thunter.fearloathinglasvegas-第16章

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he　turn　and　be　standing　beside　your　automobile　by　the　time　he　catches　up。
　　He　will　not　be　reasonable　at　first。。。but　no　matter。　Let　him　calm　down。　He　will　want　the　first　word。　Let　him　have　it。　His　brain　will　be　in　a　turmoil：　he　may　begin　jabbering；　or　even　pull　his　gun。　Let　him　unwind；　keep　smiling。　The　idea　is　to　show　him　that　you　were　always　in　total　control　of　yourself　and　your　vehicle…while　he　lost　control　of　everything。
　　It　helps　to　have　a　police/press　badge　in　your　wallet　when　he　calms　down　enough　to　ask　for　your　license。　I　had　one　of　these…but　I　also　had　a　can　of　Budweiser　in　my　hand。　Until　that　moment；　I　was　unaware　that　I　was　holding　it。　I　had　felt　totally　on　top　of　the　situation。。。but　when　I　looked　down　and　saw　that　little　red/silver　evidence…bomb　in　my　hand；　I　knew　I　was　fucked。　。
　　Speeding　is　one　thing；　but　Drunk　Driving　is　quite　another。　The　cop　seemed　to　grasp　this…that　I'd　blown　my　whole　performance　by　forgetting　the　beer　can。　His　face　relaxed；　he　actually　smiled。　And　so　did　I。　Because　we　both　understood；　in　that　moment；　that　my　Thunder　Road；　moonshine…bomber　act　had　been　totally　wasted：　We　had　both　scared　the　piss　out　of　ourselves　for　nothing　at　all…because　the　fact　of　this　beer　can　in　my　hand　made　any　argument　about　〃speeding〃　beside　the　point。
　　He　accepted　my　open　wallet　with　his　left　hand；　then　extended　his　right　toward　the　beer　can。　〃Could　I　have　that？〃　he　asked。
　　〃Why　not？〃　I　said。
　　He　took　it；　then　held　it　up　between　us　and　poured　the　beer　out　on　the　road。
　　I　smiled；　no　longer　caring。　〃It　was　getting　warm；　anyway；〃　said。　Just　behind　me；　on　the　back　seat　of　the　Shark；　I　couldabout　ten　cans　of　hot　Budweiser　and　a　dozen　or　so　grapefruits。　I'd　forgotten　all　about　them；　but　now　they　were　too　obvious　for　either　one　of　us　to　ignore。　My　guilt　was　so　gross　and　overwhelming　that　explanations　were　useless。
　　The　cop　understood　this。　〃You　realize；〃　he　said；　〃that　it's　a　crime　to　。　。
　　〃Yeah；〃　I　said。　〃I　know。　I'm　guilty。　I　understand　that。　I　knew　it　was　a　crime；　but　I　did　it　anyway。〃　I　shrugged。　〃Shit；　why　argue？　I'm　a　fucking　criminal。〃
　　〃That's　a　strange　attitude；〃　he　said。
　　I　stared　at　him；　seeing　for　the　first　time　that　I　was　dealing　with　a　bright…eyed　young　sport；　around　thirty；　who　was　apparently　enjoying　his　work。
　　〃You　know；〃　he　said；　〃I　get　the　feeling　you　could　use　a　nap。〃　He　nodded。　〃There's　a　rest　area　up　ahead。　Why　don't　you　pull　over　and　sleep　a　few　hours？〃　I　instantly　understood　what　he　was　telling　me；　but　for　some　insane　reason　I　shook　my　head。　〃A　nap　won't　help；〃I　said。　〃I've　been　awake　for　too　long…three　or　four　nights；　I　can't　even　remember。　If　I　go　to　sleep　now；　I'm　dead　for　twenty　hours。〃　Good　God；　I　thought。　What　have　I　said？　This　bastard　is　trying　to　be　human；　he　could　take　me　straight　to　jail；　but　he's　telling　me　to　take　a　fucking　nap。　For　Christ　sake；　agree　with　him：　Yes；　officer；　of　course　I'll　take　advantage　of　that　rest　area。　And　I　can't　tell　you　how　grateful　I　am　for　this　break　you　want　to　give　me。
　　But　no。。。here　I　was　insisting　that　if　he　turned　me　loose　I　would　boom　straight　ahead　for　L。A。　which　was　true；　but　why　say　it？　Why　push　him？　This　is　not　the　right　time　for　a　show…down。　This　is　Death　Valley。。。get　a　grip　on　yourself。
　　Of　course。　Get　a　grip。　〃Look；〃　I　said。　〃I've　been　out　in　Las　Vegas　covering　the　Mint　400。〃　I　pointed　to　the　〃VIP　Parking〃　sticker　on　the　windshield。　〃Incredible；〃　I　said。　〃All　those　bikes　and　dune　buggies　crashing　around　the　desert　for　two　days。　Have　you　seen　it？〃　He　smiled；　shaking　his　head'　with　a　sort　of　melancholy　un…derstanding。　I　could　see　him　thinking。　Was　I　dangerous？　Was　he　ready　for　the　vicious；　time…consuming　scene　that　was　bound　to　e　if　he　took　me　under　arrest？　How　many　off…duty　hours　would　he　have　to　spend　hanging　around　the　courthouse；　waiting　to　testify　against　me？　And　what　kind　of　monster　lawyer　would　I　bring　in　to　work　out　on　him？
　　I　knew；　but　how　could　he？
　　〃OK；〃　he　said。　〃Here's　how　it　is。　What　goes　into　my　book；　as　of　noon；　is　that　I　apprehended　you。。。for　driving　too　fast　conditions；　and　advised　you。。。with　this　written　warning…he　handed　it　to　me…〃to　proceed　no　further　than　the　next　rest　area。。。your　stated　destination；　right？　Where　you　an　to　take　a　long　nap　。。。〃　He　hung　his　ticket…pad　back　on　his　belt。　〃Do　I　make　myself　clear？〃　he　asked　as　he　turned　away。
　　I　shrugged。　〃How　far　is　Baker？　I　was　hoping　to　stop　there　for　lunch。〃
　　〃That's　not　in　my　jurisdiction；〃　he　said。　〃The　city　limits　are　two…point…two　miles　beyond　the　rest　area。　Can　you　make　it　that　far？〃　He　grinned　heavily。
　　〃I'll　try；〃　I　said。　〃I've　been　wanting　to　go　to　Baker　for　a　long　time。　I've　heard　a　lot　about　it。〃
　　〃Excellent　seafood；〃　he　said。　〃With　a　mind　like　yours；　you'll　probably　want　the　land…crab。　Try　the　Majestic　Diner。〃
　　I　shook　my　head　and　got　back　in　the　car；　feeling　raped。　The　pig　had　done　me　on　all　fronts；　and　now　he　was　going　off　to　chuckle　about　it…on　the　west　edge　of　town；　waiting　for　me　to　make　a　run　for　L。A。
　　I　got　back　on　the　freeway　and　drove　past　the　rest　area　to　the　intersection　where　I　had　to　turn　right　into　Baker。　As　I　am　proached　the　turn　I　saw。。。Great　Jesus；　it's　him；　the　hitchhiker；　the　same　kid　we'd　picked　up　and　terrified　on　the　way　out　to　Vegas。　Our　eyes　met　as　I　slowed　down　to　make　the　corner。　I　was　tempted　to　wave；　but　when　I　saw　him　drop　his　thumb　I　thought；　no；　this　is　not　the　time。。。
　　God　only　knows　what　that　kid　said　about　us　when　he　finally　got　back　to　town。　Get　out　of　sight　at　once。　How　could　I　be　surerecognized　me？　But　the　car　was　hard　to　miss。　And　why　would　he　back　away　from　the　road？
　　Suddenly　I　had　two　personal　enemies　in　this　godforsaken　town。　The　CHP　cop　would　bust　me　for　sure　if　I　tried　to　go　on　through　to　L。A。；　and　this　goddamn　rotten　kid/hitchhiker　would　have　me　hunted　down　like　a　beast　if　I　stayed。　（Holy　Jesus；　Sam！　There　he　is！　That　guy　the　kid　told　us　about！　He's　back！）　Either　way；　it　was　horrible…and　if　these　righteous　outback　predators　ever　got　their　stories　together。。。and　they　would；　it　was　inevitable　in　a　town　this　small。。。that　would　cash　my　check　all　around。　I'd　be　lucky　to　leave　town　alive。　A　ball　of　tar　and　feathers　dragged　onto　the　prison　bus　by　angry　natives。
　　This　was　it：　The　crisis。　1　raced　through　town　and　found　a　telephone　booth　on　the　northern　outskirts；　between　a　Sinclair　station　and。。。yes。。。the　Majestic　Diner。　I　placed　an　emergency　collect　call　to　my　attorney　in　Malibu。　He　answered　at　once。
　　〃They've　nailed　me！〃　I　shouted。　〃I'm　trapped　in　some　stinking　desert　crossroads　called　Baker。　I　don't　have　much　time。　The　fuckers　are　closing　in。〃
　　〃Who？〃　he　said。　〃You　sound　a　little　paranoid。〃
　　〃You　bastard！〃　I　screamed。　〃First　I　got　run　down　by　the　CHP；　then　that　kid　spotted　me！　I　need　a　lawyer　immediately！〃
　　〃What　are　you　doing　in　Baker？〃　he　said。　〃Didn't　you　get　my　telegram？〃
　　〃What？　Fuck　telegrams。　I'm　in　trouble。〃
　　〃You're　supposed　to　be　in　Vegas；〃　he　said。　〃We　have　a　suite　at　the　Flamingo。　I　was　just　about　to　leave　for　the　airport。。。
　　I　slumped　in　the　booth。　It　was　too　horrible。　Here　I　was　calling　my　attorney　in　a　moment　of　terrible　crisis　and　the　fool　was　deranged　on　drugs…a　goddamn　vegetable！　〃You　worthless　bastard；〃　I　groaned。　〃I'll　cripple　your　ass　for　this！　All　that　shit　in　the　car　is　yours！　You　understand　that？　When　I　finish　testifying　out　here；　you'll　be　disbarred！〃
　　〃You　brainless　scumbag！〃　he　shouted。　〃I　sent　you　a　telegram！　You're　supposed　to　be　covering　the　National　District　Attorneys'　Conference！　I　made　all　the　reservations。。。rented　a　white　Cadillac　convertible。。。the　whole　thing　is　arranged！　What　the　hell　are　you　doing　out　there　in　the　middle　the　fucking　desert？〃　Suddenly　I　remembered。　Yes。　The　telegram。　It　was　all　very　clear。　My　mind　became　calm。　I　saw　the　whole　thing　in　a　flash。　〃Never　mind；〃　I　said。　〃It's　all　a　big　joke。　I'm　actually　sitting　beside　the　pool　at　the　Flamingo。　I'm　talking　from　a　portable　phone。　Some　dwarf　brought　it　out　from　the　casino。　I　have　total　credit！　Can　you　grasp　that？〃　I　was　breathing　heavily；　feeling　crazy；　sweating　into　the　phone。
　　〃Don't　e　anywhere　near　this　place！〃　I　shouted。　〃Foreigners　aren't　wele　here。〃　I　hung　up　and　strolled　out　to　the　car。　Well；　I　thought。　Thi