raymondchandler.farewellmylovely-第26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！


　He　moved　vaguely；　his　eyes　still　sunken　and　sad。
　〃Maybe　you've　got　another　buzzer　under　the　carpet；〃　I　said。　〃Maybe　it　rings　in　the　Chief's　office　down　at　headquarters。　Don't　use　it。　Just　for　an　hour　I'm　a　very　tough　guy。　Anybody　es　in　that　door　is　walking　into　a　coffin。〃
　〃There　is　no　buzzer　under　the　carpet；〃　he　said。　His　voice　had　the　slightest　possible　foreign　accent。
　I　got　his　magazine　out　and　my　empty　one　and　changed　them。　I　ejected　the　shell　that　was　in　the　chamber　of　his　gun　and　let　it　lie。　I　jacked　one　up　into　the　chamber　of　mine　and　went　back　to　the　other　side　of　the　desk　again。
　There　was　a　spring　lock　on　the　door。　I　backed　towards　it　and　pushed　it　shut　and　heard　the　lock　click。　There　was　also　a　bolt。　I　turned　that。
I　went　back　to　the　desk　and　sat　in　a　chair。　It　took　my　last　ounce　of　strength。
〃Whiskey；〃　I　said。
He　began　to　move　his　hands　around。
〃Whiskey；〃　I　said。
He　went　to　the　medicine　cabinet　and　got　a　flat　bottle　with　a　green　revenue　stamp　on　it　and　a　glass。
〃Two　glasses；〃　I　said。　〃I　tried　your　whiskey　once。　I　damn　near　hit　Catalina　Island　with　it。〃
He　brought　two　small　glasses　and　broke　the　seal　and　filled　the　two　glasses。
〃You　first；〃　I　said。
He　smiled　faintly　and　raised　one　of　the　glasses。
　〃Your　health；　sir…what　remains　of　it。〃　He　drank。　I　drank。　I　reached　for　the　bottle　and　stood　it　near　me　and　waited　for　the　heat　to　get　to　my　heart。　My　heart　began　to　pound；　but　it　was　back　up　in　my　chest　again；　not　hanging　on　a　shoelace。
　〃I　had　a　nightmare；〃　I　said。　〃Silly　idea。　I　dreamed　I　was　tied　to　a　cot　and　shot　full　of　dope　and　locked　in　a　barred　room。　I　got　very　weak。　I　slept。　I　had　no　food。　I　was　a　sick　man。　I　was　knocked　on　the　head　and　brought　into　a　place　where　they　did　that　to　me。　They　took　a　lot　of　trouble。　I'm　not　that　important。〃
　He　said　nothing。　He　watched　me。　There　was　a　remote　speculation　in　his　eyes；　as　if　he　wondered　how　long　I　would　live。
　〃I　woke　up　and　the　room　was　full　of　smoke；〃　I　said。　〃It　was　just　a　hallucination；　irritation　of　the　optic　nerve　or　whatever　a　guy　like　you　would　call　it。　Instead　of　pink　snakes　I　had　smoke。　So　I　yelled　and　a　toughie　in　a　white　coat　came　and　showed　me　a　blackjack。　It　took　me　a　long　time　to　get　ready　to　take　it　away　from　him。　I　got　his　keys　and　my　clothes　and　even　took　my　money　out　of　his　pocket。　So　here　I　am。　All　cured。　What　were　you　saying？〃
　〃I　made　no　remark；〃　he　said。
　〃Remarks　want　you　to　make　them；〃　I　said。　〃They　have　their　tongues　hanging　out　waiting　to　be　said。　This　thing　here…〃　I　waved　the　blackjack　lightly；　〃is　a　persuader。　I　had　to　borrow　it　from　a　guy。〃
　〃Please　give　it　to　me　at　once；〃　he　said　with　a　smile　you　would　get　to　love。　It　was　like　the　executioner's　smile　when　he　es　to　your　cell　to　measure　you　for　the　drop。　A　little　friendly；　a　little　paternal；　and　a　little　cautious　at　the　same　time。　You　would　get　to　love　it　if　there　was　any　way　you　could　live　long　enough。
　I　dropped　the　blackjack　into　his　palm；　his　left　palm。
　〃Now　the　gun；　please；〃　he　said　softly。　〃You　have　been　a　very　sick　man；　Mr。　Marlowe。　I　think　I　shall　have　to　insist　that　you　go　back　to　bed。〃
I　stared　at　him。
〃I　am　Dr。　Sonderborg；〃　he　said；　〃and　I　don't　want　any　nonsense。〃
　He　laid　the　blackjack　down　on　the　desk　in　front　of　him。　His　smile　was　as　stiff　as　a　frozen　fish。　His　long　fingers　made　movements　like　dying　butterflies。
〃The　gun；　please；〃　he　said　softly。　〃I　advise　strongly…〃
〃What　time　is　it；　warden？〃
He　looked　mildly　surprised。　I　had　my　wrist　watch　on　now；　but　it　had　run　down。
〃It　is　almost　midnight。　Why？〃
〃What　day　is　it？〃
〃Why；　my　dear　sir…Sunday　evening；　of　course。〃
I　steadied　myself　on　the　desk　and　tried　to　think　and　held　the　gun　close　enough　to　him　so　that　he　might　try　and　grab　it。
〃That's　over　forty…eight　hours。　No　wonder　I　had　fits。　Who　brought　me　here？〃
　He　stared　at　me　and　his　left　hand　began　to　edge　towards　the　gun。　He　belonged　to　the　Wandering　Hand　Society。　The　girls　would　have　had　a　time　with　him。
　〃Don't　make　me　get　tough；〃　I　whined。　〃Don't　make　me　lose　my　beautiful　manners　and　my　flawless　English；　Just　tell　me　how　I　got　here。〃
　He　had　courage。　He　grabbed　for　the　gun。　It　wasn't　where　he　grabbed。　I　sat　back　and　put　it　in　my　lap。
　He　reddened　and　grabbed　for　the　whiskey　and　poured　himself　another　drink　and　downed　it　fast。　He　drew　a　deep　breath　and　shuddered。　He　didn't　like　the　taste　of　liquor。　Dopers　never　do。
　〃You　will　be　arrested　at　once；　if　you　leave　here；〃　he　said　sharply。　〃You　were　properly　mitted　by　an　officer　of　the　law…〃
〃Officers　of　the　law　can't　do　it。〃
That　jarred　him；　a　little。　His　yellowish　face　began　to　work。
　〃Shake　it　up　and　pour　it；〃　I　said。　〃Who　put　me　in　here；　why　and　how？　I'm　in　a　wild　mood　tonight。　I　want　to　go　dance　in　the　foam。　I　hear　the　banshees　calling。　I　haven't　shot　a　man　in　a　week。　Speak　out；　Dr。　Fell。　Pluck　the　antique　viol；　let　the　soft　music　float。〃
　〃You　are　suffering　from　narcotic　poisoning；〃　he　said　coldly。　〃You　very　nearly　died。　I　had　to　give　you　digitalis　three　times。　You　fought；　you　screamed；　you　had　to　be　restrained。〃　His　words　were　ing　so　fast　they　were　leap…frogging　themselves。　〃If　you　leave　my　hospital　in　this　condition；　you　will　get　into　serious　trouble。〃
〃Did　you　say　you　were　a　doctor…a　medical　doctor？〃　
〃Certainly。　I　am　Dr。　Sonderborg；　as　I　told　you。〃　
　〃You　don't　scream　and　fight　from　narcotic　poisoning。　You　just　lie　in　a　a。　Try　again。　And　skim　it。　All　I　want　is　the　cream。　Who　put　me　in　your　private　funny　house？〃
　〃But…〃
　〃But　me　no　buts。　I'll　make　a　sop　of　you。　I'll　drown　you　in　a　butt　of　Maimsey　wine。　I　wish　I　had　a　butt　of　Malmsey　wine　myself　to　drown　in。　Shakespeare。　He　knew　his　liquor　too。　Let's　have　a　little　of　our　medicine。〃　I　reached　for　his　glass　and　poured　us　a　couple　more。　〃Get　on　with　it；　Karloff。〃
〃The　police　put　you　in　here。〃
〃What　police？〃
〃The　Bay　City　police　naturally。〃　His　restless　yellow　fingers　twisted　his　glass。　〃This　is　Bay　City。〃
〃Oh。　Did　this　police　have　a　name？〃
　〃A　Sergeant　Galbraith；　I　believe。　Not　a　regular　patrol　car　officer。　He　and　another　officer　found　you　wandering　outside　the　house　in　a　dazed　condition　on　Friday　night。　They　brought　you　in　because　this　place　was　close。　I　thought　you　were　an　addict　who　had　taken　an　overdose。　But　perhaps　I　was　wrong。〃
　〃It's　a　good　story。　I　couldn't　prove　it　wrong。　But　why　keep　me　here？〃
　He　spread　his　restless　hands。　〃I　have　told　you　again　and　again　that　you　were　a　very　sick　man　and　still　are。　What　would　you　expect　me　to　do？〃
〃I　must　owe　you　some　money　then。〃
He　shrugged。　〃Naturally。　Two　hundred　dollars。〃
I　pushed　my　chair　back　a　little。　〃Dirt　cheap。　Try　and　get　it。〃
〃If　you　leave　here；〃　he　said　sharply；　〃you　will　be　arrested　at　once。〃
I　leaned　back　over　the　desk　and　breathed　in　his　face。　〃Not　just　for　going　out　of　here；　Karloff。　Open　that　wall　safe。〃
He　stood　up　in　a　smooth　lunge；　〃This　has　gone　quite　far　enough。〃
〃You　won't　open　it？〃
〃I　most　certainly　will　not　open　it。〃
〃This　is　a　gun　I'm　holding。〃
He　smiled；　narrowly　and　bitterly。
〃It's　an　awful　big　safe；〃　I　said。　〃New　too。　This　is　a　fine　gun。　You　won't　open　it？〃
Nothing　changed　in　his　face。
　〃Damn　it；〃　I　said。　〃When　you　have　a　gun　in　your　hand；　people　are　supposed　to　do　anything　you　tell　them　to。　It　doesn't　work；　does　it？〃
　He　smiled。　His　smile　held　a　sadistic　pleasure。　I　was　slipping　back。　I　was　going　to　collapse。
　I　staggered　at　the　desk　and　he　waited；　his　lips　parted　softly。
　I　stood　leaning　there　for　a　long　moment；　staring　into　his　eyes。　Then　I　grinned。　The　smile　fell　off　his　face　like　a　soiled　rag。　Sweat　stood　out　on　his　forehead。
〃So　long；〃　I　said。　〃I　leave　you　to　dirtier　hands　than　mine。〃
I　backed　to　the　door　and　opened　it　and　went　out。
　The　front　doors　were　unlocked。　There　was　a　roofed　porch。　The　garden　hummed　with　flowers。　There　was　a　white　picket　fence　and　a　gate。　The　house　was　on　a　corner。　It　was　a　cool；　moist　night；　no　moon。
　The　sign　on　the　corner　said　Descanso　Street。　Houses　were　lighted　down　the　block。　I　listened　for　sirens。　None　came。　The　other　sign　said　Twenty…third　Street。　I　plowed　over　to　Twenty…fifth　Street　and　started　towards　the　eight…hundred　block。　No。　819　was　Anne　Riordan's　number。　Sanctuary。
　I　had　walked　a　long　time　before　I　realized　that　I　was　still　holding　the　gun　in　my　hand。　And　I　had　heard　no　sirens。
　I　kept　on　walking。　The　air　did　me　good；　but　the　whiskey　was　dying；　and　it　writhed　as　it　died。　The　block　had　fir　trees　along　it；　and　brick　houses；　and　looked　like　Capitol　Hill　in　Seattle　more　than　Southern　California。
　There　was　a　light　still　in　No。　819。　It　had　a　white　porte…cochere；　very　tiny；　pressed　against　a　tall　cypress　hedge。　There　were　rose　bushes　in　front　of　the　house。　I　went　up　the　walk。　I　listened　before　I　pushed　the　bell。　Still　no　sirens　wailing。　The　bell　chimed　and　after　a　little　while　a　voice　croaked　through　one　of　those　electrical　contraptions　that　let　you　talk　with　your　front　door　locked。
〃What　is　it；　please？〃
〃Marlowe。〃
Maybe　her　breath　caught；　maybe　the　electrical　thing　just　made　that　sound　being　shut　off。
　The　door　opened　wide　and　Miss　Anne　Riordan　stood　there　in　a　pale　green　slack　suit　looking　at　me。　Her　eyes　went　wide　and　scared。　Her　face　under　the　glare　of　the　porchlight　was　suddenly　pale。
　〃My　God；〃　she　wailed。　〃You　look　like　Hamlet's　father！〃
　
　28
　The　living　room　had　a　tan　figured　rug；　white　and　rose　chairs；　a　black　marble　fireplace　with　very　tall　brass　andirons；　high　bookcases　built　back　into　the　walls；　and　rough　cream　drapes　against　the　lowered　venetian　blinds。
　There　was　nothing　womanish　in　the　room　except　a　full　length　mirror　with　a　clear　sweep　of　floor　in　front　of　it。
　I　was　half…sitting　and　half…lying　in　a　deep　chair　with　my　legs　on　a　footstool。　I　had　had　two　cups　of　black　coffee；　then　I　had　had　a　drink；　then　I　had　had　two　soft…boiled　eggs　and　a　slice　of　toast　broken　into　them；　then　some　more　black　coffee　with　brandy　laced　in　it。　I　had　had　all　this　in　the　breakfast　room；　but　I　couldn't　remember　what　it　looked　like　any　more。　It　was　too　long　ago。
　I　was　in　good　shape　again。　I　was　almost　sober　and　my　stomach　was　bunting　towards　third　base　instead　of　trying　for　the　centerfield　flagpole。
　Anne　Riordan　sat　opposite　me；　leaning　forward；　her　neat　chin　cupped　in　her　neat　hand；　her　eyes　dark　and　shadowy　under　the　fluffed　out　reddish…brown　hai