dwestlake.bankshot-第31部分

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　　〃If　only　we　had　water；〃　Victor　said。
　　Murch's　Mom　said；　〃The　toilet　tank！　We　haven't　flushed　since　we　left　the　　trailer　park；　the　tank　should　still　be　full　！〃
　　That　had　been　another　problem；　four　hours　stuck　in　here　without　toilet　　facilities；　but　now　this　one　too　turned　out　to　be　a　blessing　in　disguise。　A　coffee…container　brigade　was　set　up；　and　pretty　soon　Dortmunder　could　put　his　shoe　　back　on　and　pour　water　on　the　smoldering　bills　instead。　It　took　only　four　　containers；　and　the　last　ember　was　out。
　　〃Wet　money；〃　Dortmunder　grumbled　and　shook　his　head。　〃All　right；　where's　　the　plastic　bags？〃
　　They'd　brought　along　a　box　of　plastic　garbage…can　liner　bags　to　carry　the　　money　in。　May　got　them　now；　pulled　one　out　of　the　box；　and　Dortmunder　and　　Kelp　started　filling　it　with　charred　bills；　wet　bills　and　good　bills　while　May　and　　Victor　held　the　bag　open。
　　And　then　Murch's　Mom　shouted；　〃We're　moving！〃
　　Dortmunder　straightened；　his　hands　full　of　money。　〃What？〃
　　Murch　came　running　around　the　partition；　looking　much　more　agitated　than　　Dortmunder　had　ever　seen　him。　〃We're　rolling；〃　he　said。　〃We're　rolling　down　　the　goddam　hill；　and　we're　out　of　control！〃
　　
　　
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　　KELP　pushed　the　door　open　and　watched　countryside　going　by。　〃We're　　going　out　on　the　road！〃
　　Behind　him；　Herman　shouted；　〃Jump！　Jump！〃
　　How　fast　were　they　going？　Probably　no　more　than　five　or　ten　miles　an　hour；　　but　to　Kelp's　eyes　the　pavement　going　by　beneath　his　feet　was　just　a　blur。
　　But　they　had　to　jump。　There　were　no　windows　in　the　front　of　the　bank；　so　　they　couldn't　see　where　they　were　headed；　whether　they　were　going　to　crash　　into　something　or　not。　They　weren't　going　very　fast　yet　because　the　slope　wasn't　　at　all　steep　here；　but　the　bank　was　angling　toward　the　road；　and　down　a　ways　　farther　the　hill　did　get　a　lot　steeper；　and　then　they'd　go　too　fast　to　jump。　So　it　　had　to　be　now；　and　at　this　door　Kelp　was　first。
　　He　jumped。　Off　to　his　right；　uphill；　he　was　aware　of　Victor　jumping　from　the　　other　door。　Then　Kelp　hit　the　pavement；　lost　his　footing；　sprawled　and　rolled　　over　twice。　When　he　sat　up；　he　had　a　new　big　tear　in　his　right　trouser　knee；　and　　the　rest　of　the　gang　was　spread　out　downhill；　all　sitting　and　lying　on　the　pavement　　in　the　rain；　with　the　bank　rolling　on　away　from　them；　on　the　road　now　and　　picking　up　speed。
　　Kelp　looked　the　other　way；　to　see　how　Victor　was　doing；　and　Victor　was　on　　his　feet　already　and　hobbling　back　toward　the　diner　site。　Kelp　couldn't　figure　　that　out　for　a　second；　and　then　he　realized　Victor　was　going　after　the　Packard。　　To　give　chase；　to　get　the　bank　back！
　　Kelp　got　to　his　feet　and　limped　off　in　Victor's　wake；　but　hadn't　even　reached　　the　gravel　driveway　yet　when　the　Packard　came　tearing　up　and　squealed　to　a　　stop　beside　him。　He　climbed　in；　and　Victor　gunned　the　motor　again。　He　was　　going　to　stop　for　Dortmunder；　who　was　next；　standing　there　with　the　plastic　bag　　full　of　money　in　his　hand；　but　Dortmunder　urgently　waved　them　on；　and　Kelp　　said；　〃Don't　stop；　Victor；　they'll　e　along　in　the　van。〃
　　〃Okay；〃　Victor　said　and　tromped　on　the　accelerator。
　　The　bank　was　far　away　down　the　long　slope。　It　was　rainy；　it　was　mid…
　　afternoon；　and　they　were　far　out　on　Long　Island；　three　things　that　helped　to　give　　them　an　empty　road　when　they　needed　it。　The　bank；　whizzing　down　the　exact　　middle　of　the　two…lane　road；　straddling　the　white　line；　happily　met　no　traffic　　ing　the　other　way。
　　〃It's　gonna　go　over　at　that　curve；〃　Kelp　said。　〃It'll　crash　down　there；　but　we　　should　have　time　to　get　the　rest　of　the　money　out。〃
　　But　it　didn't　go　over。　The　curve　was　banked；　angled　properly；　and　the　bank　　rolled　around　it　with　no　trouble　at　all…　around　and　out　of　sight。
　　〃God　damn　it！〃　yelled　Kelp。　〃Catch　up　with　it；　Victor。〃
　　〃I　will；〃　Victor　said。　Hunched　over　the　wheel；　his　attention　fixed　on　the　road　　ahead；　he　said；　〃You　know　what　I　think　happened？〃
　　〃The　bank　started　to　roll；〃　Kelp　said。
　　〃Because　of　the　explosion；〃　Victor　said。　〃That's　what　I　think　did　it。　You　felt　　the　way　that　made　it　rock。　It　must　have　started　it；　and　we　were　on　top　of　a　hill；　　and　once　it　was　moving　it　just　kept　going。〃
　　〃It　sure　did。〃　Kelp　said。　He　shook　his　head。　〃You　can't　believe　how　irritated　　Dortmunder　is　going　to　be；〃　he　said。
　　Victor　snapped　a　glance　at　the　rear…view　mirror。　〃Not　behind　us　yet；〃　he　said。
　　〃They'll　be　along。　Let's　worry　about　the　bank　first。〃
　　They　reached　the　curve；　spun　around　it；　and　saw　the　bank　well　out　in　front。　　There　was　a　small　town　at　the　base　of　the　hill；　a　little　fishing　munity；　and　the　　bank　was　headed　straight　for　it。
　　But　Victor　was　gaining。　Also；　as　the　road　leveled　out　at　the　bottom；　the　bank　　began　slowly　to　lose　its　momentum。　When　it　ran　the　red　light　in　the　center　of　　town　it　wasn't　doing　any　more　than　twenty…five　miles　an　hour。　A　woman　　crossing　guard　blew　her　whistle　at　the　bank　as　it　went　through　the　light；　but　it　　didn't　stop。　Victor　slowed；　seeing　the　woman　in　her　police…like　uniform　and　　white　crossing…guard　belt；　and　seeing　the　red　light；　but　as　he　reached　the　　intersection　the　light　turned　green　and　he　accelerated　again。　The　woman　had　　whistled　herself　breathless；　and　as　they　went　by　she　was　standing　in　the　rainy　　gutter；　panting；　her　shoulders　heaving；　her　mouth　open。
　　〃It'll　stop　soon；〃　Kelp　said　hopefully。　〃There　isn't　any　slope　here　at　all。〃
　　〃That's　the　ocean；〃　Victor　said；　nodding　ahead。
　　〃Oh；　no！〃
　　The　end　of　the　street　was　a　pier；　jutting　out　a　good　thirty　feet　into　the　water。　　Victor　caught　up　with　the　bank　just　before　it　trundled　out　onto　the　pier；　but　it　　didn't　matter；　there　was　no　way　of　stopping　it。　One　fisherman　in　yellow　rubber　　slicker　and　rain　hat；　sitting　on　a　folding　chair；　looked　up　and　saw　the　bank　　ing　and　leaped　straight　from　his　chair　into　the　ocean；　the　bank；　en　passant；　　flipped　his　chair　after　him。　He　had　been　the　only　occupant　of　the　pier；　which　now　　the　bank　had　to　itself。
　　〃Make　it　stop！〃　Kelp　cried　as　Victor　slammed　the　Packard　to　a　halt　at　the　　beginning　of　the　pier。　〃We've　got　to　make　it　stop！〃
　　〃No　way；〃　Victor　said。　〃There's　just　no　way。〃
　　The　two　of　them　sat　in　the　Packard　and　watched　the　bank　roll　inexorably　out　　along　the　rumbling　boards　of　the　pier　to　the　very　end　and　quietly；　undramatically；　　roll　off　the　outer　edge　and　drop　like　a　stone　into　the　water。
　　Kelp　groaned。
　　〃One　thing；〃　Victor　said。　〃It　was　beautiful　to　watch。〃
　　〃Victor；〃　Kelp　said。　〃Do　me　one　favor。　Don't　say　that　to　Dortmunder。〃
　　Victor　looked　at　him。　〃No？〃
　　〃He　wouldn't　understand；〃　Kelp　said。
　　〃Oh。〃　Victor　looked　out　the　windshield　again。　〃I　wonder　how　deep　it　is　out　　there；〃　he　said。
　　〃Why？〃
　　〃Well；　maybe　we　could　swim　down　to　it　and　get　the　rest　of　the　money。〃
　　Kelp　gave　him　a　pleased　smile。　〃You're　right；〃　he　said。　〃If　not　today；　maybe　　sometime　when　the　sun's　shining。〃
　　〃And　it's　warmer。〃
　　〃Right。〃
　　〃Unless；〃　Victor　said；　〃someone　else　sees　it　there　and　reports　it。〃
　　〃Say；〃　Kelp　said；　frowning　out　the　windshield　again。　〃There　was　somebody　　on　the　pier。〃
　　〃There　was？〃
　　〃A　fisherman；　in　a　yellow　raincoat。〃
　　〃I　didn't　see　him。〃
　　〃We　better　take　a　look。〃
　　The　two　of　them　got　out　of　the　car　and　walked　through　the　rain　out　onto　the　　pier。　Kelp　looked　over　the　edge　and　saw　the　man　in　the　yellow　raincoat　climbing　　up　the　scaffolding　along　the　side。　〃Let　me　give　you　a　hand；〃　he　called　and　knelt　　to　reach　down　to　him。
　　The　fisherman　looked　up。　His　face　looked　astonished。　He　said；　〃You　won't　　believe　what　happened。　I　don't　believe　it　myself。〃
　　Kelp　helped　him　up　onto　the　pier。　〃We　saw　it　go；〃　he　said。　〃A　runaway　　trailer。〃
　　〃It　just　e　right　along；〃　the　fisherman　said；　〃and　threw　me　in　the　ocean。　　Lost　my　chair；　lost　my　tackle；　damn　near　lost　myself。〃
　　〃You　kept　your　hat　anyway；〃　Victor　pointed　out。　〃Tied　under　my　chin；〃　the　　fisherman　said。　〃Was　there　anybody　in　that　thing？〃
　　〃No；　it　was　empty；〃　Kelp　said。
　　The　fisherman　looked　down　at　himself。　〃My　wife　told　me；〃　he　said。　〃She　said　　this　wasn't　no　day　to　fish。　I'll　be　goddamned　if　she　wasn't　right　for　once。〃
　　〃Just　so　you　didn't　get　hurt；〃　Kelp　said。
　　〃Hurt？〃　The　fisherman　grinned。　〃Listen；〃　he　said。　〃I　e　out　of　this　with　the　　kind　of　fish　story　you　just　can't　top。　I　wouldn't　care　if　I　got　a　broken　leg　out　of　　it。〃
　　〃You　didn't；　did　you？〃　Victor　asked。
　　The　fisherman　stomped　his　booted　feet　on　the　planks　of　the　pier；　they　　squished。　〃Hell；　no；〃　he　said。　〃Fit　as　a　fiddle。〃　He　sneezed。　〃Except　I　do　believe　　I'm　ing　down　with　pneumonia。〃
　　〃Maybe　you　ought　to　get　home；〃　Kelp　said。　〃Get　into　some　dry　things。〃
　　〃Bourbon；〃　the　fisherman　said。　〃That's　what　I　need。〃　He　glanced　away　　toward　the　end　of　the　pier。　〃Damnedest　thing　I　ever　saw；〃　he　said　and　sneezed　　again　and　went　off　shaking　his　head。
　　〃Let's　take　a　look；〃　Kelp　said。　He　and　Victor　walked　out　to　the　end　of　the　　pier　and　stared　down　into　the　rain…spattered　water。　〃I　don't　see　it；〃　Kelp　said。
　　〃Here　it　is。　See　it？〃
　　Kelp　looked　where　Victor　was　pointing。　〃Right；〃　he　said；　catching　a　glimpse　　of　the　thing；　like　a　blue…and…white　whale　down　there　in　the　water。　Then　he　　frowned；　peering　at　it；　and　said；　〃Hey；　it's　moving。〃
　　〃It　is？〃
　　The　two　of　them　squinted　in　silence　for　ten　seconds　or　so；　and　then　Victor　　said；　〃You're　right。　It's　the　undertow；　taking　it　away。〃
　　〃I　don't　believe　it；〃　Kelp　said。
　　Victor　looked　back　toward　shore。　〃Here　es　the　rest　of　them；〃　he　said。
　　Kelp　reluctantly　turned　and　saw　the　other　five　getting　out　of　the　horse　van。　　They　came　trailing　out　onto　the　pier；　Dortmunder　in　the　lead。　Kelp　put　a　sickly　　smile　on　his　face　and　waited。
　　Dortmunder　came　up　and　looked　into　the　water。　〃I　don't　suppose　you　two　　are　out　here　for　a　tan；〃　he　said。
　　〃No；〃　said　Kelp。
　　Dortmunder　nodded　at　the　water。　〃It　went　in　there；　right？〃
　　〃That's　right；〃　Kelp　said。　〃You　can　see　it。　。　。〃　He　pointed；　then　frowned。　〃No；　　you　can't　any　more。〃
　　Victor　said；　〃It's　moving。〃
　　〃Moving；〃　Dortmunder　echoed。
　　〃ing　down　the　hill；〃　Victor　said；　〃the　wind　shut　the　doors　again。　I　don't　　suppose　it's　pletely　airtight；　but　it　is　closed　up　pretty　good；　and　it　must　have　　just　enough　air　in　it　to　make　it　buoyant　enough　not　to　be　st