thedestroyer.deathcheck-第21部分

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t　three　years　though；　not　until　we　have　another　funding　source。　Your　job　is　safe　with　us　for　another　three　years。〃
　So　it　was　just　a　hustle；　after　all。　All　the　federal　funds；　the　secrecy；　the　work　of　CURE；　the　deaths　of　McCarthy　and　Hawkins　and　Ratchett；　all　of　it　was　only　to　allow　these　harmless　nits　to　go　on　figuring　up　days　and　down　days；　drugging　rhinoceroses　and　lowering　heartbeats。　A　goddam　hustle。
　〃I　imagine　Deborah　was　working　on　that　plan。〃
　〃Don't　call　her　Deborah。　She's　Dr。　Hirshbloom。　I　personally　don't　mind；　but　you　know　how　some　of　these　medical　doctors　get。　No；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　she　wasn't　the　least　bit　interested。　Recently；　I've　been　getting　the　impression　she　is　interested　in　nothing　but　chess。　A　fine　mind。　But　very　unproductive；　I'm　afraid。〃
　〃Uh；　uh；〃　said　Remo；　who　noticed　suddenly　that　he　had　been　walking　in　his　old　manner；　the　natural　walk　of　his　youth　and　early　manhood。　His　peak　was　falling　rapidly　now。　Several　times　a　day　now；　he　was　forced　to　go　back　mentally　to　his　little　room；　where　Chiun　waited。　But　the　effect　was　wearing　off　more　and　more　rapidly。　His　vitality　was　ebbing。
　Brewster　was　rambling　on　about　his　plan　to　conquer　the　world。　Of　course；　it　could　be　pulled　off　if　each　soldier　in　the　Army　could　be　brought　up　to　twenty　percent　capacity。　Did　it　shock　Remo　that　the　average　man　used　less　than　ten　per　cent？　But　no　one　yet；　Brewster　said；　had　reached　twenty　per　cent。　He　wasn't　even　sure　if　a　human　being　could　survive　using　twenty　per　cent　of　his　capabilities。　So；　in　a　way；　the　forum　was　really　giving　the　government　its　money's　worth。　A　brilliant　plan　that　was　impossible。　Generals　like　those　sort　of　things。
　Remo　tried　to　concentrate　on　the　room；　but　the　sidewalk　still　thumped　hard　against　his　heels。　He　pulled　oxygen　deep　into　his　groin；　but　still　felt　winded。　He　thought　of　Deborah　and　for　a　moment　was　exhilirated。　He　realized。　She　was　uninterested　in　the　work　of　Brewster　Forum　because　she　did　not　e　to　work　for　Brewster　Forum。
　She　was　an　agent；　all　right。　Her　control　proved　that；　even　when　she　was　afraid　of　him。　And　she　was　beginning　to　fall　in　love　with　him。　The　alienation　of　their　lives　had　been　broken　and　both　shared　the　first　flushes　of　knowing　someone。　That　was　why　things　had　moved　so　well　the　night　before。
　And　Conn　MacCleary　was　the　key。　The　Israelis　wouldn't　let　Conn　fight　his　holy　war　against　the　Arabs　after　they　had　desecrated　the　sanctity　of　his　still　because；　quite　simply；　Conn　MacCleary　was　not　in　Israel　to　fight　Arabs　or　even　to　train　people　to　fight　Arabs。
　Conn　MacCleary；　master　of　the　personal　attack；　was　training　people　to　seek　a　different　enemy。　And　it　would　also　explain　why　he　volunteered　and　why　Deborah　had　not　listed　the　real　name　of　her　village；　and　why；　if　it　was
　so　secret；　the　presence　of　Arabs　would　in　no　way　promise　it。
　This　little　village　was　the　first　training　ground　for　the　agents　who　would　follow　those　who　had　processed　people　in　ovens；　stripped　human　flesh　for　lampshades；　tore　off　genitals　with　pliers；　experimented　on　babies　and　women　and　men　to　see　how　long　it　took　shock　to　set　in　when　an　organ　was　ripped　off　or　when　you　tied　a　woman's　legs　together　during　labor。　The　village　was　a　training　site　for　people　to　track　down　Nazis　and　Deborah　was　on　the　trail　of　one。
　And　that　one　must　be　the　killer；　the　one　who　had　brought；　about　the　deaths　of　McCarthy　and　Now　Ratchett。　Because　they　had　somehow　gotten　in　the　way　of　his　plan　to　get　the　promising　photos　of　the　Forum's　staff。　But　why　did　he　want　the　pictures？　Probably　to　blackmail　the　staff　into　giving　him　the　little　plan　to　conquer　the　world。　Well；　the　joke　was　on　him。　The　plan　to　conquer　the　world　was　a　hoax；　only　Brewster's　way　of　getting　more　federal　funds。
　Remo　would　have　a　good　day　off　peak。　And'if　Deborah　asked　him　to；　he　would　help　set　up　a　snatch　or　a　kill　on　the　one　she　was　after。　He　would　show　her　how　good　he　was。　And　then　they　would　make　love。
　〃You　know；〃　Remo　said　to　Dr。　Brewster；　〃it's　a　beautiful　day。〃　They　were　at　the　phone　booth　on　the　corner。　I'll　be　right　out。〃
　〃You're　not　going　to　phone　the　police　or　something。　I　mean；　what　are　you　going　to　do？〃
　〃I'll　take　care　of　it；〃　Remo　said　assuringly。
　〃You're　sure　you're　all　right　now？　You　were　pretty　shocked　before；　son。　And　I　wouldn't　want　you　to　do　anything　that　would　embarrass　you　or　anything。　Not　many　people　can　accept　the　violence　we　saw　today；　and　I　want　you　to　know　that　I　don't　hold　it　against　you。〃
　〃Thank　you；〃　said　Remo。　〃But　I　think　I　can　handle　it。〃
　Brewster　put　a　fatherly　hand　on　Remo's　arm。　〃I'm　sure　you　can；　son。　I'm　sure　you　can。　And　if　the　police　need　more　information；　I'll　be　right　here。〃
　〃Oh；　I　think　I've　got　most　of　the　information　they　need；〃　Remo　said。　〃Somebody　cut　off　Dr。　Ratchett's　penis　and　he　died　from　shock　caused　by　loss　of　blood；　while　flailing　around　in　a　pink　puddle　of　gore。　They'll　find　out　for　sure　when　they　take　his　lungs　out　in　the　autopsy。〃
　Dr。　Nils　Brewster　nodded　sagely　and　collapsed　on　the　gravel　before　the　booth　in　a　dead　faint。　Remo　removed　the　pipe　from　where　it　had　fallen　near　Brewster's　head。　It　was　still　lit　and　could　have　set　the　tumbleweed　hair　afire。
　And　that　afternoon；　the　good　Reverend　gave　Remo　some　delightful　news。　He　was　not　only　off　peak；　but　he　was　to　leave。　Immediately。　Remo　spoke　the　number　into　the　tape　recording　and　waited。　Dr。　Brewster　was　blissfully　in　the　land　of　out。
　A　car　passed　and　the　driver　offered　to　help。　It　was　Anna　Stohrs；　the　blonde　with　the　hard　face。　Remo　waved　her　away；　angrily；　and　with　a　hard　glint　in　her　eyes　she　gunned　the　gas　pedal　and　sped　off。
　Remo　whistled　softly　to　himself　as　he　kept　the　cradle　down　with　his　elbow。　Some　day　he　might　set　the　record　for　holding　down　a　receiver　without　moving。　Guinness　Book　of　Records：　Remo　Williams；　three　hours　and　fifty…two　minutes。　Let's　hear　it　for　clean　living　and　expensive　training。　But　how　could　somebody　pose　people　in　sex　photos　without　their　knowing？　Hypnotism？　Too　hard。　Too　hard。　It　must　be　drugs。
　The　bing　of　the　first　ring　and　Remo　released　the　cradle。
　〃What　is　it　now？〃　Smith　sounded　angry。　That　meant　he　was　happy。
　〃I'd　like　to　stay　a　day。　Here。〃
　〃No。〃
　〃I've　got　something　I'm　working　on。〃。　〃No；〃　said　Smith。　〃Just　do　what　you're　supposed　to　do。〃
　〃One　of　the　people　here　has　met　with　an　accident。〃
　〃That's　all　right。　Doesn't　matter。〃
　〃I　know　about　the　little　plan。〃
　〃Forget　it。〃
　〃Aren't　you　interested？〃
　〃If　I　see　you　in　a　year　or　so；　you　can　tell　me　all　about　it。〃
　〃Well；　why　the　sudden　go？〃
　There　was　silence。　And　then　Smith　said　in　a　calm　but　pained　voice：　〃You're　asking　me　a　why？〃
　〃I'm　sorry。　I　really　am。〃
　〃So　am　I。　I'll　attribute　it　to　the　inordinately　long　peak。〃
　〃Well；　screw　you；〃　Remo　said。　〃You　ding…dongs　set　the　peak；　not　me。〃
　〃Look。　Rest。〃
　〃I'm　not　getting　off　till　I　get　the　reason。　I　want　to　stay　another　day。〃
　〃If　you　must　know；　another　agency　had　moved　into　it。　Remember　the　paint　shop？　Well；　it's　bee　an　international；　and　they're　working　with　an　ally。　In　twenty…four　hours　that　place　is　going　to　be　crawling　with　agents。　We're　not　needed　now。　So　if　you　suddenly　feel　some　need　to　perform　some　public　service　that　is　not　your　job；　why　don't　you　help　with　the　garbage　collection？〃
　〃I　want　that　extra　day。〃
　〃Why？〃　Smith　was　getting　annoyed。
　〃Would　it　surprise　you　if　I　told　you　I　want　to　get　laid。〃　Remo　used　hard　terms；　lest　Smith　suspect　affection。
　〃Anyone　special？〃
　〃One　of　the　scientists。〃
　〃Not　that　f　airy？〃
　〃No。　Doctor　Hirshbloom。〃
　〃Remo。〃　Smith's　voice　was　suddenly　harsh　and　imperious。　〃Stay　away　from　her。　She's　an　ally　and　she'll　be　working　with　our　people　to　clear　up　this　mess。　She'll　finger　the　targets。〃
　〃She'll　work　better　if　she's　well…laid。〃
　〃Leave　her　alone。〃
　〃What　about　the　sex　photographer？〃
　〃All　part　of　the　same　thing。　Blackmail　against　the　government。　I　tell　you；　it's　in　good　hands。　Now　get　out　of　there　before　you　get　arrested　for　loitering。　We're　closing　this　number。　We'll　reach　you。　You　get　lost　until　we　do。　That's　an　order。〃
　Remo　hung　up。　Screw　Smith　and　screw　CURE。　He　was　staying　and　he　was　having　his　day　with　Deborah。　That　was　it。　Insubordination。　He　had　peaked　too　long。　If　he　hung　around；　they　would　be　after　him　to　set　him　up。　But　a　setup　is　not　a　follow…through　and　he　was　not　a　part　to　be　replaced　easily。　Or　was　he？
　Well；　if　it　came　to　that；　he　couldn't　think　of　a　better　reason　to　go。　Conrad　MacCleary　chose　patriotism。　Remo　Williams　chose　a　woman。　Maybe　another　day；　he　would　feel　differently。　But　today　was　today　and　it　was　August　and　he　was　going　to　stick　it　to　Deborah；　and　then　go　to　Henrici's　Restaurant　in　Dayton；　Ohio；　for　a　Wednesday　night　meal；　and　keep　going　to　Wednesday　night　meals　until　they　found　him。
　On　impulse；　he　dialed　Dial…a…Prayer　again。　A　tape　recording　told　him　〃The　number　you　have　reached　is　not　a　working　number。〃
　Fast。
　Outside；　Brewster　was　ing　to。　The　first　words　he　said　to　Remo　as　soon　as　he　regained　his　balance　were　〃Are　you　all　right；　son？〃
　〃Yes；　Nils。　Thank　you。〃。
　〃Do　you　need　help？〃
　〃I。。。。〃　Remo　paused。　〃Couldn't　make　the　phone　call　to　the　police。〃
　〃That's　all　right。　I　understand。　You've　been　through　hell。　It's　a　very　difficult　job　to　be　security　officer。〃
　〃I　don't　know　if　I　can；　can　continue　in　the　job。　Not　now。〃
　〃Yes；　you　can；〃　Brewster　said　firmly。　〃Because　we're　doubling　your　salary。　You're　the　first　policeman　good　enough　for　the　job。　And　that's　that。　Don't　say　no。　I　know　men。　You're　the　first　one　good　enough　for　Brewster　Forum。　I'll　make　the　phone　call　to　the　police。〃
　Remo　thanked　Dr。　Brewster　who　fumbled　a　dime　into　the　telephone　and　dialed　the　emergency　number　listed　on　the　board　above　the　coin　slots。　He　winked　at　Remo；　made　an　okay　sign　with　his　right　hand；　and　began　to　babble　incoherently　into　the　receiver。
　Remo　waved　at　Brewster；　who　was　gesticulating　wildly　with　his　free　hand；　as　he　shouted　into　the　phone：　〃Dead。　Aaah。　Dead。　Ooooh。　Help。　Dead。　Brewster　Forum。　Blood。〃
　And　Remo　sauntered　off；　flatfooted；　off　balance　and　laughing　at　himself。　The　flush　of　relaxation　might　have　explained　why　he　was　about　to　enter　the　first　black…out　period　of　his　life。
　
　CHAPTER　TWENTY…ONE
　
　The　man　once　known　as　Dr。　H