dk.solesurvivor-第47部分

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　　At　the　far　end　of　the　big　room；　they　went　through　an　open　door　into　a　sparkling　scullery　where　fruits　and　vegetables　were　cleaned　and　trimmed　before　being　sent　in　to　the　main　cookery。　This　late　in　the　restaurant's　day；　no　one　was　at　work　here。
　　Beyond　the　scullery　was　a　concrete…floored　receiving　room　that　smelled　of　raw　celery　and　peppers；　damp　wood　and　damp　cardboard。　On　pallets　along　the　right…hand　wall；　empty　fruit　and　vegetable　crates；　boxes；　and　cases　of　empty　beer　bottles　were　stacked　almost　to　the　low　ceiling。
　　Directly　ahead；　under　a　red　Exit　sign　was　a　wide；　steel　exterior　door；　closed　now；　beyond　which　suppliers'　trucks　evidently　parked　to　make　deliveries。　To　the　left　was　an　elevator。
　　'Rose　is　down　below。'　Mahalia　pressed　the　call　button；　and　the　elevator　doors　slid　open　at　once。
　　'What's　under　us？'
　　'Well；　one　time；　this　was　the　service　elevator　to　a　banquet　room　and　deck；　where　you　could　have　big　parties　right　on　the　beach；　but　we　can't　use　it　like　the　joint　did　before　us。　Coastal　mission　put　a　hard　rule　on　us。　Now　it's　just　a　storeroom。　Once　you　go　down；　I'll　have　some　boys　e　move　the　pallets　and　empty　crates　to　this　wall。　We'll　cover　the　elevator　real　nice。　Nobody'll　know　it's　even　here。'
　　Uneasy　about　being　cornered；　Joe　said；　'Yeah；　but　what　if　they　e　looking　and　they　do　find　the　elevator？'
　　'Gonna　have　to　stop　callin'　you　Presentable　Joe。　Better　would　be　Worryin'　Joe。'
　　'After　a　while；　they　will　e　looking。　They　won't　just　wait　till　closing　time　and　go　home。　So　once　I'm　down　there；　do　I　have　another　way　out？'　he　persisted。
　　'Never　tore　apart　the　front　stairs；　where　the　customers　used　to　go　down。　Just　covered　the　openin'　with　hinged　panels　so　you　don't　really　see　it。　You　e　up　that　way；　though；　you'll　be　right　across　from　the　hostess　station；　in　the　middle　of　plain　view。'
　　'No　good。'
　　'So　if　somethin'　goes　wrong；　best　to　skedaddle　out　the　lower　door　onto　the　deck。　From　there　you　have　the　beach；　the　whole　coast。'
　　'They　could　be　covering　that　exit　too。'
　　'It's　down　at　the　base　of　the　bluff。　From　the　upper　level；　they　can't　know　it's　there。　You　should　just　try　to　relax；　sugar。　We're　on　the　righteous　side；　which　counts　for　somethin'。'
　　'Not　much。'
　　'Worryin'　Joe。'
　　He　stepped　into　the　elevator　but　blocked　the　sliding　door　with　his　arm　in　case　it　tried　to　close。　'How're　you　connected　with　this　place；　Mahalia？'
　　'Half　owner。'
　　'The　food's　great。'
　　'You　can　look　at　me　the　way　I　am　and　think　I　don't　know？'　she　asked　good…naturedly。
　　'What're　you　to　Rose？'
　　'Gonna　call　you　Curious　Joe　pretty　soon。　Rose　married　my　brother　Louis　about　twenty…two　years　ago。　They　met　in　college　Wasn't　truly　surprised　when　Louis　turned　out　smart　enough　to　go　to　college；　but　I　was　sure　surprised　he　had　the　brains　to　fall　for　someone　like　Rose。　Then；　of　course；　the　man　proved　he　was　a　pure　fool；　after　all；　when　he　up　and　divorced　her　four　years　later。　Rose　couldn't　have　kids；　and　havin'　kids　was　important　to　Louis　though　with　less　air　in　his　skull　and　any　mon　sense　at　all；　the　man　would've　realized　Rose　was　more　treasure　than　a　houseful　of　babies。'
　　'She　hasn't　been　your　sister…in…law　for　eighteen　years；　but　you're　willing　to　put　yourself　on　the　line　for　her？'
　　'Why　not？　You　think　Rose　turned　into　a　vampire　when　Louis；　the　fool；　divorced　her？　She's　been　the　same　sweet　lady　ever　I　met　her。　I　love　her　like　a　sister。　Now　she's　waitin'；　Curious　Joe。'
　　'One　more　thing。　Earlier；　when　you　told　me　these　people　don't　know　who　they're　dealing　with　。　。　。　You　didn't　say…〃We're　Baptists？〃
　　'That's　exactly　what　I　did　say。　〃Tough〃　and　〃Baptists〃　don't　go　together　in　your　head…is　that　it？'
　　'Well…'
　　'Mama　and　Daddy　stood　up　to　the　Klan　down　in　Mississippi　when　the　Klan　had　a　whole　lot　more　teeth　than　they　do　now；　and　so　did　my　Grandma　and　Grandpap　before　them；　and　they　never　let　fear　weigh　'em　down。　When　I　was　a　little　girl；　we　went　through　hurricanes　off　the　Gulf　of　Mexico　and　Delta　floods　and　encephalitis　epidemics　and　poor　times　when　we　didn't　know　where　tomorrow's　food　was　in'　from；　but　we　rode　it　out　and　still　sung　loud　in　the　choir　every　Sunday。　Maybe　the　United　States　Marines　are　some　tougher　than　your　average　Southern　black　Baptist；　Joe；　but　not　by　much。'
　　'Rose　is　a　lucky　woman　with　a　friend　like　you。'
　　'I'm　the　lucky　one；'　said　Mahalia。　'She　lifts　me　up…now　more　than　ever。　Go　on；　Joe。　And　stay　down　there　with　her　till　we　close　this　place　and　figure　a　way　we　can　slip　you　two　out。　I'll　e　for　you　when　it's　time。'
　　'Be　ready　for　trouble　long　before　that；'　he　warned　her。
　　'Go。'
　　Joe　let　the　doors　slide　shut。
　　The　elevator　descended。
　　
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　　Here；　now；　at　last　and　alone；　at　the　far　end　of　the　long　room　was　Dr。　Rose　Marie　Tucker　in　one　of　four　folding　chairs　at　a　scarred　work　table；　leaning　forward；　forearms　on　the　table；　hands　clasped；　waiting　and　silent；　her　eyes　solemn　and　full　of　tenderness；　this　diminutive　survivor；　keeper　of　secrets　that　Joe　had　been　desperate　to　learn　but　from　which　he　suddenly　shied。
　　Some　of　the　recessed…can　fixtures　in　the　ceiling　contained　dead　bulbs；　and　the　live　ones　were　haphazardly　angled；　so　the　floor　that　he　slowly　crossed　was　mottled　with　light　and　shadow　as　if　it　were　an　underwater　realm。　His　own　shadow　preceded　him；　then　fell　behind；　but　again　preceded　him；　flowed　here　into　a　pool　of　gloom　and　vanished　like　a　soul　into　oblivion；　only　to　swim　into　view　three　steps　later。　He　felt　as　though　he　were　a　condemned　man　submerged　in　the　concrete　depths　of　an　inescapable　prison；　on　a　long　death…row　walk　toward　lethal　punishment…yet　simultaneously　he　believed　in　the　possibility　of　clemency　and　rebirth。　As　he　approached　the　revelation　that　had　lifted　Georgine　and　Charlie　Delmann　from　despair　to　euphoria；　as　he　drew　nearer　the　truth　about　Nina；　his　mind　churned　with　conflicting　currents；　and　hope　like　schools　of　bright　koi　darted　through　his　internal　darkness。
　　Against　the　left…hand　wall　were　boxes　of　restaurant　provisions；　primarily　paper　towels　for　the　restrooms；　candles　for　the　tables；　and　janitorial　supplies　purchased　in　bulk。　The　right…hand　wall；　which　faced　the　beach　and　the　ocean　beyond；　featured　two　doors　and　a　series　of　large　windows；　but　the　coast　was　not　visible　because　the　glass　was　protected　by　metal　Rolladen　security　shutters。　The　banquet　room　felt　like　a　bunker。
　　He　pulled　out　a　chair　and　sat　across　the　table　from　Rose。
　　As　in　the　cemetery　the　previous　day；　this　woman　radiated　such　extraordinary　charismatic　power　that　her　petite　stature　was　a　source　of　continual　surprise。　She　seemed　more　physically　imposing　than　Joe…yet　her　wrists　were　as　dainty　as　those　of　a　twelve…year…old　girl。　Her　magnetic　eyes　held　him；　touched　him；　and　some　knowledge　in　them　humbled　him　in　a　way　that　no　man　twice　his　size　could　have　humbled　him…yet　her　features　appeared　so　fragile；　her　throat　so　slender；　her　shoulders　so　delicate　that　she　should　have　seemed　as　vulnerable　as　a　child。
　　Joe　reached　across　the　table　toward　her。
　　She　gripped　his　hand。
　　Dread　fought　with　hope　for　his　voice；　and　while　the　battle　raged；　he　could　not　speak　to　ask　about　Nina。
　　More　solemn　now　than　she　had　been　in　the　cemetery；　Rose　said；　'It's　all　going　so　badly。　They're　killing　everyone　I　talk　to。　They'll　stop　at　nothing。'
　　Relieved　of　the　obligation　to　ask；　first；　the　fateful　question　about　his　younger　daughter；　Joe　found　his　voice。　'I　was　there　at　the　house　in　Hancock　Park　with　the　Delmanns　。　。　。　and　Lisa。'
　　Her　eyes　widened　in　alarm。　'You　don't　mean　。。。　when　it　happened？'
　　'Yes。'
　　Her　small　hand　tightened　on　his。　'You　saw？'
　　He　nodded。　'They　killed　themselves。　Such　terrible　。　。　。　such　violence；　madness。'
　　'Not　madness。　Not　suicide。　Murder。　But　how　in　the　name　of　God　did　you　survive？'
　　'I　ran。'
　　'While　they　were　still　being　killed？'
　　'Charlie　and　Georgine　were　already　dead。　Lisa　was　still　burning。'
　　'So　she　wasn't　dead　yet　when　you　ran？'
　　'No。　Still　on　her　feet　and　burning　but　not　screaming；　just　quietly　quietly　burning。'
　　'Then　you　got　out　just　in　time。　A　miracle　of　your　own。'
　　'How；　Rose？　How　was　it　done　to　them？'
　　Lowering　her　gaze　from　his　eyes　to　their　entwined　hands；　she　didn't　answer　Joe's　question。　More　to　herself　than　to　him；　she　said；　'I　thought　this　was　the　way　to　begin　the　work　…　by　bringing　the　news　to　the　families　who'd　lost　loved　ones　on　that　airliner。　But　because　of　me　。　。　。　all　this　blood。'
　　'You　really　were　aboard　Flight　353？'　he　asked。
　　She　met　his　eyes　again。　'Economy　class。　Row　sixteen；　seat　B；　one　away　from　the　window。'
　　The　truth　was　in　her　voice　as　sure　as　rain　and　sunshine　are　in　a　green　blade　of　grass。
　　Joe　said；　'You　really　walked　away　from　the　crash　unharmed。'
　　'Untouched；'　she　said　softly；　emphasizing　the　miraculousness　of　her　escape。
　　And　you　weren't　alone。'
　　'Who　told　you？'
　　'Not　the　Delmanns。　Not　anyone　else　you've　spoken　with。　They　have　all　kept　faith　with　you；　held　tight　to　whatever　secrets　you've　told　them。　How　I　found　out　goes　all　the　way　back　to　that　night。　Do　you　remember　Jeff　and　Mercy　Ealing？'
　　A　faint　smile　floated　across　her　mouth　and　away　as　she　said；　'The　Loose　Change　Ranch。'
　　'I　was　there　early　this　afternoon；'　he　said。
　　'They're　nice　people。'
　　'A　lovely　quiet　life。'
　　'And　you're　a　good　reporter。'
　　'When　the　assignment　matters　to　me。'
　　Her　eyes　were　midnight…dark　but　luminous　lakes；　and　Joe　could　not　tell　whether　the　secrets　sunk　in　them　would　drown　or　buoy　him。
　　She　said；　'I'm　so　sorry　about　all　the　people　on　that　plane。　Sorry　they　went　before　their　time。　So　sorry　for　their　families。　。　。　for　you。'
　　'You　didn't　realize　that　you　were　putting　them　in　jeopardy　…did　you？'
　　'God；　no。'
　　'Then　you've　no　guilt。'
　　'I　feel　it；　though。
　　'Tell　me；　Rose。　Please。　I've　e　a　long；　long　way　around　to　hear　it。　Tell　me　what　you've　told　the　others。'
　　'But　they're　killing　everyone　I　tell。　Not　just　the　Delmanns　but　others；　half　a　dozen　others。'
　　'I　don't　care　about　the　danger。'
　　'But　I　care。　Because　now　I　do　know　the　jeopardy　I'm　putting　you　in；　and　I've　got　to　consider　it。'
　　'No　jeopardy。　None　whatsoever。　I'm　dead　anyway；'　he　said。　'U