dwestlake.bankshot-第23部分

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ctric　heating。　The　　bathroom　fixtures　feed　out　through　the　bottom　of　the　unit　and　are　adaptable　to　　local　plumbing　codes。　Roamerica　delivered　the　unit　to　the　site；　connected　up　all　　power　lines；　water　lines；　sewage　lines；　burglar　alarm　lines；　removed　the　wheels；　　leveled　the…〃
　　〃Removed　the　wheels？〃　The　captain's　left　eye　was　pletely　shut　now；　　maybe　for　good。
　　〃Sure；〃　Wallah　said。　〃It's　standard　procedure　if　you're　going　to…〃
　　〃Are　you　telling　me　that　goddam　trailer　didn't　have　any　wheels？〃
　　〃Mobile　home。　And　natu…〃
　　〃Trailer！〃　the　captain　yelled。　〃Trailer；　trailer　goddam　trailer！　And　if　it　didn't　　have　any　goddam　wheels；　how　did　they　get　it　away　from　there？〃
　　Nobody　answered。　The　captain　stood　panting　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　head　　hulked　down　between　his　shoulders；　like　the　bull　after　the　matador's　assistants　　have　finished　with　him。　His　left　eye　was　still　closed；　perhaps　permanently；　and　his　　right　eyelid　was　beginning　to　flutter。
　　Lieutenant　Hepplewhite　cleared　his　throat。　Everybody　jumped；　as　though　a　　hand　grenade　had　gone　off；　and　they　all　stared　at　him。　In　a　small　voice　he　said。　　〃Helicopter？〃
　　They　continued　to　look　at　him。　Several　slow　seconds　went　by；　and　then　the　　captain　said；　〃Repeat　that；　Hepplewhite。〃
　　〃Helicopter；　sir；〃　Lieutenant　Hepplewhite　said　in　the　same　small　voice。　And　　then；　hesitant　but　hurrying；　added；　〃I　just　thought　maybe　they　had　a　helicopter　　and　they　might　have　e　down　and　put　ropes　around　it　and…〃
　　The　captain　glowered　with　his　one　good　eye。　〃And　take　it　off　the　Island；〃　he　　finished。
　　〃Too　heavy；〃　Wallah　said。　He　opened　his　gray　cloth　plumber's　bag　and　took　　out　a　toy　mobile　home。　〃Here's　a　scale　model　of　the　Remuda　model；〃　he　said。　　〃Remember　now；　it's　fifty　feet　long。　This　one　is　pink　and　white；　the　stolen　one　is　　blue　and　white。〃
　　〃I　see　the　color；〃　the　captain　growled。　〃You're　sure　it's　too　heavy？〃
　　〃No　question。〃
　　〃I've　got　a　question；〃　the　captain　said。　Somehow　he　seemed　to　be　holding　　the　toy。　Shifting　it　back　and　forth　from　hand　to　hand　in　some　irritation；　he　said　to　　Lieutenant　Hepplewhite；　〃Phone　the　Army　base。　Find　out　if　a　helicopter　could　　do　the　job。〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　〃And　get　in　touch　with　some　of　the　men　on　the　scene。　Have　them　wake　　neighbors；　find　out　if　anybody　heard　a　helicopter　around　there　tonight。〃
　　〃Definitely　too　heavy；〃　Wallah　said。　〃And　too　long　and　awkward。　They　just　　couldn't　do　it。〃
　　〃We'll　find　out；〃　the　captain　said。　〃Here；　take　this　damn　thing。〃
　　Wallah　took　back　the　toy。　〃I　thought　you'd　be　interested；〃　he　said。
　　〃It's　the　real　one　I'm　interested　in。〃
　　〃Exactly；〃　said　the　banker；　Gelding。
　　Lieutenant　Hepplewhite　was　murmuring　on　the　phone。　The　captain　said；　　〃Now；　if　they　didn't　take　it　by　helicopter；　the　question　is　how　did　they　take　it？　　What　about　these　wheels　you　took　off；　where　would　they　be　now？〃
　　〃Stored　in　our　assembly　plant　in　Brooklyn；〃　Wallah　said。
　　〃You're　sure　they're　still　there？〃
　　〃Nope。〃
　　The　captain　gave　him　the　full　voltage　of　his　one　good　eye。　〃You're　not　sure　　they're　still　there？〃
　　〃I　haven't　checked。　But　those　aren't　the　only　wheels　in　the　world；　they　could　　have　gotten　wheels　anywhere。〃
　　Lieutenant　Hepplewhite　said；　〃Excuse　me；　Mr。　Wallah。〃
　　Wallah　looked　at　him　in　amused　surprise…probably　at　being　called　mister。
　　〃The　Army　sergeant　would　like　to　talk　to　you。〃
　　〃Sure；〃　said　Wallah。　He　took　the　phone　from　Hepplewhite；　and　they　all　　watched　him　lift　it　to　his　face　and　say；　〃What's　happening；　man？〃
　　The　captain　turned　resolutely　away　from　the　conversation；　and　while　the　　lieutenant　answered　the　other　phone；　which　had　suddenly　started　to　ring；　he　said　　to　Gelding；　〃Don't　you　worry。　It　doesn't　matter　how　they　did　it；　we'll　catch　up　　with　them。　You　can't　steal　a　whole　bank　and　expect　to　get　away　with　it。〃
　　〃I　certainly　hope　not。〃
　　〃Sir？〃
　　The　captain　turned　a　mistrustful　eye　on　the　lieutenant。　〃What　now？〃
　　〃Sir；　the　bank　had　been　resting　on　a　foundation　of　concrete　blocks。　The　　officers　on　the　scene　have　found　tub　caulking　on　top　of　the　blocks。〃
　　〃Tub　caulking　on　top　of　the　blocks。〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　〃And　they　decided　to　report　that。〃
　　The　lieutenant　blinked。　He　was　still　holding　the　phone。　Next　to　him；　Gary　　Wallah　was　in　conversation　on　the　other　phone　with　the　Army　sergeant。　〃Yes；　　sir；〃　the　lieutenant　said。
　　The　captain　nodded。　He　took　a　deep　breath。　〃Tell　them　thank　you；〃　he　said　in　　a　soft　voice　and　turned　to　Albert　Docent；　the　safe…pany　man；　who　hadn't　as　　yet　contributed　anything。　〃Well；　what　good　news　do　you　have　for　me？〃　he　said。
　　〃They'll　have　a　hell　of　a　time　with　that　safe；〃　Docent　said。　Above　the　bow　tie；　　his　expression　was　clean…cut；　dutiful　and　intelligent。
　　The　captain's　left　eye　fluttered　slightly；　as　though　it　might　open。　He　nearly　　smiled。　〃Will　they？〃　he　said。
　　Gary　Wallah　said；　〃The　sergeant　wants　to　talk　to　one　of　you　people。〃　He　was　　offering　the　phone　indiscriminately　to　both　Captain　Deemer　and　Lieutenant　　Hepplewhite。
　　〃You　take　it；　Lieutenant。〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　Once　again；　they　all　watched　and　listened　as　Hepplewhite　spoke　with　the　　sergeant。　His　part　of　the　conversation　was　mostly　〃Uh　huh〃　and　〃Is　that　right？〃　　but　his　audience　kept　watching　and　listening　anyway。　Finally　he　finished　and　hung　　up　and　said；　〃It　couldn't　be　done　by　helicopter。〃
　　The　captain　said；　〃They're　sure？　Positive？〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　〃Good；〃　said　the　captain。　〃Then　they're　still　on　the　Island；　just　like　I　said。〃　He　　turned　back　to　Docent；　the　safe　man。　〃You　were　saying？〃
　　〃I　was　saying；〃　Docent　said；　〃that　they'll　find　that　safe　a　tough　nut　to　crack。　　It's　one　of　the　most　modern　safes　we　make；　with　the　latest　advances　in　heat…resistant　and　shock…resistant　metals。　These　are　advances　that　e　from　　research　connected　with　the　Vietnam　war。　It's　one　of　the　ironic　benefits　of　that　　unhappy…〃
　　〃Oh；　wow；〃　said　Gary　Wallah。
　　Docent　turned　to　him；　firm　but　fair。　〃All　I'm　saying；〃　he　said；　〃is　that　research　　has　been　stimulated　into　some…〃
　　〃Oh；　wow。　I　mean；　wow。〃
　　〃I've　heard　all　your　arguments；　and　I　can't　say　I　entirely　disagree　with…〃
　　〃Wow；　man。〃
　　〃At　this　time；〃　George　Gelding　said；　standing　at　attention　and　looking　very　　red…faced；　〃when　some　person　or　persons　unknown　have　stolen　a　branch　of　the　　Capitalists'　and　Immigrants'　Trust；　and　our　brave　boys　are　dying　on　far…flung　　battlefields　to　protect　the　rights　of　likes　of　you　who…〃
　　〃Oh；　wow。〃
　　〃Now；　there's　much　to　be　said　on　both　sides；　but　the　point
　　〃I　see　those　flaaaaag　draped　coffins；　I　hear　the　loved　ones　in　their　cottages　　and　on　the　farms　of　America…〃
　　〃Like；　really；　wow。〃
　　Captain　Deemer　glowered　at　them　all　through　the　remaining　slit　of　his　right　　eye。　A　bellowed　shut　up　might　attract　their　attention…all　three　were　talking　at　　the　same　time　now…but　did　he　want　them　to　shut　up？　If　they　stopped　arguing　　with　one　another；　they'd　just　start　talking　to　the　captain　again；　and　he　wasn't　　sure　he　wanted　that。
　　In　the　middle　of　the　melee　the　phone　rang。　Captain　Deemer　was　aware　of　　Lieutenant　Hepplewhite　answering　it；　but　that　didn't　have　much　interest　for　him；　　either。　More　tub　caulking；　he　supposed；　this　time　in　the　ears　of　his　officers。
　　But　then　Hepplewhite　shouted；　〃Somebody　saw　it！〃　and　the　argument　　stopped　as　though　somebody　had　switched　off　a　radio。　Everybody…even　the　　captain…stared　at　Hepplewhite；　sitting　there　at　the　desk　with　the　phone　in　his　　hand；　grinning　at　them　with　happy　excitement。
　　Gelding　said；　〃Well？　Well？〃
　　〃A　bartender；〃　Hepplewhite　said；　〃closing　up　for　the　night。　He　saw　it　go　by；　　about　quarter　to　two。　Said　it　was　going　like　hell。　Said　there　was　a　cab　off　a　big　　tractor…trailer　rig　pulling　it。〃
　　〃Quarter　to　two？〃　the　captain　said。　〃Why　the　hell　didn't　he　report　it　till　now？〃
　　〃Didn't　think　anything　of　it。　He　lives　in　Queens；　and　they　stopped　him　at　a　　roadblock　going　through。　That's　when　he　found　out　what　happened　and　told　　them　he'd　seen　it。〃
　　〃Where　was　this？〃
　　〃On　Union　Turnpike。　They've　got　a　roadblock　set　up　there；　and…〃
　　〃No；〃　Captain　Deemer　said。　Patiently　he　said；　〃Where　did　he　see　the　bank？〃
　　〃Oh。　Up　by　Cold　Spring。〃
　　〃Cold　Spring；　Cold　Spring。〃　The　captain　hurried　to　the　map；　looked　at　it；　　found　Cold　Spring。　〃Right　on　the　county　line；〃　he　said。　〃They're　not　trying　to　get　　off　the　Island　at　all。　Heading　the　other　way；　up　toward　Huntington。〃　He　spun　　around。　〃Get　that　out　to　all　units　right　away；　Lieutenant。　Last　seen　at　one　forty…
　　five　in　the　vicinity　of　Cold　Spring。〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃　Hepplewhite　spoke　briefly　into　the　phone；　broke　the　connection；　　dialed　the　dispatcher's　room。
　　Gelding　said；　〃You　seem　pleased；　Captain。　This　is　a　good　sign；　eh？〃
　　〃The　best　so　far。　Now　if　we　can　only　get　to　them　before　they　open　the　safe　　and　abandon　the　bank…〃
　　〃I　don't　think　you　have　to　worry　too　much　about　that；　Captain；〃　Albert　　Docent　said。　In　the　heat　of　the　argument　his　bow　tie　had　bee　twisted；　but　　now　he　was　calm　again；　and　straightening　it。
　　Captain　Deemer　looked　at　him。　〃Why　not？〃
　　〃I　was　telling　you　about　the　advances　that　have　been　made　in　safe　　construction；〃　Docent　said。　He　glanced　at　Wallah；　who　said　nothing；　and　looked　　at　the　captain　again　to　say；　〃Given　any　force　that　will　open　that　safe　without　　destroying　the　contents；　whether　nitroglycerine；　acid；　laser；　diamond…tip　drill；　any　　of　the　safe　cracker's　arsenal　of　equipment；　it　will　take　those　thieves　a　minimum　　of　twenty…four　hours　to　break　it　open。〃
　　Captain　Deemer　broke　into　a　broad　smile。
　　〃Captain；〃　said　the　lieutenant。　He　was　excited　again。
　　Captain　Deemer　turned　the　broad　smile　on　him。　〃Yes；　Hepplewhite？〃
　　〃They　found　the　seven　guards。〃
　　〃Did　they！　Where？〃
　　〃Asleep　on　Woodbury　Road。〃
　　The　captain　was　already　turning　toward　his　map；　but　he　stopped　and　frowned　　at　the　lieutenant。　〃Asleep？〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。　On　Woodbury　Road。　In　a　ditch　beside　the　road。〃
　　Captain　Deemer　looked　at　Albert　Docent。　〃We're　going　to　need　twenty…four　　hours；〃　he　said。
　　
　　
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　　〃OH；　I　can　do　it；〃　Herman　said。　〃That　isn't　the　question。〃
　　〃Tell　me　the　question；〃　Dortmunder　said；　〃because　I'm　dying　to　ask　it。〃
　　They　had　e　to　rest　now。　Murch　had　delivered　them　to　an　open　slot　in　the　　r