cb.damnationgame-第76节

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ld　to　get　the　duty　done　while　the　prisoner　amused　himself　watching　the　flies　orbiting　his　head。
　　Within　three　or　four　minutes　Breer　was　secured　hand　and　foot。　Mamoulian　nodded　his　satisfaction。　〃That's　fine。　You　may　go　and　join　Tom　in　the　car。　I'll　be　down　in　a　few　moments。〃　Respectfully；　Chad　withdrew；　wiping　his　hands　on　his　handkerchief　as　he　went。　Breer　still　watched　the　flies。
　　〃I　have　to　leave　you　now；〃　said　the　European。
　　〃When　will　you　e　back？〃　the　Razor…Eater　asked。
　　〃Never。〃　Breer　smiled。　〃I'm　free；　then；〃　he　said。
　　〃You　are　dead；　Anthony；〃　Mamoulian　replied。
　　〃What？〃　Breer's　smile　began　to　decay。
　　〃You've　been　dead　since　the　day　I　found　you　hanging　from　the　ceiling。　I　think　perhaps　somehow　you　knew　I　was　ing；　and　you　killed　yourself　to　escape　me。　But　I　needed　you。　So　I　gave　you　a　little　of　my　life；　to　keep　you　in　my　employ。〃　Breer's　smile　had　disappeared　altogether。
　　〃That's　why　you're　so　impervious　to　pain；　you　are　a　walking　corpse。　The　deterioration　your　body　should　have　suffered　in　these　hot　months　has　been　held　at　bay。　Not　entirely　prevented；　I'm　afraid；　but　slowed　considerably。〃　Breer　shook　his　head。　Was　this　the　miracle　of　redemption？
　　〃Now　I　no　longer　need　you。　So　I　withdraw　my　gift　。　。　。〃　〃No！〃　He　tried　to　make　a　small　pleading　gesture；　but　his　wrists　were　bound　together；　and　the　bindings　bit　into　the　muscle；　causing　it　to　buckle　and　furrow　like　soft　clay。
　　〃Tell　me　how　to　make　amends；〃　he　offered。　〃Anything。〃　〃There　is　no　way。〃　〃Anything　you　ask。　Please。〃　〃I　ask　you　to　suffer；〃　the　European　replied。
　　〃Why？〃　〃For　treachery。　For　being；　in　the　end；　like　the　others。〃
　　〃。　。　。　no　。　。　。　just　a　little　game　。　。　。〃　〃Then　let　this　be　a　game　too；　if　it　amuses　you。　Six　months　of　deterioration　pressed　into　as　many　hours。〃　Mamoulian　crossed　to　the　bed；　and　put　his　hand　on　Breer's　sobbing　mouth；　making　something　very　like　a　snatching　gesture。
　　〃It's　over；　Anthony；〃　he　said。
　　Breer　felt　a　motion　in　his　lower　belly；　as　though　some　jittering　thing　had　suddenly　twitched　and　perished　in　there。　He　followed　the　European's　exit　with　upturned　eyes。　Matter；　not　tears；　gathered　at　their　rims。
　　〃Forgive　me；〃　he　begged　his　savior。　〃Please　forgive　me。〃　But　the　European　had　gone；　quietly；　closing　the　door　behind　him。
　　There　was　a　brawling　on　the　windowsill。　Breer　looked　from　door　to　window。　Two　pigeons　had　squabbled　over　some　morsel；　and　were　now　flying　off。　Small　white　feathers　settled　on　the　sill；　like　midsummer　snow。
　　
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　　〃It　is　Mr。　Halifax；　isn't　it？〃　The　man　inspecting　the　boxes　of　fruit　in　the　breezeless；　wasp…woven　yard　at　the　back　of　the　shop　turned　to　Marty。
　　〃Yes。　What　can　I　do　for　you？〃　Mr。　Halifax　had　been　out　sunbathing；　and　injudiciously。　His　face　was　peeling　in　places；　and　looked　tender。　He　was　hot　and　unfortable　and；　Marty　guessed；　thin　of　temper。　Tact　was　the　order　of　the　day；　if　he　hoped　to　win　the　man's　confidence。
　　〃Business　OK？〃　Marty　asked。
　　Halifax　shrugged。　〃It'll　do；〃　he　said；　unwilling　to　be　drawn　on　the　subject。　〃Lot　of　my　regular　customers　are　on　holiday　at　this　time　of　year。〃　He　peered　at　Marty。　〃Do　I　know　you？〃　〃Yes。　I've　been　here　several　times；〃　Marty　lied。　〃For　Mr。　Whitehead's　strawberries。　That's　what　I　came　for。　The　usual　order。〃　Halifax　registered　nothing；　he　put　down　the　tray　of　peaches　he　was　holding。　〃I'm　sorry。　I　don't　supply　any　Mr。　Whitehead。〃　〃Strawberries；〃　Marty　prompted。
　　〃I　heard　what　you　said；〃　Halifax　replied　testily；　〃but　I　don't　know　anyone　of　that　name。　You　must　be　mistaken。〃　〃You　do　remember　me？〃　〃No；　I　don't。　Now　if　you'd　like　to　make　a　purchase；　Theresa　will　serve　you。〃　He　nodded　back　in　the　direction　of　the　shop　itself。　〃I'd　like　to　finish　here　before　I　cook　in　this　bloody　heat。〃　〃But　I'm　supposed　to　be　picking　up　strawberries。〃　〃You　can　have　as　many　as　you　like；〃　Halifax　said；　spreading　his　arms。　〃There's　a　glut。　Just　ask　Theresa。〃　Marty　could　see　failure　looming。　The　man　wasn't　about　to　give　an　inch。　He　tried　one　final　tack。　〃You　don't　have　any　fruit　set　aside　for　Mr。　Whitehead？　You　normally　have　them　packed；　ready　for　him。〃　This　significant　detail　seemed　to　mellow　the　dismissal　on　Halifax's　face。　Doubt　dawned。
　　〃Look　。　。　。〃　he　said；　〃。　。　。　I　don't　think　you　quite　understand　。　。　。〃　His　voice　dropped　in　volume；　though　there　was　nobody　else　in　the　yard　to　hear。　〃Joe　Whitehead　is　dead。　Don't　you　read　the　newspapers？〃　A　large　wasp　alighted　on　Halifax's　arm；　navigating　the　ginger　hairs　with　difficulty。　He　let　it　crawl　there；　undisturbed。
　　〃I　don't　believe　everything　I　read　in　the　newspapers；〃　Marty　replied；　quietly。　〃Do　you？〃　〃I　don't　know　what　you're　talking　about；〃　the　other　man　returned。
　　〃His　strawberries；〃　Marty　said。　〃That's　all　I'm　after。〃　〃Mr。　Whitehead　is　dead。〃　〃No；　Mr。　Halifax；　Joe　is　not　dead。　You　and　I　both　know　that。〃　The　wasp　rose　from　Halifax's　arm　and　careered　in　the　air　between　them。　Marty　swatted　it　away；　it　came　back；　its　buzz　louder。
　　〃Who　are　you？〃　Halifax　said。
　　〃Mr。　Whitehead's　bodyguard。　I've　told　you；　I've　been　here　before。〃　Halifax　bent　back　to　the　tray　of　peaches；　more　wasps　congregated　at　a　bruise　on　one　of　them。　〃I'm　sorry；　I　can't　help　you；〃　he　said。
　　〃You　took　them　already；　did　you？〃　Marty　laid　a　hand　on　Halifax's　shoulder。　〃Did　you？〃　〃I'm　not　at　liberty　to　tell　you　anything。〃　〃I'm　a　friend。〃　Halifax　glanced　round　at　Marty。　〃I've　sworn；〃　he　said；　with　the　finality　of　a　practiced　bargainer。　Marty　had　thought　the　scenario　through　as　far　as　this　impasse：　Halifax　confessing　that　he　knew　something；　but　refusing　to　provide　the　details。　What　now？　Did　he　lay　hands　on　the　man；　beat　it　out　of　him？
　　〃Joe　is　in　great　danger。〃　〃Oh；　yes；〃　Halifax　murmured。　〃You　think　I　don't　realize　that？〃　〃I　can　help　him。〃　Halifax　shook　his　head。　〃Mr。　Whitehead　has　been　a　valued　customer　for　a　good　many　years；〃　he　explained。　〃He's　always　had　his　strawberries　from　me。　I　never　knew　a　man　love　strawberries　the　way　he　does。〃　〃Present　tense；〃　Marty　mented。
　　Halifax　went　on　as　though　he　hadn't　been　interrupted。　〃He　used　to　e　in　here　personally；　before　his　lady　wife　died。　Then　he　stopped　ing。　He　still　bought　the　fruit。　Had　somebody　e　and　pick　it　up　for　him。　And　at　Christmas；　there　was　always　a　check　for　the　kiddies。　There　still　is；　e　to　that。　Still　sends　money　for　them。〃　The　wasp　had　alighted　on　the　back　of　his　hand；　where　the　sweet　juice　of　one　fruit　or　another　had　dried。　Halifax　let　it　have　its　fill。　Marty　liked　him。　If　Halifax　wasn't　willing　to　volunteer　the　information　Marty　wouldn't　be　able　to　bully　it　out　of　the　man。
　　〃Now　you　e　here　and　tell　me　you're　a　friend　of　his；〃　Halifax　said。　〃How　do　I　know　you're　telling　the　truth？　People　have　friends　who'd　cut　their　throats。〃　〃His　more　than　most。〃　〃True。　So　much　money；　so　few　people　who　care　about　him。〃　Halifax　had　a　sad　look。　〃Seems　to　me　I　should　keep　his　hideaway　secret；　don't　you？　Or　else　who　can　he　trust　in　all　the　world？〃　〃Yes；〃　Marty　conceded。　What　Halifax　said　made　perfect　and　passionate　sense；　and　there　was　nothing　he　was　prepared　to　do　to　make　him　rescind　it。
　　〃Thank　you；〃　he　said；　cowed　by　the　lesson。　〃I'm　sorry　to　have　kept　you　from　your　work。〃　He　made　his　way　back　toward　the　shop。　He'd　gone　a　few　paces　when　Halifax　said：　〃You　were　the　one。〃　Marty　pivoted　on　his　heel。
　　〃What？〃　〃You　were　the　one　who　came　for　the　strawberries。　I　remember　you。　Only　you　looked　different　then。〃　Marty　ran　his　hand　across　several　days〃　growth　of　beard；　shaving　was　a　forgotten　craft　these　mornings。
　　〃Not　the　hair；〃　Halifax　said。　〃You　were　harder。　I　didn't　take　to　you。〃　Marty　waited　somewhat　impatiently　for　Halifax　to　finish　this　farewell　homily。　His　mind　was　already　turning　over　other　possibilities。　It　was　only　when　he　turned　back　into　Halifax's　words　that　he　realized　the　man　had　changed　his　mind。　He　was　going　to　tell。　He　beckoned　Marty　back　across　the　yard。
　　〃You　think　you　can　help　him？〃　〃Maybe。〃　〃I　hope　somebody　can。〃　〃You've　seen　him？〃　〃I'll　tell　you。　He　rang　the　shop；　asked　for　me。　Funny；　I　recognized　the　voice　immediately；　even　after　all　these　years。　He　asked　me　to　bring　him　some　strawberries。　He　said　he　couldn't　e　himself。　It　was　terrible。〃　〃Why？〃　〃He's　so　frightened。〃　Halifax　hesitated；　looking　for　the　right　words。　〃I　remember　him　as　being　big；　you　know？　Impressive。　He'd　e　in　the　shop　and　everyone　would　part　for　him。　Now？　Shrunk　to　nothing。　Fear　did　that　to　him。　I've　seen　it　happen。　My　sister…in…law；　same　thing　happened　to　her。　She　had　cancer。　Fear　killed　her　months　before　the　tumor。〃　〃Where　is　he？〃　〃I　tell　you；　I　went　back　home　and　I　didn't　say　a　word　to　anyone。　I　just　drank　half　a　bottle　of　Scotch；　straight　off。　Never　done　that　in　my　life。　I　just　wanted　to　get　the　way　he'd　looked　out　of　my　head。　It　really　turned　my　stomach；　hearing　him　and　seeing　him　that　way。　I　mean…if　the　likes　of　him's　scared；　what　chance　have　the　rest　of　us　got？〃　〃You're　safe；〃　Marty　said；　hoping　to　God　the　European's　revenge　wouldn't　stretch　as　far　as　the　old　man's　strawberry　supplier。　Halifax　was　a　good　man。　Marty　found　himself　holding　on　to　this　realization　while　staring　at　the　round；　red　face。　Here　is　goodness。　Flaws　too；　no　doubt：　sins　by　the　armful　perhaps。　But　the　good　was　worth　celebrating；　however　many　stains　the　man　had。　Marty　wanted