thunter.fearloathinglasvegas-第14部分

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ow　much　longer？　This　tension　is　part　of　the　high。　The　possibility　of　physical　and　mental　collapse　is　very　real　now　。。。　but　collapse　is　out　of　the　question；　as　a　solution　or　even　a　cheap　alternative；　it　is　unacceptable。　Indeed。　This　is　the　moment　of　truth；　that　fine　and　fateful　line　between　control　and　disaster…which　is　also　the　difference　between　staying　loose　and　weird　on　the　streets；　or　spending　the　next　five　years　of　summer　mornings　playing　basketball　in　the　yard　at　Carson　City。
　　No　sympathy　for　the　devil；　keep　that　in　mind。　Buy　the　ticket；　take　the　ride　。　。　。　and　if　it　occasionally　gets　a　little　heavier　than　what　you　had　in　mind；　well　。　。　。　maybe　chalk　it　off　to　forced　consciousness　expansion：　Tune　in；　freak　out；　get　eaten。　It's　all　in　Kesey's　Bible。。。。The　Far　Side　of　Reality。
　　And　so　much　for　bad　gibberish；　not　even　Kesey　can　help　me　I　have　just　had　two　very　bad　emotional　experiences…with　the　California　Highway　Patrol　and　another　with　a　phantom　hitchhiker　who　may　or　may　not　have　been　who　I　thought　it　was…and　now；　feeling　right　on　the　verge　of　a　bad　psychotic　episode；　I　am　hunkered　down　with　my　tape　machine　in　a　〃beer　bar〃　that　is　actually　the　back　room　of　a　huge　Hardware　Barn…all　kinds　of　plows　and　harnesses　and　piled…up　fertilizer　bags；　and　wondering　how　it　all　happened。
　　About　five　miles　back　I　had　a　brush　with　the　CHP。　Not　stopped　or　pulled　over：　nothing　routine。　I　always　drive　properly。　A　bit　fast；　perhaps；　but　always　with　consummate　skill　and　a　natural　feel　for　the　road　that　even　cops　recognize。　No　cop　was　ever　born　who　isn't　a　sucker　for　a　finely…executed　hi…speed　Controlled　Drift　all　the　way　around　one　of　those　cloverleaf　freeway　interchanges。
　　Few　people　understand　the　psychology　of　dealing　with　a　highway　traffic　cop。　Your　normal　speeder　will　panic　and　immediately　pull　over　to　the　side　when　he　sees　the　big　red　light　behind　him。。。and　then　we　will　start　apologizing；　begging　for　mercy。
　　This　is　wrong。　It　arouses　contempt　in　the　cop…heart。　The　thing　to　do…when　you're　running　along　about　a　hundred　or　so　and　you　suddenly　find　a　red…flashing　CHP…tracker　on　your　trail…what　you　want　to　do　then　is　accelerate。　Never　pull　over　with　the　first　siren…howl。　Mash　it　down　and　make　the　bastard　chase　you　at　speeds　up　to　120　all　the　way　to　the　next　exit。　He　will　follow。　But　he　won't　know　what　to　make　of　your　blinker…signal　that　says　you're　about　to　turn　right。
　　This　is　to　let　him　know　you're　looking　for　a　proper　place　to　pull　off　and　talk　。　。。　keep　signaling　and　hope　for　an　off…ramp；　one　of　those　uphill　side…loops　with　a　sign　saying　〃Max　Speed　25〃。。。and　the　trick；　at　this　point；　is　to　suddenly　leave　the　freeway　and　take　him　into　the　chute　at　no　less　than　a　hundred　miles　an　hour。
　　He　will　lock　his　brakes　about　the　same　time　you　lock　yours；　but　it　will　take　him　a　moment　to　realize　that　he's　about　to　make　a　180…degree　turn　at　this　speed　。　。。　but　you　will　be　ready　for　it；　braced　for　the　Gs　and　the　fast　heel…toe　work；　and　with　any　luck　at　all　you　will　have　e　to　a　plete　stop　off　the　road　at　the　top　of　the　turn　and　be　standing　beside　your　automobile　by　the　time　he　catches　up。
　　He　will　not　be　reasonable　at　first。。。but　no　matter。　Let　him　calm　down。　He　will　want　the　first　word。　Let　him　have　it。　His　brain　will　be　in　a　turmoil：　he　may　begin　jabbering；　or　even　pull　his　gun。　Let　him　unwind；　keep　smiling。　The　idea　is　to　show　him　that　you　were　always　in　total　control　of　yourself　and　your　vehicle…while　he　lost　control　of　everything。
　　It　helps　to　have　a　police/press　badge　in　your　wallet　when　he　calms　down　enough　to　ask　for　your　license。　I　had　one　of　these…but　I　also　had　a　can　of　Budweiser　in　my　hand。　Until　that　moment；　I　was　unaware　that　I　was　holding　it。　I　had　felt　totally　on　top　of　the　situation。。。but　when　I　looked　down　and　saw　that　little　red/silver　evidence…bomb　in　my　hand；　I　knew　I　was　fucked。　。
　　Speeding　is　one　thing；　but　Drunk　Driving　is　quite　another。　The　cop　seemed　to　grasp　this…that　I'd　blown　my　whole　performance　by　forgetting　the　beer　can。　His　face　relaxed；　he　actually　smiled。　And　so　did　I。　Because　we　both　understood；　in　that　moment；　that　my　Thunder　Road；　moonshine…bomber　act　had　been　totally　wasted：　We　had　both　scared　the　piss　out　of　ourselves　for　nothing　at　all…because　the　fact　of　this　beer　can　in　my　hand　made　any　argument　about　〃speeding〃　beside　the　point。
　　He　accepted　my　open　wallet　with　his　left　hand；　then　extended　his　right　toward　the　beer　can。　〃Could　I　have　that？〃　he　asked。
　　〃Why　not？〃　I　said。
　　He　took　it；　then　held　it　up　between　us　and　poured　the　beer　out　on　the　road。
　　I　smiled；　no　longer　caring。　〃It　was　getting　warm；　anyway；〃　said。　Just　behind　me；　on　the　back　seat　of　the　Shark；　I　couldabout　ten　cans　of　hot　Budweiser　and　a　dozen　or　so　grapefruits。　I'd　forgotten　all　about　them；　but　now　they　were　too　obvious　for　either　one　of　us　to　ignore。　My　guilt　was　so　gross　and　overwhelming　that　explanations　were　useless。
　　The　cop　understood　this。　〃You　realize；〃　he　said；　〃that　it's　a　crime　to　。　。
　　〃Yeah；〃　I　said。　〃I　know。　I'm　guilty。　I　understand　that。　I　knew　it　was　a　crime；　but　I　did　it　anyway。〃　I　shrugged。　〃Shit；　why　argue？　I'm　a　fucking　criminal。〃
　　〃That's　a　strange　attitude；〃　he　said。
　　I　stared　at　him；　seeing　for　the　first　time　that　I　was　dealing　with　a　bright…eyed　young　sport；　around　thirty；　who　was　apparently　enjoying　his　work。
　　〃You　know；〃　he　said；　〃I　get　the　feeling　you　could　use　a　nap。〃　He　nodded。　〃There's　a　rest　area　up　ahead。　Why　don't　you　pull　over　and　sleep　a　few　hours？〃　I　instantly　understood　what　he　was　telling　me；　but　for　some　insane　reason　I　shook　my　head。　〃A　nap　won't　help；〃I　said。　〃I've　been　awake　for　too　long…three　or　four　nights；　I　can't　even　remember。　If　I　go　to　sleep　now；　I'm　dead　for　twenty　hours。〃　Good　God；　I　thought。　What　have　I　said？　This　bastard　is　trying　to　be　human；　he　could　take　me　straight　to　jail；　but　he's　telling　me　to　take　a　fucking　nap。　For　Christ　sake；　agree　with　him：　Yes；　officer；　of　course　I'll　take　advantage　of　that　rest　area。　And　I　can't　tell　you　how　grateful　I　am　for　this　break　you　want　to　give　me。
　　But　no。。。here　I　was　insisting　that　if　he　turned　me　loose　I　would　boom　straight　ahead　for　L。A。　which　was　true；　but　why　say　it？　Why　push　him？　This　is　not　the　right　time　for　a　show…down。　This　is　Death　Valley。。。get　a　grip　on　yourself。
　　Of　course。　Get　a　grip。　〃Look；〃　I　said。　〃I've　been　out　in　Las　Vegas　covering　the　Mint　400。〃　I　pointed　to　the　〃VIP　Parking〃　sticker　on　the　windshield。　〃Incredible；〃　I　said。　〃All　those　bikes　and　dune　buggies　crashing　around　the　desert　for　two　days。　Have　you　seen　it？〃　He　smiled；　shaking　his　head'　with　a　sort　of　melancholy　un…derstanding。　I　could　see　him　thinking。　Was　I　dangerous？　Was　he　ready　for　the　vicious；　time…consuming　scene　that　was　bound　to　e　if　he　took　me　under　arrest？　How　many　off…duty　hours　would　he　have　to　spend　hanging　around　the　courthouse；　waiting　to　testify　against　me？　And　what　kind　of　monster　lawyer　would　I　bring　in　to　work　out　on　him？
　　I　knew；　but　how　could　he？
　　〃OK；〃　he　said。　〃Here's　how　it　is。　What　goes　into　my　book；　as　of　noon；　is　that　I　apprehended　you。。。for　driving　too　fast　conditions；　and　advised　you。。。with　this　written　warning…he　handed　it　to　me…〃to　proceed　no　further　than　the　next　rest　area。。。your　stated　destination；　right？　Where　you　an　to　take　a　long　nap　。。。〃　He　hung　his　ticket…pad　back　on　his　belt。　〃Do　I　make　myself　clear？〃　he　asked　as　he　turned　away。
　　I　shrugged。　〃How　far　is　Baker？　I　was　hoping　to　stop　there　for　lunch。〃
　　〃That's　not　in　my　jurisdiction；〃　he　said。　〃The　city　limits　are　two…point…two　miles　beyond　the　rest　area。　Can　you　make　it　that　far？〃　He　grinned　heavily。
　　〃I'll　try；〃　I　said。　〃I've　been　wanting　to　go　to　Baker　for　a　long　time。　I've　heard　a　lot　about　it。〃
　　〃Excellent　seafood；〃　he　said。　〃With　a　mind　like　yours；　you'll　probably　want　the　land…crab。　Try　the　Majestic　Diner。〃
　　I　shook　my　head　and　got　back　in　the　car；　feeling　raped。　The　pig　had　done　me　on　all　fronts；　and　now　he　was　going　off　to　chuckle　about　it…on　the　west　edge　of　town；　waiting　for　me　to　make　a　run　for　L。A。
　　I　got　back　on　the　freeway　and　drove　past　the　rest　area　to　the　intersection　where　I　had　to　turn　right　into　Baker。　As　I　am　proached　the　turn　I　saw。。。Great　Jesus；　it's　him；　the　hitchhiker；　the　same　kid　we'd　picked　up　and　terrified　on　the　way　out　to　Vegas。　Our　eyes　met　as　I　slowed　down　to　make　the　corner。　I　was　tempted　to　wave；　but　when　I　saw　him　drop　his　thumb　I　thought；　no；　this　is　not　the　time。。。
　　God　only　knows　what　that　kid　said　about　us　when　he　finally　got　back　to　town。　Get　out　of　sight　at　once。　How　could　I　be　surerecognized　me？　But　the　car　was　hard　to　miss。　And　why　would　he　back　away　from　the　road？
　　Suddenly　I　had　two　personal　enemies　in　this　godforsaken　town。　The　CHP　cop　would　bust　me　for　sure　if　I　tried　to　go　on　through　to　L。A。；　and　this　goddamn　rotten　kid/hitchhiker　would　have　me　hunted　down　like　a　beast　if　I　stayed。　（Holy　Jesus；　Sam！　There　he　is！　That　guy　the　kid　told　us　about！　He's　back！）　Either　way；　it　was　horrible…and　if　these　righteous　outback　predators　ever　got　their　stories　together。。。and　they　would；　it　was　inevitable　in　a　town　this　small。。。that　would　cash　my　check　all　around。　I'd　be　lucky　to　leave　town　alive。　A　ball　of　tar　and　feathers　dragged　onto　the　prison　b