ch.nativetongue-第65节

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　Oscar　grunted　something　in　Spanish；　then　pulled　the　trigger。　The　RPG　took　out　the　cement　truck　quite　nicely。　An　orange　gout　of　flame　shot　forty　feet　into　the　sky；　and　warm　gray　gobs　of　cement　rained　down　on　the　construction　workers　as　they　sprinted　for　their　cars。
　〃See；〃　Carrie　said。　〃A　little　variety's　always　nice。〃
　Joe　Winder　savored　the　smoky　scent　of　chaos　and　wondered　what　his　father　would　have　thought。　We　all　shine　on。
　
　That　night　Carrie　banished　him　from　the　bedroom　while　she　practiced　her　songs　for　the　Jubilee。　At　first　he　listened　in　dreamy　amazement　at　the　door；　her　voice　was　crystalline；　delicate；　soothing。　After　a　while　Bud　Schwartz　and　Danny　Pogue　joined　him　in　the　hallway；　and　Carrie's　singing　seemed　to　soften　their　rough　convict　features。　Danny　Pogue　lowered　his　eyes　and　began　to　hum　along；　Bud　Schwartz　lay　on　the　wooden　floor　with　hands　behind　his　head　and　gazed　at　the　high　pine　beams。　Molly　McNamara　even　unlocked　the　door　to　the　adjoining　bedroom　so　that　Agent　Billy　Hawkins；　gagged　but　alert；　could　enjoy　the　beautiful　musical　interlude。
　Eventually　Joe　Winder　excused　himself　and　slipped　downstairs　to　make　a　call。　He　went　through　three　telephone　temptresses　before　they　switched　him　to　Nina's　line。
　〃I'm　glad　it's　you；〃　she　said。　〃There's　something　you've　got　to　hear。〃
　〃I'm　honestly　not　in　the　mood…〃　
　〃This　is　different；　Joe。　It　took　three　nights　to　write。〃　
　What　could　he　possibly　say？　〃Go　ahead；　Nina。〃　
　〃Ready？〃　She　was　so　excited。　He　heard　the　rustle　of　paper。　Then　she　took　a　breath　and　began　to　read
　
　〃Your　hands　find　me　in　the　night；　burrow　for　my　warmth。
　Lift　me；　turn　me；　move　me　apart。
　The　language　of　blind　insistence；
　You　speak　with　a　slow　tongue　on　my　belly；
　An　eyelash　fluttering　against　my　nipple。
　This　is　the　moment　of　raw　cries　and　murmurs　when
　Nothing　matters　in　the　vacuum　of　passion
　But　passion　itself。〃
　
　He　wasn't　sure　if　she　had　finished。　It　sounded　like　a　big　ending；　but　he　wasn't　sure。
　〃Nina？〃
　〃What　do　you　think？〃
　〃It's。。。vivid。〃
　〃Poetry。　A　brand…new　concept　in　phone　sex。〃
　〃Interesting。〃　God；　she's　making　a　career　of　this。
　〃Did　it　arouse　you？〃
　〃Definitely；〃　he　said。　〃My　loins　surge　in　wild　tumescence　inside　my　jeans。〃
　〃Stop　it；　Joe！〃
　〃I'm　sorry。　Really　it's　quite　good。〃　And　maybe　it　was。　He　knew　next　to　nothing　about　poetry。
　〃I　wanted　to　try　something　different；〃　Nina　said；　〃something　literate。　A　few　of　the　girls　plained…Miriam；　of　course。　She's　more　fortable　with　the　old　sucky…fucky。〃
　〃Well；〃　Winder　said；　〃it's　all　in　the　reading。〃
　〃My　editor　wants　to　see　more。〃
　〃You　have　an　editor？〃
　〃For　the　syndication　deal；　Joe。　What'd　you　think　of　the　last　part？　Nothing　matters　in　the　vacuum　of　passion　but　passion　itself。〃
　He　said；　〃　'Abyss'　is　better　than　'vacuum。'　〃
　The　abyss　of　passion！　You're　right；　Joe；　that's　much　better。〃
　〃It's　a　long　way　from　dry…humping　on　the　Amtrak。〃
　Nina　laughed。　He　had　almost　forgotten　how　wonderful　it　sounded。
　〃So　how　was　your　hot　date　with　The　Voice？〃
　〃It　was　very　enjoyable。　He's　an　exceptional　man。〃
　〃What　does　he　do？〃
　Without　skipping　a　beat：　〃He　markets　General　Motors　products。〃
　〃Cars？　He　sells　cars！　That　is　exceptional。〃
　Nina　said；　〃I　don't　want　to　talk　about　this。〃
　〃Buicks？　Pontiacs？　Oldsmobiles？　Or　perhaps　all　three？〃
　〃He　is　a　surprisingly　cultured　man；〃　Nina　said。　〃An　educated　man。　And　it's　Chevrolets；　for　your　information。　The　light…truck　division。〃
　〃Boy。〃　Winder　felt　exhausted。　First　the　poetry；　now　this。　〃Nina；　I've　got　to　ask。　Does　the　face　match　the　voice？〃
　〃There's　nothing　wrong　with　the　way　he　looks。〃
　〃Say　no　more。〃
　〃You　can　be　such　a　prick；〃　she　observed。
　〃You're　right。　I'm　sorry…again。〃
　〃He　wants　to　marry　me。〃
　〃Showing　excellent　taste；〃　Winder　said。　〃He'd　be　nuts　if　he　didn't。〃
　There　was　a　brief　pause；　then　Nina　asked：　〃Are　you　the　one　who　shot　the　golfer？〃
　〃Nope。　But　I　don't　blame　you　for　wondering。〃
　〃Please　don't　kill　anybody；　Joe。　I　know　how　strongly　you　feel　about　these　issues；　but　please　don't　murder　anyone。〃
　〃I'll　try　not　to。〃
　〃Better　sign　off；〃　she　said。　〃I'm　tying　up　the　phone。〃
　〃Hey；　I'm　a　paying　customer。〃
　〃You　really　liked　the　poem？〃
　〃It　was　terrific；　Nina。　I'm　very　proud。〃
　He　could　tell　she　was　pleased。　〃Any　more　suggestions？〃　she　said。
　〃Well；　the　line　about　the　nipple。〃
　〃Yes。　An　eyelash　fluttering　against　my　nipple。〃
　〃The　imagery　is　nice；〃　Winder　said；　〃but　it　makes　it　sound　like　you've　got　just　one。　Nipple；　I　mean。〃
　〃Hmm；〃　said　Nina。　〃That's〃　a　good　point。〃
　〃Otherwise　it's　great。〃
　〃Thanks；　Joe；〃　she　said。　〃Thanks　for　everything。〃
　
　THIRTY…ONE
　Joe　Winder　held　Carrie　in　his　arms　and　wondered　why　the　women　he　loved　were　always　a　step　or　two　ahead　of　him。
　〃So　what　are　you　planning？〃　he　asked。
　She　stirred　but　didn't　answer。　Her　cheek　felt　silky　and　warm　against　his　chest。　When　would　he　ever　learn　to　shut　up　and　enjoy　the　moment？
　〃Carrie；　I　know　you're　not　asleep。〃
　Her　eyes　opened。　Even　in　the　darkness　he　could　feel　the　liquid　stare。　〃You're　the　only　man　I've　ever　been　with；〃　she　said；　〃who　insists　on　talking　afterward。〃
　〃You　inspire　me；　that's　all。〃
　〃Aren't　you　exhausted？〃　She　raised　her　head。　〃Was　I　hallucinating；　or　did　we　just　fuck　our　brains　out？〃
　Winder　said；　〃I'm　nervous　as　hell。　I've　been　rehearsing　it　all　in　my　head。〃
　She　told　him　to　stop　worrying　and　go　to　sleep。　〃What's　the　worst　thing　that　could　happen？〃
　〃Jail　is　a　distinct　possibility。　Death　is　another。〃
　Carrie　turned　on　her　belly　and　slid　between　his　legs。　Then　she　propped　her　elbows　on　his　rib　cage；　and　rested　her　chin　on　her　hands。
　〃What　are　you　smiling　at？〃　Winder　said。
　〃It's　all　going　to　work　out。　I've　got　faith　in　you。〃
　〃But　you're　planning　something；　just　the　same。〃
　〃Joe；　it　might　be　my　only　chance。〃
　〃At　what？〃
　〃Singing。　I　mean　really　singing。　Am　I　hurting　you？〃
　〃Oh；　no；　you're　light　as　a　feather。〃
　〃You　asshole；〃　she　giggled；　and　began　to　tickle　him　ferociously。　Winder　locked　his　legs　around　her　thighs　and　flipped　her　over　in　the　sheets。
　They　were　kissing　when　he　felt　pelled　to　pull　back　and　say；　〃I'm　sorry　I　dragged　you　into　this　mess。〃
　〃What　mess？　And；　besides；　you're　doing　the　honest　thing。　Even　if　it's　slightly　mad。〃
　〃You're　speaking　of　the　major　felonies？〃
　〃Of　course；〃　Carrie　said。　〃But　your　motives　are　absolutely　pure　and　unassailable。　I'll　be　cheering　for　you；　Joe。〃
　〃Clinical　insanity　isn't　out　of　the　question；〃　he　said。　〃Just　thinking　about　Kingsbury　and　that　damn　golf　course；　I　get　noises　inside　my　skull。〃
　〃What　kind　of　noises？〃
　〃Hydraulic…type　noises。　Like　the　crusher　on　a　garbage　truck。〃
　Carrie　looked　concerned；　and　he　couldn't　blame　her。　〃It　goes　back　to　my　old　man；〃　he　said。
　〃Don't　think　about　it　so　much；　Joe。〃
　〃I'd　feel　better　if　the　governor　were　here。　Just　knowing　I　wasn't　the　only　lunatic…〃
　〃I　had　a　dream　about　him；〃　she　said　quietly。　〃I　dreamed　he　broke　into　prison　and　killed　that　guy…what's　his　name？〃
　〃Mark　Chapman；〃　said　Winder。　〃Mark　David　Chapman。〃
　She　heard　sadness　in　the　reply；　sadness　because　she　didn't　remember　the　details。　〃Joe；　I　was　only　fourteen　when　it　happened。〃
　〃You're　right。〃
　〃Besides；　I've　always　been　lousy　with　names。　Oswald；　Sirhan；　Hinkley…it's　easy　to　lose　track　of　these　idiots。〃
　〃Sure　is；〃　Winder　agreed。
　Carrie　tenderly　laced　her　hands　on　the　back　of　his　neck。　〃Everything's　going　to　be　fine。　And　no；　you're　not　crazy。　A　little　zealous　is　all。〃
　〃It's　not　a　bad　plan；〃　he　said。
　〃Joe；　it's　a　terrific　plan。〃
　〃And　if　all　goes　well；　you'll　still　have　your　job。〃
　〃No；　I　don't　think　so。　I'm　not　much　of　a　Seminole　go…go　dancer。〃
　Now　it　was　his　turn　to　smile。　〃I　take　it　there　may　be　some　last…minute　changes　in　the　musical　program。〃
　〃Quite　possibly；〃　Carrie　said。
　He　kissed　her　softly　on　the　forehead。　〃I'll　be　cheering　for　you；　too。〃
　〃I　know　you　will；　Joe。〃
　As　far　as　Bud　Schwartz　was　concerned；　he'd　rather　be　in　jail　than　in　a　hospital。　Practically　everyone　he　ever　knew　who　died…his　mother；　his　brother；　his　uncles；　his　first　probation　officer…had　died　in　hospital　beds。　In　fact；　Bud　Schwartz　couldn't　think　of　a　single　person　who'd　e　out　of　a　hospital　in　better　shape　than　when　they'd　gone　in。
　〃What　about　babies？〃　Danny　Pogue　said。
　〃Babies　don't　count。〃
　〃What　about　your　boy？　Mike；　Jr。；　wasn't　he　borned　in　a　hospital？〃
　〃Matter　of　fact；　no。　It　was　the　back　of　a　Bronco。　And　his　name　is　Bud；　Jr。；　like　I　told　you。〃　Bud　Schwartz　rolled　down　the　window　and　tried　to　spit　the　toothpick　from　the　corner　of　his　mouth。　It　landed　on　his　arm。　〃A　hospital's　the　last　place　for　a　sick　person　to　go；〃　he　said。
　〃You　think　she'll　die　there？〃
　〃No。　I　don't　wanna　set　foot　in　the　place　is　all。〃
　〃Jesus；　you're　a　cold　shit。〃
　Bud　Schwartz　was　startled　by　his　partner's　anger。　Out　of　pure　guilt　he　relented　and　agreed　to　go；　but　only　for　a　few　minutes。　Danny　Pogue　seemed　satisfied。　〃Let's　get　some　roses　on　the　way。〃
　〃Fine。　A　lovely　gesture。〃
　〃Hey；　it'll　mean　a　lot　to　her。〃
　〃Danny；　this　is　the　same　woman　who　shot　us。　And　you're　talking　flowers。〃
　Molly　McNamara　had　driven　herself　to　Baptist　Hospital　after　experiencing　mild　chest　pains