ch.nativetongue-第51部分

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ignal。
　No　such　alarm　was　transmitted　if　an　animal　became　abnormally　active；　but　the　rangers　were　expected　to　notice　any　strange　behavior　and　react　accordingly。　For　instance；　a　panther　that　was　spending　too　much　time　near　populated　areas　was　usually　captured　and　relocated　for　its　own　safety；　the　cats　had　a　long　and　dismal　record　of　careless　prowling　along　busy　highways。
　Sergeant　Mark　Dyerson　had　retrieved　too　many　dead　panthers　that　had　been　struck　by　trucks　and　automobiles。　Recently　the　ranger　had　bee　certain　that　if　something　wasn't　done　soon；　Panther　17　would　end　up　the　same　way。　The　Game　and　Fish　files　indicated　that　the　animal　was　a　seven…year…old　male　whose　original　range　stretched　from　Homestead　south　to　Everglades　National　Park；　and　west　all　the　way　to　Card　Sound。　Because　this　area　was　crisscrossed　by　high…speed　roads；　the　rangers　paid　special　attention　to　the　travels　of　Number　17。
　For　months　the　cat　had　seemed　content　to　hunker　in　the　deep　upland　hammocks　of　North　Key　Largo；　which　made　sense；　considering　the　dicey　crossing　to　the　mainland。　But　Sergeant　Dyerson　had　grown　concerned　when；　two　weeks　earlier；　radio　readings　on　Number　17　began　to　show　extraordinary；　almost　unbelievable　movement。　Intermittent　flyovers　had　pinpointed　the　cat　variously　at　Florida　City；　North　Key　Largo；　Homestead；　Naranja　and　South　Miami…although　Sergeant　Dyerson　believed　the　latter　coordinates　were　a　mistake；　probably　a　malfunction　of　the　radio　tracking　unit。　South　Miami　was　simply　an　impossible　destination；　not　only　was　it　well　out　of　the　panther's　range；　but　the　animal　would　have　had　to　travel　at　a　speed　of　sixty…five　miles　an　hour　to　be　there　when　the　telemetry　said　it　was。　Unlike　the　cheetah；　panthers　prefer　loping　to　racing。　The　only　way　Number　17　could　go　that　far；　Sergeant　Dyerson　joked　to　his　pilot；　is　if　it　took　a　bus。
　Even　omitting　South　Miami　from　the　readings；　the　cat's　travels　were　inexplicably　erratic。　The　rangers　were　concerned　at　the　frequency　with　which　Number　17　crossed　Card　Sound　between　Key　Largo　and　the　mainland。　The　only　two　possible　routes…by　water　or　the　long　bridge…were　each　fraught　with　hazards。　It　was　Sergeant　Dyerson's　hope　that　Number　17　chose　to　swim　the　bay　rather　than　risk　the　run　over　the　steep　concrete　span；　where　the　animal　stood　an　excellent　chance　of　getting　creamed　by　a　speeding　car。
　On　July　29；　the　ranger　took　up　the　twin　Piper　to　search　for　the　wandering　panther。　The　homing　signal　didn't　e　to　life　until　the　plane　passed　low　over　a　trailer　park　on　the　outskirts　of　Homestead。　It　was　not　a　safe　place　for　humans；　much　less　wild　animals；　and　the　panther's　presence　worried　Sergeant　Dyerson。　Though　the　tawny　cats　were　seldom　visible　from　the　Piper；　the　ranger　half…expected　to　see　Number　17　limping　down　the　center　lane　of　U。S。　Highway　1。
　Later　that　afternoon；　Sergeant　Dyerson　went　up　again；　this　time　he　marked　the　strongest　signal　in　thick　cover　near　Steamboat　Creek；　on　North　Key　Largo。　The　ranger　couldn't　believe　it…twenty…nine　miles　in　one　day！　This　cat　was　either　manic；　or　chained　to　the　bumper　of　a　Greyhound。
　When　Sergeant　Dyerson　landed　in　Naples；　he　asked　an　electrician　to　double…check　the　antenna　and　receiver　of　the　telemetry　unit。　Every　ponent　tested　perfectly。
　That　night；　the　ranger　phoned　his　supervisor　in　Tallahassee　and　reviewed　the　recent　radio　data　on　Number　17。　The　supervisor　agreed　that　he'd　never　heard　of　a　panther　moving　such　a　great　distance；　so　fast。
　〃Send　me　a　capture　team　as　soon　as　possible；〃　Sergeant　Dyerson　said。　〃I'm　gonna　dart　this　sonofabitch　and　find　out　what's　what。〃
　The　twin　Piper　made　three　dives　over　the　campsite。　Joe　Winder　and　Carrie　Lanier　watched　from　the　bank　of　Steamboat　Creek。
　〃Game　and　Fish；〃　Winder　said；　〃just　what　we　need。〃
　〃What　do　we　do？〃　Carrie　asked。
　〃Follow　the　water。〃
　They　didn't　get　far。　A　tall　uniformed　man　materialized　at　the　edge　of　the　tree　line。　He　carried　an　odd　small…bore　rifle　that　looked　like　a　toy。　When　he　motioned　to　Joe　and　Carrie；　they　obediently　followed　him　through　the　hammock　out　to　the　road。　Molly　McNamara　and　the　two　burglars　already　had　been　rounded　up；　another　ranger；　with　a　clipboard；　was　questioning　them。　There　was　no　sign　of　Skink。
　Sergeant　Mark　Dyerson　introduced　himself　and　asked　to　see　some　identification。　Joe　Winder　and　Carrie　Lanier　showed　him　their　driver's　licenses。　The　ranger　was　copying　down　their　names　when　a　gaunt　old　cracker；　pulled　by　three　lean　hounds；　came　out　of　the　woods。
　〃Any　luck？〃　Sergeant　Dyerson　asked。　
　〃Nope；〃　said　the　tracker。　〃And　I　lost　me　a　dog。〃　
　〃Maybe　the　panther　got　him。〃　
　〃They　ain't　no　panther　out　there。〃　
　〃Hell；　Jackson；　the　radio　don't　lie。〃　The　ranger　turned　back　to　Joe　Winder　and　Carrie　Lanier。　〃And　I　suppose　you're　bird…watchers；　too。　Just　like　Mrs。　McNamara　and　her　friends。〃
　Beautiful；　thought　Winder。　We're　bird…watchers　now。　Playing　along；　Carrie　informed　the　ranger　they　were　following　a　pair　of　nesting　kestrels。
　〃No　kidding？〃　Sergeant　Dyerson　said。　〃I've　never　met　a　birder　who　didn't　carry　binoculars…and　here　I　get　five　of　'em；　all　at　one　time。〃
　〃We're　thinking　of　forming　a　club；〃　said　Carrie。　Joe　Winder　bit　his　lip　and　looked　away。　Molly's　Cadillac　took　off；　eastbound…a　crown　of　white　hair　behind　the　wheel；　the　burglars　slouched　in　the　back　seat。
　〃I'll　give　you　this　much；〃　the　ranger　said；　〃you　sure　don't　look　like　poachers。〃　A　Florida　Highway　Patrol　car　pulled　up　and　parked　beside　Sergeant　Dyerson's　Jeep。　A　muscular　black　trooper　got　out　and　tipped　his　Stetson　at　the　ranger。
　〃Whatcha　know？〃　the　trooper　said　affably。
　〃Tracking　a　panther。　These　folks　got　in　the　way。〃　
　〃A　panther？　You　got　to　be　kidding。〃　
　The　trooper's　laughter　boomed。　〃I've　been　driving　this　stretch　for　three　years　and　never　saw　a　bobcat；　much　less　a　panther。〃
　〃They're　very　secretive；〃　Sergeant　Dyerson　said。　〃You　wouldn't　necessarily　spot　them。〃　He　wasn't　in　the　mood　for　a　nature　lesson。　He　turned　to　the　old　tracker　and　told　him　to　run　the　frigging　dogs　one　more　time。
　〃Ain't　no　point。〃
　〃Humor　me；〃　said　Sergeant　Dyerson。　〃e　on；　let's　go　find　your　other　hound。〃
　Once　the　wildlife　officers　were　gone；　the　trooper's　easygoing　smile　dissolved。　〃You　folks　need　a　lift。〃
　〃No；　thanks；〃　Joe　Winder　said。
　〃It　wasn't　a　question；　friend。〃　The　trooper　opened　the　back　door　of　the　cruiser；　and　motioned　them　inside。
　
　TWENTY…SEVEN
　The　trooper　took　them　to　lunch　at　the　Ocean　Reef　Club。　The　clientele　seemed　ruffled　by　the　sight　of　a　tall　black　man　with　a　sidearm。
　〃You're　making　the　folks　nervous；〃　Joe　Winder　observed。
　〃Must　be　the　uniform。〃
　Carrie　popped　a　shrimp　into　her　mouth。　〃Are　we　under　arrest？〃
　〃I'd　be　doing　all　three　of　us　a　favor；〃　Jim　Tile　said；　〃but　no；　unfortunately；　you're　not　under　arrest。〃
　Winder　was　working　on　a　grouper　sandwich。　Jim　Tile　had　ordered　the　fried　dolphin　and　conch　fritters。　The　dining　room　was　populated　by　rich　Republican　golfers　with　florid　cheeks　and　candy…colored　Izod　shirts。　The　men　shot　anxious　squinty…eyed　glances　toward　the　black　trooper's　table。
　Jim　Tile　motioned　for　iced　tea。　〃I　can't　imagine　why　I've　never　gotten　a　membership　application。　Maybe　it　got　lost　in　the　mail。〃
　〃What's　the　point　of　all　this？〃　Winder　asked。
　〃To　have　a　friendly　chat。〃
　〃About　what？〃
　Jim　Tile　shrugged。　〃Flaming　bulldozers。　Dead　whales。　One…eyed　woodsmen。　You　pick　the　subject。〃
　〃So　we've　got　a　mutual　friend。〃
　〃Yes；　we　do。〃　The　trooper　was　enjoying　the　fish　platter　immensely；　despite　the　stares；　he　seemed　in　no　hurry　to　finish。　He　said；　〃The　plane　scared　him　off；　right？〃
　〃It　doesn't　make　sense；〃　Winder　said。　〃They're　not　after　him；　they're　after　a　cat。　Why　does　he　run？〃
　Jim　Tile　put　down　the　fork　and　wiped　his　mouth。　〃My　own　opinion…he　feels　a　duty　to　hide　because　that's　what　the　panther　would've　done。　He　wears　that　damn　collar　like　a　sacred　obligation。〃
　〃To　the　extreme。〃
　〃Yeah；〃　the　trooper　said。　〃I　don't　expect　they'll　find　that　missing　dog。　You　understand？〃
　Carrie　said；　〃He's　a　very　interesting　person。〃
　〃A　man　to　be　admired　but　not　imitated。〃　Jim　Tile　paused。　〃I　say　that　with　no　disrespect。〃
　Winder　chose　not　to　acknowledge　the　warning。　〃Where　do　you　think　he　went？〃　he　asked　the　trooper。
　〃I'm　not　sure；　but　it's　a　matter　of　concern。〃
　The　manager　of　the　restaurant　appeared　at　the　table。　He　was　a　slender　young　man　with　bleached　hair　and　pointy　shoulders　and　brand　new　teeth。　In　a　chilly　tone　he　asked　Jim　Tile　if　he　were　a　member　of　the　club；　and　the　trooper　said　no；　not　yet。　The　manager　started　to　say　something　else　but　changed　his　mind。　Jim　Tile　requested　a　membership　application；　and　the　manager　said　he'd　be　back　in　a　jiffy。
　〃That's　the　last　we'll　see　of　him；〃　the　trooper　predicted。
　Joe　Winder　wanted　to　learn　more　about　Skink。　He　decided　it　was　safe　to　tell　Jim　Tile　what　the　group　had　been　doing　in　the　hammock　before　the　airplane　came：　〃We　were　hatching　quite　a　plot。〃
　〃I　figured　as　much；〃　the　trooper　said。　〃You　know　much　about　rock　and　roll？〃
　Carrie　pointed　at　Winder　and　said；　〃Hard　core。〃
　〃Good；〃　said　Jim　Tile。　〃Maybe　you　can　tell　me　what's　a　Mojo？　The　other　day　he　was　talking　about　a　Mojo　flying。〃
　〃Rising；〃　Winder　said。　〃Mojo　rising。　It's　a　line　from　The　Doors…I　believe　it's　got　phallic　connotations。〃
　〃No；〃　Carrie　jumped　in。　〃I　think　it's　about　drugs。〃
　The　trooper　looked　exasperated。　〃White　people's　music；　I　swear　to　God。　Sinatra's　all　right；　but　you　can　keep　the　rest　of　it。〃
　〃Shall　we　discuss　rap？〃　Joe　Winder　said　sharply。　〃Shall　we　examine　the　lyrical　genius　of；　say；　2　Live　Crew？〃　He　could　be　very　defensive　when　it　came　to　rock。　Carrie　reached　under　the　table　and　pinched　his　thigh。　She　told　him　to　lighten　up。
　〃Rikers　Island；〃　Jim　Tile　said。　〃Is　there　a　song　about　Rikers　Island？〃
　Winder　couldn't　think　of　one。　〃You　sure　it's　not　Thunder　Island？〃
　〃No。〃　Jim　Tile　shook　his　head　firmly。　〃Our　friend　said　he'd　be　leaving　Florida　one　day。　Go　up　to　Rikers　Island　and　see　to　some　business。〃
　〃But　that's　a　prison；〃　Carrie　said。
　〃Yeah。　A　prison　in　New　York　City。〃
　Joe　Winder　remembered　something　Skink　had　told　him　the　first　day　at　the　campsite。　If　it　was　a　clue；　it　foreshadowed　a　crime　of　undiluted　madness。
　Winder　said；　〃Rikers　is　where　they　keep　that　idiot