th.red dragon-第56部分

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when　she　came　back。　He'd　do　it　this　time。
　She　wasn't　gone　long　and　she　came　back　without　the　sandwiches；　walking　swiftly　on　the　packed　sand　above　the　surf。
　〃Jack　Crawford's　on　the　phone。　I　told　him　you'd　call　him　back；　but　he　said　it's　urgent；〃　she　said；　examining　a　fingemail。　〃Better　hurry。〃
　Graham　blushed。　He　stuck　the　butt　of　his　rod　in　the　sand　and　trotted　toward　the　dunes。　It　was　quicker　than　going　around　the　beach　if　you　carried　nothing　to　catch　in　the　brush。
　He　heard　a　low　whirring　sound　carried　on　the　wind　and；　wary　of　a　rattler；　he　scanned　the　ground　as　he　went　into　the　scrub　cedar。
　He　saw　boots　beneath　the　brush；　the　glint　of　a　lens　and　a　flash　of　khaki　rising。
　He　looked　into　the　yellow　eyes　of　Francis　Dolarhyde　and　fear　raised　the　hammers　of　his　heart。
　Snick　of　a　pistol　action　working；　an　automatic　ing　up　and　Graham　kicked　at　it；　struck　it　as　the　muzzle　bloomed　pale　yellow　in　the　sun；　and　the　pistol　flew　into　the　brush。　Graham　on　his　back；　something　burning　in　the　left　side　of　his　chest；　slid　headfirst　down　the　dune　onto　the　beach。
　Dolarhyde　leaped　high　to　land　on　Graham's　stomach　with　both　feet　and　he　had　the　knife　out　now　and　never　looked　up　at　the　thin　screaming　from　the　water's　edge。　He　pinned　Graham　with　his　knees；　raised　the　knife　high　and　grunted　as　he　brought　it　down。　The　blade　missed　Graham's　eye　and　crunched　deep　into　his　cheek。
　Dolarhyde　rocked　forward　and　put　his　weight　on　the　handle　of　the　knife　to　shove　it　through　Graham's　head。
　The　rod　whistled　as　Molly　swung　it　hard　at　Dolarhyde's　face。　The　big　Rapala's　hooks　sank　solidly　in　his　cheek　and　the　reel　screamed；　paying　out　line　as　she　drew　back　to　strike　again。
　He　growled；　grabbed　at　his　face　as　she　hit　him；　and　the　treble　hooks　jammed　into　his　hand　as　well。　One　hand　free；　one　hand　hooked　to　his　face；　he　tugged　the　knife　out　and　started　after　her。
　Graham　rolled　over；　got　to　his　knees；　then　his　feet；　eyes　wild　and　choking　blood　he　ran；　ran　from　Dolarhyde；　ran　until　he　collapsed。
　Molly　ran　for　the　dunes；　Willy　ahead　of　her。　Dolarhyde　was　ing；　dragging　tile　rod。　It　caught　on　a　bush　and　pulled　him　howling　to　a　stop　before　he　thought　to　cut　the　line。
　〃Run　baby；　run　baby；　run　baby！　Don't　look　back；〃　she　gasped。　Her　legs　were　long　and　she　shoved　the　boy　ahead　of　her；　the　crashing　ever　closer　in　the　brush　behind　them。
　They　had　one　hundred　yards　on　him　when　they　left　the　dunes；　seventy　yards　when　they　reached　the　house。　Scrambling　up　the　stairs。　Clawing　in　Will's　closet。
　To　Willy；　〃Stay　here。〃
　Down　again　to　meet　him。　Down　to　the　kitchen；　not　ready；　fumbling　with　the　speedloader。
　She　forgot　the　stance　and　she　forgot　the　front　sight　but　she　got　a　good　two…handed　grip　on　the　pistol　and　as　the　door　exploded　inward　she　blew　a　rat　hole　through　his　thigh　…　〃Muhner！〃　…　and　she　shot　him　in　the　face　as　he　slid　down　the　door　facing　and　she　shot　him　in　the　face　as　he　sat　on　the　floor　and　she　ran　to　him　and　shot　him　twice　in　the　face　as　he　sprawled　against　the　wall；　scalp　down　to　his　chin　and　his　hair　on　fire。
　
　#　#　#
　
　Willy　tore　up　a　sheet　and　went　to　look　for　Will。　His　legs　were　shaking　and　he　fell　several　times　crossing　the　yard。
　The　sheriff's　deputies　and　ambulances　came　before　Molly　ever　thought　to　call　them。　She　was　taking　a　shower　when　they　came　in　the　house　behind　their　pistols。　She　was　scrubbing　hard　at　the　flecks　of　blood　and　bone　on　her　face　and　hair　and　she　couldn't　answer　when　a　deputy　tried　to　talk　to　her　through　the　shower　curtain。
　One　of　the　deputies　finally　picked　up　the　dangling　telephone　receiver　and　talked　to　Crawford　in　Washington；　who　had　heard　the　shots　and　summoned　them。
　〃I　don't　know；　they're　bringing　him　in　now；〃　the　deputy　said。　He　looked　out　the　window　as　the　litter　passed。　〃It　don't　look　good　to　me；〃　he　said。
　
　
　CHAPTER　54
　
　On　the　wall　at　the　foot　of　the　bed　there　was　a　clock　with　numbers　large　enough　to　read　through　the　drugs　and　the　pain。
　When　Will　Graham　could　open　his　right　eye；　he　saw　the　clock　and　knew　where　he　was　…　an　intensive…care　unit。　He　knew　to　watch　the　clock。　Its　movement　assured　him　that　this　was　passing；　would　pass。
　That's　what　it　was　there　for。
　It　said　four　o'clock。　He　had　no　idea　which　four　o'clock　and　he　didn't　care；　as　long　as　the　hands　were　moving。　He　drifted　away。
　The　clock　said　eight　when　he　opened　his　eye　again。
　Someone　was　to　the　side　of　him。　Cautiously　he　turned　his　eye。　It　was　Molly；　looking　out　the　window。　She　was　thin。　He　tried　to　speak；　but　a　great　ache　filled　the　left　side　of　his　head　when　he　moved　his　jaw。　His　head　and　his　chest　did　not　throb　together。　It　was　more　of　a　syncopation。　He　made　a　noise　as　she　left　the　room。
　The　window　was　light　when　they　pulled　and　tugged　at　him　and　did　things　that　made　the　cords　in　his　neck　stand　out。
　Yellow　light　when　he　saw　Crawford's　face　over　him。
　Graham　managed　to　wink。　When　Crawford　grinned；　Graham　could　see　a　piece　of　spinach　between　his　teeth。
　Odd。　Crawford　eschewed　most　vegetables。
　Graham　made　writing　motions　on　the　sheet　beneath　his　hand。
　Crawford　slid　his　notebook　under　Graham's　hand　and　put　a　pen　between　his　fingers。
　〃Willy　OK；〃　he　wrote。
　〃Yeah；　he's　fine；〃　Crawford　said。　〃Molly　too。　She's　been　in　here　while　you　were　asleep。　Dolarhyde's　dead；　Will。　I　promise　you；　he's　dead。　I　took　the　prints　myself　and　had　Price　match　them。　There's　no　question。　He's　dead。〃
　Graham　drew　a　question　mark　on　the　pad。
　〃We'll　get　into　it。　I'll　be　here；　I　can　tell　you　the　whole　thing　when　you　feel　good。　They　only　give　me　five　minutes。〃
　〃Now；〃　Graham　wrote。
　〃Has　the　doctor　talked　to　you？　No？　About　you　first　…　you'll　be　okay。　Your　eye's　just　swollen　shut　from　a　deep　stab　wound　in　the　face。　They've　got　it　fixed；　but　it'll　take　time。　They　took　out　your　spleen。　But　who　needs　a　spleen？　Price　left　his　in　Burma　in　'41。〃
　A　nurse　pecked　on　the　glass。
　〃I've　got　to　go。　They　don't　respect　credentials；　nothing；　around　here。　They　just　throw　you　out　when　the　time's　up。　See　you　later。〃
　Molly　was　in　the　ICU　waiting　room。　A　lot　of　tired　people　were。
　Crawford　went　to　her。　〃Molly　。　。　。〃
　〃Hello；　Jack；〃　she　said。　〃You're　looking　really　well。　Want　to　give　him　a　face　transplant？〃
　〃Don't；　Molly。〃
　〃Did　you　look　at　him？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃I　didn't　think　I　could　look　at　him；　but　I　did。〃
　〃They'll　fix　him　up。　The　doctor　told　me。　They　can　do　it。　You　want　somebody　to　stay　with　you；　Molly？　I　brought　Phyllis　down；　she…〃
　〃No。　Don't　do　anything　else　for　me。〃
　She　turned　away；　fumbling　for　a　tissue。　He　saw　the　letter　when　she　opened　her　purse：　expensive　mauve　stationery　that　he　had　seen　before。
　Crawford　hated　this。　He　had　to　do　it。
　〃Molly。〃
　〃What　is　it？〃
　〃Will　got　a　letter？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Did　the　nurse　give　it　to　you？〃
　〃Yes；　she　gave　it　to　me。　They're　holding　some　flowers　from　all　his　friends　in　Washington；　too。〃
　〃May　I　see　the　letter？〃
　〃I'll　give　it　to　him　when　he　feels　like　it。〃
　〃Please　let　me　see　it。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃Because　he　doesn't　need　to　hear　from　。　。　。　that　particular　person。
　Something　was　wrong　with　the　expression　on　his　face　and　she　looked　down　at　the　letter　and　dropped　it；　purse　and　all。　A　lipstick　rolled　across　the　floor。
　Stooping　to　pick　up　Molly's　things；　Crawford　heard　her　heels　tap　fast　as　she　left　him；　abandoning　her　purse。
　He　gave　the　purse　to　the　charge　nurse。
　Crawford　knew　it　would　be　nearly　impossible　for　Lecter　to　get　what　he　would　need；　but　with　Lecter　he　took　no　chances。
　He　had　an　intern　fluoroscope　the　letter　in　the　X…ray　department。　Crawford　slit　the　envelope　on　all　sides　with　a　penknife　and　examined　its　inside　surface　and　the　note　for　any　stain　or　dust　…　they　would　have　lye　for　scrubbing　at　Chesapeake　Hospital；　and　there　was　a　pharmacy。
　Satisfied　at　last；　he　read　it：
　
　Dear　Will；
　　　　Here　we　are；　you　and　I；　languishing　in　our　hospitals。　You　have　your　pain　and　I　am　without　my　books　…　the　learned　Dr。　Chilton　has　seen　to　that。
　　　　We　live　in　a　primitive　time　…　don't　we；　Will？　…　neither　savage　nor　wise。　Half　measures　are　the　curse　of　it。　Any　rational　society　would　either　kill　me　or　give　me　my　books。
　　　　I　wish　you　a　speedy　convalescence　and　hope　you　won't　be　very　ugly。
　　　　I　think　of　you　often。
　Hannibal　Lecter
　
　The　intern　looked　at　his　watch；　〃Do　you　need　me　anymore？〃
　〃No；〃　Crawford　said。　〃Where's　the　incinerator？〃
　When　Crawford　returned　in　four　hours　for　the　next　visiting　penod；　Molly　wasn't　in　the　waiting　room　and　she　wasn't　in　the　intensive…care　unit。
　Graham　was　awake。　He　drew　a　question　mark　on　the　pad　at　once。　〃D。　dead　how？〃　he　wrote　under　it。
　Crawford　told　him。　Graham　lay　still　for　a　full　minute。　Then　he　wrote；　〃Lammed　how？〃
　〃Okay；〃　Crawford　said。　〃St。　Louis。　Dolarhyde　must　have　been　looking　for　Reba　MeClane。　He　came　in　the　lab　while　we　were　there　and　spotted　us。　His　prints　were　on　an　open　furnace…room　window　…　it　wasn't　reported　until　yesterday。〃
　Graham　tapped　the　pad。　〃Bodv？〃
　〃We　think　it　was　a　guy　named　Arnold　Lang　…　he's　missing。　His　car　was　found　in　Memphis。　It　had　been　wiped　down。　They'll　run　me　out　in　a　minute。　Let　me　give　it　to　you　in　order。
　〃Dolarhyde　knew　we　were　there。　He　gave　us　the　slip　at　the　plant　and　drove　to　a　Servco　Supreme　station　at　Lindbergh　and　U。S。　270。　Arnold　Lang　worked　there。
　〃Reba　McClane　said　Dolarhyde　had　a　tiff　with　a　service…station　attendant　on　Saturday　before　last。　We　think　it　was　Lang。
　〃He　snuffed　Lang　and　took　his　body　to　the　house。　Then　he　went　by　Reba　MeClane's。　She　was　in　a　clinch　with　Ralph　Mandy　at　the　door。　He　shot　Mandy　and　dragged　him　into　the　hedge。〃
　The　nurse　came　in。
　〃For　God's　sake；　it's　police　business；〃　Crawford　said。　He　talked　fast　as　she　pulled　him　by　the　coat　sleeve　to　the　door。　〃He　chloroformed　Reba　MeClane　and　took　her　to　the　house。　The　body　was　there；〃　Crawford　said　from　the　hall。
　Graham　had　to　wait　four　hours　to　find　out　the　rest。
　〃He　gave　her　this　and　that；　you　know；　'Will　I　kill　you　or　not？'　〃　Crawford　said　as　he　came　in　the　door。
　〃You　know　the　routine　about　the　key　hanging　around　his　neck　…　that　was　to　make　sure　she　felt　the　body。　So　she　could　tell　us　she　certainly　did　feel　a　body。　All　right；　it's　this　way　and　that　way。　'I　can't　stand　to　see　you　burn；'　he　says；　and　blows　Lang's　head　off　with　a　twel