ch.nativetongue-第59节

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　He　tore　it　open。　Reading　the　note；　he　broke　into　a　broad　smile。　〃Short　and　to　the　point；〃　he　said。
　Carrie　read　it：
　
　Dear　Joe；
　You　make　one　hell　of　an　oracle。
　Don't　worry　about　me；　just　keep　up　the　fight。
　We　all　shine　on！
　
　Carrie　folded　the　note　and　returned　it　to　the　envelope。　〃I　assume　this　means　something。〃
　〃Like　the　moon　and　the　stars　and　the　sun；〃　Joe　Winder　said。　He　felt　truly　inspired。
　
　TWENTY…EIGHT
　The　Amazing　Kingdom　of　Thrills　reopened　with　only　a　minimal　drop　in　attendance；　thanks　to　a　three…for…one　ticket　promotion　that　included　a　free　ride　on　Dickie　the　Dolphin；　whose　amorous　behavior　was　now　inhibited　by　four　trainers　armed　with　electric　stun　guns。　Francis　X。　Kingsbury　was　delighted　by　the　crowds；　and　emboldened　by　the　fact　that　many　customers　actually　plained　about　the　absence　of　wild　snakes。　Kingsbury　regarded　it　as　proof　that　closing　the　Amazing　Kingdom　had　been　unnecessary；　a　costly　overestimation　of　the　average　tourist's　brainpower。　Obviously　the　yahoos　were　more　curious　than　afraid　of　lethal　reptiles。　A　thrill　is　a　thrill；　Kingsbury　said。
　The　two　persons　forced　to　sit　through　this　speech　were　Pedro　Luz　and　Special　Agent　Ron　Donner　of　the　U。S。　Marshal　Service。　Agent　Donner　had　e　to　notify　Francis　X。　Kingsbury　of　a　possible　threat　against　his　life。
　〃Ho！　From　who？〃
　〃Elements　of　organized　crime；〃　the　marshal　said。
　〃Well；　fuck　em。〃
　〃Excuse　me？〃
　〃This　is　just；　I　mean　really；　the　word　is　horseshit！〃　Kingsbury　flapped　his　arms　like　a　tangerine…colored　buzzard。　He　was　dressed　for　serious　golf；　even　his　cleats　were　orange。
　Agent　Donner　said：　〃We　think　it　would　be　wise　if　you　left　town　for　a　few　weeks。〃
　〃Oh；　you　do？　Leave　town；　like　hell　I　will。〃
　Pedro　Luz　spun　his　wheelchair　slightly　toward　the　marshal。　〃Organized　crime；〃　he　said。　〃You　mean　the　Mafia？〃
　〃We're　taking　it　very　seriously；〃　said　Agent　Donner；　thinking：　Who's　the　freak　with　the　IV　bag？
　With　the　proud　sweep　of　a　hand；　Francis　Kingsbury　introduced　his　chief　of　Security。　〃He　handles　everything　for　the　park　and　so　on。　Personal　affairs；　as　well。　You　can　say　anything　in　front　of　him；　understand？　He's　thoroughly　reliable。〃
　Pedro　Luz　casually　adjusted　the　drip　valve　on　the　intravenous　tube。
　The　marshal　asked；　〃What　happened　to　your　foot？〃
　〃Never　mind！〃　blurted　Kingsbury。
　〃Car　accident；〃　Pedro　Luz　volunteered　affably。　〃I　had　to　chew　the　damn　thing　off。〃　He　pointed　with　a　swathed；　foreshortened　index　finger。　〃Right　there　above　the　ankle…bone；　see？〃
　〃Tough　luck；〃　said　Agent　Donner；　thinking：　Psycho　City。
　〃It's　what　animals　do；〃　Pedro　Luz　added；　〃when　they　get　caught　in　traps。〃
　Kingsbury　clapped　his　hands　nervously。　〃Hey；　hey！　Can　we　get　back　to　the　issue；　please；　this　Godfather　thing。　For　the　record；　I'm　not　going　anyplace。〃
　The　marshal　said；　〃We　can　have　you　safely　in　Bozeman；　Montana；　by　tomorrow　afternoon。〃
　〃What；　do　I　look　like　fucking　Grizzly　Adams？　Listen　to　me…Montana；　don't　even　joke　about　something　like　that。〃
　Pedro　Luz　said；　〃Why　would　the　Mafia　want　to　kill　Mr。　Kingsbury？　I　don't　exactly　make　the　connection。〃　Then　his　chin　dropped；　and　he　appeared　to　drift　off。
　Agent　Donner　said；　〃I　wish　you'd　consider　the　offer。〃
　〃Two　words。〃　Kingsbury　held　up　two　fingers　as　if　playing　charades。　〃Summerfest　Jubilee。　One　of　our　biggest　days；　receipt…wise；　of　the　whole　damn　year。　Parades；　clowns；　prizes。　We're　giving　away。。。I　forget；　some　kinda　car。〃
　〃And　I　suppose　you　need　to　be　here。〃
　〃Yeah；　damn　right。　It's　my　park　and　my　show。　And　know　what　else？　You　can't　make　me　go　anywhere。　I　kept　my　end　of　the　deal。　I'm　free　and　clear　of　you　people。〃
　〃You're　still　on　probation；〃　said　the　marshal。　〃But　you're　right；　we　can't　force　you　to　go　anyplace。　This　visit　is　a　courtesy…〃
　〃And　I　appreciate　the　information。　I　just　don't　happen　to　believe　it。〃　But　a　part　of　Francis　Kingsbury　did　believe　it。　What　if　the　men　who　stole　his　files　had　given　up　on　the　idea　of　blackmail？　What　if　the　damn　burglars　had　somehow　made　touch　with　the　Gotti　organization？　It　strained　Kingsbury's　imagination　because　they'd　seemed　like　such　jittery　putzes　that　night　at　the　house。　Yet　perhaps　he'd　misjudged　them。
　〃Where'd　you　get　the　tip？〃　he　demanded。
　Agent　Donner　was　briefly　distracted　by　the　cartoon　depiction　of　rodent　fellatio　that　adorned　Kingsbury's　forearm。　Eventually　the　marshal　looked　up　and　said；　〃It　surfaced　during　another　investigation。　I　can't　go　into　details。〃
　〃But；　really；　you　guys　think　it's　on　the　level？　You　think　some　guineas　are　ing　after　me？〃　Kingsbury　struggled　to　maintain　an　air　of　amused　skepticism。
　Soberly　the　marshal　said；　〃The　FBI　is　checking　it　out。〃
　〃Well；　regardless；　I'm　not　going　to　Montana。　Just　thinking　about　it　hurts　my　mucous　membranes…I　got　the　world's　worst　hay　fever。〃
　〃So　your　mind　is　made　up。〃
　〃Yep；〃　said　Kingsbury。　〃I'm　staying　put。〃
　〃Then　let　us　provide　you　with　protection　here　at　the　park。　A　couple　of　men；　at　least。〃
　〃Thanks；　but　no　thanks。　I　got　Pedro。〃
　At　the　mention　of　his　name；　Pedro　Luz's　swollen　eyelids　parted。　He　reached　up　and　squeezed　the　IV　bag。　Then　he　tugged　the　tube　out　of　the　needle　in　his　arm；　and　fitted　the　end　into　the　corner　of　his　mouth。　The　sound　of　energetic　sucking　filled　Francis　Kingsbury's　office。
　Agent　Donner　was　dumbfounded。　In　a　brittle　voice　he　assured　Kingsbury　that　the　marshals　would　be　extremely　discreet；　and　would　in　no　way　interfere　with　the　Summerfest　Jubilee　events。　Kingsbury；　in　a　tone　approaching　politeness；　declined　the　offer　of　bodyguards。　The　last　thing　he　needed　was　federal　dicks　nosing　around　the　Amazing　Kingdom。
　〃Besides；　like　I　mentioned；　there's　Pedro。　He's　as　tough　as　they　e。〃
　〃All　right；〃　said　Agent　Donner；　casting　his　eyes　once　again　on　the　distended；　scarified；　cataleptic；　polyp…headed　mass　that　was　Pedro　Luz。
　Kingsbury　said；　〃I　know　what　you're　thinking　but；　hell；　he's　worth　ten　of　yours。　Twenty　of　yours！　Any　sonofabitch　that　would　bite　off　his　own　damn　leg…you　tell　me；　is　that　tough　or　what？〃
　The　marshal　rose　stiffly　to　leave。　〃Tough　isn't　the　word　for　it；〃　he　said。
　
　The　trailer　fire　had　left　Carrie　Lanier　with　only　three　possessions：　her　Buick　Electra；　the　gun　she　had　taken　from　Joe　Winder　and　the　newly　retired　raccoon　suit。　The　costume　and　the　gun　had　been　stowed　in　the　trunk　of　the　car。　Everything　else　had　been　destroyed　in　the　blaze。
　Molly　McNamara　offered　her　a　bedroom　on　the　second　floor　of　the　old　house。　〃I'd　loan　you　the　condo　but　the　cleaners　are　in　this　week；〃　Molly　said。　〃It's　hard　to　rent　out　a　place　with　bloodstains　in　the　carpet。〃
　〃What　about　Joe？〃　Carrie　said；　〃I'd　like　him　to　stay　with　me。〃
　Molly　clucked。　〃Young　lady；　I　really　can't　approve。　Two　unmarried　people…〃
　〃But　under　the　circumstances；〃　Carrie　persisted；　〃with　all　that's　happened。〃
　〃Oh。。。I　suppose　it's　all　right。〃　Molly　had　a　sparkle　in　her　eyes。　〃I　was　teasing；　darling。　Besides；　you　act　as　if　you're　in　love。〃
　Carrie　said　it　was　a　long　shot。　〃We're　both　very　goal…oriented；　and　very　stubborn。　I'm　not　sure　we're　heading　in　the　same　direction。〃　She　paused　and　looked　away。　〃He　doesn't　seem　to　fit　anywhere。〃
　〃You　wouldn't　want　him　if　he　did；〃　Molly　said。　〃The　world　is　full　of　nice　boring　young　men。　The　crazy　ones　are　hard　to　find　and　harder　to　keep；　but　it's　worth　it。〃
　〃Your　husband　was　like　that？〃
　〃Yes。　My　lovers；　too。〃
　〃But　crazy　isn't　the　word　for　it；　is　it？〃
　Molly　smiled　pensively。　〃You're　a　smart　cookie。〃
　〃Did　you　know　that　Joe's　father　built　Seashell　Estates？〃
　〃Oh　dear；〃　Molly　said。　A　dreadful　project：　six　thousand　units　on　eight　hundred　acres；　plus　a　golf　course。　Wiped　out　an　egret　rookery。　A　mangrove　estuary。　And　too　late　it　was　discovered　〃that　the　fairways　were　leaching　fertilizer　and　pesticides　directly　into　the　waters　of　Biscayne　Bay。
　Molly　McNamara　said；　〃Those　were　the　bad　old　days。〃
　〃Joe's　still　upset。〃
　〃But　it　certainly　wasn't　his　fault。　He　must've　been　barely　a　teenager　when　Seashell　was　developed。〃
　〃He's　got　a　thing　about　his　father；〃　Carrie　said。
　〃Is　that　what　this　is　all　about？〃
　〃He　hears　bulldozers　in　his　sleep。〃
　Molly　said；　〃It's　not　as　strange　as　you　might　imagine。　The　question　is；　can　you　take　it？　Is　this　the　kind　of　fellow　you　want？〃
　〃That's　a　tough　one；〃　Carrie　said。　〃He　could　easily　get　himself　killed　this　week。〃
　〃Take　the　blue　bedroom　at　the　end　of　the　hall。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Miss　McNamara。〃
　〃Just　one　favor；〃　Molly　said。　〃The　headboard…it's　an　antique。　I　found　it　at　a　shop　in　Williamsburg。〃
　〃We'll　be　careful；〃　Carrie　promised。
　That　night　they　made　love　on　the　bare　pine　floor。　Drenched　in　sweat；　they　slid　like　ice　cubes　across　the　slick　varnished　planks。　Eventually　they　wound　up　wedged　headfirst　in　a　corner；　where　Carrie　fell　asleep　with　Joe　Winder's　earlobe　clenched　tenderly　in　her　teeth。　He　was　starting　to　doze　himself　when　he　heard　Molly's　voice　in　the　adjoining　bedroom。　She　was　talking　sternly　to　a　man　who　didn't　sound　like　either　Skink　or　the　two　redneck　burglars。
　When　Winder　heard　the　other　door　close；　he　delicately　extricated　himself　from　Carrie's　bite　and　lifted　her　to　the　bed。　Then　he　wrapped　himself　in　an　old　quilt　and　crept　into　the　hall　to　see　who　was　in　the　next　room。
　The　last　person　h