ch.doublewhammy-第59部分

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　With　his　free　hand　Gault　turned　on　the　ignition　and　put　the　boat　in　reverse：　he　would　back　down　on　the　beast；　as　if　it　were　a　marlin　or　a　tuna。
　〃What　should　I　do？〃　Lanie　asked；　moving　to　the　back　of　the　boat。
　〃Take　the　wheel　when　I　say　so。〃
　Forty　yards　away；　the　fish　broke　the　surface。　Too　heavy　to　clear　the　water；　it　thrashed　its　maw　in　seismic　rage；　the　lure　jingling　in　its　lower　lip。　To　Dennis　Gault　the　freakish　bass　seemed　as　murky　and　ominous　as　a　bull　alligator。　He　couldn't　even　guess　at　the　weight；　its　mouth　looked　as　broad　as　a　basketball　hoop。
　〃Holy　shit；〃　Lanie　said；　dazzled。
　〃Here；　take　it。〃　Gault　motioned　her　to　the　steering　wheel。　〃Take　it　straight　back　on　top　of　this　bitch。〃　He　stood　up　and　stuck　the　butt　of　the　rod　in　his　belly；　levering　his　back　and　thigh　muscles　into　the　fight。　The　fish　seemed　oblivious。　For　every　foot　of　line　Dennis　Gault　gained；　the　giant　bass　would　reclaim　two。
　〃Faster；〃　Gault　told　his　sister；　who　nudged　the　throttle。　She　had　never　driven　a　Ranger　before；　but　figured　it　couldn't　be　much　different　from　the　Vette。
　Motoring　in　reverse；　the　boat　gradually　ate　up　the　distance　between　Dennis　Gault　and　the　thing　on　the　end　of　his　line。　After　several　brief　surges；　the　bass　bore　deep　and　hunkered　on　the　bottom　to　regain　its　wind。
　Gault　held　such　faith　in　his　expensive　tackle　and　in　his　knowledge　offish　behavior　that　he　felt　confident　tightening　the　drag　on　his　reel。　The　purpose　was　to　prevent　the　bass　from　running　out　any　more　line；　and　for　any　other　hawg　the　strategy　might　have　worked：　the　twenty…pound　monofilament　was　extremely　strong；　the　graphite　rod　pliant　but　stout。　Finally；　and　most　important　to　Gault's　reasoning；　the　fish　should　have　rightfully　been　exhausted　after　such　an　extraordinary　battle。
　Gault　twisted　the　drag　down　so　that　nothing　smaller　than　a　Mack　truck　could　have　stolen　more　line。　Then　he　began　to　reel。
　〃I　think　it's　ing；〃　he　announced。　〃By　God；　the　fucker's　giving　up。〃
　The　great　fish　bucked　its　head　and　resisted　surrender；　but　Gault　was　able　to　lift　her　off　the　bottom。　Unlike　the　wily　old　lunkers　of　well…traveled　farm　ponds　and　tourist　lakes；　this　bass　had　never　before　felt　the　sting　of　the　hook；　had　never　struggled　against　invisible　talons。　She　had　acquired　no　tricks　to　use　on　Dennis　Gault　and　his　powerful　noise　machine；　all　she　had　was　her　strength；　and　in　the　bad　water　there　was　little　of　it　left。
　Gault　savored　the　feel　of　the　fish　weakening；　and　a　faint　smile　came　over　his　face。　If　Dickie　weren't　already　dead；　he　thought；　the　sight　of　this　monster　hanging　at　the　dock　would　kill　him。　Gault　checked　to　make　sure　the　landing　net　was　within　reach。
　Then　the　line　went　slack。
　For　a　sickening　moment　Gault　thought　the　bass　had　broken　off；　but　then　he　figured　it　out。　The　bass　was　ing　in　fast。　He　reeled　frenetically；　trying　to　bring　the　line　tight。
　〃Elaine；　it's　running　at　us…go　the　other　way！〃
　She　jammed　the　engine　in　gear　and　the　boat　churned　forward；　roiling　the　water　to　a　foam。
　The　great　fish　came　to　the　top；　a　big　bronze　drainpipe；　hovering　behind　the　stern。　It　was　dark　enough　and　deep　enough　to　be　the　shadow　of　something；　not　the　thing　itself。　For　the　first　time　Dennis　Gault　realized　its　true　dimensions　and　felt　a　hot　rush。　This　fish　was　undoubtedly　a　world　record；　already　he　could　see　his　name　on　the　plaque。　Already　he　could　picture　the　bass　mounted　on　the　wall　behind　his　desk；　the　taxidermist　would　brighten　its　flanks；　touch　up　the　gills；　put　some　fury　back　in　the　dull　purple　eyes。
　The　fury　was　there　now；　only　Dennis　Gault　couldn't　see　it。
　When　he　pulled　on　the　line；　the　bass　obligingly　swam　toward　the　boat。　〃Get　the　net；〃　he　shouted　at　his　sister。　〃Give　me　the　goddamn　net。〃
　Then；　with　a　kick　of　its　tail；　the　fish　sounded。
　〃Reverse！〃　Dennis　Gault　cried。
　Lame　jerked　on　the　throttle　as　hard　as　she　could；　and　the　big　outboard　cavitated　loudly　as　it　backed　up。　It　was　then；　with　the　boat　directly　overhead；　that　the　fish　exhibited　what　little　guile　nature　had　invested　in　her　pebble…sized　brain。　She　changed　direction。
　〃No…no…no…no！〃　Dennis　Gault　was　shrieking。
　The　boat　was　heading　one　way；　the　bass　was　going　the　other。　Gault　braced　his　knees　against　the　gunwale。　He　clutched　the　butt　of　the　rod　with　both　hands。
　
　The　line　came　tight。
　The　rod　doubled　until　the　tip　pricked　the　water。　〃Stop！〃　Dennis　Gault　grunted。　〃Stop；　you　sorry…dumb…dirty…fat…mother…〃
　The　great　fish　did　not　stop。
　With　the　drag　cranked　down；　Dennis　Gault　could　give　her　no　line。　All　he　could　do　was　hang　on。
　〃Let　go！〃　Lanie　pleaded。
　〃No　fucking　way；〃　said　Dennis。　〃This　fish　is　mine。〃
　Lanie　watched　helplessly　as　her　brother　pitched　over　the　transom。　The　last　she　saw　of　him　were　the　soles　of　his　Top…Siders。
　The　splash　was　followed　by　a　dreadful　low　whine；　but　it　was　not　Dennis'　scream。　His　scream　had　died　when　he　hit　the　propeller；　which　was　turning　（according　to　the　dash…mounted　tachometer）　at　precisely　four　thousand　revolutions　per　minute。　The　propeller　happened　to　be　a　brand…new　turbo　model　SST；　so　the　three　cupped　stainless　blades　were　as　sharp　as　sabers。　Dennis　Gault　might　as　well　have　fallen　facefirst　into　a　two…hundred…horsepower　garbage　disposal。　Grinding　was　the　sound　that　his　sister　had　heard。
　Lanie　cut　off　the　engine　and　stood　up　to　see　what　had　happened。
　〃Dennis？〃　Timorously　she　peered　into　the　cloudy　water；　darkening　from　tea　to　rust。
　A　rag…size　swatch　of　sky…blue　fabric　floated　up；　a　piece　of　Dennis　Gault's　official　Bass　Blasters　jumpsuit。　When　Lanie　saw　it；　she　knew　there　was　no　point　in　diving　in　after　her　brother。　She　held　on　to　the　side　of　the　boat　with　both　hands；　leaned　over；　and　daintily　tossed　her　croissants。
　A　hundred　yards　away；　at　the　point　where　Charlie　Weeb's　canal　met　the　dike；　the　great　fish　crashed　to　the　surface；　shook　its　head；　and　threw　the　hook。
　
　They　sat　on　the　hood　of　the　car；　parked　among　the　bass　trucks。　They　had　a　good　view　of　the　stage；　the　weigh…in　station；　the　ramp；　and　the　dock。　The　sun　was　starting　to　slip　behind　a　low　bank　of　copper　clouds；　and　some　of　the　boats　were　heading　in。
　〃You　all　right？〃　Catherine　asked。　She　had　showered　and　brushed　out　her　hair　and　changed　clothes。　Decker　had　stopped　at　a　shopping　mall　and　bought　her　some　slacks　and　a　kelly…green　blouse；　she'd　been　touched　that　he　still　remembered　her　size。
　〃I'm　fine；〃　Decker　said。　His　mental　lens　had　preserved　Thomas　Curl　in　three　frames；　none　of　them　pretty。
　Catherine　said；　〃James'll　never　believe　all　this。〃
　Decker　looked　at　her　in　an　odd　way。　Immediately　she　felt　rotten　about　mentioning　her　husband。
　Decker　said；　〃See　the　excitement　you're　missing；　not　being　married　to　me？〃
　〃I　don't　remember　it　quite　like　this。〃
　〃I　do；〃　Decker　said；　〃just　like　this。〃　He　smiled　and　gave　her　hand　a　little　squeeze。　Catherine　felt　relieved；　he'd　be　all　right。　She　slid　off　the　car　and　went　to　scout　the　food　at　the　buffet；　which　was　set　up　near　the　stage。
　From　out　of　somewhere　Skink　materialized　and　stole　Catherine's　place　on　the　hood。
　〃Nice　threads；〃　Decker　said。
　〃First　suit　I've　worn　in　years。〃
　〃The　hat's　a　treat　too。〃
　Skink　shrugged。　〃You　missed　the　show。〃
　〃What　happened？〃
　〃Preacher　tried　to　heal　me。〃
　Decker　laughed　a　little　as　Skink　told　the　story。
　〃That　explains　where　the　crowd　went；〃　he　said。
　〃Scattered　like　hamsters；〃　Skink　said。　〃Worst　part　is；　I　lost　the　damn　eye。　Just　kept　rolling。〃
　〃We'll　get　you　a　new　one。〃
　〃Not　an　owl　this　time；　either。　I'd　prefer　a　boar…one　of　those　big　nasty　bastards。〃
　Up　to　this　moment；　Decker　had　been　watching　the　boats　race　in。　Now　he　turned　to　Skink　and　in　a　quiet　voice　said；　〃I'm　in　some　trouble；　captain。〃
　Skink　clicked　his　tongue　against　his　teeth。
　〃I　killed　that　man；〃　Decker　said。
　〃Figured　as　much。〃
　〃There　was　no　other　way。〃
　Skink　asked　what　happened　to　the　body；　and　Decker　told　him。　〃Don't　worry　about　it；〃　he　said。　〃You　did　good。〃
　〃Don't　worry　about　it？〃
　〃You　heard　me。〃
　Decker　sighed。　He　felt　detached　and　fuzzy；　as　if　he　were　having　an　out…of…body　experience。　He　felt　as　if　he　were　in　a　tall　tree　looking　down　on　himself　and　this　hoary　character　in　a　straw　hat；　a　bad　suit；　and　sunglasses。　From　this　vantage　Skink　would　have　made　a　fine　photographic　portrait；　like　one　of　those　debauched…looking　acid　dealers　at　Woodstock。　Or　maybe　Altamont。　One　of　those　guys　who　looked　too　old　and　too　hard　for　the　crowd。
　Decker　decided　to　tell　Skink　why　he'd　e　back　to　Lunker　Lakes。　He　was　bound　to　ask；　anyway。
　〃When　I　found　Catherine；〃　Decker　said；　〃I　got　to　thinking　about　Dennis　Gault。〃
　〃He's　the　case　in　New　Orleans；　the　whole　thing；〃　Skink　repeated。　〃It's　a　joke；　so　forget　about　it。　You're　clear。〃
　Decker　said；　〃I　wasn't　thinking　about　New　Orleans；　captain。　I　was　thinking　about　Bobby　Clinch　and　Ott　Pickney　and　Dickie　Lockhart。　In　relation　to　Gault；　I　mean。〃
　〃And　Catherine。〃
　〃Yes。　Catherine　too。〃
　〃True；〃　Skink　said；　〃Mr。　Gault　is　not　a　very　nice　man。〃
　Decker　took　a　short　breath　and　said；　〃I　was　seriously　thinking　about　killing　him。〃
　〃Now　that　you　got　the　hang　of　it；　right？〃
　Decker　was　stung　by　Skink's　sarcasm。　And　a　sterling　example　you　are；　he　thought。　〃I　don't　know　what　I'll　do　when　I　see　him。　Could　be　I　won't　be　able　to　stop　myself。〃
　〃Don't　give　me　that　cuckoo's…nest　routine；〃　Skink　said。　〃Do　you　really　want　to　do　it？　Or　do　you　want　yourself　to　want　to？　Think　about　it。　Tom　Curl　was　a　different　story…your　girl　was　involved。　That　was　rescue；　this　is　revenge。　Even　a　one…eyed　basket　case　like　me　can　see　you　don't　have　the　stomach　for　it；　and　I'm　glad。〃
　Decker　turned　away。
　〃But　the　best　reason　not　to　kill　the　bastard；〃　Skink　added；　〃is　that　it's　simply　not　necessary。〃
　〃Maybe　you're　right。〃
　〃I　don't　think　you　understand。〃
　〃Doesn't　matter。〃　Decker　hopped　off　the　hood。　He　spotted　Catherine　on　her　way　back　with　a　couple　of　chili　dogs。　〃I　think　it's　best　if　we　take　off　before　the　festivities；〃　he　said　wearily。
　Skink　shook　his　head。　〃It's　best　if　you　stay；〃　he　said。　〃Besides；　I　need　a　favor。〃
　〃Naturally。〃
　〃You　know　how　to　work　one　of　these　damn　TV　cameras？〃
　
　Later；　when　The　Wall　Street　Journal　and　others　would　reconstruct　the　collapse　of　the　Outdoor　Christian　Network；　some　of　Charlie　Weeb'