emb.seethemdie-第12部分

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oved　his　feet　constantly；　as　if　trying　to　erase　chalk　from　the　sidewalk。
　〃These　the　kids？〃　Zip　asked　Cooch。
　〃Yeah；〃　Cooch　said。
　Zip　looked　at　the　one　with　the　snotty　nose。　〃What's　your　name；　kid？〃
　〃Chico。〃
　〃And　yours？〃　he　said　to　the　other　boy。
　〃Estaban；〃　the　boy　answered；　his　feet　erasing　invisible　chalk。
　〃Did　Cooch　explain　the　picture　to　you？〃
　〃Si；〃　Chico　said。
　〃You　and　Estaban；　one　on　each　side　of　the　church　steps。　You　keep　the　pieces　under　your　shirts　until　we　get　on　the　scene。　Then　you　give　them　to　us　and　hang　around　until　we　blast。　We　give　you　back　the　pieces　when　it's　all　over；　and　you　cut　out。　You　got　that？〃
　〃Si；　yo　prendo；〃　Chico　said。
　〃Si；　si；〃　Estaban　echoed；　his　feet　moving　nervously。　He　seemed　undecided　as　to　whether　he　should　break　into　a　dance　or　begin　stamping　the　sidewalk　in　anger。　Nervously；　his　feet　continued　moving。
　Zip　looked　at　his　watch。　〃Okay；　the　church　bells　should　begin　ringing　any　minute　now。　That'll　be　first　call　for　the　eleven　o'clock　Mass。　You　kids　cut　out　as　soon　as　you　hear　them　bells。　We'll　drift　up　toward　the　corner　around　eleven…thirty。　You　be　ready　for　us；　you　hear　me？〃
　〃Zip；　when　we　grow　up；　me　an'　Estaban；〃　Chico　said；　〃we　coul'　go　gang…bustin'　wi'　you？〃
　Zip　grinned　and　touched　the　boy's　hair。　〃Sure；　when　you　grow　up。　Right　now；　you　have　them　pieces　ready　for　us　when　we　need　them。〃
　〃I　know　how　to　shoot；　Zip；〃　Chico　said。　〃I　know　how　to　shoot　good。〃
　Zip　laughed　aloud。　〃Not　this　trip；　Chico。　You　got　time　yet　before　you　begin。。。〃
　The　church　bells　rang　suddenly；　abruptly；　and　then　were　silent。　Whoever　was　pulling　on　the　cord　had　made　an　abortive　start；　perhaps　the　cord　had　slipped　from　his　hands；　perhaps　he'd　had　a　sudden　cramp　in　his　fingers。　The　heavy　solemn　bonnnnng　of　metal　upon　metal　sounded；　reverberated；　and　then　died。　The　boys　stood　in　silence；　straining　for　the　peal　of　the　bells。　And　then　the　bells　started　again；　ringing　out　on　the　still　July　air；　calling　the　flock　to　Mass；　reaching　into　the　streets　and　into　the　open　windows；　summoning　the　congregation；　summoning　Alfredo　Gomez　to　whatever　waited　for　him　on　the　church　steps。
　〃That's　it；〃　Zip　said　tightly。　He　reached　beneath　his　jacket　and；　one　by　one；　began　pulling　the　weapons　from　where　they　were　tucked　into　his　belt。　Jeff；　in　the　luncheonette；　turned　at　the　sound　of　the　church　bells；　thinking　of　China；　a　smile　on　his　face。　He　saw　the　first　weapon　pass　from　Zip's　hand　to　Chico's　snot…smeared　fist；　and　he　blinked　as　the　other　weapons　changed　hands；　watched　as　the　two　youngsters　tucked　them　into　their　waistbands；　four　guns　in　all；　and　then　pulled　their　shirts　down　over　them。
　〃Okay；　go；〃　Zip　said。
　The　two　boys　grinned；　nodded；　and　then　ran　off　up　the　street。　A　frown　had　e　onto　Jeffs　forehead。　He　swung　his　stool　around　and　picked　up　his　cup　of　coffee。　The　church　bells　had　stopped　now。　An　old　man　rushed　from　the　mouth　of　a　tenement；　paused　on　the　stoop　while　he　pulled　on　his　suit　jacket；　and　then　ran　spryly　up　the　street。
　〃Nice　quiet　Sunday；〃　Luis　said　to　Jeff；　smiling。
　Jeff　nodded　and　said　nothing。　The　four　boys　in　the　purple　silk　jackets　had　moved　to　a　position　near　the　jukebox。　The　street　had　gone　silent　again。　It　seemed　to　be　a　street　of　many　moods　and　many　temperaments；　changing　in　the　space　of　seconds　like　a　vaudeville　performer　who　snaps　a　wig　into　place　and　bees　a　clown；　discards　the　wig；　puts　on　a　black　mustache　and　bees　Adolf　Hitler。　Now；　the　street　in　its　sunbath　seemed　like　a　golden　corridor　leading　to　the　high　overhead　arch　of　the　elevated　structure　two　blocks　away；　the　sky　a　dazzling　yellow…white　beyond。　Quiet；　burning　with　light；　the　street　was　mute；　the　street　waited。　The　boys　lounged　near　the　jukebox；　their　hands　in　their　pockets。　Occasionally　they　glanced　in　the　direction　of　the　church。　Their　eyes　were　squinted　against　the　reflected　sunlight。
　The　girl　turned　the　corner　from　the　avenue　and　entered　the　street　like　a　circus　train。　She　was　wearing　a　bright…red　jacket；　a　bright…yellow　silk　shirt；　purple　spiked…heel　shoes　with　ankle　straps。　Her　hair　was　a　mass　of　thick　black；　sticking　out　from　her　head　in　near…burlesque　of　a　Bushman。　She　was　carrying　a　bright…blue　carpetbag；　and　she　walked　with　a　suggestive　swagger；　the　yellow　skirt　tightening　over　plump；　jiggling　buttocks；　huge　breasts　jutting　from　the　V…necked　opening　of　the　red　jacket。　She　seemed　to　be　wearing　nothing　under　her　outer　clothing；　and　she　didn't　give　a　damn　who　realized　it　Her　buttocks　begged　to　be　pinched；　her　breasts　beneath　the　white　rayon　blouse　and　the　red　jacket　pointed　sharp　nipples　like　pass　needles　indicating　north。　Her　walk　did　nothing　to　hide　the　pulchritude。　This　was　what　she　owned；　and　if　she　preferred　to　exhibit　her　possessions；　that　was　her　business。
　But　despite　the　suggestive　swagger；　despite　the　bobbing　breasts　and　the　fluid　grinding　motion　of　buttock　against　buttock；　despite　an　apparent　attitude　of　indifference；　the　girl　seemed　frightened　and　somehow　hesitant。　She　stared　up　at　the　buildings；　ogling　the　city；　overwhelmed　by　the　size；　somewhat　confused　and　a　little　lost。
　The　whistles　that　came　from　Zip　and　Cooch　did　not　help　her　at　all。　She　suddenly　clutched　at　the　small　red　jacket　in　an　attempt　to　close　it　over　her　thrusting　breasts。　The　boys　whistled　again；　and　Jeff　turned　to　watch　the　girl；　fascinated　by　the　tautness　of　the　yellow　skirt　and　the　bobble　of　her　backside。　The　girl　began　walking　faster；　just　as　lost；　just　as　confused；　and　the　whistles　followed　her　up　the　street　until　she　was　out　of　sight。
　Zip　began　laughing。
　And　then　his　laughter　stopped　when　he　realized　the　sailor　was　laughing　too。
　〃What　was　that？〃　Jeff　asked。
　〃Argh；　a　Marine　Tiger；〃　Luis　said。
　〃A　what？〃
　〃Marine　Tiger。　Fresh　from　the　island；　her　first　day　here　probably。　Marine　Tiger。　That　was　the　name　of　one　of　the　first　boats　to　take　Puerto　Rican　immigrants　to　the　mainland。〃
　〃Boy；　that　was　really　something；〃　Jeff　said。
　〃Did　you　see　that　hair？〃　Luis　waved　his　hands　around　his　head　in　demonstration。　〃And　now　she'll　ride　the　subway；　and　everyone　will　think　all　Puerto　Ricans　are　like　her。〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃I　need　more　soup　out　here；〃　he　said　vaguely　and　went　into　the　back　of　the　shop。
　〃I　wouldn't　have　minded　dumping　her　on　her　back；　huh；　sailor？〃　Zip　said。
　〃Well；　she's　not　exactly　my　type；〃　Jeff　said。　He　turned　back　to　the　counter。　He　did　not　like　talking　to　this　boy；　and　he　did　not　wish　to　encourage　a　friendship　which；　now　that　he　was　sober　and　now　that　he　had　met　China；　seemed　hardly　necessary。
　〃Not　your　type；　huh？〃　Zip　said。　〃What's　the　matter？　You　don't　like　Spanish　girls？〃
　〃I　didn't　say　that。〃
　Zip　lighted　a　cigarette　and　blew　out　a　stream　of　smoke。　He　considered　his　next　words　carefully。　He　did　not　know　why；　but　the　sailor　was　beginning　to　annoy　him　immensely。　At　one　and　the　same　time；　he　wanted　the　sailor　to　desire　a　Spanish　girl；　and　yet　wanted　him　to　have　nothing　to　do　with　a　Spanish　girl。　The　conflict　disturbed　him。　He　frowned　as　he　began　speaking。
　〃I've　got　a　few　minutes　to　kill。　You　still　interested　in　a　girl；　I　can　fix　you　up　with　something　real　nice。〃
　〃I'm　not　interested；〃　Jeff　said。
　〃No？〃　The　frown　got　deeper。　〃Why　not？　You　got　something　against　Puerto　Rican　girls？〃
　〃No。　I'm　just　not　interested　any　more。〃
　〃What'd　you　e　up　here　for？　A　girl；　right？〃
　〃That's　right；〃　Jeff　said。
　His　answer　angered　Zip。　〃So　why　won't　you　let　me　get　you　one？〃
　〃I　told　you。　I'm　not　interested　any　more。〃
　〃Then　why　are　you　hanging　around　here？〃
　〃That's　my　business；〃　Jeff　said　curtly。
　〃If　you　ain't　interested　any　more；　why　don't　you　get　out　of　the　neighborhood？〃
　〃You　ask　a　lot　of　questions；〃　Jeff　said。
　〃Yeah；　that's　right。　What　about　it？〃
　〃Suppose　you　answer　one；〃　Jeff　said。
　〃I　don't　have　to　an…〃
　〃Why'd　you　pass　out　those　guns？〃
　Zip's　eyes　opened　wide。　〃What？〃
　〃You　handed　an　arsenal　to　those　two　kids。　Who　do　you　plan　on　shooting？〃
　They　sat　side　by　side　on　adjacents　stools；　Jeffs　fists　bunched　on　the　counter；　Zip's　eyes　narrowing　as　the　sailor's　words　penetrated。　The　other　boys；　with　the　exception　of　Sixto；　had　moved　away　from　the　jukebox；　and　advanced　towards　their　leader。
　〃You　got　big　eyes；　Grandma；〃　Zip　said；　as　he　suddenly　struck　Jeff　full　in　the　face　with　his　closed　fist。　Jeff；　surprised　by　the　blow；　tried　to　maintain　his　balance　on　the　stool；　realized　intuitively　that　it　would　be　a　mistake　to　fall；　a　mistake　to　be　on　the　ground。　He　clutched　for　the　counter　top；　but　the　imbalance　was　plete　and　his　hand　slid　over　the　Formica　top　as　he　went　over　and　back；　his　foot　hooked　into　the　stool's　rung；　the　asphalt　tile　floor　ing　up　to　meet　his　back。　He　caught　the　force　of　the　fall　with　his　shoulder　blades；　snapping　his　head　so　that　it　wouldn't　collide　with　the　floor。　He　was　struggling　to　get　his　foot　free　of　the　rung　when　the　first　kick　exploded　against　the　side　of　his　head。
　He　brought　up　his　hands　instinctively；　trying　to　free　his　foot；　squirming　to　get　his　foot　loose　from　this　ridiculously　foolish　position；　and　the　second　kick　caught　him　in　the　rib　cage；　and　he　felt　all　the　breath　in　his　body　escape　from　his　mouth　in　a　grunt；　and　then　another　kick　caught　the　side　of　his　neck；　and　now　the　kicks　were　ing　with　methodical　precision　and　his　f