rs.inthebestfamelies-第26章

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　　We　went。　Down　at　the　curb；　as　I　had　noticed　on　my　way　in；　force　of　habit　again；　was　a　dark　blue　Olds　sedan；　a　fifty；　with　a　cheerful…looking　young　man　with　a　wide　mouth；　no　hat；　behind　the　wheel。　He　gave　me　an　interested　look　as　Christy　and　I　got　in　the　back　seat；　but　no　words　passed。
　　The　second　the　door　slammed　the　engine　started　and　the　car　went　forward。
　　The　Olds　fifty　is　the　only　stock　car　that　will　top　a　hundred　and　ten；　but　we　never　reached　half　of　that…up　the　West　Side　Highway；　Saw　Mill　River；　and　Taconic　State。　The　young　man　was　a　careful；　petent；　and　considerate　driver。　There　was　not　much　conversation。　When　Christy　took　the　report　from　his　pocket　and　started　reading　it　my　first　reaction　was　mild　relief；　on　the　ground　that　if　I　were　about　to　die　they　wouldn't　give　a　damn　what　my　last　words　were；　but　on　second　thought　it　seemed　reasonable　that　he　might　be　looking　for　more　evidence　for　the　prosecution；　and　I　left　the　matter　open。　It　was　a　fine　sunny　day；　not　too　hot；　and　everything　looked　very　attractive。
　　I　hoped　I　would　see　many　more　days　like　it；　in　either　town　or　country；　I　didn't　care　which；　though　ordinarily　I　much　prefer　the　city。　But　that　day　the　country　looked　swell；　and　therefore　I　resented　it　when；　as　we　were　rolling　along　the　Taconic　State　Parkway　a　few　miles　north　of　Hawthorne　Circle；　Christy　suddenly　manded　me；　〃Get　down　on　the　Qoor；　face　down。〃
　　〃Have　a　heart；〃　I　protested。　〃I'm　enjoying　the　scenery。〃
　　〃I'll　describe　it　to　you。　Shall　we　park　for　a　talk？〃
　　〃How　much　time　have　we？〃
　　〃None　to　waste。〃
　　〃Okay；　pull　your　feet　back。〃
　　The　truth　was；　I　was　glad　to　oblige。　Logic　had　stepped　in。　If　that　was　intended　for　my　last　ride　I　wouldn't　ever　be　traveling　that　road　again；　and　in　that　case　what　difference　did　it　make　if　I　saw　where　we　turned　off　and　which　direction　we　went？　There　must　have　been　some　chance　that　I　would　ride　another　day；　and　without　a　chaperon；　or　this　stunt　was　pointless。　So　as　I　got　myself　into　position；　wriggling　and　adjusting　to　keep　my　face　downward　without　an　elbow　or　knee　taking　my　weight；　the　worst　I　felt　was　undignified。　I　heard　the　driver　saying　something；　in　a　soft　quiet　voice；　and　Christy　answering　him；　but　I　didn't　catch　the　words。
　　There　was　no　law　against　looking　at　my　watch。　I　had　been　playing　hide　and　seek；　with　me　it；　a　little　more　than　sixteen　minutes；　with　the　car　going　now　slower　and　now　faster；　now　straight　and　now　turning　left　and　now　right；　when　finally　it　slowed　down　to　a　full　stop。　I　heard　a　strange　voice　and　then　Christy's；　and　the　sound　of　a　heavy　door　closing。　I　shifted　my　weight。
　　〃Hold　it；〃　Christy　snapped　at　me。　He　was　still　right　above　me。　〃We're　a　littie　early。〃
　　〃I'm　tired　of　breathing　dust；〃　I　plained。
　　〃It's　better　than　not　breathing　at　all；〃　the　strange　voice　said　and　laughed；　not　attractively。
　　〃He's　got　a　gun；〃　Christy　stated。　〃Left　armpit。〃
　　〃Why　not？　He's　a　licensed　eye。　We'll　take　care　of　it。〃
　　I　looked　at　my　watch；　but　it　was　too　dark　to　see　the　hands；　so　of　course　we　were　in　out　of　the　sun。　The　driver　had　got　out；　shut　the　car　door；　and　walked　away；　if　I　was　any　good　at　reading　sounds。　I　heard　voices　indistinctly；　not　near　me；　and　didn't　get　the　words。　My　left　leg；　from　the　knee　down；　got　bored　and　decided　to　go　to　sleep。　I　moved　it。
　　〃Hold　it；〃　Christy　manded。
　　〃Nuts。　Tape　my　eyes　and　let　me　get　up　and　stretch。〃
　　〃I　said　hold　it。〃
　　I　held　it；　for　what　I　would　put　at　another　seven　minutes。　Then　there　were　noises…a　door　opening；　not　loud；　footsteps　and　voices；　a　door　closing；　again　not　loud；　still　steps　and　voices；　a　car's　doors　opening　and　shutting；　an　engine　starting；　a　car　moving；　and　in　a　minute　the　closing　of　the　heavy　door　that　had　closed　after　we　had　stopped。　Then　the　door　which　my　head　was　touching　opened。
　　〃All　right；〃　a　voice　said。　〃e　on　out。〃
　　It　took　acrobatics；　but　I　made　it。　I　was　standing；　slightly　wobbly；　on　concrete；　near　a　concrete　wall　of　a　room　sixty　feet　square　with　no　windows　and　not　too　many　lights。　My　darting　glance　caught　cars　scattered　around；　seven　or　eight　of　them。　It　also　caught　four　men：　Christy；　ing　around　the　rear　end　of　the　Olds；　and　three　serious…looking　strangers；　older　than　our　driver；　who　wasn't　there。
　　Without　a　word　two　of　them　put　their　hands　on　me。　First　they　took　the　gun　from　my　armpit　and　then　went　over　me。　The　circumstances　didn't　seem　favorable　for　an　argument；　so　I　simply　stood　at　attention。　It　was　a　fast　and　expert　job；　with　no　waste　motion　and　no　intent　to　offend。
　　〃It's　all　a　matter　of　practice；〃　I　said　courteously。
　　〃Yeah；〃　the　taller　one　agreed；　in　a　tenor　that　was　almost　a　falsetto。　〃Follow　me。〃
　　He　moved　to　the　wall；　with　me　behind。　The　cars　had　been　stopped　short　of　the　wall　to　leave　an　alley；　and　we　went　down　it　a　few　paces　to　a　door　where　a　man　was　standing。　He　opened　the　door　for　us…it　was　the　one　that　made　little　noise…and　we　passed　through　into　a　small　vestibule；　also　with　no　windows　in　its　concrete　walls。　Across　it；　only　three　paces；　steps　down　began；　and　we　descended…fourteen　shallow　steps　to　a　wide　metal　door。　My　conductor　pushed　a　button　in　the　metal　jamb。　I　heard　no　sound　within；　but　in　a　moment　the　door　opened　and　a　pasty…faced　bird　with　a　pointed　chin　was　looking　at　us。
　　〃Archie　Goodwin；〃　my　conductor　said。
　　〃Step　in。〃
　　I　waited　politely　to　be　preceded；　but　my　conductor　moved　aside；　and　the　other　one　said　impatiently；　〃Step　in；　Goodwin。〃
　　I　crossed　the　sill；　and　the　sentinel　closed　the　door。　I　was　in　a　room　bigger　than　the　vestibule　above：　bare　concrete　walls；　well…lighted；　with　a　table；　three　chairs；　a　water…cooler；　and　a　rack　of　magazines　and　newspapers。　A　second　sentinel；　seated　at　the　table；　writing　in　a　book　like　a　ledger；　sent　me　a　sharp　glance　and　then　forgot　me。　The　first　one　crossed　to　another　big　metal　door　directly　opposite　to　the　one　I　had　entered　by；　and　when　he　pulled　it　open　I　saw　that　it　was　a　good　five　inches　thick。　He　jerked　his　head　and　told　me；　〃On　in。〃
　　I　stepped　across　and　passed　through；　with　him　at　my　heels。
　　This　was　quite　a　chamber。　The　walls　were　paneled　in　a　light　gray　wood　with　pink　in　it；　from　the　tiled　Boor　to　the　ceiling；　and　the　mgs　were　the　same　light　gray　with　pink　borders。　Light　came　from　a　concealed　trough　continuous　around　the　ceiling。　The　six　or　seven　chairs　and　the　couch　were　covered　in　pinkish　gray　leather；　and　the　same　leather　had　been　used　for　the　frames　of　the　pictures；　a　couple　of　big　ones　on　each　wall。　All　that；　collected　in　my　first　swift　survey；　made　a　real　impression。
　　〃Archie　Goodwin；〃　the　sendnel　said。
　　The　man　at　the　desk　said；　〃Sit　down；　Goodwin。　All　right；　Schwartz；〃　and　the　sentinel　left　us　and　closed　the　door。
　　I　would　have　been　surprised　to　find　that　Pete　Roeder　rated　all　this　splash　so　soon　after　hitting　this　territory；　and　he　didn't。　The　man　at　the　desk　was　not　Roeder。　I　had　never　seen　this　bozo；　but　no　introduction　was　needed。
　　Much　as　he　disliked　publicity；　his　picture　had　been　in　the　paper　a　few　times；　as　for　instance　the　occasion　of　his　presenting　his　yacht　to　the　United　States　Coast　Guard　during　the　war。　Also　I　had　heard　him　described。
　　I　had　a　good　view　of　him　at　ten　feet　when　I　sat　in　one　of　the　pinkish　gray　leather　chairs　near　his　desk。　Actually　there　was　nothing　to　him　but　his　forehead　and　eyes。　It　wasn't　a　forehead；　it　was　a　dome；　sloping　up　and　up　to　the　line　of　his　faded　thin　hair。　The　eyes　were　the　result　of　an　error　on　the　assembly　line。　They　had　been　intended　for　a　shark　and　someone　got　careless。
　　They　did　not　now　look　the　same　as　shark　eyes　because　Arnold　Zeck's　brain　had　been　using　them　to　see　with　for　fifty　years；　and　that　had　had　an　effect。
　　〃I've　spoken　with　you　on　the　phone；〃　he　said。
　　I　nodded。　〃When　I　was　with　Nero　Wolfe。　Three　times　altogether…no；　I　guess　it　was　four。〃
　　〃Four。　Where　is　he？　What　has　happened　to　him？〃
　　〃I'm　not　sure；　but　I　suspect　he's　in　Florida；　training　with　an　air　hose；　preparing　to　lay　for　you　in　your　swimming　pool　and　get　you　when　you　dive。〃
　　There　was　no　flicker　of　response；　of　any　kind；　in　the　shark　eyes。　〃I　have　been　told　of　your　habits　of　speech；　Goodwin；〃　he　said。　〃I　make　no　objection。　I　take　men　for　what　they　are　or　not　at　all。　It　pleases　me　that；　impressed　as　you　must　be　by　this　meeting；　you　insist　on　being　yourself。　But　it　does　waste　time　and　words。　Do　you　know　where　Wolfe　is？〃
　　〃No。〃
　　〃Have　you　a　surmise？〃
　　〃Yeah；　I　just　told　you。〃　I　got　irritated。　〃Say　I　tell　you　he's　in　Egypt；　where　he　owns　a　house。　I　don't；　but　say　I　do。　Then　what？　You　send　a　punk　to　Cairo　to　drill　him？　Why？　Why　can't　you　let　him　alone？　I　know　he　had　his　faults　…God　knows　how　I　stood　them　as　long　as　I　did…but　he　taught　me　a　lot；　and　wherever　he　is　he's　my　favorite　fatty。　Just　because　he　happened　to　queer　your　deal　with　Rackham；　you　want　to　track　him　down。　What　will　that　get　you；　now　that　he's　faded　out？〃
　　〃I　don't　wish　or　intend　to　track　him　down。〃
　　〃No？　Then　what　made　me　so　interesting？　Your　Max　Christy　and　your　bearded　wonder　offering　me　schoolboy　jobs　at　triple　pay。　Get　roe　sucked　in；　get　me　branded；　and　when　the　time　es　use　me　to　get　at　Wolfe　so　you　can　pay　him。　No。〃　I　shook　my　head。　〃I　draw　the　line　somewhere；　and　all　of　you　together　won't　get　me　across　that　one。〃
　　I'm　not　up　enough　on　fish　to　know　whether　sharks　blink；　but　Zeck　was　showing　me。　He　blinked　perhaps　one…tenth　his　share。　He　asked；　〃Why　did　you　take　the　job？〃
　　〃Because　it　was　Rackham。　I'm　interested　in　him。　I　was　glad　to　know　someone　else　was。　I　would　like　to　have　a　hand　in　his　future。〃
　　No　blink。　〃You　think　you　know；　I　suppose；　the　nature　of　my　own　interests　and　activities。〃
　　〃I　know　what　is　said　around。　I　know　that　a　New　York　police　inspector　told　me　that　you're　out　of　reach。〃
　　〃Name　him。〃
　　〃Cramer。　Manhattan　Homicide。〃
　　〃Oh；　him。〃　Zeck　made　his　first　gesture：　a　forefinger　straightened　and　curved　again。　〃What　was　the　occasion？〃
　　〃He　wouldn't　believe　me　when　I　said　I　didn't　know　where　Wolfe　was。　He　thought　Wolfe　and　I　were　fixing　to　try　to　bring　you　down；　and　he　was　just　telling　me。　I　told　him　that　maybe　he　would　like　to　pull　us　off　because　he　was　personally　interested；　but　that　since　Wolfe　had　scooted　he　was　wasting　it。〃
　　〃That　was　injudicious；　wasn't　it？〃
　　〃All　of　that。　I　was　in　a　bad　humor。〃
　　Zeck　blinked；　I　saw　him。　〃I　wanted　to　meet　you；　Goodwin。　I've　allowed　some　time　for　this　because　I　want　to　look　at　you　and　hear　you　talk。　Your　idea　of　my　interests　and　activities　probably　has　some　relation　to　the　facts；　and　if　so　you　may　know　that　my　chief　problem　is　men。　I　could　use　ten　times　as　many　good　men　as　I　can　find。　I　judge　men　partly　by　their　record　and　partly　by　report；　but　mainly　by　my　first…hand　appraisal。　You　have　disappointed　me　in　one　respect。　Your　conclusion　that　I　want　to　use　you　to　find　Nero　Wolfe　is　not　intelligent。　I　do　not　pursue　an　opponent　who　has　fied　the　field；　it　would　not　be　profitable。　If　be　reappears　and　gets　in　my　path　again；　I'll　crush　him。　I　do　want　to　suck　you　in；　as　you　put　it。　I　need　good　men　now　more　than　ever。　Many　people　get　money　from　me；　indirectly；　whom　I　never　see　and　have　no　wish　to　see；　but　there　must　be　some　whom　I　do　see　and　work　through。　You　might　be　one。　I　would　like　to　try。　You　must