emb.seethemdie-第2章

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　〃Okay；　maybe　not　you；〃　Zip　said；　relenting。　〃The　other　guys。〃
　〃Me？〃　Cooch　persisted；　astonished　and　hurt。　〃Me？　Who　was　it　first　showed　you　around　the　scene　when　you　moved　up　here？〃
　〃Okay；　I　said　not　you；　didn't　I？〃
　〃Where'd　you　e　from？　Some　crumby　slum　near　the　Calm's　Point　Bridge？　What　the　hell　did　you　know　about　this　neighborhood？　Who　showed　you　around；　huh？〃
　〃You　did；　you　did；〃　Zip　said　patiently。
　〃Yeah。　So　right　away　you　hop　on　me。　A　few　minutes　late；　and　you。。。〃　…〃Ten　minutes　late；〃　Zip　corrected。
　〃All　right；　ten　minutes；　I　didn't　know　you　had　a　stop　watch。　Man；　I　don't　understand　you　sometimes；　Zip。　Saying　I　think　we're　playing　games　here。　Man；　if　ever　a　guy。。。〃
　〃I　said　not　you！　For　Pete's　sake；　I　said　not　you！　I'm　talking　about　the　other　studs。〃　He　paused。　〃Did　you　stop　by　for　Sixto？〃
　〃Yeah。　That's　another　reason　I'm　late。　You　give　me　all　these　stops　to。。。〃
　〃So　where　is　he？〃
　〃He　had　to　help　his　old　lady。〃
　〃Doing　what？〃
　〃With　the　baby。　Listen；　you　think　it's　kicks　having　a　baby　in　the　house？　I　never　seen　a　kid　could　wet　her　pants　like　Sixto's　sister。　Every　time　you　turn　around；　that　kid　is　pissing。〃
　〃He　was　changing　her　pants？〃　Zip　asked；　astonished。
　〃He　was　powdering　her　behind　the　last　time　I　seen　him。〃
　〃I'm　gonna　powder　his　behind　when　he　gets　here！〃　Zip　said　angrily。　〃See；　that's　just　what　I　mean。　He　thinks　we're　fooling　around　here。　Then　you　wonder　why　we　ain't　making　a　name　for　ourselves。　It's　because　nobody　on　this　club's　for　real；　that's　why。　Everybody　expects　me　to　do　everything。〃
　〃We　got　a　name；　Zip；〃　Cooch　said　gently。
　〃We　got　balls！　You　guys　still　think　this　is　a　goddamn　basket　ball　team　at　the　Boys'　Club。　When　you　gonna　grow　up？　You　want　to　walk　the　streets　in　this　neighborhood；　or　you　want　to　hide　every　time　there's　a　backfire？〃
　〃I　don't　hide　from　nothing！〃
　〃You　think　anybody　on　the　Royal　Guardians　is　scared　of　anything？〃　Zip　asked。
　〃No；　but　the　Royal　Guardians　got　two　hundred　and　fifty　members。〃
　〃So　how　do　you　think　they　got　them　members？　By　being　late　when　there's　a　wash　job　scheduled？〃
　〃Hey！〃　Cooch　said　suddenly。
　〃What's　the　matter？〃
　〃Shhhh。〃
　A　woman　was　ing　up　the　street；　her　ample　breasts　bobbing　with　the　haste　of　her　steps。　Her　black　hair　was　pulled　into　a　bun　at　the　back　of　her　neck。　She　looked　neither　to　the　right　nor　to　the　left。　She　walked　with　a　purposefulness；　almost　a　blindness；　passing　the　boys　who　stood　in　the　open　street　side　of　the　luncheonette；　turning　the　corner；　and　moving　out　of　sight。
　〃You　see　who　that　was？〃　Cooch　whispered。
　〃That　lady？〃
　〃Yeah。〃　Cooch　nodded。　〃Alfie's　mother。〃
　〃What？〃　He　walked　to　the　corner　and　stared　up　the　avenue。　But　the　woman　was　already　gone。
　〃Alfredo　Gomez's　mother；〃　Cooch　said。　〃Man；　was　she　in　a　hurry！　Zip；　you　think　he　told　her？〃
　〃What　do　I　care；　he　told　her　or　not？〃
　〃What　I　mean　。。。　like　this　is　his　old　lady　。。。　like　if　he　told　her。。。〃
　〃So　he　told　her。　How's　that　gonna　help　him？〃
　〃You　know　how　dames　are。　She　might've　got　excited。　She　might've。。。〃
　〃Stop　crapping　your　pants；　will　you？　You　got　nothing　but　small…time　guts；　you　know　that？　You're　just　like　my　old　man。　He　talks　like　a　senator。　A　real　wheel。　Always　telling　me　about　Puerto　Rico。　Who　cares　about　that　damn　island？　I　was　born　here；　right　in　this　city。　I'm　a　real　American。　But　he's　always　telling　me　what　a　big　shot　he　was　in　San　Juan。　You　know　what　it　turns　out　he　done　there？　I　found　out　from　one　of　my　uncles。　You　know　what　he　done？〃
　〃What？〃
　〃He　fixed　bicycles　for　a　living。　So　that's　the　big　wheel。　Big　talk　that's　all。　But　small…time　guts。〃
　〃I　got　as　much　guts。。。〃
　〃Sure；　so　you　see　Alfie's　mother　out　for　a　stroll；　and　you　start　shaking。　You　know　what　you're　gonna　be　when　you　grow　up？〃
　〃No。　What？〃
　〃A　guy　who　fixes　bicycles。〃　；　〃Aw；　e　on。　I。。。〃
　〃Or　a　guy　who　shines　shoes。〃
　〃I　never　*shined　a　pair　of　shoes　in　my　life！〃　Cooch　said　proudly。　〃I　don't　even　shine　my　own　shoes！〃
　〃That's　wflfy　you　look　like　a　slob；〃　Zip　said；　and　then　abruptly　turned'his　head。　Someone　was　approaching。
　
　
　2
　
　The　sailor　had　rounded　the　corner　as　Cooch　spoke。　He　was　a　tall；　blond　man　…　well；　not　exactly　a　man；　and　yet　not　a　boy。　He　was　perhaps　twenty…two　years　old；　and　he　had　reached　that　mysterious　boundary　line　which　divided　a　man　from　a　boy；　but　he　was　still　straddling　the　line　so　that　it　was　impossible　to　think　of　him　as　a　boy；　and　yet　stretching　a　point　to　consider　him　a　man。　Man　or　boy；　he　was　quite　drunk　at　the　moment　He　walked　with　the　sailor's　habitual　roll；　but　the　roll　was　somewhat　frustrated　by　his　erratic　drunken　weaving。　His　white　hat　was　perched　precariously　on　the　back　of　his　head；　and　his　white　uniform　was　spotlessly　clean；　reflecting　the　early…morning　sunshine　with　a　dazzling　brilliance。　He　stopped　on　the　corner；　looked　up　at　the　sign　over　the　luncheonette；　mumbled　something　to　himself；　shook　his　head　violently；　and　then　continued　up　the　street。
　Zip　stifled　a　laugh　and　nudged　Cooch　in　the　ribs。
　〃Ten　bucks　says　I　know　what　he's　looking　for；〃　Cooch　said；　grinning。
　〃Never　mind　what　he's　looking　for。　Go　get　Sixto　and　Papa。
　Tell　them　I'm　waiting；　and　tell　them　I'm　getting　slightly　p。o。'd。　Now　move。〃
　〃Don't　get　excited；〃　Cooch　said；　but　he　moved　up　the　street　quickly；　passing　the　drunken　sailor　who　had　headed　back　towards　the　luncheonette。　The　sailor　was　in　that　sort　of　haze　where　everything　seems　to　involve　a　decision　meriting　vast　concentration　and　deliberation。　He　stopped　at　each　building；　studied　the　numerals；　shook　his　head　solemnly；　and　finally　wound　up　in　front　of　the　luncheonette　again；　still　shaking　his　head。　He　studied　the　sign；　considered　the　vast　symbolism　in　the　words　LUIS　LUNCHEONETTE；　pondered　this　symbolism　for　a　while；　shook　his　head　again；　and　was　beginning　to　retrace　his　steps　down　the　street　when　Zip　said；　〃Help　you；　sailor？〃
　〃Huh？〃　the　sailor　asked。
　〃You　look　lost；〃　Zip　said。　His　manner　was　quite　pleasant。　He　grinned　warmly　and　the　sailor　responded　to　the　grin　immediately；　the　lost　wanderer　accepting　the　first　friendly　hand。
　〃Listen；〃　he　said　drunkenly；　〃where's　La　。。。　La　Galli。。。　La　。。。　Listen；　I　was　talking　to　a　guy　inna　bar　downtown；　you　know？　An'　we　began　discussin'。。。〃　He　stopped　and　studied　Zip　with　drunkenly　profound　narrowness。　〃Listen；　how　old　are　you？〃
　〃Seventeen；〃　Zip　said。
　〃Oh。〃
　The　sailor　tabulated　this　silently；　his　mind　whirring。　He　nodded。　〃Okay；　then。　I　didn't　wanna　impair　the　morals　of　a　。。。　so　this　guy　an'　me；　we　were　discussin'　。。。　well；　I　was　sorta　expressin'　my　desire　for　sorta　climbin'　into　bed　with　a　female；　you　know？　A　girl。　You　know？〃
　〃So　he　sent　you　up　here？〃
　〃Yeah。　No。　Yeah；　yeah；　he　did。　He　said　there　was　a　place　up　here　called　。。。　ah。。。　La　Gallina。〃　He　pronounced　the　word　with　a　Western　twang　that　brought　a　new　smile　to　Zip's　mouth。
　〃La　Gallina；　yes；〃　Zip　said；　giving　it　the　proper　Spanish　pronunciation。
　〃Yeah；〃　the　sailor　said；　nodding；　〃where　he　said　I　could　get　anything　I　want。　Now　how　about　that？〃
　〃He　was　right；〃　Zip　answered。
　〃So　here　I　am；〃　the　sailor　said。　He　paused。　〃Where　is　it？〃
　〃Right　down　the　street　there。〃
　〃Thank　you；〃　the　sailor　said；　nodding。　〃Thank　you　ver'　much。〃　He　started　off　down　the　street　again。
　〃Don't　mention　it；〃　Zip　said；　smiling。　He　stared　after　the　sailor　for　a　few　moments；　and　then　went　into　the　luncheonette。　〃Give　me　a　cup　of　coffee；　Luis；〃　he　said。
　The　sailor　went　down　the　street；　studying　each　doorway　as　he　had　before。　He　stopped　suddenly；　looked　at　the　lettering　on　the　plate…glass　window　of　a　bar；　and　muttered；　〃La　Gallina；　I'll　be　damned。　Feller　was　right。〃　He　walked　directly　to　the　front　door；　not　expecting　it　to　be　locked；　trying　to　open　it；　and　then　discovering　that　it　was　locked；　immensely　annoyed　that　the　knob　had　resisted　his　hand。　He　backed　away　from　the　door　and　yelled；　〃Hey！　Hey；　wake　up！　Wake　up；　goddamnit！　I'm　here！〃
　〃What　the　hell　is　that？〃　Luis　said。
　〃Sailor　out　there；〃　Zip　said；　grinning。
　Luis　came　from　behind　the　counter。　Up　the　street；　the　sailor…was　still　shouting　at　the　top　of　his　lungs。
　〃You！〃　Luis　said。　〃Quiet；　quiet。〃
　The　sailor　turned。　〃You　talking　to　me；　mate？〃
　〃Si；　I'm　talking　to　you；　mate。　Stop　the　racket。　This　is　Sunday　morning。　People　like　to　sleep；　you　know？　You　wake　them　up。〃
　〃Well；　hell；　thass　what　I'm　trying　to　do；　you　know。〃
　〃Why　you　trying　to　wake　them　up　for？〃
　'〃Cause　I　wanna　go　to　bed。〃
　〃That　makes　sense；　all　right；〃　Luis　said；　nodding　patiently。　〃Are　you　drunk？〃
　〃Me？〃　the　sailor　said。　〃Me？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Hell；　no。〃
　〃You　look　perhaps　a　little　drunk。〃
　The　sailor　walked　to　where　Luis　was　standing；　put　his　hands　on　his　hips　and　said；　〃Well；　maybe　I　am　perhaps　a　li'l　drunk。　So　ain't　you　never　been　perhaps　a　li'l　drunk？〃
　〃I　have　been　a　little　drunk；〃　Luis　said；　〃and　I　have　been　a　lot　drunk。　e。　I'll　make　you　a　cup　of　coffee。〃
　〃Whuffor？〃
　〃What　for？〃　Luis　shrugged　and　walked　into　the　luncheonette。　The　sailor　followed　him。　〃Because　I　like　sailors；〃　Luis　said。　〃I　used　to　be　a　sailor　myself　once。〃
　〃Did　you　find　it；　pal？〃　Zip　interrupted。
　〃Yeah。　It's　closed。〃
　〃I　coulda　told　you　that。〃
　〃So　why　dinn　you？〃
　〃You　didn't　ask。〃
　〃Oh；　you're　one　of　those　guys；〃　the　sailor　said。
　〃Which　guys？〃　Zip　asked；　and　he　stiffened　suddenly　on　the　counter　stool；　as　if　expecting　an　attack。
　〃The　guys　you　got　to　ask。〃
　〃Yeah；〃　Zip　answered。　〃I'm　one　of　those　guys。　So　what？〃
　Rapidly；　perhaps　because　he　sensed　Zip's　sudden　belligerence；　perhaps　because　he　simply　wanted　to　switch　the　conversation　back　to　himself；　Luis　said；　〃Yes；　I　was　in　the　Navy　from　1923　to　1927。　Yes；　sir。〃
　〃Was　you　on　a　ship？〃　the　sailor　asked。　If　he　had　detected　any　challenge　in　Zip's　voice；　he　was　studiously　ignoring　it。　Either　that；　or　he　was　too　drunk　to　have　noticed。
　〃A　man　who　has　not　been　on　a　ship　is　not　a　sailor。〃　He　looked　over　at　the　bubbling　Silexes。　〃The　coffee　is　almost　ready。〃
　〃What　kind　of　a　ship？〃
　〃A　garbage　scow；〃　Zip　said　quickly；　and　he　grinned。
　〃Never　mind　this　smart　one。　I　was　on　a　mine　sweep。〃
　〃What　was　your　rate？〃　the　sailor　asked　suspiciously。
　〃You　never　heard　of　Rear　Admiral　Luis　Amandez？〃　Zip　asked；　mock　surprise　spreading　over　his　uneven　features。
　〃I　was　a　steward's　mate；〃　Luis　answered　with　dignity。　〃And　you　shut　up；　you　little　snotnose。〃
　〃Wha'd　he　say　your　name　was？　Louise？〃
　〃Yeah；　that's　right；〃　Zip　answered；　chuckling。　〃This　here　is　Aunt　Louise。〃
　〃Louise？　Yeah？〃
　〃No；　Luis。　Luis。〃
　〃No；　Louise；〃　Zip　insisted。
　〃Are　you　a　Mexican；　Louise？〃　the　sailor　asked。
　〃No。〃　Luis　shook　his　head。　〃Puerto　Rican。〃
　〃Well；　that's　the　same　thing；　ain't　it？〃
　〃Well…〃　Luis　thought　for　a　moment；　and　then　shrugged　resignedly。　〃Si；　the　same　thing。〃
　〃What　part　of　Mehico　you　from？〃　the　sailor　asked　obliviously。
　〃The　part　down　in　the　Caribbean；〃　Luis　said　dryly。
　〃The　annex；〃　Zip　put　in。　〃South。　You　know？〃
　〃And　whereabouts　in　Puerto　Rico？〃
　〃A　town　called　Cabo　Rojo；　do　you　know　it？〃
　〃I　only　know　Tia　Juana；〃　the　sailor　said；　〃and　I　ain't　even　been　there。　Closest　I　ever　got　was　San　Diego。〃
　〃Here；〃　Luis　said；　pouring　a　cup　of　coffee。　〃Drink　this。〃
　〃Where's　mine？〃　Zip　asked。
　〃I　have　only　two　hands。〃　He　finished　pouring　the　sailor's　coffee；