chiaasen.stormyweather-第58章

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　All　Edie　could　do　was　nod；　she　was　tapped　out。　The　trooper　turned　up　the　volume　of　the　police　radio。　When　they　reached　the　mainland；　he　stopped　at　a　boarded…up　McDonald's。　The　hurricane　had　blown　out　the　doors　and　windows。
　
　A　teal…blue　pact　was　parked　under　a　naked　palm　tree。　A　man　in　a　green　Day…Glo　rain　poncho　was　sitting　on　the　hood；　from　the　sharp　creases；　it　appeared　that　his　poncho　was　brand…new。　The　man　hopped　down　when　he　saw　the　Highway　Patrol　car。
　
　〃Who's　that？〃　Edie　asked。
　
　〃Watch　out　for　broken　glass；〃　Jim　Tile　said。
　
　〃You're　leaving　me　here？〃
　
　〃Yes；　ma'am。〃
　
　When　Edie　Marsh　got　out；　the　man　got　in。　The　trooper　told　him　to　shut　the　door　and　fasten　his　seat　belt。　Edie　didn't　back　away　from　the　car；　she　just　stood　there；　crossing　her　arms　in　a　halfhearted　sulk。　The　effect　was　impaired　by　the　slashing　rain；　which　caused　her　to　blink　and　squint；　and　by　the　stormy　wind；　which　made　her　hair　thrash　like　a　pom…pom。
　
　Through　the　weather　she　shouted　at　Jim　Tile：　〃What　am　I　supposed　to　do　now？〃
　
　〃Count　your　blessings；〃　he　said。　Then　he　made　a　U…turn　and　headed　back　toward　Key　Largo。
　
　Bonnie　gave　Augustine　a　nervous　kiss　before　she　left　camp　with　Skink。　Her　husband　was　on　his　way。　They　were　to　meet　at　the　road。
　
　Alone；　Augustine　tried　to　read；　huddled　in　the　old　ambulance　to　keep　the　pages　dry。　But　he　couldn't　concentrate。　His　imagination　was　inventing　dialogue　for　Bonnie　and　Max's　reunion。　In　his　head　there　were　two　versions　of　the　script；　one　for　a　sad　good…bye；　one　for　I'm…sorry…let's…try…again。
　
　Part　of　him　expected　not　to　see　Bonnie　again；　expected　her　to　change　her　mind　and　fly　back　to　New　York。　Augustine　had　accustomed　himself　to　such　letdowns。
　
　On　the　other　hand；　none　of　his　three　ex…fiancees　would　have　lasted　so　long　in　the　deep　woods　without　a　tantrum　or　a　scene。　Bonnie　Lamb　was　very　different　from　the　others。　Augustine　hoped　she　was　different　enough　not　to　run　away。
　
　Despite　his　emotional　distress；　Augustine　kept　a　watch　on　Snapper；　still　zonked　from　the　monkey　tran…quilizer。　It　wouldn't　be　long　before　the　dumb　cracker　woke　up　blathering。　Except　for　the　cheap　pinstripe　suit；　he　reminded　Augustine　of　the　empty…eyed　types　his　father　used　to　hire　as　boat　crew。
　
　Another　thing　that　got　him　thinking　about　his　old　man　was　the　lousy　weather。　Augustine　recalled　a　gray　September　afternoon　when　his　father　had　dumped　sixty　bales　overboard　in　the　mistaken　belief　that　an　oning　vessel　was　a　Coast　Guard　patrol；　when　in　fact　it　was　a　Hatteras　full　of　hard…drinking　surgeons　on　their　way　to　Cat　Cay。　The　marijuana　bobbed　on　seven…foot　swells　in　the　Gulf　Stream　while　Augustine's　father　frantically　recruited　friends；　neighbors；　cousins；　dock　rats　and　Augustine　himself　for　the　salvage。　Using　boat　hooks　and　fish　gaffs；　they　retrieved　all　but　four　bales；　which　were　snatched　up　by　the　agile　crew　of　a　passing　Greek　tanker。　Later　that　night；　when　the　load　was　safe　and　drying　in　a　warehouse；　Augustine's　father　threw　a　party　for　his　helpers。　Everybody　got　stoned　except　Augustine；　who　was　only　twelve　years　old　at　the　time。　Already　he　knew　he　wasn't　cut　out　for　his　old　man's　fishing　business。
　
　Augustine　climbed　out　of　the　ambulance　and　stretched。　A　redtailed　hawk　hunted　in　tight　circles　above　the　campsite。　Augustine　walked　over　to　the　place　where　Snapper　slept。　The　governor　had　left　the　hurricane　money　lying　in　the　suitcase；　reeking　of　urine。　Augustine　nudged　Snapper　with　his　shoe。　Nothing。　He　grasped　The　Club　and　turned　the　man's　head　back　and　forth。　He　was　as　limp　as　a　rag　doll。　The　motion　caused　a　slight　stir　and　a　sleepy　gargle；　but　the　eyelids　remained　closed。　Augustine　lifted　one　of　Snapper's　hands　and　pinched　a　thumbnail；　very　hard。　The　guy　didn't　flinch。
　
　Dreamland；　thought　Augustine。　No　need　to　tie　him　up。
　
　He　found　the　sight　and　sound　of　Lester　Maddox　Parsons　particularly　depressing　when　married　to　the　fear　that　Bonnie　Lamb　wasn't　ing　back。　Sharing　camp　with　a　shitbird　criminal　had　no　appeal。　The　smell　of　fast…moving　rain；　the　high　coasting　of　the　hawk；　the　cool　green　embrace　of　the　hardwoods…all　spoiled　by　Snapper's　sour　presence。
　
　Augustine　couldn't　wait　there　anymore。　It　was　worse　than　being　alone。
　
　Jim　Tile　said；　〃Where's　the　young　man？〃
　
　〃Library；〃　said　Skink。
　
　They　were　in　the　trooper's　car；　near　the　trail　upon　which　Skink　had　led　Bonnie　to　the　road。　She　and　her　husband　were　sitting　side　by　side　on　one　of　the　metal　rails　that　ran　the　perimeter　of　Crocodile　Lakes。　The　police　car　was　parked　seventy…five　yards　away；　it　was　the　best　that　Jim　Tile　and　Skink　could　offer　for　privacy。　Even　from　that　distance；　in　the　rain；　Max　Lamb　was　highly　visible　in　the　neon　poncho。
　
　〃His　old　man's　in　prison。〃　Skink　was　still　talking　about　Augustine。　〃You'll　love　this：　She　says　he　was　conceived　in　a　hurricane。〃
　
　〃Which　one？〃
　
　〃Donna。〃
　
　Jim　Tile　smiled。　〃That's　something。〃
　
　〃Thirty…two　years　later：　another　storm；　another　beginning。　The　boy's　star…crossed；　don't　you　think？〃
　
　The　trooper　chuckled。　〃I　think　you're　full　of　it。〃　There　was　affection　in　the　remark。　〃What's　the　story　with　the　father？〃
　
　〃Smuggler；〃　Skink　said；　〃and　not　a　talented　one。〃
　
　Jim　Tile　considered　that　for　a　moment。　〃Well；　I　like　the　young　man。　He's　all　right。〃
　
　〃Yes；　he　is。〃
　
　The　trooper　put　on　the　windshield　wipers。　They　could　see…by　the　movement　of　the　poncho…that　Bonnie's　husband　was　up　and　pacing。
　
　〃Him　I　don't　envy；〃　Jim　Tile　said。
　
　Skink　shrugged。　He　hadn't　pletely　forgiven　Max　Lamb　for　bringing　his　Handycam　to　Miami。　He　said；　〃Lemme　see　where　you　got　shot。〃
　
　The　trooper　unbuttoned　his　shirt　and　peeled　away　the　bandage。　Even　with　the　vest　to　stop　it；　the　slug　had　raised　a　plum…colored　bruise　on　Jim　Tile's　sternum。　The　governor　whistled　and　said；　〃You　and　Brenda　need　a　vacation。〃
　
　〃They　say　maybe　ten　days　she'll　be　out　of　the　hospital。〃
　
　〃Take　her　to　the　islands；〃　Skink　suggested。
　
　〃She's　never　been　to　the　West。　She　loves　horses。〃
　
　〃The　mountains；　then。　Wyoming。〃　The　trooper　said；　〃She'd　go　for　that。〃
　
　〃Anywhere；　Jim。　Away　from　this　place　is　the　main　thing。〃
　
　〃Yeah。〃　He　turned　off　the　wipers。　The　heavy　rain　gathered　like　syrup　on　the　windshield。　They　did　not　speak　of　Snapper。
　
　〃Which　one　is　it？〃　Max　Lamb　asked。
　
　He　hoped　it　was　the　kidnapper；　the　wilder　one。　That　would　bolster　his　theory　that　his　wife　had　lost　her　mind；　a　weather…related　version　of　the　Stockholm　Syndrome。　That　would　make　it　easier　to　accept；　easier　to　explain　to　his　friends　and　parents。　Bonnie　had　been　mesmerized　by　a　drug…crazed　hermit。　Manson　minus　the　Family。
　
　Bonnie　said；　〃Max；　the　problem　is　me。〃
　
　When　she　knew　it　wasn't；　not　entirely。　She'd　watched　him；　after　stepping　from　the　police　car；　jump　at　the　sight　of　a　puny　marsh　rabbit　as　if　it　were　a　hundred…pound　timber　wolf。
　
　Now　he　was　saying；　〃Bonnie；　you've　been　brainwashed。〃
　
　〃Nobody…〃
　
　〃Did　you　sleep　with　him？〃
　
　〃Who？〃
　
　〃Either　of　them。〃
　
　〃No！〃　To　cover　the　lie；　Bonnie　aimed　for　a　tone　of　indignation。
　
　〃But　you　wanted　to。〃
　
　Max　Lamb　rose；　raindrops　beading　on　the　plastic　poncho。　〃You're　telling　me　that　this〃…with　a　mordant　sweep　of　an　arm…〃you　prefer　this　to　the　city！〃
　
　She　sighed。　〃I　wouldn't　mind　seeing　a　baby　crocodile。　That's　all　I　said。〃　She　was　aware　of　how　outrageous　it　must　have　sounded　to　someone　like　Max。
　
　〃He's　got　you　smoking　that　shit；　doesn't　he？〃
　
　〃Oh　please。〃
　
　Back　and　forth　he　paced。　〃I　can't　believe　this　is　happening。〃
　
　〃Me；　neither；〃　she　said。　〃I'm　sorry；　Max。〃
　
　He　squared　his　shoulders　and　spun　away；　toward　the　lakes。　He　was　too　mad　to　weep；　too　insulted　to　beg。　Also；　it　had　dawned　on　him　that　Bonnie　might　be　right；　that　perhaps　he　didn't　know　her　very　well。　Even　if　she　changed　her　mind　and　returned　with　him　to　New　York；　he　constantly　would　be　worrying　that　she　might　flip　out　again。　What　happened　out　here　had　sprained　their　relationship；　probably　permanently。
　
　Turning　to　face　her；　his　voice　leaden　with　disappointment；　Max　said；　〃I　thought　you　were　more　。。。　centered。〃
　
　〃Me；　too。〃　To　argue　would　only　drag　things　out。　Bonnie　was　determined　to　be　agreeable　and　apologetic；　no　matter　what　he　said。　She　had　to　leave　him　with　something…if　not　his　pride；　then　his　swollen　sense　of　male　superiority。　She　figured　it　was　a　small　price；　to　help　get　him　through　the　hurt。
　
　〃Last　chance；〃　Max　Lamb　said。　He　groped　under　the　bright　poncho　and　pulled　out　a　pair　of　airline　tickets。
　
　〃I'm　sorry；〃　said　Bonnie；　shaking　her　head。
　
　〃Do　you　love　me　or　not？〃
　
　〃Max；　I　don't　know。〃
　
　He　tucked　the　tickets　away。　〃This　is　unbelievable。〃
　
　She　got　up　and　kissed　him　good…bye。　Her　eyes　were　rimmed　with　tears；　though　Max　probably　didn't　notice；　with　all　the　raindrops　on　her　face。
　
　〃Call　me；〃　he　said　bitterly；　〃when　you　figure　yourself　out。〃
　
　Alone；　he　walked　back　to　the　patrol　car。　The　kidnapper　held　the　door　for　him。
　
　Max　was　quiet　on　the　drive　back　to　the　mainland；　an　accusatory　silence。　The　state　trooper　was　friends　with　the　maniac　who'd　kidnapped　Max　and　brainwashed　his　wife。　The　trooper　had　a　moral　and　legal　duty　to　stop　the　seduction；　or　at　least　try。　That　was　Max's　personal　opinion。
　
　When　they　got　to　the　boarded…up　McDonald's；　Max　told　him：　〃You　make　sure　that　nutty　one…eyed　bastard　takes　care　of　her。〃
　
　It　was　meant　to　carry　the　weight　of　a　warning；　and　ordinarily　Jim　Tile　would　have　been　amused　at　Max's　hubris。　But　he　pitied　him　for　the　bad　news　he　was　about　to　deliver。
　
　〃She'll　never　see　the　governor　again；〃　the　trooper　said；　〃after　today。〃
　
　〃Then…〃
　
　〃I　think　you're　confused；〃　said　the　trooper。　〃The　young　fella　with　the　skulls；　that's　who　she　fell　for。〃
　
　〃Jesus。〃　Max　Lamb　looked　disgusted。
　
　As　Jim　Tile　drove　away；　he　could　see　him　in　the　rearview…stomping　around　the　parking　lot　in　the　rain；　kicking　at　puddles；　flapping　like　a　giant　Day…Glo　bat。
　
　They　were　a　mile　from　the　road　when　Augustine　appeared　on　the　trail。　Bonnie　ran　to　him。　They　were　still　holding　each　other　when　Skink　announced　he　was　heading　back　to　camp。
　
　Augustine　took　Bonnie　to　the　creek。　He　cleared　a　dry　patch　of　bank　and　they　sat　down。　She　saw　that　he'd　brought　a　paperback　book　from　the　ambulance。
　
　〃Oh；　you're　going　to　read　me　sonnets！〃　She　clasped　both　hands　to　her　breasts；　pretending　to　swoon。
　
　〃Don't　be　a　smartass；〃　Augustine　said；　mussing　her　hair。　〃Remember　the　first　time　your　husband　called　after　the　kidnapping…the　message　he　left　on　the　answering　machine？〃
　
　Bonnie　no　longer　regarded　it　as　that…a　kidnapping…　but　she　supposed　it　was。　Technically。
　
　Augustine　said；　〃The　governor　had　him　read　something　over　the　phone。　Well；　I　found　it。〃　He　pointed　to　the　title　on　the　spine　of　the　book。　Tropic　of　Cancer；　by　Henry　Miller。
　
　〃Listen；〃　said　Augustine：　〃　'Once　I　thought　that　to　be　human　was　the　highest　aim　a　man　could　have；　but　I　see　now　that　it　was　meant　to　destroy　me。　Today　I　am　proud　to　say　that　I　am　inhuman；　that　I　belong　not　to　men　and　governments；　that　I　have　nothing　to　do　with　creeds　and　principles。　I　have　nothing　to　do　with　t