dwestlake.bankshot-第24部分

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　　〃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　　rear　of　the　Wanderlust　Trailer　Park；　a　kind　of　nomadic　village　far　out　on　Long　　Island。　The　owners　of　the　Wanderlust　lived　elsewhere；　in　a　proper　house；　and　so　　wouldn't　be　aware　of　the　freeloader　until　tomorrow　morning；　as　for　the　　occupants　of　the　other　mobile　homes　here；　some　of　them　might　have　been　　awakened　by　the　sound　of　the　truck　engine　going　past　their　units；　but　it　isn't　　unheard　of　for　people　to　arrive　or　leave　a　trailer　park　in　the　middle　of　the　night。
　　Murch　had　now　departed　with　the　truck　cab；　which　he　would　ditch　about　　fifteen　miles　from　here；　at　the　spot　where　they'd　already　stashed　the　Ford　station　　wagon　that　would　be　their　getaway　car。　May　and　Murch's　Mom　had　finished　　giving　the　place　a　gloss　of　hominess；　and　the　idea　now　was　that　Herman　would　　have　been　working　on　the　safe　since　they'd　left　the　football　stadium　and　would　　have　it　open　by　the　time　Murch　got　back　with　the　Ford。　Only　now　Herman　was　　saying　he　wouldn't。
　　〃The　question；〃　Herman　explained；　〃is　time。　This　is　a　newer　safe　than　I've　　seen　before。　The　metal　is　different；　the　lock　is　different；　the　door　is　different；　　everything　is　different。〃
　　〃It'll　take　longer；〃　Dortmunder　suggested。
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃We　can　wait；〃　Dortmunder　said　and　looked　at　his　watch。　〃It　isn't　even　three　　o'clock　yet。　Even　if　we're　out　of　here　by　six；　six…thirty；　we're　still　all　right。〃
　　Herman　shook　his　head。
　　Dortmunder　turned　and　looked　at　May。　They　were　still　moving　around　by　the　　light　of　flashlights；　and　it　was　hard　to　read　May's　expression；　but　it　wasn't　hard　　at　all　to　read　Dortmunder's。　〃I　been　kept　out　of　mischief；〃　Dortmunder　said。
　　〃That's　one　thing　for　sure。〃
　　〃Herman；〃　May　said；　ing　forward；　the　cigarette　bobbing　in　the　corner　of　　her　mouth；　〃Herman；　tell　us。　How　bad　is　it？〃
　　〃Lousy；〃　Herman　said。
　　〃How　lousy？〃
　　〃Terrible　lousy。　Rotten　lousy。〃
　　〃How　long　would　it　take　to　open　the　safe？〃
　　〃All　day；〃　Herman　said。
　　〃That's　wonderful；〃　said　Dortmunder。
　　Herman　looked　at　him。　〃I'm　as　happy　about　this　as　you　are。　I　take　pride　in　my　　work。〃
　　〃I'm　sure　you　do；　Herman；〃　May　said。　〃But　the　point　is；　sooner　or　later　you　　could　open　it。〃
　　〃Given　time。　The　original　idea　was　I'd　have　all　the　time　I　wanted。〃
　　Dortmunder　said；　〃We　couldn't　find　a　place　to　put　this　goddam　thing　under　　cover。　All　we　could　do　was　this…paint；　curtains　on　the　windows；　put　it　in　a　　trailer　camp。　They'll　find　the　thing　this　morning；　but　we　should　have　it　　camouflaged　enough　so　we're　clear　and　home　and　dry　before　they　do。　If　we　　leave　no　later　than　six；　six…thirty。〃
　　〃Then　we　leave　without　the　cash；〃　Herman　said。
　　May　turned　to　Dortmunder。　〃Why　do　we　have　to　leave？〃
　　〃Because　they'll　find　this　thing。〃
　　Murch's　Mom　came　forward；　carrying　the　flashlights。　〃Why　will　they？〃　she　　wanted　to　know。　〃It's　like　The　Purloined　Letter；　we've　got　a　trailer　hidden　in　a　　trailer　camp。　We've　changed　the　color；　we　put　license　plates　on；　we　put　curtains　　on　the　windows。　How　are　they　gonna　find　us？〃
　　〃Sometime　in　the　morning；〃　Dortmunder　said；　〃the　owner　or　the　manager　of　　this　place　will　e　along；　and　he'll　know　this　trailer　doesn't　belong　here。　So　　he'll　e　knock　on　the　door。　And　then　he'll　look　inside。〃　Dortmunder　waved　　an　arm　to　indicate　what　that　owner　or　manager　would　see。
　　Murch's　Mom　already　knew　what　the　interior　looked　like；　but　she　obediently　　flashed　her　light　around　anyway　and　said；　〃Mmmmm。〃　Not　very　encouraging。　　Mobile　homes　e　in　a　lot　of　different　styles；　colonial　and　French　Provincial　　and　Spanish　and　Victorian；　but　no　one　so　far　has　decided　to　live　in　a　trailer　done　　up　as　Suburban　Bank。
　　May　squinted　past　cigarette　smoke　and　said；　〃What　if　we　pay　rent　on　it？〃
　　They　all　looked　at　her。　Dortmunder　said；　〃I　missed　a　couple　words　there；　I　　think。〃
　　〃No；　listen；〃　she　said。　〃This　slot　is　empty　anyway。　You　look　out　that　door；　　you'll　see　maybe　five　other　empty　slots。　So　why　don't　we　just　stick　with　the　　trailer；　and　when　the　owner　es　around　in　the　morning　we　pay　him　his　fees？　　Pay　him　his　rent　for　a　couple　days；　a　week；　whatever　he　wants。〃
　　Herman　said；　〃That's　not　bad。〃
　　〃Sure；〃　Murch's　Mom　said。　〃Then　it　really　is　The　Purloined　Letter。　They'll　　be　looking　for　us；　and　looking　for　the　trailer；　and　we'll　be　in　the　trailer　in　a　trailer　　camp。〃
　　〃I　don't　know　about　puh…purlayed　letters；　whatever　it　is；〃　Dortmunder　said。　　〃But　I　do　know　about　robbery。　You　don't　…　when　you　knock　over　a　bank；　you　don't　live　in　it　after　you　knocked　it　over；　　you　go　away　someplace　else。　I　mean　that's　just　the　way　it's　done。〃
　　Herman　said；　〃But　wait　a　minute；　Dortmunder。　We　haven't　knocked　it　over　　yet。　That　goddam　safe　is　giving　me　trouble。　And　if　we　stay　here；　we　can　hook　　into　the　electricity　supply；　I　can　use　decent　tools；　I　can　really　do　a　job　on　that　　mother…　uh；　on　that　safe。〃
　　Dortmunder　frowned；　looking　around　the　interior　of　the　bank。　〃It　makes　me　　nervous　to　stay　here；〃　he　said。　〃That's　all　I　can　tell　you；　maybe　it　means　I'm　old…
　　fashioned；　but　it　makes　me　nervous。〃
　　May　said；　〃It　isn't　like　you　to　give　up。　It　just　isn't　your　style。〃
　　Dortmunder　scratched　his　head　and　looked　around　some　more。　〃I　know；〃　he　　said。　〃But　this　is　not　a　traditional　robbery。　You　go　in；　you　get　what　you　came　　for；　you　go　away。　You　don't　set　up　housekeeping。〃
　　〃Just　for　one　day；〃　Herman　said。　〃Just　till　I　get　into　that　safe。〃
　　Dortmunder　kept　scratching；　then　suddenly　stopped　and　said；　〃What　about　　connecting　up？　The　electricity　and　the　plumbing。　When　they　do　it；　what　if　they　　have　to　e　inside？〃
　　〃We　don't　need　the　plumbing；〃　Murch's　Mom　said。
　　〃After　a　while　we　will。〃
　　May　said；　〃They　have　to　connect　it　up；　it's　the　sanitary　laws。〃
　　〃There　you　are；〃　Dortmunder　said。
　　Herman　said；　〃We'll　do　it　ourselves。〃
　　Dortmunder　looked　at　him　with　true　annoyance。　Everytime　he'd　safely　　relegated　the　idea　to　the　Impossible　shelf；　somebody　had　to　e　along　with　　another　suggestion。　He　said；　〃What　do　you　mean；　do　it　ourselves？〃
　　〃Connect　everything　up；〃　Herman　said。　〃You　and　me　and　Murch；　we　can　do　　it　ourselves　right　now。　Then　it's　all　done；　and　when　the　manager　es　around　　in　the　morning　Mrs。　Murch　goes　out；　or　May　goes　out；　somebody；　and　we　pay　　him　off。　And　if　he　wants　to　know　how　e　everything's　already　connected　up；　　we　tell　him　we　got　in　late　at　night；　we　didn't　want　to　disturb　anybody；　so　we　did　　it　ourselves。〃
　　May　said；　〃You　know；　if　we　took　this　counter　apart；　and　put　this　piece　on　top　　of　that　piece；　and　ran　it　across　here；　then　you　could　open　this　door　and　　somebody　outside　wouldn't　see　anything　strange　at　all。　Just　like　a　corridor　in　the　　trailer。〃
　　Murch's　Mom　said；　〃Down　here；　we　could　move　this　stuff　out　of　the　way；　　and　take　that　chair　and　that　chair　and　that　table；　and　put　them　around　this　way　　like　this；　and　then　somebody　could　stand　outside　this　door；　too；　and　what　would　　it　be？〃
　　〃A　disaster；〃　Dortmunder　said。
　　〃A　breakfast　nook；〃　Murch's　Mom　said　firmly。
　　〃They　can't　search　every　trailer　on　Long　Island；〃　Herman　said。　〃They　may　　e　around　to　the　trailer　parks；　the　cops…〃
　　〃You　just　know　they　will；〃　Dortmunder　said。
　　〃But　they　won't　be　looking　for　a　green　trailer　with　Michigan　license　plates　and　　curtains　in　the　windows　and　a　couple　nice　middle…aged　ladies　that　answer　the　　door。〃
　　〃And　what　if　they　say　they　want　to　e　in？〃
　　〃Not　now；　Officer；〃　May　said；　〃my　sister's　just　e　out　of　the　shower。〃
　　〃Who　is　it；　Myrtle？〃　Murch's　Mom　called　in　a　high　falsetto。　〃Just　some　police　　officers；〃　May　called　back；　〃wanting　to　know　if　we　saw　a　bank　go　past　here　last　　night。〃
　　Dortmunder　said；　〃You　two　ladies　could　get　accessory。　You　could　wind　up　　working　in　a　state…pen　laundry。〃
　　〃Federal　pen；〃　Murch's　Mom　said。　〃Bank　robbery　is　a　Federal　rap。〃
　　〃We're　not　worried；〃　May　said。　〃We've　got　everything　figured。〃
　　〃I　can't　tell　you；〃　Dortmunder　said；　〃how　many　guys　I　met　behind　bars　that　　said　the　exact　same　thing。〃
　　Herman　said；　〃Well；　I'm　going　to　stay；　that's　all。　That　goddam　safe　is　a　　challenge　to　me。〃
　　〃We're　all　going　to　stay；〃　May　said。　She　looked　at　Dortmunder。　〃Aren't　we？〃
　　Dortmunder　sighed。
　　〃Somebody　ing；〃　Herman　said。
　　Murch's　Mom　doused　the　flashlights；　and　the　only　illumination　was　the　red　　glow　of　May's　cigarette。　They　heard　the　car　approach；　they　saw　its　headlights　　flash　by　the　windows。　The　engine　stopped；　the　door　opened　and　closed；　and　a　　few　seconds　later　the　bank　door　opened　and　Murch　stuck　his　head　in。　〃Set？〃　he　　called。
　　Dortmunder　sighed　again　as　Murch's　Mom　switched　the　flashlights　back　on。　　〃e　on　in　here；　Stan；〃　Dortmunder　said。　〃Let's　talk。〃
　　
　　
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　　VICTOR　said：
　　〃Steelyeyed　Dortmunder　surveyed　his　work。　The　wheels　were　under　the　very　　floor　of　the　bank　itself。　Hungry；　desperate　men；　their　hat　brims　pulled　low；　his　　gang　had　worked　with　him　beneath　the　shield　of　night　to　install　those　wheels；　　turning　the　innocent…appearing　bank　into　an。　。　。
　　
　　ENGINE　OF　GREED！
　　
　　〃I　myself　had　been　one　of　those　men；　as　recounted　in　the　earlier　tale；　Wheels　　of　Terror！；　in　this　same　series。　And　now；　the　final　moment　had　e；　the　　moment　that　had　filled　our　every　waking　thought　for　all　these　days　and　weeks　of　　preparation。
　　〃'This　is　the　payoff；'　Dortmunder　snarled　softly。　'Tonight　we　get　the　whole　　swag。'
　　〃'Right；　boss；'　whispered　Kelp　eagerly；　his　scarred　face　twisting　into　a　brutal　　smile。
　　〃I　repressed　a　shudder　at　that　smile。　If　my　panions　but　knew　the　truth　　about　me；　how　that　smile　would　alter　its　effect！　I　wouldn't　last　long　with　this　　crew　of　desperate　ruffians；　if　ever　they　penetrated　my　disguise。　I　was　known　to　　them　as　Lefty　the　Lip　McGonigle；　late　of　Sing　Sing；　a　tough　customer　and　no　　friend　of　the　law。　I　had　used　the　McGonigle　monicker　twice　before；　once　to　　capture　the　evil　Specter　of　the　Drive…In！　and　once　to　invade　the　criminal…
　　infested　precincts　of　the　dread　Sing　Sing　itself；　that　time　to　solve　the　slaying　of　　the　stoolie　Sad　Sam　Sassanack；　in　the　adventure　later　related　under　the　title　　Brutes　Behind　Ears！
　　〃And　now；　I　was　Lefty　the　Lip　yet　again；　in　the　course　of　my　duty