raymondchandler.farewellmylovely-第35部分

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　I　spotted　him　in　a　white　barbecue　stand　tickling　wienies　with　a　long　fork。　He　was　doing　a　good　business　even　that　early　in　the　year。　I　had　to　wait　some　time　to　get　him　alone。
〃What's　the　name　of　the　one　farthest　out？〃　I　asked；　pointing　with　my　nose。
〃_Montecito_。〃　He　gave　me　the　level　steady　look。
〃Could　a　guy　with　reasonable　dough　have　himself　a　time　there？〃
〃What　kind　of　a　time？〃
I　laughed；　sneeringly；　very　tough。
〃Hot　doggies；〃　he　chanted。　〃Nice　hot　doggies；　folks。〃　He　dropped　his　voice。　〃Women？〃
〃Nix。　I　was　figuring　on　a　room　with　a　nice　sea　breeze　and　good　food　and　nobody　to　bother　me。　Kind　of　vacation。〃　
He　moved　away。　〃I　can't　hear　a　word　you　say；〃　he　said；　and　then　went　into　his　chant。
　He　did　some　more　business。　I　didn't　know　why　I　bothered　with　him。　He　just　had　that　kind　of　face。　A　young　couple　in　shorts　came　up　and　bought　hot　dogs　and　strolled　away　with　the　boy's　arm　around　the　girl's　brassiere　and　each　eating　the　other's　hot　dog。
　The　man　slid　a　yard　towards　me　and　eyed　me　over。　〃Right　now　I　should　be　whistling　Roses　of　Picardy；〃　he　said；　and　paused。　〃That　would　cost　you；〃　he　said。
〃How　much？〃
〃Fifty。　Not　less。　Unless　they　want　you　for　something。〃
〃This　used　to　be　a　good　town；〃　I　said。　〃A　cool…off　town。〃
〃Thought　it　still　was；〃　he　drawled。　〃But　why　ask　me？〃
　〃I　haven't　an　idea；〃　I　said。　I　threw　a　dollar　bill　on　his　counter。　〃Put　it　in　the　baby's　bank；〃　I　said。　〃Or　whistle　Roses　of　Picardy。〃
　He　snapped　the　bill；　folded　it　longways；　folded　it　across　and　folded　it　again。　He　laid　it　on　the　counter　and　tucked　his　middle　finger　behind　his　thumb　and　snapped。　The　folded…bill　hit　me　lightly　in　the　chest　and　fell　noiselessly　to　the　ground。　I　bent　and　picked　it　up　and　turned　quickly。　But　nobody　was　behind　me　that　looked　like　a　dick。
　I　leaned　against　the　counter　and　laid　the　dollar　bill　on　it　again。　〃People　don't　throw　money　at　me；〃　I　said。　〃They　hand　it　to　me。　Do　you　mind？〃
　He　took　the　bill；　unfolded　it；　spread　it　out　and　wiped　it　off　with　his　apron。　He　punched　his　cash…register　and　dropped　the　bill　into　the　drawer。
　〃They　say　money　don't　stink；〃　he　said。　〃I　sometimes　wonder。〃
　I　didn't　say　anything。　Some　more　customers　did　business　with　him　and　went　away。　The　night　was　cooling　fast。
　〃I　wouldn't　try　the　Royal　Crown；〃　the　man　said。　〃That's　for　good　little　squirrels；　that　stick　to　their　nuts。　You　look　like　dick　to　me；　but　that's　your　angle。　I　hope　you　swim　good。〃
　I　left　him；　wondering　why　I　had　gone　to　him　in　the　first　place。　Play　the　hunch。　Play　the　hunch　and　get　stung。　In　a　little　while　you　wake　up　with　your　mouth　full　of　hunches。　You　can't　order　a　cup　of　coffee　without　shutting　your　eyes　and　stabbing　the　menu。　Play　the　hunch。
　I　walked　around　and　tried　to　see　if　anybody　walked　behind　me　in　any　particular　way。　Then　I　sought　out　a　restaurant　that　didn't　smell　of　frying　grease　and　found　one　with　a　purple　neon　sign　and　a　cocktail　bar　behind　a　reed　curtain。　A　male　cutie　with　henna'd　hair　drooped　at　a　bungalow　grand　piano　and　tickled　the　keys　lasciviously　and　sang　Stairway　to　the　Stars　in　a　voice　with　half　the　steps　missing。
　I　gobbled　a　dry　martini　and　hurried　back　through　the　reed　curtain　to　the　dining　room。
　The　eighty…five　cent　dinner　tasted　like　a　discarded　mail　bag　and　was　served　to　me　by　a　waiter　who　looked　as　if　he　would　slug　me　for　a　quarter；　cut　my　throat　for　six　bits；　and　bury　me　at　sea　in　a　barrel　of　concrete　for　a　dollar　and　a　half；　plus　sales　tax。
　
　35
　It　was　a　long　ride　for　a　quarter。　The　water　taxi；　an　old　launch　painted　up　and　glassed　in　for　three…quarters　of　its　length；　slid　through　the　anchored　yachts　and　around　the　wide　pile　of　stone　which　was　the　end　of　the　breakwater。　The　swell　hit　us　without　warning　and　bounced　the　boat　like　a　cork。　But　there　was　plenty　of　room　to　be　sick　that　early　in　the　evening。　All　the　pany　I　had　was　three　couples　and　the　man　who　drove　the　boat；　a　tough…looking　citizen　who　sat　a　little　on　his　left　hip　on　account　of　having　a　black　leather　hip…holster　inside　his　right　hip　pocket。　The　three　couples　began　to　chew　each　other's　faces　as　soon　as　we　left　the　shore。
　I　stared　back　at　the　lights　of　Bay　City　and　tried　not　to　bear　down　too　hard　on　my　dinner。　Scattered　points　of　light　drew　together　and　became　a　jeweled　bracelet　laid　out　in　the　show　window　of　the　night。　Then　the　brightness　faded　and　they　were　a　soft　orange　glow　appearing　and　disappearing　over　the　edge　of　the　swell。　It　was　a　long　smooth　even　swell　with　no　whitecaps；　and　just　the　right　amount　of　heave　to　make　me　glad　I　hadn't　pickled　my　dinner　in　bar　whisky。　The　taxi　slid　up　and　down　the　swell　now　with　a　sinister　smoothness；　like　a　cobra　dancing。　There　was　cold　in　the　air；　the　wet　cold　that　sailors　never　get　out　of　their　joints。　The　red　neon　pencils　that　outlined　the　Royal　Crown　faded　off　to　the　left　and　dimmed　in　the　gliding　gray　ghosts　of　the　sea；　then　shone　out　again；　as　bright　as　new　marbles。
　We　gave　this　one　a　wide　berth。　It　looked　nice　from　a　long　way　off。　A　faint　music　came　over　the　water　and　music　over　the　water　can　never　be　anything　but　lovely。　The　Royal　Crown　seemed　to　ride　as　steady　as　a　pier　on　its　four　hawsers。　Its　landing　stage　was　lit　up　like　a　theater　marquee。　Then　all　this　faded　into　remoteness　and　another；　older；　smaller　boat　began　to　sneak　out　of　the　night　towards　us。　It　was　not　much　to　look　at。　A　converted　seagoing　freighter　with　scummed　and　rusted　plates；　the　superstructure　cut　down　to　the　boat　deck　level；　and　above　that　two　stumpy　masts　just　high　enough　for　a　radio　antenna。　There　was　light　on　the　Montecito　also　and　music　floated　across　the　wet　dark　sea。　The　spooning　couples　took　their　teeth　out　of　each　other's　necks　and　stared　at　the　ship　and　giggled。
　The　taxi　swept　around　in　a　wide　curve；　careened　just　enough　to　give　the　passengers　a　thrill；　and　eased　up　to　the　hemp　fenders　along　the　stage。　The　taxi's　motor　idled　and　backfired　in　the　fog。　A　lazy　searchlight　beam　swept　a　circle　about　fifty　yards　out　from　the　ship。
　The　taximan　hooked　to　the　stage　and　a　sloe…eyed　lad　in　a　blue　mess　jacket　with　bright　buttons；　a　bright　smile　and　a　gangster　mouth；　handed　the　girls　up　from　the　taxi。　I　was　last。　The　casual　neat　way　he　looked　me　over　told　me　something　about　him。　The　casual　neat　way　he　bumped　my　shoulder　clip　told　me　more。
　〃Nix；〃　he　said　softly。　〃Nix。〃
　He　had　a　smoothly　husky　voice；　a　hard　Harry　straining　himself　through　a　silk　handkerchief。　He　jerked　his　chin　at　the　taximan。　The　taximan　dropped　a　short　loop　over　a　bitt；　turned　his　wheel　a　little；　and　climbed　out　on　the　stage。　He　stepped　behind　me。
　〃No　gats　on　the　boat；　laddy。　Sorry　and　all　that　rot；〃　Mess…jacket　purred。
　〃I　could　check　it。　It's　just　part　of　my　clothes。　I'm　a　fellow　who　wants　to　see　Brunette；　on　business。〃
　He　seemed　mildly　amused。　〃Never　heard　of　him；〃　he　smiled。　〃On　your　way；　bo。〃
　The　taximan　hooked　a　wrist　through　my　right　arm。
　〃I　want　to　see　Brunette；〃　I　said。　My　voice　sounded　weak　and　frail；　like　an　old　lady's　voice。
　〃Let's　not　argue；〃　the　sloe…eyed　lad　said。　〃We're　not　in　Bay　City　now；　not　even　in　California；　and　by　some　good　opinions　not　even　in　the　U。S。A。　Beat　it。〃
　〃Back　in　the　boat；〃　the　taximan　growled　behind　me。　〃I　owe　you　a　quarter。　Let's　go。〃
　I　got　back　into　the　boat。　Mess…jacket　looked　at　me　with　his　silent　sleek　smile。　I　watched　it　until　it　was　no　longer　a　smile；　no　longer　a　face；　no　longer　anything　but　a　dark　figure　against　the　landing　lights。　I　watched　it　and　hungered。　The　way　back　seemed　longer。　I　didn't　speak　to　the　taximan　and　he　didn't　speak　to　me。　As　I　got　off　at　the　wharf　he　handed　me　a　quarter。
　〃Some　other　night；〃　he　said　wearily；　〃when　we　got　more　room　to　bounce　you。〃
　Half　a　dozen　customers　waiting　to　get　in　stared　at　me；　hearing　him。　I　went　past　them；　past　the　door　of　the　little　waiting　room　on　the　float；　towards　the　shallow　steps　at　the　landward　end。
　A　big　redheaded　roughneck　in　dirty　sneakers　and　tarry　pants　and　what　was　left　of　a　torn　blue　sailor's　jersey　and　a　streak　of　black　down　the　side　of　his　face　straightened　from　the　railing　and　bumped　into　me　casually。
　I　stopped。　He　looked　too　big。　He　had　three　inches　on　me　and　thirty　pounds。　But　it　was　getting　to　be　time　for　me　to　put　my　fist　into　somebody's　teeth　even　if　all　I　got　for　it　was　a　wooden　arm。
The　light　was　dim　and　mostly　behind　him。　〃What's　the　I　matter；　pardner？〃　he　drawled。　〃No　soap　on　the　hell　ship？〃
〃Go　darn　your　shirt；〃　I　told　him。　〃Your　belly　is　sticking　out。〃
〃Could　be　worse；〃　he　said。　〃The　gat's　kind　of　bulgy　under　the　light　suit　at　that。〃
〃What　pulls　your　nose　into　it？〃
〃Jesus；　nothing　at　all。　Just　curiosity。　No　offense；　pal。〃
〃Well；　get　the　hell　out　of　my　way　then。〃
〃Sure。　I'm　just　resting　here。〃
　He　smiled　a　slow　tired　smile。　His　voice　was　soft；　dreamy；　so　delicate　for　a　big　man　that　it　was　startling。　It　made　me　think　of　another　soft…voiced　big　man　I　had　strangely　liked。
　〃You　got　the　wrong　approach；〃　he　said　sadly。　〃Just　call　me　Red。〃
　〃Step　aside；　Red。　The　best　people　make　mistakes。　I　feel　one　crawling　up　my　back。〃
　He　looked　thoughtfully　this　way　and　that。　He　had　me　into　a　corner　of　the　shelter　on　the　float。　We　seemed　more　or　less　alone。
〃You　want　on　the　Monty？　Can　be　done。　If　you　got　a　reason。〃
People　in　gay　clothes　and　gay　faces　went　past　us　and　got　into　the　taxi。　I　waited　for　them　to　pass。
〃How　much　is　the　reason？〃
〃Fifty　bucks。　Ten　more　if　you　bleed　in　my　boat。〃
I　started　around　him。
〃Twenty…five；〃　he　said　softly。　〃Fifteen　if　you　e　back　with　friends。〃
〃I　don't　have　any　friends；〃　I　said；　and　walked　away。　He　didn't　try　to　stop　me。
　I　turned　right　along　the　cement　walk　down　which　the　little　electric　cars　e　and　go；　trundling　like　baby　carriages　and　blowing　little　horns　that　wouldn't　startle　an　expectant　mother。　At　the　foot　of　the　first　pier　there　was　a　flaring　bingo　parlor；　jammed　full　of　people　already。　I　went　into　it　and　stood　against　the　wall　behind　the　players；　where　a　lot　of　other　people　stood　and　waited　for　a　place　to　sit　down。
　I　watched　a　few　numbers　go　up　on　the　electric　indicator；　listened　to　the　table　men　call　them　off；　tried　to　spot　the　house　players　and　couldn't；　and　turned　to　leave。
　A　large　blueness　that　smelled　of　tar　took　shape　beside　me。　〃No　got　the　dough…or　just　tight　with　it？〃　the　gentle　voice　asked　in　my　ear。
　I　looked　at