p&c.brimstone-第68部分

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　They　tore　through　the　fir　forest　once　again　before　mounting　another　series　of　steep　switchbacks；　worse　than　the　last。　D'Agosta　felt　his　stomach　begin　to　rise　unfortably。　He　allowed　himself　a　single　glance　out　over　the　edge。　Far　below…very；　very　far　below…he　could　see　the　Casentino　Valley；　dotted　with　fields　and　villages。　He　looked　quickly　away。　
　Turn　after　turn　they　mounted；　Pendergast　driving　in　grim　silence。　D'Agosta　reloaded　and　checked　his　gun：　it　beat　looking　out　the　window。　Suddenly　houses　flashed　past；　and　they　whipped　through　the　town　of　Chiusi　della　Verna；　Pendergast　leaning　on　the　horn；　pedestrians　jumping　into　the　doorway　of　a　shop　in　terror　as　the　car　blasted　by；　clipping　the　side…view　mirror　from　a　parked　van　and　sending　it　bouncing　and　rolling　down　the　street。　Just　past　town　was　another　faded　sign：Santuario　della　Verna　6km。　
　The　road　climbed　steadily　through　a　steep　forest；　one　brutally　sharp　turn　after　another。　And　then　suddenly　they　emerged　from　the　trees　into　a　meadow；　and　there…directly　ahead　but　still　a　thousand　feet　above　them…stood　the　monastery　of　La　Verna：　a　great　tangle　of　ancient　stone；　perched　on　a　crag　that　seemed　to　hang　over　open　space。　It　was　windowless；　so　old　and　vast　and　scarred　by　time　it　looked　a　part　of　the　cliff　face　itself。　Despite　everything；　D'Agosta　felt　a　chill　go　down　his　spine；　he　knew　from　Sunday　school　that　this　was　perhaps　the　holiest　Christian　monastery　in　the　world；　built　in　1224　by　St。　Francis　himself。　
　The　car　blasted　back　into　the　forest　and　the　monastery　disappeared　from　view。　〃Have　we　got　a　chance？〃　D'Agosta　asked。　
　〃It　depends　on　how　quickly　our　man　finds　Father　Zenobi。　The　monastery　is　a　big　place。　If　only　they　had　a　phone！〃　
　The　car　careened　around　another　turn。　D'Agosta　could　hear　a　bell　ringing；　the　faint　sound　of　chanting　floating　toward　him　over　the　noise　of　the　engine。　
　〃I　think　the　monks　are　at　prayer；〃　he　said。　He　glanced　at　his　watch。　It　would　be　the　service　of　Sext：　sixth　hour　of　the　Opus　Dei。　
　〃Yes。　Most　unfortunate。〃　Pendergast　pushed　the　car　around　the　final　bend；　wheels　slipping　on　ancient；　mossy　cobbles　instead　of　asphalt。　
　The　cobbled　road…clearly　never　built　to　be　driven　upon…led　up　behind　the　monastery。　There；　at　the　stone　archway　leading　through　the　outer　wall　of　the　monastery　into　a　massive　cloister；　D'Agosta　saw　the　Ducati　lying　on　its　tubular　frame；　fat　rear　wheel　still　spinning　lazily。　
　Pendergast　slewed　to　a　stop　and　was　out；　gun　drawn；　even　before　the　car　was　pletely　at　rest。　D'Agosta　followed　hard　on　his　heels。　They　ran　past　the　bike；　across　a　stone　bridge；　and　into　the　cloisters。　A　large　chapel　stood　to　the　right；　its　doors　wide；　the　vigorous　sounds　of　plainchant　rising　and　falling　on　the　cool　breeze。　As　they　ran；　the　chanting　seemed　to　hesitate；　then　die　away　in　a　ragged　confusion。　
　They　rushed　into　the　church　just　in　time　to　see　the　figure　in　red　leather…his　arm　extended；　rigid…fire　point…blank　into　an　old　monk；　who　was　kneeling；　his　hands　raised　in　surprise　or　prayer。　The　report　of　the　gun　was　shockingly　loud　in　the　confined　space；　reverberating　even　as　the　notes　of　the　plainsong　died　away。　D'Agosta　shouted　out　in　dismay；　rage；　and　horror　as　the　priest　fell　and　the　shooter　raised　his　gun；　execution　style；　taking　careful　aim　for　a　second　shot。　
　　　
　66　
　
　In　the　predawn　light；　Hayward　stood　with　Captain　Grable　on　arocky　point　just　north　of　the　Central　Park　Arsenal。　From　here；　they　manded　a　good　view　of　the　tent　city；　still　slumbering　in　the　quiet　morning　air。　They'd　been　briefed　on　the　location　of　Wayne　Buck's　tent；　and　she　could　make　it　out　clearly：　a　large　green　canvas　job　in　the　heart　of　the　encampment。　
　Hayward's　misgivings　increased。　This　was　no　clean　shot；　in　and　out。　The　makeshift　city　had　grown　much　larger　than　she　realized：　there　had　to　be　three　hundred　tents；　maybe　more；　scattered　through　the　foliage。　And　the　landscape　wouldn't　help：　deep　green　swales　and　leafy　hollows；　surrounded　by　grassy　hummocks；　their　sides　frequently　exposing　long　swaths　of　dark　gray　rock。　Through　the　thicket　of　tree　branches；　she　could　just　make　out…parked　along　Fifth…the　cop　car　that　would　take　Buck　away。　It　was　idling　on　the　park　side　of　the　avenue；　right　opposite　the　entrance　to　Cutforth's　building。　
　Fact　was；　this　was　just　about　the　last　place　she　wanted　to　be　at　the　moment。　By　rights　she　should　be　pursuing　the　Cutforth　murder。　She　shouldn't　be　out　here…not　anymore；　not　when　there　was　an　open　homicide　to　be　worked。　It　felt　too　much　like　the　bad　old　days　when　she　was　a　rouster　for　the　transit　police。　
　She　glanced　at　Grable。　She　had　talked　to　D'Agosta　the　night　before；　briefly；　and　now　she　wished　he　was　here。　There　was　a　guy　you　could　count　on。　As　for　Grable…　
　Grable　adjusted　his　tie；　squared　his　shoulders。　〃Let's　circle　around　and　e　in　from　the　west。〃　He　was　sweating；　his　shirt　plastered　to　his　chest　despite　the　cool　morning。　
　Hayward　nodded。　〃As　I　see　it；　the　key　here　isspeed　。　We　don't　want　to　be　caught　in　there。〃　
　Grable　swallowed；　hiked　up　his　belt。　〃Captain；　unlike　some　in　the　force；　I　didn't　waste　my　time　in　the　classroom　piling　up　degrees。　I　came　up　through　the　rank　and　file。　I　know　what　I'm　doing。〃　
　There　was　a　long　moment　while　Grable　looked　down　on　the　slumbering　tent　city。　Hayward　glanced　at　her　watch。　The　light　was　ing　up　moment　by　moment；　and　the　sun　would　rise　within　minutes。　Why　the　hell　was　Grable　waiting？　
　〃We're　running　a　little　late；　if　you　don't　mind　me　saying　so；〃　she　said。　
　〃I　don't　operate　on　a　timetable；　Captain。〃　
　Hayward　tried　to　suppress　her　misgivings。　This　was　Grable's　operation…Rocker　had　made　that　clear…and　she　was　to　follow　his　lead。　Going　in　with　a　bad　attitude　wasn't　going　to　do　any　good。　And　the　plan　might　work。　Hell；　itwould　work　if　they　could　just　get　in　and　out　fast　enough；　drag　Buck　to　the　waiting　squad　car　before　he'd　even　managed　to　wake　up。It　could　work　；　she　told　herself；as　long　as　Grable　moves　fast。　If　you're　going　to　arrest　someone；　you　do　it。　You　don't　give　them　time　to　think　about　it　first。　She　glanced　at　Grable　again；　wondering　why　he　was　taking　so　long。　
　〃Right；〃　said　Grable；　noticing　the　glance。　〃Let's　go。〃　
　They　cut　west　through　the　low　trees　and　brushy　undergrowth；　circling　the　flank　of　the　tent　city；　sticking　close　to　one　side　of　a　shallow　defile。　Soon　they　reached　what　looked　like　a　herd　path　leading　directly　into　the　makeshift　munity。　They　were　downwind　now；　and　the　odor　of　raw　sewage　and　unwashed　humanity　hit　Hayward　hard。　
　Grable　quickened　his　pace　as　they　approached　the　fringes。　A　few　people　were　already　up；　some　cooking　on　little　backpacking　stoves；　others　wandering　around。　
　Grable　hesitated　just　inside　the　ragged　outer　ring　of　tents。　Then　he　nodded　brusquely　to　Hayward　and　they　started　forward　again。　Hayward　nodded　in　a　friendly　way　to　those　who　were　up　and　watching　them　pass。　The　ground　flattened　and　the　tents　huddled　closer　together；　forming　narrow　lanes　and　alleys。　In　a　few　minutes　they　had　arrived　at　the　center　clearing　around　Buck's　tent。　
　So　far；　so　good；thought　Hayward。　
　The　front　flap　was　tied　on　two　side　posts。　Grable　stopped　before　the　entrance　and　called　in　a　loud　voice：　〃Buck？　This　is　Captain　Grable　of　the　NYPD。〃　
　〃Hey！〃　A　tall；　clean…cut　fellow　appeared　out　of　nowhere。　〃What　are　you　doing？〃　
　〃None　of　your　business；〃　said　Grable　brusquely。　
　Shit；thought　Hayward。Not　like　that。　
　〃There's　no　problem；〃　she　said。　〃We're　just　here　to　talk　to　the　reverend。〃　
　〃Yeah？　What　about？〃　
　〃Back　off；　pal；〃　said　Grable。　
　〃What　is　it？〃　came　a　muffled　voice　from　inside　the　tent。　〃Who's　there？〃　
　〃Captain　Grable；　NYPD。〃　Grable　began　untying　the　knotted　drawstring　that　held　the　flap　shut　against　one　of　the　side　poles。　He　had　it　almost　undone　when　a　hand　reached　from　inside；　closed　over　his；　and　removed　it。　The　flap　lifted　and　then　Buck　stood　there；　straight　and　stern。　〃This　is　my　home；〃　he　said　coldly　and　with　dignity。　〃Do　not　violate　it。〃　
　Cuff　him；　Hayward　thought。Cuff　the　son　of　a　bitch　and　get　the　hell　out。　
　〃We're　New　York　City　police　officers；　and　this　is　public　land。　This　isn't　some　private　dwelling。〃　
　〃Sir；　I　ask　you　once　again　to　stand　back　from　my　home。〃　
　Hayward　was　astonished　by　the　man's　presence。　She　turned　to　see　how　Grable　was　going　to　handle　it。　She　was　shocked　to　see　his　face　paling　beneath　the　sheen　of　sweat。　
　〃Wayne　Buck；　you　are　under　arrest。〃　Grable　tried　to　unclip　his　handcuffs；　but　his　hands　were　shaking　slightly　and　it　took　longer　than　it　should　have。　
　Hayward　couldn't　believe　it。　Grable　was　out　of　his　depth。　That　was　the　only　answer。　He'd　ridden　a　desk　so　long　he'd　lost　his　street　smarts…if　he　ever　had　them…and　he'd　forgotten　how　to　deal　with　a　fluid　situation　like　this。　That　explained　his　hesitation　back　at　the　arsenal；　his　sweating；　everything。　He'd　wanted　the　missioner　to　send　in　a　large　party　to　deal　with　Buck；　but　when　Rocker　had　given　the　job　directly　to　him；　he　couldn't　refuse。　Now；　with　no　SWAT　team　to　back　him　up；　confronted　by　the　implacable　Buck；　he　was　losing　his　nerve。　
　Buck　stared；　making　no　move　to　cooperate；　but　not　doing　anything　to　resist；　either。　
　The　clean…cut　man；　who　seemed　to　be　Buck's　bodyguard　or　aide…de…camp；　turned；　cupped　his　hands；　and　cried　out　in　a　tremendous　voice；〃Arise！　Arise！　The　cops　are　here　to　arrest　the　reverend！〃　
　There　was　a　stirring；　a　sudden　murmur　of　voices。　
　〃Turn　around　and　place　your　hands　behind　your　back；　sir；〃　said　Grable；　but　his　voice　was　trembling。　
　Still　Buck　made　no　move。　
　〃Arise！〃　
　〃Captain；〃　said　Hayward；　her　voice　low；　〃he's　resisting　arrest。Cuff　him　。〃　
　But　Grable　made　no　move。　
　In　an　instant；　Hayward　sized　up　the　situation　and　realized　their　window　of　opportunity　had　already　closed。　Looking　around；　she　recalled　the　time　when…as　a　kid　on　a　dare…she'd　poked　a　stick　into　a　hornet's　nest。　There　was　a　moment；　just　a　moment；　of　suspension　。　。　。　then　a　muffled　hum　just　before　the　hornets　came　boiling　out；　madder　than　hell。　That's　what　the　tent　city　felt　like。　People　were　up　but　not　yet　out　of　their　tents；　a　dull　hum　of　activity　that　was　about　to　explode。　
　〃Defend　the　reverend！　The　police　are　here　to　arrest　him！　Arise！〃　
　Now　came　the　boiling。　Suddenly；　hundreds　of　people　were　up　and　out　o