th.red dragon-第54部分

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　Crawford　snapped　his　fingers　for　the　microphone。
　〃All　units；　that's　his　house　burning。　Watch　it　now。　He　may　be　ing　out。　Sheriff；　let　us　have　a　roadblock　here；　if　you　will。〃
　A　thick　column　of　sparks　and　smoke　leaned　southeast　over　the　fields；　hanging　over　them　now。
　〃Here；〃　the　deputy　said；　〃turn　in　on　this　gravel。〃
　They　saw　the　woman　then；　silhouetted　black　against　the　fire；　saw　her　as　she　heard　them　and　raised　her　arms　to　them。
　And　then　the　great　fire　blasted　upward；　outward；　burning　beams　and　window　frames　describing　slow　high　arcs　into　the　night　sky；　the　blazing　van　rocked　over　on　its　side；　orange　tracery　of　the　burning　trees　suddenly　blown　out　and　dark。　The　ground　shuddered　as　the　explosion　whump　rocked　the　police　cars。
　The　woman　was　face　down　in　the　road。　Crawford　and　Graham　and　the　deputies　out；　running　to　her　as　fire　rained　in　the　road；　some　running　past　her　with　their　weapons　drawn。
　Crawford　took　Reba　from　a　deputy　batting　sparks　from　her　hair。　
　He　held　her　arms；　face　close　to　hers；　red　in　the　firelight。　
　〃Francis　Dolarhyde；〃　he　said。　He　shook　her　gently。　〃Francis　Dolarhyde；　where　is　he？〃
　〃He's　in　there；〃　she　said；　raising　her　stained　hand　toward　the　heat；　letting　it　fall。　〃He's　dead　in　there。〃
　〃You　know　that？〃　Crawford　peered　into　her　sightless　eyes。
　〃I　was　with　him。〃
　〃Tell　me；　please。〃
　〃He　shot　himself　in　the　face。　I　put　my　hand　in　it。　He　set　fire　to　the　house。　He　shot　himself。　I　put　my　hand　in　it。　He　was　on　the　floor。　I　put　my　hand　in　it　can　I　sit　down？〃
　〃Yes；〃　Crawford　said。　He　got　into　the　back　of　a　police　car　with　her。　He　put　his　arms　around　her　and　let　her　cry　into　his　jowl。
　Graham　stood　in　the　road　and　watched　the　flames　until　his　face　was　red　and　sore。
　The　winds　aloft　whipped　smoke　across　the　moon。
　
　
　CHAPTER　50
　
　The　wind　in　the　morning　was　warm　and　wet。　It　blew　wisps　of　cloud　over　the　blackened　chimneys　where　Dolarhyde's　house　had　stood。　Thin　smoke　blew　flat　across　the　fields。
　A　few　raindrops　struck　coals　and　exploded　in　tiny　puffs　of　steam　and　ashes。
　A　fire　truck　stood　by；　its　light　revolving。
　S。　F。　Aynesworth；　FBI　section　chief；　Explosives；　stood　with　Graham　upwind　of　the　ruins；　pouring　coffee　from　a　thermos。
　Aynesworth　winced　as　the　local　fire　marshal　reached　into　the　ashes　with　a　rake。
　〃Thank　God　it's　still　too　hot　for　him　in　there；〃　he　said　out　of　the　side　of　his　mouth。　He　had　been　carefully　cordial　to　the　local　authorities。　To　Graham；　he　spoke　his　mind。　〃I　got　to　wade　it；　hell。　This　place'll　look　like　a　fucking　turkey　farm　soon　as　all　the　special　deputies　and　constables　finish　their　pancakes　and　take　a　crap。　They'll　be　right　on　down　to　help。〃
　Until　Aynesworth's　beloved　bomb　van　arrived　from　Washington；　he　had　to　make　do　with　what　he　could　bring　on　the　plane。　He　pulled　a　faded　Marine　Corps　duffel　bag　out　of　the　trunk　of　a　patrol　car　and　unpacked　his　Nomex　underwear　and　asbestos　boots　and　coveralls。
　〃What　did　it　look　like　when　it　went　up；　Will？〃
　〃A　flash　of　intense　light　that　died　down。　Then　it　looked　darker　at　the　base。　A　lot　of　stuff　was　going　up；　window　frames；　flat　pieces　of　the　roof；　and　chunks　flying　sideways；　tumbling　in　the　fields。　There　was　a　shock　wave；　and　the　wind　after。　It　blew　out　and　sucked　back　in　again。　It　looked　like　it　almost　blew　the　fire　out。〃
　〃The　fire　was　going　good　when　it　blew？〃
　〃Yeah；　it　was　through　the　roof　and　out　the　windows　upstairs　and　down。　The　trees　were　burning。〃
　Aynesworth　recruited　two　local　firemen　to　stand　by　with　a　hose；　and　a　third　dressed　in　asbestos　stood　by　with　a　winch　line　in　case　something　fell　on　him。
　He　cleared　the　basement　steps；　now　open　to　the　sky；　and　went　down　into　the　tangle　of　black　timbers。　He　could　stay　only　a　few　minutes　at　a　time。　He　made　eight　trips。
　All　he　got　for　his　effort　was　one　flat　piece　of　torn　metal；　but　it　seemed　to　make　him　happy。
　Red…faced　and　wet　with　sweat；　he　stripped　off　his　asbestos　clothing　and　sat　on　the　running　board　of　the　fire　truck　with　a　fireman's　raincoat　over　his　shoulders。
　He　laid　the　flat　piece　of　metal　on　the　ground　and　blew　away　a　film　of　ash。
　〃Dynamite；〃　he　told　Graham。　〃Look　here；　see　the　fern　pattern　in　the　metal？　This　stuff's　the　right　gauge　for　a　trunk　or　a　footlocker。　That's　probably　it。　Dynamite　in　a　footlocker。　It　didn't　go　off　in　the　basement；　though。　Looks　like　the　ground　floor　to　me。　See　where　the　tree's　cut　there　where　that　marble　tabletop　hit　it？　Blown　out　sideways。　The　dynamite　was　in　something　that　kept　the　fire　off　of　it　for　a　while。〃
　〃How　about　remains？〃
　〃There　may　not　be　a　lot；　but　there's　always　something。　We've　got　a　lot　of　sifting　to　do。　We'll　find　him。　I'll　give　him　to　you　in　a　small　sack。〃
　
　#　#　#
　
　A　sedative　had　finally　put　Reba　McClane　to　sleep　at　DePaul　Hospital　shortly　after　dawn。　She　wanted　the　policewoman　to　sit　close　beside　her　bed。　Several　times　through　the　morning　she　woke　and　reached　out　for　the　officer's　hand。
　When　she　asked　for　breakfast；　Graham　brought　it　in。
　Which　way　to　go？　Sometimes　it　was　easier　for　them　if　you　were　impersonal。　With　Reba　McClane；　he　didn't　think　so。
　He　told　her　who　he　was。
　〃Do　you　know　him？〃　she　asked　the　policewoman。
　Graham　passed　the　officer　his　credentials。　She　didn't　need　them。
　〃I　know　he's　a　federal　officer；　Miss　McClane。〃
　She　told　him　everything；　finally。　All　about　her　time　with　Francis　Dolarhyde。　Her　throat　was　sore；　and　she　stopped　frequently　to　suck　cracked　ice。
　He　asked　her　the　unpleasant　questions　and　she　took　him　through　it；　once　waving　him　out　the　door　while　the　policewoman　held　the　basin　to　catch　her　breakfast。
　She　was　pale　and　her　face　was　scrubbed　and　shiny　when　he　came　back　into　the　room。
　He　asked　the　last　of　it　and　closed　his　notebook。
　〃I　won't　put　you　through　this　again；〃　he　said；　〃but　I'd　like　to　e　back　by。　Just　to　say　hi　and　see　how　you're　doing。〃
　〃How　could　you　help　it？　…　a　charmer　like　me。〃
　For　the　first　time　he　saw　tears　and　realized　where　it　ate　her。
　〃Would　you　excuse　us　for　a　minute；　officer？〃　Graham　said。　He　took　Reba's　hand。
　〃Look　here。　There　was　plenty　wrong　with　Dolarhyde；　but　there's　nothing　wrong　with　you。　You　said　he　was　kind　and　thoughtful　to　you。　I　believe　it。　That's　what　you　brought　out　in　him。　At　the　end；　he　couldn't　kill　you　and　he　couldn't　watch　you　die。　People　who　study　this　kind　of　thing　say　he　was　trying　to　stop。　Why？　Because　you　helped　him。　That　probably　saved　some　lives。　You　didn't　draw　a　freak。　You　drew　a　man　with　a　freak　on　his　back。　Nothing　wrong　with　you；　kid。　If　you　let　yourself　believe　there　is；　you're　a　sap。　I'm　ing　back　to　see　you　in　a　day　or　so。　I　have　to　look　at　cops　all　the　time；　and　I　need　relief　…　try　to　do　something　about　your　hair　there。〃
　She　shook　her　head　and　waved　him　toward　the　door。　Maybe　she　grinned　a　little；　he　couldn't　be　sure。
　
　#　#　#
　
　Graham　called　Molly　from　the　St。　Louis　FBI　office。　Willy's　grandfather　answered　the　telephone。
　〃It's　Will　Graham；　Mama；〃　he　said。　〃Hello；　Mr。　Graham。〃
　Willy's　grandparents　always　called　him　〃Mr。　Graham。〃
　〃Mama　said　he　killed　himself。　She　was　looking　at　Donahue　and　they　broke　in　with　it。　Damn　lucky　thing。　Saved　you　fellows　a　lot　of　trouble　catching　him。　Saves　us　taxpayers　footing　any　more　bills　for　this　thing　too。　Was　he　really　white？〃
　〃Yes　sir。　Blond。　Looked　Scandinavian。〃
　Willy's　grandparents　were　Scandinavian。
　〃May　I　speak　to　Molly；　please？〃
　〃Are　you　going　back　down　to　Florida　now？〃
　〃Soon。　Is　Molly　there？〃
　〃Mama；　he　wants　to　speak　to　Molly。　She's　in　the　bathroom；　Mr。　Graham。　My　grandboy's　eating　breakfast　again。　Been　out　riding　in　that　good　air。　You　ought　to　see　that　little　booger　eat。　I　bet　he's　gained　ten　pounds。　Here　she　is。〃
　〃Hello。〃
　〃Hi；　hotshot。〃
　〃Good　news；　huh？〃
　〃Looks　like　it。〃
　〃I　was　out　in　the　garden。　Mamamma　came　out　and　told　me　when　she　saw　it　on　TV。　When　did　you　find　out？〃
　〃Late　last　night。〃
　〃Why　didn't　you　call　me？〃
　〃Mamamma　was　probably　asleep。〃
　〃No；　she　was　watching　Johnny　Carson。　I　can't　tell　you；　Will。　I'm　so　glad　you　didn't　have　to　catch　him。〃
　〃I'll　be　here　a　little　longer。〃
　〃Four　or　five　days？〃
　〃I'm　not　sure。　Maybe　not　that　long。　I　want　to　see　you；　kid。〃
　〃I　want　to　see　you　too；　when　you　get　through　with　everything　you　need　to　do。〃
　〃Today's　Wednesday。　By　Friday　I　ought　to…〃
　〃Will；　Mamamma　has　all　Willy's　uncles　and　aunts　ing　down　from　Seattle　next　week；　and…〃
　〃Fuck　Mamamma。　What　is　this　'Mamamma'　anyway？〃
　〃When　Willy　was　real　little；　he　couldn't　say…〃
　〃e　home　with　me。〃
　〃Will；　I've　waited　for　you。　They　never　get　to　see　Willy　and　a　few　more　days…〃
　〃e　yourself。　Leave　Willy　there；　and　your　ex…mother…in…law　can　stick　him　on　a　plane　next　week。　Tell　you　what　…　let's　stop　in　New　Orleans。　There's　a　place　called…〃
　〃I　don't　think　so。　I've　been　working　…　just　part…time　…　at　this　western　store　in　town；　and　I　have　to　give　them　a　little　notice。〃
　〃What's　wrong；　Molly？〃
　〃Nothing。　Nothing's　wrong　。　。　。　I　got　so　sad；　Will。　You　know　I　came　up　here　after　Willy's　father　died。〃　She　always　said　〃Willy's　father〃　as　though　it　were　an　office。　She　never　used　his　name。　〃And　we　were　all　together　…　I　got　myself　together；　I　got　calm。　I've　gotten　myself　together　now；　too；　and　I…〃
　〃Small　difference：　I'm　not　dead。〃
　〃Don't　be　that　way。〃
　〃What　way？　Don't　be　what　way？〃　
　〃You're　mad。〃　
　Graham　closed　his　eyes　for　a　moment。　
　〃Hello。〃
　〃I'm　not　mad；　Molly。　You　do　what　you　want　to。　I'll　call　you　when　things　wind　up　here。〃
　〃You　could　e　up　here。〃　
　〃I　don't　think　so。〃　
　〃Why　not？　There's　plenty　of　room。　Mamamma　would…〃
　〃Molly；　they　don't　like　me　and　you　know　why。　Every　time　they　look　at　me；　I　remind　them。〃
　〃That's　not　fair　and　it's　not　true　either。〃　
　Graham　was　very　tired。　
　〃Okay。　They're　full　of　shit　and　they　make　me　sick　…　try　that　one。〃　
　〃Don't　say　that。〃
　〃They　want　the　boy。　Maybe　they　like　you　all　right；　probably　they　do；　if　they　ever　think　about　it。　But　they　want　the　boy　and　they'll　take　you。　They　don't　want　me　and　I　could　care　less。　I　want　you。　In　Florida。　Willy　too；　when　he　gets　tired　of　his　pony。〃
　〃You'll　feel　better　when　you　get　some　sleep。〃　
　〃I　doubt　it。　Look；　I'll　call　you　when　I　know　something　here。〃　
　〃Sure。〃　She　hung　up。　
　〃Ape　shit；〃　Graham　said。　〃Ape