cw.blackalibi-第33部分

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e　the　accident　happened。　〃For　the　love　of　it；　for　its　own　sake；　because　they　like　the　sight　of　blood。　Because　it　does　something　to　them。〃
　　He　uncapped　his　protective　hand。　A　skin　tear　produced　by　the　point　of　the　file　was　revealed；　not　very　serious；　but　lavishly　blooded；　as　such　things　often　are。　It　even　dripped　down　free　off　his　outpoised　hand；　which　he　had　inadvertently　spaded　almost　under　Cardozo's　nose；　to　keep　from　staining　his　own　cuff　with　it。
　　Cardozo　blinked　twice；　as　one　does　in　disfort。　Then　he　sidled　his　face　sidewise；　in　uncontrollable　repugnance　at　the　bleeding　wound's　almost　contact…point　proximity。
　　Nobody　said　anything；　they　understood。
　　Robles　let　out　a　faintly　discernible　sigh　after　a　moment。　〃Take　him　outside；〃　he　said。　〃We'll　continue　later。〃　And　to　somebody　else；　as　the　door　closed；　〃See　if　you　can　find　some　alcohol　for　the　norteсo's　finger…〃
　　〃It　was　worth　it；〃　Manning　said；　blowing　on　it　and　wringing　it　out。　〃What　are　you　going　to　do　now；　turn　him　loose？〃
　　〃Continue　to　hold　him　in　custody；〃　Robles　said　vindictively。　〃Give　your　theory　rope；　and　rope；　and　rope　until　it　strangles　itself！〃
　　〃I　don't　get　you。〃
　　Robles　smiled　bleakly。　〃If　these　barbarities　mysteriously　cease　to　occur　while　he　is　in　our　hands；　that　is　one　thing。　But　if　one　should　take　place　again…〃
　　
　　
　　V。　Sally　O'Keefe
　　
　　In　the　Inglaterra　Hotel　on　Corriente　Street；　Sally　O'Keefe　had　the　floor…length　windows　of　their　room　wide　open　to　a　picture　night　that　booked　like　something　on　a　travel　poster。
　　She　was　standing　there　framed　against　them；　arms　out　in　arrested　ecstasy。　She　was　short　and　slight；　hair　a　reddish　gold；　eyes　blue；　and　rosettes　of　freckles　on　each　cheek　gave　her　face　an　elfin　piquancy。
　　〃Marj；　isn't　that　incredible？　That　can't　be　real。　Somebody　painted　it　outside　our　window　for　our　special　benefit。〃
　　Through　a　luminous　dust　posed　of　phosphorescent　particles　of　greenish　blue　and　silver；　lines　of　incandescence　had　been　traced；　as　though　someone　had　drawn　a　radium…tipped　stick　through　it　that　left　glowing　traces。　These　were　the　streets　and　avenues。　Around　and　about　was　the　bow　black　undulation　made　by　the　hills　against　a　sky　that；　where　it　joined　them　in　the　west；　was　still　a　glowing　turquoise；　as　though　reflecting　a　hidden　row　of　low…burning　gas　flames　strung　out　along　its　base。　Up　above　in　the　center　of　its　dome　it　had　darkened　to　night；　but　the　warm　rich　darkness　of　semitropic　night；　so　lavishly　scattered　with　stars　they　were　like　a　blinding　shower　of　permanently　upflung　confetti。　Or　the　after…stages　of　a　burst　skyrocket。
　　〃Now　I　can　die　happy！〃　the　girl　at　the　window　rhapsodized。
　　Marjorie　King；　her　traveling　panion；　more　practical；　smiled　into　the　dresser　glass　before　which　she　sat　pleting　the　final　touches　of　her　toilette。　She　was　a　brunette；　with　a　sort　of　stateliness　to　her　good　looks　that　the　other's　pertness　lacked。　Even　seated；　she　was　obviously　a　good　head　or　two　taller　than　the　other　girl。　The　casting　director　of　a　stage　production　could　have　differentiated　them　more　accurately　than　the　ordinary　layman；　Marjorie　was　the　show…girl　type；　Sally　the　pony　chorus　girl。　Neither　of　them；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　was　of　the　theater。　Sally　was　the　private　secretary　to　a　harvesting…machinepany　vice…president。　Marjorie　was　branch　manager　for　one　of　a　large　chain　of　candy　stores；　known　as　〃Handmaid；〃　where　everything　was　done　by　machinery　but　the　eating。　Both　were　on　their　first　real　vacation　in　years；　a　long…planned；　long…saved…for；　many…times…def　erred　sabbatical　that　they　had　practically　had　to　blackmail　their　respective　employers　for。　It　was　a　free…lance　trip；　they　would　have　nothing　to　do　with　conducted　tours　and　large；　sardinelike　cruise　parties　rushing　about　in　military　formation。
　　〃That's　Naples　you're　thinking　of；　isn't　it？〃　Marjorie　answered　the　remark。　〃And　anyway；　if　it's　all　you　say；　why　spoil　it　by　speaking　of　dying　in　the　same　breath　with　it？〃
　　〃Just　a　phrase；　just　a　turn　of　speech；〃　Sally　said；　turning　away　at　last　and　ing　toward　her。　〃When　you　feel　as　I　do　tonight；　it　has　no　meaning　at　all。　I　never　felt　so　alive　before　in　my　life！　This　place　certainly　brings　out　the　dynamism　in　you。　What're　we　doing　tonight？〃
　　Marjorie　stood　up；　ready　to　go。　〃This　was　your　night　for　making　the　plans；　haven't　you　got　anything　worked　out？　That　was　our　arrangement；　remember？　One　night　I'm　the　boss；　the　next　night　you　are。〃
　　Sally　essayed　analyzing　herself；　while　her　friend　went　around　putting　out　the　lights；　a　habit　that　they　were　not　accustomed　enough　to　hotels　to　have　broken　themselves　of　yet。　〃I　feel　sort　of　sentimental；　romantic。　It　must　be　that　out　there　brought　it　on。　None　of　these　jangling；　brassy　casinos　or　night　clubs　for　me　tonight。　I　feel　sort　of　pastoral…yes　that's　how　I　feel；　pastoral。〃
　　〃Pasteurized？〃　Marjorie　teased；　gathering　up　an　outer　wrap。
　　Sally　gave　her　a　push　at　the　rear　of　the　waist。　〃I　heard　somebody　or　other　mention　a　place　out　in　a　park　on　the　outskirts；　where　you　eat　in　the　open　air　under　the　trees；〃　she　resumed。　〃They　say　it's　beautiful；　all　colored　lanterns。　Let's　take　one　of　these　old…fashioned　carriages　they　have　around；　instead　of　a　taxi　for　a　change；　and　drive　out　there　and　back　in　the　moonlight。　The　taxis　here　smell　so　of　gasoline；　and　they　get　you　there　so　fast。　Yes；　that's　just　what　I　feel　like；〃　she　concluded；　〃a　slow；　easygoing；　old…style　carriage　ride　in　the　moonlight。〃
　　〃How　far　out　is　this　place？〃　Marjorie　asked　her。　〃Isn't　there　some　story　going　around　about　a　man…eating　something　or　other　that　got　away　from　some　zoo　or　animal　farm　and　is　supposed　to　pounce　on　you　in　lonely　places？　The　maid　that　does　the　room　was　jabbering　about　it　a　mile　a　minute　when　you　were　out　this　morning。　I　wasn't　able　to　get　the　story　very　straight；　I　only　caught　about　every　third　word；　you　know　how　fast　they　talk。〃
　　〃Oh；　that。　The　man　at　the　American　Express　told　me　not　to　listen　to　it；　there's　not　a　word　of　truth　in　it。　I'm　going　to　get　my　money's　worth　out　of　this　vacation；　and　no　hobgoblin　story　is　going　to　stop　me。〃
　　She　opened　the　door　and　stood　waiting　for　her　friend　to　pass　through。　〃Got　everything？　Don't　forget　to　bring　some　catnip　in　case　we　run　into　the　watchamacallit；〃　she　suggested　flippantly。
　　Marjorie　laughed　as　they　moved　toward　the　elevator。
　　Downstairs　in　the　lobby　she　said；　〃Let's　ask　and　find　out　at　the　desk。〃
　　The　clerk　bowed　graciously；　lowering　his　head　to　the　end　of　his　hair　part；　as　they　stepped　over。
　　〃We　understand　there's　an　outdoor　restaurant　in　the　big　park　outside　the　city。　Is　it　worth　taking　in？　My　friend　and　I　were　thinking　of　going　there。〃
　　His　answer　was　indirect。　〃Have　the　seсoritas　tried　the　Tabarin　or　Select？　I　am　sure　they　would…〃
　　〃But　those　are　just　night　clubs；　aren't　they？〃　Marjorie　objected。　〃We　have　night　clubs　up　home　too。　What　we're　looking　for　is　something　a　little　different；　something　more　atmospheric。〃
　　〃I　know　the　place　you　mean；〃　he　said　somewhat　reticently。　〃The　Madrid；　out　in　the　Bosque…〃
　　〃What's　the　matter　with　it？〃　Sally　cut　in　with　characteristic　bluntness。
　　〃Oh；　nothing；　nothing；〃　he　hastily　retracted。　〃It　is　just　that　it　is　leetle…how　you　say？…　lejano；　out　of　the　way；　far　out。　Are　the　sefloritas　going　unacpanied？　I　could　perhaps　arrange…〃
　　〃Oh　no；　we　don't　want　any　hired　escorts；〃　Sally　grimaced。　〃I　hate　that　sort　of　thing。〃
　　〃The　young　man　seems　doubtful；　for　some　reason　or　other；〃　Marjorie　smiled　uncertainly　at　her。
　　This　time　he　didn't　trouble　to　deny　it。
　　Sally　O'Keefe　reacted　as　Sally　O'Keefe　always　reacted。　Marjorie　had　known　she　would。　〃Well；　people　do　go　there　after　dark；　don't　they？〃　she　demanded　of　the　clerk。　And　at　his　nodding　admission；　she　plucked　her　friend　by　the　arm。　〃Then　we　are；　too！　Call　us　one　of　these　old…fashioned　carriages。〃　And　they　went　sailing　out　to　the　street　to　await　its　arrival。
　　Outside　Marjorie　laughed　knowingly。　〃He　was　doing　his　best　to　discourage　us；　did　you　get　it？　But　he　wouldn't　e　out　with　the　real　reason；　afraid　we'd　cut　short　our　stay；　I　suppose。　You　always　were　that　way；　let　anyone　try　to　talk　you　out　of　doing　anything；　and　you're　surer　than　ever　to　go　ahead　and　do　it。〃