ch.nakedcamethemanatee-第6部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


s　argument　about　who　would　drive。　Jake's　foot　was　bandaged；　and　although　Britt　could　not　clearly　recall　the　specifics　of　Deal's　destructive　swath　through　the　exotic…car　showroom；　she　suspected　that　it　would　be　safer　to　skydive　without　a　chute　than　travel　anywhere　as　his　passenger。
　They　sat　at　the　table　and　filled　her　in　on　Fay's　abduction。
　〃We　have　to　call　the　FBI；〃　she　said；　concerned。
　〃No　cops；〃　Jake　said。　〃Bring　in　any　kind　of　badge　and　that'll　get　Fay　dead。　I　know　those　guys。　That's　why　we　called　you。〃
　〃Jake；　I'm　no　Rambo。　What　can　I　do？〃
　〃Look；　Britt；　nobody　in　Miami　has　better　contacts。　We　need　you　to　check　something　out　for　us。　Quietly。　You'll　have　to　sit　on　it　for　a　few　days；　but　then　you'll　have　the　story　of　a　lifetime；　and　hopefully　we'll　have　Fay　back；　and　maybe　a　little　something　extra　for　our　trouble。〃
　Deal　nodded　and　popped　a　handful　of　Advil。　〃Those　lowlifes　on　the　boat　know　who　we　are；〃　he　muttered。　〃We'll　be　hearing　from　them　soon；　without　a　doubt。　We　need　to　know　who　they're　working　for；　what　the　hell　we're　dealing　with　here。〃
　〃They'll　probably　contact　us；　to　arrange　a　swap；〃　Jake　said。
　〃Swap？〃
　〃That's　what　we　have　to　show　you。〃　Jake　swept　an　accumulation　of　beer　cans　and　pizza　crusts　off　the　cluttered　tabletop　and　placed　the　metal　canister　in　the　center。
　Opening　the　box；　he　lifted　the　lid；　curling　his　wrists　as　he　did　so；　as　though　unveiling　a　rare　work　of　art。
　The　room　was　so　hot　that　they　could　feel　the　whoosh　of　cool　air；　as　though　somebody　had　opened　a　freezer。　But　it　was　something　else　that　prickled　the　hair　on　the　back　of　Britt's　neck。　Could　be　it　be　the　faint；　stale　aroma　of　cigar　smoke？
　Britt　stared　into　the　expressionless　eyes。　Fidel　Castro　was　the　man　who　had　killed　her　father；　stood　him　in　front　of　a　bullet…pocked　wall　on　San　Juan　Hill　and　ordered　his　execution　by　firing　squad　when　she　was　only　three　years　old。　〃Think　it's　really　him？〃　she　whispered。
　They　could　not　be　sure　from　the　photos　she　had　brought。
　〃Was　there　anything　unusual　on　the　wires　out　of　Havana？〃
　Britt　shook　her　head。　〃Rumors　are　always　sweeping　Miami　that　Castro　is　dead；　dying；　or　in　Switzerland　having　sheep…glands　injections　to　maintain　his　virility。〃　Jake　raised　his　eyebrows。
　〃Don't　laugh；〃　Britt　said。　〃He　has　quite　a　reputation。〃
　She　stared　into　the　canister。　〃I've　never　actually　seen　the　man　in　person。〃
　〃Nor　I；〃　Jake　said。
　〃What　about　Magda　Montiel　Davis？〃　she　said。　〃She'd　know　him。〃　Davis；　a　local　lawyer；　had　kissed　Castro；　gushing　like　an　infatuated　schoolgirl　at　a　reception　in　Havana。　She　had　had　no　inkling　at　the　time　that　Cuban　cameras　were　rolling；　that　Fidel　would　gleefully　sell　the　footage　to　Miami　television　stations；　and　that　enraged　exiles　would　greet　her　return　with　threats　of　death；　bombs；　and　mob　violence。
　All　three　studied　the　frozen　face。
　〃What's　Mickey　Schwartz　doing　these　days？〃　Jake　said　thoughtfully。
　Schwartz　had　built　a　successful　three…decade　acting　and　modeling　career　based　on　the　fact　that　he　was　a　dead　ringer　for　Castro。　His　most　recent　gig　was　a　Florida　lottery　mercial　in　which　he　wore　fatigues　and　blew　contented　smoke　rings　after　using　dollar　bills；　presumably　lottery　winnings；　to　light　his　cigar。
　〃This　could　be　him；〃　Jake　said；　and　closed　the　container。　〃Wre　don't　want　it　to　thaw　out。〃
　〃Good　thinking；〃　Deal　said。
　〃Maybe　Castro　was　dying；〃　Britt　suggested；　〃he　knew　it　and　wanted　to　be　frozen　until　they　could　cure　what　killed　him。　There's　a　doctor　into　cryogenics　here　in　Miami。〃
　〃Why　wouldn't　they　send　his　entire　body？〃　Deal　said。　〃It　would　be　easier　to　revive　than　finding　him　a　whole　new　body。〃
　〃Maybe　somebody　screwed　up；〃　she　said。　〃Remember　that　pop　singer　from　Caracas？　He　intended　to　have　his　body　frozen　but　there　was　an　accident　with　a　circular　saw　during　the　packaging。　All　they　could　salvage　was　his　head。　It's　still　frozen　here　somewhere。〃
　〃This　isn't　getting　Fay　back；〃　Jake　muttered；　painfully　pacing　the　length　of　the　small　kitchen。　He　paused　at　the　refrigerator　to　take　out　a　beer；　and　tossed　one　to　Deal。　Britt　passed；　no　longer　hungry；　or　thirsty。　Her　mind　was　racing。　Maybe　this　was　the　big　one。
　〃Well；　I　tell　you；〃　she　said；　after　peering　again　into　the　metal　container。　〃It's　either　him　or　Mickey　Schwartz。〃
　〃Why　would　those　guys　so　desperately　want　the　head　of　Mickey　Schwartz？〃　Jake　asked。
　They　stared　at　one　another。
　〃Unless　they　want　to　pass　it　off　as　Castro；〃　she　said。　〃Every　time　there　are　rumors　of　Castro's　demise；　Little　Havana　erupts。　Juan　Carlos　Reyes　has　offered　a　million…dollar　reward　for　proof　that　Castro　is　dead。〃
　Reyes；　a　politically　connected　Miami　millionaire；　was　determined　to　bee　the　next　president　of　Cuba。
　〃W7hat　exactly　happened　when　they　took　Fay？〃　Britt　was　taking　notes。
　〃She　went　skinny…dipping　with　a　manatee。〃
　Deal　interrupted。　〃Do　you　think　it　could　be　the　same　manatee　。。。　？〃
　〃What？〃
　They　told　Britt　the　story　of　Deal's　near…death　experience　and　his　amazing　rescue　from　a　watery　grave。　〃Not　too　many　manatees　left　these　days；〃　she　said；　〃especially　ones　that　would　rescue　a　human。〃
　〃Doesn't　the　Navy　use　them？〃　Deal　said。
　〃No；　that's　dolphins。　They're　smarter；〃　Britt　answered；　noticing　that　his　pupils　appeared　dilated。
　〃The　old　lady　that　pulled　me　out　said　she　chats　with　him。〃
　〃That　manatee　is　our　only　witness；〃　Jake　said。　〃Maybe　we　ought　to　go　get　the　dive　boat　and　find　him。〃
　Britt　rolled　her　eyes。　〃What　do　you　plan　to　do；　let　him　sniff　her　bathing　suit？〃
　Jake　shrugged。　〃It　works　with　police　dogs。〃
　
　Marion　McAlister　Williams　was　rocking　in　the　dark　on　her　front　porch　when　they　arrived；　almost　as　though　she　had　been　expecting　them。　〃He's　out　there；〃　she　said；　nodding；　〃and　something's　wrong。〃
　They　went　to　the　grotto。　Booger　was　there；　circling；　in　a　state　of　agitation。
　Booger　experienced　an　unreasoning　feeling　of　dread。　He　sensed　trouble；　cries　for　help；　mortal　danger。　He　swam　as　fast　as　he　could；　powerful　flips　of　his　tail　propelling　him　southward。　Dawn　streaked　the　sky　as　the　trio　in　the　dive　boat　trailed　him　around　a　mangrove　outcropping　to　a　wooden　boat　dock　with　a　million…dollar　yacht　appended　to　it。
　Britt　felt　an　odd　sense　of　deja　vu。　Like　a　Lassie　movie；　she　thought；　with　Timmy　trapped　down　the　well。
　〃I　know　who　lives　here；〃　she　said；　squinting　at　the　house。　〃I　think　it's　some　city　official。〃
　Jake　idled　down　the　Evinrude。　As　they　let　the　boat　coast；　they　heard　a　splash　as　something　hit　the　water。
　〃Hurry！〃　Britt　cried　out。
　Booger　dove　nose…down　to　where　a　burlap　bag　was　sinking　to　the　silty　bottom。
　Burrowing　beneath　the　sack；　the　gentle　giant　rose；　bursting　through　the　surface　of　the　shining　water；　showering　those　aboard　with　spray。
　〃Oh；　shit；〃　Lassiter　said。
　If　Booger　had　found　Fay；　or　what　was　left　of　her；　it　wasn't　much。
　Deal　reached　out；　caught　it；　then　gingerly　dropped　the　sopping　sack　onto　the　floor　of　the　dive　boat。
　They　gasped　collectively　when　it　moved。
　Something　inside　was　alive。
　〃Could　be　a　snake；〃　Jake　warned。
　Cautiously；　he　loosened　the　thick　twist　tie　that　sealed　the　sack。　Small；　high…pitched　sounds　emerged。
　Then　he　upended　the　bag　and　dumped　the　contents　onto　the　deck。
　Six　drenched　calico　kittens　crawled　in　all　directions；　mewing　loudly　for　their　mother。
　〃That's　who　lives　here！〃　Britt　said。　〃The　Miami　Beach　city　manager！　I　should　have　known。〃　The　man　had　been　seething　ever　since　his　scheme　to　pay　bounty　hunters　thirty…five　dollars　a　head　to　exterminate　the　city's　stray　cat　population　had　gone　awry。　〃Damn；〃　said　Lassiter。
　Booger　dove　and　surfaced；　dove　and　surfaced　again；　then　struck　out　for　open　water；　as　though　somehow　aware　that　he　had　saved　the　furry　little　creatures　now　using　the　back　seat　of　Britt　Montero's　new　T…Bird　for　a　litter　box。
　
　After　a　pit　stop　for　Kitten　Chow　at　an　all…night　convenience　store；　it　was　nearly　eight　a。m。　Britt　would　only　have　time　for　a　shower　and　a　cup　of　coffee。　She　was　not　tired；　she　had　never　been　more　awake。　This　could　be　the　big　one；　the　event　Miami　had　awaited　for　more　than　three　decades。　The　phone　rang　just　as　she　was　leaving。
　Hoping　it　was　Jake　with　word　on　Fay；　she　felt　her　heart　sink　when　she　heard　the　deep…throated　growl　that　had　launched　a　thousand　fan　clubs。　Damn；　she　had　forgotten　screen　star　Dash　Brandon。
　〃You're　up　early；〃　she　said；　trying　grimly　to　shake　off　a　kitten　fastened　by　its　needle…sharp　claws　to　the　right　leg　of　her　linen　slacks。
　〃Tell　you　the　truth；　dollface；　I　haven't　slept　yet。　Been　partying　in　South　Beach　since　I　left　you。　You　been　to　one　a　these　foam　parties？　A　trip。　I　met　up　with　some　of　the　crew；　and　we　need　your　help。〃
　〃You　must　be　too　exhausted　to　join　me　today；〃　she　said；　trying　without　success　to　sound　regretful。
　〃Yeah；　but　we　need　to　see　you。　It's　important。〃　He　sounded　serious。　〃Meet　us　for　lunch　tomorrow。〃
　〃I　usually　don't　eat　lunch；〃　Britt　said。　〃It's　tough　to　eat　anything　on　deadline。〃　She　pushed　back　her　hair　impatiently；　watching　a　kitten　dig　industriously　in　her　potted　begonia。　〃And　I'm　pretty　busy　right　now。〃
　The　movie　star　refused　to　take　no　for　an　answer。　〃Didn't　they　say　you　were　assigned　to　help　me？〃　he　pouted。
　
　5。　THE　OLD　WOMAN　AND　THE　SEA…James　W。　Hall
　Marion　McAlister　Williams　was　naked　in　the　moonlight。　Her　body　wasn't　what　it　used　to　be。　But　name　something　that　was。　Especially　something　102　years　old。　She　was　ankle…deep　in　Biscayne　Bay　standing　in　the　soft　marl　of　her　own　small　beach；　gazing　out　at　a　prairie　of　moonlight　that　glazed　the　still　water。　It　was　two　in　the　morning　on　Tuesday。　The　Grove　was　quiet；　the　sky　was　densely　salted　with　stars；　there　was　no　breeze；　no　mosquitoes；　no　boats　moving　across　the　water；　no　birds　coasting　low；　not　even　the　plaintive　warble　of　the　owl　who　lived　in　her　stand　of　gumbo…limbos　and　strangler　figs。
　Marion　waded　deeper　into　the　bay。　The　water　was　the　same　heat　as　her　flesh。　She　might　have　been　melting　into　a　sea　of　warm　blood；　dissolving；　as　she　went　deeper；　the　water　to　her　deflated　breasts；　to　her　neck；　lifting　her。　She　lay　back；　let　it　hold　her　up　to　the　moon；　an　offering；　this　woman　who　had　seen　enough　of　this　world；　what　it　had　bee；　its　garish　pleasures；　its　quick　and　easy　gratifications；　its　incessant　noise　pulsing　li