cpatricia.unnaturalexposure-第42部分

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　'Good　question；'　he　said；　huffing　as　he　struggled。　'And　where's　the　license　plate？'
　I　had　just　turned　on　my　air　when　a　young　man　emerged　from　trees　in　a　green　uniform　and　smoky　hat。　He　seemed　rather　dazed　as　he　looked　at　all　of　us　in　our　orange　hoods　and　suits；　and　I　sensed　his　fear。　He　did　not　get　close　to　us　as　he　introduced　himself　as　the　night　shift　park　ranger。
　Marino　spoke　to　him　first。　'You　ever　see　the　person　staying　in　there？'
　'No；'　the　ranger　said。
　'What　about　guys　on　the　other　shifts？'
　'No　one　remembers　seeing　anyone；　just　lights　on　at　night　sometimes。　Hard　to　say。　As　you　can　see　it's　parked　pretty　far　from　the　station。　You　could　go　out　to　the　showers　or　whatever　and　not　necessarily　be　noticed。'
　'No　other　campers　here？'　I　asked　over　the　rush　of　air　inside　my　hood。
　'Not　now。　There　were　maybe　three　other　people　when　I　found　the　body；　but　I　encouraged　them　to　leave　because　there　might　be　some　kind　of　disease。'
　'Did　you　question　them　first？'　Marino　asked；　and　I　could　see　he　was　irritated　by　this　young　ranger　who　had　just　chased　off　all　of　our　witnesses。
　'Nobody　knew　a　thing；　except　one　person　did　think　he　ran　into　him。'　He　nodded　at　the　camper。　'Evening　before　last。　In　the　bathroom。　Big　grubby　guy　with　dark　hair　and　a　beard。'
　'Taking　a　shower？'　I　asked。
　'No；　ma'am。'　He　hesitated。　'Taking　a　leak。'
　'Doesn't　the　camper　have　a　bathroom？'
　'I　really　don't　know。'　He　hesitated　again。　'To　tell　you　the　truth；　I　didn't　stay　in　there。　Minute　I　saw　that。　Well；　whatever　it　was。　I　was　gone　like　a　second。'
　'And　you　don't　know　what　towed　this　thing？'　Marino　then　asked。
　The　ranger　was　looking　very　unfortable　now。　'This　time　of　year　it's　usually　quiet　out　here；　and　dark。　I　had　no　reason　to　notice　what　vehicle　it　was　hooked　up　to；　and　in　fact　don't　recall　there　even　being　one。'
　'But　you　got　a　plate　number。'　Marino's　stare　was　unfriendly　through　his　hood。
　'Sure　do。'　Relieved；　the　ranger　pulled　a　folded　piece　of　paper　from　his　pocket。　'Got　his　registration　right　here。'　He　opened　it。　'Ken　A。　Perley；　Norfolk；　Virginia。'
　He　handed　the　paper　to　Marino；　who　sarcastically　said；　'Oh　good。　The　name　the　asshole　stole　off　a　credit　card。　So　I'm　sure　the　plate　number　you　got　is　accurate；　too。　How　did　he　pay？'
　'Cashier's　check。'
　'He　gave　this　to　someone　in　person？'　Marino　asked。
　'No。　He　made　the　reservation　by　mail。　No　one　ever　saw　anything　except　the　paperwork　in　your　hand。　Like　I　said；　we　never　saw　him。'
　'What　about　the　envelope　this　thing　came　in？'　Marino　said。　'Did　you　save　it　so　maybe　we　got　a　postmark？'
　The　ranger　shook　his　head。　He　nervously　glanced　at　suited　scientists；　who　were　listening　to　his　every　word。　He　stared　at　the　trailer　and　wet　his　lips。
　'You　mind　my　asking　what's　in　there。　And　what's　going　to　happen　to　me　'cause　I　went　in？'　His　voice　cracked　and　he　looked　like　he　might　cry。
　'It　could　be　contaminated　with　a　virus。'　I　said　to　him。　'But　we　don't　know　that　for　sure。　Everybody　here　is　going　to　take　care　of　you。'
　'They　said　they　were　going　to　lock　me　up　in　some　room；　like　solitary　confinement。'　Fear　erupted；　his　eyes　wild；　voice　loud。　'I　want　to　know　exactly　what's　in　there　that　I　might　have　got！'
　'You'll　be　in　exactly　the　same　thing　I　was　last　week；'　I　assured　him。　'A　nice　room　with　nice　nurses。　For　a　few　days　of　observation。　That's　all。'
　'Think　of　it　as　a　vacation。　It　really　ain't　that　big　of　a　deal。　Just　because　people　are　in　these　suits；　don't　go　getting　hinky；'　Marino　said　as　if　he　were　one　to　talk。
　He　went　on　as　if　he　were　the　great　expert　in　infectious　diseases；　and　I　left　the　two　of　them　and　approached　the　camper　alone。　For　a　moment；　I　stood　within　feet　of　it　and　looked　around。　To　my　left　were　acres　of　trees；　then　the　river　where　our　boats　were　moored。　Right　of　me；　through　more　trees；　I　could　hear　the　sounds　of　a　highway。　The　camper　was　parked　on　a　soft　floor　of　pine　needles；　and　what　I　noticed　first　was　the　scraped　area　on　the　white…painted　tongue。
　Getting　close；　I　squatted　and　rubbed　gloved　fingers　over　deep　gouges　and　scrapes　in　aluminum　in　an　area　where　the　Vehicle　Identification　Number；　or　VIN；　should　have　been。　Near　the　roof；　I　noticed　a　patch　of　vinyl　had　been　scorched；　and　decided　someone　had　taken　a　propane　torch　to　the　second　VIN。　I　walked　around　to　the　other　side。
　The　door　was　unlocked　and　not　quite　shut　because　it　had　been　pried　open　by　some　sort　of　tool；　and　my　nerves　began　to　sing。　My　head　cleared　and　I　became　pletely　focused；　the　way　I　got　when　evidence　was　screaming　a　different　story　than　witnesses　claimed。　Mounting　metal　steps；　I　walked　inside　and　stood　very　still　as　I　looked　around　at　a　scene　that　might　mean　nothing　to　most；　but　to　me　confirmed　a　nightmare。　This　was　deadoc's　factory。
　First；　the　heat　was　up　as　high　as　it　would　go；　and　I　turned　it　off；　startled　when　a　pathetic　white　creature　suddenly　hopped　across　my　feet。　I　jumped　and　gasped　as　it　stupidly　ran　into　a　wall；　and　then　sat；　quivering　and　panting。　The　pitiful　laboratory　rabbit　had　been　shaved　in　patches　and　scarified　with　infection；　his　eruptions　horrible　and　dark。　I　noticed　his　wire　cage；　and　that　it　seemed　to　have　been　knocked　off　a　table；　the　door　wide　open。
　'e　here。'　Squatting；　I　held　out　my　hand　as　he　watched　me　with　pink…rimmed　eyes；　long　ears　twitching。
　Carefully；　I　inched　my　way　closer　because　I　could　not　leave　him　out。　He　was　a　living　source　of　propagating　disease。
　'e　on；　you　poor　little　thing；'　I　said　to　the　ranger's　monster。　'I　promise　I　won't　hurt　you。'
　Then　I　gently　had　him　in　my　hands；　his　heart　beating　staccato　as　he　violently　trembled。　I　returned　him　to　his　cage；　then　went　to　the　rear　of　the　camper。　The　doorway　I　stepped　through　was　small；　the　body　inside　practically　filling　the　bedroom。　The　man　was　facedown　on　gold　shag　carpet　that　was　stained　dark　from　blood。　His　hair　was　curly　and　dark；　and　when　I　turned　him　over；　rigor　mortis　had　e　and　already　passed。　He　reminded　me　of　a　lumberjack　in　a　filthy　pea　coat　and　trousers。　His　hands　were　huge　with　dirty　nails；　his　beard　and　mustache　unkempt。
　I　undressed　him　from　the　waist　up　to　check　the　pattern　of　livormortis；　or　blood　settling　by　gravity　after　death。　Face　and　chest　were　reddish　purple；　with　areas　of　blanching　where　his　body　had　been　against　the　floor。　I　saw　no　indication　that　he　had　been　moved　after　death。　He　had　been　shot　once　in　the　chest　at　close　range；　possibly　with　the　Remington　double…barreled　shotgun　by　his　side；　next　to　his　left　hand。
　The　spread　of　pellets　was　tight；　forming　a　large　hole　with　scalloped　edges　in　the　center　of　his　chest。　White　plastic　filler　from　the　shotgun　clung　to　clothing　and　skin；　which　again　did　not　indicate　a　contact　wound。　Measuring　the　gun　and　his　arms；　I　did　not　see　how　he　could　have　reached　the　trigger。　I　saw　nothing　to　indicate　that　he　had　rigged　up　anything　to　help　him。　Checking　pockets；　I　found　no　wallet；　no　identification；　only　a　Buck　knife。　The　blade　was　scratched　and　bent。
　I　spent　no　more　time　with　him　but　came　outside；　and　the　team　from　USAMRIID　was　restless；　like　people　waiting　to　go　somewhere　and　afraid　they're　going　to　miss　their　flight。　They　stared　as　I　came　down　the　steps；　and　Marino　hung　back。　He　was　almost　lost　in　trees；　orange　arms　folded　across　his　chest；　the　ranger　standing　beside　him。
　'This　is　a　pletely　contaminated　crime　scene；'　I　announced。　'We　have　a　dead　white　male　with　no　identification。　I　need　someone　to　help　me　get　the　body　out。　It　needs　to　be　contained。'　I　looked　at　the　captain。
　'It　goes　back　with　us；'　he　said。
　I　nodded。　'Your　guys　can　do　the　autopsy　and　maybe　get　someone　from　the　Baltimore　Medical　Examiner's　office　to　witness。　The　camper's　another　problem。　It's　got　to　go　somewhere　it　can　be　worked　up　safely。　Evidence　needs　to　be　collected　and　decontaminated。　This；　frankly；　is　out　of　my　range。　Unless　you　have　a　containment　facility　that　can　acmodate　something　this　big；　maybe　we'd　better　get　this　to　Utah。'
　'To　Dugway？'　he　said；　dubiously。
　'Yes；'　I　said。　'Maybe　Colonel　Fujitsubo　can　help　with　that。'
　Dugway　Proving　Ground　was　the　Army's　major　range　and　test　facility　for　chemical　and　biological　defense。　Unlike　USAMRIID；　which　was　in　the　heart　of　urban　America；　Dugway　had　the　vast　land　of　the　Great　Salt　Lake　desert　for　testing　lasers；　smart　bombs；　smoke　obscurance　or　illumination。　More　to　the　point；　it　had　the　only　test　chamber　in　the　United　States　capable　of　processing　a　vehicle　as　large　as　a　battle　tank。
　The　captain　thought　for　a　moment；　his　eyes　going　from　me　to　the　camper　as　he　made　up　his　mind　and　formalized　a　plan。
　'Frank；　get　on　the　phone　and　let's　get　this　mobilized　ASAP；'　he　said　to　one　of　the　scientists。　'The　colonel　will　have　to　work　with　the　Air　Force　on　transport；　get　something　here　fast　because　I　don't　want　this　thing　sitting　out　here　all　night。　And　we're　going　to　need　a　flatbed　truck；　a　pickup　truck。'
　'Should　be　able　to　get　that　around　here；　with　all　the　seafood　they　ship；'　Marino　said。　'I'll　get　on　it。'
　'Good；'　the　captain　went　on。　'Somebody　get　me　three　body　bags　and　the　isolator。'　Then　he　said　to　me；　'I'll　bet　you　need　a　hand。'
　'I　certainly　do；'　I　said；　and　both　of　us　began　walking　toward　the　camper。
　I　pulled　open　the　bent　aluminum　door；　and　he　followed　me　inside；　and　we　did　not　linger　as　we　passed　through　to　the　back。　I　could　tell　by　Clark's　eyes　that　he　had　never　seen　anything　like　this；　but　with　his　hood　and　air　pack；　at　least　he　did　not　have　to　deal　with　the　stench　of　deposing　human　flesh。　He　knelt　at　one　end　and　I　at　the　other；　the　body　heavy　and　the　space　impossibly　cramped。
　'Is　it　hot　in　here　or　is　it　just　me？'　he　said　loudly　as　we　struggled　with　rubbery　limbs。
　'Someone　turned　the　heat　up　as　high　as　it　would　go。'　I　was　already　out　of　breath。　'To　hasten　viral　contamination；　deposition。　A　popular　way　to　screw　up　a　crime　scene。　All　right。　Let's　zip　him　in。　This　is　going　to　be　tight；　but　I　think　we　can　do　it。'
　We　started　working　him　into　a　second　pouch；　our　hands　and　suits　slippery　with　blood。　It　took　us　almost　thirty　minutes　to　get　the　body　inside　the　isolator；　and　my　muscles　were　trembling　as　we　carried　it　out。　My　heart　was　pounding　and　I　was　dripping　sweat。　Outside；　we　were　thoroughly　doused　with　a　chemical　rinse；　as　was　the　isolaton　which　was　transported　by　truck