mac.thepearlharbormurders-第14章

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　〃We　have　to　sit　down；〃。　Hully　said；　guiding　his　confused　friend　into　the　lodge　lobby；　〃and　we　have　to　talk。〃
　〃What's　wrong　with　you？　What　the　hell…listen；　I　have　to　see　Pearl；　she's　waiting；　I'm　a　little　late。。。。〃
　〃Sit　down；　Bill。　I　have　to　tell　you　something…something　very　bad。　Very　sad。〃
　Hully　sat　his　friend　down　in　the　wicker　chair　the　musician　had　vacated　and　he　stood　in　front　of　his　friend　and　quickly；　calmly；　as　gently　as　he　could；　told　Bill　Fielder　that　Pearl　Harada　had　been　murdered。
　Bill's　cry　of　emotional　pain　echoed　through　the　lodge　like　that　of　a　mortally　wounded　beast。
　The　young　Naval　officer　fell　onto　the　parquet　floor　and　assumed　a　fetal　position　and　Hully　got　down　there　with　him；　taking　his　friend　into　his　arms；　patting　him　on　the　back；　forting　him　as　Bill　howled　and　wept。　Hully　couldn't　even　offer　Bill　a　handkerchief　because　the　trumpet　player　had　taken　it。
　But　no　handkerchief　could　have　contained　the　tears　of　the　young　sailor。
　It　was　a　long　time　before　Bill　got　settled　down　enough　to　begin　asking　questions　about　the　particulars。
　Then；　suddenly；　the　brawny　officer　was　on　his　feet。　〃Harry　Kamana？　Harry　Kamana　did　this？　Where　the　hell　is　the　bastard？　I'll　break　his　goddamn　neck…〃
　Hully　held　him　by　the　arm。　〃The　police　have　Kamana；　Bill…he　may　not　have　done　it。　He　says　he　didn't。〃
　But　Bill　didn't　want　to　hear　about　that。　He　pulled　away　from　Hully；　ran　out　to　the　car；　and　tore　away；　throwing　crushed　coral　like　rice　at　a　wedding。
　Hully　wondered　what　the　hell　good　Bill　thought　he　could　do；　what　sort　of　revenge　he　could　take；　with　Kamana　behind　bars。
　He　also　wondered　if　there　was　the　remotest　possibility　that　his　friend　was　good　enough　an　actor　to　have　concocted　this　entire　scene…because　if　Bill　were　the　murderer　of　Pearl　Harada；　he　would've　had　to　have　done　that　very　thing。
　
　
　EIGHT
　Halftime
　
　The　Termite　Palace…as　locals　affectionately　if　accurately　referred　to　the　wooden…bleachered　Honolulu　Stadium…had　hosted　Bing　Crosby　concerts；　championship　boxing　matches；　and　even　a　notorious　race　between　Olympic　runner　Jesse　Owens　and　a　horse　（Owens　won）。　The　unprepossessing　facliity…at　the　ewa　（west）/makai　（seaward）　corner　of　King　and　Isen…berg　streets…was　also　home　to　every　Oahu　sporting　event　from　club　baseball　to　college　football　games；　like　today's　annual　Shriner…sponsored　contest。
　The　stands　were　packed；　over　twenty…five　thousand　in　attendance…10　percent　of　the　city's　population…which　was　unusual：　college　games　were　usually　lucky　to　draw　half　that　many　fans。　The　big　local　attraction　was　high…school　football；　the　eight…team　league　an　Oahu　obsession；　fueled　by　gambling　interests　whose　weekly　betting　turnover　was　said　to　be　half　a　million　dollars。
　Burroughs　found　the　casual　corruption　of　Honolulu　at　once　amusing　and　disturbing。　To　a　writer；　the　irony　of　sin　in　paradise　was　appealing；　and　he　disliked　the　legislation　of　morality；　but　the　town's　wide…open　gambling　and　unfettered　red…light　district　jarred　his　conservative　Midwestern　sensibilities。
　Somehow　the　rollickingly　enthusiastic　crowd…　watching　the　game　for　its　own　sake　（little　betting　attended　college　games）…gave　Burroughs　a　lift。　He　was　enjoying　this　exceptionally　beautiful　day　with　its　clear　sky　and　sharp　sunlight　as　much　as　anyone　in　the　polyglot　assemblage；　which　contained　more　than　its　share　of　high…ranking　military　personnel；　including　Colonel　Kendall　〃Wooch〃　Fielder；　next　to　whom　the　writer　sat。　As　the　first　half　neared　its　conclusion；　with　the　Roaring　Rainbows　of　the　University　of　Hawaii　leading　the　Bearcats　of　Willamette　（Oregon）　University　fourteen　to　nothing；　the　reserved　seat　on　the　other　side　of　Burroughs…meant　for　FBI　agent　Adam　Sterling…was　vacant。
　Sterling　was　a　rabidly　loyal　Willamette　grad；　who　for　weeks　had　been　vocal　about　looking　forward　to　this　game；　and　his　missing…in…action　status　nagged　at　Burroughs；　who　was　aware　the　agent　had　taken　off　early　this　morning　to　go　in　to　work。　The　writer　could　not　help　but　again　wonder　if　Sterling's　absence　was　related　to　the　murder　of　Pearl　Harada。
　When　Burroughs　had　returned　to　his　bungalow；　this　morning…after　his　conversations　first　with　Otto　Kuhn　and　then　with　Etfriede　Kuhn…he　had　e　in　on　Mrs。　Fujimoto；　who　was；　in　her　pastel　floral　kimono；　vacuuming　the　sitting　room。　He　had　directed　her　to　continue　working；　got　himself　a　bottle　of　Pepsi　from　their　little　refrigerator　perched　in　one　corner；　slipped　his　shoes　off　and　lounged　on　the　couch；　with　his　feet　up　on　it；　to　stay　out　of　the　maid's　way。
　Though　Mrs。　Fujimoto　was　invariably；　subserviently　formal　in　her　manner；　she　and　Burroughs　were　friendly…he　often　kidded　her；　prodding　giggles　out　of　her…and　her　college…boy　son　Sam　and　Hully　were　good　pals。　As　he　waited　for　Hully；　Burroughs　formed　a　few　questions　which　he　realized　the　maid　might　de…cline　to　answer。。。　but　were　definitely　worth　a　try。
　When　she　had　finished　her　vacuuming　and　began　her　feather…dusting；　Burroughs　said；　causally；　〃So　the　Kuhns　chased　you　out　early；　today。〃
　She　smiled　and　nodded；　carefully　dusting　his　work　area。
　〃Mr。　Kuhn　almost　knocked　me　down；〃　Burroughs　said；　still　lounging　on　the　sofa；　keeping　his　tone　light。　〃The　way　he　came　bolting　out　of　mat　bungalow；　I　thought　he　might　be　。。。　mad　or　something。〃
　She　nodded。　〃Mr。　Kuhn　very　upset　this　morning。〃
　〃Really？　Well；　you　know；　he　witnessed　that　murder　last　night。〃
　Mrs。　Fujimoto　looked　up　from　her　work。　〃I　did　hear　this。。。。So　sad。〃　She　sighed；　shook　her　head。　〃Miss　Pearl；　so　beautiful。〃
　〃It　was　a　terrible　tragedy Kuhn　identified　Harry　Kamana　as　the　killer；　you　know。〃
　She　nodded；　dusting。　〃That　I　also　hear。　Hard　to　believe。〃
　〃Why　do　you　say　that？〃
　She　dusted　some　more；　before　answering。　〃Mr。　Kamana。。。　he　is　a　very　gentle　man。　Kind　man。　He　always　treat　Miss　Pearl　with　kindness。〃
　The　opinion　of　an　〃invisible〃　person　like　a　maid；　here　at　the　Niumalu…who　observed　much；　from　the　sidelines…　was　not　to　be　undervalued。
　Burroughs　rose；　crossed　to　her　at　his　desk。　Her　eyes　widened…she　was　surprised　by　this　familiarity。
　Facing　her；　close　to　her；　he　said；　his　tone　serious　now；　〃I　don't　believe　Harry　Kamana　killed　that　young　woman。　Do　you？〃
　She　winced。　〃If　Mr。　Kuhn　say　he　saw　it。。。〃
　〃People　lie　sometimes　don't　they；　Mrs。　Fujimoto？　Were　the　Kuhns　arguing　this　morning？　The　way　he　came　flying　out　of　there；　that　was　the　impression　I　got。〃
　From　her　expression；　she　seemed　to　be　experiencing　physical　pain。　〃Oh；　Mr。　Burroughs。。。　do　not　ask；　please。　It　would　be　improper　for　me　to…〃
　〃It　would　be　improper　to　let　Harry　Kamana　take　the　blame　for　something　he　didn't　do。　My　son　and　I　are　looking　into　this　matter。〃
　〃But。。。　the　police。。。〃
　〃They've　already　made　their　minds　up　that　Harry　did　it…largely　because　of　what　Kuhn　told　them。。。。　Did　you　hear　anything　this　morning；　Mrs。　Fujimoto；　before　the　Kuhns　chased　you　out　of　there？　Anything。。。　suspicious？〃
　She　raised　her　hand；　in　a　gentle　〃stop〃　gesture。　〃Mr。　Burroughs。。。〃　〃Please。〃
　She　swallowed。　Shaking　her　head；　her　gaze　lowered；　she　said　softly；　〃They　did　argue。　I。。。。I　did　not　hear　much。〃
　〃What　did　you　hear？〃
　〃Something　。。。　something　about　a　phone　call。。。　a　phone　call　last　night。〃
　What　the　hell？
　Burroughs　leaned　in；　even　closer。　〃A　phone　call…　what　about　it？〃
　〃Mr。　Kuhn　tell　her　this　phone　call…it　never　came。〃
　His　mind　was　racing。　〃There　was　a　phone　call；　but　if　anybody　asked；　she　was　to　say　there　wasn't　any　phone　call？　Is　that　it？〃
　〃I　cannot　say。　I　tell　you　what　I　hear。　I　do　not　understand　what　it　mean。　Please。。。　Mr。　Burroughs　。。。　I　am　unfortable　speak　of　this。〃
　He　sighed。　Then；　very　lightly；　he　touched　her　shoulder。　〃That's　all　right；　Mrs。　Fujimoto。　But　if　the　police　talk　to　you；　you　must　tell　them　about　this…understand？　It　could　be　important；　it　may　relate　to　what　really　happened　to　that　poor　girl。　You　must　tell　them。〃
　Nodding　slowly；　she　said；　〃Yes；　Mr。　Burroughs。　I　understand。　If　police　ask；　I　tell　them。〃
　〃Good。　Good。〃
　Hully　had　e　in　shortly　after　that；　and　father　and　son　had　strolled　to　the　beach　and　filled　each　other　in　on　what　they　had　learned　so　far；　in　their　informal　investigation。
　At　the　game；　Burroughs　。had　watched　the　one…sided　affair　with　only　mild　interest；　and　Wooch　Fielder…　casual　in　a　short…sleeved　blue　aloha　shirt　and　khaki　trousers…applauded　and　occasionally　cheered；　but　he　too　seemed　distracted。　Burroughs　didn't　mention　the　murder；　waiting　to　see　if　the　colonel　would　bring　it　up。
　The　halftime　show　was　a　binge　of　patriotism；　a　colorful；　musical　pageant　that　the　crowd　ate　up。　Fifteen　marching　bands…with　a　crack　Marine　unit　in　the　lead…bined　into　one　massive　crew；　playing　island　favorites　like　〃Hawaii　Ponoi；〃　the　inescapable　Shriner　anthem　〃I'm　Forever　Blowing　Bubbles；〃　and　such　flag…waving　fare　as　〃Stars　and　Stripes　Forever。〃　The　lavish　exhibition　included　a　rare　daylight　array　of　fireworks；　one　of　whose　rockets　delivered　a　miniature　Hawaiian　flag；　followed　by　another　that　sent　the　American　flag　wafting　down　in　a　shower　of　sparks；　though　the　unfurling　barely　occurred　before　it　bit　the　ground；　due　to　a　slight　malfunction。　After　all　of　his　friend　Teske's　talk　of　Japanese　invasion；　Burroughs　could　not　keep　from　wondering　if　the　latter　was　a　portent。
　Also；　the　creator　of　Tarzan　and　John　Carter　of　Mars　could　not　keep　from　noticing　white　clouds　piling　up　in　the　placid　blue　of　the　sky　into　what　seemed　to　him　the　unmistakable　formation　of　a　monster；　whose　long　tongue　lashed　side　to　side。　Another　omen？　At　times　like　these；　Edgar　Rice　Burroughs　could　have　done　without　his　vivid　imagination。
　As　the　second　half　got　under　way；　Burroughs　finally　looked　over　at　his　friend　and　said；　〃I'm　a　little　surprised　you　haven't　said　anything　about　that　girl's　murder。〃
　Fielder　gave　Burroughs　a　quick　sideways　look；　then　said；　as　if　menting　on　the　rising　price　of　wheat；　〃Well；　it's　certainly　a　terrible　thing。〃　　　　'
　〃How's　your　son　taking　it？〃
　Now　some　humanity　came　into　Fielder's　hawkish　face。　〃Very　hard；　I'm　afraid。　I　don't　even　know　where　he　is；　he　rushed　off　after　we　。。。　He　came　looking　for　me。。。。〃
　Burroughs　frowned。　〃Why　would　he　e　looking　for　you？〃
　Fielder　was　lighting　up　a　cigarette。　〃He　just　needed　to　take　it　out　on　someone。。。。'Are　you　satisfied？'。。。。　That　kind　of　thing。　To　be　expected。〃
　〃Hully　was　the　one　who　broke　it　to　him。　Hell　of　a　thing。〃
　With　a　sigh　of　smoke；　Fielder　said；　〃Poor　Hully
　I　hope　he　can　help　Bill。　I'm　afraid　I　won't　be　able　to　break　through　the　resentment　for　some　time。〃
　Bill　and　Wooch　had　a　somewhat　strained　relationship；　anyway…that　the　boy　had　joined　the　Navy；　rather　than　the　Army；　in　an　effort　to　step　out　from　under　his　father's　shadow；　had　been　a　point　of　contention。　On　the　other　hand；　Burroughs　believed　that　Fielder　was　secretly　proud　of　his　son；　for　taking　that　stand。
　〃Did　you　and　Bill　ever　argue　about　the　planned　marriage？〃
　〃Actually；　yes…last　night；　after　the　luau；　he　came　to　see　me　。。。　to　state　his　case。　I'm　afraid　I　was　rather　rough　on　the　boy。　Nothing　I　can　do　about　it　now。〃
　Burroughs　studied　his　friend。　〃Pearl　Harada　came　to　see　me；　not　long　before　she　was　killed…to　ask　if　I'd　arrange　a　meeting　between　the　two　of　you。〃
　Fielder　gave　Burroughs　a　sharp　look。　〃Really？　Whatever　for？〃
　〃Same　thing；　I　suppose…m