jg.thefirm-第23部分

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　　〃I　don't　require　much　sleep。〃
　　〃What　does　your　wife　think　about　it？〃
　　〃Why　is　that　important？〃
　　〃Does　she　mind　the　long　hours？〃
　　Mitch　glared　at　Avery；　and　for　a　second　thought　of　the　argument　the　previous　night　when　he　arrived　home　for　dinner　at　three　minutes　before　midnight。　It　was　a　controlled　fight；　but　the　worst　one　yet；　and　it　promised　to　be　followed　by　others。　No　ground　was　surrendered。　Abby　said　she　felt　closer　to　Mr。　Rice　next　door　than　to　her　husband。
　　〃She　understands。　I　told　her　I　would　make　partner　in　two　years　and　retire　before　I　was　thirty。〃
　　〃Looks　like　you're　trying。〃
　　〃You're　not　plaining；　are　you？　Every　hour　I　billed　last　month　was　on　one　of　your　files；　and　you　didn't　seem　too　concerned　about　overworking　me。〃
　　Avery　laid　the　printout　on　his　credenza　and　frowned　at　Mitch。　〃I　just　don't　want　you　to　burn　out　or　neglect　things　at　home。〃
　　It　seemed　odd　receiving　marital　advice　from　a　man　who　had　left　his　wife。　He　looked　at　Avery　with　as　much　contempt　as　he　could　generate。　〃You　don't　need　to　worry　about　what　happens　at　my　house。　As　long　as　I　produce　around　here　you　should　be　happy。〃
　　Avery　leaned　across　the　desk。　〃Look；　Mitch；　I'm　not　very　good　at　this　sort　of　thing。　This　is　ing　from　higher　up。　Lambert　and　McKnight　are　worried　that　maybe　you're　pushing　a　bit　too　hard。　I　mean；　five　o'clock　in　the　morning；　every　morning；　even　some　Sundays。　That's　pretty　intense；　Mitch。〃
　　〃What　did　they　say？〃
　　〃Nothing　much。　Believe　it　or　not；　Mitch；　those　guys　really　care　about　you　and　your　family。　They　want　happy　lawyers　with　happy　wives。　If　everything　is　lovely；　then　the　lawyers　are　productive。　Lambert　is　especially　paternalistic。　He's　planning　to　retire　in　a　couple　of　years；　and　he's　trying　to　relive　his　glory　years　through　you　and　the　other　young　guys。
　　If　he　asks　too　many　questions　or　gives　a　few　lectures；　take　it　in　stride。　He's　earned　the　right　to　be　the　grandfather　around　here。〃
　　〃Tell　them　I'm　fine；　Abby's　fine；　we're　all　happy　and　I'm　very　productive。〃
　　〃Fine；　now　that　that's　out　of　the　way；　you　and　I　leave　for　Grand　Cayman　a　week　from　tomorrow。　I've　got　to　meet　with　some　Caymanian　bankers　on　behalf　of　Sonny　Capps　and　three　other　clients。　Mainly　business；　but　we　always　manage　to　work　in　a　little　scuba　diving　and　snorkeling。　I　told　Royce　McKnight　you　were　needed；　and　he　approved　the　trip。　He　said　you　probably　needed　the　R　and　R。　Do　you　want　to　go？〃
　　〃Of　course。　I'm　just　a　little　surprised。〃
　　〃It's　business；　so　our　wives　won't　be　going。　Lambert　was　a　little　concerned　that　it　may　cause　a　problem　at　home。〃
　　〃I　think　Mr。　Lambert　worries　too　much　about　what　happens　at　my　home。　Tell　him　I'm　in　control。　No　problems。〃
　　〃So　you're　going？〃
　　〃Sure；　I'm　going。　How　long　will　we　be　there？〃
　　〃Couple　of　days。　We'll　stay　in　one　of　's　condos。　Sonny　Capps　may　stay　in　the　other　one。　I'm　trying　to　get　　plane；　but　we　may　have　to　fly　mercial。〃
　　〃No　problem　with　me。〃
　　Only　two　of　the　passengers　on　board　the　Cayman　Airways　727　in　Miami　wore　ties；　and　after　the　first　round　of　plimentary　rum　punch　Avery　removed　his　and　stuffed　it　in　his　coat　pocket。　The　punch　was　served　by　beautiful　brown　Caymanian　stewardesses　with　blue　eyes　and　ely　smiles。　The　women　were　great　down　there；　Avery　said　more　than　once。
　　Mitch　sat　by　the　window　and　tried　to　conceal　the　excitement　of　his　first　trip　out　of　the　country。　He　had　found　a　book　on　the　Cayman　Islands　in　a　library。　There　were　three　islands；　Grand　Cayman；　Little　Cayman　and　Cayman　Brae。　The　two　smaller　ones　were　sparsely　populated　and　seldom　visited。　Grand　Cayman　had　eighteen　thousand　people；　twelve　thousand　registered　corporations　and　three　hundred　banks。　The　population　was　twenty　percent　white；　twenty　percent　black；　and　the　other　sixty　percent　wasn't　sure　and　didn't　care。　Georgetown；　the　capital；　in　recent　years　had　bee　an　international　tax　haven　with　bankers　as　secretive　as　the　Swiss。　There　were　no　ine　taxes；　corporate　taxes；　capital…gains　taxes；　estate　or　gift　taxes。　Certain　panies　and　investments　were　given　guarantees　against　taxation　for　fifty　years。　The　islands　were　a　dependent　British　territory　with　an　unusually　stable　government。　Revenue　from　import　duties　and　tourism　funded　whatever　government　was　necessary。　There　was　no　crime　or　unemployment。
　　Grand　Cayman　was　twenty…three　miles　long　and　eight　miles　wide　in　places；　but　from　the　air　it　looked　much　smaller。　It　was　a　small　rock　surrounded　by　clear；　sapphire　water。
　　The　landing　almost　occurred　in　a　lagoon；　but　at　the　last　second　a　small　asphalt　strip　came　forth　and　caught　the　plane。　They　disembarked　and　sang　their　way　through　customs。　A　black　boy　grabbed　Mitch's　bags　and　threw　them　with　Avery's　into　the　trunk　of　a　1972　Ford　LTD。　Mitch　tipped　him　generously。
　　〃Seven　Mile　Beach！〃　Avery　manded　as　he　turned　up　the　remnants　of　his　last　rum　punch。
　　〃Okay；　mon；〃　the　driver　drawled。　He　gunned　the　taxi　and　laid　rubber　in　the　direction　of　Georgetown。　The　radio　blared　reggae。　The　driver　shook　and　gyrated　and　kept　a　steady　beat　with　his　fingers　on　the　steering　wheel。　He　was　on　the　wrong　side　of　the　road；　but　so　was　everybody　else。　Mitch　sank　into　the　worn　seat　and　crossed　his　legs。　The　car　had　no　airconditioning　except　for　the　open　windows。　The　muggy　tropical　air　rushed　across　his　face　and　blew　his　hair。　This　was　nice。
　　The　island　was　flat；　and　the　road　into　Georgetown　was　busy　with　small；　dusty　European　cars；　scooters　and　bicycles。　The　homes　were　small　one…stories　with　tin　roofs　and　neat；　colorful　paint　jobs。　The　lawns　were　tiny　with　little　grass；　but　the　dirt　was　neatly　swept。　As　they　neared　the　town　the　houses　became　shops；　two…　and　three…story　white　frame　buildings　where　tourists　stood　under　the　canopies　and　took　refuge　from　the　sun。　The　driver　made　a　sharp　turn　and　suddenly　they　were　in　the　midst　of　a　downtown　crowded　with　modern　bank　buildings。
　　Avery　assumed　the　role　of　tour　guide。　〃There　are　banks　here　from　everywhere。　Germany；　France；　Great　Britain；　Canada；　Spain；　Japan；　Denmark。　Even　Saudi　Arabia　and　Israel。　Over　three　hundred；　at　last　count。　It's　bee　quite　a　tax　haven。　The　bankers　here　are　extremely　quiet。　They　make　the　Swiss　look　like　blabbermouths。〃
　　The　taxi　slowed　in　heavy　traffic；　and　the　breeze　stopped。　〃I　see　a　lot　of　Canadian　banks；〃　Mitch　said。
　　〃That　building　right　there　is　the　Royal　Bank　of　Montreal。　We'll　be　there　at　ten　in　the　morning。　Most　of　our　business　will　be　with　Canadian　banks。〃
　　〃Any　particular　reason？〃
　　〃They're　very　safe；　and　very　quiet。〃
　　The　crowded　street　turned　and　dead…ended　into　another　one。　Beyond　the　intersection　the　glittering　blue　of　the　Caribbean　rose　to　the　horizon。　A　cruise　ship　was　anchored　in　the　bay。
　　〃That's　Hogsty　Bay；〃　Avery　said。　〃That's　where　the　pirates　docked　their　ships　three　hundred　years　ago。　Black…beard　himself　roamed　these　islands　and　buried　his　loot。
　　They　found　some　of　it　a　few　years　ago　in　a　cave　east　of　here　near　Bodden　Town。〃
　　Mitch　nodded　as　if　he　believed　this　tale。　The　driver　smiled　in　the　rearview　mirror。
　　Avery　wiped　the　sweat　from　his　forehead。　〃This　place　has　always　attracted　pirates。　Once　it　was　Blackbeard；　now　it's　modern…day　pirates　who　form　corporations　and　hide　their　money　here。　Right；　mon？〃
　　〃Right；　mon；〃　the　driver　replied。
　　〃That's　Seven　Mile　Beach；〃　Avery　said。　〃One　of　the　most　beautiful　and　most　famous　in　the　world。　Right；　mon？〃
　　〃Right；　mon。〃
　　〃Sand　as　white　as　sugar。　Warm；　clear　water。　Warm；　beautiful　women。　Right；　mon？〃
　　〃Right；　mon。〃
　　〃Will　they　have　the　cookout　tonight　at　the　Palms？〃
　　〃Yes；　mon。　Six　o'clock。〃
　　〃That's　next　door　to　our　condo。　The　Palms　is　a　popular　hotel　with　the　hottest　action　on　the　beach。〃
　　Mitch　smiled　and　watched　the　hotels　pass。　He　recalled　the　interview　at　Harvard　when　Oliver　Lambert　preached　about　how　　frowned　on　divorce　and　chasing　women。　And　drinking。　Perhaps　Avery　had　missed　those　sermons。　Perhaps　he　hadn't。
　　The　condos　were　in　the　center　of　Seven　Mile　Beach；　next　door　to　another　plex　and　the　Palms。　As…expected；　the　units　owned　by　　were　spacious　and　richly　decorated。　Avery　said　they　would　sell　for　at　least　half　a　million　each；　but　they　weren't　for　sale。　They　were　not　for　rent。　They　were　sanctuaries　for　the　weary　lawyers　of　Bendini；　Lambert　&　Locke。　And　a　few　very　favored　clients。
　　From　the　balcony　off　the　second…floor　bedroom；　Mitch　watched　the　small　boats　drift　aimlessly　over　the　sparkling　sea。　The　sun　was　beginning　its　descent　and　the　small　waves　reflected　its　rays　in　a　million　directions。　The　cruise　ship　moved　slowly　away　from　the　island。　Dozens　of　people　walked　the　beach；　kicking　sand；　splashing　in　the　water；　chasing　sand　crabs　and　drinking　rum　punch　and　Jamaican　Red　Stripe　beer。　The　rhythmic　beat　of　Caribbean　music　drifted　from　the　Palms；　where　a　large　open…air　thatched…roof　bar　attracted　the　beachbers　like　a　magnet。　From　a　grass　hut　nearby　they　rented　snorkeling　gear；　catamarans　and　volleyballs。
　　Avery　walked　to　the　balcony　in　a　pair　of　brilliant　orange…and…yellow　flowered　shorts。　His　body　was　lean　and　hard；　with　no　flab。　He　owned　part　interest　in　a　health　club　in　Memphis　and　worked　out　every　day。　Evidently　there　were　some　tanning　beds　in　the　club。　Mitch　was　impressed。
　　〃How　do　you　like　my　outfit？〃　Avery　asked。
　　〃Very　nice。　You'll　fit　right　in。〃　　　　〃I've　got　another　pair　if　you'd　like。〃
　　〃No；　thanks。　I'll　stick　to　my　Western　Kentucky　gyrh　shorts。〃
　　Avery　sipped　on　a　drink　and　took　in　the　scenery。　〃I've　been　here　a　dozen　times；　and　I　still　get　excited。　I've　thought　about　retiring　down　here。〃
　　〃That　would　be　nice。　You　could　walk　the　beach　and　chase　sand　crabs。〃
　　〃And　play　dominoes　and　drink　Red　Stripe。　Have　you　ever　had　a　Red　Stripe？〃
　　〃Not　that　I　recall。〃
　　〃Let's　go　get　one。〃
　　The　open…air　bar　was　called　Rumheads。　It　was　packed　with　thirsty　tourists　and　a　few　locals　who　sat　together　around　a　wooden　table　and　played　dominoes。　Avery　fought　through　the　crowd　and　returned　with　two　bottles。　They　found　a　seat　next　to　the　domino　game。
　　〃I　think　this　is　what　I'll　do　when　I　retire。　I'll　e　down　here　and　play　dominoes　for　a　living。　And　drink　Red　Stripe。〃
　　〃It's　good　beer。〃
　　〃And　when　I　get　tired　of　dominoes；　I'll　throw　some　da