dw.jimmythekid-第6部分

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　woman　who　doesn't　care　about　children；　and　some　barfly　to　do　the　driving；　and　they'll　just　get　themselves　in　trouble。〃
　〃Good；〃　Dortmunder　said。
　〃But　what　if　the　child　gets　hurt？　What　if　the　police　surround　the　hideout；　what　if　there's　a　shoot…out？〃
　〃A　shoot…out？　With　Kelp？　He's　so　gun…shy；　he　goes　out　to　the　track；　he　surrenders　at　the　beginning　of　every　race。〃
　〃But　what　about　the　other　people　with　him？　There's　no　telling　who　he'll　wind　up　with。〃
　Dortmunder　looked　pained；　and　May　remembered　that　he　and　Kelp　really　were　old　friends；　so　maybe　there　was　a　chance；　after　all。　But　then　Dortmunder's　expression　became　mulish；　and　he　said；　〃Just　so　he　doesn't　wind　up　with　me。　He's　jinxed　me　long　enough。〃
　May　cast　around　for　another　argument；　considered　a　specific　mention　of　the　friendship　between　Dortmunder　and　Kelp；　and　finally　decided　not　to　do　that。　If　she　did；　he　might　just　be　angry　enough　now　to　deny　the　friendship；　and　then　later　on　he'd　think　he　had　to　stand　by　the　denial。　Better　to　let　the　dust　settle　for　a　minute。
　They　were　finishing　the　Jell…O　when　she　started　again；　ing　in　from　another　direction　entirely；　saying；　〃I　read　that　book　again。　It　isn't　bad；　you　know。〃
　He　looked　at　her。　〃What　book？〃
　〃The　one　Kelp　showed　us。　The　one　about　the　kidnap。　ping。〃
　He　straightened　and　looked　around　the　room；　frowning。　〃I　thought　I　threw　that　out；〃　he　said。
　〃I　got　another　copy。〃　She'd　gotten　it　from　Kelp；　but　she　didn't　think　she　should　mention　that。
　He　turned　his　frown　toward　her。　〃What　for？〃
　〃I　wanted　to　read　it　again。　I　wanted　to　see　if　maybe　Kelp　had　a　good　idea　after　all。〃
　〃Kelp　with　a　good　idea。〃　He　finished　his　Jell…O　and　reached　for　his　coffee。
　〃Well；　he　was　smart　to　bring　it　around　to　you；〃　she　said。　〃He　wouldn't　be　able　to　do　it　right　without　you。〃
　〃Kelp　brings　a　plan　to　me。〃
　〃To　make　it　work；〃　she　said。　〃Don't　you　see？　There's　a　plan　there；　but　you　have　to　convert　it　to　the　real　world；　to　the　people　you've　got　and　the　places　you'll　be　and　all　the　rest　of　it。　You'd　be　the　aw…tour。〃
　He　cocked　his　head　and　studied　her。　〃I'd　be　the　what？〃
　〃I　read　an　article　in　a　magazine；〃　she　said。　〃It　was　about　a　theory　about　movies。〃
　〃A　theory　about　movies。〃
　〃It's　called　the　aw…tour　theory。　That's　French；　it　means　writer。〃
　He　spread　his　hands。　〃What　the　hell　have　I　got　to　do　with　the　movies？〃
　〃Don't　shout　at　me；　John；　I'm　trying　to　tell　you。　The　idea　is…〃
　〃I'm　not　shouting；〃　he　said。　He　was　getting　grumpy。
　〃All　right；　you're　not　shouting。　Anyway；　the　idea　is；　in　movies　the　writer　isn't　really　the　writer。　The　real　writer　is　the　director；　because　he　takes　what　the　writer　did　and　he　puts　it　together　with　the　actors　and　the　places　where　they　make　the　movie　and　all　the　things　like　that。〃
　〃The　writer　isn't　the　writer；〃　Dortmunder　said。
　〃That's　the　theory。〃
　〃Some　theory。〃
　〃So　they　call　the　director　the　aw…tour；'　she　explained；　〃because　that's　French　for　writer。〃
　〃I　don't　know　what　we're　talking　about；〃　Dortmunder　said；　〃but　I　think　I'm　getting　caught　up　in　it。　Why　do　they　do　it　in　French？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　Maybe　because　it's　more　classy。　Like　chifferobe。〃
　〃Like　what？〃
　She　could　sense　the　whole　thing　getting　out　of　hand。　〃Never　mind；〃　she　said。　〃The　point　was；　you　could　be　the　aw…tour　on　this　kidnapping　idea。　Like　a　movie　director。〃
　〃Well；　I　think　that　whole　aw…tour　theory　is…〃　He　stopped；　and　his　eyes　squinted。　〃Wait　a　minute；〃　he　said。　〃You　want　me　to　do　the　job！〃
　She　hesitated。　She　clutched　her　paper　napkin　to　her　bosom。　But　there　was　no　turning　back　now。　〃Yes；〃　she　said。
　〃So　you　can　take　care　of　the　kid！〃
　〃Partly；〃　she　said。　〃And　also　because　all　of　these　late…night　burglaries　aren't　good　for　you；　John；　they　really　aren't。　You　go　out　and　risk　life　imprisonment　for…〃
　〃Don't　remind　me；〃　he　said。
　〃But　I　want　to　remind　you。　If　you　get　caught　again；　you're　habitual；　isn't　that　right？〃
　〃If　I　stay　away　from　Kelp；〃　Dortmunder　said；　〃I　won't　get　caught。　And　if　I　stay　away　from　him；　my　luck'll　get　better。　I've　had　a　string　of　bad　luck；　and　it's　all　from　hanging　around　with　Andy　Kelp。〃
　〃Like　tonight？　That　store　going　out　of　business？　You　haven't　seen　Kelp　for　two　weeks；　not　since　you　threw　him　out　of　here。〃
　〃It　takes　time　to　wear　off　a　jinx；〃　he　said。　〃Listen；　May；　I　know　I'm　not　pulling　my　weight　around　here；　but　I'll…'；
　〃That's　not　what　I'm　talking　about；　and　you　know　it。　These　small…time　stings　just　aren't　right　for　you。　You　need　one　major　job　a　year；　that　you　can　take　some　time　on；　do　it　right；　and　feel　fortable　with　a　little　money　in　the　bank　afterwards。〃
　〃There　aren't　any　of　those　jobs　any　more；〃　he　said。　〃That's　the　whole　problem　in　a　nutshell。　Nobody　uses　cash　any　more。　It's　all　checks　and　credit　cards。　You　open　a　cash　register；　it's　full　of　nickels　and　Master　Charge　receipts。　Payrolls　are　all　by　check。　Do　you　know；　right　here　in　Manhattan；　there's　a　guy　sells　hot　dogs　on　a　street　corner；　he's　on　Master　Charge？〃
　May　said；　〃Well；　maybe　that　shows　Kelp　has　a　good　idea。　You　can　take　the　story　in　that　book；　and　adapt　it　around；　and　turn　it　into　something。　Andy　Kelp　couldn't　do　it；　John；　but　you　could。　And　it　wouldn't　just　be　following　somebody　else's　plan；　you'd　adapt　it；　you'd　make　it　work。　You'd　be　the　aw…tour。〃
　〃With　Kelp　for　my　actor；　huh？〃
　〃I'll　tell　you　the　truth；　John；　I　think　you're　unfair　to　him。　I　know　he　gets　too　optimistic　sometimes；　but　I　really　don't　think　he's　a　jinx。〃
　〃You've　seen　me　work　with　him；〃　Dortmunder　said。　〃You　don't　think　that's　a　jinx？〃
　〃You　didn't　get　caught；〃　she　pointed　out。　〃You've　been　collared　a　few　times　in　your　life；　John；　but　it　was　never　while　you　were　working　with　Andy　Kelp。〃
　Dortmunder　glowered　over　that　one；　but　he　didn't　have　an　immediate　answer。　May　waited；　knowing　she'd　presented　all　the　arguments　she　could；　and　now　all　she　could　do　was　let　it　percolate　through　his　head。
　Dortmunder　frowned　toward　the　opposite　wall　for　a　while；　then　grimaced　and　said；　〃I　don't　remember　the　book　so　good；　I　don't　know　if　it　was　such　a　hot　idea　in　the　first　place。〃
　〃I've　still　got　it；〃　she　said。　〃You　could　read　it　again。〃
　〃I　didn't　like　the　style；〃　he　said。
　〃It　isn't　the　style；　it's　the　story。　Will　you　read　it　again？〃　He　looked　at　her。　She　saw　he　was　weakening。　〃I　don't　promise　anything；〃　he　said。
　〃But　you　will　read　it？〃
　〃But　I　don't　promise　anything。〃
　Jumping　to　her　feet；　she　said；　〃You　won't　be　sorry；　John；　I　know　you　won't。〃　She　kissed　him　on　the　forehead；　and　ran　off　to　the　bedroom　to　where　she'd　hid　the　book。
　
　6
　
　K　E　L　P　walked　into　the　0。　J。　Bar　and　Grill　on　Amsterdam　Avenue　at　five　minutes　after　ten。　He　hadn't　wanted　to　make　a　bad　impression　by　showing　up　too　early；　so　he'd　hung　back　a　little　and　the　result　was　he　was　five　minutes　late。
　Two　customers　at　the　bar；　telephone　repairmen　with　their　tool…lined　utility　belts　still　on；　were　discussing　the　derivation　of　the　word　spic。　〃It　es　from　the　word　speak；〃　one　of　them　was　saying。　〃Like　they　say　all　the　time；　'I　spic　English。'　So　that's　why　they　got　the　name。〃
　〃Naw；〃　the　other　one　said。　〃It　didn't　e　like　that　at　all。　Don't　you　know？　A　spic　is　one　of　those　little　knives　they　use。　Din　you　ever　see　one　of　the　women　with　a　spic　stuck　down　inside　her　stocking？〃
　The　first　one　said；　〃Yeah？〃　He　was　frowning；　apparently　trying　to　see　in　his　mind's　eye　a　spic　stuck　down　inside　a　woman's　stocking。
　Kelp　walked　on　down　to　the　far　end　of　the　bar。　Rollo　the　bartender；　a　tall　meaty　balding　blue…jawed　fellow　in　a　dirty　white　shirt　and　dirty　white　apron；　came　moving　heavily　down　the　other　side　of　the　bar　and　pushed　an　empty　glass　across　to　him。　〃The　other　bourbon's　already　here；〃　he　said。　〃He's　got　the　bottle。〃
　〃Thanks；〃　Kelp　said。
　Rob　said；　〃And　the　draft　beer　with　the　salt　on　the　side。〃
　〃Right。〃
　〃Gonna　be　any　more　of　you？〃
　〃Naw；　just　the　three　of　us。　See　you；　Rollo。〃
　〃Hey；〃　Rob　said；　in　a　confidential　manner；　and　made　a　head　gesture　for　Kelp　to　e　in　closer。
　Kelp　went　in　closer；　leaning　toward　him　over　the　bar。　Was　there　trouble？　He　said；　〃Yeah？〃
　Rob；　in　an　undertone；　said；　〃They're　both　crazy；〃　and　made　another　head　gesture；　this　one　indicating　the　two　telephone　repairmen　down　at　the　other　end　of　the　bar。
　Kelp　looked　down　that　way。　Crazy？　With　all　those　screwdrivers　and　things；　they　could　get　kind　of　dangerous。
　Rollo　murmured；　〃It　es　from　Spic…and…Span。〃
　A　confused　vision　of　people　eating　a　detergent　and　going　crazy　entered　Kelp's　head。　Like　sniffing　airplane　glue　He　said；　〃Yeah？〃
　〃On　account　of　the　cleaning　women；〃　Rollo　said。
　〃Oh；〃　Kelp　said。　Cleaning　women　had　started　it　apparently；　drinking　the　stuff。　Maybe　it　was　a　kind　of　high。　〃I'll　stick　to　bourbon；〃　he　said；　and　picked　up　the　empty　glass。
　〃Sure；〃　Rollo　said；　but　as　Kelp　turned　away　Rollo　began　to　look　confused。
　Kelp　walked　on　down　past　the　end　of　the　bar　and　past　the　two　doors　marked　with　silhouettes　of　dogs　and　the　words　POINTE　and　SETTERS；　and　then　on　past　the　phone　booth　and　through　the　green　door　at　the　back　and　into　a　small　square　room　with　a　concrete　floor。　All　the　walls　of　the　room　were　lined　floor　to　ceiling　with　beer　and　liquor　cases；　leaving　only　enough　space　in　the　middle　for　a　battered　old　table　with　a　green　felt　top；　half　a　dozen　chairs；　and　a　dirty　bare　bulb　with　a　round　green　tin　reflector　hanging　low　over　the　table　on　a　long　black　wire。
　Dortmunder　and　Murch　were　seated　together　at　the　table。　A　glass　was　in　front　of　Dortmunder；　next　to　a　bottle　whose　label　said　AMSTERDAM　LIQUOR　STORE　BOURBON…　〃OUR　OWN　BRAND。〃　In　front　of　Murch　were　a　full　glass　of　beer　with　a　fine　head　on　it；　and　a　clear　glass　saltshaker。　Murch　was　saying　to　Dortmunder；　〃。　…　。　through　the　Midtown　Tunnel；　and…oh；　hi；　Kelp。〃
　〃Hi。　How　you　doing；　Dortmunder？〃
　Fine；〃　Dortmunder　said。　He　nodded　briefly　at　Kelp；　but　then　looked　away　to　pick　up　his　glass。　Kelp　could　sense　that　Dortmunder　was　still　feeling　very　prickly　about　this；　still　wasn't　entirely　sure　he　wanted　to　be　friends　or　go　along　with　this　kidnapping　idea　or　anything。　May　had　told　Kelp　to　go　slow　and　easy；　not　push　Dortmunder　too　hard；　and　Kelp　could　see　that　May　had　been　right。
　Murch　said；　〃I　was　just　telling　Dortmunder；　as　long　as　they've　got　that　construction　on　the　Brook