th.red dragon-第22部分

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　〃Then　it　could　be　one　of　the　standards　in　those　areas；　something　so　basic　the　Tooth　Fairy　knew　Lecter　would　definitely　have　it；〃　Bowman　said。　〃We　need　a　list　of　Lecter's　books。　Do　you　have　one？〃
　〃No。〃　Graham　stared　at　his　shoes。　〃I　could　get　Chilton　。　。　。　Wait。　Rankin　and　Willingham；　when　they　tossed　his　cell；　they　took　Polaroids　so　they　could　get　everything　back　in　place。〃
　〃Would　you　ask　them　to　meet　me　with　the　pictures　of　the　books？〃　Bowman　said；　packing　his　briefcase。
　〃Where？〃
　〃The　Library　of　Congress。〃
　Crawford　checked　with　the　CIA　cryptography　section　one　last　time。　The　puter　at　Langley　was　trying　consistent　and　progressive　number…letter　substitutions　and　a　staggering　variety　of　alphabet　grids。　No　progress。　The　cryptographer　agreed　with　Bowman　that　it　was　probably　a　book　code。
　Crawford　looked　at　his　watch。　〃Will；　we're　left　with　three　choices　and　we've　got　to　decide　right　now。　We　can　pull　Lecter's　message　out　of　the　paper　and　run　nothing。　We　can　substitute　our　messages　in　plain　language；　inviting　the　Tooth　Fairy　to　the　mail　drop。　Or　we　can　let　Lecter's　ad　run　as　is。〃
　〃Are　you　sure　we　can　still　get　Lecter's　message　out　of　the　Tattler？〃
　〃Chester　thinks　the　shop　foreman　would　chisel　it　for　about　five　hundred　dollars。〃
　〃I　hate　to　put　in　a　plain…language　message；　Jack。　Lecter　would　probably　never　hear　from　him　again。〃
　〃Yeah；　but　I'm　leery　of　letting　Lecter's　message　run　without　knowing　what　it　says；〃　Crawford　said。　〃What　could　Lecter　tell　him　that　he　doesn't　know　already？　If　he　found　out　we　have　a　partial　thumbprint　and　his　prints　aren't　on　file　anywhere；　he　could　whittle　his　thumb　and　pull　his　teeth　and　give　us　a　big　gummy　laugh　in　court。〃
　〃The　thumbprint　wasn't　in　the　case　summary　Lecter　saw。　We　better　let　Lecter's　message　run。　At　least　it'll　encourage　the　Tooth　Fairy　to　contact　him　again。〃
　〃What　if　it　encourages　him　to　do　something　besides　write？〃
　〃We'll　feel　sick　for　a　long　time；〃　Graham　said。　〃We　have　to　do　it。〃
　
　#　#　#
　
　Fifteen　minutes　later　in　Chicago　the　Tattler's　big　presses　rolled；　gathering　speed　until　their　thunder　raised　the　dust　in　the　pressroom。　The　FBI　agent　waiting　in　the　smell　of　ink　and　hot　newsprint　took　one　of　the　first　ones。
　The　cover　lines　included　〃Head　Transplant！〃　and　〃Astronomers　Glimpse　God！〃
　The　agent　checked　to　see　that　Lecter's　personal　ad　was　in　place　and　slipped　the　paper　into　an　express　pouch　for　Washington。　He　would　see　that　paper　again　and　remember　his　thumb　smudge　on　the　front　page；　but　it　would　be　years　later；　when　he　took　his　children　through　the　special　exhibits　on　a　tour　of　FBI　headquarters。
　
　
　CHAPTER　15
　
　In　the　hour　before　dawn　Crawford　woke　from　a　deep　sleep。　He　saw　the　room　dark；　felt　his　wife's　ample　bottom　fortably　settled　against　the　small　of　his　back。　He　did　not　know　why　he　had　awakened　until　the　telephone　rang　a　second　time。　He　found　it　with　no　fumbling。
　〃Jack；　this　is　Lloyd　Bowman。　I　solved　the　code。　You　need　to　know　what　it　says　right　now。〃
　〃Okay；　Lloyd。〃　Crawford's　feet　searched　for　his　slippers。
　〃It　says：　Graham　home　Marathon；　Florida。　Save　yourself。　Kill　them　all。〃
　〃Goddammit。　Gotta　go。〃
　〃I　know。〃
　Crawford　went　to　his　den　without　stopping　for　his　robe。　He　called　Florida　twice；　the　airport　once；　then　called　Graham　at　his　hotel。
　〃Will；　Bowman　just　broke　the　code。〃
　〃What　did　it　say？〃
　〃I'll　tell　you　in　a　second。　Now　listen　to　me。　Everything　is　okay。　I've　taken　care　of　it；　so　stay　on　the　phone　when　I　tell　you。〃
　〃Tell　me　now。〃
　〃It's　your　home　address。　Lecter　gave　the　bastard　your　home　address。　Wait；　Will。　Sheriff's　department　has　two　cars　on　the　way　to　Sugarloaf　right　now。　Customs　launch　from　Marathon　is　taking　the　ocean　side。　The　Tooth　Fairy　couldn't　have　done　anything　in　this　short　time。　Hold　on。　You　can　move　faster　with　me　helping　you。　Now；　listen　to　this。
　〃The　deputies　aren't　going　to　scare　Molly。　The　sheriff's　cars　are　just　closing　the　road　to　the　house。　Two　deputies　will　move　up　close　enough　to　watch　the　house。　You　can　call　her　when　she　wakes　up。　I'll　pick　you　up　in　half　an　hour。〃
　〃I　won't　be　here。〃
　〃The　next　plane　in　that　direction　doesn't　go　until　eight。　It'll　be　quicker　to　bring　them　up　here。　My　brother's　house　on　the　Chesapeake　is　available　to　them。　I've　got　a　good　plan；　Will；　wait　and　hear　it。　If　you　don't　like　it　I'll　put　you　on　the　plane　myself。〃
　〃I　need　some　things　from　the　armory。
　〃We'll　get　it　soon　as　I　pick　you　up。〃
　
　#　#　#
　
　Molly　and　Willy　were　among　the　first　off　the　plane　at　National　Airport　in　Washington。　She　spotted　Graham　in　the　crowd；　did　not　smile；　but　turned　to　Willy　and　said　something　as　they　walked　swiftly　ahead　of　the　stream　of　tourists　returning　from　Florida。
　She　looked　Graham　up　and　down　and　came　to　him　with　a　light　kiss。　Her　brown　fingers　were　cold　on　his　cheek。
　Graham　felt　the　boy　watching。　Willy　shook　hands　from　a　full　arm's　length　away。
　Graham　made　a　joke　about　the　weight　of　Molly's　suitcase　as　they　walked　to　the　car。
　〃I'll　carry　it；〃　Willy　said。
　A　brown　Chevrolet　with　Maryland　plates　moved　in　behind　them　as　they　pulled　out　of　the　parking　lot。
　Graham　crossed　the　bridge　at　Mington　and　pointed　out　the　LincoIn　and　Jefferson　memorials　and　the　Washington　Monument　before　heading　east　toward　the　Chesapeake　Bay。　Ten　miles　outside　Washington　the　brown　Chevrolet　pulled　up　beside　them　in　the　inside　lane。　The　driver　looked　across　with　his　hand　to　his　mouth　and　a　voice　from　nowhere　crackled　in　the　car。
　〃Fox　Edward；　you're　clean　as　a　whistle。　Have　a　nice　trip。〃
　Graham　reached　under　the　dash　for　the　concealed　microphone。　〃Roger；　Bobby。　Much　obliged。〃
　The　Chevrolet　dropped　behind　them　and　its　turn　signal　came　on。　〃Just　making　sure　no　press　cars　or　anything　were　following；〃　Graham　said。
　〃I　see；〃　Molly　said。
　They　stopped　in　the　late　afternoon　and　ate　crabs　at　a　roadside　restaurant。　Willy　went　to　look　at　the　lobster　tank。
　〃I　hate　it；　Molly。　I'm　sorry；〃　Graham　said。
　〃Is　he　after　you　now？〃
　〃We've　had　no　reason　to　think　so。　Lecter　just　suggested　it　to　him；　urged　him　to　do　it。〃
　〃It's　a　clammy；　sick　feeling。〃
　〃I　know　it　is。　You　and　Willy　are　safe　at　Crawford's　brother's　house。　Nobody　in　the　world　knows　you're　there　but　me　and　Crawford。〃
　〃I'd　just　as　soon　not　talk　about　Crawford。〃
　〃It's　a　nice　place；　you'll　see。〃
　She　took　a　deep　breath　and　when　she　let　it　out　the　anger　seemed　to　go　with　it；　leaving　her　tired　and　calm。　She　gave　him　a　crooked　smile。　〃Hell；　I　just　got　mad　there　for　a　while。　Do　we　have　to　put　up　with　any　Crawfords？〃
　〃Nope。〃　He　moved　the　cracker　basket　to　take　her　hand。　〃How　much　does　Willy　know？〃
　〃Plenty。　His　buddy　Tommy's　mother　had　a　trash　newspaper　from　the　supermarket　at　their　house。　Tommy　showed　it　to　Willy。　It　had　a　lot　of　stuff　about　you；　apparently　pretty　distorted。　About　Hobbs；　the　place　you　were　after　that；　Lecter；　everything。　It　upset　him。　I　asked　him　if　he　wanted　to　talk　about　it。　He　just　asked　me　if　I　knew　it　all　along。　I　said　yes；　that　you　and　I　talked　about　it　once；　that　you　told　me　everything　before　we　got　married。　I　asked　him　if　he　wanted　me　to　tell　him　about　it；　the　way　it　really　was。　He　said　he'd　ask　you　to　your　face。〃
　〃Damn　good。　Good　for　him。　What　was　it；　the　Tattler？〃
　〃I　don't　know；　I　think　so。〃
　〃Thanks　a　lot；　Freddy。〃　A　swell　of　anger　at　Freddy　Lounds　lifted　him　from　his　seat。　He　washed　his　face　with　cold　water　in　the　rest　room。
　
　#　#　#
　
　Sarah　was　saying　good　night　to　Crawford　in　the　office　when　the　telephone　rang。　She　put　down　her　purse　and　umbrella　to　answer　it。
　〃Special　Agent　Crawford's　office　。　。　。　No；　Mr。　Graham　is　not　in　the　office；　but　let　me　。　　。　　　　　。　Wait；　I'll　be　glad　to　。　。　。　Yes；　he'll　be　in　tomorrow　afternoon；　but　let　me。　。　。〃
　The　tone　of　her　voice　brought　Crawford　around　his　desk。
　She　held　the　receiver　as　though　it　had　died　in　her　hand。　〃He　asked　for　Will　and　said　he　might　call　back　tomorrow　afternoon。　I　tried　to　hold　him。〃
　〃Who？〃
　〃He　said；　'Just　tell　Graham　it's　the　Pilgrim。'　That's　what　Dr。　Lecter　called…〃
　〃The　Tooth　Fairy；〃　Crawford　said。
　
　#　#　#
　
　Graham　went　to　the　grocery　store　while　Molly　and　Willy　unpacked。　He　found　canary　melons　at　the　market　and　a　ripe　cranshaw。　He　parked　across　the　street　from　the　house　and　sat　for　a　few　minutes；　still　gripping　the　wheel。　He　was　ashamed　that　because　of　him　Molly　was　rooted　out　of　the　house　she　loved　and　put　among　strangers。
　Crawford　had　done　his　best。　This　was　no　faceless　federal　safe　house　with　chair　arms　bleached　by　palm　sweat。　It　was　a　pleasant　cottage；　freshly　whitewashed；　with　impatiens　blooming　around　the　steps。　It　was　the　product　of　careful　hands　and　a　sense　of　order。　The　rear　yard　sloped　down　to　the　Chesapeake　Bay　and　there　was　a　swim…　ming　raft。
　Blue…green　television　light　pulsed　behind　the　curtains。　Molly　and　Willy　were　watching　baseball；　Graham　knew。
　Willy's　father　had　been　a　baseball　player；　and　a　good　one。　He　and　Molly　met　on　the　school　bus；　married　in　college。
　They　trooped　around　the　Florida　State　League　while　he　was　in　the　Cardinals'　farm　system。　They　took　Willy　with　them　and　had　a　terrific　time。　Spam　and　spirit。　He　got　a　tryout　with　the　Cardinals　and　hit　safely　in　his　first　two　games。　Then　he　began　to　have　difficulty　swallowing。　The　surgeon　tried　to　get　it　all；　but　it　metastasized　and　ate　him　up。　He　died　five　months　later；　when　Willy　was　six。
　Willy　still　watched　baseball　whenever　he　could。　Molly　watched　baseball　when　she　was　upset。
　Graham　had　no　key。　He　knocked。
　〃I'll　get　it。〃　Willy's　voice。
　〃Wait。〃　Molly's　face　between　the　curtains。　〃All　right。〃
　Willy　opened　the　door。　In　his　fist；　held　close　to　his　leg；　was　a　fish　billy。
　Graham's　eyes　stung　at　the　sight。　The　boy　must　have　brought　it　in　his　suitcase。
　Molly　took　the　bag　from　him。　〃Want　some　coffee？　There's　gin；　but　not　the　kind　you　like。〃
　When　she　was　in　the　kitchen；　Willy　asked　Graham　to　e　outside。
　From　the　back　porch　they　could　see　the　riding　lights　of　boats　anchored　in　the　bay。
　〃Will；　is　there　any　stuff　I　need　to　know　to　see　about　Mom？〃
　〃You're　both　safe　here；　Willy。　Remember　the　car　that　followed　us　from　the　airport　making　sure　nobody　saw　where　we　went？　Nobody　can　find　out　where　you　and　your　mother　are。〃
　〃This　crazy　guy　wants　to　kill　yo