pzb.drawingblood-第62章

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hing。　It　was　easy　enough　to　understand。　She　hadn't　been　what　Zach　wanted。　Trevor　was。
　　But　she　still　didn't　want　to　see　him　go　to　prison。　She　still　had　to　help　him。
　　Eventually　her　tears　dried　up；　and　she　sat　with　her　chin　propped　on　her　fist；　watching　a　bee　circle　Kinsey's　overgrown；　zucchini…laden　garden；　savoring　the　country　quiet。　She　loved　the　French　Quarter；　but　sometimes　it　was　difficult　to　think　there；　what　with　all　the　street　musicians　and　exploding　bottles　and　screaming　queens　and　blaring　traffic。　And　if　there　was　anything　Eddy　needed　just　now；　it　was　time　to　think。
　　Left　to　their　own　devices；　the　ragged　crew　in　the　house　would　sit　around　talking　until　Agent　Cover　showed　up　with　his　minions。　But　by　the　time　she　stood　up　and　went　back　inside；　Eddy　had　a　plan。
　　
　　〃So　where　would　we　go？〃　Zach　asked　Dougal。
　　Dougal　favored　him　with　a　crooked　white　grin。　〃I　fly　you　home　wit'　me；　mon。　You　always　say　you　wan'　go　get　lost　in　Jamaica　someday。〃
　　〃Jamaica？〃　Zach　turned　to　Trevor。　〃That's　where　I　dreamed　about。　Like　you　told　me　to。　I　was　walking　down　a　clean　white　beach　with　bright　green　palm　trees　and　a　guy　said　'Ganja；　smart　ganja'　so　I　stopped…〃
　　〃That's　Jamaica；〃　Dougal　assured　him。　〃Always　got　de　smart　ganja。　I　got　some　now　if　you　wan'　it。〃　Zach　and　Terry　nodded。　Dougal　rolled　another　bomber　and　passed　it　around。　Soon　the　room　was　filled　with　sweet　herbal　smoke。
　　〃Goddammit；　are　you　all　just　going　to　sit　around　and　get　STONED？〃
　　Eddy　stood　in　the　doorway；　arms　akimbo；　face　tearstained　and　royally　pissed　and　lovely。　He　had　missed　her　since　he　left；　Zach　realized；　and　he　would　miss　her　wherever　he　was　going。　She　was　so　tough。
　　〃The　Secret　Service　is　ALL　OVER　TOWN！　The　agent　in　charge　of　your　case　showed　up　at　Terry's　record　store！〃　She　crossed　the　room　to　Zach；　grabbed　him　by　the　shoulder　and　shook　him。　〃Don't　you　think　you　better　GET　GOING？！〃
　　Trevor　knocked　her　hand　away。　〃He　has　a　concussion！　Leave　him　alone！〃
　　〃Well；　if　you　don't　move　your　asses；　he'll　have　plenty　of　time　to　recover　in　a　jail　cell！　Is　that　what　you　want？〃
　　〃You　guys　shut　up。　Please。〃　Zach　scowled　and　rubbed　his　temples；　trying　to　clear　his　head。　〃She's　right；　Trev。　If　they're　already　here；　we　have　to　go。〃
　　Zach　stared　miserably　up　at　Eddy。　〃I'm　sorry　about　all　this；　Ed。　I　wish　I　could　do　something　to　make　it　up　to　you。〃
　　〃Give　me　your　car。〃
　　〃Huh？〃
　　〃You　heard　me。　Give　me　your　car。　I've　always　liked　it；　and　you　won't　be　needing　it　anymore。　Dougal　can　take　you　back　to　Louisiana　to　catch　your　plane。　Do　you　think　you　could　get　into　Louisiana　DMV　again　and　register　the　car　to　me？〃
　　〃Well　。　。　。　sure。　What　are　you　gonna　do？〃
　　〃Drive　through　downtown　and　try　to　lure　them　after　me。　I'll　go　east　on　42　while　you　guys　sneak　out　of　town　the　other　way。　They　won't　be　looking　for　Dougal's　car。〃
　　All　five　men　stared　at　her　with　wide　awed　eyes。　Finally　Terry　said　timidly；　〃Won't　they　chase　you　down　and　arrest　you？〃
　　〃I'll　lead　them　as　far　as　I　can。　Maybe　they'll　arrest　me；　but　maybe　they　won't　have　a　damn　thing　to　charge　me　with　if　they　can't　prove　Zach　was　ever　here。　I'll　say　the　Mustang　was　mine　all　along；　and　the　puter　will　back　me　up。　Right？〃
　　〃Right；〃　Zach　said。
　　〃After　that；　who　knows？　I　may　drive　to　California。　I　may　meet　William　S。　Burroughs　in　Kansas。　I　may　wind　up　stranded　in　Idaho。　I　don't　really　care。　I　just　want　some　time　alone。〃
　　She　pulled　her　key　ring　out　of　her　pocket　and　tossed　it　to　Dougal。　〃You　know　where　my　apartment　is。　You　and　the　rest　of　the　French　Market　gang　can　have　everything　in　it。　Zach；　do　you　want　anything　out　of　your　car？〃
　　〃Umm　。　。　。　no；　I've　got　my　bag。〃
　　〃Then　could　some　of　you　guys　e　help　me　unload　it？　I　don't　want　to　get　busted　with　a　hot　puter　and　a　bunch　of　boys'　clothes。〃
　　〃I'll　take　everything　to　Potter's　Store；〃　Kinsey　offered。
　　〃Keep　the　puter；〃　Zach　told　him。　〃It's　got　all　kinds　of　good　stuff　on　the　hard　drive。　You'll　never　have　to　pay　a　bill　again。〃
　　〃Thanks；　but　I'll　pass。〃
　　〃I'll　take　it；〃　said　Terry。
　　The　others　carried　five　loads　in　from　the　Mustang　while　Zach　dialed　up　the　Louisiana　DMV　puter　and　made　the　necessary　changes；　plus　a　couple　of　embellishments。　Eddy　selected　several　items　from　the　piles　of　Zach's　stuff：　a　bulky　army　jacket；　a　pair　of　sunglasses；　the　broadbrimmed　black　hat　Dougal　had　sold　Zach　in　the　French　Market　less　than　a　week　ago。　When　she　put　these　things　on；　it　was　obvious　that　from　a　distance　she　could　easily　pass　for　Zach。
　　Eddy　walked　over　to　the　sofa。　〃Excuse　me；〃　she　said　to　Trevor；　and　leaned　down　and　kissed　Zach　square　on　the　lips。　Then　she　turned　and　went　to　the　front　door　and　smiled　back　at　them。　It　was　a　rather　rueful　smile；　but　not　a　bitter　one。
　　〃It's　been　nice　knowing　all　of　you；〃　she　said。　〃Really　it　has。　Good　luck　to　you。　I　think　you'll　all　need　it。　Give　me　about　ten　minutes'　head　start。〃
　　The　door　closed　noiselessly　behind　her。　A　few　moments　later　they　heard　the　smooth　purr　of　the　Mustang　pulling　out　of　the　driveway。
　　Everyone　gazed　uncertainly　at　each　other。　Then　Trevor　asked　Zach；　〃Did　you　really　dream　about　Jamaica？〃
　　Zach　started　to　nod；　winced；　and　said；　〃Yes。〃
　　〃Then　let's　go。〃
　　They　looked　up　to　see　Kinsey；　Terry；　and　even　Dougal　grinning　like　proud　parents　at　a　wedding。
　　〃Maybe　we　got　time　for　jus'　one　more　little　smoke；〃　said　Dougal。　〃I　t'ink　we　got　somet'ing　to　celebrate。〃
　　
　　Eddy　drove　along　Kinsey's　road；　stopped　the　car　for　a　long　moment　at　the　intersection；　then　turned　right　at　Farmers　Hardware　onto　Firehouse　Street。　She　didn't　know　where　the　agents　were　or　what　their　cars　would　look　like；　but　she　figured　she　could　make　them　see　her。
　　She　tugged　the　black　hat　down　over　her　face；　pushed　the　sunglasses　up　on　her　nose；　and　gathered　every　particle　of　her　nerve。　She　was　going　to　have　to　do　some　fancy　driving。　But　the　car　could　take　it；　Zach　had　once　driven　her　down　Highway　10　at　a　hundred　twenty　miles　per　hour。　And　she　could　take　it　too。
　　She　was　sick　of　hot；　humid　weather　that　sapped　the　strength　but　teased　the　libido。　For　that　matter；　she　was　sick　of　the　libido。　She　was　sick　of　beautiful　boys；　geeks；　and　the　assorted　mutants　that　fell　somewhere　in　between。　She　was　going　to　have　adventures　she　damn　well　felt　like　having；　ones　that　didn't　depend　on　some　man。　One　way　or　another；　this　would　be　the　first。
　　She　saw　the　Whirling　Disc　up　ahead　on　her　left。　Halfway　through　downtown　now。　They'd　had　plenty　of　time　to　notice　the　car；　plenty　of　time　to　read　the　license　plate　if　Stefan　had　been　able　to　give　them　that。
　　Eddy　revved　the　engine；　stomped　the　gas；　and　went　blasting　through　Missing　Mile。　The　needle　jittered　up　to　sixty；　seventy…five；　eighty。　She　glanced　in　her　rearview　mirror；　saw　three　white　Chevy　vans　pulling　away　from　the　curb　behind　her；　and　let　out　a　howl　of　pure　triumph。
　　They　hit　the　open　road　going　ninety。　Eddy　kept　pushing　the　Mustang；　watched　the　vans　fall　behind。　She　tried　to　keep　the　needle　steady　at　a　hundred。　She　didn't　want　to　lose　them　too　fast；　not　until　Dougal's　creaky　old　station　wagon　had　had　plenty　of　time　to　slip　out　the　other　way。
　　Eddy　turned　on　the　tape　player；　cranked　up　the　volume。　〃YORE　CHEATIN'　HAWRRRRRT；〃　whined　Hank　Williams。　She　hit　the　EJECT　button；　risked　a　glance　at　the　other　tapes　on　the　dashboard；　tossed　Hank　in　the　back　seat；　and　slapped　on　Patsy　Cline。
　　Crazy。　Crazy　for　lovin'　you　。　。　。
　　Not　anymore；　kiddo。
　　Maybe　they　would　catch　her。　But　they　couldn't　keep　her；　her　money　and　her　car　were　no　longer　traceable　to　Zach。　She　trusted　him　on　that　one。　And　after　that；　she　would　go　where　she　wanted。
　　Eddy　saw　a　wide；　bright　highway　heading　west；　with　the　marvelous　clean　flatlands　beginning　to　unfurl　before　her　wheels。　Prairie；　mesa；　desert　stark　and　dry　as　a　bone；　stretching　all　the　way　to　the　Pacific　Ocean。
　　It　was　hers　to　have；　and　she　wanted　it。
　　
　　Thursday　night　and　Friday　morning　were　a　long　confusing　blur。　Zach　remembered　getting　dressed；　Kinsey　and　Terry　hugging　him；　then　climbing　into　the　back　seat　of　Dougal's　station　wagon　and　promptly　falling　asleep　in　Trevor's　lap。
　　Somewhere　near　Atlanta；　he　thought；　Dougal　stopped　the　car　in　a　pretty　little　suburb　and　ushered　them　into　a　houseful　of　Jamaicans。　A　Hefty　garbage　bag　full　of　fragrant　marijuana　sat　in　the　middle　of　the　living…room　floor　and　massive　joints　were　constantly　being　rolled。　They　were　given　bowls　of　spicy　goat　stew　and　glasses　of　fresh　ginger　beer。　From　the　boom　box　in　the　corner；　Bob　Marley　sang　that　every　little　thing　was　gonna　be　all　right。　Zach　was　beginning　to　believe　him。
　　They　all　grabbed　a　couple　of　hours'　sleep。　Then　Dougal　drove　straight　through　to　South　Louisiana。　〃Lay　low；　Zachary；〃　he　thought　he　remembered　hearing　Dougal　whisper　once。　〃We　pretty　close　to　New　Orleans　now。　But　we　be　at　Colin's　soon。〃　Then　nothing　but　green　swamp　light　for　miles　and　miles；　and　Trevor　holding　him　all　the　way。
　　They　arrived　at　Colin's　place　at　dusk。　It　was　a　small　shack　deep　in　the　swamp；　surrounded　by　still　water；　bright　green　vines　and　other　vegetation；　great　moss…encrusted　stands　of　cypress　and　oak。　Out　back　in　a　large　cleared　area　was　the　runway。　It　was　built　atop　the　mud；　Zach　thought；　on　the　same　basic　principle　as　a　cracker　balanced　on　toothpicks　sunk　into　a　dish　of　thick　pudding。　On　the　runway　sat　Colin's　plane；　so　small　and　spindly　it　looked　like　a　toy。　They　would　be　taking　off　in　the　morning。　They　stared　at　the　ramshackle　contraption；　then　at　each　other。　〃Adventure；〃　Zach　murmured；　and　Trevor　nodded。
　　Colin　was　a　wiry；　jet…black　Rastafarian　with　dreadlocks　hanging　halfway　to　his　waist。　The　inside　of　his　shack　was　a　single　large　room　with　sleeping　bags　on　the　floor。　Trevor　and　Zach　crawled　into　a　single　bag　and　fell　asleep。　Dougal　and　Colin　sat　up　most　of　the　night；　talking　and　smoking。
　　They　climbed　the　steps　into　the　cargo　hold　at　dawn。　Zach's　stomach　dropped　as　he　felt　the　wheels　leave　the　ground。　But　once　they　were　in　the　air　the　motion　was　soothing；　lulling　him　back　to　sleep　with　the　weight　of　America　lifting　off　his　back。
　　He　woke　up　once　on　the　flight　to　the　sound　of　someone　gagging；　realized　it　was　himself。　Trevor　was　awkwardly　holding　his　head　up　while　Dougal　offered　him　a　neat　little　plastic…lined　bag　to　puke　in。　〃Colin　keep　these　in　de　plane；〃　Dougal　explained。　〃It's　jus'　de　Bermuda　Triangle　make　some　people　sick　a　little。　Soon　pass。〃
　　Zach　felt　horrible。　His　food…deprived　body　must　have　sucked　up　the　goat　stew　already；　he　only　had　the　dry　heaves。　Soon　the　nausea　subsided　a　little。　Dougal　handed　him　a　smoldering　joint　and　he　dragged　on　it　gratefully。　〃We're　over　the　Bermuda　Triangle？〃
　　〃Jus'　a　little　on　de　edge。〃
　　Zach　handed　the　joint　back　to　Dougal；　who　crawled　up　to　the　cockpit　to　pass　it　to　Colin。　He　closed　his　eyes　and　leaned　back　against　Trevor。　〃What　do　you　think；　Trev？〃　he　whispered。　〃Am　I　a　fun　date　or　what？〃
　　He　was　pretty　sure　he　knew　the　answer。　But　he　fell　back　asleep　before　he　could　hear　it。
　　Sometime　later　Trevor　shook　him　awake　and　gripped　his　hand。　The　plane　was　full　of　light。　Dougal　motioned　them　toward　the　cockpit。　Peering　over　the　pilot's　mass　of　dreadlocks；　Zach　could　see　a　calm　clear　expanse　of　water　the　color