cw.blackalibi-第21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！


　　There　was　a　rasping；　along　the　outer　side　of　the　wall；　in　answer　to　her　voice。　A　sandpapery　friction；　directly　abreast　of　where　she　cowered。　The　sound…the　sound　that　a　cat　sometimes　produces　when　it　tries　its　claws　on　something。　Following　it　an　instant　later；　she　could　detect　a　vibration　of　the　ground；　municated　through　to　where　she　was　As　though　something；　some　heavy　body；　had　dropped　heavily。　Had　flung　itself　up　first；　and　then　dropped　frustratedly　back　again。
　　〃Who　is　it？〃　she　cried　sharply。　〃Who's　there？〃
　　A　spring　is　soundless；　until　it　meets　its　objective；　and　yet　somehow　she　knew　that　something　had　sprung。　Some　disturbance　of　the　air　told　her。　A　moment　later；　in　confirmation；　somewhere　over　her　there　was　a　creak；　as　of　wood　being　strained；　a　great　rustling　of　leaves。　And　yet　at　the　moment　there　was　a　lull　in　the　wind；　there　was　nothing　to　cause　it。
　　Her　eyes　flew　up　to　that　bough　that　spanned　the　wall　almost　directly　over　her。　It　was　thick；　well　rounded；　heavy　enough　to　bear…many　things。　Something　had　happened　to　it；　it　had　altered。　Dark　as　it　was；　she　could　see　that　a　change　had　taken　place　in　it。　It　had　stood　out　straight　until　now；　well　clear　of　the　top　of　the　wall；　it　had　been　horizontal　to　the　trunk。　Now　it　was　sloping　downward；　was　far　lower　at　its　outer　end；　where　her　eyes　couldn't　follow　it；　than　in　at　the　trunk。　More　than　that；　it　was　grazing　the　wall。　It　was　emitting　sound。　It　was　tapping　lightly　against　the　top　edge　of　the　wall　in　vibration；　at　point　of　fulcrum；　it　was　fluctuating　noticeably；　it　was　shivering　under　pressure。　Something　had　hold　of　it…or　was　on　it；　clinging　in　delicate；　wary；　painful　ascent；　up　and　in　toward　the　tree　heart。
　　She　couldn't　summon　up　any　more　voice。　〃Who　is　it？〃　she　whispered　hoarsely。　She　couldn't　tear　herself　away；　turn　and　run　as　she　wanted　to。　She　was　rooted　there；　hypnotized　as　in　a　nightmare；　head　straining　back；　staring　up　into　the　blackness　over　her；　that　was　like　something　gathering　itself　to　a　head。
　　There　hadn't　been　anything　to　strike　light　up　there　before。　The　tree　was　shrouded　by　the　other　trees　around　it；　the　wall　and　the　ground　below'　were　shrouded　by　all　alike。　The　moon　was　there　all　along　somewhere　in　the　background　ready　to　supply　the　kindling；　but　with　nothing　to　receive　it。
　　Now　something　did。　Through　the　stirring；　undulating　masses　of　leaves　that　garnished　the　outer　end　of　the　bough　where　it　vanished　across　the　wall；　something　peered　through　at　her；　through　and　downward。　Something　faintly　lucent；　palely　green；　phosphorescent。　Like　an　avid；　remorseless　eye；　bee　visible　by　drawing　to　a　head　upon　itself　the　unsuspected　moon　motes　swimming　invisibly　in　the　darkness；　and　now　aflame；　sighted　balefully　down　upon　her　through　the　covert　of　leaves。
　　Her　mouth　parted　spasmodically；　trying　to　give　the　last　cry　that　there　was　already　no　time　for。　The　death　cry　that　was　too　late。
　　
　　
　　Manning　arrived　on　the　scene　almost　immediately　afterward；　this　time。　He　had　been　with　Robles　when　the　flash　reached　the　central　andancia；　and　came　out　in　the　same　car　with　him。
　　A　number　of　the　official　departmental　cars　that　had　preceded　them　were　strung　in　a　line　along　the　outside　of　the　wall。　Three　or　four　ladders；　with　policemen　guarding　their　bases；　were　tilted　to　the　wall　as　the　shortest　and　easiest　way　of　getting　in　and　out。　It　had　happened　all　the　way　around　from　the　main　entrance。
　　They　tried　to　keep　Manning　out；　as　an　unauthorized　person；　as　he　tried　to　clamber　up　the　rungs　of　one　of　these　at　Robles'　heels。　He　grabbed　the　police　inspector　by　the　tail　of　his　coat；　hung　on　tight；　refusing　to　be　parted　from　him。
　　〃He's　with　me；〃　Robles　said　briefly。
　　On　the　inside　of　the　wall　there　was　a　plement　to　each　ladder；　to　give　access　to　the　ground。　They　turned　and　went　down　these　backwards。
　　That　whole　immediate　section　of　the　cemetery　had　been　turned　into　a　grotesque　charivari　of　portable；　high…powered；　icy…white　lights　slanted　at　cross…purposes　to　one　another；　whose　thick　beams　were　edged　with　violet。　Around　and　about　them　were　the　occasional　blue　flares　of　photographic　flashlights；　the　yellow　bees　of　pocket　lights　flitting　all　over　far　and　near；　some　of　them　momentarily　playing　up　the　inscription　on　a　headstone　as　it　sidled　across　it。　Red　cigarette　and　cigar　embers　would　glow　occasionally　from　some　grave　mound；　where　someone　had　sat　down　for　a　moment　to　rest　or　tie　a　shoelace　or　pare　notes　with　somebody　else。　The　place　was　a　madhouse　of　swirling；　irreverent　activity。
　　At　the　foot　of　one　of　the　ladders　a　grief…stunned　youth　in　a　belted　cravenette　topcoat；　hatless　and　disheveled　with　shock；　was　being　held　up　on　his　feet　between　a　policeman　and　a　man　in　plain　clothes。　He　kept　straining　away　from　them；　shoulders　and　head　forward；　toward　a　spot　farther　along　at　the　base　of　the　wall　where　the　beams　of　several　of　the　high…powered　lights　fell　interlocked　in　a　pool；　terrible　in　its　dazzling　clarity。　There　was　sacking　spread　there。　His　sobs　kept　ing；　low　and　pulsing；　from　his　stomach。　You　could　see　it　go　in　and　out　each　time　one　sounded。　His　face　was　a　white　mask　that　didn't　move　any　more。
　　〃　El　novio；〃　one　of　the　men　explained　in　answer　to　Robles'　inquiry　in　passing。　The　sweetheart。
　　Some　martinet　near　by　snapped；　〃Shut　that　man　up。　Take　him　out　of　here　or　else　give　him　something　to　keep　him　quiet！　He　only　makes　it　worse。〃
　　Manning；　who　had　lingered　behind　a　moment　watching　him；　hurried　to　rejoin　Robles。　Robles　was　at　the　sacking；　standing　there　motionless。　The　American　arrived　just　at　the　wrong　time。
　　It　was　awful；　even　worse　than　the　first　one　had　been。　That　had　been　given　some　semblance　of　concealment　and　classic　repose　at　the　morgue。　This　was　madness；　strewn　upon　the　ground。　Manning　stepped　hastily　backward　out　of　the　glare　and　furtively　wiped　his　mouth　on　his　sleeve。　Robles　stared　down；　his　face　impassive　but　sweating　a　little　at　the　temples。　He　did　something　with　his　little　finger；　and　it　was　hidden　again。
　　The　pertinent　details　were　being　poured　into　his　ear　by　one　of　his　men；　standing　just　outside　the　radius　of　light。　He　seemed　not　to　be　listening　at　all。　Only　one　thing　about　him　moved；　his　eyes。　They　took　in　everything；　darting　about　restlessly：　over　the　ground；　up　the　trunk　of　the　death　tree；　out　along　the　bough；　then　down　again　along　the　wall；　boxing　in　the　setting　in　a　plete　little　square。
　　He　spoke　at　last。　〃Eyewitnesses…none；　you　say。　Very　well　then；　secondary　witnesses。〃
　　A　shifty…eyed　man　in　his　thirties　stepped　forward　into　the　light。　〃Juan　Gomez；　thirty…six　Ayenida　Betancourt；〃　Robles'　second　reeled　off　in　the　background。
　　〃…luckily　he　came　back　with　me。　He　didn't　want　to　trust　the　ladder　out　of　his　sight；　I　guess。　Anyway　when　we　got　back　here；　it　was　strangely　quiet。　I　called　to　her；　and　she　didn't　answer　any　more。　I　put　the　ladder　to　the　wall　and　started　over；　to　see　what　had　happened　to　her。　I　thought　maybe　somebody　else　had　gotten　her　out　during　my　absence。　Before　I'd　even　gotten　down　on　the　inside；　I　heard　him　give　a　yell　out　there　on　his　side。　He'd　already　found　some　bloodstained　marks　or　tracks　on　the　outside　of　the　wall…〃
　　Robles　seemed　not　to　have　been　listening。　All　he　said　was；　〃You'll　be　required　to　appear　at　the　inquest。　And　give　us　your　right　name　before　you　leave　here　tonight；　Seсor　Gomez。〃
　　〃But　I'm　a　family　man…〃
　　〃Where　you　were　visiting　is　none　of　our　business。　You　were　out　late　in　your　car；　that　will　be　sufficient。　Next。〃
　　The　gateman　was　shoved　forward　into　the　light；　spoke　his　piece；　relegated　to　the　outer　darkness　again。
　　〃…and　I　thought　she'd　left　already。　I'd　seen　some　woman　go　by；　all　in　black；　and；　well　my　eyes　aren't　so　good　any　more；　especially　in　the　twilight。　So　I　gave　the　warning　signal；　and　locked　up。　They're　supposed　to　know　at　what　time　the　grounds　close…〃
　　Again　Robles　acted　as　though　he　hadn't　heard　a　word。　His　head　hadn't　once　turned　toward　the　speaker。
　　Distant　sounds；　of　men　calling　to　one　another　from　various　remote　parts　of　the　grounds；　attracted　his　attention。　He　turned　his　head　away　from　what　lay　before　him　on　the　ground　for　the　first　time；　spoke　sharply　to　one　of　the　underlings　nearest　him。　〃What　are　they　doing　out　th