chiaasen.stormyweather-第51节

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　〃Please。　Will　you　show　me？〃
　
　Once　more；　no　reply。　Bonnie　wished　Augustine　would　hurry　back。　She　returned　her　attention　to　the　house　where　the　black　Cherokee　was　parked；　and　thought　about　what　they'd　witnessed　during　the　long　hot　morning。
　
　A　half　hour　after　the　old　man　had　arrived；　a　taxi　pulled　up。　Out　the　doorway　of　15600　Calusa　had　scurried　a　redheaded　woman　in　a　tight　shiny　cocktail　dress　and　formidable　high　heels。　Augustine　and　Bonnie　agreed　she　looked　like　a　prostitute。　As　the　woman　had　wriggled　herself　into　the　back　of　the　cab；　Skink　remarked　that　her　bold　stockings　would　make　a　superb　mullet　seine。
　
　A　short　time　later；　a　teal…blue　Taurus　had　stopped　in　the　driveway。　The　governor　said　it　had　to　be　a　rental；　because　only　rental　panies　bought　teal…blue　cars。
　
　Two　men　had　gotten　out　of　the　Taurus；　neither　had　a　disfigured　jaw。　The　younger　one　was　a　trim…looking　blond　who　wore　eyeglasses　and　carried　a　tan　briefcase。　The　older；　heavier　one　had　cropped　dark　hair　and　carried　a　clipboard；　his　bearing　was　one　of　authority…probably　ex…military；　Skink　guessed；　a　sergeant　in　his　youth。　The　two　men　had　stayed　in　the　house　for　a　long　time。　Finally　the　older　one　had　e　out　alone。　He'd　sat　in　the　driver's　side　of　the　car；　with　the　door　open；　and　jotted　notes。　Soon　the　man　with　the　briefcase　had　appeared　around　the　corner　of　the　house；　from　the　backyard；　and　together　they'd　departed。
　
　While　the　visitors　didn't　appear　to　be　violent　desperadoes；　Skink　said　that　one　could　never　be　certain　in　Miami。　Augustine　got　the　hint；　and　went　to　fetch　the　guns　from　the　pickup　truck。
　
　Now　the　governor　had　his　forehead　on　the　sill；　and　he'd　begun　to　hum。　Bonnie　asked　the　name　of　the　song。
　
　〃　'Number　Nine　Dream；'〃。　he　said。
　
　〃I　don't　know　that　one。〃
　
　She　wanted　so　much　to　hear　about　his　life。　She　wanted　him　to　open　up　and　tell　the　most　thrilling　and　shocking　of　true　stories。
　
　〃Sing　it　for　me；〃　she　said。
　
　〃Some　other　time。〃　Skink　pointed　across　the　street。　A　man　and　a　woman　were　leaving　the　house。
　
　Bonnie　Lamb　stared。　〃What　in　the　world　are　they　doing？〃
　
　The　governor　rose　quickly。　〃e；　child；〃　he　said。
　
　After　the　Sally　Jessy　show　ended；　Snapper　made　a　couple　of　phone　calls　to　set　something　up。　Exactly　what；　Edie　Marsh　wasn't　sure。　Evidently　he'd　gotten　a　brainstorm　about　what　to　do　with　the　old　man；　short　of　murder。
　
　〃Gimme　hand；〃　he　said　to　Edie；　and　began　tearing　the　living…room　drapes　off　the　rods。　The　drapes　were　whorehouse　pink；　heavy　and　dank　from　rain。　They　spread　the　fabric　in　a　crude　square　on　the　floor。　Then　they　put　Levon　Stichler　in　the　middle　and　rolled　him　up　inside。
　
　To　Edie；　it　resembled　an　enormous　strawberry　pastry。　She　said；　〃I　hope　he　can　breathe。〃
　
　Snapper　punched　the　pink　bundle。　〃Hey；　asshole。　You　got　air？〃
　
　The　gagged　old　man　responded　with　an　expressive　groan。　Snapper　said；　〃He's　OK。　Let's　haul　his　ass　out　to　the　Jeep。〃
　
　Levon　Stichler　wasn't　easy　to　carry。　Snapper　took　the　heavy　end；　but　each　step　was　agony　to　his　shattered　knee。　They　dropped　the　old　man　several　times　before　〃they　made　it　to　the　driveway。　Each　time　it　happened；　Snapper　swore　vehemently　and　danced　a　tortured　one…legged　jig　around　the　pink　bundle。　Edie　Marsh　opened　the　rear　hatch　of　the　Cherokee；　and　somehow　they　managed　to　fold　Levon　Stichler　into　the　cargo　well。
　
　Snapper　was　leaning　against　the　bumper；　waiting　for　the　searing　pain　in　his　leg　to　ebb；　when　he　spotted　the　tall　stranger　ing　toward　them　from　the　abandoned　house　across　the　street。　The　man　was　dressed　in　army　greens。　His　long　wild　hair　looked　like　frosted　hemp。　At　first　Snapper　thought　he　was　a　street　person；　maybe　a　Vietnam　vet　or　one　of　those　cracked…out　losers　who　lived　under　the　interstate。　Except　he　was　walking　too　fast　and　purposefully　to　be　a　bum。　He　was　moving　like　he　had　food　in　his　stomach；　good　hard　muscles；　and　something　serious　on　his　mind。　Ten　yards　behind；　hurrying　to　catch　up；　was　a　respectable…looking　young　woman。
　
　Edie　Marsh　said；　〃Oh　shit；〃　and　slammed　the　hatch　of　the　Jeep。　She　told　Snapper　not　to　say　a　damn　word；　she'd　do　the　talking。
　
　As　the　stranger　approached；　Snapper　straightened　on　both　legs。　The　pain　in　his　injured　knee　caused　him　to　grind　his　mismatched　molars。　He　slipped　a　hand　inside　his　suit　jacket。
　
　〃Excuse　us；〃　said　the　stranger。　The　woman；　looking　nervous；　stood　behind　him。
　
　Edie　Marsh　said；　helpfully；　〃Are　you　lost？〃
　
　The　stranger　beamed…a　striking　smile；　full　of　bright　movie…star　teeth。　Snapper　tensed；　this　was　no　interstate　bum。
　
　〃What　a　fine　question！〃　the　man　said　to　Edie。　Then　he　turned　to　Snapper。　〃Sir；　you　and　I　have　something　in　mon。〃
　
　Snapper　scowled。　〃The　fuck　you　talkin'　about？〃
　
　〃See　here。〃　The　stranger　calmly　pried　out　one　of　his　eyeballs　and　held　it　up；　like　a　polished　gemstone；　for　Snapper　to　examine。　Snapper　felt　himself　keeling；　and　steadied　himself　against　the　truck。　The　sight　of　the　shrunken　socket　was　more　sickening　than　that　of　the　glistening　prosthesis。
　
　〃It's　glass；〃　the　man　said。　〃A　minor　disability；　just　like　your　jaw。　But　we　both　struggle　with　the　mirror；　do　we　not？〃
　
　〃I　got　no　problems　in　that　department；〃　Snapper　said；　though　he　could　not　look　the　stranger　in　the　face。　〃Are　you　some　fuckin'　preacher　or　what？〃
　
　Edie　Marsh　cut　in：　〃Mister；　I　don't　mean　to　be　rude；　but　we've　got　to　be　on　our　way。　We've　got　an　appointment　downtown。〃
　
　The　stranger　had　a　darkly　elusive　charm；　a　dangerous　and　disorganized　intelligence　that　put　Edie　on　edge。　He　appeared　content　at　the　prospect　of　physical　confrontation。　The　pretty　young　woman；　tame　and　fine…featured；　seemed　an　unlikely　partner；　Edie　wondered　if　she　was　a　captive。
　
　The　tall　stranger　cocked　back　his　head　and　deftly　reinserted　the　glass　eye。　Then；　blinking　for　focus；　he　said；　〃OK；　kids。　Let's　have　a　peek　in　that　snazzy　Jeep。〃
　
　Snapper　whipped　out　the　。357　and　pointed　it　at　a　button　in　the　center　of　the　man's　broad　chest。　〃Get　in；〃　he　snarled。
　
　Again　the　stranger　grinned。　〃We　thought　you'd　never　ask！〃　The　young　woman　clutched　one　of　his　arms　and　tried　to　suppress　her　trembling。
　
　Augustine　noticed　a　young　towheaded　boy；　rigid　in　a　shredded　patio　chair　outside　a　battered　house。　Most　of　the　roof　was　gone；　so　a　skin　of　cheap　blue　plastic　had　been　stapled　to　the　beams　for　shade　and　shelter。　It　puckered　and　flapped　in　the　breeze。
　
　The　towheaded　boy　looked　only　ten　or　eleven　years　old。　He　held　a　stainless…steel　Ruger　Mini…14；　which　he　raised　from　his　lap　as　Augustine　passed　on　the　sidewalk。　In　a　thin　high　pitch；　the　boy　yelled：　〃Looters　will　be　shot！〃
　
　The　warning　matched　a　message　spray…painted　in　two…foot　letters　on　the　front　wall：　lootersbewair！！
　
　Augustine　turned　to　face　the　child。　〃I'm　not　a　looter。　Where's　your　father？〃
　
　〃Out　for　lumber。　He　told　me　watch　the　place。〃
　
　〃You're　doing　a　good　job。〃　Augustine　stared　at　the　powerful　rifle。　A　bank　robber　had　used　the　same　model　to　shoot　down　five　FBI　agents　in　Suniland；　a　few　years　back。
　
　The　boy　explained：　〃We　had　looters；　night　after　the　hurry…cane。　We　were　stayin'　with　Uncle　Rick；　he　lives　somewheres　called　Dania。　They　came　through　while　we's　gone。〃
　
　Augustine　slowly　stepped　forward　for　a　closer　look。　The　clip　was　fitted　flush　in　the　Ruger；　all　systems　Go。　The　boy　wore　a　severe　expression；　squinting　at　Augustine　as　if　he　stood　a　hundred　yards　away。　The　boy　fidgeted　in　the　flimsy　chair。　One　side　of　his　mouth　wormed　into　a　creepy　lopsided　frown。　Augustine　half　expected　to　hear　banjo　music。
　
　The　boy　went　on：　〃They　got　our　TVs　and　CD　player。　My　dad's　toolbox；　top。　I'm　'posed　to　shoot　the　bastards　they　e　back。〃
　
　〃Did　you　ever　fire　that　gun　before？〃
　
　〃All　the　time。〃　The　child's　hard　gray…blue　eyes　flickered　with　the　lie。　The　Mini…14　was　heavy。　His　little　arms　were　tired　from　holding　it。　〃You　better　go　on　now；〃　he　advised。
　
　Augustine　nodded；　backing　away。　〃Just　be　careful；　all　right？　You　don't　want　to　hurt　the　wrong　person。〃
　
　〃My　dad　said　he's　gone　booby…trap　everything　so's　next　time　they'll　be　damn　sorry。　He　went　to　the　hardware　store。　My　mom　and　Debbie　are　still　up　at　Uncle　Rick's。　Debbie's　my　half…sister；　she's　seven。〃
　
　〃Promise　you'll　be　careful　with　the　gun。〃
　
　〃She　stepped　on　a　rusty　nail　and　got　infected。〃
　
　〃Promise　me　you'll　take　it　easy。〃
　
　〃OK；〃　said　the　boy。　A　droplet　of　sweat　rolled　down　a　pink；　sunburned　cheek。　It　surely　tickled；　but　the　boy　never　took　a　hand　off　the　rifle。
　
　Augustine　waved　good…bye　and　went　on　up　the　road。　When　he　arrived　at　the　house　where　he'd　left　Bonnie　Lamb　and　the　governor；　he　found　it　empty。　Across　the　street；　at　15600　Calusa；　the　black　Jeep　Cherokee　was　gone　from　the　driveway。
　
　
　
　CHAPTER　TWENTY…TWO
　
　
　Augustine　sprinted　across　the　street。　He　pulled　the　pistol　when　he　reached　the　doorway。　There　was　no　answer　when　he　called　Bonnie's　name。　Cautiously　he　went　through　the　house。　It　was　empty　of　life。　The　air　was　stale；　mildew　and　sweat；　except　for　one　of　the　bedrooms…strong　perfume　and　sex。　A　hall　closet　was　open；　revealing　nothing　unusual。　A　plaque　on　the　living…room　wall　indicated　the　house　belonged　to　a　sale