emb.seethemdie-第25部分

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　The　hallway　was　silent。　He　felt　at　once　that　he　had　made　a　terrible　mistake；　that　he　had　revealed　something　which　should　have　remained　secret。　Papa　studied　him　with　blank　eyes。
　〃You　tole　on　Pepe？〃　he　asked　incredulously。
　〃Yes。〃
　〃How　you　know　where　he　wass？〃
　〃I　saw　him　yesterday。　I　recognize　his　picture　from　the　paper。　All　day；　I　wonder　about　it。　Then　I　think　。。。　I　think　it's　best　to　tell。〃
　〃But　。。。　but　tha's　bein'　。。。　a　rat；　Sixto。〃
　〃No。〃
　〃But　you　tole　on　Pepe！〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Why？　Why　you　do　this？〃
　〃Because　he　iss　bad。〃
　Papa　was　silent　for　a　long　time。　Then　he　scratched　his　head　and　said；　〃If　Pepe　iss　bad；　why　does　Zeep　say。。。？〃
　〃Zip　only　wants　to　be　big。　He　thinks　it　makes　him　big　to　boss。　But　it's　ony　big　when　you　let　everybody　live　his　own　life。　Papa；　listen。　Please。　Please　listen。〃　He　suddenly　felt　like　crying。　He　clutched　Papa's　arm　fiercely　and　said；　〃Papa；　we　go　this　way　now；　we　never　stop；　you　hear？〃
　〃I　hear。　Si；　si。〃
　〃We　go　this　way　now；　we　get　like　Zip；　and　then　we　wind　up　like　Pepe。　We　bring　more　shame　to　the　barrio。　We　hurt　ourselves。〃
　〃Si；　si；　prendo。〃
　〃Papa；　quien　adna　al　reves　anda　el　camino　dos　veces。　If　we　take　the　wrong　road；　we　make　the　journey　twice。〃
　〃But　。。。　Zeep　iss　bad？〃
　〃Yes；　yes。〃
　Struggling　with　this　new　idea；　Papa　said；　〃But　he　bought　me　pidaguas；〃　and　then　fell　silent。　His　brow　was　furrowed；　his　eyes　puzzled。　After　a　long　time；　he　said；　〃An'　Pepe　iss　bad　too？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Sixto。。。　iss　you　alone　who　thinks　like　this？　Or　ever'body？〃
　〃Everybody；　Papa。　Everybody　in　the　streets。〃
　〃I　。。。　Sixto　。。。　I　wanna　be　lak　ever'body　in　thees　city。　But　Zeep　say。。。〃
　〃Papa；　we　are　only　strong　if　we　do　the　right　thing。〃
　Again；　Papa　was　silent；　thinking。　He　shrugged　and　turned　to　Sixto。
　〃I　。。。　I　don'　wann　to　be　dee　bad　guy；　Sixto。〃
　〃No。〃
　〃I　wann　to　be　dee　goo'　guy。〃
　〃Si；　st。〃
　He　shrugged　again。　〃I　don'　know　how　to　say　in　English。〃
　〃You　are　with　me；　Papa？〃
　Papa　beamed。　〃Si；　I　am　wi'　you；　Sixto。〃　He　continued　smiling。　〃Sixto？〃　He　paused。　〃We　dee　goo'　guys；　Sixto？〃
　〃Yes；　Papa；〃　Sixto　said　very　softly。　〃We　the　good　guys。〃
　The　other　good　guys　came　up　the　street。
　There　were　two　of　them。　One　was　a　detective　lieutenant　named　Peter　Byrnes。　The　other　was　a　priest　named　Steve　Carella。
　Carella　felt　rather　foolish。　He　had　felt　foolish　in　the　rectory　of　the　church　while　arguing　with　Father　Donovan　who　had；　perhaps　rightfully；　insisted　that　the　policemen　were　planning　something　which　would　make　a　mockery　of　a　man's　faith　in　God。
　〃This　man　doesn't　have　a　faith　in　God；〃　Byrnes　had　said。　〃He　wants　a　priest　up　there　for　one　reason　and　one　reason　alone。　He　wants　to　use　him　as　a　shield　to　get　out　of　that　apartment。〃
　〃How　do　you　know　that？〃
　〃I　know　it；〃　Byrnes　said。　〃Take　my　word　for　it。　The　last　time　Pepe　Miranda　was　inside　a　church　was　the　day　he　was　baptized。〃
　〃He　may　wish　to　make　his　peace。〃
　〃Father；　I　respect　your　attitude；　believe　me。　But　I　think　I　know　a　little　more　about　this　man　than　you　do。　Now　you　can　either　let　me　borrow　one　of　your　black　things；　whatever　you　call　them。。。〃
　〃Cassock。〃
　〃Yes；　your　cassock；　or　else　we'll　have　to　root　around　someplace　else　and　find　one。　That'll　take　time；　and　Miranda　may　shoot　somebody　else　during　that　time。　Now；　it's　up　to　you。〃
　〃And　suppose　his　request　for　a　priest　is　legitimate？〃　Father　Donovan　asked。
　〃Then　I'll　e　straight　down　from　the　apartment；　and　I'll　e　straight　here；　and　I'll　give　you　back　your　hassock。。。〃
　〃Cassock。〃
　〃Cassock；　and　you　can　go　up　and　see　him　yourself。　Is　that　fair？〃
　〃It　sounds　fair。〃　Father　Donovan　had　studied　Byrnes。　〃My　garment　would　never　fit　you；　Lieutenant〃
　〃I'll　squeeze　into　it。〃
　Father　Donovan　shook　his　head。　〃No。　You've　got　at　least　thirty　pounds　on　me。　The　garment　is　cut　tight　to　begin　with。〃
　〃Father；　we're　in　an　awful　hurry。　Could　we　please。。。？〃
　〃Besides；〃　Carella　said；　〃you　can't　go　up　there；　Pete。〃
　〃Why　not？〃
　〃You've　been　our　talk…man　so　far。　If　somebody　else　starts　using　the　megaphone；　Miranda'11　get　suspicious。　You've　got　to　stay　in　the　street　and　keep　talking　to　him。〃
　〃I'm　going　up；〃　Byrnes　said。　〃I　wouldn't　ask　any　of　my　men　to　take　a　chance　like。。。〃
　〃The　cassock　doesn't　fit　you；〃　Carella　said。
　〃The　hell　with　the　。。。　pardon　me；　Father。〃
　〃And　Miranda　would　smell　a　rat；〃　Carella　said。
　〃I　don't　care　what　he。。。〃
　〃So　I'd　better　go　up。　Father　Donovan　and　I　are　about　the　same　size。〃
　〃Steve；　you　can't。。。〃
　〃That's　settled；〃　Carella　said。
　〃Steve。。。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃I　。。。　nothing。〃　He　paused。　〃He's　a　killer。〃
　〃I　know。〃
　〃And　it　was　my　idea　to。。。〃
　〃It　was　our　idea。　We　got　it　at　the　same　time；　Pete。　Remember？〃
　〃If　you　get　shot；　you　damn　fool。。。〃
　〃I've　been　shot　before；〃　Carella　said。
　The　men　stared　at　each　other。
　〃All　right；〃　Byrnes　said；　sighing；　〃where's　the　cassock；　Father？〃
　Now；　walking　down　the　street；　Carella　still　felt　foolish。　For　if　Pepe　Miranda　had　not　been　inside　a　church　since　the　day　of　his　baptism；　Carella　hadn't　been　inside　one　…　not　to　pray；　at　least　…　since　shortly　after　his　confirmation。　That　was　a　long；　long　time　ago。　Parading　down　the　street　now　in　a　priest's　long　black　apparel；　feeling　the　cold　hard　snout　of　a　。38　against　his　belly　beneath　the　black　cloth；　trying　to　look　pious　as　hell；　he　felt　only　foolish。　A　set　of　prayer　beads　was　entwined　around　his　right　hand。　He　quickly　shifted　them　to　his　left；　so　that　his　right　would　be　free　for　a　quick　draw　if　it　came　to　that。
　〃What's　the　plan？〃　he　asked　Byrnes。
　〃I'll　tell　Miranda　we've　got　his　priest。　He'll　probably　check　from　the　window。　Then　you　go　up。〃
　〃Then　what？〃
　〃If　he　wants　to　confess　or　something；　let　him　confess。　Watch　for　your　chance；　and　slug　him　if　he　turns　his　back。〃
　〃But　you　told　Father　Donovan。。。〃
　〃Yeah；　I　lied　in　church；〃　Byrnes　said。　〃Actually；　Miranda　isn't　going　to　make　any　confession；　Steve。　He's　going　to　grab　you　the　minute　you　walk　into　that　apartment；　and　he's　going　to　use　you　as　a　shield　when　he　walks　out。〃
　〃What　do　I　do？　Wait　for　my　chance　and　then。。。〃
　〃You　do　nothing。　Let　him　lead　you　out　I'll　have　men　on　either　side　of　the　doorway。　The　minute　he　steps　into　the　street；　you'd　better　duck。〃　Byrnes　paused。　〃I'd　feel　a　lot　happier　if　I　were　doing　this　myself；　Steve。〃
　〃Why？〃　Carella　grinned。　〃Because　I　might　get　killed？　My　goodness；　what　a　thing　to　be　worrying　about。〃
　〃You're　not　worried　about　it；　huh？〃
　〃Didn't　you　hear　that　reporter；　Pete？〃
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　〃Life　is　cheap；〃　Carella　answered。
　They　had　e　up　to　the　squad　car　now。　Byrnes　reached　into　it　for　the　megaphone。　〃You　set；　Steve？〃
　〃As　set　as　I'll　ever　be。〃
　〃Steve；　we're　going　to　begin　blasting　the　minute　he　clears　the　front　stoop。　The　shots　will　be　ing　from　behind　him；　but　I　can't　guarantee　that　all　these　bums　learned　anything　at　the　police　academy。　When　you　clear　the　stoop；　make　a　dive　for　the　sidewalk。〃
　〃Okay。〃
　〃Good　luck。〃
　〃Thanks。〃　Carella　paused。　〃Suppose　he　just　wants　to　pray　a　little？〃
　Byrnes　shrugged。　〃You've　got　a　set　of　prayer　beads。　Use　them。〃　He　paused。　〃Good　luck；〃　he　said　again。
　〃Let's　get　it　moving；〃　Carella　said；　〃before　I　chicken　out。〃
　Byrnes　picked　up　the　megaphone　and　blew　into　it。　〃Miranda？〃　he　called。　There　was　no　answer。　〃Miranda？〃　Still　no　answer。
　〃Maybe　he　slit　his　own　throat；〃　Carella　whispered。
　〃Miranda；　this　is　Lieutenant　Byrnes。　Can　you　hear　me？〃
　〃I　hear　you。　What　is　it？〃
　〃We've　got　your　priest。〃
　〃Where　is　he？　Get　him　out　in　the　middle　of　the　street。　I　want　to　see　him。〃
　Carella　nodded　at　Byrnes；　and　then　took　a　deep　breath。　Slowly；　he　walked　to　the　center　of　the　street。
　〃You　can't　see　him　if　you　don't　look；〃　Byrnes　said。
　There　was　a　long　silence。　Suddenly；　Miranda's　head　popped　up　above　the　window　sill。　He　looked　into　the　street　for　no　longer　than　ten　seconds；　and　then　dropped　from　sight　again。　Even　in　that　short　a　time；　Byrnes　and　Carella　saw　that　his　eyes　were　puffed　and　his　face　was　streaked。
　〃All　right；〃　Miranda　shouted。　〃Send　him　up。〃
　〃Not　so　fast；　Miranda；〃　Byrnes　said；　thinking；　I've　got　to　make　this　look　good。　He　knows　we　wouldn't　send　up　a　priest　unless　he　makes　some　concession。　He　knows　we're　considering　the　idea　that　this　may　be　a　trap。　He　knows　we're　not　stupid。
　〃What　is　it　now？〃　Miranda　said。
　〃The　priest　stays　right　where　he　is　unless　I　get　some　promises　from　you；〃　Byrnes　said。
　〃Here　we　go；〃　Miranda　answered；　and　the　people　in　the　street　began　chuckling。
　〃Yes；　here　we　go；　Miranda。　I'm　not　sending　up　a　man　you　can　use　as　a　shield　to　get　out　of　that　apartment。〃
　〃What　kind　of　a　louse　do　you　think　I　am？〃
　〃Do　I　have　to　answer　that　one？〃　Byrnes　said；　and　again　the　crowd　chuckled。　This　was　beginning　to　get　good。　None　of　that　grim　stuff　any　more。　Just　a　plain　old　battle　of　wits；　like　a　good　television　routine。
　〃All　right；　cop；　what　do　you　want　from　me？〃
　〃Number　one：　we're　sending　up　an　unarmed　man　who　insists　he　wants　to　see　you　alone　as　a　representative　of　God。　I　want　you　to　respect　that；　Miranda。〃　God　forgive　me；　Byrnes　thought。
　〃All　right；　all　right。〃
　〃Number　two：　I　want　you　to　talk　to　him。　About　ing　out　of　there。　I　don't　know　why　you　want　to　see　him；　and　I　don't　care。　But　I　want　your　promise　that　you'll　talk　to　him　about　ing　out。〃
　〃Is　that　all？〃
　〃Do　I　have　your　promise？〃
　〃What　makes　you　think　I'll　keep　any　promise　I　make？〃
　〃This　is　a　man　of　God；　Miranda。〃
　〃Okay；　okay；　I　promise。〃
　〃Did　you　hear　him；　Father？〃　Byrnes　asked　Carella。
　〃I　heard　him；〃　Carella　answered。
　〃You　can　enter　the　building　any　time　you　like。〃
　Carella　nodded；　sucked　in　another　deep　breath；　walked　directly　to　the　front　stoop　of　the　tenement；　and　entered　the　hallway。
　Byrnes　put　down　the　megaphone；　looked　at　his　watch；　and　then　told　Captain　Frick　he　wanted　four　of　the　best　marksmen　he　could　find。　Then　he　began　praying。
　
　
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　If　you're　God；　you've　got　all　these　little　things　to　take　care　of；　you　see。　Oh；　not　the　business　of　getting　the　sun　to　rise　on　time；　or　the　stars　to　e　out。　And　not　riding　herd　on　the　seasons　so　that　they　arrive　when　they're　supposed　to；　not　things　like　that。　Those　are　the　big　things；　and　the　big　things　almost　take　care　of　themselves。　It's　those　damn　little　things