ch.nakedcamethemanatee-第19部分

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　〃Okay；　Miss　Marion；〃　a　male　human　bellowed。　〃No　more　exercise。　Tell　us　where　it　is　or　we　shoot　the　porker　you're　ridin'　on。〃
　She　let　go　of　Booger's　neck　instantly。　He　tried　to　nuzzle　between　her　legs　to　get　her　back　on　top　of　him；　but　she　was　doing　a　scissors　kick　at　top　speed。　She　launched　herself　toward　the　boat。　〃No！〃　she　was　screaming。　〃No！　Not　him。　He's　innocent。〃
　Booger　ran　under　her　and　flipped　and　banged　his　tail　against　the　boat。　Once；　twice。　He　thumped　it　again；　again；　again。　It　was　no　use。　He　was　off　balance。　He　got　water　up　his　nose　and　his　lower　back　seized　up　in　pain。　There　wasn't　even　a　dent　in　the　hull。
　He　surfaced　and　watched　them　drag　Ma　out　of　the　water。　There　were　two　human　males。　A　dark…haired；　muscular　one　was　holding　Ma　down。　One　that　resembled　a　pale　manatee　was　telling　him　what　to　do。
　Ma　lay　on　her　stomach；　flattened　and　exhausted；　across　the　stern。　〃Head？〃　she　panted。　〃That's　all　you　want？〃　She　snorted；　coughed。　〃Gone。　Sucker's　gone。〃
　〃So　where　is　it；　Marion？　Don't　play　senile　on　us；〃　said　the　pale　fat　one。
　〃Ha！　Sold。〃　She　wheezed。　〃You'll　never　get　the　money。　It's　hidden。　It's　going　to　a　good　cause。〃
　The　pointy　black　feet　of　the　dark　one　straddled　her　torso；　and　an　arm　with　a　drawing　on　it　grabbed　a　handful　of　her　wet　hair　to　raise　her　head。　〃We　don't　give　a　hoot　about　the　fing　money；　ol'　lady。　We　want　the　head。　You're　using　up　your　time。〃
　She　turned　her　face　up　to　him。　〃No　kidding；〃　she　said。　She　crossed　her　eyes　and　stuck　her　tongue　out　the　corner　of　her　mouth。　She　giggled　and　snorted。
　The　rounded　human　hissed　something。
　Booger　sensed　trouble。　He　had　to　get　their　attention。　He　rolled　on　his　side；　stuck　his　tail　at　an　angle；　and　powered。　He　zigged。　He　zagged。　He　did　the　best　shark　imitation　he　knew　how。
　Gold　chains　glinted　as　Pointy…foot　leaned　out　over　the　water。　Strong　perfume　drifted　down　and　made　Booger　gag。　〃You　saved　that　one　for　nothing；　woman。　He　needs　to　be　put　out　of　his　misery。〃
　The　pudge　motioned　to　Pointy…foot　and　he　let　go　of　her　hair。　She　looked　weak　and　paler　than　ever。　Booger　sensed　he　must　do　something　fast。
　He　dove　to　the　bottom　and　looked；　kept　searching；　using　up　the　seconds。　At　last　he　found　what　he　needed。　A　rock。　A　nice　sharp　piece　of　dead　coral。
　He　gummed　it　and　rose　to　the　surface。　He　could　hear　talk；　but　couldn't　see　Ma　anymore。　He　took　the　coral　to　the　black；　shiny…painted　surface　and　dug　in。　He　zigged。　He　zagged。　He　cut　deep　into　the　fiberglass；　propelling　himself　the　length　of　the　boat。　He　gashed　at　the　hull。　He　couldn't　make　a　hole　like　he　wanted；　couldn't　sink　them　and　save　Ma…no　matter　how　hard　he　tried…but　he　cut　some　ridges。　He　would　know　this　boat　if　he　saw　it　again。
　He　heard　Ma's　voice　from　above。　He　surfaced。　She　was　still　flattened　on　the　deck。　He　sensed　her　ebbing　strength　from　her　husky　breath。
　〃Swim；　son。　Fast。　Go。　They　have　guns。〃
　The　crashing　started　as　she　spoke；　and　the　four　out…boards　rumbled　and　churned　up　water。　Booger　couldn't　make　it　under　the　boat。　The　water　was　ripped　again　and　again　alongside　him。　He　felt　a　zing　and　tasted　blood；　hot　and　frothy；　in　his　mouth。　He　had　to　swim。　He　blasted　away　at　top　speed　until　the　engines　roared。　He　turned　to　catch　sight　of　the　boat　skimming　the　water　in　the　opposite　direction。
　It　was　sometime　later　he　found　Ma's　body。　He　let　her　drift　for　a　time；　in　the　warm　bay　that　she　loved；　but　his　own　homing　instinct　made　him　sense　he　should　take　her　near　shore。　She'd　want　her　Fay…calf　to　know　what　happened。
　He　nudged　Ma　to　a　quiet　place；　where　the　water　was　less　murky　and　the　sand　soft　enough　for　them　to　drag　her　out。　She　was　peaceful。　Her　lips　were　set　in　the　certain　way　he'd　noticed　when　she　cuddled　skin　to　hide　with　him　in　the　shallows　on　a　summer　evening。　She'd　had　the　last　snort　on　those　guys。
　Booger　had　slept　and　foraged；　and　his　wounded　lip　stopped　bleeding。　He　was　used　to　pain　and　it　was　too　late　to　worry　about　scarring。　He　watched　Ma　puff　up　till　her　wrinkles　were　gone　and　she　resembled　his　true　birth　mother。　Then　the　tan　human　brought　the　others　to　take　her　away。
　Now　as　Booger　listened　to　the　sirens　racing　too　late　to　the　explosion　on　the　bridge；　he　struggled　with　his　grief…a　feeling　of　outrage　at　the　whole　land…world。　He　relived　the　foul　smell　of　perfumed　male；　the　gold　chains　catching　sun；　the　shiny　black　pointed　feet　straddling　Ma's　sinewy　frame。
　His　blood　began　to　heat。　A　chemical　reaction　took　place　in　his　disproportionate　brain。　The　bristles　on　his　back　rose　straighter；　his　shoulders　squared；　and　his　tail　flared　out　and　took　up　a　steady；　pulsing　throb。　He　licked　the　crusty　scab　inside　his　mouth。　Was　it　justice　he　wanted；　or　vengeance？
　Whatever　it　was；　he　needed　to　find　that　marked　boat。
　
　Jake　was　jamming　hot　and　heavy　on　his　porch　swing　when　Fay　and　Britt　pulled　into　the　drive。　He　thumped　the　canister　on　his　lap　in　half…time　with　the　creak　of　his　joints。　The　squeak　of　unoiled　hinges　blended　to　produce　what　he　thought　to　be　an　interesting　rhythm。
　Fay　came　up　the　steps　first。　〃Do　you　think　you　should　be　flashing　that　head　around　the　neighborhood；　Jake？〃
　〃Is　that　'When　the　Saints　Go　Marching　In'？〃　Britt　asked。　Fay　snorted。
　Jake　stared　at　Britt　and　straightened　his　legs　to　halt　the　music。
　〃We　need　to　take　this　thing　to　a　safe　place；〃　Fay　said。　〃Jake　could　be　in　danger。〃
　Britt　looked　inside　the　screen　door。　〃Never　mind。　His　place　is　perfect。　Anybody　who　es　here　will　figure　it　was　already　ransacked。〃
　〃That's　what　I　like　about　you；　Britt；〃　Jake　said。
　Fay　picked　up　the　canister。　〃I　know　where　you　can　put　it…my　friend　Ramona's。　She　has　snakes　and　iguanas。　It's　very　secure；　and　she's　a　nurse；　not　a　bit　squeamish。〃
　Britt　put　up　her　little　finger　and　got　Jake's　attention。　〃What　you　like　about　me；　Jake；　is　that　I'm　attractive；　intelligent；　kind；　humorous；　employed；　and　have　female　organs；〃　she　said。　〃I　can　cook　too。　I　just　don't。〃　She　punched　him　in　the　upper　arm。
　He　grabbed　his　shoulder　and　moaned。　〃Damn；　Britt。〃　He　moaned　again。　〃This　joint's　been　dislocated　eight　times。〃
　〃Ramona　lives　on　the　water；〃　said　Fay。　〃We　can　take　the　boat。　It's　the　fastest；　and　maybe　we'll　see　Booger。　I　feel　in　the　mood　for　a　swim。〃
　〃Yeah。　Good　idea；〃　said　Jake。　A　flash　of　Fay　clad　only　in　moonlight　flickered　through　his　brain。　He'd　like　to　take　a　gander　at　her　in　sunshine。　She　was　getting　even　hotter　with　age。　He　massaged　his　joint。　It　was　aching。　〃I　think　this　is　beginning　to　swell；〃　he　said。
　〃Surely　you　have　ice；〃　said　Britt。
　The　women　waited　on　the　porch　while　Jake　went　inside。　He　took　a　leak；　swallowed　some　aspirin；　then　grabbed　a　Grolsch　out　of　the　refrigerator。　He　rolled　it　over　the　inflamed　area。　Sometimes　he　wondered　whatever　had　made　him　play　football。　Then　he　remembered…it　was　the　money　and　the　women。
　Britt　asked　to　use　the　bathroom　and　he　directed　her　around　cardboard　boxes　of　briefs；　then　stepped　back　onto　the　porch　with　Fay。　〃You're　looking　lovely　today；〃　he　said；　and　his　hand　reached　to　touch　the　soft　tan　skin　of　her　throat。
　Fay　stiffened。　〃I've　been　practicing　my　Tae　Kwon　Do；　Jake。　When　I　see　aggressive　movement；　like　hands　on　my　neck；　I　get　nervous。〃　She　took　her　stance。　〃Ke…hap！〃　Her　foot　whipped　out　and　stopped　a　half…inch　from　his　left　jaw。　〃I　can　break　rocks　with　this。〃
　Jake　flinched。　〃Impressive。　I　was　wondering　if　we　could　get　together　for　a　drink　this　evening。　Maybe　try　one　of　those　new　clubs　on　the　beach。〃
　〃I　don't　think　so；　Jake…although　I'd　like　to　see　those　sharks　I　heard　about。　I　have　too　much　on　the　brain　with　my　Granny　and　all。　And　I'm　worried　sick　about　Phil。〃
　There　was　a　crash　and　whoosh　inside　the　house。　Britt　came　walking　out　at　a　fast　clip。　〃Sorry；　Jake。　I　touched　something　and　started　an　avalanche。　I　hope　nothing　got　mixed　up。〃
　
　Jake　struggled　into　the　back　of　Britt's　T…Bird　with　the　canister　and　popped　open　his　beer　for　the　short　drive　to　Fay's　boat。　The　traffic　was　heavy。　They　could　have　walked　in　less　time。　He　drank　the　beer；　and　next　thing　he　knew；　Britt　was　slapping　his　cheek　to　wake　him　up。
　He　clomped　down　the　dock　following　Fay　and　Britt。
　〃Wonder　where　that　horny　manatee　is。　Doesn't　he　usually　hang　out　by　your　boat；　Fay？〃
　〃Horny？〃　Fay　said。　〃Booger？　Are　you　projec