mc.risingsun-第22章

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ecause　American　panies　like　Hewlett…Packard　and　paq　were　dependent　on　Toshiba　for　puter　parts。　They　couldn't　stand　a　boycott　because　they　had　no　other　source　of　supply。　The　fact　was；　we　couldn't　afford　to　retaliate。　They　could　sell　vital　technology　to　our　enemy；　and　there　wasn't　a　damned　thing　we　could　do　about　it。　That's　the　problem。　We're　now　dependent　on　Japan　…　and　I　believe　America　shouldn't　be　dependent　on　any　nation。〃
　Somebody　asked　a　question；　and　Morton　nodded。　〃Yes；　it's　true　that　our　industry　is　not　doing　well。　Real　wages　in　this　country　are　now　at　1962　levels。　The　purchasing　power　of　American　workers　is　back　where　it　was　thirty…odd　years　ago。　And　that　matters；　even　to　the　well…to…do　folks　that　I　see　in　this　room；　because　it　means　American　consumers　don't　have　the　money　to　see　movies；　or　buy　cars；　or　clothing；　or　whatever　you　people　have　to　sell。　The　truth　is；　our　nation　is　sliding　badly。〃
　A　woman　asked　another　question　I　couldn't　hear；　and　Morton　said；　〃Yes；　I　said　1962　levels。　I　know　it's　hard　to　believe；　but　think　back　to　the　fifties；　when　American　workers　could　own　a　house；　raise　a　family；　and　send　the　kids　to　college；　all　on　a　single　paycheck。　Now　both　parents　work　and　most　people　still　can't　afford　a　house。　The　dollar　buys　less；　everything　is　more　expensive。　People　struggle　just　to　hold　on　to　what　they　have。　They　can't　get　ahead。〃
　I　found　myself　nodding　as　I　listened。　About　a　month　before；　I　had　gone　looking　for　a　house；　hoping　to　get　a　backyard　for　Michelle。　But　housing　prices　were　just　impossible　in　L。A。　I　was　never　going　to　be　able　to　afford　one；　unless　I　remarried。　Maybe　not　even　then；　considering…
　I　felt　a　sharp　jab　in　the　ribs。　I　turned　around　and　saw　the　doorman。　He　jerked　his　head　toward　the　front　door。　〃Back；　fella。〃
　I　was　angry。　I　glanced　at　Connor；　but　he　just　quietly　moved　back　to　the　entrance。
　In　the　entryway；　the　doorman　said；　〃I　checked。　There's　no　Mr。　Sakamura　here。〃
　〃Mr。　Sakamura；〃　Connor　said；　〃is　the　Japanese　gentleman　standing　at　the　back　of　the　room；　to　your　right。　Talking　to　the　redhead。〃
　The　doorman　shook　his　head。　〃I'm　sorry；　fellas。　Unless　you　have　a　search　warrant；　I'll　have　to　ask　you　to　leave。〃
　〃There　isn't　a　problem　here；〃　Connor　said。　〃Mr。　Sakamura　is　a　friend　of　mine。　I　know　he'd　like　to　talk　to　me。〃
　〃I'm　sorry。　Do　you　have　a　search　warrant？〃
　〃No；〃　Connor　said。
　〃Then　you're　trespassing。　And　I'm　asking　you　to　leave。〃
　Connor　just　stood　there。
　The　doorman　stepped　back　and　planted　his　feet　wide。　He　said；　〃I　think　you　should　know　I'm　a　black　belt。〃
　〃Are　you　really？〃　Connor　said。
　〃So　is　Jeff；〃　the　doorman　said；　as　a　second　man　appeared。
　〃Jeff；〃　Connor　said。　〃Are　you　the　one　who'll　be　driving　your　friend　here　to　the　hospital？〃
　Jeff　laughed　meanly。　〃Hey。　You　know；　I　like　humor。　It's　funny。　Okay；　Mr。　Wise　Guy。　You're　in　the　wrong　place。　You've　had　it　explained。　Move　out。　Now。〃　He　poked　Connor　in　the　chest　with　a　stubby　finger。
　Connor　said　quietly；　〃That's　assault。〃
　Jeff　said；　〃Hey。　Fuck　you；　buddy。　I　told　you　you're　in　the　wrong　place…　〃
　Connor　did　something　very　fast；　and　Jeff　was　suddenly　down　on　the　floor；　moaning　in　pain。　Jeff　rolled　away；　ing　to　rest　against　a　pair　of　black　trousers。　Looking　up；　I　saw　that　the　man　wearing　the　trousers　was　dressed　entirely　in　black：　black　shirt；　black　tie；　black　satin　jacket。　He　had　white　hair　and　a　dramatic　Hollywood　manner。　〃I'm　Rod　Dwyer。　This　is　my　home。　What　seems　to　be　the　problem？〃
　Connor　introduced　us　politely　and　showed　his　badge。　〃We're　here　on　official　business。　We　asked　to　speak　to　one　of　your　guests；　Mr。　Sakamura；　who　is　the　man　standing　over　there　in　the　corner。〃
　〃And　this　man？〃　Dwyer　asked；　pointing　to　Jeff；　who　was　gasping　and　coughing　on　the　floor。
　Connor　said　calmly；　〃He　assaulted　me。〃
　〃I　didn't　fucking　assault　him！〃　Jeff　said；　sitting　up　on　his　elbow；　coughing。
　Dwyer　said；　〃Did　you　touch　him？〃
　Jeff　was　silent；　glowering。
　Dwyer　turned　back　to　us。　〃I'm　sorry　this　happened。　These　men　are　new。　I　don't　know　what　they　were　thinking　of。　Can　I　get　you　a　drink？〃
　〃Thanks；　we're　on　duty；〃　Connor　said。
　〃Let　me　ask　Mr。　Sakamura　to　e　over　and　talk　to　you。　Your　name　again？〃
　〃Connor。〃
　Dwyer　walked　away。　The　first　man　helped　Jeff　to　his　feet。　As　Jeff　limped　away；　he　muttered；　〃Fucking　assholes。〃
　I　said；　〃Remember　when　police　were　respected？〃
　But　Connor　was　shaking　his　head；　looking　down　at　the　floor。　〃I　am　very　ashamed；〃　he　said。
　〃Why？〃
　He　wouldn't　explain　further。
　
　〃Hey；　John！　John　Connor！　Hisashiburi　dana！　Long　time　no　see！　How　they　hanging；　guy？　Hey！〃　He　punched　Connor　in　the　shoulder。
　Up　close；　Eddie　Sakamura　wasn't　so　handsome。　His　plexion　was　gray；　with　pock…marked　skin；　and　he　smelled　like　day…old　scotch。　His　movements　were　edgy；　hyperactive；　and　he　spoke　quickly。　Fast　Eddie　was　not　a　man　at　peace。
　Connor　said；　〃I'm　pretty　good；　Eddie。　How　about　you？　How　you　doing？〃
　〃Hey；　can't　plain；　Captain。　One　or　two　things　only。　Got　a　five…oh…one；　drunk　driving；　try　to　beat　that；　but　you　know；　with　my　record；　it's　getting　hard。　Hey！　Life　goes　on！　What're　you　doing　here？　Pretty　wild　place；　huh？　Latest　thing：　no　furniture！　Rod　sets　new　style。　Great！　Nobody　can　sit　down　any　more！〃　He　laughed。　〃New　style！　Great！〃
　I　had　the　feeling　he　was　on　drugs。　He　was　too　manic。　I　got　a　good　look　at　the　scar　on　his　left　hand。　It　was　purple…red；　roughly　four　centimeters　by　three。　It　appeared　to　be　an　old　burn。
　Connor　lowered　his　voice　and　said；　〃Actually；　Eddie；　we're　here　about　the　yakkaigoto　at　Nakamoto　tonight。〃
　〃Ah；　yes；〃　Eddie　said；　lowering　his　voice；　too。　〃No　surprise　she　came　to　a　bad　end。　That's　one　henntai。〃
　〃She　was　perverted？　Why　do　you　say　that？〃
　Eddie　said；　〃Want　to　step　outside？　Like　to　smoke　cigarette　and　Rod　doesn't　allow　smoking　in　the　house。〃
　〃Okay；　Eddie。〃
　We　went　outside　and　stood　by　the　edge　of　the　cactus　garden。　Eddie　lit　a　Mild　Seven　Menthol。　〃Hey；　Captain；　I　don't　know　what　you　heard　already　so　far。　But　that　girl。　She　fucked　some　of　the　people　in　there。　She　fucked　Rod。　Some　of　the　other　people。　So。　We　can　talk　easier　out　here；　okay　with　you？〃
　〃Sure。〃
　〃I　know　that　girl　real　well。　Real　well。　You　know　I'm　hipparidako；　hey？　I　can't　help　it。　Popular　guy！　She's　all　over　me。　All　the　time。〃
　〃I　know　that；　Eddie。　But　you　say　she　had　problems？〃
　〃Big　problems；　amigo。　Grande　problemos。　I　tell　you。　She　was　a　sick　girl；　this　girl。　She　got　off　on　pain。〃
　〃World's　full　of　'em；　Eddie。〃
　He　sucked　on　his　cigarette。　〃Hey；　no；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　talking　something　else。　I'm　talking；　how　she　gets　off。　When　you　hurt　her　real　bad　she　es。　She's　always　asking；　more；　more。　Do　it　more。　Squeeze　harder。〃
　Connor　said；　〃Her　neck？〃
　〃Yeah。　Her　neck。　Right。　Squeeze　her　neck。　Yeah。　You　heard？　And　sometimes　a　plastic　bag。　You　know；　dry…cleaning　bag？　Put　it　over　her　head　and　clamp　it；　hold　it　around　her　neck　while　you　fuck　her　and　she　sucks　the　plastic　against　her　mouth　and　turns　blue　in　the　face。　Claws　at　your　back。　Gasp　and　wheeze。　Christ　Almighty。　Don't　care　for　that；　myself。　But　I'm　telling　you；　this　girl　has　a　pussy。　I　mean　she　gets　off；　it's　wild　ride。　You　remember　afterwards。　I'm　telling　you。　But　for　me；　too　much。　Always　on　the　edge；　you　know？　Always　a　risk。　Always　pushing　the　edge。　Maybe　this　time。　Maybe　this　is　the　last　time。　You　know　what　I'm　saying？〃　He　flicked　his　cigarette　away。　It　sputtered　among　the　cactus　thorns。　〃Sometimes　it's　exciting。　Like　Russian　roulette。　Then　I　couldn't　take　it；　Captain。　Seriously。　I　couldn't。　And　you　know　me；　I　like　a　wild　time。〃
　I　decided　that　Eddie　Sakamura　gave　me　the　creeps。　I　tried　to　make　notes　while　he　talked；　but　his　words　were　tumbling　out；　and　I　couldn't　keep　up。　He　lit　another　cigarette；　his　hands　shaking。　He　kept　talking　fast；　swinging　the　glowing　tip　in　the　air　for　emphasis。
　〃And　I　mean；　this　girl；　it's　a　problem；〃　Eddie　said。　〃Okay；　pretty　girl。　She's　pretty。　But　sometimes　she　can't　go　out；　looks　too　bad。　Sometimes；　she　needs　lot　of　makeup；　because　neck　is　sensitive　skin；　man。　And　hers　is　bruised。　Ring　around　the　collar。　Bad。　You　saw　that；　maybe。　You　see　her　dead；　Captain？〃
　〃Yeah；　I　saw　her。〃
　〃So　then　。　。　。〃　he　hesitated。　He　seemed　to　step　back；　reconsider　something。　He