cc.floodtide-第73节

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　〃It　looked　like　the　ship's　cook；〃　Pitt　said；　keeping　the　glasses　fixed　on　the　boat。
　〃I　hope　he　didn't　injure　himself；〃　said　Gunn。
　〃I　think　a　coil　of　rope　broke　his　fall。　He　appears　to　be　uninjured。〃
　〃Have　you　discovered　anything　that　still　makes　you　think　there　is　a　some　sort　of　submerged　craft　that　can　be　moved　from　beneath　the　ship　and　under　the　barge？〃
　
　〃Nothing　that　would　hold　up　in　court；〃　Pitt　admitted。　Then　the　opaline…green　eyes　became　intense　and　a　faint　glint　radiated　from　them。　〃But　all　that　could　change　in　the　next　forty…eight　hours。〃
　
　THE　MARINE　DENIZENS　LITTLE　JET　BOAT　SPED　ACROSS　THE　Intracoastal　Waterway　and　then　slowed　as　it　cruised　past　the　Morgan　City　waterfront。　The　town　was　protected　from　a　flooding　river　by　a　concrete　levee　eight　feet　high　and　a　giant　seawall　that　rose　twenty　feet　and　faced　the　Gulf。　Two　highway　bridges　and　a　railway　bridge　span　the　Atchafalaya　River　in　Morgan　City；　the　white　headlights　and　red　taillights　of　the　traffic　moving　like　beads　slipped　through　a　woman's　fingers。　The　lights　of　the　buildings　played　across　the　water；　wavering　in　the　wash　from　passing　boats。　With　a　population　of　15；000；　Morgan　City　was　the　largest　munity　in　St。　Mary　Parish　（Louisiana's　civil　divisions　are　called　parishes　instead　of　counties；　as　with　most　states）。　The　city　faced　west　overlooking　a　wide　stretch　of　the　Atchafalaya　River　called　Berwick　Bay。　To　the　south　ran　Bayou　Boeuf；　which　circled　the　town　like　a　vast　moat　and　ran　into　Lake　Palourde。
　
　Morgan　City　is　the　only　town　on　the　banks　of　the　Atchafalaya　and　sits　low；　making　it　susceptible　to　floods　and　extreme　high　tides；　especially　during　hurricanes；　but　the　residents　never　bother　to　look　southward　toward　the　Gulf　for　menacing　black　clouds。　California　has　its　earthquakes；　Kansas　has　its　tornadoes　and　Montana　has　its　blizzards；　〃so　why　should　we　worry〃　is　the　prevailing　sentiment。
　
　The　munity　is　a　bit　more　urbane　than　most　other　towns　and　small　cities　throughout　the　Louisiana　bayou　country。　It　functions　as　a　seaport；　catering　to　fishermen；　oil　panies　and　boat　builders；　and　yet　it　has　the　flavor　of　a　river　town　much　like　those　along　the　Missouri　and　Ohio　rivers；　with　the　majority　of　the　buildings　facing　water。
　
　A　procession　of　fishing　boats　passed。　The　sharp…prowed　boats；　with　high　freeboards　and　the　cabins　mounted　well　forward；　masts　and　net　booms　aft　on　the　stern；　were　heading　into　deep　water　in　the　Gulf。　The　boats　that　stayed　in　shallower　water　had　flat　bottoms　for　less　draft；　lower　freeboards；　rounded　bows　with　the　masts　forward　and　little　cabins　at　the　stern。　Both　types　trawled　for　shrimp。　Oyster　luggers　were　another　breed。　Since　they　mostly　worked　the　inland　waters　they　had　no　masts。　One　chugged　by　the　NUMA　jet　boat；　its　decks　barely　above　the　surface　and　heaped　with　a　small　mountain　of　unshucked　oyster　shells　piled　six　to　seven　feet　high。
　
　〃Where　do　you　want　to　be　dropped　off？〃　asked　Gunn；　who　sat　behind　the　wheel　of　the　propless　runabout。
　〃The　nearest　waterfront　saloon　would　be　a　good　place　to　meet　the　river　men；〃　said　Pitt。
　
　Giordino　pointed　toward　a　rambling　block　of　wooden　structures　stretching　along　a　dock。　A　neon　sign　over　one　building　read；　
　CHARLIE'S　FISH　DOCK；　SEAFOOD　AND　BOOZE。　
　〃Looks　like　our　kind　of　place。〃
　〃The　packing　house　next　door　must　be　where　fishermen　bring　their　catch；〃　Pitt　observed。　〃As　good　a　spot　as　any　to　ask　about　unusual　goings…on　upriver。〃
　Gunn　slowed　the　runabout　and　steered　her　between　a　small　fleet　of　trawlers　before　ing　to　a　stop　at　the　bottom　of　a　wooden　ladder。　〃Good　luck；〃　he　said；　smiling；　as　Pitt　and　Giordino　began　climbing　onto　the　dock。　〃Don't　forget　to　write。〃
　〃We'll　stay　in　touch；〃　Pitt　assured　him。
　Gunn　waved；　pushed　away　from　the　dock　and　turned　the　little　jet　boat　back　downriver　toward　the　Marine　Denizen。
　The　dock　reeked　of　fish；　the　authentic　aroma　made　even　more　pungent　by　the　nighttime　humidity。　Giordino　nodded　at　a　hill　of　shucked　oyster　shells　that　rose　almost　to　the　roof　of　the　waterfront　bar　and　cafe〃。　〃A　Dixie　beer　and　a　dozen　succulent
　Gulf　oysters　would　suit　me　just　fine　about　now；〃　he　said　in　happy　anticipation。
　〃I'll　bet　their　gumbo　is　world…class　too。〃
　Walking　through　the　doors　of　Charlie's　Fish　Dock　saloon　was　like　walking　back　in　time。　The　ancient　air…conditioning　had　long　ago　lost　the　war　against　human　sweat　and　tobacco　smoke。　The　wooden　floor　was　worn　smooth　from　the　tread　of　fisherman　boots　and　was　scarred　by　hundreds　of　cigarette　burns。　The　tables　that　had　been　cut　and　varnished　from　the　hatch　covers　of　old　boats　showed　their　share　of　cigarette　bums；　too。　The　tired　captain's　chairs　looked　patched　and　glued　after　years　of　bar　fights。　Covering　the　walls　were　rusty　metal　signs　advertising　everything　from　Aunt　Bea's　Ginger　Ale　to　Old　South　Whiskey　to　Goober's　Bait　Shack。　All　had　been　liberally　peppered　with　bullet　holes　at　one　time　or　another。　There　were　none　of　the　modern　promotional　beer　signs　that　proliferated　in　most　watering　holes　around　the　country。　The　shelves　behind　　the　bar；　which　held　nearly　a　hundred　different　brands　of　liquor；　some　distilled　locally；　looked　like　they　had　been　haphazardly　nailed　to　the　wall　during　the　Civil　War。　The　bar　came　from　the　deck　of　a　long…abandoned　fishing　boat　and　could　have　used　a　good　caulking　job。
　
　The　clientele　was　a　mixed　bag　of　fishermen；　local　boatyard　and　construction　workers；　and　oilmen　who　worked　the　offshore　rigs。　They　were　a　rugged　lot。　This　was　the　land　of　the　Cajuns；　and　several　conversed　in　French。　Two　big　dogs　snoozed　peacefully　under　an　empty　table。　At　least　thirty　men　filled　the　bar　with　no　women　to　be　seen；　not　even　a　barmaid。　All　drinks　were　served　by　the　bartender。　No　glasses　came　with　the　beer。　You　either　got　a　bottle　or　a　can。　Only　the　liquor　rated　a　cracked　and　chipped　glass。　A　waiter　who　looked　as　if　he　wrestled　on　Thursday　nights　at　the　local　arena　served　the　food。
　〃What　do　you　think？〃　Pitt　asked　Giordino。　〃Now　I　know　where　old　cockroaches　go　to　die。〃
　〃Just　remember　to　smile　and　say　'sir'　to　any　of　these　hulks　who　ask　you　the　time。〃
　〃This　would　be　the　last　place　I'd　start　a　fight；〃　Giordino　　agreed。
　〃Good　thing　we're　not　dressed　like　tourists　off　a　cruise　ship；〃　said　Pitt；　reexamining　the　soiled　and　patched　work　clothes　the　crew　of　the　Marine　Denizen　had　scrounged　together　for　them。　〃Though　I　doubt　it　makes　any　difference。　They　know　we　don't　belong　by　the　clean　smell。〃
　〃I　knew　it　was　a　mistake　to　bathe　last　month；〃　Giordino　said　wryly。
　Pitt　bowed　and　gestured　toward　an　empty　table。　〃Shall　we　dine？〃
　〃Yes；　let's；〃　Giordino　countered　with　a　bow　as　he　pulled　back　a　chair　and　sat　down。
　After　twenty　minutes　with　no　service；　Giordino　yawned　and　said；　〃It　would　appear　our　waiter　has　refined　the　professional　technique　of　pretending　not　to　notice　our　table。〃
　〃He　must　have　heard　you；〃　Pitt　said；　grinning。　〃Here　he　es。〃
　The　waiter　approached　them；　dressed　only　in　cutoff　jeans　and　wearing　a　T…shirt　with　a　longhorn　steer　skiing　down　a　hill　of　brown　that　said；　IF　GOD　MEANT　TEXANS　TO　SKI；　HE'D　HAVE　MADE　COWSHIT　WHITE。
　〃Can　I　get　you　something　from　the　kitchen？〃　he　asked　in　a　surprisingly　high…pitched　voice。
　〃How　about　a　dozen　oysters　and　a　Dixie　beer？〃　said　Giordino。
　〃You　got　it；〃　answered　the　waiter。　〃And　you？〃
　〃A　bowl　of　your　famous　gumbo。〃
　The　waiter　grunted。　〃I　didn't　know　it　was　famous；　but　it　is　good…tastin'。　Whatta　you　want　to　drink？〃
　〃Got　tequila　behind　the　bar？〃
　〃Sure；　we　get　a　lot　of　Central　American　fishermen　in　here。〃
　〃Tequila　on　the　rocks　with　a　lime。〃
　The　waiter　turned　and　began　walking　toward　the　kitchen；　but　not　before　he　looked　at　them　and　said；　〃I'll　be　back。〃
　〃I　hope　he　doesn't　think　he's　Arnold　Schwarzenegger　and　drives　a　car　through　the　wall；〃　Giordino　muttered。
　〃Relax；〃　said　Pitt。　〃Enjoy　the　local　color；　the　ambience；　the　smoke…filled　environment。〃
　〃I　might　as　well　take　advantage　of　the　stale　atmosphere　and　add　to　it；〃　said　Giordino；　lighting　up　one　of　his　exotic　cigars。
　
　Pitt　surveyed　the　room；　searching　for　an　appropriate　character　to　probe　for　information。　He　eliminated　a　group　of　oil　riggers　gathered　round　one　end　of　the　bar　and　who　were　playing　pool。　The　dockyard　workers　were　a　good　possibility；　but　they　did　not　look　like　they　took　kindly　to　strangers。　He　began　focusing　on　the　fishermen。　A　number　of　them　were　sitting　at　munity　tables　pulled　together　and　playing　poker。　An　older　man；　in　what　Pitt　guessed　was　his　mid…sixties；　straddled　a　chair　nearby　but　did　not　join　in。　He　played　the　role　of　a　loner；　but　　there　was　a　humorous　and　friendly　gleam　in　his　blue…green　eyes。　His　hair　was　gray　and　matched　a　mustache　that　fell　and　met　a　beard　around　the　chin。　He　watched　the　others　as　they　tossed　their　money　on　the　poker　table　as　though　he　was　a　psychologist　studying　behavioral　patterns　of　laboratory　mice。　　　　　　　　
　
　The　waiter　brought　the　drinks；　no　tray；　a　glass　in　one　hand　　　　　　and　a　bottle　in　the　other。　Pitt　looked　up　and　asked；　〃What　brand　of　tequila　did　the　bartender　have？〃
　〃I　think　it's　called　Pancho　Villa。〃
　〃If　I　know　my　tequilas；　Pancho　Villa　es　in　a　plastic　bottle。〃
　The　waiter　twisted　his　lips　as　if　trying　to　dredge　up　a　vision　seen　many　years　previously。　The