dwestlake.bankshot-第9部分

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ike　that。　Anyway；　you　two　do　that；　Murch　sets　up　wheels　and　a　truck　or　whatever；　and…〃
　〃There's　the　question　of　money；〃　Murch　said。　〃We're　gonna　need　some　deep　financing　on　this　job。〃
　〃That's　my　department；〃　Kelp　said。　〃I'll　take　care　of　that。〃
　〃Good；〃　Dortmunder　said。
　Murch's　Mom　said；　〃Is　this　meeting　over？　I　got　to　get　home　and　get　this　brace　off。〃
　〃We'll　be　in　touch　with　each　other；〃　Dortmunder　said。
　Kelp　said；　〃You　want　me　to　call　Herman　X？〃
　Murch　said；　〃Herman　X？〃
　〃Sure；〃　Dortmunder　said。　〃Give　him　a　call。　But　tell　him　it　isn't　a　definite　set…up　yet。〃
　Murch　said；　〃Herman　X？〃
　〃You　know　him？〃　Kelp　said。　〃A　lockman；　one　of　the　best。〃
　Victor　suddenly　jumped　to　his　feet　and　extended　his　ginger…ale　glass　over　the　table。　〃A　toast！〃　he　cried。　〃One　for　all　and　all　for　one！〃
　There　was　a　stunned　silence；　and　then　Kelp　gave　a　panicky　smile　and　said；〃Oh；　yeah；　sure。〃　He　got　to　his　feet　with　his　bourbon　glass。
　One　by　one　the　others　also　stood。　Nobody　wanted　to　embarrass　Victor。　They　clinked　their　glasses　together　over　the　middle　of　the　table；　and　again　Victor　said；　loud　and　clear；　〃One　for　all　and　all　for　one！〃
　〃One　for　all　and　all　for　one；〃　everybody　mumbled。
　
　
　9
　
　
　HERMAN　X　spread　black　caviar　on　black　bread　and　handed　it　across　the　coffee　table　to　Susan。　〃I　know　I　have　expensive　tastes；〃　he　said；　flashing　his　frankest　smile　at　his　guests；　〃but　the　way　I　think；　we　pass　this　way　but　once。〃
　〃Truer　words　were　never　spoken；〃　George　Lachine　said。　He　and　his　wife　Linda　were　the　token　whites　at　this　dinner　party；　Susan　and　the　other　three　couples　all　being　black。　George　was　in　OEO　somewhere…not　in　fund　disbursement；　unfortunately…but　it　was　Linda　that　Herman　had　his　eye　on。　He　still　hadn't　made　up　his　mind　whether　he　would　finish　this　evening　in　bed　with　Linda　Lachine　or　Rastus　Sharif；　whether　he　felt　tonight　straight　or　gay；　and　the　suspense　was　delicious。　Also　the　fact　that　neither　of　them　had　shared　his　bed　before；　so　it　would　be　a　new　adventure　in。　any　case。
　Susan　gave　George　an　arch　look　and　said；　〃I　know　your　kind。　Grab　all　you　can　get。〃　Herman　thought　it　unlikely　that　Susan　really　wanted　George；　she　was　probably　just　trying　to　make　Linda　angry；　since　she　knew　Herman's　intentions　in　that　area。
　And　she　was　succeeding。　While　George　looked　flustered　and　flattered；　Linda　gave　Susan　a　tight…lipped　look　of　hate。　But　she　was　too　cool；　Herman　noticed；　to　say　anything　right　now。　That　pleased　him；　people　being　themselves　always　pleased　him。　〃A　dinner　party；〃　he　had　once　said；　〃should　be　nothing　but　undercurrents。〃
　This　one　was。　Of　the　ten　people　present；　practically　everybody　had　been　to　bed　at　one　time　or　another　with　everybody　else…excluding　the　Lachines；　of　course；　who　were　in　process　of　being　drawn　in　right　now。
　And　himself　and　Rastus。　How　had　he　let　that　fail　to　happen　or　so　long？　Herman　glanced　over　at　Rastus　now　and　saw　him　indolently　whispering　something　to　Diane；　his　long　legs　stretched　out　in　front　of　him。　Rastus　Sharif；he'd　chosen　the　name　himself；　of　course；　as　representative　of　the　full　range　of　his　heritage；　both　slave　and　African；　and　in　doing　so　had　made　himself　a　walking　insult　to　practically　everybody　he　met。　Black　and　white　alike　had　trouble　bringing　themselves　to　call　him　〃Rastus。〃　Looking　at　him；　Herman　thought　the　delay　had　probably　been　caused　by　his　own　admiration　and　envy；　how　could　he　go　to　bed　with　the　only　person　on　earth　he　didn't　feel　superior　to？
　Mrs。　Olaffson　suddenly　appeared　in　the　living…room　doorway。　〃Telephone；　sir。〃
　He　sat　up。　〃My　call　from　the　Coast？〃　He　was　aware　of　the　conversations　halting　around　him。
　Mrs。　Olaffson　knew　her　part：　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃Be　right　there。〃　Standing；　he　said；　〃Sorry；　people；　this　may　take　a　while。　Try　to　have　fun　without　me。〃
　They。　made　ribald　ments　in　return；　and　he　grinned　as　he　loped　from　the　room。　He　had　given　it　out　that　he　was　employed　in　〃munications；〃　sometimes　making　it　seem　as　though　he　meant　book　publishing　and　sometimesmotion　pictures。　Vague　but　glamorous；　and　no　one　ever　inquired　more　closely。
　Mrs。　Olaff　son　had　preceded　him　to　the　kitchen；　and　on　the　way　through　he　said；　〃Study　door　locked？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃Mind　the　fort。〃　He　patted　her　pink　cheek；　went　out　the　apartment's　rear　door　and　down　the　service　stairs　two　at　a　time。
　As　usual；　Mrs。　Olaffson's　timing　had　been　perfect。　Just　as　Herman　stepped　out　onto　the　sidewalk　of　Central　Park　West　the　grimy　green…and…white　Ford　rolled　in　to　the　curb　by　the　fire　hydrant。　Herman　pulled　the　rear　door　open　andslid　in　beside　Van；　as　he　shut　the　door；　Phil；　the　driver；　started　the　car　moving　again。
　〃Here　you　go；〃　Van　said　and　handed　him　his　mask　and　gun。
　〃Thanks；〃　he　said　and　held　them　in　his　lap　as　the　Ford　headed　south　toward　midtown。
　There　was　no　conversation　in　the　car；　not　even　from　the　fourth　man；　Jack；　who　was　the　newest；　on　only　his　second　caper。　Driving　along；　Herman　looked　out　the　side　window　and　thought　about　his　dinner　party；　the　people　there；　theway　he　would　spend　the　latter　part　of　the　night；　and　the　menu　for　dinner。
　He　had　planned　the　menu　with　the　greatest　of　care。　The　cocktails　to　begin　had　been　Negronis；　the　power　of　the　gin　obscured　by　the　gentleness　of　vermouth　and　Campari。　The　caviar　and　pitted　black　olives　to　nosh　on　while　drinking。　Then；　at　the　table；　the　meal　itself　would　start　with　black　bean　soup；　followed　by　poached　fillet　of　black　sea　bass　and　a　nice　bottle　of　Schwartzekatz。　For　the　entree；　a　Black　Angus　steak　sautéed　in　black　butter　and　garnished　with　black　truffles；　plus　a　side　dish　of　black　rice；　washed　down　with　a　good　Pinot　Noir。　For　dessert；　black…bottom　pie　and　coffee。　For　after　dinner　drinks；　a　choice　of　Black　Russians　or　blackberry　brandy；　with　bowls　of　black　walnuts　to　munch　on　again　in　the　living　room。
　Phil　pulled　to　the　curb　on　Seventh　Avenue　in　the　upper　forties。　Herman　and　Van　and　Jack　got　out　and　walked　away　around　the　corner。　Ahead　of　them；　the　Broadway　theater　marquees　shouldered　one　another　to　be　seen。
　Ahead　on　the　right　was　the　new　rock　musical　Justice！　It　had　been　panned　on　the　road；　it　had　e　into　town　fully　expecting　to　be　a　disaster；　it　had　opened　last　night；　and　every　last　New　York　critic　had　given　it　a　rave。　The　line　for　advance　sale　tickets　had　been　around　the　block　all　day；　the　producers　hadn't　expected　the　cash　in…flow　and　hadn't　prepared　for　it；　so　the　day's　receipts　were　spending　the　night　in　the　theater　safe。　Well；　part　of　the　night。　One　of　the　brothers　in　the　chorus　had　passed　the　word　to　the　Movement；　and　the　Movement　had　quickly　assigned　Herman　and　Phil　and　Van　and　Jack。　They'd　met　late　this　afternoon；　looked　over　the　brothers'　maps　of　the　interior　of　the　theater；　worked　out　their　plot；　and　here　they　were。
　One　usher　stood　in　the　outer　lobby。　He　was　short　and　stocky　and　wore　a　dark…blue　uniform。　He　gave　Herman　and　Van　and　Jack　a　supercilious　look　as　they　came　in　through　the　outer　doors　and　said；　〃Can　I　help　you？〃
　〃You　can　turn　around；〃　Van　said　and　showed　him　a　gun。　〃Or　I　can　blow　your　head　off。〃
　〃Good　Christ；〃　the　usher　said　and　stepped　back　into　the　doors。　He　also　put　his　hand　to　his　mouth　and　blanched。
　〃Now；　that's　what　I　call　white；〃　Herman　said。　His　own　gun　remained　in　his　pocket；　but　he　had　taken　out　the　mask　and　was　putting　it　on。　It　was　a　simple　black　mask；　the　kind　the　Lone　Ranger　wears。
　〃Turn　around〃；　Van　said。
　〃Better　do　it；〃　Herman　said。　〃I'm　gentle；　but　he's　mean。〃
　The　usher　turned　around。　〃What　do　you　want？　Do　you　want　my　wallet？　You　don't　have　to　hurt　me。　I　won't　do　any…〃
　〃Oh；　be　quiet；〃　Van　said。　〃We're　all　going　inside　and　turn　left　and　go　up　the　stairs。　You　first。　Don't　be　cute；　because　we're　right　behind　you。〃
　〃I　won't　be　cute。　I　don't　want　to　be…〃
　〃Just　walk；〃　Van　said。　He　gave　off　such　an　aura　of　weary　professionalism　thathis　victims　almost　always　fell　all　over　themselves　to　do　what　he　wanted；　not　wanting　to　expose　themselves　as　amateurs　to　his　jaundiced　eye。
　The　usher　walked。　Van　put　away　his　gun　and　donned　his　mask。　Jack　and　Herman　were　already　masked；　but　a　casual　observer　watching　them　walk　across　the　dark　rear　of　the　theater　behind　the　usher　wouldn't　have　realized　they　had　masks　on。
　A　herd　of　people　onstage　were　shouting　a　song：　〃Freedom　means　I　got　to　be；　I　got　to　be；　I　got　to　be；　Freedom　means　I　got　to　be。　Freedom　means　you　got　to　be；　you　got　to　be。　。
　The　stairs　were　carpeted　in　dark　red　and　curved　to　the　right。　At　the　top　was　the　loge；　and　Van　poked　the　usher　to　make　him　move　to　the　right；　behind　the　seats　and　through　another　door　and　up　a　narrow　flight　of　stairs　that　wasn't　carpeted　at　all。
　In　the　room　were　six　people。　Two　women　and　a　man　were　counting　money　at　tables　with　adding　machines。　Three　men　were　wearing　the　uniform　of　a　private　protective　service；　including　holstered　pistols。　Van　stuck　his　foot　around　the　usher's　and　gave　him　a　shove　as　they　entered　the　room；　so　the　usher　cried　out　and　went　sprawling。　It　distracted　everyone　long　enough　for　Van　and　Jack　and　Herman　to　line　up　in　a　row　inside　the　door；　guns　in　their　hands　and　masks　on　their　faces；　establishing　that　they　were　already　in　control。
　〃Hands　up；〃　Van　said。　〃That　means　you；　Grandpa；〃　to　one　of　the　guards。　〃I　haven't　shot　a　senior　citizen　in　three　months。　Don't　make　me　spoil　my　record。〃
　It　sometimes　seemed　to　Herman　that　Van　leaned　on　people　because　he　wanted　them　to　give　him　an　excuse　to　shoot　them；　but　most　of　the　time　he　realized　that　Van　was　playing　a　deeper　game　than　that。　He　leaned　hard　so　people　would　think　he　was　trying　to　goad　them；　so　they　would　think　he　was　a　bad…ass　killer　just　barely　in　control　of　himself；　and　the　result　was　that　they　were　always　just　as　nice　as　pie。　Herman　didn't　know　Van's　entire　history；　but　he　did　know　there'd　never　been　any　shooting　on　any　job　the　two　of　them　had　done　together。
　Nor　would　there　be　on　this　one。　The　three　guards　gave　each　other　sheepish　looks　and　put　their　hands　up；　and　Jack　came　around　to　take　their　pistols　away　from　them。　Van　produced　two　shopping　bags　from　under　his　jacket；　and　while　he　held　a　gun　on　the　seven　civilians　in　the　room…the　usher　had　e　up　holding　his　nose；　but　it　wasn't　bleeding…　Herman　and　Jack　dumped　cash　money　into　the　two　bags。　They　put　crumpled　paper　on　top；　and　He