chiaasen.stormyweather-第9节

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osed　eyes。
　
　〃You're　a　good　shot；〃　she　said　to　Augustine。
　
　He　wasn't　listening。　〃This　isn't　right；〃　he　muttered。　He　carried　the　limp　monkey　to　the　grapefruit　tree　and　propped　it　gently　in　the　crook　of　two　boughs。　Then　he　took　Bonnie　back　to　his　truck。　〃It'll　be　dark　soon；〃　he　said。　〃I　forgot　to　bring　a　flashlight。〃
　
　They　drove　through　the　subdivision　for　fifteen　minutes　until　Bonnie　Lamb　spotted　the　rental　car。　Max　wasn't　there。　Somebody　had　pried　the　trunk　and　stolen　all　the　luggage；　including　Bonnie's　purse。
　
　Damn　kids；　Augustine　said。　Bonnie　was　too　tired　to　cry。　Max　had　the　car　keys；　the　credit　cards；　the　money；　the　plane　tickets。　〃I　need　to　find　a　phone；〃　she　said。　Her　folks　would　wire　some　money。
　
　Augustine　drove　to　a　police　checkpoint；　where　Bonnie　Lamb　reported　her　husband　missing。　He　was　one　of　many；　and　not　high　on　the　list。　Thousands　who'd　escaped　their　homes　in　the　hurricane　were　being　sought　by　worried　relatives。　For　relief　workers；　reuniting　local　families　was　a　priority；　tracking　wayward　tourists　was　not。
　
　A　bank　of　six　phones　had　been　set　up　near　the　checkpoint；　but　the　lines　were　long。　Bonnie　found　the　shortest　one　and　settled　in　for　a　wait。　She　thanked　Augustine　for　his　help。
　
　〃What　will　you　do　tonight？〃　he　asked。
　
　〃I'll　be　OK。〃
　
　Bonnie　was　startled　to　hear　him　say：　〃No　you　won't。〃
　
　He　took　her　by　the　hand　and　led　her　to　the　pickup。　It　occurred　to　Bonnie　that　she　ought　to　be　afraid；　but　she　felt　illogically　safe　with　this　total　stranger。　It　also　occurred　to　her　that　panic　would　be　a　normal　reaction　to　a　husband's　disappearance；　but　instead　she　felt　an　inappropriate　calmness　and　lucidity。　Probably　just　exhaustion；　she　thought。
　
　Augustine　drove　back　to　the　looted　rental　car。　He　scribbled　a　note　and　tucked　it　under　one　of　the　windshield　wipers。　〃My　phone　number；〃　he　told　Bonnie　Lamb。　〃In　case　your　husband　shows　up　later　tonight。　This　way　he'll　know　where　you　are。〃
　
　〃We're　going　to　your　place？〃
　
　〃Yes。〃
　
　In　the　darkness；　she　couldn't　see　Augustine's　expression。　〃It's　madness　out　here；〃　he　said。　〃These　idiots　shoot　at　anything　that　moves。〃
　
　Bonnie　nodded。　She'd　been　hearing　distant　gunfire　from　all　directions。　Dade　County　is　an　armed　camp。　That's　what　their　travel　agent　had　warned　them。　Death　Wish　Tours；　he'd　called　it。　Only　a　fool　would　set　foot　south　of　Orlando。
　
　Crazy　Max；　thought　Bonnie。　What　had　possessed　him？
　
　〃You　know　why　my　husband　came　down　here？〃　she　said。　〃Know　what　he　was　doing　when　he　got　lost？　Taking　video　of　the　wrecked　houses。　And　the　people；　too。〃
　
　〃Why？〃　Augustine　asked。
　
　〃Home　movies。　To　show　his　pals　back　North。〃
　
　〃Jesus；　that's…〃
　
　〃Sick；〃　Bonnie　Lamb　said。　〃　'Sick'　is　the　word　for　it。〃
　
　Augustine　said　nothing　more。　Slowly　he　worked　his　way　toward　the　Turnpike。　The　futility　of　the　monkey　hunt　was　evident；　Augustine　realized　that　most　of　his　dead　uncle's　wild　animals　were　irretrievable。　The　larger　mammals　would　inevitably　make　their　presence　known…the　Cape　buffalo；　the　bears；　the　cougars…and　the　results　were　bound　to　be　unfortunate。　Meanwhile　the　snakes　and　crocodiles　probably　were　celebrating　freedom　by　copulating　merrily　in　the　Everglades；　ensuring　for　their　species　a　solid　foothold　in　a　new　tropical　habitat。　Augustine　felt　it　was　morally　wrong　to　interfere。　An　escaped　cobra　had　as　much　natural　right　to　a　life　in　Florida　as　did　all　those　retired　garment　workers　from　Queens。　Natural　selection　would　occur。　The　test　applied　to　Max　Lamb　as　well；　but　Augustine　felt　sorry　for　his　wife。　He　would　set　aside　his　principles　and　help　find　her　missing　husband。
　
　He　drove　using　the　high　beams　because　there　were　no　street　lights；　and　the　roads　were　a　littered　gauntlet　of　broken　trees　and　utility　poles；　heaps　of　lumber　and　twisted　metal；　battered　appliances　and　gutted　sofas。　They　saw　a　Barbie　dollhouse　and　a　canopy　bed　and　an　antique　china　cabinet　and　a　child's　wheelchair　and　a　typewriter　and　a　tangle　of　golf　clubs　and　a　cedar　hot　tub；　split　in　half　like　a　coconut　husk…Bonnie　said　it　was　as　if　a　great　supernatural　fist　had　snatched　up　a　hundred　thousand　lives　and　shaken　the　contents　all　over　creation。
　
　Augustine　was　thinking　more　in　terms　of　a　B…52　raid。
　
　〃Is　this　your　first　one？〃　Bonnie　asked。
　
　〃Technically；　no。〃　He　braked　to　swerve　around　a　dead　cow；　bloated　on　the　center　line。　〃I　was　conceived　during　Donna…least　that's　what　my　mother　said。　A　hurricane　baby。　That　was　1960。　Betsy　I　can　barely　remember　because　I　was　only　five。　We　lost　a　few　lime　trees；　but　the　house　held　up　fine。〃
　
　Bonnie　said；　〃That's　kind　of　romantic。　Being　conceived　in　the　middle　of　a　hurricane。〃
　
　〃My　mother　said　it　made　perfect　sense；　considering　how　I　turned　out。〃
　
　〃And　how　did　you　turn　out？〃　Bonnie　asked。
　
　〃Reports　differ。〃
　
　Augustine　edged　the　truck　into　a　line　of　storm　traffic　crawling　up　the　northbound　ramp　to　the　Turnpike。　A　rusty　Ford　with　a　crooked　Georgia…license　plate　cut　them　off。　The　car　was　packed　with　itinerant　construction　workers　who'd　been　on　the　road　for　several　days　straight；　apparently　drinking　the　whole　time。　The　driver；　a　shaggy　blond　with　greenish　teeth；　leered　and　yelled　an　obscenity　up　at　Bonnie　Lamb。　With　one　hand　Augustine　reached　behind　his　seat　and　got　the　small　rifle。　Bracing　it　against　the　doorpost；　he　fired　a　tranquilizer　dart　cleanly　into　the　belly　of　the　redneck　driver；　who　yipped　and　pitched　sideways　into　the　lap　of　one　of　his　pals。
　
　〃Manners；〃　said　Augustine。　He　gunned　the　truck；　nudging　the　stalled　Ford　off　the　pavement。
　
　Bonnie　Lamb　thought：　God；　what　am　I　doing？
　
　They　broke　camp　at　midnight…Max　Lamb；　the　rhesus　monkey　and　the　man　who　called　himself　Skink。　Max　was　grateful　that　the　man　had　allowed　him　to　put　on　his　shoes；　because　they　walked　for　hours　in　pitch　darkness　through　deep　swamp　and　spiny　thickets。　Max's　bare　legs　stung　from　the　scratches　and　itched　from　the　bug　bites。　He　was　terribly　hungry　but　didn't　plain；　knowing　the　man　had　saved　him　the　rump　of　the　dead　raccoon　that　was　boiled　for　dinner。　Max　wanted　no　part　of　it。
　
　They　came　to　a　canal。　Skink　untied　Max's　hands；　unbuckled　the　shock　collar　and　ordered　him　to　swim。　Max　was　halfway　across　when　he　saw　the　blue…black　alligator　slide　out　of　the　sawgrass。　Skink　told　him　to　quit　whimpering　and　kick；　he　himself　swam　with　the　rejuvenated　monkey　perched　on　his　head。　One　huge　hand　held　Max's　precious　Sony　and　the　remote　control　for　the　dog　collar　high　above　the　water。
　
　After　scrabbling　ashore；　Max　said；　〃Captain；　can　we　rest？〃
　
　〃Ever　seen　a　leech　before？　'Cause　there's　a　good　one　on　your　cheek。〃
　
　After　Max　Lamb　finished　flaying　himself；　Skink　retied　his　wrists　and　refastened　the　dog　collar。　Then　he　sprayed　him　down　with　insect　repellent。　Max　croaked　out　a　thank…you。
　
　〃Where　are　we？〃　he　asked。
　
　〃The　Everglades；〃　Skink　replied。　〃More　or　less。〃
　
　〃You　promised　I　could　call　my　wife。〃
　
　〃Soon。〃
　
　They　headed　west；　trudging　through　palmettos　and　pinelands　shredded　by　the　storm。　The　monkey　scampered　ahead；　foraging　wild　berries　and　fruit　buds。
　
　Max　said：　〃Are　you　going　to　kill　me？〃
　
　Skink　stopped　walking。　〃Every　time　you　ask　that　stupid　question；　you're　going　to　get　it。〃　He　set　the　remote　on　the　weakest　setting。
　
　〃Ready？〃
　
　Max　Lamb　clenched　his　lips。　Skink　stung　him　with　a　light　jolt。　The　tourist　twitched　stoically。　Soon　they　came　to　a　Miccosukee　village；　which　was　not　as　badly　damaged　as　Max　Lamb　would　have　imagined。　Since　the　Indians　were　awake；　cooking　food；　Max　assumed　it　would　soon　be　dawn。　In　open　doorways　the　children　gathered　shyly　to　look　at　the　two　strange　white　men：　Skink　with　his　brambly　hair；　ill…fitting　eye　and　mangy　monkey；　Max　Lamb　in　his　dirty　underwear　and　dog　collar。
　
　Skink　stopped　at　a　wooden　house　and　spoke　quietly　to　a　Miccosukee　elder；　who　brought　out　a　cellular　phone。　As　he　untied　Max's　hands；　Skink　warned：　〃One　call　is　all　you　get。　He　says　the　battery's　running　low。〃
　
　Max　realized　that　he　didn't　know　how　to　reach　his　wife。　He　had　no　idea　where　she　was。　So　he　called　their　apartment　in　New　York　and　spoke　to　the　answering　machine：　〃Honey；　I've　been　kidnapped…〃
　
　〃Abducted！〃　Skink　broke　in。　〃Kidnapping　implies　ransom；　Max。　Don't　fucking　flatter　yourself。〃
　
　〃OK；　'abducted。'　Honey；　I've　been　abducted。　I　can't　say　very　much　except　I'm　fine；　all　things　considered。　Please　call　my　folks；　and　also　call　Pete　up　at　Rodale　about　the　Bronco　billboard　project。　Tell　him　the　race　car　should　be　red；　not　blue。　The　file's　on　my　desk。。。。　Bonnie；　I'm　not　sure　who's　got　me；　or　why；　but　I　guess　I'll　find　out　soon　enough。　God；　I　hope　you　pick　up　this　message…〃
　
　Skink　snatched　the　phone。　〃I　love　you；　Bonnie；〃　he　said。　〃Max　forgot　to　tell　you；　so　I　will。　Bye　now。〃
　
　They　ate　with　the　Miccosukees；　who　declined　Skink's　offer　of　boiled　coon　but　generously　shared　helpings　of　fried　panfish；　yams；　cornmeal　muffins　and　citrus　juice。　Max　Lamb　ate　heartily　but；　mindful　of　the　electric　dog　collar；　said　little。　After　breakfast；　Skink　tied　him　to　a　cypress　post　and　disappeared　with　several　men　of　the　tribe。　When　he　returned；　he　declared　it　was　time　to　leave。
　
　Max　said；　〃