gc.shadowslinger-第26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！


　　The　questioner　whistled。　〃I　don't　blame　you　for　getting　pissed。〃
　　〃Yeah。　I　wouldn't　have　begrudged　him　money　to　help　his　family。　He's　got　a　whole　mob　to　take　care　of。　But　to　lose　it　gambling。　。　。　。　Damn；　I　was　hot。　I　borrowed　to　fix　this　place　up。　The　payments　are　rough。　I　probably　won't　make　it　through　the　winter　now；　because　that　bastard　couldn't　resist　a　game。　I　may　still　break　his　neck。〃
　　It　was　a　good　act。　Shed　pulled　it　off。
　　〃You　want　to　register　a　formal　plaint？〃
　　Shed　played　reluctant。　〃He's　family。　My　cousin。〃
　　〃I'd　break　my　own　father's　back　if　he　did　that　to　me。〃
　　〃Yeah。　All　right。　I'll　register　it。　But　don't　go　hanging　him　right　away。　Maybe　he　can　work　it　out　or　something。　Hell；　maybe　he's　still　got　some　he　can　pay　back。　He　could　have　lied　about　losing　it　all。　He　lied　about　a　lot　of　things。〃　Shed　shook　his　head。　〃He　worked　for　us　on…and…off　since　my　father　ran　this　place。　I　never　thought　he'd　do　anything　like　that。〃
　　〃You　know　how　it　is。　You　get　too　far　into　debt　and　the　vultures　start　closing　in；　you'll　do　anything　to　save　your　ass。　You　don't　worry　about　tomorrow。　We　see　it　all　the　time。〃
　　Shed　nodded。　He　knew　how　it　was。
　　After　the　Magistrate's　man　departed；　Shed　told　Lisa：　〃I'm　going　out。〃　He　wanted　one　last　fling　before　he　settled　in　to　the　dreary　business　of　managing　the　Lily。
　　He　bought　the　most　skilled；　most　beautiful　woman　he　could　find。　She　cost；　but　she　was　worth　every　copper。　He　returned　to　the　Lily　wishing　he　could　live　that　way　all　the　time。　He　dreamed　about　the　woman　that　night。
　　Lisa　wakened　him　early。　〃There's　a　man　here　who　wants　to　see　you。〃
　　〃Who　is　he？〃
　　〃He　didn't　say。〃
　　Cursing；　Shed　rolled　out。　He　did　nothing　to　hide　his　nakedness。　More　than　once　he　had　hinted　that　Lisa　should　include　more　than　barmaid's　chores　in　her　duties。　She　was　not　cooperating。　He　had　to　find　a　handle。　。　。　。　He'd　better　look　out。　He　was　getting　obsessed　with　sex。　That　could　give　somebody　a　handle。
　　He　descended　to　the　mon　room。　Lisa　indicated　a　man。　He　was　no　one　Shed　knew。　〃You　wanted　to　see　me？〃
　　〃You　got　someplace　private？〃
　　A　hard　case。　Now　what？　He　did　not　owe　anyone。　He　did　not　have　any　enemies。　〃What's　your　business？〃
　　〃Let's　talk　about　your　cousin。　The　one　who　didn't　disappear　the　way　people　think。〃
　　Shed's　stomach　knotted。　He　concealed　his　distress。　〃I　don't　understand。〃
　　〃Suppose　somebody　saw　what　happened？〃
　　〃e　into　the　kitchen。〃
　　Shed's　visitor　peeped　back　through　the　kitchen　door。　〃Thought　the　split…tail　might　try　to　listen　in。〃　Then　he　gave　Shed　an　accurate　account　of　Wally's　death。　
　　〃Where　did　you　get　that　fairy　tale？〃
　　〃I　saw　it。〃
　　〃In　a　pipe　dream；　maybe。〃
　　〃You're　cooler　than　I　heard。　Here's　the　way　it　goes；　friend。　I　have　a　trick　memory。　Sometimes　I　forget。　Depends　on　how　I'm　treated。〃
　　〃Ah。　I　begin　to　see　the　light。　This　is　about　hush　money。〃
　　〃There　you　go。〃
　　Shed's　thoughts　scurried　like　frightened　mice。　He　couldn't　afford　hush　money。　He　had　to　find　another　way　out。　But　he　couldn't　do　anything　right　now。　He　was　too　confused。　　He　needed　time　to　get　himself　together。　
　　〃How　much？〃
　　〃A　leva　a　week　would　buy　a　first…class　case　of　amnesia。〃
　　Shed　goggled。　He　sputtered。　He　choked　back　his　protest。　The　extortionist　made　a　what…can…I…do？　gesture。　〃I　have　problems　too。　I　got　expenses。　A　leva　a　week。　Or　take　your　chances。〃The　black　castle　flickered　through　Shed's　thoughts。　Low　cunning　grabbed　it；　turned　it　over；　looked　at　the　possibilities。　Murder　did　not　bother　him　anymore。　But　not　now。　Not　here。　〃How　do　I　pay　you？〃
　　The　man　grinned。　〃Just　hand　me　a　leva。〃Shed　brought　his　coin　box　into　the　kitchen。　　〃You'll　have　to　take　copper。　I　don't　have　any　silver。〃　The　man's　smile　grew　broader。　He　was　pleased。　Why？
　　The　man　left。　Shed　said；　〃Lisa；　I　have　a　job　for　you。　Worth　a　bonus。　Follow　that　man。　Find　out　where　he　goes。〃　He　gave　her　five　gersh。　〃Another　five　when　you　get　back；　if　it's　worth　it。　〃Lisa　zipped　out　in　a　whirl　of　skirts。　〃He　wandered　around　a　lot；〃　Lisa　reported。　〃Like　he　was　killing　time。　Then　he　headed　down　by　the　Sailmakers'。　To　see　that　one…eyed　moneylender。''
　　〃Gilbert？〃
　　〃Yeah。　Gilbert。〃
　　〃Thank　you；〃　Shed　said　thoughtfully。　〃Thanks　a　bunch。　That　casts　light　on　the　problem。〃
　　〃Five　gersh　worth？〃
　　〃Sure。　You're　a　good　girl。〃　He　made　a　suggestive　offer　as　he　counted。
　　〃I　don't　need　money　that　bad；　Mr。　Shed。〃
　　He　retreated　to　his　kitchen；　began　preparing　supper。　So　Gilbert　was　behind　the　extortionist。　Did　Gilbert　want　him　financially　pressed？　Why？
　　The　Lily。　Why　else？　The　renovations　made　the　place　that　much　more　attractive　a　steal。
　　So。　Assume　Gilbert　was　opening　a　campaign　to　snatch　the　Lily。　He　had　to　fight。　But　this　time　nobody　could　help　him。　He　was　on　his　own。
　　Three　days　later　Shed　visited　an　acquaintance　who　operated　on　the　nether　edge　of　the　Buskin。　For　a　consideration　he　received　a　name。　He　visited　the　man　attached；　and　left　him　with　two　pieces　of　silver。
　　Back　at　the　Lily；　he　asked　Lisa　to　tell　her　favorite　customers　that　Gilbert　was　trying　to　force　them　out　by　spreading　lies　and　making　threats。　He　wanted　the　Magistrate　suspicious　of　accusations　leveled　against　him　later。
　　The　morning　of　the　next　payoff；　Shed　told　Lisa；　〃I'll　be　gone　all　day。　Anybody　es　looking　for　me；　tell　them　to　e　back　after　supper。〃
　　〃The　man　I　followed？〃
　　〃Him　especially。〃
　　At　first　Shed　just　roamed；　killing　time。　His　nerve　worsened　with　time。　Something　would　go　wrong。　Gilbert　would　e　back　rough。　。　。　。　But　he　wouldn't　dare；　would　he？　That　would　tarnish　his　reputation。　Shed's　rumors　had　him　on　the　defensive　now。　People　would　make　their　loans　elsewhere　if　he　pressed。
　　Shed　found　himself　a　woman。　She　cost　too　much；　but　she　made　him　forget。　For　a　while。　He　returned　to　the　Lily　at　sunset。　〃He　came　by？〃　he　asked　Lisa。
　　〃Be　back；　too。　He　looked　put　out。　I　don't　think　he's　going　to　be　nice；　Mr。　Shed。〃
　　〃That's　the　way　it　goes。　I'll　be　out　back　working　on　the　woodpile。〃　Shed　glanced　at　a　customer　he'd　never　before　seen。　The　man　nodded；　departed　through　the　front　door。
　　Shed　chopped　wood　by　lanternlight。　Now　and　again　he　searched　the　shadows；　saw　nothing。　He　prayed　nothing　would　go　wrong。
　　The　extortionist　stormed　out　the　kitchen　doorway。　〃You　trying　to　duck　me；　Shed？　You　know　what　happens　if　you　mess　with　me？〃
　　〃Duck　you？　What　do　you　mean？　I'm　right　here。〃
　　〃You　weren't　this　afternoon。　Now　that　girl　of　yours　gives　me　a　hard　way　to　go；　trying　to　steer　me　away。　I　like　to　had　to　pound　her　before　she'd　tell　me　where　you　were。〃
　　Very　creative。　Shed　wondered　how　much　Lisa　suspected。　〃Save　the　dramatics。　You　want　your　money。　I　want　your　ugly　face　away　from　my　place。　Let's　get　on　with　it。〃
　　The　extortionist　looked　puzzled。　〃You　talking　tough？　They　told　me　you　were　the　biggest　coward　in　the　Buskin。〃
　　〃Who　told　you？　You　working　for　somebody？　This　not　a　freelance　play？〃　The　man's　eyes　narrowed　as　he　realized　his　mistake。
　　Shed　produced　a　handful　of　copper。　He　counted；　counted；　counted　again；　put　a　few　coins　away。　〃Hold　out　your　hands。〃
　　The　extortionist　extended　cupped　hands。
　　Shed　had　not　expected　it　to　be　this　easy。　He　dumped　the　coins；　grabbed　the　man's　wrists。
　　〃Hey！　What　the　hell？〃
　　A　hand　clamped　over　the　man's　mouth。　A　face　appeared　over　his　shoulder；　mouth　stretched　in　a　grimace　of　effort。　The　extortionist　rose　to　his　toes；　arching　backward。　His　eyes　widened　in　fear　and　pain；　then　rolled　up。　He　slumped　forward。
　　〃All　right。　Perfect。　Get　out　of　here；〃　Shed　said。
　　Hastening　footsteps　faded　quickly。
　　Shed　dragged　the　body　into　shadow；　quickly　covered　it　with　wood　scraps；　then　dropped　to　hands　and　knees　and　began　collecting　coins。　He　found　all　but　two。
　　〃What　are　you　doing；　Mr。　Shed？〃
　　He　jumped。　〃What're　you　doing？〃
　　〃I　came　to　see　if　you　were　all　right。〃
　　〃I'm　fine。　We　had　an　argument。　He　knocked　some　coins　out　of　my　hand。　I　can't　find　them　all。〃
　　〃Need　help？〃
　　〃Mind　the　counter；　girl。　Or　they'll　steal　us　blind。〃
　　〃Oh。　Sure。〃　She　ducked　back　inside。
　　Shed　gave　it　up　a　few　minutes　later。　He　would　search　again　tomorrow。
　　He　got　antsy　wai