chiaasen.stormyweather-µÚ6½Ú
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
how¡¡they'd¡¡lived¡¡or¡¡died£»¡¡but¡¡from¡¡touching¡¡them¡¡he¡¡drew¡¡energy¡£
¡¡
¡¡In¡¡his¡¡spare¡¡time¡¡Augustine¡¡read¡¡books¡¡and¡¡watched¡¡television¡¡and¡¡hiked¡¡what¡¡was¡¡left¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Florida¡¡wilderness¡£¡¡Even¡¡before¡¡he¡¡became¡¡wealthy¡when¡¡he¡¡worked¡¡on¡¡his¡¡father's¡¡fishing¡¡boat£»¡¡and¡¡later¡¡in¡¡law¡¡school¡¡Augustine¡¡nursed¡¡an¡¡unspecific¡¡anger¡¡that¡¡he¡¡couldn't¡¡trace¡¡and¡¡wasn't¡¡sure¡¡he¡¡should¡£¡¡It¡¡manifested¡¡itself¡¡in¡¡the¡¡occasional¡¡urge¡¡to¡¡burn¡¡something¡¡down¡¡or¡¡blow¡¡something¡¡up¡a¡¡high¡rise£»¡¡a¡¡new¡¡interstate¡¡highway£»¡¡that¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡thing¡£
¡¡
¡¡Now¡¡that¡¡Augustine¡¡had¡¡both¡¡the¡¡time¡¡and¡¡the¡¡money£»¡¡he¡¡found¡¡himself¡¡without¡¡direction¡¡for¡¡these¡¡radical¡¡sentiments£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡no¡¡trustworthy¡¡knowledge¡¡of¡¡heavy¡¡explosives¡£¡¡Out¡¡of¡¡guilt£»¡¡he¡¡donated¡¡large¡¡sums¡¡to¡¡respectable¡¡causes¡¡such¡¡as¡¡the¡¡Sierra¡¡Club¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Nature¡¡Conservancy¡£¡¡His¡¡ambition¡¡to¡¡noble¡¡violence¡¡remained¡¡a¡¡harmless¡¡fantasy¡£¡¡Meanwhile¡¡he¡¡bobbed¡¡through¡¡life's¡¡turbulence¡¡like¡¡driftwood¡£
¡¡
¡¡The¡¡near¡death¡¡experience¡¡that¡¡made¡¡Augustine¡¡so¡¡rich¡¡had¡¡given¡¡him¡¡zero¡¡insight¡¡into¡¡a¡¡grand¡¡purpose¡¡or¡¡cosmic¡¡destiny¡£¡¡Augustine¡¡barely¡¡remembered¡¡the¡¡damn¡¡Beechcraft¡¡going¡¡down¡£¡¡Certainly¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡no¡¡blinding¡¡white¡¡light¡¡at¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡a¡¡cool¡¡tunnel£»¡¡heard¡¡no¡¡dead¡¡relatives¡¡calling¡¡to¡¡him¡¡from¡¡heaven¡£¡¡All¡¡he¡¡recalled¡¡of¡¡the¡¡a¡¡that¡¡followed¡¡the¡¡accident¡¡was¡¡an¡¡agonizing¡¡and¡¡unquenchable¡¡thirst¡£
¡¡
¡¡After¡¡recovering¡¡from¡¡his¡¡injuries£»¡¡Augustine¡¡didn't¡¡return¡¡to¡¡the¡¡hamster¡wheel¡¡routine¡¡of¡¡law¡¡school¡£¡¡The¡¡insurance¡¡settlement¡¡financed¡¡a¡¡fortable¡¡aimlessness¡¡that¡¡many¡¡young¡¡men¡¡would¡¡have¡¡found¡¡appealing¡£¡¡Yet¡¡Augustine¡¡was¡¡deeply¡¡unhappy¡£¡¡One¡¡night£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡fit¡¡of¡¡depression£»¡¡he¡¡violently¡¡purged¡¡his¡¡bookshelves¡¡of¡¡all¡¡genius¡¡talents¡¡who¡¡had¡¡died¡¡too¡¡young¡£¡¡This¡¡included¡¡his¡¡treasured¡¡Jack¡¡London¡£
¡¡
¡¡Typically£»¡¡Augustine¡¡was¡¡waiting¡¡for¡¡a¡¡woman¡¡to¡¡e¡¡along¡¡and¡¡fix¡¡him¡£¡¡So¡¡far£»¡¡it¡¡hadn't¡¡happened¡£
¡¡
¡¡One¡¡time¡¡a¡¡dancer¡¡whom¡¡Augustine¡¡was¡¡dating¡¡caught¡¡him¡¡juggling¡¡his¡¡skulls¡¡in¡¡the¡¡bedroom¡£¡¡She¡¡thought¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡stunt¡¡designed¡¡to¡¡provoke¡¡a¡¡reaction¡£¡¡She¡¡told¡¡him¡¡it¡¡wasn't¡¡funny£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡perverted¡£¡¡Then¡¡she¡¡moved¡¡to¡¡New¡¡York¡£¡¡A¡¡year¡¡or¡¡so¡¡later£»¡¡for¡¡no¡¡particular¡¡reason£»¡¡Augustine¡¡sent¡¡the¡¡woman¡¡one¡¡of¡¡his¡¡dividend¡¡checks¡¡from¡¡Paine¡¡Webber¡£¡¡She¡¡used¡¡the¡¡money¡¡to¡¡buy¡¡a¡¡Toyota¡¡Supra¡¡and¡¡sent¡¡Augustine¡¡a¡¡snapshot¡¡of¡¡herself£»¡¡smiling¡¡and¡¡waving¡¡in¡¡the¡¡driver's¡¡seat¡£¡¡Augustine¡¡wondered¡¡who'd¡¡taken¡¡the¡¡picture¡¡and¡¡what¡¡he'd¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡the¡¡new¡¡car¡£
¡¡
¡¡Augustine¡¡had¡¡no¡¡brothers¡¡and¡¡sisters£»¡¡his¡¡mother¡¡was¡¡in¡¡Nevada¡¡and¡¡his¡¡father¡¡was¡¡in¡¡the¡¡slammer¡£¡¡The¡¡closest¡¡relative¡¡was¡¡his¡¡uncle¡¡Felix¡¡Mojack£»¡¡the¡¡wildlife¡¡importer¡£¡¡As¡¡a¡¡boy£»¡¡Augustine¡¡often¡¡visited¡¡his¡¡uncle's¡¡small¡¡cluttered¡¡farm¡¡out¡¡in¡¡the¡¡boondocks¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡more¡¡fun¡¡than¡¡going¡¡to¡¡the¡¡zoo£»¡¡because¡¡Felix¡¡let¡¡Augustine¡¡help¡¡with¡¡the¡¡animals¡£¡¡In¡¡particular£»¡¡Felix¡¡encouraged¡¡his¡¡nephew¡¡to¡¡familiarize¡¡himself¡¡with¡¡exotic¡¡snakes£»¡¡as¡¡Felix¡¡himself¡¡was¡¡phobic¡¡£¨and£»¡¡it¡¡turned¡¡out£»¡¡fatally¡¡inpetent£©¡¡when¡¡it¡¡came¡¡to¡¡handling¡¡reptiles¡£
¡¡
¡¡After¡¡Augustine¡¡grew¡¡up£»¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡less¡¡and¡¡less¡¡of¡¡his¡¡busy¡¡uncle¡£¡¡Progress¡¡conspired¡¡against¡¡Felix£»¡¡development¡¡swept¡¡westward£»¡¡and¡¡zoning¡¡regulations¡¡forced¡¡him¡¡to¡¡move¡¡his¡¡operation¡¡repeatedly¡£¡¡Nobody£»¡¡it¡¡seemed£»¡¡wished¡¡to¡¡build¡¡elementary¡¡schools¡¡or¡¡shopping¡¡malls¡¡within¡¡walking¡¡distance¡¡of¡¡caged¡¡jungle¡¡cats¡¡and¡¡wild¡¡cobras¡£¡¡The¡¡last¡¡time¡¡Felix¡¡Mojack¡¡was¡¡forced¡¡to¡¡relocate¡¡his¡¡animals£»¡¡Augustine¡¡gave¡¡him¡¡ten¡¡thousand¡¡dollars¡¡for¡¡the¡¡move¡£
¡¡
¡¡At¡¡the¡¡time¡¡of¡¡Felix's¡¡death£»¡¡the¡¡farm¡¡inventory¡¡listed¡¡one¡¡male¡¡African¡¡lion£»¡¡three¡¡cougars£»¡¡a¡¡gelded¡¡Cape¡¡buffalo£»¡¡two¡¡Kodiak¡¡bears£»¡¡ninety¡seven¡¡parrots¡¡and¡¡macaws£»¡¡eight¡¡Nile¡¡crocodiles£»¡¡forty¡two¡¡turtles£»¡¡seven¡¡hundred¡¡assorted¡¡lizards£»¡¡ninety¡three¡¡snakes¡¡£¨venomous¡¡and¡¡nonvenomous£©¡¡and¡¡eighty¡eight¡¡rhesus¡¡monkeys¡£
¡¡
¡¡The¡¡animals¡¡were¡¡kept¡¡on¡¡a¡¡nine¡acre¡¡spread¡¡off¡¡Krome¡¡Avenue£»¡¡not¡¡far¡¡from¡¡the¡¡federal¡¡prison¡£¡¡The¡¡day¡¡after¡¡the¡¡funeral£»¡¡Augustine¡¡drove¡¡out¡¡to¡¡the¡¡place¡¡alone¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡a¡¡feeling¡¡that¡¡his¡¡uncle¡¡ran¡¡a¡¡loose¡¡operation£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡tour¡¡of¡¡the¡¡facility¡¡corroborated¡¡his¡¡suspicion¡£¡¡The¡¡fencing¡¡was¡¡buckled¡¡and¡¡rusty£»¡¡the¡¡cages¡¡needed¡¡new¡¡hinges£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡concrete¡¡reptile¡¡pits¡¡hadn't¡¡been¡¡drained¡¡and¡¡cleaned¡¡in¡¡months¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡tar¡paper¡¡shed¡¡that¡¡Felix¡¡had¡¡used¡¡for¡¡an¡¡office£»¡¡Augustine¡¡found¡¡paperwork¡¡confirming¡¡his¡¡uncle's¡¡low¡¡regard¡¡for¡¡U¡£S¡£¡¡Customs¡¡regulations¡£
¡¡
¡¡It¡¡came¡¡as¡¡no¡¡surprise¡¡that¡¡Felix¡¡had¡¡been¡¡a¡¡smuggler£»¡¡rather£»¡¡Augustine¡¡was¡¡grateful¡¡that¡¡his¡¡uncle's¡¡choice¡¡of¡¡contraband¡¡had¡¡been¡¡exotic¡¡birds¡¡and¡¡snakes£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡something¡¡else¡£¡¡Wildlife£»¡¡however£»¡¡presented¡¡its¡¡own¡¡unique¡¡challenges¡£¡¡While¡¡bales¡¡of¡¡marijuana¡¡required¡¡no¡¡feeding£»¡¡bears¡¡and¡¡cougars¡¡did¡£¡¡Lean¡¡and¡¡hungry¡¡was¡¡a¡¡mild¡¡description¡¡of¡¡the¡¡illegal¡¡menagerie£»¡¡Augustine¡¡was¡¡appalled¡¡by¡¡the¡¡condition¡¡of¡¡some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡animals¡¡and¡¡presumed¡¡their¡¡deterioration¡¡was¡¡a¡¡result¡¡of¡¡his¡¡uncle's¡¡recent¡¡financial¡¡troubles¡£¡¡Fortunately£»¡¡the¡¡two¡¡young¡¡Mexicans¡¡who¡¡worked¡¡for¡¡Felix¡¡Mojack¡¡graciously¡¡agreed¡¡to¡¡help¡¡out¡¡for¡¡a¡¡few¡¡days¡¡after¡¡his¡¡death¡£¡¡They¡¡stocked¡¡the¡¡freezers¡¡with¡¡raw¡¡meat¡¡for¡¡the¡¡large¡¡carnivores£»¡¡bought¡¡boxloads¡¡of¡¡feed¡¡for¡¡the¡¡parrots¡¡and¡¡monkeys£»¡¡and¡¡restocked¡¡on¡¡white¡¡mice¡¡and¡¡insects¡¡for¡¡the¡¡reptiles¡£
¡¡
¡¡Meanwhile¡¡Augustine¡¡scrambled¡¡to¡¡locate¡¡a¡¡buyer¡¡for¡¡the¡¡animals£»¡¡somebody¡¡qualified¡¡to¡¡take¡¡good¡¡care¡¡of¡¡them¡£¡¡Augustine¡¡was¡¡so¡¡preoccupied¡¡with¡¡the¡¡task¡¡that¡¡he¡¡didn't¡¡pay¡¡enough¡¡attention¡¡to¡¡news¡¡reports¡¡of¡¡a¡¡tropical¡¡storm¡¡intensifying¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Caribbean¡£¡¡Even¡¡when¡¡it¡¡bloomed¡¡into¡¡a¡¡hurricane£»¡¡and¡¡Augustine¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡weather¡¡bulletin¡¡on¡¡television£»¡¡he¡¡assumed¡¡it¡¡would¡¡do¡¡what¡¡most¡¡storms¡¡did¡¡in¡¡late¡¡summer¡veer¡¡north£»¡¡away¡¡from¡¡South¡¡Florida£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡prevailing¡¡Atlantic¡¡steering¡¡currents¡£
¡¡
¡¡Once¡¡it¡¡became¡¡clear¡¡that¡¡the¡¡hurricane¡¡would¡¡strike¡¡southern¡¡Dade¡¡County¡¡with¡¡a¡¡direct¡¡hit£»¡¡Augustine¡¡had¡¡little¡¡time¡¡to¡¡act¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡grimly¡¡aware¡¡what¡¡sustained¡¡one¡hundred¡mile¡per¡hour¡¡winds¡¡would¡¡do¡¡to¡¡his¡¡dead¡¡uncle's¡¡shabby¡¡farm¡£¡¡He¡¡spent¡¡the¡¡morning¡¡and¡¡afternoon¡¡on¡¡the¡¡telephone£»¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡find¡¡a¡¡secure¡¡location¡¡for¡¡the¡¡animals¡£¡¡Interest¡¡invariably¡¡dropped¡¡off¡¡at¡¡the¡¡mention¡¡of¡¡a¡¡Cape¡¡buffalo¡£¡¡At¡¡dusk¡¡Augustine¡¡drove¡¡out¡¡to¡¡fasten¡¡tarps¡¡and¡¡tie¡downs¡¡on¡¡the¡¡cages¡¡and¡¡pens¡£¡¡Sensing¡¡the¡¡advancing¡¡storm£»¡¡the¡¡bears¡¡and¡¡big¡¡cats¡¡paced¡¡nervously£»¡¡growling¡¡in¡¡agitation¡£¡¡The¡¡parrots¡¡were¡¡in¡¡a¡¡panic£»¡¡the¡¡frenetic¡¡squawking¡¡attracted¡¡several¡¡large¡¡hawks¡¡to¡¡the¡¡nearby¡¡pines¡£¡¡Augustine¡¡stayed¡¡two¡¡hours¡¡and¡¡decided¡¡it¡¡was¡¡hopeless¡£¡¡He¡¡sent¡¡the¡¡Mexicans¡¡home¡¡and¡¡drove¡¡to¡¡a¡¡nearby¡¡Red¡¡Cross¡¡shelter¡¡to¡¡wait¡¡out¡¡the¡¡storm¡£
¡¡
¡¡When¡¡he¡¡returned¡¡at¡¡dawn£»¡¡the¡¡place¡¡was¡¡destroyed¡£¡¡The¡¡fencing¡¡was¡¡strewn¡¡like¡¡holiday¡¡tinsel¡¡across¡¡the¡¡property¡£¡¡The¡¡corrugated¡¡roofing¡¡had¡¡been¡¡peeled¡¡off¡¡the¡¡pound¡¡like¡¡a¡¡sardine¡¡tin¡£¡¡Except¡¡for¡¡a¡¡dozen¡¡befuddled¡¡turtles£»¡¡all¡¡his¡¡uncle's¡¡wild¡¡animals¡¡had¡¡escaped¡¡into¡¡the¡¡scrub¡¡and¡¡marsh¡¡and£»¡¡inevitably£»¡¡the¡¡Miami¡¡suburbs¡£¡¡As¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡phone¡¡service¡¡was¡¡restored£»¡¡Augustine¡¡notified¡¡the¡¡police¡¡what¡¡had¡¡happened¡£¡¡The¡¡dispatcher¡¡laconically¡¡estimated¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡five¡¡or¡¡six¡¡days¡¡before¡¡an¡¡officer¡¡could¡¡be¡¡spared£»¡¡because¡¡everybody¡¡was¡¡working¡¡double¡¡shifts¡¡after¡¡the¡¡hurricane¡£¡¡When¡¡Augustine¡¡asked¡¡how¡¡far¡¡a¡¡Gaboon¡¡viper¡¡could¡¡travel¡¡in¡¡five¡¡or¡¡six¡¡days£»¡¡the¡¡dispatcher¡¡said¡¡she'd¡¡try¡¡to¡¡send¡¡somebody¡¡out¡¡there¡¡sooner¡£
¡¡
¡¡Augustine¡¡couldn't¡¡just¡¡sit¡¡and¡¡wait¡£¡¡The¡¡radio¡¡said¡¡a¡¡troop¡¡of¡¡storm¡addled¡¡monkeys¡¡had¡¡invaded¡¡a¡¡residential¡¡subdivision¡¡off¡¡Quail¡¡Roost¡¡Drive£»¡¡only¡¡miles¡¡from¡¡the¡¡farm¡£¡¡Augustine¡¡immediately¡¡loaded¡¡the¡¡truck¡¡with¡¡his¡¡uncle's¡¡dart¡¡rifle£»¡¡two¡¡long¡handled¡¡nooses£»¡¡a¡¡loaded¡¡¡£38¡¡Special£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡five¡pound¡¡bag¡¡of¡¡soggy¡¡monkey¡¡chow¡£
¡¡
¡¡He¡¡didn't¡¡know¡¡what¡¡else¡¡to¡¡do¡£
¡¡
¡¡Canvassing¡¡the¡¡neighborhood¡¡in¡¡search¡¡of¡¡her¡¡husband£»¡¡Bonnie¡¡Lamb¡¡encountered¡¡the¡¡dull¡eyed¡¡boy¡¡with¡¡the¡¡broken¡¡bicycle¡£¡¡His¡¡description¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tourist¡¡jerk¡¡with¡¡the¡¡video¡¡camera¡¡fit¡¡Max¡¡too¡¡well¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡¨He¡¡ran¡¡after¡¡the¡¡monkey£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡boy¡¡said¡£
¡¡
¡¡Bonnie¡¡Lamb¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨What¡¡monkey£¿¡¨
¡¡
¡¡The¡¡boy¡¡explained¡£¡¡Bonnie¡¡assessed¡¡the¡¡information¡¡calmly¡£¡¡¡¨Which¡¡way¡¡did¡¡they¡¡go£¿¡¨¡¡The¡¡boy¡¡pointed¡£¡¡Bonnie¡¡thanked¡¡him¡¡and¡¡offered¡¡to¡¡help¡¡pry¡¡his¡¡bicycle¡¡off¡¡the¡¡tree¡£¡¡The¡¡boy¡¡turned¡¡away£»¡¡so¡¡she¡¡walked¡¡on¡£
¡¡
¡¡Bonnie¡¡was¡¡puzzled¡¡by¡¡the¡¡monkey¡¡story£»¡¡but¡¡most¡¡of¡¡the¡¡questions¡¡clouding¡¡her¡¡mind¡¡concerned¡¡Max¡¡Lamb's¡¡character¡£¡¡How¡¡could¡¡a¡¡man¡¡wander¡¡off¡¡and¡¡forget¡¡about¡¡his¡¡new¡¡wife£¿¡¡Why¡¡was¡¡he¡¡so¡¡fascinated¡¡with¡¡the¡¡hurricane¡¡ruins£¿¡¡How¡¡could¡¡he¡¡so¡¡cruelly¡¡intrude¡¡on¡¡the¡¡suffering¡¡of¡¡those¡¡who¡¡lived¡¡here£¿
¡¡
¡¡During¡¡two¡¡years¡¡of¡¡courtship£»¡¡Max¡¡had¡¡never¡¡seemed¡¡insensitive¡£¡¡At¡¡times¡¡he¡¡could¡¡be¡¡immature¡¡and¡¡self¡centered£»¡¡but¡¡Bonnie¡¡had¡¡never¡¡known¡¡a¡¡man¡¡who¡¡wasn't¡£¡¡In¡¡general£»¡¡Max¡¡was¡¡a¡¡responsible¡¡and¡¡attentive¡¡person£»¡¡more¡¡than¡¡just¡¡a¡¡hard¡¡worker£»¡¡an¡¡achiever¡£¡¡Bonnie¡¡appreciated¡¡that£»¡¡as¡¡her¡¡two¡¡previous¡¡boyfriends¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡a¡¡casual¡¡approach¡¡to¡¡the¡¡concept¡¡of¡¡full¡time¡¡employment¡£¡¡Max¡¡impressed¡¡her¡¡with¡¡his¡¡seriousness¡¡and¡¡mitment£»¡¡his¡¡buoyant¡¡determination¡¡to¡¡attain¡¡professional¡¡success¡¡and¡¡financial¡¡security¡£¡¡At¡¡thirty£»¡¡Bonnie¡¡was¡¡at¡¡a¡¡point¡¡in¡¡life¡¡where¡¡she¡¡liked¡¡the¡¡prospect¡¡of¡¡security£»¡¡she¡¡was¡¡tired¡¡of¡¡worrying¡¡about¡¡money£»¡¡and¡¡about¡¡men¡¡who¡¡had¡¡none¡£¡¡Beyond¡¡that£»¡¡she¡¡truly¡¡found¡¡Max¡¡Lamb¡¡attractive¡£¡¡He¡¡wasn't¡¡exceptionally¡¡handsome¡¡or¡¡romantic£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡was¡¡sincere¡boyishly£»¡¡pletely£»¡¡relentlessly¡¡sincere¡£¡¡His¡¡earnestness£»¡¡even¡¡in¡¡bed£»¡¡was¡¡endearing¡£¡¡This¡¡was¡¡a¡¡man¡¡Bonnie¡¡thought¡¡she¡¡could¡¡trust¡£
¡¡
¡¡Until¡¡today£»