ch.doublewhammy-第36节

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　〃Catherine；〃　James　said　sternly；　changing　the　subject；　〃have　you　seen　Bambi？〃
　〃He　was　playing　in　the　hall　a　few　minutes　ago。〃
　〃He　looked　a　little　tired；〃　Decker　offered。
　〃Bambi？〃　Skink　made　a　face。　〃You　mean　that　goddamn　yappy　dog？〃
　James　stiffened。　〃He's　a　pedigreed。〃
　〃He's　a　fucking　rodent；〃　Skink　said；　〃with　a　perm。〃
　Catherine　started　to　laugh；　caught　herself。　Even　in　his　jealous　snit；　Decker　had　to　admit　they　made　a　ical　foursome。　He　was　glad　to　see　that　Skink's　momentary　charm　had　evaporated；　he　was　much　more　likable　as　a　heathen。
　James　glared　at　him　and　said；　〃I　didn't　get　your　name。〃
　〃Ichabod；〃　Skink　said。　〃Icky　for　short。〃
　Decker　suspected；　and　fervently　hoped；　that　Ichabod　was　not　Skink's　real　name。　He　hoped　that　Skink　had　not　chosen　this　particular　moment；　in　front　of　these　particular　people；　to　bare　the　murky　secrets　of　his　soul。　Catherine　was　known　to　have　that　effect　on　a　man。
　Inanely　Decker　said　to　James；　〃This　is　quite　a　place。　Your　practice　must　be　going　great　guns。〃
　〃Actually；〃　James　said；　〃I　picked　up　this　house　before　I　became　a　doctor。〃　He　seemed　relieved　not　to　be　talking　about　the　poodle　or　his　wife's　good　looks。　〃Back　when　I　was　in　real　estate；〃　he　said；　〃that's　when　I　lucked　into　the　place。〃
　〃What　kinda　real　estate？〃　Skink　asked。
　〃Interval…ownership　units；〃　James　replied；　without　looking　at　him。
　〃Timeshares；〃　Catherine　added　helpfully。
　On　the　sofa　Skink　shifted　with　an　audible　crinkle。　'Timeshares；〃　he　said。　〃Wherebouts？〃
　Catherine　pointed　to　several　small　plaques　hanging　on　one　of　the　walls。　〃James　was　the　top　salesman　three　years　in　a　row；〃　she　said。　It　didn't　sound　like　she　was　bragging；　it　sounded　like　she　said　it　to　get　it　out　of　the　way；　knowing　James　would　have　mentioned　it　anyway。
　〃And　where　was　this？〃　Skink　pressed。
　〃Up　the　coast　north　of　Smyrna；〃　James　said。　〃We　did　very　well　for　a　stretch　in　the　late　seventies。　Then　Tallahassee　cracked　down；　the　media　went　sour　on　us；　and　the　interval　market　dried　up。　Same　old　tune。　I　figured　it　was　time　to　move　along　to　something　else。〃
　〃Boom　and　bust；〃　Decker　played　along。　〃That's　the　story　of　Florida。〃　Was　it　purely　the　money；　he　wondered；　that　had　attracted　Catherine　to　this　lanky　twit？　In　a　way　he　hoped　it　was　that　simple；　that　it　was　nothing　more。
　Skink　got　up　and　crunched　over　to　examine　the　plaques。　Catherine　and　James　couldn't　take　their　eyes　off　him；　they　had　never　had　such　a　wild…looking　person　roaming　their　house。
　〃What　was　the　name　of　your　project？〃　Skink　asked；　toying　with　his　silvery　braid。
　〃Sparrow　Beach；〃　James　said。　〃The　Sparrow　Beach　Club。　Seems　like　ancient　history　now。〃
　Skink　gave　no　reply；　but　let　out　a　soft　and　surprising　noise。　It　sounded　to　R。　J。　Decker　like　a　sigh。
　〃Is　your　friend　all　right？〃　Catherine　asked　later。
　〃Sure；〃　Decker　said。　〃He　prefers　to　sleep　outdoors；　really。〃
　
　In　the　middle　of　James's　monologue　about　his　sales　triumphs　at　Sparrow　Beach；　Skink　had　turned　to　Catherine　and　asked　if　he　could　spend　the　night　in　the　backyard。　Decker　could　tell　he　was　brooding；　but　had　no　private　moment　to　ask　what　was　wrong。　Catherine　had　loaned　Skink　an　old　blanket　and　in　a　flat　voice　Skink　had　thanked　her　for　the　hospitality　and　lumbered　out　the　back　door。　He　had　ignored　James　pletely。
　Skink　settled　in　under　a　tall　avocado　tree；　and　from　the　window　Decker　could　see　him　sitting　upright　against　the　trunk；　facing　the　narrow　waterway　that　ran　behind　Catherine's　house。　Decker　had　an　urge　to　join　him　there；　under　the　stars。
　〃Let　James　have　a　look　at　your　neck；〃　Catherine　said。
　〃No；　I'll　be　fine。〃
　〃Lie　down　here；〃　James　instructed；　making　room　on　the　sofa。　〃Lie　down　on　your　stomach。〃
　The　next　thing　Decker　knew；　James　was　hunched　over　him　with　one　knee　propped　on　the　sofa　for　leverage。　Intently　he　kneaded　and　probed　the　back　of　Decker's　neck；　while　Catherine　watched　cross…legged　on　an　ottoman。
　〃That　hurt？〃　James　asked。
　Decker　grunted。　It　did　hurt；　but　the　rubbing　helped；　James　seemed　to　know　what　he　was　doing。
　〃Brother；　you're　really　out　of　alignment；〃　he　said。
　〃That's　a　medical　term？〃
　〃Full　traction　is　what　you　need。　Slings　and　weights。　Thermal　therapy。　Ultrasound。　You're　too　young　for　Medicare；　otherwise　I'd　fix　you　right　up　with　a　twelve…week　program。〃　James　worked　his　fingers　along　Decker's　spine。　He　seemed　at　ease　now；　enjoying　the　role　of　expert。　〃Have　you　got　any　insurance？〃　he　asked。
　〃Nope；〃　Decker　said。
　〃Workmen's　p？　Maybe　you're　in　an　HMO。〃
　〃Nope。〃　The　guy　was　unbelievable；　the　pitchman's　spark　was　probably　left　over　from　his　days　of　peddling　condos。
　〃I　must　caution　you；〃　James　went　on；　〃that　injuries　such　as　this　should　never　go　untreated。　Your　neck　has　been　wrenched　badly。〃
　〃I'm　aware　of　that；〃　Decker　said；　wincing　under　the　chiropractor's　explorations。　〃Tell　me；　what's　the　difference　between　this　and　a　massage？〃
　〃I'm　a　doctor；　that's　the　difference。　Don't　move　now；　I　think　I've　got　an　extra　brace　in　the　trunk　of　the　car。〃
　After　James　had　left　the　room；　Catherine　came　over　and　knelt　down　on　the　floor　next　to　Decker。　〃Tell　me　what's　happened；　Rage。〃
　〃Somebody's　trying　to　frame　me　for　a　murder。〃
　〃Who？　Not　the　Fish　People！〃
　〃Afraid　so；〃　Decker　said。　He　was　ready　for　a　trenchant　scolding…this　was　Catherine's　specialty…but　for　some　reason　（probably　pity）　she　refrained。
　〃The　guy　out　back；　Grizzly　Adams…〃
　〃He's　all　right；〃　Decker　said。
　〃James　is　scared　of　him。〃
　〃So　am　I；　but　he's　all　I've　got。〃
　Catherine　kissed　him　lightly　on　the　ear。　〃Is　there　anything　I　can　do？〃
　For　one　flushed　moment　Decker　felt　his　heart　stop。　Bump；　bump…then　dead　air。　All　from　a　whiff　of　perfume　and　a　silly　peck　on　the　earlobe。　It　was　so　wonderful　that　Decker　almost　forgot　she'd　dumped　him　for　a　guy　who　wore　ninety…dollar　bathrobes。
　Catherine　said；　〃I　want　to　help。〃
　〃Does　James　have　a　broker？〃　Decker　asked。
　〃Yes。　Hutton；　Shearson；　somebody　big　like　that。　It's　a　VIP　account；　that　much　I　know。　They　sent　us　a　magnum　of　champagne　last　Christmas。〃
　Decker　said；　'This　is　what　I　need。　Tell　James　you　got　a　tip　at　the　beauty　parlor…〃
　〃Oh；　please。〃
　〃Or　wherever；　Catherine；　just　tell　him　you　got　a　tip　on　a　stock。　It's　traded　as　OCN；　I　think。　The　Outdoor　Christian　Network。　See　if　your　husband's　broker　can　send　over　a　prospectus。　I　need　a　copy　as　soon　as　possible。〃
　She　said；　〃He'll　think　it's　odd。　We　never　talk　about　his　investments。〃
　〃Try　it；〃　Decker　said。　〃Play　dumb　and　sweet　and　just…trying…to…help。　You　can　do　it。〃
　〃You're　still　an　asshole；　Rage。〃
　〃And　you're　still　a　vision；　Catherine。　Would　your　husband　get　too　terribly　upset　if　you　and　I　took　off　our　clothes　and　hopped　in　the　shower？　We　can　tell　him　it's　part　of　my　medical　treatment。　Hot…water　traction；　they　call　it。〃
　At　that　moment　James　walked　in；　too　preoccupied　to　notice　his　wife　scooting　back　to　the　ottoman。　James　was　carrying　a　foam…padded　brace；　the　kind　that　fastens　around　the　neck　like　a　collar。
　〃That　man；〃　he　said　indignantly；　〃has　built　a　bonfire　in　our　backyard！〃
　Catherine　went　to　the　window。　〃For　heaven's　sake　it's　not　a　bonfire；〃　she　said。　〃It's　just　a　barbecue；　honey；　no　worse　than　you　and　your　hibachi。〃
　〃But　the　hibachi　is　gas；〃　James　protested。
　R。　J。　Decker　pushed　himself　off　the　sofa　and　went　to　see　for　himself。　Skink　huddled　in　a　familar　pose　beneath　the　avocado　tree；　crouched　on　his　haunches；　tending　a　small　campfire。
　〃He　looks　like　a　damn　hobo；〃　James　said。
　〃That's　enough；〃　Catherine　snapped。　〃He's　not　hurting　anybody。〃
　Decker　observed　that　Skink　had　fashioned　a　rotisserie　spit　out　of　dead　branches。　He　was　cooking　a　chunk　of　gray　meat　over　the　fire；　rotating　it　slowly　by　hand。
　〃What　do　you　suppose　he's　got　there？〃　Catherine　said。
　〃Probably　something　gross　he　scrounged　from　the　garbage；〃　James　said。　〃Or　maybe　a　duck　out　of　that　filthy　canal。〃
　In　the　flickering　shadows　Decker　couldn't　be　sure；　but　he　had　a　pretty　good　idea　what　his　friend　was　fixing　for　dinner。　It　was　Bambi；　of　course。　Skink　was　serenely　roasting　the　doctor's　pet　poodle。
　
　R。　J。　Decker　took　a　bed　in　one　of　the　guestrooms；　but　he　couldn't　sleep。　Dancing　on　the　walls　were　cartoon　sheep　in　red　tuxedos…wallpaper　for　a　baby's　room；　obviously；　but　Catherine　had　never　been　too　wild　about　kids。　On　this　matter　the　chiropractor　had　failed　to　change　her　mind。　Still；　Decker　admired　his　optimism　for　leaving　the　nursery　wallpaper　up。
　When　Decker　closed　his　eyes；　the　tuxedoed　sheep　were　replaced　by　the　face　of　Dennis　Gault：　the　seething　visage　of　a　man　trying　to　strangle　him。　Decker　wondered　if　the　fistfight　at　Gault's　condominium　had　been　an　act　like　everything　else；　he　wondered　if　Gault　were　really　that　clever　or　ballsy；　or　if　things　had　just　fallen　right。　Decker　couldn't　wait　to　meet　up　with　Gault　and　ask　him。　Afterward　it　would　be　nice　to　choke　the　sonofabitch　so　decisively　that　his　eyeballs　would　pop　out　of　his　skull　and　roll　across　his　fancy　glass　desk　like　a　couple　of　aggies。
　At　about　three　o'clock　Decker　gave　up　on　sleep　and　got　out　of　bed。　From　the　window　there　was　no　sign　of　Skink's　campfire；　or　of　Skink　himself。　Decker　assumed…hoped；　at　least…that　he　was　curled　up　in　the　bushes　somewhere。
　For　Decker；　being　in　the　same　house