chiaasen.stormyweather-第62部分

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　Edie　was　jarred　by　the　harshness　of　Augustine's　tone。　He　jerked　a　thumb　toward　Snapper；　agape　by　the　campfire。　〃What're　you　doing　with　that　shitbird；　anyway？〃
　
　Bonnie　cut　in：　〃Let's　drop　the　whole　thing。〃
　
　〃No；　it's　all　right。　I　want　to　explain；〃　said　Edie。　〃It　was　just　business。　We　were　working　a　deal　together。〃
　
　〃A　scam。〃
　
　〃Insurance　money；〃　she　admitted；　〃from　the　hurricane。〃　She　caught　Bonnie　staring。　〃Wele　to　the　real　world；　princess。〃
　
　〃So　when's　the　big　payoff？〃　Augustine　asked。
　
　Edie　laughed　ruefully。　〃The　adjuster　said　any　day。　Said　it　was　ing　Federal　Express。　And　here　I　am；　lost　in　the　middle　of　the　fucking　Everglades。〃
　
　〃It's　not　the　Everglades；〃　said　Augustine。　〃In　fact；　this　is　Saint…Tropez　pared　to　the　Everglades。　But　I　can　see　why　you're　upset；　watching　two　hundred　grand　fly　away。〃
　
　Edie　Marsh　was　dumbfounded。　Bonnie　said；　〃You're　joking。　Two　hundred　thousand　dollars？〃
　
　〃Two　hundred　and　one。〃　Augustine　chided　Edie　with　a　wink。
　
　She　asked；　almost　inaudibly：　〃How'd　you　know？〃
　
　〃You　left　something　in　the　house　on　Calusa。〃
　
　〃Oh　shit。〃
　
　He　unfolded　the　pink　carbons　of　the　Midwest　Casualty　claim…Edie　recognized　the　cartoon　badger　at　the　top　of　the　page。　Augustine　ripped　the　carbons　into　pieces。　He　said；　〃I　were　you；　I'd　e　up　with　a　clever　excuse　why　your　pocketbook　might　be　in　that　particular　kitchen。　The　police'll　be　mighty　curious。〃
　
　〃Shit。〃
　
　〃What　I'm　saying　is；　don't　be　in　such　a　rush　to　get　back　to　civilization。〃　He　turned　back　to　the　governor's　books。
　
　Edie　bit　her　lower　lip。　Lord；　sometimes　it　was　tough　to　stay　cool。　She　felt　like　breaking　down　a'gain。　〃What's　this　all　about…some　kind　of　game？〃
　
　〃I　don't　think　so；〃　Bonnie　said。
　
　〃Jesus　Christ。〃
　
　〃Ride　it　out。　Hang　on　till　it's　over。〃
　
　Not　me；　thought　Edie。　No　fucking　way。
　
　The　Club　exaggerated　Snapper's　pre…exaggerated　features。　It　pushed　the　top　half　of　his　mug　into　pudgy　creases；　like　a　shar…pei　puppy；　the　eyes　were　moist　slits；　the　nose　pugged　nearly　to　his　brow。　The　rest　was　all　maw。
　
　〃An　authentic　mouth…breather；〃　Skink　said；　studying　him　as　if　he　were　a　museum　piece。
　
　〃Fhhhrrrggaaah；〃　Snapper　retorted。　His　elbows　stung　from　scrapes　received　when　the　lunatic　had　dragged　him　to　the　creek。
　
　Now　the　lunatic　was　saying：　〃God；　I　hate　the　word　'nigger。'　Back　at　the　motel　I　considered　killing　you　when　you　said　it。　Blowing　your　three　pitiful　teaspoons　of　brain　matter　all　over　the　Jeep。　Even　if　you　hadn't　shot　my　friend；　the　thought　would've　crossed　my　mind。〃
　
　Snapper　stopped　moaning。　Worked　at　controlling　his　slobber。　Watched　gnats　and　mosquitoes　float　in　and　out　of　his　mouth。
　
　〃Nothing　to　be　done　about　that。〃　Skink　flicked　at　the　insects。　He'd　already　spread　a　generous　sheen　of　repellent　on　his　captive's　neck　and　arms。　〃　'Not　to　be　taken　internally。'　Says　so　right　on　the　package。〃
　
　Snapper　nodded　submissively。
　
　〃Lester　Maddox　Parsons　is　the　name　on　your　license。　Wild　guess　says　you're　named　after　that　clay…brained　Georgia　bigot。　Am　I　right？〃
　
　A　weaker　nod。
　
　〃So　you　started　out　two　strikes　against　you。　That's　a　shame；　Lester；　but　I　expect　even　if　your　folks　had　called　you　Gandhi；　you　still　would've　grown　up　to　be　a　world…class　dickhead。　Here；　let　me　show　you　something。〃
　
　The　governor　yanked　the　Bill　Blass　suitcase　from　under　his　butt。　He　positioned　it　in　front　of　Snapper　and　opened　it　with　a　gay　flourish。　〃Drool　away；〃　he　said。
　
　Snapper　rose　to　his　haunches。　The　suitcase　was　packed　with　money：　bank…wrapped　bundles　of　twenties。
　
　〃Ninety…four　thousand　dollars；〃　Skink　reported。
　
　〃Plus　assorted　shirts；　socks　and　casual　wear。　Two　packs　of　French　condoms；　a　set　of　gold　cuff　links；　a　tube　of　generic　lubricant…what　else？　Oh　yes；　personal　papers。〃
　
　He　probed　in　the　luggage。　〃Bank　statements；　newspaper　clippings　about　the　hurricane。　And　this　。。。〃
　
　It　was　a　glossy　color　sales　brochure　for　a　real　estate　project　called　Gables…on…the…Bay。　Skink　sat　next　to　Snapper　and　opened　the　brochure。
　
　〃There's　our　boy。　Christophe　Michel。　'Internationally　renowned　construction　engineer。'　See；　here's　his　picture。〃
　
　Snapper　recognized　him　as　the　dork　at　the　Circle　K。
　
　〃What　would　you　do；〃　Skink　mused；　〃if　you　designed　all　these　absurdly　expensive　homes…and　they　fell　down　in　the　first　big　blow。　I　believe　a　smart　person　would　grab　the　money　and　split；　before　subpoenas　started　flying。　I　believe　that　was　Monsieur　Michel's　plan。〃
　
　Snapper　didn't　give　two　shits　about　the　Frenchman。　He　was　transfixed　by　the　sight　of　so　much　money。　He　would　have　gaped　rapturously　even　if　his　jaws　weren't　bolted　open。　He　remembered　a　Sally　Jessy；　or　maybe　it　was　a　Donahue；　with　some　hotel　maid　from　Miami　Beach　who'd　found　like　forty…two　grand　under　a　bed。　The　maid；　for　some　reason；　instead　of　grabbing　the　dough　she'd　turned　it　in　to　the　manager！　That's　how　e　she'd　got　on　Sally　Jessy；　the　theme　that　day　was　〃honest　people。〃　Snapper　remembered　shouting　at　the　TV　screen：　What　a　dumb　cunt！　They'd　showed　a　picture　of　the　cash；　and　he'd　almost　e　in　his　pants。
　
　And　here　he　was　staring　at　twice　as　much。　In　person。
　
　〃Whhrrrrooognnn？　Whhhaaakkkfff？〃
　
　〃Good　question；　Lester。〃
　
　Without　warning；　the　one…eyed　freak　stood　up；　unbuttoned　his　army　trousers；　whipped　out　his　unit　and…to　Snapper's　mortification…urinated　prodigiously　upon　the　hurricane　money。
　
　Woefully　Snapper　rocked　on　his　heels。　He　felt　sick。　Skink　tucked　himself　in　and　went　for　the　monkey　rifle。　He　opened　the　chamber；　peered　inside。　Then　he　strolled　over　to　Snapper；　flipped　him　on　his　belly　and　shot　a　tranquilizer　dart　into　his　ass。　Right　away　the　fog　rolled　in　and　Snapper　got　drowsy。　The　last　thing　he　heard　came　from　Skink。
　
　〃Who　wants　to　go　for　a　swim？〃
　
　Bonnie　and　Augustine　stayed　to　look　at　the　books　while　the　governor　took　Edie　to　the　creek。　She　wanted　to　talk；　Skink　wanted　to　get　wet。　He　stripped；　starting　with　the　shower　cap。
　
　As　he　stepped　into　the　water；　she　said：　〃What　about　the　crocodiles？〃
　
　〃They　won't　bother　us。　There　aren't　enough　of　them　left　to　bother　anybody。　I　wish　there　were。〃
　
　Serenely　he　sank　beneath　the　surface；　then　burst　into　the　air；　shaking　bubbles　and　spray　from　his　beard。　He　was　as　brown　as　a　manatee；　and　so　large　he　seemed　to　bridge　the　creek。　Edie　was　unprepared　for　the　sight　of　his　body：　the　lodgepole　arms　and　broad　chest；　his　bare　neck　as　thick　as　a　cypress　trunk。　The　baggy　army　fatigues　had　given　none　of　it　away。
　
　〃ing　in？〃
　
　〃Only　if　we　can　talk；〃　she　said。
　
　〃What　else　would　we　do？〃
　
　Edie　thought：　There's　that　damn　smile　again。　She　asked　him　to　turn　around　while　she　took　off　her　clothes。
　
　He　heard　her　slip　into　the　creek。　Then　he　felt　her　slender　arms　and　legs；　she　was　clinging　to　his　back。　As　he　moved　into　deeper　water；　she　wrapped　herself　around　his　thighs。
　
　〃I'm　a　little　scared；〃　she　said。
　
　〃Haw！　You　and　I　are　the　scariest　beasts　in　the　jungle。〃
　
　Edie's　mouth　was　at　his　ear。　〃I　want　to　go　back　to　Miami。〃
　
　〃So　go。〃
　
　〃But　I　don't　know　the　way　out。〃
　
　The　governor　was　treading　against　the　push　of　a　strong　tidal　current。　It　cleaved　around　their　bobbing　heads　as　if　they　were　dead　stumps　in　the　creek。
　
　Edie's　breath　quickened　from　the　thrill　of　being　in　fast　water。　She　said；　〃From　the　minute　you　and　Pol…lyanna　showed　up　at　the　house；　I　knew　it　was　over。　Snapper's　gun…it　meant　nothing。　We　didn't　kidnap　you；　you　kidnapped　us！〃
　
　〃Nature　imposes　hierarchy。　Always；〃　Skink　said。
　
　Edie；　in　a　taut　whisper：　〃Please。　Show　me　the　way　out　of　here。〃
　
　〃And　I　was　so　sure　you'd　be　angling　for　that　suitcase。〃
　
　〃No　way；〃　she　said；　although　it　fleetingly　had　crossed　her　mind。　Instead　she'd　decided　to　concentrate　on　getting　out　of　the　Keys　alive。
　
　A　small　silver　fish　jumped　nearby。　Playfully　Skink　swiped　at　it。　He　said；　〃Edie；　your　opinion　of　men…it's　not　good。　That　much　we　share。　Christ；　imagine　what　Florida　would　look　like　today　if　women　had　been　in　charge　of　the　program！　Imagine　a　beach　or　two　with　no　ugly　high…rises。　Imagine　a　lake　without　golf　courses。〃　He　clapped　his　hands；　making　a　merry　splash。
　
　Edie　said；　〃You're　wrong。〃
　
　〃Darling；　I　can　dream。〃　He　felt　her　lips　feather　against　his　neck。　Then　a　tongue；　followed　by　the　unsub…tle　suggestion　of　a　nibble。　He　said；　〃And　what　was　that？〃
　
　〃What　do　you　think。〃
　
　When　she　kissed　him　again；　they　went　down。　The　saltiness　burned　her　eyes；　but　she　opened　them　anyway。　He　was　smiling　at　her；　blowing　bubbles。　They　surfaced　together　and　laughed。　Carefully　she　repositioned　herself；　climbing　around　him　as　if　he　were　a　tree…hanging　from　his　rock…hard　forearms　and　shoulders；　bracing　her　knees　against　his　hipbones　as　she　swung　to　the　front。　All　the　time　she　felt　him　easing　toward　a　shallower　spot　in　the　creek；　so　he　could　stand　while　holding　her。
　
　Now　they　were　eye…to…eye；　green　water　foaming　up　between　them。　Edie　said；　〃Well？〃
　
　〃Weren't　you　the　one　worried　about　crocodiles？〃
　
　〃He'd　have　to　eat　both　of　us；　wouldn't　he？〃
　
　〃At　the　moment；　yes。〃
　
　〃That　means　he'd　have　to　be　awfully　big　and　hungry。〃
　
　Skink　said；　〃We　should　be　quiet；　just　in　case。　Certain　noises　do　attract　them。〃　He　sounded　serious。
　
　〃How　quiet？〃　Lightly　she　brushed　her　nipples　along　the　lines　of　his　ribs。
　
　〃Very　quiet。　Not　a　sound。〃
　
　〃That's　impossible。〃　She　felt　his　hands　on　the　curve　of　her　bottom。　He　was　lifting　her；　keeping　her　in　a　gentle　suspension。　Then　he　was　inside　her。　Just　like　that。
　
　〃Hush；〃　he　said。
　
　〃I　can't。〃
　
　〃Yes　you　can；　Edie。〃
　
　They　made　love　so　slowly　that　often　it　seemed　they　weren't　moving　a　muscle。　All　sense　of　touch　and　motion　came　from　the　warm　summer　tide　that　rushed　past　and　around　and　between　them。　In　the　mangroves　an　outraged　heron　squawked。　More　silver　mullets　jumped　toward　the　shallows。　A　long　black　snake　drifted　by；　indifferently　riding　the　slick　of　the　current　as　if　it　were　floating　on　jade…colored　silk。
　
　Edie　Marsh　was　good。　She　hardly　made　a　sound。　For　quite　a　while　she　even　forgot　the　purpose　of　the　seduction。
　
　Afterwards　she　wan