emb.seethemdie-第27部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


lammed　into　his　chest；　he　felt　nothing　at　first　but　impact。　He　had　been　punched　before；　punched　with　hard　driving　fists　that　had　knocked　the　wind　out　of　him；　and　he　knew　what　it　felt　like　to　be　hit。　He　had　once　been　struck　with　a　hammer　swung　by　a　delirious　building　superintendent；　catching　the　blow　on　his　shoulder；　feeling　the　sharp　sudden　pain　of　metal　against　flesh。　But　he　had　never　been　shot；　and　he　knew　now　that　when　a　man　got　shot　he　didn't　daintily　clutch　his　chest　and　say；　〃Uggggh！〃　and　then　do　a　fancy　movie…extra　dive。　He　knew　that　the　force　of　a　bullet　was　like　the　force　of　a　steam　lootive；　and　he　knew　that　when　you　got　hit　with　a　bullet；　you　got　knocked　off　your　feet。　It　was　as　simple　as　that。　Maybe　everyone　didn't　get　knocked　off　his　feet　when　he　was　shot；　but　the　bullets　that　struck　Hernandez　spun　him　around　from　his　crouch　and　then　knocked　him　flat　to　the　fire　escape。
　He　felt　only　impact　and　shock　at　first；　and　then　the　cold　sensation　of　falling　through　space；　will…less；　unable　to　control　himself；　simply　falling；　falling；　and　then　colliding　with　metal；　powerless　to　stick　out　his　arms　to　cushion　the　fall。
　And　then　he　was　on　fire。
　The　fire　engulfed　him。　It　started　with　the　two　gaping　holes　in　his　back　where　the　bullets　had　left　his　body；　and　then　ran　straight　through　his　body　like　burning　tunnels　to　the　two　smaller　holes　at　the　points　of　entry；　and　then　suddenly　flared　up　to　consume　his　entire　chest；　and　then　his　shoulders；　and　then　his　throat　and　his　face；　a　roaring　fire。　He　found　it　hard　to　breathe；　he　sucked　in　air　through　his　parted　lips；　and　he　dimly　realized　that　one　of　the　bullets　must　have　gone　through　a　lung；　and　then　blood　bubbled　out　of　his　mouth；　and　he　thought　it　was　saliva　until　he　saw　its　bright…red　splash　on　the　cuff　of　his　shirt；　and　then　he　panicked。
　Gasping　for　breath；　his　body　on　fire；　pain　lancing　through　him；　he　felt　the　panic　rush　into　his　head　and　settle　behind　his　eyes　like　a　pair　of　thumbs　pressing　outward。　More　blood　bubbled　from　his　mouth。
　Giddily；　he　wondered　if　he　were　going　to　die。
　The　thumbs　kept　pressing　against　the　backs　of　his　eyes；　spreading　darkness　which　came　in　waves　and　retreated。　He　could　hear　shouting　in　the　street　below。　He　wondered　if　they'd　collared　whoever　had　done　the　yelling。
　He　wanted　to　puke。
　He　felt　the　nausea　start　deep　in　his　stomach；　tasted　the　vomit　in　his　throat；　and　then　the　fire　escape　was　spinning；　the　sky　was　spinning；　the　world　was　spinning；　and　he　choked　on　his　own　blood　and　crashed　into　unconsciousness。
　The　boys　had　vanished　like　Arabian　horse　thieves。
　Zip　had　begun　running　the　moment　he'd　shouted　the　warning　to　Miranda；　shoving　his　way　through　the　crowd；　dashing　around　the　corner。　Papa　and　Sixto；　as　soon　as　they　realized　what　had　happened；　followed　him。　All　three　were　gone　before　Byrnes；　Carella；　and　Parker　rushed　from　the　doorway　of　the　tenement。
　Byrnes　turned　his　head　toward　the　fire　escape　instantly。　〃Frankie！〃　he　yelled。　〃Frankie！〃　There　was　no　answer。
　〃What　happened？〃　Parker　asked；　struggling　to　catch　his　breath。　〃Is　he　dead？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　He's　just　laying　up　there。　We　got　to　get　him　down。〃　He　stared　suddenly　at　the　sidewalk　beneath　the　fire　escape。　〃What　the　hell　is　。。。　Jesus！　Jesus　Christ！〃
　〃What　is　it？〃　Carella　asked。
　〃That's　blood！〃　Byrnes　said；　something　like　awe　in　his　voice。　〃That's　blood　dripping　down！〃
　The　men　watched　the　steady　patter　of　drops　to　the　pavement。　The　drops　fell　silently；　as　straight　as　arrows；　one　after　the　other；　spattering　to　the　pavement　in　an　ever…widening　stain。
　〃We　got　to　get　him　off　there；〃　Byrnes　said。
　〃It　was　a　kid　who　yelled　the　warning　to　Miranda；〃　one　of　the　patrolmen　said。
　〃Leave　it　to　the　kids；〃　Byrnes　said；　shaking　his　head。　〃Sometimes　I　think　the　kids　in　this　precinct　are　more　damn　trouble　than　all　the　professional　thieves　put　together。〃
　〃It　ain't　them；〃　Parker　said；　watching　the　dripping　blood　in　fascination。　〃It's　the　parents。　They　e　here　without　even　knowing　how　to　speak　the　language。　What　the　hell　can　you　expect？〃
　〃My　old　man　had　a　brogue　you　could　cut　with　a　knife；〃　Byrnes　said。　〃What's　that　got　to　do　with。。。〃
　〃What'd　you　say；　Lieutenant？〃　a　reporter　behind　the　barricade　asked。　〃About　the　kids？〃
　〃Nothing　for　publication。〃
　〃You　think　the　kids　today　will　grow　up　to　be　like　Pepe　Miranda？〃
　〃No。　That's　not　what　I　think。〃
　〃What　do　you　think；　Lieutenant？〃
　〃I　think　we've　got　a　bleeding　man　on　that　fire　escape；　a　man　who　may　be　dying。　I　think　I　want　to　get　him　off　there　while　there's　still　a　chance　for　him；　and　I　think　you'd　better　get　off　my　back　before　I　restrict　the　area　to　all　reporters。〃
　〃Don't　get　touchy；〃　the　reporter　said。　〃I've　got　to　peg　this　story　on　something。〃
　〃On　something？　What　the　hell　do　you　want？　A　Barnum　and　Bailey　circus？　Peg　it　on　Miranda；　peg　it　on　Frankie　Hernandez　who　may　be　up　there　dead；　for　all　I　know！〃
　〃Life　is　cheap；　Lieutenant；〃　the　reporter　said。
　〃Is　it？　Then　peg　your　story　on　your　asshole！　And　leave　me　alone！〃　Angrily；　Byrnes　strode　off　toward　the　squad　car。
　〃Boy；〃　the　reporter　said；　raising　his　eyebrows。　〃He's　sure　got　a　low　boiling　point；　hasn't　he？〃
　〃He's　been　working　in　this　precinct　for　a　long　time　now；〃　Parker　said。　〃This　ain't　exactly　the　garden　spot　of　the　universe。〃
　〃I'm　only　trying　to　get　some　ideas　about　Miranda；　that's　all；〃　the　reporter　said。　〃What　the　hell；　nobody's　job　is　easy。〃
　〃You　want　some　ideas　on　Miranda？〃　Parker　asked。　〃Then　look　around　you。　Miranda's　only　the　end　product。　You　don't　have　to　be　in　that　apartment　with　him　to　know　what　he's　like。　Just　look　around　you；　pal。　You'll　see　Miranda　in　every　stage　of　his　development。〃　Parker　nodded　sagely。　〃Just　take　a　look；〃　and　then　he　followed　Byrnes　to　the　patrol　car。
　Tommy　and　Li'1　Killer　saw　Cooch　the　moment　he　came　around　the　corner。
　〃Hey；　Tommy；〃　Phil　said。　〃There's　one　of　them。〃
　〃One　of　who？〃
　〃The　Latin　Purples。　Man；　if　the　cops　spot　that　jacket。。。〃
　〃Call　him　over；〃　Tommy　said。
　〃What　for？〃
　〃To　tip　him　off。　You　want　the　cops　to　get　him？〃
　〃Who　cares　they　get　him　or　not？　He's　a　jerk。〃
　〃Jerk　or　no；　I　don't　like　the　cops　to　score。　Call　him　over。〃
　Phil　shrugged。　〃Hey！　Hey；　kid！　Hey；　you！〃
　Cooch；　who　had　been　searching　the　crowd　for　Zip　and　the　boys；　stopped　dead　in　his　tracks；　recognizing　the　gold　jackets　at　once；　hesitating。
　〃e　here；〃　Phil　said。
　Cooch　approached　the　crate　warily。　〃You　talking　to　me？〃
　〃Yeah；　Hey；　what's　your　name　again？〃
　〃Me？〃
　〃Yeah；　who　do　you　think？　I　forget　your　name。　What　is　it　again。〃
　〃Cooch。〃
　〃Sure。　Cooch。　That's　right。〃　Phil　nodded。　〃Cooch；　this　is　Tommy　Ordiz；　he's　war　counselor　for　the　Royal　Guardians。　He's　maybe　got　a　tip　for　you。〃
　〃What　kind　of　tip？〃　Cooch　asked　suspiciously。
　〃On　the　fourth　at　Hialeah；〃　Phil　said；　and　he　burst　out　laughing。
　〃Don't　clown　around；〃　Tommy　warned。　〃You　want　this　tip；　Cooch？〃
　〃Who's　clowning？〃　Phil　said。　〃Rrrrrrracing　fans。。。〃
　〃Knock　it　off！〃
　〃I　was　just。。。〃
　〃Knock　it　off！〃
　Phil　fell　silent。　He　put　his　hands　in　his　pockets　and　glowered　at　Tommy。
　〃You　want　the　tip；　Cooch？〃　Tommy　asked　again。
　〃Depends　on　what　kind。〃
　〃A　good　tip。　I'm　being　nice　to　you。〃　He　paused。　〃Get　rid　of　that　purple　jacket。〃
　Cooch　was　silent　for　a　moment。　Then　he　said；　〃Who　says？〃
　〃I'm　giving　you　good　advice。　Ditch　the　jacket。〃
　〃Why？〃　Cooch　said　narrowly。　〃So　you　can　say　you　busted　a　Latin　Purple？〃
　〃Huh？〃
　〃You　heard　me。〃
　〃Oh；　man；　don't　be　a　worse　meatball　than　you　are；〃　Tommy　said。　〃I　got　better　things　to　do　than。。。〃
　〃Screw　him；〃　Phil　said。　〃Let　him　find　out　for　himself。〃
　〃You　don't　get　no　trophy　from　me；　pal；〃　Cooch　said。
　〃Look；〃　Tommy　started；　patiently　trying　to　explain；　〃if　you　keep　wearing　that　jacket。。。〃
　〃The　jacket　stays　on！　No　goddamn　Royal　Guardian　tells　me　what　to　wear。〃
　〃See？〃　Phil　said。　〃What'd　I　tell　you？　Let　the　creep　find　out　for。。。〃
　〃No；　wait　a　minute；　Phil；〃　Tommy　said。'　Something　hard　and　cold　had　crept　into　his　voice　and　into　his　eyes。　He　studied　Cooch　minutely；　and　then　said；　〃You　ought　to　watch　your　mouth；　boy；　you　know？〃
　〃I　don't　have　to　watch　nothing；〃　Cooch　said。　He　did　not　know　whether　or　not　he　was　afraid。　Actually；　he　did　not　feel　afraid。　Not　wi