sk.theplant-第38部分

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ust　giving　us　the　opportunity。〃
　　〃Besides；〃　Herb　said；　〃it's　getting　room　and　board。　What　more　does　it　require？　An　ivy　doesn't　exactly　need　a　new　car；　does　it？〃　He　looked　at　Bill。　〃Are　you　sure　you　don't　want　me　to　join　the　disposal　crew？　I　will；　if　you　want　me。〃
　　Bill　Gelb　thought　it　over；　then　shook　his　head。　〃Two　of　us　should　do　just　fine。　But　we　ought　to　put　the。　。　。　you　know；　the　remains。　。　。　in　something。　I　wonder　what　there　is？〃
　　Which　was　when　Herb　went　into　the　supply　closet；　rummaged　awhile；　then　came　back　out　dragging　the　rug　remnant　behind　him。
　　It　turned　out　to　be　just　the　right　size。　Bill　and　I　were　exempted　from　the　task　of　gift…wrapping　Carlos　Detweiller；　and　I　thought　Sandra　would　stay　with　us　out　in　the　hall　（exempting　herself；　as　it　were；　by　virtue　of　her　sex）；　but　she　pitched　in　with　a　will。　And　all　around　us　Zenith　hummed　contentedly；　putting　a　floor　under　us；　sending　out　what　the　Beach　Boys　（another　whitebread　favorite　of　mine）　would　probably　call　〃good　vibrations。〃
　　〃Telepathy　seems　to　improve　teamwork；〃　Bill　mented；　and　I　had　to　admit　it　was　true。　Sandra　and　Herb　spread　out　the　rug　beside　Sandra's　desk。　Roger　and　John　lifted　Detweiller　and　deposited　him　face…down　at　one　end　of　the　rug。　Then；　working　together；　they　simply　rolled　him　up　like　a　Devil　Dog　pastry；　securing　the　whole　with　the　heaviest　twine　the　supply　closet　could　provide。
　　〃Man；　he　bled　a　lot；〃　Bill　said。　〃That　rug's　a　mess。〃
　　〃The　plant　will　suck　up　most　of　it　today　and　Sunday；〃　I　said。
　　〃You　really　think　so？〃
　　I　really　did。　I　also　thought　that　I　could　get　up　most　of　the　residue　with　a　good　application　of　Genie　Rug　Cleaner。　The　final　result　might　not　fool　a　police　forensics　specialist；　but　if　the　police　wind　up　in　here；　our　butts　are　probably　going　to　be　baked；　anyway。　To　an　ordinary　outsider；　the　remaining　stain　on　Sandra's　carpet　will　look　as　if　someone　spilled　a　pot　of　coffee　there　a　few　months　ago。　Maybe　the　only　real　question　is　whether　or　not　Sandra　can　live　with　that　manta…ray　shadow　in　the　place　where　she　earns　her　daily　bread。　If　she　can't；　I　suppose　I　can　replace　that　particular　piece　of　carpet。　Because　it's　as　Roger　says：　such　minimal　expenses　will　soon　no　longer　annoy　us。
　　〃You're　sure　you　can　get　this　truck？〃　Roger　called　out　from　Sandra's　office。　He　was　sitting　back　on　his　heels　and　wiping　his　forehead　with　his　sleeve。　〃What　if　the　guy's　gone　for　the　weekend？〃
　　〃He's　home；〃　Bill　said；　〃or　at　least　he　was　an　hour　and　a　half　ago。　I　saw　him　on　my　way　out。　And　for　fifty　dollars；　he'd　rent　me　his　grandmother。　He's　a　nice　enough　guy；　but　he's　got　this　little　problem。〃　He　mimed　sniffing；　first　closing　one　nostril　and　then　the　other。
　　〃Make　sure　he's　there；〃　Roger　said；　then　turned　to　John。　〃Body　disposal　bonuses　at　Christmas　for　all　of　us。　Make　a　note。〃
　　〃Sure；　just　don't　put　it　in　your　monthly　report；〃　John　said；　and　we　all　laughed。　I　suppose　that　must　sound　gruesome；　but　it　was　the　cheeriest；　most　collegial　laughter　you　ever　heard。　I　believe　that　Sandra；　with　a　tiny　smear　of　Carlos　Detweiller's　blood　on　her　forearm　and　another　on　her　right　palm；　laughed　hardest　of　all。
　　Bill　went　in　his　office　and　got　on　the　phone。　Roger　and　John　moved　Carlos；　now　wrapped　in　the　brown　rug　remnant；　down　to　the　reception　area；　behind　LaShonda's　desk。
　　〃I　can　see　his　shoes；〃　Sandra　said。　〃They're　sticking　out　a　little。〃
　　〃Don't　worry；　it'll　be　okay；〃　Herb　said；　and　just　like　that　I　knew　that　he's　been　doing　the　horizontal　bop　with　the　lady　fair。　Well；　mo　powah　to　him；　is　all　dis　fella　kin　say。　Might　be　no　mo　playin　truck…drivah　and　l'il　girl　hitchhikah；　praise　de　Lawd。
　　〃Nothing's　going　to　be　okay　until　that　homicidal　idiot's　taken　care　of；〃　Sandra　said。　She　started　to　brush　her　hair　back；　saw　the　blood　on　her　hand；　and　grimaced。
　　Bill　came　out　of　his　office；　smiling。　〃One　old　but　serviceable　panel　truck；　at　our　service；〃　he　said。　〃Bread　pany　advertising　logos　on　the　sides；　very　faded。　Riddley；　we　take　it　away　this　afternoon　at　four…in　less　than　three　hours；　in　other　words…and　I　bring　it　back　later　tonight。　No　questions　asked；　although　I　had　to　agree　to　mileage；　as　well。　Two　bits　per。　That　okay；　boss？〃
　　Roger　nodded。　〃This　guy　lives　downstairs　from　you；　right？〃
　　〃Right。　He's　a　stockbroker。　Buying　vehicles　at　auction　and　turning　them　over　is　just　a　sideline。　I　think　he　scams　the　insurance　panies　when　he　can；　as　well。　I　could　have　gotten　a　hearse；　actually；　but　that　seemed。　。　。　I　don't　know。　。　。　ostentatious。〃
　　To　me；　the　idea　of　taking　Detweiller　to　a　Jersey　landfill　in　a　hurry…up　wagon　seemed　not　ostentatious　but　downright　creepy。　I　kept　my　mouth　shut　on　the　subject；　however。
　　〃And　this　place　in　Paramus？〃　John　asked。　〃It's　safe？　Relatively　safe？〃
　　〃According　to　some　of　the　talk　I've　heard　at　Ginelli's　game；　it's　as　safe　as　the　grave。〃　Bill　saw　our　faces　and　grimaced。　〃To　coin　a　phrase。〃
　　〃All　right；〃　Roger　said　heavily。　〃Sandra's　office　looks　more　or　less　okay。　Let's　clean　up　Herb's　and　John's　and　then　get　the　hell　out　of　here。〃
　　We　did　it；　then　adjourned　to　the　cafeteria　a　block　over　to　get　something　to　eat。　None　of　us　had　much　in　the　way　of　appetite；　and　Bill　left　early　to　conclude　negotiations　with　the　fellow　downstairs。
　　Outside　the　cafeteria；　on　the　curb；　John　took　my　arm。　He　looked　tired　but　posed。　In　better　shape　than　before　I　left　for　home；　actually。　〃Riddley；　are　you　okay　with　this？〃
　　〃Fine　with　it；〃　I　said。
　　〃Want　me　to　ride　along？〃
　　I　thought　it　over；　then　shook　my　head。　〃Three's　a　crowd。　I'll　call　you　when　it's　taken　care　of。　But　it　may　be　late。〃
　　He　nodded；　started　away；　then　turned　back　and　grinned。　There　was　something　heartbreakingly　sweet　about　it。　〃Wele　to　the　Green　Thumb　Editorial　Society；〃　he　said。
　　I　sketched　him　a　little　salute。　〃Good　to　be　here。〃
　　As　it　was。　And　when　I　got　to　Bill's　place　shortly　thereafter；　the　old　panel　truck　was　already　parked　at　the　curb。　Bill　was　standing　next　to　it；　smoking　a　cigarette　and　looking　entirely　at　peace。
　　〃Let's　pick　up　some　cargo　and　take　it　to　Jersey；〃　he　said。
　　I　clapped　him　on　the　shoulder。　〃I'm　your　man；〃　I　said。
　　We　arrived　back　at　490　around　quarter　to　five。　At　that　hour　on　a　Saturday　afternoon；　the　building　was　as　quiet　as　it　ever　gets。　Absolutely　dead；　to　coin　another　phrase。　John's　nemesis　lay　where　we　had　left　him；　neatly　tied　into　his　bundle　of　rug。
　　〃Look　at　the　plant；　Riddley；〃　Bill　said；　but　I　already　had。　Runners　had　worked　their　way　to　the　end　of　the　corridor。　There　they　clustered；　barely　held　back　by　the　garlic　John　and　Roger　had　rubbed　on　the　sides　of　the　door。　The　tips　were　raised；　and　I　could　see　them　quivering。　I　thought　of　hungry　diners　looking　in　a　restaurant　window；　and　shivered　a　little。　If　not　for　the　garlic；　those　advance　feelers　would　already　have　worked　their　way　into　the　carpet　and　around　the　corpse's　feet。　Zenith　is　on　our　side；　I　feel　quite　sure　of　that；　but　neither　a　stiff　dick　nor　a　hungry　belly　has　much　in　the　way　of　conscience；　I'm　afraid。
　　〃Let's　get　him　out　of　here；〃　I　said。
　　Bill　agreed。　〃And　make　a　note　to　refresh　the　garlic　on　that　door。　Tomorrow；　maybe。〃
　　〃I　don't　think　garlic　will　hold　it　forever；〃　I　said。
　　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　　Because　we　were　back　under　Zenith's　telepathic　umbrella；　I　thought　my　response　at　him　rather　than　saying　it　out　loud：　It's　got　to　grow。　If　it　can't　grow；　it'll　die。　But　before　it　dies；　it　might…
　　Get　mean？　Bill　finished　for　me。
　　I　nodded。　Yes；　it　might　get　mean。　I'm　sure　that　Detweiller　and　General　Hecksler　would　say　it　had　gotten　fairly　mean　already。
　　We　carried　the　rolled…up　length　of　rug　down　the　hall　to　the　elevator；　which　opened　at　the　touch　of　a　button。　There　was　no　one　else　in　the　building　to　divert　it　to　another　location；　of　that　I　was　positive。　We　would　have　heard　their　thoughts。
　　〃We're　not　going　to　have　any　problems　at　all；　are　we？〃　I　asked　Bill　as　we　rode　down。　Mr。　Detweiller　lay　between　us；　a　troublesome　fellow　soon　to　take　up　permanent　residence　in　New　Jersey。　〃No　little　unexpected　Hitchcock　touches。〃
　　Bill　smiled。　〃I　don't　think　so；　Riddley。　We're　going　to　roll　all　sevens。　Because　the　force　is　with　us。〃
　　And　so　it　has　been。
　　
　　By　the　time　the　truck's　headlights　picked　out　the　sign　on　the　edge　of　Route　27…PETERBOROUGH　DISPOSAL　CO。　LANDFILL　ABSOLUTELY　NO　TRESPASSING…it　was　full　dark　and　the　moon　was　riding　high　in　the　sky。　High　and　dreamy。　It　crossed　my　mind　that　the　same　moon　was　looking　down　on　my　Mama's　fresh　grave　in　Blackwater。
　　There　was　a　chain　across　the　dirt　road　leading　to　the　landfill；　but　it　appeared　to　be　looped　over　the　posts　to　either　side；　not　locked。　I　got　out；　slipped　one　of　the　loops　free；　and　then　motioned　Bill　to　drive　through。　Once　he　was　on　the　other　side；　I　re…fixed　the　chain　and　got　back　in。
　　〃The　mob　uses　this　place；　I　take　it？〃　I　asked。
　　〃That's　the　rumor。〃　Bill　lowered　his　voice　a　little。　〃I　heard　one　of　Richie　Ginelli's　pals　say　that　Jimmy　Hoffa　is　taking　an　extended　vacation　out　this　way。〃
　　〃Bill；〃　I　said；　〃far　be　it　for　Zenith　House's　most　junior　editor　to　tell　you　what　to　do…〃
　　〃Lay　on；　MacDuff；〃　he　said；　smiling。
　　〃…but　a　poker　game　where　one　hears　such　odd　bits　of　trivia　might　not　be　the　place　for　an　inoffensive　editor　of　paperback　originals。〃
　　〃Speak　for　yourself；〃　he　said；　and　although　he　was　still　smiling；　I　don't　believe　that　what　came　next　was　a　joke。　〃If　the　bad　boys　cross　me；　I'll　just　sic　my　plant　on　them。〃
　　〃That's　what　Carlos　Detweiller　thought；　and　he's　making　his　final　pilgrimage　in　the　back　of　a　bread　truck；〃　I　said。
　　He　looked　at　me；　the　smile　fading　a　little。　〃You　might　have　a　point　there；　partner。〃
　　I　did　have　a　point　there；　but　I　doubt　it　will　stop　Bill　from　his　weekend　poker　forays。　Just　as　I　doubt　that　successfully　having　it　off　with　Sandra　Jackson　will　stop　Herb　Porter　from　the　occasional　clandestine　seat…sniffing　expedition。　We　say　〃so…and…so　should　have　known　better〃　when　so…and…so　es　to　grief；　but　there　is　a　world　of　difference　between　knowing　better　and　doing　better。　To　misquote　the　Bible；　we　return　to　our　vices　like　a　dog　to　its　vomit；　and　when　one　thinks　in　such　terms；　I　wonder　at　our　apparent　determination　to　co…exist　with　Zenith　the　mon　iv