mac.thepearlharbormurders-第23节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


to　the　belly。
　Dazed；　Kuhn　tumbled　to　the　crushed　coral；　sitting　between　his　Caddy　and　the　parked　car　next　door；　lean…ing　on　both　hands；　while　Burroughs　reached　down　and　inside　the　man's　jacket　and　plucked　the　Lьger　like　a　hard　little　flower。
　Then　the　writer　pressed　the　automatic's　barrel　to　the　German's　forehead；　and　released　the　safety；　a　tiny　click　that　echoed　in　the　stillness　of　the　night。
　Eyes　glittering　with　alarm；　Kuhn　said；　〃What　do　you　want？〃
　〃The　truth。　Did　you　see　Kamana　kill　that　girl？〃
　Swallowing　thickly；　the　German　shook　his　head；　and　the　pressed…to…his…flesh　pistol　went　along。　〃Morimura　called　me。　Told　me　what　to　say。〃
　〃Did　Morimura　kill　her？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　Maybe。　I　only　know　he　wanted　the　musician　identified。　As　far　as　I　know；　Kamana　really　could　be　the　killer。。。　I　just。。。　I　just　didn't　see　him　do　it。〃
　〃Why　was　Pearl　Harada　killed？〃
　〃I　don't　know；　I　don't　know。　She　flitted　around…　she　was　a　pretty　girl。　Jealousy　makes　men　crazy。〃
　〃Did　you　have　an　affair　with　her？〃
　〃No！　No。　Of　course　not。〃
　Burroughs　pushed　harder　against　the　German's　forehead。　〃What　about　Morimura？〃
　〃I　don't　know！　I　don't　know。。。。I'm　not　his　goddamn　chaperon。〃
　〃No；　you're　his　stooge；　though。　Or　should　I　say　his　understudy？〃
　Now　the　blue　eyes　tightened…alarm　dissolving　into　fear。　〃Wh。。。　what　do　you　mean？〃
　〃The　Consulate's　been　busy　burning　its　papers；　coded　messages　to　Japan　have　been　flying。　You're　a　good　Nazi；　aren't　you；　Otto？　Waiting　to　help　your　ally；　after　we're　at　war；　and　diplomats　like　Morimura　are　suddenly　prisoners。。。。〃
　Stiffly；　Kuhn　said；　〃I　am　not　a　Nazi。〃
　〃Should　I　pass　that　news　along　to　your　uncle　Himmler？〃
　〃Why　are　you　。。。　what　are　you　。。。　You're　just　a　writer！〃
　〃I'm　just　an　American。　Otto…did　that　girl's　murder　have　anything　to　do　with　espionage？〃
　〃What？　No！　How　should　I　know？〃
　Burroughs　pressed　harder　with　the　gun　barrel。　'Try　again。〃
　Trembling　now；　sweat　pearling　down　his　forehead；　Kuhn　said；　〃I　swear　to　sweet　Jesus　I　don't　know。。。。I　told　you　what　you　wanted！　I　admitted　Morimura　called　me。。。　that　alone　could　get　me　killed。〃
　Burroughs　thought　about　that…then　removed　the　gun　from　the　German's　forehead；　it　had　left　an　impression；　in　several　ways。
　〃Get　the　hell　out　of　here；〃　Burroughs　told　him；　disgustedly。
　Kuhn　swallowed　again。　〃What　about　my　gun？〃
　〃Spoils　of　war；〃　Burroughs　said；　and　dropped　it　into　his　pocket。
　Kuhn　didn't　argue　the　point；　he　scrambled　to　his　feet；　climbed　into　his　car　and…as　Burroughs　headed　back　toward　the　Shuncho…ro…roared　out；　throwing　crushed　coral；　finally　waking　up　the　Japanese　chauffeur　。。。　for　a　few　moments。
　The　word　Ichigo　appeared　in　both　English　and　Japanese　on　a　small　oak　plaque　by　an　upstairs　door。　Burroughs　knocked。
　A　male　voice　from　within　answered：　〃Yes？〃
　The　writer　spoke　to　the　door。　〃Mr。　Morimura？　Ed　Burroughs。　Could　I　have　a　word　with　you？〃
　Moments　later；　the　door　cracked　open。　The　handsome　young　Japanese　diplomat　stood　eye　to　eye　with　Burroughs；　Morimura's　black　hair　was　slicked　back；　and　his　slender　form　was　wrapped　up　in　an　off…white　robe　with　a　scarlet　sash。　His　feet　were　bare。　He　smelled　heavily　of　musk。
　〃I　do　not　understand；　Mr。　Burroughs。〃　Morimura's　expression　was　friendly　but　his　dark　eyes　were　not。　〃Why　do　you　seek　me　here？〃
　Burroughs　leaned　a　hand　against　the　doorjamb。　〃I　took　a　chance　you　might　be　at　the　Shuncho…ro。　I　heard　it　was　kind　of　a　second　home　to　you。〃　〃Could　we　not　meet　another　time；　another　place？〃　
　〃This　won't　take　long…I　just　want　to　chat　for　a　few　minutes。　May　I　e　in？〃　
　〃I　have　pany。〃
　Burroughs　pushed　the　door　open　and　shouldered　past　Morimura。　At　a　low　table；　three　Japanese　girls　wearing　nothing　at　all　were　sitting　on　tatami　mats。　They　were　lovely　of　face　and　form；　though　their　frozen　embarrassment　was　painful　to　see。
　〃Put　your　kimonos　on；　girls；〃　Burroughs　said；　〃and　take　a　break。〃
　The　pretty　trio　made　sounds　that　mingled　distress　with　giggling　as　they　quickly　got　into　their　kimonos；　which　had　been　folded　neatly　on　the　floor　behind　them。　This　was　another　sparsely　decorated；　oak…lined；　cream…walled　room；　a　row　of　big　picture　windows　looked　out　onto　the　ocean　。。。　and　Pearl　Harbor；　Ford　Island　visible　to　the　west；　the　Army's　Hickam　Field　just　to　the　left。　A　powerful　telescope　on　a　stand　awaited　any　。。。　tourist。。。　who　might　want　a　better；　closer　look。
　The　now…clothed　geishas　scurried　out　past　Morimura；　who　stood　near　the　door　with　his　arms　folded；　his　face　blank。
　The　consul　said；　〃You　are　a　rude　and　foolish　man。〃
　Burroughs　strolled　over　and　touched　the　telescope　admiringly。　〃Maybe　it's　just　cultural　differences。　Besides；　I　don't　think　you're　a　fool…even　if　everybody　else　seems　to。〃
　〃Perhaps　all　Americans　are　foolish。〃
　〃They　are　if　they　don't　think　you're　a　damn　spy。〃
　Morimura　smiled；　almost　gently。　He　gestured　to　the　low　table　and　the　tatami　mats。　〃Sake；　Mr。　Burroughs？〃
　〃No　thanks。　I'm　on　the　wagon。〃
　〃Wagon？〃
　〃Never　mind。　But　I'll　sit　with　you；　while　you　drink。〃
　They　sat　across　from　each　other　at　the　low　table；　neither　partook　of　the　pitcher　of　sake。
　Morimura's　arms　were　again　folded。　〃I　am　not　a　spy；　Mr。　Burroughs…I　am　a　diplomat。　Any　information　I　have　obtained　has　been　through　strictly　legal　means。　Blame　your　own。。。　American　openness。　Much　can　be　gleaned　from　your　daily　newspapers；　for　example…and　is　there　a　law　against　looking　through　a　telescope　at　a　restaurant's　lovely　view？〃
　〃Did　you　kill　Pearl　Harada？〃
　Morimura　blinked；　and　his　expression　became　one　of　horror。　〃What？　What　a　ridiculous　question！〃　
　〃Did　you？〃
　〃No。　Certainly　not　I　barely　knew　her。〃
　〃Do　you。。。　'barely'　know　her；　the　way　you　'barely'　know　those　three　geisha　girls？〃
　〃No。　The　singer　and　I　were　not　romantically　involved。〃
　〃How　about　carnally？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Then　why　were　you　arguing　with　her；　in　the　Niumalu　parking　lot；　the　night　of　her　murder？〃
　Morimura's　eyes　widened…obviously；　he　didn't　know　he　and　Pearl　had　been　seen。
　〃Her　uncle　asked　me　to　speak　to　her。〃
　〃Her　uncle？　The　grocer？〃
　〃Yes。　He　heard　rumors　she　was　planning　to　marry　an　American　boy。　A　sailor。　He　disapproved。　I　merely　conveyed　this　message　to　her；　and　she　was。。。。disrespectful；　both　to　me　and　in　speaking　of　her　uncle。〃
　〃Why　didn't　her　uncle　tell　her　this　himself？　He　was　around　the　Niumalu　in　the　afternoon。〃
　Morimura　glared　at　Burroughs。　〃Why　are　you　curious？　What　business　is　it　to　you；　the　murder　of　this　girl？〃
　〃I　helped　put　the　cuffs　on　Harry　Kamana。。。　I　caught　him　at　the　beach　with　his　hands　bloody。〃
　The　diplomat　nodded。　〃This　I　have　heard。〃
　〃Between　the　two　of　us；　you　and　me；　we　really　nailed　the　poor　bastard。〃
　〃The　two　of　us？　Nail？　Your　meaning　escapes　me。〃
　〃You　called　Otto　Kuhn　in　the　middle　of　the　night；　and　had　him　pretend　to　be　an　eyewitness。　You　had　him　finger　that　musician。〃
　〃Nonsense。〃
　〃Kuhn　told　me　himself。〃
　Morimura　frowned。　〃If　so；　he　lies。　When　did　he　say　this？〃
　〃Just　now；　in　the　parking　lot。　I　don't　blame　you　for　trading　his　pany　in　on　those　geishas。。。　no　parison。　Anyway；　Otto　admitted　you　called　him；　and　had　him　play　eyewitness。　You　see；　Otto　receiving　a　call　last　night；　well。。。　that's　a　known　fact。〃
　〃Really？　I　understood　there　was　no　switchboard　at　the　Niumalu。〃
　Burroughs　grinned。　〃How　interesting　that　you'd　know　a　trivial　detail　like　that；　Mr。　Morimura；　considering　you're　not　at　all　involved　in　this。　By　the　way；　don't　take　it　out　on　Otto…he's　afraid　you'll　kill　him；　or　have　him　killed；　because　of　what　he　told　me。〃
　〃Did　you　bribe　the　German？〃
　〃Hell　no。〃
　〃Ah。〃　Morimura's　eyes　narrowed。　〃I　see　the　scrape　on　your　knuckles。　You　beat　it　out　of　him。〃　Morimura　stood。　〃Perhaps　you　would　care　to　try　taking　that。。。　very　American　approach　to　seeking　information。。。　with　me。〃
　The　consul　moved　away　from　the　low　table　and　struck　a　martial…arts　pose。　A　single　eyebrow　raised；　tiny　smile　on　his　thin　lips；　Morimura　said；　〃Judo。〃
　Burroughs　rose　and　took　the　Lьger　out　and　pointed　it　at　him　and　said；　〃Gun。〃
　Eyes　flickering　with　fear；　the　supposed　diplomat　slowly　raised　his　hands。　〃Shoot　me　if　you　wish；　Mr。　Burroughs　。。。。but　I　will　say　nothing　more。　I　am　not　like　Otto　Kuhn。　I　am　not　weak。〃
　〃And　I'm　not　a　murderer；〃　Burroughs　said；　and　slipped　the　gun　in　his　pocket；　and　went　out。
　
　
　ELEVEN
　Hotel　Street
　
　The　exceptionally　beautiful　weather　and　the　lopsided　victory　in　this　afternoon's　football　game　coalesced　into　a　night　of　rampant　partying；　excessive　even　for　a　Saturday　in　Honolulu。　The　city　was　rife　with　private　parties　and　public　revelry；　and　alive　with　music；　from　radios　bleeding　syrupy　Hawaiian　strains；　seemingly　designed　to　make　lonely　men　feel　even　lonelier；　to　a　lively　battle　of　the　bands　at　the　Naval　Receiving　Station　at　Pearl　Harbor；　where　the　U。S。S。　Arizona　band　was　going　over　big；　with　the　upbeat　likes　of　〃Take　the　A　Train。〃　Hotel　ballrooms；　like　the　Royal　Hawaiian　and　the　Ala　Moana；　were　offering　fox…trots；　while　swing　music　emanated　from　the　town's　less　stodgy　bandstands；　like　those　at　the　Niumalu　or　the　dance　hall　at　Waikiki　Amusement　Park。
　Swing　also　jumped　from　jukeboxes　up　and　down　Hotel　Street；　where　sailors　and　soldiers　swarmed　in　ribbons　of　white　and　khaki。　A　fleet　of　rickety　tax