cb.damnationgame-第12部分

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　　〃Don't　be　afraid。　Go　right　up　to　him。　Let　him　get　a　good　sniff　of　you。〃　〃They　don't　like　fear；〃　said　Whitehead。　〃Isn't　that　right；　Lillian？〃　〃That's　right。　If　they　smell　it　on　you；　they　know　they've　got　you。　Then　they're　merciless。　You　have　to　stand　up　to　them。〃　Marty　approached　the　dog。　It　looked　up　at　him　testily：　he　stared　back。
　　〃Don't　try　and　outstare　him；〃　Lillian　advised。　〃It　makes　the　dog　aggressive。　Just　let　him　get　your　scent；　so　he　knows　you。〃　Saul　sniffed　at　Marty's　legs　and　crotch　through　the　mesh；　much　to　Marty's　disfort。　Then；　apparently　satisfied；　he　wandered　away。
　　〃Good　enough；〃　said　Lillian。　〃Next　time；　no　wire。　And　in　a　while；　you'll　be　handling　him。〃　She　was　taking　some　pleasure　in　Marty's　unease；　he　was　sure　of　it。　But　he　said　nothing；　just　let　her　lead　the　way　into　the　largest　of　the　sheds。
　　〃Now　you　must　meet　Bella；〃　she　said。
　　Inside　the　kennels　the　smell　of　disinfectant；　stale　urine　and　dogs　was　overpowering。　Lillian's　entrance　was　greeted　with　another　sustained　round　of　barking　and　wire…pawing。　The　shed　had　a　walkway　down　the　center；　with　cages　off　to　the　right　and　left。　Two　of　these　held　a　single　dog；　both　bitches；　one　considerably　smaller　than　the　other。　Lillian　rolled　off　the　details　as　they　passed　each　cage…the　dogs〃　names；　and　their　place　on　the　incestuous　family　tree。　Marty　attended　to　all　she　was　saying；　and　immediately　forgot　it　again。　His　mind　was　otherwise　occupied。　It　wasn't　just　the　intimate　presence　of　the　dogs　that　unnerved　him；　but　the　suffocating　familiarity　of　this　interior。　The　walkway；　the　cells　with　their　concrete　floors；　their　blankets；　their　bare　bulbs：　it　was　like　home　from　home。　And　now　he　began　to　see　the　dogs　in　a　new　light；　saw　another　meaning　in　Job's　baleful　glance　as　he　looked　up　from　his　ablutions；　understood；　better　than　Lillian　or　Whitehead　ever　could；　how　these　prisoners　must　view　him　and　his　species。
　　He　stopped　to　look　into　one　of　the　cages：　not　out　of　any　particular　interest；　but　to　focus　on　something　other　than　the　anxiety　he　felt　in　this　claustrophobic　hut。
　　〃What's　this　one　called？〃　he　asked。
　　The；　dog　in　the　cage　was　at　the　door；　another　sizable　male；　though　not　on　the　scale　of　Saul。
　　〃That's　Laurousse；〃　Lillian　replied。
　　The　dog　looked　friendlier　than　the　others；　and　Marty　overcame　his　nerves　and　went　down　on　his　haunches　in　the　narrow　corridor；　extending　a　tentative　hand　toward　the　cage。
　　〃He'll　be　fine　with　you；〃　she　said。
　　Marty　put　his　fingers　to　the　mesh。　Laurousse　sniffed　them　inquisitively；　his　nose　was　damp　and　cold。
　　〃Good　dog；〃　Marty　said。　〃Laurousse。〃　The　dog　began　to　wag　its　tail；　happy　to　be　named　by　this　sweating　stranger。
　　〃Good　dog。〃　Down　here；　closer　to　the　blankets　and　the　straw；　the　smell　of　excrement　and　fur　was　even　stronger。　But　the　dog　was　delighted　that　Marty　had　e　down　to　its　level；　and　was　attempting　to　lick　his　fingers　through　the　wire。　Marty　felt　the　fear　in　him　dispelled　by　the　dog's　enthusiasm：　far　from　meaning　him　harm；　it　showed　unalloyed　pleasure。
　　Only　now　did　he　bee　aware　of　Whitehead's　scrutiny。　The　old　man　was　standing　a　few　feet　off　to　his　left；　his　bulk　entirely　blocking　the　narrow　passage　between　the　cages；　watching　intently。　Marty　stood　up　self…consciously；　leaving　the　dog　to　whine　and　wag　below　him；　and　followed　Lillian　further　down　the　line　of　cages。　The　dog…keeper　was　singing　the　praises　of　another　member　of　the　tribe。　Marty　tuned　in　to　her　conversation：　〃…and　this　is　Bella；〃　she　announced。　Her　voice　had　softened；　there　was　a　dreamy　quality　in　it　that　he　hadn't　caught　before。　When　Marty　reached　the　cage　into　which　she　was　pointing；　he　saw　why。
　　Bella　half…lay　and　half…sat　in　the　mesh　shadows　at　the　end　of　her　cage；　arranged　like　a　black…snouted　Madonna　on　a　bed　of　blankets　and　straw；　with　blind　pups　suckling　at　her　teats。　Setting　eyes　on　her；　Marty's　reservations　about　the　dogs　evaporated。
　　〃Six　pups；〃　Lillian　announced　as　proudly　as　if　they　were　her　own；　〃all　strong　and　healthy。〃　More　than　strong　and　healthy；　they　were　beautiful；　fat　balls　of　contentment　nestling　against　each　other　in　the　luxury　of　their　mother's　lap。　It　seemed　inconceivable　that　creatures　so　vulnerable　could　grow　into　iron…gray　lords　like　Saul；　or　suspicious　rebels　like　Job。
　　Bella；　sensing　a　newer　among　her　congregation；　pricked　up　her　ears。　Her　head　was　superbly　proportioned；　tones　of　sable　and　gold　mingling　in　her　coat　to　glamorous　effect；　her　brown　eyes　vigilant　but　soft　in　the　half…light。　She　was　so　finished；　so　pletely　herself。　The　only　response　to　her　presence…and　one　that　Marty　willingly　granted…was　awe。
　　Lillian　peered　though　the　wire；　introducing　Marty　to　this　mother　of　mothers。
　　〃This　is　Mr。　Strauss；　Bella；〃　she　said。　〃You'll　see　him　now　and　again；　he's　a　friend。〃　There　was　no　baby…talk　condescension　in　Lillian's　voice。　She　spoke　to　the　dog　as　to　an　equal；　and　despite　Marty's　initial　uncertainty　about　the　woman；　he　found　himself　warming　to　her。　Love　wasn't　an　easy　thing　to　e　by；　he　knew　that　to　his　cost。　Whatever　shape　it　came　in；　it　made　sense　to　respect　it。　Lillian　loved　this　dog…her　grace；　her　dignity。　It　was　a　love　he　could　approve　of；　if　not　entirely　understand。
　　Bella　sniffed　the　air；　and　seemed　satisfied　that　she　had　the　measure　of　Marty。　Lillian　reluctantly　turned　from　the　cage　to　Strauss。
　　〃She　might　even　take　to　you；　given　time。　She's　a　great　seductress；　you　know。　A　great　seductress。〃　Behind　them；　Whitehead　grunted　at　this　sentimental　nonsense。
　　〃Shall　we　look　over　the　grounds？〃　he　suggested　impatiently。　〃I　think　we're　done　here。〃　〃e　back　when　you've　settled　in；〃　Lillian　said；　her　manner　had　defrosted　noticeably　since　Marty　had　shown　some　appreciation　of　her　charges；　〃and　I'll　put　them　through　their　paces　for　you。〃　〃Thanks。　I　will。〃　〃I　wanted　you　to　see　the　dogs；〃　Whitehead　said　as　they　left　the　enclosures　behind；　and　started　at　a　brisk　pace　across　the　lawn　to　the　perimeter　fence。　That　was　only　part　of　the　reason　for　the　visit；　though；　Marty　knew　that　damn　well。　Whitehead　had　intended　the　experience　as　a　salutary　reminder　of　what　Marty　had　left　behind　him。　There；　but　for　the　grace　of　Joseph　Whitehead；　he　would　go　again。　Well；　the　lesson　was　learned。　He'd　jump　through　hoops　of　fire　for　the　old　man　rather　than　go　back　into　the　custody　of　corridors　and　cells。　There　wasn't　even　a　Bella　there；　no　sublime　and　secret　mother　locked　away　in　the　heart　of　Wandsworth。　Just　lost　men　like　himself。
　　The　day　was　warming：　the　sun　was　up；　a　pale　lemon　balloon　drifting　above　the　rookery；　and　the　frost　was　melting　from　the　lawns。　For　the　first　time　Marty　began　to　get　some　sense　of　the　scale　of　the　estate。　Distances　opened　up　to　either　side　of　them：　he　could　see　water；　a　lake；　or　river　perhaps；　shining　beyond　a　bank　of　trees。　On　the　west　side　of　the　house　there　were　rows　of　cypresses；　suggesting　walkways；　fountains　perhaps；　to　the　other　side；　a　banked　garden　surrounded　by　a　low　stone　wall。　It　would　take　him　weeks　to　get　the　layout　of　the　place。
　　They　had　reached　the　double　fence　that　ran　right　around　the　estate。　A　good　ten　feet　high；　both　fences　were　topped　by　sharpened　steel　struts　that　curved　out　toward　the　would…be　intruder。　These　were　in　turn　crowned　with　spirals　of　barbed　wire。　The　whole　construction　hummed；　almost　imperceptibly；　with　an　electric　charge。　Whitehead　regarded　it　with　evident　satisfaction。
　　〃Impressive；　eh？〃　Marty　nodded。　Again；　the　sight　woke　echoes。
　　〃It　offers　a　measure　of　security；〃　Whitehead　said。
　　He　turned　left　at　the　fence；　and　began　to　walk　its　length；　the　conversation…if　that　it　could　be　called…ing　from　him　in　the　form　of　a　series　of　non　sequiturs；　as　if　he　were　too　impatient　with　the　elliptical　structure　of　normal　exchanges　to　bear　with　it。　He　simply　threw　statements；　or　clusters　of　remarks；　down；　and　expected　Marty　to　make　whatever　sense　he　could　of　them。
　　〃It's　not　a　perfect　system：　fences；　dogs；　cameras。　You　saw　the　screens　in　the　kitchen？〃　〃Yes。
　　〃I've　got　the　same　upstairs。　The　cameras　offer　total　surveillance　day　and　night。〃　He　jerked　a　thumb　up　at　one　of　the　camera's　floodlights　mounted　beside　them。　There　was　one　set　on　every　tenth　upright。　They　swiveled　back　and　forth　slowly；　like　the　heads　of　mechanical　birds。
　　〃Luther'll　show　you　how　to　run　through　them　in　sequence。　Cost　a　small　fortune　to　install；　and　I'm　not　sure　it's　more　than　cosmetic。　These　people　aren't　fools。〃　〃You've　had　break…ins？〃　〃Not　here。　At　the　London　house　it　used　to　happen　all　the　time。　Of　course；　that　was　when　I　was　more　visible。　The　unrepentant　tycoon。　Evangeline　and　me　in　every　scandal　sheet。　The　open　sewer　of　Fleet　Street；　it　never　fails　to　appall　me。〃　〃I　thought　you　owned　a　newspaper？〃　〃Been　reading　up　on　me？〃　〃Not　exactly；　I…〃　〃Don't　believe　the　biographies；　or　the　gossip　columns；　or　even　Who's　Who。　They　lie。　I　lie〃…he　finished　the　declension；　entertained　by　his　own　cynicism…〃he；　she；　or　it　lies。　Scribblers。　Dirt　peddlers。　Contemptible；　the　lot　of　them。〃　Was　that　what　he　was　keeping　out　with　these　lethal　fences：　dirt　peddlers？　A　fortress　against　a　tide　of　scandal　and　shit？　If　so；　it　was　an　elaborate　lay　to　go　about　it。　Marty　wondered　if　this　wasn't　simply　monstrous　egotism。　Was　the　hemisphere　that　interested　in　the　private　life　of　Joseph　Whitehead？
　　〃What　are　you　thinking；　Mr。　Strauss？〃　〃About　the　fences；〃　Marty　lied；　proving　Whitehead's　earlier　point。
　　〃No；　Strauss；〃　Whitehead　corrected　him。　〃You're　thinking：　what　have　I　got　myself　into；　locked　up　with　a　lunatic？〃　Marty　sensed　any　further　denial　would　sound　like　guilt。　He　said　nothing。
　　〃Isn't　that　the　conventional　wisdom　where　I'm　concerned？　The　failing　plutocrat；　festering　in　solitude。　Don't　they　say　that　about　me？〃　〃Something　like　that；〃　Marty　finally　replied。
　　〃And　still　you　came。〃　〃Yes。〃　〃Of　course　you　came。　You　thought　that　however　offbeat　I　am；　nothing　could　be　as　bad　as　another　stretch　behind　locked　doors；　isn't　that　right？　And　you　wanted　out。　At　any　cost。　You　were　desperate。〃　〃Of　course　I　wanted　out。　Anybody　would。〃　〃I'm　glad　you　admit　to　that。　Because　your　wanting　gives　me　considerable　power　over　you；　don't　you　think？　You　daren't　cheat　me。　You　must　cleave　to　me　the　way　the　dogs　cleave　to　Lillian；　not　because　she　represents　their　next　meal　but　because　she'