chiaasen.stormyweather-第73节

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　She　said；　〃I　would've　tried　hitching　a　ride；　but　there　was　lightning。〃
　
　〃Yeah；　I　heard。〃
　
　Somehow　Max　missed　the　ramp　to　the　Turnpike；　it　wasn't　easy；　but　he　did。　Edie　didn't　plain。　A　lift　was　a　lift。　All　the　roads　went　the　same　direction　anyway。
　
　〃Where　are　you　from；　Max？〃　He　looked　perfectly　harmless；　but　still　she　wanted　to　get　him　talking。　Silent　brooding　made　her　edgy。
　
　〃New　York。　I'm　in　advertising。〃
　
　〃No　kidding。〃
　
　And　off　he　went。　During　the　next　hour；　Edie　learned　a　great　deal　about　Madison　Avenue。　Max　was　absolutely　elated　to　discover　that　she'd　been　a　glutton　for　Plum　Crunchies　cereal。　And　she　remembered　his　slogan；　word　for　word！
　
　〃What　others　have　you　done？〃　she　asked　brightly。
　
　Max　was　tempted　to　tell　her　about　Intimate　Mist　but　thought　better　of　it。　Not　everyone　felt　fortable　on　the　subject　of　douches。
　
　〃Bronco　cigarets；〃　he　said。
　
　〃Really！〃
　
　〃Speaking　of　which；　would　you　mind　if　I　smoked？〃
　
　〃Not　at　all；〃　said　Edie　Marsh。
　
　He　offered　her　a　menthol。　She　declined　politely。　As　smoke　filled　the　car；　she　rolled　down　the　window　and　tried　not　to　cough　herself　blue。　〃When　are　you　going　back　to　New　York？〃
　
　〃Tomorrow；〃　Max　said。　He　grew　quiet　again。
　
　Edie　said：　〃If　you　tell　me；　I'll　tell　you。〃
　
　Max　looked　perplexed。
　
　She　said；　〃You　know…what　we　were　doing　with　that　cop。　Me　ing；　you　going。〃
　
　〃Oh。〃　After　a　pause：　〃I'm　not　in　any　kind　of　trouble；　if　that's　what　you　mean。〃
　
　Dryly　she　said；　〃I　had　a　hunch　you're　no　Ted　Bundy。〃
　
　What　eyes！　Max　thought。　What　an　interesting　woman！　He　had　reason　to　believe　she　was　aware　of　her　impact。
　
　He　said；　〃How　about　this：　If　you　don't　tell　me；　I　won't　tell　you。　What's　over　is　over。〃
　
　〃I　like　that　approach。〃
　
　〃Let's　just　agree　we've　had　a　bad　day。〃
　
　〃And　how。〃
　
　In　South　Dade　they　hit　heavy　traffic　where　the　storm　had　blown　ashore；　taking　down　everything。　Edie　Marsh　had　seen　the　destruction　the　day　after　the　hurricane；　but　it　seemed　much　worse　to　her　now。　She　was　surprised　to　find　herself　fighting　back　tears。
　
　Out　of　nowhere　Max　said：　〃Hey；　I　bet　I　can　guess　what　kind　of　car　you　drive。〃　Apparently　trying　to　take　their　minds　off　what　they　saw：　two　unshaven　men；　on　a　street　corner；　fighting　over　a　five…gallon　jug　of　fresh　water。　Their　wives　and　children　watching　anxiously　from　the　sidewalk。
　
　〃Seriously；〃　Max　was　saying。　〃It's　a　knack　I've　got。　Matching　people　to　their　cars。〃
　
　〃Based　on。。。　？〃
　
　〃Intuition；　I　guess　you'd　say。〃
　
　Edie　said；　〃OK；　give　it　a　try。〃
　
　Max；　eyeing　her　up　and　down；　like　he　was　guessing　her　weight：　〃Nissan　300？〃
　
　〃Nope。〃
　
　〃A280Z？〃
　
　〃Try　an　Acclaim。〃
　
　He　winced。　〃I　had　you　figured　for　a　sports　import。〃
　
　〃Well；　I'm　flattered；〃　Edie　said；　with　a　soft　laugh。
　
　There　was　a　brutal　truth　at　the　heart　of　Max's　silly　game。　Eligible　young　Kennedys　and　even　sons　of　sitting　presidents　did　not　customarily　flag　down　women　in　1987　Plymouths。
　
　Later；　after　Max　had　found　the　Turnpike　extension　and　made　his　way　downtown；　he　said：　〃Where　can　I　drop　you？〃
　
　〃Let　me　think　about　that；〃　said　Edie　Marsh。
　
　〃Captain；　have　you　got　a　mirror？〃
　
　〃No。〃
　
　〃Good；〃　Bonnie　said。
　
　She　felt　a　raw　knot　rising　on　her　forehead；　another　on　a　cheekbone。　Augustine　assured　her　that　she　didn't　look　as　bad　as　she　thought。　〃But　you　could　use　some　ice。〃
　
　〃Later。〃　She　was　watching　Skink。　〃I　know　somebody　who　ought　to　be　in　a　hospital。〃
　
　〃No；〃　said　the　governor。
　
　〃Augustine　says　your　collarbone　is　broken。〃
　
　〃I　believe　he's　right。〃
　
　〃And　several　ribs。〃
　
　〃I　shall　call　you　Nurse　Nightingale。〃
　
　〃Why　are　you　so　stubborn？〃
　
　〃I　know　a　doctor　in　Tavernier。〃
　
　〃And　how　do　you　plan　to　get　there？〃
　
　〃Walking　upright；〃　Skink　replied。　〃One　of　the　few　mendable　traits　of　our　species。〃
　
　Bonnie　told　him　to　quit　being　ridiculous。　〃You're　in　terrible　pain；　I　can　tell。〃
　
　〃The　whole　world's　in　pain；　girl。〃
　
　She　looked　imploringly　to　Augustine。　〃Talk　to　him；　please。〃
　
　〃He's　a　grown　man；　Bonnie。　Now　hold　still。〃
　
　He　was　cleaning　her　face　with　his　shirt；　which　he'd　wadded　up　and　soaked　in　the　creek；　Skink　perched　on　a　nearby　log；　his　arms　crossed　tightly。　Moments　earlier　they'd　watched　him　gobble　a　dozen　Anacins　from　a　plastic　bottle　he　located　under　the　camp　tarpaulin。　Bonnie　boldly　swallowed　three。
　
　No　aspirins　were　offered　to　Snapper；　who　was　bound　with　a　corroded　tow…truck　chain　to　the　buttonwood　tree。　He　was　caked　with　soggy　leaves；　mulch　and　dried　blood。　His　cheap　suit　was　filthy　and　torn。　During　the　struggle；　Augustine　had　made　him　dig　a　short　trench　with　his　mandible；　so　his　maw　was　full　of　stones　and　loose　sojl；　like　a　planter。　In　addition；　he　was　missing　an　earlobe；　which　Augustine　had　shot　off　at　point…blank　range。　It　was　inconceivable　to　Snapper　that　such　a　chickenshit　wound　could　be　so　excruciating。
　
　Skink　said　to　Augustine：　〃I　thought　sure　you　were　going　to　kill　him。〃
　
　〃It　was　tempting。〃
　
　〃My　way's　better。〃
　
　〃After　what　he　did　to　Jim's　girlfriend？〃
　
　〃Yes。　Even　after　that。〃　The　governor　bowed　his　head。　He　was　hurting。
　
　Augustine　was　drained。　The　adrenaline　had　emptied　out　in　a　clammy　torrent。　He　no　longer　entertained　the　idea　of　murdering　Snapper；　and　doubted　if　he　was　even　capable　of　it。　An　hour　ago；　yes。　Not　now。　It　was　probably　a　good　time　to　leave。
　
　Bonnie　studied　his　expression　as　he　tended　her　cheeks　and　brow。　〃You　OK？〃　she　said。
　
　〃I　don't　know。　The　way　he　hurt　you…〃
　
　〃Hey；　I　asked　for　it。〃
　
　〃But　you　wouldn't　be　out　here　if　it　weren't　for　me。〃
　
　Playfully　she　jabbed　a　finger　in　his　side。　〃What　makes　you　so　sure？　Maybe　I'm　here　because　of　him。〃
　
　Skink　grinned　but　didn't　look　up。　Augustine　had　to　laugh；　too。　That's　why　we're　both　here；　he　thought。　Because　of　him。
　
　〃Would　it　be　bad　manners；〃　Bonnie　said　to　Skink；　〃if　I　asked　what　you　plan　to　do　with　the　money。〃
　
　His　chin　came　off　his　chest。　〃Oh。　That。〃　Grimacing；　he　rose　from　the　log。　〃Lester；　you　awake？　Yo；　Lester！〃
　
　〃Ghhhnungggh。〃
　
　The　governor　used　his　feet　to　push　the　Frenchman's　suitcase　across　the　clearing　to　the　buttonwood　tree；　where　he　kicked　the　latches　open。　Snapper　regarded　the　bundled　cash　with　a　mixture　of　undisguised　longing　and　suspicion。　He　wondered　what　sick　stunt　the　fucker　was　cooking　up　now。
　
　Only　the　bills　on　top　were　wet。　Skink　swept　them　aside　with　his　hands。　Bonnie　and　Augustine　walked　over　to　see。
　
　The　governor　said；　〃You　guys　want　any　of　this？〃　They　shook　their　heads。
　
　〃Me；　neither；〃　he　muttered。　〃Just　more　shit　to　lug　around。〃　He　addressed　Snapper：　〃Chief；　I'm　sure　there　was　a　time　in　your　sorry…ass　life　when　ninety…four　grand　would've　e　in　handy。　Believe　me　when　I　tell　you　those　days　are　over。〃
　
　Skink　took　a　matchbook　from　his　pocket。　He　asked　Bonnie　and　Augustine　to　do　the　honors。　Snapper　spewed　dirt　and　thrashed　inconsolably　against　the　chains。
　
　The　money　gave　off　a　rich；　sweet　scent　as　it　burned。
　
　Later　he　unlocked　the　truck　chain　holding　Snapper　to　the　tree。　Plaintively　Snapper　pointed　at　the　red　brace　fastened　in　his　mouth。　Skink　shook　his　head。
　
　〃Here's　the　deal；　Lester。　Don't　be　here　when　I　get　back。　Do　not　fuck　with　my　camp；　do　not　fuck　with　my　books。　It's　about　to　rain　like　hell；　so　lie　back　and　drink　as　much　as　you　can。　You'll　need　it。〃
　
　Snapper　didn't　respond。　Augustine　stepped　up。　He　took　out　the　。38　Special　and　said；　〃Try　to　follow　us　out；　I'll　blow　your　head　off。〃
　
　Bonnie　shuddered。　The　governor　removed　a　few　items　from　beneath　the　tarpaulin　and　placed　them　in　a　backpack。　Then　he　lighted　the　torch　and　led　the　others　into　the　trees。
　
　Snapper　had　no　desire　to　follow；　he　was　glad　the　crazy　fuckers　were　gone。　A　gust　churned　the　cinders　at　his　feet；　blew　a　flurry　into　his　lap。　He　ran　his　fingers　through　the　ashes；　brought　a　handful　to　his　nose。　It　didn't　even　smell　like　money　anymore。
　
　Later　he　awoke　to　the　hard　rustle　of　leaves。　The　rain　came　driving　down。　Snapper　took　the　man's　advice。　He　filled　up　on　it。
　
　At　daybreak　he　would　start　his　march。
　
　They　broke　a　fresh　trail　through　the　hardwoods。　Bonnie　was　worried　that　Snapper　would　be　able　to　use　it　to　find　his　way　out。　〃Not　across　a　lake；〃　Skink　said。
　
　She　hooked　her　fingers　in　Augustine's　belt　as　they　swam。　The　governor　hoisted　the　torch；　his　boots　and　the　backpack　over　his　head；　to　keep　them　dry。　Augustine　was　astounded　that　the　man　could　swim　so　well　with　a　fractured　collarbone。　The　crossing　took　less　than　fifteen　minutes；　though　it　seemed　an　eternity　to　Bonnie。　She　was　unable　to　convince　herself　that　crocodiles　shunned　firelight。
　
　Afterwards　they　rested　on　shore。　Skink；　struggling　into　his　laceless　boots：　〃If　he　gets　out　of　here；　he　deserves　to　be　free。〃
　
　Augustine　said；　〃But　he　won't。〃
　
　〃No；　he'll　go　the　wrong　way。　That's　his　nature。〃
　
　Then　Skink　was　moving　again；　an　orange　flame　weaving　through　the　trees　ahead　of　them。　Bonnie；　hurrying　to　keep　up：　〃So　something'll　get　him。　Panthers　or　something。〃
　
　Augustine　said；　〃Nothing　so　exotic；　Mrs。　Lamb。〃