p&c.brimstone-第73章

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e　devil　existed。〃　
　Fosco　laughed　silently；　his　capacious　front　shaking。　
　〃They　all　roundly　denied　the　existence　of　the　devil。　I　said　I　had　friends　who　dabbled　in　the　occult；　who　had　collected　old　manuscripts　and　that　sort　of　thing；　and　that；　in　fact；　I　had　an　old　parchment　which　contained　formulas　on　how　to　raise　Lucifer　himself。　We　could　settle　the　question　that　very　night。　The　night　was　perfect；　in　fact；　being　Halloween。　Would　they　like　to　try　it？　Oh；　yes；　they　said。　What　a　marvelous　idea！〃　
　Another　internal　disturbance　shook　Fosco's　person。　
　〃So　you　put　on　a　show　for　them。〃　
　〃Exactly。　I　invited　them　to　a　midnight　séance　in　my　castle；　and　then　rushed　back　myself　to　set　it　all　up。　It　was　a　great　deal　of　fun。　Pinketts　helped…and；　by　the　way；　he　isn't　English　at　all；　but　a　manservant　named　Pinchetti　who　happens　to　be　both　a　clever　linguist　and　a　lover　of　intrigue。　We　had　only　six　hours；　but　we　did　it　up　rather　well。　I've　always　been　a　tinkerer；　a　builder　of　machines　and　gadgets；　and　incidentally　a　designer　offuochi　d'artificio　…fireworks。　There　are　all　sorts　of　secret　passageways；　trapdoors；　and　hidden　panels　in　the　cellars　here；　and　we　took　full　advantage　of　them。　That　was　a　night　to　remember！　You　should　have　seen　their　faces　as　we　recited　the　incantations；　asked　the　Prince　of　Darkness　to　bring　them　great　wealth；　offered　their　souls　in　return；　pricked　their　fingers　and　signed　contracts　in　blood…especially　when　Pinketts　activated　the　theatrics。〃　He　leaned　back；　pealing　with　laughter。　
　〃You　terrified　them。　You　scared　Beckmann　so　much　it　ruined　his　life。〃　
　〃It　was　all　in　good　fun。　If　it　shook　up　their　pathetic　little　certainties；　so　much　the　better。　They　went　their　way　and　I　went　mine。　And　here　es　the　coincidence　so　marvelous　I　feel　it　must　be　predestination：　thirty　years　later；　I　discovered　to　my　horror　that　one　of　these　philistines　hadacquired　the　Stormcloud。〃　
　〃How　did　you　learn？〃　Pendergast　asked。　
　〃I　had　been　on　the　track　of　the　Stormcloud　almost　my　entire　adult　life；　Mr。　Pendergast。　I　made　it　my　life's　goal　to　return　that　violin　to　my　family。　You've　been　to　see　Lady　Maskelene；　so　you　know　its　history。　I　knew　perfectly　well　Toscanelli　had　not　thrown　it　into　the　Falls　of　the　Sciliar。　How　could　he？　As　crazy　as　he　was；　he　knew　better　than　anyone　what　that　violin　represented。　But　if　he　didn't　destroy　it；　then　what　had　happened？　The　answer　is　not　so　mysterious。　He　froze　to　death　in　a　shepherd's　hut　up　on　the　Sciliar；　and　then　it　snowed。　There　were　no　footprints　in　the　snow。　Obviously；　someone　had　found　him　dead　with　the　violinbefore　it　snowed　and　had　stolen　the　violin。　And　who　was　this　someone？　Just　as　obviously；　the　man　who　owned　the　hut。〃　
　Pinketts　whisked　away　his　plate；　then　returned　bearing　another　oftortelloni　with　butter　and　salvia。　Fosco　tucked　into　it　with　relish。　
　〃Remember　how　I　told　you　I　loved　detective　work？　I　have　a　rare　talent　for　it。　I　traced　the　Stormcloud　from　the　shepherd；　to　his　nephew；　to　a　band　of　Gypsies；　to　a　shop　in　Spain；　to　an　orphanage　in　Malta…this　way　and　that　it　traveled。　I　shudder　to　think　of　the　times　it　was　left　in　the　sun；　packed　in　a　case　with　a　few　threads　of　straw　and　thrown　into　the　back　of　a　truck；　left　unattended　in　some　school　auditorium。Mio　Dio！　Yet　it　survived。　It　ended　up　in　France；　where　it　was　sold　in　a　lot　of　junk　instruments　to　a　lycée。　Some　clumsy　oaf　in　the　orchestra　dropped　it；　chipped　one　of　the　scrolls；　and　it　was　taken　to　a　violin　shop　in　Angoulême　for　repair。　The　man　who　owned　the　shop　recognized　it；　substituted　it；　and　sent　back　another　instrument　in　its　place。〃　Fosco　clucked　disapprovingly。　〃What　a　moment　that　must　have　been　for　him！　He　knew　he　could　never　acquire　legal　title　to　it；　so　he　smuggled　it　to　America　and　quietly　put　it　up　for　sale。　It　took　a　long　time　to　find　a　buyer。　Who　wanted　a　Stradivarius　if　you　couldn't　play　it　as　a　Strad？　If　you　could　never　establish　title　to　it？　If　it　might　be　taken　from　you　at　any　moment？　But　he　finally　did　find　a　buyer…in　Locke　Bullard。　Two　million　dollars…that　was　all！　I　found　out　three　months　after　the　deal　had　closed。〃　
　A　dark　furor　passed　over　Fosco's　face；　rapidly　clearing　as　Pinketts　carried　in　the　next　course；　abistecca　fiorentina　；　sizzling　from　the　fire。　Fosco　carved　off　a　piece　of　almost　raw　meat；　placed　it　in　his　mouth；　chewed。　
　〃I　was　perfectly　willing　to　buy　it　from　Bullard；　even　paying　a　handsome　price；　despite　the　fact　it　was　mine　to　begin　with。　But　I　never　got　to　the　point　of　making　an　offer。　You　see；　Bullard　was　going　to　destroy　the　violin。〃　
　〃To　crack　Stradivari's　secret　formulas　once　and　for　all。〃　
　〃Exactly。　And　do　you　know　why？〃　
　〃I　know　Bullard　was　not　in　the　business　of　making　violins；　nor　did　he　have　any　interest　in　music。〃　
　〃True。　But　do　you　know　the　business　his　pany；　BAI；was　into？　With　the　Chinese？〃　
　Pendergast　did　not　reply。　
　〃Missiles；　my　dear　Pendergast。　He　was　working　onballistic　missiles　。　That's　why　he　needed　the　violin！〃　
　〃Bullshit！〃　D'Agosta　interjected。　〃There　can't　possibly　be　a　connection　between　a　three…hundred…year…old　violin　and　a　ballistic　missile。〃　
　Fosco　ignored　this。　He　was　still　looking　at　Pendergast。　〃I　sense　you　know　rather　more　than　you　let　on；　my　good　sir。　In　any　case；　I　penetrated　their　laboratory　with　a　mole　in　my　employ。　Poor　fellow　ended　up　with　his　head　crushed。　But　before　that　happened；　he　did　tell　me　just　what　Bullard　planned　to　do　with　the　violin。〃　
　He　leaned　forward；　eyes　flashing　with　indignation。　〃The　Chinese；　you　see；　had　developed　a　ballistic　missile　that　could　theoretically　penetrate　the　United　States'　planned　antimissile　shield。　But　they　had　a　problem　with　their　missiles　breaking　up　on　re…entry。　To　make　the　missile　invisible　to　radar；　you　know；　one　can't　have　any　curved　or　shiny　surfaces。　Look　at　the　strange　angular　shapes　of　your　stealth　fighters　and　bombers。　But　this　wasn't　a　bomber　flying　at　six　hundred　miles　an　hour：　this　was　a　ballistic　missile　re…entering　the　atmosphere　at　ten　times　that　speed。　Their　test　missiles　broke　up　under　uncontrollable　resonance　vibrations　during　atmospheric　re…entry。〃　
　Pendergast　nodded　almost　imperceptibly。　
　〃Bullard's　scientists　realized　the　solution　to　this　problem　lay　in　theStradivari　formula　for　the　varnish。　Can　you　imagine？　You　see；　the　key　to　the　Stradivari　varnish　is　that；　after　a　few　years　of　playing；　it　develops　billions　of　microscopic　cracks　and　flaws；　too　small　to　be　seen。　These　are　phenomenally　effective　in　dampening　and　warming　the　sound　of　a　Stradivari。　This　is　also　why　the　violin　must　be　played　regularly…otherwise；　the　cracks　and　flaws　start　knitting　back　up。　Bullard　was　designing　a　high…performance　coating　for　those　Chinese　missiles　that　would　do　the　same　thing…a　coating　that　would　have　billions　of　microscopic　flaws　to　dampen　the　vibrational　resonance　of　re…entry。　But　he　had　to　figure　outprecisely　what　the　physics　was；　why　those　cracks　and　flaws　did　what　they　did。　He　had　to　know　how　they　were　distributed　three…dimensionally　in　the　varnish；　how　they　made　contact　with　the　wood；　how　wide；　long；　and　deep　they　were；　how　they　connected　to　each　other。〃　
　Fosco　stopped　talking　long　enough　to　eat　some　more　steak　and　sip　his　wine。　
　〃To　do　that；　Bullard　needed　to　cut　up　a　golden　period　Strad。　Any　would　do；　but　none　were　for　sale…especially　to　him。　And　then　along　came　the　black…market　Stormcloud。Ecco　fatto！　〃　
　D'Agosta　stared　in　mingled　repulsion　and　disbelief　as　the　count　wiped　his　red　and　greasy　lips　on　an　oversize　napkin。　It　seemed　outrageous；　impossible。　
　〃Now　you　see；　Pendergast；　why　I　needed　to　go　to　such　lengths。　It　was　worth　a　billion　to　Bullard　on　the　Chinese　deal　alone。　With　more　money　to　e　as　he　resold　the　technology　to　a　host　of　other　eager　buyers。　Ihad　to　get　the　violin　quickly；　before　he　destroyed　it。　He　had　already　brought　it　to　his　Italian　laboratory；　where　it　was　guarded　under　truly　impenetrable　security。　And　that's　when　it　came　to　me。　I'd　use　the　only　leverage　I　had：　our　first　and　only　encounter；　thirty　years　ago。　I'dfrighten　Bullard　into　giving　up　the　violin！〃　
　〃Through　murdering　the　others　who　had　been　at　the　staged　devil　raising。〃　
　〃Yes。　I　would　kill　Grove；　Beckmann；　and　Cutforth；　making　it　look　in　each　case　like　the　devil　had　finally　e　for　their　souls。　Beckmann　seemed　to　have　disappeared；　so　that　left　only　Grove　and　Cutforth。　Only　two。　Whatever　I　did；　it　had　to　be　utterly　convincing。　Bullard　was　an　ignorant；　blustering　man　with　few　religious　impulses。　I　needed　a　way　to　kill　them　that　was　so　unique　and　dreadful　that　the　police　would　be　baffled；　that　would　generate　all　kinds　of　talk　about　the　devil…and　most　important；　that　would　convince　Bullard。　It　had　to　be　heat；　naturally。　And　that　was　how　I　came　to　invent　my　little　device。　But　that　is　another　story。〃　
　He　paused　for　another　sip　of　wine。　
　〃I　prepared　the　scene　of　Grove's　death　with　great　care。　I　began　by　calling　and　alarming　him　with　a　story　of　a　terrible　visitation　I'd　had；　how　I　feared　Lucifer　was　ing　for　us　because　of　the　ceremony　years　before；　how　we　had　to　do　something。　He　was　skeptical　at　first；　so　I　had　Pinketts　set　up　a　few　bits　of　stage　business　in　his　house。　Strange　sounds；　smells；　and　the　like。　Remarkable　how　a　few　props　can　undermine　the　conviction　of　even　the　most　arrogant　man。　He　grew　frightened。　I　suggested　some　kind　of　atonement　for　his　sins；　hence；　the　peculiar　dinner　party。　I　loaned　him　my　beloved　cross。　The　poor　fool　gave　me　the　keys　to　his　house；　the　codes　to　the　alarm　system…everything　I　needed。　
　〃His　death　worked　like　a　charm。　Almost　immediately　Bullard　was　on　the　phone　to　me。　I　was　careful　to　ensure　all　my　calls　were　made　from　an　untraceable　phone　card。　I　continued　playing　the　role　of　terrified　count。　I　told　him　of　strange　things　that　had　happened　to　me；　sulfurous　smells；　disembodied　sounds；　unfortable　tingling　sensations…all　the　things；　of　course；　that　would　happen　to　him　later。　I　pretended　to　be　convinced　the　devil　was　ing　for　all　of　us：　after　all；　we　had　offered　our　souls　in　the　pact　we　made　thirty　years　before。　The　devil　had　pleted　his　side　of　the　bargain；　now　it　was　time　for　us　to　fulfill　ours。　
　〃After　sending　Bullard　off　to　stew　about　this；　it　was　time　to　deal　with　Cutforth。　I　had　Pinketts　here　purchase　the　apartment　next　to　his；　posing　as　an　English　baronet；　to　assist　with　the　various；　ah；arrangements　。　Like　Grove；　Cutforth　scoffed　at　the　idea　at　first。　He'd　been　convinced　my　little　show　back　in　1974　was　a　fraud。　But　as　details　of　Grove's　death　emerged；　he　grew　increasingly　nervous。　I　didn't　want　himtoo　nervous…just　nervous　enough　to　call　Bullard　and　alarm　him　further。　Which；　of　course；　he　did。〃　
　He　issued　a　dry　laugh。　
　〃After　Cutforth's　death；　your　vulgar　tabloids　did　a　fabulous　job　beating　the　drum；　whipping　people　into　a　frenzy。　It　was　perfect。　And　Bullard　fell　apart。　He　was　out　of　his　mind。　Then　thecolpo　di　grazia　：　I　called　Bullard　and　said　that　I　had　managed　to　cancel　my　contract　with　Lucifer！〃　
　Fosco　patted　his　hands　together　with　delight。　Watching；　D'Agosta　felt　his　stomach　turn。　
　〃He　was　desperate　to　know　how。　I　told　him　I'd　located　an　ancient　manuscript　explaining　the　devil　would　sometimes　accept　a　gift　in　return　for　a　human　soul。　But　it　had　to　be　a　truly　unique　gift；　something　of　enormous　rarity；　something　whose　loss　would　debase