cw.blackalibi-第9节
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ny crumbs of coral； broken off a string。
The mass sidled； disintegrated all over the threshold。
Manning saw her in the Morgue； the Caja de los Cadaveres as it was familiarly called by those who had to do with it； the next day； before her people had claimed her。 He went there with one of the men from the police department； an inspector named Robles； who felt bound to acmodate him because Manning had once secured him a couple of passes to one of Kiki Walker's shows。
〃If you insist on looking； my friend…〃 this Robles warned him。 〃I advise you not to； unless you have exceptionally strong nerves。 You are liable to see it in your sleep for weeks to e。 The authorities should really have her cremated； if her own people can't afford it。 Open this one；〃 he said to the attendant。 He stood aside； to give the other an unhampered view。 〃Formidable； isn't it？〃
The American looked without flinching。 His face whitened a little； that was all。 He nodded； spellbound。
〃That's enough；〃 Robles said to the attendant。 He turned to Manning； evidently with the idea of reading him a little lecture。 〃So you see what your foolish stunt has led to。 It has cost a human life。 And this may not be the last； before it is over。 That thing has not been caught yet。〃
Manning didn't answer。 He was staring down at the cement floor。 But in a way that suggested puzzlement of some sort； rather than contrition。
〃Juridically； of course； you are not responsible；〃 Robles went on。 〃That is to say； you did not foresee this； did not mean it to happen； cannot be punished personally for it。 But morally you are to blame for it。 It is through you alone that this girl lost her life。 That is why I so readily acceded to your request and brought you down here with me to let you see her for yourself。 It may teach you a lesson。〃
〃It wasn't remorse that made me ask to e here；〃 Manning said quietly。 〃Nor morbid curiosity either。 You've got me wrong。 It's…well I've had a troubled feeling that I can't seem to shake off ever since I first heard of it。〃
〃You should have；〃 said Robles severely。
〃No； you still don't get me。〃 He ran one hand baffledly up through his hair。 〃Are you sure that thing； as you call it； did this？〃
Robles looked at him first in astonishment； then almost in scorn。 〃What are you trying to suggest； it didn't？ Well； you've just seen with your own eyes。 What else but the claws of such a monster could leave such ravages？ She was in ribbons。 No； there is no doubt in our minds on that score； how can there be？ I could take you over to our laboratory； let you talk to some of the men there。 Small bits of fuzz； loosened hairs from its coat； were found upon her body。 They are in our possession right now。 What more do you ask？〃
〃Nothing；〃 admitted Manning； looking down。 〃Nothing more。 But then why have I got this dissatisfied feeling…？〃 He didn't finish it。 〃Was she…did it make any attempt to…？〃 he faltered presently。
Robles finished it for him without a qualm； with the matter…of…factness of the professional investigator。 〃Was she eaten； is that what you are driving at？ No。 I don't know whether they do or not； I don't know enough about them。 I must ask the curator of the zoo。 In any case； there is sufficient reason for its having done so this time。 It occurred outside her very door； in full hearing of the mother and brother。 They came rushing out； and the monster was undoubtedly frightened away before it had time to…acplish its full purpose。 If； as I said； they do that。〃
〃Well； was it seen？ 〃 Manning persisted discontentedly。 〃That's what I want to know。 If you say this happened right in front of her own door； and there are other houses around there； was there anyone who actually saw it？ There should have been； if she screamed。〃
〃Oh； unless someone saw it； it doesn't exist； is that it？ That's a very risky theory in police work； don't you think？ The houses around there are of the poor； you know the kind。 One… or two…room hovels； mostly without windows； simply with a single entrance at the front。 By the time they began peering timidly forth up and down the …lane； it was over。 Some claim they were just in time to glimpse some black form slinking around the turn at the bottom of the alley。 They may have； they may not have。 What difference does it make？〃
〃It isn't that I really doubt the jaguar attacked her；〃 Manning said hesitantly。 〃I have no theories about this。 I'm not a detective at all； just a press agent out of a job。 Only…only…I just have that peculiar feeling I spoke of； that there's more to this than meets the eye。〃
〃More？ What more could there be？〃 countered Robles。 〃What more should there be？〃
Manning tugged perplexedly at the skin on the back of his neck。 〃I don't know myself。 I can't explain。 But； tell the truth； doesn't it strike you as strange； almost incredible； that a wild thing； a jungle animal the size and conspicuousness of this jaguar； should remain at large； undetected and absolutely unseen by the human eye； in a city this large； and for this length of time？ This isn't a hill village； with the jungles near by。 This is the third largest city of South America。 It has not left it and then e back again； obviously。 It has been here the whole time。 Where？ How？〃
Robles pursed his lips in conditional agreement； nodded。 〃It's unprecedented； it's unbelievable； but…it has undeniably happened； hasn't it？ The animal has not been recaptured alive； its body has not been found； therefore； it's still at large。 That's logical enough； isn't it； Manning my friend？〃
〃But where does it keep itself； where does it hide in the daytime； where has it found refuge？ This place is built all of stone； remember。 Asphalt； cobblestones； cement sidewalks； stone houses。 There are no trees； except out in the Bosque and in a few small plazas and parks。 Where can it go？ Thousands of people swarming about it all day long。 It was seen to go into the Callejуn de las Sombras at six o'clock one evening…with a crowd almost at its heels。 Presto！ it disappears。 Not another glimpse of it from then on。 It didn't get out at the other end。 The police and fire departments searched every house along that alley from top to bottom。 No sign of it。 Now this young girl is found torn to pieces all the way over in the Barranca working quarter； half the city away。 How did it get over there unseen？〃
All Robles could give him on this was； 〃It's true； it's an amazing thing。 Who can say what happened？ Perhaps it squeezed itself down into a sewer and traversed one of the big drainpipes that run under the city。 The water in most of them would not be deep enough to drown it。 And then again there is that so ridiculous suggestion some onlooker was heard to make； that night it disappeared； which may not be so ridiculous as it sounds； after all。 That it took refuge in the back of some van or merchandise truck standing in there along the Callejуn； was driven unsuspectingly away by the driver； and bolted out again undetected at the next stop the vehicle made。〃
〃Augh！〃 Manning swung his arm at him impatiently。 〃Now I'll tell one。 Here's something else： what has it lived on during these past days and nights？ Where has it gotten its food…and； above all； its water？〃
〃How do the less ferocious animals； stray dogs and cats； for instance； get theirs？ From refuse heaps； from puddles； from the river margin。〃
〃Yes； but they're seen。〃
〃How do we know it hasn't been seen； more than once； in the distance or in the dark； and mistaken for some large black dog？ There are other ways possible for it to keep itself alive； too； which we need not dwell on。 These same homeless dogs and cats； lizards clambering up and down cracked walls； rats from the sewers。〃
Manning turned his head away involuntarily for a moment。 Then he looked back again； went on： 〃How is it it wasn't easily tracked down； cornered almost at once； this second time？ How is it you lost it again like the first time？ Its claws； the pads of its paws； the fur about its belly； must have been soaked after such an attack。〃
〃It's true； there were numerous traces of blooddyed paw prints and even drippings found near by。 None led very far away； however。 The dirt and dust of the pavements must have quickly dried and coated the brute's pads。 And then so many people quickly milled about； obliterating everything before we could get there。〃
〃For every objection of mine； you have an answer ready。 But still and all； you haven't been able to remove that dissatisfied feeling of mine。 What we call in my language a hunch。 Something isn't right。 There's a basic implausibility to this whole thing that I can't accept as easily as you people。〃
The inspector smiled bleakly； tapped him knowingly on the shoulder。 〃Tell the truth； Manning。 Isn't it your own guilty conscience； about being the indirect cause of this four…legged demon's depredations； that makes you keep trying to raise vague objections； cast shadowy doubts； on what is glaringly self…evident？ Of course it is！ You would like to believe that it is not the jaguar which did this； for the sake of your own peace of mind。 I'm afraid I cannot acmodate you。 Our test tubes； our high…powered glasses； our reagents and analyses；
