raymondchandler.farewellmylovely-第23部分

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〃There　were　three　cigarettes？〃　the　voice　said　gently；　and　the　shining　thing　hit　my　jaw　again。
〃Three；〃　I　gulped。
〃Just　where　did　you　say　the　others　were？〃
〃In　my　desk…at　the　office。〃
　The　shiny　thing　hit　me　again。　〃You　are　probably　lying…but　I　can　find　out。〃　Keys　shone　with　funny　little　red　lights　in　front　of　me。　The　voice　said：　〃Choke　him　a　little　more。〃
　The　iron　fingers　went　into　my　throat。　I　was　strained　back　against　him；　against　the　smell　of　him　and　the　hard　muscles　of　his　stomach。　I　reached　up　and　took　one　of　his　fingers　and　tried　to　twist　it。
　The　voice　said　softly：　〃Amazing。　He's　learning。〃
　The　glinting　thing　swayed　through　the　air　again。　It　smacked　my　jaw；　the　thing　that　had　once　been　my　jaw。
　〃Let　him　go。　He's　tame；〃　the　voice　said。
　The　heavy　strong　arms　dropped　away　and　I　swayed　forward　and　took　a　step　and　steadied　myself。　Amthor　stood　smiling　very　slightly；　almost　dreamily　in　front　of　me。　He　held　my　gun　in　his　delicate；　lovely　hand。　He　held　it　pointed　at　my　chest。
　〃I　could　teach　you；〃　he　said　in　his　soft　voice。　〃But　to　what　purpose？　A　dirty　little　man　in　a　dirty　little　world。　One　spot　of　brightness　on　you　and　you　would　still　be　that。　Is　it　not　so？〃　He　smiled；　so　beautifully。
　I　swung　at　his　smile　with　everything　I　had　left。
　It　wasn't　so　bad　considering。　He　reeled　and　blood　came　out　of　both　his　nostrils。　Then　he　caught　himself　and　straightened　up　and　lifted　the　gun　again。
　〃Sit　down；　my　child；〃　he　said　softly。　〃I　have　visitors　ing。　I　am　so　glad　you　hit　me。　It　helps　a　great　deal。〃
　I　felt　for　the　white　stool　and　sat　down　and　put　my　head　down　on　the　white　table　beside　the　milky　globe　which　was　now　shining　again　softly。　I　stared　at　it　sideways；　my　face　on　the　table。　The　light　fascinated　me。　Nice　light；　nice　soft　light。
　Behind　me　and　around　me　there　was　nothing　but　silence。　I　think　I　went　to　sleep；　just　like　that；　with　a　bloody　face　on　the　table；　and　a　thin　beautiful　devil　with　my　gun　in　his　hand　watching　me　and　smiling。
　
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〃All　right；〃　the　big　one　said。　〃You　can　quit　stalling　now。〃
I　opened　my　eyes　and　sat　up。
〃Out　in　the　other　room；　pally。〃
　I　stood　up；　still　dreamy。　We　went　somewhere；　through　a　door。　Then　I　saw　where　it　was…the　reception　room　with　the　windows　all　around。　It　was　black　dark　now　outside。
The　woman　with　the　wrong　rings　sat　at　her　desk。　A　man　stood　beside　her。
〃Sit　here；　pally。〃
　He　pushed　me　down。　It　was　a　nice　chair；　straight　but　fortable　but　I　wasn't　in　the　mood　for　it。　The　woman　behind　the　desk　had　a　notebook　open　and　was　reading　out　loud　from　it。　A　short　elderly　man　with　a　dead…pan　expression　and　a　gray　mustache　was　listening　to　her。
　Amthor　was　standing　by　a　window；　with　his　back　to　the　room；　looking　out　at　the　placid　line　of　the　ocean；　far　off；　beyond　the　pier　lights；　beyond　the　world。　He　looked　at　it　as　if　he　loved　it。　He　half　turned　his　head　to　look　at　me　once；　and　I　could　see　that　the　blood　had　been　washed　off　his　face；　but　his　nose　wasn't　the　nose　I　had　first　met；　not　by　two　sizes。　That　made　me　grin；　cracked　lips　and　all。
　〃You　got　fun；　pally？〃
　I　looked　at　what　made　the　sound；　what　was　in　front　of　me　and　what　had　helped　me　get　where　I　was。　He　was　a　windblown　blossom　of　some　two　hundred　pounds　with　freckled　teeth　and　the　mellow　voice　of　a　circus　barker。　He　was　tough；　fast　and　he　ate　red　meat。　Nobody　could　push　him　around。　He　was　the　kind　of　cop　who　spits　on　his　blackjack　every　night　instead　of　saying　his　prayers。　But　he　had　humorous　eyes。
　He　stood　in　front　of　me　splay…legged；　holding　my　open　wallet　in　his　hand；　making　scratches　on　the　leather　with　his　as　if　he　just　liked　to　spoil　things。　Little　things；　if　they　were　all　he　had。　But　probably　faces　would　give　him　more　fun。
　〃Peeper；　huh；　pally？　From　the　big　bad　burg；　huh？　Little　spot　of　blackmail；　huh？〃
　His　hat　was　on　the　back　of　his　head。　He　had　dusty　brown　hair　darkened　by　sweat　on　his　forehead。　His　humorous　eyes　were　flecked　with　red　veins。
　My　throat　felt　as　though　it　had　been　through　a　mangle。　I　reached　up　and　felt　it。　That　Indian。　He　had　fingers　like　pieces　of　tool　steel。
　The　dark　woman　stopped　reading　out　of　her　notebook　and　closed　it。　The　elderly　smallish　man　with　the　gray　mustache　nodded　and　came　over　to　stand　behind　the　one　who　was　talking　to　me。
〃Cops？〃　I　asked；　rubbing　my　chin。
〃What　do　you　think；　pally？〃
Policeman's　humor。　The　small　one　had　a　cast　in　one　eye；　and　it　looked　half　blind。
〃Not　L。A。；〃　I　said；　looking　at　him。　〃That　eye　would　retire　him　in　Los　Angeles。〃
　The　big　man　handed　me　my　wallet。　I　looked　through　it。　I　had　all　the　money　still。　All　the　cards。　It　had　everything　that　belonged　in　it。　I　was　surprised。
　〃Say　something；　pally；〃　the　big　one　said。　〃Something　that　would　make　us　get　fond　of　you。〃
　〃Give　me　back　my　gun。〃
　He　leaned　forward　a　little　and　thought。　I　could　see　him　thinking。　It　hurt　his　corns。　〃Oh；　you　want　your　gun；　pally？〃　He　looked　sideways　at　the　one　with　the　gray　mustache。　〃He　wants　his　gun；〃　he　told　him。　He　looked　at　me　again。　〃And　what　would　you　want　your　gun　for；　pally？〃
〃I　want　to　shoot　an　Indian。〃
〃Oh；　you　want　to　shoot　an　Indian；　pally。〃
〃Yeah…just　one　Indian；　pop。〃
He　looked　at　the　one　with　the　mustache　again。　〃This　guy　is　very　tough；〃　he　told　him。　〃He　wants　to　shoot　an　Indian。〃
〃Listen；　Hemingway；　don't　repeat　everything　I　say；〃　I　said。
〃I　think　the　guy　is　nuts；〃　the　big　one　said。　〃He　just　called　me　Hemingway。　Do　you　think　he　is　nuts？〃
　The　one　with　the　mustache　bit　a　cigar　and　said　nothing。　The　tall　beautiful　man　at　the　window　turned　slowly　and　said　softly：　〃I　think　possibly　he　is　a　little　unbalanced。〃
　〃I　can't　think　of　any　reason　why　he　should　call　me　Hemingway；〃　the　big　one　said。　〃My　name　ain't　Hemingway。〃
　The　older　man　said：　〃I　didn't　see　a　gun。〃
　They　looked　at　Amthor。　Amthor　said：　〃It's　inside。　I　have　it。　I'll　give　it　to　you；　Mr。　Blane。〃
　The　big　man　leaned　down　from　his　hips　and　bent　his　knees　a　little　and　breathed　in　my　face。　〃What　for　did　you　call　me　Hemingway；　pally？〃
　〃There　are　ladies　present。〃
　He　straightened　up　again。　〃You　see。〃　He　looked　at　the　one　with　the　mustache。　The　one　with　the　mustache　nodded　and　then　turned　and　walked　away；　across　the　room。　The　sliding　door　opened。　He　went　in　and　Amthor　followed　him。
　There　was　silence。　The　dark　woman　looked　down　at　the　top　of　her　desk　and　frowned。　The　big　man　looked　at　my　right　eyebrow　and　slowly　shook　his　head　from　side　to　side；　wonderingly。
　The　door　opened　again　and　the　man　with　the　mustache　came　back。　He　picked　a　hat　up　from　somewhere　and　handed　it　to　me。　He　took　my　gun　out　of　his　pocket　and　handed　it　to　me。　I　knew　by　the　weight　it　was　empty。　I　tucked　it　under　my　arm　and　stood　up。
　The　big　man　said：　〃Let's　go；　pally。　Away　from　here。　I　think　maybe　a　little　air　will　help　you　to　get　straightened　out。〃
　〃Okey；　Hemingway。〃
　〃He's　doing　that　again；〃　the　big　man　said　sadly。　〃Calling　me　Hemingway　on　account　of　there　are　ladies　present。　Would　you　think　that　would　be　some　kind　of　dirty　crack　in　his　book？〃
　The　man　with　the　mustache　said；　〃Hurry　up。〃
　The　big　man　took　me　by　the　arm　and　we　went　over　to　the　little　elevator。　It　came　up。　We　got　into　it。
　
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　At　the　bottom　of　the　shaft　we　got　out　and　walked　along　the　narrow　hallway　and　out　of　the　black　door。　It　was　crisp　clear　air　outside；　high　enough　to　be　above　the　drift　of　foggy　spray　from　the　ocean。　I　breathed　deeply。
　The　big　man　still　had　hold　of　my　arm。　There　was　a　car　standing　there；　a　plain　dark　sedan；　with　private　plates。
　The　big　man　opened　the　front　door　and　plained：　〃It　ain't　really　up　to　your　class；　pally。　But　a　little　air　will　set　you　up　fine。　Would　that　be　all　right　with　you？　We　wouldn't　want　to　do　anything　that　you　wouldn't　like　us　to　do；　pally。〃
　〃Where's　the　Indian？〃
　He　shook　his　head　a　little　and　pushed　me　into　the　car。　I　got　into　the　right　side　of　the　front　seat。　〃Oh；　yeah；　the　Indian；〃　he　said。　〃You　got　to　shoot　him　with　a　bow　and　arrow。　That's　the　law。　We　got　him　in　the　back　of　the　car。〃
　I　looked　in　the　back　of　the　car。　It　was　empty。
　〃Hell；　he　ain't　there；〃　the　big　one　said。　〃Somebody　must　of　glommed　him　off。　You　can't　leave　nothing　in　a　unlocked　car　any　more。〃
　〃Hurry　up；〃　the　man　with　the　mustache　said；　and　got　into　the　back　seat。　Hemingway　went　around　and　pushed　his　hard　stomach　behind　the　wheel。　He　started　the　car。　We　turned　and　drifted　off　down　the　driveway　lined　with　wild　geraniums。　A　cold　wind　lifted　off　the　sea。　The　stars　were　too　far　off。　They　said　nothing。
We　reached　the　bottom　of　the　drive　and　turned　out　onto　the　concrete　mountain　road　and　drifted　without　haste　along　that。
〃How　e　you　don't　have　a　car　with　you；　pally？〃
〃Amthor　sent　for　me。〃
〃Why　would　that　be；　pally？〃
〃It　must　have　been　he　wanted　to　see　me。〃
　〃This　guy　is　good；〃　Hemingway　said。　〃He　figures　things　out。〃　He　spit　out　of　the　side　of　the　car　and　made　a　turn　nicely　and　let　the　car　ride　its　motor　down　the　hill。　〃He　says　you　called　him　up　on　the　phone　and　tried　to　put　the　bite　on　him。　So　he　figures　he　better　have　a　looksee　what　kind　of　guy　he　is　doing　business　with…if　he　is　doing　business。　So　he　sends　his　own　car。〃
　〃On　account　of　he　knows　he　is　going　to　call　some　cops　he　knows　and　I　won't　need　mine　to　get　home　with；〃　I　said。　〃Okey；　Hemingway。〃
　〃Yeah；　that　again。　Okey。　Well　he　has　a　dictaphone　under　his　table　and　his　secretary　takes　it　all　down　and　when　we　e　she　reads　it　back　to　Mister　Blane　here。〃
　I　turned　and　looked　at　Mister　Blane。　He　was　smoking　a　cigar；　peacefully；　as　though　he　had　his　slippers　on。　He　didn't　look　at　me。
〃Like　hell　she　did；〃　I　said。　〃More　likely　a　stock　bunch　of　notes　they　had　all　fixed　up　for　a　case　like　that。〃
〃Maybe　you　would　like　to　tell　us　why　you　wanted　to　see　this　guy；〃　Hemingway　suggested　politely。
〃You　mean　while　I　still　have　part　of　my　face？〃
〃Aw；　we　ain't　those　kind　of　boys　at　all；〃　he　said；　with　a　large　gesture。
〃You　know　Amthor　pretty　well；　don't　you；　Hemingway？〃
〃Mr。　Blane　kind　of　knows　him。　Me；　I　just　do　what　the　orders　is。〃
〃Who　the　hell　is　Mister　Blane？〃
〃That's　the　gentleman　in　the　back　seat。〃
〃And　besides　being　in　the　back　seat　who　the　hell　is　he？〃
〃Why；　Jesus；　everybody　knows　Mr。　Blane。〃
〃All　right；〃　I　said；　suddenly　feeling　very　weary。
There　was　a　little　more　silence；　more　curves；　more　winding　ribbons　of　concrete；　more　darkness；