dwestlake.bankshot-第12部分

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the　situation。　　He　never　gave　her　a　lot　of　background　explanations；　and　she　didn't　seem　to　　need　any。　It　was　very　relaxing。　In　a　funny　way；　May　reminded　Dortmunder　of　　his　ex…wife；　not　because　she　was　similar　but　because　she　was　so　very　different。　　It　was　the　contrast　that　did　it。　Until　he'd　started　up　with　May；　Dortmunder　　hadn't　even　thought　about　his　former　wife　for　years。　A　show…biz　performer　　she'd　been；　with　the　professional　name　of　Honeybun　Bazoom。　Dortmunder　had　　married　her　in　San　Diego　in　1952　on　his　way　to　Korea…the　only　police　action　　he'd　ever　been　in　on　the　side　of　the　police…and　had　divorced　her　again　in　Reno　　in　1954　on　his　way　out　of　the　Army。　Honeybun　had　mostly　been　interested　in　　Honeybun；　but　if　something　outside　herself　did　attract　her　attention　she　was　　immediately　full　of　questions　about　it。　She　could　ask　more　questions　than　a　kid　at　　the　zoo。　Dortmunder　had　answered　the　first　few　thousand；　until　he'd　realized　　that　none　of　the　answers　ever　stayed　inside　that　round　head。
　　May　couldn't　have　been　more　different；　she　never　asked　the　questions；　and　　she　always　held　onto　the　answers。
　　Now；　they　finished　their　heroes　and　left　the　Blimpie；　and　on　the　sidewalk　May　　said；　〃I'll　take　the　subway。〃
　　〃Take　a　cab。〃
　　She　had　a　fresh　cigarette　in　the　corner　of　her　mouth；　having　lit　it　after　finishing　　eating。　〃Naw；〃　she　said。　〃I'll　take　the　subway。　A　cab　after　a　hero　gives　me　　heartburn。〃
　　〃You　want　to　e　along　to　the　0。　J？〃
　　〃Naw；　you　go　ahead。〃
　　〃The　other　night；　Murch　brought　his　Mom。〃
　　〃I'd　rather　go　home。〃
　　Dortmunder　shrugged。　〃Okay。　I'll　see　you　later。〃
　　〃See　you　later。〃
　　She　slopped　away　down　the　street；　and　Dortmunder　headed　the　other　way。　　He　still　had　time；　so　he　decided　to　walk；　which　meant　going　through　Central　　Park。　He　walked　along　the　cinder　path　alone；　and　under　a　street　light　a　shifty…　eyed　stocky　guy　in　a　black　turtle…neck　sweater　came　out　of　nowhere　and　said；　　〃Excuse　me。〃
　　Dortmunder　stopped。　〃Yeah？〃
　　〃I'm　taking　a　survey；〃　the　guy　said。　His　eyes　danced　a　little；　and　he　seemed　to　　be　grinning　and　yet　not　to　be　grinning。　It　was　the　same　kind　of　expression　most　　of　the　people　in　the　movie　had　had。　He　said；　〃Here　you　are；　you're　a　citizen；　　you're　walking　along　in　the　park　at　night。　What　would　you　do　if　somebody　came　　along　and　mugged　you？〃
　　Dortmunder　looked　at　him。　〃I'd　beat　his　head　in；〃　he　said。　The　guy　blinked；　　and　the　almost　grin　disappeared。　He　looked　slightly　confused；　and　he　said；　　〃What　if　he　had；　uh；　well；　what　if　he　was　。　。　。〃　Then　he　shook　his　head；　waggled　　both　hands　and　backed　off；　saying；　〃Nah；　forget　it。　Doesn't　matter；　forget　it。〃
　　〃Okay；〃　Dortmunder　said。　He　walked　on　through　the　park　and　over　to　　Amsterdam　and　up　to　the　0。　J。　When　he　went　in；　Rollo　was　having　a　discussion　　with　the　only　two　customers；　a　pair　of　overweight　mission　salesmen　in　the　　auto…parts　line；　about　whether　sexual　intercourse　after　a　heavy　meal　was　　medically　good　or　medically　bad。　They　were　supporting　their　arguments　mostly　　with　personal　anecdotes；　and　Rollo　obviously　had　trouble　breaking　himself　free　　from　the　conversation。　Dortmunder　waited　at　the　end　of　the　bar；　and　finally　　Rollo　said；　〃Now；　hold　it　now；　hold　it　a　second。　Don't　start　that　yet。　I'll　be　right　　back。〃　Then　he　came　down　the　bar；　handed　Dortmunder　the　bottle　called　　Amsterdam　Liquor　Store　Bourbon…〃Our　Own　Brand〃　plus　two　glasses；　and　　said；　〃All　that's　here　so　far　is　the　draft　beer　and　salt。　His　mother　let　him　out　by　　himself　tonight。〃
　　〃There'll　be　more　ing；〃　Dortmunder　said。　〃I　don't　know　how　many。〃
　　〃The　more　the　merrier；〃　Rollo　said　sourly　and　went　back　to　his　discussion。
　　In　the　back　room；　Murch　was　sprinkling　salt　in　his　beer　to　restore　the　head。　　He　looked　up　at　Dortmunder's　entrance　and　said；　〃How　you　doing？〃
　　〃Fine；〃　Dortmunder　said。　He　put　the　bottle　and　glasses　on　the　table　and　sat　　down。
　　〃I　made　better　time　tonight；〃　Murch　said。　〃I　tried　a　different　route。〃
　　〃Is　that　right？〃　Dortmunder　opened　the　bottle。
　　〃I　went　down　Flatlands　and　up　Remsen；〃　Murch　said。　〃Not　Rockaway　　Parkway；　see？　Then　I　went　over　Empire　Boulevard　and　up　Bedford　Avenue　all　　the　way　into　Queens　and　took　the　Williamsburg　Bridge　over　into　Manhattan。〃
　　Dortmunder　poured。　〃Is　that　right？〃　he　said。　He　was　just　waiting　for　Murch　to　　stop　talking；　because　he　had　something　to　say　to　him。
　　〃Then　Delancey　and　Allen　and　right　up　First　Avenue　and　across　town　at　　Seventy…ninth　Street。　Worked　like　a　dream。〃
　　〃Is　that　right？〃　Dortmunder　said。　He　sipped　at　his　drink　and　said；　〃You　know；　　Rollo's　kind　of　unhappy　about　you。〃
　　Murch　looked　surprised；　but　eager　to　please。　〃Why？　Cause　I　parked　out　　front？〃
　　〃No。　A　customer　that　es　in　and　nurses　one　beer　all　night　long；　it　doesn't　　do　too　much　for　his　business。〃
　　Murch　glanced　down　at　his　beer；　and　then　looked　very　pained。　〃I　never　　thought　of　that；〃　he　said。
　　〃I　just　figured　I'd　mention　it。〃
　　〃The　thing　is；　I　don't　like　to　drink　and　drive。　That's　why　I　space　it　out。〃
　　Dortmunder　had　nothing　to　say　to　that。
　　Murch　pondered　and　finally　said　hopefully；　〃What　if　I　bought　him　a　drink？　　Would　that　do　it？〃
　　〃Could　be。〃
　　〃Let　me　give　it　a　try；〃　Murch　said；　and　as　he　got　to　his　feet　the　door　opened　　and　Kelp　and　Victor　came　in。　The　room　was　very　small　and　very　full　of　table　　anyway；　so　it　took　a　while　to　bring　Kelp　and　Victor　in　while　getting　Murch　out；　　and　during　that　time　Dortmunder　brooded　at　Victor。　It　seemed　to　him　that　　Victor　was　being　more　and　more　an　accepted　part　of　this　job；　which　he　　didn't　much　like　but　couldn't　quite　find　the　way　to　stop。　Kelp　was　doing　it；　but　　he　was　doing　it　in　such　a　sneaky　quiet　fashion　that　Dortmunder　never　had　a　clear　　moment　when　he　could　say；　〃Okay；　cut　it　out。〃　But　how　could　anybody　expect　　him　to　go　steal　a　bank　with　some　clown　smiling　at　him　all　the　time？
　　Murch　finally　shot　himself　out　of　the　room；　like　a　dollop　of　toothpaste　　squeezed　out　of　a　tube；　and　Kelp　said；　〃I　see　Herman　isn't　here　yet。〃
　　〃You　talked　to　him？〃
　　〃He's　interested。〃
　　Dortmunder　brooded　some　more。　Kelp　himself　was　all　right；　but　he　tended　to　　surround　himself　with　people　and　operations　that　were　just　a　little　off。　Victor；　for　　instance。　And　now　bringing　in　some　guy　named　Herman　X。　What　could　you　　hope　for　from　somebody　named　Herman　X？　Had　he　ever　done　anything　in　this　　line？　If　he　was　going　to　turn　out　to　be　another　smiler；　Dortmunder　was　just　going　　to　have　to　put　his　foot　down。　Enough　smiling　is　enough。
　　Sitting　down　next　to　Dortmunder　and　reaching　for　the　bourbon　bottle；　Kelp　　said；　〃We　got　the　financing　set。〃
　　Victor　had　taken　the　spot　directly　across　from　Dortmunder。　He　was　smiling。　　Shading　his　eyes　with　his　hand；　Dortmunder　ducked　his　head　a　little　and　said　to　　Kelp；　〃You　got　the　full　four　grand？〃
　　〃Every　penny。　The　light　too　bright　for　you？〃
　　〃I　just　went　to　a　movie。〃
　　〃Oh；　yeah？　What'd　you　see？〃
　　Dortmunder　had　forgotten　the　title。　〃It　was　in　color；〃　he　said。
　　〃That　narrows　it。　Probably　a　pretty　recent　one；　then。〃
　　〃Yeah。〃
　　Victor　said；　〃I'm　drinking　tonight。〃　He　sounded　very　pleased。
　　Dortmunder　ducked　his　head　a　little　more　and　looked　at　Victor　under　his　　fingers。　He　was　smiling；　of　course；　and　holding　up　a　tall　glass。　It　was　pink。　　Dortmunder　said；　〃Oh；　yeah？〃
　　〃A　sloe…gin　fizz；〃　Victor　said。
　　〃Is　that　right？〃　Dortmunder　readjusted　head　and　fingers…it　was　like　putting　　down　venetian　blinds…and　turned　firmly　back　to　Kelp。　〃So　you　got　the　whole　　four　thousand；〃　he　said。
　　〃Yeah。　A　funny　thing　about　that。。
　　The　door　opened　and　Murch　came　back　in。　〃It's　all　set；〃　he　said。　He　was　　smiling；　too；　but　it　was　easier　to　live　with　than　Victor's。　〃Thanks　for　setting　me　　straight；〃　he　said。
　　〃Glad　it　worked　out；〃　Dortmunder　said。
　　Murch　sat　down　in　front　of　his　beer　and　carefully　salted　it。　〃Rollo's　okay　when　　you　get　to　know　him；〃　he　said。
　　〃Sure　he　is。〃
　　〃Drives　a　Saab。〃
　　Dortmunder　had　known　Rollo　for　years　but　hadn't　known　about　the　Saab。　〃Is　　that　right？〃　he　said。
　　〃Used　to　drive　a　Borg…Ward。　Sold　it　because　he　couldn't　get　parts　when　they　　stopped　making　the　car。〃
　　Kelp　said；　〃What　kind　of　car　is　that？〃
　　〃Borg…Ward。　German。　Same　pany　that　makes　Norge　refrigerators。〃
　　〃They're　American。〃
　　〃The　refrigerators；　yeah。　The　cars　were　German。〃
　　Dortmunder　finished　his　drink　and　reached　for　the　bottle；　and　Rollo　opened　　the　door　and　stuck　his　head　in　to　say；　〃There's　an　Old　Crow　on　the　rocks　out　　here　asking　for　Kelp。〃
　　〃That's　him　now；〃　Kelp　said。
　　〃A　darkish　fella。〃
　　〃That's　him；〃　Kelp　said。　〃Send　him　on　in。〃
　　〃Right。〃　Rollo　gave　a　bartender's　glance　around　the　table。　〃Everybody　set？〃
　　They　all　murmured。
　　Rollo　cocked　an　eye　at　Murch。　〃Stan；　you　got　enough　salt？〃
　　〃Oh；　sure；〃　Murch　said。　〃Thanks　a　lot；　Rollo。〃
　　〃Any　time；　Stan。〃
　　Rollo　went　away。　Dortmunder　glanced　at　Murch；　but　didn't　say　anything；　and　　a　minute　later　a　tall　lean　guy　with　dark…brown　plexion　and　a　very　modest　　Afro　came　into　the　room。　What　he　looked　most　like　was　an　Army　second　lieutenant　on　leave。　He　was　nodding　slightly　and　grinning　slightly　as　he　came　in　and　　shut　the　door；　and　Dortmunder　wondered　at　first　if　he　was　on　something；　then　he　　realized　it　was　just　the　self…protective　cool　of　somebody　meeting　a　group　of　　people　for　the　first　time。
　　〃Hey；　Herman；〃　Kelp　said。
　　〃Hey；〃　agreed　Herman　quietly。　He　closed　the　door　behind　him　and　stood　　there　jiggling　ice　in　his　old…fashioned　glass；　like　an　early　arrival　at　a　cocktail　　party。
　　Kelp　made　the　introductions：　〃Herman　X；　this　is　Dortmunder；　that's　Stan　　Murch；　that's　my　nephew　Victor。〃
　　〃How　are　ya。〃
　　〃Hello；　Mr。　X。〃
　　Dortmunder　watched　Herman　frown　slightly　at　Victor　and　then　glance　at　　Kelp。　Kelp；　however；　was　busy　being　host；　saying；　〃Take　a　seat；　Herman。　We　　were　just　talking　about　the　situation。〃
　　〃That's　what　I　want　to　hear　about；〃　Herman　said。　He　sat　down　to　　Dortmunder's　right。　〃The　situation。〃
　　Dortmunder　said；　〃I'm　surprised　I　don't　know　you。〃
　　Herman　gave　him　a　grin。　〃We　probably　travel　in　different　circles。〃
　　〃I　was　just　wondering　what　your　experience　is。〃
　　Herman's　grin　broadened　into　a　smile。　〃Well；　now；〃　he　said。　〃One　doesn't　　like　to　talk　about　one's　experiences　in　fron