thedestroyer.deathcheck-第11部分
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e only person at Brewster Forum who did not grasp the symbolism of his design。 But then a man's sickness is invariably hidden from his soul。
〃That policeman made a very good move；〃 he said； packing the pipe for Ratchett。
〃If I knew that cop knew what he knew； I never would have played that way against Boyle。 You know I'm a better player than that。〃
〃I know。〃
〃It won't count in the tournament； will it？〃
〃I'm afraid it must。〃
〃It shouldn't。 Boyle had help。〃
〃You offered to allow it。〃
〃That Boyle。 I could beat him any day of the week。 Any day。〃
〃Yes； you can。〃
〃I could kill him。〃
〃What for？〃
〃For doing that to me。〃
〃He didn't do anything to you。〃
〃He took that cop's advice； that night watchman who is all of a sudden allowed to play in our tournaments。〃
〃Yes； he took the advice。 But who gave it？ Did you see him laugh at you？〃
〃He didn't laugh。〃
〃He smirked and started the laughing。 All the time he knew you were only toying with Boyle and he knew you could beat him in a fair game。 But he saw he could beat you； the only way he could； by taking your generosity toward Boyle and turning it on you。〃
〃Yes。 The only way he could beat me。 Humiliate me。〃
〃Of course； and everybody laughed along with him。〃
〃The bastards。〃
〃They can't help it。 As long as that man is here； they will laugh at you。〃
〃Nonsense。 They know he's only a policeman。〃
〃They will laugh the more。〃
〃No。〃
〃Yes。 When they see you。 They will laugh inside。〃
〃You're a beast for telling me this。〃
〃I am your friend。 A friend tells the truth。〃
〃You're still a beast。〃
He handed Ratchett the pipe and answered： 〃Perhaps I should not have told you。 After all； there is only one way you can humiliate him and you would。not stoop to that。〃
〃What way？〃
〃Your friends on the motorcycles。 Your； what do you call them； rough trade。 Imagine a policeman who cannot stop hoodlums。〃
〃You're right。 I wouldn't do that。 Nils would be in a snit。 An absolute snit。〃
〃How would he know it's you？〃
〃I would never stoop that low。 Never。〃 Dr。 James Ratchett smiled。 〃I'm in the right mood now。 Would you like to join me in my place？ Share the peace pipe？〃
〃Thank you no； I must get home。〃
〃Besides；〃 said Doctor Ratchett； 〃even if Nils did find out； how could he replace Dr。 James Ratchett？〃
〃How could he； indeed？〃
〃Of course； I would never stoop so low。〃
〃Of course。〃
〃Be at the offices tomorrow at noon；〃 Ratchett said with a giggle； and ducked between the elephant tusks into the next room。
The man once known as Dr。 Hans Frichtmann smiled at Ratchett's back； then left the egg…shaped house。 He would see what he would see。 Some chess moves； he knew very well； could be very destructive。 Especially the ones that appeared brilliant at first。
This Remo Pelham person had made a serious mistake。 With luck； it would be a fatal mistake。 And by the time they sent yet another to replace him； the people who had drafted the plan to conquer the world would be in the control of another power； who would know how to use that plan。 And Dr。 Hans Frichtmann would be gone。
CHAPTER TEN
Nils Brewster would have to get it over with。 He didn't let garbage collect in the kitchen。 Paid his bills on time。 Saw the dentist when his teeth acted up。 There was no reason to put it off any longer。 He would do it。 Get it over with。
〃Send in Remo what's…his…name；〃 said Nils Brewster into his inter and promptly felt quite satisfied with his integrity。
His office faced out onto a circle； a mass of green ringed by black gravel。 Rimming the circle were the white cottages of the forum； which served as both offices and living quarters for the forum's top brass。 Farther back； beyond the ring of cottages； one could see more traditional lab and office buildings where the hirelings worked。 The view of the circle was piece…mealed through small； cozy； wood…encased windows in Brewster's office； which made the world look like a chess game。 The trees were mid…board and the sky was enemy territory。
A white couch graced the far wall of Brewster's office； and original paintings； mostly geometric forms in day…glo colors； hung from the walls。 On the floor was a Polar Bear Rug； 〃a little whimsey of mine； Lord knows I get so few indulgences。〃 That little indulgence had cost more than 12；000。 It was paid for by one of the funding foundations which annually produced a report showing how it made life better for mankind； particularly black mankind。 For some reason； the 12；000 was linked to understanding black rage。
The office was pleasant and warm。 That was the way Nils Brewster had intended it to be； a setting mirroring the warmth and wisdom and understanding of the tweed draped hulk who occupied it。
When Remo entered； he saw the hulk。 He saw it puffing away at a pipe； engrossed in being Nils Brewster； Ph。D； Chicago U。； director of Brewster Forum； author of several books which a few thousand owned； a few hundred read； and seven or eight understood。 He saw the hulk was about to tolerate him。
〃Glad to see you；〃 Doctor Brewster crooned in a low Massachusetts mumble which crackled saliva on the S's。 〃You're Remo。。。 Remo。。。。〃
〃Remo Pelham。〃
〃That's right。 Our chess…playing policeman。 Well； what can I do for you？〃
〃Well； first of all； I'd like to know what you do here？〃
〃Why？〃
〃Because I can't figure out what I'm supposed to do here； until I find out what you do here； can I？〃
〃Never mind。〃
〃Never mind？〃
Remo stood before the desk still； waiting to be offered a seat。 The offer did not e； so he sat anyway。
〃That's right； never mind。〃 Brewster said this with a smile。
〃Why should I never mind？〃
〃Simply because you wouldn't understand。〃
〃Try me。〃
〃I'd rather not。〃
〃I'd rather you would；〃 Remo said。
〃Really now；〃 Brewster said； crossing a leg while sucking the fumes from the lit pipe。 〃You'd rather' I would。 Well； do you know that the only reason you're here is because of a government grant？ You e with it。 Now I don't wish to make your stay here unpleasant； but you are an unwanted guest。 Already； last night； with your uncivilized behavior at the chess tournament； you have created dissension among my staff。 I can do without that。 I can also do without your skulking about trying to proyide security and protection for things that need neither security nor protection。〃
〃Did McCarthy understand that？〃
〃McCarthy was a policeman； for heaven's sakes。〃
〃Who is a dead policeman。〃
〃Right。 A dead policeman。〃 Brewster said it as if he had been asked to say a prayer for a departed piece of roast beef。 〃Oppressive violence…that is； violence in reaction to violence…breeds greater violence。 A pure example is McCarthy。 Do you understand what I'm talking about？〃
〃I think you're trying to say that McCarthy got himself killed。〃
〃Right。 You're brighter than I thought。 Now； let's take this supposition a little farther。 Let us assume that violence is an expurgative； that it is…try to follow me…a natural and necessary occurrence and that to try to curb it or redirect it produces awesomely more…devastating circumstances； by a basic geometric progression of intensity； an intensity that we cannot now measure but that we will ultimately use as a guideline； much in the way of E equals MC square。 Do you follow？〃
〃Yes。 You're full of shit。〃
〃Really？ How？〃
〃Never mind。 I really don't think I can explain it to you。〃
Brewster broke into the kind of delighted grin a father gets when his six year old son challenges him to checkers。
〃You can't explain it to me？〃
〃No。 No； I can't；〃 Remo said； and he was not smiling or enjoying what he said。 〃I can only say that violence has all the virtue of a cut into flesh。 Done to cure…to heal…it is good。 Done to harm； it is bad。 The act itself is neither good nor bad。 Just painful。〃
〃But don't you see； Mr。 Pelham； that for violence to be employed for good or bad is impossible。 There is no good or bad。〃 Doctor Brewster sat with limbs close to body and smiled as if he had a belly full of warm milk。
〃You are full of shit；〃 Remo said。
〃And you are another fascist functionary who dribbles righteousness until I cross your palm with silver。 The good guys
