sk.runningman-第27部分

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　　〃Where　are　you；　fella？　Half　the　cops　in　eastern　Maine　just　went　through　Rockland　。　。　。　at　about　a　hundred　and　ten。〃
　　Richards　craned　his　neck　at　the　sign　over　the　store。　〃A　place　called　Gilly's　Town　Line　Store　&　Airstop　on　U。S。　1。　You　know　it？〃
　　〃Yeah。　Just…〃
　　〃Listen　to　me；　maggot。　I　didn't　call　to　give　you　my　life　story。　Get　some　photogs　out　here。　Quick。　And　get　this　on　the　air。　Red　Newsbreak　Top。　I've　got　a　hostage。　Her　name　is　Amelia　Williams。　From…〃　He　looked　at　her。
　　〃Falmouth；〃　she　said　miserably。
　　〃From　Falmouth。　Safe　conduct　or　I'll　kill　her。〃
　　〃Jesus；　I　smell　the　Pulitzer　Prize！〃
　　〃No；　you　just　shit　your　pants；　that's　all；〃　Richards　said。　He　felt　lightheaded。　〃You　get　the　word　out。　I　want　the　State　Pigs　to　find　out　everyone　knows　I'm　not　alone。　Three　of　them　at　a　roadblock　tried　to　blow　us　up。〃
　　〃What　happened　to　the　cops！〃
　　〃I　killed　them。〃
　　〃All　three？　Hot　damn！〃　The　voice；　pulled　away　from　the　phone；　yelled　distantly：　〃Dicky；　open　the　national　cable！〃
　　〃I'm　going　to　kill　her　if　they　shoot；〃　Richards　said；　simultaneously　trying　to　inject　sincerity　into　his　voice　and　to　remember　all　the　old　gangster　movies　he　had　seen　on　tee…vee　as　a　kid。　〃If　they　want　to　save　the　girl；　they　better　let　me　through。〃
　　〃When…〃
　　Richards　hung　up　and　hopped　clumsily　out　of　the　booth。　〃Help　me。〃
　　She　put　an　arm　around　him；　grimacing　at　the　blood。　〃See　what　you're　getting　yourself　into？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃This　is　madness。　You're　going　to　be　killed。〃
　　〃Drive　north；〃　he　mumbled。　〃Just　drive　north。〃
　　He　slid　into　the　car；　breathing　hard。　The　world　insisted　on　going　in　and　out。　High；　atonal　music　jangled　in　his　ears。　She　pulled　out　and　onto　the　road。　His　blood　had　smeared　on　her　smart　green　and　black…striped　blouse。　The　old　man；　Gilly；　cracked　the　screen　door　open　and　poked　out　a　very　old　Polaroid　camera。　He　clicked　the　shutter；　pulled　the　tape；　and　waited。　His　face　was　painted　with　horror　and　excitement　and　delight。
　　In　the　distance；　rising　and　converging；　sirens。
　　
　　Minus　040　and　COUNTING
　　They　traveled　five　miles　before　people　began　running　out　onto　their　lawns　to　watch　them　pass。　Many　had　cameras　and　Richards　relaxed。
　　〃They　were　shooting　at　the　aircaps　at　that　roadblock；〃　she　said　quietly。　〃It　was　a　mistake。　That's　what　it　was。　A　mistake。〃
　　〃If　that　maggot　was　aiming　for　an　aircap　when　he　put　out　the　windshield；　there　must　have　been　a　sight　on　that　pistol　three　feet　high。〃
　　〃It　was　a　mistake！　〃
　　They　were　entering　the　residential　district　of　what　Richards　assumed　was　Rockland。　Summer　homes。　Dirt　roads　leading　down　to　beachfront　cottages。　Breeze　Inn。　Private　Road。　Just　Me'n　Patty。　Keep　Out。　Elizabeth's　Rest。　Trespassers　Will　Be　Shot。　Cloud…Hi。　5000　Volts。　Set…A…Spell。　Guard　Dogs　on　Patrol。
　　Unhealthy　eyes　and　avid　faces　peering　at　them　from　behind　trees；　like　Cheshire　cats。　The　blare　of　battery…powered　Free…Vees　came　through　the　shattered　windshield。
　　A　crazy；　weird　air　of　carnival　about　everything。
　　〃These　people；〃　Richards　said；　〃only　want　to　see　someone　bleed。　The　more　the　better。　They　would　just　as　soon　it　was　both　of　us。　Can　you　believe　that？〃
　　〃No。〃
　　〃Then　I　salute　you。〃
　　An　older　man　with　silvery　barbershop　hair；　wearing　madras　shorts　that　came　down　over　his　knees；　ran　out　to　the　edge　of　the　road。　He　was　carrying　a　huge　camera　with　a　cobra…like　telephoto　lens。　He　began　snapping　pictures　wildly；　bending　and　dipping。　His　legs　were　fish…belly　white。　Richards　burst　into　a　sudden　bray　of　laughter　that　made　Amelia　jump。
　　〃What…〃
　　〃He's　still　got　the　lens　cover　on；〃　Richards　said。　〃He's　still　got…〃　But　laughter　overcame　him。
　　Cars　crowded　the　shoulders　as　they　topped　a　long；　slowly　rising　hill　and　began　to　descend　toward　the　clustered　town　of　Rockland　itself。　Perhaps　it　had　once　been　a　picturesque　seacoast　fishing　village；　full　of　Window　Homer　men　in　yellow　rainslickers　who　went　out　in　small　boats　to　trap　the　wily　lobster。　If　so；　it　was　long　gone。　There　was　a　huge　shopping　center　on　either　side　of　the　road。　A　main　street　strip　of　honky…tonks；　bars；　and　AutoSlot　emporiums。　There　were　neat　middle…class　homes　overlooking　the　main　drag　from　the　heights；　and　a　growing　slum　looking　up　from　the　rancid　edge　of　the　water。　The　sea　at　the　horizon　was　yet　unchanged。　It　glittered　blue　and　ageless；　full　of　dancing　points　and　nets　of　light　in　the　late　afternoon　sun。
　　They　began　the　descent；　and　there　were　two　police　cars　parked　across　the　road。　The　blue　lights　flick…flick…flicked　jaggedly；　crazy　and　out　of　sync　with　each　other。　Parked　at　an　angle　on　the　left　embankment　was　an　armored　car　with　a　short；　stubby　cannon　barrel　tracking　them。
　　〃You're　done；〃　she　said　softly；　almost　regretfully。　〃Do　I　have　to　die；　too？〃
　　〃Stop　fifty　yards　from　the　roadblock　and　do　your　stuff；〃　Richards　said。　He　slid　down　in　the　seat。　A　nervous　tic　stitched　his　face。
　　She　stopped　and　opened　the　car　door；　but　did　not　lean　out。　The　air　was　dead　silent。　A　hush　falls　over　the　crowd；　Richards　thought　ironically。
　　〃I'm　scared；〃　she　said。　〃Please。　I'm　so　scared。〃
　　〃They　won't　shoot　you；〃　he　said。　〃There　are　too　many　people。　You　can't　kill　hostages　unless　no　one　is　watching。　Those　are　the　rules　of　the　game。〃
　　She　looked　at　him　for　a　moment；　and　he　suddenly　wished　they　could　have　a　cup　of　coffee　together。　He　would　listen　carefully　to　her　conversation　and　stir　real　cream　into　his　hot　drink…her　treat；　of　course。　Then　they　could　discuss　the　possibilities　of　social　inequity；　the　way　your　socks　always　fall　down　when　you're　wearing　rubber　boots；　and　the　importance　of　being　earnest。
　　〃Go　on；　Mrs。　Williams；〃　he　said　with　soft；　tense　mockery。　〃The　eyes　of　the　world　are　upon　you。〃
　　She　leaned　out。
　　Six　police　cars　and　another　armored　van　had　pulled　up　thirty　feet　behind　them；　blocking　their　retreat。
　　He　thought：　Now　the　only　way　out　is　straight　up　to　heaven。
　　
　　Minus　039　and　COUNTING
　　〃My　name　is　Amelia　Williams。　Benjamin　Richards　is　holding　me　hostage。　If　you　don't　give　us　safe　conduct；　he　says　he'll　kill　me。〃
　　Silence　for　a　moment　so　plete　that　Richards　could　hear　the　faraway　honk　of　some　distant　yacht's　air　horn。
　　Then；　asexual；　blaring；　amplified：　〃WE　WANT　TO　TALK　TO　BEN　RICHARDS。〃
　　〃No；〃　Richards　said　swiftly。
　　〃He　says　he　won't。〃
　　〃E　OUT　OF　THE　CAR；　MADAM。〃
　　〃He'll　kill　me！〃　she　cried　wildly。　〃Don't　you　listen？　Some　men　almost　killed　us　back　there！　He　says　you　don't　care　who　you　kill。　My　God；　is　he　right？〃
　　A　hoarse　voice　in　the　crowd　yelled　〃Let　her　through！〃
　　〃E　OUT　OF　THE　CAR　OR　WE'LL　SHOOT。〃
　　〃Let　her　through！　Let　her　through！　〃　The　crowd　had　taken　up　the　chant　like　eager　fans　at　a　killball　match。
　　〃E　OUT…〃
　　The　crowd　drowned　it　out。　From　somewhere；　a　rock　flew。　A　police　car　windshield　starred　into　a　matrix　of　cracks。
　　There　was　suddenly　a　rev　of　motors；　and　the　two　cruisers　began　to　pull　apart；　opening　a　narrow　slot　of　pavement。　The　crowd　cheered　happily　and　then　fell　silent；　waiting　for　the　next　act。
　　〃ALL　CIVILIANS　LEAVE　THE　AREA；〃　the　bullhorn　chanted。　〃THERE　MAY　BE　SHOOTING。　ALL　CIVILIANS　LEAVE　THE　AREA　OR　YOU　MAY　BE　CHARGED　WITH　OBSTRUCTION　AND　UNLAWFUL　ASSEMBLY。　THE　PENALTY　FOR　OBSTRUCTION　AND　UNLAWFUL　ASSEMBLY　IS　TEN　YEARS　IN　THE　STATE　PENITENTIARY　OR　A　FINE　OF　TEN　THOUSAND　DOLLARS　OR　BOTH。　CLEAR　THE　AREA。　CLEAR　THE　AREA。〃
　　〃Yeah；　so　no　one'll　see　you　shoot　the　girl！〃　a　hysterical　voice　yelled。　〃Screw　all　pigs！〃
　　The　crowd　didn't　move。　A　yellow　and　black　newsie…mobile　had　pulled　up　with　a　flashy　screech。　Two　men　jumped　out　and　began　setting　up　a　camera。
　　Two　cops　rushed　over　and　there　was　a　short；　savage　scuffle　for　the　possession　of　the　camera。　Then　one　of　the　cops　yanked　it　free；　picked　it　up　by　the　tripod；　and　smashed　it　on　the　road。　One　of　the　newsmen　tried　to　reach　the　cop　that　had　done　it　and　was　clubbed。
　　A　small　boy　darted　out　of　the　crowd　and　fired　a　rock　at　the　back　of　a　cop's　head。　Blood　splattered　the　road　as　the　cop　fell　over。　A　half…dozen　more　descended　on　the　boy；　bearing　him　off。　Incredibly；　small　and　savage　fistfights　had　begun　on　the　sidelines　between　the　well…dressed　townfolk　and　the　rattier　slum…dwellers。　A　woman　in　a　ripped　and　faded　housedress　suddenly　descended　on　a　plump　matron　and　began　to　pull　her　hair。　They　fell　heavily　to　the　road　and　began　to　roll　on　the　macadam；　kicking　and　screaming。
　　〃My　God；〃　Amelia　said　sickly。
　　〃What's　happening？〃　Richards　asked。　He　dared　look　no　higher　than　the　clock　on　the　dashboard。
　　〃Fights。　Police　hitting　people。　Someone　broke　a　newsie's　camera。〃
　　〃GIVE　UP；　RICHARDS。　E　OUT。〃
　　〃Drive　on；〃　Richards　said　softly。
　　The　air　car　jerked　forward　erratically。　〃They'll　shoot　for　the　air　caps；　〃　she　said。　〃Then　wait　until　you　have　to　e　out。〃
　　〃They　won't；〃　Richards　said。
　　〃Why？〃
　　〃They're　too　dumb。〃
　　They　didn't。
　　They　proceeded　slowly　past　the　ranked　police　cars　and　the　bug…eyed　spectators。　They　had　split　themselves　into　two　groups　in　unconscious　segregation。　On　one　side　of　the　road　were　the　middle…　and　upper…class　citizens；　the　ladies　who　had　their　hair　done　at　the　beauty　parlor；　the　men　who　wore　Arrow　shirts　and　loafers。　Fellows　wearing　coveralls　with　pany　names　on　the　back　and　their　own　names　stitched　in　gold　thread　over　the　breast　pockets。　Women　like　Amelia　Williams　herself；　dressed　for　the　market　and　the　shops。　Their　faces　were　different　in　all　ways　but　similar　in　one：　They　looked　oddly　inplete；　like　pictures　with　holes　for　eyes　or　a　jigsaw　puzzle　with　a　minor　piece　missing。　It　was　a　lack　of　desperation。　Richards　thought。　No　wolves　howled　in　these　bellies。　These　minds　were　not　filled　with　rotted；　crazed　dreams　or　mad　hopes。
　　These　people　were　on　the　right　side　of　the　road；　the　side　that　faced　the　bination　marina　and　country　club　they　were　just　passing。
　　On　the　other　side；　the　left；　were　the　poor　people。　Red　noses　with　burst　veins。　Flattened；　sagging　breasts。　Stringy　hair。　White　socks。　Cold　sores。　Pimples。　The　blank　and　hanging　mouths　of　idiocy。
　　The　police　were　deployed　more　heavily　here；　and　more　were　ing　all　the　time。　Richards　was　not　surprised　at　the　swiftness　and　the　heaviness　of　their　crunch；　despite　the　suddenness　of　his　appearan