jg.thepelicanbrief-第74部分

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　formation　almost　to　the　horizon。　In　the　foreground；　near　the　pier；　a　hundred　sailboats　dotted　the　harbor　and　seemed　to　keep　the　bulky　tourist　ships　at　bay。　The　water　under　the　sailboats　was　a　clear；　soft　blue；　and　as　smooth　as　glass。　It　gently　curled　around　Hassel　Island；　and　grew　darker　until　it　was　indigo　and　then　violet。　as　it　touched　the　horizon。　A　perfect　row　of　cumulus　clouds　marked　the　line　where　the　water　met　the　sky。　
　　
　　Her　watch　was　in　a　bag；　and　she　had　no　plans　to　wear　it　for　at　least　six　months。　But　she　glanced　at　her　wrist　anyway。　The　window　opened　with　a　strain；　and　the　sounds　of　the　shopping　district　echoed　through　the　streets。　The　warmth　filtered　in　like　a　sauna。　
　　
　　She　stood　in　the　small　window　for　an　hour　that　first　morning　on　the　island；　and　watched　the　harbor　e　to　life。　There　was　no　hurry。　It　woke　gently　as　the　big　ships　inched　through　the　water；　and　soft　voices　came　from　the　decks　of　the　sailboats。　The　first　person　she　saw　on　a　boat　jumped　into　the　water　for　a　morning　swim。　
　　
　　She　could　grow　accustomed　to　this。　Her　room　was　small　but　clean。　There　was　no　air　conditioner；　but　the　fan　worked　fine　and　it　was　not　unpleasant。　The　water　ran　most　of　the　time。　She　decided　to　stay　here　a　couple　of　days；　maybe　a　week。　The　building　was　one　of　dozens　packed　tightly　together　along　streets　that　ran　down　to　the　harbor。　For　the　moment；　she　liked　the　safety　of　crowds　and　streets。　She　could　walk　and　find　whatever　she　needed。　St。　Thomas　was　known　for　its　shopping；　and　she　cherished　the　idea　of　buying　clothes　she　could　keep。　
　　
　　There　were　fancier　rooms；　but　this　would　do　for　now。　When　she　left　San　Juan；　she　vowed　to　stop　looking　over　her　shoulder。　She'd　seen　the　paper　in　Miami；　and　she'd　watched　the　frenzy　on　a　television　in　the　airport；　and　she　knew　Mattiece　had　disappeared。　If　they　were　stalking　now；　it　was　simply　revenge。　And　if　they　found　her　after　the　crisscrossing　journey　she　had　taken；　then　they　were　not　human；　and　she　would　never　lose　them。　
　　
　　They　weren't　back　there；　and　she　believed　this。　She　stayed　close　to　the　small　room　for　two　days；　never　venturing　far。　The　shopping　district　was　a　short　walk　away。　Only　four　blocks　long　and　two　blocks　deep；　it　was　a　maze　of　hundreds　of　small　and　unique　stores　selling　everything。　The　sidewalks　and　alleys　were　crammed　with　Americans　from　the　big　ships。　She　was　just　another　tourist　with　a　wide　straw　hat　and　colorful　shorts。　
　　
　　She　bought　her　first　novel　in　a　year　and　a　half；　and　read　it　in　two　days　while　lying　on　the　small　bed　under　the　gentle　rush　from　the　ceiling　fan。　She　vowed　to　read　nothing　about　the　law　until　she　was　fifty。　At　least　once　an　hour；　she　walked　to　the　open　window　and　studied　the　harbor。　Once　she　counted　twenty　cruise　ships　waiting　to　dock。　
　　
　　The　room　served　its　purpose。　She　spent　time　with　Thomas；　and　cried；　and　was　determined　to　do　it　for　the　last　time。　She　wanted　to　leave　the　guilt　and　pain　in　this　tiny　corner　of　Charlotte　Amalie；　and　exit　with　the　good　memories　and　a　clean　conscience。　It　was　not　as　difficult　as　she　tried　to　make　it；　and　by　the　third　day　there　were　no　more　tears。　She'd　thrown　the　paperback　only　once。　
　　
　　On　the　fourth　morning；　she　packed　her　new　bags　and　took　a　ferry　to　Cruz　Bay；　twenty　minutes　away　on　the　island　of　St。　John。　She　took　a　taxi　along　the　North　Shore　Road。　The　windows　were　down　and　the　wind　blew　across　the　backseat。　The　music　was　a　rhythmic　mixture　of　blues　and　reggae。　The　cab…driver　tapped　the　wheel　and　sang　along。　She　tapped　her　foot　and　closed　her　eyes　to　the　breeze。　It　was　intoxicating。　
　　
　　He　left　the　road　at　Maho　Bay；　and　drove　slowly　toward　the　water。　She'd　picked　this　spot　from　a　hundred　islands　because　it　was　undeveloped。　Only　a　handful　of　beach　houses　and　cottages　were　permitted　in　this　bay。　The　driver　stopped　on　a　narrow；　tree…lined　road；　and　she　paid　him。　
　　
　　The　house　was　almost　at　the　point　where　the　mountain　met　the　sea。　The　architecture　was　pure　Caribbeanwhite　wood　frame　under　a　red　tile　roofand　built　barely　on　the　incline　to　provide　for　the　view。　She　walked　down　a　short　trail　from　the　road；　and　up　the　steps　to　the　house。　It　was　a　single　story　with　two　bedrooms　and　a　porch　facing　the　water。　It　cost　two　thousand　a　week；　and　she　had　it　for　a　month。　
　　
　　She　placed　her　bags　on　the　floor　of　the　den；　and　walked　to　her　porch。　The　beach　started　thirty　feet　below　her。　The　waves　rolled　silently　to　the　shore。　Two　sailboats　sat　motionless　in　the　bay；　which　was　secluded　by　mountains　on　three　sides。　A　rubber　raft　full　of　kids　splashing　moved　aimlessly　between　the　boats。　
　　
　　The　nearest　dwelling　was　down　the　beach。　She　could　barely　see　its　roof　above　the　trees。　A　few　bodies　relaxed　in　the　sand。　She　quickly　changed　into　a　tiny　bikini；　and　walked　to　the　water。　
　　
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　　IT　WAS　ALMOST　DARK　when　the　taxi　finally　stopped　at　the　trail。　He　got　out；　paid　the　driver；　and　looked　at　the　lights　as　the　cab　drove　in　front　of　him　and　disappeared。　He　had　one　bag；　and　he　eased　along　the　trail　to　the　house；　which　was　unlocked。　The　lights　were　on。　He　found　her　on　the　porch；　sipping　a　frozen　drink　and　looking　like　a　native　with　bronze　skin。　
　　
　　She　was　waiting　on　him；　and　this　was　so　damned　important。　He　didn't　want　to　be　treated　like　a　houseguest。　Her　face　smiled　instantly；　and　she　set　her　drink　on　the　table。　
　　
　　They　kissed　on　the　porch　for　a　long　minute。　〃You　re　late；〃　she　said　as　they　held　each　other。
　　
　　〃This　was　not　the　easiest　place　to　find；〃　Gray　said。　He　was　rubbing　her　back；　which　was　bare　down　to　the　waist　where　a　long　skirt　began　and　covered　most　of　the　legs。　He　would　see　them　later。
　　
　　〃Isn't　it　beautiful？〃　she　said；　looking　at　the　bay。
　　
　　〃It's　magnificent；〃　he　said。　He　stood　behind　her　as　they　watched　a　sailboat　drift　toward　the　sea。　He　held　her　shoulders。　〃You're　gorgeous。〃
　　
　　〃Let's　go　for　a　walk。〃　
　　
　　He　changed　quickly　into　a　pair　of　shorts；　and　found　her　waiting　by　the　water。　They　held　hands　and　walked　slowly。
　　
　　〃Those　legs　need　work；〃　she　said。
　　
　　〃Rather　pale；　aren't　they？〃　he　said。　
　　
　　Yes；　she　thought；　they　were　pale；　but　they　weren't　bad。　Not　bad　at　all。　The　stomach　was　flat。　A　week　on　the　beach　with　her；　and　he'd　look　like　a　lifeguard。　They　splashed　water　with　their　feet。
　　
　　〃You　left　early；〃　she　said。
　　
　　〃I　got　tired　of　it。　I've　written　a　story　a　day　since　the　big　one；　yet　they　want　more。　Keen　wanted　this；　and　Feldman　wanted　that；　and　I　was　working　eighteen　hours　a　day。　Yesterday　I　said　good…bye。〃
　　
　　〃I　haven't　seen　a　paper　in　a　week；〃　she　said。
　　
　　〃Coal　quit。　They've　set　him　up　to　take　the　fall；　but　indictments　look　doubtful。　I　don't　think　the　President　did　much；　really。　He's　just　dumb　and　can't　help　it。　You　read　about　Wakefield？〃
　　
　　〃Yes。〃
　　
　　〃Velmano；　Schwabe；　and　Einstein　have　been　indicted；　but　they　can't　find　Velmano。　Mattiece；　of　course；　has　been　indicted；　along　with　four　of　his　people。　There'll　be　more　indictments　later。　It　dawned　on　me　a　few　days　ago　that　there　was　no　big　cover…up　at　the　White　House；　so　I　lost　steam。　I　think　it　killed　his　reelection；　but　he's　not　a　felon。　The　city's　a　circus。〃　
　　
　　They　walked　in　silence　as　it　grew　darker。　She'd　heard　enough　of　this；　and　he　was　sick　of　it　too。　There　was　half　a　moon；　and　it　reflected　on　the　still　water。　She　put　her　arm　around　his　waist；　and　he　pulled　her　closer。　They　were　in　the　sand；　away　from　the　water。　The　house　was　a　half　a　mile　behind　them。
　　
　　〃I've　missed　you；〃　she　said　softly。　
　　
　　He　breathed　deeply　but　said　nothing。
　　
　　〃How　long　will　you　stay？〃　she　asked。
　　
　　〃I　don't　know。　A　couple　of　weeks。　Maybe　a　year。　It's　up　to　you。〃
　　
　　〃How　about　a　month？〃
　　
　　〃I　can　do　a　month。〃　
　　
　　
　　She　smiled　at　him；　and　his　knees　were　weak。　She　looked　at　the　bay；　at　the　moon's　reflection　in　the　center　of　it　as　the　sailboat　crawled　by。Let's　take　it　a　month　at　a　time；　okay　Gray？〃
　　
　　〃Perfect。〃
　　
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