emb.seethemdie-第7章

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　〃Thass　not　what　she　say。　I　ask　her。　She　say　he　ony　jus'　say　hello　to　her。〃
　〃What　right　did　you　have　to　go　asking　her　questions？〃　Zip　wanted　to　know。　〃Whose　girl　is　she？　Yours　or　mine？〃　Sixto　remained　silent。　〃Well？〃
　〃Well；　Zip；〃　Sixto　said；　after　long　deliberation；　〃I　tink　。。。　well；　I　don'　tink　she　knows。　I　mean；　I　don'　tink　she　got　no　understanding　with　you。〃
　〃I　don't　need　no　understanding　with　a　chick。　I'm　telling　you　she's　my　girl；　and　that's　good　enough。〃
　〃But　she　don'　tink　so！〃
　〃I　don't　care　what　she　thinks。〃
　〃Anyway；〃　Sixto　said；　〃no　matter　whose　girl　she　is；　if　Alfie　don'　do　nothin'　to　her；　why　we　got　to　shoot　him？〃
　The　boys　were　silent　for　a　moment；　as　if　mention　of　the　word；　as　if　translation　of　their　plan　into　sound；　into　a　word　which　immediately　delivered　the　image　of　a　pistol；　had　shocked　them　into　silence。
　In　a　very　low　voice；　Zip　asked；　〃You　going　turkey？〃　Sixto　did　not　answer。　〃I　thought　you　was　a　down　cat；　Sixto。　I　thought　you　had　heart。〃
　〃I　do　got　heart。〃
　〃He　gah　heart；　Zeep；〃　Papa　said；　defending　Sixto。
　〃Then　why's　he　backing　out？　How'd　you　like　it　if　this　was　your　girl；　Sixto？　How'd　you　like　it　if　Alfie　went　messing　around　with　your　girl？〃
　〃But　he　dinn　mess　with　her。　He　ony　say　hello。　So　wha's　so　bad　about　dat？〃
　〃You　in　this　club？〃　Zip　asked。
　〃Sure。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃I。。。　I　don'　know。　You　got　to　belong　to。。。〃　Sixto　shrugged。　〃I　don'　know。〃
　〃If　you're　in　this　club；　if　you　wear　that　purple　jacket；　you　do　what　I　say。　Okay。　I　say　the　Latin　Purples　are　washing　Alfredo　Gomez　right　after　eleven　o'clock　Mass。　You　want　to　turkey　out；　go　ahead。〃　He　paused　meaningfully。　〃All　I　know　is　that　Alfie　give　China　a　rough　time。　China's　my　girl　whether　she　knows　it　or　not；　you　dig？　China's　my　girl；　and　that　means　Alfie　got　himself　trouble。〃
　Cooch　nodded。　〃Big　trouble。〃
　〃And　that　don't　mean　a　burn。　I　don't　want　him　burned。　I　want　him　washed！　You　can　turkey　out；　Sixto；　go　ahead。　Only　you　better　watch　your　step　around　here　afterwards；　that's　all　I'm　telling　you。〃
　〃I　jus'　thought　。。。　oh；　I　jus'　thought　。。。　well；　Zip；　cann　we　talk　to　him？〃
　〃Oh；　e　on；　for　Christ's　sake！〃　Zip　said　angrily。
　〃Cann　we　jus'　tell　him　to　stop　。。。　to　stop　talking　to　her　no　more？　Cann　we　do　dat？　Why　we　have　to　。。。　to　kill　him？〃
　There　was　another　long　silence；　for　another　word　had　been　spoken；　and　this　word　was　stronger　than　the　first。　And　this　word　meant　exactly　what　it　said；　this　word　meant　kill；　to　take　someone's　life；　kill；　to　murder。　This　was　not　a　euphemism；　a　handy　substitute　like　〃wash。〃　This　was　kill。　And　the　word　hung　between　them；　the　sentence　hung　between　them　on　the　still　July　air：　〃Why　we　have　to　。。。　to　kill　him？〃
　〃Because　I　say　so；〃　Zip　said　softly。
　〃It　be　diff　ren　if　he　really　was。。。〃
　〃What　else　you　going　to　do；　huh？　Get　pushed　around？〃　Zip　asked。　〃Man；　ain't　you　sick　of　all　the　time　getting　pushed　around？〃
　〃I　dinn　say　that。　I　said。。。〃
　〃Everybody　in　the　neighborhood　knows　he　made　a　pass　at　China！〃　Zip　said　plaintively。　〃Am　I　supposed　to。。。？〃
　〃He　dinn　make　no　pass！　He　ony　say　hello！〃
　〃Am　I　supposed　to　go　over　and　have　a　chat　with　him？　How　are　you；　Alfie　old　boy；　how　you　been？　I　understand　you　was　feeling　up　China　the　other　day；　was　it　good？　Am　I　supposed　to　hold　his　goddamn　hand；　Sixto？〃
　〃No；　but。。。〃
　〃Don't　you　want　these　other　clubs　to　notice　us？　Don't　you　want　them　to　know　we　got　self…respect？〃
　〃Sure；　but。。。〃
　〃So　we　going　to　let　a　creep　like　Alfie　go　around　screwing　our　debs？〃
　Sixto　shook　his　head。　〃Zip；　Zip；　he　dinn　even。。。〃
　〃Okay；　listen　to　me；〃　Zip　said。　〃After　we　pull　this　today；　we're　in。　You　understand　that？　We　wash　this　creep；　and　there　ain't　nobody　in　this　neighborhood　who　don't　know　the　Latin　Purples　from　then　on　in。　They'll　know　we　don't　get　pushed　around　by　anybody！　Every　damn　kid　on　this　block'll　want　to　be　in　the　club　after　today。　We're　gonna　be　。。。　something！　Something！〃　He　paused　to　catch　his　breath。　His　eyes　were　glowing。　〃Am　I　right；　Cooch？〃
　〃Sure；〃　Cooch　answered。
　〃Okay；　Alfie's　going　to　eleven　o'clock　Mass；　like　he　always　does。　Mass'11　break　around　eleven…forty；　a　quarter　to　twelve。　I　want　to　get　him　on　the　steps　as　he's　ing　out。〃
　〃On　dee…！〃
　〃On　the　steps！　All　four　of　us　blast　together；　and　nobody　stops　until　Alfie's　down。　You　better　shoot　straight　'cause　there'll　be　a　lot　of　innocent　people　around。〃
　〃Zip；　on　dee　church　steps？〃　Sixto　said。　His　face　was　twisted　in　pain。　〃Ave　Maria；　cann　we。。。？〃
　〃On　the　steps；　I　said！　Where　everybody'll　see　him　die。　We've　got　fou'r　pieces。　I'm　using　the　。45　because　I　want　to　blow　that　creep's　head　off。〃
　The　organ…grinder　stopped　his　music。　The　street　seemed　suddenly　silent。
　〃There's　two　。38s　and　the　Luger；〃　Zip　whispered。　〃Take　whatever　you　want。〃
　〃The　Luger；〃　Cooch　said。
　〃You　got　it。　Sixto；　you　and　Papa'11　use　the　。38s。　The　pieces　are　up　at　my　pad。　We　get　them　first；　and　then　round　up　a　couple　of　gun　bearers。〃　He　paused　for　a　moment。　〃Second　thought；　you　better　stay　here；　Sixto。　Keep　an　eye　on　Alfie's　house。　Right　around　the　corner。　The　first　building。〃
　〃Okay；〃　Sixto　said　blankly。
　〃Make　sure　he　don't　leave。　If　he　does；　follow　him。　If　you　ain't　here　when　we　get　back；　we'll　start　looking　for　you。〃
　〃Okay。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃I　said　okay。〃
　〃Okay；〃　Zip　repeated。　〃e　on。〃　He　put　his　arm　around　Cooch　as　they　began　walking　toward　his　building；　Papa　shuffling　along　beside　them。　〃You　excited；　Cooch？〃　he　asked。
　〃Huh？　Oh；　yeah；　I　guess。　A　little。〃
　〃Man；　I'm　excited。　This　day　is　beginning　to　tick；　you　know　what　I　mean？　Things　are　moving！〃
　〃Yeah；　that's　true；〃　Cooch　said。
　〃Some　Sundays；　you　can　sit　on　that　front　stoop　and　go　nuts。　Especially　like　now　in　the　summer。　But　today　is　different。　Today；　there's　like　a　million　things　to　do；　ain't　there？　What　I'm　trying　to　say；　Cooch；　this　makes　me　feel　good。　This　action；　you　know？　Man；　it　makes　me　feel　real　good！〃
　Cooch　grinned　as　the　three　boys　entered　the　tenement。　〃It　ain't　gonna　make　Alfie　feel　so　good；〃　he　said。
　Sixto　stood　on　the　corner　outside　the　luncheonette；　watching　Alfredo's　building；　nervously　biting　his　lower　lip。
　Inside　the　luncheonette；　Jeff　handed　his　fortune　slip　to　Luis　and　said；　〃How　do　you　like　that？〃
　〃Be　patient　and　of　firm　resolve；〃　Luis　read；　〃and　you　will　achieve　all　your　ends。〃
　〃Yeah；〃　Jeff　said。　〃What　time　does　La　Gallina　open？〃
　〃I　had　hoped　you　would　forget　La　Gallina。〃
　〃Well；　since　I'm　already　up　here。。。〃　Jeff　shrugged　and　let　the　sentence　trail。　〃What　time　does　it　open？〃
　〃This　is　Sunday；〃　Luis　said；　〃and　La　Gallina　is　a　bar　…　among　other　things。　It　does　not　open　until　noon。〃
　〃Then　I've　got　plenty　of　time　yet。〃
　〃If　you'd　take　my　advice。。。〃
　〃Hey！　Hey　your　the　voice　bellowed；　and　they　both　turned　simultaneously　to　face　the　street。　Andy　Parker　seemed　to　have　materialized　from　nowhere。　He　approached　Sixto；　who　stood　on　the　corner；　and　shouted；　〃You！　You　there！〃
　Sixto；　frightened；　began　to　inch　away　from　him　〃Me？〃　he　asked。　〃Me？〃
　〃What　are　you　doing？〃　Parker　asked；　ing　up　close　to　him。
　〃Nothin'。　I　wass　ony　jus'　standin'。。。〃
　〃Against　the　wall！〃
　〃Huh？〃
　Parker　seized　his　jacket　front　and　slammed　him　up　against　the　supporting　post　at　the　corner　of　the　luncheonette。　〃I　said　against　the　wall！〃
　〃I　。。。　I　dinn　do　nothin'；〃　Sixto　said。　〃I　wass　only　jus'。。。〃
　〃Bend　over！〃
　Sixto　stared　at　him　blankly；　unprehendingly。
　〃Bend　over；　goddamnit！〃　Parker　shouted。
　Sixto　still　did　not　understand。　Furiously；　because　he　felt　his　mand　was　being　openly　flouted；　Parker　chopped　a　fast　right　to　Sixto's　gut；　doubling　him　over。　He　spun　him　around　then　so　that　he　faced　the　corner　post；　his　hands　clutching　his　stomach；　his　head　bent。
　〃Put　your　hands　against　the　wall；　palms　flat；　goddamnit；　do　what　I　tell　you！〃　Parker　shouted。
　Sixto；　doubled　over　with　pain；　made　an　abortive　attempt　to　stretch　out　his　arms；　clutched　his　stomach　again；　and　then　shoved　his　arms　out　convulsively　when　Parker　hit　him　in　the　ribs。　He　extended　his　hands　and　placed　them；　trembling；　against　the　corner　post。　Quickly；　Parker　frisked　him。　He　did　an　intent　and　thorough　job；　so　thorough　that　he　did　not　notice　Frankie　Hernandez　who　walked　up　the　street　and　stopped　just　short　of　the　luncheonette。
　〃Turn　around！〃　Parker　shouted。　〃Now　empty　your　pockets！　Everything　on　the　sidewalk！　Hurry　up！〃
　Hernandez　walked　to　where　they　were　standing。　〃Leave　him　alone；　Andy；〃　he　said。　He　turned　to　Sixto。　〃Take　off；　kid。〃
　Sixto　hesitated；　frightened；　looking　first　to　one　detective　and　then　the　other。
　〃Get　out　of　here；　go　ahead！　Beat　it！〃
　Sixto　hesitated　a　moment　longer；　and　then　broke　into　a　sprint　around　the　corner；　racing　up　the　avenue。
　〃Thanks；　Frankie；〃　Parker　said　sarcastically。
　〃There's　nothing　in　the　penal　code　that　makes　it　a　crime　for　a　kid　to　be　minding　his　own　business；　Andy。〃
　〃Who's　saying　anything？〃　Parker　said。　He　paused。　〃But　suppose　that　nice　innocent　kid　was　holding　a　deck　of　heroin？〃
　〃He　wasn't　holding　anything。　He's　no　junkie；　and　you　know　it。　He　es　from　a　good　family。〃
　〃Oh；　is　that　right？　Junkies　don't　e　from　good　families；　huh？　Suppose　he　was　holding；　Frankie？　Just　suppose？〃
　〃The　only　thing　he's　holding　right　now　is　contempt　for　the　cop　who　shook　him　down。〃
　〃Seems　to　me　you　should　be　interested　in　looking　up　the　people　who　are　doing　something　wrong；〃　Jeff　said　from　the　luncheonette。
　〃We　do；　sailor；〃　Parker　answered。　〃Day　and　night。　That　kid　belongs　to　a　street　gang；　don't　he？　You　saw　his　club　jacket；　didn't　you？　Do　you　expect　me　to　take　crap　from　every　hoodlum　on　the　street？〃
　〃That　kid　probably　has　little　enough　self…respect　as　it　is；〃　Hernandez　said。　〃So　you　e　along　and。。。〃
　〃All　right；　all　right；　cut　it　out　with　the　kid；　will　you？　Boy；　you'd　think　I　worked　him　over　with　a　rubber　hose。〃　He　paused。　〃Where　you　headed？〃
　〃To　see　the　Gomez　woman；〃　Hernandez　said。
　〃She　was　quite　a　little　trick；　that　Gomez　woman。　Pushing　fifty；　maybe；　but　still　got　it　all　in　the　right　places。　You　sure　this　is　a　business　call；　Frankie？〃
　〃I'm　sure；〃　Hernandez　said。
　〃Well；　just　so　long　as　you're　sure。　Was　there　any　word　on　Miranda　back　at　the　squad？〃
　〃Not　when　I　left；　no。〃
　〃You　know；〃　Luis　said　thoughtfully；　〃I　think　maybe　Frankie's　right。　I　don't　mean　to　tell　you　how　to　do　your　job；　Andy。　Don't　think　that。　But　this　boy　could　be　hurt　by　such　treatment。　What　I　mean　。。。　well　。。。　on　the　island；　it　was　not　this　way。〃
　〃Juvenile　gangs　ain't　a　problem　in　Puerto　Rico；〃　Parker　said　flatly。
　〃No；　of　course　not；　but　that's　not　what　I　meant。　There　just　seemed　to　be　。。。　I　don't　know　。。。　more　respect　there。〃
　〃For　what？　For　siestas？〃　Parker　asked；　and　he　burst　out　laughing。
　〃Well；　now　you're　making　it　a　joke；〃　Luis　said；　embarrassed。
　〃Me？　Why　should　I　joke　about　your　homeland？〃
　〃It　was　just。。。　you　know。。。　we　were　poor　and　hungry；　true。　But　there　was　always　the　plaza　in　the　center　of　town；　and　the　pink　church；　and　the　poinsettias；　and　the　mango　trees。　And　you　could　go　to　the　plaza　and　talk　to　your　friends。　And　you　were　a　person；　and　people　knew　your　name。　It　was　important；　Andy。　You　knew　who　you　were。〃
　〃Who…　were　you；　Luis？〃　Parker　said；　chuckling。　〃The　governor？〃
　〃Ah；　he　makes　it　a　joke；〃　Luis　said　good…naturedly。　〃You　know　what　I　mean；　don't　you；　Frankie？〃
　〃Ye