thunter.fearloathinglasvegas-第3部分

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n…law　contract　whereby　we　could　just　give　the　car　to　this　unfortunate　bastard。　Just　say：　〃Here；　sign　this　and　the　car's　yours。〃　Give　him　the　keys　and　then　use　the　credit　card　to　zap　off　on　a　jet　to　some　place　like　Miami　and　rent　another　huge　fireapple…red　convertible　for　a　drug…addled；　top…speed　run　across　the　water　all　the　way　out　to　the　last　stop　in　Key　West。。。and　then　trade　the　car　off　for　a　boat。　Keep　moving。
　　But　this　manic　notion　passed　quickly。　There　was　no　point　in　getting　this　harmless　kid　locked　up…and；　besides；　I　had　plans　for　this　car。　I　was　looking　forward　to　flashing　around　Las　Vegas　in　the　bugger。　Maybe　do　a　bit　of　serious　drag…racing　on　the　Strip：　Pull　up　to　that　big　stoplight　in　front　of　the　Flamingo　and　start　screaming　at　the　traffic：　〃Alright；　you　chickenshit　wimps！　You　pansies！　When　this　goddamn　light　flips　green；　I'm　gonna　stomp　down　on　this　thing　and　blow　every　one　of　you　gutless　punks　off　the　road！〃　Right。　Challenge　the　bastards　on　their　own　turf。　e　Screeching　up　to　the　crosswalk；　bucking　and　skidding　with　a　bottle　of　rum　in　one　hand　and　jamming　the　horn　to　drown　out　the　music。。。glazed　eyes　insanely　dilated　behind　tiny　black；　gold…rimmed　greaser　shades；　screaming　gibberish。。；　a　genuinely　dangerous　drunk；　reeking　of　ether　and　terminal　psychosis。　Revving　the　engine　up　to　a　terrible　high…pitched　chattering　whine；　waiting　for　the　light　to　change。。。
　　How　often　does　a　chance　like　that　e　around？　To　jangle　the　bastards　right　down　to　the　core　of　their　spleens。　Old　elephants　limp　off　to　the　hills　to　die；　old　Americans　go　out　to　the　highway　and　drive　themselves　to　death　with　huge　cars。
　　But　our　trip　was　different。　It　was　a　classic　affirmation　of　everything　right　and　true　and　decent　in　the　national　character。　It　was　a　gross；　physical　salute　to　the　fantastic　possibilities　of　life　in　this　country…but　only　for　those　with　true　grit。　And　we　were　chock　full　of　that。
　　My　attorney　understood　this　concept；　despite　his　racial　handicap；　but　our　hitchhiker　was　not　an　easy　person　to　reach。　He　said　he　understood；　but　I　could　see　in　his　eyes　that　he　didn't。　He　was　lying　to　me。
　　The　car　suddenly　veered　off　the　road　and　we　came　to　a　sliding　halt　in　the　gravel。　I　was　hurled　against　the　dashboard。　My　attorney　was　slumped　over　the　wheel。　〃What's　wrong？〃　I　yelled。　〃We　can't　stop　here。　This　is　bat　country！〃
　　〃My　heart；〃　he　groaned。　〃Where's　the　medicine？〃
　　〃Oh；〃　I　said。　〃The　medicine；　yes；　it's　right　here。〃　I　reached　into　the　kit…bag　for　the　amyls。　The　kid　seemed　petrified。　〃Don't　worry；〃　I　said。　〃This　man　has　a　bad　heart…Angina　Pectoris。　But　we　have　the　cure　for　it。　Yes；　here　they　are。〃　I　picked　four　amyls　out　of　the　tin　box　and　handed　two　of　them　to　my　attorney。　He　immediately　cracked　one　under　his　nose；　and　I　did　likewise。
　　He　took　a　long　snort　and　fell　back　on　the　seat；　staring　straight　up　at　the　sun。　〃Turn　up　the　fucking　music！〃　he　screamed。　〃My　heart　feels　like　an　alligator！
　　〃Volume！　Clarity！　Bass！　We　must　have　bass！〃　He　flailed　his　naked　arms　at　the　sky。　〃What's　wrong　with　us？　Are　we　god…damn　old　ladies？〃　I　turned　both　the　radio　and　the　tape　machine　up　full　bore。　〃You　scurvy　shyster　bastard；〃　I　said。　〃Watch　your　language！　You're　talking　to　a　doctor　of　journalism！〃　He　was　laughing　out　of　control。　〃What　the　fuck　are　we　doing　out　here　on　this　desert？〃　he　shouted。　〃Somebody　call　the　police！　We　need　help！〃
　　〃Pay　no　attention　to　this　swine；〃　I　said　to　the　hitchhiker。　〃He　can't　handle　the　medicine。　Actually；　we're　both　doctors　of　journalism；　and　we're　on　our　way　to　Las　Vegas　to　cover　the　main　story　of　our　generation。〃　And　then　I　began　laughing　。。。　。
　　My　attorney　hunched　around　to　face　the　hitchhiker。　〃The　truth　is；〃　he　said；　〃we're　going　to　Vegas　to　croak　a　scag　baron　named　Savage　Henry。　I've　known　him　for　years；　but　he　ripped　us　off…and　you　know　what　that　means；　right？〃　I　wanted　to　shut　him　off；　but　we　were　both　helpless　with　laughter。　What　the　fuck　were　we　doing　out　here　on　this　desert；　when　we　both　had　bad　hearts？
　　〃Savage　Henry　has　cashed　his　check！〃　My　attorney　snarled　at　the　kid　in　the　back　seat。　〃We're　going　to　rip　his　lungs　out！〃
　　〃And　eat　them！〃　I　blurted。　〃That　bastard　won't　get　away　with　this！　What's　going　on　in　this　country　when　a　scumsucker　like　that　can　get　away　with　sandbagging　a　doctor　of　journalism？〃　Nobody　answered。　My　attorney　was　cracking　another　amyl　and　the　kid　was　climbing　out　of　the　back　seat；　scrambling　down　the　trunk　lid。　〃Thanks　for　the　ride；〃　he　yelled。　〃Thanks　a　lot。　I　like　you　guys。　Don't　worry　about　me。〃　His　feet　hit　the　asphalt　and　he　started　running　back　towards　Baker。　Out　in　the　middle　of　the　desert；　not　a　tree　in　sight。
　　Wait　a　minute；〃　I　yelled。　〃e　back　and　get　a　beer。〃　But　apparently　he　couldn't　hear　me。　The　music　was　very　loud；　and　he　was　moving　away　from　us　at　good　speed。
　　〃Good　riddance；〃　said　my　attorney。　〃We　had　a　real　freak　on　our　hands。　That　boy　made　me　nervous。　Did　you　see　his　eyes？〃　He　was　still　laughing。　〃Jesus；〃　he　said。　〃This　is　good　medicine！〃　I　opened　the　door　and　reeled　around　to　the　driver's　side。　〃Move　over；〃　I　said。　〃I'll　drive。　We　have　to　get　out　of　Califor…nia　before　that　kid　finds　a　cop。〃
　　〃Shit；　that'll　be　hours；〃　said　my　attorney。　〃He's　a　hundred　miles　from　anywhere。〃
　　〃So　are　we；〃　I　said。
　　〃Let's　turn　around　and　drive　back　to　the　Polo　Lounge；〃　he　said。　〃They'll　never　look　for　us　there。〃　I　ignored　him。　〃Open　the　tequila；〃　I　yelled　as　the　wind…scream　took　over　again；　I　stomped　on　the　accelerator　as　we　hurtled　back　onto　the　highway。　Moments　later　he　leaned　over　with　a　map。　〃There's　a　place　up　ahead　called　Mescal　Springs；〃　he　said。　〃As　your　attorney；　I　advise　you　to　stop　and　take　a　swim。
　　I　shook　my　head。　〃It's　absolutely　imperative　that　we　get　to　the　Mint　Hotel　before　the　deadline　for　press　registration；〃　I　said。　〃Otherwise；　we　might　have　to　pay　for　our　suite。〃　He　nodded。　〃But　let's　forget　that　bullshit　about　the　American　Dream；〃　he　said。　〃The　important　thing　is　the　Great　Samoan　Dream。〃　He　was　rummaging　around　in　the　kit…bag。　〃I　think　it's　about　time　to　chew　up　a　blotter；〃　he　said。　〃That　cheap　mescaline　wore　off　a　long　time　ago；　and　I　don't　know　if　1　can　stand　the　smell　of　that　goddamn　ether　any　longer。〃
　　〃I　like　it；〃　I　said。　〃We　should　soak　a　towel　with　the　stuff　and　then　put　it　down　on　the　floorboard　by　the　accelerator　so　the　fumes　will　rise　up　in　my　face　all　the　way　to　Las　Vegas。〃　He　was　turning　the　tape　cassette　over。　The　radio　was　screaming：　〃Power　to　the　People…Right　On！〃　John　Lennon's　political　song；　ten　years　too　late。　〃That　poor　fool　should　have　stayed　where　he　was；〃　said　my　attorney。　〃Punks　like　that　just　get　in　the　way　when　they　try　to　be　serious。〃
　　〃Speaking　of　serious；〃　I　said。　〃I　think　it's　about　time　to　get　into　the　ether　and　the　cocaine。〃
　　〃Forget　ether；〃　he　said。　〃Let's　save　it　for　soaking　down　the　rug　in　the　suite。　But　here's　this。　Your　half　of　the　sunshine　blotter。　Just　chew　it　up　like　baseball　gum。〃　I　took　the　blotter　and　ate　it。　My　attorney　was　now　fumbling　with　the　salt　shaker　containing　the　cocaine。　Opening　it。　Spilling　it。　Then　screaming　and　grabbing　at　the　air；　as　our　fine　white　dust　blew　up　and　out　across　the　desert　highway。　A　very　expensive　little　twister　rising　up　from　the　Great　Red　Shark。　

　　〃Oh；　Jesus！〃　he　moaned。　〃Did　you　see　what　God　just　did　to　us？〃
　　〃God　didn't　do　that！〃　I　shouted。　〃You　did　it。　You're　a　fucking　narcotics　agent！　I　was　on　to　your　stinking　act　from　the　start；　you　pig！〃
　　〃You　better　be　careful；〃　he　said。　And　suddenly　he　was　waving　a　fat　black　。357　magnum　at　me。　One　of　those　snubnosed　Colt　Python　5　with　the　beveled　cylinder。　〃Plenty　of　vultures　out　here；〃　he　said。　〃They'll　pick　your　bones　clean　before　morning。〃
　　〃You　whore〃　I　said。　〃When　we　get　to　Las　Vegas　I'll　have　you　chopped　into　hamburger。　What　do　you　think　the　Drug　Bund　will　do　when　I　show　up　with　a　Samoan　narcotics　agent？〃
　　〃They'll　kill　us　both；〃　he　said。　〃Savage　Henry　knows　who　I　am。　Shit；　I'm　your　attornney〃　He　burst　into　wild　laughter。
　　〃You're　full　of　acid；　you　fool。　It'll　be　a　goddamn　miracle　if　we　can　get　to　the　hotel　and　check　in　before　you　turn　into　a　wild　animal。　Are　you　ready　for　that？　Checking　into　a　Vegas　hotel　under　a　phony　name　with　intent　to　mit　capital　fraud　and　a　head　full　of　acid？〃　He　was　laughing　again；　then　he　jammed　his　nose　down　toward　the　salt　shaker；　aiming　the　thin　green　roll　of　a　20　bill　straight　into　what　was　left　of　the　powder。
　　〃How　long　do　we　have？〃　I　said。
　　〃Maybe　thirty　more　minutes；〃　he　replied。　〃As　your　attorney　I　advise　you　to　drive　at　top　speed。〃　Las　Vegas　was　just　up　ahead。　I　could　see　the　strip/hotel　skyline　looming　up　through　the　blue　desert　ground…haze：　The　Sahara；　the　landmark；　the　Americana　and　the　ominous　Thunderbird…a　cluster　of　grey　rectangles　in　the　distance；　rising　out　of　the　cactus。
　　Thirty　minutes。　It　was　going　to　be　very　close。　The　objective　was　the　big　tower　of　the　Mint　Hotel；　downtown…and　if　we　didn't　get　there　before　we　lost　all　control；　there　was　also　the　Nevada　State　prison　upstate　in　Carson　City。　I　had　been　there　once；　but　only　for　a　talk　with　the　prisoners…and　I　didn't　want　to　go　back；　for　any　reason　at　all。　So　there　was　really　no　choice：　We　would　have　to　run　the　gauntlet；　and　acid　be　damned。　Go　through　all　t