rc.theladyinthelake-第7部分

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dark　long　enough　to　look　at　me　with　one　beady　eye　and　then　dodge　behind　the　tree　trunk　to　look　at　me　with　the　other　one。　I　came　to　a　five…barred　gate　and　another　sign。
　　Beyond　the　gate　the　road　wound　for　a　couple　of　hundred　yards　through　trees　and　then　suddenly　below　me　was　a　small　oval　lake　deep　in　trees　and　rocks　and　wild　grass；　like　a　drop　of　dew　caught　in　a　curled　leaf。　At　the　near　end　of　it　was　a　rough　concrete　dam　with　a　rope　hand…rail　across　the　top　and　an　old　millwheel　at　the　side。　Near　that　stood　a　small　cabin　of　native　pine　with　the　bark　on　it。
　　Across　the　lake　the　long　way　by　the　road　and　the　short　way　by　the　top　of　the　dam　a　large　redwood　cabin　overhung　the　water　and　farther　along；　each　well　separated　from　the　others；　were　two　others　cabins。　All　three　were　shut　up　and　quiet；　with　drawn　curtains。　The　big　one　had　orange…yellow　venetian　blinds　and　a　twelve…paned　window　facing　on　the　lake。
　　At　the　far　end　of　the　lake　from　the　dam　was　what　looked　like　a　small　pier　and　a　band　pavilion。　A　warped　wooden　sign　on　it　was　painted　in　large　white　letters：　_Camp　Kilkare_。　I　couldn't　see　any　sense　in　that　in　these　surroundings；　so　I　got　out　of　the　car　and　started　down　towards　the　nearest　cabin。　Somewhere　behind　it　an　axe　thudded。
　　I　pounded　on　the　cabin　door。　The　axe　stopped。　A　man's　voice　yelled　from　somewhere。　I　sat　down　on　a　rock　and　lit　a　cigarette。　Steps　came　around　the　corner　of　the　cabin；　uneven　steps。　A　man　with　a　harsh　face　and　a　swarthy　skin　came　into　view　carrying　a　double…bitted　axe。
　　He　was　heavily…built　and　not　very　tall　and　he　limped　as　he　walked；　giving　his　right　leg　a　little　kick　out　with　each　step　and　swinging　the　foot　in　a　shallow　arc。　He　had　a　dark　unshaven　chin　and　steady　blue　eyes　and　grizzled　hair　that　curled　over　his　ears　and　needed　cutting　badly。　He　wore　blue　denim　pants　and　a　blue　shirt　open　on　a　brown　musuclar　neck。　A　cigarette　hung　from　the　corner　of　his　mouth。　He　spoke　in　a　tight　tough　city　voice。
　　〃Yeah？〃
　　〃Mr。　Bill　Chess？〃
　　〃That's　me。〃　I　stood　up　and　got　Kingsley's　note　of　introduction　out　of　my　pocket　and　handed　it　to　him。　He　squinted　at　the　note；　then　clumped　into　the　cabin　and　came　back　with　glasses　perched　on　his　nose。　He　read　the　note　carefully　and　then　again。　He　put　it　in　his　shirt　pocket；　buttoned　the　flap　of　his　pocket；　and　put　his　hand　out。
　　〃Pleased　to　meet　you；　Mr。　Marlowe。〃　We　shook　hands。　He　had　a　hand　like　a　wood　rasp。
　　〃You　want　to　see　Kingsley's　cabin；　huh？　Glad　to　show　you。　He　ain't　selling　for　Chrissake？〃　He　eyed　me　steadily　and　jerked　a　thumb　across　the　lake。
　　〃He　might；〃　I　said。　〃Everything's　for　sale　in　California。〃
　　〃Ain't　that　the　truth？　That's　his…the　redwood　job。　Lined　with　knotty　pine；　position　roof；　stone　foundations　and　porches；　full　bath　and　shower；　venetian　blinds　all　around；　big　fireplace；　oil　stove　in　the　big　bedroom…and　brother；　you　need　it　in　the　spring　and　fall…Pilgrim　bination　gas　and　wood　range；　everything　first　class。　Cost　about　eight　thousand　and　that's　money　for　a　mountain　cabin。　And　private　reservoir　in　the　hills　for　water。〃　…　〃How　about　electric　light　and　telephone？〃　I　asked；　just　to　be　friendly。
　　〃Electric　light；　sure。　No　phone。　You　couldn't　get　one　now。　If　you　could；　it　would　cost　plenty　to　string　the　lines　out　here。〃　He　looked　at　me　with　steady　blue　eyes　and　I　looked　at　him。　In　spite　of　his　weathered　appearance　he　looked　like　a　drinker。　He　had　the　thickened　and　glossy　skin；　the　too　noticeable　veins；　the　bright　glitter　in　the　eyes。
　　I　said：　〃Anybody　living　there　now？〃
　　〃Nope。　Mrs。　Kingsley　was　here　a　few　weeks　back。　She　went　down　the　hill。　Back　any　day；　I　guess；　Didn't　he　say？〃　I　looked　surprised。　〃Why？　Does　she　go　with　the　cabin？〃　He　scowled　and　then　put　his　head　back　and　burst　out　laughing。　The　roar　of　his　laughter　was　like　a　tractor　backfiring。　It　blasted　the　woodland　silence　to　shreds。
　　〃Jesus；　if　that　ain't　a　kick　in　the　pants！〃　he　gasped。　〃Does　she　go　with　the〃　He　put　out　another　bellow　and　then　his　mouth　shut　tight　as　a　trap。
　　〃Yeah；　it's　a　swell　cabin；〃　he　said；　eyeing　me　carefully。
　　〃The　beds　fortable？〃　I　asked。
　　He　leaned　forward　and　smiled。　〃Maybe　you'd　like　a　face　full　of　knuckles；〃　he　said。
　　I　stared　at　him　with　my　mouth　open。　〃That　one　went　by　me　too　fast；〃　I　said；　〃I　never　laid　an　eye　on　it。〃
　　〃How　would　I　know　if　the　beds　are　fortable？〃　he　snarled；　bending　down　a　little　so　that　he　could　reach　me　with　a　hard　right；　if　it　worked　out　that　way。
　　〃I　don't　know　why　you　wouldn't　know；〃　I　said。。　〃I　won't　press　the　point。　I　can　find　out　for　myself。〃
　　〃Yah；〃　he　said　bitterly；　〃think　I　can't　smell　a　dick　when　I　meet　one？　I　played　hit　and　run　with　them　in　every　state　in　the　Union。　Nuts　to　you；　pal。　And　nuts　to　Kingsley。　So　he　hires　himself　a　dick　to　e　up　here　and　see　am　I　wearing　his　pajamas；　huh？　Listen；　Jack；　I　might　have　a　stiff　leg　and　all；　but　the　women　I　could　get〃　I　put　a　hand　out；　hoping　he　wouldn't　pull　it　off　and　throw　it　in　the　lake。
　　〃You're　slipping　your　clutch；〃　I　told　him。　〃I　didn't　e　up　here　to　enquire　into　your　love　life。　I　never　saw　Mrs。　Kingsley。　I　never　saw　Mr。　Kingsley　until　this　morning。　What　the　hell's　the　matter　with　you？〃　He　dropped　his　eyes　and　rubbed　the　back　of　his　hand　viciously　across　his　mouth；　as　if　he　wanted　to　hurt　himself。　Then　he　held　the　hand　in　front　of　his　eyes　and　squeezed　it　into　a　hard　fist　and　opened　it　again　and　stared　at　the　fingers。　They　were　shaking　a　little。
　　〃Sorry；　Mr。　Marlowe；〃　he　said　slowly。　〃I　was　out　on　the　roof　last　night　and　I've　got　a　hangover　like　seven　Swedes。　I've　been　up　here　alone　for　a　month　and　it's　got　me　talking　to　myself。　A　thing　happened　to　me。〃
　　〃Anything　a　drink　would　help？〃　His　eyes　focussed　sharply　on　me　and　glinted。　〃You　got　one？〃　I　pulled　the　pint　of　rye　out　of　my　pocket　and　held　it　so　that　he　could　see　the　green　label　over　the　cap。
　　〃I　don't　deserve　it；〃　he　said。　〃God　damn　it；　I　don't。　Wait　till　I　get　a　couple　of　glasses　or　would　you　e　into　the　cabin？〃
　　〃I　like　it　out　here。　I'm　enjoying　the　view。〃　He　swung　his　stiff　leg　and　went　into　his　cabin　and　came　back　carrying　a　couple　of　small　cheese　glasses。　He　sat　down　on　the　rock　beside　me　smelling　of　dried　perspiration。
　　I　tore　the　metal　cap　off　the　bottle　and　poured　him　a　stiff　drink　and　a　light　one　for　myself。　We　touched　glasses　and　drank。　He　rolled　the　liquor　on　his　tongue　and　a　bleak　smile　put　a　little　sunshine　into　his　face。
　　〃Man　that's　from　the　right　bottle；〃　he　said。　〃I　wonder　what　made　me　sound　off　like　that。　I　guess　a　guy　gets　the　blues　up　here　all　alone。　No　pany；　no　real　friends；　no　wife。〃　He　paused　and　added　with　a　sidewise　look。　〃Especially　no　wife。〃　'　I　kept　my　eyes　on　the　blue　water　of　the　tiny　lake。　Under　an　overhanging　rock　a　fish　surfaced　in　a　lance　of　light　and　a　circle　of　widening　ripples。　A　light　breeze　moved　the　tops　of　the　pines　with　a　noise　like　a　gentle　surf。
　　〃She　left　me；〃　he　said　slowly。　〃She　left　me　a　month　ago。　Friday；　the　12th　of　June。　A　day　I'll　remember。〃　I　stiffened；　but　not　too　much　to　pour　more　whiskey　into　his　empty　glass。　Friday　the　12th　of　June　was　the　day　Mrs。　Crystal　Kingsley　was　supposed　to　have　e　into　town　for'　a　party。
　　〃But　you　don't　want　to　hear　about　it；〃　he　said。　And　in　his　faded　blue　eyes　was　the　deep　yearning　to　talk　about　it；　as　plain　as　anything　could　possibly　be。
　　〃It's　none　；of　my　business；〃　I　said。　〃But　if　it　would　make　you　feel　any　better〃　He　nodded　sharply。　〃Two　guys　will　meet；　on　a　park　bench；〃　he　said；　〃and　start　talking　about　God。　Did　you　ever　notice　that？　Guys　that　wouldn't　talk　about　God　to　their　best　friend。〃
　　〃I　know　that；〃　I　said。
　　He　drank　and　looked　across　the　lake。　〃She　was　one　swell　kid；〃　he　said　softly。　〃A　little　sharp　in　the　tongue　sometimes；　but　one　swell　kid。　It　was　love　at　first　sight　with　me　and　Muriel。　I　met　her　in　a　joint　in　Riverside；　a　year　and　three　months　ago。　Not　the　kind　of　joint　where　a　guy　would　expect　to　meet　a　girl　like　Muriel；　but　that's　how　it　happened。　We　got　married。　I　loved　her。　I　knew　I　was　well　off。　And　I　was　too　much　of　a　skunk　to　play　ball　with　her。〃　I　moved　a　little　to　show　him　I　was　stifi　there；　but　I　didn't　say　anything　for　fear　of　breaking　the　spell。　I　sat　with　my　drink　untouched　in　my　hand。　I　like　to　drin