th.red dragon-第52部分

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　Dolarhyde's　foot　lifted　on　the　accelerator。
　〃THAT'S　GOOD。　GIVE　ME　WHAT　I　WANT　AND　IT　CAN'T　HAPPEN。　GIVE　IT　TO　ME　AND　THEN　I'LL　ALWAYS　LET　YOU　CHOOSE；　YOU　CAN　ALWAYS　CHOOSE；　AND　YOU'LL　SPEAK　WELL；　I　WANT　YOU　TO　SPEAK　WELL；　SLOW　DOWN；　THAT'S　RIGHT；　SEE　THE　SERVICE　STATION？　PULL　OVER　THERE　AND　LET　ME　TALK　TO　YOU　。　。　。〃
　
　
　CHAPTER　45
　
　Graham　came　out　of　the　office　suite　and　rested　his　eyes　for　a　moment　in　the　dim　hallway。　He　was　restive；　uneasy。　This　was　taking　too　long。
　Crawford　was　sifting　the　380　Gateway　and　Baeder　employees　as　fast　and　well　as　it　could　be　done　…　the　man　was　a　marvel　at　this　kind　of　job　…　but　time　was　passing　and　secrecy　could　be　maintained　only　so　long。
　Crawford　had　kept　the　working　group　at　Gateway　to　a　minimum。　（〃We　want　to　find　him；　not　spook　him；〃　Crawford　had　told　them。　〃If　we　can　spot　him　tonight；　we　can　take　him　outside　the　plant；　maybe　at　his　house　or　on　the　lot。〃）
　The　St。　Louis　police　department　was　cooperating。　Lieutenant　Fogel　of　St。　Louis　homicide　and　one　sergeant　came　quietly　in　an　unmarked　car；　bringing　a　Datafax。
　Wired　to　a　Gateway　telephone；　in　minutes　the　Datafax　was　transmitting　the　employment　roll　simultaneously　to　the　FBI　identification　section　in　Washington　and　the　Missouri　Department　of　Motor　Vehicles。
　In　Washington；　the　names　would　be　checked　against　both　the　civil　and　criminal　fingerprint　records。　Names　of　Baeder　employees　with　security　clearances　were　flagged　for　faster　handling。
　The　Department　of　Motor　Vehicles　would　check　for　ownership　of　vans。
　Only　four　employees　were　brought　in　…　the　personnel　manager；
　Fisk；　Fisk's　secretary；　Dandridge　from　Baeder　Chemical；　and　Gateway's　chief　accountant。
　No　telephones　were　used　to　summon　the　employees　to　this　late　night　meeting　at　the　plant。　Agents　called　at　their　houses　and　stated　their　business　privately。　（〃Look　'em　over　before　you　tell　'em　why　you　want　'em；〃　Crawford　said。　〃And　don't　let　them　use　the　tele…　phone　after。　This　kind　of　news　travels　fast。〃）
　They　had　hoped　for　a　quick　identification　from　the　teeth。　None　of　the　four　employees　recognized　them。
　Graham　looked　down　the　long　corridors　lit　with　red　exit　signs。　Damn　it　felt　right。
　What　else　could　they　do　tonight？
　Crawford　had　requested　that　the　woman　from　the　Brooklyn　Museum　…　Miss　Harper　…　be　flown　out　as　soon　as　she　could　travel。　Probably　that　would　be　in　the　morning。　The　St。　Louis　police　department　had　a　good　surveillance　van。　She　could　sit　in　it　and　watch　the　employees　go　in。
　If　they　didn't　hit　it　tonight；　all　traces　of　the　operation　would　be　removed　from　Gateway　before　work　started　in　the　morning。　Graham　didn't　kid　himself　…　they'd　be　lucky　to　have　a　whole　day　to　work　before　the　word　got　out　at　Gateway。　The　Dragon　would　be　watching　for　anything　suspicious。　He　would　fly。
　
　
　CHAPTER　46
　
　A　late　supper　with　Ralph　Mandy　had　seemed　all　right。　Reba　McClane　knew　she　had　to　tell　him　sometime；　and　she　didn't　believe　in　leaving　things　hanging。
　Actually；　she　thought　Mandy　knew　what　was　ing　when　she　insisted　on　going　dutch。
　She　told　him　in　the　car　as　he　took　her　home；　that　it　was　no　big　deal；　she'd　had　a　lot　of　fun　with　him　and　wanted　to　be　his　friend；　but　she　was　involved　with　somebody　now。
　Maybe　he　was　hurt　a　little；　but　she　knew　he　was　relieved　a　little　too。　He　was　pretty　good　about　it；　she　thought。
　At　her　door　he　didn't　ask　to　e　in。　He　did　ask　to　kiss　her　goodbye；　and　she　responded　gladly。　He　opened　her　door　and　gave　her　the　keys。　He　waited　until　she　was　inside　and　had　closed　the　door　and　locked　it。
　When　he　turned　around　Dolarhyde　shot　him　in　the　throat　and　twice　in　the　chest。　Three　putts　from　the　silenced　pistol。　A　scooter　is　louder。
　Dolarhyde　lifted　Mandy's　body　easily；　laid　him　between　the　shrubs　and　the　house　and　left　him　there。
　Seeing　Reba　kiss　Mandy　had　stabbed　Dolarhyde　deep。　Then　the　pain　left　him　for　good。
　He　still　looked　and　sounded　like　Francis　Dolarhyde…the　Dragon　was　a　very　good　actor；　he　played　Dolarhyde　well。
　Reba　was　washing　her　face　when　she　heard　the　doorbell。　It　rang　four　times　before　she　got　there。　She　touched　the　chain；　but　didn't　take　it　off。
　〃Who　is　it？〃
　〃Francis　Dolarhyde。〃
　She　eased　the　door　open；　still　on　the　chain。　〃Tell　me　again。〃
　〃Dolarhyde。　It's　me。〃
　She　knew　it　was。　She　took　off　the　chain。
　Reba　did　not　like　surprises。　〃I　thought　you　said　you'd　call　me；　D。〃
　〃I　would　have。　But　this　is　an　emergency；　really；〃　he　said；　clapping　the　chloroformed　cloth　over　her　face　as　he　stepped　inside。
　The　street　was　empty。　Most　of　the　houses　were　dark。　He　carried　her　to　the　van。　Ralph　Mandy's　feet　stuck　out　of　the　shrubbery　into　the　yard。　Dolarhyde　didn't　bother　with　him　anymore。
　She　woke　on　the　ride。　She　was　on　her　side；　her　cheek　in　the　dusty　carpet　of　the　van；　transmission　whine　loud　in　her　ear。
　She　tried　to　bring　her　hands　to　her　face。　The　movement　mashed　her　bosom。　Her　forearms　were　stuck　together。
　She　felt　them　with　her　face。　They　were　bound　together　from　her　elbows　to　her　wrists　with　what　felt　like　soft　strips　of　cloth。　Her　legs　were　tied　the　same　way　from　knees　to　ankles。　Something　was　across　her　mouth。
　What　。　。　。　what　。　。　。　？　D。　was　at　the　door；　and　then　。　。　。　She　remembered　twisting　her　face　away　and　the　terrible　strength　of　him。　Oh　Lord　。　。　。　what　was　it　。　。　。　？　D。　was　at　the　door　and　then　she　was　choking　something　cold　and　she　tried　to　twist　her　face　away　but　there　was　a　terrible　grip　on　her　head。
　She　was　in　D。's　van　now。　She　recognized　the　resonances。　The　van　was　going。　Fear　ballooned　in　her。　Her　instinct　said　be　quiet；　but　the　fumes　were　in　her　throat；　chloroform　and　gasoline。　She　retched　against　the　gag。
　D。's　voice。　〃It　won't　be　long　now。〃
　She　felt　a　turn　and　they　were　on　gravel　now；　rocks　pinging　under　the　fenders　and　floorboard。
　He's　crazy。　All　right。　That's　it：　Crazy。
　〃Crazy〃　is　a　fearsome　word。
　What　was　it？　Ralph　Mandy。　He　must　have　seen　them　at　her　house。　It　set　him　off。
　Christ　Jesus；　get　it　all　ready。　A　man　had　tried　to　slap　her　once　at　Reiker　Institute。　She　was　quiet　and　he　couldn't　find　her　…　he　couldn't　see　either。　This　one　could　fucking　well　see。　Get　it　all　ready。　Get　ready　to　talk。　God　he　could　kill　me　with　this　gag　in　my　mouth。　God　he　could　be　killing　me　and　not　understand　what　I　was　saying。
　Be　ready。　Have　it　all　ready　and　don't　say　〃Huh？〃　Tell　him　he　can　back　out；　no　damage。　I　won't　tell。　Be　passive　as　long　as　you　can。　If　you　can't　be　passive；　wait　until　you　can　find　his　eyes。
　The　van　stopped。　The　van　rocked　as　he　got　out。　Side　door　sliding　open。　Grass　and　hot　tires　on　the　air。　Crickets。　He　came　in　the　van。
　In　spite　of　herself　she　squealed　into　the　gag　and　twisted　her　face　away　from　him　when　he　touched　her。
　Soft　pats　on　the　shoulder　didn't　stop　her　writhing。　A　stinging　slap　across　the　face　did。
　She　tried　to　talk　into　the　gag。　She　was　lifted；　carried。　His　footsteps　hollow　on　the　ramp。　She　was　sure　where　she　was　now。　His　house。　Where　in　his　house？　Clock　ticking　to　the　right。　Rug；　then　floor。　The　bedroom　where　they　did　it。　She　was　sinking　in　his　arms；　felt　the　bed　under　her。
　She　tried　to　talk　into　the　gag。　He　was　leaving。　Noise　outside。　Van　door　slammed。　Here　he　es。　Setting　something　on　the　floor　…　metal　cans。
　She　smelled　gasoline。
　〃Reba。〃　D。's　voice　all　right；　but　so　calm。　So　terribly　calm　and　strange。　〃Reba；　I　don't　know　what　to　。　。　。　say　to　you。　You　felt　so　good；　and　you　don't　know　what　I　did　for　you。　And　I　was　wrong；　Reba。　You　made　me　weak　and　then　you　hurt　me。〃
　She　tried　to　talk　into　the　gag。
　〃If　I　untie　you　and　let　you　sit　up；　will　you　be　good？　Don't　try　to　run。　I　can　catch　you。　Will　you　be　good？〃
　She　twisted　her　head　toward　the　voice　to　nod。
　A　touch　of　cold　steel　against　her　skin；　whisper　of　a　knife　through　cloth　and　her　arms　were　free。　Now　her　legs。　Her　cheeks　were　wet　where　the　gag　came　off。
　Carefully　and　slowly　she　sat　up　in　the　bed。　Take　your　best　shot。
　〃D。；〃　she　said；　〃I　didn't　know　you　cared　this　much　about　me。　I'm　glad　you　feel　that　way　but；　see；　you　seared　me　with　this。〃
　No　answer。　She　knew　he　was　there。
　〃D。；　was　it　old　dumb　Ralph　Mandy　that　made　you　mad？　Did　you　see　him　at　my　house？　That's　it；　isn't　it？　I　was　telling　him　I　don't　want　to　see　him　anymore。　Because　I　want　to　see　you。　I'm　never　going　to　see　Ralph　again。〃
　〃Ralph　died；〃　Dolarhyde　said。　〃I　don't　think　he　liked　it　very　much
　Fantasy。　He's　making　it　up　Jesus　do　I　hope。　〃I've　never　hurt　you；　D。　I　never　wanted　to。　Let's　just　be　friends　and　fuck　and　have　a　good　time　and　forget　about　this；〃
　〃Shut　up；〃　he　said　calmly。　〃I'll　tell　you　something。　The　most　important　thing　you'll　ever　hear。　Sermon…on…the…Mount　important。　Ten…mandments　important。　Got　it？〃
　〃Yes；　D。　I…〃
　〃Shut　up。　Reba；　some　remarkable　events　have　happened　in　Birmingham　and　Atlanta。　Do　you　know　what　I'm　talking　about？〃
　She　shook　her　head。
　〃It's　been　on　the　news　a　lot。　Two　groups　of　people　were　changed。　Leeds。　And　Jacobi。　The　police　think　they　were　murdered。　Do　you　know　now？〃
　She　started　to　shake　her　head。　Then　she　did　know　and　slowly　she　nodded。
　〃Do　you　know　what　they　call　the　Being　that　visited　those　people？　You　can　say。〃
　〃The　Tooth…〃
　A　hand　gripped　her　face；　shutting　off　the　sound。
　〃Think　carefully　and　answer　correctly。〃
　〃It's　Dragon　something。　Dragon　。　。　。　Red　Dragon。〃
　He　was　close　to　her。　She　could　feel　his　breath　on　her　face。
　〃I　AM　THE　DRAGON。〃
　Leaping　back；　driven　by　the　volume　and　terrible　timbre　of　the　voice；　she　slammed　against　the　headboard。
　〃The　Dragon　wants　you；　Reba。　He　always　has。　I　didn't　want　to　give　you　to　Him。　I　did　a　thing　for　you　today　so　He　couldn't　have　you。　And　I　was　wrong。〃
　This　was　D。；　she　could　talk　to　D。　〃Please。　Please　don't　let　him　have　me。　You　won't；　please　don't；　you　wouldn't　…　I'm　for　you。　Keep　me　with　you。　You　like　me；　I　know　you　do。〃
　〃I　haven't　made　up　my　mind　yet。　Maybe　I　can't　help　giving　you　to　Him。　I　don't　know。　I'm　going　to　see　if　you　do　as　I　tell　you。　Will　you？　Can　I　depend　on　you？〃
　〃I'll　try。　I　will　try。　Don't　scare　me　too　much　or　I　can't。〃
　〃Get　up；　Reba。　Stand　by　the　bed。　Do　you　know　where　you　are　in　the　room？〃
　She　nodded。
　〃You　know　where　you　are　in　the　house；　don't　you？　You　wandered　around　in　the　house　while　I　was　asleep；　didn't　you？〃
　〃