ch.nativetongue-第18章

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I　decide　otherwise。〃
　〃In　case　you　didn't　hear；〃　said　Bud　Schwartz；　〃Lincoln　freed　the　slaves　a　long　time　ago。〃
　Molly　McNamara　ignored　the　remark。　〃At　the　gatehouse　I　had　to　tell　Officer　Andrews　a　lie。　I　told　him　you　were　my　nephews　visiting　from　Georgia。　I　told　him　we'd　had　a　fight　and　that's　why　you　were　trying　to　sneak　out　of　Eagle　Ridge。　I　told　him　your　parents　died　in　a　plane　crash　when　you　were　little；　and　I　was　left　responsible　for　taking　care　of　you。〃
　〃Pitiful；〃　said　Bud　Schwartz。
　〃I　told　him　you　both　had　emotional　problems。〃
　〃We're　heading　that　direction；〃　Bud　Schwartz　said。
　〃I　don't　like　to　lie；〃　Molly　added　sternly。　〃Normally　I　don't　believe　in　it。〃
　〃But　shooting　people　is　okay？〃　Danny　Pogue　cackled　bitterly。　〃Lady；　pardon　me　for　saying；　but　I　think　you're　goddamn　fucking　nutso。〃
　Molly's　eyes　flickered。　In　a　frozen　voice　she　said；　〃Please　don't　use　that　word　in　my　presence。〃
　Danny　Pogue　mumbled　that　he　was　sorry。　He　wasn't　sure　which　word　she　meant。
　〃I'm　not　certain　Officer　Andrews　believed　any　of　it；〃　Molly　went　on。　〃I　wouldn't　be　surprised　if　he　reported　the　entire　episode　to　the　condominium　association。　You　think　you've　got　problems　now！　Oh；　brother；　just　wait。〃
　Bud　Schwartz　removed　the　towel　from　his　forehead　and　examined　it　for　bloodstains。　Molly　said；　〃Are　you　listening　to　me？〃
　〃Hanging　on　every　word。〃
　〃Because　I've　got　some　very　bad　news。　For　all　of　us。〃
　Bud　Schwartz　grunted　wearily。　What　now？　What　the　hell　now？
　〃It　was　on　the　television　tonight；〃　Molly　McNamara　said。　〃The　mango　voles　are　dead。　Killed　on　the　highway。〃
　Nervously　Danny　Pogue　glanced　at　his　partner；　whose　eyes　were　fixed　hard　on　the　old　woman。　Waiting；　no　doubt；　to　see　if　she　pulled　that　damn　pistol　from　her　sweater。
　Molly　said；　〃I　don't　know　all　the　details；　but　I　suppose　it's　not　important。　I　feel　absolutely　sick　about　this。〃
　Good；　thought　Bud　Schwartz；　maybe　she's　not　blaming　us。
　But　she　was。　〃If　only　I'd　known　how　careless　and　irresponsible　you　were；　I　would　never　have　recruited　you　for　this　job。〃　Molly　took　off　her　rose…framed　glasses　and　folded　them　meticulously。　Her　gray　eyes　were　misting。
　〃The　blue…tongued　mango　voles　are　extinct　because　of　me；〃　she　said；　blinking；　〃and　because　of　you。〃
　Bud　Schwartz　said；　〃We're　real　sorry。〃
　〃Yeah；〃　agreed　Danny　Pogue。　〃It's　too　bad　they　died。〃
　Molly　was　downcast。　〃This　is　an　unspeakable　sin　against　Nature。　The　death　of　these　dear　animals；　I　can't　tell　you…it　goes　against　everything　I've　worked　for；　everything　I　believe　in。　I　was　so　stupid　to　entrust　this　project　to　a　couple　of　reckless；　clumsy　criminals。〃
　〃That's　us；〃　said　Bud　Schwartz。
　Danny　Pogue　didn't　like　his　partner's　casual　tone。　He　said　to　Molly；　〃We　didn't　know　they　was　so　important。　They　looked　like　regular　old　rats。〃
　The　old　woman　absently　fondled　the　buttons　of　her　sweater。　〃There's　no　point　belaboring　it。　The　damage　is　done。　Now　we've　got　to　atone。〃
　〃Atone；〃　said　Bud　Schwartz　suspiciously。
　〃What　does　that　mean？〃　asked　Danny　Pogue。　〃I　don't　know　that　word。〃
　Molly　said；　〃Tell　him；　Bud。〃
　〃It　means　we　gotta　do　something　to　make　up　for　all　this。〃
　Molly　nodded。　〃That's　right。　Somehow　we　must　redeem　ourselves。〃
　Bud　Schwartz　sighed。　He　wondered　what　crazy　lie　she'd　told　the　rent…a…cop　about　their　gunshot　wounds。
　And　this　condo　association…what's　she　so　worried　about？
　〃Have　you　ever　heard　of　the　Mothers　of　Wilderness？〃　asked　Molly　McNamara。
　〃No；〃　said　Bud　Schwartz；　〃can't　say　that　I　have。〃　Danny　Pogue　said　he'd　never　heard　of　them；　either。
　〃No　matter；〃　said　Molly；　brightening；　〃because　as　of　tonight；　you're　our　newest　members。　Congratulations；　gentlemen！〃
　Restlessly　Danny　Pogue　squeezed　a　pimple　on　his　neck。　〃Is　it　like　a　nature　club？〃　he　said。　〃Do　we　get　T…shirts　and　stuff？〃
　〃Oh；　you'll　enjoy　it；〃　said　Molly。　〃I've　got　some　pamphlets　in　my　briefcase。〃
　Bud　Schwartz　clutched　at　the　damp　towel。　This　time　he　pressed　it　against　his　face。　〃Cut　to　the　chase；〃　he　muttered　irritably。　〃What　the　hell　is　it　you　want　us　to　do？〃
　〃I'm　ing　to　that；〃　said　Molly　McNamara。　〃By　the　way；　did　I　mention　that　Mr。　Kingsbury　is　offering　a　reward　to　anyone　who　turns　in　the　vole　robbers？〃
　〃Oh；　no；〃　said　Danny　Pogue。
　〃Quite　an　enormous　reward；　according　to　the　papers。〃
　〃How　nice；〃　said　Bud　Schwartz；　his　voice　cold。
　〃Oh；　don't　worry；〃　Molly　said。　〃I　wouldn't　dream　of　saying　anything　to　the　authorities。〃
　〃How　could　you？〃　Danny　Pogue　exclaimed。　〃You're　the　one　asked　us　to　rob　the　place！〃
　Molly's　face　crinkled　in　thought。　〃That'd　be　awfully　hard　to　swallow；　that　an　old　retired　woman　like　myself　would　get　involved　in　such　a　distasteful　crime。　I　suppose　the　FBI　would　have　to　decide　whom　to　believe…two　young　fellows　with　your　extensive　criminal　pasts；　or　an　older　woman　like　myself　who's　never　even　had　a　parking　ticket。〃
　Danny　Pogue　angrily　pounded　the　floor　with　one　of　his　crutches。　〃For　someone　who　don't　like　to　lie；　you　sure　do　make　a　sport　of　it。〃
　Bud　Schwartz　stretched　out　on　the　sofa；　closed　his　eyes　and　smiled　in　resignation。　〃You're　a　piece　a　work；〃　he　said　to　Molly　McNamara。　〃I　gotta　admit。〃
　
　The　Card　Sound　Bridge　is　a　steep　two…lane　span　that　connects　the　northern　tip　of　Key　Largo　with　the　South　Florida　mainland。　Joe　Winder　got　there　two　hours　early；　at　ten　o'clock。　He　parked　half　a　mile　down　the　road　and　walked　the　rest　of　the　way。　He　staked　out　a　spot　on　some　limestone　boulders；　which　formed　a　jetty　under　the　eastern　incline　of　the　bridge。　From　there　Winder　could　watch　for　the　car　that　would　bring　the　mystery　caller　to　this　meeting。
　He　knew　it　wouldn't　be　Dr。　Will　Koocher；　Nina　was　never　wrong　about　phone　voices。　Joe　Winder　had　no　intention　of　confronting　the　impostor；　but　at　least　he　wanted　to　get　a　good　look；　maybe　even　a　tag　number。
　Not　much　was　biting　under　the　bridge。　Effortlessly　Winder　cast　the　same　pink　wiggle…jig　he'd　been　using　on　the　bonefish　flats。　He　let　it　sink　into　the　fringe　of　the　sea　grass；　then　reeled　in　slowly；　bouncing　the　lure　with　the　tip　of　his　rod。　In　this　fashion　he　picked　up　a　couple　of　blue　runners　and　a　large　spiny　pinfish；　which　he　tossed　back。　The　other　fishermen　were　using　dead　shrimp　with　similar　unexciting　results。　By　eleven　most　of　them　had　packed　up　their　buckets　and　rods　and　gone　home；　leaving　the　jetty　deserted　except　for　Joe　Winder　and　two　other　diehards。
　The　other　men　stood　side　by　side；　conversing　quietly　in　Spanish。　As　Joe　Winder　watched　them　more　closely；　it　seemed　that　the　men　were　doing　more　serious　talking　than　fishing。　They　were　using　Cuban　yo…yo　rigs；　twirling　the　lines　overhead　and　launching　the　baits　with　a　loud　plop　into　the　water。　Once　in　a　while　they'd　pull　in　the　lines　and　cast　out　again；　usually　without　even　checking　the　hooks。
　One　of　the　men　was　a　husky　no…neck　in　long　canvas　pants。　The　other　was　short　and　wiry；　and　as　dark　as　coffee。　Both　wore　baseball　caps　and　light　jackets；　which　was　odd；　considering　the　heat。　Every　few　minutes　a　pair　of　headlights　would　appear　down　Card　Sound　Road；　and　Joe　Winder　would　check　to　see　if　the　car　stopped　at　the　foot　of　the　bridge。　After　a　while；　he　noticed　that　the　two　other　fishermen　were　doing　the　same。　This　was　not　a　good　sign。
　As　midnight　approached；　the　other　men　stopped　pretending　to　fish　and　concentrated　on　the　road。　Joe　Winder　realized　that　he　was　stranded　on　the　jetty　with　two　goons　who　probably　were　waiting　to　ambush　him。　Worse；　they　stood　squarely　between　Winder　and　the　relative　safety　of　the　island。　The　most　obvious　means　of　escape　would　be　jumping　into　Card　Sound；　while　exceptionally　dramatic；　such　a　dive　would　prove　both　stupid　and　futile。　The　bay　was　shallow　and　provided　no　cover；　if　the　goons　had　guns；　they　could　simply　shoot　him　like　a　turtle。
　Joe　Winder's　only　hope　was　that　they　wouldn't　recognize　him　in　the　dark　with　his　hair　hacked　off。　It　was　a　gray　overcast　night；　and　he　was　doing　a　creditable　impersonation　of　a　preoccupied　angler。　Most　likely　the　goons　would　be　expecting　him　at　twelve　sharp；　some　dumb　shmuck　hollering　Koocher's　name　under　the　bridge。
　The　strategy　of　staying　invisible　might　have　worked　if　only　a　powerful　fish　had　not　seized　Joe　Winder's　lure。　The　strike　jolted　his　arms；　and　reflexively　h