chiaasen.stormyweather-第48部分

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　〃I　tole　you！　I　tole　you！〃　his　wife　cried；　switching　to　English。　She　rolled　Avila　on　his　back　and　opened　his　trousers　to　examine　the　injury。　〃Chew　need　a　tennis　shot；〃　she　said。
　
　〃Take　me　to　the　doctor。〃
　
　〃Not　in　my　car！　I　done　wanno　blood　on　de　'polstery。〃
　
　〃Then　help　me　to　the　goddamn　truck。〃
　
　〃Chew　a　mess。〃
　
　〃You　want　me　to　die　right　here　on　the　floor？　Is　that　what　you　want？〃
　
　Avila　had　purchased　the　billy　goats　from　the　nephew　of　a　santero　priest　in　Sweetwater。　The　nephew　owned　a　farm　on　which　he　raised　fighting　cocks　and　livestock　for　religious　oblations。　The　two　goats　had　cost　Avila　a　total　of　three　hundred　dollars；　and　they　didn't　get　along。　They'd　butted　heads　and　kicked　at　each　other　continually　on　the　return　trip　to　Avila's　house。　Somehow　he　had　managed　to　wrestle　both　animals　into　the　open　garage；　but　before　he　could　attach　the　tethers　and　shut　the　door；　a　liquid　wildness　had　e　into　their　huge　amber　eyes。　Avila　wondered　if　they'd　sensed　Change's　supernatural　presence；　or　merely　smelled　the　blood　and　entrails　from　past　santeria　offerings。　In　any　event；　the　goats　went　absolutely　berserk　and　destroyed　a　perfectly　good　riding　mower；　among　other　items。　The　larger　of　the　two　billies　gouged　Avila　cleanly　with　a　horn　before　clacking　off　into　the　neighborhood。
　
　Avila's　wife　scolded　him　zealously　on　the　drive　to　the　hospital。　〃Three　hunnert　bucks！　Chew　fucking　crazyl〃　When　swearing　she　customarily　dropped　her　Spanish　for　English；　due　to　the　richer；　more　emphatic　variety　of　profanities。
　
　Avila　snarled　back：　〃Don't　talk　to　me　about　money。　You　and　mami　been　losin'　your　fat　asses　at　the　Micco…sukee　bingo；　no？　So　don't　talk　to　me　about　crazy。〃
　
　He　checked　the　wound　in　his　groin；　it　was　the　size　of　a　fifty…cent　piece。　The　bleeding　had　stopped；　but　the　pain　was　fiery。　He　felt　clammy　and　light…headed。
　
　Oh；　Change；　Avila　thought。　What　have　I　done　to　anger　you？
　
　In　the　emergency　room；　a　businesslike　nurse　eased　him　onto　a　gurney　and　connected　him　to　a　glorious　bag　of　I。V。　Demerol。　Avila　told　the　doctor　that　he'd　fallen　on　a　rusty　lawn　sprinkler。　The　doctor　said　he　was　lucky　it　didn't　sever　an　artery。　He　asked　about　the　dirty　bandage　on　Avila's　left　hand；　and　Avila　said　it　was　a　nasty　golfing　blister。　Nothing　to　worry　about。
　
　As　the　pain　receded；　his　mind　drifted　into　a　fuzzy　free　fall。　Snapper's　lopsided　face　appeared　in　a　cloud。
　
　I　will　find　you；　cono！　Avila　vowed。
　
　But　how？
　
　Dreamily　he　recalled　the　night　they'd　first　met。　It　was　in　a　supper　club　on　Lejeune　Road。　Snapper　was　at　the　bar　with　two　women　from　an　escort　service。　The　women　wore　caked　mascara　and　towering　hair。　Avila　made　friends。　He　had　cash　in　his　pocket；　having　moments　earlier　collected　a　bribe　from　a　fellow　who　retailed　fiberglass　roof　shingles　of　questionable　durability。　The　hookers　told　Avila　the　name　of　the　escort　service　was　Gentlemen's　Choice；　and　it　was　open　seven　days　a　week。　They　said　Snapper　was　a　regular　customer；　one　of　their　best。　They　said　he　was　taking　them　out　on　the　town　to　celebrate；　on　account　he　was　going　off　to　prison　for　three　to　five　years　and　wouldn't　be　getting　much　pussy；　professional　or　otherwise。　Snapper　told　Avila　he'd　killed　some　shithead　dope　dealer　that　nobody　cared　about。　Prosecutors　had　let　him　cop　to　a　manslaughter…one；　and　with　any　luck　he'd　get　out　of　the　joint　in　twenty　months。　Avila　didn't　believe　a　word　the　guy　was　saying；　but　he　thought　the　manslaughter　routine　was　a　pretty　good　line　to　use　on　the　babes。　He　bought　several　rounds　of　drinks　for　Snapper　and　the　prostitutes；　in　hopes　that　Snapper　might　start　feeling　generous。　And　that's　exactly　what　happened。　When　Avila　returned　from　the　men's　room；　the　one　he　liked…　a　gregarious　platinum　blonde；　Morganna　was　her　name…whispered　in　his　ear　that　Snapper　said　it　was　OK；　as　long　as　Avila　paid　his　share。　So　they'd　all　gone　to　a　fleabag　motel　on　West　Flagler　and　had　quite　a　time。　Morganna　proved　full　of　energy　and　imagination；　well　worth　the　shingle　money。
　
　Narcotic　memories　took　Avila's　mind　off　the　vigorous　suturing　that　was　being　done　on　a　freshly　shaved　triangle　five　inches　due　southwest　of　his　navel。　Then；　giddily；　it　came　to　him　from　out　of　the　clouds…one　obvious　way　for　Avila　to　track　that　cocksucker　Snapper　and　recover　the　seven　grand。
　
　A　lead；　is　what　cops　would　call　it。
　
　Not　exactly　a　red…hot　lead；　but　better　than　nothing。
　
　Another　curious　neighbor　dropped　by；　asking　about　Tony。　Edie　Marsh　used　the　same　ludicrous　story　about　being　a　distant　Torres　cousin　who　was　watching　the　place　as　a　favor。　She　made　no　effort　to　explain　Snapper；；　snoring　in　the　recliner；　a　gun　on　his　lap。
　
　Fred　Dove　drove　up　a　few　minutes　later；　while　Edie　was　walking　Donald　and　Maria　in　the　front　yard。　The　insurance　man　looked　more　cheerless　and　pallid　than　ever。　From　the　way　he　snatched　the　briefcase　off　the　seat　of　the　car；　Edie　sensed　an　urgency　to　his　gloom。
　
　〃My　supervisor；〃　he　announced；　〃wants　to　see　the　house。〃
　
　〃Is　he　suspicious？〃
　
　〃No。　Routine　claims　review。〃
　
　〃Then　what's　the　problem；　Fred？　Show　him　the　house。〃
　
　He　gave　a　bitter　laugh　and　spun　away。　Edie　tied　up　the　dogs　and　followed　him　inside。
　
　〃The　problem　is；〃　Fred　Dove　said；　〃Mister　Reedy　will　want　to　chat　with　'Mister　and　Mrs。　Torres。'〃　Loudly　he　dropped　his　briefcase　on　the　kitchen　counter；　rousing　Snapper。
　
　Edie　said；　〃Don't　panic。　We　can　handle　it。〃
　
　〃Don't　panic？　The　pany　wants　to　know　why　I　got　kicked　out　of　the　motel。　My　wife　wants　to　know　where　I'm　staying；　and　with　whom。　Dennis　Reedy　will　be　here　tomorrow　to　interview　two　claimants　that　I　cannot　produce。　Personally；　I　think　it's　an　excellent　time　to　panic。〃
　
　〃Hey；　Santy　Claus！〃　It　was　Snapper；　hollering　from　the　living　room。　〃You　got　the　insurance　check？〃
　
　Edie　Marsh　went　to　the　doorway　and　said；　〃Not　yet。〃
　
　〃Then　shut　him　up。〃
　
　Fred　Dove　dropped　his　voice。　〃I　can't　stay　here　with　that　maniac。　It's　impossible。〃
　
　〃His　leg　hurts；〃　said　Edie。　She　had　given　Snapper　the　last　of　her　Darvons；　which　evidently　were　beginning　to　wear　off。　〃Look；　I'm　not　thrilled　about　the　setup；　either。　But　it's　this　or　go　camp　in　the　woods。〃
　
　The　insurance　man　removed　his　glasses　and　pressed　his　thumbs　against　his　temples。　A　mosquito　landed　on　one　of　his　eyelids。　He　shook　his　head　like　a　spaniel　until　it　floated　away。　〃We　can't　go　through　with　this；〃　he　said；　dolorously。
　
　〃Yes　we　can；　sweetie。　I'll　be　Mrs。　Torres。　Snapper　is　Tony。〃
　
　Fred　Dove　sagged。　〃You　don't　exactly　look　Cuban。　Neither　of　you；　for　God's　sake。〃　He　punched　a　cabinet　door　and　cried　out；　〃What　was　I　thinkingl〃
　
　Snapper　declared　that　Fred　Dove　was　on　the　brink　of　dismemberment　unless　he　immediately　shut　the　fuck　up。　Edie　Marsh　led　the　distraught　insurance　man　into　Ner…ia's　bedroom　closet。　She　shut　the　door　and　kissed　him　with　expert　tenderness。　Simultaneously　she　unzipped　his　pants。　Fred　jumped　at　her　touch；　warm　but　unexpected。　Edie　squeezed　gently；　until　he　was　calm　and　quite　helpless。
　
　〃This　Dennis　Reedy；〃　she　whispered；　〃what's　he　like？〃
　
　Fred　Dove　squirmed　pleasurably。
　
　〃Tough　guy？　Tightass？　What's　his　deal？〃
　
　〃He　seems　all　right；〃　the　insurance　man　said。　He'd　dealt　with　Reedy　only　once；　in　a　flooded　subdivision　outside　Dallas。　Reedy　was　gruff　but　fair。　He　had　approved　most　of　Fred　Dove's　damage　estimates；　with　only　minor　adjustments。
　
　Edie's　free　hand　pulled　down　Fred's　pants。　She　said；　〃We'll　go　over　the　claim　papers　tonight；　in　case　he　makes　it　a　quiz。〃
　
　〃What　about　Snapper？〃
　
　〃Let　me　handle　that。　We'll　have　a　rehearsal。〃
　
　〃What　are　you　doing？〃　The　insurance　man　nearly　lost　his　balance。
　
　〃What　does　it　look　like；　Fred。　Will　Mister　Reedy　have　our　check？〃
　
　In　stuporous　bliss；　Fred　Dove　gazed　at　the　top　of　Edie's　head。　Fingers　explored　her　silken　hair；　his　own　fingers；　judging　by　the　familiar　gold　wedding　band　and　the　University　of　Nebraska　class　ring。　Fred　Dove　struggled　for　clarity。　It　was　no　time　for　an　out…of…body　experience；　for　this　long…awaited　moment；　he　wanted　sensual　acuity　and　superior　muscle　control。
　
　The　insurance　man　struggled　to　purge　his　mind　of　wo