preston&child.thecabinetofcuriosities-第22部分

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　〃I　expect　most　of　them　are　here　to　observe　the　primates　outside　the　exhibition　cases。〃
　〃Very　funny。〃
　They　passed　through　the　doors　and　across　the　Great　Rotunda。　Until　two　days　ago；　O'Shaughnessy　hadn't　been　inside　the　Museum　since　he　was　a　kid。　But　there　were　the　dinosaurs；　just　like　they'd　always　been。　And　beyond；　the　herd　of　elephants。　The　red　carpet　and　velvet　ropes　led　them　onward；　deeper　into　the　building。　Smiling　young　ladies　were　positioned　along　the　way；　pointing；　nodding；　indicating　where　to　go。　Very　nice　young　ladies。　O'Shaughnessy　decided　that　another　visit　to　the　Museum；　when　he　wasn't　on　duty；　might　be　in　order。
　They　wound　through　the　African　Hall；　past　a　massive　doorway　framed　in　elephant　tusks；　and　entered　a　large　reception　area。　Countless　little　tables；　set　with　votive　candles；　dotted　the　room。　A　vast　buffet　heaped　with　food　ran　along　one　wall；　bookended　by　two　well…stocked　booze　stations。　A　podium　had　been　placed　at　the　far　end　of　the　room。　In　a　nearby　corner；　a　string　quartet　sawed　industriously　at　a　Viennese　waltz。　O'Shaughnessy　listened　with　incredulity。　They　were　appalling。　But　at　least　it　wasn't　Puccini　they　were　butchering。
　The　room　was　almost　empty。
　At　the　door　stood　a　manic…looking　man；　a　large　name　tag　displayed　below　his　white　carnation。　He　spotted　Pendergast；　rushed　over；　and　seized　his　hand　with　almost　frantic　gratitude。　〃Harry　Medoker；　head　of　public　relations。　Thank　you　for　ing；　sir；　thank　you。　I　think　you'll　love　the　new　hall。〃
　〃Primate　behavior　is　my　specialty。〃
　〃Ah！　Then　you've　e　to　the　right　place。〃　The　PR　man　caught　a　glimpse　of　O'Shaughnessy　and　froze　in　the　act　of　pumping　Pendergast's　hand。　〃I'm　sorry；　Officer。　Is　there　a　problem？〃　His　voice　had　lost　all　its　conviviality。
　〃Yeah；〃　said　O'Shaughnessy　in　his　most　menacing　tone。
　The　man　leaned　forward　and　spoke　in　most　unweling　tones。　〃This　is　a　private　opening；　Officer。　I'm　sorry；　but　you'll　have　to　leave。　We　have　no　need　of　outside　security…〃
　〃Oh　yeah？　Just　so　you　know；　Harry；　I'm　here　on　the　little　matter　of　the　Museum　cocaine　ring。〃
　〃Museum　cocaine　ring？〃　Medoker　looked　like　he　was　about　to　have　a　heart　attack。
　〃Officer　O'Shaughnessy；〃　came　Pendergast's　mild　warning。
　O'Shaughnessy　gave　the　man　a　little　clap　on　the　shoulder。　〃Don't　breathe　a　word。　Imagine　how　the　press　would　run　with　it。　Think　of　the　Museum；　Harry。〃　He　left　the　man　white　and　shaking。
　〃I　hate　it　when　they　don't　respect　the　man　in　blue；〃　said　O'Shaughnessy。
　For　a　moment；　Pendergast　eyed　him　gravely。　Then　he　nodded　toward　the　buffet。　〃Regulations　may　forbid　drinking　on　the　job；　but　they　don't　forbid　eating　blini　au　caviar。〃
　〃Blini　auwhat？〃
　〃Tiny　buckwheat　pancakes　topped　with　crème　fra？che　and　caviar。　Delectable。〃
　O'Shaughnessy　shuddered。　〃I　don't　like　raw　fish　eggs。〃
　〃I　suspect　you've　never　had　the　real　thing；　Sergeant。　Give　one　a　try。　You'll　find　them　much　more　palatable　than　a　Die　Walküre　aria；　I　assure　you。　However；　there's　also　the　smoked　sturgeon；　the　foie　gras；　the　prosciutto　di　Parma；　and　the　Damariscotta　River　oysters。　The　Museum　always　serves　an　excellent　table。〃
　〃Just　give　me　the　pigs　in　a　blanket。〃
　〃Those　can　be　obtained　from　the　man　with　the　cart　on　the　corner　of　Seventy…seventh　and　Central　Park　West。〃
　More　people　were　trickling　into　the　hall；　but　the　crowd　was　still　thin。　O'Shaughnessy　followed　Pendergast　over　to　the　food　table。　He　avoided　the　piles　of　sticky　gray　fish　eggs。　Instead；　he　took　a　few　pieces　of　ham；　cut　a　slice　from　a　wheel　of　brie；　and　with　some　pieces　of　French　bread　made　a　couple　of　small　ham…and…cheese　sandwiches　for　himself。　The　ham　was　a　little　dry；　and　the　cheese　tasted　a　little　like　ammonia；　but　overall　it　was　palatable。
　〃You　had　a　meeting　with　Captain　Custer；　right？〃　Pendergast　asked。　〃How　did　it　go？〃
　O'Shaughnessy　shook　his　head　as　he　munched。　〃Not　too　good。〃
　〃I　expect　there　was　someone　from　the　mayor's　office。〃
　〃Mary　Hill。〃
　〃Ah；　Miss　Hill。　Of　course。〃
　〃Captain　Custer　wanted　to　know　why　I　hadn't　told　them　about　the　journal；　why　I　hadn't　told　them　about　the　dress；　why　I　hadn't　told　them　about　the　note。　But　it　was　all　in　the　report…which　Custer　hadn't　read…so　in　the　end　I　survived　the　meeting。〃
　Pendergast　nodded。
　〃Thanks　for　helping　me　finish　that　report。　Otherwise；　they'd　have　ripped　me　a　new　one。〃
　〃What　a　quaint　expression。〃　Pendergast　looked　over　O'Shaughnessy's　shoulder。　〃Sergeant；　I'd　like　to　introduce　you　to　an　old　acquaintance　of　mine。　William　Smithback。〃
　O'Shaughnessy　turned　to　see　a　gangling；　awkward…looking　man　at　the　buffet；　a　gravity…defying　cowlick　jutting　from　the　top　of　his　head。　He　was　dressed　in　an　ill…fitting　tuxedo；　and　he　seemed　utterly　absorbed　in　piling　as　much　food　onto　his　plate　as　possible；　as　quickly　as　possible。　The　man　looked　over；　saw　Pendergast；　and　started　visibly。　He　glanced　around　uneasily；　as　if　marking　possible　exits。　But　the　FBI　agent　was　smiling　encouragingly；　and　the　man　named　Smithback　came　toward　them　a　little　warily。
　〃Agent　Pendergast；〃　Smithback　said　in　a　nasal　baritone。　〃What　a　surprise。〃
　〃Indeed。　Mr。　Smithback；　I　find　you　well。〃　He　grasped　Smithback's　hand　and　shook　it。　〃How　many　years　has　it　been？〃
　〃Long　time；〃　said　Smithback；　looking　like　it　had　not　been　nearly　long　enough。　〃What　are　you　doing　in　New　York？〃
　〃I　keep　an　apartment　here。〃　Pendergast　released　the　hand　and　looked　the　writer　up　and　down。　〃I　see　you've　graduated　to　Armani；　Mr。　Smithback；〃　he　said。　〃A　rather　better　cut　than　those　off…the…rack　Fourteenth　Street　job…lot　suits　you　used　to　sport。　However；　when　you're　ready　to　take　a　real　sartorial　step；　might　I　remend　Brioni　or　Ermenegildo　Zegna？〃
　Smithback　opened　his　mouth　to　reply；　but　Pendergast　continued　smoothly。　〃I　heard　from　Margo　Green；　by　the　way。　She's　up　in　Boston；　working　for　the　GeneDyne　Corporation。　She　asked　me　to　remember　her　to　you。〃
　Smithback　opened　his　mouth　again；　shut　it。　〃Thank　you；〃　he　managed　after　a　moment。　〃And…and　Lieutenant　D'Agosta？　You　keep　in　touch　with　him？〃
　〃He　also　went　north。　He's　now　living　in　Canada；　writing　police　procedurals；　under　the　pen　name　of　Campbell　Dirk。〃
　〃I'll　have　to　pick　up　one　of　his　books。〃
　〃He　hasn't　made　it　big　yet…not　like　you；　Mr。　Smithback…but　I　must　say　the　books　are　readable。〃
　By　this　point；　Smithback　had　fully　recovered。　〃And　mine　aren't？〃
　Pendergast　inclined　his　head。　〃I　can't　honestly　say　I've　read　any。　Do　you　have　one　you　could　particularly　remend？〃
　〃Very　funny；〃　said　Smithback；　frowning　and　looking　about。　〃I　wonder　if　Nora's　going　to　be　here。〃
　〃So　you're　the　guy　who　wrote　the　article；　right？〃　asked　O'Shaughnessy。
　Smithback　nodded。　〃Made　a　splash；　don't　you　think？〃
　〃It　certainly　got　everyone's　attention；〃　said　Pendergast　dryly。
　〃As　well　it　should。　Nineteenth…century　serial　killer；　kidnapping　and　mutilating　helpless　kids　from　workhouses；　all　in　the　name　of　some　experiment　to　extend　his　own　wretched　life。　You　know；　they've　awarded　Pulitzers　for　less　than　that。〃　People　were　arriving　more　quickly　now；　and　the　noise　level　was　increasing。
　〃The　Society　for　American　Archaeology　is　demanding　an　investigation　into　how　the　site　came　to　be　destroyed。　I　understand　the　construction　union　is　also　asking　questions。　With　this　uping　election；　the　mayor's　on　the　defensive。　As　you　can　imagine；　Moegen…Fairhaven　wasn't　terribly　happy　about　it。　Speak　of　the　devil。〃
　〃What？〃　Smithback　said；　clearly　surprised　by　this　sudden　remark。
　〃Anthony　Fairhaven；〃　Pendergast　said；　nodding　toward　the　entrance。
　O'Shaughnessy　followed　the　glance。　The　man　standing　in　the　doorway　to　the　hall　was　much　more　youthful　than　he'd　expected；　fit；　with　the　kind　of　frame　a　bicyclist　or　rock　climber　might　have…wiry；　athletic。　His　tuxedo　draped　over　his　shoulders　and　chest　with　a　lightness　that　made　him　look　as　if　he'd　been　born　in　it。　Even　more　surprising　was　the　face。　It　was　an　open　face；　an　honest…looking　face；　not　the　face　of　the　rapacious　money…grubbing　real　estate　developer　Smithback　had　portrayed　in　the　Times　article。　Then；　most　surprising　of　all：　Fairhaven　looked　their　way；　noticed　their　glance；　and　smiled　broadly　at　them　before　continuing　into　the　hall。
　A　hissing　came　over　the　PA　system；　〃Tales　from　the　Vienna　Woods〃　died　away　raggedly。　A　man　was　at　the　podium；　doing　a　sound　check。　He　retreated；　and　a　hush　fell　on　the　crowd。　After　a　moment；　a　second　man；　wearing　a　formal　suit；　mounted　the　podium　and　walked　to　the　microphone。　He　looked　grave；　intelligent；　patrician；　dignified；　at　ease。　In　short；　he　was　everything　O'Shaughnessy　hated。
　〃Who's　that？〃　he　asked。
　〃The　distinguished　Dr。　Frederick　Collopy；〃　said　Pendergast。　〃Director　of　the　Museum。〃
　〃He's　got　a　29…year…old　wife；〃　Smithback　whispered。　〃Can　you　believe　it？　It's　a　wonder　he　can　even　find　the…Look；　there　she　is　now。〃　He　pointed　to　a　young　and　extremely　attractive　woman　standing　to　one　side。　Unlike　the　other　women；　who　all　seemed　to　be　dressed　in　black；　she　was　wearing　an　emerald…green　gown　with　an　elegant　diamond　tiara。　The　bination　was　breathtaking。
　〃Oh；　God；〃　Smithback　breathed。　〃What　a　stunner。〃
　〃I　hope　the　guy　keeps　a　pair　of　cardiac　paddles　on　his　bedside　table；〃　O'Shaughnessy　muttered。
　〃I　think　I'll　go　over　and　give　him　my　number。　Offer　to　spell　him　one　of　these　nights；　in　case　the　old　geezer　gets　winded。〃
　Good　evening；　ladies　and　gentlemen；　began　Collopy。　His　voice　was　low；　gravelly；　without　inflection。　When　I　was　a　young　man；　I　undertook　the　reclassification　of　the　Pongidae；　the　Great　Apes　。　。　。
　The　level　of　conversation　in　the　room　dropped　but　did　not　cease　altogether。　People　seemed　far　more　interested　in　food　and　drink　than　in　hearing　this　man　talk　about　monkeys；　O'Shaughnessy　thought。
　。　。　。　And　I　was　faced　with　a　problem：　Where　to　put　mankind？　Are　we　in　the　Pongidae；　or　are　we　not？　Are　we　a　Great　Ape；　or　are　we　something　special？　This　was　the　question　I　faced　。　。　。
　〃Here　es　Dr。　Kelly；〃　said　Pendergast。
　Smithback　turned；　an　eager；　expectant；　nervous　look　on　his　face。　But　the　tall；　copper…haired　woman　swept　past　him　without　so　much　as　a　glance；　arrowing　straight　for　the　food　table。
　〃Hey　Nora！　I've　been　trying　to　reach　you　all　day！〃　O'Shaughnessy　watched　the　writer　hustle　after　her；　then　returned　his　attention　to　his　ham…and…cheese　san