rc.theladyinthelake-第7章

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hed。　〃Want　to　walk　back　around　the　lake？〃
　　〃Sure；　if　your　leg　will　stand　it。〃
　　〃Stood　it　plenty　of　times　before。〃　We　started　off　side　by　side；　as　friendly　as　puppies　again。　It　would　probably　last　all　of　fifty　yards。　The　roadway；　barely　wide　enough　to　pass　a　car；　hung　above　the　level　of　the　lake　and　dodged　between　high　rocks。　About　half　way　to　the　far　end　another　smaller　cabin　was　built　on　a　rock　foundation。　The　third　was　well　beyond　the　end　of　the　lake；　on　a　patch　of　almost　level　ground。　Both　were　closed　up　and　had　that　long…empty　look。
　　Bill　Chess　said　after　a　minute　or　two：　〃That　straight　goods　little　roundheels　lammed　off？〃
　　〃So　it　seems。〃
　　〃You　a　real　dick　or　just　a　shamus？〃
　　〃Just　a　shamus。〃
　　〃She　go　with　some　other　guy？〃
　　〃I　should　think　it　likely。〃
　　〃Sure　she　did。　It's　a　cinch。　Kingsley　ought　to　be　able　to　guess　that。　She　had　plenty　of　friends。〃
　　〃Up　here？〃　He　didn't　answer　me。
　　〃Was　one　of　them　named　Lavery？〃
　　〃I　wouldn't　know；〃　he　said。
　　〃There's　no　secret　about　this　one；〃　I　said。　；〃She　sent　a　wire　from　El　Paso　saying　she　and　Lavery　were　going　to　Mexico。〃　I　dug　the　wire　out　of　my　pocket　and　held　it　out。　He　fumbled　his　glasses　loose　from　his　shirt　and　stopped　to　read　it。　He　handed　the　paper　back　and　put　his　glasses　away　again　and　stared　out　over　the　blue　water。
　　〃That's　'a　little　confidence　for　you　to　hold　against　some　of　what　you　gave　me；〃　I　said。
　　〃Lavery　was　up　here　once；〃　he　said　slowly。
　　〃He　admits　he　saw　her　a　couple　of　months　ago；　probably　up　here。　He　claims　he　hasn't　seen　her　since。　We　don't　know　whether　to　believe　him。　There's　no　reason　why　we　should　and　no　reason　why　we　shouldn't。〃
　　〃She　isn't　with　him　now；　then？〃
　　〃He　says　not。〃
　　〃I　wouldn't　think　she　would　fuss　with　little　details　like　getting　married；〃　he　said　soberly。　〃A　Florida　honeymoon　would　be　more　in　her　line；〃
　　〃But　you　can't　give　me　any　positive　information？　You　didn't　see　her　go　or　hear　anything　that　sounded　authentic？〃
　　〃Nope；〃　he　said。　〃And　if　I　did；　I　doubt　if　I　would　tell。　I'm　dirty；　but　not　that　kind　of　dirty。〃
　　〃Well；　thanks　for　trying；〃　I　said。
　　〃I　don't　owe　you　any　favors；〃　he　said。　〃The　hell　with　you　and　every　other　God　damn　snooper。〃
　　〃Here　we　go　again；〃　I　said。
　　We　had　e　to　the　end　of　the　lake　now。　I　left　him　standing　there　and　walked　out　on　a　little　pier。　I　leaned　on　the　wooden　railing　at　the　end　of　it　and　saw　that　what　had　looked　like　a　band　pavilion　was　nothing　but　two　pieces　of　propped　up　wall　meeting　at　a　flat　angle　towards　the　dam。　About　two　feet　deep　of　overhanging　roof　was　stuck　on　the　wall；　like　a　coping。　Bill　Chess　came　up　behind　me　and　leaned　on　the　railing　at　my　side。
　　〃Not　that　I　don't　thank　you　for　the　liquor；〃　he　said。
　　〃Yeah。　Any　fish　in　the　lake？〃
　　〃Some　smart　old　bastard　of　trout。　No　fresh　stock。　I　don't　go　for　fish　much　myself。　I　don't　bother　with　them。　Sorry　I　got　tough　again。〃　I　grinned　and　leaned　on　the　railing　and　stared　down　into　the　deep　still　water。　It　was　green　when　you　looked　down　into　it。　There　was　a　swirl　of　movement　down　there　and　a　swift　greenish　form　moved　in　the　water。
　　〃There's　Granpa；〃　Bill　Chess　said。　〃Look　at　the　size　of　that　old　bastard。　He　ought　to　be　ashamed　of　himself　getting　so　fat。〃　Down　below　the　water　there　was　what　looked　like　an　underwater　flooring。　I　couldn't　see　the　sense　of　that。　I　asked　him。
　　〃Used　to　be　a　boat　landing　before　the　dam　was　raised。　That　lifted　the　water　level　so　far　the　old　landing　was　six　feet　under。〃　A　flat…bottomed　boat　dangled　on　a　frayed　rope　tied　to　a　post　of　the　pier。　It　lay　in　the　water　almost　without　motion；　but　not　quite。　The　air　was　peaceful　and　calm　and　sunny　and　held　a　quiet　you　don't　get　in　cities。　I　could　have　stayed　there　for　hours　doing　nothing　but　forgetting　all　about　Derace　Kingsley　and　his　wife　and　her　boy　friends。
　　There　was　a　hard　movement　at　my　side　and　Bill　Chess　said；　〃Look　there！〃　in　a　voice　that　growled　like　mountain　thunder。
　　His　hard　fingers　dug　into　the'　flesh　of　my　arm　until　I　started　to　get　mad。　He　was　bending　far　out　over　the　railing；　staring　down　like　a　loon；　his　face　as　white　as　the　weather　tan　would　let　it　get。　I　looked　down　with　him　into　the　water　at　the　edge　of　the　submerged　staging。
　　Languidly　at　the　edge　of　this　green　and　sunken　shelf　of　wood　something　waved　out　from　the　darkness；　hesitated；　waved　back　again　out　of　sight　under　the　flooring。
　　The　something　had　looked　far　too　much　like　a　human　arm。
　　Bill　Chess　straightened　his　body　rigidly。　He　turned　without　a　sound　and　clumped　back　along　the　pier。　He　bent　to　a　loose　pile　of'　stones　and　heaved。　His　panting　breath　reached　me。　He　got　a　big　one　free　and　lifted　it　breast　high　and　started　back　out　on　the　pier　with　it。　It　must　have　weighed　a　hundred　pounds。　His　neck　muscles　stood　out　like　ropes　under　canvas　under　his　taut　brown　skin。　His　teeth　were　clamped　tight　and　his　breath　hissed　between　them。
　　He　reached　the　end　of　the　pier　and　steadied　himself　and　lifted　the　rock　high。　He　held　it　a　moment　poised；　his　eyes　staring　down　now；　measuring。　His　mouth　made　a　vague　distressful　sound　and　his　body　lurched　forward　hard　against　the　quivering　rail　and　the　heavy　stone　smashed　down　into　the　water。
　　The　splash　it　made　went　over　both　of　us。　The　rock　fell　straight　and　true　and　struck　on　the　edge　of　the　submerged　planking；　almost　exactly　where　we　had　seen　the　thing　wave　in　and　out。
　　For　a　moment　the　water　was　a　confused　boiling；　then　the　ripples　widened　off　into　the　distance；　ing　smaller　and　smaller　with　a　trace　of　froth　at　the　middle；　and　there　was　a　dim　sound　as　of　wood　breaking　under　water；　a　sound　that　seemed　to　e　to　us　a　long　time　after　it　should　have　been　audible。　An　ancient　rotted　plank　popped　suddenly　through　the　surface；　struck　out　a　full　foot　of　its　jagged　end；　and　fell　back　with　a　flat　slap　and　floated　off。
　　The　depths　cleared　again。　Something　moved　in　them　that　was　not　a　board。　It　rose　slowly；　with　an　infinitely　careless　languor；　a　long　dark　twisted　something　that　rolled　lazily　in　the　water　as　it　rose。　It　broke　surface　casually；　lightly；　without　haste。　I　saw　wool；　sodden　and　black；　a　leather　jerkin　blacker　than　ink；　a　pair　of　slacks。　I　saw　shoes　and　something　that　bulged　nastily　between　the　shoes　and　the　cuffs　of　the　slacks。　I　saw　a　wave　of　dark　blond　hair　straighten　out　in　the　water　and　hold　still　for　a　brief　instant　as　if　with　a　calculated　effect；　and　then　swirl　into　a　tangle　again。
　　The　thing　rolled　over　once　more　and　an　arm　flapped　up　barely　above　the　skin　of　the　water　and　the　arm　ended　in　a　bloated　hand　that　was　the　hand　of　a　freak。　Then　the　face　came。　A　swollen　pulpy　gray　white　mass　without　features；　without　eyes；　without　mouth。　A　blotch　of　gray　dough；　a　nightmare　with　human　hair　on　it。
　　A　heavy　necklace　of　green　stone　showed　on　what　had　been　a　neck；　half　imbedded；　large　rough　green　stones　with　something　that　glittered　joining　them　together。
　　Bill　Chess　held　the　handrail　and　his　knuckles　were　polished　bones。
　　〃Muriel！〃　his　voice　said　croakingly。　〃Sweet　Christ；　it's　Muriel！〃　His　voice　seemed　to　e　to　me　from　a　long　way　off；　over　a　hill；　through　a　thick　silent　growth　of　trees。
　　
　　
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　　Behind　the　window　of　the　board　shack　one　end　of　a　counter　was　piled　with　dusty　folders。　The　glass　upper　half　of　the　door　was　lettered　in　flaked　black　paint。　_Chief　of　Police。　Fire　Chief。　Town　Constable。　Chamber　of　merce_。　In　the　lower　corners　a　USO　card　and　a　Red　Cross　emblem　were　fastened　to　the　glass。
　　I　went　in。　There　was　a　pot…beffied　stove　in　the　corner　and　a　rolltop　desk　in　the　other　corner　behind　the　counter。　There　was　a　large　blue　print　map　of　the　district　on　the　wall　and　beside　that　a　board　with　four　hooks　on　it；　one　of　which　supported　a　frayed　and　much　mended　mackinaw。　On　the　counter　beside　the　dusty　folders　lay　the　usual　sprung　pen；　exhausted　blotter　and　smeared　bottle　of　gummy　ink。　The　end　wall　beside　the　desk　was　covered　with　telephone　numbers　written　in　hard…bitten　figures　that　would　last　as　long　as　the　wood　and　looked　as　if　they　had　been　written　by　a　child。
　　A　man　sat　at　the　desk　in　a　wooden　armchair　whose　legs　were　anchored　to　flat　boards；　fore　and　aft；　like　skis。　A　spittoon　big　enough　to　coil　a　hose　in　was　leaning'　against　the　man's　right　leg。　He　had　a　sweat…stained　Stetson　on　the　back　of　his　head　and　his　large　hairless　hands　were　clasped　fortably　over　his　stomach；　above　the　waistband　of　a　pair　of　khaki　pants　that　had　been　scrubbed　thin　years　ago。　His　shirt　matched　the　pants　except　that　it　was　even　more　faded。　It　was　buttoned　tight　to　the　man's　thick　neck　and　undecorated　by　a　tie。　His　hair　was　mousy　brown　except　at　the　temples；　where　it　was　the　color　of　old　snow。　He　sat　more　on　his　left　hip　than　on　his　right；　because　there　was　a　hip　holster　down　inside　his　right　hip　pocket；　and　a　half　foot　of　forty…five　gun　reared　up　and　bored　into　his　solid　back。　The　star　on　his　left　breast　had　a　bent　point。
　　He　had　large　ears　and　friendly　eyes　and　his　jaws　munched　slowly　and　he　looked　as　dangerous　as　a　squirrel　and　much　less　nervous。　I　liked　everything　about　him。　I　leaned　on　the　counter　and　looked　at　him　and　he　looked　at　me　and　nodded　and　loosed　half　a　pint　of　tobacco　juice　down　his　right　leg　into　the　spittoon。　It　made　a　nasty　sound　of　something　falling　into　water。
　　I　lit　a　cigarette　and　looked　around　for　an　ash　tray。
　　〃Try　the　floor；　son；〃　the　large　friendly　man　said。
　　〃Are　you　Sheriff　Patton？〃
　　〃Constable　and　deputy　sheriff。　What　law　we　got　to　have　around　here　I'm　it。　e　election　anyways。　There's　a　couple　of　good　boys　running　against　me　this　time　and　I　might　get　whupped。　Job　pays　eighty　a　month；　cabin；　firewood　and　electricity。　That　ain't　hay　in　these　little　old　mountains。〃
　　〃Nobody's　going　to　whip　you；〃　I　said。　〃You're　going　to　get　a　lot　of　publicity；〃
　　〃That　so？〃　he　asked　indifferently　and　ruined　the　spittoon　again。
　　〃That　is；　if　your　jurisdiction　extends　over　to　Little　Fawn　Lake。〃
　　〃Kingsley's　place。　Sure。　Something　bothering　you　over　there；　son？〃
　　〃There's　a　dead　woman　in　the　lake。〃　That　shook　him　to　the　core。　He　unclasped　his　hands　and　scratched　one　ear。　He　got　to　his　feet　by　grasping　the　arms　of　his　chair　and　deftly　kicking　it　back　from　under　him。　Standing　up　he　was　a　big　man　and　hard。　The　fat　was　just　cheerfulness。
　　〃Anybody　I　know？〃　he　enquired　uneasily。
　　〃Muriel　Chess。　I　guess　you　know　her。　Bill　Chess's　wife。〃
　　〃Yep；　I　know　Bifi　Chess。〃　His　voice　hardened　a　little。
　　〃Looks　like　suicide。　She　left　a　note　which　sounded　as　if　she　was　just　going　away。　But　it　could　be　a　suicide　note　just　as　well。　She's　not　nice　to　look　at。　Been　in　the　water　a　long　time；　about　a　month；　judging　by　the　circumstances。〃　He　scratched　his　other　ear。　〃What　circumstances　would　that　be？〃　His　eyes　were　searching　my　face　now；　slowly　and　calmly；　but　searching。　He　didn't　seem　in　any　hurry　to　blow　his　whistle。
　　〃They　had　a　fight　a　month　ago。　Bifi　went　over　to　the　north　shore　of　the　lake　and　was　gone　some　hours：　When　he　got　home　she　was　gone。　He　never　saw　her　again。〃
　　〃I　see。　Who　are　you；　son？〃
　　〃My　name　is　Marlowe。　I'm　up　from　L。A。　to　look　at　the　property。　I　had　a　note　from　Kingsley　to　Bill　Chess。　He　took　me　around　the　lake　and　we　went　out　on　that　little　pier　the　movie　people　built。　We　wer