dwestlake.bankshot-第25部分

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　　〃And　now；　I　was　Lefty　the　Lip　yet　again；　in　the　course　of　my　duty　to　my　God　　and　my　Nation　as　…
　　
　　SECRET　AGENT　J…7！
　　
　　〃None　of　Dortmunder's　hoods　had　ever　seen　my　real　face。　None　knew　my　　real　name。　None　knew　the…〃
　　
　　〃Victor？〃
　　Victor　leaped；　dropping　the　microphone。　Spinning　around　in　his　chair；　he　saw　　Stan　Murch　standing　in　the　open　bookcase；　framed　by　the　night　behind　him。　　Victor　was　so　deeply　into　his　story　line　by　this　time　that　he　recoiled　when　he　　realized　he　was　looking　at　one　of　Dortmunder's　men。
　　Murch　took　a　step　forward；　his　expression　concerned。　〃Something　the　matter；　　Victor？〃
　　〃No　no；〃　Victor　said　shakily；　shaking　his　head。　〃You　just
　　…you　just　startled　me；〃　he　added　lamely。
　　〃Kelp　told　me　this　was　where　I'd　probably　find　you；〃　Murch　said。　〃That's　　why　I'm　here。〃
　　〃Yes；　of　course；〃　Victor　said　inanely。　Looking　down；　he　saw　that　the　cassette　　was　still　running　and　switched　it　off。　〃This　is　where　I　am；〃　he　said　aimlessly。
　　〃There's　been　a　problem　at　the　bank；〃　Murch　said。　〃We　all　got　to　assemble　　again。〃
　　〃Where？〃　Victor　asked　interrogatively。
　　〃At　the　bank。〃
　　〃Yes；　but　where's　the　bank？〃　Victor　pursued　puzzledly。　He　had　last　seen　the　　bank　in　the　high…school　football　field　and　didn't　know　precisely　where　it　would　　be　kept　for　the　rest　of　the　night。
　　〃You　can　follow　me　in　your　car；〃　Murch　said。　〃You　ready？〃
　　〃I　suppose　so；〃　Victor　said　uncertainly；　looking　around　the　garage。　〃But　　what's　gone　wrong？〃　he　asked　belatedly。
　　〃Herman　says　it's　a　new　kind　of　safe；　it'll　take　him　all　day　to　break　into　it。〃
　　〃All　day！〃　Victor　exploded；　aghast。　〃But　surely　the　police…　〃We're　setting　it　　up　with　a　front；〃　Murch　said。　And　then　added；　〃We're　in　kind　of　a　press　for　time；　Victor；　so　if　you　could…　〃Oh；　of　　course！〃　Victor　said　abashedly。　He　leaped　to　his　feet；　then　picked　up　the　cassette　and　microphone　and　stuffed　them　in　his　　jacket　pocket。　〃Ready；〃　he　announced　earnestly。
　　They　left；　Victor　carefully　switching　off　the　lights　and　locking　the　door　behind　　himself；　and　the　two　of　them　walked　down　the　dark　driveway　to　the　street。　　While　Murch　got　into　the　station　wagon　parked　there；　Victor　hurried　across　the　　street　to　the　garage　he　rented　from　a　neighbor；　in　which　he　kept　his　Packard。　　This　was　a　more　modern　garage　than　his　own；　with　an　electronically　operated　lift　　door　that　he　could　raise　or　lower　by　touching　a　button　on　the　dashboard　of　the　　car。　For　several　months　he'd　been　trying　to　get　up　enough　nerve　to…　ask　his　　neighbor's　permission　to　do　some　work　on　the　outside　of　the　building；　but　so　far　　hadn't　developed　sufficient　courage。　What　he　wanted　to　do　was　make　the　front　　look　like　a　seemingly　abandoned　warehouse；　without　doors；　so　that　a　section　of　　wall　would　appear　to　lift　when　the　dashboard　button　was　pushed。　There　were　　two　difficulties　with　this　conception。　First；　he　didn't　know　what　cover　story　to　　give　the　owner　for　wanting　to　make　the　change；　and；　second；　a　seemingly　　abandoned　warehouse　would　look　definitely　out　of　place　in　this　neighborhood…　particularly　in　somebody's　back　yard。　Still；　it　was　a　pleasant　idea；　and　he　might　　yet　be　able　to　work　something　out。
　　At　night；　though；　the　effect　was　almost　as　good　with　the　building　just　the　way　it　　was。　Victor　entered　through　the　side　door　of　the　garage；　switched　on　the　dim　　red　bulb　he'd　installed　in　the　overhead　light　fixture；　and　by　its　darkroom…like　　illumination　removed　the　plastic　cover　from　the　Packard；　folding　it　like　a　flag　and　　then　putting　it　away　on　its　shelf。　Next　he　got　into　the　car；　took　the　cassette　and　　microphone　from　his　pocket　and　put　them　on　the　seat　beside　him；　and　started　　the　engine。　The　Packard　motor　grumbled　quietly　but　menacingly　in　the　enclosed　　space。　Smiling　to　himself；　Victor　turned　on　the　parking　lights　only　and　pushed　the　　button　that　caused　the　door　to　slide　up。　With　a　distinct　sense　of　drama；　he　　tapped　the　accelerator　and　steered　the　Packard　out　into　the　night；　then　pushed　　the　button　again　and　watched　in　the　rear…view　mirror　as　the　door　folded　down　　once　more　behind　him；　the　red…lit　view　of　the　garage　interior　narrowing　from　the　　top　and　at　last　disappearing　pletely。　Only　then　did　he　switch　on　his　　headlights。
　　Murch　seemed　impatient。　He　was　revving　the　engine　of　the　stolen　station　　wagon；　and　the　instant　Victor　and　the　Packard　reached　the　street　he　shot　away　　from　the　curb　and　dashed　away　down　the　street。　Victor　followed　at　a　more　　stately　pace；　but　soon　had　to　pick　it　up　a　little　if　he　was　going　to　keep　Stan　in　　sight　at　all。
　　The　first　time　they　were　stopped　at　a　red　light；　Victor　ran　the　tape　back　a　bit　　in　the　cassette；　found　the　spot　where　he'd　left　off；　and　took　it　from　there；　　dictating　into　the　microphone　as　he　followed　Murch　and　his　scuttling　station　　wagon　across　Long　Island：
　　〃None　of　Dortmunder's　hoods　had　ever　seen　my　real　face。　None　knew　my　　real　name。　None　knew　the　truth　about　me；　and　it　would　be　curtains　for　me　if　　they　did！
　　〃Now；　gimlet…eyed　Dortmunder　nodded　in　satisfaction。　'Forty…eight　hours　　from　now；'　he　boasted　evilly；　'that　proud　bank　will　be　ours！　Nothing　can　stop　us　　now！'〃
　　
　　
　　25
　　
　　〃IF　YOU'LL　put　the　flashlight　on　my　work；〃　Herman　said；　〃things'll　go　a　lot　　faster。〃
　　〃Sure；〃　Kelp　said。　He　adjusted　the　beam。　〃I　was　shielding　it　with　my　body；〃　　he　said。
　　〃Well；　don't　shield　it　from　me。〃
　　〃Okay；〃　Kelp　said。
　　〃And　don't　breathe　down　the　back　of　my　neck　like　that。〃
　　〃Right；〃　Kelp　said。　He　moved　half　an　inch。
　　Suddenly　into　Herman's　head　came　the　replay　of　a　television　mercial　from　　a　few　years　back：　Sure；　you're　irritable。　Who　wouldn't　be？　But　don't　take　it　out　　on　him。　Take。　…Take　what？　What　was　the　product？　Sounds　like　it　should　have　　been　pot；　but　it　probably　wasn't。
　　The　distraction　of　that　chain　of　thought　was　a　pleasant　interlude；　three　or　four　　seconds　long；　which　calmed　him　perhaps　as　much　as　the　forgotten　product　　would　have　done。　Herman　took　a　deep；　slow　breath；　to　calm　himself　even　more；　　and　returned　his　attention　to　the　task　at　hand。
　　He　was　squatting　right　now　like　a　Masai　warrior　in　front　of　a　black　metal　box　　emerging　from　the　ground　directly　in　front　of　the　hitch　end　of　the　bank。　Power　　and　water　and　sewer　lines　terminated　in　this　box；　and　it　was　Herman's　simple　　job　at　the　moment　to　remove　the　padlock　from　the　lid　and　open　the　box。　And　it　　was　taking　too　long。
　　〃Normally；〃　Herman　said；　speaking　more　gently　than　before；　but　still　with　a　　rasp　of　irritation　he　couldn't　quite　get　rid　of；　〃I'm　very　good　at　locks。〃
　　〃Sure；〃　Kelp　said。　〃Naturally。〃
　　The　padlock　clicked　and　jittered　in　Herman's　long；　thin　fingers。　〃It's　just　that　　safe；〃　he　said。　〃It's　shaken　my　self　confidence。〃
　　〃You're　still　the　best；〃　Kelp　said。　Not　in　a　boosting　way；　but　conversationally；　　as　though　menting　on　the　weather。
　　The　padlock　skittered　away　from　Herman's　fingers　and　tick…ticked　against　the　　metal　lid。　〃I'm　also　very　good　at　self…analysis；〃　he　said。　His　voice　quivered　again　　with　barely　controlled　rage。　〃I　figure　out　just　where　I'm　at。　And…〃　his　voice　　rising；　speeding　up…〃it　doesn't　do　a　goddam　bit　of　good！〃
　　〃You'll　be　fine；〃　Kelp　said。　He　patted　Herman　on　the　shoulder。
　　Herman　flinched　away　from　the　touch　like　a　horse。　〃I　am　going　to　get　this　　thing；〃　he　said　grimly　and　sat　down　on　the　ground　in　front　of　the　box。　Legs　　folded　tailor…fashion；　he　leaned　over　the　box　till　his　nose　was　almost　touching　the　　lock。
　　〃I'm　having　a　little　trouble；〃　Kelp　said；　〃keeping　the　light　on　the　work。〃
　　〃Shut　up；〃　Herman　said。
　　Kelp　knelt　beside　him　and　beamed　the　light　principally　at　Herman's　right　eye；　　which　was　glaring　at　the　lock。
　　The　problem　was；　they　didn't　want　to　break　it。　In　the　morning；　they　would　tell　　the　trailer…court　owner　or　manager　that　they'd　found　the　thing　unlocked　and　just　　hooked　everything　up　themselves。　If　he　saw　his　padlock　in　normal　condition；　he　　probably　wouldn't　raise　a　fuss。　But　if　he　found　it　broken；　he　might　not　believe　　the　story；　and　then　he　might　make　trouble。
　　That　was　the　problem　about　why　the　padlock　had　to　be　picked　rather　than　　plucked。　The　deeper　problem；　Herman's　continuing　inability　to　pick　it；　was　very　　simply　caused　by　that　son…of…a…bitch　safe。　Half　a　dozen　small　tools　from　his　　black　bag　were　already　spread　across　the　box　lid；　and　he　was　poking　away　at　　the　padlock's　keyhole　with　yet　another　small　tool　right　now…the　other　end　of　　which　was　currently　endangering　his　eye…and　he　just　couldn't　keep　his　mind　on　　what　he　was　doing。　He'd　slip　the　tool　into　the　padlock　and　his　eyes　would　glaze　　as　his　mind　drifted　back　to　consider　once　again　the　safe　inside　the　bank。　He　had　　no　saw　or　drill…　including　the　diamond　tip…that　would　get　through　that　metal。　　He　had　stripped　away　the　bination　plate　and　mechanism；　but　it　had　led　　nowhere。　He　had　tried　peeling　the　door　and　had　bent　his　favorite　medium…length　　bar。　An　explosion　strong　enough　to　rip　open　the　safe　would　also　destroy　　everything　inside　it　and　would　probably　open　the　trailer　up　like　an　avocado　at　　the　same　time。
　　What　it　came　down　to　was　the　circular　hole。　For　the　circular　hole；　you　　attached　a　suction　clamp　to　the　side　of　the　safe；　with　a　central　rod　extending　　straight　out。　An　L…shaped　arm　swung　from　the　rod；　with　a　handle　at　the　elbow　　and　a　clamp　at　the　wrist　for　drill　bits。　A　bit　was　put　in　place；　so　that　it　scraped　　against　the　side　of　the　safe；　and　then　the　handle　was　turned　in　a　large　circle；　over　　and　over　and　over　again。　As　each　bit　was　worn　away；　a　new　one　was　added。　It　　was　the　slowest　and　most　primitive　kind　of　safe…cracking；　but　it　was　the　only　　thing　that　could　possibly　work　against　that　goddam　bastard　son　of　a　bitch…　The　　padlock。　His　mind　had　drifted　again；　and　he'd　just
　　been　sitting　there　on　the　ground；　poking　aimlessly　into　the　keyhole　with　the　　small　tool。　〃God　damn　it；〃　he　muttered；　and　clenched　his　teeth；　and　gripped　the　　padlock　so　hard　his　fingers　ached。
　　The　thing　was；　sometimes　you　had　to　go　back　to　basics。　Herman　knew　the　　most　sophisticated　ways　to　get　into　safes　and　vaults　and　had　used　them　all　at　one　　time　or　another。　The　ELD；　for　instance；　Electronic　Listening　Device；　attach　it　to　　the　front　of　the　safe；　put　the　earphones　on　and　listen　to　the　tumblers　while　you