ch.nativetongue-第35章

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　Chelsea　fought　to　keep　his　Adam's　apple　from　bobbing　spasmodically；　as　it　often　did　when　he　lied。　〃The　tests；〃　he　said；　〃are　still　inplete。〃
　Maria's　warm　brown　eyes　blinked　inquisitively。　〃There's　a　rumor　that　the　whale　died　during　an　encounter　with　an　employee　of　the　Amazing　Kingdom。〃
　〃Oh；　that's　a　good　one。〃　Chelsea　laughed　stiffly。　〃Where　did　you　hear　that？〃
　〃Is　it　true？〃
　The　camera's　blinking　red　light　no　longer　seemed　harmless。　Charles　Chelsea　said；　〃I'm　not　going　to　dignify　such　a　question　by　responding。〃
　The　reporter　said　nothing；　just　let　the　tape　roll。　Let　him　choke　on　the　silence。　It　worked。
　〃We　did　have　a　death　that　night；〃　Chelsea　admitted；　toying　with　his　cuffs。　〃An　employee　of　the　park　apparently　took　his　own　life。　It　was　very；　very　tragic…〃
　〃What　was　the　name　of　this　employee？〃
　Chelsea's　tone　became　cold；　reproachful。　〃It　is　our　strict　policy　not　to　discuss　such　matters　publicly。　There　is　an　issue　of　privacy；　and　respect　for　the　family。〃
　Maria　said；　〃The　rumor　is…〃
　〃We　don't　respond　to　rumors；　Ms。　Rodriguez。〃　Now　Chelsea　was　leaning　forward；　lecturing。　The　boom　mike　followed　him。　〃Would　you　like　to　hear　about　our　newest　attraction；　or　not？〃
　She　smiled　like　a　moray　eel。　〃That's　why　we're　here。〃
　Oh　no　it　isn't；　thought　Chelsea；　trying　not　to　glare；　trying　not　to　perspire；　trying　not　to　look　like　the　unvarnished　shill　he　was。
　〃I　brought　a　bathing　suit；〃　Maria　said；　〃as　you　suggested。〃
　〃Maybe　we　should　wait　for　the　others。〃
　〃I　think　we're　it；　Mr。　Chelsea。　I　don't　think　any　of　the　other　stations　are　ing。〃
　〃Fine。〃　He　tried　not　to　sound　disappointed。
　The　cameraman　stopped　taping。　Chelsea　dabbed　his　forehead　in　relief；　he　needed　to　collect　himself；　recover　from　the　ambush。　Everybody　wants　to　be　Mike　Wallace；　he　thought　bitterly。　Everybody's　a　hardass。
　Maria　picked　up　a　tote　bag　and　asked　directions　to　the　lady's　room。　When　she　returned；　she　was　wearing　a　tight　melon…colored　tonga　that　required　continual　adjustment。　At　the　sight　of　her；　Charles　Chelsea　inadvertently　licked　the　corners　of　his　mouth。　It　wasn't　so　bad　after　all；　ing　to　work　on　a　Sunday。
　〃Should　I　get　in？〃　Maria　asked。
　〃Sure。〃　Chelsea　signaled　across　the　pool　to　a　young　man　dressed　in　khaki　shorts。　This　was　one　of　the　trainers。
　Maria　slipped　into　the　whale　pool；　dipped　her　head　underwater；　and　smoothed　her　hair　straight　back。　The　tape　was　rolling　again。
　Eyes　twinkling；　she　smiled　up　at　the　camera。　The　guy　with　the　boom　mike　leaned　over　the　wall　of　the　tank　to　capture　her　words。
　〃Hi；　this　is　Maria　Rodriguez。　Today　we're　visiting　the　Amazing　Kingdom　of　Thrills　in　North　Key　Largo。　As　you　can　see；　it's　a　gorgeous　summer　day…〃
　Chelsea　was　thinking：　Good　girl；　stick　to　the　fluff。
　〃…and　we're　about　to　meet　the　newest　star　of　the　Kingdom's　outdoor　marine　show。　His　name　is　Dickie　the　Dolphin。。。cut！　Hold　it；　Jimmy。〃
　The　cameraman　stopped　the　tape。　Bobbing　in　the　whale　pool；　Maria　groped　beneath　the　surface；　frowned　and　spun　away。　Chelsea　could　see　that　she　was　struggling　to　realign　the　bathing　suit。
　〃Damn　thing's　riding　up　my　crack。〃
　〃Take　your　time；〃　said　the　cameraman。　〃We　got　plenty　of　light。〃
　Moments　later；　Maria　was　ready　again；　fresh；　sleek；　languid。　She　splashed　herself　lightly　in　the　face　so　that　droplets　glistened　in　her　eyelashes；　Charles　Chelsea　was　transfixed。
　〃Hi；　this　is　Maria　Rodriguez　reporting　from　the　Amazing　Kingdom　of　Thrills　in　North　Key　Largo。　As　you　can　see；　it's　a　gorgeous　summer　day　in　South　Florida…perfect　for　a　swim　with　the　newest　star　of　the　Amazing　Kingdom's　marine　show。　His　name　is　Dickie　the　Dolphin　and；　starting　tomorrow；　you　can　swim　with　him；　too！〃
　Chelsea　cued　the　trainer；　who　pulled　the　pin　on　the　gate　to　the　whale　pool。　Pushing　a　V…shaped　wake；　the　dolphin　charged　from　the　holding　tank　and　sounded。
　The　TV　reporter　continued：　〃It's　the　latest　concept　in　marine　theme　parks…customer　participation。　Instead　of　sitting　in　the　bleachers　and　watching　these　remarkable　mammals　do　tricks；　you　can　actually　get　in　the　water　and　play　with　them。　It　costs　a　little　more；　but…believe　me…it's　worth　it。〃
　A　few　yards　behind　her；　Dickie　the　Dolphin　rolled；　blowing　air　noisily。　Maria　kept　her　poise；　glancing　over　one　shoulder　with　a　breezy；　affectionate　smile。　Chelsea　was　impressed；　she　had　the　whole　script　memorized。
　Turning　back　to　the　camera；　Maria　said：　〃To　be　in　the　water　with　these　gentle；　intelligent　creatures　is　an　experience　you'll　never　forget。　Scientists　say　the　dolphin's　brain　is　actually　larger　than　ours；　and　much　of　their　plex　social　behavior　remains　a　mystery。。。。〃
　Dickie　the　Dolphin　surfaced　lazily　near　Maria；　who　grabbed　its　dorsal　fin　with　both　hands。　Chelsea　stood　up　quickly　and　waved　a　warning；　but　it　was　too　late。　The　dolphin　carried　the　TV　reporter　across　the　top　of　the　water；　she　closed　her　eyes　and　squealed　with　childlike　excitement。
　〃Great　fucking　video；〃　remarked　Jimmy　the　cameraman；　panning　expertly　with　the　action。
　The　boom　man　said；　〃She's　getting　out　of　range。〃
　Charles　Chelsea　cupped　his　hands　and　shouted。　〃Let　go！　No　rides　allowed！〃
　Maria　couldn't　hear　a　word。　She　was　holding　her　breath　underwater　while　the　dolphin　imitated　a　torpedo。　Every　few　seconds　her　long　brown　legs　would　slice　the　surface　as　she　was　dragged　along；　like　the　tail　of　a　kite。　Chelsea　bit　his　lip　and　watched　in　queasy　silence。　Finally　Maria　splashed　to　the　surface…and　she　was　laughing；　thank　God！　She　thought　it　was　all　in　fun；　and　maybe　it　was。
　The　sound　man　scurried　along　the　rim　of　the　tank　and　repositioned　the　boom。　Giggling；　short　of　breath；　Maria's　eyes　found　the　camera。　She　said；　〃Folks；　this　is　unbelievable。　Bring　the　family；　you're　gonna　love　it！〃　Dickie　the　Dolphin　appeared　at　her　side；　and　she　stroked　its　sleek　flank。　Wondrously；　it　seemed　to　nuzzle　her　bosom　with　its　snout。
　〃He's　so　adorable〃　Maria　exclaimed。
　From　the　feeding　platform　on　the　side　of　the　tank；　the　trainer　called　out；　〃Hey；　be　careful！〃　Then　he　started　peeling　off　his　khakis。
　〃Such　friendly　animals；〃　Maria　was　saying。　〃Notice　how　they　always　look　like　they're　smiling！〃
　Dickie　the　Dolphin　slapped　its　tail　on　the　surface　and　pushed　even　closer。　Maria　threw　both　arms　around　the　slippery　mammal；　which　obligingly　rolled　on　its　back。
　Chelsea　saw　the　trainer　dive　in。　He　saw　Maria's　expression　change　from　tenderness　to　awe。　Then　he　saw　the　dolphin　hook　her　with　its　flippers　and　drag　her　down。
　When　she　broke　to　the　top；　Maria's　giggle　had　bee　a　low　fearful　moan。　As　the　dolphin's　dark　form　appeared　beneath　her；　she　seemed　to　rise　from　the　water。　Then；　just　as　slowly；　the　creature　drew　her　under。
　The　cameraman　muttered　that　he　was　running　out　of　tape。　A　voice　behind　him　said：　〃You'll　miss　the　best　part。〃
　It　was　Joe　Winder。　He　stood　next　to　Charles　Chelsea；　who　was　clutching　the　rail　with　knuckles　as　pink　as　shrimp。　In　the　water；　the　trainer　was　trying　without　much　success　to　separate　the　dolphin　from　the　TV　reporter。
　Chelsea　said　to　Winder：　〃Maybe　it's　a　new　trick…〃
　〃It's　no　trick。　He's　trying　to　boink　her。〃
　〃That's　not　funny；　Joe。〃
　Winder　pointed。　〃What　do　you　think　that　is？　See？〃
　〃I…I　don't　know。〃
　〃It's　a　dolphin　shlong；　Charlie。　One　of　Nature's　marvels。〃
　Chelsea　began　to　stammer。
　〃They　get　in　moods；〃　Joe　explained。　〃Same　as　dogs。〃
　〃My　God。〃
　〃Don't　worry；　Charlie；　it'll　pass。〃
　With　the　trainer's　help；　Maria　Rodriguez　finally　broke　free　from　Dickie　the　Dolphin's　embrace。　Cursing；　tugging　at　her　tonga；　she　paddled　furiously　toward　the　ladder　on　the　wall　of　the　tank。
　〃Faster！〃　Charles　Chelsea　hollered。　〃Here　he　es　again！〃
　Two　hours　later；　he　was　still　trying　to　apologize　without　admitting　the　truth。　〃Sometimes　they　play　too　rough；　that's　all。〃
　〃Playing？〃　Maria　sniffed　sarcastically。　〃Excuse　me；　Mr。　Chelsea；　but　I　know　a　dick　when　I　see　one。〃　She　had　changed　back　to　TV　clothes；　although　her　hair　was　still　wrapped　in　a　towel。　〃I　ought　to　sue　your　ass；〃　she　said。
　They　were　sitting　in　Chelsea's　office…the　reporter；　Charles　Chelsea；　and　Joe　Winder。　The　crew　had　returned　to　the　truck　to　put　the　dish　up；　just　in　case。
　〃e　on；〃　Winder　said　to　Maria；　〃be　a　sport。〃
　〃What？〃　She　gave　him　an　acid　glare。　〃What　did　you　sa