　a　jaguar　and　a　man。　In　other　words；　a　jaguar　under　control；　directed　by　a　human　intelligence　in　some　way。〃
　　〃You　mean　he…takes　it　with　him；　sets　it　loose　upon　the　victims？　But　how　can　you　do　anything　in　time　to　help　me；　in　that　case？　Those　things　spring　like　lightning。〃
　　〃I　don't　know　what　it　is　or　what　he　does。　I　only　know　it's　not　a　random　beast。　That's　what　we're　trying　to　find　out　tonight。　I'm　asking　you　to　have　confidence　in　me；　Marjorie。　Belmonte　and　I　will　both　lay　down　our　lives　rather　than　let　any　harm　e　to　you。　As　long　as　there　is　a　human　agency　involved；　I　feel　confident　we　can　outmatch　it。　I　realize　it's　a　terrible　ordeal　to　ask　you　to　go　through。　But　we've　got　to　have　a　girl　in　it…it　doesn't　attack　men…and　there　'isn't　anyone　else　I　know　of　we　can　ask　to　help　us。〃
　　〃There　isn't　anyone　else　you　have　to　ask；〃　she　told　him。　〃I'm　not　going　to　lie　to　you　and　pretend　I'm　not　scared；　I'm　scared　sick。　But　it's　been　understood　since　two　nights　ago　that　I'm　going　to　do　this；　and　that　still　goes。〃　Her　lips　were　tight　and　thin。　He　touched　her　clenched　hand　and　found　it　ice　cold。　He　liked　her　all　the　better　for　that　somehow。
　　〃And　how　long　do　I　stay　down　by　the　lake　in　case　nothing　happens？〃
　　〃Until　you've　found　the　missing　locket。〃
　　〃Oh；　there　really　is　one　there？〃
　　〃Yes；　I　bought　one　at　the　five…and…ten　and　planted　it　there　myself　this　morning。　It's　right　at　the　water's　edge；　under　a　few　loose　stones。　Smoke　a　cigarette；　for　good　measure　after　you've　found　it；　if　you　want　to　time　yourself。　Meander　along　the　lake　shore　for　a　short　distance；　and　don't　forget　what　I　told　you；　make　sure　you　stray　out　of　the　coachman's　sight　while　you're　about　it。　If；　by　the　time　you've　finished　your　cigarette；　nothing　has　happened；　you　can　be　sure　he's　not　around；　won't　show　up　any　more　tonight。　Simply　get　back　into　the　carriage　and　return　here　to　the　hotel。　We'll　follow　you　back　in　a　few　minutes'　time　ourselves。〃
　　〃The　sun's　getting　low；〃　Belmonte　warned　in　Spanish；　glancing　toward　the　window。　〃It's　hit　the　cross　on　the　cathedral。　We'd　better　get　started　ourselves　if　we　want　to　get　there　while　it's　still　light　enough　for　us　to　pick　our　own　hiding　places。〃
　　He　bent　gallantly　over　Marjorie's　hand；　murmuring；　〃Homage　to　a　very　courageous　lady。〃
　　Manning　took　it　in　turn；　shook　it　encouragingly　in　American　fashion。　〃Here　goes。　Now　keep　cool；　and　put　your　faith　in　us。　I　looked　that　gun　over　for　you　myself；　it's　in　hair…trigger　readiness。　Remember　what　I　told　you：　just　flick　off　the　safety　and　tighten　your　finger。　And　if　it's　a　case　of　real　emergency；　don't　take　time　to　draw　it　out；　fire　it　through　your　bag　and　all。〃
　　Raul；　unemotional　for　a　South　American；　perhaps　because　he　was　so　tense；　stood　waiting　for　him　in　the　corridor　outside。　〃e　on；　Manning；　we'll　never　get　there；〃　he　urged　in　a　matterof…fact　voice；　as　though　they　were　going　to　the　corner　for　a　drink。
　　She　had　reseated　herself　at　the　glass；　was　touching　a　glass　perfume　rod　behind　each　ear；　as　he　closed　the　door　after　him。　〃See　you　back　here　later　tonight…I　hope；〃　was　the　last　thing　she　said。
　　〃See　you　back　here　later　tonight…I　know；〃　he　answered　confidently。
　　The　last　glimpse　he　had　of　her　face　it　was　white　as　marble；　even　in　the　pink　sunset　glow；　with　the　dread　anticipation　of　what　lay　ahead　of　her。　She　was　staring　tautly　at　her　own　reflection；　as　at　a　death's　head。
　　
　　
　　The　lake　was　deepening　in　the　twilight；　from　ultramarine　to　indigo　to　licorice　black；　as　though　ink　were　being　poured　into　it　little　by　little　at　some　unseen　source。　The　Bosque　was　sinking　into　darkness　all　around　it　as　silent　and　as　lifeless　as　though　it　were　an　actual　wilderness　instead　of　a　great　natural　park　on　the　outskirts　of　a　big　city。　All　the　little　harmless　things　that　sounded　in　it　in　the　daylight　hours；　the　birds　and　insects；　were　stilled　now。　A　breathless　hush　hung　over　everything；　awaiting　the　arrival　of　the　greatest　killer　of　them　all：　night；　remorselessly　tracking　down　day　and　slaughtering　it；　every　twenty…four　hours；　over　and　over　again。　The　eternal　murder；　unpunished；　unprevented。
　　Manning　squatted　low　on　his　haunches　at　the　water's　edge；　invisible　from　the　higher　ground　above；　tossing　small　pebbles　in　while　he　waited　for　Belmonte　to　rejoin　him。　They　had　separated　to　scout　the　perimeter　of　the　lake；　and　he　was　the　first　one　back　at　their　point　of　departure。　A　little　rounded　figure　there　in　the　twilight；　unimpressive；　an　ex…beachber；　a　discharged　press　agent；　a　do…nothing　from　the　downtown　bars；　e　out　of　the　city　to　this　place　to　battle　the　forces　of　death。　No　figure　of　a　hero；　no　figure　of　a　hero　at　all。　Any　more　than　the　man　who　first　submitted　to　the　bite　of　a　yellow…fever　mosquito。
　　The　swans　hung　motionless　on　the　water；　like　dark　floating　clouds；　heads　tucked　within　their　wings　in　sleep；　disdainful　of　his　pebble　ripples　after　their　first　investigation　had　showed　them　it　wasn't　crumbs　he　was　pitching　in。
　　Belmonte　returned　noiselessly　along　the　water's　edge；　bent　forward　so　that　his　form　wouldn't　show　too　much　from　above。　He　dropped　down　beside　Manning　in　a　similar　squat。
　　〃Find　one　for　yourself？〃　the　latter　breathed。
　　〃See　those　reeds　there？　I've　chosen　them。　They　seem　to　be　growing　out　of　the　water；　but　there's　actually　a　flat　stone　in　the　middle　of　them　I　can　squat　on。　I'll　be　hidden　on　all　four　sides；　even　the　lake　side。　How　about　you？〃
　　〃I've　found　a　low　forked　tree；　a　peach。　The　trunk　splits　up　into　four　elbow　branches。　It's　almost　cup…shaped　in　the　middle。　All　I　need　to　do　is　pull　down　a　few　of　the　outer　leaves　around　me。　Made　to　order。〃
　　〃Can　you　get　down　in　a　hurry？〃
　　〃At　a　single　bound。　It's　low；　it　grows　out　crooked；　slanting　from　the　slope　toward　the　lake。　See　anyone　just　now？〃
　　〃Not　a　living　soul。　I　went　halfway　around　to　the　other　side。〃
　　〃No　one　around　my　way；　either；〃　Manning　answered　guardedly。　〃I　think　we　better　get　in　now；　without　waiting　any　longer；　while　we　have　this　in…between　darkness　before　the　moon　es。〃
　　〃Do　you　still　think　it's　a　good　idea　to　separate？〃　Belmonte　whispered。　〃Once　we　do；　we　won't　be　able　to　municate　with　each　other　again。〃
　　〃It's　the　only　sensible　way。　We　can　protect　her'　that　much　more　effectively　if　there's　one　of　us　on　each　side　of　her。　Here…midway　between　us…is　where　she　will　e　down　to　the　water's　edge。　She　is　bound　to。　It　is　the　only　place　where　the　lake　es　within　easy　reach　of　the　roadway　above。　The　road　slowly　curves　off　again　from　here　on。　And　finally；　this　is　the　only　strip　of　the　shore　that　is　smooth　and　grassy　and　easily　accessible。　It　is　where　she　and　the　other　girl　came　the　last　time。　He　knows　that；　and　it　is　where　he　will　expect　her　to　e　again；　if　he　believes　she　will　e　back　looking　for　something　she　lost。　We　have　her　protected　on　three　sides；　this　way。　You　up　that　way；　I　down　this　way；　and　the　lake　itself　all　along　the　third　side。　The　waiting　carriage　up　above　seals　up　the　fourth　way。　To　get　to　her　at　all；　he　has　to　e　up　from　behind　one　of　us　and　go　past。　Probably　from　behind　me；　because　the　Madrid's　over　my　way。　The　thing　to　do　is　not　jump　him　at　sight；　to　let　him　get　in　between　the　two　of　us；　and　then　we'll　have　him　ing　and　going。
　　〃So　it's　as　important　for　us　to　be　hidden　from　the　back　as　from　the　front；　where　she　is。　Otherwise　he'll　be　frightened　off　before　he　es　within　reach；　and　we're　liable　to　lose　him。　Now　don't　leave　anything　on　you　or　around　you　that　will　show。　Remember；　there's　going　to　be　a　moon　in　a　little　while；　and　one　little　glint　in　the　wrong　place　and　at　the　wrong　time　will　give　us　away。　Fasten　your　coat　lapels　up　under　your　chin；　to　black　out　the　white　of　your　shirt　front。　Don't　leave　anything　shiny　exposed　anywhere　on　you…a　collar　pin　or　cuff　links　or　even　the　clip　of　a　metal　pencil　fastened　to　the　outside　of　your　breast　pocket。　Careful　of　any　loose　coins　jangling　in　your　clothes；　too；　at　the　wrong　moment。〃
　　They　each　took　out　a　large；　square　pocket　handkerchief　and；　without　opening　its　folded　layers；　deposited　their　accumulated　small　change　on　top　of　it；　twisting　the　ends　over　and　repocketing　it　that　way；　in　a　sort　of　soundproof　cornucopia。
　　〃No　smoking；〃　Manning　warned。　〃Can　you　control　yourself？〃
　　〃Of　course；　this　isn't　a　date　with　a　girl。　I　could　wait　forever；　I　could　go　without　food　or　drink；　if　I　thought　it　would　bring　this…〃
　　〃Got　your　gun　handy？〃
　　Belmonte　parted　his　coat　with　a　single　move　and　it　peered　out　in　his　hand。
　　〃Fast　enough；〃　mented　Manning。　He　held　his　wrist　nearly　to　his　eye；　peering　at　his　watch。　〃Five　to　eight。　It's　going　to　be　a　long　pull。　She's　only　just　about　leaving　the　hotel　now。　We'll　have　to　give　it　a　good　two　hours；　maybe　even　three。〃　He　unstrapped　it　and　dipped　it　into　his　pocket。　〃The　moon　may　catch　the　crystal。〃
　　Belmonte　took　his　own　off；　after　first　setting　it　back　a　minute。　〃I　have　four　to；　but　I　may　as　well　go　by　yours。　One　watch；　one　purpose；　one　hope　between　the　two