mac.thepearlharbormurders-第6章

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　〃Edgar　Rice　Burroughs；〃　Kimmel　said；　putting　some　pomp　into　the　name；　〃a　flop？　That　seems　unlikely。〃
　〃Admiral；　I　have　sold　electric　lightbulbs　to　janitors；　candy　to　drugstores　and　peddled　Stoddard's　lectures　door…to…door。　The　only　interesting　job　I　ever　had　was　as　a　policeman。〃
　This　was　news　to　Hully；　sitting　next　to　his　father。　〃You　were　a　cop；　Pop？〃
　Burroughs　smiled　at　the　admiral　and　general；　pointing　a　thumb　at　his　son。　〃You　see；　my　boy　has　inherited　my　literary　skill。〃　Then　he　turned　to　Hully。　〃Yes；　my　poetic　offspring；　I　was　a　police　officer　in　Salt　Lake　City；　my　principal　duty　rousting　drunks　and　hoboes。　Even　flashed　my　gun　a　few　times。〃
　Hully　was　impressed。　〃When　was　this？〃
　〃Maybe　ought　three；　ought　four。。。　don't　really　remember；　exactly。　But　mostly　I　was　a　salesman…a　bad　one。　I　was　peddling　pencil　sharpeners　when　I　first　took　up　writing。〃
　〃Had　you　always　had　an　interest　in　literature？〃　Kim…mel　asked。
　〃I　liked　Mark　Twain；　and　The　Prisoner　of　Zenda；　if　you　call　that　literature。　I　was　supervising　other　salesmen；　had　a　lot　of　free　time；　and　spent　it　reading　cheap　magazines。　The　fiction　I　read　struck　me　as　lousy；　and　I　figured　if　other　people　could　get　paid　for　writing　such　rotten　stuff；　make　room　for　Burroughs。〃
　〃I　like　your　books；　Ed；〃　Short　said；　grinning；　〃and　I　won't　have　you　downgrading　yourself。。。　and　my　good　taste。〃
　〃Don't　think　I'm　not　grateful；　General。　No　writer　alive　has　taken　more　potshots　than　me…there　are　li…brarians　and　literary　types　who　consider　my　stuff　a　bad　influence；　particularly　on　young　minds　like　yours。〃
　The　general　laughed；　and　said；　〃How　on　earth　could　Tarzan　be　considered　harmful？〃
　〃Well；　a　good　number　of　kids　have　fallen　out　of　trees；　emulating　him。。。　otherwise；　I　think　it's　good　for　their　imaginations。〃
　Mrs。　Short　said；　rather　primly；　〃Don't　you　think　some　children　have　rather　overactive　imaginations；　Mr。　Burroughs？〃
　〃With　all　due　respect；　Mrs。　Short；　the　power　of　imagination　is　all　that　differentiates　the　human　from　the　brute。　Without　imagination；　there's　no　power　to　visualize　what　we　have　never　experienced。。。　and　without　that；　there　can　be　no　progress；　no　invention。〃
　Hully　smiled　to　himself；　thinking　of　his　father's　self…characterization　of　being　a　〃lousy　conversationalist。〃　Of　course；　giving　in　to　a　little　wine　had　lubricated　his　dad's　tongue；　no　question。。。。
　Kimmel　was　frowning　in　thought。　〃How　on　earth　did　you　e　up　with　something　as　imaginative　as　Tarzan？〃
　The　half　smirk　disappeared　from　O。　B。's　face　and　his　response　was　surprisingly　serious…in　fact；　Hully　would　never　forget　what　his　father　quietly；　humbly　said　next。
　〃Frankly；　Admiral；　I　suppose　it　came　out　of　my　daily　life　consisting　of　such　drab；　dull　business　matters。　I　think　I　just　wanted　to　get　as　far　away　from　merce　as　possible…so　my　mind　roamed　in　scenes　and　situations　I　never　knew。〃　He　gestured　to　the　tropical　trees　around　them。　〃I've　never　been　to　Africa；　you　know…　but　I　find　I　can　write　better　about　places　I've　never　seen　than　those　I　have。〃
　〃Excuse　me；　Mr。　Burroughs；〃　said　the　young　Japanese　man　seated　on　O。　B。's　other　side；　〃but　I　wonder　if　you　are　aware　of　how　very　popular　you　are　in　my　country？〃
　This　was　Tadashi　Morimura；　who　had　introduced　himself　earlier…a　diplomat　in　his　late　twenties；　vice　consul　of　the　Japanese　Consulate　in　Honolulu。　Like　Kimmel；　Morimura　wore　a　white　suit　and　a　tie；　he　was　a　boyish；　slender　man；　his　longish　black　hair　brushed　back　on　a　smooth；　high　forehead。
　〃Well；　I've　had　good　foreign　sales　for　years；　though　this　European　war　is　playing　havoc　with　'em。〃
　〃My　cousin　is　named　Edgar；〃　Morimura　said；　with　a　shy　smile。　〃Sir；　I　know　many　boys　who　have　been　named　for　you。〃
　O。　B。　seemed　genuinely　touched。　〃That's　the　first　I've　heard　of　that。　But　I　don't　see　why　a　boy　in　your　country　wouldn't　respond　to　what　kids　here　do…kids　including　General　Short；　of　course。〃
　〃You　mean　the　constant　urge　for　escape；〃　Kimmel　said　thoughtfully；　even　a　tittle　pompously。　'To　trade　the　confines　of　city　streets　for　the　freedom　of　the　wilderness　。。。〃
　〃I　think　it's　more；〃　O。　B。　said。　〃I　think　on　some　primal　level；　we　all　would　like　to　throw　off　the　restrictions　of　man…made　laws；　the　inhibitions　that　society　has　placed　on　us。　Every　boy；　of　any　age；　would　like　to　be　Tarzan。。。　I　know　I　would。〃
　〃As　would　I；〃　Morimura　said；　raising　his　cup　of　wine。
　Despite　the　pleasantness　of　the　evening；　the　great　food；　the　wonderful　conversation；　Hully　couldn't　help　but　be　struck　by　the　surreal　incongruity　of　this　social　gathering：　the　manders　of　the　Army　and　Navy　sharing　poi　with　a　Japanese　diplomat；　when　everyone　seemed　to　agree　war　between　their　two　countries　was　both　inevitable　and　imminent。
　But　Morimura　seemed　a　pleasant　sort；　harmless；　well…spoken；　typically　polite。
　As　the　dining　wound　down；　the　entertainment　increased；　the　evening　alive　with　flaming　torches　and　swinging　swords；　and　various　renditions　of　the　hula　from　seductive；　lyrical　swaying　to　the　frenetic　hip…twitching　version　tourists　craved。　Wandering　troubadours　with　ukuleles　and　steel　guitars　sang　traditional　Hawaiian　standards；　but　also　Tin　Pan　Alley　island　fare　like　〃Sweet　Leilani〃　and　〃Blue　Hawaii。〃
　By　around　ten；　the　luau　proper　was　over　and　the　guests　were　milling　around　the　grounds；　lounging　throughout　the　lodge；　in　the　rock…garden　courtyard；　and　in　the　enclosed　rear　lanai；　with　its　wicker　furnishings　and　soothing　view　onto　a　tropical　garden。　The　music；　however；　had　shifted　to　the　big…band　music　of　Pearl　and　the　Harbor　Lights　on　the　dance　floor　adjacent　to　the　dining　room。
　Hully　and　his　father　split　up…he　noticed　O。　B。　talking　to　Colonel　Fielder　at　one　point；　out　on　the　lawn；　and　to　that　German　playboy　Otto　Kuhn；　in　the　rock　garden…and　the　younger　Burroughs　sat　at　a　table　with　Ensign　Bill　Fielder　and　Seaman　Dan　Pressman；　smoking　cigarettes；　drinking　oke　（except　for　Hully；　who　had　switched　from　wine　to　coffee）；　listening　to　Pearl　and　the　band　do　〃Oh；　Look　at　Me　Now。〃
　The　only　concession　to　Hawaiian…style　music　made　by　Pearl　and　the　Harbor　Lights　was　the　inclusion　of　two　guitars；　one　of　them　steel；　and　of　course　the　boys　in　the　band　did　wear　blue　aloha　shirts　with　a　yellow…and…red　floral　pattern。　Bathed　in　pale　pink　stage　lighting；　Pearl…standing　at　her　center…stage　microphone；　which　she　occasionally　touched；　in　a　sensually　caressing　fashion…wore　a　clinging　blue　gown；　with　a　daring　dйcolletage　that　showed　off　her　medium…size　but　firm；　high　breasts　to　fine　advantage。
　〃I'm　going　to　tell　the　old　man　tonight；〃　Bill　was　saying。　He　was　a　handsome　Naval　officer　in　his　early　twenties　with　dark　hair　and　a　cleft　chin…despite　his　crisply　military　haircut；　he　looked　more　like　a　kid　than　a　sailor；　in　his　green　aloha　shirt　and　white　slacks。
　〃I　can　see　what　you　see　in　Pearl；〃　Hully　said；　and　he　certainly　could；　his　eyes　returning　to　the　ethereal；　erotic　vision　she　made　on　stage　under　the　pink　lighting　in　the　low…cut　blue　gown。　〃But　you've　only　been　going　with　her　for　a　month。。。。　Can't　you　wait…〃
　〃What；　till　war　breaks　out；　and　I'm　at　sea；　fighting　her　relatives？〃　Bill's　dark　eyes　were　sharp；　but　his　speech　was　slightly　slurred…too　much　oke。　〃There's　not　going　to　be　a　better　time　to　break　this　to　Dad…　certainly　after　we're　at　war　with　Japan；　it's　not　gonna　be　any　easier。〃
　〃Bill；〃　his　friend　Dan　said；　a　blue…eyed　blond　sailor
　from　California；　〃she's　a　nice　girl；　and　I　mean　you'd　have　to　be　blind　not　to　see　she's　a　living　doll。。。　but　you　gotta　admit…she's　been　around。〃
　'Take　that　back！〃　Bill　said；　stiffening。
　〃Okay；　okay；〃　Dan　said；　patting　the　air　with　his　palms。　〃I　didn't　mean　she　was　。。。　fast　or　anything。　Just　that　she's　dated　a　few　guys。。。。　Maybe　you　should　wait　a　couple　months；　get　to　know　each　other　better。〃
　〃Dan's　right；〃　Hully　said。　〃Wait　a　little　bit…get　past　the　physical　attraction　and　know　each　other　as　people　。。。　just　to　make　sure。。。。〃
　〃I　am　sure…Pearl's　the　girl　for　me。　She's　sweet　and　she's　nice　and　she'll　give　everything　up　for　me；　her　singing；　everything。。。　just　to　be　my　wife　and　have　my　babies。〃
　〃Maybe　you　ought　to　think　about　that；　too；〃　Dan　said。
　Bill　glared　at　him。　〃What？〃
　〃What　it'll　put　your　kids　through…you　know；　the　racial　thing。〃
　〃Pearl's　half　white。　Our　kids'11　be　all　American。　Dan；　I　won't　hear　this　kind　of　talk。〃
　〃Okay；　buddy　。。。　I'm　just　trying　to　help。　You've　helped　me　before；　plenty　of　times…I'm　just　trying　to　be　your　friend。〃
　Bill　sighed　and　nodded。
　The　band　was　starting　to　play　〃I'll　Remember　April；〃　and　one　of　the　guitar　players　began　to　sing　the　lilting　ballad。　Bill　shot　out　of　his　chair　as　if　from　a　cannon；　muttering；　〃This　is　one　of　Pearl's　free　songs；〃　and　headed　for　the　bandstand。
　Then　he　was　out　there　dancing　with　her；　holding　her　close；　gazing　into　her　eyes　like　a　lovesick　puppy；　and　she　was　gazing　back；　a　beautiful　woman　who　seemed　equally　in　love。　It　was　romantic；　and　frightening。
　〃His　father　is　going　to　kick　Bill's　ass；〃　Dan　said。
　〃I　know；〃　Hully　said；　and　nodded　toward　the　entry…way　to　the　lobby。
　Colonel　Fielder…slim；　casually　attired　in　red　aloha　shirt　and　white　slacks；　his　dark　hair　widow's…peaked；　with　a　narrow　face　and　hawkish　eyes　and　hawkish　nose…stood　just　inside　the　doorway；　staring　out　at　the　dance　floor；　obviously　viewing　his　son　dancing　with　the　nisei　singer…and　just　as　obviously　unhappy。
　Shaking　his　head　in　apparent　disgust；　Fielder　exited。
　〃It's　gonna　be　ugly；〃　Dan　said。
　〃Pearl　asked　me　to　set　up　a　meeting　between　her　and　the　colonel…she　wants　to　plead　her　case。〃
　'If　she　thinks　batting　her　lashes　at　that　hardnose　is　going　to　do　the　trick；　she's　dreamin'。〃
　Out　on　the　dance　floor；　something　〃ugly〃　was　already　transpiring。　A　soldier…a　handsome　brown…haired　kid　in　a　green　sportshirt　and　tan　slacks；　not　very　tall　but　with　wide　shoulders　and　an　athletic　carriage…　was　tapping　Bill　on　the　shoulder…hard…as　if　to　cut　in。
　〃Oh　hell；〃　Hully　said；　shaking　his　head。
　〃Who　is　that　guy？〃　Dan　asked。
　〃Jack　Stanton…he's　a　corporal　over　at　Hickam。。。　used　to　date　Pearl。〃
　〃Ouch。〃
　〃Fact；　that's　who　she　threw　over　for　Bill。〃
　〃Double　ouch。〃
　Out　on　the　dance　floor；　Pearl　was　desperately　trying　to　keep　the　peace　as　the　sailor　and　the　soldier　began　shoving　each　other。
　〃You　take　Bill；〃　Hully　said；　getting　up；　〃I　got　the　dogface。〃
　The　crowd　was　forming　a　circle　around　what　was　clearly　about　to　erupt　into　a　fight；　with　reactions　that　ranged　from　shouts　of　indignation　to　squeals　of　delight。　Hully　and　Dan　broke　through　just　in　time　to　see　Stan…ton　connect　with　a　right　hook　to　Bill's　jaw。
　Bill　went　down　on　a　knee；　but　came　up　with　his　own　right　hand　to　the　soldier's　belly；　doubling　the　boy　over。
　And　the　fight　was　over　before　Hully　and　Dan　could　break　it　up；　because　the　soldier…like　everyone　here…　had　been　to　that　sumptuous；　endless　luau；　and　his　stomach　。。。　filled　with　poi　and　raw　fish　and　roast　pork　and　a　dozen　other　delicacies　。。。　did　not　take　a　punch　well。
　The　soldier；　clutching　his　stomach；　scrambled　out　of　there；　struggling　not　to　throw　up；　heading　for　the　men's　room；　as　relieved　laughter　rippled　across　the　crowd。　Soon　the　onlookers　began　to　dance　again；　the　Harbor　Lights　beginning　to　play　〃Boogie　Woogie　Bugle　Boy；〃　with　Pearl　magically　back　onstage　to　sing　it。
　〃I'm　going　after　that　bast