th.red dragon-第42部分

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　He　wanted　to　tell　Reba　McClane　something。　He　wished　she　had　one　inkling　of　what　she　had　almost　done。　He　wished　she　had　one　flash　of　his　Glory。　But　she　could　not　have　that　and　live。　She　must　live：　he　had　been　seen　with　her　and　she　was　too　close　to　home。
　He　had　tried　to　share　with　Lecter；　and　Lecter　had　betrayed　him。　Still；　he　would　like　to　share。　He　would　like　to　share　with　her　a　little；　in　a　way　she　could　survive。
　
　
　CHAPTER　34
　
　〃I　know　it's　political；　you　know　it's　political；　but　it's　pretty　much　what　you're　doing　anyway；〃　Crawford　told　Graham。　They　were　walking　down　the　State　Street　Mall　toward　the　federal　office　building　in　the　late　afternoon。　〃Do　what　you're　doing；　just　write　out　the　parallels　and　I'll　do　the　rest。〃
　The　Chicago　police　department　had　asked　the　FBI's　Behavioral　Science　section　for　a　detailed　victim　profile。　Police　officials　said　they　would　use　it　in　planning　disposition　of　extra　patrols　during　the　period　of　the　full　moon。
　〃Covering　their　ass　is　what　they're　doing；〃　Crawford　said；　waving　his　bag　of　Tater　Tots。　〃The　victims　have　been　affluent　people；　they　need　to　stack　the　patrols　in　affluent　neighborhoods。　They　know　there'll　be　a　squawk　about　that　…　the　ward　bosses　have　been　fighting　over　the　extra　manpower　ever　since　Freddy　lit　off。　If　they　patrol　the　upper…middle…class　neighborhoods　and　he　hits　the　South　Side；　God　help　the　city　fathers。　But　if　it　happens；　they　can　point　at　the　damned　feds。　I　can　hear　it　now　…　'They　told　us　to　do　it　that　way。　That's　what　they　said　do。〃'
　〃I　don't　think　he's　any　more　likely　to　hit　Chicago　than　anywhere　else；〃　Graham　said。　〃There's　no　reason　to　think　so。　It's　a　jerkoff。　Why　can't　Bloom　do　the　profile？　He's　a　consultant　to　Behavioral　Science。〃
　〃They　don't　want　it　from　Bloom；　they　want　it　from　us。　It　wouldn't　do　them　any　good　to　blame　Bloom。　Besides；　he's　still　in　the　hospital。　I'm　instructed　to　do　this。　Somebody　on　the　Hill　has　been　on　the　phone　with　Justice。　Above　says　do　it。　Will　you　just　do　it？〃
　〃I'll　do　it。　It's　what　I'm　doing　anyway。〃
　〃That's　what　I　know；〃　Crawford　said。　〃Just　keep　doing　it。〃　
　〃I'd　rather　go　back　to　Birmingham。〃
　〃No；〃　Crawford　said。　〃Stay　with　me　on　this。〃
　The　last　of　Friday　burned　down　the　west。
　Ten　days　to　go。
　
　
　CHAPTER　35
　
　〃Ready　to　tell　me　what　kind　of　an　'outing'　this　is？〃　Reba　McClane　asked　Dolarhyde　on　Saturday　morning　when　they　had　ridden　in　silence　for　ten　minutes。　She　hoped　it　was　a　picnic。
　The　van　stopped。　She　heard　Dolarhyde　roll　down　his　window。
　〃Dolarhyde；〃　he　said。　〃Dr　Warfield　left　my　name。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。　Would　you　put　this　under　your　wiper　when　you　leave　the　vehicle？〃
　They　moved　forward　slowly。　Reba　felt　a　gentle　curve　in　the　road。　Strange　and　heavy　odors　on　the　wind。　An　elephant　trumpeted。
　〃The　zoo；〃　she　said。　〃Terrific。〃　She　would　have　preferred　a　picnic。　What　the　hell；　this　was　okay。　〃Who's　Dr。　Warfield？〃
　〃The　zoo　director。〃
　〃Is　he　a　friend　of　yours？〃
　〃No。　We　did　the　zoo　a　favor　with　the　film。　They're　paying　back。〃
　〃How？〃
　〃You　get　to　touch　the　tiger。〃
　〃Don't　surprise　me　too　much！〃
　〃Did　you　ever　look　at　a　tiger？〃
　She　was　glad　he　could　ask　the　question。　〃No。　I　remember　a　puma　when　I　was　little。　That's　all　they　had　at　the　zoo　in　Red　Deer。　I　think　we　better　talk　about　this。〃
　〃They're　working　on　the　tiger's　tooth。　They　have　to　put　him　to　sleep。　If　you　want　to；　you　can　touch　him。〃
　〃Will　there　be　a　crowd；　people　waiting？〃
　〃No。　No　audience。　Warfield；　me；　a　couple　of　people。　TV's　ing　in　after　we　leave。　Want　to　do　it？〃　An　odd　urgency　in　the　question。
　〃Hell　fuzzy　yes；　I　do！　Thank　you　。　。　。　that's　a　fine　surprise。〃
　The　van　stopped。
　〃Uh；　how　do　I　know　he's　sound　asleep？〃
　〃Tickle　him。　If　he　laughs；　run　for　it。〃
　The　floor　of　the　treatment　room　felt　like　linoleum　under　Reba's　shoes。　The　room　was　cool　with　large　echoes。　Radiant　heat　was　ing　from　the　far　side。
　A　rhythmic　shuffling　of　burdened　feet　and　Dolarhyde　guided　her　to　one　side　until　she　felt　the　forked　pressure　of　a　corner。
　It　was　in　here　now；　she　could　smell　it。
　A　voice。　〃Up；　now。　Easy。　Down。　Can　we　leave　the　sling　under　him；　Dr。　Warfield？〃
　〃Yeah；　wrap　that　cushion　in　one　of　the　green　towels　and　put　it　under　his　head。　I'll　send　John　for　you　when　we've　finished。〃
　Footsteps　leaving。
　She　waited　for　Dolarhyde　to　tell　her　something。　He　didn't。
　〃It's　in　here；〃　she　said。
　〃Ten　men　carried　it　in　on　a　sling。　It's　big。　Ten　feet。　Dr。　Warfield's　listening　to　its　heart。　Now　he's　looking　under　one　eyelid。　Here　he　es。〃
　A　body　damped　the　noise　in　front　of　her。
　〃Dr。　Warfield；　Reba　MeClane；〃　Dolarhyde　said。
　She　held　out　her　hand。　A　large；　soft　hand　took　it。
　〃Thanks　for　letting　me　e；〃　she　said。　〃It's　a　treat。〃
　〃Glad　you　could　e。　Enlivens　my　day。　We　appreciate　the　film；　by　the　way。〃
　Dr。　Warfield's　voice　was　middle…aged；　deep；　cultured；　black。　Virginia；　she　guessed。
　〃We're　waiting　to　be　sure　his　respiration　and　heartbeat　are　strong　and　steady　before　Dr。　Hassler　starts。　Hassler's　over　there　adjusting　his　head　mirror。　Just　between　us；　he　only　wears　it　to　hold　down　his　toupee。　e　meet　him。　Mr。　Dolarhyde？〃
　〃You　go　ahead。〃
　She　put　out　her　hand　to　Dolarhyde。　The　pat　was　slow　in　ing；　light　when　it　came。　His　palm　left　sweat　on　her　knuckles。
　Dr。　Warfield　placed　her　hand　on　his　arm　and　they　walked　forward　slowly。
　〃He's　sound　asleep。　Do　you　have　a　general　impression　。　。　。　？　I'll　describe　as　much　as　you　like。〃　He　stopped；　uncertain　how　to　put　it。
　〃I　remember　pictures　in　books　when　I　was　a　child；　and　I　saw　a　puma　once　in　the　zoo　near　home。〃
　〃This　tiger　is　like　a　super　puma；〃　he　said。　〃Deeper　chest；　more　massive　head；　and　a　heavier　frame　and　musculature。　He's　a　four…year…old　male　Bengal。　He's　about　ten　feet　long；　from　his　nose　to　the　tip　of　his　tail；　and　he　weighs　eight　hundred　and　fifteen　pounds。　He's　lying　on　his　right　side　under　bright　lights。〃
　〃I　can　feel　the　lights。〃
　〃He's　striking；　orange　and　black　stripes；　the　orange　is　so　bright　it　seems　almost　to　bleed　into　the　air　around　him。〃　Suddenly　Dr。　Warfield　feared　that　it　was　cruel　to　talk　of　colors。　A　glance　at　her　face　reassured　him。
　〃He's　six　feet　away；　can　you　smell　him？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Mr。　Dolarhyde　may　have　told　you；　some　dimwit　poked　at　him　through　the　barrier　with　one　of　our　gardener's　spades。　He　snapped　off　the　long　fang　on　the　upper　left　side　on　the　blade。　Okay；　Dr。　Hassler？〃
　〃He's　fine。　We'll　give　it　another　minute　or　two。〃
　Warfield　introduced　the　dentist　to　Reba。
　〃My　dear；　you're　the　first　pleasant　surprise　I've　ever　had　from　Frank　Warfield；〃　Hassler　said。　〃You　might　like　to　examine　this。　It's　a　gold　tooth；　fang　actually。〃　He　put　it　in　her　hand。　〃Heavy；　isn't　it？　I　cleaned　up　the　broken　tooth　and　took　an　impression　several　days　ago；　and　today　I'll　cap　it　with　this　one。　I　could　have　done　it　in　white　of　course；　but　I　thought　this　would　be　more　fun。　Dr。　Warfield　will　tell　you　I　never　pass　up　an　opportunity　to　show　off。　He's　too　inconsiderate　to　let　me　put　an　advertisement　on　the　cage。〃
　She　felt　the　taper；　curve；　and　point　with　her　sensitive　battered　fingers。　〃What　a　nice　piece　of　work！〃　She　heard　deep；　slow　breathing　nearby。
　〃It'll　give　the　kids　a　start　when　he　yawns；〃　Hassler　said。　〃And　I　don't　think　it'll　tempt　any　thieves。　Now　for　the　fun。　You're　not　apprehensive；　are　you？　Your　muscular　gentleman　over　there　is　watching　us　like　a　ferret。　He's　not　making　you　do　this？〃
　〃No！　No；　I　want　to。〃
　〃We're　facing　his　back；〃　Dr。　Warfield　said。　〃He's　just　sleeping　away　about　two　and　a　half　feet　from　you；　waist…high　on　a　work　table。　Tell　you　what：　I'll　put　your　left　hand　…you're　right…handed　aren't　you？　…　I'll　put　your　left　hand　on　the　edge　of　the　table　and　you　can　explore　with　your　right。　Take　your　time。　I'll　be　right　here　beside　you。〃
　〃So　will　I；〃　Dr。　Hassler　said。　They　were　enjoying　this。　Under　the　hot　lights　her　hair　smelled　like　fresh　sawdust　in　the　sun。
　Reba　could　feel　the　heat　on　the　top　of　her　head。　It　made　her　scalp　tingle。　She　could　smell　her　warm　hair；　Warfield's　soap；　alcohol　and　disinfectant；　and　the　cat。　She　felt　a　touch　of　faintness；　quickly　over。
　She　gripped　the　edge　of　the　table　and　reached　out　tentatively　until　her　fingers　touched　tips　of　fur；　warm　from　the　lights；　a　cooler　layer　and　then　a　deep　steady　warmth　from　below。　She　flattened　her　hand　on　the　thick　coat　and　moved　it　gently；　feeling　the　fur　slide　across　her　palm；　with　and　against　the　lay；　felt　the　hide　slide　over　the　wide　ribs　as　they　rose　and　fell。
　She　gripped　the　pelt　and　fur　sprang　between　her　fingers。　In　the　very　presence　of　the　tiger　her　face　grew　pink　and　she　lapsed　into　blindisms；　inappropriate　facial　movements　she　had　schooled　herself　against。
　Warfield　and　Hassler　saw　her　forget　herself　and　were　glad。　They　saw　her　through　a　wavy　window；　a　pane　of　new　sensation　she　pressed　her　face　against。
　As　he　watched　from　the　shadows；　the　great　muscles　in　Dolarhyde's　back　quivered。　A　drop　of　sweat　bounced　down　his　ribs。
　〃The　other　side's　all　business；〃　Dr。　Warfield　said　close　to　her　ear。　He　led　her　around　the　table；　her　hand　trailing　down　the　tail。　A　sudden　constriction　in　Dolarhyde's　chest　as　her　fingers　trailed　over　the　furry　testicles。　She　cupped　them　and　moved　on。
　Warfield　lifted　a　great　paw　and　put　it　in　her　hand。　She　felt　the　roughness　of　the　pads　and　smelled　faintly　the　cage　floor。　He　pressed　a　toe　to　make　the　claw　slide　out。　The　heavy；　supple　muscles　of　the　shoulders　filled　her　hands。
　She　felt　the　tiger's　ears；　the　width　of　its　head　and；　carefully；　the　veterinarian　guiding　her；　touched　the　roughness　of　its　tongue。　Hot　breath　stirred　the　hair　on　her　forearms。
　Last；　Dr。　Warfield　put　the　stethoscope　in　her　ears。　Her　hands　on　the　rhythmic　chest；　her　face　upturned；　she　was　filled　with　the　tiger　heart's　bright　thunder。
　
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　Reba　McClane　was　quiet；　flushed；　elated　as　they　drove　away。　She　turned　to　Dolarhyde　once　and　said　slowly；　〃Thank　you　。　。　。　very　much。　If　you　don't　mind；　I　would　dearly　love　a　martini。〃
　
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　〃Wait　here　a　minute；〃　Dolarhyde　said　as　he　parked　in　his　yard。
　She　was　glad　they　hadn't　gone　back　to　her　apartment。　It　was　stale　and　safe。　〃Don't　tidy　up。　Take　me　in　and　tell　me　it's　neat。〃
　〃Wait　here。〃
　He　carried　in　the　sack　from　the　liquor　stor