rc.theladyinthelake-第13章

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rners。　As　he　walked　it　got　hotter　and　hotter。　The　hop　unlocked　a　door　into　a　boy's　size　room　with　one　window　on　an　airshaft。　The　air…conditioner　inlet　up　in　the　corner　of　the　ceiling　was　about　the　size　of　a　woman's　handkerchief。　The　bit　of　ribbon　tied　to　it　fluttered　weakly；　just　to　show　that　something　was　moving。
　　The　hop　was　tall　and　thin　and　yellow　and　not　young　and　as　cool　as　a　slice　of　chicken　in　aspic。　He　moved　his　gum　around　in　his　face；　put　my　bag　on　a　chair；　looked　up　at　the　grating　and　then　stood　looking　at　me。　He　had　eyes　the　color　of　a　drink　of　water。
　　〃Maybe　I　ought　to　have　asked　for　one　of　the　dollar　rooms；〃　I　said。　〃This　one　seems　a　mite　close…fitting。〃
　　〃I　reckon　you're　lucky　to　get　one　at　all。　This　town's　fair　bulgin'　at　the　seams。〃
　　〃Bring　us　up　some　ginger　ale　and　glasses　and　ice；〃　I　said。
　　〃Us？〃
　　〃That　is；　if　you　happen　to　be　a　drinking　man。〃
　　〃I　reckon　I　might　take　a　chance　this　late。〃　He　went　out。　I　took　off　my　coat；　tie；　shirt　and　undershirt　and　walked　around　in　the　warm　draft　from　the　open　door。　The　draft　smelled　of　hot　iron。　I　went　into　the　bathroom　sideways…it　was　that　kind　of　bathroom…and　doused　myself　with　tepid　cold　water。　I　was　breathing　little　more　freely　when　the　tall　languid　hop　returned　with　a　tray。　He　shut　the　door　and　I　brought　out　a　bottle　of　rye。　He　mixed　a　couple　of　drinks　and　we　made　the　usual　insincere　smiles　over　them　and　drank。　The　per。　spiration　started　from　the　back　of　my　neck　down　my　spine　and　was　halfway　to　my　socks　before　I　put　the　glass　down。　But　I　felt　better　all　the　same。　I　sat　on　the　bed　and　looked　at　the　hop。
　　〃How　long　can　you　stay？〃
　　〃Doin'　what？〃
　　〃Remembering。〃
　　〃I　ain't　a　damn　bit　of　use　at　it；〃　he　said。
　　〃I　have　money　to　spend；〃　I　said；　〃in　my　own　peculiar　way。〃　I　got　my　wallet　unstuck　from　the　lower　part　of　my　back　and　spread　tired…looking　dollar　bills　along　the　bed。
　　〃I　beg　yore　pardon；〃　the　hop　said。　〃I　reckon　you　might　beadick。〃
　　〃Don't　be　sffly；〃　I　said。　〃You　never　saw　a　dick　playing　solitaire　with　his　own　money。　You　might　call　me　an　in。　vestigator。〃
　　〃I'm　interested；〃　he　said。　〃The　likker　makes　my　mind　work。〃　I　gave　him　a　dollar　bill。　〃Try　that　on　your　mind。　And　can　I　call　you　Big　Tex　from　Houston？〃
　　〃Amarillo；〃　he　said。　〃Not　that　it　matters。　And　how　do　you　like　my　Texas　drawl？　It　makes　me　sick；　but　I　find　people　go　for　it。〃
　　〃Stay　with　it；〃　I　said。　〃It　never　lost　anybody　a　dollar　yet。〃　He　grinned　and　tucked　the　folded　dollar　neatly　into　the　watch　pocket　of　his　pants。
　　〃What　were　you　doing　on　Friday；　June　12th？〃　I　asked　him。　〃Late　afternoon　or　evening。　It　was　a　Friday。〃　He　sipped　his　drink　and　thought；　shaking　the　ice　around　gently　and　drinking　past　his　gum。　〃I　was　right　here；　six　to　twelve　shift；〃　he　said。
　　〃A　woman；　slim；　pretty　blonde；　checked　in　here　and　stayed　until　time　for　the　night　train　to　El　Paso。　I　think　she　must　have　taken　that　because　she　was　in　El　Paso　Sunday　morning。　She　came　here　driving　a　Packard　Clipper　registered　to　Crystal　Grace　Kingsley；　965　Carson　Drive；　Beverly　Hills。　She　may　have　registered　as　that；　or　under　some　other　name；　and　she　may　not　have　registered　at　all。　Her　car　is　still　in　the　hotel　garage。　I'd　like　to　talk　to　the　boys　that　checked　her　in　and　out。　That　wins　another　dollar…just　thinking　about　it。〃　I　separated　another　dollar　from　my　exhibit　and　it　went　into　his　pocket　with　a　sound　like　caterpillars　fighting。
　　〃Can　do；〃　he　said　calmly。
　　He　put　his　glass　down　and　left　the　room；　closing　the　door。　I　finished　my　drink　and　made　another。　I　went　into　the　bathroom　and　used　some　more　warm　water　on　my　torso。　While　I　was　doing　this　the　telephone　on　the　wall　tinkled　and　I　wedged　myself　into　the　minute　space　between　the　bathroom　door　and　the　bed　to　answer　it。
　　The　Texas　voice　said：　〃That　was　Sonny。　He　was　inducted　last　week。　Another　boy　we　call　Les　checked　her　out。　He's　here。〃
　　〃Okay。　Shoot　him　up；　will　you？〃　I　was　playing　with　my　second　drink　and　thinking　about　the　third　when　a　knock　came　and　I　opened　the　door　to　a　small；　green…eyed　rat　with　a　tight；　girlish　mouth。
　　He　came　in　almost　dancing　and　stood　looking　at　me　with　a　faint　sneer。
　　〃Drink？〃
　　〃Sure；〃　he　said　coldly。　He　poured　himself　a　large　one　and　added　a　whisper　of　ginger　ale；　put　the　mixture　down　in　one　long　swallow；　tucked　a　cigarette　between　his　smooth　little　lips　and　snapped　a　match　alight　while　it　was　ing　up　from　his　pocket。　He　blew　smoke　and　went　on　staring　at　me。　The　corner　of　his　eye　caught　the　money　on　the　bed；　without　looking　directly　at　it。　Over　the　pocket　of　his　shirt；　instead　of　a　number；　the　word　Captain　was　stitched。
　　〃You　Les？〃　I　asked　him。
　　〃No。〃　He　paused。　〃We　don't　like　dicks　here；〃　he　added。　〃We　don't　have　one　of　our　own　and　we　don't　care　to　bother　with　dicks　that　are　working　for　other　people。〃
　　〃Thanks；〃　I　said。　〃That　will　be　all。〃
　　〃Huh？〃　The　small　mouth　twisted　unpleasantly。
　　〃Beat　it；〃　I　said。
　　〃I　thought　you　wanted　to　see　me；〃　he　sneered。
　　〃You're　the　bell　captain？〃
　　〃Check。〃
　　〃I　wanted　to　buy　you　a　drink。　I　wanted　to　give　you　a　buck。　Here。〃　I　held　it　out　to　him。　〃Thanks　for　ing　up。〃　He　took　the　dollar　and　pocketed　it；　without　a　word　of　thanks。　He　hung　there；　smoke　trailing　from　his　nose；　his　eyes　tight　and　mean。
　　〃What　I　say　here　goes；〃　he　said。
　　〃It　goes　as　far　as　you　can　push　it；〃　I　said。　〃And　that　couldn't　be　very　far。　You　had　your　drink　and　you　had　your　graft。　Now　you　can　scram　out？〃　He　turned　with　a　swift　tight　shrug　and　slipped　out　of　the　room　noiselessly。
　　Four　minutes　passed；　then　another　knock；　very　light。　The　tall　boy　came　in　grinning。　I　walked　away　from　him　and　sat　on　the　bed　again。
　　〃You　didn't　take　to　Les；　I　reckon？〃
　　〃Not　a　great　deal。　Is　he　satisfied？〃
　　〃I　reckon　so。　You　know　what　captains　are。　They　have　to　have　their　cut。　Maybe　you　better　call　me　Les；　Mr。　Marlowe。〃
　　〃So　you　checked　her　out。〃
　　〃No；　that　was　all　a　stall。　She　never　checked　in　at　the　desk。　But　I　remember　the　Packard。　She　gave　me　a　dollar　to　put　it　away　for　her　and　to　look　after　her　stuff　until　train　time。　She　ate　dinner　here。　A　dollar　gets　you　remembered　in　this　town。　And　there's　been　talk　about　the　car　bein'　left　so　long。〃
　　〃What　was　she　like　to　look　at？〃
　　〃She　wore　a　black　and　white　outfit；　mostly　white；　and　a　panama　hat　with　a　black　and　white　band。　She　was　a　neat　blonde　lady　like　you　said。　Later　on　she　took　a　hack　to　the　station。　I　put　her　bags　into　it　for　her。　They　had　initials　on　them　but　I'm　sorry　I　can't　remember　the　initials。〃
　　〃I'm　glad　you　can't；〃　I　said。　〃It　would　be　too　good。　Have　a　drink。　How　old　would　she　be？〃　He　rinsed　the　other　glass　and　mixed　a　civilized　drink　for　himself。
　　〃It's　mighty　hard　to　tell　a　woman's　age　these　days；〃　he　said。　〃I　reckon　she　was　about　thirty；　or　a　little　more　or　a　little　less。〃　I　dug　in　my　coat　for　the　snapshot　of　Crystal　and　Lavery　on　the　beach　and　handed　it　to　him。
　　He　looked　at　it　steadily　and　held　it　away　from　his　eyes；　then　close。
　　〃You　won't　have　to　swear　to　it　in　court；〃　I　said。
　　He　nodded。　〃I　wouldn't　want　to。　These　small　blondes　are　so　much　of　a　pattern　that　a　change　of　clothes　or　light　or　makeup　makes　them　all　alike　or　all　different。〃　He　hesitated；　staring　at　the　snapshot。
　　〃What's　worrying　you？〃　I　asked。
　　〃I'm　thinking　about　the　gent　in　this　snap。　He　enter　into　it　at　all？〃
　　〃Go　on　with　that；〃　I　said。
　　〃I　think　this　fellow　spoke　to　her　in　the　lobby；　and　had　dinner　with　her。　A　tall　good…lookin'　jasper；　built　like　a　fast　light…heavy。　He　went　in　the　hack　with　her　too。〃
　　〃Quite　sure　about　that？〃　He　looked　at　the　money　on　the　bed。
　　〃Okay；　how　much　does　it　cost？〃　I　asked　wearily。
　　He　stiffened；　laid　the　snapshot　down　and　drew　the　two　folded　bills　from　his　pocket　and　tossed　them　on　the　bed。
　　〃I　thank　you　for　the　drink；〃　he　said；　〃and　to　hell　with　you。〃　He　started　for　the　door。
　　〃Oh　sit　down　and　don't　be　so　touchy；〃　I　growled。
　　He　sat　down　and　looked　at　me　stiff…eyed。
　　〃And　don't　be　so　damn　southern；〃　I　said。　〃I've　been　knee　deep　in　hotel　hops　for　a　lot　of　years。　If　I've　met　one　who　wouldn't　pull　a　gag；　that's　fine。　But　you　can't　expect　me　to　expect　to　meet　one　that　wouldn't　pull　a　gag。〃　He　grinned　slowly　and　nodded　quickly。　He　picked　the　snapshot　up　again　and　looked　at　me　over　it。
　　〃This　gent　takes　a　solid　photo；〃　he　said。　〃Much　more　so　than　the　lady。　But　there　was　another　little　item　that　made　me　remember　him。　I　got　the　impression　the　lady　didn't　quite　like　him　walking　up　to　her　so　openly　in　the　lobby。〃　I　thought　that　over　and　decided　it　didn't　mean　anything　much。　He　might　have　been　late　or　have　missed　some　earlier　appointment。　I　said：　〃There's　a　reason　for　that。　Did　you　notice　what　jewelry　the　lady　was　wearing？　Rings；　ear…pendants；　anything　that　looked　conspicuous　or　valuable？〃　He　hadn't　noticed；　he　said。
　　〃Was　her　hair　long　or　short；　straight　or　waved　or　curly；　natural　blonde　or　bleached？〃　He　laughed。　〃Hell；　you　can't　tell　that　last　point；　Mr。　Marlowe。　Even　when　it's　natural　they　want　it　lighter。　As　to　the　rest；　my　recollection　is　it　was　rather　long；　like　they're　wearing　it　now　and　turned　in　a　little　at　the　bottom　and　rather　straight。　But　I　could　be　wrong。〃　He　looked　at　the　snapshot　again。　〃She　has　it　bound　back　here。　You　can't　tell　a　thing。〃
　　〃That's　right；〃　I　said。　〃And　the　only　reason　I　asked　you　was　to　make　sure　you　didn't　over…observe。　The　guy　that　sees　too　much　detail　is　just　as　unreliable　a　witness　as　the　guy　that　doesn't　see　any。　He's　nearly　always　making　half　of　it　up。　You　check　just　about　right；　considering　the　circumstances。　Thanks　very　much。〃　I　gave　him　back　his　two　dollars　and　a　five　to　keep　them　pany。　He　thanked　me；　finished　his　drink　and　left　softly。　I　finished　mine　and　washed　off　again　and　decided　I　would　rather　drive　home　than　sleep　in　that　hole。　I　put　my　shirt　and　coat　on　again　and　went　downstairs　with　my　bag。
　　The　redheaded　rat　of　a　captain　was　the　only　hop　in　the　lobby。　I　carried　my　bag　over　to　the　desk　and　he　didn't　move　to　take　it　off　my　hands。　The　eggheaded　clerk　separated　me　from　two　dollars　without　even　looking　at　me。
　　〃Two　bucks　to　spend　the　night　in　this　manhole；〃　I　said；　〃when　for　free　I　could　have　a　nice　airy　ashcan：〃　The　clerk　yawned；　got　a　delayed　reaction；　and　said　brightly：　〃It　gets　quite　cool　here　about　three　in　the　morning。　From　then　on　until　eight；　or　even　nine；　it's　quite　pleasant。〃　I　wiped　the　back　of　my　neck　and　staggered　out　to　the　car。　Even　the　seat　of　the　car　was　hot；　at　midnight。
　　I　got　home　about　two…forty…five　and　Hollywood　was　an　icebox。　Even　Pasadena　had　felt　cooL
　　
　　
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　　I　dreamed　I　was　far　down　in　the　depths　of　icy　green　water　with　a　corpse　under　my　arm。　The　corpse　had　long　blond　hair　that　kept　floating　around　in　front　of　my　face。　An　enormous　fish　with　bulging　eyes　and　a　bloated　body　and　scales　shining　with　putrescence　swam　around　leering　like　an　elderly　roué。　Just　as　I　was　about　to　burst　from　lack　of　air；　the　corpse　came　alive　under　my　arm　and　got　away　from　me　and　then　I　was　fighting　with　the　fish　and　the　corpse　was　rolling　over　and　over　in　the　water　spinning　its　long　hair。
　　I　woke　up　with　a　mouth　full　of　sheet　and　both　hands　hooked　on　the　head…frame　of　the　bed　and　pulling　hard。　The　muscles　ached　when　I　let　go　and　low