emb.seethemdie-第19节

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　attractive　and　had　further　learned　how　to　use　make…up　on　them。　Her　eyes　were　the　focal　point　of　her　face；　as　green　as　jade　and；　bined　with　her　jet…black　hair；　they　created　an　instant　impression　of　desirability　which　overshadowed　the　true　facts　of　her　plainness。
　〃You　came　through　the　next　block？〃　Zip　asked　Elena。
　〃Sure。　Why　not？〃
　〃No　reason。〃　He　paused。　〃That's　Royal　Guardian　territory。〃
　〃So　what？〃
　〃Nothing。　Nothing。〃
　〃Royal　Guardians　or　not；〃　Elena　said；　〃this　is　a　free　country。〃
　〃We　walk　where　we　want　to；〃　Juana　added。
　〃That's　because　you're　a　chick。　It　ain't　so　easy　when　you're　a　guy；〃　Zip　said。
　〃Why　not？〃　Juana　asked。
　〃Because　it　ain't；　that's　all。　You　can't　go　messing　in　another　club's　territory。〃
　〃That's　nuts。　Haven't　you　got　anything　better　to　do　than　play　war？　That's　kid　stuff。〃
　〃There's　nothing　kid　stuff　about　it；〃　Zip　said。　〃You　just　don't　know。〃
　〃I　know　plenty；〃　Juana　said。　〃You　haven't　got　anything　better　to　do；　that's　all。　That's　why　you've　got　these　territories　and　these　street　bops　and。。。〃
　〃I　got　plenty　to　do；〃　Zip　said。　〃We　always　got　plenty　to　do；　ain't　we；　Sixto？〃
　〃Sure；　he's　got　plenty　to　do；〃　Elena　said。　〃He's　got　China　to　chase　after。〃
　〃Hey；　listen；〃　Zip　said；　grinning。　〃How　about　a　hug；　Elena？〃
　〃If　you　had　things　to　do；〃　Juana　persisted；　〃you　wouldn't　get　involved　in　this　childish　nonsense。　What　you　are　is　an　acting…out　neurotic。〃
　〃A　what？〃　Zip　said。
　〃An　acting…out　neurotic；〃　Juana　said　professorially。
　〃How　e　you're　so　smart；　huh？　Where'd　you　get　your　medical　degree；　huh？〃
　〃I　read　an　article　in　the　newspapers；〃　Juana　said　smugly。
　〃Dig　the　big　reader！〃　Zip　said；　and　he　burst　out　laughing。　Dismissing　her；　he　turned　to　Elena；　〃Hey；　e　on；　no　hug　for　me？〃
　〃Go　hug　China；〃　Elena　said　coldly。
　〃e　on；　e　on；〃　Zip　said；　still　grinning。　But　his　grin　seemed　to　have　no　effect　on　Elena。　Deliberately　she　turned　to　Sixto。
　〃Who's　your　cute　friend？〃　she　asked　archly。
　〃Huh？〃　Zip　said。
　〃What're　you？〃　she　asked　Sixto。　〃The　strong　silent　type？〃
　〃Me？〃　Sixto　asked；　bewildered　by　her　sudden　attention。
　〃What's　your　name？〃　she　asked；　moving　closer　to　him；　smiling　the　way　she　had　once　seen　Jane　Russell　smile　in　a　movie。
　〃Sixto；〃　he　answered。
　〃The　article　said　you're　insecure；〃　Juana　said　to　Zip。
　〃Don't　give　me　any　bull　you　read　in　the　newspapers；〃　he　said；　turning　on　her　angrily；　miffed　by　Elena's　behavior。　〃I　don't　believe　nothing　I　read。〃
　〃You　probably　don't　even　know　how　to　read；〃　Juana　said。
　The　thing　that　was　happening　on　the　packing　crate　was　rather　odd。　Because　despite　Juana's　protests　that　Zip　was　a　terrifying　creep；　an　acting…out　neurotic；　and　insecure　to　boot；　her　conversational　efforts　had　all　been　directed　at　him。　And　even　though　her　approach　took　the　form　of　an　attack；　it　was　clear　that　she　was　bidding　for　Zip's　attention　and　no　one　else's。　Elena；　meanwhile；　was　doing　exactly　the　same　thing；　even　though　she　seemed　to　be　addressing　Sixto。　A　none…too…subtle　tug　of　war　was　taking　place　on　that　crate。　Whatever　Zip's　flaws；　he　was　obviously　recognized　by　the　girls　as　the　most　desirable　of　the　three　boys。　And；　thanks　to　either　his　indifference　or　his　stupidity；　he　hadn't　the　faintest　idea　of　what　was　happening。
　〃So　how　e　you're　so　quiet？〃　Elena　said　to　Sixto。　〃Aren't　you　excited　about　your　friend　Pepe　Miranda？〃
　〃He's　no'　my　frien'；〃　Sixto　said。　〃Pepe's　no　damn　good！〃
　The　girl　caught　the　accent。　She　looked　at　Sixto　for　a　moment　and　then　said；　〃Hey；　what　are　you？　A　tiger　or　something？〃
　〃I　no　tiger。〃
　〃You　sound　like　one。　Can't　you　speak　English？〃
　Papa　had　been　thinking　over　Sixto's　ment；　and　had　finally　fathomed　the　meaning　of　it。　〃What　you　minn；　he's　no　good？〃　he　asked　now。　〃Hey；　Zeep！　Sixto；　he　say　Pepe's　no　good。〃
　Zip　turned　from　Juana。　〃What？　Did　you　say　that？〃
　〃I　dinn　say　nothin'；〃　Sixto　said。
　And　now　Elena；　anxious　to　recapture　Zip's　attention；　quickly　leaped　in。　〃That's　what　he　said；　Zip。　That's　what　the　Marine　Tiger　said；　all　right。〃
　〃I　no　tiger。　I　speak　English　good！〃
　〃He　speaks　a　well　English；〃　Zip　said；　chuckling。
　〃He　said　Pepe's　no　good；〃　Elena　repeated。
　〃Is　that　what　you　said？〃　Zip　asked；　and　he　shoved　out　at　Sixto。　〃Is　that　what　you　said；　huh？〃　and　he　shoved　again。　〃Huh？〃　and　again　he　shoved；　pushing　Sixto　closer　to　the　edge　of　the　crate。　〃Is　that　what　you　said；　Sixto？〃　and　he　pushed　hard　this　time；　sending　Sixto　over　the　edge　of　the　crate；　reeling　backward　into　the　gutter。　Zip　burst　out　laughing。　Papa　and　Elena　joined　him。　Juana　seemed　undecided　for　a　moment；　as　if　her　natural　instinct　was　to　climb　down　and　help　Sixto　to　his　feet。　The　indecision　passed。　She　tittered　nervously；　and　then　burst　into　laughter　with　the　rest　of　them。　Zip　put　his　arm　around　Elena。
　〃What's　wrong　with　you；　anyway？〃　he　asked。
　〃Nothing。〃
　〃So　how　e　the　big　freeze？〃
　〃What's　with　you　and　China？〃
　〃That？〃
　〃That。〃
　〃Nothing。〃　He　shrugged。
　〃The　word　says　you're　after　Alfie。〃
　〃Well；　like　he's　got　it　ing；　you　know？〃
　〃Why？　Because　of　something　with　China？〃
　〃What're　you　worried　about　China　for；　huh？〃
　〃Is　there　going　to　be　trouble？〃
　〃With　Alfie？〃
　〃Yes；〃　Elena　said。
　〃Naw；　no　trouble；〃　Zip　answered。　〃Don't　worry；　huh？〃
　〃Have　you　got　a　thing　on　with　China？〃
　〃Me？〃　Zip　began　laughing　again。　〃Hey；　you're　jealous；　ain't　you？　I'll　be　damned。〃
　〃She's　old　enough　to　be　your　mother；〃　Elena　said　sullenly。　〃She　must　be　nineteen；　maybe　even　twenty。〃
　〃That　don't　make　her　old；　only　experienced。　What's　the　matter；　honey；　huh？〃　he　said　sweetly。　〃You　jealous；　baby；　huh？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃You　worried　about　poor　little　Alfie？〃
　〃I　don't　care　what　you　do　to　Alfie。　Just　answer　me　one　question。〃
　〃Sure；　what's　that？〃
　〃You　got　eyes　for　China　or　not？〃
　〃Like；　you　know；　doll；　your　interest　gasses　me；　but　don't　start　strong…arming　me。　I'll　bust　you　right　in　the　mouth；　you　know？〃
　Juana　turned　to　him　suddenly。　〃It　takes　a　big　man；　don't　it；　to　hit　a　girl？〃
　〃Oh；　get　lost；　zombie；〃　he　said　to　her。　He　wrapped　his　arms　around　Elena。　〃e　on；　where's　my　hug？〃
　〃Zip；　cut　it　out；〃　she　said。　〃There's　people　watching。〃
　〃So　let　them；　who　cares？〃　He　took　one　arm　from　Elena　and　pointed　into　the　crowd。　〃Hey！　Hey　you！　Fat　boy！〃
　Frederick　Block；　who　had　shoved　his　way　up　to　the　barricade；　looked　up　at　Zip。
　〃You　watching　us；　Fat　Boy？〃
　Block　turned　away　with　a　look　of　extreme　disgust　on　his　face。　Zip　burst　out　laughing。
　〃See；　honey？〃　he　said。　〃Nobody　watching　us。〃　He　pulled　her　closer　to　him。　〃Mmmm；　you　are　the　softest　girl。〃
　〃I　shouldn't　let　you；〃　Elena　said。　〃Not　after　this　China　thing。〃
　〃Somebody's　got　to　protect　little　China；　no？〃　His　hands　roamed　her　body。　He　touched　her　breast；　and　she　pulled　away　from　him　quickly；　embarrassed；　but　he　drew　her　close　again；　and　she　stood　unprotesting　in　the　circle　of　his　arms。　Zip　stroked　her　back　gently。
　〃You　going　to　hurt　Alfie　Gomez？〃　Juana　asked。
　〃Drop　dead；〃　Zip　told　her。
　〃Big　man；〃　Juana　said。　〃Everybody　in　this　neighborhood's　a　big　man。　It's　just　you're　insecure；　that's　all。〃
　〃Man；　she　sprouts　that　crap　like　as　if　she　grows　it　in　her　mouth；〃　Zip　said。　〃I　got　news　for　you；　zombie。　I　am　a　big　man；　now　how　about　that？　The　Latin　Purples　ain't　afraid　of　nothing　or　nobody！〃
　〃Whoever　heard　of　the　Latin　Purples　outside　of　you　and　your　mother？〃　Juana　asked。　〃If　one　of　those　Royal　Guardians　came　down　the　street　right　now；　you'd　pass　out　cold。〃
　〃I　ain't　afraid　of　no　Royal　Guardians；〃　Zip　said　angrily。　〃I　ain't　afraid　of　nobody！〃　He　searched　in　his　mind　for　a　clincher　to　his　argument；　and　then　blurted；　〃Why；　one　of　my　boys　is　out　right　now；　rounding　up　a　couple　of　pieces！〃
　〃If　one　of　them　goes　off　accidentally；　you'll　run　a　mile。〃
　〃You　better　tell　your　pal　to　shut　up；　Elena；〃　Zip　warned。
　〃Juana；　stop　picking　on。。。〃
　〃A　gun　is　a　psychological　symbol；〃　Juana　said。　〃You　only　want　one　because　you're　afraid。〃
　〃I　ain't　afraid　to　rap　you　right　in　the　mouth；〃　Zip　said。
　〃Big　man；〃　Juana　repeated；　but　she　shut　up。
　Zip　looked　out　over　the　crowd。　〃They're　ing　back；〃　he　said。　〃The　bulls　are　ing　back。〃
　
　
　11
　
　The　plan　was　a　simple　one；　but　Lieutenant　Byrnes　had　discovered　in　his　years　of　police　work　that　most　feasible　and　practical　plans　were　simple。
　The　plan　was　one　of　deception；　a　plan　which　would　utilize　every　man's　innate　susceptibility　to　the　expected；　and　then　knock　him　flat　by　suddenly　producing　the　unexpected。　The　plan；　of　course；　undertook　to　presume　what　Miranda　would　consider　〃expected〃。　But　it　seemed　a　reasonable　guess　to　suppose　that　Miranda　expected　the　cops　to　get　him　out　of　that　apartment；　and　that　one　certain　way　to　acplish　this　was　to　bust　into　the　joint。　If　a　rush　were　made　across　the　street；　a　rush　which　carried　all　the　earmarks　of　a　frontal　attack；　Miranda　would　brace　himself　for　an　assault　on　his　front　door。　Actually；　the　assault　would　e　from　elsewhere。　Such　was　the　unoriginal　and　simple　nature　of　the　deception。　Broken　down　into　simple　terms；　the　police　plan　could　have　been　stated　thusly：　Hit　him　where　he　ain't。
　〃Have　you　got　it　straight？〃　Byrnes　asked　his　men。
　〃I　want　the　fire　escape；〃　Parker　said。
　〃We'll　see　about　that。〃
　〃I　want　to　be　the　one　who　gets　him；〃　Parker　said。　〃I　want　to