p&c.brimstone-第78部分

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y　famous。　The　lowest　of　those　tunnels　were　cut　into　the　rock　by　the　Etruscans；　three　thousand　years　ago。〃　
　They　came　to　a　heavy　iron　door；　set　into　an　even　heavier　stone　wall。　Deeper　within　the　castle；　D'Agosta　could　see　that　the　stonework　was　beaded　with　moisture。　
　〃The　keep；〃　Fosco　said　as　he　unlocked　the　door　with　another　key。　
　Immediately　inside　was　a　wide；　windowless　circular　staircase　that　corkscrewed　its　way　up　from　the　depths　and　curved　out　of　sight　above　their　heads。　Fosco　removed　a　battery…powered　torch　from　a　wall　sconce；　turned　it　on；　and　led　the　way　up　the　stairs。　After　five　or　six　revolutions；　they　stopped　at　a　small　landing　containing　a　single　door。　Opening　it　with　yet　another　key；　Fosco　ushered　them　into　what　looked　like　a　small　apartment；　retrofitted　into　the　old　castle　keep；　its　tiny　windows　overlooking　the　valley　of　the　Greve　and　the　rolling　hills　marching　toward　Florence；　far　below。　A　fire　burned　in　a　stone　fireplace　at　one　end；　and　Persian　rugs　covered　the　terra…cotta　floor。　There　was　a　fortable　sitting　area　in　front　of　the　fire；　a　table　to　one　side　well　furnished　with　wines　and　liquors；　a　wall　of　well…stocked　bookshelves。　
　〃Eccoci　quà！I　trust　you　will　find　your　chambers　fortable。　There　are　two　small　bedrooms　on　either　side。　The　view　is　refreshing；　don't　you　think？　I　am　concerned　that　you　brought　no　luggage。　I　will　have　Pinketts　furnish　you　with　anything　you　might　need…razors；　bathrobes；　slippers；　sleeping　shirts。〃　
　〃I　very　much　doubt　we　will　be　staying　the　night。〃　
　〃And　I　very　much　doubt　you　will　be　leaving。〃　The　count　smiled。　〃We　eat　late；　in　the　Continental　fashion。　At　nine。〃　
　He　bowed；　backed　out　of　the　door；　shutting　it　with　a　hollow　boom。　With　sinking　heart；　D'Agosta　heard　a　key　rasp　in　the　lock；　and　then　the　footsteps　of　the　count　disappearing　quickly　down　the　stairway。　
　　　
　76　
　
　The　staging　area　for　the　move　on　Buck's　encampment　was　amaintenance　parking　lot　behind　the　arsenal；　well　out　of　sight　of　the　tent　city。　missioner　Rocker　had　called　up　no　fewer　than　three　NYPD　riot　control　divisions；　along　with　a　SWAT　team；　two　hostage　negotiators；　officers　on　horseback；　two　mobile　mand　units；　and　plenty　of　rank　and　file　with　helmets　and　bulletproof　vests　to　manage　the　arrests。　Then　there　were　the　fire　trucks；　ambulances；　and　prisoner　transport　vans；　all　standing　by　at　a　discreet　distance　on　67th　Street。　
　Hayward　stood　at　the　northern　fringe　of　the　staging　area；　giving　her　radio　and　weapon　a　final　check。　The　crowd　of　uniformed　officers　milling　around　with　batons　and　riot　shields　was　enormous；　not　to　mention　various　operations　specialists　with　wires　dangling　from　their　ears　and　even　a　few　confidential　informants　dressed　as　tent　city　residents。　She　understood　the　reason　for　the　overkill：　if　you　went　in；　you　went　in　with　overwhelming　force；　and　nine　times　out　of　ten　the　opposition　caved。　The　worst　thing　you　could　do　was　let　them　think　they　might　have　a　chance　if　they　made　a　stand。　
　And　yet　these　people　thought　they　had　God　behind　them。　These　weren't　striking　bus　drivers　or　municipal　workers　with　spouses　and　kids；　two　cars　in　the　driveway。　These　were　true　believers。　They　were　unpredictable。　Her　approach　made　more　sense。　
　Didn't　it？　
　Rocker　appeared　out　of　the　crowd；　strode　over；　and　laid　a　hand　on　Hayward's　shoulder。　〃Ready？〃　
　She　nodded。　
　He　gave　her　a　fatherly　pat。　〃Radio　if　you　run　into　heavy　weather。　We'll　move　in　early。〃　He　glanced　at　the　array　of　men　and　equipment　behind　them。　〃I　hope　to　hell　none　of　this　is　necessary。〃　
　〃So　do　I。〃　
　She　could　see　Wentworth　at　one　of　the　mobile　mand　units；　wire　dangling　from　his　ear；　talking；　gesturing　this　way　and　that。　He　was　playing　cop；　having　the　time　of　his　life。　He　glanced　in　her　direction　and　she　turned　away。　It　would　be　humiliating　if　she　failed。　Not　only　that；　it　would　seriously　damage　her　career。　Wentworth　had　already　predicted　failure；　and　it　was　only　through　Rocker's　support　that　her　mission　had　been　approved　at　all。　Not　for　the　first　time　since　the　last　meeting；　she　wondered　why　she'd　stuck　her　neck　out。　This　was　not　the　way　to　advance　a　career。　How　many　times　had　she　seen　that　those　who　went　with　the　flow　rode　the　tide　to　success？　D'Agosta's　attitude　must　be　rubbing　off　on　her。　
　〃Ready？〃　
　She　nodded。　
　Rocker　released　her　shoulder。　〃Then　have　at　it；　Captain。〃　
　She　took　one　more　look　back　at　the　safety　of　the　staging　area。　Then　she　set　off　along　a　walkway　that　curved　north　around　the　arsenal；　taking　her　badge　from　her　pocket　and　clipping　it　to　her　jacket　as　she　did　so。　
　In　a　few　minutes；　the　straggling　outer　tents　of　the　encampment　came　into　view。　She　slowed；　getting　a　feel　for　the　crowd。　It　was　noon；　and　people　were　moving　around　everywhere。　There　was　the　smell　of　frying　bacon　in　the　air。　As　she　neared　the　first　line　of　tents；　people　stopped　to　stare。　She　nodded　in　a　friendly　way；　receiving　hostile　looks　in　response。　The　crowd　seemed　a　lot　more　tense　than　on　Friday…and　no　wonder。　They　weren't　stupid。　They　knew　they　weren't　going　to　get　away　with　threatening　police　officers。　They　were　waiting　for　the　second　shoe　to　drop。　She　just　had　to　make　sure　they　realized　she　wasn't　that　shoe。　
　She　entered　one　of　the　crooked　lanes；　feeling　all　eyes　on　her；　hearing　whispered　ments。　The　wordsSatan　andunclean　reached　her　ears。　She　kept　a　friendly　smile　on　her　face；　an　easiness　in　her　walk。　She　remembered　her　professor　in　Social　Dynamics　saying　a　crowd　was　like　a　dog：　if　you　showed　fear；　it　would　bite；　if　you　ran；　it　would　chase。　
　The　path　was　familiar；　and　in　less　than　a　minute；　she　found　herself　approaching　Buck's　tent。　He　was　sitting　at　a　table　out　front；　reading　a　book；　totally　absorbed。　The　same　officious　man　who　had　accosted　her　and　Grable　two　days　before…Buck　had　called　him　Todd…suddenly　appeared　in　front　of　her。　Already　a　crowd　was　forming。　Nothing　ugly：　just　curious；　silent；　and　hostile。　
　〃You　again；〃　the　man　said。　
　〃Me　again；〃　Hayward　replied。　〃Here　to　chat　with　the　reverend。〃　
　〃They're　back！〃　the　man　cried　to　the　others；　stepping　forward　to　block　her　way。　
　〃Not　'they。'　Just　me。〃　
　The　murmur　of　the　crowd　rose　like　an　electric　buzz。　The　air　was　suddenly　tense。　Hayward　glanced　back；　surprised　at　how　large　the　crowd　was　growing。Focus　on　Buck。　But　he　remained　reading　at　the　desk；　ignoring　her。　From　here；　she　could　make　out　the　title：Foxe's　Book　of　Martyrs；　Reader's　Digest　Edition。　
　Todd　advanced　to　the　point　where　he　was　almost…but　not　quite…touching　her　with　his　body。　
　〃The　reverend　can't　be　disturbed。〃　
　Hayward　felt　a　twinge　of　something　unfortably　like　doubt。　Was　this　plan　of　hers　really　going　to　work？　Or　was　Wentworth　right；　after　all？　
　She　spoke　loudly　enough　for　Buck　to　hear。　〃I'm　just　here　to　talk。　I've　got　no　arrest　warrant。　I　just　want　to　talk　to　the　reverend；　one　human　being　to　another。〃　
　〃Prevaricator！〃　someone　shouted　from　the　crowd。　
　She　had　to　get　past　this　aide…de…camp　blocking　her　way。　She　took　a　step　forward；　brushing　him。　
　〃That's　assault；　Officer；〃　Todd　said。　
　〃If　the　reverend　doesn't　want　to　talk　to　me；　let　me　hear　him　say　it　himself。　Let　the　reverend　make　his　own　decisions。〃　
　〃The　reverend　asked　not　to　be　disturbed。〃　They　were　still　touching；　and　it　gave　Hayward　the　creeps；　but　she　sensed　a　back…down　in　the　making。　
　She　wasn't　wrong。　Todd　took　a　step　back；　still　blocking　her　way。　
　〃Roman！〃　came　a　cry　from　the　crowd。　
　What　is　it　with　this　Roman　shit？〃All　I　ask　is　five　minutes　of　your　time；　Reverend；〃　she　called；　leaning　around　Todd。　〃Five　minutes。〃　
　At　last；　Buck　laid　down　the　book　with　great　deliberation；　rose　from　the　table；　and　finally　raised　his　head　to　look　at　her。　The　instant　her　eyes　met　his；　she　felt　a　chill。　On　Friday　he'd　seemed　a　little　unsure　of　what　he'd　wrought；　perhaps　amenable　to　persuasion。　But　today　there　was　a　coolness；　a　calmness；　a　sense　of　utter　self…confidence　she　had　not　seen　before。　The　only　emotion　she　sensed　in　him　was　a　passing　flicker；　perhaps；　of　disappointment。　She　swallowed。　
　〃Excuse　me。〃　She　tried　to　step　past　the　guardian。　
　Buck　nodded　to　the　man；　who　took　a　step　to　the　side。　Then　Buck　looked　back　at　her；　but　the　look　was　such　she　was　unsure　whether　he　was　seeing　her；　or　seeing　through　her。　
　〃Reverend；　I've　been　sent　by　the　NYPD　to　ask　you　and　your　followers　a　favor。〃Keep　it　chatty；　informal；　nonintimidating。　That's　what　she　had　learned　in　negotiations　training。Let　them　think　they're　making　the　decisions。　
　But　Buck　showed　no　sign　of　having　heard。　
　The　crowd　had　fallen　ominously　silent。　She　didn't　turn；　but　she　sensed　it　had　grown　enormous　by　now…no　doubt　much　of　the　encampment。　
　〃Look；　Reverend；　we've　got　a　problem。　Your　followers　are　ruining　the　park；　trampling　the　bushes；　killing　the　grass。　On　top　of　that；　they've　been　using　the　surroundings　as　a　public　latrine。　The　neighbors　are　plaining。　It's　a　health　hazard；　especially　for　you　all。〃　
　She　paused；　wondering　if　any　of　this　was　sinking　in。　
　〃Reverend；　can　you　help　us　out　here？〃　
　She　waited。　Buck　said　nothing。　
　〃I　need　your　help。〃　
　She　heard　restless　murmuring　in　the　crowd　behind　her。　People　were　flowing　in　around　the　back　side　of　Buck's　tent；　filling　her　field　of　vision。　She　was　truly　surrounded　now。　
　〃I've　got　a　deal　to　offer　you。　I　think　it's　a　fair　deal。　A　straight　deal。〃　
　Ask　what　it　is；　asshole。It　was　crucial　to　get　him　talking；　asking　questions；anything　。　But　he　said　nothing。　He　continued　looking　at　her；　lookingpast　her。　Christ；　she　had　somehow　misjudged　him…or　something　had　changed　since　their　last　visit。　This　was　not　the　same　man。　
　For　the　first　time；　the　real　possibility　of　failure　loomed　before　her。　
　〃You　want　to　hear　it？〃　
　No　response。　
　She　forged　gamely　ahead。　〃First；　the　health　hazard。　We　don't　want　you　or　your　followers　to　get　sick。　We'd　like　you　to　give　your　people　a　day　off。　That's　all…a　day　off。　Let　them　go　home；　shower；　have　a　hot　meal。　In　return；　we'll　give　you　a　parade　permit　that'll　allow　you　to　gather　lawfully　with　the　city's　blessing。　Not　like　this；　wrecking　the　park；　annoying　residents；　earning　the　disrespect　of　the　whole　city。　Look；　I've　heard　you　talk。　I　know　you're　a　fair　guy；　a　straight　shooter。　I'm　giving　you　a　chance　to　go　legit；　earn　some　respect…and　still　get　your　message