emb.seethemdie-第8章

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　〃Ah；　he　makes　it　a　joke；〃　Luis　said　good…naturedly。　〃You　know　what　I　mean；　don't　you；　Frankie？〃
　〃Yes。　I　know　what　you　mean。〃
　〃Sometimes　here；　you　feel　lost。　And　without　identity；　there　can　be　no　dignity；　no　respect。〃
　〃I　know　just　what　you　mean；　Louise；〃　Jeff　said。　〃It's　like　what　I　was　telling　you　about　Fletcher。　How　you　can　just　get　swallowed　up　in　a　pile　of　people　and　forget　who　and　what　you　are。〃
　〃Si；　st。　The　island　had　respect　for　people；　and　for　life　。。。　and　respect　for　death；　too。　Life　is　cheap　here；　and　death　is　cheaper。　On　the　island。。。〃　He　paused；　as　if　giving　himself　time　for　the　memory　to　grow；　to　blossom　in　his　mind。　〃On　the　island；〃　he　said；　〃in　the　towns；　when　there　is　a　funeral；　the　casket　bearers　walk　in　the　center　of　the　main　street；　and　the　mourners　follow　behind　the　casket。〃
　〃I　know　this；〃　Hernandez　said　softly。　〃My　father　used　to　talk　about　this。〃
　〃About　the　little　girls　dressed　in　white；　carrying　their　flowers　in　the　sunshine？〃　Luis　said。　〃The　town　all　dusty　and　quiet　and　still。〃
　〃Yes；〃　Hernandez　said。　〃About　that。〃
　〃And　the　shopkeepers　stand　in　their　doorways；　and　when　the　casket　goes　by；　they　close　the　doors。　They　are　showing　respect　for　the　dead　man。　They　are　saying；　'I　will　not　conduct　business　while　you　pass　by；　my　friend。'〃
　〃Argh；　bullshit；〃　Parker　said。　〃That　ain't　respect。　They're　just　scared　of　death。　I'll　tell　you　something；　Luis。　I　don't　know　what　it's　like　on　that　island　of　yours；　but　here　…　right　here　…　the　only　ones　who　get　respect　are　the　live　ones　…　the　hoodlums　like　Pepe　Miranda。〃
　Luis　shook　his　head　quickly　and　emphatically。　〃No；〃　he　said。
　〃No；　huh？　Take　my　word　for　it。〃
　〃I'm　going；〃　Hernandez　said。　〃You　argue　it　out　between　you。〃
　〃Who's　arguing？〃　Parker　said。　〃We're　having　a　discussion。〃
　〃Okay；　so　discuss　it；〃　Hernandez　said；　and　he　walked　out　of　the　luncheonette　and　around　the　corner。
　Jeff　swung　around　on　his　stool　and　stared　up　the　street。　Behind　him；　he　could　hear　the　detective　and　Luis　arguing　…　well；　discussing　…　but　he　was　not　interested　in　what　they　were　saying。　He　kept　staring　at　the　closed　door　of　La　Gallina；　wondering　when　the　bar　would　open。　He　really　didn't　know　whether　he　actually　felt　like　spending　the　day　in　bed　with　a　woman　or　not；　but　he　couldn't　think　of　much　else　to　do　with　his　time。　And　he　had　e　all　the　way　uptown；　and　he　hated　to　think　of　the　trip　as　a　total　loss。　So　he　kept　staring　at　the　closed　door；　almost　willing　it　to　open　and　…　quite　miraculously　…　it　opened。
　
　
　6
　
　The　girl　who　stepped　out　of　the　bar　was　no　more　than　nineteen　years　old；　a　slender　girl　with　the　curved　body　of　a　woman　thrusting　against　the　sweater　and　skirt　she　wore。　Her　hair　was　black；　and　her　eyes　were　dark。　She　took　a　key　from　her　purse　and　was　leaning　over　to　lock　the　door　when　Jeff　got　off　his　stool　and　ran　up　the　street。
　〃Hi；〃　he　said。
　The　girl　whirled；　surprised。　Her　eyes　opened　wide；　the　brownest　eyes　Jeff　had　ever　seen　in　his　entire　life。
　〃Oh！〃　she　said；　and　her　lips　rounded　over　the　single　word；　and　slowly　the　shock　gave　way　to　puzzlement；　and　she　stared　at　him　curiously；　waiting　for　him　to　speak。
　〃I've　been　waiting　for　you　all　morning；〃　Jeff　said。　〃Were　you　in　there　all　along？〃
　〃Yes？〃　she　said；　delivering　the　word　as　a　question；　as　if　she　expected　further　explanation　from　him　and　was　waiting　for　it。　He　continued　to　watch　her。　A　slow　realization　was　ing　to　him。　He　was　beginning　to　recognize　the　fact　that　this　was　possibly　the　most　beautiful　girl　he'd　ever　met；　and　her　beauty　left　him　somewhat　tongue…tied。　The　girl　waited。　Jeff　remained　speechless。　Finally；　she　tucked　the　key　into　her　purse；　gave　a　small　feminine　shrug；　and　began　walking　away。　Jeff　stepped　around　her　quickly；　directly　into　her　path。
　〃Hey；　where　you　going？〃　he　said。
　〃Home。〃
　〃Why？　I　only　just　found　you。〃
　〃I　have　to　get　dressed；〃　the　girl　said。
　〃You　look　dressed　fine　to　me；〃　he　said；　and　his　eyes　traveled　the　length　of　her　body；　pausing　on　the　soft　swell　of　her　breasts　beneath　the　light…blue　sweater；　the　abrupt　curve　of　her　hips　against　the　black　skirt。
　〃I　have　to　get　dressed；〃　the　girl　repeated　blankly；　seemingly　embarrassed　by　his　scrutiny。
　〃Well；　that　can　wait；　can't　it？〃　he　asked。
　The　girl　seemed　very　puzzled。　〃What　do　you　want？〃　she　said。
　〃Well　。。。　uh　。。。　don't　you　know？〃
　〃No？〃　the　girl　said；　and　again　she　raised　her　voice　at　the　end　of　the　word　so　that　it　sounded　like　a　question。
　〃Well　。。。　I　was　talking　to　a　fellow　last　night。　It　was　really　very　early　this　morning。　Downtown。　In　a　bar。〃
　〃Yes？〃'
　〃And　he　said　I　should　e　up　here。〃
　〃What　for？〃
　〃He　said　I'd　find　you　here；〃　Jeff　said。
　He　looked　at　her；　and　he　thought；　Well；　he　didn't　exactly　say　I　would　find　you　here；　because　no　one　ever　expects　to　find　something　like　you；　no　one　ever　really　expects　to　e　across　something　like　you　ever　in　his　life。
　〃He　didn't　say　that；〃　the　girl　said。
　〃Yes。　Yes；　he　did。〃
　〃What　was　his　name？　The　man　who　told　you　about　me？〃
　〃I　don't　remember；〃　Jeff　paused。　〃I　was　drunk。〃
　〃Are　you　drunk　now？〃
　He　smiled　tentatively。　〃Sober　as　a　judge。〃
　〃And　this　fellow　told　you　about　me？　He　said　you　would　find　me？'
　〃Well　。。。　not　exactly。　I　mean；　I　didn't　expect　anyone　as　。。。　as　pretty　as　you。　But　he　said…〃
　〃What　did　he　say；　exactly？〃
　〃He　said　I　should　go　uptown。。。〃
　〃Yes？〃
　〃And　I　should　look　for　a　place　called　La　Gallina。〃
　〃La　Ga…　oh。〃　She　paused　and　looked　at　him　more　closely。　〃I　see。　Yes。　Now　I　understand。〃
　〃Good。　I　got　to　admit；　you're　really　something。　I　mean　a　guy　just　doesn't　expect　。。。　I　mean；　I'm　not　trying　to　say　anything　against　what　you　do；　or　anything　like　that　。。。　but　。。。　well；　you　know；　it's　just　unusual；　that's　all。　To　find　one　as　pretty　as　you。〃
　〃Thank　you；〃　the　girl　said。　She　smiled。　〃I　think　you've　made　a　mistake。〃
　〃This　is　La　Gallina；　isn't　it？〃　Jeff　asked；　looking　at　the　gilt　lettering　on　the　plate…glass　windows　again。
　〃Oh；　yes。　This　is　La　Gallina。〃
　〃And　you　did　e　out　of　there；　didn't　you？〃
　〃Yes；　I　certainly　did。〃
　There　was　a　strange　twinkle　in　her　brown　eyes。　He　looked　at　her　suspiciously　and　realized　she　was　trying　to　suppress　a　laugh。
　〃You　do　work　in　there？〃　he　asked。　〃Don't　you？〃
　〃I　do。〃
　〃Well；　what's　so　funny？〃　he　said；　beginning　to　get　slightly　annoyed。
　The　girl　would　not　allow　the　laugh　to　escape　her　mouth。　〃Nothing；〃　she　said。　〃Nothing。〃　…　〃Well；　then；　all　right；〃　he　said。
　〃All　right；〃　she　answered。
　They　stood　staring　at　each　other；　Jeff　trying　to　figure　out　what　was　so　goddamned　funny；　and　the　girl　trying　her　best　not　to　laugh。
　〃Well？〃　he　said　at　last。
　〃Well　what？〃
　〃Well；　let's　go　to　bed。〃
　〃You　and　me？〃
　〃Well；　sure；　you　and　me。　Who　did　you　think　I　meant？〃
　The　girl　shook　her　head。　〃No。　I　don't　think　so。〃
　She　started　to　move　away　from　him；　and　he　caught　her　arm；　stopping　her。
　〃Why　not？〃
　〃Well。。。〃　Again；　she　held　back　a　laugh。　She　thought　for　a　moment；　and　then　said；　〃I　guess　I　don't　like　sailors。〃
　〃That's　no　attitude；〃　Jeff　said；　grinning。　〃Some　of　my　best　friends　are　sailors。〃
　〃No；〃　the　girl　said；　shaking　her　head。　〃No。　Sorry。　No　sailors。〃　She　saw　the　disappointment　on　his　face　and　quickly　added；　〃Besides；　I'm　too　high。〃
　〃High？〃
　〃Yes；　my　price。　My　。。。　uh　。。。　my　fee？〃　She　made　it　sound　as　if　she　were　asking　him　what　the　correct　word　should　be。
　〃Well；　how　high　is　high？〃　Jeff　asked；　beginning　to　bargain。'
　〃A　lot。〃　The　girl　considered　the　question　gravely。　〃More　than　you　earn　in　a　week。〃
　〃How　much　is　that？〃
　〃Very；　very　high；〃　she　said。
　〃Well；　how　much？　Can't　you　tell　me？　Boy；　you　sure　act　strange　for　a。。。〃
　〃I　told　you；〃　the　girl　said。　〃Very　very　very　high。〃　She　seemed　at　a　loss　for　words。　She　struggled　with　her　thoughts　and　then　desperately　said；　〃What's　the　highest　you　ever　paid？〃
　〃Twenty。　But　that　was　on　the　Coast。　On　the　Coast。。。〃
　〃I'm　much　higher　than　that；〃　she　said　quickly；　seemingly　relieved。
　〃Forty？〃
　〃Higher。〃
　〃A　hundred？〃　he　asked；　appalled。
　〃Goodness；〃　the　girl　said；　her　eyes　twinkling　again。　〃Do　I　look　like　a　mon　streetwalker？〃
　〃Well；　no；　no；〃　he　said　hastily；　〃you　don't。　But　a　hundred　dollars；　God；　I。。。〃
　〃I　didn't　say　a　hundred。　I　said　higher。〃
　〃I　haven't　even　got　twenty；〃　he　said　despondently。　〃You　see；　I　was　in　a　poker　game　and。。。〃
　〃Well；　there　are　other　girls；〃　she　said　curtly。　〃Goodbye。〃
　She　turned　on　her　heel　and　began　walking　up　the　street。　Jeff　watched　her　and　then；　galvanized　into　sudden　action；　he　yelled；　〃Hey！　Wait！〃　and　ran　after　her。
　〃What　is　it？〃　she　said。
　〃Listen；　can't　we　talk　this　over？〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃Well；　I　。。。　I　think　you're　pretty。〃
　〃Thank　you。〃
　〃I　mean　it。　I'm　not　just　saying　it　so　you'll。。。〃　He　paused。　〃I　mean　it。〃
　〃Why　don't　you　go　home；　sailor？〃　she　said　kindly；　her　face　suddenly　turning　so　tender　that　he　wanted　to　kiss　her　right　then　and　there　in　the　street；　even　though　you　weren't　supposed　to　kiss　girls　like　this；　still　he　wanted…
　〃Home？〃　he　said。　〃Hell；　I　live　in　Colorado。　Listen；　can't　we　talk　this　over？〃
　〃Sailor…〃
　〃Jeff。〃
　〃Jeff；　all　right；　Jeff；　I'm　not　what　you　think。　I'm　not　what　the　fellow　sent　you　uptown　for。〃
　〃Huh？〃
　〃I　cook　for　La　Gallina　and　some　of　the　other　bars。　They　have　steam　tables。　I　prepare　the　food　for　them。〃
　〃You　pre…　oh。〃　He　paused。　〃So　you　were　in　there。。。〃
　〃Getting　things　ready　for　when　they　open；〃　the　girl　said；　nodding。
　〃Oh。〃　He　paused　again。　〃And　all　that　business　about　price。。。〃
　〃I　was　fooling　you。〃
　〃Oh。　Well；　I'm　sorry。〃
　〃That's　all　right。　I'm　sorry　I　fooled　you。〃
　〃Oh；　that's　all　right。〃　He　studied　her　soberly。　〃You're　still　very　pretty。〃
　〃Thank　you。〃
　〃Do　you　。。。　do　you　have　to　run　off？〃
　〃I　have　to　get　dressed。　I'm　going　to　church。〃
　〃I'll　go　with　you；〃　he　said　quickly。
　〃Are　you　Catholic？〃
　〃Presbyterian。　I'll　go　with　you　anyway。　I've　gone　to　all　kinds　of　religious　services　in　the　Navy。　I'm　something　of　an　expert。　You　see；　I　do　it　to　get　out　of　work　parties。　Whenever　I'm　on　a　work　party　and　they　announce　like；　'All　people　of　the　Jewish　faith；　prepare　to　leave　the　ship　for　religious　services；'　I　all　of　a　sudden　bee　a　person　of　the　Jewish　faith。　I'm　just　sorry　there　aren't　less　work　parties　and　more　religions。〃
　The　girl　shook　her　head。　〃I　would　feel　funny。〃
　〃Are　you　religious？　Is　that　it？〃
　〃I　suppose　so。　Yes。〃
　〃Well；　I　mean；　the　church　won't　fall　down　or　anything　if　I　walk　into　it。　Believe　me。　I've　been　inside　Catholic　churches　before。　It's　a　nice　service。〃　He　nodded；　thinking　over　the　various　services　he　had　been　to。
　〃I　would　still　feel　funny；〃　the　girl　said。　She　looked　at　him　in　indecision；　and　then　made　a　slight　movement　of　departure。
　〃Look；〃　he　said。　〃Look　。。。　don't　run　off。〃
　〃Why　not？〃
　〃I　don't　know。〃
　〃You'll　be　busy；〃　she　said。　〃La　Gallina　opens　at　noon。〃
　〃Well；　that　。。。　you　know；　it's　not　that　important。〃
　〃Isn't　it？〃
　〃No；　it　isn't；〃　he　said　firmly。　〃Look；　won't　you　。。。　won't　you　stay　with　me？〃
　The　girl　looked　at　her　watch。　〃I　have　to　go；〃　she　said。　〃I　want　to　catch　the　eleven　o'clock　Mass。〃
　〃Will　you　meet　me　after　church？〃
　〃Why　should　I？〃
　〃I　want　you　to。　Don't　you　want　to？〃
　The　girl　hesitated。　Then　she　said；　〃Yes；　I　do。〃
　〃Then　why　don't　you？〃
　〃Are　you　on　a　ship？〃
　〃Yes。　Look；　wi