ch.nativetongue-第76节

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　Francis　Kingsbury　shivered　under　his　hairpiece。
　Lou　went　to　the　window　and　watched　the　Wet　Willy　burn。　〃You　know　what　it　looks　like？〃
　〃Yes；〃　Kingsbury　said。
　〃A　giant　Trojan。〃
　〃I　know。〃
　〃It　ain't　up　to　code；　that's　for　sure。　You　must've　greased　some　county　inspectors。〃
　〃Another　good　guess；〃　Kingsbury　said。　Why　did　the　alarm　cut　off？　he　wondered。　Where　did　all　the　firemen　go？
　Lou　farted　placidly　as　he　walked　back　to　the　desk。　〃Well；　I　better　get　a　move　on。〃
　Kingsbury　tried　to　hand　him　the　telephone。　〃Please；〃　he　begged；　〃call　the　Zuboni　brothers。〃
　〃A　deal's　a　deal；〃　Lou　said；　checking　the　fit　of　the　silencer。
　〃But　you　saw　for　yourself！〃　Kingsbury　cried。　〃Another　five　years；　goddamn；　I'll　be　bigger　than　Disney。〃
　Lou　looked　doubtful。　〃I　wasn't　gonna　say　anything；　but　what　the　hell。　The　car　and　the　prizes　are　great；　don't　get　me　wrong；　but　the　park's　got　a　long　ways　to　go。〃
　Petulantly；　Kingsbury　said；　〃Fine；　let's　hear　it。〃
　〃It's　the　bathrooms；〃　said　Lou。　〃The　fuckin〃　Port　Authority's　got　cleaner　bathrooms。〃
　〃Is　that　so？〃
　〃Yeah；　and　it　wouldn't　hurt　to　keep　an　extra　roll　a　toilet　paper　in　the　stalls。〃
　〃Is　that　it？　That's　your　big　gripe？〃
　Lou　said；　〃People　notice　them　things；　they　really　do。〃　Then　he　stepped　toward　Francis　X。　Kingsbury　and　raised　the　pistol。
　
　Joe　Winder　led　her　through　the　dense　hammock；　all　the　way　to　the　ocean's　edge。　It　took　nearly　an　hour　because　Carrie　wore　high　heels。　The　gown　kept　snagging　on　branches；　and　the　insects　were　murder。
　〃I'm　down　two　pints；〃　she　said；　scratching　at　her　ankles。
　〃Take　off　the　shoes。　Hurry。〃　He　held　her　hand　and　waded　into　the　water。
　〃Joe！〃　The　gown　rose　up　around　her　hips；　the　sequins　sparkled　like　tiny　minnows。
　〃How　deep　are　we　going？〃　she　asked。
　At　first　the　turtle　grass　tickled　her　toes；　then　it　began　to　sting。　Winder　kept　walking　until　the　water　was　up　to　his　chest。
　〃See？　No　more　bugs。〃
　〃You're　full　of　tricks；〃　Carrie　said；　clinging　to　his　arm。　From　the　flats　it　was　possible　to　see　the　entire　curving　shore　of　the　island；　including　the　naked　gash　made　by　the　bulldozers　at　Falcon　Trace。　She　asked　if　the　trees　would　ever　e　back。
　〃Someday；〃　Joe　Winder　said；　〃if　the　bastards　leave　it　alone。〃
　Stretching　toward　the　horizon　was　a　ribbon　of　lights　from　the　cars　sitting　bumper…to…bumper　on　County　Road　905…the　exodus　of　tourists　from　the　Amazing　Kingdom。　Winder　wondered　if　Skink　had　waited　long　enough　to　make　his　big　move。
　He　listened　for　the　distant　sound　of　sirens　as　he　moved　through　the　shallows；　following　the　shoreline　south。　The　warm　hug　of　the　tide　soothed　the　pain　in　his　chest。　He　pointed　at　a　pair　of　spotted　leopard　rays；　pushing　twin　wakes。
　〃What　else　do　you　see？〃　Carrie　said。
　〃Turtles。　Jellyfish。　A　pretty　girl　with　no　shoes。〃　He　kissed　her　on　the　neck。
　〃How　far　can　we　go　like　this？〃　she　asked。
　〃Big　Pine；　Little　Torch；　all　the　way　to　Key　West　if　you　want。〃
　She　laughed。　〃Joe；　that's　a　hundred　miles。〃　She　kicked　playfully　into　the　deeper　water。　〃It　feels　so　good。〃
　〃You　sang　beautifully　tonight。　Watch　out　for　the　coral。〃
　When　Carrie　stood　up；　the　water　came　to　her　chin。　Blowing　bubbles；　she　said；　〃I　didn't　know　you　liked　opera。〃
　〃I　hate　opera；〃　Winder　said；　〃but　you　made　it　wonderful。〃
　She　splashed　after　him；　but　he　swam　away。
　They　didn't　leave　the　ocean　until　the　road　was　clear　and　the　island　was　dark。　They　agreed　it　would　be　best　to　get　out　of　Monroe　County　for　a　while；　so　they　took　Card　Sound　Road　toward　the　mainland。　The　pavement　felt　cool　under　their　feet。　They　wanted　to　hold　hands；　but　it　hampered　their　ability　to　defend　themselves　against　the　swarming　mosquitoes。　Every　few　minutes　Winder　would　stop　walking　and　check　the　sky　for　a　change　in　the　light。　One　time　he　was　sure　he　heard　a　helicopter。
　Carrie　said；　〃What's　your　feeling　about　all　this？〃
　〃Meaning　Kingsbury　and　the　whole　mess。〃
　〃Exactly。〃
　〃There's　thousands　more　where　he　came　from。〃
　〃Oh；　brother；〃　Carrie　said。　〃I　was　hoping　you'd　gotten　it　all　out　of　your　system。〃
　〃Never；〃　said　Winder；　〃but　I'm　open　to　suggestions。〃
　〃All　right；　here's　one：　Orlando。〃
　〃God　help　us。〃
　〃Now　wait　a　second；　Joe。　They're　shooting　mercials　at　those　new　studios　up　there。　I've　got　my　first　audition　lined　up　for　next　week。〃
　〃What　kind　of　mercial？〃
　〃The　point　is；　it's　national　exposure。〃
　〃Promise　me　something；〃　Winder　said。　〃Promise　it's　not　one　of　those　personal…hygiene　products。〃
　〃Fabric　softener。　The　script's　not　bad；　all　things　considered。〃
　〃And　will　there　be　singing？〃
　〃No　singing；〃　Carrie　said；　picking　up　the　pace。　〃They've　got　newspapers　in　Orlando；　don't　they？〃
　〃Oh　no；　you　don't。〃
　〃It'd　be　good　for　you；　Joe。　Write　about　the　important　things；　whatever　pisses　you　off。　Just　write　something。　Otherwise　you'll　make　me　crazy；　and　I'll　wind　up　killing　you　in　your　sleep。〃
　The　Card　Sound　Bridge　rose　steeply　ahead。　A　handful　of　crabbers　and　snapper　fishermen　sleepily　tended　slack　lines。　Joe　and　Carrie　took　the　sidewalk。　For　some　reason　she　stopped　and　gave　him　a　long　kiss。
　Halfway　up　the　rise；　she　tugged　on　his　hand　and　told　him　to　turn　around。
　There　it　was：　the　eastern　sky　aglow；　fat　clouds　roiling　unnaturally　under　a　pulsing　halo　of　wild　pink　and　orange。　Baleful　columns　of　tarry　smoke　rose　from　the　Amazing　Kingdom　of　Thrills。
　Joe　Winder　whistled　in　amazement。　〃There's　arson；〃　he　said；　〃and　then　there's　arson。〃
　
　Bud　Schwartz　and　Danny　Pogue　were　surprised　to　find　Molly　McNamara　wide　awake；　propped　up　with　a　stack　of　thin　hospital　pillows。　She　was　brushing　her　snowy　hair　and　reading　the　New　Republic　when　the　burglars　arrived。
　〃Pacemaker；〃　Molly　reported。　〃A　routine　procedure。〃
　〃You　look　so　good；〃　said　Danny　Pogue。　〃Bud；　don't　she　look　good？〃
　〃Hush　now；〃　Molly　said。　〃Sit　down　here；　the　news　is　ing　on。　There's　a　story　you'll　both　find　interesting。〃　Without　being　asked；　Danny　Pogue　switched　the　television　to　Channel　10；　Molly's　favorite。
　Bud　Schwartz　marveled　at　the　old　woman　in　bed。　Days　earlier；　she　had　seemed　so　weak　and　withered　and　close　to　death。　Now　the　gray　eyes　were　as　sharp　as　a　hawk's；　her　cheeks　shone；　and　her　voice　rang　strong　with　maternal　authority。
　She　said；　〃Danny；　did　you　get　the　bullets？〃
　〃Yes；　ma'am。〃　He　handed　Molly　the　yellow　box。
　〃These　are　。22…longs；〃　she　said。　〃I　needed　shorts。　That's　what　the　gun　takes。〃
　Danny　Pogue　looked　lamely　toward　his　partner。　Bud　Schwartz　said；　〃Look；　we　just　asked　for　。22s。　The　guy　didn't　say　nothin〃　about　long　or　short。〃
　〃It's　all　right；〃　Molly　McNamara　said。　〃I'll　pick　up　a　box　at　the　range　next　week。〃
　〃We　don't　know　diddly　about　guns；〃　Danny　Pogue　reiterated。　〃Neither　of　us　do。〃
　〃I　know；　and　I　think　it's　precious。〃　Molly　put　on　her　rose…framed　glasses　and　instructed　Bud　Schwartz　to　adjust　the　volume　on　the　television。　A　nurse　came　in　to　check　the　dressing　on　Molly's　stitches；　but　Molly　shooed　her　away。　She　pointed　at　the　TV　and　said；　〃Look　here；　boys。〃
　The　news　opened　with　videotape　of　a　colossal　raging　fire。　The　scene　had　been　recorded　at　a　great　distance；　and　from　a　helicopter。　When　the　TV　reporter　announced　what　was　burning；　the　burglars　simultaneously　looked　at　one　another　and　mouthed　the　same　profane　exclamation。
　〃Yes；〃　Molly　McNamara　said　rapturously。　〃Yes；　indeed。〃
　Danny　Pogue　felt　mixed　emotions　as　he　watched　the　Amazing　Kingdom　burn。　He　recalled　the　gaiety　of　the　promenade；　the　friendliness　of　the　animal　characters；　the　circus　colors　and　brassy　music；　the　wondrous　sensation　of　being　inundated　with　fun。　Then　he　thought　of　Francis　X。　Kingsbury　killing　off　the　butterflies　and　crocodiles；　and　the　conflagration　seemed　more　like　justice　than　tragedy。
　Bud　Schwartz　was　equally　impressed　by　the　destruction　of　the　theme　park…not　as　a　moral　lesson；　but　as　a　feat　of　brazen　criminality。　The　torch　artist　had　been　swift　and　thorough；　the　place　was　engulfed　in　roaring；　implacable　flames；　and　there　was　no　saving　it。　The　man　on　TV　said　he　had　never　witnessed　such　a　fierce；　fast…moving　blaze。　Bud　Schwartz　felt　relieved　and　lucky　and　wise。
　〃And　you　wanted　to　stay；〃　he　said　to　Danny　Pogue。　〃You　wanted　to　ride　the　Jungle　Jerry　again。〃
　Danny　Pogue　nodded　solemnly　and　slid　the　chair　close　to　the　television。　〃We　could　be　dead；〃　he　murmured。
　〃Fried；〃　said　his　partner。　〃Fried　clams。〃
　〃Hush　now；〃　Molly　said。　〃There's　no　call　for　melodrama。〃
　She　announced　that　she　wasn't　going　to　ask　why　they'd　gone　to　the　Amazing　Kingdom　that　night。　〃I　don't　like　to　pry；〃　she　said。　〃You're　grown　men；　you've　got　your　own　lives。〃
　Danny　Pogue　said；　〃It　wasn't　us　who　torched　the　place。〃
　Molly　McNamara　smiled　as　if　she　already　knew。　〃How's　your　foot；　Danny？〃
　〃It　don't　hardly　hurt　at　all。〃
　Then　to　Bud　Schwartz：　〃And　your　hand？　Is　it　better？〃
　〃Gettin〃　there；〃　he　said；　flexing　the　fingers。
　Molly　removed　her　glasses　and　rested　her　head　against　the　pillows。　〃Nature　is　a　wonder；〃　she　said。　〃Such　power　to　renew；　or　to　destroy。　It's　an　awesome　paradox。〃
　〃A　what？〃　said　Danny　Pogue。
　Molly　told　them　to　think　of　the　fire　as　a　natural　purge；　a　cyclical　scouring　of　the　land。　Bud　Schwartz　could　hardly　keep　a　straight　face。　He　jerked　his　chin　toward　the　flickering　images　on　television；　and　said；　〃So　maybe　i