ch.nakedcamethemanatee-第12部分

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　The　current　was　lulling　her　and　her　entourage　of　trash　toward　him；　so　Vernon　decided　to　fish　her　out　himself。　He　was　a　fisherman；　after　all；　even　if　all　he　used　was　a　cane　pole　baited　with　bread；　and　even　if　he　couldn't　remember　the　last　time　he'd　caught　anything　living。　He　wasn't　afraid　to　touch　bodies；　they　were　just　vessels；　more　or　less；　like　the　empty　Coke　bottles　and　crushed　cigarette　packages　strewn　across　the　water's　edge。
　Vernon　yanked　his　line　out　of　the　water；　and　his　suspicion　was　confirmed。　The　bait　was　long　gone。　Some　crafty　little　bugger　had　taken　it　without　so　much　as　a　ripple。　Anyone　who　doesn't　think　fish　are　as　smart　as　people　don't　know　many　fish；　Vernon　thought。
　He　cast　the　line　out　as　far　as　he　could；　aiming　for　the　back　of　the　dead　woman's　shirt　collar；　then　gently　pulled　on　it　to　see　if　something　would　catch。
　Something　did。　He　must　have　snagged　her　skin　or　clothing；　because　the　line　went　pletely　taut　when　Vernon　pulled。　He'd　have　to　stand　up　for　this　one；　he　decided。　Even　an　old　woman's　body；　waterlogged；　weighed　much　more　than　he'd　counted　on。
　By　the　time　the　cane　pole　snapped　in　half；　the　body　was　close　enough　for　Vernon　to　wade　out　and　grab　the　pudgy；　lifeless　fingers。　〃Thatta　girl；〃　Vernon　mumbled；　gripping　her　tight　to　guide　her　from　her　floating　grave。
　Rolling　the　corpse　over；　breathing　just　a　bit　hard　from　the　ordeal；　Vernon　almost　didn't　recognize　her　at　first。
　She　was　more　bloated　than　he'd　thought；　her　face　roundish　and　smoothed　nearly　free　of　the　most　familiar　wrinkles。　And　the　eyes　he'd　known　had　always　flickered　and　danced；　he'd　never　seen　these　cloud…gray　dead　eyes　on　this　particular　face　before。
　Strange　as　it　was；　the　first　thing　he　recognized　was　the　smile。　It　was　the　same　one　he'd　seen　nearly　every　Sunday　for　ten　years；　the　ready；　thin…lipped　smile　that　had　brought　them　from　being　strangers　to　damn　near　being　friends　who　shared　only　a　love　for　the　park。　Friends　enough　that　he'd　warned　her　time　and　again　about　swimming　out　here　by　herself；　a　woman　her　age；　old　enough　to　be　his　mother。　And　friends　enough　that　he　had　to　swallow　back　hard　and　clamp　his　teeth　shut　when　he　realized　that　even　though　the　smile　was　still　there；　his　friend　was　long　gone。
　〃Darn　you；　Marion；〃　he　whispered；　brushing　a　glistening　gum　wrapper　from　her　matted　hair。　〃What've　you　gone　and　done　now？〃
　
　Fay　didn't　want　Britt　to　hug　her　too　long；　because　then　the　forting　numbness　of　the　shock　might　wear　off；　and　she　wasn't　ready　for　that　yet。　Right　now；　she　felt　like　she　was　in　the　middle　of　an　elaborate　movie　scene　at　the　edge　of　the　bay；　and　the　stunt　double　for　her　grandmother；　entombed　in　a　black　body　bag　inside　of　the　ambulance　beside　her；　was　the　victim　of　some　freak　accident　on　the　set。　That　fantasy　was　almost　keeping　her　from　shaking　at　all。
　〃Kid；　I'm　so　sorry；〃　Britt　said。　Then；　instinctively；　Britt　knew　she　had　to　snap　out　of　human　mode　and　let　her　machinery　take　over。　Poor　Fay　wouldn't　be　any　good　to　her　if　she　crumbled　into　an　emotional　wreck。　Marion　McAlister　Williams　had　been　much　more　than　Fay's　grandmother；　she　was　the　whole　city's　surrogate　guardian；　its　conscience；　and　now　she'd　been　found　dead　as　if　she'd　been　choked　by　the　trash　she'd　decried　for　so　long。　Everyone　would　want　answers；　and　Britt　had　to　find　some　fast。
　Britt　paused；　her　pen　in　midstroke　from　scribbling　wildly　in　her　notebook。　Between　the　impending　Castro　visit　and　Marion　McAlister　Williams's　sudden　death；　she　was　juggling　two　huge　stories；　possibly　three；　depending　on　what　was　going　on　with　those　heads。　Should　she　phone　her　editor　for　backup？
　Yeah；　right；　she　thought。　〃What　did　the　police　say　to　you？〃　Britt　asked　Fay；　regaining　her　senses。
　〃They　aren't　saying　much；〃　Fay　answered　in　a　hollow　voice。　〃All　I　know　is；　a　fisherman　pulled　her　out　of　the　water　about　an　hour　ago。　That　guy　over　there。　He's　giving　a　statement。〃
　〃Do　you　think　she　went　swimming？〃
　〃Not　with　her　clothes　on。　No　way。　She's　the　one　who　taught　me；　'It's　naked　or　nothing。'　Britt；　I'm　thinking　。。。　〃
　Britt　nodded。　〃I　know。　It's　connected　to　the　Castro　heads。　I'm　thinking　the　same　thing。　So's　Jake。　He's　already　headed　for　her　house。　We're　all　over　this。　Don't　worry。〃
　Suddenly；　something　broke　through　Fay's　frozen　thoughts　to　bring　her　attention　to　the　water。　She'd　seen　something　moving　out　there；　something　big。　Another　body？　Had　her　grandmother's　murderers　killed　Phil；　too？
　But　when　she　saw　the　dark　gray　head　pop　out　of　a　wake；　she　realized　it　was　only　Booger。　He　was　everywhere；　like　a　swimming　spirit　guide。　Booger　had　probably　been　witness　to　the　whole　horrible　business　from　beginning　to　end。　All　of　the　answers　were　right　there　behind　those　doleful；　dull　black　eyes。　If　only　manatees　could　talk　。。。　At　least　Flipper　could　splash　and　make　frantic　chattering　sounds；　Fay　thought。　Eventually；　the　kid　and　his　dad　had　always　figured　it　out：　Danger。　This　way。　Hurry。
　With　Booger；　nothing。
　Then　Fay　felt　the　shock　thinning。　Her　grandmother　was　gone。　〃Britt；〃　she　said；　barely　a　whisper。　〃I've　lost　her。〃
　Britt　stared　at　her　friend's　wide；　wondering　eyes；　framed　by　strands　of　blond　hair　blown　across　her　forehead。　For　the　first　time　in　a　long　time；　Britt　couldn't　think　of　a　snappy　eback。
　〃Um　。。。　excuse　me。　Miss；　are　you　Marion's　granddaughter？〃
　It　was　the　black　fisherman；　shading　his　eyes　from　the　glare　of　the　sunset　with　one　hand　as　he　stood　before　them；　his　features　grim。　Gazing　at　the　dark；　tallish　man　with　salt…and…pepper　hair；　Fay　realized　she'd　seen　him　around；　fishing　with　a　bamboo　pole。
　Fay　could　only　nod。
　〃You're　the　one　who　found　her；〃　Britt　said。　〃Boy；　do　we　need　to　talk　to　you。　Hope　you　don't　mind。〃
　〃Don't　mind　a'tall；〃　the　man　said；　smiling　sadly。　〃Marion　was　a　fine；　fine　lady。　I'm　just　so　sick　about　the　circumstances。　Always　told　her　to　be　careful；　but　I　never　in　a　million　years　expected　her　to　drown。　Not　Marion。〃
　〃She　didn't　just　drown；〃　Fay　said　with　certainty。
　〃That's　why　we　have　to　ask　you　questions。　We're　sure　she　had　some　help。〃
　The　man's　face　went　slack　with　surprise。　〃You　don't　say？　Well；　I'll　be　damned。　The　police　didn't　say　anything　like　that；　about　a　murder。　In　that　case；　I　hope　I　haven't　made　a　mistake。　I　guess　I've　been　holding　on　to　something　you　might　call　evidence。〃
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　Britt　asked。
　The　fisherman　looked　nervous；　glancing　back　toward　the　police　officers　crowded　around　the　open　ambulance　door。　〃Well　。。。　I　didn't　think　it　was　right　to　give　it　to　them。　I　wanted　to　wait　for　someone　from　the　family。　Thought　that　would　be　the　proper　thing。〃
　〃What？〃　Fay　asked。
　〃You　see；　miss　。。。　I　know　Marion　was　dead　when　I　pulled　her　out　of　the　water。　I　took　her　pulse　to　be　sure；　but　I　knew。　Even　the　police　say　she'd　probably　been　in　there　some　time；　maybe　a　full　day。　But　when　I　found　her；　she　had　the　tiniest　smile　on　her　face。　You　can't　see　it　now。　It　was　gone；　last　I　checked。　But　we　were　friends；　your　grandmother　and　I。　This　might　sound　funny；　but　it　was　like　she'd　saved　that　smile　for　me。　And　after　I　pulled　her　out；　I　was　sitting　beside　her；　looking　at　her；　sorry　she　was　gone；　when　I　felt　something　land　on　my　hand。〃
　Seeing　their　rapt　faces；　the　fisherman　looked　slightly　embarrassed。　He　averted　his　glassy　eyes。　〃I　figured　the　police　would　lock　me　in　a　nuthouse　if　I　told　them　this　next　part。　Your　grandmother's　hand　had　moved；　dropped　on　top　of　mine。　And　she　was　still　dead　as　could　be。　That's　the　gospel　truth。　I　looked　down；　and　her　palm　was　wide　open。　I　don't　know　how　she　did　it；　but　she'd　been　holding　on　to　something；　and　it　was　right　there　in　her　hand。　It　was　like　she　wanted　to　make　sure　I　would　find　it。　I　knew　it　must　be　important。〃
　With　that；　the　fisherman　gently　reached　for　Fay's　wrist；　holding　her　palm　upright；　and　pressed　his　hand　into　it。　As　Britt　leaned　over　to　stare　with　unbridled　curiosity；　Fay　felt　something　tiny；　sharp；　and　slightly　cold　pass　from　the　fisherman's　callused　hand　to　the　soft　of　her　palm。
　〃Take　it；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　sure　it　must　be　for　you。〃
　
　9。　SOUTH　BEACH　SERENADE…Brian　Antoni
　Fay　squeezed　the　object　in　her　hand　as　she　felt　a　tidal　wave　of　emptiness　wash　over　her。　She　tried　to　calm　herself　by　staring　into　the　fisherman's　kind　eyes　as　she　felt　her　own　eyes　start　to　water；　and　she　thought　how　water；　this　water　in　front　of　her；　had　been　her　Granny's　life。　The　fisherman　hugged　her；　as　he　whispered　into　her　ear；　〃She　wanted　to　go；　child；　anyone　who　dies　with　such　a　sweet　smile　on　her　face　wants　to　go。〃
　Fay　knew　what　was　in　her　hand。　She　didn't　even　have　to　look　at　it。　She　shoved　it　into　her　pocket。　She　knew　what　she　had　to　do；　but　it　would　have　to　wait　until　tomorrow。
　The　door　to　Marion's　house　was　unlocked；　as　usual。
　Everything　looked　as　it　always　had。　She　went　straight　for　the　refrigerator　and　opened　it。　Two　Joe's　take…out　containers；　a　half…empty　bottle　of　prune　juice；　a　head　of　lettuce　in　a　bag　marked　〃Booger。〃　And　a　big　empty　space　in　the　middle。　No　canister。
　The　phone　rang。　She　picked　it　up　without　saying　a　word。　After　a　minute；　she　said；　〃Jake；　the　head's　gone。〃
　Jake　put　down　the　phone　and　sat　down　at　the　kitchen　dinette；　stared　at　the　canister　on　the　table；　wondered　how　long　before　they　came　for　this　one；　too。
　
　John　Deal　sat　on　the　Havantur　bus；　thinking　of　how　long　he'd　dreamed　of　the　day　he　could　buy　a　big　Hatteras　and　live　happily　ever　after　in　the　Bahamas。　Now　that　his　dream　had　e　true；　he　suffered　from　an　overload　of　fun；　sun；　rum；　sex；　drugs；　suffered　from　too　much　marination　in　gin…clear　salt　waters；　his　head　like　an　olive　in　a　martini。　He　felt　trapped　in　a　picture　postcard；　paradise…overdosed。　He'd　e　to　Havana　to　try　to　snap　himself　out　of　it；　get　a　shot　of　reality。　The　tour　guide；　whose　name　was　Dogma　or　Dagma；　spoke　English　with　a　heavy　Russian　accent。　Deal　couldn't　understand　anything　she　said。　He　gave　up　when　she　pointed　to　a　pineapple　finial　on　a　rooftop　and　said；　〃The　pineapple　resides　on　that　edifice　because　it's　the　symbol　of　tropical　fruit。〃
　As　they　drove　around　the　city；　John　Deal　got　more　and　more　depressed。　I　didn't　need　this　much　reality；　he　thought。　It　was　like　driving　through　South　Miami　after　Hurricane　Andrew。　Buildings；　some　of　the　most　beautiful　he　had　ever　seen；　were　in　ruins。　Everyone　seem