ch.nativetongue-第5节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　〃Why　not？　Who'd　be　mean　enough　to　hurt　'em？〃
　〃This　is　important；〃　said　Molly。　The　pistol　lay　loose　on　her　lap；　looking　as　harmless　as　a　macrame。
　Danny　Pogue　said；　〃We　didn't　kill　them　things；　I　swear　to　God。　They　just　scooted　out　of　the　damn　truck。〃
　〃They're　awful　fast；〃　added　Bud　Schwartz。
　〃Oh；　please；〃　said　Molly　McNamara；　shaking　her　head。　Even　Danny　Pogue　picked　up　on　the　sarcasm。
　〃We　didn't　know　there　was　only　two；〃　he　said。　〃We　thought　there　must　be　a　whole　bunch　in　a　box　that　size。　That's　how　e　we　wasn't　so　worried　when　they　got　away…see；　we　thought　there　was　more。〃
　Molly　started　rocking　a　little　faster。　The　rocking　chair　didn't　squeak　a　bit　on　the　varnished　pine。　She　said；　〃I'm　very　disappointed　in　the　both　of　you。〃
　Bud　Schwartz　helped　his　partner　limp　to　an　ottoman。
　All　he　wanted　was　to　get　the　money　and　get　the　hell　out　of　this　spooky　old　house；　away　from　this　crazy　witch。
　〃Here's　the　really　bad　news；〃　said　Molly　McNamara。　〃It's　your　truck…only　about　a　thousand　people　saw　you　drive　away。　Now；　I　don't　know　if　they　got　the　license　tag；　but　they　sure　as　hell　got　a　good　description。　It's　all　over　the　TV。〃
　〃Shit；〃　said　Bud　Schwartz。
　〃So　you're　going　to　have　to　keep　a　low　profile　for　a　while。〃
　Still　breathing　heavily；　Danny　Pogue　said；　〃What's　that　mean？〃
　Molly　stopped　rocking　and　sat　forward。　〃For　starters；　say　goodbye　to　the　pickup　truck。　Also；　you　can　forget　about　going　home。　If　the　police　got　your　tag；　they'll　be　waiting。〃
　〃I'll　take　my　chances；〃　said　Bud　Schwartz。
　〃No；　you　won't；〃　said　Molly。　〃I'll　give　you　a　thousand　dollars　each。　You'll　get　the　rest　in　two　weeks；　if　things　die　down。　Meanwhile；　I've　arranged　a　place　for　you　boys　to　stay。〃
　〃Here？〃　asked　Danny　Pogue　in　a　fretful；　pain…racked　voice。
　〃No；　not　here；〃　Molly　said。　〃Not　on　your　life。〃
　She　stood　up　from　the　rocker。　The　pistol　disappeared　again　into　a　fuzzy　pocket　of　the　blue　robe。　〃Your　foot's　going　to　be　fine；〃　she　announced　to　Danny　Pogue。　〃I　hope　I　made　my　point。〃
　The　bafflement　on　the　two　men's　faces　suggested　otherwise。
　Molly　McNamara　said；　〃I　chose　you　for　a　reason。〃
　〃e　on；〃　said　Bud　Schwartz；　〃we're　just　burglars。〃
　〃And　don't　you　ever　forget　it；〃　Molly　said。
　Danny　Pogue　couldn't　believe　she　was　talking　to　them　this　way。　He　couldn't　believe　he　was　being　terrorized　by　an　old　lady　in　a　rocking　chair。
　〃There's　something　else　you　should　know；〃　said　Molly　McNamara。　〃There　are　others。〃
　Momentarily　Bud　Schwartz's　mind　had　stuck　on　that　thousand　dollars　she'd　mentioned。　He　had　been　thinking：　Screw　the　other　nine；　just　grab　the　grand　and　get　lost。　Now　she　was　saying　something　about　others…what　others？
　〃Anything　happens　to　me；〃　Molly　said；　〃there's　others　that　know　who　you　are。　Where　you　live。　Where　you　hang　out。　Everything。〃
　〃I　don't　get　it；〃　muttered　Danny　Pogue。
　〃Burglars　get　shot　sometimes；〃　Molly　McNamara　said。　〃Nobody　says　boo　about　it；　either。　Nobody　gets　arrested　or　investigated　or　anything　else。　In　this　country；　you　kill　a　burglar　and　the　Kiwanis　gives　you　a　plaque。　That's　the　point　I　was　trying　to　make。〃
　Danny　Pogue　turned　to　Bud　Schwartz；　who　was　staring　down　at　his　partner's　swollen　foot　and　wondering　if　it　was　too　late　to　make　a　run　for　it。　Finally　he　said；　〃Lady；　we're　very　sorry　about　your　animals。〃
　〃They're　not　my　animals；〃　said　Molly；　〃any　more　than　you　are。〃
　
　THREE
　At　half　past　ten　Joe　Winder　went　down　to　The　Catabs；　the　underground　network　of　service　roads　that　ran　beneath　the　Amazing　Kingdom　of　Thrills。　It　was　along　these　winding　cart　paths；　discreetly　out　of　view　from　visitors；　that　the　food；　merchandise；　money　and　garbage　were　moved　throughout　the　sprawling　amusement　park。　It　was　also　along　these　secret　subterranean　passageways　that　the　kiddie　characters　traveled；　popping　up　suddenly　at　strategic　locations　throughout　the　Amazing　Kingdom　and　imploring　tourists　to　snap　their　picture。　No　customers　（〃guests〃　was　the　designated　term）　ever　were　allowed　to　venture　into　The　Catabs；　lest　they　catch　a　glimpse　of　something　that　might　tarnish　their　image　of　the　Amazing　Kingdom…a　dog　rooting　through　a　dumpster；　for　example。　Or　one　of　Uncle　Ely's　Elves　smoking　a　joint。
　Which　is　what　Joe　Winder　saw　when　he　got　to　the　bottom　of　the　stairs。
　〃I'm　looking　for　Robbie　Raccoon；〃　he　said　to　the　elf；　who　wasn't　particularly　jolly　or　gnome　like。
　The　elf　belched　blue　smoke　and　asked　which　Robbie　Raccoon　he　was　looking　for；　since　there　were　three。
　〃The　one　who　was　on　duty　this　afternoon；〃　Winder　said。　〃The　one　who　fought　with　the　rat　robbers。〃
　The　big　elf　pointed　with　the　smoldering　end　of　the　joint。　〃Okay；　there's　a　locker　room　on　the　west　side。　Just　follow　the　orange　signs。〃　He　took　another　drag。　I'd　offer　you　a　hit；　but　I　got　this　nasty　chest　virus。　Hate　to　pass　it　along。〃
　〃Sure；〃　said　Joe　Winder。　〃No　problem。〃
　The　lockers　were　at　the　end　of　a　damp　concrete　tunnel　that　smelled　of　stale　laundry　and　ammonia。　Robbie　Raccoon　was　straddling　the　bench；　trying　to　unzip　his　head。　Winder　introduced　himself；　and　explained　that　he　was　from　the　Publicity　Department。
　〃I'm　writing　a　press　release　about　what　happened　earlier　today；〃　he　said。　〃A　few　quick　questions　is　all。〃
　〃Fire　away；〃　said　Robbie　Raccoon。　The　words　came　out　muffled；　from　a　small　opening　in　the　neck　of　the　costume。
　Winder　said；　〃I　can　barely　hear　you。〃
　With　a　grunt　Robbie　Raccoon　removed　his　head；　which　was　as　large　as　a　beach　ball。　Joe　Winder　was　startled　by　what　he　saw　beneath　it：　long　shimmering　blond　hair；　green　eyes　and　mascara。　Robbie　Raccoon　was　a　woman。
　She　said；　〃If　you're　going　to　make　a　joke；　get　it　over　with。〃
　〃No；　I　wasn't。〃
　〃Don't　think　this　is　my　life　ambition　or　anything。〃
　〃Of　course　not；〃　said　Joe　Winder。
　The　woman　said　her　name　was　Carrie　Lanier。　〃And　I　got　my　SAG　card；〃　she　said；　still　somewhat　defensive。　〃That's　the　only　reason　I　took　this　stupid　job。　I'm　going　to　be　an　actress。〃
　Mindlessly　Winder　said；　〃You've　got　to　start　somewhere。〃
　〃Darn　right。〃
　He　waited　for　Carrie　Lanier　to　remove　the　rest　of　the　raccoon　outfit；　but　she　didn't。　He　took　out　his　notebook　and　asked　her　to　describe　what　had　happened　at　the　Rare　Animal　Pavilion。
　Carrie　shrugged　in　an　exaggerated　way；　as　if　she　were　still　in　character。　〃It　was　two　men；　we're　talking　white　trash。　One　of　them　has　a　sledgehammer；　and　they're　both　walking　real　fast。　I　start　to　follow；　don't　ask　me　why…I　just　had　a　hunch。　All　of　a　sudden　the　one　with　the　hammer　smashes　out　the　glass　in　one　of　the　exhibits。〃
　〃And　you　tried　to　stop　him？〃
　〃Yeah；　I　jumped　the　guy。　Climbed　on　his　back。　He　turned　around　and　clobbered　me　pretty　solid。　Thank　God　for　this。〃　Carrie　knocked　on　the　crown　of　the　raccoon　head；　which　was　propped　face…up　on　the　bench。　Her　fist　made　a　sharp　hollow　sound。　〃Chicken　wire；　plaster　and　Kevlar；〃　she　explained。　〃They　say　it's　bulletproof。〃
　Joe　Winder　wrote　this　down；　even　though　Charles　Chelsea　would　never　let　him　use　it　in　the　press　release。　At　the　Amazing　Kingdom；　each　publicity　announcement　was　carefully　purged　of　all　intriguing　details。　Winder　was　having　a　tough　time　kicking　the　habit　of　taking　good　notes。
　Carrie　Lanier　said；　〃He　knocked　me　down　pretty　hard；　but　that's　about　it。　There　was　a　tour　group　from　Taiwan；　Korea；　someplace　like　that。　They　helped　me　off　the　ground；　but　by　then　the　two　dirtbags　were　long　gone。　I　could've　done　without　the　ambulance　ride；　but　Risk　Management　said　I　had　to。〃
　〃Can　I　say　you　suffered　a　slight　head　injury？〃　Joe　Winder　asked；　pen　poised。
　〃No；〃　said　Carrie　Lanier。　〃As　soon　as　the　X…rays　came　out　negative；　they　hauled　me　back　to　work。　I'm　fine。〃
　That　wouldn't　go　over　well　with　Charles　Chelsea；　the　vole　story　was　infinitely　more　dramatic　if　a　park　employee　had　been　wounded　in　the　rescue　attempt。
　〃Not　even　a　headache？〃　Winder　persisted。
　〃Yeah；　I've　got　a　headache；〃　Carrie　said。　〃I've　always　got　a　headache。　Take　a　whiff　of　this　place。〃　She　stood　up　and　yanked　on　the　fluffy　striped　raccoon　tail；　which　was　attached　to　the　rump　of　the　costume　by　a　Velcro　patch。　The　tail　made　a　ripping　sound　when　Carrie　took　it　off。　She　tossed　it　in　her　locker　and　said；　〃Why　would　anyone　steal　rats？〃
　〃Voles；〃　said　Joe　Winder。
　〃The　guys　who　did　it；　boy；　what　a　pair。　Scum　of　the　earth。〃
　Again　Winder　didn't　bother　to　write　this　down。
　〃It's　crazy；〃　said　Carrie　Lanier。　She　reached　beneath　her　left　armpit　and　found；　deep　in　the　fur；　another　zipper。　Carefully　she　unzipped　the　costume　lengthwise　down　to　her　ankle。　She　did　the　same　on　the　other　side。　As　she　stepped　out　of　the　animal　outfit；　Winder　saw　that　she　was　wearing　only　a　bra　and　panties。　He　tried　not　to　stare。
　Carrie　hung　the　costume　on　a　pair　of　hooks　in　the　locker。　She　said；　〃This　damn　thing　weighs　a　ton；　I　wish　you'd　write　that　down。　It's　about　a　hundred　twenty　degrees　inside；　too。　OSHA　made　them　put　in　air　conditioners；　but　they're　always　broken。〃
　Winder　stepped　closer　to　examine　the　raccoon　costume；　not　Carrie　Lanier　in　her　bra　（which　was　the　type　that　unhooked　in　the　front；　pink　with　lacy　cups）。
　Winder　held　up　the　animal　suit　and　said；　〃Where's　the　AC？〃
　〃In　the　back。　Here；　look。〃　Carrie　showed　him。　〃The　batteries　last　about　two　hours　max；　then　forget　about　it。　We　tried　to　call