iancaldwell&dustinthomason.theruleoffour-第59部分

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　〃He　will；〃　I　say。
　〃You're　wrong；　Tom；〃　Paul　snaps。
　But　I'm　seeing　more　and　more　clearly　where　this　all　leads。
　〃You　showed　Curry　the　diary　when　we　went　to　the　exhibit；〃　I　tell　him。　〃He　knew　Taft　had　stolen　it。〃
　〃Yes；　but…〃
　〃Stein　even　told　him　they　were　going　to　steal　your　thesis。　Curry　wanted　to　get　it　before　they　did。〃
　〃Tom…〃
　〃Then；　at　the　hospital；　you　told　him　everything　you'd　found。　You　even　told　him　you　were　looking　for　the　blueprint。〃
　I　reach　for　the　phone；　but　Paul　places　a　hand　down　on　the　receiver；　holding　it　in　place。
　〃Stop；　Tom；〃　he　says。　〃Listen　to　me。〃
　〃He　killed　them。〃
　Now　it's　Paul　who　leans　in；　looking　heartbroken；　to　say　something　Gil　and　I　don't　expect。
　〃Yes。　That's　what　I'm　telling　you。　Will　you　just　listen？　That's　what　he　meant　at　the　hospital。　Remember？　Just　before　you　came　into　the　waiting　room？　We　understand　each　other；　son。　He　told　me　he　couldn't　sleep　because　he　was　worried　about　me。〃
　〃So？〃
　Paul's　voice　trembles。　〃Then　he　said；　If　I'd　known　what　you　were　going　to　do；　I　would've　done　things　differently。　Richard　thought　I　knew　he'd　killed　Bill。　He　meant　he　would've　done　it　differently　if　he'd　known　I　was　going　to　leave　Vincent's　lecture　early。　That　way　the　police　wouldn't　have　e　looking　for　me。〃
　Gil　begins　pacing。　On　the　far　side　of　the　room；　a　log　breaks　in　the　fireplace。
　〃Remember　the　poem　he　mentioned　at　the　exhibit？〃
　〃Browning。　'Andrea　del　Sarto。'　〃
　〃How　did　it　go？〃
　〃　'You　do　what　many　dream　of；　all　their　lives；'　〃　I　tell　him。　〃　'Dream？　Strive　to　do；　and　agonize　to　do；　and　fail　in　doing。'　〃
　〃Why　would　he　choose　that　poem？〃
　〃Because　it　went　with　the　del　Sarto　painting。〃
　Paul　bangs　his　hand　on　the　table。　〃No。　Because　we　solved　what　he　and　your　father　and　Vincent　never　solved。　What　Richard　dreamed　of　doing；　all　his　life。　What　he　strove；　and　agonized；　and　failed　in　doing。〃
　A　frustration　has　e　over　him　that　I　haven't　seen　since　we　worked　together；　when　he　seemed　to　expect　that　we　could　act　as　a　single　organism；　think　a　single　thought。　It　shouldn't　be　taking　you　that　long。　It　shouldn't　be　that　hard。　We　are　riddling　again；　puzzling　meaning　from　a　man　he　thinks　we　ought　to　know　equally。　I　have　never　understood　Colonna；　or　Curry；　well　enough　for　Paul。
　〃I　don't　understand；〃　Gil　says；　seeing　that　something　has　e　between　us；　something　outside　his　experience。
　〃The　paintings；〃　Paul　says；　still　to　me；　trying　to　make　me　see。　〃The　stories　of　Joseph。　I　even　told　you　what　they　meant。　We　just　didn't　know　what　Richard　was　getting　at。　Now　Jacob　loved　Joseph　more　than　all　his　children；　because　he　was　the　son　of　his　old　age。　And　he　made　him　a　coat　of　many　colors。〃
　He　waits　for　me　to　give　some　signal；　to　tell　him　I　understand；　but　I　can't。
　〃It's　a　gift；〃　he　says　finally。　〃Richard　thinks　he's　giving　me　a　gift。〃
　〃A　gift？〃　Gil　asks。　〃Have　you　lost　your　mind？　What　gift？〃
　〃This；〃　Paul　says；　extending　his　arms；　enpassing　everything。　〃What　he　did　to　Bill。　What　he　did　to　Vincent。　He　stopped　them　from　taking　it　away　from　me。　He's　giving　me　what　I　found　in　the　Hypnerotomachia。〃
　There　is　an　awful　equanimity　when　he　says　it；　fear　and　pride　and　sadness　circling　around　a　quiet　certainty。
　〃Vincent　stole　it　from　him　thirty　years　ago；〃　Paul　says。　〃Richard　wouldn't　let　the　same　thing　happen　to　me。〃
　〃Curry　lied　to　Stein；〃　I　tell　him；　unwilling　to　let　him　be　fooled　by　a　man　trading　on　an　orphan's　weakness。　〃He　lied　to　Taft。　He's　doing　the　same　thing　to　you。〃
　But　Paul　is　past　the　point　of　doubting。　Beneath　the　horror　and　disbelief　in　his　voice　is　something　approaching　gratitude。　Here　we　are；　in　another　room　of　borrowed　paintings；　another　exhibit　in　the　museum　of　fatherhood　Curry　built　for　the　son　he　never　had；　and　the　gestures　have　bee　so　grand　that　the　motives　are　unimportant。　It's　a　final　wedge。　It　reminds　me；　suddenly；　that　Paul　and　I　are　not　brothers。　That　we　believe　in　different　things。
　Gil　begins　to　speak；　ing　between　us　to　bring　this　discussion　back　to　earth；　when　a　shuffling　sound　es　from　outside。　All　three　of　us　turn。
　〃What　the　hell　was　that？〃　Gil　says。
　Then　Curry's　voice　es。
　〃Paul；〃　he　murmurs；　from　just　on　the　other　side　of　the　door。
　We　all　freeze。
　〃Richard；〃　Paul　says；　ing　to。　And　before　Gil　or　I　can　stop　him；　he　reaches　for　the　lock。
　〃Get　away　from　there！〃　Gil　says。
　But　Paul　has　already　unfastened　the　door；　and　a　hand　on　the　other　side　has　turned　the　knob。
　There；　standing　in　the　threshold；　wearing　the　same　black　suit　from　last　night；　is　Richard　Curry。　He　is　wild…eyed；　startled。　There　is　something　in　his　hand。
　〃I　need　to　speak　to　Paul　alone；〃　he　says　in　a　hoarse　voice。
　Paul　sees　what　we　must　all　see：　the　mist　of　blood　near　the　collar　of　his　dress　shirt。
　〃Get　out　of　here！〃　Gil　barks。
　〃What　have　you　done？〃　Paul　says。
　Curry　stares　at　him；　then　raises　an　arm；　holding　something　in　an　outstretched　hand。
　Gil　eases　forward　into　the　hallway。　〃Get　out；〃　he　repeats。
　Curry　ignores　him。　〃I　have　it；　Paul。　The　blueprint。　Take　it。〃
　〃You're　not　going　near　him；〃　Gil　says；　voice　shaking。　〃We're　calling　the　police。〃
　My　eyes　are　trained　on　the　dark　sheaf　in　Curry's　hand。　I　step　into　the　hall　beside　Gil　so　that　we're　both　in　front　of　Paul。　Just　as　Gil　reaches　for　his　cell　phone；　though；　Curry　catches　us　off　guard。　In　a　single　movement　he　lunges　between　us；　pushing　Paul　back　into　the　Officers'　Room；　and　slams　the　door。　Before　Gil　and　I　can　move；　the　lock　clicks　into　place。
　Gil　pounds　on　the　wood　with　his　fist。　〃Open　it！〃　he　screams　as　he　pushes　me　back　and　forces　his　shoulder　into　the　door。　The　thick　wood　panel　gives　nothing。　We　back　up　and　give　two　blows　together；　until　the　lock　seems　to　bow。　Each　time；　I　hear　sounds　on　the　other　side。
　〃One　more；〃　Gil　yells。
　On　the　third　push；　the　metal　lock　snaps　out　of　its　joint；　and　the　door　flies　open　with　the　sound　of　a　single　gunshot。
　We　catapult　into　the　room　to　see　Curry　and　Paul　at　opposite　ends　of　the　fireplace。　Curry's　hand　is　still　outstretched。　Gil　charges　toward　them；　striking　Curry　at　full　speed；　knocking　him　onto　the　floor　by　the　hearth。　Curry's　head　scrapes　the　metal　grille　off　its　mark；　making　sparks　fly　and　embers　suddenly　pulse　with　color。
　〃Richard；〃　Paul　says；　running　toward　him。
　Paul　pulls　Curry　from　the　hearth　and　props　him　against　the　wet　bar。　The　gash　in　the　man's　head　is　pouring　blood　into　his　eyes　as　he　struggles　to　orient　himself。　Only　now　do　I　see　the　blueprint　in　Paul's　hand。
　〃Are　you　okay？〃　Paul　says；　shaking　Curry's　shoulders。　〃He　needs　an　ambulance！〃
　But　Gil　is　focused。　〃The　police　will　take　care　of　him。〃
　It's　then　that　I　feel　the　great　rush　of　heat。　The　back　of　Curry's　jacket　has　caught　fire。　Now　the　wet　bar　has　burst　into　flame。
　〃Get　back！〃　Gil　barks。
　But　I'm　frozen　in　place。　The　fire　is　rising　toward　the　ceiling；　across　the　curtains　pressed　against　the　wall。　Accelerated　by　the　alcohol；　the　blaze　is　moving　with　speed；　swallowing　up　everything　around　it。
　〃Tom！〃　Gil　barks。　〃Get　them　away　from　there！　I'm　going　for　an　extinguisher！〃
　With　Paul's　help；　Curry　is　pushing　himself　to　his　feet。　Suddenly；　the　man　shoves　Paul　off　and　staggers　into　the　hallway；　pulling　off　his　jacket。
　〃Richard；〃　Paul　pleads；　following。
　Gil　races　back　through　the　door　and　begins　hosing　the　curtains　with　the　extinguisher。　But　the　fire　is　growing　too　quickly　to　be　put　out。　Smoke　rolls　from　the　doorway　along　the　ceiling。
　Finally　we　retreat　toward　the　door；　forced　out　by　the　heat　and　smoke。　I　cover　my　mouth　with　my　hand；　feeling　my　lungs　tighten。　When　I　turn　toward　the　stairs；　I　can　make　out　Paul　and　Curry　struggling　through　a　thick　cloud　of　black　smoke；　their　voices　rising。
　I　cry　out　Paul's　name；　but　the　bottles　in　the　wet　bar　begin　to　explode；　drowning　out　my　voice。　Gil　is　hit　by　the　first　wave　of　shards。　I　pull　him　out　of　the　way；　listening　for　a　response　from　Paul。
　Then；　through　the　smoke；　I　hear　it。　〃Go；　Tom！　Get　out！〃
　The　walls　are　sprayed　with　tiny　reflections　of　fire。　A　bottleneck　es　pitching　into　the　air　over　the　stairs；　it　hangs　above　us；　spraying　flames；　then　tumbles　to　the　first　floor。
　For　a　second　there　is　nothing。　Then　the　glass　lands　in　the　pile　of　soaking　rags；　finding　the　whiskey　and　brandy　and　gin；　and　the　floor　flashes　to　life。　From　below　e　popping　sounds；　wood　busting；　fire　spreading。　The　front　door　is　already　blocked。　Gil　is　bellowing　into　his　cell　phone；　calling　for　help。　The　fire　is　rising　toward　the　second　floor。　My　mind　seems　lit　with　sparks；　a　white　light　when　I　close　my　eyes。　I　am　floating；　buoyed　by　the　heat。　Everything　seems　so　slow；　so　heavy。　Ceiling　plaster　crashes　to　the　ground。　The　dance　floor　is　shimmering　like　a　mirage。
　〃How　do　we　get　out？〃　I　shout。
　〃The　service　stairway；〃　Gil　says。　〃Upstairs。〃
　〃Paul！〃　I　yell。
　But　there's　no　answer。　I　inch　toward　the　stairs；　and　now　their　voices　have　disappeared。　Paul　and　Curry　are　gone。
　〃Paul！〃　I　bellow。
　The　blaze　has　swallowed　up　the　Officers'　Room　and　begins　moving　toward　us。　I　feel　a　strange　numbness　in　my　thigh。　Gil　turns　to　me；　pointing。　My　pant　leg　is　torn　open。　Blood　is　running　down　the　tuxedo　fabric；　black　on　black。　He　pulls　off　his　jacket　and　ties　it　around　the　gash。　The　tunnel　of　fire　seems　to　close　in　around　us；　urging　us　up　the　stairs。　The　air　is　almost　black。
　Gil　pushes　me　up　toward　the　third　floor。　At　the　top；　nothing　is　visible；　only　grades　of　shadow。　A　band　of　light　glows　beneath　a　door　at　the　end　of　the　hall。　We　move　forward。　The　fire　has　e　to　the　foot　of　the　stairs；　but　seems　to　remain　at　bay。
　Then　I　hear　it。　A　high；　collapsing　moan；　ing　from　inside　the　room。
　The　sound　freezes　us　momentarily。　Then　Gil　lunges　forward　and　opens　the　door。　When　he　does；　the　sensation　of　drunkenness　from　the　ball　returns　to　me。　Bodily　warmth；　like　the　tingle　of　flight。　Katie's　touch　on　me；　Katie's　breath　on　me；　Katie's　lips　on　me。
　Richard　Curry　stands　arguing　with　Paul　behind　a　long　table　at　the　far　end　of　the　room。　There's　an　empty　bottle　in　his　hand。　His　head　lolls　on　his　shoulders；　pouring　blood。　There　is　nothing　but　the　smell　of　alcohol　here；　the　remnants　of　a　bottle　poured　over　the　table；　a　cabinet　in　the　wall　opened　to　reveal　another　stash　of　liquor；　an　old　Ivy　president's　secret。　The　room　is　as　long　as　the　building's　breadth；