demille.thegeneralsdaughter-第38部分

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tion　should　bee　public；　and　so　on。〃
　〃Why　don't　we　meet　at；　say；　0700　hours　at　my　house　for　coffee？〃
　〃Well；　I　don't　want　to　disturb　you　at　home　at　that　hour。〃
　〃Mr。　Brenner；　you　are　borderline　insubordinate　and　definitely　pissing　me　off。　Be　here　at　0700　hours　sharp。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃　The　phone　went　dead。　I　said　to　Cynthia；　〃I'll　have　to　speak　to　the　Signal　Corps　people　about　the　phone　service　at　Fort　Hadley。〃
　〃What　did　he　say？〃
　〃Colonel　Fowler　asks　that　we　join　him　for　coffee；　0700；　his　house。〃
　She　looked　at　her　watch。　〃Well；　we　can　get　a　little　sleep。　Ready？〃
　I　looked　around。　Most　of　the　hangar　was　in　darkness　now；　and　most　of　the　cots　were　filled　with　sleeping　men　and　women；　though　a　few　diehards　were　still　at　it；　bent　over　typewriters；　test　tubes；　and　microscopes。　〃Okay；　half　a　day　today。〃
　As　we　walked　through　the　hangar；　I　asked　Cynthia；　〃Did　they　find　her　West　Point　ring　in　that　bag　of　clothes？〃
　〃No；　they　didn't。〃
　〃And　it　hasn't　turned　up　in　her　household　possessions　yet？〃
　〃No；　I　asked　Cal　about　it。〃
　〃Odd。〃
　〃She　may　have　lost　it；〃　Cynthia　said。　〃Maybe　it's　being　cleaned。〃
　〃Maybe。〃
　Cynthia　said　to　me；　〃Paul；　if　we　had　found　her　on　that　rifle　range　alive；　and　she　was　right　here　with　us　now；　what　would　you　say　to　her？〃
　〃What　would　you　say　to　her？　You're　the　rape　counselor。〃
　〃I'm　asking　you。〃
　〃Okay。　I'd　say　to　her　that　whatever　happened　in　the　past　should　be　dealt　with　in　a　healthy　way；　not　a　destructive　way。　That　she　needed　good　counseling；　not　bad　counseling；　that　she　should　try　to　find　a　spiritual　answer　to　her　pain；　that　she　should　try　to　forgive　the　person　or　persons　who　。。。　mistreated　her　and　took　advantage　of　her。　I'd　tell　her　she　was　an　important　and　worthwhile　human　being　with　a　lot　to　live　for；　and　that　people　would　care　about　her　in　a　good　way　if　she　started　caring　about　herself。　That's　what　I'd　say　to　her。〃
　Cynthia　nodded。　〃Yes；　that's　what　someone　should　have　said　to　her。　Maybe　someone　did。　But　something　bad　happened　to　her；　and　what　we　see　and　hear　is　her　response　to　that。　This　type　of　behavior　in　a　bright；　educated；　attractive；　and　professionally　successful　woman　is　often　the　result　of　。。。　some　past　trauma。〃
　〃Such　as？〃
　We　left　the　hangar　and　walked　out　into　the　cool　evening。　The　moon　had　set　and　you　could　see　a　billion　stars　in　the　clear　Georgia　sky。　I　looked　out　across　the　huge　dark　expanse　of　Jordan　Field；　recalling　when　it　was　lit　every　night；　and　remembering　a　particular　flight　that　used　to　e　in　after　midnight　two　or　three　times　a　week。　I　said　to　Cynthia；　〃I　unloaded　bodies　from　Vietnam　here。〃
　She　didn't　respond。
　I　said；　〃If　they　don't　bury　her　here　in　Midland；　this　is　where　everyone　will　gather　after　church　to　see　her　off。　Tomorrow　or　the　next　day；　I　guess。〃
　〃Will　we　be　here？〃
　〃I　plan　to　be。〃
　We　went　to　her　car　and　she　said　to　me；　〃In　answer　to　your　question　。。。　I　think　her　father　is　the　key　to　her　behavior。　You　know；　a　domineering　figure；　pushed　her　into　the　military；　tried　to　control　her　life；　a　weak　mother；　extended　absences；　lots　of　moving　around　the　world；　total　dependence　on　and　deference　to　his　career。　She　rebels　in　the　only　way　she　knows　how。　It's　all　pretty　much　textbook　stuff。〃
　We　got　in　the　car　and　I　said；　〃Right。　But　there　are　a　million　well…adjusted　daughters　out　there　with　the　same　backgrounds。〃
　〃I　know。　But　it's　how　you　handle　it。〃
　〃I'm　thinking　about　a　more　。。。　abnormal　relationship　with　her　father　that　would　explain　her　hate。〃
　We　headed　toward　the　gates　of　the　airfield。　She　said；　〃I　know　what　you're　saying；　and　I　thought　that；　too。　But　if　you　think　rape　and　murder　are　hard　to　prove；　try　proving　incest。　I　wouldn't　touch　that　if　I　were　you；　Paul。　That　one　could　hurt　you。〃
　〃Right。　My　first　case　as　a　CID　officer　was　a　barracks　theft。　Look　how　far　I've　e。　Next　step；　the　abyss。〃
　
　CHAPTER　TWENTY
　
　Cynthia　parked　at　the　VOQ；　and　we　took　the　outside　staircase　up　to　the　second　floor　and　found　our　rooms。　〃Well；〃　she　said；　〃good　night。〃
　〃Well；〃　I　replied；　〃I'm　bursting　with　energy；　second　wind；　too　wound　up　to　sleep；　adrenaline　pumping；　and　all　that。　How　about　a　little　TV　and　a　drink？〃
　〃I　don't　think　so。〃
　〃We'd　be　better　off　not　sleeping　at　this　point。　You'll　feel　worse　when　you　have　to　get　up。　We'll　just　relax；　shower；　change；　and　off　to　Colonel　Fowler's。〃
　〃Well；　maybe　。。。　but　。。。〃
　〃e　on　in。〃　I　opened　my　door；　and　she　followed　me　inside。　She　picked　up　the　phone　and　called　the　charge…of…quarters　person　and　left　a　wake…up　call　for　0530　hours。　She　said　to　me；　〃Just　in　case　we　pass　out。〃
　〃Good　idea；〃　I　said。　〃Well；　as　it　turns　out；　I　can't　offer　you　a　drink；　and　I　don't　see　a　TV　here。　How　about　charades？〃
　〃Paul　。。。〃
　〃Yes？〃
　〃I　can't　do　this。〃
　〃Then　how　about　rock；　scissors；　and　paper？　Do　you　know　how　to　play　that？　It's　easy…〃
　〃I　can't　stay　here。　This　has　been　an　upsetting　day　for　me。　This　wouldn't　be　right。　It　wouldn't　be　any　good；　anyway。〃　And　so　on。
　I　said；　〃I　understand。　Go　get　some　sleep。　I'll　call　you　when　I　get　the　wake…up　call。〃
　〃Okay。　Sorry。　I'll　leave　the　bathroom　doors　unbolted。〃
　〃Fine。　See　you　in　a　few　hours。〃
　〃Good　night。〃　She　went　toward　the　bathroom　door；　turned　and　came　back；　kissed　me　lightly　on　the　lips；　started　to　cry；　then　disappeared　into　the　bathroom。　I　heard　the　water　running；　then　heard　the　other　door　open　to　her　room；　then　silence。
　I　undressed　and　hung　my　clothes　and　got　into　bed。　I　must　have　passed　out　within　seconds；　then　the　next　thing　I　remember　is　the　phone　ringing。　I　answered　it；　expecting　to　hear　a　wake…up　call；　or　hear　Cynthia's　voice　asking　me　to　e　to　her　room。　But；　no；　it　was　the　deep；　bass　voice　of　Colonel　Fowler。　〃Brenner？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃Sleeping？〃
　〃No；　sir。〃
　〃Good。　Do　you　take　milk？〃
　〃Excuse　me？〃
　〃I　don't　have　any　milk　or　cream；　Brenner。〃
　〃That's　okay…〃
　〃I　wanted　to　let　you　know。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Colonel。〃
　I　thought　I　heard　a　laugh　before　the　phone　went　dead。　My　watch　said　it　was　nearly　five　A。M。；　so　I　got　up；　stumbled　into　the　bathroom；　turned　on　the　shower；　and　got　under　it。　What　a　day。　Half　of　it　didn't　even　seem　real。　I　was　firing　on　two　cylinders　and　my　tank　was　on　empty。　But　I　needed　about　forty…eight　more　hours　at　this　pace；　then　I'd　be　out　of　here　in　a　blaze　of　glory；　or　I'd　crash　in　flames。
　Personal　and　career　considerations　aside；　there　was　something　very　wrong　here　at　Fort　Hadley；　a　festering　sore；　and　it　needed　to　be　lanced　and　washed　clean。　That　much　I　knew　I　could　do。
　Through　the　rippled　glass　and　steam　on　the　shower　door；　I　saw　a　figure　standing　in　the　entrance　to　Cynthia's　room。　〃Okay　if　I　e　in？〃
　〃Sure。〃
　She　was　wearing　something　white；　probably　a　nightshirt；　and　disappeared　into　the　stall　where　the　toilet　was。　A　few　minutes　later　she　reappeared　and　went　to　the　sink；　her　back　to　me。　She　washed　her　face　and　called　out　over　the　noise　of　the　shower；　〃How　do　you　feel？〃
　〃Fine。　How　about　you？〃
　〃Not　bad。　Did　I　hear　your　phone　ring？〃
　〃Yes。　Colonel　Fowler。　Just　a　harassment　call。〃
　She　laughed。　〃You　deserve　it。〃　She　began　brushing　her　teeth。
　My　phone　rang　again；　and　I　said；　〃That's　the　CQ。　Can　you　get　it？〃
　She　rinsed　her　mouth。　〃Sure。〃　She　went　into　my　room　and　came　back　a　few　seconds　later。　〃It's　five…thirty。〃　She　went　back　to　the　sink；　gargled；　then　asked　me；　〃Are　you　taking　one　of　your　marathon　showers？〃
　〃Yes。　Do　you　want　to　save　time？〃
　Silence。　Maybe　that　was　too　subtle。　〃Cynthia？〃
　She　turned　away　from　the　sink；　and　I　heard　her　say　to　herself；　〃Oh；　what　the　hell。〃
　I　saw　her　pull　off　her　nightshirt；　and　she　opened　the　shower　door　and　stepped　inside。　〃Do　my　back。〃
　So　I　did。　Then　I　did　her　front。　We　embraced　and　kissed；　and　the　water　ran　over　us；　and　our　bodies　pressed　closer　together。　The　body　remembers　an　old　lover；　I　think；　and　a　flood　of　good　memories　came　back　to　me；　and　it　was　as　if　we　were　in　Brussels　again。　Woody　remembered；　too；　and　rose　happily；　like　an　old　hound　dog　whose　master　walks　in　the　door　after　a　year's　absence。　Ruff；　ruff！
　〃Paul　。。。　it's　all　right　。。。　go　ahead。〃
　〃Yes；　it's　all　right。　It's　good。　Here　or　in　bed？〃
　〃Here。　Now。〃
　But；　as　luck　would　have　it；　the　phone　rang　again；　and　she　said；　〃You'd　better　get　that。〃
　〃Damn　it！〃　We　separated；　and　Cynthia　hung　the　washcloth　on　my　hook　and　laughed。
　I　threw　the　washcloth　aside　and　said；　〃Don't　go　anywhere。〃　I　got　out　of　the　shower；　grabbed　a　towel　on　my　way；　and　picked　up　the　phone　on　my　nightstand。　〃Brenner　here。〃
　〃Well；　now；　you're　a　hell　of　a　hard　man　to　find。〃
　〃Who's　this？〃
　〃It　ain't　your　mommy；　son。〃
　〃Oh　。。。〃
　Chief　Yardley　informed　me；　〃Bill　Kent　just　told　me　you　decided　to　stay　on　post。　Why　don't　you　e　on　home　to　your　trailer？〃
　〃What？〃
　〃I　spent　the　whole　damn　day　tryin'　to　figure　where　you　were　at；　and　I　get　here　and　you're　AWOL；　boy。　e　on　home。〃
　〃What　the　hell…are　you　in　my　trailer？〃
　〃Sure　thing；　Paul。　But　you　ain't。〃
　〃Hey；　Chief；　do　you　practice　that　cracker　accent；　or　what？〃
　〃Sure　'nuf；　boy。〃　He　laughed。　〃Hey；　tell　you　what…I'm　cleanin'　this　place　out　for　you。　No　use　payin'　rent　someplace　you　ain't　gonna　see　again。〃
　〃You　have　no　right…〃
　〃Hold　that　thought　awhile；　son。　We　might　get　back　to　that。　Meantime；　e　on　down　to　my　office　and　gather　up　your　stuff。〃
　〃Chief；　there　is　government　property　in　there…〃
　〃Yeah；　I　saw　that。　Had　to　bust　a　lock。　Got　a　gun　here；　some　official…lookin'　papers；　some　weird　book　fulla　codes　or　somethin'　。。。　what　else　we　got　here？　Pair　of　cuffs；　some　uniforms　and　ID　from　a　guy　named　White　。。。　you　sleepin'　with　some　guy？〃
　Cynthia　came　into　the　room　wrapped　in　a　bath　towel　and　sat　on　the　bed。　I　said　to　Yardley；　〃Okay；　you　skunked　me。〃
　〃Let's　see　。。。　box　of　rubbers；　prissy　little　bikini　shorts　。。。　that　yours　or　your　boyfriend's？〃
　〃Chief…〃
　〃Tell　you　what；　son…you　e　on　over　to　the　station　and　pick　this　here　stuff　up。　I'll　be　waitin'　on　ya。〃
　〃You　deliver　the　government　property　to　the　provost　office。　I'll　meet　you　there　at　noon。〃
　〃Let　me　think　on　that　awhile。〃
　〃You　do　that。　And　bring　Wes　with　you。　I'd　like　to　talk　to　him。〃
　Silence；　followed　by；　〃You　can　talk　to　him　at　my　office。
　〃I'll　just　wait　to　see　him　at　the　funeral　service　here。　I　assume　he'll　attend。〃
　〃I　reckon　he　will。　But　we　don't　c