chiaasen.stormyweather-第34章

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　〃Hookers；〃　he　reported；　riveted　to　the　screen。
　
　〃Your　lucky　day。〃
　
　Edie　Marsh　felt　gummy　with　perspiration。　The　hurricane　had　eviscerated　the　elaborate　ductwork　of　Tony　Torres's　air…conditioning　system。　Even　if　the　unit　had　worked；　there　were　no　doors；　windows　or　roof　to　keep　cooled　air　in　the　house。　Edie　went　to　the　bedroom　and　changed　from　her　banking　dress　to　a　pair　of　Mrs。　Torres's　expensive　white　linen　shorts　and　a　beige　short…sleeved　pullover。　She　would　have　been　inconsolable　if　the　borrowed　clothes　had　fit　her；　but　thank　God　they　didn't；　Mrs。　Torres　was　easily　three　sizes　larger。　The　bagginess　provided　weled　ventilation　in　the　tropical　humidity；　and　was　not　entirely　unattractive。
　
　Edie　Marsh　was　appraising　her　new　look　in　the　mirror　when　the　phone　started　ringing。　Snapper　hollered　for　her　to　pick　up；　goddammit！
　
　Not　given　to　premonitions；　Edie　experienced　a　powerful　one　that　proved　true。　When　she　answered　the　telephone；　a　long…distance　operator　asked　if　she　would　accept　collect　charges　from　a　〃Neria　in　Memphis。〃
　
　Memphis。　The　witch　was　heading　south！
　
　〃I　don't　know　anybody　named　Neria；〃　Edie　said；　straining　to　stay　calm。
　
　〃Is　this　305…443…1676？〃
　
　〃I'm　not　sure。　See；　I　don't　live　here…I　was　walking　past　the　house　when　I　noticed　the　phone。〃
　
　〃Ma'am；　please…〃
　
　〃Operator；　in　case　you　haven't　heard；　we　had　a　terrible　hurricane　down　here！〃
　
　Neria's　voice：　〃I　want　to　speak　to　my　husband。　Ask　her　if　Antonio　Torres　is　around。〃
　
　Edie　Marsh　said；　〃Look；　the　house　is　empty。　I　was　walking　past　and　I　thought　it　might　be　somebody's　relative　calling。　An　emergency　maybe。　The　man　who　stayed　here；　he's　gone。　Loaded　his　stuff　in　a　Ryder　truck　and　moved　out　Friday。　Up　to　New　York；　is　what　he　said。〃
　
　〃Thank　you；〃　said　the　operator。
　
　〃What！　What's　your　name；　lady？〃　Neria　asked　excitedly。
　
　〃Thank　you；〃　the　operator　repeated；　trying　to　cut　the　conversation　short。
　
　But　Edie　was　rolling。　〃Him　and　some　young　lady　had　a　rental　truck。　Maybe　his　wife。　She　looked　twenty…three；　twenty…four。　Long　blond　hair。〃
　
　Neria；　exploding：　〃No；　I'm　the　wife！　That's　my　house！〃
　
　Sure；　thought　Edie；　now　that　insurance　money　is　in　the　air。　Dump　the　granola…head　professor　and　e　running　back　to　blimpy　old　Tony。
　
　〃Brooklyn；〃　Edie　embellished。　〃I　think　he　said　Brooklyn。〃
　
　〃Sonofabitch；〃　Neria　moaned。
　
　Curtly　the　operator　asked　Mrs。　Torres　if　she　wished　to　try　another　telephone　number。　No　reply。　She'd　hung　up。　Edie　Marsh　did；　too。
　
　Her　heart　drummed　against　her　ribs。　Unconsciously　she　rubbed　her　damp　palms　on　the　rump　of　Mrs。　Torres's　lovely　linen　shorts。　Then　she　hurried　to　the　garage　and　located　a　pair　of　small　green…handled　wire　cutters。
　
　From　the　living　room；　Snapper　called：　〃Who　the　hell　was　that？　The　wife　again？〃　When　he　heard　the　garage　door；　he　yelled；　〃Hey；　I'm　talkin'　to　you！〃
　
　Edie　Marsh　didn't　hear　him。　She　was　sneaking　next　door　to　clip　the　telephone　lines；　so　that　Neria　Torres　could　not　call　Mr。　Varga　to　check　out　the　wild　story　about　Tony　and　the　young　blonde　and　the　Ryder　truck。
　
　The　license　tag　on　the　black　Cherokee　was　stolen　from　a　Camaro　on　the　morning　after　the　hurricane；　in　a　subdivision　called　Turtle　Meadow。　That's　where　Augustine　was　headed　when　Skink　directed　him　to　stop　at　a　makeshift　tent　city；　which　the　National　Guard　had　erected　for　those　made　homeless　by　the　hurricane。
　
　Skink　bounded　from　the　truck　and　stalked　through　rows　of　open　tents。　Bonnie　and　Augustine　kept　a　few　steps　behind；　taking　in　the　sobering　scene。　Dazed　eyes　followed　them。　Men　and　women　sprawled　listlessly　on　army　cots；　dull…eyed　teenagers　waded　barefoot　through　milky　puddles；　children　clung　fiercely　to　new　dolls　handed　out　by　the　Red　Cross。
　
　〃All　these　souls！〃　Skink　cried；　simian　arms　waving　in　agitation。
　
　The　soldiers　assumed　he　was　shell…shocked　from　the　storm。　They　let　him　alone。
　
　At　the　front　of　a　ragged　line；　Guardsmen　gave　out　plastic　bottles　of　Evian。　Skink　kept　marching。　A　small　boy　in　a　muddy　diaper　scurried　across　his　path。　With　one　hand　he　scooped　the　child　to　eye　level。
　
　Bonnie　Lamb　nudged　Augustine。　〃What　do　we　do？〃
　
　When　they　reached　Skink's　side；　they　heard　him　singing　in　a　voice　that　was　startlingly　high　and　tender：　〃It's　just　a　box　of　rain；　I　don't　know　who　put　it　here。　Believe　it　if　you　need　it；　Or　leave　it　if　you　dare。〃
　
　The　little　boy…scarcely　two　years　old；　Bonnie　guessed…had　chubby　cheeks；　curly　brown　hair　and　a　scrape　healing　on　his　brow。　He　wore　a　sleeveless　cotton　shirt　with　a　Batman　logo。　He　smiled　at　the　song　and　tugged　curiously　on　a　silver　sprout　of　the　stranger's　beard。　A　light　mist　fell　from　scuffed　clouds。
　
　Augustine　reached　for　Skink's　shoulder。　〃Captain？〃
　
　Skink；　to　the　boy：　〃What's　your　name？〃
　
　The　reply　was　a　bashful　giggle。　Skink　peered　at　the　child。　〃You　won't　ever　forget；　will　you？　Hurricanes　are　an　eviction　notice　from　God。　Go　tell　your　people。〃
　
　He　resumed　singing；　in　a　nasal　pitch　imposed　by　tiny　fingers　pinching　his　nostrils。
　
　And　it's　fust　a　box　of　rain；　Or　a　ribbon　in　your　hair。　Such　a　long；　long　time　to　be　gone　And　a　short　time　to　be　there。
　
　The　child　clapped。　Skink　kissed　him　lightly　on　the　forehead。　He　said；　〃You're　good　pany；　sonny。　How's　your　spirit　of　adventure？〃
　
　〃No！〃　Bonnie　Lamb　stepped　forward。　〃We're　not　taking　him。　Don't　even　think　about　it。〃
　
　〃He'd　enjoy　himself；　would　he　not？〃
　
　〃Captain；　please。〃　Augustine　lifted　the　boy　and　handed　him　to　Bonnie；　who　hurried　to　find　the　parents　before　the　wild　man　changed　his　mind。
　
　The　pewter　sky　filled　with　a　loud　thwocking　drone。　People　in　the　Evian　line　pointed　to　a　covey　of　drab　military　helicopters；　flying　low。　The　choppers　began　to　circle；　causing　the　tents　to　flutter　and　snap。　Quickly　a　procession　of　police　cars；　government　sedans；　black　Chevy　Blazers　and　TV　trucks　entered　the　pound。
　
　Skink　said；　〃Ha！　Our　mander　in　Chief。〃
　
　Five　Secret　Service　types　piled　out　of　one　of　the　Blazers；　followed　by　the　President。　He　wore；　over　a　shirt　and　necktie；　a　navy…blue　rain　slicker　with　an　emblem　on　the　breast。　He　waved　toward　the　television　cameras；　then　pulsively　began　to　shake　the　hands　of　every　National　Guardsman　and　Army　soldier　he　saw。　This　peculiar　behavior　might　have　continued　until　dusk　had　not　one　of　the　President's　many　aides　（also　in　a　blue　slicker）　whispered　in　his　ear。　At　that　point　a　family　of　authentic　hurricane　refugees；　carefully　screened　and　selected　from　the　sweltering　masses；　was　brought　to　meet　and　be　photographed　with　the　President。　Included　in　the　family　was　the　obligatory　darling　infant；　over　whom　the　leader　of　the　free　world　labored　to　coo　and　fuss。　The　photo　opportunity　lasted　less　than　three　minutes；　after　which　the　President　resumed　his　obsessive　fraternizing　with　anyone　wearing　a　uniform。　These　unnatural　affections　were　extended　to　a　snowy…haired　officer　of　the　local　Salvation　Army；　around　whom　the　mander　in　Chief　flung　a　ropy　arm。　〃So；〃　he　chirped　at　the　befuddled　old…timer；　〃what　outfit　you　with？〃
　
　A　short　distance　away；　Augustine　stood　with　his　arms　folded。　〃Pathetic；〃　he　said。
　
　Skink　agreed。　〃Check　the　glaze　in　his　eyes。　There's　nothing　worse　than　a　Republican　on　Halcion。〃
　
　As　soon　as　Bonnie　Lamb　returned；　they　left　for　Turtle　Meadow。
　
　
　
　CHAPTER　EIGHTEEN
　
　
　Skink　had　gotten　the　address　from　the　police　report；　courtesy　of　Jim　Tile。　The　mailboxes　and　street　signs　were　down；　so　it　took　some　searching　to　find　the　house。　Because　of　his　respectable　and　clean…cut　appearance；　Augustine　was　chosen　to　make　the　inquiry。　Skink　waited　in　the　back　of　the　pickup　truck；　singing　the　chorus　from　〃Ventilator　Blues。〃　Bonnie　Lamb　wasn't　familiar　with　the　song；　but　she　enjoyed　Skink's　bluesy　bass　voice。　She　stood　by　the　truck；　keeping　an　eye　on　him。
　
　Augustine　was　met　at　the　door　by　a　tired…looking　woman　in　a　pink　housedress。　She　said；　〃The　trooper　mentioned　you'd　be　by。〃　Her　tone　was　as　lifeless　as　her　stare；　she'd　been　whipped　by　the　hurricane。
　
　〃It's　been；　like；　three　days　since　I　called　the　cops。〃
　
　〃We're　stretched　pretty　thin；〃　Augustine　said。
　
　The　woman's　entire　family…husband；　four　children；　two　cats…was　bivouacked　in　the　master　bedroom；　beneath　the　only　swatch　of　roof　that　the　hurricane　hadn't　blown　away。　The　husband　wore　a　lime　mesh　tank　top；　baggy　shorts；　sandals　and　a　Cleveland　Indians　cap。　He　had　a　stubble　of　gray…flecked　beard。　He　tended　a　small　Sterno　stove　on　the　dresser；　six　cans　of　pork　and　beans　were　lined　up；　the　lids　removed。　The　kids　were　preoccupied　with　battery…operated　Game　Boys；　beeping　like　miniature　radars。
　
　〃We　still　got　no　electric；〃　the　woman　said　to　Augustine。　She　told　her　husband　it　was　the　man　the　Highway　Patrol　sent　about　the　stolen　license　plate。　The　husband　asked　Augustine　why　he　wasn't　wearing　a　police　uniform。
　
　〃Because　I'm　a　detective；〃　Augustine　said。　〃Plainclothes。〃
　
　〃Oh。〃
　
　〃Tell　me　what　happened。〃
　
　〃These　four　kids　pulled　up　and　took　the　tag　off　my　Camaro。　I　was　out'n　the　yard；　burying　the　fish…see；　when　the　power　went　off　it　took　care　of　the　aquarium；　so　we　had　dead　guppies…〃
　
　〃Sailfin　mollies！〃　interjected　one　of　the　kids。　〃Anyway；　I　had　to　bury　the　damn　things　before　they　stunk　up　the　place。　That's　when　this　Jeep　es　up；　four　colored　guys；　stereo　cranked　full　blast。　They　take　a　screwdriver　and　set　to　work　on　the　Camaro。　Me　standin'　right　there！〃
　
　The　woman　said；　〃I　knew　something　was　wrong。　I　brought　the　children　inside　the　bedroom。〃
　
　Her　husband　dumped　two　cans　of　pork　and　beans　into　a　small　pot；　which　he　held　over　the　royal…blue　flame　of　the　Sterno。　〃So　I　run　over　with　a　shovel　and　say　what　do　you　think　you're　up　to；　and　one　of　the　brothers　flashes　a　gun　and　tells　me　to　you…know…what。　I　didn't　argue；　I　backed　right　off。　Getting　shot　over　a　damn　license　plate　was　not　on　my　agenda；　you　understand。〃
　
　Augustine　said；　〃Then　what　happened？〃
　
　〃They　slapped　the　tag　on　the　Jeep　and　hauled　ass。
　
　You　could　hear　that　so…called　music　for　about　five　miles。〃
　
　The　wife　added；　〃David's　got　a　pistol　and　he　knows　how　to　use　it。　But…〃
　
　〃Not　over　a　thirty…dollar　license　plate；〃　said　her　husband。
　
　Augustine　mended　David　for　being　so　levelheaded。　〃Let　me　double…check　the　tag　number。〃　He　took　out　the　folded　piece　of　paper　and　read　it　aloud：　〃BZQ…42F。〃
　
　〃Right；〃　said　David；　〃but　it's　not　on　that　Jeep　no　more。〃
　
　〃How　do　you　know？〃
　
　〃I　saw　it　the　other　day；　goin'　down　Calusa。〃
　
　〃The　same　one？〃
　
　〃Black　Cherokee。　Mags；　tinted　windows。　I'd　bet　the　farm　it's　the　same　truck。　I　could　tell　by　the　mud　flaps。〃
　
　The　woman　frowned。　〃Tell　him　about　those。〃
　
　〃Mud　flaps　like　what　you　see　on　them　eighteen…wheelers。　You　know；　fancy；　with　naked　ladies。〃
　
　〃In　chrome；〃　the　woman　said。　〃That's　how　we　knew　it　was　the　same　one…〃
　
　Augustine　said；　〃Where's　Calusa？〃
　
　〃…only　some　white　guy　was　driving　it。〃
　
　〃What'd　he　look　like？〃
　
　〃Not　friendly；〃　said　the　husband。
　
　The　wife　said；　〃Watch　the　beans；　David。　And　tell　him　about　the　music。〃
　
　〃That's　the　other　thing；〃　David　said；　stirring　the　pot。　〃He　had　that　damn　stereo　all