preston&child.thecabinetofcuriosities-第28部分

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　〃I'll　have　to　pick　up　one　of　his　books。〃
　〃He　hasn't　made　it　big　yet…not　like　you；　Mr。　Smithback…but　I　must　say　the　books　are　readable。〃
　By　this　point；　Smithback　had　fully　recovered。　〃And　mine　aren't？〃
　Pendergast　inclined　his　head。　〃I　can't　honestly　say　I've　read　any。　Do　you　have　one　you　could　particularly　remend？〃
　〃Very　funny；〃　said　Smithback；　frowning　and　looking　about。　〃I　wonder　if　Nora's　going　to　be　here。〃
　〃So　you're　the　guy　who　wrote　the　article；　right？〃　asked　O'Shaughnessy。
　Smithback　nodded。　〃Made　a　splash；　don't　you　think？〃
　〃It　certainly　got　everyone's　attention；〃　said　Pendergast　dryly。
　〃As　well　it　should。　Nineteenth…century　serial　killer；　kidnapping　and　mutilating　helpless　kids　from　workhouses；　all　in　the　name　of　some　experiment　to　extend　his　own　wretched　life。　You　know；　they've　awarded　Pulitzers　for　less　than　that。〃　People　were　arriving　more　quickly　now；　and　the　noise　level　was　increasing。
　〃The　Society　for　American　Archaeology　is　demanding　an　investigation　into　how　the　site　came　to　be　destroyed。　I　understand　the　construction　union　is　also　asking　questions。　With　this　uping　election；　the　mayor's　on　the　defensive。　As　you　can　imagine；　Moegen…Fairhaven　wasn't　terribly　happy　about　it。　Speak　of　the　devil。〃
　〃What？〃　Smithback　said；　clearly　surprised　by　this　sudden　remark。
　〃Anthony　Fairhaven；〃　Pendergast　said；　nodding　toward　the　entrance。
　O'Shaughnessy　followed　the　glance。　The　man　standing　in　the　doorway　to　the　hall　was　much　more　youthful　than　he'd　expected；　fit；　with　the　kind　of　frame　a　bicyclist　or　rock　climber　might　have…wiry；　athletic。　His　tuxedo　draped　over　his　shoulders　and　chest　with　a　lightness　that　made　him　look　as　if　he'd　been　born　in　it。　Even　more　surprising　was　the　face。　It　was　an　open　face；　an　honest…looking　face；　not　the　face　of　the　rapacious　money…grubbing　real　estate　developer　Smithback　had　portrayed　in　the　Times　article。　Then；　most　surprising　of　all：　Fairhaven　looked　their　way；　noticed　their　glance；　and　smiled　broadly　at　them　before　continuing　into　the　hall。
　A　hissing　came　over　the　PA　system；　〃Tales　from　the　Vienna　Woods〃　died　away　raggedly。　A　man　was　at　the　podium；　doing　a　sound　check。　He　retreated；　and　a　hush　fell　on　the　crowd。　After　a　moment；　a　second　man；　wearing　a　formal　suit；　mounted　the　podium　and　walked　to　the　microphone。　He　looked　grave；　intelligent；　patrician；　dignified；　at　ease。　In　short；　he　was　everything　O'Shaughnessy　hated。
　〃Who's　that？〃　he　asked。
　〃The　distinguished　Dr。　Frederick　Collopy；〃　said　Pendergast。　〃Director　of　the　Museum。〃
　〃He's　got　a　29…year…old　wife；〃　Smithback　whispered。　〃Can　you　believe　it？　It's　a　wonder　he　can　even　find　the…Look；　there　she　is　now。〃　He　pointed　to　a　young　and　extremely　attractive　woman　standing　to　one　side。　Unlike　the　other　women；　who　all　seemed　to　be　dressed　in　black；　she　was　wearing　an　emerald…green　gown　with　an　elegant　diamond　tiara。　The　bination　was　breathtaking。
　〃Oh；　God；〃　Smithback　breathed。　〃What　a　stunner。〃
　〃I　hope　the　guy　keeps　a　pair　of　cardiac　paddles　on　his　bedside　table；〃　O'Shaughnessy　muttered。
　〃I　think　I'll　go　over　and　give　him　my　number。　Offer　to　spell　him　one　of　these　nights；　in　case　the　old　geezer　gets　winded。〃
　Good　evening；　ladies　and　gentlemen；　began　Collopy。　His　voice　was　low；　gravelly；　without　inflection。　When　I　was　a　young　man；　I　undertook　the　reclassification　of　the　Pongidae；　the　Great　Apes　。　。　。
　The　level　of　conversation　in　the　room　dropped　but　did　not　cease　altogether。　People　seemed　far　more　interested　in　food　and　drink　than　in　hearing　this　man　talk　about　monkeys；　O'Shaughnessy　thought。
　。　。　。　And　I　was　faced　with　a　problem：　Where　to　put　mankind？　Are　we　in　the　Pongidae；　or　are　we　not？　Are　we　a　Great　Ape；　or　are　we　something　special？　This　was　the　question　I　faced　。　。　。
　〃Here　es　Dr。　Kelly；〃　said　Pendergast。
　Smithback　turned；　an　eager；　expectant；　nervous　look　on　his　face。　But　the　tall；　copper…haired　woman　swept　past　him　without　so　much　as　a　glance；　arrowing　straight　for　the　food　table。
　〃Hey　Nora！　I've　been　trying　to　reach　you　all　day！〃　O'Shaughnessy　watched　the　writer　hustle　after　her；　then　returned　his　attention　to　his　ham…and…cheese　sandwiches。　He　was　glad　he　didn't　have　to　do　this　sort　of　thing　for　a　living。　How　could　they　bear　it？　Standing　around；　chatting　aimlessly　with　people　you'd　never　seen　before　and　would　never　see　again；　trying　to　cough　up　a　vestige　of　interest　in　their　vapid　opinions；　all　to　a　background　obbligato　of　speechifying。　It　seemed　inconceivable　to　him　that　there　were　people　who　actually　liked　going　to　parties　like　this。
　。　。　。　our　closest　living　relatives　。　。　。
　Smithback　was　returning　already。　His　tuxedo　front　was　splattered　with　fish　eggs　and　crème　fra？che。　He　looked　stricken。
　〃Have　an　accident？〃　asked　Pendergast　dryly。
　〃You　might　call　it　that。〃
　O'Shaughnessy　glanced　over　and　saw　Nora　heading　straight　for　the　retreating　Smithback。　She　did　not　look　happy。
　〃Nora…〃　Smithback　began　again。
　She　rounded　on　him；　her　face　furious。　〃How　could　you？　I　gave　you　that　information　in　confidence。〃
　〃But　Nora；　I　did　it　for　you。　Don't　you　see？　Now　they　can't　touch…〃
　〃You　moron。　My　long…term　career　here　is　ruined。　After　what　happened　in　Utah；　and　with　the　Lloyd　Museum　closing；　this　job　was　my　last　chance。　And　you　ruined　it！〃
　〃Nora；　if　you　could　only　look　at　it　my　way；　you'd…〃
　〃You　promised　me。　And　I　trusted　you！　God；　I　can't　believe　it；　I'm　totally　screwed。〃　She　looked　away；　then　whirled　back　with　redoubled　ferocity。　〃Was　this　some　kind　of　revenge　because　I　wouldn't　rent　that　apartment　with　you？〃
　〃No；　no；　Nora；　just　the　opposite；　it　was　to　help　you。　I　swear；　in　the　end　you'll　thank　me…〃
　The　poor　man　looked　so　helpless；　O'Shaughnessy　felt　sorry　for　him。　He　was　obviously　in　love　with　the　woman…and　he　had　just　as　obviously　blown　it　pletely。
　Suddenly　she　turned　on　Pendergast。　〃And　you！〃
　Pendergast　raised　his　eyebrows；　then　carefully　placed　a　blini　back　on　his　plate。
　〃Sneaking　around　the　Museum；　picking　locks；　fomenting　suspicion。　You　started　all　this。〃
　Pendergast　bowed。　〃If　I　have　caused　you　any　distress；　Dr。　Kelly；　I　regret　it　deeply。〃
　〃Distress？　They're　going　to　crucify　me。　And　there　it　all　was；　in　today's　paper。　I　could　kill　you！　All　of　you！〃
　Her　voice　had　risen；　and　now　people　were　looking　at　her　instead　of　at　the　man　at　the　podium；　still　droning　on　about　classifying　his　great　apes。
　Then　Pendergast　said；　〃Smile。　Our　friend　Brisbane　is　watching。〃
　Nora　glanced　over　her　shoulder。　O'Shaughnessy　followed　the　glance　toward　the　podium　and　saw　a　well…groomed　man…tall；　glossy；　with　slicked…back　dark　hair…staring　at　them。　He　did　not　look　happy。
　Nora　shook　her　head　and　lowered　her　voice。　〃Jesus；　I'm　not　even　supposed　to　be　talking　to　you。　I　can't　believe　the　position　you've　put　me　in。〃
　〃However；　Dr。　Kelly；　you　and　I　do　need　to　talk；〃　Pendergast　said　softly。　〃Meet　me　tomorrow　evening　at　Ten　Ren's　Tea　and　Ginseng　pany；　75　Mott　Street；　at　seven　o'clock。　If　you　please。〃
　Nora　glared　at　him　angrily；　then　stalked　off。
　Immediately；　Brisbane　glided　over　on　long　legs；　planting　himself　in　front　of　them。　〃What　a　pleasant　surprise；〃　he　said　in　a　chill　undertone。　〃The　FBI　agent；　the　policeman；　and　the　reporter。　An　unholy　trinity　if　ever　I　saw　one。〃
　Pendergast　inclined　his　head。　〃And　how　are　you；　Mr。　Brisbane？〃
　〃Oh；　top　form。〃
　〃I'm　glad　to　hear　it。〃
　〃I　don't　recall　any　of　you　being　on　the　guest　list。　Especially　you；　Mr。　Smithback。　How　did　you　slither　past　security？〃
　Pendergast　smiled　and　spoke　gently。　〃Sergeant　O'Shaughnessy　and　I　are　here　on　law　enforcement　business。　As　for　Mr。　Smithback…well；　I'm　sure　he　would　like　nothing　more　than　to　be　tossed　out　on　his　ear。　What　a　marvelous　follow…up　that　would　make　to　his　piece　in　today's　edition　of　the　Times。〃
　Smithback　nodded。　〃Thank　you。　It　would。〃
　Brisbane　stood　still；　the　smile　frozen　on　his　face。　He　looked　first　at　Pendergast；　then　at　Smithback。　His　eyes　raked　Smithback's　soiled　tux。　〃Didn't　your　mother　teach　you　that　caviar　goes　in　the　mouth；　not　on　the　shirt？〃　He　walked　off。
　〃Imbecile；〃　Smithback　murmured。
　〃Don't　underestimate　him；〃　replied　Pendergast。　〃He　has　Moegen…Fairhaven；　the　Museum；　and　the　mayor　behind　him。　And　he　is　no　imbecile。〃
　〃Yeah。　Except