ch.doublewhammy-第6部分

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　〃You　all　right？〃
　〃I　pay　no　attention　to　the　traffic；〃　Skink　said。　He　turned　the　wheel　hard　to　the　right　and　took　the　truck　off　the　road；　skidding　in　the　gravel。　Before　Decker　could　react；　the　big　man　leapt　from　the　cab　and　dashed　back　into　the　road。　Decker　saw　him　snatch　something　off　the　center　line　and　toss　it　onto　the　shoulder。
　〃What　the　hell　are　you　doing？〃　Decker　shouted；　but　his　voice　died　in　the　roar　of　a　passing　gasoline　tanker。　He　looked　both　ways　before　jogging　across　the　highway　to　join　Skink　on　the　other　side。
　Skink　was　kneeling　next　to　a　plump；　misshapen　lump　of　gray　fur。
　Decker　saw　it　was　a　dead　opossum。　Skink　ran　a　hand　across　its　furry　belly。　〃Still　warm；〃　he　reported。
　Decker　said　nothing。
　〃Road　kill；〃　Skink　said；　by　way　of　explanation。　He　took　a　knife　out　of　his　belt。　〃You　hungry；　Miami？〃
　Decker　said　uneasily；　〃How　about　if　we　just　stop　someplace　and　I　buy　you　supper？〃
　〃No　need；〃　Skink　said；　and　he　sawed　off　the　opossum's　head。　He　lifted　the　carcass　by　its　pink　tail　and　stalked　back　to　the　truck。　Decker　now　understood　the　reason　for　the　fluorescent　rainsuit；　a　speeding　motorist　could　see　Skink　a　mile　away。　He　looked　like　a　neon　yeti。
　〃You'll　like　the　flavor；〃　Skink　remarked　as　Decker　got　in　the　truck　beside　him。
　〃I　think　I'll　pass。〃
　〃Nope。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃We　both　eat；　that's　the　deal。　Then　you　get　the　hell　out。　Another　day　we'll　talk　fish。〃
　Skink　pulled　the　rainhat　down　tight　on　his　skull。
　〃And　after　that；〃　he　said；　turning　the　ignition；　〃we　might　even　talk　about　cheaters。〃
　〃So　you　know　about　this？〃　Decker　said。
　Skink　laughed　bitterly。　〃I　do；　sir；　but　I　wisht　I　didn't。〃
　Clouds　of　insects　swirled　in　and　out　of　the　high…beams　as　the　truck　jounced　down　the　dirt　road。　Suddenly　Skink　killed　the　lights　and　cut　the　ignition。　The　pickup　coasted　to　a　stop。
　〃Listen！〃　Skink　said。
　Decker　heard　an　engine。　It　sounded　like　a　lawn　mower。
　Skink　jumped　from　the　truck　and　ran　into　the　trees。　This　time　Decker　was　right　behind　him。　^
　〃I　told　the　bastards；〃　Skink　said；　panting。
　〃Who？〃　Decker　asked。　It　seemed　as　if　they　were　running　toward　the　noise；　not　away　from　it。
　〃I　told　them；〃　Skink　repeated。　They　broke　out　of　the　pines；　onto　a　bluff；　and　Skink　immediately　shrank　into　a　crouch。　Below　them　was　a　small　stream；　with　a　dirt　rut　following　the　higher　ground　next　to　the　water。　A　single　headlight　bobbed　on　the　trail。
　Decker　could　see　it　clearly…a　lone　rider　on　a　dirt　bike。　Up　close　the　motorcycle　sounded　like　a　chainsaw；　the　growl　rising　and　falling　with　the　hills。　Soon　the　rider　would　pass　directly　beneath　them。
　Decker　saw　that　Skink　had　a　pistol　in　his　right　hand。
　〃What　the　hell　are　you　doing？〃
　〃Quiet；　Miami。〃
　Skink　extended　his　right　arm；　aiming。　Decker　lunged；　too　late。　The　noise　of　the　gun　knocked　him　on　his　back。
　The　dirt　bike　went　down　like　a　lame　horse。　The　rider　screamed　as　he　flew　over　the　handlebars。
　Dirt　spitting　from　its　rear　tire；　the　bike　tumbled　down　the　embankment　and　splashed　into　the　stream；　where　the　engine　choked　and　died　in　bubbles。
　Up　the　trail；　the　rider　moaned　and　began　to　extricate　himself　from　a　cabbage　palm。
　〃Christ！〃　Decker　said；　his　breath　heavy。
　Skink　tucked　the　pistol　in　his　pants。　〃Front　tire；〃　he　reported；　almost　smiling。　〃Told　you　I　was　in　the　mood　to　shoot。〃
　
　Back　at　the　shack；　Skink　barbecued　the　opossum　on　an　open　spit　and　served　it　with　fresh　corn；　collards；　and　strawberries。　Decker　focused　on　the　vegetables　because　the　opossum　tasted　gamy　and　terrible；　he　could　only　take　Skink's　word　that　the　animal　was　fresh　and　had　not　lain　dead　on　the　highway　for　days。
　As　they　sat　by　the　fire；　Decker　wondered　why　the　ferocious　mosquitoes　were　concentrating　on　his　flesh；　while　Skink　seemed　immune。　Perhaps　the　captain's　blood　was　lethal。
　〃Who　hired　you？〃　Skink　asked　through　a　mouthful　of　meat。
　Decker　told　him　who；　and　why。
　Skink　stopped　chewing　and　stared。
　〃You　know　Mr。　Gault？〃　Decker　asked。
　〃I　know　lots　of　folks。〃
　〃Dickie　Lockhart？〃
　Skink　bit　clean　through　a　possum　bone。　〃Sure。〃
　〃Lockhart's　the　cheater；〃　Decker　said。
　〃You're　getting　close。〃
　〃There's　more？〃　Decker　asked。
　〃Hell；　yes！〃　Skink　tossed　the　bone　into　the　lake；　where　its　splash　startled　a　mallard。
　〃More；〃　Skink　muttered。　〃More；　more；　more。〃
　〃Let's　hear　it；　captain；〃　Decker　said。
　〃Another　night。〃　Skink　spit　something　brown　into　the　fire　and　scowled　at　nothing　in　particular。　〃How　much　you　getting　paid？〃
　Decker　was　almost　embarrassed　to　tell　him。　〃Fifty　grand；〃　he　said。
　Skink　didn't　even　blink。　〃Not　enough；〃　he　said。　〃e　on；　Miami；　finish　your　damn　supper。〃
　
　Ott　Pickney　stopped　by　the　motel　before　eight　the　next　morning。　He　knocked　loudly　on　R。　J。　Decker's　door。
　Groggily；　Decker　let　him　in。　〃So　how'd　it　go？〃　Ott　asked。
　〃A　lively　night。〃
　〃Is　he　as　kooky　as　they　say？〃
　〃Hard　to　tell；〃　Decker　said。　Living　in　Miami　tended　to　recalibrate　one's　view　of　sanity。
　Ott　said　he　was　on　his　way　to　a　funeral。　〃That　poor　fella　I　told　you　about。〃
　〃The　fisherman？〃
　〃Bobby　Clinch；〃　Ott　said。　〃Sandy　wants　a　tearjerker　for　the　weekend　paper…it's　the　least　we　can　do　for　a　local　boy。　You　and　Skink　going　out　for　bass？〃
　〃Not　this　morning。〃　Skink　had　left　the　proposition　in　the　air。　Decker　planned　to　meet　him　later。
　Ott　Pickney　said；　〃Why　don't　you　ride　along　with　me？〃
　〃To　a　funeral？〃
　〃The　whole　town's　closing　down　for　it；〃　Ott　said。　〃Besides；　I　thought　you　might　want　to　see　some　big…time　bassers　up　close。　Bobby　had　loads　of　friends。〃
　〃Give　me　a　second　to　shower。〃
　
　Decker　hated　funerals。　Working　for　the　newspaper；　he'd　had　to　cover　too　many　grim　graveside　services；　from　a　cop　shot　by　some　coked…up　creep　to　a　toddler　raped　and　murdered　by　her　babysitter。　Child　murders　got　plenty　of　play　in　the　papers；　and　a　shot　of　the　grieving　parents　was　guaranteed　to　run　four　columns；　minimum。　A　funeral　like　that　was　the　most　dreaded　assignment　in　journalism。　Decker　didn't　know　quite　what　to　expect　in　Harney。　For　him　it　was　strictly　business；　a　casual　surveillance。　Maybe　even　Dickie　Lockhart　would　show　up；　Decker　thought　as　he　toweled　off。　He　was　eager　to　get　a　glimpse　of　the　town　celebrity。
　They　rode　to　the　graveyard　in　Ott　Pickney's　truck。　Almost　everyone　else　in　Harney　owned　a　Ford　or　a　Chevy；　but　Ott　drove　a　new　Toyota　flatbed。　〃Orchids；〃　he　explained；　a　bit　defensively；　〃don't　take　up　much　space。〃
　〃It's　a　fine　truck；〃　Decker　offered。
　Ott　lit　a　Camel　so　Decker　rolled　down　the　window。　It　was　a　breezy　morning　and　the　air　was　cold；　blowing　dead　from　the　north。
　〃Can　I　ask　something？〃　Ott　said。　〃It's　personal。〃
　〃Fire　away。〃
　〃I　heard　you　got　divorced。〃
　〃Right；〃　Decker　said。
　〃That's　a　shame；　RJ。　She　seemed　like　a　terrific　kid。〃
　〃The　problem　was　money；〃　Decker　said。　〃He　had　some；　I　didn't。〃　His　wife　had　run　off　with　a　timeshare…salesman…turned…chiropractor。　Life　didn't　get　any　meaner。
　〃Jesus；　I'm　sorry。〃　The　divorce　wasn't　really　what　Ott　wanted　to　talk　about。　〃I　heard　something　else；〃　he　said。
　〃Probably　true；〃　Decker　said。　〃I　did　ten　months　at　Apalachee；　if　that's　what　you　heard。〃
　Pickney　was　sucking　so　hard　on　the　cigarette　that　the　ash　was　three　inches　long。　Decker　was　afraid　it　would　drop　into　Ott's　lap　and　set　his　pants　on　fire；　which　is　what　had　happened　one　day　in　the　newsroom　of　the　Miami　Sun。　None　of　the　fire　extinguishers　had　been　working；　so　Ott　had　been　forced　to　straddle　a　drinking　fountain　to　douse　the　flames。
　〃Do　you　mind　talking　about　it？〃　Ott　said。　〃I　understand　if　you'd　rather　not。〃
　Decker　said；　〃It　was　after　one　of　the　Dolphin　games。　I　was　parked　about　four　blocks　from　the　stadium。　ing　back　to　the　car；　I　spotted　some　jerkoff　breaking　into　the　trunk；　trying　to　rip　off　the　cameras。　I　told　him　to　stop；　he　ran。　He　was　carrying　two　Nikons　and　a　brand…new　Leka。　No　way　was　I　going　to　let　him　get　away。〃
　〃You　caught　up　with　him？〃
　〃Yeah；　he　fell　and　I　caught　up　to　him。　I　guess　I　got　carried　away。〃
　Pickney　shook　his　head　and　spit　the　dead　Camel　butt　out　the　window。　〃Ten　months！　I　can't　believe　they'd　give　you　that　much　time　for　slugging　a　burglar。〃
　〃Not　just　any　burglar…a　football　star　at　Palmetto　High；〃　Decker　said。　〃Three　of　his　sisters　testified　that　they'd　witnessed　the　whole　thing。　Said　Big　Brother　never　stole　the　cameras。　Said　he　was　minding　his　own　business；　juking　on　the　corner　when　I　drove　up　and　asked　where　I　could　score　some　weed。　Said　Big　Brother　told　me　to　get　lost；　and　I　jumped　out　of　my　car　and　pounded　him　into　dog　meat。　All　of　which　was　a　goddamn　lie。〃
　〃So　then？〃
　〃So　the　state　attorney's　office　dropped　the　burglary　charge　on　Mr。　Football　Hero；　and　nailed　me　for　agg　assault。　He　gets　a　scholarship　to　USC；　I　get　felony　arts…and…crafts。　That's　the　whole　yarn。〃
　Pickney　sighed。　〃And　you　lost　your　job。〃
　〃The　newspaper　had　no　choice；　Ott。〃　Not　with　the　boy's　father　raising　so　much　hell。　The　boy's　father　was　Levon　Bennett；　big　wheel　on　the　Orange　Bowl　mittee；　board　chairman　of　about　a　hundred　banks。　Decker　had　always　thought　the　newspaper　might　have　rehired　him　after　Apalachee　if　only　Levon　Bennett　wasn't　in　the　same　Sunday　golf　foursome　as　the　executive　publisher。
　〃You　always　had　a　terrible　temper。〃
　〃Luck；　too。　Of　all　the　thieves　worth　stomping　in　Miami；　I've　got　to　pick　a　future　Heisman　Trophy　winner。〃　Decker　laughed　sourly。
　〃So　now　you're　a　。。。　〃
　〃Private　investigator；〃　Decker　said。　Obviously　Ott　was　having　a　little　trouble　getting　to　the　point。
　The　point　being　what　in　the　hell　Decker　was　doing　as　a　P。I。　〃I　burned　out　on　newspapers；〃　he　said　to　Ott。
　〃With　your　portfolio　you　could　have　done　anything；　R。J。　Magazines；　free…lance；　the　New　York　agencies。　You　could　write　your　own　ticket。〃
　〃Not　with　a　rap　sheet；〃　Decker　said。
　It　was　a　fortable　lie。　A　lawyer　friend　had　arranged　for　Decker's　criminal　record　to　be　legally　expunged；　wiped　off　the　puter；　so　the　rap　sheet　wasn't　really　the　problem。
　The　truth　was；　Decker　had　to　get　away　from　the　news　business。　He　needed　a　divorce　from　photography　because　he　had　started　to　see　life　and　death　as　a　sequence　of　frames；　Decker's　mind　had　started　to　work　like　his　goddamn　cameras；　and　it　scared　him。　The　night　he　made　up　his　mind　was　the　night　the　city　desk　had　sent　him　out　on　what