chiaasen.stormyweather-第57章

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　As　he　stepped　into　the　water；　she　said：　〃What　about　the　crocodiles？〃
　
　〃They　won't　bother　us。　There　aren't　enough　of　them　left　to　bother　anybody。　I　wish　there　were。〃
　
　Serenely　he　sank　beneath　the　surface；　then　burst　into　the　air；　shaking　bubbles　and　spray　from　his　beard。　He　was　as　brown　as　a　manatee；　and　so　large　he　seemed　to　bridge　the　creek。　Edie　was　unprepared　for　the　sight　of　his　body：　the　lodgepole　arms　and　broad　chest；　his　bare　neck　as　thick　as　a　cypress　trunk。　The　baggy　army　fatigues　had　given　none　of　it　away。
　
　〃ing　in？〃
　
　〃Only　if　we　can　talk；〃　she　said。
　
　〃What　else　would　we　do？〃
　
　Edie　thought：　There's　that　damn　smile　again。　She　asked　him　to　turn　around　while　she　took　off　her　clothes。
　
　He　heard　her　slip　into　the　creek。　Then　he　felt　her　slender　arms　and　legs；　she　was　clinging　to　his　back。　As　he　moved　into　deeper　water；　she　wrapped　herself　around　his　thighs。
　
　〃I'm　a　little　scared；〃　she　said。
　
　〃Haw！　You　and　I　are　the　scariest　beasts　in　the　jungle。〃
　
　Edie's　mouth　was　at　his　ear。　〃I　want　to　go　back　to　Miami。〃
　
　〃So　go。〃
　
　〃But　I　don't　know　the　way　out。〃
　
　The　governor　was　treading　against　the　push　of　a　strong　tidal　current。　It　cleaved　around　their　bobbing　heads　as　if　they　were　dead　stumps　in　the　creek。
　
　Edie's　breath　quickened　from　the　thrill　of　being　in　fast　water。　She　said；　〃From　the　minute　you　and　Pol…lyanna　showed　up　at　the　house；　I　knew　it　was　over。　Snapper's　gun…it　meant　nothing。　We　didn't　kidnap　you；　you　kidnapped　us！〃
　
　〃Nature　imposes　hierarchy。　Always；〃　Skink　said。
　
　Edie；　in　a　taut　whisper：　〃Please。　Show　me　the　way　out　of　here。〃
　
　〃And　I　was　so　sure　you'd　be　angling　for　that　suitcase。〃
　
　〃No　way；〃　she　said；　although　it　fleetingly　had　crossed　her　mind。　Instead　she'd　decided　to　concentrate　on　getting　out　of　the　Keys　alive。
　
　A　small　silver　fish　jumped　nearby。　Playfully　Skink　swiped　at　it。　He　said；　〃Edie；　your　opinion　of　men…it's　not　good。　That　much　we　share。　Christ；　imagine　what　Florida　would　look　like　today　if　women　had　been　in　charge　of　the　program！　Imagine　a　beach　or　two　with　no　ugly　high…rises。　Imagine　a　lake　without　golf　courses。〃　He　clapped　his　hands；　making　a　merry　splash。
　
　Edie　said；　〃You're　wrong。〃
　
　〃Darling；　I　can　dream。〃　He　felt　her　lips　feather　against　his　neck。　Then　a　tongue；　followed　by　the　unsub…tle　suggestion　of　a　nibble。　He　said；　〃And　what　was　that？〃
　
　〃What　do　you　think。〃
　
　When　she　kissed　him　again；　they　went　down。　The　saltiness　burned　her　eyes；　but　she　opened　them　anyway。　He　was　smiling　at　her；　blowing　bubbles。　They　surfaced　together　and　laughed。　Carefully　she　repositioned　herself；　climbing　around　him　as　if　he　were　a　tree…hanging　from　his　rock…hard　forearms　and　shoulders；　bracing　her　knees　against　his　hipbones　as　she　swung　to　the　front。　All　the　time　she　felt　him　easing　toward　a　shallower　spot　in　the　creek；　so　he　could　stand　while　holding　her。
　
　Now　they　were　eye…to…eye；　green　water　foaming　up　between　them。　Edie　said；　〃Well？〃
　
　〃Weren't　you　the　one　worried　about　crocodiles？〃
　
　〃He'd　have　to　eat　both　of　us；　wouldn't　he？〃
　
　〃At　the　moment；　yes。〃
　
　〃That　means　he'd　have　to　be　awfully　big　and　hungry。〃
　
　Skink　said；　〃We　should　be　quiet；　just　in　case。　Certain　noises　do　attract　them。〃　He　sounded　serious。
　
　〃How　quiet？〃　Lightly　she　brushed　her　nipples　along　the　lines　of　his　ribs。
　
　〃Very　quiet。　Not　a　sound。〃
　
　〃That's　impossible。〃　She　felt　his　hands　on　the　curve　of　her　bottom。　He　was　lifting　her；　keeping　her　in　a　gentle　suspension。　Then　he　was　inside　her。　Just　like　that。
　
　〃Hush；〃　he　said。
　
　〃I　can't。〃
　
　〃Yes　you　can；　Edie。〃
　
　They　made　love　so　slowly　that　often　it　seemed　they　weren't　moving　a　muscle。　All　sense　of　touch　and　motion　came　from　the　warm　summer　tide　that　rushed　past　and　around　and　between　them。　In　the　mangroves　an　outraged　heron　squawked。　More　silver　mullets　jumped　toward　the　shallows。　A　long　black　snake　drifted　by；　indifferently　riding　the　slick　of　the　current　as　if　it　were　floating　on　jade…colored　silk。
　
　Edie　Marsh　was　good。　She　hardly　made　a　sound。　For　quite　a　while　she　even　forgot　the　purpose　of　the　seduction。
　
　Afterwards　she　wanted　to　dry　off　and　take　a　nap　together；　but　Skink　said　there　was　no　time。　They　dressed　quickly。　Without　a　word　he　led　her　through　the　tangled　woods。　Edie　saw　no　particular　trail；　at　times　it　seemed　they　were　hiking　in　circles。　Once　they　reached　a　paved　road；　he　took　her　arm。　They　walked　another　mile　to　an　intersection　with　a　flashing　traffic　light。　A　sign　said　that　one　road　went　to　Miami；　the　other　toward　Key　West。
　
　Skink　told　her　to　wait　there。
　
　〃For　what？〃
　
　〃Somebody's　taking　you　to　the　mainland。　He'll　be　ing　soon。〃
　
　Edie　was　caught　by　surprise。　〃Who？〃
　
　〃Relax。〃
　
　〃But　I　wanted　you　to　take　me。〃
　
　〃Sorry；〃　said　Skink。　〃This　is　as　far　as　I　go。〃
　
　〃It's　going　to　rain　again。〃
　
　〃Yep。〃
　
　〃I　heard　lightning！〃　Edie　said。
　
　〃So　don't　fly　any　kites。〃
　
　〃When　did　you　plan　this？　Dropping　me　out　here　。。。〃　She　was　angry　now。　She　realized　he'd　always　meant　to　let　her　go…which　meant　the　sex…in…the…creek　had　been　unnecessary。
　
　Not　that　she　hadn't　enjoyed　it；　or　wouldn't　love　to　try　it　again；　but　still　she　felt　tricked。
　
　〃Why　didn't　you　tell　me　last　night？〃
　
　Skink　flashed　her　the　politician's　smile。　〃Slipped　my　mind。〃
　
　〃Asshole。〃　She　picked　a　leaf　out　of　her　wet　hair　and　peevishly　flicked　it　into　the　wind。　Swatted　a　horsefly　off　her　ankle。　Folded　her　arms　and　glared。
　
　He　leaned　down　and　kissed　her　forehead。　〃Look　on　the　bright　side；　girl。　You　got　over　your　fear　of　crocodiles。〃
　
　
　
　CHAPTER　THIRTY
　
　
　At　half　past　noon；　a　police　cruiser　stopped　at　the　intersection　of　Card　Sound　Road　and　County　Road　905。　A　broad…shouldered　black　man　in　casual　street　clothes　honked　twice　at　Edie　Marsh。　As　he　motioned　her　to　the　car；　she　recognized　him　as　the　cop　whom　Snapper　had　shot　outside　Paradise　Palms。
　
　〃You　might　not　believe　this；〃　she　said；　〃but　I'm　really　glad　you're　OK。〃
　
　〃Thanks　for　your　concern。〃　His　tone　was　so　neutral　that　she　almost　didn't　catch　the　sarcasm。　He　wore　reflector　sunglasses　and　had　a　toothpick　in　the　corner　of　his　mouth。　When　he　reached　across　to　open　the　door；　Edie　glimpsed　a　white　mat　of　bandage　between　the　middle　buttons　of　his　shirt。
　
　〃You're　Jim；　right？　I'm　Edie。〃
　
　〃I　figured。〃
　
　He　took　the　road　toward　Miami。　Edie　assumed　she　was　being　arrested。　She　said；　〃For　what　it's　worth；　I　didn't　think　he　would　shoot。〃
　
　〃Funny　thing　about　morons　with　guns。〃
　
　〃Look；　I　know　where　he　is。　I　can　show　you　where　he　is。〃
　
　Jim　Tile　said；　〃I　already　know。〃
　
　Then　she　understood。　The　trooper　had　no　intention　of　trying　to　find　Snapper。　It　was　over　for　Snapper。
　
　〃What　about　me？〃　she　asked；　inwardly　speculating　on　the　multitude　of　felonies　for　which　she　could　be　prosecuted。　Attempted　murder。　Fleeing　the　scene。　Aiding　and　abetting。　Auto　theft。　Not　to　mention　insurance　fraud；　which　the　trooper　might　or　might　not　know　about；　depending　on　what　the　governor　had　told　him。
　
　〃So　what　happens　to　me？〃　she　asked　again。
　
　〃Last　night　I　got　a　message　saying　a　lady　needed　a　ride　to　the　mainland。〃
　
　〃And　you　had　nothing　better　to　do。〃
　
　From　miles　behind　the　sunglasses：　〃It　was　an　old　friend　who　called。〃
　
　Edie　Marsh　kept　trying　to　play　tough。　It　wasn't　easy。　No　other　cars　were　in　sight。　The　guy　could　rape　me；　kill　me；　dump　my　body　in　the　swamp。　Who'd　ever　know？　Plus　he　was　a　cop。
　
　She　said；　〃You　didn't　answer　my　question。〃
　
　The　toothpick　bobbed。　〃The　answer　is：　Nothing。　Nothing's　going　to　happen　to　you。　The　friend　who　left　a　message　put　in　a　good　word。〃
　
　〃Yeah？〃
　
　〃'Jail　will　not　make　an　impression　on　this　woman。　Don't　waste　your　time。'　That's　a　quote。〃
　
　Edie　reddened。　〃Some　good　word。〃
　
　〃So　you　get　a　free　ride　to　Florida　City。　Period。〃
　
　After　crossing　the　Card　Sound　Bridge；　the　trooper　stopped　at　Alabama　Jack's。　He　asked　Edie　if　she　wanted　a　fish　sandwich　or　a　burger。
　
　〃I'm　barefoot；〃　she　said。
　
　Finally　he　broke　a　smile。　〃I　don't　believe　there's　a　dress　code。〃
　
　Over　lunch；　Edie　Marsh　tried　again。　〃I　got　sick　when　Snapper　pulled　the　trigger；〃　she　said；　〃back　at　the　motel；　I　swear。　It's　the　last　thing　I　wanted。〃
　
　Jim　Tile　said　it　didn't　matter　one　way　or　the　other。　To　appear　friendly；　Edie　asked　how　long　he'd　been　assigned　to　Miami。
　
　〃Ten　days。〃
　
　〃You　came　for　the　hurricane？〃
　
　〃Just　like　you；〃　he　said；　letting　her　know　he　had　her　pegged。
　
　On　their　way　out　of　the　restaurant；　he　bought　her　an　extra　order　of　fries　and　a　Coke　for　the　road。　In　the　car；　Edie　tried　to　keep　the　conversation　moving。　She　felt　more　secure　when　he　was　talking；　instead　of　staring　ahead　like　a　sphinx；　working　that　damn　toothpick。
　
　She　asked　if　she　could　see　the　bulletproof　vest。　He　said　he'd　had　to　turn　it　in　at　headquarters；　for　evidence。　She　asked　if　the　bullet　made　a　hole　and　he　said　no；　more　of　a　dimple。
　
　〃Bet　you　didn't　think　hurricane　duty　would　be　so　hairy。〃
　
　Jim　Tile　fiddled　with　the　squelch　on　the　radio。
　
　Edie　said；　〃What's　the　craziest　thing　you've　seen　so　far？〃
　
　〃Besides　your　geek　partner　shooting　at　me？〃
　
　〃Yeah；　besides　that。〃
　
　〃The　President　of　the　United　States；〃　he　said；　〃trying　to　hammer　a　nail　into　a　piece　of　plywood。　Took　him　at　least　nine　tries。〃
　
　Edie　straightened。　〃You　saw　the　President！〃
　
　〃Yeah。　We　had　motorcade　duty。〃
　
　Thoughtfully　she　munched　on　a　French　fry。　〃Did　you　see　his　son；　too？〃
　
　〃They　were　riding　in　the　same　limo。〃
　
　〃I　didn't　know　he　lived　in　Miami；　the　President's　son。〃
　
　〃Lucky　him；〃　the　trooper　said。
　
　Edie　Marsh；　sipping　her　Coke；　trying　not　to　be　too　obvious：　〃I　wonder　where　his　house　is；　somebody　like　that。　Key　Biscayne　probably；　or　maybe　the　Gables。　Sometimes　I　wonder　about　famous　people。　Where　they　eat　out。　Where　they　get　their　cars　waxed。　Who's　their　dentist。　I　mean；　think　about　it：　The　President's　kid；　he　still　has　to　get　his　teeth　cleaned。　Don't　you　ever　wonder　about　stuff　like　that？〃
　
　〃Never。〃　Fat　raindrops　slapped　on　the　windshield。　Still　the　trooper　stayed　camped　behind　the　sunglasses。
　
　Edie　didn't　give　up。　〃You　got　a　girlfriend？〃　she　asked。
　
　'Yes。〃
　
　Finally；　Edie　thought。　Something　to　run　with。　〃Where　is　she？〃
　
　〃In　the　hospital；〃　Jim　Tile　said。　〃Your　buddy　beat　her　to　a　pulp。〃
　
　〃Oh　God；　no。。。。〃
　
　He　saw　that　she'd　spilled　the　Coke；　and　that　she　didn't　even　know　it。
　
　〃God；　I'm　so　sorry；〃　she　was　saying。　〃I　swear；　I　didn't…will　she　be　all　right？〃
　
　Jim　Tile　offered　a　handful　of　paper　napkins。　Edie　tried　to　sop　the　soda　off　her　lap。　Her　hands　were　shaky。
　
　〃I　didn't　know；〃　she　said；　more　than　once。　She　recalled　the　engraving　on　the　mother's　wedding　band；　the　one　that　Snapper　had　stolen。　〃Cynthia〃　was　the　name　on　the　ring；　the　mother　of　the　trooper's　girlfriend。
　
　Now　Edie　felt　close　to　the　crime。　Now　she　felt　truly　sick。
　
　Jim　Tile　said；　〃The　doctors　think　she'll　be　OK。〃
　
　All　Edie　could　do　was　nod；　she　was　tapped　out。　The　trooper　turned　up　the　volume　of　the　police　radio。　Whe