ch.nativetongue-第66部分

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g　Kingdom　of　Thrills。　Perhaps　it　was　the　percussion　of　the　nearby　fireworks　that　disrupted　the　powerful　creature's　peace；　or　perhaps　it　was　the　effect　of　a　long　and　lonely　confinement。　Although　the　trained　seals　and　pelicans　could　be　entertaining；　Dickie　the　Dolphin　probably　would　have　preferred　the　panionship　of　a　female　partner。　And　he　would　have　had　one　if　Francis　X。　Kingsbury　had　not　been　so　cheap。　In　any　event；　the　solitary　dolphin　was　keeping　a　sharp　and　wily　eye　on　the　motion　taking　place　along　the　walkway　above。
　At　the　first　splash；　Dickie　swiftly　sounded；　tracking　a　small　steel　object　to　the　bottom　of　his　tank。　He　never　considered　retrieving　the　item；　as　there　would　be　no　reward　for　his　effort…the　buckets　of　cut　fish　had　been　hauled　away　hours　ago。　So　the　dolphin　disregarded　Pedro　Luz's　gun；　glided　slowly　to　the　surface　and　waited。
　The　second　splash　was　different。
　Pedro　Luz　was　astonished　by　the　strength　of　the　one…eyed　man。　He　took　a　punch　as　well　as　anyone　that　Pedro　Luz　had　ever　assaulted；　plus　he　was　quick。　Every　time　Pedro　Luz　swung　and　missed；　the　bearded　stranger　hit　him　two　or　three　times　in　the　gut。　It　was　starting　to　hurt　immensely。
　Having　lost　his　own　gun；　Pedro　Luz　tried　to　retrieve　the　spare…Joe　Winder's　gun…from　the　pocket　of　his　trousers。　Every　attempt　brought　a　new　flurry　of　punches　from　the　one…eyed　hobo；　so　Pedro　Luz　abandoned　the　plan。　With　a　bellowing　lunge；　he　was　able　to　get　a　grip　on　the　stranger's　collar…an　animal　collar！…and　pull　him　close。　Pedro　Luz　preferred　squeezing　to　boxing；　and　was　confident　he　could　end　the　fight　（and　the　big　freak's　life）　with　a　vigorous　hug。　That's　when　somebody　grabbed　Pedro　Luz's　hair　from　behind；　and　yanked　his　head　back　so　fiercely　that　a　popping　noise　came　from　his　neck。　Next　thing　he　knew；　his　pants　were　off　and　he　was　thrashing　in　the　warm　water。　Above　him　stood　Joe　Winder　and　the　stranger；　peering　over　the　rail。
　Swimming　is　an　exercise　that　depends　more　on　style　than　muscle；　and　Pedro　Luz　was　plainly　a　terrible　swimmer。　The　throbbing　of　his　truncated　leg　added　pain　to　ineptitude　as　he　paddled　the　tank　haplessly　in　search　of　a　ladder。　When　the　massive　dolphin　rolled　beside　him　in　the　dark；　Pedro　Luz　cursed　and　splashed　his　arms　angrily。　He　was　not　the　least　bit　afraid　of　stupid　fish；　perhaps　he　was　deceived　by　the　dolphin's　friendly　smile；　or　misled　by　childhood　memories　of　the　hokey　〃Flipper〃　television　series。　In　any　event；　Pedro　Luz　struck　out　at　the　creature　with　the　misguided　assumption　that　he　could　actually　hurt　it；　and　that　it　was　too　tame　and　good…natured　to　retaliate。　Pedro's　drug…inflamed　brain　failed　to　register　the　fact　that　Dickie　the　Dolphin　was　a　more　attuned　physiological　specimen　than　Pedro　Luz　himself；　and　about　five　hundred　pounds　larger。　When　the　animal　nudged　him　playfully　with　its　snout；　Pedro　Luz　balled　his　fists　and　slugged　its　silky　gray　flank。
　〃Be　careful；〃　Joe　Winder　advised　from　the　walkway；　but　Pedro　Luz　paid　no　attention。　The　damn　fish　would　not　go　away！　Using　its　pectoral　flippers　almost　as　arms；　it　held　Pedro　Luz　in　a　grasp　that　was　gentle　yet　firm。
　Spitting　curses；　he　kicked　the　dolphin　savagely　and　pushed　away。　Stroking　clumsily　for　the　wall　of　the　tank；　he　saw　the　long　sleek　form　rise　beneath　him。　A　fin　found　Pedro　Luz's　armpit　and　spun　him　roughly。　He　came　up　choking；　but　again　the　creature　tugged　him　down。　Once　more　Pedro　Luz　fought　his　way　to　the　top；　and　this　time　Dickie　the　Dolphin　began　to　nip　mischievously…tiny　needle…like　teeth　raking　Pedro's　neck；　his　shoulders；　his　bare　thighs。　Then　the　dolphin　rolled　languidly　on　its　side　and　gave　a　soft　inquisitive　whistle；　the　same　sound　Flipper　used　to　make　at　the　end　of　the　TV　show　when　he　waved　at　the　camera。　Pedro　Luz　tried　not　to　be　afraid；　but　he　couldn't　understand　what　this　dolphin　was　trying　to　say；　or　do。　The　salt　water　stung　his　eyes　and　his　throat；　and　the　stump　of　his　leg　felt　as　if　it　were　on　fire。
　Again　Pedro　Luz　felt　cool　fins　slide　under　his　arms　as　the　dolphin　gradually　steered　him　toward　the　deepest　part　of　the　tank。　The　security　man　tried　to　break　free；　but　it　did　no　good。　Something　else　propelled　him　now…a　formidable　protuberance　that　left　no　doubt　as　to　Dickie　the　Dolphin's　true　purpose。
　Pedro　Luz　was　awestruck　and　mortified。　The　long　pale　thing　loomed　from　the　gray　water　and　touched　him…hooking；　in　fact；　around　his　buttocks。　The　amphibious　prodding　brought　an　unfamiliar　plea　to　Pedro　Luz's　lips：　〃Help！〃
　Watching　events　unfold　in　the　tank　below；　Skink　agreed　it　was　an　extraordinary　scene。
　〃I　told　you；〃　said　Joe　Winder。　〃It's　one　of　Nature's　marvels。〃
　Pedro　Luz　began　to　whimper。　No　regimen　of　weight　training　and　pharmaceutical　enhancement　could　have　prepared　him；　or　any　mortal　man；　for　an　all…out　sexual　attack　by　a　healthy　bottle…nosed　dolphin。　Pedro　Luz　had　never　felt　so　helpless；　exhausted　and　inadequate；　desperately　he　punched　at　the　prodigious　inquiring　tuber；　only　to　be　rebuked　by　a　well…placed　slap　from　Dickie's　sinewy　fluke。
　Leaning　over　the　rail；　Joe　Winder　offered　more　advice：　〃Just　roll　with　it。　Don't　fight　him。〃
　But　the　futility　of　resistance　was　already　clear　to　Pedro　Luz；　who　found　himself…for　the　first　time　in　his　adult　life…pletely　out　of　strength。　As　he　was　pulled　underwater　for　the　final　time；　terror　gave　way　to　abject　humiliation：　he　was　being　fucked　to　death　by　a　damn　fish。
　
　THIRTY…FIVE
　Nina　asked　where　he　was　calling　from。
　〃Charlie's　office；〃　Winder　said。　〃Here's　what　I'm　going　to　do：　I'll　leave　the　phone　off　the　hook　all　night。　That　way　you　can　work　on　your　poetry　and　still　make　money。〃
　〃Joe；　that'll　cost　him　a　fortune。　It's　four　bucks　a　minute。〃
　〃I　know　the　rates；　Nina。　Don't　worry　about　it。〃
　〃You　ready　for　the　latest？〃
　〃Just　one　verse。　Time's　running　out。〃
　〃Here　goes；〃　she　said；　and　began　to　recite：
　
　〃You　flooded　me　with　passions
　Hard　and　lingering。
　You　took　me　down　again
　Pumping　breathless；　biting　blind。
　Hot　in　your　bloodrush；　I　dreamed　of　more。〃
　
　〃Wow；〃　Winder　said。　Obviously　things　were　going　gangbusters　between　Nina　and　the　light…truck　salesman。　
　〃You　really　like　it？　Or　are　you　patronizing　me　again？〃　
　〃Nina；　you're　breaking　new　ground。〃　
　〃Guess　what　the　moron　at　the　phone　syndicate　wants。　Limericks！　Sex　limericks；　like　they　publish　in　Playboy。　That's　his　idea　of　erotic　poetry！〃
　〃Stick　to　your　guns；〃　Winder　said。
　〃You　bet　I　will。〃
　〃The　reason　I　called　was　to　say　good…bye。〃
　〃So　tonight's　the　night；〃　she　said。　〃Will　I　be　seeing　you　on　the　news？〃
　〃I　hope　not。〃　He　thought：　What　the　hell。　〃I　met　a　woman；〃　he　said。
　〃I'm　very　happy　for　you。〃
　〃Aw；　Nina；　don't　say　that。〃
　〃I　am。　I　think　it's　great。〃
　〃Christ　Almighty；　aren't　you　the　least　bit　jealous？〃
　〃Not　really。〃
　God；　she　was　a　pisser。　〃Then　lie　to　me；〃　Winder　said。　〃Have　mercy　on　my　lunatic　soul　and　lie　to　me。　Tell　me　you're　mad　with　jealousy。〃
　〃You　win；　Joe。　You　saw　through　my　act。〃
　〃Was　that　a　giggle　I　heard？〃
　〃No！〃　Nina　said。　The　giggle　burst　into　a　full…blown　laugh。　〃I'm　dying　here。　I　might　just　leap　off　the　building；　I'm　so　damn　jealous。　Who　is　she？　Who　is　this　tramp？〃
　Now　Winder　started　laughing；　too。　〃I'd　better　go；〃　he　said；　〃before　I　say　something　sensible。〃
　〃Call　me；　Joe。　Whatever　happens；　I'd　love　to　get　a　phone　call。〃
　〃I　know　the　number　by　heart；〃　he　said。　〃Me　and　every　pervert　on　the　Gold　Coast。〃
　〃You　go　to　hell；〃　Nina　teased。　〃And　be　careful；　dammit。〃
　He　said　good…bye　and　placed　the　receiver　on　Charles　Chelsea's　desk。
　Skink　mulched　a　cotton　candy　and　said；　〃These　are　excellent　seats。〃
　They　ought　to　be。〃　Joe　Winder　assumed　Francis　X。　Kingsbury　would　arrive　at　any　moment；　it　was　his　private　viewing　box；　after　all…leather　swivel　chairs；　air…conditioning；　video　monitors；　a　wet　bar。　Thirty　rows　up；　overlooking　the　parade　route。
　〃What　will　you　do　when　he　gets　here？〃　Skink　asked。
　〃I　haven't　decided。　Maybe　he'd　like　to　go　swimming　with　Pedro's　new　friend。〃
　The　grandstand　was　packed；　and　Kingsbury　Lane　was　lined　five　deep　with　eager　spectators。　As　the　history　of　Florida　unfolded　in　song　and　skit；　Joe　Winder　imagined　that　the　Stations　of　the　Cross　could　be　similarly　adapted　and　set　to　music；　if　the　audience　would　only　forgive　a　few　minor　revisions。　Every　float　in　the　Summerfest　pageant　was　greeted　with　the　blind　and　witless　glee　displayed　by　people　who　have　spent　way　too　much　money　and　are　determined　to　have　fun。　They　cheered　at　the　sight　of　a　bootless　Ponce　de　Leon；　an　underaged　maiden　on　each　arm；　wading　bawdily　into　the　Fountain　of　Youth；　they　roared　as　the　pirate　Black　Caesar　chased　a　concubine　up　the　mizzenmast　while　his　men　plundered　a　captured　galleon；　they　gasped　as　the　Killer　Hurricane　of　1926　tore　the　roof　off　a　settler's　cabin　and　the　smock　off　his　brave　young　wife。
　Skink　said；　〃I　never　realized　cleavage　played　such　an　important　role　in　Florida　history。〃　Joe　Winder　told　him　to　just　wait　for　the　break…dancing　migrants。
　Carrie　Lanier　gave　a　cassette　of　the　new　music　to　the　driver；　and　took　her　place　on　the　last　float。　The　Talent　Manager　showed　up　and　demanded　to　know　why　she　wasn't　wearing　the　Indian　costume。
　〃That　wasn't　an　Indian　costume；〃　Carrie　said；　〃unless　the　Seminoles　had　streetwalkers。〃
　The　Talent　Manager；　a　middle…aged　woman　with　sweeping　peroxide　hair　and　ropes　of　gold　jewelry；　informed　Carrie　that　a　long　gown　was　unsuitable　for　the　Jubilee　parade。
　〃It's　ideal　for　what　I'm　singing；〃　Carrie　replied。
　〃And　what　would　that　be？〃
　〃That　would　be　none　of　your　business。〃　She　adjusted　the　microphone；　which　was　clipped　into　the　neck　of　her　dress。
　The　Talent　Manager　became　angry。　〃Paul　Revere　and　the　Raiders　isn't　good　enough　for　you？〃
　〃Go　away；〃　said　Carrie。
　〃And　where's　our　lion？〃
　〃The　lion　is　taking　the　night　off。〃
　〃No；　missy；〃　the　Talent　lady　said；　shaking　a　finger。　〃Thousands　of　people　out　there　are　waiting　to　see　Princess　Golden　Sun　ride　a　wild　lion　through　the　Everglades。〃
　〃The　lion　has　a　furball。　Now　get　lost。〃
　〃At　least　put　on　the　wig；〃　the　Talent　lady　pleaded。　〃There's　no　such　thing　as　a　blond　Seminole。　For　the　sake　of　authenticity；　put　on　the　damn　wig！〃
　〃Toodle…loo；〃　said　Carrie。　And　the　float　began　to　roll。
　
　At　first；　Sergeant　Mark　Dyerson　thought　the　telemetry