ch.nativetongue-第21节

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　When　she　came　out；　he　remarked　how　beautiful　she　looked。　〃Like　a　sleek　arctic　seal。〃
　〃Oh　stop　it。〃
　〃Don't　dry　off；　please。　Don't　ever　dry　off。〃
　〃Get　your　hand　away　from　there。〃　Nina　slapped　him　sharply。　〃Put　your　clothes　on。　Chelsea's　waiting　at　the　office。〃
　Joe　Winder　said；　〃I'm　phoning　in　sick。〃
　〃No；　you're　not。　You　can't。〃　She　wrapped　the　towel　around　her　hair　and　left　the　rest　bare。　〃He　wasn't　calling　about　the　dead　person　on　the　bridge；　he　was　calling　about　the　whale。〃
　〃Orky？〃
　Nina　opened　the　bathroom　door　to　let　out　the　steamy　humidity。　Joe　Winder　impulsively　clutched　her　around　the　waist。　He　pressed　his　cheek　against　her　damp　thigh；　and　began　to　hum　the　tune　of　〃Poor　Pitiful　Me。〃　Nina　pried　him　loose　and　said；　〃I'm　glad　you　don't　get　beat　up　every　day。〃
　Something　was　out　of　alignment　in　Winder's　brain。　He　blinked　three　or　four　times；　slowly；　but　even　as　the　steam　cleared　it　didn't　go　away。　Double　vision！　The　bastards　had　pounded　him　that　badly。　Nina's　bare　bottom　appeared　to　him　as　four　gleaming　porcelain　orbs。
　Distractedly；　he　said；　〃Go　on。　Something　about　the　whale？〃
　〃Yes；〃　said　Nina。　She　stood　before　the　mirror；　checking　her　armpits　for　stubble。　〃Chelsea　said　the　whale　is　dead。〃
　〃Hmmm；〃　said　Joe　Winder。　Orky　the　Killer　Whale。
　〃And？〃　he　said。
　〃And；　I　don't　know。〃　Nina　stepped　into　her　panties。　〃He　said　for　you　to　e　right　away。　He　said　it　was　an　emergency。〃
　〃First　let's　go　to　bed。〃　Winder　came　up　behind　her。　In　the　mirror　he　saw　two　pairs　of　hands　cupping　two　pairs　of　nipples。　He　saw　two　faces　that　looked　just　like　his…lumpy；　lacerated；　empurpled…nuzzling　the　tan　silky　slopes　of　two　feminine　necks。
　〃All　right；　Joe；〃　Nina　said；　turning　around。　〃But　I've　got　to　be　honest：　I'm　very　disappointed　in　you…〃
　〃It　wasn't　what　you　think。〃
　〃…and　I'm　only　doing　this　because　you're　in　pain。〃　Mechanically　Nina　took　his　hand　and　led　him　toward　the　bed。　She　kicked　off　her　underwear　and　unwrapped　the　towel　from　her　hair。　Winder　was　grinning　like　an　idiot。
　〃I'm　warning　you；〃　Nina　said；　〃this　isn't　an　act　of　passion；　it's　an　act　of　pity。〃
　〃I'll　take　it；〃　said　Joe　Winder。　〃But；　please；　no　more　talking　for　a　while。〃
　〃All　right；〃　she　said。　〃No　more　talking。〃
　
　Orky　the　Killer　Whale　had　e　to　the　Amazing　Kingdom　of　Thrills　under　clouded　circumstances。　His　true　name　（or　the　name　bestowed　by　his　human　captors　off　the　coast　of　British　Columbia）　was　Samson。　Delivered　in　a　drugged　stupor　to　a　north　California　marine　park；　he　was　measured　at　twenty…nine　feet　and　seven　inches；　a　robust　male　example　of　the　species　orca。　Samson　was　larger　than　the　other　tame　killer　whales　in　the　tank；　and　proved　considerably　more　recalcitrant　and　unpredictable。　In　his　first　six　months　of　captivity　he　mauled　two　trained　porpoises　and　chomped　the　tail　off　a　popular　sea　lion　named　Mr。　Mugsy。　Trainers　worked　overtime　trying　to　teach　their　new　star　the　most　rudimentary　of　whale　tricks…leaping　through　a　plastic　hoop；　or　snatching　a　dead　mackerel　from　the　fingers　of　a　pretty　model…with　minimal　success。　One　day　he　would　perform　like　a　champ；　the　next　he　would　sink　to　the　bottom　of　the　tank　and　fart　belligerently；　launching　balloon…sized　bubbles　of　fishy　gas　to　the　surface。　The　audience　seldom　found　this　entertaining。　Eventually　most　of　the　seasoned　whale　trainers　refused　to　enter　the　water　with　Samson。　Those　who　tried　to　ride　his　immense　black　dorsal　were　either　whiplashed　or　pretzeled　or　corkscrewed　into　semi　consciousness。
　Quite　by　accident；　it　was　discovered　that　Samson　was　enraged　by　the　color　green。　This　became　evident　on　the　day　that　the　human　trainers　switched　to　vivid　Kelly…green　tank　suits　without　telling　the　other　performing　mammals。　Samson　was　supposed　to　open　the　first　show　by　fetching　an　inflatable　topless　mermaid　and　gaily　delivering　it　to　a　young　man　on　a　ladder；　in　exchange　for　a　fistful　of　smelts。　On　this　particular　morning；　Samson　retrieved　the　toy；　carried　it　across　the　water　on　his　snout；　flipped　it　into　the　bleachers；　snatched　the　green…clad　trainer　off　the　ladder；　flipped　him　into　the　bleachers；　then　dived　to　the　bottom　of　the　tank　and　began　to　pass　gas　relentlessly。　Each　time　somebody　tried　to　lure　him　up；　Samson　shot　from　the　depths　with　his　mouth　open；　the　great　black…and…white　jaws　clacking　like　a　truck　door。　The　crowd　loved　it。　They　thought　it　was　part　of　the　act。
　Reluctantly　the　curators　of　the　California　marine　park　concluded　that　this　whale　was　one　dangerous　rogue。　They　attempted　to　peddle　him　to　another　marine　park；　far　away　on　the　western　coast　of　Florida；　but　first　they　changed　his　name　to　Ramu。　The　transaction　took　place　at　a　time　when　ocean…theme　parks　around　the　country　were　reporting　various　troubles　with　trained　killer　whales；　and　animal…rights　groups　were　seeking　legislation　to　prevent　capturing　them　for　exhibit。　Word　of　Samson's　behavioral　quirks　had　spread　throughout　the　marine…park　industry；　which　is　why　it　was　necessary　to　change　his　name　before　trying　to　sell　him。
　The　day　the　deal　was　done；　Samson　was　tranquilized；　lashed　to　a　canvas　litter　and　placed　aboard　a　chartered　Sikorsky　helicopter。　There　workers　took　turns　sponging　him　with　salt　water　during　the　arduous　cross…country　flight；　which　lasted　seventeen　hours；　including　stops　for　refueling。　By　the　time　Samson　arrived　in　Sarasota；　he　was　in　a　vile　and　vindictive　mood。　During　his　first　fifteen　minutes　in　the　new　tank；　he　savagely　foreshortened　a　pectoral　fin　on　another　male　orca　and　destroyed　the　floating　basket　through　which　he　was　supposed　to　slam…dunk　beach　balls。　Weeks　passed　with　little　improvement　in　the　new　whale's　temperament。　One　fateful　Sunday；　the　animal　abruptly　awakened　from　its　funk；　tail…walked　across　the　tank　and　did　a　dazzling　double　somersault　before　hundreds　of　delighted　tourists。　When　a　stubby　woman　in　a　green　plaid　sundress　leaned　too　close　with　her　Nikon；　the　whale　seized　her　in　his　teeth；　dragged　her　once　around　the　tank；　then　spit　her　out　like　an　olive　pit。
　It　was　then　that　Samson's　new　owners　realized　that　they　had　been　duped；　they'd　bought　themselves　a　bum　whale。　Ramu　was　in　fact　the　infamous　and　incorrigible　Samson。　Immediately　the　beast　was　quarantined　as　a　repeat　offender；　while　the　Sarasota　theme　park　made　plans　to　resell　him　under　the　misleadingly　gentle　name　of　Orky。
　Francis　X。　Kingsbury　was　the　ideal　chump。　The　soon…to…be…opened　Amazing　Kingdom　of　Thrills　was　shopping　for　a　major　ocean　attraction　to　pete　with　Disney　World's　〃living　reef。〃　Kingsbury　saw　the　Orky　offer　as　a　bargain　of　a　lifetime…a　trained　killer　whale　for　only　nine　hundred　bucks；　plus　freight！　Kingsbury　snapped　at　it。
　Orky　was　more　than　a　disappointment；　he　was　a　dud。　No　one　at　the　Amazing　Kingdom　could　train　the　whale　to　do　a　single　trick　on　cue；　capable　of　wondrous　gymnastic　feats；　the　animal　remained　oblivious　of　regimen　and　performed　only　when　he　damn　well　felt　like　it。　Often　he　did　his　best　work　in　the　middle　of　the　night；　when　the　stadium　was　empty。　But　on　those　nocturnal　occasions；　when　the　park　was　closed　and　there　was　no　one　to　reward　him　with　buckets　of　dead　mullet；　Orky　furiously　would　ram　the　sides　of　the　whale　tank　until　the　Plexiglas　cracked　and　the　plaster　buckled。
　Because　it　was　impossible　to　predict　his　moods；　Orky's　shows　were　not　posted　in　a　regular　schedule。　Tourists　paid　their　money；　took　their　seats　and　hoped　for　the　best。　Once　in　a　great　while；　the　killer　whale　would　explode　in　exuberant　ballet；　but　more　often　he　just　sulked　or　blew　water　aimlessly。
　One　time　Francis　X。　Kingsbury　had　suggested　punishing　the　mammoth　creature　by　withholding　supper。　Orky　retaliated　by　breaking　into　the　pelican　pool　and　wolfing　down　nine　of　the　slow…moving　birds。　After　that；　Kingsbury　said　to　hell　with　the　goddamn　whale　and　gave　up　on　training　the　beast。　He　knew　he'd　been　scammed　but　was　too　proud　to　admit　it。　Kingsbury's　corporate　underlings　sensed　that　Orky　was　a　sore　spot　with　the　boss；　and　avoided　mentioning　the　whale　exhibit　in　his　presence。
　Until　today。
　With　Orky　unexpectedly　dead；　the　subject　was　bound　to　e　up。　Charles　Chelsea　decided　on　a　pre…emptive　strike。　He　broke　the　news　as　Francis　Kingsbury　was　munching　his　regular　breakfast　bagel。　〃Good；〃　Kingsbury　said；　spraying　crumbs。　〃Hated　that　fucking　load。〃
　〃Sir；　it's　not　good；〃　said　Charles　Chelsea；　〃publicity…wise。〃
　〃How　do　you　figure；〃　Kingsbury　said。　〃I　mean；　shit；　what's　a　lousy　whale　to　these　people。　You　know　who　I　mean…the　media。〃
　Charles　Chelsea　said　he　would　try　to　explain　it　on　the　way　to　the　autopsy。
　
　Joe　Winder's　vision　returned　to　normal　after　making　love　to　Nina；　he　regarded　this　as　providential。　He　took　a　cab　to　Card　Sound　Road　and　retrieved　his　car。　When　he　got　back　to　the　apartment；　he　changed　to　a　long…sleeved　shirt；　charcoal　trousers　and　a　navy　necktie；　in　the　hope　that　high　fashion　would　divert　attention　from　his　pulverized　face。　When　he　got　to　the　Amazing　Kingdom；　he　saw　he　had　nothing　to　worry　about。　Everybody　was　staring　at　the　dead　killer　whale。
　They　had　hauled　the　remains　to　one　of　the　parking　lots；　and　roped　a　perimeter　to　keep　out　nosy　customers。　To　conceal　Orky's　corpse；　which　was　as　large　as　a　boxcar；　Charles　Chelsea　had　rented　an　immense　tent　from　an　auto　dealership　in　Homestead。　The　tent　was　brilli