chiaasen.stormyweather-第3章

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t　softly　and　gnawed　at　her　artificial　fingernails。　Snapper　kept　to　the　vodka。　Occasionally　his　free　hand　would　turn　up　like　a　spider　on　Edie's　thigh。　She　smashed　it；　but　Snapper　merely　sighed。
　
　By　dawn　the　storm　had　crossed　inland；　and　the　high　water　was　falling　fast。　Edie　Marsh　put　on　a　conservative　blue　dress　and　dark　nylons；　and　pinned　her　long　brown　hair　in　a　bun。　Snapper　wore　the　only　suit　he　owned；　a　slate　pinstripe　he'd　purchased　two　years　earlier　for　an　ex…cellmate's　funeral；　the　cuffed　trousers　stopped　an　inch　shy　of　his　shoetops。　Edie　chuckled　and　said　that　was　perfect。
　
　They　dropped　the　prostitute　at　a　Denny's　restaurant　and　took　the　Turnpike　south　to　see　what　the　hurricane　had　done。　Traffic　was　bumper…to…bumper　lunacy；　fire　engines　and　cop　cars　and　ambulances　everywhere。　The　radio　said　Homestead　had　been　blown　off　the　map。　The　governor　was　sending　the　National　Guard。
　
　Snapper　headed　east　on　152nd　Street　but　immediately　got　disoriented。　All　traffic　signals　and　street　signs　were　down；　Snapper　couldn't　find　Sugar　Palm　Hammocks。
　
　Edie　Marsh　became　agitated。　She　kept　repeating　the　address　aloud：　14275　Noriega　Parkway。　One…four…two…seven…five。　Tan　house；　brown　shutters；　swimming　pool；　two…car　garage。　Avila　had　guessed　it　was　worth　185；000。
　
　〃If　we　don't　hurry；〃　Edie　told　Snapper；　〃if　we　don't　get　there　soon…〃
　
　Snapper　instructed　her　to　shut　the　holy　fuck　up。
　
　〃Wasn't　there　a　Dairy　Queen？〃　Edie　went　on。　〃I　remember　him　turning　at　a　Dairy　Queen　or　something。〃
　
　Snapper　said；　〃The　Dairy　Queen　is　gone。　Every　goddamn　thing　is　gone；　case　you　didn't　notice。　We're　flying　blind　out　here。〃
　
　Edie　had　never　seen　such　destruction；　it　looked　like　Castro　had　nuked　the　place。　Houses　without　roofs；　walls；　windows。　Trailers　and　cars　crumpled　like　foil。　Trees　in　the　swimming　pools。　People　weeping；　Sweet　Jesus；　and　everywhere　the　plonking　of　hammers　and　the　growling　of　chain　saws。
　
　Snapper　said　they　could　do　another　house。　〃There's　only　about　ten　thousand　to　choose　from。〃
　
　〃I　suppose。〃
　
　〃What's　so　special　about　1…4…2…7…5？〃
　
　〃It　had　personality；〃　Edie　Marsh　said。
　
　Snapper　drummed　his　knuckles　on　the　steering　wheel。　〃They　all　look　the　same。　All　these　places；　exactly　the　same。〃
　
　His　gun　lay　on　the　seat　between　them。
　
　〃Fine；〃　said　Edie；　unsettled　by　the　change　of　plans；　the　chaos；　the　grim　dripping　skies。　〃Fine；　we'll　find　another　one。〃
　
　Max　and　Bonnie　Lamb　arrived　in　Dade　County　soon　after　daybreak。　The　roads　were　slick　and　gridlocked。　The　gray　sky　was　growling　with　TV　helicopters。　The　radio　said　two　hundred　thousand　homes　were　seriously　damaged　or　destroyed。　Meanwhile　the　Red　Cross　was　pleading　for　donations　of　food；　water　and　clothing。
　
　The　Lambs　exited　the　Turnpike　at　Quail　Roost　Drive。　Bonnie　was　stunned　by　the　devastation；　Max　himself　was　aglow。　He　held　the　Handycam　on　his　lap　as　he　steered。　Every　two　or　three　blocks；　he　slowed　to　videotape　spectacular　rubble。　A　flattened　hardware　store。　The　remains　of　a　Sizzler　steak　house。　A　school　bus　impaled　by　a　forty…foot　pine。
　
　〃Didn't　I　tell　you？〃　Max　Lamb　was　saying。　〃Isn't　it　amazing！〃
　
　Bonnie　Lamb　shuddered。　She　said　they　should　stop　at　the　nearest　shelter　and　volunteer　to　help。
　
　Max　paid　no　attention。　He　parked　in　front　of　an　exploded　town　house。　The　hurricane　had　thrown　a　motorboat　into　the　living　room。　The　family…a　middle…aged　Latin　man；　his　wife；　two　little　girls…stood　in　a　daze　on　the　sidewalk。　They　wore　matching　yellow　rain　slickers。
　
　Max　Lamb　got　out　of　the　car。　〃Mind　if　I　get　some　video？〃
　
　The　man　numbly　consented。　Max　photographed　the　wrecked　building　from　several　dramatic　angles。　Then；　stepping　through　the　plaster　and　broken　furniture　and　twisted　toys；　he　casually　entered　the　house。　Bonnie　couldn't　believe　it：　He　walked　right　through　the　gash　that　was　once　the　front　door！
　
　She　apologized　to　the　family；　but　the　man　said　he　didn't　mind；　he'd　need　pictures　anyway；　for　the　insurance　people。　His　daughters　began　to　sob　and　tremble。　Bonnie　Lamb　knelt　to　fort　them。　Over　her　shoulder　she　caught　sight　of　her　husband　with　the　camera　at　his　eye；　recording　the　scene　through　a　broken　window。
　
　Later；　in　the　rental　car；　she　said：　〃That　was　the　sickest　thing　I　ever　saw。〃
　
　〃Yes；　it's　very　sad。〃
　
　〃I'm　talking　about　you；〃　Bonnie　snapped。
　
　〃What？〃
　
　〃Max；　I　want　to　go　home。〃
　
　〃I　bet　we　can　sell　some　of　this　tape。〃
　
　〃Don't　you　dare。〃
　
　Max　said：　〃I　bet　we　can　sell　it　to　C…SPAN。　Pay　for　the　whole　honeymoon！〃
　
　Bonnie　closed　her　eyes。　What　had　she　done？　Was　her　mother　right　about　this　man？　Latent　asshole；　her　mother　had　whispered　at　the　wedding。　Was　she　right？
　
　At　dusk　Edie　Marsh　swallowed　two　Darvons　and　reviewed　the　plan　with　Snapper；　who　was　having　second　thoughts。　He　seemed　troubled　at　the　idea　of　waiting　weeks　for　the　payoff。　Edie　said　there　wasn't　much　choice；　the　way　insurance　worked。　Snapper　said　he　planned　to　keep　his　options　open；　just　the　same。　Edie　Marsh　took　it　to　mean　he'd　bug　out　on　a　moment's　notice。
　
　They　had　picked　a　house　in　a　flattened　development　called　Turtle　Meadow；　where　the　hurricane　had　peeled　away　all　the　roofs。　Snapper　said　it　was　probably　one　of　Avila's　routes。　He　said　Avila　had　bragged　of　inspecting　eighty　new　homes　a　day　without　leaving　the　truck。　〃Rolling　quotas；〃　is　what　Avila　called　them。　Snapper　allowed　that　Avila　wasn't　much　of　a　roof　inspector；　as　he　was　deathly　afraid　of　heights　and　therefore　refused　to　take　a　ladder　on　his　rounds。　Consequently；　Avila's　roof　certifications　were　done　visually；　from　a　vehicle；　at　speeds　often　exceeding　thirty…five　miles　an　hour。　Snapper　said　Avila's　swiftness　and　trusting　attitude　had　made　him　a　favorite　among　the　local　builders　and　contractors；　especially　at　Christmastime。
　
　Scanning　the　debris；　Edie　Marsh　said　Avila　was　damn　lucky　not　to　be　in　jail。　That's　why　he　quit　when　he　did；　Snapper　explained。　The　bones　told　him　it　was　time。　That；　and　a　grand　jury。
　
　Bones？　said　Edie。
　
　You　don't　want　to　know；　Snapper　said。　Honestly。
　
　They　were　walking　along　the　sidewalk；　across　the　street　from　the　house　they　had　chosen　on　the　drive…by　that　morning。　Now　the　neighborhood　was　pitch　black　except　for　the　erratic　flicker　of　flashlights　and　the　glow　of　a　few　small　bonfires。　Many　families　had　abandoned　the　crumbled　shells　of　their　homes　for　nearby　motels；　but　a　few　men　had　stayed　to　patrol　against　looters。　The　men　wore　pinched　tense　expressions　and　carried　shotguns。　Snapper　was　glad　to　be　white　and　wearing　a　suit。
　
　The　house　he　and　Edie　Marsh　had　chosen　wasn't　empty；　dark　or　quiet。　A　bare　light　bulb　had　been　strung　from　the　skeletal　remains　of　the　roof；　and　the　gray…blue　glow　of　a　television　set　pulsed　against　the　plaster。　These　luxuries　were　explained　by　the　rumble　of　a　portable　generator。　Edie　and　Snapper　had　seen　a　fat　man　gassing　it　up　earlier　in　the　day。
　
　The　street　was　either　Turtle　Meadow　Lane　or　Calusa　Drive；　depending　on　which　of　the　fallen　street　signs　was　accurate。　The　number　〃15600〃　was　sprayed　in　red　paint　on　an　outside　wall　of　the　house；　as　was　the　name　of　the　insurance　pany：　〃Midwest　Casualty。〃
　
　A　big　outfit；　Edie　noted。　She'd　seen　the　mercials　on　television；　the　pany's　symbol　was　a　badger。
　
　〃A　badger？〃　Snapper　frowned。　〃The　fuck　does　a　badger　have　to　do　with　insurance？〃
　
　〃I　dunno。〃　Edie's　mouth　was　dry。　She　felt　sleepy。　〃What　does　a　cougar　have　to　do　with　cars？　It's　just　advertising　is　all。〃
　
　Snapper　said；　〃The　only　thing　I　know　about　badgers　is　they're　stubborn。　And　the　last　goddamn　thing　we　need's　a　stubborn　insurance　pany。〃
　
　Edie　said；　〃For　heaven's　sake…〃
　
　〃Let's　find　another　house。〃
　
　〃No！〃　Weaving　slightly；　she　crossed　the　street　toward　15600。
　
　〃You　hear　me？〃　Snapper　called；　then　started　after　her。
　
　Edie　wheeled　in　the　driveway。　〃Let's　do　it！〃　she　said。　〃Right　now；　while　it's　quiet。〃
　
　Snapper　hesitated；　working　his　jaw　like　a　dazed　boxer。
　
　〃e　on！〃　Edie　tugged　her　hair　out　of　the　bun　and　mussed　it　into　a　nest　in　front　of　her　face。　Then　she　hitched　her　dress　and　raked　her　fingernails　up　both　thighs；　tearing　tracks　in　her　nylons。
　
　Snapper　checked　to　make　sure　none　of　the　neighborhood　vigilantes　were　watching。　Edie　picked　a　place　on　the　driveway　and　stretched　out；　facedown。　Using　two　broken　roof　trusses；　Snapper　did　a　superb　job　setting　the　scene。　Edie　was　pinned。
　
　From　under　the　debris；　she　said；　〃Blood　would　help。〃
　
　Snapper　kicked　a　nail　toward　her　left　hand。　〃Take　it　easy。〃
　
　Edie　Marsh　held　her　breath　and　scratched　the　point　of　the　nail　from　her　elbow　to　her　wrist。　It　hurt　like　a　bitch。　She　wiped　her　arm　across　one　cheek　to　smear　the　blood　for　dramatic　effect。　On　cue；　Snapper　began　shouting　for　help。　Edie　was　impressed；　he　sounded　damn　near　sincere。
　
　Max　Lamb　congratulated　himself　for　stocking　up　on　video　supplies　before　they　drove　down　from　Orlando。　Other　tourists　had　not　e　so　prepared　for　the　hurricane　and　could　be　seen　foraging　through　luggage　in　a　manic　search　for　spare　tapes　and　batteries。　Meanwhile；　pausing　only　to　reload；　Max　Lamb　was　piling　dramatic　footage　of　a　historic　natural　disaster。　Even　if　C…SPAN　wasn't　interested；　his　friends　in　New　York　would　be。　Max　was　a　junior　account　executive　at　a　medium…sized　advertising　firm；　and　there　were　many　persons　whom　he　yearned　to　impress。　Max　was　handy　with　the　Sony；　but　it　wouldn't　hurt　to　seek　professional　assistance；　he　knew　of　a　place　on　East　Fiftieth　Street　that　edited　home　videos　and；　for　a　small　extra　charge；　added　titles　and　credits。　It　would　be　perfect！　Once　Bonnie　settled　down；　Max　Lamb　would　ask　her　about　throwing　a　cocktail　party　where　they　could　screen　the　hurricane　tapes　for　his　clients　and　his　colleagues　at　the　agency。
　
　Max　trotted　with　predatory　energy　from　one　wrecked　homestead　to　another；　the　video　camera　purring　in　his　hand。　He　was　so　absorbed　in　recording　the　tragedy　that　he　forgot　about　his　wife；　who　had　stopped　following　three　blocks　ago。　Max　had　wanted　to　show　Bonnie　how　to　use　the　camera　so　he　could　pose　amid　hurricane　debris；　she'd　told　him　she　would　rather　swallow　a　gallon　of　lye。
　
　For　editing　purposes；　Max　Lamb　kept　a　mental　inventory　of　his　best　shots。　He　had　plenty　of　rubble　scenes；　and　felt　the　need　to　temper　the　visual　shock　with　moments　of　poignancy…vignettes　that　would　capture　the　human　toll；　spiritual　as　well　as　physical。
　
　A　mangled　bicycle　grabbed　Max's　attention。　The　hurricane　had　wrapped　it；　as　snug　as　a　wedding　band；　around　the　trunk　of　a　coconut　palm。　A　boy　no　older　than　eight　was　trying　to　remove　the　bike。　Max　dropped　to　one　knee　and　zoomed　in　on　the　youngster's　face　as　he　tugged　grimly　on　the　bent　handlebars。　The　boy's　expression　was　dull　and　cold；　his　lips　pressed　tight　in　concentration。
　
　Max　thought：　He's　in　shock。　Doesn't　even　know　I'm　here。
　
　The　youngster　didn't　seem　to　care　that　his　bicycle　was　destroyed　beyond　repair。　He　simply　wanted　the　tree　to　give　it　back。　He　pulled　and　pulled　with　all　his　might。　The　empty　eyes　showed　no　sign　of　frustration。
　
　Amazing；　Max　Lamb　thought　as　he　peered　through　the　viewfinder。　Amazing。
　
　Something　jostled　his　right　arm；　and　the　boy's　image　in　the　viewfinder　s