dk.nightchills-第12章

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h　fluctuation　well　in　advance；　we　could　take　rare　advantage　of　it。　Within　a　year　of　assuming　control　of　a　half…dozen　Mid…Eastern　countries；　we　should　be　able　to　siphon　one　and　a　half　billion　dollars　into　the　corporation　in　Liechtenstein。　Thereafter；　it　will　be　a　matter　of　no　more　than　five　or　six　years　until　everything；　quite　literally　everything；　is　ours。〃
　〃It　sounds…crazy；　mad；〃　Klinger　said。
　Dawson　frowned。　〃Mad？〃
　〃Incredible；　unbelievable；　impossible；〃　the　general　said；　clarifying　his　first　statement　when　he　saw　that　it　disturbed　Dawson。
　〃There　was　a　time　when　heavier…than…air　flight　seemed　impossible；〃　Salsbury　said。　〃The　nuclear　bomb　seemed　incredible　to　many　people　even　after　it　was　dropped　on　Japan。　And　in　1961；　when　Kennedy　launched　the　Apollo　Space　Program；　very　few　Americans　believed　that　a　man　would　ever　walk　on　the　moon。〃
　They　stared　at　one　another。
　The　silence　in　the　room　was　so　perfect　that　each　tiny　wave　breaking　against　the　boat　dock；　although　it　was　little　more　than　a　gentle　ripple　and　was　muffled　by　the　window；　sounded　like　an　ocean　surf。　At　least　it　did　to　Salsbury；　it　reverberated　within　his　nearly　fevered　mind。
　Finally　Dawson　said；　〃Ernst？　Will　you　help　us　get　those　magnetic　tapes？〃
　Klinger　looked　at　Dawson　for　a　long　moment；　then　at　Salsbury。　A　shudder　either　of　fear　or　pleasure；　Ogden　could　not　be　certain　which…passed　through　him。　He　said；　〃I'll　help。〃
　Ogden　sighed。
　〃Champagne？〃　Dawson　asked。　〃It's　a　bit　crude　after　brandy。　But　I　believe　that　we　should　raise　a　toast　to　one　another　and　to　the　project。〃
　Fifteen　minutes　later；　after　a　servant　had　brought　a　chilled　bottle　of　Mo？t　et　Chandon　and　he　had　uncorked　it；　after　the　three　of　them　had　toasted　success；　Klinger　smiled　at　Dawson　and　said；　〃What　if　I'd　been　terrified　of　this　drug？　What　if　I'd　thought　your　offer　was　more　than　I　could　handle？〃
　〃I　know　you　well；　Ernst；〃　Dawson　said。　〃Perhaps　better　than　you　think　I　do。　I'd　be　surprised　if　there　was　anything　that　you　couldn't　handle。〃
　〃But　suppose　I'd　balked；　for　whatever　reason。　Suppose　I　hadn't　wanted　to　e　in　with　you。〃
　Dawson　rolled　some　champagne　over　his　tongue；　swallowed；　inhaled　through　his　mouth　to　savor　the　aftertaste；　and　said；　〃Then　you　wouldn't　have　left　this　estate　alive；　Ernst。　I'm　afraid　you'd　have　had　an　accident。〃
　〃Which　you　arranged　for　a　week　ago。〃　〃Nearly　that。〃
　〃I　knew　you　wouldn't　disappoint　me。〃
　〃You　came　with　a　gun？〃　Dawson　asked。　〃A　thirty…two　automatic。〃
　〃It　doesn't　show。〃
　〃It's　taped　to　the　small　of　my　back。〃
　〃You've　practiced　drawing　it？〃
　〃I　can　have　it　in　my　hand　in　less　than　five　seconds。〃
　Dawson　nodded　approval。　〃And　you　would　have　used　me　as　a　shield　to　get　off　the　estate。〃
　〃I　would　have　tried。〃
　They　both　laughed　and　regarded　each　other　with　something　very　near　to　affection。　They　were　delighted　with　themselves。
　Jesus　Christ！　Salsbury　thought。　He　nervously　sipped　his　champagne。
　5
　Friday；　August　19；　1977
　PAUL　AND　MARK　SAT　cross…legged；　side　by　side　on　the　dew…damp　mountain　grass。　They　were　as　still　as　stones。　Even　Mark；　who　loathed　inactivity　and　to　whom　patience　was　an　irritant　rather　than　a　virtue；　did　no　more　than　blink　his　eyes。
　Around　them　lay　a　breath…taking　panorama　of　virtually　unspoiled　land。　On　three　sides　of　their　clearing；　a　dense；　purple…green；　almost　primeval　forest　rose　like　walls。　To　their　right　the　clearing　opened　at　the　head　of　a　narrow　valley；　and　the　town　of　Black　River；　two　miles　away；　shimmered　like　a　patch　of　opalescent　fungus　on　the　emerald　quilt　of　the　wild　land。　The　only　other　scar　of　civilization　was　the　Big　Union　mill；　which　was　barely　visible；　three　miles　on　the　other　side　of　Black　River。　Even　so；　from　this　distance　the　huge　buildings　did　not　resemble　millworks　so　much　as　they　did　the　ramparts；　gates；　and　towers　of　castles。　The　planned　forests　that　supplied　Big　Union；　and　which　were　less　attractive　than　the　natural　woods；　were　out　of　sight　beyond　the　next　mountain。　Blue　sky　and　fast…moving　white　clouds　overhung　what　could　have　passed　for　a　scene　of　Eden　in　a　biblical　film。
　Paul　and　Mark　were　not　interested　in　the　scenery。　Their　attention　was　fixed　on　a　small；　red…brown　squirrel。
　For　the　past　five　days　they　had　been　putting　out　food　for　the　squirrel…dry　roasted　peanuts　and　sectioned　apples…hoping　to　make　friends　with　it　and　gradually　to　domesticate　it。　Day　by
　day　it　crept　closer　to　the　food；　and　yesterday　it　took　a　few　bites　before　succumbing　to　fear　and　scampering　away。
　Now；　as　they　watched；　it　came　forth　from　the　perimeter　of　the　woods；　three　or　four　quick　yet　cautious　steps　at　a　time；　pausing　again　and　again　to　study　the　man　and　boy。　When　it　finally　reached　the　food；　it　picked　up　a　piece　of　the　apple　in　its　tiny　forepaws　and；　sitting　back　on　its　haunches；　began　to　eat。
　When　the　animal　finished　the　first　slice　and　picked　up　another；　Mark　said；　〃He　won't　take　his　eyes　off　us。　Not　even　for　a　second。〃
　As　the　boy　spoke　the　squirrel　became　suddenly　as　still　as　they　were。　It　cocked　its　head　and　fixed　them　with　one　large　brown　eye。
　Paul　had　said　they　could　whisper；　breaking　their　rule　of　silence；　if　the　squirrel　had　gained　courage　since　yesterday　and　managed　to　stay　at　the　food　for　more　than　a　few　seconds。　If　they　were　to　domesticate　it；　the　animal　would　have　to　bee　accustomed　to　their　voices。
　〃Please　don't　be　scared；〃　Mark　said　softly。　Paul　had　promised　that；　if　the　squirrel　could　be　tamed；　Mark　would　be　allowed　to　take　it　home　and　make　a　pet　of　it。　〃Please；　don't　run　away。〃
　Not　yet　prepared　to　trust　them；　it　dropped　the　slice　of　apple；　turned；　bounded　into　the　forest；　and　scrambled　to　the　upper　branches　of　a　maple　tree。
　Mark　jumped　up。　〃Ah；　heck！　We　wouldn't　have　hurt　you；　you　dumb　squirrel！〃　Disappointment　lined　his　face。
　〃Stay　calm。　He'll　be　back　again　tomorrow；〃　Paul　said。　He　stood　and　stretched　his　stiff　muscles。
　〃He'll　never　trust　us。〃
　〃Yes；　he　will。　Little　by　little。〃
　〃We'll　never　tame　him。〃
　〃Little　by　little；〃　Paul　said。　〃He　can't　be　converted　in　one　week。　You've　got　to　be　patient。〃
　〃I'm　not　very　good　at　being　patient。〃
　〃I　know。　But　you'll　learn。〃
　〃Little　by　little？〃
　〃That's　right；〃　Paul　said。　He　bent　over；　picked　up　the　apple　slices　and　peanuts；　and　dropped　them　into　a　plastic　bag。
　〃Hey；〃　Mark　said；　〃maybe　he's　mad　at　us　because　we　always　take　the　food　when　we　leave。〃
　Paul　laughed。　〃Maybe　so。　But　if　he　got　in　the　habit　of　sneaking　back　and　eating　after　we've　gone；　he　wouldn't　have　any　reason　to　e　out　while　we're　here。〃
　As　they　started　back　toward　camp；　which　lay　at　the　far　end　of　the　two…hundred…yard…long　mountain　meadow；　Paul　gradually　became　aware　again　of　the　beautiful　day　as　if　it　were　a　mosaic　for　all　the　senses；　falling　into　place　around　him；　piece　by　piece。　The　warm　summer　breeze。　White　daisies　gleaming　in　the　grass；　and　here　and　there　a　buttercup。　The　odor　of　grass　and　earth　and　wild　flowers。　The　constant　rustle　of　leaves　and　the　gentle　soughing　of　the　breeze　in　the　pine　boughs。　The　trilling　of　birds。　The　solemn　shadows　of　the　forest。　High　above；　a　hawk　wheeled　into　sight；　the　last　piece　of　the　mosaic；　its　shrill　cry　seemed　filled　with　pride；　as　if　it　knew　that　it　had　capped　the　scene；　as　if　it　thought　it　had　pulled　down　the　sky　with　its　wings。
　The　time　had　e　for　their　weekly　trip　into　town　to　replenish　their　supply　of　perishable　goods…but　for　a　moment　he　didn't　want　to　leave　the　mountain。　Even　Black　River…small；　nearly　isolated　from　the　modem　world；　singularly　peaceful…　would　seem　raucous　when　pared　to　the　serenity　of　the　forest。
　But　of　course　Black　River　offered　more　than　fresh　eggs；　milk；　butter；　and　other　groceries：　Jenny　was　there。
　As　they　drew　near　the　camp；　Mark　ran　ahead。　He　pushed　aside　a　pair　of　yellow　canvas　flaps　and　peered　into　the　large　tent　that　they　had　erected　in　the　shadow　of　several　eighty…foot　hemlocks　and　firs。　A　second　later　he　turned　away　from　the　tent；　cupped　his　hands　around　his　mouth；　and　shouted；　〃Rya！　Hey；　Rya！〃
　〃Here；〃　she　said；　ing　out　from　behind　the　tent。
　For　an　instant　Paul　couldn't　believe　what　he　saw：　a　small　young　squirrel　perched　on　her　right　arm；　its　claws　hooked
　through　the　sleeve　of　her　corduroy　jacket。　It　was　chewing　on　a　piece　of　apple；　and　she　was　petting　it　gently。
　〃How　did　you　do　it？〃　he　asked。
　〃Chocolate。〃
　〃Chocolate？〃
　She　grinned。　〃I　started　out　trying　to　lure　it　with　the　same　bait　you　and　Mark　have　been　using。　But　then　I　figured　that　a　squirrel　can　probably　get　nuts　and　apples　on　his　own。　But　he　can't　get　chocolate。　I　figured　the　smell　would　be　irresistible…　and　it　was！　He　was　eating　out　of　my　hand　by　Wednesday；　but　I　didn't　want　you　to　know　about　him　until　I　was　sure　he'd　gotten　over　the　worst　of　his　fear　of　humans。〃
　〃He's　not　eating　chocolate　now。〃
　〃Too　much　of　it　wouldn't　be　good　for　him。〃
　The　squirrel　raised　its　head　and　looked　quizzically　at　Paul。　Then　it　continued　gnawing　on　the　piece　of　apple　in　its　forepaws。
　〃Do　you　like　him；　Mark？〃　Rya　asked。　As　she　spoke　her　grin　melted　into　a　frown。
　Paul　saw　why：　the　boy　was　close　to　tears。　He　wanted　a　squirrel　of　his　own…but　he　knew　they　couldn't　take　two　of　the　animals　home　with　them。　His　lower　lip　quivered；　however；　he　was　determined　not　to　cry。
　Rya　recovered　quickly。　Smiling；　she　said；　〃Well；　Mark？　Do　you　like　him？　I'll　be　upset　if　you　don't。　I　went　to　an　awful　lot　of　trouble　to　get　him　for　you。〃
　You　little　sweetheart；　Paul　thought。
　Blinking　back　tears；　Mark　said；　〃For　me？〃
　〃Of　course；〃　she　said。
　〃You　mean　you're　giving　him　to　me？〃
　She　feigned　surprise。　〃Who　else？〃
　I　thought　he　was　yours。〃　。
　Now　what　would　I　want　with　a　pet　squirrel？　she　asked。　〃He'll　be　a　good　pet　for　a　boy。　But　he　would　be　all　wrong　for　a　girl。〃　She　put　the　animal　on　the　ground　and　hunkered　down　beside　it。　Fishing　a　piece　of　candy　from　a　pocket；　she　said；　〃e　on。　You've　got　to　feed　him　some　chocolate　if　you　really　want　to　make　friends　with　him。〃
　The　squirrel　plucked　the　candy　from　Mark's　hand　and　nibbled　it　with　obvious　pleasure。　The　boy　was　also　in　ecstasy　as　he　gently　stroked　its　flanks　and　long　tail。　When　the　chocolate　was　gone；　the　animal　sniffed　first　at　Mark　and　then　at　Rya；　and　when　it　realized　there　would　be　no　more　treats　today；　it　slipped　out　from　between　them　and　dashed　toward　the　trees。
　〃Hey！〃　Mark　said。　He　ran　after　it　until　he　saw　that　it　was　much　faster　than　he。
　〃Don't　worry；〃　Rya　said。　〃He'll　e　back　tomorrow；　so　long　as　we　have　some　chocolate　for　him。〃
　〃If　we　tame　him；〃　Mark　said；　〃can　I　take　him　into　town　next　week？〃
　〃We'll　see；〃　Paul　said。　He　looked　at　his　watch。　〃If　we're　going　to　spend　today　in　town；　we'd　better　get　moving。〃
　The　station　wagon　was　parked　half　a　mile　away；　at　the　end　of　a　weed…choked　dirt　lane　that　was　used　by　hunters　in　late　autumn　and　early　winter。
　True　to　form；　Mark　shouted；　〃Last　one　to　the　ear's　a　dope！〃　He　ran　ahead　along　the　path　that　snaked　down　through　the　woods；　and　in　a　few　seconds　he　was　out　of　sight。
　Rya　walked　at　Paul's　side。
　〃That　was　a　very　nice　thing　you　did；〃　he　said。
　She　pretended　not　to　know　what　he　meant。　〃Getting　the　squirrel　for　Mark？　It　was　fun。〃
　〃You　didn't　get　it　for　Mark。〃
　〃Sure　I　did。　Who　else　would　I　get　it　for？〃
　〃Yourself；〃　Paul　said。　〃But　when　you　saw　how　much　it　meant　to　hi