dwestlake.bankshot-第29部分

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　　〃There's　a　sign　in　the　window　says　they're　closed；　sir。〃
　　The　radio　man　said；　〃Probably　not　ready　to　open　yet　after　the　fire。　Their　other　　place　got　burned　right　to　the　ground。〃
　　〃Lieutenant；〃　said　the　captain；　〃go　over　there　and　knock　on　the　door　and　see　　if　there's　anybody　in　there。　If　there　is；　ask　them　if　they　can　open　up　just　enough　　to　give　us　coffee　and　Danish。〃
　　〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　the　lieutenant。　Then；　hurriedly：　〃I　mean；　uh…〃
　　〃And　if　not　coffee　and　Danish；〃　said　the　captain；　〃then　whatever　they　can　do　　for　us　we'll　appreciate。　Will　you　tell　them　that；　Lieutenant？〃
　　〃Uh　。　。　。　I　will；　sir。〃
　　〃Thank　you；〃　said　the　captain　and　leaned　back　in　the　corner　to　brood　out　the　　window　at　the　rain。
　　The　lieutenant　got　out　of　the　car　and　was　immediately　drenched　right　through　　his　uniform　raincoat。　It　was　really　pouring；　really　and　truly　ing　down　like　　nobody's　business。　Lieutenant　Hepplewhite　slogged　through　puddles　toward　the　　diner；　noting　just　how　closed　it　looked。　Besides　the　hand…lettered　CLOSED　　sign　in　one　window；　there　was　the　absence　of　any　lights　in　there。
　　The　whole　structure　had　an　aura　about　it　of　being　not　yet　ready　to　do　　business。　Charred　and　blackened　remnants　of　the　previous　diner　were　all　around　　the　new　one；　not　yet　cleared　away。　The　new　one　was　still　on　its　wheels；　with　no　　skirting　of　any　kind；　looking　through　the　underneath　space；　Lieutenant　　Hepplewhite　could　see　the　wheels　of　a　car　and　a　truck　parked　behind　the　diner；　　the　only　indication　that　there　might　be　somebody　around　here　after　all。
　　What　struck　the　lieutenant　most　about　this　diner　was　an　atmosphere　of　failure　　all　around　it。　It　was　the　kind　of　small　business　you　looked　at；　and　you　knew　at　　once　they'd　go　bankrupt　within　six　months。　Partly；　of　course；　it　was　the　ram　and　　the　general　gloom　of　the　day　that　did　that；　and　partly　it　was　the　new　diner　sitting　　on　the　ashes　of　the　old；　but　it　was　also　the　windows。　They　were　too　small。　　People　like　a　diner　with　big　windows；　the　lieutenant　thought；　so　they　can　look　　out　and　watch　the　traffic。
　　There　were　two　doors　in　the　front　of　the　diner；　but　no　steps　up　to　either　one。　　The　lieutenant　splashed　along　to　the　nearest　and　knocked　on　it　and　anticipated　　no　answer　at　all。　In　fact；　he　was　just　about　to　turn　away　when　the　door　did　open　　slightly　and　a　thin　middle…aged　woman　stood　looking　out　and　down　at　him。　She　　had　a　cigarette　in　the　corner　of　her　mouth；　which　waggled　as　she　said；　〃What　do　　you　want？〃
　　〃We　were　wondering；〃　the　lieutenant　said；　〃if　we　could　get　some　coffee　and　　Danish。〃　He　had　to　put　his　head　back　and　look　up　when　talking　to　her；　which　　was　unfortable　under　the　circumstances。　The　bill　of　his　cap　had　protected　　his　face　from　the　rain；　but　now　he　was　practically　drowning　in　it。
　　〃We're　closed；〃　the　woman　said。
　　Another　woman　appeared；　saying；　〃What　is　it；　Gertrude？〃　This　one　was　　shorter　and　wore　a　neck　brace　and　looked　irritable。
　　〃He　wanted　coffee　and　Danish；〃　Gertrude　said。　〃I　told　him　we　were　closed。〃
　　〃We　are　closed；〃　the　other　woman　said。
　　〃Well；　we're　police　officers；〃　the　lieutenant　started。
　　〃I　know；〃　said　Gertrude。　〃I　could　tell　by　your　hat。〃
　　〃And　your　car；〃　said　the　other　woman。　〃It　says　'Police'　on　the　side。〃
　　The　lieutenant　turned　his　head　and　looked　at　the　patrol　car；　even　though　he　　already　knew　what　it　said　on　its　side。　He　quickly　looked　back　and　said；　〃Well；　　we're　on　duty　here；　and　we　were　wondering　if　you　could　maybe　sell　us　some　　coffee　and　Danish　even　if　you　aren't　one　hundred　percent　open。〃　He　tried　a　　winning　smile；　but　all　he　got　for　it　was　a　mouthful　of　rain。
　　〃We　don't　have　any　Danish；〃　the　irritable　woman　in　the　neck　brace　said。
　　Gertrude；　being　more　kindly；　said；　〃I'd　like　to　help　you　out；　but　the　fact　is；　we　　don't　have　any　electricity　yet。　Nothing's　hooked　up　at　all。　We　just　got　here。　I'd　　like　a　cup　of　coffee　myself。〃
　　〃It's　getting　damn　cold　in　here；〃　said　the　irritable　woman；　〃with　that　door　　open。〃
　　〃Well；　thanks　anyway；〃　said　the　lieutenant。　Gertrude　said；　〃e　around　　when　we're　open。　We'll　give　you　coffee　and　Danish　on　the　house。〃
　　〃I'll　do　that；〃　said　the　lieutenant　and　slogged　back　through　the　puddles　to　　report；　saying；　〃They　don't　have　any　electricity；　Captain。　They're　not　set　up　for　　anything　yet。〃
　　〃We　can't　even　pick　a　hilltop　right；〃　the　captain　said。　To　the　radio　man　he　　said；　〃You！〃
　　〃Sir？〃
　　〃Find　out　if　there's　any　patrol　cars　around　here。〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　〃We　want　coffees　and　Danish。〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。　How　do　you　like　your　coffee？〃
　　〃Light；　three　sugars。〃
　　The　radio　man　looked　ill。　〃Yes；　sir。　Lieutenant？〃
　　〃Black；　one　Sweet　'n　Low。〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　While　the　radio　man　took　the　driver's　order；　the　captain　turned　to　the　　lieutenant　and　said；　〃One　sweet　and　what？〃
　　〃It's　a　sugar　substitute；　sir。　For　people　on　diets。〃
　　〃You're　on　a　diet。〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　〃I　weigh　about　twice　as　much　as　you；　Lieutenant；　but　I'm　not　on　a　diet。〃
　　The　lieutenant　opened　his　mouth；　but　once　again　no　response　seemed　exactly　　right；　and　he　didn't　say　anything。
　　But　silence；　this　time；　was　also　a　mistake。　The　captain's　brows　beetled；　and　　he　said；　〃Just　what　do　you　mean　by　that；　Lieutenant？〃
　　The　radio　man　said；　〃I　put　in　the　order；　sir。〃
　　It　was　a　timely　distraction。　The　captain　thanked　him　and　subsided　again　and　　brooded　out　the　window　for　the　next　ten　minutes；　until　another　patrol　car　　arrived；　delivering　the　coffee　and　Danish。　The　captain　cheered　up　at　that；　until　　the　second　patrol　car　arrived　two　minutes　after　the　first；　bringing　more　coffee　　and　Danish。　〃I　should　have　guessed；〃　the　captain　said。
　　When　the　third　and　fourth　patrol　cars　with　shipments　of　coffee　and　Danish　　arrived　simultaneously；　the　captain　roared　at　the　radio　man；　〃Tell　them　enough！　　Tell　them　to　stop；　tell　them　it's　enough；　tell　them　I'm　near　the　breaking　point！〃
　　〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　the　radio　man　and　got　to　work　on　the　phone。
　　Nevertheless；　two　more　patrol　cars　arrived　with　coffee　and　Danish　in　the　next　　five　minutes。　It　was　the　captain's　belief　that　discipline　was　best　maintained　by　　never　letting　the　ranks　know　when　things　louse　up；　so　they　had　to　accept　and　　pay　for　and　say　thank　you　for　each　and　every　shipment；　and　gradually　the　mobile　　headquarters　was　filling　up　with　plastic　cups　of　coffee　and　brown　paper　bags　full　　of　Danish。　The　smell　of　the　lieutenant's　wet　uniform　bined　with　the　steam　of　　diner　coffee　was　being　very　strong　and　fogging　up　the　windows。
　　The　lieutenant　pushed　several　wooden　stirrers　off　his　lap　and　said；　〃Captain；　I　　have　an　idea。〃
　　〃God　protect　me；〃　said　the　captain。
　　〃The　people　working　in　that　diner　don't　have　any　electricity　or　heat；　sir。　　Frankly；　they　strike　me　as　born　losers。　Why　don't　we　give　them　some　of　our　　extra　coffee　and　Danish？〃
　　The　Captain　considered。　〃I　suppose；〃　he　said　judiciously；　〃it's　better　than　me　　getting　out　of　the　car　and　stamping　all　this　stuff　into　the　gravel。　Go　ahead；　　Lieutenant。〃
　　〃Thank　you；　sir。〃
　　The　lieutenant　gathered　up　one　carton…four　coffees；　four　Danish…and　　carried　them　from　the　car　over　to　the　diner。　He　knocked　on　the　door；　and　it　was　　opened　immediately　by　Gertrude；　who　still　had　a　cigarette　stuck　in　the　corner　of　　her　mouth。　The　lieutenant　said；　〃We　got　more　food　delivered　than　we　wanted。　I　　thought　maybe　you　could　use　some　of…〃
　　〃We　sure　could；〃　Gertrude　said。　〃That's　really　sweet　of　you。〃
　　The　lieutenant　handed　up　the　carton。　〃If　you　need　any　more；〃　he　said；　〃we've　　got　plenty。〃
　　Gertrude　looked　hesitant。　〃Well；　uh　。　。　。〃
　　〃Are　there　more　than　four　of　you？　I　mean　it；　we're　loaded　down　with　the　　stuff。〃
　　Gertrude　seemed　reluctant　to　say　how　many　of　them　were　in　the　diner…　probably　because　she　didn't　want　to　strain　the　lieutenant's　generosity。　But　finally　　she　said；　〃There's；　uh；　there's　seven　of　us。〃
　　〃Seven！　Wow；　you　must　really　be　working　in　there。〃
　　〃Oh；　yes；〃　she　said。　〃We　really　are。〃
　　〃You　must　be　in　a　hurry　to　open　up。〃
　　〃We　really　want　to　open　it　up；〃　Gertrude　said；　nodding；　the　cigarette　waggling　　in　the　corner　of　her　mouth。　〃You　couldn't　be　more　right　about　that。〃
　　〃I'll　get　you　some　more；〃　the　lieutenant　said。　〃Be　right　back。〃
　　〃You're　really　very　kind；〃　she　said。
　　The　lieutenant　went　back　to　the　patrol　car　and　opened　the　rear　door。　〃They　　can　use　some　more；〃　he　said　and　assembled　two　more　cartons。
　　The　captain　gave　him　a　cynical　look。　He　said；　〃You're　delivering　coffee　and　　Danish　to　a　diner；　Lieutenant。〃
　　〃Yes；　sir；　I　know。〃
　　〃It　doesn't　strike　you　as　strange？〃
　　The　lieutenant　paused　in　his　shuffling　of　coffee　containers。
　　〃Sir；〃　he　said；　〃my　basic　feeling　about　this　whole　business　is　that　I'm　actually　　in　a　hospital　somewhere；　undergoing　major　surgery；　and　this　day　is　a　dream　I'm　　having　while　under　the　anesthetic。〃
　　The　captain　looked　interested。　〃I　imagine　that's　a　very　forting　thought；〃　he　　said。
　　〃It　is；　sir。〃
　　〃Hmmmmm；〃　said　the　captain。
　　The　lieutenant　carried　more　coffee　and　Danish　to　the　diner；　and　Gertrude　met　　him　at　the　door。　〃How　much　do　we　owe　you？〃
　　〃Oh；　forget　it；〃　the　lieutenant　said。　〃I'll　take　a　free　cheeseburger　some　time　　when　you're　doing　business。〃
　　〃If　only　all　police　officers　were　like　you；〃　Gertrude　said；　〃the　world　would　be　　a　far　better　place。〃
　　The　lieutenant　had　often　thought　the　same　thing　himself。　He　gave　a　modest　　smile　and　scuffed　his　foot　in　a　puddle　and　said；　〃Oh；　well；　I　just　try　to　do　my　　best。〃
　　〃I'm　sure　you　do。　Bless　you。〃
　　The　lieutenant　carried　his　happy　smile　back　to　the　patrol　car；　where　he　found　　the　captain　in　a　sour　mood　again；　beetle…browed　and　grumpy。　〃Something　go　　wrong；　sir？〃
　　〃I　tried　that　anesthetic　thing　of　yours。〃
　　〃You　did；　sir？〃
　　〃I　keep　worrying　how　the　operation's　going　to　e　out。〃
　　〃I　make　it　appendicitis；　sir。　There's　really　no　danger　in　that。〃
　　The　captain　shook　his　head。　〃It's　just　not　my　style；　Lieutenant；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　　a　man　who　faces　reality。〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　〃And　I　tell　you　this；　Lieutenant。　This　day　will　end。　It　can't　go　on　forever。　This　　day　will　e　to　an　end。　Some　day　it　will。〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　Conversation　lagged　for　a　while　after　that。　Even　with　the　twelve　coffees　and　　Danish　the　Lieutenant　had　given　away；　there　had　still　been