ch.nativetongue-第77章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　so　musty　and　humid　and　bleak。
　〃A　nice　guy；〃　said　the　actor…elf。　〃A　real　gentleman。〃
　〃We　played　poker；〃　added　Jeremiah…Dumpling。　〃Cleaned　his　fucking　clock。〃
　〃But　he　was　a　sport　about　it。　A　gentleman；　like　I　said。〃
　Again　Moe　Strickland　raised　the　subject　of　Six　Flags。　〃Atlanta's　a　great　town；〃　he　said。　〃Lots　of　pretty　women。〃
　〃We'll　need　some　new　songs。〃
　〃That's　okay；〃　said　Moe　Strickland。　〃Some　new　songs　would　be　good。　We'll　have　the　whole　bus　ride　to　work　on　the　arrangements。　Luther　can　bring　his　guitar。〃
　〃Why　not？〃　said　Jeremiah…Dumpling。　〃Fuck　Kingsbury　anyhow。〃
　〃That's　the　spirit；〃　Moe　Strickland　said。
　From　the　end　of　the　tunnel　came　the　sound　of　boots　on　brick。　A　man　bellowed　furiously。
　〃Damn；〃　said　one　of　the　actor…elves。　He　dropped　the　nub　of　the　joint　and　ground　it　to　ash　under　a　long；　curly…toed；　foam…rubber　foot。
　The　boots　and　the　bellowing　belonged　to　a　jittery　Spence　Mooher；　who　was　Pedro　Luz's　right…hand　man。　Mooher　was　agitated　because　none　of　the　other　security　guards　had　shown　up　for　work　on　this；　the　busiest　day　of　the　summer。　Mooher　had　been　up　all　night　patrolling　the　Amazing　Kingdom；　and　now　it　looked　as　if　he'd　be　up　all　day。
　〃I　smell　weed；〃　he　said　to　Moe　Strickland。
　In　this　field　Mooher　could　honestly　boast　of　expertise；　he　had　served　six　years　with　the　U。S。　Drug　Enforcement　Administration　until　he　was　involuntarily　relieved　of　duty。　There　had　been　vague　accusations　of　unprofessional　conduct　in　Puerto　Rico…something　about　a　missing　flash　roll；　twenty　or　thirty　thousand　dollars。　As　Spence　Mooher　was　quick　to　point　out；　no　charges　were　ever　filed。
　He　shared　his　new　boss's　affinity　for　anabolic　steroids；　but　he　strongly　disapproved　of　recreational　drugs。　Steroids　hardened　the　body；　but　pot　and　cocaine　softened　the　mind。
　〃Who's　got　the　weed？〃　he　demanded　of　Uncle　Ely's　Elves。
　〃Lighten　up；　Spence；〃　sighed　Moe　Strickland。
　〃Why　aren't　you　shitheads　up　top　in　rehearsal？　Everybody's　supposed　to　be　there。〃
　〃Because　we're　boycotting；〃　said　Jeremiah…Dumpling。　〃We're　not　going　to　be　in　the　damn　show。〃
　Mooher's　mouth　twisted。　〃Yes；　you　are；〃　he　said。　〃This　is　the　Summerfest　Jubilee！〃
　〃I　don't　care　if　it's　the　second　ing　of　Christ；〃　said　Jeremiah…Dumpling。　〃We're　not　performing。〃
　Moe　Strickland　added；　〃It's　a　labor　action；　Spence。　Nothing　you　can　do。〃
　〃No？〃　With　one　hand　Mooher　grabbed　the　veteran　character　actor　by　the　throat　and　slammed　him　against　a　row　of　tall　lockers。　The　actor　elves　could　only　cry　out　helplessly　as　the　muscular　security　officer　banged　Uncle　Ely's　head　again　and　again；　until　blood　began　to　trickle　from　his　ears。　The　racket　of　bone　against　metal　was　harrowing；　and　amplified　in　the　bare　tunnel。
　Finally　Spence　Mooher　stopped。　He　held　Moe　Strickland　at　arm's　length；　three　feet　off　the　ground；　the　actor　kicked　spasmodically。
　〃Have　you　reconsidered？〃　Mooher　asked。　Moe　Strickland's　eyelids　drooped；　but　he　managed　a　nod。
　A　deep　voice　down　the　passageway　said；　〃Let　him　go。〃
　Spence　Mooher　released　Uncle　Ely　and　wheeled　to　face。。。a　bum。　An　extremely　tall　bum；　but　a　bum　nonetheless。　It　took　the　security　guard　a　few　moments　to　make　a　plete　appraisal：　the　damp　silver　beard；　braided　on　one　cheek　only；　the　flowered　plastic　rain　hat　pulled　taut　over　the　scalp；　the　broad　tan　chest　wrapped　in　heavy　copper…stained　bandages；　a　red　plastic　collar　around　the　neck；　one　dead　eye　steamed　with　condensation；　the　other　alive　and　dark　with　anger；　the　mouthful　of　shiny　white　teeth。
　Here；　thought　Spence　Mooher；　was　a　bum　to　be　reckoned　with。　He　came　to　this　conclusion　approximately　one　second　too　late；　for　the　man　had　already　seized　Mooher's　testicles　and　twisted　with　such　forcefulness　that　all　strength　emptied　from　Mooher's　powerful　limbs；　quivering；　he　felt　a　rush　of　heat　down　his　legs　as　he　soiled　himself。　When　he　tried　to　talk；　a　weak　croaking　noise　came　out　of　his　mouth。
　〃Time　to　go　night…night；〃　said　the　bum；　twisting　harder。　Spence　Mooher　fell　down　unconscious。
　With　a　slapping　of　many　oversized　feet；　the　actor…elves　scurried　toward　the　slack　figure　of　Moe　Strickland；　who　was　awake　but　in　considerable　pain。　Jeremiah…Dumpling　lifted　Moe's　bloody　head　and　said；　〃This　is　the　guy　we　told　you　about。　The　one　in　the　dumpster。〃
　Skink　bent　down　and　said；　〃Pleased　to　meet　you；　Uncle　Ely。　I　think　your　buddies　better　get　you　to　the　vet。〃
　
　Charles　Chelsea　tested　the　door　to　Francis　X。　Kingsbury's　office　and　found　it　locked。　He　tapped　lightly　but　received　no　reply。
　〃I　know　he's　in　there；〃　Chelsea　said。
　Danny　Pogue　said；　〃Allow　us。〃　He　produced　a　small　screwdriver　and　easily　popped　the　doorjamb。
　〃Like　ridin〃　a　bicycle；〃　said　Bud　Schwartz。
　From　inside　the　raccoon　costume　came　a　hollow　mand。　The　others　stood　back　while　Joe　Winder　opened　the　door。　Upon　viewing　the　scene；　he　clapped　his　paws　and　said：　〃Perfect。〃
　Francis　X。　Kingsbury　was　energetically　fondling　himself　in　front　of　a　television　set。　On　the　screen；　a　dark　young　man　in　a　torn　soccer　jersey　was　copulating　with　a　wild…haired　brunette　woman；　who　was　moaning　encouragement　in　Spanish。　Other　video　cassettes　were　fanned　out　like　a　poker　hand　on　the　desk。
　Kingsbury　halted　mid…pump　and　wheeled　to　confront　the　intruders。　The　boxer　shorts　around　his　ankles　greatly　diminished　his　ability　to　menace。　Today's　hairpiece　was　a　silver　Kenny　Rogers　model。
　〃Get　out；〃　Kingsbury　snarled。　He　fumbled　for　the　remote　control　and　turned　off　the　VCR。　He　seemed　unaware　that　the　Amazing　Kingdom's　stalwart　mascot；　Robbie　Raccoon；　was　pointing　a　loaded　semi…automatic　at　him。　Joe　Winder　tucked　the　gun　under　one　arm　while　he　unzipped　his　head　and　removed　it。
　〃So　you're　alive；〃　Kingsbury　hissed。　〃I　had　a　feeling；　goddammit。〃
　Bud　Schwartz　laughed　and　pointed　at　Kingsbury；　who　shielded　his　receding　genitals。　The　burglar　said；　〃The　asshole's　wearing　golf　shoes！〃
　〃For　traction；〃　Joe　Winder　theorized。
　Charles　Chelsea　looked　disgusted。　Danny　Pogue　tossed　a　package　on　the　desk。　〃Here；〃　he　said　to　Kingsbury；　〃even　though　you　tried　to　kill　us。〃
　〃What's　this？〃
　〃The　files　we　swiped。　Ramex；　Gotti；　it's　all　there。〃
　Kingsbury　was　confused。　Why　would　they　return　the　files　now？　Bud　Schwartz　read　his　expression　and　said；　〃You　were　right。　It　was　out　of　our　league。〃
　Which　was　baloney。　The　true　reason　for　returning　the　files　was　to　ensure　that　no　one　would　e　searching　for　them　later。　Like　the　police　or　the　FBI。
　〃I　suppose　you　want；　what；　a　great　big　thank…you　or　some　such　goddamn　thing。〃　Francis　X。　Kingsbury　tugged　the　boxer　shorts　high　on　his　gelatinous　waist。
　The　indignity　of　the　moment　finally　had　sunk　in。　〃Get　out　or　I'm　calling　Security！〃
　〃You've　got　no　Security；〃　Winder　informed　him。
　〃Charlie？〃
　〃I'm　afraid　that's　right；　sir。　I'll　explain　later。〃
　Bud　Schwartz　said　to　his　partner；　〃This　is　pathetic。　Let's　go。〃
　〃Wait。〃　Danny　Pogue　stepped　up　to　Kingsbury　and　said：　〃Beating　up　an　old　lady；　what's　the　matter　with　you？〃
　〃What　the　hell　do　you　care。〃　By　now　Kingsbury　had　more　or　less　focused　on　Joe　Winder's　gun；　so　he　spoke　to　Danny　Pogue　without　looking　at　him。　〃That　fucking　Pedro；　he　gets　carried　away。　Not　a　damn　thing　I　can　do。〃
　〃She's　a　sick　old　woman；　for　Chrissake。〃
　〃What's　your　point；　Jethro？〃
　〃My　point　is　this；〃　said　Danny　Pogue；　and　ferociously　punched　Francis　Kingsbury　on　the　chin。　Kingsbury's　golf　cleats　snagged　on　the　carpet　as　he　toppled。
　Surveying　the　messy　scene；　Charles　Chelsea　felt　refreshingly　detached。　He　truly　didn't　care　anymore。　Outside；　a　roar　of　thousands　swept　the　Amazing　Kingdom；　followed　by　gay　cheers　and　applause。　Chelsea　went　to　the　window　and　parted　the　blinds。　〃What　do　you　know；〃　he　said。　〃Our　five…millionth　customer　just　walked　through　the　gate。〃
　With　gray　hands　Kingsbury　clutched　the　corner　of　the　desk　and　pulled　himself　to　his　feet。　In　this　fashion　he　was　also　able　to　depress　a　concealed　alarm　button　that　rang　in　the　Security　Office。
　But　Schwartz　said；　〃We'll　be　saying　good…bye　now。〃　
　〃You're　wele　to　stay；〃　offered　Joe　Winder。
　〃No　thanks。〃　Danny　Pogue　examined　his　knuckles　for　bruises　and　abrasions。　He　said；　〃Molly's　having　surgery　this　afternoon。　We　promised　to　be　at　the　hospital。〃
　〃I　understand；〃　Winder　said。　〃You　guys