ch.nativetongue-第66章

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uck　in　the　dashboard…fluttered　furiously　in　the　gale。
　Joe　Winder　pulled　Carrie　inside　the　car；　and　hugged　her　so　tightly　she　let　out　a　cry。　〃My　arms　are　tingling；〃　she　said。　〃The　little　hairs　on　my　arms。〃
　He　covered　her　ears。　〃Hold　on；　it's　lightning。〃
　It　struck　with　a　white　flash　and　a　deafening　rip。　Twenty　yards　away；　a　dead　mahogany　tree　split　up　the　middle　and　dropped　a　huge　leafless　branch。　〃God；〃　Carrie　whispered。　〃That　was　close。〃
　Raindrops　hammered　on　the　roof。　Joe　Winder　turned　around　in　the　seat　and　looked　in　the　back　of　the　car。　〃They're　gone；〃　he　said。
　〃What；　Joe？〃
　〃The　books。　This　is　where　he　kept　all　his　books。〃
　She　turned　to　see。　Except　for　several　dead　roaches　and　a　yellowed　copy　of　the　New　Republic；　the　station　wagon　had　been　cleaned　out。
　Winder　was　vexed。　〃I　don't　know　how　he　did　it。　You　should've　seen…there　were　hundreds　in　here。　Steinbeck；　Hemingway。　Jesus；　Carrie；　he　had　Garcia　Marquez　in　Spanish。　First　editions！　Some　of　the　greatest　books　ever　written。〃
　〃Then　he's　actually　gone。〃
　〃It　would　appear　to　be　so。〃
　〃Think　we　should　call　somebody？〃
　〃What？〃
　〃Somebody　up　in　New　York；〃　Carrie　said；　〃at　the　prison。　I　mean；　just　in　case。〃
　〃Let　me　think　about　this。〃
　〃I　can't　believe　he'd　try　it。〃
　The　thunderstorm　moved　quickly　over　the　island　and　out　to　sea。　Soon　the　lightning　stopped　and　the　downpour　softened　to　a　drizzle。　Carrie　said；　〃The　breeze　felt　nice；　didn't　it？〃
　Joe　Winder　wasn't　listening。　He　was　trying　to　decide　if　they　should　keep　looking　or　not。　Without　Skink；　new　choices　lay　ahead：　bold　and　serious　decisions。　Winder　suddenly　felt　responsible　for　the　entire　operation。
　Carrie　turned　to　kiss　him　and　her　knee　hit　the　glove　partment；　which　popped　open。　Curiously　she　poked　through　the　contents…a　flashtight；　a　tire　gauge；　three　D…sized　batteries　and　what　appeared　to　be　the　dried　tail　of　a　squirrel。
　And　one　brown　envelope　with　Joe　Winder's　name　printed　in　small　block　letters。
　He　tore　it　open。　Reading　the　note；　he　broke　into　a　broad　smile。　〃Short　and　to　the　point；〃　he　said。
　Carrie　read　it：
　
　Dear　Joe；
　You　make　one　hell　of　an　oracle。
　Don't　worry　about　me；　just　keep　up　the　fight。
　We　all　shine　on！
　
　Carrie　folded　the　note　and　returned　it　to　the　envelope。　〃I　assume　this　means　something。〃
　〃Like　the　moon　and　the　stars　and　the　sun；〃　Joe　Winder　said。　He　felt　truly　inspired。
　
　TWENTY…EIGHT
　The　Amazing　Kingdom　of　Thrills　reopened　with　only　a　minimal　drop　in　attendance；　thanks　to　a　three…for…one　ticket　promotion　that　included　a　free　ride　on　Dickie　the　Dolphin；　whose　amorous　behavior　was　now　inhibited　by　four　trainers　armed　with　electric　stun　guns。　Francis　X。　Kingsbury　was　delighted　by　the　crowds；　and　emboldened　by　the　fact　that　many　customers　actually　plained　about　the　absence　of　wild　snakes。　Kingsbury　regarded　it　as　proof　that　closing　the　Amazing　Kingdom　had　been　unnecessary；　a　costly　overestimation　of　the　average　tourist's　brainpower。　Obviously　the　yahoos　were　more　curious　than　afraid　of　lethal　reptiles。　A　thrill　is　a　thrill；　Kingsbury　said。
　The　two　persons　forced　to　sit　through　this　speech　were　Pedro　Luz　and　Special　Agent　Ron　Donner　of　the　U。S。　Marshal　Service。　Agent　Donner　had　e　to　notify　Francis　X。　Kingsbury　of　a　possible　threat　against　his　life。
　〃Ho！　From　who？〃
　〃Elements　of　organized　crime；〃　the　marshal　said。
　〃Well；　fuck　em。〃
　〃Excuse　me？〃
　〃This　is　just；　I　mean　really；　the　word　is　horseshit！〃　Kingsbury　flapped　his　arms　like　a　tangerine…colored　buzzard。　He　was　dressed　for　serious　golf；　even　his　cleats　were　orange。
　Agent　Donner　said：　〃We　think　it　would　be　wise　if　you　left　town　for　a　few　weeks。〃
　〃Oh；　you　do？　Leave　town；　like　hell　I　will。〃
　Pedro　Luz　spun　his　wheelchair　slightly　toward　the　marshal。　〃Organized　crime；〃　he　said。　〃You　mean　the　Mafia？〃
　〃We're　taking　it　very　seriously；〃　said　Agent　Donner；　thinking：　Who's　the　freak　with　the　IV　bag？
　With　the　proud　sweep　of　a　hand；　Francis　Kingsbury　introduced　his　chief　of　Security。　〃He　handles　everything　for　the　park　and　so　on。　Personal　affairs；　as　well。　You　can　say　anything　in　front　of　him；　understand？　He's　thoroughly　reliable。〃
　Pedro　Luz　casually　adjusted　the　drip　valve　on　the　intravenous　tube。
　The　marshal　asked；　〃What　happened　to　your　foot？〃
　〃Never　mind！〃　blurted　Kingsbury。
　〃Car　accident；〃　Pedro　Luz　volunteered　affably。　〃I　had　to　chew　the　damn　thing　off。〃　He　pointed　with　a　swathed；　foreshortened　index　finger。　〃Right　there　above　the　ankle…bone；　see？〃
　〃Tough　luck；〃　said　Agent　Donner；　thinking：　Psycho　City。
　〃It's　what　animals　do；〃　Pedro　Luz　added；　〃when　they　get　caught　in　traps。〃
　Kingsbury　clapped　his　hands　nervously。　〃Hey；　hey！　Can　we　get　back　to　the　issue；　please；　this　Godfather　thing。　For　the　record；　I'm　not　going　anyplace。〃
　The　marshal　said；　〃We　can　have　you　safely　in　Bozeman；　Montana；　by　tomorrow　afternoon。〃
　〃What；　do　I　look　like　fucking　Grizzly　Adams？　Listen　to　me…Montana；　don't　even　joke　about　something　like　that。〃
　Pedro　Luz　said；　〃Why　would　the　Mafia　want　to　kill　Mr。　Kingsbury？　I　don't　exactly　make　the　connection。〃　Then　his　chin　dropped；　and　he　appeared　to　drift　off。
　Agent　Donner　said；　〃I　wish　you'd　consider　the　offer。〃
　〃Two　words。〃　Kingsbury　held　up　two　fingers　as　if　playing　charades。　〃Summerfest　Jubilee。　One　of　our　biggest　days；　receipt…wise；　of　the　whole　damn　year。　Parades；　clowns；　prizes。　We're　giving　away。。。I　forget；　some　kinda　car。〃
　〃And　I　suppose　you　need　to　be　here。〃
　〃Yeah；　damn　right。　It's　my　park　and　my　show。　And　know　what　else？　You　can't　make　me　go　anywhere。　I　kept　my　end　of　the　deal。　I'm　free　and　clear　of　you　people。〃
　〃You're　still　on　probation；〃　said　the　marshal。　〃But　you're　right；　we　can't　force　you　to　go　anyplace。　This　visit　is　a　courtesy…〃
　〃And　I　appreciate　the　information。　I　just　don't　happen　to　believe　it。〃　But　a　part　of　Francis　Kingsbury　did　believe　it。　What　if　the　men　who　stole　his　files　had　given　up　on　the　idea　of　blackmail？　What　if　the　damn　burglars　had　somehow　made　touch　with　the　Gotti　organization？　It　strained　Kingsbury's　imagination　because　they'd　seemed　like　such　jittery　putzes　that　night　at　the　house。　Yet　perhaps　he'd　misjudged　them。
　〃Where'd　you　get　the　tip？〃　he　demanded。
　Agent　Donner　was　briefly　distracted　by　the　cartoon　depiction　of　rodent　fellatio　that　adorned　Kingsbury's　forearm。　Eventually　the　marshal　looked　up　and　said；　〃It　surfaced　during　another　investigation。　I　can't　go　into　details。〃
　〃But；　really；　you　guys　think　it's　on　the　level？　You　think　some　guineas　are　ing　after　me？〃　Kingsbury　struggled　to　maintain　an　air　of　amused　skepticism。
　Soberly　the　marshal　said；　〃The　FBI　is　checking　it　out。〃
　〃Well；　regardless；　I'm　not　going　to　Montana。　Just　thinking　about　it　hurts　my　mucous　membranes…I　got　the　world's　worst　hay　fever。〃
　〃So　your　mind　is　made　up。〃
　〃Yep；〃　said　Kingsbury。　〃I'm　staying　put。〃
　〃Then　let　us　provide　you　with　protection　here　at　the　park。　A　couple　of　men；　at　least。〃
　〃Thanks；　but　no　thanks。　I　got　Pedro。〃
　At　the　mention　of　his　name；　Pedro　Luz's　swollen　eyelids　parted。　He　reached　up　and　squeezed　the　IV　bag。　Then　he　tugged　the　tube　out　of　the　needle　in　his　arm；　and　fitted　the　end　into　the　corner　of　his　mouth。　The　sound　of　energetic　sucking　filled　Francis　Kingsbury's　office。
　Agent　Donner　was　dumbfounded。　In　a　brittle　voice　he　assured　Kingsbury　that　the　marshals　would　be　extremely　discreet；　and　would　in　no　way　interfere　with　the　Summerfest　Jubilee　events。　Kingsbury；　in　a　tone　approaching　politeness；　declined　the　offer　of　bodyguards。　The　last　thing　he　needed　was　federal　dicks　nosing　around　the　Amazing　Kingdom。
　〃Besides；　like　I　mentioned；　there's　Pedro。　He's　as　tough　as　they　e。〃
　〃All　right；〃　said　Agent　Donner；　casting　his　eyes　once　again　on　the　distended；　scarified；　cataleptic；　polyp…headed　mass　that　was　Pedro　Luz。
　Kingsbury　said；　〃I　know　what　you're　thinking　but；　hell；　he's　worth　ten　of　yours。　Twenty　of　yours！　Any　sonofabitch　that　would　bite　off　his　own　damn　leg…you　tell　me；　is　that　tough　or　what？〃
　The　marshal　rose　stiffly　to　leave。　〃Tough　isn't　the　word　for　it；〃　he　said。
　
　The　trailer　fire　had　left　Carrie　Lanier　with　only　three　possessions：　her　Buick　Electra；　the　gun　she　had　taken　from　Joe　Winder　and　the　newly　retired　raccoon　suit。