ch.nativetongue-第58部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　Panic　at　Disney　World！　Winder　thought。　Kingsbury　will　e　in　his　pants。
　〃Nobody　was　hurt；〃　Jim　Tile　said；　〃which　leads　me　to　believe　it　was　you…know…who。〃　He　pried　the　plastic　cap　off　his　milkshake　and　spooned　out　the　ice　cream。　〃Eight　rounds　into　a　speeding　bus　and　nobody　even　gets　nicked。　That's　one　hell　of　a　decent　shot。〃
　Carrie　said；　〃I'm　assuming　they　didn't　catch　the　culprit。〃
　〃Vanished　without　a　trace；〃　said　the　trooper。　〃If　it's　him；　they'll　never　even　find　a　footprint。　He　knows　that　area　of　the　state　very　well。〃
　Winder　said　it　was　a　long　way　to　go　for　a　man　with　two　fresh　gunshot　wounds。
　Jim　Tile　shrugged。　〃I　called　Game　and　Fish。　The　panther　plane　hasn't　picked　up　the　radio　signal　for　days。〃
　〃So　he's　really　gone；〃　Carrie　said。
　〃Or　hiding　in　a　bomb　shelter。〃
　〃Joe　thinks　we　should　go　ahead　and　make　a　move。　He's　got　a　plan　all　worked　out。〃
　Jim　Tile　raised　a　hand。　〃Don't　tell　me；　please。　I　don't　want　to　hear　it。〃
　〃Fair　enough；〃　Winder　said；　〃but　I've　got　to　ask　a　small　favor。〃
　〃The　answer　is　no。〃
　〃But　it's　nothing　illegal。〃
　The　trooper　used　the　corner　of　a　paper　napkin　to　polish　the　lenses　of　his　sunglasses。　〃This　falls　into　the　general　category　of　pressing　your　luck。　Just　because　the　governor　gets　away；　don't　think　it's　easy。　Or　even　right。〃
　〃Please；〃　said　Carrie；　〃just　listen。〃
　〃What　is　it　you　want　me　to　do？〃
　〃Your　job；〃　Joe　Winder　replied。　That's　all。〃
　
　Later；　in　the　rental　boat；　Joe　Winder　said　he　almost　felt　sorry　for　Charles　Chelsea。　〃Getting　your　sports　celebrity　shot　with　the　press　watching；　that's　tough。〃
　Carrie　Lanier　agreed　that　Chelsea　was　earning　his　salary。　She　was　at　the　helm　of　the　outboard；　expertly　steering　a　course　toward　the　ocean　shore　of　North　Key　Largo。　A　young　man　named　Oscar　sat　shirtless　on　the　bow；　dangling　his　brown　legs　and　drinking　a　root　beer。
　Carrie　told　Joe　he　had　some　strange　friends。
　〃Oscar　thinks　he　owes　me　a　favor；　that's　all。　Years　ago　I　left　his　name　out　of　a　newspaper　article　and　it　wound　up　saving　his　life。〃
　Carrie　looked；　doubtful；　but　said　nothing。　Her　hair　was　tied　back　in　a　ponytail。　She　wore　amber　sunglasses　with　green　Day…Glo　frames　and　a　silver　one…piece　bathing　suit。　Oscar　didn't　stare；　not　even　once。　His　mind　was　on　business；　and　the　soccer　game　he　was　missing　on　television。　Most　Thursdays　he　was　on　his　way　to　Belize；　only　this　morning　there'd　been　a　minor　problem　with　Customs；　and　the　flight　was　canceled。　When　Joe　Winder　called　him　at　the　warehouse；　Oscar　felt　honor…bound　to　lend　a　hand。
　〃He　thinks　I　cut　him　a　break；〃　Winder　whispered　to　Carrie；　〃but　the　fact　is；　I　did　use　his　name　in　the　story。　It　just　got　edited　out　for　lack　of　space。〃
　〃What　was　the　article　about？〃
　〃Gunrunning。〃
　From　the　bow；　Oscar　turned　and　signaled　that　they　were　close　enough　now。　Kneeling　on　the　deck；　he　opened　a　canvas　duffel　and　began　to　arrange　odd　steel　parts　on　a　chamois　cloth。　The　first　piece　that　Carrie　saw　was　a　long　gray　tube。
　〃Oscar's　from　Colombia；〃　Joe　Winder　explained。　〃His　brother's　in　the　M…19。　They're　leftist　rebels。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Professor　Kissinger。〃　Carrie　smeared　the　bridge　of　her　nose　with　mauve…colored　zinc　oxide。　It　was　clear　from　her　attitude　that　she　had　reservations　about　this　phase　of　the　plan。
　She　said；　〃What　makes　you　think　Kingsbury　needs　another　warning？　I　mean；　he's　got　the　mob　after　him；　Joe。　Why　should　he　care　about　a　couple　of　John　Deeres？〃
　〃He's　a　developer。　He〃ll　care。〃　Winder　leaned　back　and　squinted　at　the　sun。　〃Keep　the　pressure　on；　that's　the　key。〃
　Carrie　admired　the　swiftness　with　which　Oscar　went　about　his　task。　She　said　to　Winder：　〃Tell　me　again　what　they　call　that。〃
　〃An　RPG。　Rocket…propelled　grenade。〃
　〃And　you're　positive　no　one's　going　to　get　hurt？〃
　〃It's　lunch　hour；　Carrie。　You　heard　the　whistle。〃　He　took　out　a　pair　of　waterproof　Zeiss　binoculars　and　scanned　the　shoreline　until　he　found　the　stand　of　pigeon　plums　that　Molly　McNamara　had　told　him　about。　The　dreaded　bulldozers　had　multiplied　from　two　to　five；　they　were　parked　in　a　semicircle；　poised　for　the　mission　against　the　plum　trees。
　〃Everybody's　on　their　break；〃　Winder　reported。　〃Even　the　deputies。〃　At　the　other　end　of　the　boat；　Oscar　assembled　the　grenade　launcher　in　well…practiced　silence。
　Carrie　cut　the　twin　Evinrudes　and　let　the　currents　nudge　the　boat　over　the　grassy　shallows。　She　took　the　field　glasses　and　tried　to　spot　the　bird　nest　that　Molly　had　mentioned。　She　couldn't　see　anything；　the　hardwoods　were　so　dense。
　〃I'm　not　sure　I　understand　the　significance　of　this　gesture；〃　she　said。　〃Mockingbirds　aren't　exactly　endangered。〃
　〃These　ones　are。〃　Winder　peeled　off　his　T…shirt　and　tied　it　around　his　forehead　like　a　bandanna。　The　air　stuck　to　his　chest　like　a　hot　rag；　the　temperature　on　the　water　was　ninety…four　degrees；　and　no　breeze。　〃You　don't　approve；〃　he　said　to　Carrie。　〃I　can　tell。〃
　〃What　bothers　me　is　the　lack　of　imagination；　Joe。　You　could　be　blowing　up　bulldozers　the　rest　of　your　life。〃
　The　words　stung；　but　she　was　right。　Clever　this　was　not；　merely　loud。　〃I'm　sorry；〃　he　said；　〃but　there　wasn't　time　to　e　up　with　something　more　creative。　The　old　lady　said　they　were　taking　out　the　plum　trees　this　afternoon；　and　it　looks　like　she　was　right。〃
　Oscar　gave　the　okay　sign　from　the　bow。　The　boat　had　drifted　close　enough　so　they　could　hear　the　voices　and　lunchtime　banter　of　the　Falcon　Trace　construction　crew。
　〃Which　dozer　you　want？〃　Oscar　inquired；　raising　the　weapon　to　his　shoulder。
　〃Take　your　pick。〃
　〃Joe；　wait！〃　Carrie　handed　him　the　binoculars。　〃Over　there；　check　it　out。〃
　Winder　beamed　when　he　spotted　it。　〃Looks　like　they're　pouring　the　slab　for　the　clubhouse。〃
　〃That's　a　large　cement　mixer；〃　Carrie　noted。
　〃Sure　is。　A　very　large　cement　mixer。〃　Joe　Winder　snapped　his　fingers　and　motioned　to　Oscar。　Spying　the　new　target；　the　young　Colombian　smiled　broadly　and　readjusted　his　aim。
　In　a　low　voice　Carrie　said；　〃I　take　it　he's　done　this　sort　of　thing　before。〃
　〃I　believe　so；　yes。〃
　Oscar　grunted　something　in　Spanish；　then　pulled　the　trigger。　The　RPG　took　out　the　cement　truck　quite　nicely。　An　orange　gout　of　flame　shot　forty　feet　into　the　sky；　and　warm　gray　gobs　of　cement　rained　down　on　the　construction　workers　as　they　sprinted　for　their　cars。
　〃See；〃　Carrie　said。　〃A　little　variety's　always　nice。〃
　Joe　Winder　savored　the　smoky　scent　of　chaos　and　wondered　what　his　father　would　have　thought。　We　all　shine　on。
　
　That　night　Carrie　banished　him　from　the　bedroom　while　she　practiced　her　songs　for　the　Jubilee。　At　first　he　listened　in　dreamy　amazement　at　the　door；　her　voice　was　crystalline；　delicate；　soothing。　After　a　while　Bud　Schwartz　and　Danny　Pogue　joined　him　in　the　hallway；　and　Carrie's　singing　seemed　to　soften　their　rough　convict　features。　Danny　Pogue　lowered　his　eyes　and　began　to　hum　along；　Bud　Schwartz　lay　on　the　wooden　floor　with　hands　behind　his　head　and　gazed　at　the　high　pine　beams。　Molly　McNamara　even　unlocked　the　door　to　the　adjoining　bedroom　so　that　Agent　Billy　Hawkins；　gagged　but　alert；　could　enjoy　the　beautiful　musical　interlude。
　Eventually　Joe　Winder　excused　himself　and　slipped　downstairs　to　make　a　call。　He　went　through　three　telephone　temptresses　before　they　switched　him　to　Nina's　line。
　〃I'm　glad　it's　you；〃　she　said。　〃There's　something　you've　got　to　hear。〃
　〃I'm　honestly　not　in　the　mood…〃　
　〃This　is　different；　Joe。　It　took　three　nights　to　write。〃　
　What　could　he　possibly　say？　〃Go　ahead；　Nina。〃　
　〃Ready？〃　She　was　so　excited。　He　heard　the　rustle　of　paper。　Then　she　took　a　breath　and　began　to　read
　
　〃Your　hands　find　me　in　the　night；　burrow　for　my　warmth。
　Lift　me；　turn　me；　move　me　apart。
　The　language　of　blind　insistence；
　You　speak　with　a　slow　tongue　on　my　belly；
　An　eyelash　fluttering　against　my　nipple。
　This　is　the　moment　of　raw　cries　and　murmurs　when
　Nothing　matters　in　the　vacuum　of　passion
　But　passion　itself。〃
　
　He　wasn't　sure　if　she　had　finished。　It　sounded　like　a　big　ending；　but　he　wasn't　sure。
　〃Nina？〃
　〃What　do　you　think？〃
　〃It's。。。vivid。〃
　〃Poetry。　A　brand…new　concept　in　phone　sex。〃
　〃Interesting。〃　God；　she's　making　a　career　of　this。
　〃Did　it　arouse　you？〃
　〃Definitely；〃　he　said。　〃My　loins　surge　in　wild　tumescence　inside　my　jeans。〃
　〃Stop　it；　Joe！〃
　〃I'm　sorry。　Really　it's　quite　good。〃　And　maybe　it　was。　He　knew　next　to　nothing　about　poetry。
　〃I　wanted　to　try　something　different；〃　Nina　said；　〃something　literate。　A　few　of　the　girls　plained…Miriam；　of　course。　She's　more　fortable　with　the　old　sucky…fucky。〃
　〃Well；〃　Winder　said；　〃it's　all　in　the　reading。〃
　〃My　editor　wants　to　see　more。〃
　〃You　have　an　editor？〃
　〃For　the　syndication　deal；　Joe。　What'd　you　think　of　the　last　part？　Nothing　matters　in　the　vacuum　of　passion　but　passion　itself。〃
　He　said；　〃　'Abyss'　is　better　than　'vacuum。'　〃
　The　abyss　of　passion！　You're　right；　Joe；　that's　much　better。〃
　〃It's　a　long　way　from　dry…humping　on　the　Amtrak。〃
　Nina　laughed。　He　had　almost　forgotten　how　wonderful　it　sounded。
　〃So　how　was　your　hot　date　with　The　Voice？〃
　〃It　was　very　enjoyable。　He's　an　exceptional　man。〃
　〃What　does　he　do？〃
　Without　skipping　a　beat：　〃He　markets　General　Motors　products。〃
　〃Cars？　He　sells　cars！　That　is　exceptional。〃
　Nina　said；　〃I　don't　want　to　talk　about　this。〃
　〃Buicks？　Pontiacs？　Oldsmobiles？　Or　perhaps　all　three？〃
　〃He　is　a　surprisingly　cultured　man；〃　Nina　said。　〃An　educated　man。　And　it's　Chevrolets；　for　your　information。　The　light…truck　division。〃
　〃Boy。〃　Winder　felt　exhausted。　First　the　poetry；　now　this。　〃Nina；　I've　got　to　ask。　Does　the　face　match　the　voice？〃
　〃There's　nothing　wrong　with　the　way　he　looks。〃
　〃Say　no　more。〃
　〃You　can　be　such　a　prick；〃　she　observed。
　〃You're　right。　I'm　sorry…again。〃
　〃He　wants　to　marry　me。〃
　〃Showing　excellent　taste；〃　Winder　said。　〃He'd　be　nuts　if　he　didn't。〃
　There　was　a　brief　pause；　then　Nina　asked：　〃Are　you　the　one　who　shot　the　golfer？〃
　〃Nope。　But　I　don't　blame　you　for　wondering。〃
　〃Please　don't　kill　anybody；　Joe。　I　know　how　strongly　you　feel　about　these　issues；　but　please　don't　murder　anyone。〃
　〃I'll　try　not　to。〃
　〃Better　sign　off；〃　she　said。　〃I'm　tying　up　the　phone。〃
　〃Hey；　I'm　a　paying　customer。〃
　〃You　really　liked　the　poem？〃
　〃It　was　ter