th.red dragon-第39部分

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　〃He'd　have　been　mad　if　you　passed　it　up。〃
　〃That's　what　I　thought。　They're　jerks；　but　they　pay。　What　it　is；　they　tried　to　get　me　to　say　that　I　think　you　deliberately　turned　this　freak　on　to　Freddy；　chumming　with　him　in　that　picture。　I　didn't　say　it。　If　they　print　that　I　did　say　it；　well　that's　bullshit。〃
　Graham　said　nothing　as　she　scanned　his　face。
　〃You　didn't　like　him；　maybe　…　it　doesn't　matter。　But　if　you　thought　this　could　happen；　you　wouldn't　have　missed　the　shot　at　the　Fairy；　right？〃
　〃Yeah；　Wendy；　I'd　have　staked　him　out。〃
　〃Do　you　have　anything　at　all？　I　hear　noise　from　these　people　and　that's　about　it。〃
　〃We　don't　have　much。　A　few　things　from　the　lab　we're　following　up。　It　was　a　clean　job　and　he's　lucky。〃
　〃Are　you？〃
　〃What？〃
　〃Lucky。〃
　〃Off　and　on。〃
　〃Freddy　was　never　lucky。　He　told　me　he'd　clean　up　on　this。　Big　deals　everywhere。〃
　〃He　probably　would　have；　too。〃
　〃Well　look；　Graham；　if　you　ever；　you　know；　feel　like　a　drink；　I've　got　one。〃
　〃Thanks。〃
　〃But　stay　sober　on　the　street。〃
　〃Oh　yes。〃
　Two　policemen　cleared　a　path　for　Wendy　through　the　crowd　of　curiosity…seekers　outside　the　gate。　One　of　the　gawkers　wore　a　printed　T…shirt　reading　〃The　Tooth　Fairy　Is　a　One…Night　Stand。〃　He　whistled　at　Wendy。　The　woman　beside　him　slapped　his　face。
　A　big　policeman　squeezed　into　the　280ZX　beside　Wendy　and　she　pulled　into　the　traffic。　A　second　policeman　followed　in　an　unmarked　car。
　Chicago　smelled　like　a　spent　skyrocket　in　the　hot　afternoon。　Graham　was　lonely；　and　he　knew　why；　funerals　often　make　us　want　sex　…　it's　one　in　the　eye　for　death。
　The　wind　rattled　the　dry　stalks　of　a　funeral　arrangement　near　his　feet。　For　a　hard　second　he　remembered　palm　fronds　rustling　in　the　sea　wind。　He　wanted　very　much　to　go　home；　knowing　that　he　would　not；　could　not；　until　the　Dragon　was　dead。
　
　
　CHAPTER　31
　
　The　projection　room　at　Baeder　Chemical　was　small　…　five　rows　of　folding　chairs　with　an　aisle　in　the　middle。
　Dolarhyde　arrived　late。　He　stood　at　the　back　with　his　arms　folded　while　they　screened　gray　cards；　color　cards；　and　cubes　variously　lighted；　filmed　on　a　variety　of　infrared　emulsions。
　His　presence　disturbed　Dandridge；　the　young　man　in　charge。　Dolarhyde　carried　an　air　of　authority　at　work。　He　was　the　recognized　darkroom　expert　from　the　parent　pany　next　door；　and　he　was　known　to　be　a　perfectionist。
　Dandridge　had　not　consulted　him　in　months；　a　petty　rivalry　that　had　gone　on　since　Gateway　bought　Baeder　Chemical。
　〃Reba；　give　us　the　development　dope　on　sample　。　。　。　eight；〃　Dandridge　said。
　Reba　McClane　sat　at　the　end　of　a　row；　a　clipboard　in　her　lap。　Speaking　in　a　clear　voice；　her　fingers　moving　over　the　clipboard　in　the　semidarkness；　she　outlined　the　mechanics　of　the　development…chemicals；　temperature　and　time；　and　storage　procedures　before　and　after　filming。
　Infrared…sensitive　film　must　be　handled　in　total　darkness。　She　had　done　all　the　dark　room　work；　keeping　the　many　samples　straight　by　touch　code　and　keeping　a　running　record　in　the　dark。　It　was　easy　to　see　her　value　to　Baeder。
　The　screening　ran　through　quitting　time。
　Reba　McClane　kept　her　seat　as　the　others　were　filing　out。　Dolarhyde　approached　her　carefully。　He　spoke　to　her　at　a　distance　while　there　were　others　in　the　room。　He　didn't　want　her　to　feel　watched。
　〃I　thought　you　hadn't　made　it；〃　she　said。
　〃I　had　a　machine　down。　It　made　me　late。〃
　The　lights　were　on。　Her　clean　scalp　glistened　in　the　part　of　her　hair　as　he　stood　over　her。
　〃Did　you　get　to　see　the　1000C　sample？〃
　〃I　did。〃
　〃They　said　it　looked　all　right。　It's　a　lot　easier　to　handle　than　the　1200　series。　Think　it'll　do？〃
　〃It　will。〃
　She　had　her　purse　with　her；　and　a　light　raincoat。　He　stood　back　when　she　came　into　the　aisle　behind　her　searching　cane。　She　didn't　seem　to　expect　any　help。　He　didn't　offer　any。
　Dandridge　stuck　his　head　back　into　the　room。
　〃Reba；　dear；　Marcia　had　to　fly。　Can　you　manage？〃
　Spots　of　color　appeared　in　her　cheeks。　〃I　can　manage　very　well；　thank　you；　Danny。〃
　〃I'd　drop　you；　love；　but　I'm　late　already。　Say；　Mr。　Dolarhyde；　if　it　wouldn't　be　too　much　trouble；　could　you…〃
　〃Danny；　I　have　a　ride　home。〃　She　held　in　her　anger。　The　nuances　of　expression　were　denied　her；　so　she　kept　her　face　relaxed。　She　couldn't　control　her　color；　though。
　Watching　with　his　cold　yellow　eyes；　Dolarhyde　understood　her　anger　perfectly；　he　knew　that　Dandridge's　limp　sympathy　felt　like　spit　on　her　cheek。
　〃I'll　take　you；〃　he　said；　rather　late。
　〃No；　but　thank　you。〃　She　had　thought　he　might　offer　and　had　intended　to　accept。　She　wouldn't　have　anybody　forced　into　it。　Damn　Dandridge；　damn　his　fumbling；　she'd　ride　the　damned　bus；　dammit。　She　had　the　fare　and　she　knew　the　way　and　she　could　go　anywhere　she　fucking　pleased。
　She　stayed　in　the　women's　room　long　enough　for　the　others　to　leave　the　building。　The　janitor　let　her　out。
　She　followed　the　edge　of　a　dividing　strip　across　the　parking　lot　toward　the　bus　stop；　her　raincoat　over　her　shoulders；　tapping　the　edge　with　her　cane　and　feeling　for　the　slight　resistance　of　the　puddles　when　the　cane　swished　through　them。
　Dolarhyde　watched　her　from　his　van。　His　feelings　made　him　uneasy；　they　were　dangerous　in　daylight。
　For　a　moment　under　the　lowering　sun；　windshields；　puddles；　high　steel　wires　splintered　the　sunlight　into　the　glint　of　scissors。
　Her　white　cane　forted　him。　It　swept　the　light　of　scissors；　swept　scissors　away；　and　the　memory　of　her　harinlessness　eased　him。　He　was　starting　the　engine。
　Reba　McClane　heard　the　van　behind　her。　It　was　beside　her　now。
　〃Thank　you　for　inviting　me。〃
　She　nodded；　smiled；　tapped　along。
　〃Ride　with　me。〃
　〃Thanks；　but　I　take　the　bus　all　the　time。〃
　〃Dandridge　is　a　fool。　Ride　with　me　。　。　。　〃　…　what　would　someone　say？　…　〃for　my　pleasure。〃
　She　stopped。　She　heard　him　get　out　of　the　van。
　People　usually　grasped　her　upper　arm；　not　knowing　what　else　to　do。　Blind　people　do　not　like　to　have　their　balance　disturbed　by　a　firm　hold　on　their　triceps。　It　is　as　unpleasant　for　them　as　standing　on　wiggly　scales　to　weigh。　Like　anyone　else；　they　don't　like　to　be　propelled。
　He　didn't　touch　her。　In　a　moment　she　said；　〃It's　better　if　I　take　your　arm。〃
　She　had　wide　experience　of　forearms；　but　his　surprised　her　fingers。　It　was　as　hard　as　an　oak　banister。
　She　could　not　know　the　amount　of　nerve　he　summoned　to　let　her　touch　him。
　The　van　felt　big　and　high。　Surrounded　by　resonances　and　echoes　unlike　those　of　a　car；　she　held　to　the　edges　of　the　bucket　seat　until　Dolarhyde　fastened　her　safety　belt。　The　diagonal　shoulder　belt　pressed　one　of　her　breasts。　She　moved　it　until　it　lay　between　them。
　They　said　little　during　the　drive。　Waiting　at　the　red　lights；　he　could　look　at　her。
　She　lived　in　the　left　side　of　a　duplex　on　a　quiet　street　near　Washington　University。
　〃e　in　and　I'll　give　you　a　drink。〃
　In　his　life；　Dolarhyde　had　been　in　fewer　than　a　dozen　private　homes。　In　the　past　ten　years　he　had　been　in　four；　his　own；　Eileen's　briefly；　the　Leedses'；　and　the　Jacobis'。　Other　people's　houses　were　exotic　to　him。
　She　felt　the　van　rock　as　he　got　out。　Her　door　opened。　It　was　a　long　step　down　from　the　van。　She　bumped　into　him　lightly。　It　was　like　bumping　into　a　tree。　He　was　much　heavier；　more　solid　than　she　would　have　judged　from　his　voice　and　his　footfalls。　Solid　and　light　on　his　feet。　She　had　known　a　Bronco　linebacker　once　in　Denver　who　came　out　to　film　a　United　Way　appeal　with　some　blind　kids。
　Once　inside　her　front　door；　Reba　McClane　stood　her　cane　in　the　corner　and　was　suddenly　free。　She　moved　effortlessly；　turning　on　music；　hanging　up　her　coat。
　Dolarhyde　had　to　reassure　himself　that　she　was　blind。　Being　in　a　home　excited　him。
　〃How　about　a　gin　and　tonic？〃
　〃Tonic　will　be　fine。〃
　〃Would　you　rather　have　juice？〃
　〃Tonic。〃
　〃You're　not　a　drinker；　are　you？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃e　on　in　the　kitchen。〃　She　opened　the　refrigerator。　〃How　about　。　。　。　〃　…　she　made　a　quick　inventory　with　her　hands　…　〃a　piece　of　pie；　then？　Karo　pecan；　it's　dynamite。〃
　〃Fine。〃
　She　took　a　whole　pie　from　the　icebox　and　put　it　on　the　counter。
　Hands　pointing　straight　down；　she　spread　her　fingers　along　the　edge　of　the　pie　tin　until　its　circumference　told　her　that　her　middle　fingers　were　at　nine　and　three　o'clock。　Then　she　touched　her　thumb…tips　together　and　brought　them　down　to　the　surface　of　the　pie　to　locate　its　exact　center。　She　marked　the　center　with　a　toothpick。
　Dolarhyde　tried　to　make　conversation　to　keep　her　from　feeling　his　stare。　〃How　long　have　you　been　at　Baeder？〃　No　S's　in　that　one。
　〃Three　months。　Didn't　you　know？〃
　〃They　tell　me　the　minimum。〃
　She　grinned。　〃You　probably　stepped　on　some　toes　when　you　laid　out　the　darkrooms。　Listen；　the　techs　love　you　for　it。　The　plumbing　works　and　there　are　plenty　of　outlets。　Two…twenty　wherever　you　need　it。〃
　She　put　the　middle　finger　of　her　left　hand　on　the　toothpick；　her　thumb　on　the　edge　of　the　tin　and　cut　him　a　slice　of　pie；　guiding　the　knife　with　her　left　index　finger。
　He　watched　her　handle　the　bright　knife。　Strange　to　look　at　the　front　of　a　woman　as　much　as　he　liked。　How　often　in　pany　can　one　look　where　he　wants　to　look？
　She　made　herself　a　stiff　gin　and　tonic　and　they　went　into　the　living　room。　She　passed　her　hand　over　a　floor　lamp；　felt　no　heat；　switched　it　on。
　Dolarhyde　ate　his　pie　in　three　bites　and　sat　stiffly　on　the　couch；　his　sleek　hair　shining　under　the　lamp；　his　powerful　hands　on　his　knees。　She　put　her　head　back　in　her　chair　and　propped　her　feet　on　an　ottoman。
　〃When　will　they　film　at　the　zoo？〃
　〃Maybe　next　week。〃　He　was　glad　he　had　called　the　zoo　and　offered　the　infrared　film：　Dandridge　might　check。
　〃It's　a　great　zoo。　I　went　with　my　sister　and　my　niece　when　they　came　to　help　me　move　in。　They　have　the　contact　area；　you　know。　I　hugged　this　llama。　It　felt　nice；　but　talk　about　aroma；　boy　。　。　。　I　thought　I　was　being　followed　by　a　llama　until　I　changed　my　shirt。〃　
　This　was　Having　a　Conversation。　He　had　to　say　something　or　leave。　〃How　did　you　e　to　Baeder？〃
　〃They　advertised　at　the　Reiker　Institute　in　Denver　where　I　was　working。　I　was　checking　the　bulletin　board　one　day　and　just　happened　to　e　across　this　job。　Actually；　what　happened；　Baeder　had　to　shape　up　their　employment　practices　to　keep　t