chiaasen.stormyweather-第7章

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　〃Mister；〃　Snapper　interjected；　〃you　got　somethin'　I　can　put　under　my　ass？　The　rug's　all　wet。　A　newspaper　maybe？〃
　
　〃Oh；　I　think　you'll　live；〃　said　the　salesman。　〃Anyhow；　since　the　bank　don't　own　the　house；　all　the　insurance　es　to　me。　As　I　say；　there's　the　good　news。　The　bad　news　is；　half　belongs　to　my　wife。　Her　name's　on　the　deed。〃
　
　Snapper　asked　where　she　was。　Tony　Torres　said　she'd　run　off　three　months　ago　with　a　parapsychology　professor　from　the　university。　He　said　they'd　gotten　into　crystal　healing　and　moved　to　Eugene；　Oregon。
　
　〃In　a　VW　van！〃　he　scoffed。　〃But　she'll　be　back　for　her　cut。　Of　that　there's　no　doubt。　Neria　will　return。　See　where　I'm　headed？〃
　
　〃Yeah；〃　said　Snapper。　〃You　want　us　to　kill　your　wife。〃
　
　〃Jesus；　what　a　one…track　mind　you　got。　No；　I　don't　want　you　to　kill　my　wife。〃　The　salesman　appealed　to　Edie　Marsh。　〃You　get　it；　don't　you？　Before　they　cut　a　check；　the　insurance　pany　is　gonna　need　both　signatures。　Me　and　the　missus。　And　I　also　believe　the　adjuster　might　want　to　chat　face…to…face。　What'd　you　say　your　name　was？〃
　
　〃Edie。〃
　
　〃OK；　Edie；　you　wanna　be　an　actress　here's　your　chance。　When　the　man　from　Midwest　Casualty　shows　up；　you　be　Neria　Torres。　My　loving　wife。〃　Tony　smirked　at　the　notion。　〃Well？〃
　
　Edie　Marsh　asked　what　was　in　it　for　her；　and　Tony　Torres　said　ten　grand。　Edie　said　she'd　have　to　think　about　it；　which　took　about　one　one…hundredth　of　a　second。　She　needed　money。
　
　〃What　about　me？〃　Snapper　asked。
　
　Tony　said；　〃I　always　wanted　a　bodyguard。〃
　
　Snapper　grunted　skeptically。　〃How　much？〃
　
　〃Ten　for　you；　too。　It's　more　than　fair。〃
　
　Snapper　admitted　it　was。　〃Why；〃　he　asked；　with　a　trace　of　scorn；　〃do　you　need　a　bodyguard？〃
　
　〃Some　customers　got　really　pissed　off　at　me。　It's　a　long　boring　story。〃
　
　Edie　Marsh　said；　〃How　pissed　off？〃
　
　〃I　don't　intend　to　find　out；〃　said　Tony　Torres。　〃Once　I　get　the　check；　I'm　gone。〃
　
　〃Where？〃
　
　〃None　a　your　damn　business。〃
　
　Middle　America　was　what　Tony　had　in　mind。　A　handsome　two…story　house　with　a　porch　and　a　fireplace；　on　three…quarters　of　an　acre　outside　Tulsa。　What　appealed　to　Tony　about　Middle　America　was　the　absence　of　hurricanes。　There　were　tornadoes　galore；　but　nobody　expected　any　man…made　structure　（least　of　all；　a　trailer　home）　to　withstand　the　terrible　force　of　a　tornado。　Nobody　would　blame　a　person　if　the　double…wides　he　sold　blew　to　pieces；　because　that　was　the　celestial　nature　of　tornadoes。　Tony　Torres　figured　he　would　be　safe　from　disgruntled　customers　in　Tulsa。
　
　Snapper　said；　〃I'm　gonna　be　a　bodyguard；　I'll　need　my　gun。〃
　
　Tony　smiled。　〃No　you　won't。　That　face　of　yours　is　enough　to　scare　the　piss　out　of　most　mortal　men。　Which　is　perfect；　because　the　people　who're　mad　at　me；　they　don't　actually　need　to　be　shot。　They　just　need　to　be　scared。　See　where　I'm　headed？〃
　
　He　took　a　length　of　bathroom　pipe　and　smashed　Snapper's　pistol　to　pieces。
　
　Edie　Marsh　said；　〃I've　got　a　question；　too。〃
　
　〃Well；　bless　your　heart。〃
　
　〃What　happens　if　your　wife　shows　up？〃
　
　〃We　got　probably　six；　seven　days　of　breathing　room；〃　Tony　Torres　said。　〃However　long　it　takes　to　drive　that　old　van　back　from　Oregon。　See；　Neria　won't　fly。　She's　terrified　of　planes。〃
　
　Snapper　remarked　that　money　was　known　to　make　a　person　drive　faster　than　usual；　or　overe　a　fear　of　flying。　Tony　said　he　wasn't　worried。　〃The　radio　said　State　Farm　and　Allstate　are　writing　settlements　already。　Midwest　won't　be　far　behind…see；　no　pany　wants　to　look　stingy　in　a　national　disaster。〃
　
　Edie　asked　Tony　Torres　if　he　intended　to　hold　them　prisoner。　He　gave　a　great　slobbering　laugh　and　said　hell；　no；　they　could　vamoose　anytime　they　pleased。　Edie　stood　and　announced　she　was　returning　to　the　motel。　Snapper　rose　warily；　never　taking　his　eyes　off　the　shotgun。
　
　He　said　to　Tony：　〃Why　are　you　doing　this？　Lettin'　us　walk　out　of　here。〃
　
　〃Because　you'll　be　back；〃　the　salesman　said。　〃You　most　certainly　will。　I　can　see　it　in　your　eyes。〃
　
　〃Really？〃　Edie　said；　tartly。
　
　〃Really；　darling。　It's　what　I　do　for　a　living。　Read　people。〃　The　Naugahyde　hissed　as　Tony　Torres　hoisted　himself　up　from　the　BarcaLounger。　〃I　need　to　take　a　leak；〃　he　declared。　Then；　with　a　hoot：　〃I'm　sure　you　can　find　your　way　out！〃
　
　On　the　slow　drive　back　to　Pembroke　Pines；　Edie　Marsh　and　Snapper　mulled　the　options。　Both　of　them　were　broke。　Both　recognized　the　post…hurricane　turmoil　as　a　golden　opportunity。　Both　agreed　that　ten　thousand　dollars　was　a　good　week's　work。
　
　〃Trouble　is；〃　Edie　said；　〃I　don't　trust　that　asshole。　What　is　it　he　sells？〃
　
　〃Trailer　homes。〃
　
　〃Good　Lord。〃
　
　〃Then　let's　walk　away；〃　Snapper　said；　without　conviction。　〃Try　the　slip…and…fall　on　somebody　else。〃
　
　Edie　contemplated　the　ugly；　self…inflicted　scratch　on　her　arm。　Posing　under　a　pile　of　lumber　had　been　more　unfortable　than　she'd　anticipated。　She　wasn't　eager　to　try　it　again。
　
　〃I'll　coast　with　this　jerkoff　a　day　or　two；〃　she　told　Snapper。　〃You　do　what　you　want。〃
　
　Snapper　configured　his　crooked　jaws　into　the　semblance　of　a　grin。　〃I　know　what　you're　thinkin'。　I　ain't　no　salesman；　but　I　can　read　you　just　the　same。　You're　thinkin'　they's　more　than　ten　grand　in　this　deal；　you　play　it　right。　If　we　play　it　right。〃
　
　〃Why　not。〃　Edie　Marsh　pressed　her　cheek　against　the　cool　glass　of　the　car's　window。　〃It's　about　time　my　luck　should　change。〃
　
　〃Our　luck；〃　Snapper　said；　both　hands　tight　on　the　wheel。
　
　Augustine　helped　Bonnie　Lamb　search　for　her　husband　until　nightfall。　They　failed　to　locate　Max；　but　along　the　way　they　came　upon　an　escaped　male　rhesus。　It　was　up　in　a　grapefruit　tree；　hurling　unripened　fruit　at　passing　humans。　Augustine　shot　the　animal　with　a　tranquilizer　dart；　and　it　toppled　like　a　marionette。　Augustine　was　dismayed　to　discover；　stapled　in　one　of　its　ears；　a　tag　identifying　it　as　property　of　the　University　of　Miami。
　
　He　had　captured　somebody　else's　fugitive　monkey。
　
　〃What　now？〃　asked　Bonnie　Lamb；　reasonably。　She　reached　out　to　pet　the　stunned　animal；　then　changed　her　mind。　The　rhesus　studied　her　through　dopey；　half…closed　eyes。
　
　〃You're　a　good　shot；〃　she　said　to　Augustine。
　
　He　wasn't　listening。　〃This　isn't　right；〃　he　muttered。　He　carried　the　limp　monkey　to　the　grapefruit　tree　and　propped　it　gently　in　the　crook　of　two　boughs。　Then　he　took　Bonnie　back　to　his　truck。　〃It'll　be　dark　soon；〃　he　said。　〃I　forgot　to　bring　a　flashlight。〃
　
　They　drove　through　the　subdivision　for　fifteen　minutes　until　Bonnie　Lamb　spotted　the　rental　car。　Max　wasn't　there。　Somebody　had　pried　the　trunk　and　stolen　all　the　luggage；　including　Bonnie's　purse。
　
　Damn　kids；　Augustine　said。　Bonnie　was　too　tired　to　cry。　Max　had　the　car　keys；　the　credit　cards；　the　money；　the　plane　tickets。　〃I　need　to　find　a　phone；〃　she　said。　Her　folks　would　wire　some　money。
　
　Augustine　drove　to　a　police　checkpoint；　where　Bonnie　Lamb　reported　her　husband　missing。　He　was　one　of　many；　and　not　high　on　the　list。　Thousands　who'd　escaped　their　homes　in　the　hurricane　were　being　sought　by　worried　relatives。　For　relief　workers；　reuniting　local　families　was　a　priority；　tracking　wayward　tourists　was　not。
　
　A　bank　of　six　phones　had　been　set　up　near　the　checkpoint；　but　the　lines　were　long。　Bonnie　found　the　shortest　one　and　settled　in　for　a　wait。　She　thanked　Augustine　for　his　help。
　
　〃What　will　you　do　tonight？〃　he　asked。
　
　〃I'll　be　OK。〃
　
　Bonnie　was　startled　to　hear　him　say：　〃No　you　won't。〃
　
　He　took　her　by　the　hand　and　led　her　to　the　pickup。　It　occurred　to　Bonnie　that　she　ought　to　be　afraid；　but　she　felt　illogically　safe　with　this　total　stranger。　It　also　occurred　to　her　that　panic　would　be　a　normal　reaction　to　a　husband's　disappearance；　but　instead　she　felt　an　inappropriate　calmness　and　lucidity。　Probably　just　exhaustion；　she　thought。
　
　Augustine　drove　back　to　the　looted　rental　car。　He　scribbled　a　note　and　tucked　it　under　one　of　the　windshield　wipers。　〃My　phone　number；〃　he　told　Bonnie　Lamb。　〃In　case　your　husband　shows　up　later　tonight。　This　way　he'll　know　where　you　are。〃
　
　〃We're　going　to　your　place？〃
　
　〃Yes。〃
　
　In　the　darkness；　she　couldn't　see　Augustine's　expression。　〃It's　madness　out　here；〃　he　said。　〃These　idiots　shoot　at　anything　that　moves。〃
　
　Bonnie　nodded。　She'd　been　hearing　distant　gunfire　from　all　directions。　Dade　County　is　an　armed　camp。　That's　what　their　travel　agent　had　warned　them。　Death　Wish　Tours；　he'd　called　it。　Only　a　fool　would　set　foot　south　of　Orlando。
　
　Crazy　Max；　thought　Bonnie。　What　had　possessed　him？
　
　〃You　know　why　my　husband　came　down　here？〃　she　said。　〃Know　what　he　was　doing　when　he　got　lost？　Taking　video　of　the　wrecked　houses。　And　the　people；　too。〃
　
　〃Why？〃　Augustine　asked。
　
　〃Home　movies。　To　show　his　pals　back　North。〃
　
　〃Jesus；　that's…〃
　
　〃Sick；〃　Bonnie　Lamb　said。　〃　'Sick'　is　the　word　for　it。〃
　
　Augustine　said　nothing　more。　Slowly　he　worked　his　way　toward　the　Turnpike。　The　futility　of　the　monkey　hunt　was　evident；　Augustine　realized　that　most　of　his　dead　uncle's　wild　animals　were　irretrievable。　The　larger　mammals　would　inevitably　make　their　presence　known…the　Cape　buffalo；　the　bears；　the　cougars…and　the　results　were　bound　to　be　unfortunate。　Meanwhile　the　snakes　and　crocodiles　probably　were　celebrating　freedom　by　copulating　merrily　in　the　Everglades；　ensuring　for　their　species　a　solid　foothold　in　a　new　tropical　habitat。　Augustine　felt　it　was　morally　wrong　to　interfere。　An　escaped　cobra　had　as　much　natural　right　to　a　life　in　Florida　as　did　all　those　retired　garment　workers　from　Queens。　Natural　selection　would　occur。　The　test　applied　to　Max　Lamb　as　well；　but　Augustine　felt　sorry　for　his　wife。　He　would　set　aside　his　principles　and　help　find　her　missing　husband。
　
　He　drove　using　the　high　beams　because　there　were　no　street　lights；　and　the　roads　were　a　littered　gauntlet　of　broken　trees　and　utility　poles；　heaps　of　lumber　and　twisted　metal；　battered　appliances　and　gutted　sofas。　They　saw　a　Barbie　dollhouse　and　a　canopy　bed　and　an　antique　china　cabinet　and　a　child's　wheelchair　and　a　typewriter　and　a　tangle　of　golf　clubs　and　a　cedar　hot　tub；　split　in　half　like　a　coconut　husk…Bonnie　said　it　was　as　if　a　great　supernatural　fist　had　snatched　up　a　hundred　thousand　lives　and　shaken　the　contents　all　over　creation。
　
　Augustine　was　thinking　more　in　terms　of　a　B…52　raid。
　
　〃Is　this　your　first　one？〃　Bonnie　asked。
　
　〃Technically；　no。〃　He　braked　to　swerve　around　a　dead　cow；　bloated　on　the　center　line。　〃I　was　conceived　during　Donna…least　that's　what　my　mother　said。　A　hurricane　baby。　That　was　1960。　Betsy　I　can　barely　remember　because　I　was　only　five。　We　lost　a　few　lime　trees；　but　the　house　held　up　fine。〃
　
　Bonnie　said；　〃That's　kind　of　romantic。　Being　conceived　in　the　middle　of　a　hurricane。〃
　
　〃My　mother　said　it　made　perfect　sense；　considering　how　I　turned　out。〃
　
　〃And　how　did　you　turn　out？〃　Bonnie　asked。
　
　〃Reports　differ。〃
　
　Augustine　edged　the　truck　into　a　line　of　storm　traffic　crawling　up　the　northbound　ramp　to　the　Turnpike。　A　rusty　Ford　with　a　crooked　Georgia…license　plate　cut　them　off。　The　car　was　packed　with　itinerant　construction　workers　who'd　been　on　the　road　for　several