alistairmaclean.seawitch-第17章

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　〃Your　security　was　lousy。　We'll　phone　your　HQ　in　an　hour　or　so；　let　them　know　where　they　can　find　you。　I　trust　there　are　not　too　many　rattlesnakes　around。〃
　
　
　Chapter　6
　
　Jtto　BERTSON　looked　up　from　the　radio　console。　〃Chief　McGarrity。〃
　Mitchell　took　the　phone。　〃Mitchell？　We've　found　the　kidnapers'　estate　wagon。　Down　by　the　Wyanee　Swamp。〃　McGarrity　sounded　positively　elated。　〃I'm　going　there　personally。　Tracker　dogs。　Til　wait　for　you　at　the　Walnut　Tree　crossing。〃　Mitchell　replaced　the　receiver　and　said　to　Roomer：　〃McGarrity's　got　it　all　wrapped　up。　He's　found　the　estate　wagon。　Well　。　。　。　someone　did；　but　of　course　it　will　be　made　clear　eventually　that　it　was　McGarrity。〃
　〃Empty；　of　course。　Doesn't　that　old　fool　know　that　this　makes　it　more　difficult；　not　easier？　At　least　we　knew　what　transport　they　were　using。　Not　any　more。　He　didn't　mention　anything　about　bringing　along　a　newspaper　photographer　that　he　just　sort　of　accidentally　bumped　into？〃
　〃Tracker　dogs　were　all　he　mentioned。〃
　〃Did　he　suggest　anything　for　the　dogs　to　sniff　at？〃　Mitchell　shook　his　head；　Roomer　shook　his　and　called　to　Jenkins。　〃Will　you　get　Louise；　please？〃
　Louise　appeared　very　quickly。　Roomer　said：　〃We　need　a　piece　of　clothing　that　the　ladies　used　to　wear　a　lot。〃
　She　looked　uncertain。　〃I　don't　understand…〃
　〃Some　things　we　can　give　bloodhounds　to　sniff　so　that　they　pick　up　their　scent。〃
　〃Oh。〃　It　required　only　a　second's　thought。　〃Their　dressing　gowns；　of　course。〃　This　with　but　the　slightest　hint　of　disapproval；　as　if　the　girls　spent　most　of　the　day　lounging　about　in　those　garments。
　〃Handle　as　little　as　possible；　please。　Put　each　in　a　separate　plastic　bag。〃
　A　patrol　car　and　a　small　closed　police　van　awaited　them　at　the　Walnut　Tree　crossing。　McGarrity　was　standing　by　the　police　car。　He　was　a　small　bouncy　man　who　radiated　goodwill　and　only　stopped　smiling　when　he　was　vehemently　denouncing　corruption　in　politics。　He　was　a　police　chief　of　inparable　inpetence；　but　was　a　consummate　and　wholly　corrupt　politician；　whi^h　was　whv　he　was　police　chief。　He　shook　the　hands　of　Mitchell　and　Roomer　with　all　the　warmth　and　sincerity　of　an　incumbent　ing　up　for　re…election；　which　was　precisely　what　he　was。
　〃Glad　to　meet　you　two　gentlemen　at　last。　Heard　very　good　reports　about　you。〃　He　appeared　to　have　conveniently　forgotten　his　allegation　that　thev　gave　a　lot　of　trouble　to　the　local　law。　〃Appreciate　all　the　co…operation　you've　given　me…and　for　turning　up　here　now。　This　is　Ron　Stewart　of　the　Herald。〃　He　gestured　through　an　open　car　window　where　a　man；　apparently　festooned　in　cameras；　sat　in　the　back　seat。　〃Kind　of　accidentally　bumped　into　him。〃
　Mitchell　choked；　turning　it　into　a　cough。　〃Too　many　cigarettes。〃
　〃Same　failing　myself。　Driver's　the　dog　handler。　Driver　of　the　van　is　the　other　one。　Just　follow　us；　please。〃
　Five　miles　farther　on　they　reached　the　turn…off…one　of　many…into　the　Wyanee　Swamp。　The　foliage　of　the　trees；　almost　touching　overhead；　quickly　reduced　the　light　to　that　of　a　late　winter　afternoon。　The　increase　in　the　humidity　was　almost　immediately　noticeable；　as　was　the　sour；　nose…wrinkl　i　n　g　miasma　as　they　neared　the　swamp。　A　distinctly　unhealthy　atmosphere；　or　such　was　the　first　impression：　but　many　people　with　a　marked　aversion　to　what　passed　for
　civilization　lived　there　all　their　lives　and　seemed　none　the　worse　for　it。
　The　increasingly　rutted；　bumpy　road　had　bee　almost　intolerable　until　they　rounded　a　blind　corner　and　came　across　the　abandoned　station　wagon。
　The　first　essential　was；　apparently；　that　pictures　be　taken；　and　the　second　that　McGarrity　be　well…placed　in　each　one；　his　hand　preferably　resting　in　a　proprietorial　fashion　on　the　hood。　That　done；　the　cameraman　fitted　a　flash　attachment　and　was　reaching　for　the　rear　door　when　Roomer　clamped　his　wrist　not　too　gently。　〃Don't　do　that！〃
　〃Why　not？〃
　〃Never　been　on　a　criminal　case　before？　Fingerprints　is　why　not。〃　He　looked　at　McGarrity。　〃Expecting　them　soon？〃
　〃Shouldn't　be　long。　Out　on　a　case。　Check　on　them；　Don。〃　This　to　the　driver；　who　immediately　got　busy　on　his　radio。　It　was　clear　that　the　idea　of　bringing　fingerprint　experts　along　had　never　occurred　to　McGarrity。
　The　dogs　were　released　from　the　van。　Roomer　and　Mitchell　opened　up　their　plastic　bags　and　allowed　the　dogs　to　sniff　the　dressing　gowns。　McGarrity　said：　〃What　you　got　there？〃
　〃The　girls'　dressing　gowns。　To　give　your　hounds　a　scent。　We　knew　you'd　want　something。〃
　〃Of　course。　But　dressing　gowns！〃　McGarrity　was　a　past　master　in　covering　up。　Something　else；　clearly；　that　had　not　occurred　to　him。
　The　dogs　caught　the　scents　at　once　and　strained　at　their　leashes　as　they　nosed　their　way　down　a　rutted　path；　for　the　road　had　e　to　an　abrupt　end。　Inside　a　hundred　yards；　their　path　was　blocked　by　water。　It　wasn't　a　true　part　of　the　swamp　but　a　slow；　meandering；　mud…brown　creek；　perhaps　twenty　feet　across；　if　that。　There　was　a　mooring　post　nearby；　with　a　similar　one　at　the　far　bank。　Also　by　the　far　bank　was　a　warped　and　aged　craft　which　not　even　the　charitable　could　have　called　a　boat。　It　was　built　along　the　lines　of　an　oversized　coffin；　with　a　squared…off　end　where　the　bow　should　have　been。　The　ferry…probably　the　most　kindly　name　for　it…　was　attached　to　the　two　posts　by　an　endless　pulley　line。
　The　two　dog　handlers　hauled　the　boat　across；　got　into　it　with　understandable　caution；　and　were　joined　by　their　dogs；　who　kept　on　？　disolaying　considerable　signs　of　animation；　an　animation　which　rapidly　diminished；　then　vanished　shortly　after　they　had　landed　on　the　far　bank。　After　making　a　few　fruitless　circles；　they　lay　down　dejectedly　on　the　ground。
　〃Well；　ain't　that　a　shame；〃　a　voice　said；　'Trail　gone　cold；　I　guess。〃
　The　four　men　on　the　near　bank　turned　to　look　at　the　source　of　the　voice。　He　was　a　bizarre　character；　wearing　a　new　panama　hat　with　a　tartan　band；　gleaming　thigh…length　leather　boots　（presumably　as　a　protection　against　snakebites）；　and　
　clothes　discarded　by　a　scarecrow。　〃You　folks　chasin'　someone？〃
　〃We're　looking　for　someone；〃　McGarrity　said　cautiously。
　〃Lawmen；　yes？〃
　〃Chief　of　Police　McGarrity。〃
　〃Honored；　I'm　sure。　Well；　Chief；　you're　wasting　your　time。　Hot　trail　here；　cold　on　the　other　side。　So　the　party　you're　looking　for　got　off　halfway　across。〃
　〃You　saw　them？〃　McGarrity　asked　suspiciously。
　〃Hah！　More　than　one；　eh？　No；　sir。　Just　happened　by　right　now。　But　if　I　was　on　the　run　from　the　law　that's　what　I'd　do；　because　it's　been　done　hundreds　of　times。　You　can　get　out　midway；　walk　half　a　mile；　even　a　mile；　upstream　or　downstream。　Dozens　of　little　rivulets　e　into　this　creek。　You　could　turn　up　any　of　those；　go　a　mile　into　the　swamp　without　setting　foot　on　dry　land。　Wouldn't　find　them　this　side　of　Christmas；　Chief。〃
　〃How　deep　is　the　creek？〃
　〃Fifteen　inches。　If　that。〃
　〃Then；　why　the　boat？　I　mean；　with　those　boots　you　could　walk　across　without　getting　your　feet　wet。〃
　The　stranger　looked　almost　shocked。　〃No　sirree。　Takes　me　an　hour　every　morning　to　polish　up　them　critters。〃　It　was　assumed　that　he　was　referring　to　his　boots。　〃Besides；　there're　the　water　moccasins。〃　He　seemed　to　have　a　rooted　aversion　to　snakes。　〃The　boat？　e　the　rains；　the　creek's　up　to　here。〃　He　touched　his　chest。
　McGarrity　called　the　dog　handlers　to　return。　Mitchell　said　to　the　stranger：　〃Anyplace　in　the　swamp　where　a　helicopter　could　land？〃
　〃Sure。　More　firm　land　out　there　than　there　is　swampland。　Never　seen　any　helicopters；　though。　Yes；　lots　of　clearings。〃
　The　dog　handlers　and　dogs　disembarked。　Leaving　the　stranger　to　flick　some　invisible　dust　off　his　boots　they　made　their　way　back　to　the　station　wagon。　Mitchell　said：　〃Wait　a　minute。　I've　got　an　idea。〃　He　opened　the　two　plastic　bags　containing　the　dressing　gowns　and　presented　them　to　the　dogs　again。　He　then　walked　back　up　the　rutted　lane；　past　the　two　cars　and　vans；　beckoning　the　dog　handlers　to　follow　him；　which　they　did；　almost　having　to　drag　the　reluctant　dogs　behind　them。
　After　about　twenty　yards　the　reluctance　vanished。　The　dogs　yelped　and　strained　at　their　leashes。　For　another　twenty　yards　they　towed　their　handlers　along　behind　them；　then　abruptly　stopped　and　circled　a　few　times　before　sitting　down　dispiritedly。　Mitchell　crouched　and　examined　the　surface　of　the　lane。　The　others　caught　up　with　him。
　McGarritty　said：　〃What　gives；　then？〃
　〃This。〃　Mitchell　pointed　to　the　ground。　'There　was　another　vehicle　here。　You　can　see　where　its　back　wheels　spun　when　it　started　to　reverse。　The　kidnapers　guessed　we'd　be　Using　dogs…it　wasn't　all　that　hard　a　guess。　So　they　carried　the　girls　twenty　yards　or　so；　to　break　the　scent；　before　setting　them　down　again。〃
　〃Right　smart　of　you；　Mr。　Mitchell；　right　smart。〃　McGarrity　didn't　look　as　pleased　as　his　words　suggested。　〃So　the　birds　have　flown；　eh？　And　now　we　haven't　the　faintest　idea　what　the　getaway　vehicle　looks　like。〃
　Roomer　said：　〃Somebody's　flown；　that's　for　sure。　But　maybe　only　one　or　two。　Maybe　they've　gone　to　borrow　a　helicopter。〃
　〃A　helicopter？〃　The　waters　didn't　have　to　be　very　deep　for　Chief　McGarrity　to　start　floundering。
　With　a　trace　of　weary　impatience　Mitchell　said：　〃It　could　be　a　double　bluff。　Maybe　they　reversed　the　procedure　and　took　the　girls　back　to　the　station　wagon　again。　Maybe　they're　still　in　the　swamp；　waiting　for　a　helicopter　to　e　arid　pick　them　up。　You　heard　the　old　boy　back　there…he　said　there　were　plenty　of　places　in　the　swamp　where　a　helicopter　could　set　down。〃
　McGarrity　nodded　sagely　and　appeared　to　ponder　the　matter　deeply。　The　time　had　e；　he　felt；　for　him　to　make　a　positive　contribution。　〃The　swamp's　out。　Hopeless。　So　I'll　have　to　concentrate　on　the　helicopter　angle。〃
　Mitchell　said：　〃How　do　you　propose　to　do　that？〃
　〃Just　you　leave　that　to　me。〃　Roomer　said：　〃That's　hardly　fair；　Chief。　We've　given　you　our　plete　confidence。　Don't　you　think　we're　entitled　to　some　in　return？〃
　〃Well；　now。〃　McGarrity　appeared　to　ruminate；　although　he　was　secretly　pleased　to　be　asked　the　question；　as　Roomer　had　known　he　would　be。　〃If　the　chopper　doesn't　get　in　there；　it　can't　very　well　lift　them　out；　can　it？〃
　〃That's　a　fact；〃　Roomer　said　solemnly。　〃So　I　station　marksmen　round　this　side　of　the　swamp。　It's　no　big　deal　to　bring　down　a　low…flyine　chopper。〃
　Mitchell　said：　〃I　wouldn't　do　that　if　I　were　you。〃
　〃No；　indeed。〃　Roomer　shook　his　head。　〃The　law　frowns　on　murder。〃
　〃Murder？〃　McGarrity　stared　at　them。　〃Who's　talking　about　murder？〃
　'We　are；〃　Mitchell　said。　〃Rifle　or　machine…gun　fire　could　kill　someone　inside　the　helicopter。　If　it　brings　down　the　helicopter　they'd　all　probably　die。　Maybe　there　are　criminals　aboard；　but　they're　entitled　to　a　fair　trial。　And　has　it　occurred　to　you　that　the　pilot　will　almost　certainly　be　an　innocent　party　with　a　pistol　pointed　at　his　head？〃　McGarrity；　clearly；　had　not　thought　of　that。　〃Not　going　to　make　us　very　popular；　is　it？〃
　
　McGarrity　winced。　Even　the　thought　of　unpopularity　and　the　forthing　election　made　him　feel　weak　inside。
　〃So　what　the　devil　do　we　do？〃
　Roomer　was　frank。　〃I'll　be　damned　if　I　know。　You　can　post　observers。　You　can　even　have　a　grounded　helicopter　standing　by　to　chase　the　other　one　when　it　takes　off。　//　it　ever　es　in　the　first　place。　We're　only　guessing。〃
　〃No　more　we　can　do　here；〃　Mitc