dk.watchers-第71部分

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　But　he　knew　what　possessed　him：　a　deep…seated　belief　that　the　dog　must　remain　free；　that　it　must　not　be　treated　as　the　government's　property。　If　we've　e　so　far　that　we　can　create　as　God　creates；　then　we　have　to　learn　to　act　with　the　justice　and　mercy　of　God。　That　was　what　he　had　told　Nora　and　Travis…and　Einstein…on　the　night　Ted　Hockney　had　been　killed；　and　he　had　meant　every　word　he'd　said。
　Salt　water　stung　his　eyes；　blurred　his　vision。　Some　had　gotten　into　his　mouth；　and　it　burned　a　small　ulcer　on　his　lower　lip。
　He　fought　the　current；　pulled　past　the　point　of　the　breakwater；　out　of　sight　of　the　harbor；　then　slashed　toward　the　rocks。　Reaching　them　at　last；　he　hung　onto　the　first　boulder　he　touched；　gasping；　not　yet　quite　able　to　pull　himself　out　of　the　water。
　In　the　intervening　weeks　since　Nora　and　Travis　went　on　the　run；　Garrison　had　plenty　of　time　to　think　about　Einstein；　and　he　felt　even　more　strongly　that　to　imprison　an　intelligent　creature；　innocent　of　all　crime；　was　an　act　of　grave　injustice；　regardless　of　whether　the　prisoner　was　a　dog。　Garrison　had　devoted　his　life　to　the　pursuit　of　justice　that　was　made　possible　by　the　laws　of　a　democracy；　and　to　the　maintenance　of　the　freedom　that　grew　from　this　justice。　When　a　man　of　ideals　decides　he　is　too　old　to　risk　everything　for　what　he　believes　in；　then　he　is　no　longer　a　man　of　ideals。　He　may　no　longer　be　a　man　at　all。　That　hard　truth　had　driven　him；　in　spite　of　his　age；　to　make　this　night　swim。　Funny…that　a　long　life　of　idealism　should；　after　seven　decades；　be　put　to　the　ultimate　test　over　the　fate　of　a　dog。
　But　what　a　dog。
　And　what　a　wondrous　new　world　we　live　in；　he　thought。
　Genetic　technology　might　have　to　be　rechristened　〃genetic　art；〃　for　every　work　of　art　was　an　act　of　creation；　and　no　act　of　creation　was　finer　or　more　beautiful　than　the　creation　of　an　intelligent　mind。
　Getting　his　second　wind；　he　heaved　entirely　out　of　the　water；　onto　the　sloped　north　flank　of　the　northern　breakwater。　That　barrier　rose　between　him　and　the　harbor；　and　he　moved　inland；　along　the　rocks；　while　the　sea　surged　at　his　left　side。　He'd　brought　a　waterproof　penlight；　clipped　to　his　trunks；　and　now　he　used　it　to　proceed；　barefoot；　with　the　greatest　caution；　afraid　of　slipping　on　the　wet　stones　and　breaking　a　leg　or　an　ankle。
　He　could　see　the　city　lights　a　few　hundred　yards　ahead；　and　the　vague　silvery　line　of　the　beach。
　He　was　cold　but　not　as　cold　as　he　had　been　in　the　water。　His　heart　was　beating　fast　but　not　as　fast　as　before。
　He　was　going　to　make　it。
　　　
　Lem　Johnson　drove　down　from　the　temporary　HO　in　the　courthouse；　and　Cliff　met　him　at　the　empty　boat　slip　where　the　Amazing　Grace　had　been　tied　up。　A　wind　had　risen。　Hundreds　of　craft　along　the　docks　were　wallowing　slightly　in　their　berths；　they　creaked；　and　slack　sail　lines　clicked　and　clinked　against　their　masts。　Dock　lamps　and　neighboring　boat　lanterns　cast　shimmering　patterns　of　light　on　the　dark；　oily…looking　water　where　Dilworth's　forty…two…footer　had　been　moored。
　〃Harbor　Patrol？〃　Lem　asked　worriedly。
　〃They　followed　him　out　to　open　sea。　Seemed　as　if　he　was　going　to　turn　north；　swung　close　by　the　point；　but　then　he　went　south　instead。〃
　〃Did　Dilworth　see　them？〃
　〃He　had　to。　As　you　see…no　fog；　lots　of　stars；　clear　as　a　bell。〃
　〃Good。　I　want　him　to　be　aware。　Coast　Guard？〃
　〃I've　talked　to　the　cutter；〃　Cliff　assured　him。　〃They're　on　the　spot；　flanking　the　Amazing　Grace　at　a　hundred　yards；　heading　south　along　the　coast。〃
　Shivering　in　the　rapidly　cooling　air；　Lem　said；　〃They　know　he　might　try　putting　ashore　in　a　rubber　boat　or　whatever？〃
　〃They　know；〃　Cliff　said。　〃He　can't　do　it　under　their　noses。〃
　〃Is　the　Guard　sure　he　sees　them？〃
　〃They're　lit　up　like　a　Christmas　tree。〃
　〃Good。　I　want　him　to　know　it's　hopeless。　If　we　can　just　keep　him　from　warning　the　Cornells；　then　they'll　call　him　sooner　or　later…and　we'll　have　them。　Even　if　they　call　him　from　a　pay　phone；　we'll　know　their　general　location。〃
　In　addition　to　taps　on　Dilworth's　home　and　office　phones；　the　NSA　had　installed　tracing　equipment　that　would　lock　open　a　line　the　moment　a　connection　was　made；　and　keep　it　open　even　after　both　parties　hung　up；　until　the　caller's　number　and　street　address　were　ascertained　and　verified。　Even　if　Dilworth　shouted　a　warning　and　hung　up　the　instant　he　recognized　one　of　the　Cornells'　voices；　it　would　be　too　late。　The　only　way　he　could　try　to　foil　the　NSA　was　by　not　answering　his　phone　at　all。　But　even　that　would　do　him　no　good　because；　after　the　sixth　ring；　every　ining　call　was　being　automatically　〃answered〃　by　the　NSA's　equipment；　which　opened　the　line　and　began　tracing　procedures。
　〃The　only　thing　could　screw　us　now；〃　Lem　said；　〃is　if　Dilworth　gets　to　a　phone　we　don't　have　monitored　and　warns　the　Cornells　not　to　call　him。〃
　〃It's　not　going　to　happen；〃　Cliff　said。　〃We're　on　him　tight。〃
　〃I　wish　you　wouldn't　say　that；〃　Lem　worried。　As　the　wind　got　hold　of　it；　a　metal　clip　on　a　loose　line　clanged　loudly　off　a　spar；　and　the　sound　made　Lem　jump。　〃My　dad　always　said　the　worst　happens　when　you　least　expect　it。〃
　Cliff　shook　his　head。　〃With　all　due　respect；　sir；　the　more　I　hear　you　quote　your　father；　the　more　I　think　he　must've　been　just　about　the　gloomiest　man　who　ever　lived。〃
　Looking　around　at　the　wallowing　boats　and　wind…chopped　water；　feeling　as　if　he　was　moving　instead　of　standing　still　in　a　moving　world；　a　little　queasy；　Lem　said；　〃Yeah　。　。　。　my　dad　was　a　great　guy　in　his　way；　but　he　was　also　。　。　。　impossible。〃
　Hank　Gorner　shouted；　〃Hey！〃　He　was　running　along　the　dock　from　the
　Cheoy　Lee　where　he　and　Cliff　had　been　stationed　all　day。　〃I've　just　been　on
　With　the　Guard　cutter。　They're　playing　their　searchlight　over　the　Amazing
　Grace；　intimidating　a　little；　and　they　tell　me　they　don't　see　Dilworth。　Just
　the　woman。〃
　Lem　said；　〃But；　Christ；　he's　running　the　boat！〃
　〃No；〃　Gorner　said。　〃There's　no　lights　in　the　Amazing　Grace；　but　the　Guard's　searchlight　brightens　up　the　whole　thing；　and　they　say　the　woman's　at　the　wheel。〃
　〃It's　all　right。　He's　just　below　deck；〃　Cliff　said。
　〃No；〃　Lem　said　as　his　heart　started　to　pound。　〃He　wouldn't　be　below　deck
　at　a　time　like　this。　He'd　be　studying　the　cutter；　deciding　whether　to　keep　going　or　turn　back。　He's　not　on　the　Amazing　Grace。〃
　〃But　he　has　to　be！　He　didn't　get　off　before　she　pulled　out　of　the　dock。〃
　Lem　stared　out　across　the　crystalline…clear　harbor；　toward　the　light　near　the　end　of　the　northern　breakwater。　〃You　said　the　damn　boat　swung　out　close　to　the　north　point；　and　it　looked　as　if　he　was　going　north；　but　then　he　suddenly　swung　south。〃
　〃Shit；〃　Cliff　said。
　〃That's　where　he　dropped　off；〃　Lem　said。　〃Out　by　the　point　of　the　northern　breakwater。　Without　a　rubber　boat。　Swimming；　by　God。〃
　〃He's　too　old　for　that　crap；〃　Cliff　protested。
　〃Evidently　not。　He　went　around　the　other　side；　and　he's　headed　for　a　phone　on　one　of　the　northern　public　beaches。　We've　got　to　stop　him；　and　fast。〃
　Cliff　cupped　his　hands　to　his　mouth　and　shouted　the　first　names　of　the　four　agents　who　were　positioned　on　other　boats　along　the　docks。　His　voice　carried；　echoing　flatly　off　the　water；　in　spite　of　the　wind。　Men　came　running；　and　even　as　Cliff's　shouts　faded　away　across　the　harbor；　Lem　was　sprinting　for　his　car　in　the　parking　lot。
　The　worst　happens　when　you　least　expect　it。
　　　
　As　Travis　was　rinsing　dinner　dishes；　Nora　said；　〃Look　at　this。〃
　He　turned　and　saw　that　she　was　standing　by　Einstein's　food　and　water　dishes。　The　water　was　gone；　but　half　his　dinner　remained。
　She　said；　〃When　have　you　known　him　to　leave　a　single　scrap？〃
　〃Never。〃　Frowning；　Travis　wiped　his　hands　on　the　kitchen　towel。　〃The　last　few　days　。　。　。　I've　thought　maybe　he's　ing　down　with　a　cold　or　something；　but　he　says　he　feels　fine。　And　today　he　hasn't　been　sneezing　or　coughing　like　he　was。〃
　They　went　into　the　living　room；　where　the　retriever　was　reading　Black　Beauty　with　the　help　of　his　page…turning　machine。
　They　knelt　beside　him；　and　he　looked　up；　and　Nora　said；　〃Are　you　sick；　Einstein？〃
　The　retriever　barked　once；　softly：　No。
　〃Are　you　sure？〃
　A　quick　wag　of　the　tail：　Yes。
　〃You　didn't　finish　your　dinner；〃　Travis　said。
　The　dog　yawned　elaborately。
　Nora　said；　〃Are　you　telling　us　you're　a　little　tired？〃
　Yes。
　〃If　you　were　feeling　ill；〃　Travis　said；　〃you'd　let　us　know　right　away；　wouldn't　you；　fur　face？〃
　Yes。
　Nora　insisted　on　examining　Einstein's　eyes；　mouth；　and　ears　for　obvious　signs
　of　infection；　but　at　last　she　said；　〃Nothing。　He　seems　okay。　I　guess　even　Superdog　has　a　right　to　be　tired　once　in　a　while。〃
　　　
　The　wind　had　e　up　fast。　It　was　chilly；　and　under　its　lash　the　waves　rose　higher　than　they　had　been　all　day。
　A　mass　of　gooseflesh；　Garrison　reached　the　landward　end　of　the　north　flank　of　the　harbor's　northern　breakwater。　He　was　relieved　to　depart　the　hard　and　sometimes　jagged　stones　of　that　rampart　for　the　sandy　beach。　He　was　sure　he　had　scraped　and　cut　both　feet；　they　felt　hot；　and　his　left　foot　stung　with　each　step；　forcing　him　to　limp。
　At　first　he　stayed　close　to　the　surf；　away　from　the　tree…lined　park　that　lay　behind　the　beach。　Over　there；　where　park　lamps　lit　the　walkways　and　where　spotlights　dramatically　highlighted　the　palms；　he　would　be　more　easily　seen　from　the　street。　He　did　not　think　anyone　would　be　looking　for　him；　he　was　sure　his　trick　had　worked。　However；　if　anyone　was　looking　for　him；　he　did　not　want　to　call　attention　to　himself。
　The　gusting　wind　tore　foam　off　the　ining　breakers　and　flung　it　in　Garrison's　face；　so　he　felt　as　if　he　was　continuously　running　through　spiders'　webs。　The　stuff　stung　his　eyes；　which　had　finally　stopped　tearing　from　his　dunk　in　the　sea；　and　at　last　he　was　forced　to　move　away　from　the　surf　line；　farther　up　the　beach；　where　the　softer　sand　met　the　lawn　but　where　he　was　still　out　of　the　lights。
　Young　people　were　on　the　darkish　beach；　dressed　for　the　chill　of　the　night：
　couples　on　blankets；　cuddling；　small　groups　smoking　dope；　listening　to　music。　Eight　or　ten　teenage　boys　were　gathered　around　two　all…terrain　vehicles　with　balloon　tires；　which　were　not　allowed　on　the　beach　during　the　day　and　most　likely　weren't　allowed　at　night。。　They　were　drinking　beer　beside　a　pit