th.red dragon-第46部分

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　〃Let　me　get　somebody　to　look；〃　the　watch　mander　said。
　Graham　knew　they　kept　one。　It　was　good　procedure　to　record　every　person　entering　or　leaving　a　murder　scene；　and　Graham　had　been　pleased　to　see　that　Birmingham　did　it。　He　waited　five　minutes　before　a　clerk　picked　up　the　telephone。
　〃Okay；　in…and…out；　what　do　you　want　to　know？〃
　〃Is　Niles　Jacobi；　son　of　the　deceased　…　is　he　on　it？〃
　〃Umm…hmmm；　yep。　July　2；　seven　P。M。　He　had　permission　to　get　personal　items。〃
　〃Did　he　have　a　suitcase；　does　it　say？〃
　〃Nope。　Sorry。〃
　Byron　Metcalf's　voice　was　husky　and　his　breathing　heavy　when　he　answered　the　telephone。　Graham　wondered　what　he　was　doing。
　〃Hope　I　didn't　disturb　you。〃
　〃What　can　I　do　for　you；　Will？〃
　〃I　need　a　little　help　with　Niles　Jacobi。〃
　〃What's　he　done　now？〃
　〃I　think　he　lifted　a　few　things　out　of　the　Jacobi　house　after　they　were　killed。〃
　〃Urnmm。〃
　〃There's　a　sterling　picture　frame　missing　from　your　lockbox　inventory。　When　I　was　in　Birmingham　I　picked　up　a　loose　photograph　of　the　family　in　Niles's　dormitory　room。　It　used　to　be　in　a　frame　…　I　can　see　the　impression　the　mat　left　on　it。〃
　〃The　little　bastard。　I　gave　permission　for　him　to　get　his　clothes　and　some　books　he　needed；〃　Metcalf　said。
　〃Niles　has　expensive　friendships。　This　is　mainly　what　I'm　after；　though　…　a　movie　projector　and　a　movie　camera　are　missing　too。　I　want　to　know　if　he　got　them。　Probably　he　did；　but　if　he　didn't；　maybe　the　killer　got　them。　In　that　case　we　need　to　get　the　serial　numbers　out　to　the　hock　shops。　We　need　to　put　'em　on　the　national　hot　sheet。　The　frame's　probably　melted　down　by　now。〃
　〃He'll　think　'frame'　when　I　get　through　with　him。〃
　〃One　thing　…　if　Niles　took　the　projector；　he　might　have　kept　the　film。　He　couldn't　get　anything　for　it。　I　want　the　film。　I　need　to　see　it。　If　you　e　at　him　from　the　front；　he'll　deny　everything　and　flush　the　film　if　he　has　any。〃
　〃Okay；〃　Metcalf　said。　〃His　car　title　reverted　to　the　estate。　I'm　executor；　so　I　can　search　it　without　a　warrant。　My　friend　the　judge　won't　mind　papering　his　room　for　me。　I'll　call　you。〃
　Graham　went　back　to　work。
　Affluence。　Put　affluence　in　the　profile　the　police　would　use。
　Graham　wondered　if　Mrs。　Leeds　and　Mrs。　Jacobi　ever　did　their　marketing　in　tennis　clothes。　That　was　a　fashionable　thing　to　do　in　some　areas。　It　was　a　dumb　thing　to　do　in　some　areas　because　it　was　doubly　provocative　…　arousing　class　resentment　and　lust　at　the　same　time。
　Graham　imagined　them　pushing　grocery　carts；　short　pleated　skirts　brushing　the　brown　thighs；　the　little　balls　on　their　sweat　socks　winking　…　passing　the　husky　man　with　the　barracuda　eyes　who　was　buying　cold　lunch　meat　to　gnaw　in　his　car。
　How　many　families　were　there　with　three　children　and　a　pet；　and　only　mon　locks　between　them　and　the　Dragon　as　they　slept？
　When　Graham　pictured　possible　victims；　he　saw　clever；　successful　people　in　graceful　houses。
　But　the　next　person　to　confront　the　Dragon　did　not　have　children　or　a　pet；　and　there　was　no　grace　in　his　house。　The　next　person　to　confront　the　Dragon　was　Francis　Dolarhyde。
　
　
　CHAPTER　37
　
　The　thump　of　weights　on　the　attic　floor　carried　through　the　old　house。
　Dolarhyde　was　lifting；　straining；　pumping　more　weight　than　he　had　ever　lifted。　His　costume　was　different；　sweatpants　covered　his　tattoo。　The　sweatshirt　hung　over　The　Great　Red　Dragon　and　the　Woman　Clothed　with　the　Sun。　The　kimono　hung　on　the　wall　like　the　shed　skin　of　a　tree　snake。　It　covered　the　mirror。
　Dolarhyde　wore　no　mask；
　Up。　Two　hundred　and　eighty　pounds　from　the　floor　to　his　chest　in　one　heave。　Now　over　his　head。
　〃WHOM　ARE　YOU　THINKING　ABOUT？〃
　Startled　by　the　voice；　he　nearly　dropped　the　weight；　swayed　beneath　it。　Down。　The　plates　thudded　and　clanked　on　the　floor。
　He　turned；　his　great　arms　hanging；　and　stared　in　the　direction　of　the　voice。
　〃WHOM　ARE　YOU　THINKING　ABOUT？〃
　It　seemed　to　e　from　behind　the　sweatshirt；　but　its　rasp　and　volume　hurt　his　throat。
　〃WHOM　ARE　YOU　THINKING　ABOUT？〃
　He　knew　who　spoke　and　he　was　frightened。　From　the　beginning；　he　and　the　Dragon　had　been　one。　He　was　Being　and　the　Dragon　was　his　higher　self。　Their　bodies；　voices；　wills　were　one；
　Not　now。　Not　since　Reba。　Don't　think　Reba。
　〃WHO　IS　ACCEPTABLE？〃　the　Dragon　asked。
　〃Mrs　。　。　。　erhman　…　Sherman。〃　It　was　hard　for　Dolarhyde　to　say。　
　〃SPEAK　UP。　I　CAN'T　UNDERSTAND　YOU。　WHOM　ARE　YOU　THINKING　ABOUT？〃
　Dolarhyde；　his　face　set；　turned　to　the　barbell。　Up。　Over　his　head。　Much　harder　this　time。
　〃Mrs。　。　。　。　erhman　wet　in　the　water。〃
　〃YOU　THINK　ABOUT　YOUR　LITTLE　BUDDY；　DON'T　YOU？　YOU　WANT　HER　TO　BE　YOUR　LITTLE　BUDDY；　DON'T　YOU？〃
　The　weight　came　down　with　a　thud。
　〃I　on't　have　a　li'l　。　。　。　buddy。〃　With　the　fear　his　speech　was　failing。　He　had　to　occlude　his　nostrils　with　his　upper　lip。
　〃A　STUPID　LIE。〃　The　Dragon's　voice　was　strong　and　clear。　He　said　the　/s/　without　effort。　〃YOU　FORGET　THE　BEING。　PREPARE　FOR　THE　SHERMANS。　LIFT　THE　WEIGHT。〃
　Dolarhyde　seized　the　barbell　and　strained。　His　mind　strained　with　his　body。　Desperately　he　tried　to　think　of　the　Shermans。　He　forced　himself　to　think　of　the　weight　of　Mrs。　Sherman　in　his　arms。　Mrs。　Sherman　was　next。　It　was　Mrs。　Sherman。　He　was　fighting　Mr。　Sherman　in　the　dark。　Holding　him　down　until　loss　of　blood　made　Sherman's　heart　quiver　like　a　bird。　It　was　the　only　heart　he　heard。　He　didn't　hear　Reba's　heart。　He　didn't。
　Fear　leeched　his　strength。　He　got　the　weight　up　to　his　thighs；　could　not　make　the　turn　up　to　his　chest。　He　thought　of　the　Shermans　ranged　around　him；　eyes　wide；　as　he　took　the　Dragon's　due。　It　was　no　good。　It　was　hollow；　empty。　The　weight　thudded　down。
　〃NOT　ACCEPTABLE。〃
　〃Mrs　。　。　。〃
　〃YOU　CAN'T　EVEN　SAY　'MRS。　SHERMAN。'　YOU　NEVER　INTEND　TO　TAKE　THE　SHERMANS。　YOU　WANT　REBA　MCCLANE。　YOU　WANT　HER　TO　BE　YOUR　LITTLE　BUDDY；　DON'T　YOU？　YOU　WANT　TO　BE　'FRIENDS'。〃
　〃No。〃
　〃LIE！〃
　〃Nyus　mhor　a　niddow　wyow。〃
　〃JUST　FOR　A　LITTLE　WHILE？　YOU　SNIVELING　HARELIP；　WHO　WOULD　BE　FRIENDS　WITH　YOU？　E　HERE。　I'LL　SHOW　YOU　WHAT　YOU　ARE。〃
　Dolarhyde　did　not　move。
　〃I'VE　NEVER　SEEN　A　CHILD　AS　DISGUSTING　AND　DIRTY　AS　YOU。　E　HERE。〃
　He　went。
　〃TAKE　DOWN　THE　SWEATSHIRT。〃
　He　took　it　down。
　〃LOOK　AT　ME。〃
　The　Dragon　glowed　from　the　wall。
　〃TAKE　DOWN　THE　KIMONO。　LOOK　IN　THE　MIRROR。〃
　He　looked。　He　could　not　help　himself　or　turn　his　face　from　the　scalding　light。　He　saw　himself　drool。
　〃LOOK　AT　YOURSELF。　I'M　GOING　TO　GIVE　YOU　A　SURPRISE　FOR　YOUR　LITTLE　BUDDY。　TAKE　OFF　THAT　RAG。〃
　Dolarhyde's　hands　fought　each　other　at　the　waistband　of　the　sweatpants。　The　sweatpants　tore。　He　stripped　them　away　from　him　with　his　right　hand；　held　the　rags　to　him　with　his　left。
　His　right　hand　snatched　the　rags　away　from　his　trembling；　failing　left。　He　threw　them　into　the　corner　and　fell　back　on　the　mat；　curling　on　himself　like　a　lobster　split　live。　He　hugged　himself　and　groaned；　breathing　hard；　his　tattoo　brilliant　in　the　harsh　gym　lights。
　〃I'VE　NEVER　SEEN　A　CHILD　AS　DISGUSTING　AND　DIRTY　AS　YOU。　GO　GET　THEM。〃
　〃aaaymah。〃
　〃GET　THEM。〃
　He　padded　from　the　room　and　returned　with　the　Dragon's　teeth。
　〃PUT　THEM　IN　YOUR　PALMS。　LOCK　YOUR　FINGERS　AND　SQUEEZE　MY　TEETH　TOGETHER。〃
　Dolarhyde's　pectoral　muscles　bunched。
　〃YOU　KNOW　HOW　THEY　CAN　SNAP。　NOW　HOLD　THEM　UNDER　YOUR　BELLY。　HOLD　YOURSELF　BETWEEN　THE　TEETH。〃
　〃no。〃
　〃DO　IT。　。　。　NOW　LOOK。〃
　The　teeth　were　beginning　to　hurt　him。　Spit　and　tears　fell　on　his　chest。
　〃mleadse。〃
　〃YOU　ARE　OFFAL　LEFT　BEHIND　IN　THE　BEING。　YOU　ARE　OFFAL　AND　I　WILL　NAME　YOU。　YOU　ARE　CUNT　FACE。　SAY　IT。〃
　〃i　am　cunt　face。〃　He　occluded　his　nostrils　with　his　lip　to　say　the　words。
　〃SOON　I　WILL　BE　CLEANSED　OF　YOU；〃　the　Dragon　said　effortlessly。　〃WILL　THAT　BE　GOOD？〃
　〃good。〃
　〃WHO　WILL　BE　NEXT　WHEN　IT　IS　TIME？〃
　〃mrs。　。　。　。　ehrman　。　。　。〃
　Sharp　pain　shot　through　Dolarhyde；　pain　and　terrible　fear。
　〃I'LL　TEAR　IT　OFF。〃
　〃reba。　reba。　i'll　give　you　reba。〃　Already　his　speech　was　improving。
　〃YOU'LL　GIVE　ME　NOTHING。　SHE　IS　MINE。　THEY　ARE　ALL　MINE。　REBA　MCCLANE　AND　THEN　THE　SHERMANS。〃
　〃reba　and　then　the　shermans。　the　law　will　know。〃
　〃I　HAVE　PROVIDED　FOR　THAT　DAY。　DO　YOU　DOUBT　IT？〃　
　〃no。〃
　〃WHO　ARE　YOU？〃
　〃cunt　face。〃
　〃YOU　MAY　PUT　AWAY　MY　TEETH。　YOU　PITIFUL　WEAK　HARELIP；　YOU'D　KEEP　YOUR　LITTLE　BUDDY　FROM　ME；　WOULD　YOU？　I'LL　TEAR　HER　APART　AND　RUB　THE　PIECES　IN　YOUR　UGLY　FACE。　I'LL　HANG　YOU　WITH　HER　LARGE　INTESTINE　IF　YOU　OPPOSE　ME。　YOU　KNOW　I　CAN。　PUT　THREE　HUNDRED　POUNDS　ON　THE　BAR。〃
　Dolarhyde　added　the　plates　to　the　bar。　He　had　never　lifted　as　much　as　280　until　today。
　〃LIFT　IT。〃
　If　he　were　not　as　strong　as　the　Dragon；　Reba　would　die。　He　knew　it。　He　strained　until　the　room　turned　red　before　his　bulging　eyes。
　〃i　can't。〃
　〃NO　YOU　CAN'T。　BUT　I　CAN。〃
　Dolarhyde　gripped　the　bar。　It　bowed　as　the　weight　rose　to　his　shoulders。　UP。　Above　his　head　easily。　〃GOOD…BYE；　CUNT　FACE；〃　he　said；　proud　Dragon；　quivering　in　the　light。
　
　
　CHAPTER　38
　
　Francis　Dolarhyde　never　got　to　work　on　Monday　morning。
　He　started　from　his　house　exactly　on　time；　as　he　always　did。　His　appearance　was　impeccable；　his　driving　precise。　He　put　on　his　dark　glasses　when　he　made　the　turn　at　the　Missouri　River　bridge　and　drove　into　the　morning　sun。
　His　Styrofoam　cooler　squeaked　as　it　jiggled　against　the　passenger　seat　He　leaned　across　and　set　it　on　the　floor；　remembering　that　he　must　pick　up　the　dry　ice　and　get　the　film　from　。　。　。
　Crossing　the　Missouri　channel　now；　moving　water　under　him。　He　looked　at　the　whitecaps　on　the　sliding　river　and　suddenly　felt　that　he　was　sliding　and　the　river　was　still。　A　strange；　disjointed；　collapsing　feeling　flooded　him。　He　let　up　on　the　accelerator。
　The　van　slowed　in　the　outside　lane　and　stopped。　Traffic　behind　him　was　stacking　up；　honking。　He　didn't　hear　it。
　He　sat；　sliding　slowly　northward　over　the　still　river；　facing　the　morning　sun。　Tears　leaked　from　beneath　his　sunglasses　and　fell　hot　on　his　forearms。
　Someone　was　pecking　on　the　window。　A　driver；　face　early…morning　pale　and　puffed　with　sleep；　had　gotten　out　of　a　car　behind　him。　The　driver　was　yelling　something　through　the　window。
　Dolarhyde　looked　at　the　man。　Flashing　blue　lights　were　ing　from　the　other　end　of　the　bridge。　He　knew　he　should　drive。　He　asked　his　body　to　step　on　the　gas；