th.red dragon-第30部分

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　He　smiled　at　Lounds；　a　brown…stained　smile。　He　placed　his　hand　on　Lounds's　heart　and；　leaning　to　him　intimately　as　though　to　kiss　him；　he　bit　Lounds's　lips　off　and　spit　them　on　the　floor。
　
　
　CHAPTER　21
　
　Dawn　in　Chicago；　heavy　air　and　the　gray　sky　low。
　A　security　guard　came　out　of　the　lobby　of　the　Tattler　building　and　stood　at　the　curb　smoking　a　cigarette　and　rubbing　the　small　of　his　back。　He　was　alone　on　the　street　and　in　the　quiet　he　could　hear　the　clack　of　the　traffic　light　changing　at　the　top　of　the　hill；　a　long　block　away。
　Half　a　block　north　of　the　light；　out　of　the　guard's　sight；　Francis　Dolarhyde　squatted　beside　Lounds　in　the　back　of　the　van。　He　arranged　the　blanket　in　a　deep　cowl　that　hid　Lounds's　head。
　Lounds　was　in　great　pain。　He　appeared　stuporous；　but　his　mind　was　racing。　There　were　things　he　must　remember。　The　blindfold　was　tented　across　his　nose　and　he　could　see　Dolarhyde's　fingers　checking　the　crusted　gag。
　Dolarhyde　put　on　the　white　jacket　of　a　medical　orderly；　laid　a　thermos　in　Lounds's　lap　and　rolled　him　out　of　the　van。　When　he　locked　the　wheels　of　the　chair　and　turned　to　put　the　ramp　back　in　the　van；　Lounds　could　see　the　end　of　the　van's　bumper　beneath　his　blindfold。
　Turning　now；　seeing　the　bumper　guard　。　。　。　Yes！　The　license　plate。　Only　a　flash；　but　Lounds　burned　it　into　his　mind。
　Rolling　now。　Sidewalk　seams。　Around　a　corner　and　down　a　curb。　Paper　crackled　under　the　wheels。
　Dolarhyde　stopped　the　wheelchair　in　a　bit　of　littered　shelter　between　a　garbage　dumpster　and　a　parked　truck。　He　pulled　at　the　blindfold。　Lounds　closed　his　eyes。　An　ammonia　bottle　under　his　nose。
　The　soft　voice　close　beside　him。
　〃Can　you　hear　me？　You're　almost　there。〃　The　blindfold　off　now。　〃Blink　if　you　can　hear　me。〃
　Dolarhyde　opened　his　eye　with　a　thumb　and　forefinger。　Lounds　was　looking　at　Dolarhyde's　face。
　〃I　told　you　one　fib。〃　Dolarhyde　tapped　the　thermos。　〃I　don't　really　have　your　lips　on　ice。〃　He　whipped　off　the　blanket　and　opened　the　thermos。
　Lounds　strained　hard　when　he　smelled　the　gasoline；　separating　the　skin　from　under　his　forearms　and　making　the　stout　chair　groan。　The　gas　was　cold　all　over　him；　fumes　filling　his　throat　and　they　were　rolling　toward　the　center　of　the　street
　〃Do　you　like　being　Graham's　pet；　Freeeeedeeeee？〃
　Lit　with　a　whump　and　shoved；　sent　rolling　down　on　the　Tattler；　eeek；　eeek；　eeekeeekeeek　the　wheels。
　The　guard　looked　up　as　a　scream　blew　the　burning　gag　away。　He　saw　the　fireball　ing；　bouncing　on　the　potholes；　trailing　smoke　and　sparks　and　the　flames　blown　back　like　wings；　disjointed　reflections　leaping　along　the　shop　windows。
　It　veered；　struck　a　parked　car　and　overturned　in　front　of　the　building；　one　wheel　spinning　and　flames　through　the　spokes；　blazing　arms　rising　in　the　fighting　posture　of　the　burned。
　The　guard　ran　back　into　the　lobby。　He　wondered　if　it　would　blow　up；　if　he　should　get　away　from　the　windows。　He　pulled　the　fire　alarm。　What　else？　He　grabbed　the　fire　extinguisher　off　the　wall　and　looked　outside。　It　hadn't　blown　up　yet。
　The　guard　approached　cautiously　through　the　greasy　smoke　spreading　low　over　the　pavement　and；　at　last；　sprayed　foam　on　Freddy　Lounds。
　
　
　CHAPTER　22
　
　The　schedule　called　for　Graham　to　leave　the　staked…out　apartment　in　Washington　at　5：45　A。M。；　well　ahead　of　the　morning　rush。
　Crawford　called　while　he　was　shaving。
　〃Good　morning。〃
　〃Not　so　good；〃　Crawford　said。　〃The　Tooth　Fairy　got　Lounds　in　Chicago。〃
　〃Oh　hell　no。〃
　〃He's　not　dead　yet　and　he's　asking　for　you。　He　can't　wait　long。〃
　〃I'll　go。〃
　〃Meet　me　at　the　airport。　United　245。　It　leaves　in　forty　minutes。　You　can　be　back　for　the　stakeout；　if　it's　still　on。〃
　
　#　#　#
　
　Special　Agent　Chester　from　the　Chicago　FBI　office　met　them　at　O'Hare　in　a　downpour。　Chicago　is　a　city　used　to　sirens。　The　traffic　parted　reluctantly　in　front　of　them　as　Chester　howled　down　the　expressway；　his　red　light　flashing　pink　on　the　driving　rain。
　He　raised　his　voice　above　the　siren。　〃Chicago　PD　says　he　was　jumped　in　his　garage。　My　stuff　is　secondhand。　We're　not　popular　around　here　today。〃
　〃How　much　is　out？〃　Crawford　said。
　〃The　whole　thing；　trap；　all　of　it。〃
　〃Did　Lounds　get　a　look　at　him？〃
　〃I　haven't　heard　a　description。　Chicago　PD　put　out　an　all…points　bulletin　for　a　license　number　about　six…twenty。〃
　〃Did　you　get　hold　of　Dr。　Bloom　for　me？〃
　〃I　got　his　wife；　Jack。　Dr。　Bloom　had　his　gall　bladder　taken　out　this　morning。〃
　〃Glorious；〃　Crawford　said。
　Chester　pulled　under　the　dripping　hospital　portico。　He　turned　in　his　seat。　〃Jack；　Will；　before　you　go　up　。　。　。　I　hear　this　fruit　really　trashed　Lounds。　You　ought　to　be　ready　for　that。〃
　Graham　nodded。　All　the　way　to　Chicago　he　had　tried　to　choke　his　hope　that　Lounds　would　die　before　he　had　to　see　him。
　The　corridor　of　Paege　Burn　Center　was　a　tube　of　spotless　tile。　A　tall　doctor　with　a　curiously　old…young　face　beckoned　Graham　and　Crawford　away　from　the　knot　of　people　at　Lounds's　door。
　〃Mr。　Lounds's　burns　are　fatal；〃　the　doctor　said。　〃I　can　help　him　with　the　pain；　and　I　intend　to　do　it。　He　breathed　flames　and　his　throat　and　lungs　are　damaged。　He　may　not　regain　consciousness。　In　his　condition；　that　would　be　a　blessing。
　〃In　the　event　that　he　does　regain　consciousness；　the　city　police　have　asked　me　to　take　the　airway　out　of　his　throat　so　that　he　might　possibly　answer　questions。　I've　agreed　to　try　that　…　briefly。
　〃At　the　moment　his　nerve　endings　are　anesthetized　by　fire。　A　lot　of　pain　is　ing；　if　he　lives　that　long。　I　made　this　clear　to　the　police　and　I　want　to　make　it　clear　to　you：　I'll　interrupt　any　attempted　questioning　to　sedate　him　if　he　wants　me　to。　Do　you　understand　me？〃
　〃Yes；〃　Crawford　said。
　With　a　nod　to　the　patrolman　in　front　of　the　door；　the　doctor　clasped　his　hands　behind　his　white　lab　coat　and　moved　away　like　a　wading　egret。
　Crawford　glanced　at　Graham。　〃You　okay？〃
　〃I'm　okay。　I　had　the　SWAT　team。〃
　Lounds's　head　was　elevated　in　the　bed。　His　hair　and　ears　were　gone　and　presses　over　his　sightless　eyes　replaced　the　burned…off　lids。　His　gums　were　puffed　with　blisters。
　The　nurse　beside　him　moved　an　IV　stand　so　Graham　could　e　close。　Lounds　smelled　like　a　stable　fire。
　〃Freddy；　it's　Will　Graham。〃
　Lounds　arched　his　neck　against　the　pillow。
　〃The　movement's　just　reflex；　he's　not　conscious；〃　the　nurse　said。　The　plastic　airway　holding　open　his　scorched　and　swollen　throat　hissed　in　time　with　the　respirator。
　A　pale　detective　sergeant　sat　in　the　corner　with　a　tape　recorder　and　a　clipboard　on　his　lap。　Graham　didn't　notice　him　until　he　spoke。
　〃Lounds　said　your　name　in　the　emergency　room　before　they　put　the　airway　in。〃
　〃You　were　there？〃
　〃Later　I　was　there。　But　I've　got　what　he　said　on　tape。　He　gave　the　firemen　a　license　number　when　they　first　got　to　him。　He　passed　out；　and　he　was　out　in　the　ambulance；　but　he　came　around　for　a　minute　in　the　emergency　room　when　they　gave　him　a　shot　in　the　chest。　Some　Tattler　people　had　followed　the　ambulance　…　they　were　there。　I　have　a　copy　of　their　tape。〃
　〃Let　me　hear　it。〃　The　detective　fiddled　with　his　tape　recorder。　〃I　think　you　want　to　use　the　earphone；〃　he　said；　his　face　carefully　blank。　He　pushed　the　button。
　Graham　heard　voices；　the　rattle　of　casters；〃。　。　。　put　him　in　there；〃　the　bump　of　a　litter　on　a　swinging　door；　a　retching　cough　and　a　voice　croaking；　speaking　without　lips。
　〃Tooth　Hairy。〃
　〃Freddy；　did　you　see　him？　What　did　he　look　like；　Freddy？〃
　〃Wendy？　Hlease　Wendy。　Grahan　set　ne　uh。　The　cunt　knew　it。　Grahan　set　ne　uh。　Cunt　tut　his　hand　on　ne　in　the　ticture　like　a　hucking　tet。　Wendy？〃
　A　noise　like　a　drain　sucking。　A　doctor's　voice：　〃That's　it。　Let　me　get　there。　Get　out　of　the　way。　Now。〃
　That　was　all。　Graham　stood　over　Lounds　while　Crawford　listened　to　the　tape。
　〃We're　running　down　the　license　number；〃　the　detective　said。
　〃Could　you　understand　what　he　was　saying？〃
　〃Who's　Wendy？〃　Crawford　asked。　〃That　hooker　in　the　hall。　The　blonde　with　the　chest。　She's　been　trying　to　see　him。　She　doesn't　know　anything。〃　
　〃Why　don't　you　let　her　in？〃　Graham　said　from　the　bedside。　His　back　was　to　them。　
　〃No　visitors。〃
　〃The　man's　dying。〃　
　〃Think　I　don't　know　it？　I've　been　here　since　a　quarter　to　fucking　six　o'clock　…　excuse　me；　Nurse。〃　
　〃Take　a　few　minutes；〃　Crawford　said。　〃Get　some　coffee；　put　some　water　on　your　face。　He　can't　say　anything。　If　he　does；　I'll　be　here　with　the　recorder。〃
　〃Okay；　I　could　use　it。〃
　When　the　detective　was　gone；　Graham　left　Crawford　at　the　bed　side　and　approached　the　woman　in　the　hall。
　〃Wendy？〃
　〃Yeah。〃
　〃If　you're　sure　you　want　to　go　in　there；　I'll　take　you。〃
　〃I　want　to。　Maybe　I　ought　to　go　b　my　hair。〃
　〃It　doesn't　matter；〃　Graham　said。
　When　the　policeman　returned；　he　didn't　try　to　put　her　out。　Wendy　of　Wendy　City　held　Lounds's　blackened　claw　and　looked　straight　at　him。　He　stirred　once；　a　little　before　noon。
　〃It's　gonna　be　just　fine；　Roscoe；〃　she　said。　〃We'll　have　us　some　high　old　times。〃
　Lounds　stirred　again　and　died。
　
　
　CHAPTER　23
　
　Captain　Osborne　of　Chicago　Homicide　had　the　gray；　pointed　face　of　a　stone　fox。　Copies　of　the　Tattler　were　all　over　the　police　station。　One　was　on　his　desk。
　He　didn't　ask　Crawford　and　Graham　to　sit　down。
　〃You　had　nothing　at　all　working　with　Lounds　in　the　city　of　Chicago？〃
　〃No；　he　was　ing　to　Washington；〃　Crawford　said。　〃He　had　a　plane　reservation。　I'm　sure　you've　checked　it。〃
　〃Yeah；　I　got　it。　He　left　his　office　about　one…thirty　yesterday。　Got　jumped　in　the　garage　of　his　building；　must　have　been　about　ten　of　two。〃
　〃Anything　in　the　garage？〃
　〃His　keys　got　kicked　under　his　car。　There's　no　garage　attendant　…　they　had　a　radio…operated　door　but　it　came　down　on　a　couple　of　cars　and　they　took　it　out。　Nobody　saw　it　happen。　That's　getting　to　be　the　refrain　today。　We're　working　on　his　car。〃
　〃Can　we　help　you　there？〃
　〃You　can　have　the　results　when　I　get　'em。　You　haven't　said　much；　Graham。　You　had　plenty　to　say　in　the　paper。〃
　〃I　haven't　heard　much　either；　listening　to　you。〃
　〃You　pissed　off；　Captain？〃　Crawford　said。
　〃Me？　Why　should　I　be？　We　run　down　a　phone　trace　for　you　and　collar　a　fucking　news　reporter。　Then　you've　got　no　charges　against　him。　You　have　got　some　deal　with　him；　gets　him　cooked　in