dk.watchers-第8部分

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　〃I　figure　it's　a　puter　error；〃　Streck　said；　laughing　quietly。　〃Yeah；　sure；　some　sort　of　puter　error　dropped　your　husband　from　their　records。　I　think　you'd　better　tell　him　as　soon　as　he　gets　home；　Mrs。　Devon。　If　he　doesn't　get　this　straightened　out　。　。　。　why；　hell；　he　might　not　get　his　paycheck　at　the　end　of　the　week。〃
　He　hung　up；　and　the　sound　of　the　dial　tone　made　her　realize　that　she　should　have　hung　up　first；　should　have　slammed　down　the　handset　as　soon　as　he　said　that　he'd　called　the　police　station。　She　dared　not　encourage　him　even　to　the　extent　of　listening　to　him　on　the　phone。
　She　went　through　the　house；　checking　all　the　windows　and　doors。　They　were　securely　locked。
　4
　At　McDonald's　on　East　Chapman　Avenue　in　Orange；　Travis　Cornell　had　ordered　five　hamburgers　for　the　golden　retriever。　Sitting　on　the　front　seat　of　the　pickup；　the　dog　had　eaten　all　of　the　meat　and　two　buns；　and　it　had　wanted　to　express　its　gratitude　by　licking　his　face。
　〃You've　got　the　breath　of　a　dyspeptic　alligator；〃　he　protested；　holding　the　animal　back。
　The　return　trip　to　Santa　Barbara　took　three　and　a　half　hours　because　the　highways　were　much　busier　than　they　had　been　that　morning。　Throughout　the　journey；　Travis　glanced　at　his　panion　and　spoke　to　it；　anticipating　a　display　of　the　unnerving　intelligence　it　had　shown　earlier。　His　expectations　were　unfulfilled。　The　retriever　behaved　like　any　dog　on　a　long　trip。　Once　in　a　while；　it　did　sit　very　erect；　looking　through　the　windshield　or　side　window　at　the　scenery　with　what　seemed　an　unusual　degree　of　interest　and　attention。　But　most　of　the　time　it　curled　up　and　slept　on　the　seat；　snuffling　in　its　dreams…　or　it　panted　and　yawned　and　looked　bored。
　When　the　odor　of　the　dog's　filthy　coat　became　intolerable；　Travis　rolled　down　the　windows　for　ventilation；　and　the　retriever　stuck　its　head　out　in　the　wind。　With　its　ears　blown　back；　hair　streaming；　it　grinned　the　foolish　and　charmingly　witless　grin　of　all　dogs　who　had　ever　ridden　shotgun　in　such　a　fashion。
　In　Santa　Barbara；　Travis　stopped　at　a　shopping　center；　where　he　bought　Several　cans　of　Alpo；　a　box　of　Milk…Bone　dog　biscuits；　heavy　plastic　dishes　for　pet　food　and　water；　a　galvanized　tin　washtub；　a　bottle　of　pet　shampoo　With　a　flea…　and　tick…killing　pound；　a　brush　to　b　out　the　animal's　tangled　coat；　a　collar；　and　a　leash。
　As　Travis　loaded　those　items　into　the　back　of　the　pickup；　the　dog　watched
　him　through　the　rear　window　of　the　cab；　its　damp　nose　pressed　to　the　glass。　Getting　behind　the　wheel；　he　said；　〃You're　filthy；　and　you　stink。　You're
　not　going　to　be　a　lot　of　trouble　about　taking　a　bath；　are　you？〃　The　dog　yawned。
　By　the　time　Travis　pulled　into　the　driveway　of　his　four…room　rented　bungalow　on　the　northern　edge　of　Santa　Barbara　and　switched　off　the　pickup's　engine；　he　was　beginning　to　wonder　if　the　pooch's　actions　that　morning　had　really　been　as　amazing　as　he　remembered。
　〃If　you　don't　show　me　the　right　stuff　again　soon；〃　he　told　the　dog　as　he　slipped　his　key　into　the　front　door　of　the　house；　〃I'm　going　to　have　to　assume　that　I　stripped　a　gear　out　there　in　the　woods；　that　I'm　just　nuts　and　that　I　imagined　everything。〃
　Standing　beside　him　on　the　stoop；　the　dog　looked　up　quizzically。
　〃Do　you　want　to　be　responsible　for　giving　me　doubts　about　my　own　sanity？　Hmmmmm？〃
　An　orange　and　black　butterfly　swooped　past　the　retriever's　face；　startling　it。　The　dog　barked　once　and　raced　after　the　fluttering　prey；　off　the　stoop；　down　the　walkway。　Dashing　back　and　forth　across　the　lawn；　leaping　high；　snapping　at　the　air；　repeatedly　missing　its　bright　quarry；　it　nearly　collided　with　the　diamond…patterned　trunk　of　a　big　Canary　Island　date　palm；　then　narrowly　avoided　knocking　itself　unconscious　in　a　head…on　encounter　with　a　concrete　birdbath；　and　at　last　crashed　clumsily　into　a　bed　of　New　Guinea　impatiens　over　which　the　butterfly　soared　to　safety。　The　retriever　rolled　once；　scrambled　to　its　feet；　and　lunged　out　of　the　flowers。
　When　it　realized　that　it　had　been　foiled；　the　dog　returned　to　Travis。　It　gave　him　a　sheepish　look。
　〃Some　wonder　dog；〃　he　said。　〃Good　grief。〃
　He　opened　the　door；　and　the　retriever　slipped　in　ahead　of　him。　It　padded　off　immediately　to　explore　these　new　rooms。
　〃You　better　be　housebroken；〃　Travis　shouted　after　it。
　He　carried　the　galvanized　washtub　and　the　plastic　bag　full　of　other　purchases　into　the　kitchen。　He　left　the　food　and　pet　dishes　there；　and　took　everything　else　outside　through　the　back　door。　He　put　the　bag　on　the　concrete　patio　and　set　the　tub　beside　it；　near　a　coiled　hose　that　was　attached　to　an　outdoor　faucet。
　Inside　again；　he　removed　a　bucket　from　beneath　the　kitchen　sink；　filled　it　with　the　hottest　water　he　could　draw；　carried　it　outside；　and　emptied　it　into　the　tub。　When　Travis　had　made　four　trips　with　the　hot　water；　the　retriever　appeared　and　began　to　explore　the　backyard。　By　the　time　Travis　filled　the　tub　more　than　half　full；　the　dog　had　begun　to　urinate　every　few　feet　along　the　whitewashed　concrete…block　wall　that　defined　the　property　line；　marking　its　territory。
　〃When　you　finish　killing　the　grass；〃　Travis　said；　〃you'd　better　be　in　the　mood　for　a　bath。　You　reek。〃
　The　retriever　turned　toward　him　and　cocked　its　head　and　appeared　to　listen　when　he　spoke。　But　it　did　not　look　like　one　of　those　smart　dogs　in　the　movies。　It　did　not　look　as　if　it　understood　him。　It　just　looked　dumb。　As　soon　as　he
　stopped　talking；　it　hurried　a　few　steps　farther　along　the　wall　and　peed　again。　Watching　the　dog　relieve　itself；　Travis　felt　an　urge　of　his　own。　He　went
　inside　to　the　bathroom；　then　changed　into　an　older　pair　of　jeans　and　a　T…shirt　for　the　sloppy　job　ahead。
　When　Travis　came　outside　again；　the　retriever　was　standing　beside　the　steaming　washtub；　the　hose　in　its　teeth。　Somehow；　it　had　managed　to　turn　the　faucet。　Water　gushed　out　of　the　hose；　into　the　tub。
　For　a　dog；　successfully　manipulating　a　water　faucet　would　be　very　difficult　if　not　impossible。　Travis　figured　that　an　equivalent　test　of　his　own　ingenuity　and　dexterity　would　be　trying　to　open　a　child…proof　safety　cap　on　an　aspirin　bottle　with　one　hand　behind　his　back。
　Astonished；　he　said；　〃Water's　too　hot　for　you？〃
　The　retriever　dropped　the　hose；　letting　water　pour　across　the　patio；　and　stepped　almost　daintily　into　the　tub。　It　sat　and　looked　at　him；　as　if　to　say；　Let's　get　on　with　it；　you　dink。
　He　went　to　the　tub　and　squatted　beside　it。　〃Show　me　how　you　can　turn　off　the　water。〃
　The　dog　looked　at　him　stupidly。
　〃Show　me；〃　Travis　said。
　The　dog　snorted　and　shifted　its　position　in　the　warm　water。
　〃If　you　could　turn　it　on；　you　can　turn　it　off。　How　did　you　do　it？　With　your　teeth？　Had　to　be　with　your　teeth。　Couldn't　do　it　with　a　paw；　for　God's　sake。　But　that　twisting　motion　would　be　tricky。　You　could've　broken　a　tooth　on　the　cast…iron　handle。〃
　The　dog　leaned　slightly　out　of　the　tub；　just　far　enough　to　bite　at　the　neck　of　the　bag　that　held　the　shampoo。
　〃You　won't　turn　off　the　faucet？〃　Travis　asked。
　The　dog　just　blinked　at　him；　inscrutable。
　He　sighed　and　turned　off　the　water。　〃All　right。　Okay。　Be　a　wiseass。〃　He　took　the　brush　and　shampoo　out　of　the　bag　and　held　them　toward　the　retriever。　〃Here。　You　probably　don't　even　need　me。　You　can　scrub　yourself；　I'm　sure。〃
　The　dog　issued　a　long；　drawn…out　woooooof　that　started　deep　in　its　throat；　and　Travis　had　the　feeling　it　was　calling　him　a　wiseass。
　Careful　now；　he　told　himself。　You're　in　danger　of　leaping　off　the　deep　end；　Travis。　This　is　a　damn　smart　dog　you've　got　here；　but　he　can't　really　understand　what　you're　saying；　and　he　can't　talk　back。
　The　retriever　submitted　to　its　bath　without　protest；　enjoying　itself。　After　ordering　the　dog　out　of　the　tub　and　rinsing　off　the　shampoo；　Travis　spent　an　hour　brushing　its　damp　coat。　He　pulled　out　burrs；　bits　of　weeds　that　hadn't　flushed　away；　unsnarled　the　tangles。　The　dog　never　grew　impatient；　and　by　Six　o'clock　it　was　transformed。
　Groomed；　it　was　a　handsome　animal。　Its　coat　was　predominantly　medium　gold　with　feathering　of　a　lighter　shade　on　the　backs　of　its　legs；　on　its　belly　and　buttocks；　and　on　the　underside　of　the　tail。　The　undercoat　was　thick　and　soft　to　provide　warmth　and　repel　water。　The　outer　coat　was　also　soft　but　not　as　thick；　and　in　some　places　these　longer　hairs　were　wavy。　The　tail　had　a
　slight　upward　curve；　giving　the　retriever　a　happy；　jaunty　look；　which　was　emphasized　by　its　tendency　to　wag　continuously。
　The　dried　blood　on　the　ear　was　from　a　small　tear　already　healing。　The　blood　on　the　paws　resulted　not　from　serious　injury　but　from　a　lot　of　running　over　difficult　ground。　Travis　did　nothing　except　pour　boric…acid　solution；　a　mild　antiseptic；　on　these　minor　wounds。　He　was　confident　that　the　dog　would　experience　only　slight　disfort…or　maybe　none　at　all；　for　it　was　not　limping…and　that　it　would　be　pletely　well　in　a　few　days。
　The　retriever　looked　splendid　now；　but　Travis　was　damp；　sweaty；　and　stank　of　dog　shampoo。　He　was　eager　to　shower　and　change。　He　had　also　worked　up　an　appetite。
　The　only　task　remaining　was　to　collar　the　dog。　But　when　he　attempted　to　buckle　the　new　collar　in　place；　the　retriever　growled　softly　and　backstepped　out　of　his　reach。
　〃Whoa　now。　It's　only　a　collar；　boy。〃
　The　dog　stared　at　the　loop　of　red　leather　in　Travis's　hand　and　continued　to　growl。
　〃You　had　a　bad　experience　with　a　collar；　huh？〃
　The　dog　stopped　growling；　but　it　did　not　take　a　step　toward　him。
　〃Mistreated？〃　Travis　asked。　〃That　must　be　it。　Maybe　they　choked　you　with　a　collar；　twisted　it　and　choked　you；　or　maybe　they　put　you　on　a　short　chain。　Something　like　that？〃
　The　retriever　barked　once；　padded　across　the　patio；　and　stood　in　the　farthest　corner；　looking　at　the　collar　from　a　distance。
　〃Do　you　trust　me？〃　Travis　asked；　remaining　on　his　knees　in　an　unthreatening　posture。
　The　dog　shifted　its　attention　from　the　loop　of　leather　to　Travis；　meeting　his　eyes。
　〃I　will　never　mistreat　you；〃　he　said　solemnly；　feeling　not　at　all　foolish　for　speaking　so　directly　and　sincerely　to　a　mere　dog。　〃You　must　know　that　I　won't。　I　mean；　you　have　good　instincts　about　things　like　that；　don't　you？　Rely　on　your　instincts；　boy；　and　trust　me。〃
　The　dog　returned　from　the　far　end　of　the　patio　and　stopped　just　beyond　Travis's　reac