ch.nativetongue-第50部分

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　〃Good　for　her；〃　Kingsbury　rumbled。　〃Let　her　explain　to　a　judge　what　the　hell　her　old　man　was　doing；　swimming　with　a　damn　killer　whale　in　the　middle　of　the　night。〃
　Chelsea　was　now　on　the　precipice　of　anger　himself。　〃If　we　drag　this　out；　the　Herald　and　the　TV　will　be　all　over　us。　Do　we　really　want　a　pack　of　reporters　investigating　the　doctor's　death？〃
　Kingsbury　squinted　suspiciously。　〃What　are　you　getting　at？〃
　〃I'm　simply　advising　you　to　take　time　and　think　about　this。　Let　me　stall　the　media。〃
　The　swiveling　started　again；　back　and　forth；　Kingsbury　fidgeting　like　a　hyperactive　child。　〃Two…point…eight…million　dollars！　Where　the　hell　did　that　crazy　number　e　from？　I　guess　he　couldn't　of　made　it　a　hundred　grand；　something　do…able。〃　
　〃Winder？　No；　sir；　he　tends　to　think　big。〃　
　〃He's　trying　to　put　me　out　of　business；　isn't　he？〃　Francis　Kingsbury　stopped　spinning　the　chair。　He　planted　his　elbows　on　the　desk　and　dug　his　polished　fingernails　into　his　jowls。　〃The　fucker；　this　is　my　theory；　the　fucker's　trying　to　put　me　under。〃
　〃You　might　be　right；〃　Chelsea　admitted。
　〃What's　his…you　hired　him；　Charlie…what's　his　angle？〃
　〃I　couldn't　begin　to　tell　you。　For　now；　my　advice　is　to　get　the　insurance　pany　in　touch　with　Mrs。　Koocher's　lawyer。　Before　it　blows　up　even　worse。〃
　Kingsbury　gave　an　anguished　moan。　〃Worse？　How　is　that　possible？〃
　〃Anything's　possible。〃　Chelsea　was　alarmed　by　the　weariness　in　his　own　voice。　He　wondered　if　the　tempest　of　bad　news　would　ever　abate。
　The　phone　buzzed　and　Kingsbury　plucked　it　off　the　hook。　He　listened；　grunted　affirmatively　and　hung　up。　〃Pedro's　on　his　way　in；〃　he　said。　〃And　it　better　be　good　news　or　I'm　gonna　can　his　fat　ass。〃
　Pedro　Luz　did　not　look　like　a　cheery　bundle　of　good　tidings。　The　wheelchair　was　one　clue。　The　missing　foot　was　another。
　Kingsbury　sighed。　〃Christ；　now　what？〃　He　saw　a　whopper　of　a　worker's　p　claim　ing　down　the　pike。
　〃An　accident；〃　Pedro　Luz　said；　wheeling　to　a　stop　in　front　of　Kingsbury's　desk。　〃Hey；　it's　not　so　bad。〃
　Chelsea　noticed　that　the　security　man's　face　was　swollen　and　mottled　like　a　rotten　melon；　and　that　his　massive　arms　had　exploded　in　fresh　acne　sores。
　Kingsbury　drummed　on　a　marble　paperweight。　〃So？　Let's　hear　it。〃
　Pedro　Luz　said；　〃I　shot　the　bastard。〃
　〃Yeah？〃
　〃You　better　believe　it。〃
　Charles　Chelsea　deftly　excused　himself；　talk　of　felonies　made　him　unfortable。　He　closed　the　door　softly　and　nearly　sprinted　down　the　hall。　He　was　thinking：　Thank　God　it's　finally　over。　No　more　dueling　flacks。
　Kingsbury　grilled　Pedro　Luz　on　the　details　of　the　Joe　Winder　murder；　but　the　security　man　edited　selectively。
　〃He　was　in　the　shower。　I　fired　eleven　times；　so　I　know　damn　well　I　hit　him。　Besides；　I　heard　the　shouts。〃
　Kingsbury　asked；　〃How　do　you　know　he's　dead？〃
　〃There　was　lots　of　blood；〃　said　Pedro　Luz。　〃And　like　I　told　you；　I　fired　almost　a　dozen　goddamn　rounds。　Later　I　set　the　place　on　fire。〃
　〃Yeah？〃　Kingsbury　had　seen　footage　of　a　trailer　blaze　on　Channel　4；　there　had　been　no　mention　of　bodies。
　Pedro　Luz　said；　〃It　went　up　like　a　damn　torch。　One　of　them　cheap　mobile　homes。〃
　〃You're　sure　the　bastard　was　inside？〃
　〃Far　as　I　know。　And　the　bitch；　too。〃
　Francis　Kingsbury　said；　〃Which　bitch？　You're　losing　me　here。〃
　〃The　dumb　bitch　he　was　staying　with。　The　one　who　ran　me　over。〃
　Pedro　Luz　gestured　at　the　bandaged　stump　on　the　end　of　his　leg。　〃That's　what　she　did　to　me。〃
　The　puffy　slits　made　it　difficult　to　read　the　expression　in　Pedro　Luz's　eyes。　Kingsbury　said；　〃She　hit　you　with　a　car？〃
　〃More　than　that；　she　ran　me　down。　Parked　right　on　top　of　me。〃
　〃On　your　foot？　Jesus　Christ。〃　Kingsbury　winced　sympathetically。
　Pedro　Luz　said：　〃Good　thing　I'm　in　shape。〃　Self…consciously　he　folded　his　bulging　arms　and　spread　his　hands　in　a　way　that　covered　the　pimples。
　Kingsbury　said；　〃So　what　happened？〃
　〃What　do　you　mean？　I　told　you　what　happened。〃　
　〃No；　I　mean　with　the　car　on　your　foot。　How'd　you　get　free？〃
　〃Oh；　I　chewed　it　off；〃　said　Pedro　Luz；　〃right　below　the　ankle。〃
　Kingsbury　stared　at　the　stump。　He　couldn't　think　of　anything　to　say。
　〃Animals　do　it　all　the　time；〃　Pedro　Luz　explained；　〃when　they　get　caught　in　traps。〃
　Francis　Kingsbury　nodded　unconsciously。　His　eyes　roamed　the　office；　searching　for　a　convenient　place　to　throw　up。
　〃The　hard　part　wasn't　the　pain。　The　hard　part　was　the　reach。〃　Pedro　Luz　bent　down　to　demonstrate。　
　〃Oh　Lord；〃　Kingsbury　muttered。　
　〃Like　I　said；　it's　a　good　thing　I'm　in　shape。〃
　
　At　the　campsite；　Joe　Winder　told　Molly　McNamara　it　was　nice　to　see　her　again。　Molly　congratulated　Joe　for　blowing　up　Kingsbury's　bulldozers。　Skink　thanked　Molly　for　the　bottle　of　Jack　Daniels；　and　briefly　related　how　it　had　been　utilized。　Carrie　Lanier　was　introduced　to　the　burglars；　whom　she　instantly　recognized　as　the　scruffy　vole　robbers。　Bud　Schwartz　and　Danny　Pogue　were　stunned　to　learn　that　Robbie　Raccoon　was　a　woman；　and　apologized　for　knocking　Carrie　down　during　the　heist。
　The　heat　was　throbbing　and　the　hammock　steamed。　No　breeze　stirred　off　the　water。　A　high　brown　haze　of　African　dust　muted　the　hues　of　the　broad　summer　sky。　Skink　handed　out　cold　sodas　and　tended　the　fire；　he　wore　cutoff　jeans；　the　panther　collar　and　a　thick　white　vest　of　tape　and　bandages。
　〃You　were　lucky；〃　Molly　told　him。　〃Guy　was　aiming　high；〃　Skink　said。　〃He　assumed　I'd　be　standing　up。〃
　As　most　people　do　in　the　shower；　thought　Joe　Winder。　〃He　also　assumed　that　you　were　me；〃　he　said。
　〃Maybe　so。〃　Skink　smeared　a　stick　of　EDTIAR　bug　repellent　on　both　arms。　Then　he　sat　down　under　a　buttonwood　tree　to　count　the　mosquitoes　biting　his　legs。
　Carrie　Lanier　told　the　others　about　the　breakneck　ride　to　the　veterinarian。　〃Dr。　Rafferty　did　a　great　job。　We're　lucky　he　knew　somebody　over　at　the　Red　Cross。〃
　Between　insect　frenzies；　Danny　Pogue　struggled　to　follow　the　conversation。　〃You　got　shot？〃　he　said　to　Skink。　〃So　did　me　and　Bud！〃
　Sharply；　Molly　cut　in：　〃It　wasn't　the　same。〃　
　〃Like　hell；〃　mumbled　Bud　Schwartz　miserably。　The　humidity　made　him　dizzy；　and　his　arms　bled　from　scratching　the　bugs。　In　addition；　he　wasn't　thrilled　about　the　lunch　menu；　which　included　fox；　opossum　and　rabbit…Skink's　road…kill　bounty　from　the　night　before。
　Joe　Winder　was　in　a　lousy　mood；　too。　The　sight　of　Carrie's　burned…out　trailer　haunted　him。　The　fax　machine；　the　Amazing　Kingdom　stationery；　his　stereo…all　lost。　Neil　Young；　melting　in　the　flames。　Helpless；　helpless；　helpless；　helpless。
　Skink　said；　〃It's　time　to　get　organized。　Those　damn　John　Deeres　are　back。〃　He　looked　at　Winder。　〃Now　they've　got　cops　on　the　site。〃
　〃What　can　we　blow　up　next？〃　Molly　asked。　Skink　shook　his　head。　〃Let's　try　to　be　more　imaginative。〃
　〃All　the　building　permits　are　in　Kingsbury's　name；〃　Winder　noted。　〃If　he　goes　down；　the　project　goes　under。〃
　Carrie　wondered　what　Joe　meant　by　〃goes　down。〃
　〃You　mean；　if　he　dies？〃
　〃Or　gets　bankrupt；〃　Winder　said。
　〃Or　lost；〃　added　Skink；　glancing　up　from　his　mosquito　census。
　Danny　Pogue　elbowed　Bud　Schwartz；　who　kept　his　silence。　He　had　spoken　again　to　the　butcher　in　Queens；　who　had　relayed　an　offer　from　unnamed　friends　of　the　Zubonis：　fifty　thousand　for　the　whereabouts　of　Frankie　King。　Naturally　Bud　Schwartz　had　agreed　to　the　deal；　now；　sitting　in　the　wilderness　among　these　idealistic　crusaders；　he　felt　slightly　guilty。　Maybe　he　should've　ratted　on　Kingsbury　for　free。
　〃Mr。　X　had　a　terrible　run　of　luck　the　last　few　days；〃　Carrie　was　saying；　〃thanks　to　Joe。〃
　Skink　got　up　to　check　the　campfire。　He　said；　〃It's　time　for　a　full…court　press。〃
　〃Each　day　is　precious；〃　agreed　Molly　McNamara。　She　dabbed　her　forehead　with　a　linen　handkerchief。　〃I　think　we　should　move　against　Mr。　Kingsbury　as　soon　as　possible。〃
　Bud　Schwartz　crumpled　a　soda　can。　〃Why　don't　we　hold　off　a　week　or　so？〃
　〃No。〃　Skink　offered　him　a　shank　of　opossum　on　a　long…handled　fork。　He　said；　〃Every　hour　that　passes；　we　lose　more　of　the　island。〃
　〃Kingsbury's　got　worse　problems　than　all　of　us　put　together；〃　said　Bud　Schwartz。　〃If　we　can　just　lay　back　a　few　days。〃
　Joe　Winder　urged　him　to　elaborate。
　〃Tell　him；　Bud；　go　on！〃　Danny　Pogue　was　nearly　bursting。
　〃I　wish　I　could。〃
　Skink　fingered　the　silvery　tendrils　of　his　beard。　Towering　over　the　burglar；　he　said；　〃Son；　I'm　not　fond　of　surprises。〃
　〃This　is　serious　shit。〃　Bud　Schwartz　was　pleading。　〃You　gotta　understand…heavy　people　from　up　North。〃
　Wiping　the　condensation　from　her　eyeglasses；　Molly　said；　〃Bud；　what　on　earth　are　you　talking　about？〃
　Winder　leaned　toward　Carrie　and　whispered：　〃This　is　getting　interesting。〃
　〃No　damn　surprises；〃　Skink　repeated　balefully。　〃We　act　in　confluence；　you　understand？〃
　Reluctantly　Bud　Schwartz　took　a　bite　of　fried　opossum。　He　scowled　as　the　warm　juices　dripped　down　his　chin。
　〃Is　that　blood？〃　asked　Danny　Pogue。
　Skink　nodded　and　said；　〃Nature's　gravy。〃
　Suddenly　he　turned　his　face　to　the　sky；　peered　toward　the　lemon　sun　and　cursed　vehemently。　Then　he　was　gone；　running　barefoot　into　the　bright　tangles　of　the　hammock。
　The　others　looked　at　one　another　in　utter　puzzlement。
　Joe　Winder　was　the　first　to　stand。　〃When　in　Rome；〃　he　said；　reaching　for　Carrie's　hand。
　
　Humanity's　encroachment　had　obliterated　the　Florida　panther　so　thoroughly　that　numerals　were　assigned　to　each　of　the　few　surviving　specimens。　In　a　desperate　attempt　to　save　the　species；　the　Game　and　Fresh　Water　mission　had　embarked　on　a　program　of　monitoring　the　far…roaming　panthers　and　tracking　their　movements　by　radio　telemetry。　Over　a　period　of　years　most　of　the　cats　were　treed；　tranquilized　and　fitted　with　durable　plastic　collars　that　emitted　a　regular　electronic　signal　on　a　frequency　of　150　megahertz。　The　signals　could　be　followed　by　rangers　on　the　ground　or；　when　the　animal　was　deep　in　the　swamp；　by　air。　Using　this　system；　biologists　were　able　to　map　the　territories　traveled　by　individual　cats；　chart　their　mating　habits　and　even　locate　new　litters　of　kittens。　Because　the　battery…operated　collars　were　activated　by　motion；　it　was　also　possible　for　rangers　to　know　when　a　numbered　panther　was　sick　or　even　dead；　if　a　radio　collar　was　inert　for　more　than　a　few　hours；　it　automatically　began　sending　a　distress　signal。
　No　such　alarm　was　transmitt