demille.thegeneralsdaughter-第11部分

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ephone　cradled　against　her　ear；　while　she　juggled　a　field　map　and　checked　her　watch。　Her　face　was　smeared　with　camouflage　greasepaint；　but　only　a　eunuch　would　fail　to　see　the　subtle　sexuality　in　this　photo。　The　caption　on　top　of　the　poster　said；　Time　to　Synchronize　Your　Life。　On　the　bottom；　it　said；　See　Your　Army　Recruiter　Today。　What　it　didn't　say　was；　〃Meet　people　of　the　opposite　sex　in　close　proximity；　sleep　with　them　out　in　the　woods；　bathe　with　them　in　streams；　and　engage　in　other　intimate　outdoorsy　things　where　no　one　has　any　privacy。〃
　Well；　maybe　I　was　projecting　my　own　sexual　reveries　into　the　photo；　but　I　think　the　civilian　advertising　types　who　put　the　poster　together　were　a　little　bit　aware　of　what　my　dirty　mind　saw。　I　nodded　toward　the　poster　and　said　to　Cynthia；　〃What　do　you　think？〃
　She　shrugged；　〃Good　poster。〃
　〃Do　you　see　the　subliminal　sexual　message？〃
　〃No。　Point　to　it。〃
　〃Well　。。。　it's　subliminal。　How　can　I　point　to　it？〃
　〃Tell　me　about　it。〃
　I　had　the　feeling　I　was　being　baited；　so　I　said；　〃Woman　with　a　gun。　Gun　is　penis　object；　penis　substitute。　Map　and　watch　represent　a　subconscious　desire　to　have　sex；　but　on　her　terms；　timewise　and　location…wise。　She's　talking　to　a　man　on　the　radiophone；　giving　him　her　grid　coordinates　and　telling　him　he　has　fifteen　minutes　to　find　her。〃
　Cynthia　glanced　at　her　own　watch　and　informed　me；　〃I　think　it's　time　to　go；　Paul。〃
　〃Right。〃
　We　started　back　up　the　stairs；　but　then　I　glanced　back　into　the　basement　and　said；　〃We're　missing　some　floor　space。〃
　As　if　on　cue；　we　both　turned　and　beelined　for　the　pegboard　wall；　the　only　wall　that　did　not　show　the　bare　concrete　foundation　wall。　I　knocked　on　the　pegboard；　pushed　on　the　four…by…eight…foot　panels；　but　they　seemed　solid　enough；　nailed　firmly　in　place　to　a　stud　frame；　which　I　could　see　through　the　small　peg　holes。　I　found　a　long；　pointed　awl　on　the　workbench　and　slid　it　through　one　of　the　peg　holes；　and　after　about　two　inches　it　struck　a　solid　object。　I　pushed　farther；　and　the　point　of　the　awl　penetrated　into　something　soft；　something　that　was　not　a　concrete　foundation　wall。　I　said　to　Cynthia；　〃This　is　a　false　wall。　There's　no　foundation　behind　it。〃
　She　didn't　reply；　and　I　looked　to　my　left　where　Cynthia　was　standing　facing　the　recruiting　poster。　She　grasped　the　wooden　frame　of　the　poster　with　her　fingertips；　pulled；　and　the　poster　swung　out　on　blind　hinges；　revealing　a　dark　open　space。　I　moved　quickly　beside　her　and　we　stood　there；　back…lighted　by　the　bright　fluorescents　of　the　basement。
　After　a　few　seconds；　during　which　time　we　were　not　perforated　with　bullet　holes；　my　eyes　adjusted　to　the　darkness　of　the　space　before　us；　and　I　could　begin　to　make　out　some　objects　in　the　room　that　appeared　to　be　furniture。　I　could　also　make　out　the　glow　of　a　digital　clock　across　the　room；　and　I　estimated　that　the　room　was　fifteen　feet　deep　and　probably　about　forty　or　fifty　feet　long；　the　length　of　the　town　house　itself　from　front　to　rear。
　I　handed　Cynthia　her　。38　and　felt　along　the　inside　wall　for　a　light　switch；　menting；　〃This　is　where　the　Campbells　probably　keep　their　demented；　drooling　relative。〃　I　found　the　switch　and　flipped　it；　turning　on　a　table　lamp；　which　revealed　a　pletely　finished　and　furnished　room。　I　moved　forward　cautiously；　and　out　of　the　corner　of　my　eye；　I　saw　Cynthia　in　a　firing　crouch；　her　。38　sweeping　the　room。
　I　kneeled　and　peeked　under　the　bed；　then　stood　and　moved　around；　checking　the　closet；　then　a　small　bathroom　off　to　the　right；　while　Cynthia　covered　me。
　Cynthia　and　I　stood　across　from　each　other；　and　I　said；　〃Well；　here　it　is。〃
　And；　indeed；　there　it　was。　There　was　a　double　bed；　a　nightstand　on　which　sat　the　lighted　lamp；　a　chest　of　drawers；　a　long　table　on　which　sat　a　stereo　system；　a　television；　a　VCR；　and　a　camcorder　with　a　tripod　for　home　movies；　and　everything　sat　on　a　deep　white　plush　carpet；　which　wasn't　as　clean　as　the　other　carpets。　The　walls　were　finished　in　a　light…colored　wood　paneling。　To　the　far　left　of　the　room　was　a　rolling　hospital…type　gurney；　suitable　for　massages　or　whatever。　I　noticed　now　a　mirror　mounted　on　the　ceiling　over　the　bed；　and　the　open　closet　revealed　some　lacy　and　transparent　numbers　that　would　make　a　clerk　in　Victoria's　Secret　blush。　In　addition；　there　was　a　nice；　neat　nurse's　uniform；　which　I　didn't　think　she　wore　down　at　the　hospital；　a　black　leather　skirt　and　vest；　a　sort　of　whorish　red…sequined　dress；　and；　interestingly；　a　standard　battle　dress　uniform　of　the　type　she　would　have　been　wearing　on　duty　when　she　was　killed。
　Cynthia；　Ms。　Goody　Two…Shoes；　was　looking　around　the　room；　and　she　seemed　somewhat　unhappy；　as　though　Ann　Campbell　had　posthumously　disappointed　her。　〃Good　Lord　。。。〃
　I　said；　〃How　she　died　does　indeed　appear　linked　to　how　she　lived。　But　we　will　not　jump　to　conclusions。〃
　The　bathroom；　too；　was　not　so　clean　as　the　other　two；　and　the　medicine　cabinet　held　a　diaphragm；　condoms；　contraceptive　sponges；　spermicidal　jelly；　and　so　on：　enough　birth　control　devices　to　cause　a　drop　in　the　population　of　the　Indian　subcontinent。　I　asked；　〃Aren't　you　supposed　to　just　use　one　method？〃
　Cynthia　replied；　〃Depends　on　your　mood。〃
　〃I　see。〃　Along　with　the　contraceptive　devices　were　mouthwash；　different…colored　toothbrushes；　toothpaste；　and　six　Fleet　enemas。　I　didn't　think　anyone　who　ate　bean　sprouts　would　have　a　problem　with　constipation。　〃My　goodness；〃　I　said；　picking　up　a　premeasured　douche　bottle　whose　flavor　was　strawberry；　not　my　very　favorite。
　Cynthia　left　the　bathroom；　and　I　peeked　into　the　shower。　That；　too；　was　sort　of　grungy；　and　the　washcloth　was　still　damp。　Interesting。
　I　rejoined　Cynthia　in　the　bedroom；　where　she　was　examining　the　contents　of　the　night　table　drawer：　K…Y　Jelly；　mineral　oil；　sex　manuals；　one　regular…sized　vibrator；　batteries　included；　and　one　rubber　charlie　of　heroic　proportions。
　Fixed　high　up　on　the　false　wall　that　partitioned　this　bedroom　from　the　basement　workshop　was　a　set　of　leather　manacles；　and　lying　on　the　floor　below　was　a　leather　strap；　a　birch　switch；　and　incongruously；　or　perhaps　not；　a　long　ostrich　feather。　My　mind　involuntarily　took　off　into　a　flight　of　fancy　that　I　think　brought　a　red　blush　to　my　cheeks。　〃I　wonder；〃　I　mused；　〃what　those　things　are　for？〃
　Cynthia　made　no　ment；　but　seemed　transfixed　by　the　manacles。
　I　pulled　back　the　bed　sheets；　and　the　bottom　sheet　looked　a　bit　lived　in。　Here　was　enough　pubic　hair；　body　hair；　peter　tracks；　and　undoubtedly　other　dermatological　refuse　to　keep　the　lab　busy　for　a　week。
　I　noticed　Cynthia　staring　down　at　the　sheet　and　wondered　what　was　going　through　her　mind。　I　resisted　the　urge　to　say；　〃I　told　you　so；〃　because；　in　fact；　on　one　level；　I　almost　hoped　we　would　find　nothing；　for；　as　I've　indicated；　I　had　already　developed　a　soft　spot　in　my　heart　for　Ann　Campbell。　And；　while　I'm　not　judgmental　in　regard　to　sexual　behavior；　I　could　imagine　that　many　people　would　be。　I　said；　〃You　know；　I'm　actually　relieved　to　see　she　wasn't　the　sexless；　androgynous　poster　girl　the　Army　made　her　out　to　be。〃
　Cynthia　glanced　at　me　and　sort　of　nodded。
　I　said；　〃A　shrink　would　have　a　field　day　with　this　apparent　split　personality。　But　you　know；　we　all　lead　two　or　more　lives。〃　On　the　other　hand；　we　don't　usually　outfit　a　whole　room　for　our　alter　ego。　I　added；　〃Actually；　she　was　a　shrink；　wasn't　she？〃
　And　so　we　moved　to　the　TV；　and　I　popped　a　random　tape　into　the　VCR　and　turned　it　on。
　The　screen　brightened；　and　there　was　Ann　Campbell；　dressed　in　her　red…sequined　dress；　with　high　heels　and　jewelry；　standing　in　this　very　room。　An　off…camera　tape　or　disc　was　playing　〃The　Stripper；〃　and　she　began　taking　it　all　off。　A　male　voice；　presumably　the　cameraman；　joked；　〃Do　you　do　this　at　the　general's　dinner　parties？〃
　Ann　Campbell　smiled　and　wiggled　her　hips　at　the　camera。　She　was　down　to　her　panties　and　a　rather　nice　French　bra　now；　and　was　unclasping　it　when　I　reached　out　and　shut　off　the　tape；　feeling　very　self…righteous　about　that。
　I　examined　the　other　tapes　and　saw　they　were　all　hand…labeled；　with　rather　pithy　titles　like　〃Fucking　with　J。；〃　〃Strip　search　for　B。；〃　〃Gyno　Exam…R。；〃　and　〃Anal　with　J。　S。〃
　Cynthia　said；　〃I　think　we've　seen　enough　for　now。〃
　〃Almost　enough。〃　I　opened　the　top　dresser　drawer　and　discovered　a　pile　of　Polaroid　photos；　and　thinking　I'd　hit　pay　dirt；　I　flipped　through　them；　looking　for　her　friends；　but　every　photo　was　of　only　her　in　various　poses　ranging　from　nearly　artistic　and　erotic　to　obscene　gynecological　shots。　〃Where're　the　guys？〃
　〃Behind　the　camera。〃
　〃There's　got　to　be　。。。〃　Then；　in　another　stack　of　photos；　I　found　a　shot　of　a　well…built　naked　man　holding　a　belt；　but　wearing　a　black　leather　hood。　Then　another　shot　of　a　guy　on　top　of　her；　possibly　taken　with　a　time　delay　or　by　a　third　person；　then　a　photo　of　a　naked　gent；　manacled　to　the　wall；　his　back　to　the　camera。　In　fact；　all　the　men…and　there　were　at　least　twelve　different　bodies…were　either　turned　away　from　the　camera　or　wearing　the　leather　discipline　hood。　Obviously；　these　guys　didn't　want　any　face　photos　left　here；　and　similarly；　they　probably　had　no　face　shots　of　Ann　Campbell　in　their　possession。　Most　people　are　a　little　careful　of　photos　like　these；　and　when　the　people　have　a　lot　to　lose；　they　are　very　careful。　Love　and　trust　are　okay；　but　I　had　the　feeling　this　was　more　lust　and　〃What's　your　name　again？〃　I　mean；　if　she　had　a　real　boyfriend；　a　man　she　liked　and　admired；　she　wouldn't　bring　him　here；　obviously。
　Cynthia　was　going　through　the　photos　also；　but　handling　them　as　though　they　carried　a　sexually　transmittable　disease。　There　were　a　few　more　shots　of　men；　close…ups　of　genitals；　ranging　from　much　ado　about　nothing　to　as　you　like　it　to　the　taming　of　the　shrew。　I　observed；　〃All　white　guys；　all　circumcised；　mostly　brown　hair；　a　few　blonds。　Can　we　use　these　in　a　lineup？〃
　〃It　would　be　an　interesting　lineup；〃　Cynthia　conceded。　She　threw　the　photos　back　in　the　drawer。　〃Maybe　we　shouldn't　let　the　MPs　see　this　room。〃
　〃Indeed　not。　I　hope　they　don't　find　it。〃
　〃Let's　go。〃
　〃Just　a　minute。〃　I　opened　the　bottom　three　drawers；　finding　more　sexual　paraphernalia；　toys　for　twats　as　they're　known　in　the　trade；　along　with　panties；　garter　belts；　a　cat…o'…nine　tails；　a　l