preston&child.thecabinetofcuriosities-第93节

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veloped　his；　ah；　method　of　life　extension。〃
　Pendergast　put　the　electrocauterer　carefully　to　one　side。　〃I've　seen　no　evidence　here　of　any　supplies　for　closing　incisions；〃　he　said。　〃Clearly；　Fairhaven　had　no　need　of　them。　If　you'll　hand　me　that　gauze　and　the　medical　tape；　I'll　butterfly　the　wound　until　it　can　be　properly　attended　to。　Again；　I'll　need　your　assistance。〃
　Nora　handed　him　the　requested　items；　then　helped　him　close。　〃Did　he　succeed　in　finding　the　ultimate　poison？〃　she　asked。
　〃No。　Based　on　the　state　of　his　laboratory；　I　would　say　he　gave　up　around　1950。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　Pendergast　said　as　he　taped　gauze　over　the　exit　wound。　The　troubled　look　she'd　noticed　earlier　returned。　〃It's　very　curious。　It's　a　great　mystery　to　me。〃
　Dressing　pleted；　Pendergast　straightened　up。　Following　his　instructions；　Nora　helped　him　make　a　sling　for　his　injured　arm　using　torn　surgical　sheets；　then　helped　him　into　his　shirt。
　Pendergast　turned　once　again　to　Smithback；　examining　his　unconscious　form；　studying　the　monitors　at　the　head　of　the　table。　He　felt　Smithback's　pulse；　examined　the　dressing　Nora　had　made。　After　rummaging　through　the　cabinet　he　brought　out　a　syringe；　and　injected　it　into　the　saline　tube。
　〃That　should　keep　him　fortable　until　you　can　get　out　of　here　and　alert　my　doctor；〃　he　said。
　〃Me？〃　Nora　said。
　〃My　dear　Dr。　Kelly；　somebody　has　to　keep　watch　over　Smithback。　We　daren't　move　him　ourselves。　With　my　arm　in　a　sling　and　a　gunshot　wound　in　my　abdomen；　I　fear　I'm　in　no　condition　to　go　anywhere；　let　alone　row。〃
　〃I　don't　understand。〃
　〃You　will；　shortly。　And　now；　please　assist　me　back　down　these　stairs。〃
　With　a　final　look　at　Smithback；　Nora　helped　Pendergast　back　down　the　staircase　and　through　the　series　of　stone　chambers；　past　the　endless　collections。　Knowing　their　purpose　made　them　seem　even　more　dreadful。
　At　the　laboratory；　Nora　slowed。　She　angled　her　light　into　the　weapons　room　beyond；　and　saw　Fairhaven；　still　motionless；　sitting　in　the　corner。　Pendergast　regarded　him　a　moment；　then　moved　to　the　heavy　door　in　the　far　wall　and　eased　it　open。　Beyond　it　lay　another　descending　staircase；　much　cruder；　seemingly　fashioned　out　of　a　natural　cavity　in　the　earth。
　〃Where　does　this　go？〃　Nora　asked　as　she　approached。
　〃Unless　I'm　mistaken；　to　the　river。〃
　They　descended　the　staircase；　the　perfume　of　mold　and　heavy　humidity　rising　to　greet　them。　At　the　bottom；　Nora's　light　revealed　a　stone　quay；　lapped　by　water；　with　a　watery　tunnel　leading　off　into　darkness。　An　ancient　wooden　boat　lay　upturned　on　the　quay。
　〃The　river　pirate's　lair；〃　Pendergast　said　as　Nora　shone　the　light　around。　〃This　was　how　he　snuck　out　to　the　Hudson　to　attack　shipping。　If　the　boat's　still　seaworthy；　you　can　take　it　out　into　the　river。〃
　Nora　angled　the　light　toward　the　skiff。
　〃Can　you　row？〃　Pendergast　inquired。
　〃I'm　an　expert。〃
　〃Good。　I　believe　you'll　find　an　abandoned　marina　a　few　blocks　south　of　here。　Get　to　a　phone　as　quickly　as　possible；　call　645…7884；　that's　the　number　of　my　chauffeur；　Proctor。　Explain　to　him　what's　happened。　He'll　e　get　you　and　arrange　everything；　including　the　doctor　for　Smithback　and　myself。〃
　Nora　turned　over　the　rowboat　and　slid　it　into　the　water。　It　was　old；　loose…jointed；　and　leaky；　but　it　appeared　to　be　seaworthy。
　〃You'll　take　care　of　Bill　while　I'm　gone？〃　she　said。
　Pendergast　nodded；　the　reflected　water　rippling　across　his　pale　face。
　She　stepped　gingerly　into　the　boat。
　Pendergast　stepped　forward。　〃Dr。　Kelly；〃　he　said　in　a　low　voice。　〃There　is　something　more　I　must　tell　you。〃
　She　looked　up　from　the　boat。
　〃The　authorities　must　not　know　about　what　is　in　this　house。　Somewhere　within　these　walls；　I'm　convinced；　is　the　formula　for　the　prolongation　of　human　life。　Do　you　understand？〃
　〃I　understand；〃　Nora　replied　after　a　moment。　She　stared　at　him　as　the　full　import　of　what　he　was　saying　began　to　sink　in。　The　secret　to　prolonged　life：　it　still　seemed　incredible。　Unbelievable。
　〃I　must　also　admit　to　a　more　personal　reason　for　secrecy。　I　do　not　wish　to　bring　more　infamy　down　on　the　Pendergast　name。〃
　〃Leng　was　your　ancestor。〃
　〃Yes。　My　great…grand…uncle。〃
　Nora　nodded　as　she　fitted　the　oarlocks。　It　was　an　antique　notion　of　family　honor；　but　then；　she　already　knew　that　Pendergast　was　a　man　out　of　his　time。
　〃My　doctor　will　evacuate　Smithback　to　a　private　hospital　upstate　where　they　do　not　ask　inconvenient　questions。　I　will；　of　course；　undergo　surgery　there　myself。　We　need　never　mention　our　adventure　to　the　authorities。〃
　〃I　understand；〃　she　repeated。
　〃People　will　wonder　what　happened　to　Fairhaven。　But　I　doubt　very　much　the　police　will　ever　identify　him　as　the　Surgeon；　or　make　the　connection　with　891　Riverside　Drive。〃
　〃Then　the　Surgeon's　murders　will　remain　unsolved？　A　mystery？〃
　〃Yes。　But　unsolved　murders　are　always　the　most　interesting；　don't　you　think？　Now；　repeat　the　telephone　number　for　me；　please。〃
　〃Six　four　five…seven　eight　eight　four。〃
　〃Excellent。　Now　please　hurry；　Dr。　Kelly。〃
　She　pushed　away　from　the　quay；　then　turned　back　to　look　at　Pendergast　once　again；　her　boat　bobbing　in　the　shallow　water。
　〃One　more　question。　How　in　the　world　did　you　escape　from　those　chains？　It　seemed　like　magic。〃
　In　the　dim　light；　she　saw　Pendergast's　lips　part　in　what　appeared　to　be　a　smile。　〃It　was　magic。〃
　〃I　don't　understand。〃
　〃Magic　and　the　Pendergast　family　are　synonymous。　There　have　been　magicians　in　my　lineage　for　ten　generations。　We've　all　dabbled　in　it。　Antoine　Leng　Pendergast　was　no　exception：　in　fact；　he　was　one　of　the　most　talented　in　the　family。　Surely　you　noticed　the　stage　apparatus　in　the　refectory？　Not　to　mention　the　false　walls；　secret　panels；　trapdoors？　Without　knowing　it；　Fairhaven　bound　his　victims　with　Leng's　trick　cuffs。　I　recognized　them　right　away：　the　American　Guiteau　handcuffs　and　Bean　Prison　leg…irons；　fitted　with　a　false　rivet　that　any　magician；　once　manacled；　could　remove　with　his　fingers　or　teeth。　To　a　person　who　knew　the　secret；　they　were　about　as　secure　as　transparent　tape。〃
　And　Pendergast　began　laughing　softly；　almost　to　himself。
　Nora　rowed　away；　the　splashing　of　the　oars　distorted　in　the　low；　rocky　cavern。　In　a　few　moments　she　came　to　a　weed…choked　opening　between　two　rocks；　just　large　enough　to　admit　the　boat。　She　pushed　through　and　was　suddenly　on　the　broad　expanse　of　the　Hudson；　the　vast　bulk　of　the　North　River　plant　rising　above　her；　the　great　glittering　arc　of　the　George　Washington　Bridge　looming　farther　to　the　north。　Nora　took　a　deep　breath　of　the　cool；　fresh　air。　She　could　hardly　believe　they　were　still　alive。
　She　glanced　back　at　the　opening　through　which　she　had　just　e。　It　looked　like　a　tangle　of　weeds　and　some　boulders　leaning　together…nothing　more。
　As　she　bent　to　the　oars；　the　abandoned　marina　just　ing　into　view　against　the　distant　gleaming　towers　of　Midtown　Manhattan；　she　thought　she　could　still　make　out…borne　on　the　midnight　wind…the　faint　sound　of　Pendergast's　laughter。
　
　Epilogue：　Arcanum
　　
　FALL　HAD　TURNED　to　winter：　one　of　those　crisp；　sunny　days　of　early　December　before　the　first　snowfall；　when　the　world　seemed　almost　crystalline　in　its　perfection。　As　Nora　Kelly　walked　up　Riverside　Drive；　holding　hands　with　Bill　Smithback；　she　looked　out　over　the　Hudson。　Already；　cakes　of　ice　were　drifting　down　from　the　upper　reaches。　The　New　Jersey　Palisades　were　etched　in　stark　sunlight；　and　the　George　Washington　Bridge　seemed　to　float　above　the　river；　silvery　and　weightless。
　Nora　and　Smithback　had　found　an　apartment　on　West　End　Avenue　in　the　Nineties。　When　Pendergast　had　contacted　them　and　asked　them　to　meet　him　at　891　Riverside　Drive；　they　had　decided　to　walk　the　two　miles；　taking　advantage　of　the　beautiful　day。
　For　the　first　time　since　the　hideous　discovery　on　Catherine　Street；　Nora　had　felt　a　certain　peace　return　to　her　life。　Her　work　at　the　Museum　was　progressing　well。　All　the　carbon…14　dates　on　her　Utah　specimens　had　e　back；　and　they　were　a　gratifying　confirmation　of　her　theory　regarding　the　Anasazi…Aztec　connection。　There　had　been　a　terrific　housecleaning　at　the　Museum；　with　a　whole　new　administration　put　in　place…except　Collopy；　who　had　somehow　e　through　it　all　with　his　reputation　and　prestige　intact；　if　not　enhanced。　In　fact；　Collopy　had　offered　Nora　an　important　administrative　post…which　she　had　politely　declined。　The　unfortunate　Roger　Brisbane　had　been　released：　the　arrest　warrant　voided　a　day　before　the　election；　after　Brisbane's　lawyer　provided　airtight　alibis　for　the　time　periods　of　all　three　copycat　murders；　and　an　angry　judge　pointed　out　there　was　no　physical　evidence　linking　the　man　to　any　crime。　Now；　Brisbane　was　suing　the　city　for　wrongful　arrest。　The　papers　were　screaming　that　the　Surgeon　was　still　at　large。　The　mayor　had　lost　his　re…election　bid。　Captain　Custer　had　been　busted　all　the　way　down　to　street　cop。
　There　had　been　a　flurry　of　newspaper　stories　about　the　sudden　disappearance　of　Anthony　Fairhaven；　but　the　speculation　had　ended　with　an　IRS　raid　on　his　pany。　After　that；　everyone　assumed　tax　problems　were　the　reason　for　his　disappearance。　Word　was　Fairhaven　had　been　last　spotted　on　a　beach　somewhere　in　the　Netherlands　Antilles；　drinking　daiquiris　and　reading　the　Wall