dw.jimmythekid-第19部分

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　19
　
　ALUMINOUS　afternoon　'n　the　black…and…white　forest。　The　monster；　played　by　Boris　Karloff；　pauses　as　he　hears　the　sweet　notes　of　a　violin。　His　face　lights；　he　lumbers　through　the　woods；　following　the　sound。　He　es　to　a　cozy　cottage　amid　the　trees；　very　gingerbread。　Inside；　the　violin　is　being　played　by　a　blind　hermit；　who　is　being　played　by　0。　P。　Heggie。　The　monster　approaches；　and　pounds　on　the　door。
　Someone　pounded　on　the　door。
　〃Eee！〃　Murch's　Mom　said；　and　jumped　straight　up　out　of　her　folding　chair。　Which　folded；　and　fell　over　with　a　slap。
　They　had　all　been　sitting　around　the　battery…operated　small　television　set　they'd　brought　out　to　follow　the　kidnapping　news。　There'd　been　no　kidnapping　news…apparently　the　cops　were　keeping　a　news　blackout　on…so　now　they　were　watching　the　late　movie。　The　three　kerosene　lamps；　the　hibachi　in　the　fireplace；　and　the　flickering　television　screen；　all　gave　some　light　and　less　heat。
　Someone　pounded　at　the　door　again。　On　the　TV　screen；　the　blind　hermit　opened　his　door　to　the　monster。
　The　others　had　all　scrambled　to　their　feet　too　by　now；　though　without　knocking　over　their　chairs。　Harshly　Kelp　whispered；　〃What　do　we　do？〃
　〃They　know　we're　here；〃　Dortmunder　said。　〃Let　me　do　the　talking。〃　He　glanced　upstairs；　and　said；　〃May；　if　the　kid　acts　up；　say　something　about　him　having　nightmares　and　go　up　there　and　keep　him　quiet。〃
　May　nodded。　The　pounding　sounded　at　the　door　for　a　third　time。　Murch's　Mom　said；　〃I'll　go。〃
　They　all　waited。　Dortmunder's　hand　was　near　the　pocket　with　his　revolver。　Murch's　Mom　opened　the　door　and　said；　〃Well；　for　God…〃
　And　the　kid　walked　in。
　〃Holy　Toledo！〃　Murch　said。
　Kelp；　slapping　his　hands　to　his　face；　yelled；　〃Masks！　Masks！　Don't　let　him　see　your　faces！〃
　Dortmunder　didn't　believe　it。　He　stared　at　the　kid；　looking　as　wet　and　muddy　and　ragged　as　a　drowned　kitten；　and　then　he　looked　upstairs。　And　then　he　ran　upstairs。　He　didn't　know　what　he　thought；　maybe　that　the　kid　was　twins　or　something；　but　he　just　didn't　believe　he　wasn't　in　that　room。
　The　door　was　locked；　and　Dortmunder　fumbled　with　the　key　for　a　few　seconds　before　remembering　he　had　a　flashlight　in　his　other　pocket…the　pocket　without　the　revolver　in　it…but　once　he　had　the　flashlight　out　and　shining　he　swiftly　unlocked　the　door；　pushed　it　open；　stepped　inside；　aimed　the　light　beam　all　around；　and　the　room　was　empty。
　Empty。　How　could　that　be？　Dortmunder　looked　under　the　bed　and　in　the　closet；　and　the　kid　was　gone。
　But　the　door　had　been　locked。　The　boards　were　still　on　the　windows。　There　were　no　holes　in　the　ceiling　or　the　floor　or　any　of　the　walls。　There　were　no　other　exits　from　the　room。　〃It's　a　locked…room　mystery；〃　Dortmunder　told　himself；　and　stood　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　flashing　the　light　slowly　this　way　and　that；　pletely　baffled。
　Downstairs；　Kelp　was　the　first　one　to　find　and　don　his　mask；　and　then　he　ran　over　to　grab　the　kid。　〃I'm　not　trying　to　get　away；〃　the　kid　said。　〃I'm　just　closing　the　door。〃
　〃Well；　just　stay　put；〃　Kelp　told　him。
　〃I　came　back；　didn't　I？　Why　should　I　try　to　get　away？〃
　May　too　had　put　on　her　mask　by　now；　and　she　came　over　to　say；　〃You're　drenched！　You'll　catch　your　death！　You've　got　to　get　out　of　those　wet　clothes　right　now。〃　To　Kelp　she　said；　〃Go　up　and　get　his　blankets；〃　and　to　the　boy　she　said；　〃Now　get　out　of　those　clothes。〃
　Hearing　the　authoritarian　maternal　voice；　both　Kelp　and　the　kid　promptly　obeyed。　Meantime；　Murch　and　his　Mom　were　squabbling　over　the　mask　they'd　both　been　using。　Murch's　Mom　hadn't　worn　one　during　the　kidnapping；　and　when　she'd　gone　upstairs　with　May　earlier　she'd　borrowed　her　son's。　It　hadn't　been　anticipated　the　whole　gang　would　be　in　the　boy's　presence　at　once。　Now　they　were　both　holding　the　mask；　and　tugging　a　little。　〃Stan；〃　Murch's　Mom　said；　〃you　give　me　that。　I　have　a　much　more　memorable　face　than　you。〃
　〃You　do　not；　Mom；　you　look　like　every　other　cabdriver　in　New　York。　I　really　need　that　mask；　and　anyway　it's　mine。〃
　Going　upstairs；　Kelp　found　Dortmunder　in　the　kid's　room；　walking　around　in　circles；　shining　his　flashlight　here　and　there。　Kelp　said；　〃What　are　you　doing？〃
　〃It's　impossible；〃　Dortmunder　said。　〃How'd　he　get　out？〃
　〃I　dunno。〃　Kelp　picked　up　the　blankets　and　the　pajamas　from　the　bed。　〃Why　don't　you　ask　him？〃
　〃He　must　of　walked　through　the　wall；〃　Dortmunder　said。
　Kelp　went　out；　leaving　Dortmunder　still　making　circles；　and　hurried　downstairs。　May　had　the　boy　over　by　the　fireplace　now；　where　there　was　still　some　heat　from　the　char。　coal　in　the　hibachi。　She　had　him　stripped　down　to　his　underpants；　and　she　immediately　began　rubbing　him　down　with　one　of　the　blankets；　using　it　a　towel。　〃You're　really　wet；〃　she　said。　〃You're　really　wet。〃
　〃And　cold；〃　the　boy　said。　〃It's　no…fooling　cold　out　there。〃　He　yawned。
　On　the　other　side　of　the　room；　Murch's　Mom　was　triumphantly　wearing　the　Murch　family　Mickey　Mouse　mask。　Murch；　showing　his　irritation　by　the　set　of　his　shoulders；　sat　at　the　card　table　with　his　elbows　on　the　table　and　his　hands　over　his　face。　Lantern　light　glinted　on　his　eyes　as　he　peered　between　his　fingers。
　Dortmunder　came　downstairs。　He　marched　across　the　living　room　to　where　May　was　drying　the　boy　with　a　blanket；　glowered　down　at　him；　and　said；　〃All　right；　kid。　How'd　you　do　it？〃
　May；　on　one　knee　in　front　of　the　boy；　folded　him　in　her　arms；　glared　up　at　Dortmunder；　and　said；　〃Don't　you　strike　this　child。〃
　〃What　strike？　I　wanna　know　how　he　got　out　of　the　goddam　room。〃
　Kelp　whispered　with　harsh　urgency；　〃Your　mask！　Your　mask！〃
　Dortmunder　looked　around。　〃What？〃　Then　he　felt　his　bare　face　and　said；　〃Oh；　for　Christ's　sake。〃　His　mask　was　near　him；　on　the　mantel；　and　when　he　picked　it　up　it　was　warm　from　hibachi　heat。　He　pulled　it　angrily　over　his　head　and　said；　〃It　stinks　worse　when　it's　hot。〃
　May　said；　〃You　men　get　some　wood；　build　a　real　fire　in　this　fireplace。　We　need　some　heat　in　this　room。〃
　〃What　wood？〃　Dortmunder　said。　〃Everything　outside'll　be　too　wet　to　burn。〃
　〃There　must　be　wood　in　here；〃　she　said。　〃Something　to　make　a　fire。〃
　〃All　right；〃　Dortmunder　said；　looking　around。　〃All　right；　I'll　find　something。〃
　〃I　can't　help；〃　Murch　said。　His　voice　was　muffled　by　his　hands；　so　that　he　sounded　as　though　he　too　had　a　mask　on。　〃I　can't　very　well　carry　wood　with　my　hands　over　my　face；〃　he　said；　and　even　through　the　muffling　effect　the　tone　of　grievance　could　be　heard　in　his　voice。
　〃So　you'll　sit　there；〃　his　Mom　told　him。
　Dortmunder　and　Kelp　went　out　to　the　kitchen；　where　they　found　some　built…in　shelving　they　could　rip　out；　and　for　a　time　the　empty　house　echoed　with　ripping；　rending；　crashing　sounds　from　the　kitchen。　Meantime；　Murch's　Mom　moved　the　hibachi　to　a　corner　of　the　fireplace　and　made　a　bed　for　the　fire　out　of　ripped…up　pieces　of　cardboard　from　the　cartons　that　had　contained　their　provisions。　Murch　sat　the　card　table　and　watched　the　action　through　his　fingers；　and　May　dressed　the　boy　in　pajamas　and　wrapped　the　other　blanket　around　him。　On　the　television　screen；　which　no　one　was　watching；　the　blind　hermit　was　playing　his　violin　for　the　monster。
　Dortmunder　and　Kelp　brought　a　lot　of　jagged　pieces　of　wood　in；　stacked　them　in　the　fireplace；　and　lit　the　card。　board　underneath。　The　fire　started　up　at　once；　and　smoked　terrifically　for　half　a　minute；　during　which　time　everybody　coughed　and　waved　their　arms　and　shouted　unintelligible　and　unfollowable　orders　about　the　flue。　Then　all　all　at　once　the　chimney　began　to　draw；　the　fire　flared　up；　the　smoke　was　sucked　away　into　the　rain　and　the　wind　outside；　and　heat　wafted　out　across　the　room。
　〃That's　nice；〃　May　said。
　Jimmy；　warm　now　and　dry；　turned　at　last　and　noticed　the　television　set。　〃Oh！〃　he　said。　〃Bride　of　Frankenstein！　There's　some　beautiful　shots　in　that。　It　was　directed　by　James　Whale；　you　know；　he　also　did　the　original　Frankenstein　and　The　Invisible　Man。　Just　incredible　camera　angles。　Can　I　watch？〃
　〃It's　past　your　bedtime；〃　May　said。
　〃Oh；　that　can't　count　now；〃　Jimmy　said。　〃Besides；　my　room　is　cold；　and　you　want　to　keep　me　warm；　don't　you？〃
　〃An　exercise…yard　lawyer；〃　Dortmunder　said。
　Murch　said；　〃Put　the　kid　upstairs；　will　you？　I　don't　want　to　spend　the　rest　of　my　life　with　my　hands　over　my　face。〃
　Dortmunder　said；　〃And　I　don't　want　to　keep　this　goddam　mask　on　any　more。〃
　Jimmy　said；　〃I'll　make　you　a　deal。〃
　They　all　looked　at　him。　Murch's　Mom　said；　〃You'll　make　us　a　what？〃
　〃I　already　saw　your　faces　anyway；〃　Jimmy　said；　〃when　I　first　came　in。　But　if　you　let　me　stay　and　watch　the　movie；　you　can　take　your　masks　off　and　I　promise　I'll　make　believe　you　kept　them　on。　I'll　never　identify　you；　and　I　won't　tell　the　police　or　anybody　else　that　I　ever　saw　you　or　that　I　know　what　you　look　like。　I'll　make　a　solemn　vow。〃　He　held　his　right　hand　up　in　the　three…finger　Boy　Scout　oath　sign；　though　he　was　not　now　and　never　had　been　a　Boy　Scout。　But　he　meant　it　just　the　same。
　The　gang　all　looked　at　one　another。　Murch's　Mom　said；　〃Well；　it　would　be　easier。〃
　Kelp　said；　〃But　that's　not　the　way　it's　done。　That's　not　the　way　it's　done。〃
　Dortmunder　said；　〃You　mean　in　that　goddam　book？〃
　〃I　mean　anywhere。　But；　all　right；　in　the　book。　Could　you　imagine　the　gang　in　that　book　taking　their　masks　off　and　sitting　down　with　the　victim　and　watch　Bride　of　Frankenstein？〃
　〃I　really　really　promise；〃　Jimmy　said。
　Dortmunder　yanked　his　mask　off　and　threw　it　into　a　corner。　〃I'll　take　the　kid's　word　for　it；〃　he　said。
　〃So　do　I；〃　said　Murch's　Mom；　and　pulled　her　own　mask　off。　〃This　thing　flattens　my　hair　anyway。〃
　Murch　took　his　hands　down　from　his　face。　〃Boy；　that's　a　strain　on　the　arms；〃　he　said。
　May　took　off　her　mask；　looked　at　it；　and　said；　〃I　always　thought　this　thing　was　pretty　silly　anyway。〃
　Kelp；　the　only　one　in　the　room　with　a　Mickey　Mouse　mask　on；　said；　〃You　people　don't　seem　to　understand。　If　you　don't　do　a　thing　right；　how　do　you　expect　to　get　away　with　anything？〃
　〃Be　quiet；〃　Murch's　Mom　said。　〃I'm　watching　the　movie。〃
　May　said　to　Jimmy；　〃e　here；　sit　with　me。〃；；
　I　m　a　little　old　for　sitting　on　people　s　laps；　Jimmy　said。
　〃Okay；〃　May　said。　〃Then　I'll　sit　on　yours。〃
　Jimmy　laughed。　〃You　win；〃　he　said。　〃I'll　sit　on　your　lap。〃
　They　all　arranged　themselves　in