rc.theladyinthelake-第29部分

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　　〃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　strip　them。　Dobbs　tooled　the　police　car　smoothly　around　and　started　north　again　along　the　brickyard。
　　〃You'll　like　our　new　jail；〃　he　said。
　　〃What　will　the　charge　be？〃　He　thought　a　moment；　guiding　the　car　with　a　gentle　hand　and　watching　in　the　mirror　to　see　that　Cooney　followed　along　behind。
　　〃Speeding；〃　he　said。　〃Resisting　arrest。　H。B。D。〃　H。B。D。　is　police　slang　for　〃had　been　drinking。〃
　　〃How　about　being　slammed　in　the　belly；　kicked　in　the　shoulder；　forced　to　drink　liquor　under　threat　of　bodily　harm；　threatened　with　a　gun　and　struck　with　a　blackjack　while　unarmed？　Couldn't　you　make　a　little　something　more　out　of　that？〃
　　〃Aw　forget　it；〃　he　said　wearily。　〃You　think　this　sort　of　thing　is　my　idea　of　a　good　time？〃
　　〃I　thought　they　cleaned　this　town　up；〃　I　said。　〃I　thought　they　had　it　so　that　a　decent　man　could　walk　the　streets　at　night　without　wearing　a　bullet　proof　vest。〃
　　〃They　cleaned　it　up　some；〃　he　said。　〃They　wouldn't　want　it　too　clean。　They　might　scare　away　a　dirty　dollar。〃
　　〃Better　not　talk　like　that；〃　I　said。　〃You'll　lose　your　union　card。〃　He　laughed。　〃The　hell　with　them；〃　he　said。　〃I'll　be　in　the　army　in　two　weeks。〃　The　incident　was　over　for　him。　It　meant　nothing。　He　took　it　as　a　matter　of　course。　He　wasn't　even　bitter　about　it。
　　
　　
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　　The　cell　block　was　almost　brand　new。　The　battleship　gray　paint　on　the　steel　walls　and　door　still　had　the　fresh　gloss　of　newness　disfigured　in　two　or　three　places　by　squirted　tobacco　juice。　The　overhead　light　was　sunk　in　the　ceffing　behind　a　heavy　frosted　panel。　There　were　two　bunks　on　one　side　of　the　cell　and　a　man　snored　in　the　top　bunk；　with　a　dark　gray　blanket　wrapped　around　him。　Since　he　was　asleep　that　early　and　didn't　smell　of　whiskey　or　gin　and　had　chosen　the　top　berth　where　he　would　be　out　of　the　way；　I　judged　he　was　an　old　lodger。
　　I　sat　on　the　lower　bunk。　They　had　tapped　me　for　a　gun　but　they　hadn't　stripped　my　pockets。　I　got　out　a　cigarette　and　rubbed　the　hot　swelling　behind　my　knee。　The　pain　radiated　all　the　way　to　the　ankle。　The　whiskey　I　had　coughed　on　my　coat　front　had　a　rank　smell。　I　held　the　cloth　up　and　breathed　smoke　into　it。　The　smoke　floated　up　around　the　flat　square　of　lighted　glass　in　the　ceiling。　The　jail　seemed　very　quiet。　A　woman　was　making　a　shrill　racket　somewhere　very　far　off；　in　another　part　of　the　jail。　My　part　was　as　peaceful　as　a　church。
　　The　woman　was　screaming；　wherever　she　was。　The　screaming　had　a　thin　sharp　unreal　sound；　something　like　the　screaming　of　coyotes　in　the　moonlight；　but　it　didn't　have　the　rising　keening　note　of　the　coyote。　After　a　while　the　sound　stopped。
　　I　smoked　two　cigarettes　through　and　dropped　the　butts　into　the　small　toilet　in　the　corner。　The　man　in　the　upper　berth　still　snored。　All　I　could　see　of　him　was　damp　greasy　hair　sticking　out　over　the　edge　of　the　blanket。　He　slept　on　his　stomach。　He　slept　well。　He　was　one　of　the　best。
　　I　sat　down　on　the　bunk　again。　It　was　made　of　flat　steel　slats　with　a　thin　hard　mattress　over　them。　Two　dark　gray　blankets　were　folded　on　it　quite　neatly。　It　was　a　very　nice　jail。　It　was　on　the　twelfth　floor　of　the　new　city　hall。　It　was　a　very　nice　city　hail。　Bay　City　was　a　very　nice　place。　People　lived　there　and　thought　so。　If　I　lived　there；　I　would　probably　think　so。　I　would　see　the　nice　blue　bay　and　the　cliffs　and　the　yacht　harbor　and　the　quiet　streets　of　houses；　old　houses　brooding　under　old　trees　and　new　houses　with　sharp　green　lawns　and　wire　fences　and　staked　saplings　set　into　the　parkway　in　front　of　them。　I　knew　a　girl　who　lived　on　Twenty…fifty　Street。　It　was　a　nice　street。　She　was　a　nice　girl。　She　liked　Bay　City。
　　She　wouldn't　think　about　the　Mexican　and　Negro　slums　stretched　out　on　the　dismal　flats　south　of　the　old　interurban　tracks。　Nor　of　the　waterfront　dives　along　the　flat　shore　south　of　the　cliffs；　the　sweaty　little　dance　halls　on　the　pike；　the　marihuana　joints；　the　narrow　fox　faces　watching　over　the　tops　of　newspapers　in　far　too　quiet　hotel　lobbies；　nor　the　pickpockets　and　grifters　and　con　men　and　drunk　rollers　and　pimps　and　queens　on　the　board　walk。
　　I　went　over　to　stand　by　the　door。　There。　was　nobody　stirring　across　the　way。　The　lights　in　the　cell　block　were　bleak　and　silent。　Business　in　the　jail　was　rotten。
　　I　looked　at　my　watch。　Nine　fifty…four。　Time　to　go　home　and　get　your　slippers　on　and　play　over　a　game　of　chess。　Time　for　a　tall　cool　drink　and　a　long　quiet　pipe。　Time　to　sit　with　your　feet　up　and　think　of　nothing。　Time　to　start　yawning　over　your　magazine。　Time　to　be　a　human　being；　a　householder；　a　man　with　nothing　to　do　but　rest　and　suck　in　the　night　air　and　rebuild　the　brain　for　tomorrow。
　　A　man　in　the　blue…gray　jail　uniform　came　along　between　the　cells　reading　numbers。　He　stopped　in　front　of　mine　and　unlocked　the　door　and　gave　me　the　hard　stare　they　think　they　have　to　wear　on　their　pans　forever　and　forever　and　forever。　I'm　a　cop；　brother；　I'm　tough；　watch　your　step；　brother；　or　we'll　fix　you　up　so　you'll　crawl　on　your　hands　and　knees；　brother；　snap　out　of　it；　brother；　let's　get　a　load　of　the。　truth；　brother；　let's　go；　and　let's　not　forget　we're　tough　guys；　we're　cops；　and　we　do　what　we　like　with　punks　like　you。
　　〃Out；〃　he　said。
　　I　stepped　out　of　the　cell　and　he　relocked　the　door　and　jerked　his　thumb　and　we　went　along　to　a　wide　steel　gate　and　he　unlocked　that　and　we　went　through　and　he　relocked　it　and　the　keys　tinkled　pleasantly　on　the　big　steel　ring　and　after　a　while　we　went　through　a　steel　door　that　was　painted　like　wood　on　the　outside　and　battleship　gray　on　the　inside。
　　Degarmo　was　standing　there　by　the　counter　talking　to　the　desk　sergeant。
　　He　turned　his　metaffic　blue　eyes　on　me　and　said：　〃How　you　doing？〃
　　〃Fine。〃
　　〃Like　our　jail？〃
　　〃I　like　your　jail　fine。〃
　　〃Captain　Webber　wants　to　talk　to　you。〃
　　〃That's　fine；〃　I　said。
　　〃Don't　you　know　any　words　but　fine？〃
　　〃Not　right　now；〃　I　said。　〃Not　in　here。〃
　　〃You're　limping　a　little；〃　he　said。　〃You　trip　over　something？〃
　　〃Yeah；〃　I　said。　〃I　tripped　over　a　blackjack。　It　jumped　up　and　bit　me　behind　the　left　knee。〃
　　〃That's　too　bad；〃　Degarmo　said；　blank…eyed。　〃Get　your　stuff　from　the　property　clerk。〃
　　〃I've　got　it；〃　I　said。　〃It　wasn't　taken　away　from　me。〃
　　〃Well；　that's　fine；〃　he　said。
　　〃It　sure　is；〃　I　said。　〃It's　fine。〃　The　desk　sergeant　lifted　his　shaggy　head　and　gave　us　both　a　long　stare。　〃You　ought　to　see　Cooney's　little　Irish　nose；〃　he　said。　〃If　you　want　to　see　something　fine。　It's　spread　over　his　face　like　syrup　on　a　waffle。〃　Degarmo　said　absently：　〃What's　the　matter？　He　get　in　a　fight？'　〃I　wouldn't　know；〃　the　desk　sergeant　said。　〃Maybe　it　was　the　same　blackjack　that　jumped　up　and　bit　him。〃
　　〃For　a　desk　sergeant　you　talk　too　damn　much；〃　Degarmo　said。
　　〃A　desk　sergeant　always　talks　too　God　damn　much；〃　the　desk　sergeant　said。　〃Maybe　that's　why　he　isn't　a　lieutenant　on　homicide。〃
　　〃You　see　how　we　are　here；〃　Degarmo　said。　〃Just　one　great　big　happy　family。〃
　　〃With　beaming　smiles　on　our　faces；〃　the　desk　sergeant　said；　〃and　our　arms　spread　wide　in　wele；　and　a　rock　in　each　hand。〃　Degarmo　jerked　his　head　at　me　and　we　went　out。
　　
　　
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　　Captain　Webber　pushed　his　sharp　bent　nose　across　the　desk　at　me　and　said：　〃Sit　down。〃　I　sat　down　in　a　round…backed　wooden　armchair　and　eased　my　left　leg　away　from　the　sharp　edge　of　the　seat。　It　was　a　large　neat　corner　office。　Degarmo　sat　at　the　end　of　the　desk　and　crossed　his　legs　and　rubbed　his　ankle　thoughtfully；　looked　out　of　a　window。
　　Webber　went　on：　〃You　asked　for　trouble；　and　you　got　it。　You　were　doing　fifty…five　miles　an　hour　in　a　residential　zone　and　you　attempted　to　get　away　from　a　police　car　that　signaled　you　to　stop　with　its　siren　and　red　spotlight。　You　were　abusive　when　stopped　and　you　struck　an　officer　in　the　face。〃　I　said　nothing。　Webber　picked　a　match　off　his　desk　and　broke　it　in　half　and　threw　the　pieces　over　his　shoulder。
　　〃Or　are　they　lying…as　usual？〃　he　asked。
　　〃I　didn't　see　their　report；〃　I　said。　〃I　was　probably　doing　fifty…five　in　a　residential　district；　or　anyhow　within　city　limits。　The　police　car　was　parked　outside　a　house　I　visited。　It　followed　me　when　I　drove　away　and　I　didn't　at　that　time　know　it　was　a　police　car。　It　had　no　good　reason　to　follow　me　and　I　didn't　like　the　look　of　it。　I　went　a　little　fast；　but　all　I　was　trying　to　do　was　get　to　a　better　lighted　part　of　town。〃　Degarmo　moved　his　eyes　to　give　me　a　bleak　meaningless　stare。　Webber　snapped　his　teeth　impatiently。
　　He　said：　〃After　you　knew　it　was　a　police　car　you　made　a　half　turn　in　the　middle　of　the　block　and　still　tried　to　get　away。　Is　that　right？〃　I　said：　〃Yes。　It's　going　to　take　a　little　frank　talk　to　explain　that。〃
　　〃I'm　not　afraid　of　a　little　frank　talk；〃　Webber　said。　〃I　tend　to　kind　of　specialize　in　frank　talk。〃　I　said：　〃These　cops　that　picked　me　up　were　parked　in　front　of　the　house　where　George　Talley's　wife　lives。　They　were　there　before　I　got　there。　George　Talley　is　the　man。　who　used　to　be　a　private　detective　down　here。　I　wanted　to　see　him。　Degarmo　knows　w