dwestlake.bankshot-第28部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　Kelp　gave　him　an　aggrieved　look　and　faced　front　again。　〃That　isn't　fair；〃　he　　said。
　　〃Nevertheless。〃
　　They　had　until　nine…thirty　to　get　back　to　the　bank；　and　it　was　now　about　nine…　fifteen。　Kelp　and　Dortmunder　and　Murch　had　started　out　in　this　station　wagon　　together；　until　Kelp　had　found　a　truck　big　enough　to　do　the　job。　It　said　　HORSES　on　the　sides；　and　the　interior　had　a　slight　smell　of　stable　to　it；　but　it　　was　empty。　Kelp　had　started　it　up　and　turned　it　over　to　Murch；　who　had　taken　it　　away　to　the　trailer　court。　Now；　Kelp　and　Dortmunder　were　roaming　the　earth　　looking　for　somewhere　to　move　the　bank。　Victor　and　Murch's　Mom　were　doing　　the　same　thing　in　Victor's　Packard。
　　〃We'd　better　get　back；〃　Dortmunder　said。　〃We　aren't　going　to　find　anything。〃
　　〃We　might；〃　Kelp　said。　〃Why　be　so　pessimistic？〃
　　〃Because　we　covered　all　this　ground　last　week；〃　Dortmunder　said；　〃and　there　　wasn't　any　place　to　hide　the　bank　then。　So　why　would　there　be　someplace　　now？〃
　　〃Just　five　minutes　more；〃　Kelp　said。　〃Then　we'll　head　back。〃
　　〃You　can't　see　anything　in　this　rain　anyway；〃　Dortmunder　said。
　　〃You　never　know；〃　Kelp　said。　〃We　might　get　lucky。〃
　　Dortmunder　looked　at　him；　but　Kelp　was　concentrating　…on　his　driving。　Dortmunder　considered　several　things　he　might　say；　but　　none　of　them　seemed　adequate；　so　after　a　while　he　turned　his　head　and　looked　　out　the　windshield　at　all　the　rain　and　listened　to　the　wipers　clicking　back　and　　forth。
　　〃It's　really　ing　down；〃　Kelp　said。　〃I　see　it。〃
　　〃You　don't　usually　get　a　rain　like　this　on　a　Friday；〃
　　Kelp　said。
　　Dortmunder　looked　at　him　again。
　　〃No；　I　mean　it；〃　Kelp　said。　〃Usually　you　get　this　kind　of　a　rain　on　a　Sunday。〃
　　Dortmunder　said；　〃Are　the　five　minutes　up？〃
　　〃One　minute　to　go。　Keep　looking　for　a　place。〃
　　〃Sure；〃　Dortmunder　said　and　looked　out　the　windshield　again。
　　The　only　good　thing　was　the　absence　of　cops。　They'd　seen　a　couple　of　patrol　　cars；　but　no　more　than　normal；　the　search　was　obviously　being　hampered　by　the　　rain。
　　It　seemed　to　Dortmunder；　sitting　there　in　the　stolen　station　wagon　while　Kelp　　optimistically　dragged　him　around　through　all　this　rain　on　a　wild　goose　chase；　　that　this　was　the　story　of　his　life。　His　luck　was　never　all　good；　but　it　was　never　all　　bad　either。　It　was　a　nice　bination　of　the　two；　balanced　so　exactly　that　they　　canceled　each　other　out。　The　same　rain　that　washed　away　the　green　paint　also　　loused　up　the　police　search。　They　stole　the　bank；　but　they　couldn't　get　into　the　　safe。　On　and　on。
　　Dortmunder　sighed　and　looked　at　his　watch。　〃Your　minute　is　up；〃　he　said。
　　Reluctantly；　Kelp　said；　〃Okay；　I　guess　so。〃　Then　he　said；　〃I'll　take　a　swing　　around　and　head　back　that　way。〃
　　〃Go　straight　back；〃　Dortmunder　said。
　　〃I　don't　want　to　go　back　the　same　roads。　What's　the　point　of　that？〃
　　〃What's　the　point　of　the　whole　thing？〃
　　〃You're　just　depressed；〃　Kelp　said。　〃I'll　turn　right　at　that　light　up　there　and　　swing　back　that　way。〃
　　Dortmunder　was　about　to　tell　him　to　make　a　U…turn；　but　memories　arose　and　　he　changed　his　mind。　〃Just　so　we're　back　by　nine…thirty；〃　he　said；　though　he　　knew　they　wouldn't　be。
　　〃Oh；　sure；〃　Kelp　said。　〃Definitely。〃
　　Dortmunder　slumped　in　the　corner　and　fantasized　a　return　to　the　trailer　in　　which　May　would　meet　him　at　the　door　by　saying；　〃Herman　opened　it！〃　Then　　Herman　would　appear；　smiling；　holding　handfuls　of　money。　〃Well；　I　got　it；〃　he'd　　say。　Murch's　Mom　would　be　seen　kicking　her　neck　brace　into　the　rain；　shouting；　　〃We　don't　need　that　lawsuit　money　any　more！〃　Victor　would　stand　in　the　　background；　smiling；　as　though　waiting　his　turn　to　e　forward　and　recite　〃The　　Boy　Stood　on　the　Burning　Deck。〃
　　Kelp　slammed　on　the　brakes；　and　the　station　wagon　skidded　dangerously　to　　the　right。　Dortmunder；　jolted　out　of　his　daydream　and　practically　into　the　glove　　partment；　shouted；　〃Hey！　Hey；　watch　it！〃　He　stared　out　front；　and　there　was　　nothing　in　front　of　them；　just　the　top　of　a　hill　they'd　been　driving　up；　a　long　　gradual　slope　with　nothing　at　the　top；　no　reason　at　all　for　Kelp　to　slam　his　brakes　　on　that　way。
　　〃Look　at　that！〃　Kelp　shouted　and　pointed　at　nothing。
　　But　Dortmunder　looked　instead　out　the　rear　window；　saying；　〃You　want　　another　rear…end　collision？　That's　your　trademark？　What　the　hell　are　you　　doing？〃
　　〃All　right；　I'll　drive　off　the　road。　But　will　you　take　a　look　at　that？〃
　　Kelp　drove　the　station　wagon　onto　a　gravel　parking　lot；　and　Dortmunder　at　　last　looked　at　what　he　was　so　excited　about。　〃I　see　it；〃　he　said。　〃So　what？〃
　　〃Don't　you　get　it？〃
　　〃No。〃
　　Kelp　pointed　again。　〃We　put　the　trailer　right　there；〃　he　said。　〃See　what　I　　mean？〃
　　Dortmunder　stared。　〃Well；　God　damn　it；〃　he　said。
　　〃It'll　work；〃　Kelp　said。
　　Dortmunder　couldn't　help　it；　against　his　better　judgment；　he　was　smiling。　〃Son　　of　a　bitch；〃　he　said。
　　〃That's　right；〃　said　Kelp。　〃That's　absolutely　right。〃
　　
　　
　　28
　　
　　〃I　HATE　RAIN；〃　Captain　Deemer　said。
　　〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　Lieutenant　Hepplewhite。
　　〃I　always　have　hated　rain；〃　Captain　Deemer　said。　〃But　never　as　much　as　　today。〃
　　The　two　officers　were　in　the　back　seat　of　the　patrol　car　the　captain　was　using　　as　his　mobile　headquarters　during　the　search　for　the　elusive　bank。　In　the　front　　were　two　uniformed　patrolmen；　the　driver　on　the　left　and　a　man　to　operate　the　　radio　on　the　right。　The　radio　was　the　contact　not　only　with　the　precinct　but　also　　with　other　cars　and　with　other　organizations　engaged　in　the　bank　hunt。　Unfortu…
　　nately；　what　the　radio　was　mostly　contacting　was　static；　a　fuzzing　and　bussing　　and　crackling　that　filled　the　car　like　the　aural　expression　of　the　captain's　nervous　　system。
　　The　captain　leaned　forward；　resting　one　heavy　hand　on　the　seat…back　near　the　　driver's　head。　〃Can't　you　do　any。　thing　with　that　goddam　radio？〃
　　〃It's　the　rain；　sir；〃　the　radio　man　said。　〃The　weather　is　doing　this。〃
　　〃I　know　goddam　well　the　goddam　weather　is　doing　it；〃　the　captain　said。　〃I　　asked　you　can't　you　do　anything　about　it。〃
　　〃Well；　we　get　pretty　good　reception　when　we're　on　a　hill；〃　the　radio　man　said。　　〃Driving　along　the　flat；　though；　all　I　get　is　this　static。〃
　　〃I　hear　it；〃　the　captain　said。　He　poked　the　driver　on　the　shoulder　and　said；　　〃Find　me　a　hill。〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　The　captain　leaned　back　and　brooded　at　Lieutenant　Hepplewhite。　〃A　hill；〃　he　　said；　as　though　hills　were　in　themselves　an　insult。
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　〃A　mobile　headquarters；　and　I　can't　contact　anybody　unless　I　stand　still　on　a　　hilltop。　You　call　that　mobile？〃
　　Lieutenant　Hepplewhite　looked　tortured　as　he　tried　to　figure　out　whether　the　　proper　response　was　yes；　sir　or　no；　sir。
　　Neither　was　needed。　Captain　Deemer　faced　front　again　and　said；　〃You　found　　a　hill　yet？〃
　　〃I　believe　there's　one　up　ahead；　sir；〃　said　the　driver。　〃Hard　to　tell　in　this　rain。〃
　　〃I　hate　rain；〃　said　the　captain。　He　glowered　out　at　it；　and　no　one　spoke　as　the　　mobile　headquarters　started　up　the　long　gradient　of　the　hill。　The　radio　spackled　　and　fizzed；　the　windshield　wipers　swish…clicked；　the　rain　drummed　on　the　car　　top；　and　the　captain's　right　eyelid　fluttered　soundlessly。
　　〃Shall　I　pull　in　by　the　diner；　sir？〃
　　The　captain　stared　at　the　back　of　the　driver's　head　and　considered　leaning　　forward　and　biting　him　through　the　neck。　〃Yes；〃　he　said。
　　〃I　guess　the　insurance　pany　paid　off；〃　the　radio　man　said。
　　The　captain　frowned。　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃
　　〃The　diner；　sir；〃　the　radio　man　said。　〃They　had　a　bad　fire　last　year；　burned　to　　the　ground。〃
　　〃Well；　it's　back　now；〃　Lieutenant　Hepplewhite　said。
　　〃Doesn't　look　open；〃　the　radio　man　said。
　　The　captain　wasn't　feeling　kindly　toward　irrelevancies。　〃We're　not　here　to　talk　　about　the　diner；〃　he　said。　〃We're　here　to　contact　headquarters。〃
　　〃Yes；　sir；〃　everybody　said。
　　The　diner　was　set　back　from　the　road；　fronted　by　a　gravel　parking　lot；　with　a　　large　sign　out　by　the　road；　reading；　MCKAY'S　DINER。　The　driver　parked　　near　this　sign；　and　the　radio　man　went　to　work　on　contacting　headquarters。　After　　a　minute；　the　static　receded　and　a　tinny　voice　was　heard；　as　though　they'd　　reached　somebody　who　lived　in　an　empty　dog…food　can。　〃I've　got　　headquarters；〃　the　radio　man　said。
　　〃Good；〃　said　the　captain。　〃Tell　them　where　we　are。　Where　the　hell　are　we？〃
　　〃McKay's　Diner；　sir。〃
　　The　captain　lowered　his　head；　as　though　he　might　charge。　〃When　I　say　where　　are　we；〃　he　said；　〃I　do　not　want　an　answer　I　can　read　off　a　sign　right　outside　the　　goddam　window。　When　I　say　where　are　we；　I　want　to　know…〃
　　〃Near　Sagaponack；　sir；〃　the　radio　man　said。
　　〃Near　Sagaponack。〃　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　〃Tell　headquarters　that。〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　〃Find　out　what's　going　on；　if　anything。〃　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　〃Tell　them　we'll　be　here　until　further　notice。〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　〃Until　the　bank　is　found；　or　the　rain　stops；　or　I　go　berserk。〃
　　The　radio　man　blinked。　〃Yes；　sir；〃　he　said。
　　〃Whichever　es　first。〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　The　captain　turned　to　Lieutenant　Hepplewhite；　who　was　looking　very　pale。　　〃Even　as　a　child　I　hated　rain；〃　the　captain　said。　〃I　used　to　have　a　Popeye　doll　　that　you　could　punch　and　it　would　fall　over　and　e　back　up　again。　It　was　as　　tall　as　I　was；　with　a　weighted　bottom。　Rainy　days；　I　used　to　take　that　Popeye　　doll　down　in　the　basement　and　kick　the　shit　out　of　it。〃
　　〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　the　lieutenant。
　　The　captain's　eyelid　drooped。　〃I'm　getting　tired　of　hearing　'Yes；　sir'　all　the　　time；〃　he　said。
　　〃Yessss；〃　said　the　lieutenant。
　　The　radio　man　said；　〃Sir？〃
　　The　captain　turned　his　heavy　head。
　　〃Sir；〃　the　radio　man　said；　〃I　told　headquarters　our　position；　and　they　said　　there's　nothing　to　report。〃
　　〃Of　course；〃　said　the　captain。
　　〃They　say　the　search　is　being　hampered　by　the　rain。〃
　　The　captain　squinted。　〃They　took　the　trouble　to　point　that　out；　did　they？〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　〃Uh；〃　said　Lieutenant　Hepplewhite　warningly。　The　captain　looked　at　him。　　〃Lieutenant？〃
　　〃Nothing；　sir。〃
　　〃What　time　is　it；　Lieutenant？〃
　　〃Ten…fifteen；　sir。〃
　　〃I'm　hungry。〃　The　captain　looked　past　the　lieutenant　at　the　diner。　〃Why　don't　　you　go　get　us　coffee　and　Danish；　Lieutenant？　My　treat。〃
　　〃There's　a　sign　in　the　window　says　they're　closed；　sir。〃
　　The　radio　man　said；　〃Probably　not　r