jg.thefirm-第26节

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　else。　Mitch　sank　into　the　worn　seat　and　crossed　his　legs。　The　car　had　no　airconditioning　except　for　the　open　windows。　The　muggy　tropical　air　rushed　across　his　face　and　blew　his　hair。　This　was　nice。
　　The　island　was　flat；　and　the　road　into　Georgetown　was　busy　with　small；　dusty　European　cars；　scooters　and　bicycles。　The　homes　were　small　one…stories　with　tin　roofs　and　neat；　colorful　paint　jobs。　The　lawns　were　tiny　with　little　grass；　but　the　dirt　was　neatly　swept。　As　they　neared　the　town　the　houses　became　shops；　two…　and　three…story　white　frame　buildings　where　tourists　stood　under　the　canopies　and　took　refuge　from　the　sun。　The　driver　made　a　sharp　turn　and　suddenly　they　were　in　the　midst　of　a　downtown　crowded　with　modern　bank　buildings。
　　Avery　assumed　the　role　of　tour　guide。　〃There　are　banks　here　from　everywhere。　Germany；　France；　Great　Britain；　Canada；　Spain；　Japan；　Denmark。　Even　Saudi　Arabia　and　Israel。　Over　three　hundred；　at　last　count。　It's　bee　quite　a　tax　haven。　The　bankers　here　are　extremely　quiet。　They　make　the　Swiss　look　like　blabbermouths。〃
　　The　taxi　slowed　in　heavy　traffic；　and　the　breeze　stopped。　〃I　see　a　lot　of　Canadian　banks；〃　Mitch　said。
　　〃That　building　right　there　is　the　Royal　Bank　of　Montreal。　We'll　be　there　at　ten　in　the　morning。　Most　of　our　business　will　be　with　Canadian　banks。〃
　　〃Any　particular　reason？〃
　　〃They're　very　safe；　and　very　quiet。〃
　　The　crowded　street　turned　and　dead…ended　into　another　one。　Beyond　the　intersection　the　glittering　blue　of　the　Caribbean　rose　to　the　horizon。　A　cruise　ship　was　anchored　in　the　bay。
　　〃That's　Hogsty　Bay；〃　Avery　said。　〃That's　where　the　pirates　docked　their　ships　three　hundred　years　ago。　Black…beard　himself　roamed　these　islands　and　buried　his　loot。
　　They　found　some　of　it　a　few　years　ago　in　a　cave　east　of　here　near　Bodden　Town。〃
　　Mitch　nodded　as　if　he　believed　this　tale。　The　driver　smiled　in　the　rearview　mirror。
　　Avery　wiped　the　sweat　from　his　forehead。　〃This　place　has　always　attracted　pirates。　Once　it　was　Blackbeard；　now　it's　modern…day　pirates　who　form　corporations　and　hide　their　money　here。　Right；　mon？〃
　　〃Right；　mon；〃　the　driver　replied。
　　〃That's　Seven　Mile　Beach；〃　Avery　said。　〃One　of　the　most　beautiful　and　most　famous　in　the　world。　Right；　mon？〃
　　〃Right；　mon。〃
　　〃Sand　as　white　as　sugar。　Warm；　clear　water。　Warm；　beautiful　women。　Right；　mon？〃
　　〃Right；　mon。〃
　　〃Will　they　have　the　cookout　tonight　at　the　Palms？〃
　　〃Yes；　mon。　Six　o'clock。〃
　　〃That's　next　door　to　our　condo。　The　Palms　is　a　popular　hotel　with　the　hottest　action　on　the　beach。〃
　　Mitch　smiled　and　watched　the　hotels　pass。　He　recalled　the　interview　at　Harvard　when　Oliver　Lambert　preached　about　how　　frowned　on　divorce　and　chasing　women。　And　drinking。　Perhaps　Avery　had　missed　those　sermons。　Perhaps　he　hadn't。
　　The　condos　were　in　the　center　of　Seven　Mile　Beach；　next　door　to　another　plex　and　the　Palms。　As…expected；　the　units　owned　by　　were　spacious　and　richly　decorated。　Avery　said　they　would　sell　for　at　least　half　a　million　each；　but　they　weren't　for　sale。　They　were　not　for　rent。　They　were　sanctuaries　for　the　weary　lawyers　of　Bendini；　Lambert　&　Locke。　And　a　few　very　favored　clients。
　　From　the　balcony　off　the　second…floor　bedroom；　Mitch　watched　the　small　boats　drift　aimlessly　over　the　sparkling　sea。　The　sun　was　beginning　its　descent　and　the　small　waves　reflected　its　rays　in　a　million　directions。　The　cruise　ship　moved　slowly　away　from　the　island。　Dozens　of　people　walked　the　beach；　kicking　sand；　splashing　in　the　water；　chasing　sand　crabs　and　drinking　rum　punch　and　Jamaican　Red　Stripe　beer。　The　rhythmic　beat　of　Caribbean　music　drifted　from　the　Palms；　where　a　large　open…air　thatched…roof　bar　attracted　the　beachbers　like　a　magnet。　From　a　grass　hut　nearby　they　rented　snorkeling　gear；　catamarans　and　volleyballs。
　　Avery　walked　to　the　balcony　in　a　pair　of　brilliant　orange…and…yellow　flowered　shorts。　His　body　was　lean　and　hard；　with　no　flab。　He　owned　part　interest　in　a　health　club　in　Memphis　and　worked　out　every　day。　Evidently　there　were　some　tanning　beds　in　the　club。　Mitch　was　impressed。
　　〃How　do　you　like　my　outfit？〃　Avery　asked。
　　〃Very　nice。　You'll　fit　right　in。〃　　　　〃I've　got　another　pair　if　you'd　like。〃
　　〃No；　thanks。　I'll　stick　to　my　Western　Kentucky　gyrh　shorts。〃
　　Avery　sipped　on　a　drink　and　took　in　the　scenery。　〃I've　been　here　a　dozen　times；　and　I　still　get　excited。　I've　thought　about　retiring　down　here。〃
　　〃That　would　be　nice。　You　could　walk　the　beach　and　chase　sand　crabs。〃
　　〃And　play　dominoes　and　drink　Red　Stripe。　Have　you　ever　had　a　Red　Stripe？〃
　　〃Not　that　I　recall。〃
　　〃Let's　go　get　one。〃
　　The　open…air　bar　was　called　Rumheads。　It　was　packed　with　thirsty　tourists　and　a　few　locals　who　sat　together　around　a　wooden　table　and　played　dominoes。　Avery　fought　through　the　crowd　and　returned　with　two　bottles。　They　found　a　seat　next　to　the　domino　game。
　　〃I　think　this　is　what　I'll　do　when　I　retire。　I'll　e　down　here　and　play　dominoes　for　a　living。　And　drink　Red　Stripe。〃
　　〃It's　good　beer。〃
　　〃And　when　I　get　tired　of　dominoes；　I'll　throw　some　darts。〃　He　nodded　to　a　corner　where　a　group　of　drunk　Englishmen　were　tossing　darts　at　a　board　and　cursing　each　other。　〃And　when　I　get　tired　of　darts；　well；　who　knows　what　I'll　do。　Excuse　me。〃　He　headed　for　a　table　on　the　patio　where　two　string　bikinis　had　just　sat　down。　He　introduced　himself；　and　they　asked　him　to　have　a　seat。　Mitch　ordered　another　Red　Stripe　and　went　to　the　beach。　In　the　distance　he　could　see　the　bank　buildings　of　Georgetown。　He　walked　in　that　direction。
　　The　food　was　placed　on　folding　tables　around　the　pool。　Grilled　grouper；　barbecued　shark；　pompano；　fried　shrimp；　turtle　and　oysters；　lobster　and　red　snapper。　It　was　all　from　the　sea；　and　all　fresh。　The　guests　crowded　around　the　tables　and　served　themselves　while　waiters　scurried　back　and　forth　with　gallons　of　rum　punch。　They　ate　on　small　tables　in　the　courtyard　overlooking　Rumheads　and　the　sea。　A　reggae　band　tuned　up。　The　sun　dipped　behind　a　cloud；　then　over　the　horizon。
　　Mitch　followed　Avery　through　the　buffet　and；　as　expected；　to　a　table　where　the　two　women　were　waiting。　They　were　sisters；　both　in　their　late　twenties；　both　divorced；　both　half　drunk。　The　one　named　Carrie　had　fallen　in　heat　with　Avery；　and　the　other　one；　Julia；　immediately　began　making　eyes　at　Mitch。　He　wondered　what　Avery　had　told　them。
　　〃I　see　you're　married；〃　Julia　whispered　as　she　moved　next　to　him。
　　〃Yes；　happily。〃
　　She　smiled　as　if　to　accept　the　challenge。　Avery　and　his　woman　winked　at　each　other。　Mitch　grabbed　a　glass　of　punch　and　gulped　it　down。　'
　　He　picked　at　his　food　and　could　think　of　nothing　but　Abby。　This　would　be　hard　to　explain；　if　an　explanation　became　necessary。　Having　dinner　with　two　attractive　women　who　were　barely　dressed。　It　would　be　impossible　to　explain。　The　conversation　became　awkward　at　the　table；　and　Mitch　added　nothing。　A　waiter　set　a　large　pitcher　on　the　table；　and　it　quickly　was　emptied。　Avery　became　obnoxious。　He　told　the　women　Mitch　had　played　for　the　New　York　Giants；　had　two　Super　Bowl　rings。　Made　a　million　bucks　a　year　before　a　knee　injury　ruined　his　career。　Mitch　shook　his　head　and　drank　some　more。　Julia　drooled　at　him　and　moved　closer。
　　The　band　turned　up　the　volume；　and　it　was　time　to　dance。　Half　the　crowd　moved　to　a　wooden　dance　floor　under　two　trees；　between　the　pool　and　the　beach。　〃Let's　dance！〃　Avery　yelled；　and　grabbed　his　woman。　They　ran　through　the　tables　and　were　soon　lost　in　the　crowd　of　jerking　and　lunging　tourists。
　　He　felt　her　move　closer；　then　her　hand　was　on　his　leg。　〃Do　you　wanna　dance？〃　she　asked。
　　〃No。〃
　　〃Good。　Neither　do　I。　What　would　you　like　to　do？〃　She　rubbed　her　breasts　on　his　biceps　and　gave　her　best　seductive　smile；　only　inches　away。
　　〃I　don't　plan　to　do　anything。〃　He　removed　her　hand。
　　〃Aw；　e　on。　Let's　have　some　fun。　Your　wife　will　never　know。〃
　　〃Look；　you're　a　very　lovely　lady；　but　you're　wasting　your　time　with　me。　It's　still　early。　You've　got　plenty　of　time　to　pick　up　a　real　stud。〃
　　〃You're　cute。〃
　　The　hand　was　back；　and　Mitch　breathed　deeply。　〃Why　don't　you　get　lost。〃
　　〃I　beg　your　pardon。〃　The　hand　was　gone。
　　〃I　said；　'Get　lost。'　〃
　　She　backed　away。　〃What's　wrong　with　you？〃
　　〃I　have　an　aversion　to　municable　diseases。　Get　lost。〃
　　〃Why　don't　you　get　lost。〃
　　〃That's　a　wonderful　idea。　I　think　I　will　get　lost。　Enjoyed　dinner。〃
　　Mitch　grabbed　a　glass　of　rum　punch　and　made　his　way　through　the　dancers　to　the　bar。　He　ordered　a　Red　Stripe　and　sat　by　himself　in　a　dark　corner　of　the　patio。　The　beach　in　front　of　him　was　deserted。　The　lights　of　a　dozen　boats　moved　slowly　across　the　water。　Behind　him　were　the　sounds　of　the　Barefoot　Boys　and　the　laughter　of　the　Caribbean　night。　Nice；　he　thought；　but　it　would　be　nicer　with　Abby。　Maybe　they　would　vacation　here　next　summer。　They　needed　time　together；　away　from　home　and　the　office。　There　was　a　distance　between　them…distance　he　could　not　define。　Distance　they　could　not　discuss　but　both　felt。　Distance　he　was　afraid　of。
　　〃What　are　you　watching？〃　The　voice　startled　him。　She　walked　to　the　table　and　sat　next　to　him。　She　was　a　native；　dark　skin　with　blue　or　hazel　eyes。　It　was　impos