mac.thepearlharbormurders-第10章

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　〃Hulbert　Burroughs；〃　Hully　said；　extending　his　hand　to　the　little　detective。
　〃John　Jardine；〃　he　replied；　and　shook　Hully's　hand；　a　strong　grip。
　Jardine　and　O。　B。　shook　hands；　as　well。　The　elder　Burroughs　had　already　filled　the　detective　in　on　many　of　the　particulars；　over　the　phone。
　〃How　did　you　get　blood　on　your　face；　Mr。　Kamana？〃　Jardine　asked　bluntly；　standing　unfortably　close　to　the　seated　musician。
　〃It　isn't　on　my　face；〃　Kamana　said；　stupidly；　holding　up　his　hand；　where　the　blood　was　just　a　stain；　now。
　〃It's　on　your　face。〃
　Kamana's　grief　had　subsided　and　fear　was　moving　in；　with　Honolulu's　top　homicide　cop　staring　him　down；　the　musician　obviously　was　grasping　what　kind　of　spot　he　was　in。　〃It。。。　it　was　on　my　hand。。。　I　must　have。。。　must　have　touched　my　face。。。。〃
　〃How　did　you　get　it　on　your　hand？〃
　Hully　and　his　father　sat　on　the　couch　as　Jardine　questioned　Kamana…just　preliminary　stuff；　but　Hully　was　interested　in　the　musician's　responses；　which　were　for　the　most　part　a　rehash　of　the　things　Kamana　had　emotionally　blurted　to　Hully　and　O。　B。
　But　Hully　was　impressed　by　the　unrehearsed　consistency　of　Kamana's　answers。
　Before　long；　Jardine　was　lugging　Kamana…his　hands　cuffed　behind　him…outside　into　the　breeze…kissed　dark；　where　he　turned　the　musician　over　to　a　uniformed　cop；　a　Polynesian　who　walked　Kamana　toward　a　squad　car　waiting　in　the　parking　lot　near　the　lodge。　From　down　toward　the　beach　came　bursts　of　light；　as　if　a　tiny　lightning　storm　had　moved　in。
　Noting　Hully's　confused　expression；　Jardine　said；　〃Flash　photos。〃
　Hully　nodded…like　his　dad　had　said；　the　beach　was　a　crime　scene　now　。。。　and　Pearl　was　no　longer　a　person；　but　evidence。
　The　Portuguese　detective　said　to　O。　B。；　〃Do　you　mind　a　few　questions？　While　it's　all　fresh　in　your　mind？〃
　〃Not　at　all。　Shall　we　go　back　inside？〃
　O。　B。　was　opening　the　screen　door　for　the　detective　when　a　figure　came　rushing　up；　dressed　in　white；　a　ghost　emerging　from　the　darkness。
　Otto　Kuhn…in　a　white　shirt　and　white　linen　pants；　looking　like　a　male　nurse　seeking　a　doctor…seemed　out　of　breath；　though　his　bungalow；　next　door；　was　hardly　any　distance。　His　light　blue　eyes　had　a　startled　look。
　〃Are　you　with　the　police；　sir？〃　he　asked　Jardine　in　his　thick　yet　smoothly　accented　second　tenor。
　〃I'm　Detective　Jardine。〃
　〃I'm　Otto　Kuhn…I　live　there。〃　He　pointed　toward　the　bungalow　past　a　cluster　of　palms。　〃Could　I　speak　to　you；　sir？〃
　Jardine　gestured　toward　the　sitting　room；　which　beckoned　beyond　the　screen　door　O。　B。　held　open。　〃Mr。　Burroughs；　do　you　mind？〃
　〃Not　at　all。〃
　And　soon　Hully　and　his　father　were　again　seated　on　the　couch；　spectators；　as　the　German　real…estate　agent　spoke　excitedly　to　the　Portuguese　detective。　Though　Kuhn　towered　over　the　little　man；　literally；　Jardine's　manding　presence　loomed　over　the　German；　figuratively。
　With　an　inappropriate　smile；　Kuhn　said；　〃I　saw　you　arrest　that。。。　native。　That　musician。〃
　〃You　did。〃
　〃Yes；　and　you　were　correct　to　do　so。　I。。。　hesitated　to　e　forward　until　I　was　sure　he　was　safely　in　custody。〃
　〃You　sound　as　if　you　were　afraid　of　Kamana；　Mr。　Kuhn。〃
　Kuhn　swallowed；　nodded。　〃I'm　not　proud　to　admit　that　is　the　case。　You　see。。。　I　saw　of　what　brutality　he　was　capable。　My　bungalow　。。。　a　window　looks　out　on　the　beach。　It　is　somewhat　blocked　by　trees；　but　I　had　them　trimmed　back；　recently　。。。　for　a　better　view。〃
　〃What　kind　of　view　did　you　have　tonight；　Mr。　Kuhn？〃
　〃I　was　sleeping；〃　he　said；　tilting　his　head；　as　if　onto　a　pillow；　〃and　woke　suddenly。。。。〃　He　jerked　his　head　straight　up。
　Hully　winced；　these　histrionics　were　somehow　distasteful。
　Kuhn　was　saying；　〃I　heard　arguing；　loud　arguing；　a　man　and　a　woman。　I　rolled　over；　to　go　back　to　sleep　。。。　my　wife　did　not　waken；　I　must　emphasize；　she　saw　nothing。〃
　〃All　right。〃
　Gesturing　with　both　hands；　the　German　said；　〃The　arguing　got　louder。　Heated；　you　might　say。　I　went　to　the　window；　to　plain。　I　think　if　I　shout　at　them；　they　might　stop；　and　I　can　sleep　again；　and　no　one　would　be　harmed。　But　when　I　got　to　the　window　。。。　that's　when　I　saw　it。〃
　〃Saw　what？〃
　〃The　murder。　That　man。。。　the　Hawaiian　musician；　Kamana。。。　he　had　something　in　his　hand。。。　a　rock；　I　think。　Something　heavy；　anyway；　small　enough　for　him　to　grasp。　He　raised　his　hand；　and　I　wanted　to　shout；　'Stop！'　But　I　was　too　late。。。　she　screamed；　and　he　struck　her。　Struck　her　a　terrible　blow。〃
　Kuhn　lowered　his　head；　shaking　it；　as　if　remembering　this　terrible　thing。。。　but　something　about　it　seemed　hollow　to　Hully。　He　glanced　at　his　father；　to　see　if　he　could　read　any　similar　reaction；　and　noted　his　dad's　eyes　were　so　narrow；　they　might　have　been　cuts　in　his　face。
　〃This　is　a　very　interesting　story；　Mr。　Kuhn；〃　Jardine　said。　〃I　have　one　question…why　didn't　you　call　the　police？〃
　Kuhn　nodded　toward　O。　B。；　on　the　couch。　〃I　saw　Mr。　Burroughs　capture　the　Hawaiian。。。。Edgar　was　obviously　taking　him　to　justice。　I　calmed　my　wife。。。　she　had　woken　by　this　time；　and　heard　my　story；　and　had　bee　terribly　upset。。。　and　I　simply　waited　for　you　to　arrive。〃　He　smiled；　clasped　his　hands　in　front　of　him；　like　a　waiter　about　to　show　a　patron　to　a　really　nice　table。　〃I　would　be　most　happy　to　give　you　a　formal　statement；　tomorrow；　at　your　headquarters。〃
　Jardine　said　nothing　for　a　few　seconds；　then　he　sighed；　and　said；　〃Why　don't　you　show　me　the　window　you　saw　all　this　through？〃
　Kuhn　nodded；　curtly。　〃My　pleasure。〃
　Pleasure？　That　seemed　an　odd　thing　to　say。。。。
　Hully　found　this　German's　story　unsettling；　and　unconvincing；　despite　the　way　it　hewed　to　the　particulars　of　Pearl　Harada's　death。
　As　he　acpanied　Kuhn　out；　Jardine　turned　to　O。　B。　and　said；　〃We'll　talk　tomorrow；　Mr。　Burroughs。　Thanks　for　your　help…shouldn't　have　to　bother　you　again；　tonight。〃
　〃Good　night；　John；〃　O。　B。　said；　seeing　them　to　the　door。
　〃Nice　meeting　you；〃　Jardine　said　to　Hully；　and　then　they　were　out　of　the　door。
　A　few　minutes　later；　Hully　was　folding　the　couch　out　into　its　bed；　and　his　father…in　a　fresh　pair　of　pa…jama　bottoms…came　out　from　his　bedroom　and　stood　there；　bare…chested；　with　his　hands　on　hips；　Tarzan…style。
　〃I　thought　that　trombone　player　was　a　killer；〃　O。　B。　said；　〃until　ol'　Otto　started　agreeing　with　me。〃
　Hully；　unbuttoning　his　shirt；　said；　〃Why　did　Kuhn
　wait　so　long　to　e　forward？　Why　didn't　he　e　out　and　help　you　nab　that　guy；　if　he　witnessed　everything？〃
　O。　B。　blew　a　raspberry。　〃That　Kraut　didn't　see　a　damn　thing。〃
　〃Funny。。。　that's　my　instinct；　too。　But　why　would　he　claim　to　have？〃
　〃I　don't　know；　son。。。　I　sure　as　hell　don't　know。〃　He　heaved　a　sigh；　and　hit　the　light　switch。　〃Get　some　sleep；　and　we'll　talk　about　it　in　the　morning。〃
　Hully　lay　on　his　back；　staring　up　into　the　darkness；　the　breeze　blowing　through　the　window；　its　flowery　scent　suddenly　seeming　too　sweet；　sickly　sweet。　He　thought　about　the　musician；　and　how　sincere　the　man　had　seemed；　he　thought　about　Kuhn；　and　how　phony　that　bastard　had　been。
　Then　he　thought　about　Pearl　Harada；　and　thought　about　his　friend　Bill　Fielder；　probably　sleeping　off　a　drunk　somewhere；　blissfully　unaware　of　the　tragedy。
　His　pillow　was　damp；　so　he　turned　it　over　and；　finally；　went　to　sleep…hoping　his　father　wouldn't　awaken　him　with　another　damn　nightmare。
　
　
　TWO：
　December　6；　1941
　
　SIX
　Neighborly　Visits
　
　Strong　morning　trade　winds　blew　across　Oahu；　fronds　of　palms　and　plants　ruffling；　cane　fields　undulating；　surf　swelling；　the　clear　sky　disrupted　only　by　smokelike　puffs　of　clouds　over　the　Koolau　mountain　range。　Between　that　range　at　the　east　and　the　Waianae　range　at　the　west　lay　both　the　capital　city　of　Honolulu　and　the　Naval　base　of　Pearl　Harbor。
　The　base…though　well　located　for　a　strategic　deployment　of　the　United　States　Navy…was　a　logistical　nightmare；　with　the　nearest　resupply　three　thousand　miles　away　on　the　American　West　Coast。　Also；　the　one…channel　entrance　of　the　landlocked　harbor　could　bottle　up　easily　with　the　sinking　of　a　single　ship；　and；　even　under　ideal　circumstances；　getting　the　fleet　out　of　that　channel　and　onto　the　open　sea　required　three　hours。　When　the　fleet　was　in…as　it　was　on　this　first　weekend　of　December…the　port　was　clogged　with　ships；　supply　dumps；　repair　installations　and　highly　flammable　fuel。
　Pearl　Harbor　might　well　have　been　designed　for　air　attack。　But　a　battle　fleet　in　Hawaii　was　deemed　necessary　to　deter　Japan；　and　no　alternative　location　could　be　found　offering　advantages　and　facilities　to　match　Pearl's。　Interceptor　aircraft；　AA　guns　and　radar　equipment　would　simply　have　to　shore　up　the　harbor's　weaknesses。　So　said　Washington　and　its　top　military　minds。
　Of　course；　Honolulu　had　already　been　invaded　by　air…on　the　previous　weekend；　when　a　silver　plane　circled　the　city　before　landing　in　Kapiolani　Park；　where　three　thousand　civilians　watched　and　screamed。。。　in　delight：　Santa　Claus　had　arrived。　Sponsored　by　the　Honolulu　Advertiser；　piloted　by　the　86th　Observation　Squadron；　Saint　Nick's　invasion　was　part　of　an　attempt　by　the　city　fathers　to　provide　a　more　traditional…and　mercial…Christmas　than　the　underwhelming　Yule…tide　season　that　was　the　Hawaiian　norm。
　With　the　defense　boom；　the　city　was　swarming　with　homesick　American　boys…defense　workers　as　well　as　servicemen…stuck　in　these　tropical　surroundings；　pining　for　their　favorite　winter　holiday。　Sears　and　Roebuck　responded　by　hanging　brightly　wrapped　presents　from　the　palm　trees　surrounding　their　parking　lot；　and　festive　colored　lights　had　been　strung　across　major　streets；　even　the　street…corner　Santas…most　of　whom　were　Japanese…were　putting　some　extra　swing　into　theft　bell…ringing。
　Still；　it　seemed　rather　halfhearted　to　Edgar　Rice　Burroughs；　who　was　used　to　sunny　Christmases；　having　lived　in　California　for　some　time　now；　though　his　many　years　in　the　Midwest　meant　he　knew　damn　well　what　a　real　white　Christmas　was　all　about。　The　cellophane　window　wreaths　and　tinsel…draped　palms　of　Honolulu　didn't　really　cut　the　mustard。
　After　last　night's　luau；　a　light　breakfast　seemed　called　for；　and　around　nine　a。m。；　Burroughs　and　Hully…in　their　tennis　whites；　rackets　at　hand…sat　on　wicker　chairs　at　a　small　round　wicker　table　on　the　lodge's　back　patio　and　ate　fresh　cut　pineapple　and　buttered　toast；　and　sipped　coffee。
　This　was　an　exceptionally　beautiful　day；　even　for　Hawaii；　Burroughs　noted…clear　sky；　sharp　light；　fresh　air。　Hard　to　believe；　just　hours　before；　a　young　woman　had　been　murdered　in　such　idyllic　surroundings。　The　prospect　of　playing　tennis；　within　a　few　yards　of　where　her　corpse　had　been　flung；　a　blossom　ripped　roughly　from　a　tree；　seemed　somehow　improper。。。　even　sacrilegious。
　〃I　don't　feel　much　like　tennis　this　morning；〃　Hully　said；　returning　his　china　cup　to　its　dish　with　a　slight　clatter。
　〃I　was　just　thinking　the　same　thing。〃
　His　son's　brow　furrowed。　〃Your　friend。。。　Detective　Jardine。。。〃
　〃Yes？〃
　〃You　respect　him？　He's　a　good　cop？〃
　Burroughs　sipped　his　coffee；　raised　an　eyebrow。　〃Probably　the　best　investigator　on　this　island…that's　why　I　called　him；　sought　him　out　specifically。。。。That　and　his　honesty。〃
　〃So　。。。　the　case　is　in　good　hands。〃
　Burroughs　said　nothing。
　〃Dad？〃
　A　few　of　the　tables　nearby　were　taken　up　by　other　Niumalu　guests。　From　the　expressions　on　various　faces；　it　was　clear　that　new