ch.doublewhammy-第55部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　The　morning　was　cool　and　clear；　there　was　talk　it　might　hit　eighty　by　midafternoon。　Matronly　volunteers　from　The　First　Pentecostal　Church　of　Exemptive　Redemption　handed　out　Bible　tracts　and　served　hot　biscuits　and　coffee；　though　many　contestants　were　too　tense　to　eat　or　pray。
　At　six　sharp　a　burgundy　Rolls…Royce　Corniche　pulled　up　to　the　ramp　at　Lunker　Lake　Number　One。　Dennis　and　Lanie　Gault　got　out。　Lanie　was　dressed　in　a　red　timber　jacket；　skintight　Gore…Tex　dungarees；　and　black　riding　boots。　She　basked　in　the　stares　from　the　other　contestants　and　dug　heartily　into　a　bag　of　hot　croissants。
　With　an　air　of　supreme　confidence；　Dennis　Gault　uncranked　his　sparkling　seventeen…foot　Ranger　bass　boat　off　the　trailer　into　the　water。　One　by　one；　he　meticulously　stowed　his　fishing　rods；　then　his　toolbox；　then　his　immense　tacklebox。　Hunkering　into　the　cockpit　of　the　boat；　he　checked　the　gauges…water　temperature；　trim　tilt；　tabs；　tachometer；　fuel；　batteries；　oil　pressure。　He　punched　a　button　on　his　sonic　fish…finder　and　the　screen　blinked　a　bright　green　digital　good…morning。　The　big　Johnson　outboard　turned　over　on　the　first　try；　purring　like　a　tiger　cub。　While　the　engine　warmed　up；　Dennis　Gault　stood　at　the　wheel　and　casually　smoothed　the　creases　of　his　sky…blue　jumpsuit。　He　squirted　Windex　on　the　lenses　of　his　amber　Polaroids　and　wiped　them　with　a　dark　blue　bandanna。　Next　he　slipped　on　his　monogrammed　weather　vest；　and　tucked　a　five…ounce　squirt　bottle　of　Happy　Gland　into　the　pocket。　In　accordance　with　prevailing　bass　fashion；　he　spun　his　cap　so　that　the　bill　was　at　his　back；　that　way　the　wind　wouldn't　tear　it　off　his　head　at　fifty　miles　an　hour。
　Dennis　Gault　had　expected　to　hear　the　usual　cracks　about　the　Rolls　and　what　a　pompous　ass　he　was；　but　for　once　the　other　bass　anglers　left　him　alone。　In　fact；　Gault　was　so　absorbed　in　his　own　pretournament　ritual　that　he　almost　missed　the　highlight　of　the　morning。
　It　started　as　a　pinprick　on　the　eastern　horizon；　but　it　came　faster　than　the　sunrise；　a　strange　pulsing　light。　The　bass　fishermen　clustered　on　the　dock　to　watch。　They　figured　one　of　the　big　bait　panies　was　pulling　a　stunt　for　a　new　mercial。　Some　stunt　it　was；　too。
　Soon　the　sky　over　Lunker　Lakes　throbbed　in　piercing　aquamarine。　On　a　forty…foot　screen　mounted　behind　the　stage；　the　face　of　Reverend　Charles　Weeb　appeared　for　the　morning　benediction；　it　was　a　taped　message　（for　Charlie　Weeb　seldom　rose　before　ten）；　but　none　of　the　contestants　was　in　the　mood　to　hear　what　the　Old　Testament　said　about　fishing。　They　were　riveted　on　what　was　slowly　rolling　toward　them　down　the　road。
　It　was　a　convoy　of　police　cars。
　Highway…patrol　cruisers；　to　be　exact；　sixteen　of　them；　their　flashing　blue　lights　slicing　up　the　darkness。　Dead　last　in　the　procession　was　a　garbage　truck　with　a　rowboat　hooked　to　the　bumper。
　Dennis　Gault　did　not　like　the　looks　of　things。　He　wondered　if　the　cops　had　e　to　arrest　somebody；　possibly　even　him。　He　shot　a　worried　glance　at　Lanie；　who　shrugged　and　shook　her　head。
　The　first　eight　troopers　peeled　off　to　one　side　of　the　boat　ramp　and　parked　bumper…to…bumper；　the　last　eight　parked　in　similar　formation　on　the　other　side；　forming　a　broad　V…shaped　alley　for　Al　Garcia　and　Jim　Tile　in　the　garbage　truck。
　Each　of　the　state　troopers　got　out　and　stood　by　his　car。　They　wore　seriously　neutral　expressions；　and　showed　no　reaction　to　the　OCN　Minicams　filming　their　arrival。　To　a　man；　the　troopers　were　young；　ramrod…straight；　clean…cut；　muscular；　and　heavily　armed。　They　were　some　of　Jim　Tile's　best　friends　on　the　force；　and　they　were　white；　which　definitely　made　an　impression。
　The　old　wooden　skiff　was　lowered　into　the　lake　without　incident。
　
　Deacon　Johnson　was　up　early。　The　importance　of　the　day　weighed　heavily；　and　he　had　reason　to　be　anxious。　He　put　on　his　favorite　desert…tan　leisure　suit；　buffed　his　cream…colored　shoes；　and　trimmed　his　nose　hairs。　At　the　breakfast　table　he　chewed　halfheartedly　on　raisin　bagels；　scanned　the　sports　page　to　make　sure　they　hadn't　screwed　up　the　big　display　ad　for　the　tournament；　then　called　for　the　limousine。
　He　decided　to　give　the　VA　hospital　one　more　try。
　This　time；　two　doctors　were　waiting　at　the　admissions　desk。
　Deacon　Johnson　smiled　and　stuck　out　his　hand；　but　the　doctors　regarded　it　as　if　it　were　a　rattlesnake。
　〃I'm　sorry；〃　one　said；　〃but　you'll　have　to　leave。〃
　〃You've　been　upsetting　the　patients；〃　said　the　other。
　〃Isn't　there　one；〃　Deacon　Johnson　said；　〃who　wants　to　be　on　TV？〃
　〃They　said　you　offered　them　money。〃
　〃I　had　to；〃　Deacon　Johnson　lied。　〃FCC　rules。〃
　〃Money；〃　the　doctor　went　on；　〃in　exchange　for　lying　about　their　illnesses。〃
　〃Not　lying…dramatizing。　There's　a　big　difference。〃　Deacon　Johnson　folded　his　arms　indignantly。　〃We　run　a　thoroughly　Christian　enterprise　at　OCN。〃
　〃Several　of　the　patients　became　quite　upset　when　you　were　here　before。〃
　〃I　certainly　meant　no　harm。〃
　〃They've　discussed　violence；〃　said　the　other　doctor；　apparently　a　psychiatrist。
　〃Violence？〃　said　Deacon　Johnson。
　〃That's　why　we　can't　let　you　back　inside。〃
　〃But　there　was　one；　Corporal　Clement。　He　expressed　an　interest　in　appearing　with　Reverend　Weeb　today。〃
　The　two　doctors　traded　glances。
　〃Clement；〃　Deacon　Johnson　repeated；　spelling　out　the　name。　'The　fellow　with　the　trick　knees。〃
　The　psychiatrist　said；　Tm　afraid　Corporal　Clement　has　been　moved　inpatient　to　the　sixth　floor。〃
　〃It　appears　he　got　into　the　pharmacy　last　night；〃　the　other　doctor　explained。
　〃He　won't　be　available　for　television　appearances；〃　the　psychiatrist　added。　〃Please　go　now；　Mr。　Johnson；　before　we　call　for　Security。〃
　Deacon　Johnson　got　back　in　the　limo　and　sulked。
　〃Where　to？〃　the　driver　asked。
　〃You　know　this　town？〃
　〃Born　and　raised；〃　the　driver　said。
　〃Good。　Find　me　some　bums。〃
　Charlie　Weeb　would　be　royally　ticked　off；　he'd　specifically　said　no　street　people；　it　was　too　risky。　Lofty　standards　were　fine　and　dandy；　but　Deacon　Johnson　was　running　out　of　time。　The　healing　was　only　hours　away。
　The　limousine　driver　took　him　to　the　dissolute　stretch　of　Fort　Lauderdale　beach　known　as　the　Strip；　but　there　all　the　bums　had　bleached　hair　and　great　tans。　〃Too　healthy…looking；〃　Deacon　Johnson　decided。
　〃There's　a　soup　kitchen　down　Sunrise　Boulevard；〃　the　driver　said。
　〃Let's　give　it　a　try。〃
　Deacon　Johnson　saw　that　the　driver　was　right　about　the　soup　kitchen：　wall…to…wall　winos；　sallow；　toothless；　oily…haired　vagabonds；　the　hardest　of　the　hard…core。　Some　were　so　haggard　that　no　makeup　artist　possibly　could　have　rendered　them　presentable　in　time　for　the　show。　Worse；　most　of　the　men　were　too　hung…over　to　prehend　Deacon　Johnson's　offer；　the　money　they　understood　just　fine；　it　was　the　part　about　dressing　up　and　rehearsing　that　seemed　to　sail　over　their　heads。
　〃It's　television；　for　Christ's　sake；〃　Deacon　Johnson　implored。
　The　men　just　grinned　and　scratched　themselves。
　In　desperation；　Deacon　Johnson　selected　a　skinny　bum　named　Clu；　who　was　in　a　wheelchair。　The　driver　lifted　Clu　into　the　back　seat　of　the　limo　and　folded　the　wheelchair　into　the　trunk。
　As　they　rode　back　to　Lunker　Lakes；　Deacon　Johnson　said：　〃Are　you　sure　you　can　rise　up？〃
　〃You　bet。〃
　〃On　mand？〃
　〃You　bet。〃
　Clu　wore　a　mischievous　smile　that　made　Deacon　Johnson　wonder。　〃So　what's　wrong　with　your　legs？〃　he　asked。
　〃Not　a　thing；〃　Clu　replied。
　〃Then　why　the　wheelchair？〃
　〃I　got　it　on　a　trade；〃　Clu　said。　〃Three　cans　of　Sterno　and　a　wool　sock。　Pretty　good　deal；　I'd　say。〃
　〃Indeed；〃　Deacon　Johnson　said。　〃And　how　long　ago　was　this？〃
　〃Nineteen　and　eighty…one；〃　said　Clu；　still　smirking。
　〃And　you've　been　in　the　chair　ever　since？〃
　〃Every　minute；〃　Clu　said。　〃No　need　to　get　up。〃
　Deacon　Johnson　leaned　forward　and　told　the　limo　driver　to　pull　over。
　〃Get　out；〃　he　said　to　Clu。
　〃What　for？〃
　〃It's　just　a　test；〃　Deacon　Johnson　said。　〃Get　out　and　walk　around　the　car。〃
　When　the　driver　opened　the　door；　Clu　tumbled　facedown　onto　the　pavement。　The　driver　reached　down　to　help　him；　but　Deacon　Johnson　shook　his　finger。
　He　said；　〃Can　you　rise　up；　son？〃
　Clu　tried　with　all　his　might　until　he　was　pink　in　the　face；　but　his　skinny　legs　would　not　work。　〃I　don't　believe　this；〃　he　whined。
　〃Just　as　I　thought；〃　said　Deacon　Johnson　stiffly。
　On　the　ground　Clu　continued　to　grunt　and　squirm。　〃Let　me　work　on　this　a　minute；〃　he　pleaded。
　〃Give　him　back　the　damn　wheelchair；〃　Deacon　Johnson　snapped　at　the　driver；　〃and　let's　go。〃
　Just　when　he　was　certain　that　the　grand　TV　mega…healing　would　have　to　be　called　off；　or　at　least　scaled　back　to　a　sheep　or　a　cat；　Deacon　Johnson　spotted　the　blind　man。
　The　man　was　alone　on　a　bus　bench　outside　the　entrance　to　Lunker　Lakes；　beneath　the　big　cedar　billboard；　in　fact；　directly　under　the　second　L。　That　he　would　be　sitting　right　there　at　such　a　crucial　moment　seemed　like　a　heavenly　miracle；　except　that　Deacon　Johnson　didn't　believe　in　miracles。　Plain　old　dumb　luck　was　more　like　it。　He　told　the　limo　driver　to　stop。
　The　blind　man　did　not　have　a　guide　dog　or　a　white　cane；　so　Deacon　Johnson　was　hopeful　that　they　could　do　business。
　He　walked　up　to　him　and　said　hello。　The　man　didn't　move　one　bit；　just　stared　straight　ahead。　Deacon　Johnson　could　see　nothing　but　his　own　natty　reflection　in　the　dark　glasses。
　〃May　I　ask；〃　Deacon　Johnson　said；　〃are　you　blind？〃
　〃I　suppose；〃　the　man　said。
　〃May　I　ask　how　blind？〃
　〃Depends　what　you　mean。〃
　〃Can　you　see　what　that　billboard　says？〃　Deacon　Johnson　pointed　to　a　big　Toyota　sign　a　quarter…mile　down　the　road。
　The　man　said；　〃Not　hardly。〃
　Deacon　Johnson　held　a　hand　in　front　of　the　man's　face。　〃Can　you　see　that？〃
　The　man　nodded　yes。
　〃Very　good。〃　Thank　God；　Deacon　Johnson　thought。　For　coaching　purposes；　partly　blind　was　perfect。　As　a　telegenic　bonus；　the　man　appeared　sickly　but　not　morbidly　sunken；　like　some　of　the　bums　at　the　soup　kitchen。
　Deacon　Johnson　introduced　himself　and　said；　〃Have　you　heard　of　the　Outdoor　Christian　Network？〃
　〃Yes；〃　the　blind　man　said。
　〃Then　you've　heard　of　the　Reverend　Charles　Weeb；　how　he　heals　people　on　national　television？〃
　〃I　watch　no　television。〃
　〃Yes；　I　understand；　but　at　least　have　you　heard　of　Reverend　Weeb's　healings？　The　reason　I　ask；　he's　having　on