rc.theladyinthelake-第28部分

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sick。　I've　been　sick　for　a　month。〃
　　〃My　name　is　Marlowe；〃　I　said。　〃Philip　Marlowe。　Fm　a　private　eye　in　Los　Angeles；　I've　been　talking　to　the　Graysons。　I've　got　something；　but　I　want　to　talk　to　your　husband。〃　The　woman　on　the　couch　let　out　a　dim　laugh　which　barely　reached　across　the　room。　〃You've　got　something；〃　she　said。　〃That　sounds　familiar。　My　God　it　does！　You've　got　something。　George　Talley　had　something　too…once。〃
　　〃He　can　have　it　again；〃　I　said；　〃if　he　plays　his　cards　right。〃
　　〃If　that's　what　it　takes；〃　she　said；　〃you　can　scratch　him　off　right　now。〃　I　leaned　against　the　doorframe　and　scratched　my　chin　instead。　Somebody　back　on　the　street　had　clicked　a　flashlight　on。　I　didn't　know　why。　It　went　off　again。　It　seemed　to　be　near　my　car。
　　The　pale　blur　of　face　on　the　couch　moved　and　disappeared。　Hair　took　its　place。　The　woman　had　turned　her　face　to　the　wall。
　　〃I'm　tired；〃　she　said；　her　voice　now　muffled　by　talking　at　the　wall。　〃I'm　so　damn　tired。　Beat　it；　mister。　Be　nice　and　go　away。〃
　　〃Would　a　little　money　help　any？〃
　　〃Can't　you　smell　the　cigar　smoke？〃　I　sniffed。　I　didn't　smell　any　cigar　smoke。　I　said；　〃No。〃
　　〃They've　been　here。　They　were　here　two　hours。　God；　I'm　tired　of　it　all。　Go　away。〃
　　〃Look；　Mrs。　Talley〃　She　rolled　on　the　couch　and　the　blur　of　her　face　showed　again。　I　could　almost　see　her　eyes；　not　quite。
　　〃Look　yourself；〃　she　said。　〃I　don't　know　you。　I　don't　want　to　know　you。　I　have　nothing　to　tell　you。　I　wouldn't　tell　it；　if　I　had。　I　live　here；　mister；　if　you　call　it　living。　Anyway　it's　the　nearest　I　can　get　to　living。　I　want　a　little　peace　and　quiet。　Now　you　get　out　and　leave　me　alone。〃
　　〃Let　me　in　the　house；〃　I　said。　〃We　can　talk　this　over。　I　think　I　can　show　you〃　She　rolled　suddenly　on　the　couch　again　and　feet　struck　the　floor。　A　tight　anger　came　into　her　voice。
　　〃If　you　don't　get　out；〃　she　said；　〃I'm　going　to　start　yelling　my　head　off。　Right　now。　Now！〃
　　〃Okay；〃　I　said　quickly。　〃I'll　stick　my　card　in　the　door。　So　you　won't　forget　my　name。　You　might　change　your　mind。〃　I　got　the　card　out　and　wedged　it　into　the　crack　of　the　screen　door。　I　said：　〃Well　goodnight；　Mrs。　Talley。〃　No　answer。　Her　eyes　were　looking　across　the　room　at　me；　faintly　luminous　in　the　dark。　I　went　down　off　the　porch　and　back　along　the　narrow　walk　to　the　street。
　　Across　the　way　a　motor　purled　gently　in　the　car　with　the　parking　lights　on　it。　Motors　purl　gently　in　thousands　of　cars　on　thousands　of　streets；　everywhere。
　　I　got　into　the　Chrysler　and　started　it　up。
　　
　　
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　　Westmore　was　a　north　and　south　street　on　the　wrong　side　of　town。　I　drove　north。　At　the　next　corner　I　bumped　over　disused　interurban　tracks　and　on　into　a　block　of　junk　yards。　Behind　wooden　fences　the　deposing　carcases　of　old　automobiles　lay　in　grotesque　designs；　like　a　modern　battlefield。　Piles　of　rusted　parts　looked　lumpy　under　the　moon。　Roof　high　piles；　with　alleys　between　them。
　　Headlights　glowed　in　my　rear　view　mirror。　They　got　larger。　I　stepped　on　the　gas　and　reached　keys　out　of　my　pocket　and　unlocked　the　glove　partment。　I　took　a　。38　out　and　laid　it　on　the　car　seat　close　to　my　leg。
　　Beyond　the　junk　yards　there　was　a　brick　field。　The　tall　chimney　of　the　kiln　was　smokeless；　far　off　over　waste　land。　Piles　of　dark　bricks；　a　low　wooden　building　with　a　sign　on　it；　emptiness；　no　one　moving；　no　light。
　　The　car　behind　me　gained。　The　low　whine　of　a　lightly　touched　siren　growled　through　the　night。　The　sound　loafed　over　the　fringes　of　a　neglected　golf　course　to　the　east；　across　the　brickyard　to　the　west。　I　speeded　up　a　bit　more；　but　it　wasn't　any　use。　The　car　behind　me　came　up　fast　and　a　huge　red　spothght　suddenly　glared　all　over　the　road。
　　The　car　came　up　level　and　started　to　cut　in。　I　stood　the　Chrysler　on　its　nose；　swung　out　behind　the　police　car；　and　made　a　U　turn　with　half　an　inch　to　spare。　I　gunned　the　motor　the　other　way。　Behind　me　sounded　the　rough　clashing　of　gears；　the　howl　of　an　infuriated　motor；　and　the　red　spotlight　swept　for　what　seemed　miles　over　the　brickyard。
　　It　wasn't　any　use。　They　were　behind　me　and　ing　fast　again。　I　didn't　have　any　idea　of　getting　away。　I　wanted　to　get　back　where　there　were　houses　and　people　to　e　out　and　watch　and　perhaps　to　remember。
　　I　didn't　make　it。　The　police　car　heaved　up　alongside　again　and　a　hard　voice　yelled：　〃Pull　over；　or　we'll　blast　a　hole　in　you！〃　I　pulled　over　to　the　curb　and　set　the　brake。　I　put　the　gun　back　in　the　glove　partment　and　snapped　it　shut。　The　police　car　jumped　on　its　springs　just　in　front　of　my　left　front　fender。　A　fat　man　slammed　out　of　it　roaring。
　　〃Don't　you　know　a　police　siren　when　you　hear　one？　Get　out　of　that　car！〃　I　got　out　of　the　car　and　stood　beside　it　in　the　moonlight。　The　fat　man　had　a　gun　in　his　hand。
　　〃Gimme　your　license！〃　he　barked　in　a　voice　as　hard　as　the　blade　of　a　shovel。
　　I　took　it　out　and　held　it　out。　The　other　cop　in　the　car　slid　out　from　under　the　wheel　and　came　around　beside　me　and　took　what　I　was　holding　out。　He　put　a　flash　on　it　and　read。
　　〃Name　of　Marlowe；〃　he　said。　〃Hell；　the　guy's　a　shamus。　Just　think　of　that；　Cooney。〃　Cooney　said：　〃Is　that　all？　Guess　I　won't　need　this。〃　He　tucked　the　gun　back　in　his　holster　and　buttoned　the　leather　flap　down　over　it。　〃Guess　I　can　handle　this　with　my　little　flippers；〃　he　said。　〃Guess　I　can　at　that。〃　The　other　one　said：　〃Doing　fifty…five。　Been　drinking；　I　wouldn't　wonder。〃
　　〃Smell　the　bastard's　breath；〃　Cooney　said。
　　The　other　one　leaned　forward　with　a　polite　leer。　〃Could　I　smell　the　breath；　shamus？〃　I　let　him　smell　the　breath。
　　〃Well；〃　he　said　judiciously；　〃he　ain't　staggering。　I　got　to　admit　that。〃
　　〃'S　a　cold　night　for　summer。　Buy　the　boy　a　drink；　Officer　Dobbs。〃
　　〃Now　that's　a　sweet　idea；〃　Dobbs　said。　He　went　to　the　car　and　got　a　half　pint　bottle　out　of　it。　He　held　it　up。　It　was　a　third　full。　〃No　really　solid　drinking　here；〃he　said。　He　held　the　bottle　out。　〃With　our　pliments；　pal。〃
　　〃Suppose　I　don't　want　want　a　drink；〃　I　said。
　　〃Don't　say　that；〃　Cooney　whined。　〃We　might　get　the　idea　you　wanted　feetprints　on　your　stomach。〃　I　took　the　bottle　and　unscrewed　the　cap　and　sniffed。　The　liquor　in　the　bottle　smelled　like　whiskey。　Just　whiskey。
　　〃You　can't　work　the　same　gag　all　the　time；〃　I　said。　Cooney　said：　〃Time　is　eight　twenty…seven。　Write　it　down；　Officer　Dobbs。〃　Dobbs　went　to　the　car　and　leaned　in　to　make　a　note　on　his　report。　I　held　the　bottle　up　and　said　to　Cooney：　〃You　insist　that　I　drink　this？〃
　　〃Naw。　You　could　have　me　jump　on　your　belly　instead。〃　I　tilted　the　bottle；　locked　my　throat；　and　ifiled　my　mouth　with　whiskey。　Cooney　lunged　forward　and　sank　a　fist　in　my　stomach。　I　sprayed　the　whiskey　and　bent　over　choking。　I　dropped　the　bottle。
　　I　bent　to　get　it　and　saw　Cooney's　fat　knee　rising　at　my　face。　I　stepped　to　one　side　and　straightened　and　slammed　him　on　the　nose　with　everything　I　had。　His　left　hand　went　to　his　face　and　his　voice　howled　and　his　right　hand　jumped　to　his　gun　holster。　Dobbs　ran　at　me　from　one　side　and　his　arm　swung　low。　The　blackjack　hit　me　behind　the　left　knee；　the　leg　went　dead　and　I　sat　down　hard　on　the　ground；　gritting　my　teeth　and　spitting　whiskey。
　　Cooney　took　his　hand　away　from　his　face　full　of　blood。
　　〃Jesus；〃　he　cracked　in　a　thick　horrible　voice。　〃This　is　blood。　My　blood。〃　He　let　out　a　wild　roar　and　swung　his　foot　at　my　face。
　　I　rolled　far　enough　to　catch　it　on　my　shoulder。　It　was　bad　enough　taking　it　there。
　　Dobbs　pushed　between　us　and　said：　〃We　got　enough；　Charlie。　Better　not　get　it　all　gummed　up。〃　Cooney　stepped　backwards　three　shuffling　steps　and　sat　down　on　the　running　board　of　the　police　car　and　held　his　face。　He　groped　for　a　handkerchief　and　used　it　gently　on　his　nose。
　　〃Just　gimnie　a　minute；〃　he　said　through　the　handkerchief。　〃Just　a　minute；　pal。　Just　one　little　minute。〃　Dobbs　said；　〃Pipe　down。　We　got　enough。　That's　the　way　it's　going　to　be。〃　He　swung　the　blackjack　slowly　beside　his　leg。　Cooney　got　up　off　the　running　board　and　staggered　forward。　Dobbs　put　a　hand　against　his　chest　and　pushed　him　gently。　Cooney　tried　to　knock　the　hand　out　of　his　way。
　　〃I　gotta　see　blood；〃　he　croaked。　〃I　gotta　see　more　blood。〃　Dobbs　said　sharply；　〃Nothing　doing。　Pipe　down。　We　got　all　we　wanted。〃　Cooney　turned　and　moved　heavily　away　to　the　other　side　of　the　police　car。　He　leaned　against　it　muttering　through　his　handkerchief。　Dobbs　said　to　me：　〃Up　on　the　feet；　boy　friend。〃　I　got　up　and　rubbed　behind　my　knee。　The　nerve　of　the　leg　was　jumping　like　an　angry　monkey。
　　〃Get　in　the　car；〃　Dobbs　said。　〃Our　car。〃　I　went　over　and　climbed　into　the　police　car。
　　Dobbs　said：　〃You　drive　the　other　heap；　Charlie。〃
　　〃I'll　tear　every　god　damn　fender　off'n　it；〃　Cooney　roared。
　　Dobbs　picked　the　whiskey　bottle　off　the　ground；　threw　it　over　the　fence；　and　slid　into　the　car　beside　me。　He　pressed　the　starter。
　　〃This　is　going　to　cost　you；〃　he　said。　〃You　hadn't　ought　to　have　socked　him。〃　I　said：　〃Just　why　not？〃
　　〃He's　a　good　guy；〃　Dobbs　said。　〃A　little　loud。〃
　　〃But　not　funny；〃　I　said。　〃Not　at　all　funny。〃
　　〃Don't　tell　him；〃　Dobbs　said。　The　police　car　began　to　move。　〃You'd　hurt　his　feelings。〃　Cooney　slammed　into　the　Chrysler　and　started　it　and　clashed　the　gears　as　if　he　was　trying　to　s