mac.thepearlharbormurders-第8部分

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　〃The　only　view　that　amiable　buffoon　is　interested　in　is　the　teahouse　girls；　like　that　one　he　escorted　here；　tonight。　He's　taken　half　the　geishas　in　Honolulu　on　glass…bottom　boat　rides　around　Pearl　Harbor。〃
　〃Sounds　to　me　like　he　makes　a　habit　out　of　socializing　around　battleships。〃
　Fielder　gestured　with　his　cocktail　in　hand；　sighed　smoke。　〃Ed；　a　certain　amount　of　espionage　is　to　be　expected。　How　can　we　keep　the　Japanese　consulate　from　studying　local　newspapers；　and　listening　to　local　radio　broadcasts？　。。。　As　for　the　ships　in　Pearl　Harbor；　all　a　'spy'　has　to　do　is　perch　someplace　and　watch。　It's　legal…we　do　the　same　damn　thing　to　them。〃
　Arching　an　eyebrow；　Burroughs　said；　〃You'll　notice　that　smiling；　sociable　Mr。　Morimura　keeps　bis　distance　from　our　German　friend；　Mr。　Kuhn。〃
　〃Your　point　being；　what？　That　they're　in　league；　helping　each　other　spy？　Those　playboy　clowns？〃
　The　writer　shook　his　head。　〃You　don't　read　enough　pulp　fiction；　Wooch…ever　hear　of　the　Scarlet　Pimpernel；　or　Zorro？〃
　〃Kuhn　and　Morimura　are　harmless　fools…not　that　I　don't　agree　with　you；　Ed；　that　all　this。。。　fraternization　。。。　is　unsettling。〃
　And　with　that　statement；　Wooch　Fielder's　expression　shifted；　or　had　Burroughs　simply　not　noticed　the　anxiety　in　the　man's　narrow　eyes？
　The　colonel　moved　near　Burroughs；　his　manner　more　intimate；　his　tone　a　near　whisper。　〃Ed；　your　son　and　my　son　are　close　。。。　as　close　as　we　are。〃
　〃I'd　say　so。〃
　〃Would　you　ask　Hully　if　he's　heard　anything　about　Bill　and　that。。。　that　little　Japanese　singer？〃
　Burroughs；　who　knew　damn　well　Bill　Fielder　had　been　dating　Pearl　Harada；　said　only；　〃Be　glad　to　check。〃
　'This　morning；　I　had　an　anonymous　call　to　that　effect。　。。。　I　don't　usually　pay　much　heed　to　such　things；　but。。。　Christ；　Ed；　you　don't　think　Bill　could　be　that　foolish；　do　you？〃
　With　General　Short　visible　in　laughing　conversation　with　the　Japanese　vice　consul；　Burroughs　said；　〃Wooch；　she's　a　pretty　girl。　If　you　were　young　and　healthy；　would　you　think　about　politics；　or　that　Hedy　Lamarr　face　and　figure？〃
　Fielder　drew　on　the　cigarette；　nodded；　dropped　the　spent　butt　to　the　grass　and　heeled　it　out。　〃I　think　I'll　peek　in　there　and　see　for　myself。　Bill　and　his　pals　are　in　listening　to　her　band…maybe　it's　time　for　me　to　do　a　little　espionage　work　of　my　own。〃
　Burroughs　put　a　hand　on　his　friend's　shoulder。　〃Don't　be　hard　on　the　boy；　Wooch。　You　were　young　once。　Hell；　even　I　was。〃
　Fielder　nodded；　barely；　and　strode　toward　the　Niu…malu　lodge；　from　which　emanated　the　muffled　sound　of　the　band　playing　〃I'll　Remember　April。〃
　Burroughs；　cup　of　wine　in　hand；　wandered；　stopping　now　and　then　for　conversation。　A　few　guests　were　chatting　in　the　hotel　courtyard…not　a　spacious　area；　particularly　since　the　hub　was　taken　up　by　a　rock…garden；　and　standing　room　was　promised　by　the　yawning　fronds　of　potted　tropical　plants　on　the　periphery。　The　dining　room　was　open　onto　this　rock…garden　courtyard；　and　the　loud；　lively　dance　music　of　Pearl　and　her　Harbor　Lights　limited　conversation；　as　well。
　But　Burroughs　was　amused　to　find　Otto　Kuhn…his　blonde　wife　on　his　arm；　〃playboy〃　or　not…chatting　with　secret　adversary　Adam　Sterling　of　the　FBI。
　Kuhn…even　at　six　foot；　still　towered　over　by　the　strapping；　brown…haired　FBI　agent…had　blue…eyed　bland　good　looks；　dark　blond　hair　and　wore　a　white　linen　suit　with　a　silver　tie。　Elfriede　Kuhn　was　of　medium　height；　with　a　nicely　slender　shape；　and　one　of　the　few　women　present　not　swimming　in　a　muumuu　or　wrapped　up　in　a　kimono…she　wore　a　simple　black　cocktail　dress；　rather　low…cut。　Both　husband　and　wife　were　attractive　individuals　in　their　dissipated　forties。
　The　conversation　was　focused　on　an　uping　battle：　the　annual　Shrine…sponsored　football　game　tomorrow；　in　which　the　University　of　Hawaii　would　meet　Willamette。　The　German　favored　Hawaii；　while　the　FBI　agent…a　Willamette　University　graduate；　it　happened…not　unexpectedly　argued　for　the　out…of…town　team。
　Burroughs；　who　didn't　give　a　damn　either　way…he　was　a　boxing　and　wrestling　fan…stood　on　the　fringes　of　the　conversation；　politely；　then　the　German…his　blue　eyes　languid…changed　the　subject；　drawing　Burroughs　directly　in。
　〃I　feel　my　countrymen　owe　you　an　apology；　Edgar；〃　Kuhn　said；　his　accent　thick；　his　manner　smooth。　〃It　is　something　I　have　long　meant　to　bring　up。〃
　〃Why　an　apology？〃　Burroughs　asked；　already　amused。
　〃Like　so　many　German　men；　when　was　it。。。　ten　years　ago？　I　was　a　devoted　fan　of　your　Tarzan　novels。　What　a　sensation　you　were　in　my　homeland！〃
　Burroughs　sipped　his　wine；　offered　up　a　wry　smile。　〃That　is　true…my　first　German　royalty　check　was　the　largest　single　foreign　payment　I　ever　had。〃
　〃Every　man　and　boy　in　Deutschland　caught　Tarzan　fever；〃　Kuhn　said；　admiringly；　eyes　as　bright　as　any　young　fan　of　the　Jungle　Lord's　adventures。
　Mildly　chagrined；　the　writer　said；　〃Well；　like　most　epidemics；　it　ran　its　course。　Or　I　should　say；　got　cured。〃
　〃What　was　done　to　you　was　most　unfortunate；〃　the　German　said；　shaking　his　head；　〃most　unfair。〃
　Her　pretty　features　pinched　with　sympathy；　Kuhn's　wife　said；　〃Oh；　yes；　how　foolishly　the　press　behaved。〃
　The　FBI　agent；　confused；　said；　〃What　was　done　to　you；　Ed？〃
　〃Well；　it　was　my　own　damn　fault；　or　my　agent's…　after　we　did　so　well　with　the　first　four　Tarzans；　a　rival　publisher　bought　the　rights　to　a　book　my　regular　German　publisher　had　skipped　over…Tarzan　the　Untamed；　a　thing　I　did　during　the　world　war。〃
　Eyebrow　arched；　Kuhn　glanced　at　Steriing。　〃It　was　published　as　Tarzan　der　Deutschenfresser。。。。　It　too　caused　a　sensation。〃
　Sterling　still　appeared　confused；　and　Mrs。　Kuhn　further　translated；　her　manner　as　delicate　as　her　words　were　not：　〃Tarzan　the　German　Devourer。〃
　Now　the　FBI　man　got　it…perhaps；　as　the　Tarzan　fan　he　had　often　professed　to　be；　he　even　recalled　the　plot　of　the　novel：　Tarzan…his　beloved　wife　Jane　apparently　murdered　by　a　German　officer…goes　on　a　blood…lust　rampage　against　the　Hun；　including　setting　loose　a　ravenous　lion　in　the　German　trenches。
　〃You　can't　give　my　stuff　away　there；　now；〃　Burroughs　said；　with　a　laugh。　〃As　Mrs。　Kuhn　said；　the　German　press　lambasted　me…one　article　advised　readers　to　throw　their　Tarzan　books　into　the　garbage　can。〃
　〃Sanctimonious　nonsense；〃　the　German　said。　〃Were　you　expected　to　soft…pedal　your　honest　convictions；　at　the　height　of　a　bitter　war？〃
　〃Well；　I　should　have　seen　it　ing；　and　blocked　publication　in　Germany…it　was　dated　material；　wartime　propaganda；　and　shouldn't　have　been　reprinted；　anywhere。〃
　Sterling　said；　〃I　guess　politics　and　entertainment　don't　mix。　You've　never　regained　your　footing　over　there；　in　all　this　time？〃
　Kuhn　answered　for　Burroughs；　〃Adam；　you　don't　realize　the　extent　of　our　friend's　popularity…the　fever　turned　into　a　furor。。。。〃
　Sterting　frowned。　〃What　does　Hitler　have　to　do　with　it？〃
　Burroughs　laughed；　almost　choking　on　his　wine。　〃Not　'fьhrer；'　Adam…fur…or。〃
　Embarrassed；　the　FBI　man　said；　〃Sorry。〃
　〃An　understandable　confusion；〃　the　German　said　urbanely。　〃After　all；　there　were　public　burnings　of　your　books；　Edgar。〃
　Mrs。　Kuhn　asked　the　writer；　〃Did　your　German　publishers　ever　ask　you　to　offer　an。。。　explanation；　or　apology　to　your　readers？〃
　〃An　open　letter　from　me　was　published；〃　Burroughs　said；　and　Kuhn…aware　of　this…was　nodding。　〃I　didn't　apologize；　exactly。　The　novel　reflected　what　I　thought　and　felt　at　the　time　I　wrote　it。　I　wasn't　about　to　assume　a　spineless　attitude　and　retract　and　apologize　ad　nauseam。〃
　With　a　nod…though　stopping　short　of　clicking　his　heels…Kuhn　said；　〃Well；　please　allow　me　to　offer　an　overdue　apology　myself；　on　behalf　of　the　German　people。〃
　〃Thanks；　Otto…though　I　prefer　royalties　to　apologies。〃
　But　much　later　that　evening；　after　the　last　luau　guests　had　departed　the　Niumalu；　Burroughs…in　his　bungalow；　preparing　for　bed…reflected　on　Tarzan　the　Untamed；　which　since　the　German　uproar　had　been　withheld　from　all　markets。　The　businessman　in　him　was　thinking　that　the　book　was　probably　marketable　again…and；　when　the　war　came；　could　go　back　into　print；　in　America　anyway。　Tarzan　bellowing　the　victory　cry　of　the　bull　ape　as　he　stood　with　his　foot　on　the　chest　of　a　fallen　German　soldier；　whose　neck　he'd　snapped。。。　that　could　prove　to　be　a　crowd…pleaser　again；　before　too　very　long。。。。
　Though　it　was　after　midnight；　Hully　wasn't　home　yet…off　having　a　good　time　with　his　sailor　pals；　no　doubt；　prowling　Hotel　Street。　Burroughs　was　in　his　pa…jama　bottoms…he　liked　to　sleep　shirtless；　in　this　tropical　clime…about　to　shut　off　the　light　and　climb　in　bed　when　a　knock　at　the　door　interrupted　him。　Grumbling；　he　threw　on　a　maroon　rayon　robe　and　went　to　the　door。
　〃Could　I　e　in　for　a　moment？〃　Pearl　Harada　asked；　looking　up　at　him　through　the　screen　door。　The　dark　eyes　in　the　lovely　face　conveyed　urgency；　and　she　seemed　small；　childlike；　gazing　up　from　the　bottom　step　of　the　stoop。
　〃If　you're　looking　for　Hully　。。。〃
　〃No；　Mr。　Burroughs…it's　you　I　want　to　see。〃　She　was　still　wearing　the　low…cut　gown；　but　a　lacy　shawl　was　slung　around　her　shoulders；　and　over　her　dйcolle…tage；　whether　out　of　modesty；　or　because　of　the　cool　night　breeze；　Burroughs　couldn't　say。
　He　opened　the　screen　door；　glanced　around；　wondering　if　allowing　this　young　beauty　into　his　bungalow　was　an　impropriety　he'd　pay　for；　then　he　sighed　and　nodded；　gesturing　her　inside。
　He　suggested　she　sit　on　the　couch；　which　she　did；　and　offered　her　a　soft　drink；　which　she　refused。
　〃I　won't　be　here　long；〃　she　assured　him。　〃I　know　it's　late。。。　and　I　know　this　is　an　imposition。　But　it　really　is　important。〃
　〃All　right；〃　he　said；　pulling　his　typing　chair　over；　sitting　opposite　her。
　〃Has　your　son　spoken　to　you　about　me？〃
　〃No　he　hasn't。〃
　Her　eyes　lowered　to　her　lap；　where　her　hands　were　clasped。　〃Hully's　a　nice　boy…he　probably　will　say　something。　But　I　saw　him　leave　with　Bill。。。　and　I　couldn't　take　the　chance。〃
　〃What　chance？〃
　〃That　he　would　forget　to　ask　you。〃
　〃Ask　me　what？〃
　〃If。。。　if　you　would　arrange　a　meeting　for　me；　with　Bill's　father。〃
　〃Oh；　my。。。。　Young　lady；　please　don't　put　me　in　the　middle　of…〃
　She　sat　forward；　her　eyes　glittering；　the　shawl　slip…ping；　and　he　did　his　best　not　to　look　down　into　the　considerable　cleavage　of　this　girl　who　was　young　enough　to　be　his　d