rs.inthebestfamelies-第3章

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　　I　arose；　returned　to　the　office　on　my　feet；　and　told　them。　〃Gas。　Tear　gas；　I　think。　The　hissing　has　stopped。〃
　　Wolfe　snorted。
　　〃No　sausage；〃　Fritz　said　grimly。
　　〃If　it　had　been　a　trigger　job　on　a　grenade；〃　I　told　him；　〃there　would　have　been　plenty　or　sausage。　Not　for　us；　of　us。　Now　it's　merely　a　damn　nuisance。　You'd　better　sit　here　and　chat　a　while。〃
　　I　marched　to　the　hall　and　shut　the　door　behind　me；　went　and　opened　the　front　door　wide；　came　back　and　stood　at　the　kitchen　door　and　took　a　full　breath；　opened　the　door；　raced　through　and　opened　the　back　door　into　the　courtyard；　and　ran　back　again　to　the　front。　Even　there　the　air　current　was　too　gassy　for　fort；　so　I　moved　out　to　the　stoop。　I　had　been　there　only　a　moment　when　I　heard　my　name　called。
　　〃Archie！〃
　　I　turned。　Wolfe's　head　with　its　big　oblong　face　was　protruding　from　a　window　of　the　front　room。
　　〃Yes；　sir；〃　I　said　brightly。
　　〃Who　brought　that　package？〃
　　I　told　him　Fleet　Messenger　Service。
　　When　the　breeze　through　the　hall　had　cleared　the　air　I　returned　to　the　kitchen　and　Fritz　joined　me…　We　gave　the　package　a　look　and　found　it　was　quite　simple：　a　metal　cylinder　with　a　valve；　with　a　brass　rod　that　had　been　adjusted　so　that　when　the　package　was　opened　so　was　the　valve。　There　was　still　a　strong　smell；　close　up；　and　Fritz　took　it　to　the　basement。　I　went　to　the　office　and　found　Wolfe　behind　his　desk；　busy　at　the　phone。
　　I　dropped　into　my　chair　and　dabbed　at　my　runny　eyes　with　my　handkerchief。　When　he　hung　up　I　asked；　〃Any　luck？〃
　　〃I　didn't　expect　any；〃　he　growled。
　　〃Right。　Shall　I　call　a　cop？〃
　　〃No。〃
　　I　nodded。　〃The　question　was　rhetorical。〃　I　dabbed　at　my　eyes　some　more；　and　blew　my　nose。　〃Nero　Wolfe　does　not　call　cops。　Nero　Wolfe　opens　his　own　packages　of　sausage　and　makes　his　own　enemies　bite　the　dust〃　I　blew　my　nose　again。　〃Nero　Wolfe　is　a　man　who　will　go　far　if　he　opens　one　package　too　many。　Nero　Wolfe　has　never…〃
　　〃The　question　was　not　rhetorical；〃　Wolfe　said　rudely。　〃That　is　not　what　rhetorical　means。〃
　　〃No？　I　asked　it。　I　meant　it　to　be　rhetorical。　Can　you　prove　that　I　don't　know　what　rhetorical　means？〃　I　blew　my　nose。　〃When　you　ask　me　a　question；　which　God　knows　is　often；　do　I　assume…〃
　　The　phone　rang。　One　of　the　million　things　I　do　to　earn　my　salary　is　to　answer　it；　so　I　did。　And　then　a　funny　thing　happened。　There　is　absolutely　no　question　that　it　was　a　shock　to　me　to　hear　that　voice；　I　know　that；　because　I　felt　it　in　my　stomach。　But　partly　what　makes　a　shock　a　shock　is　that　it　is　unexpected；　and　I　do　not　think　the　sound　of　that　voice　in　my　ear　was　unexpected。　I　think　that　Wolfe　and　I　had　been　sitting　there　talking　just　to　hear　ourselves　because　we　both　expected；　after　what　had　happened；　to　hear　that　voice　sooner　or　later…and　probably　sooner。
　　What　it　said　was　only；　〃May　I　speak　to　Mr。　Wolfe；　please？〃
　　I　felt　it　in　my　stomach；　sharp　and　strong；　but　damned　if　I　was　going　to　let　him　know　it。　I　said；　but　not　cordially；　〃Oh；　hello　there。　If　I　get　you。　Was　your　name　Duncan　once？〃
　　〃Yes。　Mr。　Wolfe；　please。〃
　　〃Hold　the　wire。〃　I　covered　the　transmitter　and　told　Wolfe；　〃Whosis。〃
　　〃Who？〃　he　demanded。
　　〃You　know　who　from　my　face。　Mr。　X。　Mr。　Z。　Him。〃
　　With　his　lips　pressed　tight；　Wolfe　reached　for　his　phone。　〃This　is　Nero　Wolfe。〃
　　〃How　do　you　do；　Mr。　Wolfe。〃　I　was　staying　on；　and　the　hard；　cold；　precise　voice　sounded　exactly　as　it　had　the　four　previous　times　I　had　heard　it；　over　a　period　of　three　years。　It　pronounced　all　its　syllables　clearly　and　smoothly。
　　〃Do　you　know　who　I　am？〃
　　〃Yes。〃　Wolfe　was　curt。　〃What　do　you　want？〃
　　〃I　want　to　call　your　attention　to　my　forbearance。　That　little　package　could　have　been　something　really　destructive；　but　I　preferred　only　to　give　you　notice。　As　I　told　you　about　a　year　ago；　it's　a　more　interesting　world　with　you　in　it。〃
　　〃I　find　it　so；〃　Wolfe　said　dryly。
　　〃No　doubt。　Besides；　I　haven't　forgotten　your　brilliant　exposure　of　the　murderer　of　Louis　Rony。　It　happened　then　that　your　interest　ran　with　mine。　But　it　doesn't　now；　with　Mrs。　Barry　Rackham；　and　that　won't　do。　Because　of　my　regard　for　you；　I　don't　want　you　to　lose　a　fee。　Return　her　money　and　withdraw；　and　two　months　from　today　I　shall　send　you　ten　thousand　dollars　in　cash。　Twice　previously　you　have　disregarded　similar　requests　from　me；　and　circumstances　saved　you。　I　advise　strongly　against　a　repetition。　You　will　have　to　understand…〃
　　Wolfe　took　the　phone　from　his　ear　and　placed　it　on　the　cradle。　Since　the　effect　of　that　would　be　lost　it　my　line　stayed　open；　I　did　likewise；　practically　simultaneously。
　　〃By　God；　we're　off　again；〃　I　began。　〃Of　all　the　rotten…〃
　　〃Shut　up；〃　Wolfe　growled。
　　I　obeyed。　He　rested　his　elbows　on　his　chair　arms；　interlaced　his　fingers　in　front　of　where　he　was　roundest；　and　gazed　at　a　er　of　his　desk　blotter。
　　I　did　not；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　have　anything　to　say　except　that　it　was　a　lousy　break；　and　that　didn't　need　saying。　Wolfe　had　once　ordered　me　to　forget　that　I　had　ever　heard　the　name　Arnold　Zeck；　but　whether　I　called　him　Zeck　or　Whosis　or　X；　he　was　still　the　man　who；　some　ten　months　ago；　had　arranged　for　two　guys　with　an　SM　and　a　tommy　gun　to　open　up　on　Wolfe's　plant　rooms　from　a　roof　across　the　street；　thereby　ruining　ten　thousand　dollars'　worth　of　glass　and　equipment　and　turning　eight　thousand　valuable　orchid　plants　into　a　good　start　on　a　post　heap。　That　had　been　intended　just　for　a　warning。
　　Now　he　was　telling　us　to　lay　off　of　Barry　Rackham。　That　probably　meant　that　without　turning　a　finger　we　had　found　the　answer　to　Mrs。　Rackham's　question…where　was　her　husband　getting　his　pocket　money？　He　had　got　inside　the　circle　of　Arnold　Zeck's　operations；　about　which　Wolfe　had　once　remarked　that　all　of　them　were　illegal　and　some　of　them　were　morally　repulsive。　And　Zeck　didn't　want　any　snooping　around　one　of　his　men。　That　was　almost　certainly　the　sketch；　but　whether　it　was　or　not；　the　fact　remained　that　we　had　run　smack　into　Zeck　again；　which　was　fully　as　bad　as　having　a　gob　of　Darst　sausage　turn　into　a　cylinder　of　tear　gas。
　　〃He　likes　to　time　things　right；　damn　him；〃　I　plained。　〃He　likes　to　make　things　dramatic。　He　had　someone　within　range　of　this　house　to　see　the　package　being　delivered；　and　when　I　left　the　front　door　open　and　then　went　and　stood　on　the　stoop　that　showed　that　the　package　had　been　opened；　and　as　soon　as　he　got　the　word　he　phoned。　Hell；　he　might　even…〃
　　I　stopped　because　I　saw　that　I　was　talking　to　myself。　Wolfe　wasn't　hearing　me。　He　still　sat　gazing　at　the　corner　of　the　blotter。　I　shut　my　trap　and　sat　and　gazed　at　him。　It　was　a　good　five　minutes　before　he　spoke。
　　〃Archie；〃　he　said；　looking　at　me。
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　〃How　many　cases　have　we　handled　since　last　July？〃
　　〃All　kinds？　Everything？　Oh；　forty。〃
　　〃I　would　have　thought　more。　Very　well；　say　forty。　We　crossed　this　man's　path　inadvertently　two　years　ago；　and　again　last　year。　He　and　I　both　deal　with　crime；　and　his　net　is　spread　wide；　so　that　may　be　taken　as　a　reasonable　expectation　for　the　future；　once　a　year；　or　in　one　out　of　every　forty　cases　that　e　to　us；　we　will　run　into　him。　This　episode　will　be　repeated。〃　He　aimed　a　thumb　at　the　phone。　〃That　thing　will　ring；　and　that　confounded　voice　will　presume　to　dictate　to　us。　If　we　obey　the　dictate　we　will　be　maintaining　this　office　and　our　means　of　livelihood　only　by　his　sufferance。　If　we　defy　it　we　shall　be　constantly　in　a　state　of　trepidant　vigilance；　and　one　or　both　of　us　will　probably　get　killed。　Well？〃
　　I　shook　my　head。　〃It　couldn't　be　made　plainer。　I　don't　care　much　for　either　one。〃
　　〃Neither　do　I。〃
　　〃If　you　got　killed　I'd　be　out　of　a　job；　and　if　I　got　killed　you　might　as　well　retire。〃　I　glanced　at　my　wristwatch。　〃The　hell　of　it　is　we　haven't　got　a　week　to　decide。　It's　twelve…twenty；　and　I'm　expected　at　the　Hillside　Kennels　at　three　o'clock；　and　I　have　to　eat　lunch　and　shave　and　change　my　clothes。　That　is；　if　I　go。　If　I　go？〃
　　〃Precisely。〃　Wolfe　sighed。　〃That's　the　point。　Two　years　ago；　in　the　Orchard　case；　I　took　to　myself　the　responsibility　of　ignoring　this　man's　threat。　Last　year；　in　the　Kane　case；　I　did　the　same。　This　time　I　don't　want　to　and　I　won't。　Basic　policy　is　my　affair；　I　know　that；　but　I　am　not　going　to　tell　you　that　in　order　to　earn　your　pay　you　must　go　up　there　today　and　look　at　Mr。　Rackham。　If　you　prefer；　you　may　phone　and　postpone　it；　and　we'll　consider　the　matter　at　greater　length。〃
　　I　had　my　brows　raised　at　him。　〃I'll　be　damned。　Put　it　on　me；　huh？〃
　　〃Yes；　My　nerve　is　gone。　If　public　servants　and　other　respected　citizens　take　orders　from　this　man；　why　shouldn't　I？〃
　　〃You　damn　faker；〃　I　said　indulgently。　〃You　know　perfectly　well　that　I　would　rather　eat　soap　than　have　you　think　I　would　knuckle　under　to　that　son　of　a　bitch；　and　I　know　that　you　would　rather　put　horseradish　on　oysters　than　have　me　think　you　would。　I　might　if　you　didn't　know　about　it；　and　you　might　if　I　didn't　know　about　it；　but　as　it　is　we're　stuck。〃
　　Wolfe　sighed　again；　deeper。　〃I　take　it　that　you're　going？〃
　　〃I　am。　But　under　one　condition；　that　the　trepidant　vigilance　begins　as　of　now。　That　you　call　Fritz　in；　and　Theodore　down　from　the　plant　rooms；　and　tell　them　what　we're　up　against；　and　the　chain　bolts　are　to　be　kept　constantly　on　both　doors；　and　you　keep　away　from　windows；　and　nothing　and　no　one　is　to　be　allowed　to　enter　when　I'm　not　here。〃
　　〃Good　heavens；〃　he　objected　sourly；　〃that's　no　way　to　live。〃
　　〃You　can't　tell　till　you　try　it。　In　ten　years　you　may　like　it　fine。〃　I　buzzed　the　plant　rooms　on　the　house　phone　to　get　Theodore。
　　Wolfe　sat　scowling　at　me。
　　
　　3
　　WHEN；　swinging　the　car　off　Taconic　State　Parkway　to　hit　Route　100；　my　dash　clock　said　only　2：40；　I　decided　to　make　a　little　detour。　It　would　be　only　a　couple　of　miles　out　of　my　way。　So　at　Pines　Bridge　I　turned　right；　instead　of　left　across　the　bridge。　It　wouldn't　serve　my　purpose　to　make　for　the　entrance　to　the　estate　where　EASTCREST　was　carved　on　the　great　stone　pillar；　since　all　I　would　see　there　was　a　driveway　curving　up　through　the　woods；　and　I　turned　off　a　mile　short　of　that　to　climb　a　bumpy　road　up　a　hill。　At　the　top　the　road　went　straight　for　a　stretch　between　meadows；　and　I　eased　the　car　off　onto　the　grass；　stopped；　and　took　the　binoculars　and　aimed　them　at　the　summit　of　the　next　hill；　somewhat　higher　than　the　one　I　was　on；　where　the　roof　and　upper　walls　of　a　stone　mansion　showed　above　the　trees。
　　Now；　in　early　April；　with　no　leaves　yet；　and　with　the　binoculars；　I　could　see　most　of　the　mansion　and　even　something　of　the　surrounding　grounds；　and　a　couple　of　men　moving　about。
　　That　was　Eastcrest；　the　legal　residence　of　the　illegal　Arnold　Zeck…but　of　course　there　are　many　ways　of　being　illegal。　One　is　to　drive　through　a　red　light。　Another　is　to　break　laws　by　proxy　only；　for　money　only；　get　your　cut　so　it　can't　be　traced；　and　never　try　to　buy　a　man　too　cheap。　That　was　what　Zeck　had　been　doing　for　more　than　twenty　years…and　there　was　Eastcrest。
　　All　I　was　after　was　to　take　a　look；　just　case　it　from　a　hilltop。　I　had　never　seen　Zeck；　and　as　far　as　I　knew　Wolfe　hadn't　either。　Now　that　we　were　headed　at　him　for　the　third　time；　and　this　time　it　might　be　for　keeps；　I　thought　I　should　at　least　see