gc.shadowslinger-第14部分

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　grasp　of　the　stupid　side　of　human　nature。　Maybe　because　he　was　close　to　it　himself。
　　〃We'll　be　real　nice　doing　the　tracing；〃　he　told　me；　as　though　he　expected　me　to　hammer　people　in　outrage。　His　values　were　the　only　ones　he　could　imagine。　〃The　man　we　want　will　run　when　he　hears　me　asking　questions。〃
　　〃We　chase　him？〃
　　〃Just　enough　so　he　keeps　moving。　Maybe　he'll　lead　us　somewhere。　I　know　several　bosses　down　there　who　could've　engineered　this。　If　one　of　them　did；　I　want　his　balls　on　a　platter。〃
　　He　spoke　in　a　fever；　like　a　crusader。　Did　he　have　some　special　grievance　against　the　crime　lords　of　the　slum？　I
asked。
　　〃Yeah。　I　came　out　of　the　Buskin。　A　tough　kid　who　got　lucky　and　got　on　with　the　Custodians。　My　dad　wasn't　lucky。　Tried　to　buck　a　protection　gang。　He　paid；　and　they　didn't　protect　him　from　another　gang　in　the　same　racket。　He　said　he　wasn't　going　to　put　out　good　money　for　something　he　wasn't　getting。　They　cut　his　throat。　I　was　one　of　the　Custodians　who　picked　him　up。　They　stood　around　laughing　and　cracking　jokes。　The　ones　responsible。〃
　　〃Ever　settle　them　up？〃　I　asked；　certain　of　the　answer。　〃Yeah。　Brought　them　into　the　Catabs；　too。〃　He　glanced　at　the　black　castle；　half　obscured　by　mists　drifting　across　the　far　slope。　〃If　I'd　heard　the　rumors　about　that　place；　maybe　I'd　have。　。　。　。　No；　I　wouldn't。〃
　　I　didn't　think　so　myself。　Bullock　was　a　fanatic　of　sorts。　He'd　never　break　the　rules　of　the　profession　that　had　brought　him　out　of　the　Buskin；　unless　he　could　advance　its　cause　by　so　doing。
　　〃Think　we'll　start　right　at　the　waterfront；〃　he　told　me。　〃Work　our　way　up　the　hill。　Tavern　to　tavern；　whorehouse　to　whorehouse。　Maybe　hint　that　there's　a　reward　floating　around。〃　He　ground　one　fist　into　another；　a　man　restraining　anger。　
　　There　was　a　lot　of　that　bottled　up　inside　him。　Someday　he　would　blow　up　good。　We'd　gotten　an　early　start。　I　saw　more　taverns；　cathouses；　and　reeking　dives　than　I'd　passed　through　in　a　dozen　years。　And　in　every　one　Bullock's　advent　engendered　a　sudden；　frightened　hush　and　a　promise　of　dutiful　cooperation。
　　But　promises　were　all　we　got。　We　could　find　no　trace　of　any　old　money；　except　a　few　coins　that　had　been　around　too　long　to　be　the　booty　we　sought。　　Bullock　was　not　discouraged。　〃Something　will　turn　up；〃　he　said。　〃Times　are　tough。　Just　take　a　little　patience。〃　He　looked　thoughtful。　〃Might　just　put　some　of　your　boys　down　here。　They　aren't　known；　and　they　look　tough　enough　to　make　it。〃
　　〃They　are。〃　I　smiled；　mentally　assembling　a　team　including　Elmo；　Goblin；　Pawnbroker；　Kingpin；　and　a　few　others。　Be　great　if　Raven　were　still　with　the　pany　and　could　go　in　with　them。　They　would　be　running　the　Buskin　inside　six　months。　Which　gave　me　an　idea　to　take　up　with　Whisper。　If　we　wanted　to　know　what　was　happening；　we　should　take　charge　of　the　Buskin。　We　could　bring　in　One…Eye。　The　little　wizard　was　a　gangster　born。　Stand　out　some；　though。　I　hadn't　seen　another　black　face　since　we'd　crossed　the　Sea　of　Torments。
　　〃Had　an　idea？〃　Bullock　asked；　about　to　enter　a　place　called　the　Iron　Lily。　〃You　look　like　your　brain　is　smoking。〃
　　〃Maybe。　On　something　down　the　line。　If　it　gets　tougher　than　we　expect。〃
　　The　Iron　Lily　looked　like　every　other　place　we'd　been；　only　more　so。　The　guy　who　ran　it　cringed。　He　didn't　know　nothing；　hadn't　heard　nothing；　and　promised　to　scream　for　Bullock　if　anybody　so　much　as　spent　a　single　gersh　struck　before　the　accession　of　the　present　Duke。　Every　word　bullshit。　I　was　glad　to　get　out　of　there。　I　was　afraid　the　place　would　collapse　on　me　before　he　finished　kissing　Bullock's　ass。　〃Got　an　idea；〃　Bullock　said。　〃Moneylenders。〃
　　Took　me　a　second　to　catch　it　and　to　see　where　the　idea　had　e　from。　The　guy　in　the　tavern；　whining　about　his　debts。　〃Good　thinking。〃　A　man　in　the　snares　of　a　moneylender　would　do　anything　to　wriggle　away。　　
　　〃This　is　Krage's　territory。　He's　one　of　the　nastiest。　Let's　drop　in。〃　　No　fear　in　the　man。　His　confidence　in　the　power　of　his　office　was　so　strong　he　dared　walk　into　a　den　of　cutthroats　without　blinking　an　eye。　I　faked　it　good；　but　I　was　scared。　The　villain　had　his　own　army；　and　it　was　jumpy。　　
　　We　found　out　why　in　a　moment。　Our　man　had　e　up　on　the　short　end　of　somebody　in　the　last　couple　days。　He　was　down　on　his　back；　mummified　in　bandages。　Bullock　chuckled。　〃Customers　getting　frisky；　Krage？　Or　did　one　of　your　boys　try　to　promote　himself？〃　
　　Krage　eyed　us　from　a　face　of　stone。　〃I　help　you　with　something；　Inquisitor？〃
　　〃Probably　not。　You'd　lie　to　me　if　the　truth　would　save　your　soul；　you　bloodsucker。〃
　　〃Flattery　will　get　you　nowhere。　What　do　you　want；　you　parasite？〃
　　Tough　boy；　this　Krage。　Struck　from　the　same　mold　as　Bullock；　but　he　had　drifted　into　a　socially　less　honored　profession。　Not　much　to　choose　between　them；　I　thought。　Priest　and　moneylender。　And　that　was　what　Krage　was　saying。　〃Cute。　I'm　looking　for　a　guy。〃
　　〃No　shit。〃
　　〃He's　got　a　lot　of　old　money。　Cajian　period　coinage。〃
　　〃Am　I　supposed　to　know　him？〃　Bullock　shrugged。　〃Maybe　he　owes　somebody。〃
　　〃Money's　got　no　provenance　down　here；　Bullock。〃　
　　Bullock　told　me：　〃A　proverb　of　the　Buskin。〃　He　faced　Krage。　〃This　money　does。　This　money　better；　let's　say。　This　is　a　big　one；　Krage。　Not　a　little　let's…look…around…and…make…a…show。　Not　some　bump…and…run。　We're　going　the　route。　Anybody　covers　on　it；　they　go　down　with　this　boy。　You　remember　Bullock　said　it。〃
　　For　a　second　Bullock　made　an　impression。　The　message　got　through。　Then　Krage　blank…faced　us　again。　〃You're　sniffing　up　the　wrong　tree；　Inquisitor。〃
　　〃Just　telling　you　so　you'd　know。〃
　　〃What　did　this　guy　do？〃
　　〃Hit　somebody　who　don't　take　hitting。〃　Krage's　eyebrows　rose。　He　looked　puzzled。　He　could　think　of　no　one　who　fit　that　description。　〃Who？〃
　　〃Uhn…uh。　Just　don't　let　your　boys　take　any　old　money　　without　you　checking　the　source　and　getting　back　to　me。　Hear？〃
　　〃Said　your　piece；　Inquisitor？〃
　　〃Yeah。〃
　　〃Shouldn't　you　better　be　going；　then？〃
　　We　went。　I　didn't　know　the　rules　of　the　game；　so　didn't　know　how　the　locals　would　score　the　exchange。　I　rated　it　too　close　to　call。　Outside；　I　asked；　〃Would　he　have　told　us　if　he'd　been　paid　in　old　coin？〃
　　〃No。　Not　until　he　looked　into　it；　at　least。　But　he　hasn't　seen　any　old　money。〃　I　wondered　why　he　thought　that。　I　didn't　ask。　These　were　his　people。　
　　〃He　might　know　something。　Thought　I　saw　a　glint　in　his　eye　a　couple　times。〃
　　〃Maybe。　Maybe　not。　Let　him　stew。〃
　　〃Maybe　if　you'd　told　him　why。　。　。　。〃
　　〃No！　That　doesn't　get　out。　Not　even　a　rumor。　If　people　thought　we　couldn't　protect　their　dead　or　them　after　they　kick　off；　all　hell　would　break　loose。〃　He　made　a　downward　gesture　with　one　hand。　〃Juniper　like　that。　Crunch。〃　We　walked　on。　He　muttered；　〃All　hell　would　break　loose。〃　And　after　another　half…block：　〃That's　why　we've　got　to　get　these　guys。　Not　so　much　to　punish　them。　To　shut　them　up。〃
　　〃I　see。〃　We　strolled　back　the　direction　we　had　e；　planning　to　resume　tavern…hopping　and　to　see　a　moneylender　named　Gilbert　when　we　reached　his　territory。　〃Hey？〃
　　Bullock　stopped。　〃What？〃
　　I　shook　my　head。　〃Nothing。　Thought　I　saw　a　ghost。　Guy　down　the　street。　。　。　。　Walked　like　somebody　I　used　to　know。〃
　　〃Maybe　it　was。〃
　　〃Nah。　Long　ago　and　far　away。　Long　dead　now。　Just　because　I　was　thinking　about　him　a　little　bit　ago。''
　　〃I　figure　we　got　time　for　half　a　dozen　more　visits。　Then　we　head　uphill。　Don't　want　to　hang　around　here　after　dark。〃
　　I　looked　at　him；　one　eyebrow　raised。
　　〃Hell；　man；　it　gets　dangerous　down　here　when　the　sun　goes　down。〃　He　chuckled　and　gave　me　one　of　his　rare　smiles。　It　was　the　genuine　article。　　For　one　moment　then；　I　liked　him。
　　
　　　Chapter　Fifteen：　JUNIPER：　DEATH　OF　A　GANGSTER
　　
　　Shed　had　long；　violent　arguments　with　his　mother。　She　never　accused　him　directly；　but　she　left　little　doubt　she　suspected　him　of　hideous　crimes。
　　He　and　Raven　took　turns　nursing　Asa。
　　Then　it　was　time　to　face　Krage。　He　did　not　want　to　go。　He　was　afraid　Krage　might　have　lumped　him　with　Raven　and　Asa。　But　if　he　didn't　go；　Krage　would　e　to　him。　And　Krage　was　looking　for　people　to　hurt。　。　。　。　Shaky；　Shed　trudged　up　the　frozen　street。　Snow　fell　in　lazy；　fat　flakes。
　　One　of　Krage's　men　ushered　him　into　the　presence。　There　was　no　sign　of　Count；　but　word　was　out　that　the　big　man　was　recovering。　Too　damned　stupid　to　die；　Shed　thought。
　　〃Ah；　Shed；〃　Krage　said　from　the　deeps　of　a　huge　chair。　〃How　are　you？〃
　　〃Cold。　How're　you　keeping？〃　Krage　worried　him　when　he　was　affable。
　　〃Be　all　right。〃　Krage　plucked　at　his　bandages。　〃Close　call。　I　was　lucky。　e　to　make　your　payment？〃
　　〃How　much　do　I　owe；　all　told？　You　buying　up　my　debts；　I　couldn't　keep　track。〃
　　〃You　can　pay　out？〃　Krage's　eyes　narrowed。
　　〃I　don't　know。　I　have　ten　leva。〃
　　Krage　sighed　dramatically。　〃You　got　enough。　Didn't　think　you　had　it　in　you；　Shed。　Well。　You　win　some　and　you　lose　some。　It's　eight　and　some　change。〃
　　Shed　counted　out　nine　coins。　　Krage　made　change。　〃You've　had　a　run　of　luck　this　winter；　Shed。〃
　　〃Sure　have。〃
　　〃You　seen　Asa？〃　Krage's　voice　tautened。
　　〃Not　since　three　days　ago。　Why？〃
　　〃Nothing　important。　We're　even；　Shed。　But　it's　time　I　collected　that　favor。　Raven。　I　want　him。〃
　　〃Krage；　I　don't　want　to　tell　you　your　business；　but　that's　one　man　you'd　better　leave　alone。　He's　crazy。　He's　nasty　and　he's　tough。　He'd　as　soon　kill　you　as　say　hi。　I　don't　mean　no　disrespect；　but　he　acts　like　you're　a　big　joke。〃
　　〃The　joke　will　be　on　him；　Shed。〃　Krage　dragged　himself　out　of　his　chair；　wincing。　He　grabbed　his　wound。　〃The　joke　will　be　on　him。〃
　　〃Maybe　next　time　he　won't　let　you　get　away；　Krage。〃　Fear　crossed　Krage's　features。　〃Shed；　it's　him　or　me。　If　I　don't　kill　him；　my　business　will　fall　apart。〃
　　〃Where　will　it　be　if　he　kills　you？〃　Again　that　flicker　of　fear。　〃I　don't　have　any　choice。　Be　ready　when　I　need　you；　Shed。　Soon　now。〃
　　Shed　bobbed　his　head　and　retreated。　He　ought　to　get　out　of　the　Buskin；　he　thought。　He　could　afford　it。　But　where　would　he　go？　Krage　could　find　him　anywhere　in　Juniper。　Running　didn't　appeal；　anyway。　The　Lily　was　home。　He　had　to　weather　this。　One　or　the　other　would　die；　and　either　way　he　would　be　off　the　hook。
　　He