chiaasen.stormyweather-第21节

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　Gil　Peck　thrust　his　face　to　the　mesh　of　the　cage。　〃If　you're　a　Christian；　you　gotta　believe　what　I'm　sayin'。　It　wasn't　me　that　crucified　the　poor　fucker。〃
　
　But　Jim　Tile　hoped　with　all　his　Christian　heart　that　it　was。　Because　the　other　prime　suspect　was　someone　he　didn't　want　to　arrest；　unless　there　was　no　choice。
　
　
　
　CHAPTER　NINE
　
　
　Skink　eavesdropped　leisurely　while　Max　Lamb　made　two　calls。　The　phone　booth　was　at　a　truck　stop　on　Krome　Avenue；　the　fringe　of　the　Everglades。　Longbeds　overloaded　with　lumber；　sheet　glass　and　tar　paper　streamed　south　in　ragged　convoys　to　the　hurricane　zone。　Nobody　glanced　twice　at　the　unshaven　man　on　the　phone；　despite　the　collar　around　his　neck。
　
　When　Max　Lamb　hung　up；　Skink　grabbed　his　arm　and　led　him　to　the　airboat；　beached　on　the　bank　of　a　muddy　canal。　Skink　ordered　him　to　lie　in　the　bow；　and　there　he　remained　for　two　hours；　his　cheekbone　vibrating　against　the　hull。　The　howl　of　the　aviation　engine　filled　his　ears。　Skink　was　no　longer　singing　harmony。　Max　Lamb　wondered　what　he'd　done　to　further　annoy　his　abductor。
　
　They　stopped　once。　Skink　left　the　airboat　briefly　and　returned　with　a　large　cardboard　box；　which　he　set　in　the　bow　next　to　Max。　They　traveled　until　dusk。　When　Skink　finally　lifted　him　to　his　knees；　Max　was　surprised　to　see　the　Indian　village。　They　didn't　stay　long　enough　for　Max　to　negotiate　the　return　of　his　video　camera。　Skink　borrowed　a　station　wagon；　put　the　box　in　the　back；　and　buckled　his　prisoner　on　the　passenger　side。　There　was　no　sign　of　the　monkey；　and　for　that　Max　Lamb　was　grateful。
　
　Skink　put　on　the　shower　cap　and　started　the　car。　Max　needed　to　pee　but　was　afraid　to　ask。　He　was　no　longer　confident　that　he　could　talk　his　way　out　of　the　kidnapping。
　
　〃Is　something　wrong？〃　he　asked。
　
　Skink　shot　him　a　stony　look。　〃I　remember　your　wife　from　the　hurricane　video。　Hugging　two　little　Cuban　girls。〃
　
　〃Yes；　that　was　Bonnie。〃
　
　〃Beautiful　woman。　You　zoomed　in　on　her　face。〃
　
　〃Can　we　stop　the　car；〃　Max　interrupted；　squirming；　〃just　for　a　minute？〃
　
　Skink　kept　his　eyes　on　the　road。　〃Your　bride's　got　a　good　heart。　That　much　is　obvious　from　the　video。〃
　
　〃A　saint；〃　Max　agreed。　He　jammed　both　hands　between　his　legs；　he'd　tie　his　dick　in　a　Windsor　before　he'd　wet　himself　in　front　of　the　governor。
　
　〃Why　she's　with　you；　I　can't　figure。　It's　a　real　puzzler；〃　Skink　said。　He　braked　the　car　sharply。　〃Why　didn't　you　try　to　phone　her　tonight？　You　call　your　buddy　in　New　York。　You　call　your　folks　in　Milan…fucking…Italy。　Why　not　Bonnie？〃
　
　〃I　don't　know　where　she　is。　That　damn　answering　machine…〃
　
　〃And　the　crap　about　you　and　her　having　a　fight…〃
　
　〃I　didn't　want　Peter　to　worry；〃　Max　said。
　
　〃Well；　God　forbid。〃　Skink　jammed　the　transmission　into　Park　and　flung　himself　out　the　door。　He　reappeared　in　the　beam　of　the　headlights；　a　hoary　apparition　crouched　on　the　pavement。　Max　Lamb　craned　to　see　what　he　was　doing。
　
　Skink　strolled　back　to　the　station　wagon　and　tossed　a　dead　opossum　on　the　seat　next　to　Max；　who　gasped　and　recoiled。　A　few　miles　later；　Skink　added　a　truck…flattened　coachwhip　snake　to　the　evening's　menu。　Max　forgot　about　his　bladder　until　they　made　camp　at　an　abandoned　horse　barn　west　of　Krome。
　
　The　horses　were　gone；　scattered　by　the　storm；　the　owners　had　e　by　to　retrieve　the　saddles　and　tack；　and　to　scatter　feed　in　case　any　of　the　animals　returned。　Max　Lamb　stood　alone　in　the　musky　darkness　and　relieved　himself　torrentially。　He　considered　running；　but　feared　he　wouldn't　survive　a　single　night　alone　in　nature。　In　Max's　mind；　all　Florida　south　of　Orlando　was　an　immense　swamp；　humidly　teeming　with　feral　beasts。　Some　had　claws　and　poisonous　fangs；　some　drove　air…boats　and　feasted　on　roadkill。　They　were　all　the　same　to　Max。
　
　Skink　appeared　at　his　side　to　announce　that　dinner　soon　would　be　served。　Max　followed　him　into　the　stables。　He　asked　if　it　was　wise　to　make　a　campfire　inside　a　barn。　Skink　replied　that　it　was　extremely　dangerous；　but　cozy。
　
　Max　Lamb　was　impressed　that　the　odor　of　horseshit　could　not　be　vanquished　by　a　mere　Force　Four　hurricane。　On　a　positive　note；　the　fragrance　of　dung　pletely　neutralized　the　aroma　of　boiled　opossum　and　pan…fried　snake。　After　supper　Skink　stripped　to　his　boxer　shorts　and　did　two　hundred　sit…ups　in　a　cloud　of　ancient　manure　dust。　Then　he　retrieved　the　large　cardboard　box　from　the　car　and　brought　it　inside　the　barn。　He　asked　Max　if　he　wanted　a　cigaret。
　
　〃No；　thanks；〃　Max　said。　〃I　don't　smoke。〃
　
　〃You're　kidding。〃
　
　〃Never　have；〃　Max　said。
　
　〃But　you　sell　the　stuff…〃
　
　〃We　do　the　advertising。　That's　it。〃
　
　〃Ah；〃　Skink　said。　〃Just　the　advertising。〃　He　picked　his　trousers　off　the　floor　and　went　through　the　pockets。　Max　Lamb　thought　he　was　looking　for　matches；　but　he　wasn't。　He　was　looking　for　the　remote　control　to　the　shock　collar。
　
　When　Max　regained　his　senses；　he　lay　in　wet　molder…ing　hay。　His　eyeballs　were　jumping　in　their　sockets；　and　his　neck　felt　tingly　and　hot。　He　sat　up　and　said；　〃What'd　I　do？〃
　
　〃Surely　you　believe　in　the　products　you　advertise。〃
　
　〃Look；　I　don't　smoke。〃
　
　〃You　could　learn。〃　With　a　pocketknife；　Skink　opened　the　cardboard　box。　The　box　was　full　of　Bronco　cigarets；　probably　four　dozen　cartons。　Max　Lamb　failed　to　conceal　his　alarm。
　
　The　kidnapper　asked　how　he　could　be　sure　of　a　product　until　he　tested　it　himself。　Grimly　Max　responded：　〃I　also　do　the　ads　for　raspberry…scented　douche；　but　I　don't　use　the　stuff。〃
　
　〃Careful；〃　said　Skink；　brightly；　〃or　you'll　give　me　another　brainstorm。〃　He　opened　a　pack　of　Broncos。　He　tapped　one　out　and　inserted　it　between　Max's　lips。　He　struck　a　match　on　the　wall　of　the　barn　and　lit　the　cigaret。
　
　〃Well？〃
　
　Max　spit　out　the　cigaret。　〃This　is　ridiculous。〃
　
　Skink　retrieved　the　soggy　Bronco　and　replaced　it　in　Max's　frowning　mouth。　〃You　got　two　choices；〃　he　said；　fingering　the　remote　control；　〃smoke　or　be　smoked。〃
　
　Reluctantly　Max　Lamb　took　a　drag　on　the　cigaret。　Immediately　he　began　to　cough。　It　worsened　as　Skink　tied　him　upright　to　a　post。　〃You　people　are　a　riddle　to　me；　Max。　Why　you　e　down　here。　Why　you　act　the　way　you　do。　Why　you　live　such　lives。〃
　
　〃For　God's　sake…〃
　
　〃Shut　up　now。　Please。〃
　
　Skink　dug　through　the　backpack　and　took　out　a　Walkman。　He　chose　a　damp　corner　of　the　barn　and　put　on　the　headphones。　He　lighted　what　appeared　to　be　a　joint；　except　it　didn't　smell　like　marijuana。
　
　〃What's　that？〃　Max　asked。
　
　〃Toad。〃　Skink　took　a　hit。　After　a　few　minutes；　his　good　eye　rolled　back　in　his　head　and　his　neck　went　limp。
　
　Max　Lamb　went　through　the　Broncos　like　a　machine。　Whenever　Skink　opened　an　eye；　he　tapped　a　finger　to　his　neck…a　menacing　reminder　of　the　shock　collar。　Max　smoked　and　smoked。　He　was　finishing　number　twenty…three　when　Skink　shook　out　of　the　stupor　and　rose。
　
　〃Damn　good　toad。〃　He　plucked　the　Bronco　from　Max's　mouth。
　
　〃I　feel　sick；　captain。〃
　
　Skink　untied　him　and　told　him　to　rest　up。　〃Tomorrow　you're　going　to　leave　a　message　for　your　wife。　You're　going　to　arrange　a　meeting。〃
　
　〃What　for？〃
　
　〃So　I　can　observe　the　two　of　you　together。　The　chemistry；　the　starry　eyes；　all　that　shit。　OK？〃
　
　Skink　went　outside　and　crawled　under　the　station　wagon；　where　he　curled　up　and　began　to　snore。　Max　coughed　himself　to　sleep　in　the　barn。
　
　Bonnie　Lamb　awoke　in　Augustine's　arms。　Her　guilt　was　diluted　by　the　observation　that　he　was　wearing　jeans　and　a　T…shirt。　She　didn't　remember　him　dressing　during　the　night；　but　obviously　he　had。　She　was　reasonably　sure　that　no　sex　had　occurred；　plenty　of　tears；　yes；　but　no　sex。
　
　Bonnie　wanted　to　pull　away　without　waking　him。　Otherwise　there　might　be　an　awkward　moment；　the　two　of　them　lying　there　embraced。　Or　maybe　not。　Maybe　he'd　know　exactly　what　not　to　say。　Clearly　he　was　experienced　with　crying　women；　because　he　was　exceptionally　good　at　hugging　and　whispering。　When　she　found　herself　thinking　about　how　nice　he　smelled；　Bonnie　knew　it　was　time　to　sneak　out　of　bed。
　
　As　she'd　hoped；　Augustine　had　the　good　manners　to　pretend　to　stay　asleep　until　she　was　safely　in　the　kitchen；　making　coffee。
　
　When　he　walked　in；　she　felt　herself　blush。　〃I'm　so　sorry；〃　she　blurted；　〃for　last　night。〃
　
　〃Why？　Did　you　take　advantage　of　me？〃　He　went　to　the　refrigerator　and　took　out　a　carton　of　eggs。　〃I'm　a　heavy　sleeper；〃　he　said。　〃Easy　prey　for　sex…crazed　babes。〃
　
　〃Especially　newlyweds。〃
　
　〃Oh；　they're　the　worst；〃　said　Augustine。　〃Ravenous　harlots。　You　want　scrambled　or　fried？〃
　
　〃Fried。〃　She　sat　at　the　table。　She　tore　open　a　packet　of　NutraSweet　and　managed　to　miss　the　coffee　cup　entirely。　〃Please　believe　me。　I　don't　usually　sleep　with　strange　men。〃
　
　〃Sleeping　is　fine。　It's　the　screwing　you　want　to　watch　out　for。〃　He　was　peeling　an　orange　at　the　sink。　〃Relax；　OK？　Nothing　happened。〃
　
　Bonnie　smiled。　〃Can　I　at　least　say　thanks；　for　being　a　friend。〃
　
　〃You're　very　wele；　Mrs。　Lamb。〃　He　glanced　over　his　shoulder。　〃What's　so　funny？〃
　
　〃The　jeans。〃
　
　〃Don't　tell　me　there's　a　hole。〃
　
　〃No。　It's　just…well；　you　got　up　in　the　middle　of　the　night　to　put　them　on。　It　was　a　sw