th.red dragon-第38部分

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　Watching　his　medical　films　in　the　parlor；　pumped　up　from　lifting；　he　stretched　his　jaw　wide　to　hold　in　Grandmother's　teeth。　They　did　not　fit　his　distorted　gums　and　his　jaw　cramped　quickly。
　He　worked　on　his　jaw　in　private　moments；　biting　on　a　hard　rubber　block　until　the　muscles　stood　out　in　his　cheeks　like　walnuts。
　In　the　fall　of　1979；　Francis　Dolarhyde　withdrew　part　of　his　considerable　savings　and　took　a　three…month　leave　of　absence　from　Gateway。　He　went　to　Hong　Kong　and　he　took　with　him　his　grandmother's　teeth。
　When　he　returned；　red…haired　Eileen　and　his　other　fellow　workers　agreed　that　the　vacation　had　done　him　good。　He　was　calm。　They　hardly　noticed　that　he　never　used　the　employees'　locker　room　or　shower　anymore　…　he　had　never　done　that　often　anyway。
　His　grandmother's　teeth　were　back　in　the　glass　beside　her　bed。　His　own　new　ones　were　locked　in　his　desk　upstairs。
　If　Eileen　could　have　seen　him　before　his　mirror；　teeth　in　place；　new　tattoo　brilliant　in　the　harsh　gym　light；　she　would　have　screamed。　Once。
　There　was　time　now；　he　did　not　have　to　hurry　now。　He　had　forever。　It　was　five　months　before　he　selected　the　Jacobis。
　The　Jacobis　were　the　first　to　help　him；　the　first　to　lift　him　into　the　Glory　of　his　Being。　The　Jacobis　were　better　than　anything；　better　than　anything　he　ever　knew。
　Until　the　Leedses。
　And　now；　as　he　grew　in　strength　and　Glory；　there　were　the　Shermans　to　e　and　the　new　intimacy　of　infrared。　Most　promising。
　
　
　CHAPTER　29
　
　Francis　Dolarhyde　had　to　leave　his　own　territory　at　Gateway　Film　Processing　to　get　what　he　needed。
　Dolarhyde　was　production　chief　of　Gateway's　largest　division　…　home…movie　processing　…　but　there　were　four　other　divisions。
　The　recessions　of　the　1970's　cut　deeply　into　home　moviemaking；　and　there　was　increasing　petition　from　home　video　recorders。　Gateway　had　to　diversify。
　The　pany　added　departments　which　transferred　film　to　video…tape；　printed　aerial　survey　maps；　and　offered　custom　services　to　small…format　mercial　filmmakers。
　In　1979　a　plum　fell　to　Gateway。　The　pany　contracted　jointly　with　the　Department　of　Defense　and　the　Department　of　Energy　to　develop　and　test　new　emulsions　for　infrared　photography。
　The　Department　of　Energy　wanted　sensitive　infrared　film　for　its　heat…conservation　studies。　Defense　wanted　it　for　night　reconnaissance。
　Gateway　bought　a　small　pany　next　door；　Baeder　Chemical；　in　late　1979　and　set　up　the　project　there。
　Dolarhyde　walked　across　to　Baeder　on　his　lunch　hour　under　a　scrubbed　blue　sky；　carefully　avoiding　the　reflecting　puddles　on　the　asphalt；　Lounds's　death　had　put　him　in　an　excellent　humor。
　Everyone　at　Baeder　seemed　to　be　out　for　lunch。
　He　found　the　door　he　wanted　at　the　end　of　a　labyrinth　of　halls。　The　sign　beside　the　door　said　〃Infrared　Sensitive　Materials　in　Use。　NO　Safelights；　NO　Smoking；　NO　hot　beverages。〃　The　red　light　was　on　above　the　sign。
　Dolarhyde　pushed　a　button　and；　in　a　moment；　the　light　turned　green。　He　entered　the　light　trap　and　rapped　on　the　inner　door。
　〃e。〃　A　woman's　voice。　Cool；　absolute　darkness。　The　gurgle　of　water；　the　familiar　smell　of　D…76　developer；　and　a　trace　of　perfume。
　〃I'm　Francis　Dolarhyde。　I　came　about　the　dryer。〃　
　〃Oh；　good。　Excuse　me；　my　mouth's　full。　I　was　just　finishing　lunch。〃
　He　heard　papers　wadded　and　dropped　in　a　wastebasket。　
　〃Actually；　Ferguson　wanted　the　dryer；〃　said　the　voice　in　the　dark。
　〃He's　on　vacation；　but　I　know　where　it　goes。　You　have　one　over　at　Gateway？〃
　〃I　have　two。　One　is　larger。　He　didn't　say　how　much　room　he　has。〃　Dolarhyde　had　seen　a　memo　about　the　dryer　problem　weeks　ago。
　〃I'll　show　you；　if　you　don't　mind　a　short　wait。〃
　〃All　right。〃
　〃Put　your　back　against　the　door〃　…　her　voice　took　on　a　touch　of　the　lecturer's　practiced　tone　…　〃e　forward　three　steps；　until　you　feel　the　tile　under　your　feet；　and　there'll　be　a　stool　just　to　your　left。〃
　He　found　it。　He　was　closer　to　her　now。　He　could　hear　the　rustle　of　her　lab　apron。
　〃Thanks　for　ing　down；〃　she　said。　Her　voice　was　clear；　with　a　faint　ring　of　iron　in　it。　〃You're　head　of　processing　over　in　the　big　building；　right？〃
　〃Um…humm。〃
　〃The　same　'Mr。　D。'　who　sends　the　rockets　when　the　requisitions　are　filed　wrong？〃
　〃The　very　one。〃　
　〃I'm　Reba　McClane。　Hope　there's　nothing　wrong　over　here。〃　
　〃Not　my　project　anymore。　I　just　planned　the　darkroom　construction　when　we　bought　this　place。　I　haven't　been　over　here　in　six　months。〃　A　long　speech　for　him；　easier　in　the　dark。
　〃Just　a　minute　more　and　we'll　get　you　some　light。　Do　you　need　a　tape　measure？〃
　〃I　have　one。〃　Dolarhyde　found　it　rather　pleasant；　talking　to　the　woman　in　the　dark。　He　heard　the　rattle　of　a　purse　being　rummaged；　the　click　of　a　pact。
　He　was　sorry　when　the　timer　rang。
　〃There　we　go。　I'll　put　this　stuff　in　the　Black　Hole；〃　she　said。
　He　felt　a　breath　of　cold　air；　heard　a　cabinet　close　on　rubber　seals　and　the　hiss　of　a　vacuum　lock。　A　puff　of　air；　and　fragrance　touched　him　as　she　passed。
　Dolarhyde　pressed　his　knuckle　under　his　nose；　put　on　his　thoughtful　expression　and　waited　for　the　light。
　The　lights　came　on。　She　stood　by　the　door　smiling　in　his　approximate　direction。　Her　eyes　made　small　random　movements　behind　the　closed　lids。
　He　saw　her　white　cane　propped　in　the　corner。　He　took　his　hand　away　from　his　face　and　smiled。
　〃Do　you　think　I　could　have　a　plum？〃　he　said。　There　were　several　on　the　counter　where　she　had　been　sitting。
　〃Sure；　they're　really　good。〃
　Reba　McClane　was　about　thirty；　with　a　handsome　prairie　face　shaped　by　good　bones　and　resolution。　She　had　a　small　star…shaped　scar　on　the　bridge　of　her　nose。　Her　hair　was　a　mixture　of　wheat　and　red…gold；　cut　in　a　pageboy　that　looked　slightly　out…of…date；　and　her　face　and　hands　were　pleasantly　freckled　by　the　sun。　Against　the　tile　and　stainless　steel　of　the　darkroom　she　was　as　bright　as　Fall。
　He　was　free　to　look　at　her。　His　gaze　could　move　over　her　as　freely　as　the　air。　She　had　no　way　to　parry　eyes。
　Dolarhyde　often　felt　warm　spots；　stinging　spots　on　his　skin　when　he　talked　to　a　woman。　They　moved　over　him　to　wherever　he　thought　the　woman　was　looking。　Even　when　a　woman　looked　away　from　him；　he　suspected　that　she　saw　his　reflection。　He　was　always　aware　of　reflective　surfaces；　knew　the　angles　of　reflection　as　a　pool　shark　knows　the　banks。
　His　skin　now　was　cool。　Hers　was　freckled；　pearly　on　her　throat　and　the　insides　of　her　wrists。
　〃I'll　show　you　the　room　where　he　wants　to　put　it；〃　she　said。　〃We　can　get　the　measuring　done。〃
　They　measured。
　〃Now；　I　want　to　ask　a　favor；〃　Dolarhyde　said。
　〃Okay。〃
　〃I　need　some　infrared　movie　film。　Hot　film；　sensitive　up　around　one　thousand　nanometers；〃
　〃You'll　have　to　keep　it　in　the　freezer　and　put　it　back　in　the　cold　after　you　shoot。〃
　〃I　know。〃
　〃Could　you　give　me　an　idea　of　the　conditions；　maybe　I…〃
　〃Shooting　at　maybe　eight　feet；　with　a　pair　of　Wratten　filters　over　the　lights。〃　It　sounded　too　much　like　a　surveillance　rig。　〃At　the　zoo；〃　he　said。　〃In　the　World　of　Darkness。　They　want　to　photograph　the　nocturnal　animals。〃
　〃They　must　really　be　spooky　if　you　can't　use　mercial　infra…red。〃
　〃Ummm…hmmmm。〃
　〃I'm　sure　we　can　fix　you　up。　One　thing；　though。　You　know　a　lot　of　our　stuff　is　under　the　DD　contract。　Anything　that　goes　out　of　here；　you　have　to　sign　for。〃
　〃Right。〃
　〃When　do　you　need　it？〃
　〃About　the　twentieth。　No　later。〃
　〃I　don't　have　to　tell　you　…　the　more　sensitive　it　is；　the　meaner　it　is　to　handle。　You　get　into　coolers；　dry　ice；　all　that。　They're　screening　some　samples　about　four　o'clock；　if　you　want　to　look。　You　can　pick　the　tamest　emulsion　that'll　do　what　you　want。〃
　〃I'll　e。〃
　Reba　McClane　counted　her　plums　after　Dolarhyde　left。　He　had　taken　one。
　Strange　man；　Mr。　Dolarhyde。　There　had　been　no　awkward　pause　of　sympathy　and　concern　in　his　voice　when　she　turned　on　the　lights。　Maybe　he　already　knew　she　was　blind。　Better　yet；　maybe　he　didn't　give　a　damn。
　That　would　be　refreshing。
　
　
　CHAPTER　30
　
　In　Chicago；　Freddy　Lounds's　funeral　was　under　way。　The　National　Tattler　paid　for　the　elaborate　service；　rushing　the　arrangements　so　that　it　could　be　held　on　Thursday；　the　day　after　his　death。　Then　the　pictures　would　be　available　for　the　Tattler　edition　published　Thursday　night。
　The　funeral　was　long　in　the　chapel　and　it　was　long　at　the　grave…side。
　A　radio　evangelist　went　on　and　on　in　fulsome　eulogy。　Graham　rode　the　greasy　swells　of　his　hangover　and　tried　to　study　the　crowd。
　The　hired　choir　at　graveside　gave　full　measure　for　the　money　while　the　Tattler　photographers'　motor…driven　cameras　whizzed。　Two　TV　crews　were　present　with　fixed　cameras　and　creepy…peepies。　Police　photographers　with　press　credentials　photographed　the　crowd。
　Graham　recognized　several　plainclothes　officers　from　Chicago　Homicide。　Theirs　were　the　only　faces　that　meant　anything　to　him。
　And　there　was　Wendy　of　Wendy　City；　Lounds's　girlfriend。　She　was　seated　beneath　the　canopy；　nearest　the　coffin。　Graham　hardly　recognized　her。　Her　blonde　wig　was　drawn　back　in　a　bun　and　she　wore　a　black　tailored　suit。
　During　the　last　hymn　she　rose；　went　forward　unsteadily；　knelt　and　laid　her　head　on　the　casket；　her　arms　outstretched　in　the　pall　of　chrysanthemums　as　the　strobe　lights　flashed。
　The　crowd　made　little　noise　moving　over　the　spongy　grass　to　the　cemetery　gates。
　Graham　walked　beside　Wendy。　A　crowd　of　the　uninvited　stared　at　them　through　the　bars　of　the　high　iron　fence。
　〃Are　you　all　right？〃　Graham　asked。
　They　stopped　among　the　tombstones。　Her　eyes　were　dry；　her　gaze　level。
　〃Better　than　you；〃　she　said。　〃Got　drunk；　didn't　you？〃
　〃Yep。　Is　somebody　keeping　an　eye　on　you？〃
　〃The　precinct　sent　some　people　over。　They've　got　plainclothes　in　the　club。　Lot　of　business　now。　More　weirdos　than　usual。〃
　〃I'm　sorry　you　had　this。　You　did　。　。　。　I　thought　you　were　fine　at　the　hospital。　I　admired　that。〃
　She　nodded。　〃Freddy　was　a　sport。　He　shouldn't　have　to　go　out　that　hard。　Thanks　for　getting　me　in　the　room。〃　She　looked　into　the　distance；　blinking；　thinking；　eye　shadow　like　stone　dust　on　her　lids。　She　faced　Graham。　〃Look；　the　Tattler's　giving　me　some　money；　you　figured　that；　right？　For　an　interview　and　the　dive　at　the　grave…side。　I　don't　think　Freddy　would　mind。〃
　〃He'd　have　been　mad　if　you