dwestlake.bankshot-第14部分

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　　〃Abandoned？〃
　　〃How　the　hell　do　I　know？〃
　　〃Let's　take　a　look。〃
　　They　looked　that　day　at　seven　barns；　none　of　them　abandoned。　They　also　　looked　at　a　quonset　hut　that　had　most　recently　contained　a　puter…parts　　factory　which　had　gone　broke；　but　the　interior　was　a　jumble　of　desks　and　　machinery　and　parts　and　junk；　too　crowded　and　filthy　to　be　useful。　They　also　　looked　at　an　airplane　hangar　in　front　of　a　pock…marked　blacktop　landing　strip…
　　a　onetime　flying　school；　now　abandoned；　but　occupied　by　a　hippie　mune；　as　　Dortmunder　and　Kelp　discovered　when　they　parked　out　front。　The　hippies　had　　mistaken　them　for　representatives　of　the　sheriff's　office　and　right　away　began　　shouting　about　squatters'　rights　and　demonstrations　and　all　and　didn't　stop　　shouting　until　after　Dortmunder　and　Kelp　got　back　in　the　car　and　drove　away　　again。
　　This　was　the　third　day　of　the　search。　Days　one　and　two　had　been　similar。
　
　
　　Victor's　car　was　a　black　1938　Packard　limousine；　with　the　bulky　trunk　and　　the　divided　rear　window　and　the　long　coffin…like　hood　and　the　headlights　sitting　　up　on　top　of　the　arrogant　broad　fenders。　The　upholstery　was　scratchy　gray　　plush；　and　there　were　leather　thongs　to　hold　onto　next　to　the　doors　on　the　inside　　and　small　green　vases　containing　artificial　flowers　hanging　in　little　wire　racks　　between　the　doors。
　　Victor　drove；　and　Herman　sat　beside　him　and　stared　out　at　the　countryside。　　〃This　is　ridiculous；〃　he　said。　〃There's　got　to　be　something　you　can　hide　a　trailer　　in。〃
　　Casually；　Victor　said；　〃What　newspapers　do　you　read　mostly；　Herman？〃
　
　
　　Dortmunder　walked　into　the　apartment　and　sat　down　on　the　sofa　and　stared　　moodily　at　the　turned…oft　television　set。　May；　the　cigarette　in　the　corner　of　her　　mouth；　slopped　in　from　the　kitchen。　〃Anything？〃
　　〃With　the　encyclopedias；〃　Dortmunder　said；　staring　at　the　TV；　〃I　could've　　picked　up　maybe　seventy　bucks　out　there　today。　Maybe　a　hundred。〃
　　〃I'll　get　you　a　beer；〃　May　said。　She　went　back　to　the　kitchen。
　
　
　　Murch's　Mom　brooded　over　the　pictures。　〃I　never　looked　so　foolish　in　my　　life；〃　she　said。
　　〃That　isn't　the　point；　Mom。〃
　　She　tapped　the　one　in　which　she　appeared　headless。　〃At　least　there　you　can't　　tell　it's　me。〃
　　Her　son　was　hunched　over　the　three　color　photographs　on　the　dining…room　　table；　counting。　The　lace　holes　in　the　boots　and　the　stripes　on　the　dress　made　a　　ruler。　Murch　counted；　added；　pared；　got　totals　for　each　of　the　three　　pictures；　and　at　last　said；　〃Thirty…seven　and　a　half　inches　high。〃
　　〃You　sure？〃
　　〃Positive。　Thirty…seven　and　a　half　inches　high。〃
　　〃Can　I　burn　those　pictures　now？〃
　　〃Sure；〃　Murch　said。　She　gathered　up　the　pictures；　and　as　she　hurried　from　the　　room　he　called；　〃Did　you　get　rid　of　that　dress？〃
　　〃You　know　it！〃　she　sang　out。　She　sounded　almost　gay。
　　
　　〃The　way　I　figure　it；〃　Herman　said；　riding　along　in　Victor's　car；　scanning　the　　countryside　for　large　abandoned　buildings；　〃what　we　got　to　deal　with　here　is　　three　hundred　years　of　slavery。〃
　　〃Myself；〃　Victor　said；　pushing　the　Packard　slowly　toward　Montauk　Point；　　〃I've　never　really　been　political。〃
　　〃You　were　in　the　FBI。〃
　　〃That　wasn't　for　politics。　I　always　thought　of　myself　as　being　involved　in　　adventure。　You　know　what　I　mean？〃
　　Herman　gave　him　a　quizzical　look　and　then　a　slow　grin。　〃Yeah；〃　he　said。　　〃Yeah；　I　know　what　you　mean。〃
　　〃For　me；　adventure　meant　the　FBI。〃
　　〃Yeah；　that's　right！　See；　for　me；　it　was　the　Movement。〃
　　〃Sure；〃　Victor　said。
　　〃Naturally；〃　said　Herman。
　　
　　〃I　don't　like　that　sound；〃　Murch　said。　Sitting　there　behind　the　wheel；　head　　cocked；　listening　to　the　engine；　he　looked　like　a　squirrel　driving　a　car。
　　〃You're　supposed　to　be　looking　for　abandoned　buildings；〃　his　Mom　said。　She　　herself　was　turning　her　head　slowly　back　and　forth；　like　a　Navy　pilot　looking　for　　shipwreck　survivors。
　　〃You　hear　it？　Ting；　ting；　ting。　You　hear　it？〃
　　〃What's　that　over　there？〃
　　〃What？〃
　　〃I　said；　what's　that　over　there？〃
　　〃Looks　like　some　kind　of　church。〃
　　〃Let's　go　look　at　it。〃
　　Murch　turned　in　that　direction。　〃Keep　your　eye　peeled　for　a　gas　station；〃　he　　said。
　　This　current　car…he'd　had　it　seven　months…had　started　life　as　an　American　　Motors　Javelin；　but　since　he'd　owned　it　Murch　had　changed　some　things。　By　　now；　looks　aside；　it　bore　about　as　much　similarity　to　a　Javelin　as　to　a　javelin。　It　　growled　like　some　very　large　and　savage　but　sleepy　beast　as　Murch　steered　it　　through　bumpy　streets　of　prewar　one　family　housing　toward　the　church　with　the　　sagging　roof。
　　They　stopped　out　front。　The　lawn　was　weedy；　the　wooden　walls　needed　　painting　very　badly；　and　a　few　of　the　window　panes　were　broken。　〃Let's　take　a　　look；〃　Murch's　Mom　said。
　　Murch　shut　off　the　ignition　and　listened　attentively　to　the　silence　for　a　few　　seconds；　as　though　that　too　could　tell　him　something。　Then　he　said；　〃Okay；〃　and　　he　and　his　Mom　got　out　of　the　car。
　　Inside；　the　church　was　very　dim；　nevertheless；　the　priest　sweeping　the　central　　aisle　saw　them　at　once　and　hurried　toward　them；　clutching　his　broom　at　port　　arms。　〃Yes？　Yes？　Can　I　help　you？〃
　　Murch　said；　〃Never　mind；〃　and　turned　away。
　　His　Mom　explained；　〃We　were　wondering　if　this　place　was　abandoned。〃
　　The　priest　nodded。　〃Almost；〃　he　said；　looking　around。　〃Almost。〃
　　　〃I　think　I　have　an　idea；〃　May　said。
　　　Kelp　said；　〃Excuse　me；　Miss。　I　wanted　to　open　an　account。〃
　　The　girl；　her　head　bent　beneath　a　towering　bouffant　hairdo；　didn't　pause　in　her　　typing。　〃Have　a　seat；　and　an　officer　will　be　right　with　you。〃
　　〃Thank　you；〃　Kelp　said。　He　sat　down　and　glanced　around　the　interior　of　the　　bank；　as　a　bored　man　will　do　while　waiting。
　　The　safe　was　down　at　the　Kresge　end　and　more　impressive…looking　than　　Victor　had　implied。　It　filled　practically　the　whole　width　of　the　trailer　down　there　　at　the　end；　and　the　door…which　was　ajar…was　admirably　large　and　thick。
　　The　customer　portion　of　the　bank　was　separated　from　the　rest　by　a　chest…high　　partition；　with　here　and　there　an　entrance　door　through　it。　If　one　were　to　take　the　　top　off　the　trailer　and　look　inside；　this　chest…high　partition　would　form　a　letter　C；　　long　and　thin　and　with　right　angles　instead　of　curves。　The　customer　area　was　the　　part　enclosed　by　the　C…　the　right　half　of　the　middle　of　the　trailer。　At　the　top　of　　the　C　was　the　safe；　down　along　the　side　of　the　C　were　the　tellers；　and　the　thick　　bottom　of　the　C　contained　the　desks　of　the　three　bank　officers。　The　girl　in　the　　bouffant　hairdo　was　at　a　smaller　desk　outside　the　C；　she　and　the　elderly　bank　　guard　were　the　only　employees　in　the　customer　section。
　　Kelp　cased　the　joint；　and　then　he　memorized　it；　and　then　he　got　up　and　read　　the　pamphlets　for　auto　loans　and　credit　cards；　and　then　he　looked　around　the　　place　again　to　be　sure　he　remembered　it　all；　and　he　remembered　it　all。　He'd　　planned　on　actually　opening　an　account；　but　finally　that　seemed　superfluous；　so　　he　got　to　his　feet　and　told　the　girl；　〃I'll　e　back　after　lunch。〃
　　The　hairdo　nodded。　She　kept　typing。
　　
　　〃Why；〃　Herman　said；　〃from　the　outside　it　looks　like　any　other　garage。〃
　　Victor　nodded；　smiling。　〃I　thought　you'd　like　it；〃　he　said。
　　
　　Dortmunder　came　out　of　the　bedroom　wearing　black　sneakers；　black　trousers　　and　a　long…sleeved　black　shirt。　In　one　hand　he　was　holding　a　black　cap；　and　　over　his　forearm　hung　a　black　leather　jacket。　May；　who　was　hemming　curtains；　　looked　up　and　said；　〃You　off？〃
　　〃Be　back　pretty　soon。〃
　　〃Break　a　leg；〃　May　said　and　went　back　to　her　sewing。
　　
　　
　　14
　　
　　
　　THE　railroad…station　parking　lot　had　cars　in　it　all　night　long　on　weekends；　and　　this　was　Friday　night；　so　there　was　no　problem。　Victor　and　Herman　arrived　in　　Victor's　Packard；　parked　it　and　strolled　over　to　the　waiting　room。　This　was　the　　Long　Island　Railroad；　which　had　been　the　best　in　the　world　since　November　of　　1969。　The　waiting　room　was　open　and　lit；　since　late　trains　came　out　here　from　　the　city　on　Friday　nights；　but　the　ticket　office　was　closed。　Victor　and　Herman　　wandered　around　the　empty　waiting　room　reading　the　notices　until　they　saw　　headlights；　then　they　went　back　outside。
　　It　was　the　Javelin；　growling　contentedly　to　itself　as　though　it　had　just　eaten　a　　Pinto。　Murch　was　driving　and　Dortmunder　was　beside　him。　Murch　slipped　the　　Javelin　into　a　parking　space…it　was　done　like　a　samurai　sheathing　his　sword；　the　　same　sense　of　ceremony…and　then　he　and　Dortmunder　got　out　and　walked　　over　to　join　the　other　two。
　　Dortmunder　said；　〃Kelp　isn't　here　yet？〃
　　Victor　said；　〃Do　you　suppose　he　had　some　trouble？〃
　　〃Here　he　es；〃　Herman　said。
　　〃I　wonder　what　he　brought　me；〃　Murch　said　as　the　truck　headlights　made　the　　turn　into　the　parking　lot。
　　The　town　all　around　them　was　fairly　well　lit　but　basically　empty；　like　a　movie　　set。　Traffic　was　light　to　moderate　with　people　homeward　bound　from　their　　Friday…night　outings；　and　the　occasional　Nassau　County　police　car　was　　interested　in　drunken　drivers；　automobile　accidents　and　potential　burglary　of　　downtown　stores；　not　vehicles　moving　in　and　out　of　the　railroad…station　parking　　lot。
　　Kelp　pulled　to　a　stop　next　to　the　waiting　men。　His　style　of　driving　was　in　deep　　contrast　with　Murch；　who　seemed　to　do　no　physical　labor　at　all　but　to　operate　　his　cars　by　thought　control。　Kelp；　on　the　other　hand；　even　after　the　truck　had　　e　to　a　stop；　could　still　be　seen　in　there　for　several　seconds　turning　the　wheel　　and　shifting　the　gears；　pushing　and　pulling　and　shoving　and　only　gradually　himself　　ing　to　a　stop；　like　a　radio　that　keeps　broadcasting　for　a　few　seconds　after　　you　switch　it　off；　while　the　tubes　cool。
　　〃Well；〃　said　Murch；　in　the　manner　of　a　man　withholding　judgment　but　not　　expecting　much。
　　It　was　a　good…sized　truck；　a　Dodge；　with　a　box　about　fifteen　feet　long。　The　　doors　and　sides　carried　the　pany　name：　Laurentian　Paper　Mills。　In　　addition；　the　doors　bore　the　names　of　two　cities：　〃Toronto；　Ontario…Syracuse；　　New　York。〃　The　cab　was　green；　the　box　dark　brown；　and　it　had　New　York　　plates。　Kelp　had　left　the　motor　running；　and　it　gug…gugged　like　any　truck　engine。
　　Now；　as　Kelp　opened　the　door　and　climbed　down　to　the　pavement；　carrying　　a　brown　shopping　bag；　Murch　said　to　him；　〃What　was　it　attracted　you　to