dwestlake.bankshot-第7部分

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　〃Aw；　Mom；　you　don't　take　this　seriously。〃　The　doorbell　rang　again。　〃What　if　that's　an　insurance　adjuster　and　you've　got　socks　on　your　neck　brace？〃　　
　〃I'll　put　it　on；　I'll　put　it　on；〃　she　said；　and　went　away　to　the　kitchen；　while　Murch　moved　more　slowly　toward　the　front　door。　　
　It　was　Kelp　out　there。　Murch　opened　the　door　wide　and　said；　〃Hey；　e　on　in。　Long　time　no　see。〃　　
　〃I　figured　I'd…〃　　
　〃Mom！　Forget　it！〃　　
　Kelp　looked　a　little　startled。
　　Murch　said　to　him；　〃Sorry；　I　just　didn't　want　her　to　put　her　brace　on。〃
　　Kelp　tried　a　smile　but　went　on　looking　baffled　anyway。
　　〃Sure；〃　he　said。　〃I　just　figured　I'd…〃
　Murch's　Mom　appeared　with　her　neck　brace　on。　〃You　called　me？〃
　〃Hey；　Mrs。　Murch！〃　said　Kelp。　〃What　happened？〃
　　〃I　wanted　to　tell　you　to　forget　it；〃　Murch　said。
　　〃I　couldn't　make　out　what　you　。　。　。〃　She　stopped　and　frowned　at　Kelp。　
　　〃Kelp？〃
　　〃You　hurt　your　neck？〃
　　Disgusted；　she　said；　〃I　put　this　thing　on　for　you？〃
　　〃That's　why　I　called　to　you；〃　said　Murch。
　　Shaking　her　head　as　best　she　could　in　the　brace；　she　turned　away　again；　saying；　〃This　thing　is　cold；　and　it's　wet。〃
　　Kelp　said；　〃You　put　it　on　for　me？〃
　　Murch　said；　〃Well；　if　you're　gonna　put　socks　on　it；　it's　gonna　be　cold　and　wet。〃
　　〃Wait　a　minute；〃　Kelp　said。
　　〃I　don't　know　how　much　longer　I　can　put　up　with　this；〃　she　said　and　left　the　room。
　　Kelp　said；　〃Why　don't　I　go　out　and　walk　around　the　block　and　then　e　back？〃
　　Murch　looked　at　him；　bewildered。　〃What　for？　You　feel　dizzy　or　something？〃
　　Kelp　glanced　around。　〃No；　I　guess　not。　Everything's　okay；　I　guess。　I　must've　e　in　while　there　was　already　a　conversation　going　on。〃
　　〃Something　like　that；〃　Murch　said。
　　〃I　thought　so；　yeah。〃
　　〃Well；　e　on　in。〃
　　Kelp　was　already　in。　He　looked　at　Murch　and　didn't　say　anything。
　　〃Oh；　yeah；〃　Murch　said。　He　shut　the　door　and　said；　〃We　were　just　in　the　dining　room。〃
　　〃I'm　busting　into　dinner？　Look；　I　can…〃
　　〃No；　we　were　just　looking　at　maps。　e　on　in。〃　Murch　and　Kelp　went　into　the　dining　room；　just　as　Murch's　Mom　was　ing　in　from　the　other　direction；　patting　her　shoulders　and　saying；　〃It's　my　cashmere　sweater　and　it's　all　wet。〃
　　Murch　said　to　Kelp；　〃You　wouldn't　have　something　lined　up；　would　you？〃
　　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　would。　You　free　to　look　it　over　tomorrow？〃
　　〃Oh；　hell；〃　said　Murch's　Mom。　〃There　goes　our　ride　out　to　the　Island。〃
　　〃Out　to　Long　Island？〃　said　Kelp。　〃That's　perfect；　that's　just　what　I　want；　couldn't　be　better。〃　He　approached　the　table　with　all　its　maps。　〃Is　this　LongIsland？　Here；　let　me　show　you　the　exact　spot。〃
　〃You　two　talk；〃　Murch's　Mom　said。　〃I've　got　to　go　change　out　of　this　wetsweater　before　I　get　a　stiff　neck。〃
　
　8
　
　WHEN　Dortmunder　walked　into　the　0。　J。　Bar　and　Grill　on　AmsterdamAvenue　at　eight…thirty　the　next　night；　there　was　nobody　in　the　place　but　threesubway　motormen；　the　television　set　high　up　on　the　wall；　and　Rollo；　thebartender。　The　television　set　was　showing　three　people　scaling　a　wall；　allburdened　down　with　coils　of　rope　and　little　hammers　and　walkie…talkies；　theywere　a　Negro；　a　Jew；　and　a　beautiful　blond　Swedish　girl。　The　three　subwaymotormen；　all　Puerto　Rican；　were　talking　about　whether　or　not　there　werealligators　in　the　subway　tunnels。　They　were　shouting　back　and　forth　at　the　top　oftheir　voices；　not　because　they　were　mad　at　each　other…though　they　were…butbecause　their　jobs　had　got　them　used　to　talking　at　that　volume。　〃It's　in　thesewers　you　got　the　alligators；〃　one　of　them　shouted。
　〃Them　scum　tunnels　we　got；　you　don't　call　them　sewers？〃
　〃People　bring　up　alligators　from　Florida；〃　the　first　one　yelled；　〃little　alligatorsfor　pets；　they　get　tired　of　them；　they　flush　them　down　the　toilet。　But　in　the　sewer；not　in　the　tunnels。　You　don't　flush　toilets　into　subway　tunnels。〃
　〃Not　much；　you　don't。〃
　The　third　one；　the　gloomiest　of　them；　shouted；　〃I　run　over　a　rat　the　other　day；down　by　Kingston…Throop；　this　big。〃　And　knocked　over　his　beer。
　Dortmunder　strolled　on　down　to　the　end　of　the　bar　while　Rollo　sopped　up　thespilled　beer　and　drew　a　new　one。　The　motormen　started　shouting　about　otheranimals　that　were　or　weren't　in　the　subway　tunnels；　and　Rollo　came　heavilyalong　the　bar　toward　Dortmunder。　He　was　a　tall；　meaty；　balding；　blue…jawedgent　in　a　dirty　white　shirt　and　dirty　white　apron；　and；　when　he　reached　Dortmunder　he　said；　〃Long　time　no　see。
　〃You　know　how　it　is；〃　Dortmunder　said。　〃I　been　living　with　a　woman。〃
　Rollo　nodded　sympathetically。　〃That's　death　on　the　bar　business；〃　he　said。〃What　you　want　to　do　is　get　married；　then　you'll　start　ing　out　at　night。〃
　Dortmunder　nodded　his　head　toward　the　back　room。　〃Anybody　there？〃
　〃Your　friend；　the　other　bourbon；〃　Rollo　said。　〃Along　with　a　no…proof…of…ageginger　ale。　They　got　your　glass。〃
　〃Thanks。〃
　Dortmunder　left　the　bar　and　headed　for　the　rear；　past　the　two　doors　with　thedog　silhouettes　on　them　and　the　sign　on　one　door　POINTERS　and　on　the　otherdoor　SETTERS　and　past　the　phone　booth　and　through　the　green　door　at　theback　and　into　a　small　square　room　with　a　concrete　floor。　None　of　the　walls　werevisible　because　practically　the　whole　room　was　taken　up　floor　to　ceiling　withbeer　cases　and　liquor　cases；　leaving　only　a　small　opening　in　the　middle　bigenough　for　a　battered　old　table　with　a　green　felt　top；　half　a　dozen　chairs　and　onebare　bulb　with　a　round　tin　reflector　hanging　low　over　the　table　on　a　long　blackwire。
　Kelp　and　Victor　were　seated　at　the　table　side　by　side；　as　though　waiting　for　abig…stakes　poker　game　to　start。　A　bottle　of　bourbon　and　a　half…empty　glassstood　in　front　of　Kelp；　and　a　glass　with　ice　cubes　and　something　sparkly　andamber　stood　in　front　of　Victor。
　Kelp；　cheerful　and　optimistic；　said；　〃Hi！　Murch　isn't　here　yet。〃
　〃So　I　see。〃　Dortmunder　sat　down　in　front　of　the　other　glass　on　the　table；which　was　still　empty。
　〃Hello；　Mr。　Dortmunder。〃
　Dortmunder　looked　across　the　table。　Victor's　smile　made　him　squint；　like　toomuch　sunlight。　〃Hello；　Victor；〃　he　said。
　〃I'm　glad　we'll　be　working　together。〃
　Dortmunder's　mouth　twitched　in　what　might　have　been　a　smile；　and　he　gazeddown　at　his　big…knuckled　hands　on　the　green　felt　of　the　table。
　Kelp　pushed　the　bottle　toward　him。　〃Have　one。〃　The　bottle　claimed　to　beAmsterdam　Liquor　Store　Bourbon…〃Our　Own　Brand。〃　Dortmunder　splashedsome　in　his　glass；　sipped；　made　a　face　and　said；　〃Stan's　late。　That　isn't　like　him。〃
　Kelp　said；　〃While　we　wait；　why　don't　we　work　out　some　of　the　details　on　thisthing？〃
　〃Just　like　it　was　really　going　to　happen；〃　Dortmunder　said。
　〃Of　course　it's　going　to　happen；〃　Kelp　said。
　Victor　managed　to　look　worried　while　still　smiling。　〃Don't　you　think　it'llhappen；　Mr。　Dortmunder？〃
　Kelp　said；　〃Of　course　it'll　happen。〃　To　Dortmunder　he　said；　〃What　about　thestring？〃
　Victor　said；　〃String？〃
　〃The　crew；〃　Kelp　told　him。　〃The　group　engaged　in　the　Operation〃
　〃We　don't　have　the　job　planned　out　yet；〃　Dortmunder　said。
　〃What　plan？〃　Kelp　asked。　〃We　back　up　a　truck；　hook　on；　drive　the　thingaway。　Dump　the　guards　at　our　leisure；　take　it　someplace　else；　bust　into　the　safe；go　on　about　our　business。〃
　〃I　think　you　skipped　over　a　few　spots；〃　Dortmunder　said。
　〃Oh；　well；〃　Kelp　said　airily；　〃there's　details　to　be　worked　out。〃
　〃One　or　two；〃　Dortmunder　said。
　〃But　we　have　the　general　outline。　And　what　I　figure；　we　here　can　handle　it；plus　Stan　to　do　the　driving　and　a　good　lockman　to　get　into　the　safe。〃
　〃We　here？〃　Dortmunder　asked。　He　gave　Kelp　a　meaningful　look；　glanced　atVictor；　looked　back　at　Kelp　again。
　Kelp　patted　the　air　in　a　secretive　way；　hiding　it　from　Victor。　〃We　can　talkabout　all　that；〃　he　said。　〃The　question　now　is　the　lockman。　We　know　we'll　needone。〃
　〃How　about　Chefwick？　The　model…train　nut。〃
　Kelp　shook　his　head。　〃No；〃　he　said；　〃he　isn't　around　any　more。　He　hijacked　asubway　car　to　Cuba。〃
　Dortmunder　looked　at　him。　〃Don't　start；〃　he　said。
　〃Start　what？　I　didn't　do　anything；　Chefwick　did。　He　got　to　run　that　lootivein　that　job　with　us；　and　he　must've　flipped　out　or　something。〃
　〃All　right；〃　Dortmunder　said。
　〃So　he　and　his　wife　went　to　Mexico　on　vacation；　and　at　Vera　Cruz　there　werethese　used　subway　cars　that　were　going　on　a　boat　to　Cuba；　and　Chefwick…〃
　〃I　said　all　right。〃
　〃Don't　blame　me；〃　Kelp　said。　〃I'm　just　telling　you　what　happened。〃　He　brightened　suddenly；　saying；　〃That　reminds　me；　did　you　hear　what　happened　to　Greenwood？〃
　〃Leave　me　alone；〃　Dortmunder　said。
　〃He　got　his　own　television　series。〃
　〃I　said　leave　me　alone！〃
　Victor　said；　〃You　know　someone　with　his　own　television　series。
　〃Sure；〃　Kelp　said。　〃He　was　on　a　job　with　Dortmunder　and　me　one　time。〃
　〃You　wanted　to　talk　about　a　lockman；〃　Dortmunder　said。　Somehow　his　glass　was　empty。　He　splashed　in　some　more　of　the　Amsterdam　Liquor　Store's　Own　Brand　of　bourbon。
　〃I　have　a　suggestion；〃　Kelp　said。　He　sounded　doubtful。　〃He's　a　good　man；　but　I　don't　know。。。〃
　〃Who　is　it？〃　Dortmunder　asked。
　〃I　don't　think　you　know　him。〃
　〃What's　his　name？〃　When　dealing　with　Kelp；　Dortmunder　just　got　more　andmore　patient　as　time　went　along。
　〃Herman　X。〃
　〃Herman　X？〃
　〃The　only　thing；〃　Kelp　said；　〃he's　a　spade。　I　don't　know　if　you're　prejudiced　or　not。〃
　〃Herman　X？〃
　Victor　said　primly；　〃Sounds　like　a　Black　Muslim。〃
　〃Not　exactly；〃　Kelp　said。　〃He's　like　in　an　offshoot。　I　don't　know　what　theycall　themselves。　His　bunch　is　mad　at　the　people　that　were　mad　at　the　people　that　were　mad　at　the　people　that　went　off　with　Malcolm　X。　I　think　that's　right。〃
　Victor　frowned　into　space。　〃I　haven't　kept　up　with　that　area　of　subversion；〃　he　said。　〃It　wouldn't　be　the　Pan…African　Panthers；　would　it？〃
　〃Doesn't　ring　a　bell。〃
　〃The　Sons　Of　Marcus　Garvey？〃
　〃No；　that's　not　right。〃
　〃The　Black　Barons？〃
　〃The　Sam　Spades？〃
　Kelp　frowned　for　a　second；　then　shook　his　head。　〃No。〃
　〃Probably　a　new　splinter；〃　Victor　said。　〃They　keep　fractionalizing；　makes　it　extremely　difficult　to　maintain　proper　surveillance。　No　cooperation　at　all。　I　can　remember　how　upset　the　agents　used　to　get　about　that。〃
　A　little　silence　fell。　Dortmunder　sat　there　holding　the　glass　and　looking　at　Kelp；　who　was　mooning　away　at　the　opposite　wall。　Dortmunder's　expression　was　patient；　but　not　pleased。　Eventually；　Kelp　sighed　and　shifted　and　glanced　at　Dortmun