iancaldwell&dustinthomason.theruleoffour-第42部分

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　〃I'm　supposed　to　be　at　Katie's　in　ten　minutes。〃
　〃This'll　only　take　fifteen。　Maybe　thirty。〃
　I　think　it　occurred　to　him　only　at　that　moment　how　much　things　had　changed。
　〃I'll　see　you　guys　in　the　morning；〃　I　said。
　Charlie；　who　understood；　smiled　and　wished　me　luck。
　　
　It　was　a　signal　night　for　Paul；　I　think。　He　realized　he'd　lost　me　for　good。　He　also　sensed　that　no　matter　what　Colonna's　final　message　was；　it　couldn't　possibly　contain　the　man's　entire　secret；　when　so　little　had　been　revealed　in　the　first　four　parts。　The　second　half　of　the　Hypnerotomachia；　which　we　had　always　assumed　was　filler；　must　in　reality　contain　more　ciphered　text。　And　whatever　consolation　Paul　took　in　Charlie's　medical　knowledge；　or　in　having　solved　the　fifth　riddle；　it　dissipated　quickly　when　he　saw　Colonna's　message　and　realized　that　he　was　right。
　
　I　fear　for　you；　reader；　as　I　fear　for　myself。　As　you　have　perceived；　it　was　my　intention　at　the　beginning　of　this　text　to　betray　to　you　my　meanings；　no　matter　how　deeply　I　wrapped　them　in　codes。　I　have　wished　for　you　to　find　what　you　seek；　and　have　acted　as　your　guide。
　Now；　however；　I　find　that　I　have　not　faith　enough　in　my　own　creation　to　continue　in　this　manner。　Perhaps　I　cannot　judge　the　true　difficulty　of　the　riddles　here　contained；　even　if　their　creators　assure　me　none　but　a　true　philosopher　could　solve　them。　Perhaps　these　wise　men；　too；　are　jealous　of　my　secret；　and　have　misled　me　so　that　they　may　steal　what　is　rightfully　ours。　He　is　clever　indeed；　this　preacher；　with　followers　in　every　camp；　I　fear　he　turns　my　soldiers　against　me。
　It　is　as　a　defense　to　you　then；　reader；　that　I　pursue　my　present　course。　Where　you　have　bee　accustomed　to　finding　a　riddle　within　my　chapters；　you　will　benceforth　find　no　riddles　at　all；　and　no　solutions　to　lead　you。　I　will　employ　only　my　Rule　of　Four　for　the　duration　of　Poliphilo's　journey；　but　I　will　offer　you　no　suggestion　of　its　nature。　Only　your　intellect　will　guide　you　now。　May　God　and　genius；　friend；　shepherd　you　aright。
　
　It　was　confidence　alone；　I　think；　that　prevented　Paul　from　sensing　his　abandonment　until　many　days　had　passed。　I　had　left　him；　Colonna　had　left　him；　now　he　navigated　alone。　He　tried；　at　first；　to　reinvolve　me　in　the　process。　We　had　solved　so　much　together　that　he　thought　it　would　be　selfish　to　let　me　absent　myself　in　the　eleventh　hour。　We　were　so　close；　he　thought；　we　had　so　little　left　to　do。
　Then　a　week　passed；　and　another。　I　was　beginning　again　with　Katie；　relearning　her；　loving　her　alone。　So　much　had　happened　in　the　weeks　we'd　been　apart　that　I　was　more　than　occupied　trying　to　catch　up。　We　alternated　meals　at　Cloister　and　at　Ivy。　She　had　new　friends；　we　had　new　routines。　There　were　family　matters　of　hers　I　began　to　take　an　interest　in。　I　sensed　that　once　I'd　won　her　trust　back　pletely；　she　had　things　she　wanted　to　tell　me。
　Everything　Paul　had　learned　about　Colonna's　riddles；　meanwhile；　began　to　fail　him。　Like　a　body　of　work　slowly　decaying　in　function；　the　Hypnerotomachia　resisted　all　his　trusted　medicines。　The　Rule　of　Four　was　elusive；　Colonna　had　given　no　indication　of　its　origin。　Charlie；　the　hero　of　the　fifth　riddle；　stayed　up　with　Paul　some　nights；　worrying　about　the　effect　my　departure　was　having。　He　never　asked　me　to　help；　knowing　what　the　book　had　done　to　me　once；　but　I　saw　the　way　he　hovered　over　Paul；　like　a　doctor　eyeing　a　patient　he　fears　is　trending　badly。　A　darkness　was　setting　in；　a　book　lover's　heartbreak；　and　Paul　was　helpless　against　it。　He　would　suffer；　without　my　help；　until　Easter　weekend。
　
　Chapter　19
　
　On　the　way　back　to　Dod；　I　shuffle　through　Katie's　pictures　of　Princeton　Battlefield。　In　shot　after　shot　I've　caught　her　in　midmotion；　running　toward　me；　hair　streaking　behind；　mouth　half　open；　her　words　caught　somewhere　in　the　registers　of　experience　beyond　the　camera's　range。　The　pleasure　of　imagining　her　voice　in　them　is　the　joy　of　these　pictures。　In　another　twelve　hours　I'll　see　her　at　Ivy；　escorting　her　to　the　ball　she's　been　anticipating　almost　since　we　met；　and　I　know　what　she'll　be　waiting　for　me　to　say。　That　I've　made　a　choice　I　can　stick　to；　that　I've　learned。　That　I　won't　be　returning　to　the　Hypnerotomachia。
　When　I　get　back　to　the　room；　I　expect　to　find　Paul　at　his　desk；　but　his　bunk　is　still　empty；　and　now　the　books　on　his　dresser　are　gone。　Taped　to　the　top　of　the　door　frame　is　a　note；　this　one　in　large　red　letters。
　
　Tom…
　Where　are　you？　Came　back　looking　for　you。　Figured　out　4S…10E…2N…6W！　Gone　to　pick　up　topo　atlas　at　Firestone；　then　down　to　McCosh。　Vincent　says　he　has　the　blueprint。　10：15。
　…P。
　
　I　read　the　message　again；　piecing　it　together。　The　basement　of　McCosh　Hall　is　the　location　of　Taft's　office　on　campus。　But　the　last　line　leaves　me　cold：　Vincent　says　he　has　the　blueprint。　I　pick　up　the　phone　and　call　the　squad　house。　Charlie's　on　the　line　in　a　matter　of　seconds。
　〃What's　up；　Tom？〃
　〃Paul　went　to　see　Taft。〃
　〃What？　I　thought　he　was　going　to　talk　to　the　dean　about　Stein。〃
　〃We　need　to　find　him。　Can　you　get　someone　to　cover　for　y…〃
　Before　I　can　even　finish；　a　muffled　sound　interrupts　the　call；　and　I　hear　Charlie　talking　to　someone　on　the　other　end。
　〃When　did　Paul　leave？〃　he　says；　returning　to　the　line。
　〃Ten　minutes　ago。〃
　〃I'm　on　my　way。　We'll　catch　up　to　him。〃
　Charlie's　1973　Volkswagen　Karmann　Ghia　pulls　up　in　back　of　Dod　more　than　fifteen　minutes　later。　The　old　car　looks　like　a　metal　toad　rusted　in　mid…hop。　Before　I've　even　lowered　myself　into　the　passenger　seat；　Charlie's　got　it　in　reverse。
　〃What　took　you　so　long？〃　I　ask。
　〃A　reporter　showed　up　at　the　squad　room　when　I　was　leaving；〃　he　said。　〃She　wanted　to　talk　to　me　about　last　night。〃
　〃So？〃
　〃Someone　at　the　police　department　told　her　what　Taft　said　in　his　interrogation。〃　We　pull　onto　Elm　Drive；　where　little　crests　of　slush　give　the　asphalt　a　choppy　surface；　like　ocean　water　at　night。　〃Didn't　you　tell　me　Taft　knew　Richard　Curry　a　long　time　ago？〃
　〃Yeah。　Why？〃
　〃Because　he　told　the　cops　he　only　knew　Curry　through　Paul。〃
　Just　as　we　enter　north　campus；　I　spot　Paul　in　the　courtyard　between　the　library　and　the　history　department；　walking　toward　McCosh。
　〃Paul！〃　I　call　out　the　window。
　〃What　are　you　doing？〃　Charlie　snaps　at　him；　pulling　up　to　the　curb。
　〃I　solved　it！〃　Paul　says；　surprised　to　see　us。　〃The　whole　thing。　I　just　need　the　blueprint。　Tom；　you're　not　going　to　believe　this。　It's　the　most　amaz…〃
　〃What？　Tell　me。〃
　But　Charlie　isn't　hearing　any　of　it。　〃You're　not　going　to　Taft's；〃　he　says。
　〃You　don't　understand。　It's　done　。　。　。　。〃
　Charlie　leans　on　the　car　horn；　filling　the　courtyard　with　noise。
　〃Listen　to　me；〃　Charlie　interrupts。　〃Paul；　get　in　the　car。　We're　going　home。〃
　〃He's　right；〃　I　say。　〃You　shouldn't　have　e　out　here　alone。〃
　〃I'm　going　to　Vincent's；〃　Paul　says　quietly；　and　begins　walking　in　the　direction　of　Taft's　office。　〃I　know　what　I'm　doing。〃
　Charlie　forces　the　car　into　reverse；　keeping　up　with　Paul。　〃You　think　he's　just　going　to　give　you　what　you　want？〃
　〃He　called　me；　Charlie。　That's　what　he　said　he　was　going　to　do。〃
　〃He　admitted　he　stole　it　from　Curry？〃　I　ask。　〃Why　would　he　give　you　the　blueprint　now？〃
　〃Paul；〃　Charlie　says；　stopping　the　car。　〃He's　not　giving　you　anything。〃
　The　way　he　says　it；　Paul　stops。
　Charlie　lowers　his　voice　and　explains　what　he　learned　from　the　reporter。　〃When　the　police　asked　Taft　last　night　if　he　could　think　of　anyone　who　might've　done　something　like　this　to　Stein；　Taft　said　he　could　think　of　two　people。〃
　The　expression　on　Paul's　face　starts　to　fade；　the　excitement　of　his　discovery　waning。
　〃The　first　was　Curry；〃　Charlie　says。　〃The　second　was　you。〃　He　pauses；　letting　the　emphasis　stand。　〃So　I　don't　care　what　the　man　told　you　over　the　phone。　You　need　to　stay　away　from　him。〃
　An　old　white　pickup　truck　rumbles　down　the　road　past　us；　snow　crunching　beneath　its　tires。
　〃Then　help　me；〃　Paul　says。
　〃We　will。〃　Charlie　opens　the　door。　〃We'll　drive　you　home。〃
　Paul　tightens　his　coat　around　him。　〃Help　me　by　ing　with　me。　After　I　get　the　blueprint　from　Vincent；　I　don't　need　him　anymore。〃
　Charlie　stares。　〃Are　you　even　hearing　us？〃
　But　there　are　sides　to　this　that　Charlie　doesn't　understand。　He　doesn't　know　what　it　means　that　Taft　has　been　hiding　the　blueprint　all　along。
　〃I'm　this　close　to　having　it　in　my　hands；　Charlie；〃　Paul　says。　〃All　I　have　to　do　is　stand　up　for　what　I've　found。　And　you're　telling　me　to　go　home？〃
　〃Look；〃　Charlie　begins；　〃I'm　just　saying　we　need　to…〃
　But　I　interrupt。　〃Paul；　we'll　e　with　you。〃
　〃What？〃　Charlie　says。
　〃e　on。〃　I　open　the　passenger　door。
　Paul　turns；　not　expecting　this。
　〃If　he's　going　with　or　without　us；〃　I　say　to　Charlie　under　my　breath；　leaning　back　into　the　car；　〃then　I'm　going　too。〃
　Paul　begins　walking　toward　McCosh　as　Charlie　considers　his　position。
　〃Taft　can't　do　anything　if　there　are　three　of　us；〃　I　say。　〃You　know　that。〃
　Charlie　exhales　slowly；　sending　a　cloud　of　steam　into　the　air。　Finally　he　makes　a　space　for　the　car　in　the　snow　and　pulls　the　keys　from　the　ignition。
　　
　The　walk　to　Taft's　office　takes　an　eternity；　pacing　up　to　the　gray　edifice　in　the　snow。　The　room　lies　in　the　bowels　of　McCosh；　where　the　hallways　are　so　cramped　and　the　stairs　are　so　steep；　we　have　to　descend　single　file。　It's　hard　to　believe　Vincent　Taft　can　breathe　in　here；　let　alone　move。　Even　I　get　the　sensation　of　being　too　big　for　the　place。　Charlie　must　feel　like　he's　trapped。
　I　look　back；　just　to　make　sure　he's　still　there。　The　sight　of　him　behind　us；　filling　the　doorways　and　covering　our　backs；　gives　me　enough　confidence　to　keep　moving。　I　realize　now　what　I　was　too　bluff　to　admit　before：　if　Charlie　hadn't　e　with　us；　I　couldn't　have　gone　through　with　this。
　Paul　leads　us　down　a　final　hallway；　toward　the　single　room　at　the　end。　Because　of　the　weekend　and　the　holiday；　every　other　office　is　locked　up　and　dark。　Only　beneath　the　white　door　bearing　the　placard　of　Taft's　name　do　I　see　the　rich　glow　of　light。　The　paint　on　the　door　is　chipped；　curling　over　itself　near　the　edge；　where　it　closes　into　the　jamb。　On　the　bottom　of　the　panel　is　a　faint　line　of　discoloration；　the　high…water　mark　of　an　old　flood　from　the　steam　tunnels　coiled　just　benea