ch.doublewhammy-第50部分

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that　had　seen　brighter　days。　There　was　also　a　plastic　forty…gallon　garbage　bucket；　eight　feet　of　aquarium　tubing；　and　four　dozen　D…size　batteries；　which　Skink　had　purchased　at　Harney　Hardware。
　He　was　fiddling　with　his　trash…bucket　contraption　when　Decker　came　up　and　said；　〃Why'd　you　let　her　go？〃
　〃No　reason　to　keep　her。〃
　To　Decker　the　reason　seemed　obvious。　〃She'll　run　straight　to　her　brother。〃
　〃And　tell　him　what？〃
　〃Where　I　am；　for　starters。〃
　〃You　won't　be　here　that　long；〃　Skink　said。　〃We're　all　heading　south。　Jim　Tile　and　the　Cuban…they　been　practicing？〃
　〃All　day；〃　Decker　said。　〃Garcia's　hopeless。〃
　〃He　can　play　captain；　then。〃
　Decker　needed　to　ask　something　else　but　he　didn't　want　to　set　Skink　off。
　〃She　doesn't　know　the　plan；　does　she？〃
　It　was　another　way　of　asking　what　had　happened　in　the　Corvette。　Skink　clearly　didn't　want　to　talk　about　it。
　〃Some　of　us　know　how　to　get　laid　with　our　mouths　shut；〃　he　said　sourly。　〃No；　she　doesn't　know　the　damn　plan。〃
　Decker　was　getting　ominous　vibrations；　maybe　the　beating　in　Delray　had　loosened　a　few　more　bolts　in　the　big　man's　brainpan。　Skink　was　forever　pulling　guns；　and　he　looked　like　he　wanted　to　pull　one　now。　Decker　asked　Jim　Tile　for　a　ride　to　town；　to　make　some　phone　calls。　Al　Garcia　went　along；　he　was　out　of　cigarettes。
　〃Town's　a　bad　idea；〃　Jim　Tile　said；　heading　away　from　Harney　on　Route　222。　〃The　three　of　us　shouldn't　be　seen　together。　There's　a　Zippy　Mart　about　eight　miles　along　here。〃
　Decker　said；　'This　idea　of　his　。。。　I　don't　know；　Jim。〃
　〃It's　his　last　chance；〃　the　trooper　said。　〃You　saw　how　bad　he　looks。〃
　〃Then　let's　get　him　to　a　hospital。〃
　〃It's　not　the　eye；　Decker。　Or　what　those　kids　did　to　him。　He's　all　beat　up　inside。　He's　done　it　to　himself；　you　understand？　Been　doing　it　for　years。〃
　Al　Garcia　leaned　forward　in　the　back　seat　and　said；　〃What's　the　harm；　R。J。？　The　man　wants　to　make　a　point。〃
　Decker　said；　〃Skink　I　almost　understand。　But　why　are　you　guys　going　along？〃
　〃Maybe　we　got　a　point　to　make；　too；〃　Jim　Tile　said。
　After　that；　Decker　left　it　alone。
　〃Relax；〃　Garcia　told　him。　〃Couple　old　road　cops　like　us　need　a　break　in　the　monotony；　that's　all。〃
　
　At　the　Zippy　Mart；　Jim　Tile　waited　in　the　car　while　Garcia　went　to　buy　his　cigarettes　and　Decker　used　the　pay　phone。　It　had　been　several　days　since　he　had　left　Miami　and；　assuming　he'd　still　have　to　make　a　living　when　this　case　was　over；　he　thought　it　a　wise　idea　to　check　his　messages。　He　dialed　his　number；　then　punched　the　playback　code　for　the　tape　machine。
　The　first　voice　made　him　wince。　Lou　Zicutto　from　the　insurance　pany：　〃Hey；　douche…bag；　you're　lucky　Nu？ez　came　down　with　mono。　We　got　a　two…week　postponement　from　the　judge；　so　this　time　no　excuses…be　there　with　your　negatives。　Otherwise　just　go　ahead　and　buy　yourself　some　fucking　crutches；　got　it？〃
　What　a　prince　to　work　for。
　Decker　didn't　recognize　the　second　voice；　didn't　need　to：　〃I　got　your　wife；　Mr。　Decker；　and　she's　just　as　pretty　as　the　pitchers。　So　we're　gonna　trade：　her　tight　little　ass　for　yours。　Call　me　。。。　make　it　Friday　at　the　Holiday　Inn；　Coral　Springs。　We'll　be　registered　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Juan　Gomez。〃
　Decker　hung　up　and　sagged　against　the　wall。
　Al　Garcia；　who'd　e　out　of　the　store　whistling；　grabbed　Decker　by　the　arm。　〃What　is　it；　man？〃
　Jim　Tile　came　up　and　took　the　other　side。
　〃He's　got　Catherine；〃　Decker　said　tonelessly。
　〃Fuck。〃　Garcia　spit　on　the　pavement。
　〃It's　Tom　Curl；〃　said　the　trooper。
　R。　J。　Decker　sat　on　the　fender　of　Jim　Tile's　car　and　said　nothing　for　five　minutes；　just　stared　at　the　ground。　Finally　he　looked　up　at　the　other　two　men。
　〃Is　there　a　place　around　here　to　buy　a　camera？〃　he　asked。
　
　When　they　got　back　to　Lake　Jesup；　Jim　Tile　told　Skink　what　Thomas　Curl　had　done。
　The　big　man　sat　down　heavily　on　the　tailgate　of　the　truck　and　wrapped　his　arms　around　his　head。　R。　J。　Decker　took　a　step　forward　but　Jim　Tile　motioned　him　back。
　After　a　few　moments　Skink　looked　up　and　said；　〃It's　my　fault；　Miami。〃
　〃It's　nobody's　fault。〃
　〃I'm　the　one　who　shot…〃
　〃It's　nobody's　fault；〃　Decker　said　again；　〃so　shut　up。〃　The　less　said　about　Lemus　Curl；　the　better。　Especially　in　the　presence　of　cops。
　Skink　pulled　painfully　at　his　beard。　〃This　could　screw　up　everything；〃　he　said　hoarsely。
　〃I　would　say　so；〃　Al　Garcia　grunted。
　Skink　took　off　the　sunglasses。　His　good　eye　was　red　and　moist。　He　gazed　at　Decker；　and　in　a　small　brittle　voice；　said：　〃The　plan　can't　be　changed；　it's　too　late。〃
　〃Do　what　you　have　to；〃　Decker　said。
　〃I'll　kill　him　afterward；〃　Skink　said；　〃I　promise。〃
　〃Thanks　anyway；　but　it　won't　e　to　that。〃
　〃This　thing…〃　Skink　paused；　raked　feverishly　at　his　beard。　He　was　boiling　inside。　He　pounded　his　fists　against　the　fender　of　the　truck。　〃This　thing　I　have　to　do…it's　so　important。〃
　Decker　said；　〃I　know；　captain。〃
　〃You'd　understand　better　if　you　knew　everything。〃　Skink　spoke　solemnly。　〃If　you　knew　it　all；　then　you'd　see　the　point。〃
　〃It's　all　right；〃　Decker　said。　〃Go　ahead　with　your　plan。　I've　got　one　of　my　own。〃
　Skink　grinned　and　clapped　his　hands。　〃That's　the　spirit！〃　he　said。　'That's　what　I　like　to　hear。〃
　Al　Garcia　and　Jim　Tile　exchanged　doubtful　glances。　In　its　own　way；　R。　J。　Decker's　scheme　was　every　bit　as　loony　as　Skink's。
　
　Like　a　surgeon　inspecting　his　instruments；　Dennis　Gault　laid　out　his　tournament　bass　tackle　on　the　pile　carpet　and　took　inventory：　six　Bantam　Magnumlite　2000　GT　plugging　reels；　eight　Shimano　rods；　four　graphite　Ugly　Stiks；　three　bottles　of　Happy　Gland　bass　scent；　a　Randall　knife；　two　cutting　stones；　Sargent　stainless　pliers；　a　diamond…flake　hook　sharpener；　Coppertone　sunblock；　a　telescopic　landing　net；　two　pairs　of　Polaroid　sunglasses　（amber　and　green）；　a　certified　Chatillion　scale　and；　of　course；　his　tacklebox。　The　tacklebox　was　the　suitcase…size　Piano　Model　7777；　with　ninety　separate　partments。　As　was　everything　in　Dennis　Gault's　tournament　artillery；　his　bass　lures　were　brand…new。　For　top…water　action　he　had　stocked　up　on　Bang…O…Lures；　Shad　Raps；　Slo　Dancers；　Hula　Poppers；　and　Zara　Spooks；　for　deep　dredging　he　had　armed　himself　with　Wee　Warts　and　Whopper　Stoppers　and　the　redoubtable　Lazy　Ike。　For　brushpiles　he　had　unsheathed　the　Jig…N…Pig　and　Double　Whammy；　the　Bayou　Boogie　and　Eerie　Dearie；　plus　a　rainbow　trove　of　Mister　Twisters。　As　for　that　most　reliable　of　bass　rigs；　the　artificial　worm；　Dennis　Gault　had　amassed　three　gooey　pounds。　He　had　caught　fish　on　every　color；　so　he　packed　them　all：　the　black…grape　crawdad；　the　smoke…sparkle　lizard；　the　flip…tail　purple　daddy；　the　motor…oil　moccasin；　the　blueberry　gollywhomper；　everything。
　Gault　arranged　them　lovingly；　there　was　plenty　of　room。
　The　most　critical　decision；　the　one　over　which　he　pondered　longest；　was　what　strength　fishing　line　to　put　on　the　reels。　Good　line　is　paramount；　the　slenderest　of　plastic　threads；　it　is　all　that　ties　the　angler　to　his　wild　and　precious　trophy。　The　longer　a　bass　stays　on　the　line；　the　greater　its　chances　of　escape。　Since　every　fish　that　breaks　off　or　throws　the　hook　is　money　down　the　drain；　the　goal　of　the　professional　bass　angler　is　to　lose　no　fish　whatsoever。　Consequently；　in　tournaments　there　is　not　even　the　pretense　of　an　actual　battle　between　fisherman　and　fish。　The　brutish　deep　dives　and　graceful　acrobatics　of　a　hooked　largemouth　bass　are　not　tolerated　in　the　heat　of　serious　angling　petition。　In　fact；　the　standard　strategy　is　to　strike　the　fish　with　all　your　might　and　then　drag　the　stunned　creature　into　the　boat　as　rapidly　as　possible。　In　tournaments　it　is　not　unmon　to　see　five…pound　bass　being　skipped　helplessly　across　the　water　in　this　manner。
　Obviously；　heavy　line　was　essential。　For　the　Dickie　Lockhart　Memorial　Classic；　Dennis　Gault　selected　a　twenty…pound　pink　Andes　monofilament…limp　enough　to　cast　the　lure　a　modest　distance　in　a　light　wind；　yet　sturdy　enough　to　straighten　the　spine　of　any　mortal　largemouth。
　Gault　was　ironing　a　Bass　Blasters　patch　onto　the　crown　of　his　cap　when　the　phone　rang。　It　was　Lanie；　calling　from　a　truck　stop　halfway　between　Harney　and　Fort　Lauderdale。
　〃Ellen　O'Leary　is　gone；〃　she　said。　〃Decker　came　to　the　condo　and　got　her。〃
　〃Nice　work；〃　her　brother　said　snidely。
　〃What'd　you　expect　me　to　do？　He　had　that　big　black　guy　with　him；　the　trooper。〃
　Gault　was　determined　not　to　let　anything　spoil　the　tournament　for　him。
　〃Don't　worry　about　it；〃　he　said。
　〃What　about　New　Orleans？〃　Lanie　asked。
　〃Forget　about　it；〃　Gault　said；　〃and　forget　about　Decker。　Tom　Curl　is　taking　care　of　it。〃
　Lanie　knew　what　that　meant；　but　she　swept　the　thought　from　her　mind。　She　pretended　it　meant　nothing。　〃Dennis；　I　told　them　about　the　affidavit；　about　how　I　lied。〃
　She　thought　he　would　be　furious；　but　instead　he　said：　〃It　doesn't　really　matter。〃
　Lanie　wanted　Dennis　to　say　something　more；　but　he　didn't。　She　wanted　to　hear　all　about　the　tournament；　what　tackle　he　planned　to　use；　where　he'd　be　staying。　She　wanted　him　at　least　to　sound　pleased　that　she'd　called；　but　he　sounded　only　bored。　With　Dennis；　everything　was　business。
　〃I've　got　to　pack；〃　he　said。
　〃For　the　tournament？〃
　〃Right。〃
　〃Could　I　e　along？〃
　〃Not　a　good　idea；　Elaine。　Lots　of　tension；　you　know。〃
　〃But　I　have　a　surprise。〃
　〃And　what　might　that　be？〃
　〃Not　much；　big　brother。　Just　a　tip　that'll　guarantee　you　win　the　Lockhart　Memorial。〃
　〃Really；　Elaine。〃　But　she　had　him　hooked。
　Lanie　said；　〃You　know　of　a　man　they　call　Skink？〃
　〃Yes。　He's　crazy　as　a　bedbug。〃
　〃I　don't　think　so。〃
　There　was　an　edgy　pause　on　the　other　end　of　the　line。　Dennis　Gault　was　thinking　sordid　and　unpleasant　thoughts　about　his　sister　and　the　hermit。　He　wondered　where　his　mother　had　gone　wrong　raising　Elaine。
　〃Dennis；　he's　got　a　huge　fish。〃
　〃Is　that　what　he　calls　it？　His　fish？〃
　Lanie　said；　〃Be　that　way。　Be　an　asshole。〃
　〃Finish　your　fairy　tale。〃
　〃He's　raised　this　giant　mutant　bass；　he's　very　proud　of　it。　He　makes　it　sound　like　a　world　record　or　something。〃
　〃I　seriously　doubt　that。〃
　Lanie　said；　'Then　later　he　mentions　he's　got　friends　fishing　in　this
　tournament。〃
　〃Later？　You　mean　after　tea　and　crumpets？〃
　〃Drop　it；　Dennis。　It　wasn't　exactly　easy　getting　this　guy　to　open　up。　He'd　make　Charles　Bron