dk.nightchills-第31章

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　〃Mrs。　Vicker。〃
　〃Yes？〃
　〃Go　to　the　kitchen。〃
　〃All　right。〃
　〃Eat　your　chocolates　if　you　want。〃
　〃I　will。〃
　〃Listen　to　your　radio；　and　wait　in　the　kitchen　until　I　e　to　see　you。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃Is　that　pletely　clear？〃
　〃Certainly。　Certainly。　I'll　do　just　what　you　say。　See　if　I　don't。　I'll　go　straight　out　to　the　kitchen　and　eat　my　chocolates　and　listen…〃
　〃And　close　the　door　as　you　leave；〃　he　said　sharply。　〃Leave　now；　Mrs。　Vicker。〃
　She　shut　the　parlor　door　behind　her。
　At　the　desk　Salsbury　opened　his　briefcase。　He　took　from　it　a　set　of　screwdrivers　and　one　of　the　infinity　transmitters…a　small　black　box　with　several　wires　trailing　from　it…that　Dawson　had　purchased　in　Brussels。
　Smart；　he　thought。　Clever。　Clever　of　me　to　bring　the　IF。　Didn't　know　why　I　was　packing　it　at　the　time。　A　hunch。　Just　a　hunch。　And　it's　paid　off　now。　Clever。　I'm　on　top　of　the　situation。　Right　up　there　on　top；　in　control。　Full　control。
　Having　carefully　considered　his　options；　algebraic　even　when　he　was　so　recently　returned　from　the　edge　of　panic；　he　had　decided　that　it　was　time　to　hear　what　Paul　Annendale　was　saying　to　the　Edisons。　There　were　a　dozen　miniature　glass　swans　lined　up　across　the　top　of　the　desk；　each　slightly　different　in　size　and　shape　and　color　from　the　one　that　preceded　it。　He　brushed　these　figurines　to　the　floor；　they　bounced　on　the　carpet　and　clinked　against　one　another。　His　mother　had　collected　hand…blown　figurines；　although　not　swans。　She　favored　glass　dogs。　By　the　hundreds。　He　crushed　one　of　the　swans　under　his　heel　and　imagined　that　it　was　a　glass　dog。　Curiously　satisfied　by　this　gesture；　he　connected　the　infinity　transmitter　to　the　telephone　and　dialed　the　number　of　the　general　store。　Across　the　street　no　telephone　rang　at　the　Edison's　place。　Nevertheless；　every　receiver　in　the　store；　as　well　as　in　the　family's　living　quarters　above　the　store；　opened　to　Salsbury's　ear。
　What　he　heard　in　the　first　couple　of　minutes　broke　down　the　paper…thin　wall　of　posure　that　he　had　managed　to　rebuild　since　the　murder。　Buddy　Pellineri；　in　his　own　half…literate　fashion；　was　telling　Sam　and　Jenny　and　Paul　about　the　two　men　who　had　e　down　from　the　reservoir　on　the　morning　of　August　sixth。
　Rossner　and　Holbrook　had　been　seen！
　However；　that　was　neither　the　only　nor　the　worst　piece　of　bad　news。　Before　Buddy　had　reached　the　end　of　his　story；　before　Edison　and　the　others　had　finished　questioning　him；　Annendale's　daughter　arrived　with　the　bucket　full　of　bloody　rags。　The　damned　bucket！　In　his　haste　to　clean　up　the　kitchen　and　hide　the　corpse；　he　had　shoved　the　bucket　under　the　sink　and　then　had　pletely　forgotten　about　it。　The　boy's　body　wasn't　all　that　well　hidden…but　at　least　it　wasn't　in　the　room　where　the　murder　had　occurred。　The　damned　bloody　rags。　He　had　left　evidence　at　the　scene　of　the　crime；　virtually　out　in　plain　sight　where　any　fool　could　have　found　it！
　He　could　no　longer　afford　to　spend　hours　formulating　his　response　to　the　events　of　the　morning。　If　he　was　to　contain　the　crisis　and　save　the　project；　he　would　have　to　think　faster　and　move　faster　than　he　had　ever　done　before。
　He　stepped　on　another　glass　swan　and　snapped　it　to　pieces。
　4
　1：10　P。M。
　　
　A　PEAL　OF　THUNDER　rumbled　across　the　valley；　and　the　wind　seemed　to　gain　considerable　force　in　the　wake　of　the　noise。
　Torn　between　a　desire　to　believe　Emma　Thorp　and　a　growing　conviction　that　Rya　was　telling　the　truth；　Paul　Annendale　climbed　the　steps　to　the　stoop　at　the　back　of　the　Thorp　house。
　Putting　a　hand　on　his　shoulder；　pressing　with　fingers　like　talons；　Sam　said；　〃Wait。〃
　Paul　turned。　The　wind　mussed　his　hair；　blew　it　into　his　eyes。　〃Wait　for　what？〃
　〃This　is　breaking　and　entering。〃
　〃The　door's　open。〃
　〃That　doesn't　change　anything；〃　Sam　said；　letting　go　of　him。　〃Besides；　it's　open　because　Rya　broke　it　open。〃
　Aware　that　Sam　was　trying　to　reason　with　him　for　his　own　good　but　nonetheless　impatient；　Paul　said；　〃What　in　the　hell　am　I　supposed　to　do；　Sam？　Call　the　cops？　Or　maybe　pull　some　strings；　use　my　connections；　put　a　call　through　to　the　chief　of　police；　and　have　him　investigate　himself？〃
　〃We　could　call　the　state　police。〃
　〃The　body　might　not　even　be　here。〃
　〃If　they　could　avoid　it；　they　wouldn't　move　a　corpse　in　broad　daylight。〃
　〃Maybe　there　is　no　corpse；　not　here；　not　anywhere。〃
　〃I　hope　to　God　you're　right。〃
　〃e　on；　Paul。　Let's　call　the　state　police。〃
　〃You　said　they'd　need　as　much　as　two　hours　to　get　here。　If　the　body　still　is　in　this　house…well；　it　most　likely　won't　be　here　two　hours　from　now。〃
　〃But　this　is　all　so　improbable！　Why　on　earth　would　Bob　want　to　murder　Mark？〃
　〃You　heard　what　Rya　said。　That　sociologist　ordered　him　to　kill。　That　Albert　Deighton。〃
　〃She　didn't　know　it　was　Deighton；〃　Sam　said。
　〃Sam；　you're　the　one　who　recognized　him　from　her　description。〃
　〃Okay。　Granted。　But　why　would　Emma　go　to　a　church　luncheon　and　card　game　just　after　watching　her　husband　kill　a　defenseless　child？　How　could　she？　And　how　could　a　boy　like　Jeremy　witness　a　brutal　murder　and　then　lie　to　you　so　smoothly？〃
　〃They're　your　neighbors。　You　tell　me。〃
　〃That's　just　the　point；〃　Sam　insisted。　〃They're　my　neighbors。　They　have　been　all　their　lives。　Nearly　all　their　lives。　I　know　them　well。　As　well　as　I　know　anyone。　And　I'm　telling　you；　Paul；　they　simply　aren't　capable　of　this　sort　of　thing。〃
　Paul　put　one　hand　to　his　belly。　His　stomach　spasmed　with　cramps。　The　memory　of　what　he　had　seen　in　that　bucket…the　thickening　blood　and　the　strands　of　hair　that　were　the　same　color　as　Mark's　hair…had　affected　him　physically　as　well　as　emotionally。　Or　perhaps　the　emotional　impact　had　been　so　devastating；　so　overwhelming　that　a　sharp　physical　revulsion　could　not　help　but　follow。　〃You've　known　these　people　under　ordinary　circumstances；　during　ordinary　times。　But　I　swear；　Sam；　there's　something　extraordinary　happening　in　this　town。　First　Rya's　story。　Mark's　disappearance。　The　bloody　rags。　And　on　top　of　that；　Buddy　es　around　with　this　story　of　strange　men　at　the　reservoir　in　the　dead　of　night…just　a　few　days　before　the
　whole　town　suffered　from　a　curious；　unexplained　epidemic…〃
　Sam　blinked　in　surprise。　〃You　think　the　chills　are　connected　with　this；　with…〃
　A　deafening　crack　of　thunder　interrupted　him。
　As　the　sky　grew　quiet；　Sam　said；　〃Buddy's　not　a　very　reliable　witness。〃
　〃You　believed　him；　didn't　you？〃
　〃I　believe　he　saw　something　strange；　yes。　Whether　or　not　it　was　precisely　what　Buddy　thinks　it　was…〃
　〃Oh；　I　know　he　didn't　see　skin　divers。　Skin　divers　don't　wear　hip　boots。　What　he　saw…I　think　maybe　he　saw　two　men　with　empty　chemical　dispersion　tanks。〃
　〃Someone　contaminated　the　reservoir？〃　Sam　asked　incredulously。
　〃Looks　that　way　to　me。〃
　〃Who？　The　government？〃
　〃Maybe。　Or　maybe　terrorists。　Or　even　a　private　pany。〃
　〃But　why？〃
　〃To　see　if　the　contaminate　did　what　it　was　supposed　to　do。〃
　Sam　said；　〃Contaminated　the　reservoir　。　。　。　with　what？〃　He　frowned。　〃Something　that　turns　sane　men　into　psychopaths　who　will　kill　when　told　to？〃
　Paul　began　to　shake。
　〃We　haven't　found　him　yet；〃　Sam　said　quickly。　〃Don't　lose　hope。　We　haven't　found　him　dead。〃
　〃Sam　…　。　。　Oh　God；　Sam；　I　think　we　will。　I　really　think　we　will。〃　He　was　close　to　tears；　but　he　knew　that；　for　the　time　being；　they　were　a　luxury　that　he　couldn't　allow　himself　to　have。　He　cleared　his　throat。　〃And　I'll　bet　this　sociologist；　Deighton；　is　involved　with　the　men　Buddy　saw。　He's　not　here　to　study　Black　River。　He　knows　what　was　put　in　the　reservoir；　and　he's　in　town　only　to　see　what　effect　that　substance　has　on　the　people　here。〃
　〃Why　didn't　Jenny　and　I　get　the　night　chills？〃
　Paul　shrugged。　〃I　don't　know。　And　I've　no　idea　what　Mark　walked　into　this　morning。　What　did　he　see　that　made　it　necessary　for　him　to　be　killed？〃
　They　stared　at　each　other；　horrified　by　the　idea　that　the　townspeople　were　unwitting　guinea　pigs　in　some　bizarre　experiment。　Both　of　them　wanted　to　laugh　off　the　entire　notion；　dismiss　it　with　a　joke　or　two；　but　neither　of　them　could　even　smile。
　〃If　any　of　this　is　true；〃　Sam　said　worriedly；　〃there's　even　more　reason　to　call　in　the　state　police　right　now。〃
　Paul　said；　〃We'll　find　the　body　first。　Then　we'll　call　the　state　police。　I'm　going　to　find　my　son　before　he　winds　up　in　an　unmarked　grave　way　to　hell　and　gone　in　the　mountains。〃
　Gradually；　Sam's　face　became　as　white　as　his　hair。　〃Don't　talk　about　him　as　if　you　know　he's　dead。　You　don't　know　that　he's　dead；　dammit！〃
　Paul　took　a　deep　breath。　His　chest　ached。　〃Sam；　I　should　have　believed　Rya　this　morning。　She's　no　liar。　Those　bloody　dish　towels　。。　。　Look；　I've　got　to　talk　about　him　as　if　he's　dead。　I've　got　to　think　of　him　that　way。　If　I　convince　myself　that　he's　still　alive　and　then　I　find　his　body…it'll　hurt　too　much。　It'll　destroy　me。　Do　you　understand？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃You　don't　have　to　e　in　with　me。〃
　〃I　can't　let　you　go　alone；〃　Sam　said。
　〃Yes；　you　can。　I'll　be　fine。〃
　〃I　won't　let　you　go　alone。〃
　〃All　right。　Let's　get　this　over　with。〃
　〃He's　a　good　boy；〃　Sam　said　quietly。　〃He's　always　been　such　a　good　boy。　I　love　him　like　my　own。〃
　Paul　nodded；　turned；　and　went　into　the　dark　house。
　The　telephone　pany　maintained　a　narrow；　two…story　brick　building　on　West　Main　Street；　half　a　block　from　the　square。　It　was　a　two…minute　walk　from　Pauline　Vicker's　rooming　house。
　The　front　office　on　the　first　floor…where　plaints　could　be　lodged　and　bills　paid…was　small　and　neat。　It　contained　eight　gray　filing　cabinets；　a　cash　register；　an　electronic　calculator；　a　photostatic　copier；　a　typewriter；　a　long　pine　worktable；　and　two　Straight…backed　chairs　in　one　corner；　a　large　metal　desk　with　a　Sturdy　swivel　chair；　a　Sierra　Club　calendar；　several　telephones；
　stacks　of　pany　pamphlets；　a　radio；　and　the　United　States　flag　in　a　stainless　steel　stand。　There　was　no　dust　on　the　furniture；　no　dirt　on　the　tile　floor；　and　every　pile　of　typing　paper；　forms；　and　envelopes　was　properly　squared　off　and　neatly　stacked。
　The　only　person　in　the　office　was　as　businesslike　as　the　room。　She　was　a　thin　but　not　unattractive　woman　in　her　middle　or　late　forties。　Her　short…cropped　chestnut　hair　had　no　more　than　a　dozen　strands　of　gray　in　it。　Her　skin　was　smooth　and　milky。　Although　her　features　were　very　angular；　they　were　balanced　by　a　generous；　sensuous　mouth　that　saved　her　looks　but　seemed　to　have　been　borrowed　from　another　face。　She　wore　a　smart　and　efficient　green　pantsuit　with　a　white　cotton　blouse。　Her　glasses　were　on　a　chain　so　that　when　she　took　them　off　they　hung　ready　at　her　breast。
　When　Salsbury　entered　the　office；　she　stepped　up　to　the　counter；　smiled　professionally；　and　said；　〃Does　it　still　look　like　rain　out　there？〃
　Closing　the　mullioned…window　door；　Salsbury　said；　〃Yes。　Yes；　it　does。〃
　〃What　can　I　do　for　you？〃
　〃I　am　the　lock。〃　〃I　am　the　key。〃
　He　went　to　the　counter。
　She　toyed　with　the　glasses　at　her　breast。　He　said；　〃What's　your　name？〃
　〃Joan　Markham。〃
　〃Are　you　a　secretary？〃
　〃I'm　the　assistant　manager。〃
　〃How　many　people　are　working　here？〃　〃Right　now？〃
　〃Right　now；〃　he　said。
　〃Six；　including　me。〃
　〃Name　them　for　me；　one　by　one。〃
　〃Well；　there's　Mr。　Puichaski。〃
　〃Who's　he？〃
　〃The　manager。〃
　〃Where　is　he　now？〃
　〃In　his　office；　The　front　room　upst