dw.jimmythekid-第5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！


　〃well。　You've　all　read　the　book。〃
　They　all　nodded。
　The　empty　chair　was　like　a　bad　omen。　Kelp　was　standing　there　in　front　of　everybody　like　an　idiot；　and　right　next　to　him　was　this　empty　chair。　Turning　his　head　slightly；　trying　not　to　see　the　empty　chair；　he　said；　〃And　I　asked　you　all　what　you　thought　of　it；　and　you　all　thought　it　was　pretty　good；　right？〃
　Three　of　them　nodded；　but　Dortmunder　said；　〃You　didn't　ask　me　what　I　thought　of　it。〃
　〃Oh。　That's　right。　Well；　uh；　what　did　you　think　of　it？〃
　〃I　thought　it　was　pretty　good；〃　Dortmunder　said。
　Kelp　grinned　with　relief。　His　natural　optimism　was　re　turning　to　him　now。　Clapping　his　hands　together　he　said；　〃That's　right。　It　is　pretty　good；　isn't　it？　And　you　know　what　else　it　is？〃
　None　of　them　knew。
　〃It's　full　of　detail；〃　Kelp　said。　〃The　whole　thing　is　worked　out　right　from　one　end　to　the　other；　every　detail。　Isn't　that　right？〃
　They　all　nodded。　Dortmunder　said；　〃But　where　do　we　e　in？〃
　Kelp　hesitated；　this　was　the　moment。　The　gray　armchair　hung　like　a　teardrop　in　his　peripheral　vision。　〃We　do　it！〃　he　said。
　They　all　looked　at　him。　Murch's　Mom　said；　irritably；　〃What　was　that？〃
　It　was　out　now；　and　a　sudden　rush　of　excitement　carried　Kelp　along　on　its　crest。　Crouching　like　a　surfer　in　the　curl；　he　leaned　toward　his　audience　and　said；　〃Don't　you　see？　That　goddam　book's　a　blueprint；　a　step…by…step　master　plan！　All　we　do　is　follow　it！　They　got　away　with　it　in　the　book；　and　we'll　get　away　with　it　right　here！〃
　They　were　staring　at　him　openmouthed。　He　stared　back；　fired　with　the　vision　of　his　idea。　〃Don't　you　see？　We　do　the　caper　in　the　book！　We　do　the　book！〃
　
　4
　
　D　0　R　T　M　U　N　D　E　R　just　sat　there。　The　others；　as　they　began　to　catch　hold　of　Kelp's　idea；　starting　making　exclamations；　asking　questions；　making　ments；　but　Dortmunder　just　sat　there；　heavily；　and　thought　about　it。
　Murch　said；　〃I　get　it！　You　mean　we　do　everything　they　do　in　the　book。〃
　〃That's　right！〃
　May　said；　〃But　it's　a　book　about　a　kidnapping。　It　isn't　a　robbery；　it's　a　kidnapping。〃
　〃It　works　the　same　way；〃　Kelp　told　her。　〃What　difference　does　it　make；　it's　still　a　caper；　and　every　detail　is　laid　right　out　there　for　us。　How　to　pick　the　kid；　how　to　get　the　kid；　how　to　get　the　payoff…〃
　May　said；　〃But；　you　can't　kidnap　a　little　child！　That's　mean。　I'm　surprised　at　you。〃
　Kelp　said；　〃No；　it　isn't。　We　wouldn't　hurt　the　kid。　I　mean；　we　wouldn't　hurt　him　anyway；　but　they　make　a　whole　big　point　about　that　in　the　book；　how　if　they　give　the　kid　back　unhurt　the　cops　won't　try　so　hard　to　get　them　later　on。　Wait；　I'll　find　the　place；　I'll　read　it　to　you。〃
　Kelp　reached　into　his　hip　pocket　and　pulled　out　a　copy　of　the　book。　Dortmunder　watched　him；　saw　him　leafing　through　it　looking　for　the　place；　and　still　didn't　say　any。　thing。　He　just　sat　there　and　thought　about　it。
　Dortmunder　was　not　a　natural　reader；　but　his　times　in。　side　prison　walls　had　shown　him　the　usefulness　of　reading　when　you're　waiting　for　a　certain　number　of　days　to　go　by。　Reading　can　speed　the　days　a　little；　and　that's　all　to　the　good。　So　all　in　all　it　had　been　a　fairly　familiar　experience　for　him；　reading　a　book；　though　strange　to　be　doing　it　in　a　place　with　no　bars　over　the　window。　And　also　strange　to　be　doing　it　for　some　other　reason　outside　the　act　of　reading　itself。　All　the　way　through　he　had　kept　wondering　what　Kelp　had　in　mind；　had　even　distracted　himself　from　the　story　here　and　there　while　trying　to　guess　what　the　purpose　of　it　all　could　be；　and　the　truth　had　never　occurred　to　him。　A　blueprint。　Kelp　wanted　them　to　read　the　book　because　it　was　a　blueprint。
　Now　Kelp　was　leafing　back　and　forth　through　his　copy；　trying　to　find　the　part　where　it　had　said　not　to　kill　the　child　they　were　kidnapping。　〃I　know　it's　here　somewhere；〃　he　was　saying。
　〃We　all　read　it；〃　Murch's　Mom　said。　〃Don't　start　reciting　it　to　us；　like　some　Traffic　Court　judge。〃
　〃Okay；〃　Kelp　said；　and　closed　the　book　again。　Standing　there；　holding　it；　looking　like　some　kind　of　paperback　preacher；　he　said；　〃You　all　agree　with　me；　don't　you？　You　see　what　a　natural　this　is；　what　a　winner　this　is。〃
　〃There's　a　lot　of　driving　in　it；〃　Murch　said。　〃I　noticed　that　right　away。〃
　〃Plenty　for　you　to　do；〃　Kelp　told　him　eagerly。
　〃And　they　got　the　roads　right；〃　Murch　said。　〃I　mean；　the　guy　that　wrote　the　book；　he　got　all　the　roads　right。〃
　May　said；　〃But　you're　still　talking　about　kidnapping　a　child；　and　I　still　say　that's　a　mean；　terrible　thing　to　do。'
　〃Not　if　you　do　it　like　this　book　says。〃
　Murch's　Mom　said；　〃I　suppose　you'd　want　May　and　me　to　take　care　of　this　brat；　like　the　women　in　the　book。〃
　Kelp　said；　〃Well；　we're　not　talking　about　a　baby　or　anything；　you　don't　have　to　change　anybody's　diaper　or　anything　like　that。　We're　talking　about　a　kid　maybe　ten；　twelve　years　old。〃
　〃That's　very　sexist；〃　Murch's　Mom　said。
　Kelp　looked　blank。　〃Hah？〃
　〃Wanting　May　and　me　to　take　care　of　the　kid。　Role…assumption。　It's　sexist。〃
　〃Goddammit；　Mom；〃　Murch　said；　〃you've　been　off　with　those　consciousness…raising　ladies　again。〃
　〃I　drive　a　cab；〃　she　said。　〃I'm　no　different　from　a　man。〃　Kelp　said；　〃You　want　me　to　take　care　of　the　kid？〃　He　seemed　honestly　bewildered。
　Murch's　Mom　snorted。　〃What　does　a　man　know　about　taking　care　of　a　child？〃
　〃But…〃
　〃I　just　wanted　you　to　know；〃　she　said。　〃It　was　sexist；　and　I　wanted　you　to　know　it　was　sexist。〃
　〃And　I　still　say　it's　mean；〃　May　said。　Beside　her；　Dortmunder　took　a　deep　breath；　but　he　didn't　say　any。　thing。　He　was　watching　Kelp；　listening　to　everybody　and　thinking。
　Kelp　said　to　May；　〃How　could　it　be　mean？　With　you　and　Murch's　Mom　to　take　care　of　the　kid；　who's　gonna　treat　him　mean？　We　follow　what　the　book　says；　he'll　never　be　in　any　danger；　and　he　won't　even　get　scared。　He'll　probably　be　glad　he　doesn't　have　to　go　to　school　for　a　couple　days。〃
　Dortmunder　rose　slowly　to　his　feet。　〃Kelp；〃　he　said。
　Kelp　looked　at　him；　alert；　bright…eyed；　eager　to　be　of　assistance。
　〃You　and　me；〃　Dortmunder　said；　〃we've　worked　together　a　few　times　over　the　years；　am　I　right？〃
　Kelp　said；　〃Now；　you're　not　gonna　start　dredging　up　the　past；　blaming　me　for…〃
　〃I'm　not　talking　about　blame；〃　Dortmunder　said。　〃I'm　just　saying　we　worked　together。〃
　〃Well；　sure；〃　Kelp　said。　〃That's　right；　sure；　we're　longtime　partners。〃
　〃Now；　Stan；　here；〃　Dortmunder　said；　〃he's　worked　with　us；　too。　What　his　job　is；　he　drives；　am　I　right？〃
　〃I'm　the　best；〃　Murch　said。
　〃That's　right；〃　Kelp　said。　He　seemed　a　little　confused；　but　still　bright…eyed　and　eager　to　please。　〃Stan　drives；　and　he's　the　best。〃
　〃And　what　do　I　do？〃　Dortmunder　asked　him。
　〃You？〃　Kelp　moved　his　hands　vaguely。　〃You　know　what　you　do；〃　he　said。　〃You　run　it。〃
　〃I　run　it。　I　make　the　plan；　isn't　that　right？〃
　〃Well；　sure；〃　Kelp　said。
　〃Now；〃　Dortmunder　said；　and　his　voice　was　beginning　to　rise　just　a　little；　〃are　you　saying　all　those　things　that　went　wrong　in　the　past　are　my　fault？〃
　〃What？　No　no；　I　never…〃
　〃You're　going　to　bring　in　a　plan？〃
　〃But…〃
　〃You　don't　like　the　way　I　do　plans；　is　that　it？　You　think　there's　something　wrong　with　the　plans　I　work　out？〃
　〃No；　I…〃
　〃You　think　some　book　writer's　gonna　do　you　a　better　plan　than　I　am；　is　that　what　you　e　here　to　say？〃
　〃Dortmun…〃
　〃You　can　get　right　out　of　here；〃　Dortmunder　said；　and　pointed　a　big…knuckled　finger　at　the　door。
　〃Just　let　me…〃
　〃You　and　that　Richard　Smart　or　whatever　the　hell　his　name　is；〃　Dortmunder　raged；　〃the　two　of　you　can　get　the　hell　out　of　here；　and　don't　e　back！〃
　
　5
　
　M　A　Y　had　put　together　a　special　dinner；　all　of　Dortmunder's　favorites：　Salisbury　steak；　steamed　green　beans；　whipped　potatoes　from　a　mix；　enriched　white　bread；　beer　in　the　can；　and　boysenberry　Jell…O　for　dessert。　On　the　table　were　lined　up　the　ketchup；　the　A…1　sauce；　the　Worcestershire　sauce；　the　salt　and　pepper　and　sugar；　the　margarine；　and　the　can　of　evaporated　milk。　She　had　the　entrée　done　by　midnight；　and　put　it　in　the　oven　to　keep　warm　till　Dortmunder　got　home　at　quarter　to　four。
　From　the　slope　of　his　shoulders　when　he　walked　in　she　knew　things　hadn't　gone　well。　Maybe　she　should　wait；　and　broach　the　subject　some　other　time？　No；　if　she　waited　for　John　Dortmunder　to　be　in　a　good　mood　they'd　both　of　them　be　very；　very　old　before　she　ever　said　anything。
　He　dropped　his　bag　of　tools　on　the　gray　armchair；　where　they　clanked。　He　unzipped　his　black　jacket；　peeled　off　his　black　gloves；　shook　his　head；　and　said；　〃I　don't　know；　May。　I　just　don't　know。〃
　〃Something　go　wrong？〃
　〃Twenty…five　minutes　going　through　that　door；〃　Dortmunder　said。　〃I　did　everything　right；　everything　smooth　and　perfect。　Not　a　sound；　not　a　peep。　I　go　in　through　the　door；　I　flash　the　light　around；　you　know　what　the　place　is？〃
　She　shook　her　head。　〃I　can't　imagine；〃　she　said。
　〃Empty。〃
　〃Empty？〃
　〃Since　last　Tuesday　and　today；〃　he　said；　waving　one　hand　around；　〃they　went　out　of　business。　Can　you　figure　that？　Just　last　Tuesday　I　walked　by　the　front　of　the　place；　they're　still　open。　All　right；　they're　having　an　up…to…fifty…percent…off　sale；　but　they're　open。　Who　expects　them　to　go　out　of　business？〃
　〃I　guess　times　are　bad　all　over；〃　May　said。
　〃I'd　like　to　take　the　guy　had　that　store；〃　Dortmun