raymondchandler.farewellmylovely-第39部分

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　it。　〃It　means　nothing　to　me；〃　he　said。
　〃It　will　mean　something　to　Malloy。〃
　He　leaned　back　and　stared　at　me。　〃I　don't　make　you　out。　You　risk　your　hide　to　e　out　here　and　hand　me　a　card　to　pass　on　to　some　thug　I　don't　even　know。　There's　no　sense　to　it。〃
〃There　isn't　if　you　don't　know　him。〃
〃Why　didn't　you　leave　your　gun　ashore　and　e　aboard　the　usual　way？〃
　〃I　forgot　the　first　time。　Then　I　knew　that　toughie　in　the　mess　jacket　would　never　let　me　on。　Then　I　bumped　into　a　fellow　who　knew　another　way。〃
　His　yellow　eyes　lighted　as　with　a　new　flame。　He　smiled　and　said　nothing。
　〃This　other　fellow　is　no　crook　but　he's　been　on　the　beach　with　his　ears　open。　You　have　a　loading　port　that　has　been　unbarred　on　the　inside　and　you　have　a　ventilator　shaft　out　of　which　the　grating　has　been　removed。　There's　one　man　to　knock　over　to　get　to　the　boat　deck。　You'd　better　check　your　crew　list；　Brunette。〃
　He　moved　his　lips　soffly；　one　over　the　other。　He　looked　down　at　the　card　again。　〃Nobody　named　Malloy　is　on　board　this　boat；〃　he　said。　〃But　if　you're　telling　the　truth　about　that　loading　port；　I'll　buy。〃
　〃Go　and　look　at　it。〃
　He　still　looked　down。　〃If　there's　any　way　I　can　get　word　to　Malloy；　I　will。　I　don't　know　why　I　bother。〃
　〃Take　a　look　at　that　loading　port。〃
　He　sat　very　still　for　a　moment；　then　leaned　forward　and　pushed　the　gun　across　the　desk　to　me。
　〃The　things　I　do；〃　he　mused；　as　if　he　was　alone。　〃I　run　towns；　I　elect　mayors；　I　corrupt　police；　I　peddle　dope；　I　hide　out　crooks；　I　heist　old　women　strangled　with　pearls。　What　a　lot　of　time　I　have。〃　He　laughed　shortly。　〃What　a　lot　of　time。〃
　I　reached　for　my　gun　and　tucked　it　back　under　my　arm。　Brunette　stood　up。　〃I　promise　nothing；〃　he　said；　eyeing　me　steadily。　〃But　I　believe　you。〃
〃Of　course　not。〃
〃You　took　a　long　chance　to　hear　so　little。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Well…〃　he　made　a　meaningless　gesture　and　then　put　his　hand　across　the　desk。
〃Shake　hands　with　a　chump；〃　he　said　softly。
I　shook　hands　with　him。　His　hand　was　small　and　firm　and　a　little　hot。
〃You　wouldn't　tell　me　how　you　found　out　about　this　loading　port？〃
〃I　can't。　But　the　man　who　told　me　is　no　crook。〃
　〃I　could　make　you　tell；〃　he　said；　and　immediately　shook　his　head。　〃No。　I　believed　you　once。　I'll　believe　you　again。　Sit　still　and　have　another　drink。〃
　He　pushed　a　buzzer。　The　door　at　the　back　opened　and　one　of　the　nice…tough　guys　came　in。
　〃Stay　here。　Give　him　a　drink；　if　he　wants　it。　No　rough　stuff。〃
　The　torpedo　sat　down　and　smiled　at　me　calmly。　Brunette　went　quickly　out　of　the　office。　I　smoked。　I　finished　my　drink。　The　torpedo　made　me　another。　I　finished　that；　and　another　cigarette。
　Brunette　came　back　and　washed　his　hands　over　in　the　corner；　then　sat　down　at　his　desk　again。　He　jerked　his　head　at　the　torpedo。　The　torpedo　went　out　silently。
　The　yellow　eyes　studied　me。　〃You　win；　Marlowe。　And　I　have　one　hundred　and　sixty…four　men　on　my　crew　list。　Well…〃　he　shrugged。　〃You　can　go　back　by　the　taxi。　Nobody　will　bother　you。　As　to　your　message；　I　have　a　few　contacts。　I'll　use　them。　Good　night。　I　probably　should　say　thanks。　For　the　demonstration。〃
　〃Good　night；〃　I　said；　and　stood　up　and　went　out。
　There　was　a　new　man　on　the　landing　stage。　I　rode　to　shore　on　a　different　taxi。　I　went　along　to　the　bingo　parlor　and　leaned　against　the　wall　in　the　crowd。
　Red　came　along　in　a　few　minutes　and　leaned　beside　me　against　the　wall。
　〃Easy；　huh？〃　Red　said　softly；　against　the　heavy　clear　voices　of　the　table　men　calling　the　numbers。
　〃Thanks　to　you。　He　bought。　He's　worried。〃
　Red　looked　this　way　and　that　and　turned　his　lips　a　little　more　close　to　my　ear。　〃Get　your　man？〃
　〃No。　But　I'm　hoping　Brunette　will　find　a　way　to　get　him　a　message。〃
　Red　turned　his　head　and　looked　at　the　tables　again。　He　yawned　and　straightened　away　from　the　wall。　The　beak…nosed　man　was　in　again。　Red　stepped　over　to　him　and　said：　〃Hiya；　Olson；〃　and　almost　knocked　the　man　off　his　feet　pushing　past　him。
　Olson　looked　after　him　sourly　and　straightened　his　hat。　Then　he　spat　viciously　on　the　floor。
　As　soon　as　he　had　gone；　I　left　the　place　and　went　along　to　the　parking　lot　back　towards　the　tracks　where　I　had　left　my　car。
　I　drove　back　to　Hollywood　and　put　the　car　away　and　went　up　to　the　apartment。
　I　took　my　shoes　off　and　walked　around　in　my　socks　feeling　the　floor　with　my　toes。　They　would　still　get　numb　again　once　in　a　while。
　Then　I　sat　down　on　the　side　of　the　pulled…down　bed　and　tried　to　figure　time。　It　couldn't　be　done。　It　might　take　hours　or　days　to　find　Malloy。　He　might　never　be　found　until　the　police　got　him。　If　they　ever　did…alive。
　
　39
　It　was　about　ten　o'clock　when　I　called　the　Grayle　number　in　Bay　City。　I　thought　it　would　probably　be　too　late　to　catch　her；　but　it　wasn't。　I　fought　my　way　through　a　maid　and　the　butler　and　finally　heard　her　voice　on　the　line。　She　sounded　breezy　and　well…primed　for　the　evening。
〃I　promised　to　call　you；〃　I　said。　〃It's　a　little　late；　but　I've　had　a　lot　to　do。〃
〃Another　stand…up？〃　Her　voice　got　cool。　
〃Perhaps　not。　Does　your　chauffeur　work　this　late？〃
〃He　works　as　late　as　I　tell　him　to。〃
〃How　about　dropping　by　to　pick　me　up？　I'll　be　getting　squeezed　into　my　mencement　suit。〃
　〃Nice　of　you；〃　she　drawled。　〃Should　I　really　bother？〃　Amthor　had　certainly　done　a　wonderful　job　with　her　centers　of　speech…if　anything　had　ever　been　wrong　with　them。
〃I'd　show　you　my　etching。〃
〃Just　one　etching？〃
〃It's　just　a　single　apartment。〃
　〃I　heard　they　had　such　things；〃　she　drawled　again；　then　changed　her　tone。　〃Don't　act　so　hard　to　get。　You　have　a　lovely　build；　mister。　And　don't　ever　let　anyone　tell　you　different。　Give　me　the　address　again。〃
　I　gave　it　to　her　and　the　apartment　number。　〃The　lobby　door　is　locked；〃　I　said。　〃But　I'll　go　down　and　slip　the　catch。〃
　〃That's　fine；〃　she　said。　〃I　won't　have　to　bring　my　jimmy。〃
　She　hung　up；　leaving　me　with　a　curious　feeling　of　having　talked　to　somebody　that　didn't　exist。
　I　went　down　to　the　lobby　and　slipped　the　catch　and　then　took　a　shower　and　put　my　pajamas　on　and　lay　down　on　the　bed。　I　could　have　slept　for　a　week。　I　dragged　myself　up　off　the　bed　again　and　set　the　catch　on　the　door；　which　I　had　forgotten　to　do；　and　walked　through　a　deep　hard　snowdrift　out　to　the　kitchenette　and　laid　out　glasses　and　a　bottle　of　liqueur　Scotch　I　had　been　saving　for　a　really　highclass　seduction。
　I　lay　down　on　the　bed　again。　〃Pray；〃　I　said　out　loud。　〃There's　nothing　left　but　prayer。〃
　I　closed　my　eyes。　The　four　walls　of　the　room　seemed　to　hold　the　throb　of　a　boat；　the　still　air　seemed　to　drip　with　fog　and　rustle　with　sea　wind。　I　smelled　the　rank　sour　smell　of　a　disused　hold。　I　smelled　engine　oil　and　saw　a　wop　in　a　purple　shirt　reading　under　a　naked　light　bulb　with　his　grandfather's　spectacles。　I　climbed　and　climbed　up　a　ventilator　shaft。　I　climbed　the　Himalayas　and　stepped　out　on　top　and　guys　with　machine　guns　were　all　around　me。　I　talked　with　a　small　and　somehow　very　human　yellow…eyed　man　who　was　a　racketeer　and　probably　worse。　I　thought　of　the　giant　with　the　red　hair　and　the　violet　eyes；　who　was　probably　the　nicest　man　I　had　ever　met。
　I　stopped　thinking。　Lights　moved　behind　my　closed　lids。　I　was　lost　in　space。　I　was　a　gilt…edged　sap　e　back　from　a　vain　adventure。　I　was　a　hundred　dollar　package　of　dynamite　that　went　off　with　a　noise　like　a　pawnbroker　looking　at　a　dollar　watch。　I　was　a　pink…headed　bug　crawling　up　the　side　of　the　City　Hall。
　I　was　asleep。
　I　woke　slowly；　unwillingly；　and　my　eyes　stared　at　reflected　light　on　the　ceiling　from　the　lamp。　Something　moved　gently　in　the　room。
　The　movement　was　furtive　and　quiet　and　heavy。　I　listened　to　it。　Then　I　turned　my　head　slowly　and　looked　at　Moose　Malloy。　There　were　shadows　and　he　moved　in　the　shadows；　as　noiselessly　as　I　had　seen　him　once　before。　A　gun　in　his　hand　had　a　dark　oily　business…like　sheen。　His　hat　was　pushed　back　on　his　black　curly　hair　and　his　nose　sniffed；　like　the　nose　of　a　hunting　dog。
　He　saw　me　open　my　eyes。　He　came　softly　over　to　the　side　of　the　bed　and　stood　looking　down　at　me。
　〃I　got　your　note；〃　he　said。　〃I　make　the　joint　clean。　I　don't　make　no　cops　outside。　If　this　is　a　plant；　two　guys　goes　out　in　baskets。〃
　I　rolled　a　little　on　the　bed　and　he　felt　swiftly　under　the　pillows。　His　face　was　still　wide　and　pale　and　his　deep…set　eyes　were　still　somehow　gentle。　He　was　wearing　an　overcoat　tonight。　It　fitted　him　where　it　touched。　It　was　burst　out　in　one　shoulder　seam；　probably　just　getting　it　on。　It　would　be　the　largest　size　they　had；　but　not　large　enough　for　Moose　Malloy。
　〃I　hoped　you'd　drop　by；〃　I　said。　〃No　copper　knows　any　thing　about　this。　I　just　wanted　to　see　you。〃
　〃Go　on；〃　he　said。
　He　moved　sideways　to　a　table　and　put　the　gun　down　and　dragged　his　overcoat　off　and　sat　down　in　my　best　easy　chair。　It　creaked；　but　it　held。　He　leaned　back　slowly　and　arranged　the　gun　so　that　it　was　close　to　his　right　hand。　He　dug　a　pack　of　cigarettes　out　of　his　pocket　and　shook　one　loose　and　put　it　into　his　mouth　without　touching　it　with　his　fingers。　A　match　flared　on　a　thumbnail。　The　sharp　smell　of　the　smoke　drifted　across　the　room。
〃You　ain't　sick　or　anything？〃　he　said。
〃Just　resting。　I　had　a　hard　day。〃
〃Door　was　open。　Expecting　someone？〃
〃A　dame。〃
He　stared　at　me　thoughtfully。
〃Maybe　she　won't　e；〃　I　said。　〃If　she　does；　I'll　stall　her。〃
〃What　dame？〃
〃Oh；　just　a　dame。　If　she　es；　I'll　get　rid　of　her。　I'd　rather　talk　to　you。〃
　His　very　faint　smile　hardly　moved　his　mouth。　He　puffed　his　cigarette　awkwardly；　as　if　it　was　too　small　for　his　fingers　to　hold　with　fort。
〃What　made　you　think　I　was　on　the　Monty？〃　he　asked。
〃A　Bay　City　cop。　It's　a　long　story　and　too　full　of　guessing。〃
〃Bay　City　cops　after　me？〃
〃Would　that　bother　you？〃
He　smiled　the　faint　smile　again。　He　shook　his　head　slightly。
〃You　killed　a　woman；〃　I　said。　〃Jessie　Florian。　That　was　a　mistake。〃
He　thought。　Then　he　nodded。　〃I'd　drop　that　one；〃　he　said　quietly。
　〃But　that　queered　it；〃　I　said。　〃I'm　not　afraid　of　you。　You're　no　killer。　You　didn't　mean　to　kill　her。　The　other　one…over　on　Central…you　could　have　squeezed　out　of。　But　not　out　of　beating　a　woman's　head　on　a　bedpost　until　her　brains　were　on　her　face。〃
〃You　take　some　awful　chances；　brother；〃　he　said　softly。
〃The　way　I've　been　handled；〃　I　said；　〃I　don't　know　the　difference　any　more。