ch.nakedcamethemanatee-第15部分

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jerked　to　a　halt。　As　soon　as　the　truck　hopped　over　the　slightly　inclined　span；　airborne　for　a　split　second；　then　slamming　back　down　on　the　other　side　with　a　bump　and　a　shimmy；　he　threw　the　drawbridge　lift　all　the　way　to　the　right；　full　speed；　hoping　it　would　raise　up　high　enough　to　allow　the　disco　boat　under　it。
　But　that　was　the　least　of　his　problems。　The　black　Acura；　apparently　intent　on　leaping　across　the　opening　span；　crashed　through　the　blinking　gate。　But　before　it　reached　the　center；　the　airborne　scuba　tanks　crashed　into　the　windshield　at　a　relative　velocity　in　excess　of　a　hundred　miles　per　hour。
　The　explosion　lit　up　the　sky　behind　her；　but　Fay　just　kept　right　on　driving　until　she　pulled　into　the　Barnett　Bank　on　Alton　Road。　She　grabbed　an　empty　grocery　bag　and　walked　into　the　bank。　If　that　fisherman　hadn't　handed　her　the　key　in　Peacock　Park；　she　might　not　have　remembered　this　for　weeks；　remembered　that　years　before；　Granny　had　given　her　the　duplicate　key　to　her　safe　deposit　box；　〃just　in　case　anything　happens　to　me。〃　
　〃But　Granny；〃　she'd　protested。　〃Why　should　anything　happen　to　you？　You're　only　ninety…nine。〃
　Fay　was　led　into　the　vault。　She　removed　the　box　and　carried　it　into　the　cubicle　and　shut　the　door。　She　took　a　deep　breath；　took　out　her　key；　took　out　the　identical　key　the　fisherman　had　given　her；　and　opened　the　box。　She　couldn't　believe　her　eyes。　The　box　was　jammed　with　money；　piles　and　piles　of　neatly　stacked　hundred…dollar　bills。　Fay　had　never　seen　so　much　money　in　her　life。　Resting　on　top　of　it　was　a　sealed　envelope　with　her　name　printed　neatly　in　her　Granny's　handwriting。　Fay　opened　it。
　Dearest　Fay；
　I　could　not　die　happily　as　long　as　I　knew　my　lover；　my　friend；　my　life；　my　bay　was　in　danger。　When　the　bay　gave　me　the　head；　I　realized　what　I　had　to　do。　I　knew　the　head　would　be　worth　a　lot　of　money　to　the　right　people。　There's　dose　to　a　million　dollars　in　this　box。　Use　it　to　save　Biscayne　Bay。　But　don't　ask　any　questions　about　where　I　got　this　money。　These　are　bad　people。
　I　love　you　with　all　my　heart；　my　special　Angelfish；　Granny　Marion
　
　10。　DANCE　OF　THE　MANATEE…Vicki　Hendricks
　Booger　heard　the　crack　and　rumble　above　him　as　he　followed　the　party　boat　upstream。　He　felt　chills　rush　down　his　hide　and　each　bristle　on　his　back　push　against　the　flow。　He　felt　his　nakedness。　His　two…thousand…pound　bulk　was　as　vulnerable　as　a　bowl　of　fish　aspic。
　He　craved　Marion；　the　human　he　called　Ma。　He　sought　the　warmth　of　her　frail　flesh。　But　he　sensed　that　the　soft　crepey　arms　would　never　again　rock　his　fears　away；　nor　the　skeletal　fingers　massage　the　sensitive　areas　beneath　his　limbs。
　She　had　often　e　to　him　in　the　moonlight　when　the　harsh　air…world　was　smothering　her；　a　hot　trickle　of　energy　seeping　from　her　pores　into　the　salt　water。　He　would　nuzzle　his　rubbery　nose　under　her　armpits　or　into　her　rump　till　she　shrieked　with　pleasure。　They　had　munication　beyond　words。　They　were　good　for　each　other。　Now　she　was　gone。
　His　smallish　brain　replayed　the　scenario　of　the　last　afternoon　he'd　seen　her　alive。　He'd　been　munching　at　the　bottom；　chewing　well　on　a　particularly　bitter　clump　of　turtle　grass；　when　he'd　recognized　Ma's　bony　legs。　They'd　been　fluttering　and　whipping　in　a　foaming　chaos　of　kicks　that　was　sure　to　lure　sharks。　Behind　her　was　the　silent　black　hull　of　a　Cigarette　boat　following　at　no…wake　speed。　Booger　had　surfaced　to　see　Ma　thrashing　with　her　last　strength　through　the　waves；　coughing；　gulping　air；　digging　in；　trying　to　reach　her　Booger。
　She'd　led　them　into　Booger　territory；　for　him　to　save　her。　He　felt　his　adrenaline…like　fluids　start　to　pump。　He　dove　and　came　up　in　front　of　her。　He　humped　her　onto　his　rounded　shoulders　and　made　a　run　for　the　shallows；　but　he　couldn't　submerge　to　get　up　speed。　Ma　was　gasping；　and　her　shaking　arms　could　barely　cling　around　his　neck。
　They　never　had　a　chance。　The　monster　boat　could　go　most　anyplace　he　could。　It　was　on　his　tail；　unstoppable　as　a　freighter。
　〃Okay；　Miss　Marion；〃　a　male　human　bellowed。　〃No　more　exercise。　Tell　us　where　it　is　or　we　shoot　the　porker　you're　ridin'　on。〃
　She　let　go　of　Booger's　neck　instantly。　He　tried　to　nuzzle　between　her　legs　to　get　her　back　on　top　of　him；　but　she　was　doing　a　scissors　kick　at　top　speed。　She　launched　herself　toward　the　boat。　〃No！〃　she　was　screaming。　〃No！　Not　him。　He's　innocent。〃
　Booger　ran　under　her　and　flipped　and　banged　his　tail　against　the　boat。　Once；　twice。　He　thumped　it　again；　again；　again。　It　was　no　use。　He　was　off　balance。　He　got　water　up　his　nose　and　his　lower　back　seized　up　in　pain。　There　wasn't　even　a　dent　in　the　hull。
　He　surfaced　and　watched　them　drag　Ma　out　of　the　water。　There　were　two　human　males。　A　dark…haired；　muscular　one　was　holding　Ma　down。　One　that　resembled　a　pale　manatee　was　telling　him　what　to　do。
　Ma　lay　on　her　stomach；　flattened　and　exhausted；　across　the　stern。　〃Head？〃　she　panted。　〃That's　all　you　want？〃　She　snorted；　coughed。　〃Gone。　Sucker's　gone。〃
　〃So　where　is　it；　Marion？　Don't　play　senile　on　us；〃　said　the　pale　fat　one。
　〃Ha！　Sold。〃　She　wheezed。　〃You'll　never　get　the　money。　It's　hidden。　It's　going　to　a　good　cause。〃
　The　pointy　black　feet　of　the　dark　one　straddled　her　torso；　and　an　arm　with　a　drawing　on　it　grabbed　a　handful　of　her　wet　hair　to　raise　her　head。　〃We　don't　give　a　hoot　about　the　fing　money；　ol'　lady。　We　want　the　head。　You're　using　up　your　time。〃
　She　turned　her　face　up　to　him。　〃No　kidding；〃　she　said。　She　crossed　her　eyes　and　stuck　her　tongue　out　the　corner　of　her　mouth。　She　giggled　and　snorted。
　The　rounded　human　hissed　something。
　Booger　sensed　trouble。　He　had　to　get　their　attention。　He　rolled　on　his　side；　stuck　his　tail　at　an　angle；　and　powered。　He　zigged。　He　zagged。　He　did　the　best　shark　imitation　he　knew　how。
　Gold　chains　glinted　as　Pointy…foot　leaned　out　over　the　water。　Strong　perfume　drifted　down　and　made　Booger　gag。　〃You　saved　that　one　for　nothing；　woman。　He　needs　to　be　put　out　of　his　misery。〃
　The　pudge　motioned　to　Pointy…foot　and　he　let　go　of　her　hair。　She　looked　weak　and　paler　than　ever。　Booger　sensed　he　must　do　something　fast。
　He　dove　to　the　bottom　and　looked；　kept　searching；　using　up　the　seconds。　At　last　he　found　what　he　needed。　A　rock。　A　nice　sharp　piece　of　dead　coral。
　He　gummed　it　and　rose　to　the　surface。　He　could　hear　talk；　but　couldn't　see　Ma　anymore。　He　took　the　coral　to　the　black；　shiny…painted　surface　and　dug　in。　He　zigged。　He　zagged。　He　cut　deep　into　the　fiberglass；　propelling　himself　the　length　of　the　boat。　He　gashed　at　the　hull。　He　couldn't　make　a　hole　like　he　wanted；　couldn't　sink　them　and　save　Ma…no　matter　how　hard　he　tried…but　he　cut　some　ridges。　He　would　know　this　boat　if　he　saw　it　again。
　He　heard　Ma's　voice　from　above。　He　surfaced。　She　was　still　flattened　on　the　deck。　He　sensed　her　ebbing　strength　from　her　husky　breath。
　〃Swim；　son。　Fast。　Go。　They　have　guns。〃
　The　crashing　started　as　she　spoke；　and　the　four　out…boards　rumbled　and　churned　up　water。　Booger　couldn't　make　it　under　the　boat。　The　water　was　ripped　again　and　again　alongside　him。　He　felt　a　zing　and　tasted　blood；　hot　and　frothy；　in　his　mouth。　He　had　to　swim。　He　blasted　away　at　top　speed　until　the　engines　roared。　He　turned　to　catch　sight　of　the　boat　skimming　the　water　in　the　opposite　direction。
　It　was　sometime　later　he　found　Ma's　body。　He　let　her　drift　for　a　time；　in　the　warm　bay　that　she　loved；　but　his　own　homing　instinct　made　him　sense　he　should　take　her　near　shore。　She'd　want　her　Fay…calf　to　know　what　happened。
　He　nudged　Ma　to　a　quiet　place；　where　the　water　was　less　murky　and　the　sand　soft　enough　for　them　to　drag　her　out。　She　was　peaceful。　Her　lips　were　set　in　the　certain　way　he'd　noticed　when　she　cuddled　skin　to　hide　with　him　in　the　shallows　on　a　summer　evening。　She'd　had　the　last　snort　on　those　guys。
　Booger　had　slept　and　foraged；　and　his　wounded　lip　stopped　bleeding。　He　was　used　to　pain　and　it　was　too　late　to　worry　about　scarring。　He　watched　Ma　puff　up　till　her　wrinkles　were　gone　and　she　resembled　his　true　birth　mother。　Then　the　tan　human　brought　the　others　to　take　her　away。
　Now　as　Booger　listened　to　the　sirens　racing　too　late　to　the　explosion　on　the　bridge；　he　struggled　with　his　grief…a　feeling　of　outrage　at　the　whole　land…world。　He　relived　the　foul　smell　of　perfumed　male；　the　gold　chains　catching　sun；　the　shiny　black　pointed　feet　straddling　Ma's　sinewy　frame。
　His　blood　began　to　heat。　A　chemical　reaction　took　place　in　his　disproportionate　brain。　The　bristles　on　his　back　rose　straighter；　his　shoulders　squared；　and　his　tail　flared　out　and　took　up　a　steady；　pulsing　throb。　He　licked　the　crusty　scab　inside　his　mouth。　Was　it　justice　he　wanted；　or　vengeance？
　Whatever　it　was；　he　needed　to　find　that　marked　boat。
　
　Jake　was　jamming　hot　and　heavy　on　his　porch　swing　when　Fay　and　Britt　pulled　into　the　drive。　He　thumped　the　canister　on　his　lap　in　half…time　with　the　creak　of　his　joints。　The　squeak　of　unoiled　hinges　blended　to　produce　what　he　thought　to　be　an　interesting　rhythm。
　Fay　came　up　the　steps　first。　〃Do　you　think　you　should　be　flashing　that　head　around　the　neighborhood；　Jake？〃
　〃Is　that　'When　the　Saints　Go　Marching　In'？〃　Britt　asked。　Fay　snorted。
　Jake　stared　at　Britt　and　straightened　his　legs　to　halt　the　music。
　〃We　need　to　take　this　thing　to　a　safe　place；〃　Fay　said。　〃Jake　could　be　in　danger。〃
　Britt　looked　inside　the　screen　door。　〃Never　mind。　His　place　is　perfect。　Anybody　who　es　here　will　figure　it　was　already　ransacked。〃
　〃That's　what　I　like　about　you；　Britt；〃　Jake　said。
　Fay　picked　up　the　canister。　〃I　know　where　you　can　put　it…my　friend　Ramona's。　She　has　snakes　and　iguanas。　It's　very　secure；　and　she's　a　nurse；　not　a　bit　squeamish。〃
　Britt　put　up　her　little　finger　and　got　Jake's　attention。　〃What　you　like　about　me；　Jake；　is　that　I'm　attractive；　intelligent；　kind；　humorous；　employed；　and　have　female　organs；〃　she　said。　〃I　can　cook　too。　I　just　don't。〃　She　punched　him　in　the　upper　arm。
　He　grabbed　his　shoulder　and　moaned。　〃Damn；　Britt。〃　He　moaned　again。　〃This　joint's　been　dislocated　eight　times。〃
　〃Ramona　lives　on　the　water；〃　said　Fay。　〃We　can　take　the　boat。　It's　the　fastest；　and　maybe　we'll　see　Booger。　I　feel　in　the　mood　for　a　swim。〃
　〃Yeah。　Good　idea；〃　said　Jake。　A　flash　of　Fay　clad　only　in　moonlight　flickered　through　his　b