preston&child.thecabinetofcuriosities-第24节

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abruptly　saw　what　that　young　wife　must　also　have　seen…a　very　vital　man　was　hidden　behind　that　normally　impenetrable　facade。　Now；　Collopy　did　smile…and　when　he　did　so；　it　was　as　if　a　heat　lamp　was　switched　on。　Nora　felt　bathed　in　a　radiance　of　charm　and　vigor。
　〃I　know　your　work；　Nora；　and　I've　been　following　it　with　tremendous　interest。　To　think　that　the　great　ruins　of　Chaco　Canyon　might　have　been　influenced；　if　not　built；　by　the　Aztecs…it's　important；　even　groundbreaking　stuff。〃
　〃Then…〃
　He　silenced　her　with　a　faint　pressure　to　her　hand。　〃I　wasn't　aware　of　the　cuts　in　your　department；　Nora。　We've　all　had　to　tighten　our　belts；　but　perhaps　we've　done　so　a　little　too　indiscriminately。〃
　Nora　couldn't　help　glancing　at　Brisbane；　but　his　face　had　shut　down　pletely：　it　was　unreadable。
　〃Fortunately；　we　are　in　a　position　to　restore　your　funding；　and　on　top　of　that　give　you　the　eighteen　thousand　you　need　for　those　critical　carbon…14　dates。　I　myself　have　a　personal　interest　in　the　subject。　I'll　never　forget；　as　a　boy；　visiting　those　magnificent　Chacoan　ruins　with　Dr。　Morris　himself。〃
　〃Thank　you；　but…〃
　Again；　the　faint　squeeze。　〃Please　don't　thank　me。　Mr。　Brisbane　was　kind　enough　to　bring　this　situation　to　my　attention。　The　work　you　are　doing　here　is　important；　it　will　bring　credit　to　the　Museum；　and　I　personally　would　like　to　do　anything　I　can　to　support　it。　If　you　need　anything　else；　call　me。　Call　me。〃
　He　released　her　hand　ever　so　gently　and　turned　to　Brisbane。　〃I　must　be　off　to　prepare　my　little　speech。　Thank　you。〃
　And　he　was　gone。
　She　looked　at　Brisbane；　but　the　face　was　still　an　opaque　mask。　〃Now　you　know　what　will　happen　if　you　do　get　with　the　program；〃　he　said。　〃I'd　rather　not　go　into　what　will　happen　if　you　don't。〃
　Brisbane　turned　back　to　the　mirror；　gave　himself　one　last　look。
　〃See　you　tonight；　Dr。　Kelly；〃　he　said　mildly。
　
　TWELVE
　　
　O'SHAUGHNESSY　FOLLOWED　PENDERGAST　up　the　red…carpeted　steps　toward　the　Museum's　great　bronze　doors；　convinced　that　every　eye　in　the　place　was　on　him。　He　felt　like　a　jerk　in　his　policeman's　uniform。　He　let　his　hand　drop　idly　to　the　butt　of　his　gun；　and　felt　gratified　as　a　nearby　tuxedoed　man　gave　him　a　decidedly　nervous　glance。　He　further　consoled　himself　with　the　thought　that　he　was　getting　time　and　a　half　for　this　dog…and…pony　show…and　time　and　a　half　from　Captain　Custer　was　nothing　to　sneeze　at。
　Cars　were　lining　up　along　Museum　Drive；　disgorging　beautiful　and　not…so…beautiful　people。　Velvet　ropes　held　back　a　small；　disconsolate…looking　group　of　photographers　and　journalists。　The　flashes　of　the　photographers'　cameras　were　few　and　far　between。　A　van　with　the　logo　of　a　local　television　station　was　already　packing　up　and　leaving。
　〃This　opening　for　the　new　Primate　Hall　is　rather　smaller　than　others　I've　attended；〃　said　Pendergast　as　he　glanced　around。　〃Party　fatigue；　I　expect。　The　Museum's　been　having　so　many　these　days。〃
　〃Primates？　All　these　people　are　interested　in　monkeys？〃
　〃I　expect　most　of　them　are　here　to　observe　the　primates　outside　the　exhibition　cases。〃
　〃Very　funny。〃
　They　passed　through　the　doors　and　across　the　Great　Rotunda。　Until　two　days　ago；　O'Shaughnessy　hadn't　been　inside　the　Museum　since　he　was　a　kid。　But　there　were　the　dinosaurs；　just　like　they'd　always　been。　And　beyond；　the　herd　of　elephants。　The　red　carpet　and　velvet　ropes　led　them　onward；　deeper　into　the　building。　Smiling　young　ladies　were　positioned　along　the　way；　pointing；　nodding；　indicating　where　to　go。　Very　nice　young　ladies。　O'Shaughnessy　decided　that　another　visit　to　the　Museum；　when　he　wasn't　on　duty；　might　be　in　order。
　They　wound　through　the　African　Hall；　past　a　massive　doorway　framed　in　elephant　tusks；　and　entered　a　large　reception　area。　Countless　little　tables；　set　with　votive　candles；　dotted　the　room。　A　vast　buffet　heaped　with　food　ran　along　one　wall；　bookended　by　two　well…stocked　booze　stations。　A　podium　had　been　placed　at　the　far　end　of　the　room。　In　a　nearby　corner；　a　string　quartet　sawed　industriously　at　a　Viennese　waltz。　O'Shaughnessy　listened　with　incredulity。　They　were　appalling。　But　at　least　it　wasn't　Puccini　they　were　butchering。
　The　room　was　almost　empty。
　At　the　door　stood　a　manic…looking　man；　a　large　name　tag　displayed　below　his　white　carnation。　He　spotted　Pendergast；　rushed　over；　and　seized　his　hand　with　almost　frantic　gratitude。　〃Harry　Medoker；　head　of　public　relations。　Thank　you　for　ing；　sir；　thank　you。　I　think　you'll　love　the　new　hall。〃
　〃Primate　behavior　is　my　specialty。〃
　〃Ah！　Then　you've　e　to　the　right　place。〃　The　PR　man　caught　a　glimpse　of　O'Shaughnessy　and　froze　in　the　act　of　pumping　Pendergast's　hand。　〃I'm　sorry；　Officer。　Is　there　a　problem？〃　His　voice　had　lost　all　its　conviviality。
　〃Yeah；〃　said　O'Shaughnessy　in　his　most　menacing　tone。
　The　man　leaned　forward　and　spoke　in　most　unweling　tones。　〃This　is　a　private　opening；　Officer。　I'm　sorry；　but　you'll　have　to　leave。　We　have　no　need　of　outside　security…〃
　〃Oh　yeah？　Just　so　you　know；　Harry；　I'm　here　on　the　little　matter　of　the　Museum　cocaine　ring。〃
　〃Museum　cocaine　ring？〃　Medoker　looked　like　he　was　about　to　have　a　heart　attack。
　〃Officer　O'Shaughnessy；〃　came　Pendergast's　mild　warning。
　O'Shaughnessy　gave　the　man　a　little　clap　on　the　shoulder。　〃Don't　breathe　a　word。　Imagine　how　the　press　would　run　with　it。　Think　of　the　Museum；　Harry。〃　He　left　the　man　white　and　shaking。
　〃I　hate　it　when　they　don't　respect　the　man　in　blue；〃　said　O'Shaughnessy。
　For　a　moment；　Pendergast　eyed　him　gravely。　Then　he　nodded　toward　the　buffet。　〃Regulations　may　forbid　drinking　on　the　job；　but　they　don't　forbid　eating　blini　au　caviar。〃
　〃Blini　auwhat？〃
　〃Tiny　buckwheat　pancakes　topped　with　crème　fra？che　and　caviar。　Delectable。〃
　O'Shaughnessy　shuddered。　〃I　don't　like　raw　fish　eggs。〃
　〃I　suspect　you've　never　had　the　real　thing；　Sergeant。　Give　one　a　try。　You'll　find　them　much　more　palatable　than　a　Die　Walküre　aria；　I　assure　you。　However；　there's　also　the　smoked　sturgeon；　the　foie　gras；　the　prosciutto　di　Parma；　and　the　Damariscotta　River　oysters。　The　Museum　always　serves　an　excellent　table。〃
　〃Just　give　me　the　pigs　in　a　blanket。〃
　〃Those　can　be　obtained　from　the　man　with　the　cart　on　the　corner　of　Seventy…seventh　and　Central　Park　West。〃
　More　people　were　trickling　into　the　hall；　but　the　crowd　was　still　thin。　O'Shaughnessy　followed　Pendergast　over　to　the　food　table。　He　avoided　the　piles　of　sticky　gray　fish　eggs。　Instead；　he　took　a　few　pieces　of　ham；　cut　a　slice　from　a　wheel　of　brie；　and　with　some　pieces　of　French　bread　made　a　couple　of　small　ham…and…cheese　sandwiches　for　himself。　The　ham　was　a　little　dry；　and　the　cheese　tasted　a　little　like　ammonia；　but　overall　it　was　palatable。
　〃You　had　a　meeting　with　Captain　Custer；　right？〃　Pendergast　asked。　〃How　did　it　go？〃
　O'Shaughnessy　shook　his　head　as　he　munched。　〃Not　too　good。〃
　〃I　expect　there　was　someone　from　the　mayor's　office。〃
　〃Mary　Hill。〃
　〃Ah；　Miss　Hill。　Of　course。〃
　〃Captain　Custer　wanted　to　know　why　I　hadn't　told　them　about　the　journal；　why　I　hadn't　told　them　about　the　dress；　why　I　hadn't　told　them　about　the　note。　But　it　was　all　in　the　report…which　Custer　hadn't　read…so　in　the　end　I　survived　the　meeting。〃
　Pendergast　nodded。
　〃Thanks　for　helping　me　finish　that　report。　Otherwise；　they'd　have　ripped　me　a　new　one。〃
　〃What　a　quaint　expression。〃　Pendergast　looked　over　O'Shaughnessy's　shoulder。　〃Sergeant；　I'd　like　to　introduce　you　to　an　old　acquaintance　of　mine。　William　Smithback。〃
　O'Shaughnessy　turned　to　see　a　gangling；　awkward…looking　man　at　the　buffet；　a　gravity…defying　cowlick　jutting　from　the　top　of　his　head。　He　was　dressed　in　an　ill…fitting　tuxedo；　and　he　seemed　utterly　absorbed　in　piling　as　much　food　onto　his　plate　as　possible；　as　quickly　as　possible。　The　man　looked　over；　saw　Pendergast；　and　started　visibly。　He　glanced　around　uneasily；　as　if　marking　possible　exits。　But　the　FBI　agent　was　smiling　encouragingly；　and　the　man　named　Smithback　came　toward　them　a　little　warily。
　〃Agent　Pendergast；〃　Smithback　said　in　a　nasal　baritone。　〃What　a　surprise。〃
　〃Indeed。　Mr。　Smithback；　I　find　you　well。〃　He　grasped　Smithback's　hand　and　shook　it。　〃How　many　years　has　it　been？〃
　〃Long　time；〃　said　Smithback；　looking　like　it　had　not　been　nearly　long　enough。　〃What　are　you　doing　in　New　York？〃
　〃I　keep　an　apartment　here。〃　Pendergast　released　the　hand　and　looked　the　writer　up　and　down。　〃I　see　you've　graduated　to　Armani；　Mr。　Smithback；〃　he　said。　〃A　rather　better　cut　than　those　off…the…rack　Fourteenth　Street　job…lot　suits　you　used　to　sport。　However；　when　you're　ready　to　take　a　real　sartorial　step；　might　I　remend　Brioni　or　Ermenegildo　Zegna？〃
　Smithback　opened　his　mouth　to　reply；　but　Pendergast　continued　smoothly。　〃I　heard　from　Margo　Green；　by　the　way。　She's　up　in　Boston；　working　for　the　GeneDyne　Corporation。　She　asked　me　to　remember　her　to　you。〃
　Smithback　opened　his　mouth　again；　shut　it。　〃Thank　you；〃　he　managed　after　a　moment。　〃And…and　Lieutenant　D'Agosta？　You　keep　in　touch　with　him？〃
　〃He　also　went　north。　He's　now　living　in　Canada；　writing　police　procedurals；　under　the　pen　name　of　Campbell　Dirk。〃
　〃I'll　have　to　pick　up　one　of　his　books。〃
　〃He　hasn't　made　it　big　yet…not　like　you；　Mr。　Smithback…but　I　must　say　the　books　are　readabl