raymondchandler.farewellmylovely-第33部分

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　〃Have　Galbraith　e　up；　if　he's　in　the　building。　If　not；　try　and　get　in　touch　with　him　for　me。〃
　I　got　up　and　unlocked　the　doors　and　sat　down　again。　We　didn't　wait　long。　The　side　door　was　tapped　on；　the　Chief　called　out；　and　Hemingway　stepped　into　the　room。
　He　walked　solidly　over　to　the　desk　and　and　stopped　at　the　end　of　it　and　looked　at　Chief　Wax　with　the　proper　expression　of　tough　humility。
　〃Meet　Mr。　Philip　Marlowe；〃　the　Chief　said　genially。　〃A　private　dick　from　L。A。〃
　Hemingway　turned　enough　to　look　at　me。　If　he　had　ever　seen　me　before；　nothing　in　his　face　showed　it。　He　put　a　hand　out　and　I　put　a　hand　out　and　he　looked　at　the　Chief　again。
　〃Mr。　Marlowe　has　a　rather　curious　story；〃　the　Chief　said；　cunning；　like　Richelieu　behind　the　arras。　〃About　a　man　named　Amthor　who　has　a　place　in　Stillwood　Heights。　He's　some　sore　of　crystal…gazer。　It　seems　Marlowe　went　to　see　him　and　you　and　Blane　happened　in　about　the　same　time　and　there　was　an　argument　of　some　kind。　I　forget　the　details。〃　He　looked　out　of　his　windows　with　the　expression　of　a　man　forgetting　details。
　〃Some　mistake；〃　Hemingway　said。　〃I　never　saw　this　man　before。〃
　〃There　was　a　mistake；　as　a　matter　of　fact；〃　the　Chief　said　dreamily。　〃Rather　trifling；　but　still　a　mistake。　Mr。　Marlowe　thinks　it　of　slight　importance。〃
　Hemingway　looked　at　me　again。　His　face　still　looked　like　a　stone　face。
　〃In　fact　he's　not　even　interested　in　the　mistake；〃　the　Chief　dreamed　on。　〃But　he　is　interested　in　going　to　call　on　this　man　Amthor　who　lives　in　Stillwood　Heights。　He　would　like　someone　with　him。　I　thought　of　you。　He　would　like　someone　who　would　see　that　he　got　a　square　deal。　It　seems　that　Mr。　Amthor　has　a　very　tough　Indian　bodyguard　and　Mr。　Marlowe　is　a　little　inclined　to　doubt　his　ability　to　handle　the　situation　without　help。　Do　you　think　you　could　find　out　where　this　Amthor　lives？〃
　〃Yeah；〃　Hemingway　said。　〃But　Stillwood　Heights　is　over　the　line；　Chief。　This　just　a　personal　favor　to　a　friend　of　yours？〃
　〃You　might　put　it　that　way；〃　the　Chief　said；　looking　at　his　left　thumb。　〃We　wouldn't　want　to　do　anything　not　strictly　legal；　of　course。〃
　〃Yeah；〃　Hemingway　said。　〃No。〃　He　coughed。　〃When　do　we　go？〃
　The　Chief　looked　at　me　benevolently。　〃Now　would　be　okey；〃　I　said。　〃If　it　suits　Mr。　Galbraith。〃
　〃I　do　what　I'm　told；〃　Hemingway　said。
　The　Chief　looked　him　over；　feature　by　feature。　He　bed　him　and　brushed　him　with　his　eyes。　〃How　is　Captain　Blane　today？〃　he　inquired；　munching　on　a　cardamon　seed。
　〃Bad　shape。　Bust　appendix；〃　Hemingway　said。　〃Pretty　critical。〃
　The　Chief　shook　his　head　sadly。　Then　he　got　hold　of　the　arms　of　his　chair　and　dragged　himself　to　his　feet。　He　pushed　a　pink　paw　across　his　desk。
　〃Galbraith　will　take　good　care　of　you；　Marlowe。　You　can　rely　on　that。〃
　〃Well；　you've　certainly　been　obliging；　Chief；〃　I　said。　〃I　certainly　don't　know　how　to　thank　you。〃
　〃Pshaw！　No　thanks　necessary。　Always　glad　to　oblige　a　friend　of　a　friend；　so　to　speak。〃　He　winked　at　me。　Hemingway　studied　the　wink　but　he　didn't　say　what　he　added　it　up　to。
　We　went　out；　with　the　Chief's　polite　murmurs　almost　carrying　us　down　the　office。　The　door　closed。　Hemingway　looked　up　and　down　the　hall　and　then　he　looked　at　me。
　〃You　played　that　one　smart；　baby；〃　he　said。　〃You　must　got　something　we　wasn't　told　about。〃
　
　33
　The　car　drifted　quietly　along　a　quiet　street　of　homes。　Arching　pepper　trees　almost　met　above　it　to　form　a　green　tunnel。　The　sun　twinkled　through　their　upper　branches　and　their　narrow　light　leaves。　A　sign　at　the　corner　said　it　was　Eighteenth　Street。
　Hemingway　was　driving　and　I　sat　beside　him。　He　drove　very　slowly；　his　face　heavy　with　thought。
　〃How　much　you　tell　him？〃　he　asked；　making　up　his　mind。
　〃I　told　him　you　and　Blane　went　over　there　and　took　me　away　and　tossed　me　out　of　the　car　and　socked　me　on　the　back　of　the　head。　I　didn't　tell　him　the　rest。〃
〃Not　about　Twenty…third　and　Descanso；　huh？〃　
〃No。〃
〃Why　not？〃
〃I　thought　maybe　I　could　get　more　co…operation　from　you　if　I　didn't。〃
〃That's　a　thought。　You　really　want　to　go　over　to　Stillwood　Heights；　or　was　that　just　a　stall？〃
〃Just　a　stall。　What　I　really　want　is　for　you　to　tell　me　why　you　put　me　in　that　funnyhouse　and　why　I　was　kept　there？〃
Hemingway　thought。　He　thought　so　hard　his　cheek　muscles　made　little　knots　under　his　grayish　skin。
　〃That　Blane；〃　he　said。　〃That　sawed…off　hunk　of　shin　meat。　I　didn't　mean　for　him　to　sap　you。　I　didn't　mean　for　you　to　walk　home　neither；　not　really。　It　was　just　an　act；　on　account　of　we　are　friends　with　this　swami　guy　and　we　kind　of　keep　people　from　bothering　him。　You'd　be　surprised　what　a　lot　of　people　would　try　to　bother　him。〃
　〃Amazed；〃　I　said。
　He　turned　his　head。　His　gray　eyes　were　lumps　of　ice。　Then　he　looked　again　through　the　dusty　windshield　and　did　some　more　thinking。
　〃Them　old　cops　get　sap…hungry　once　in　a　while；〃　he　said。　〃They　just　got　to　crack　a　head。　Jesus；　was　I　scared。　You　dropped　like　a　sack　of　cement。　I　told　Blane　plenty。　Then　we　run　you　over　to　Sonderborg's　place　on　account　of　it　was　a　little　closer　and　he　was　a　nice　guy　and　would　take　care　of　you。〃
〃Does　Amthor　know　you　took　me　there？〃
〃Hell；　no。　It　was　our　idea。〃
　〃On　account　of　Sonderborg　is　such　a　nice　guy　and　he　would　take　care　of　me。　And　no　kickback。　No　chance　for　a　doctor　to　back　up　a　plaint　if　I　made　one。　Not　that　a　plaint　would　have　much　chance　in　this　sweet　little　town；　if　I　did　make　it。〃
　〃You　going　to　get　tough？〃　Hemingway　asked　thoughtfully。
　〃Not　me；〃　I　said。　〃And　for　once　in　your　life　neither　are　you。　Because　your　job　is　hanging　by　a　thread。　You　looked　in　the　Chief's　eyes　and　you　saw　that。　I　didn't　go　in　there　without　credentials；　not　this　trip。〃
　〃Okey；〃　Hemingway　said　and　spat　out　of　the　window。　〃I　didn't　have　any　idea　of　getting　tough　in　the　first　place　except　just　the　routine　big　mouth。　What　next？〃
　〃Is　Blane　really　sick？〃
　Hemingway　nodded；　but　somehow　failed　to　look　sad。　〃Sure　is。　Pain　in　the　gut　day　before　yesterday　and　it　bust　on　him　before　they　could　get　his　appendix　out。　He's　got　a　chance…but　not　too　good。〃
〃We'd　certainly　hate　to　lose　him；〃　I　said。　〃A　fellow　like　that　is　an　asset　to　any　police　force。〃
Hemingway　chewed　that　one　over　and　spat　it　out　of　the　car　window。
〃Okey；　next　question；〃　he　sighed。
　〃You　told　me　why　you　took　me　to　Sonderborg's　place。　You　didn't　tell　me　why　he　kept　me　there　over　forty…eight　hours；　locked　up　and　shot　full　of　dope。〃
　Hemingway　braked　the　car　softly　over　beside　the　curb。　He　put　his　large　hands　on　the　lower　part　of　the　wheel　side　by　side　and　gently　rubbed　the　thumbs　together。
　〃I　wouldn't　have　an　idea；〃　he　said　in　a　far…off　voice。
　〃I　had　papers　on　me　showing　I　had　a　private　license；〃　I　said。　〃Keys；　some　money；　a　couple　of　photographs。　If　he　didn't　know　you　boys　pretty　well；　he　might　think　the　crack　on　the　head　was　just　a　gag　to　get　into　his　place　and　look　around。　But　I　figure　he　knows　you　boys　too　well　for　that。　So　I'm　puzzled。〃
〃Stay　puzzled；　pally。　It's　a　lot　safer。〃
〃So　it　is；〃　I　said。　〃But　there's　no　satisfaction　in　it。〃　
〃You　got　the　L。A。　law　behind　you　on　this？〃　
〃On　this　what？〃
〃On　this　thinking　bout　Sonderborg。〃
〃Not　exactly。〃
〃That　don't　mean　yes　or　no。〃
　〃I'm　not　that　important；〃　I　said。　〃The　L。A。　law　can　e　in　here　any　time　they　feel　like　it…two　thirds　of　them　anyway。　The　Sheriff's　boys　and　the　D。A。's　boys。　I　have　a　friend　in　the　D。A。's　office。　I　worked　there　once。　His　name　is　Bernie　Ohls。　He's　Chief　Investigator。〃
〃You　give　it　to　him？〃
〃No。　I　haven't　spoken　to　him　in　a　month。〃
〃Thinking　about　giving　it　to　him？〃
〃Not　if　it　interferes　with　a　job　I'm　doing。〃
〃Private　job？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Okey；　what　is　it　you　want？〃
〃What's　Sonderborg's　real　racket？〃
　Hemingway　took　his　hands　off　the　wheel　and　spat　out　of　the　window。　〃We're　on　a　nice　street　here；　ain't　we？　Nice　homes；　nice　gardens；　nice　climate。　You　hear　a　lot　about　crooked　cops；　or　do　you？〃
　〃Once　in　a　while；〃　I　said。
　〃Okey；　how　many　cops　do　you　find　living　on　a　street　even　as　good　as　this；　with　nice　lawns　and　flowers？　I'd　know　four　or　five；　all　vice　squad　boys。　They　get　all　the　gravy。　Cops　like　me　live　in　itty…bitty　frame　houses　on　the　wrong　side　of　town。　Want　to　see　where　I　live？〃
　〃What　would　it　prove？〃
　〃Listen；　pally；〃　the　big　man　said　seriously。　〃You　got　me　on　a　string；　but　it　could　break。　Cops　don't　go　crooked　for　money。　Not　always；　not　even　often。　They　get　caught　in　the　system。　They　get　you　where　they　have　you　do　what　is　told　them　or　else。　And　the　guy　that　sits　back　there　in　the　nice　big　corner　office；　with　the　nice　suit　and　the　nice　liquor　breath　he　thinks　chewing　on　them　seeds　makes　smell　like　violets；　only　it　don't…he　ain't　giving　the　orders　either。　You　get　me？〃
　〃What　kind　of　a　man　is　the　mayor？〃
　〃What　kind　of　guy　is　a　mayor　anywhere？　A　politician。　You　think　he　gives　the　orders？　Nuts。　You　know　what's　the　matter　with　this　country；　baby？〃
　〃Too　much　frozen　capital；　I　heard。〃
　〃A　guy　can't　stay　honest　if　he　wants　to；〃　Hemingway　said。　〃That's　what's　the　matter　with　this　country。　He　gets　chiseled　out　of　his　pants　if　he　does。　You　gotta　play　the　game　dirty　or　you　don't　eat。　A　lot　of　bastards　think　all　we　need　is　ninety　thousand　FBI　men　in　clean　collars　and　brief　cases。　Nuts。　The　percentage　would　get　them　just　the　way　it　does　the　rest　of　us。　You　know　what　I　think？　I　think　we　gotta　make　this　little　world　all　over　again。　Now　take　Moral　Rearmament。　There　you've　got　something。　M。R。A。　There　you've　got　something；　baby。〃
　〃If　Bay　City　is　a　sample　of　how　it　works；　I'll　take　aspirin；〃　I　said。
　〃You　could　get　too　smart；〃　Hemingway　said　softly。　〃You　might　not　think　it；　but　it　could　be。　You　could　get　so　smart　you　couldn't　think　about　anything　but　bein'　smart。　Me；　I'm　just　a　dumb　cop。　I　take　orders。　I　got　a　wife　and　two　kids　and　I　do　what　the　big　shots　say。　Blane　could　tell　you　things。　Me；　I'm　ignorant。〃
　〃Sure　Blane　has　appendicitis？　Sure　he　didn't　just　shoot　himself　in　the　stomach　for　meanness？〃
　〃Don't　be　that　way；〃　Hemingway　plained　and　slapped　his　hands　up　and　down　on　the　wheel。　〃Try　and　think　nice　about　people。〃
　〃About　Blane？〃
　〃He's　human…just　like　the　rest　of　us；〃　Hemingway　said。　〃He's　a　sinner…but　he's　human。〃
　〃What's　Sonderborg's　racket？〃
　〃Okey；　I　was　just　telling　you。　Maybe　I'm　wrong。　I　had　you　figured　for　a