dk.nightchills-第33章

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　〃I　can't　leave　him　here；　Sam。〃
　〃But　if　Bob　Thorp　did　this；　you　want　him　to　pay　for　it。　Don't　you？　If　you　move…move　the　body；　what　proof　do　you　have　that　you　actually　found　it　here？〃
　Surprised　by　the　steadiness　of　his　own　voice；　Paul　said；　〃The　police　forensic　specialists　will　be　able　to　find　traces　of　Mark's　hair　and　blood　in　the　freezer。〃
　〃But…〃
　〃I　can't　leave　him　here！〃
　Sam　nodded。　〃All　right〃　〃I　just　can't；　Sam。〃
　〃Okay。　We'll　get　him　to　the　car。〃　〃Thank　you。〃
　〃We'll　take　him　to　my　place。〃
　〃Thank　you。〃　〃How　will　we　carry　him？〃　〃You…take　his　feet。〃　Sam　touched　the　boy。　〃So　cold。〃　〃Be　careful　with　him；　Sam。〃　Sam　nodded　as　they　lifted　the　body。　〃Be　gentle　with　him；　please。〃　〃Okay。〃
　〃Please。〃
　〃I　will；〃　Sam　said。　〃I　will。〃
　　
　5
　2：00　P。M。
　THUNDER　CANNONED；　and　rain　shattered　against　the　windows　of　the　police　chief's　office。
　Two　men；　employees　of　other　governmental　departments　that　shared　the　municipal　building；　stood　with　their　backs　to　the　windows；　trying　to　look　stern；　authoritarian；　and　eminently　reliable。　Bob　Thorp　had　provided　them　with　bright　yellow　hooded　rain　slickers　with　POLICE　stenciled　across　their　shoulders　and　chests。　Both　men　were　in　their　middle　or　late　thirties；　yet　they　expressed　an　almost　childish　delight　at　the　opportunity　to　wear　these　raincoats：　adults　playing　cops　and　robbers。
　〃Can　you　use　a　gun？〃　Salsbury　asked　them。
　They　both　said　that　they　could。
　Salsbury　turned　to　Bob　Thorp。　〃Give　them　guns。〃
　〃Revolvers？〃　the　police　chief　asked。
　〃Do　you　have　shotguns？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃I　believe　those　would　be　better　than　revolvers；〃　Salsbury　said。　〃Don't　you　agree？〃
　〃For　this　operation？〃　Thorp　said。　〃Yes。　Much　better。〃
　〃Then　give　them　shotguns。〃
　A　brilliant　explosion　of　lightning　flashed　against　the　windows。　The　effect　was　stroboscopic：　everyone　and　every　object　in　the
　room　seemed　to　jump　rapidly　back　and　forth　for　an　instant；　although　in　reality　nothing　moved。
　Overhead　the　fluorescent　lights　flickered。
　Thorp　went　to　the　metal　firearms　cabinet　behind　his　desk；　unlocked　it；　and　fetched　two　shotguns。
　〃Do　you　know　how　to　use　these？〃　Salsbury　asked　the　men　in　the　yellow　raincoats。
　One　of　them　nodded。
　The　other　said；　〃Not　much　to　it。　These　babies　pack　a　hell　of　a　lot　of　punch。　You　pretty　much　just　have　to　point　in　the　general　direction　of　the　target　and　pull　the　trigger。〃　He　gripped　the　gun　with　both　hands；　admired　it；　smiled　at　it。
　〃Good　enough；〃　Salsbury　said。　〃The　two　of　von　will　go　out　to　the　parking　lot　behind　this　building；　get　in　the　spare　patrol　car；　and　drive　to　the　east　end　of　town。　Understand　me　so　far？〃
　〃To　the　east　end；〃　one　of　them　said。
　〃A　hundred　yards　short　of　the　turn　at　the　mouth　of　the　valley；　you'll　park　the　cruiser　across　the　highway　and　block　both　lanes　as　best　you　can。〃
　〃A　roadblock；〃　one　of　them　said；　obviously　pleased　with　the　way　the　game　was　developing。
　〃Exactly；〃　Salsbury　said。　〃If　anyone　wants　to　enter　Black　River…logging　trucks；　local　citizens；　maybe　visitors　from　out　of　town；　anyone　at　all…you'll　let　them　in。　However；　you'll　send　them　here；　straight　to　this　office。　You'll　tell　them　that　a　state　of　emergency　has　been　declared　in　Black　River　and　that　they　absolutely　must；　without　exception；　check　in　with　the　chief　of　police　before　they　go　on　about　their　business。〃
　〃What　kind　of　emergency？〃　〃You　don't　need　to　know。〃　One　of　them　frowned。
　The　other　said；　〃Everyone　we　stop　will　want　to　know。〃
　〃If　they　ask；　tell　them　that　the　chief　will　explain　it。〃　Both　men　nodded。
　Thorp　distributed　a　dozen　shotgun　shells　to　each　of　them。
　〃If　anyone　tries　to　leave　Black　River；〃　Salsbury　said；　〃you'll　also　direct　them　to　the　chief；　and　you'll　give　them　the　same　story　about　a　state　of　emergency。　Understood？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Every　time　you　send　someone　to　see　Bob；　whether　they　were　ing　into　town　or　trying　to　get　out　of　it；　you'll　radio　this　office。　That　way；　if　they　don't　show　up　within　a　few　minutes；　we'll　know　that　we've　got　some　renegades　on　our　hands。　Understood？〃
　They　both　said；　〃Yes。〃
　Salsbury　took　his　handkerchief　from　his　hip　pocket　and　blotted　the　perspiration　from　his　face。　〃If　anyone　leaving　town　tries　to　run　your　roadblock；　stop　them。　If　you　can't　stop　them　any　other　way；　use　the　guns。〃
　〃Shoot　to　kill？〃
　〃Shoot　to　kill；〃　Salsbury　said。　〃But　only　if　there's　no　other　way　to　stop　them。〃
　One　of　the　men　tried　to　look　like　John　Wayne　receiving　orders　at　the　Alamo；　shook　his　head　solemnly；　and　said；　〃Don't　worry。　You　can　count　on　us。〃
　〃Any　questions？〃
　〃How　long　will　we　be　in　charge　of　this　roadblock？〃
　〃Another　team　of　men　will　relieve　you　in　six　hours；〃　Salsbury　said。　〃At　eight　o'clock　this　evening。〃　He　jammed　his　handkerchief　back　into　his　pocket。　〃One　other　thing。　When　you　leave　this　room；　you　will　forget　that　you　ever　met　me。　You'll　forget　that　I　was　here。　You'll　remember　everything　I've　said　to　you　prior　to　what　I'm　saying　to　you　now；　every　previous　exchange　of　this　conversation　we've　just　had…but　you'll　think　that　Bob　Thorp　gave　you　your　instructions。　Is　that　perfectly　clear？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Perfectly。〃
　〃Then　get　moving。〃
　The　two　men　went　out　of　the　room；　forgetting　him　the　moment　they　set　foot　in　the　corridor。
　A　fiercely　white　pulse　of　lightning　washed　over　the　town；　and　a　crack　of　thunder　followed；　rattling　the　windows。
　〃Close　those　blinds；〃　Salsbury　said　irritably。
　Thorp　did　as　he　was　told。
　Salsbury　sat　down　behind　the　desk。
　When　he　had　drawn　the　Venetian　blinds；　Bob　Thorp　returned　to　the　desk　and　stood　in　front　of　it。
　Salsbury　looked　up　at　him　and　said；　〃Bob；　I　want　to　seal　this　burg　up　tight。　Real　tight。〃　He　made　a　fist　with　his　right　hand　by　way　of　example。　〃I　want　to　make　damned　sure　that　no　one　can　get　out　of　town。　Is　there　anything　else　that　I　should　block　in　addition　to　the　highway？〃
　Scratching　his　beetled　brow；　Thorp　said；　〃You　need　two　more　men　at　the　east　end　of　the　valley。　One　to　watch　the　river。　He　should　be　armed　with　a　rifle　so　he　can　pick　off　anyone　in　a　boat　if　he　has　to　do　that。　The　other　man　should　be　stationed　in　the　trees　between　the　river　and　the　highway。　Give　him　a　shotgun　and　tell　him　to　stop　anyone　who　tries　to　sneak　out　through　the　woods。〃
　〃The　man　at　the　river…he'd　have　to　be　an　expert　with　a　rifle；　wouldn't　he？〃　Salsbury　asked。
　〃You　wouldn't　need　a　master　rifleman。　But　he　would　have　to　be　a　fairly　good　shot。〃
　〃Okay。　We'll　use　one　of　your　deputies　for　that。　They're　all　good　with　a　rifle；　aren't　they？〃
　〃Oh；　sure。〃
　〃Good　enough　for　this？〃
　〃No　doubt　about　it。〃
　〃Anything　else？〃
　Thorp　thought　about　the　situation　for　almost　a　minute。　Finally　he　said；　〃There's　a　series　of　old　logging　roads　that　lead　up　into　the　mountains　and　eventually　hook　up　with　a　second　series　of　roads　that　e　from　the　lumber　operations　around　Bexford。　A　lot　of　that　route　has　been　abandoned。　None　of　it's　paved。　A　few　sections　may　be　graveled　if　they　haven't　been　washed　out　this　summer；　but　mostly　it's　just　dirt。　Narrow。　Full　of　weeds。　But　I　guess　if　a　man　was　determined　enough；　he　could　drive　out　that　way。〃
　〃Then　we'll　block　it；〃　Salsbury　said；　getting　up　from　the　chair。　He　paced　nervously　to　the　windows　and　back　to　the　desk。　〃This　town　is　mine。　Mine。　And　it'll　stay　that　way。　I'm　going
　to　keep　my　hands　on　every　man；　woman；　and　child　here　until　I've　solved　this　problem。〃
　The　situation　had　gotten　incredibly　far　out　of　hand。　He　would　have　to　call　Dawson。　Sooner　or　later。　Probably　sooner。　Couldn't　be　avoided。　But　before　he　placed　that　call；　he　wanted　to　be　certain　that　he　had　done　everything　that　he　could　possibly　do　without　Leonard's　help；　without　Klinger's　help。　Show　them　he　was　decisive。　Clever。　A　good　man　to　have　around。　His　efficiency　might　impress　the　general。　And　that　Christ…kissing　bastard。　Impress　them　enough　to　pensate　for　his　having　caused　the　crisis　in　the　first　place。　That　was　very　important。　Very　important。　Right　now　the　trick　was　to　survive　his　partners'　wrath。
　2：30　P。M。
　The　air　in　Sam's　library　was　stale　and　humid。
　Rain　drummed　on　the　outside　window；　and　hundreds　of　tiny　beads　of　dew　formed　on　the　inside。
　Still　numb　from　the　discovery　of　his　son's　body；　Paul　sat　in　one　of　the　easy　chairs；　his　hands　on　the　arms　of　the　chair　and　his　fingertips　pressed　like　claws　into　the　upholstery。
　Sam　stood　by　one　of　the　bookcases；　pulling　volumes　of　collected　psychology　essays　from　the　stacks　and　leafing　through　them。
　On　the　wide　window　ledge；　an　antique　mantel　clock　ticked　hollowly；　monotonously。
　Jenny　came　into　the　room　from　the　ball；　letting　the　door　stand　open　behind　her。　She　knelt　on　the　floor　beside　Paul's　chair　and　put　her　hand　over　his。
　〃How's　Rya？〃　he　asked。
　Before　they　had　gone　to　the　Thorp　house　to　search　for　the　body；　Sam　had　given　the　girl　a　sedative。
　〃Sleeping　soundly；〃　Jenny　said。　〃She'll　be　out　for　at　least　two　more　hours。〃
　〃Here！〃　Sam　said　excitedly。
　They　looked　up；　startled。
　He　came　to　them；　holding　up　a　book　of　essays。　〃His　picture。　The　one　who　calls　himself　Deighton。〃
　Paul　stood　up　to　have　a　better　look　at　it。
　〃No　wonder　Rya　and　I　couldn't　find　any　of　his　articles；〃　Sam　said。　〃We　were　looking　through　tables　of　contents　for　something　written　by　Albert　Deighton。　But　that's　not　his　name。　His　real　name's　Ogden　Salsbury。〃
　〃I've　seen　him；〃　Paul　said。　〃He　was　in　Ultman's　Cafe　the　day　that　waitress　drove　the　meat　fork　through　her　hand。　In　fact　she　waited　on　him。〃
　Rising　to　her　feet；　Jenny　said；　〃You　think　that　was　connected　with　the　rest　of　this；　with　the　story　Buddy　Pellineri　told　us…　with　what　they　did　to　Mark？〃　Her　voice　faltered　slightly　on　those　last　few　words；　and　her　eyes　grew　shiny。　But　she　bit　her　lip　and　held　back　the　tears。
　〃Yes；〃　Paul　said；　wondering　again　at　his　own　inability　to　weep。　He　ached。　God；　he　was　full　of　pain！　But　the　tears　would　not　e。　〃It　must　be　connected。　Somehow。〃　To　Sam　he　said；　〃Salsbury　wrote　this　article？〃
　〃According　to　the　introductory　blurb；　it　was　the　last　piece　he　ever　published…more　than　twelve　years　ago。〃
　〃But　he's　not　dead。〃
　〃Unfortunately。〃
　〃Then　why　the　last？〃
　〃Seems　he　was　quite　a　controversial　figure。　Praised　and　damned　but　mostly　damned。　And　he　got　tired　of　the　controversy。　He　dropped　out　of　his　lecture　tours　and　gave　up　his　writing　so　that　he'd　have　more　time　to　dedicate　to　his　research。〃
　〃What's　the　article　about？〃
　Sam　read　the　title。　〃'Total　Behavioral　Modification　through　Subliminal　Perception。'〃　And　the　subtitle：　〃'Mind　Control　from　the　Inside　Out。'〃
　〃What　does　all　of　that　mean？〃
　〃Do　you　want　me　to　read　it　aloud？〃
　Paul　looked　at　his　watch。
　〃It　wouldn't　hurt　if　we　knew　the　enemy　before　we　went　into　Bexford　to　see　the　state　police；〃　Jenny　said。
　〃She's　right；〃　Sam　said。
　Paul　nodded。　〃Go　ahead。　Read　it。〃
　2：40　P。M。
　Friday　afternoon　H。　Leonard　Dawson　was　in　the　study　of　his　Greenwich；　Connecticut；　house；　reading　a　long　letter　on　lavender　paper　from　his　wife。　Julia　was　one…third　of　the　way　through　a　three…week　trip　to　the　Holy　Land；　and　day　by　day　she　was　discovering　that　it　was　less　and　less　like　she　had　imagined　and　hoped　it　would　be。　The　best　hotels　were　all　owned　by　Arabs　and　Jews；　she　said；　therefore；　she　felt　unclean　every　time　she　went　to　bed。　There　were　plenty　of　rooms　in　the　inns；