Steal The Sun(战争间谍)-第46部分

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The　Russian　spy　with　the　British　accent　had　somehow　traced　the　uranium　to　this　place。
It　was　doubtful　that　he　could　convince　Refugio’s　cousins　to　kill　the　Englishwoman　and　her
friends。　It　was　even　more　doubtful　that　the　deaths　would　be　kept　secret。　Attention　would　be
drawn　to　the　neighborhood　and　to　him　–　official　attention；　the　one　thing　he　could　not　tolerate。
He　had　a　chance　to　secure　Japan’s　future　so　long　as　he　and　his　trail　were　invisible。　But　one
misstep；　one　clear　footprint　revealing　his　presence；　and　his　pursuers　would　fall　upon　him　and
tear　him　apart。
“I　must　hide；”　murmured　Kestrel。　“But　where？”
Ana　was　watching　him；　sorrow　in　her　eyes。　He　had　never　seen　her　so　vulnerable。
“You’re　going。”　Ana’s　voice　was　as　empty　as　her　eyes。
“We’re　going；”　corrected　Kestrel。
“You’re　going；”　continued　Ana　as　though　he　had　not　spoken。　“You’re　going　and　I　am　not。”
Kestrel　was　momentarily　disoriented；　as　though　they　were　speaking　separate　languages　based　on
separate　assumptions。　Then　he　understood　what　she　did　not　want　to　put　into　words：　he　must　flee
or　die。　Either　way；　she　would　be　left　alone　in　a　hostile　land。　Even　if　he　took　her　with　him；　he
would　return　eventually　to　Japan；　then　she　would　be　alone。
“I　won’t　leave　you；　Ana；”　Kestrel　said；　lying　as　he　spoke；　knowing　he　lied；　and　why。　“How　could
I？　I　don’t　even　know　where　to　go。　The　submarine　won’t　be　off　the　coast　for　five　days。”
“Then　we’ll　go　back　to　Mexicali　and　wait。　Refugio　and　Takagura　will　protect　us。”
Kestrel　hesitated；　deciding　how　much　of　the　truth　Ana　could　bear。　“Refugio　is　dying。　When　his
men　realize　that；　we　will　be　at　their　mercy。　We　must　have　a　place　to　go　where　we’ll　be　safe　until
Takagura　can　make　new　arrangements　to　smuggle　us　south。　And　we　must　go　very　soon。”
“Dying？　Refugio？”　whispered　Ana。　Her　eyes　searched　his　face；　and　then　she　asked　no　more
questions。　“A　place　where　Japanese　are　safe　in　America！”　Her　lips　hardened　into　a　bitter　smile。
“The　prison　camps　are　the　only　place　in　America　where　Japanese　aren’t　noticed。”
Kestrel　was　startled　by　Ana’s　insight；　and　appalled。　“What　about　the　guards？”
“They　are　nothing。　The　fences　keep　them　out　rather　than　keeping　us　in。　At　least；　my　father　said
it’s　like　that　at　Manzanar。　And　Masataka　Oshiga　is　there。　He　is　my　father’s　uncle　and　Takagura’s
friend。”
“Is　he　a　loyal　Japanese？”
Ana　hesitated。　“He　believes　in　the　Japanese　people；　no　matter　what　country　they　live　in。　He
helped　me　when　I　refused　to　go　to　Manzanar；　but　he　also　helped　my　brother　go　to　war　in　Italy。
He’s　very　powerful　because　he　hasn’t　taken　sides。”
“Does　he　know　Takagura　is　America’s　enemy？”
“Yes。　But　Takagura　still　trusts　him。”
Kestrel　frowned。　“Do　you　know　how　to　get　to　Manzanar？”
Ana　began　to　laugh；　but　the　sound　disturbed　her　so　much　she　stopped。　“Yes。　It’s　so　easy。　The
camp　is　on　the　dry　side　of　the　Sierras。　A　desert　where　only　the　wind　is　free。”
Kestrel　waited　for　a　moment；　weighing　all　that　she　had　said　and　implied。　He　was　as　still　as　a
stone　at　the　bottom　of　a　midnight　pond。　Then；　“Bring　Julio　to　me。　I　have　orders　for　him　from
Refugio。”
“You　said　Refugio　was　dying。”
“Yes；　but　his　cousins　won’t　obey　me。　Whatever　I　say　must　seem　to　come　from　Refugio。”
Ana　returned　almost　immediately　with　Julio　Rincón。　The　Mexican　walked　into　the　room；　then
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stopped。　Kestrel　was　standing　beneath　the　Cristo　with　a　handful　of　American　money。
“Refugio　is　resting；”　said　Kestrel。　“He　asked　me　to　give　you　the　details。”
“Details？”
“Of　his　plan；”　said　Kestrel；　as　though　Julio　must　surely　know　what　plan　was　meant。
“What　plan？”
“Didn’t　Refugio　tell　you？　He　thought　he　had。　The　fever　makes　his　dreams　very　real。”
Julio　moved　impatiently。　As　Kestrel　had　hoped；　Julio’s　attention　was　more　on　Kestrel’s　money
than　his　words。
“How　many　cars　and　trucks　do　you　have？”　asked　Kestrel；　“including　the　ones　owned　by　the
flower　shop；　the　funeral　home　and　all　of　your　family？”
Julio　squinted；　thinking。　“We　have　two　hearses；　four　black　cars　for　the　chief　mourners；　three
flower　trucks　and　seven　or　eight　family　cars。”　He　shrugged。　“They　don’t　all　run　all　of　the　time。”
“So　many？”
“We’re　a　large　family。　I　myself　have　four　brothers　and　three　sisters；　and　our　wives　also　have
brothers　and　sisters；　and　they；　too；　are　married。”
Kestrel　smiled。　“Refugio　is　a　more　generous　man　than　I　thought。”
Julio　looked　skeptical。
“He　wanted　to　give　you　all　a　present；”　said　Kestrel。　“A　vacation。　He　has　even　picked　out　the
cities。　Everywhere　from　here　to　Mexicali。”
“But　our　work　–！”
Kestrel　looked　from　the　money　in　his　hand　to　Julio。　“He　gave　me　10；000。　Surely　that’s　enough
for　even　such　a　large　family　as　yours　for　three　days。”
Julio　opened　and　closed　his　mouth。　Then；　“Just　what　is　it　that　my　cousin　wants　done？”
“A　vacation。　Leave　now。　Take　every　vehicle　but　one　car。　And；　if　for　some　reason　you　attract　the
attention　of　any　police；　a　few　days　of　silence　will　give　Refugio　a　chance　to　get　well　before　he　goes
back　to　Mexico。”
“That’s　all？　Take　every　car　but　one；　be　gone　for　three　days　and　say　nothing？”
“That’s　all。”
“Good。　It　is　done。”
San　Francisco
27　Hours　31　Minutes　After　Trinity
The　door　to　the　embalming　room　closed　softly　behind　Kestrel。　Even　so；　Refugio　was　startled。
His　fever　magnified　and　distorted　sounds。　He　wanted　desperately　to　sleep；　but　the　conflicting
agonies　in　his　guts　and　thigh　made　sleep　impossible。
“Refugio。”
Kestrel’s　voice　was　close；　calm；　cool；　like　water。
“Yes。”
Kestrel　wrung　out　a　rag　and　placed　it　on　Refugio’s　forehead。　“The　pain　is　very　bad　for　you？”
Refugio　did　not　answer　for　a　moment；　then　sighed。　“If　it　were　not　a　sin　to　wish　for　death；　I
would。”
“To　me；”　said　Kestrel；　“death　is　an　interruption　between　lives；　not　a　sin。”
Refugio　would　have　smiled　had　the　pain　not　been　so　cruel。　“If　I　had　to　feel　like　this　again；　I
would　spit　on　another　life。”
His　hot　hand　closed　around　Kestrel’s　wrist　as　the　Japanese　moved　the　damp　cloth　from
forehead　to　basin　and　back　again。
“But　what　is　worse　than　the　pain　is　the　time　when　I’m　falling　and　there’s　nothing　but　hot　black
sand　around　me；　filling　my　mouth　and　nose；　going　down　my　throat　and　I’m　choking；　dying　–　“
Slowly；　the　Mexican’s　fingers　loosened。　His　head　fell　slackly　onto　the　pillow。　Kestrel　dipped　the
rag　in　water　again；　wrung　it　out　and　wiped　Refugio’s　face。　Clumps　of　hair　fell　away　as　Kestrel
worked。　Refugio　began　retching　helplessly；　too　weak　even　to　move　his　head。　Blood　gathered　on
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his　lips　and　he　choked。　Kestrel　turned　Refugio　quickly；　holding　his　head　so　that　he　would　not
gag　on　his　own　blood。
“Madre　de　Dios；”　moaned　Refugio；　twisting　in　agony。　“That　pigfucker　poisoned　his　bullets。　I
will　die。”
“Yes；”　Kestrel　said；　“you　will　die。”
Kestrel　moved　the　rag　again　over　Refugio’s　face；　blurring　the　distinction　between　sweat　and
tears；　then　he　lifted　Refugio　upright　so　that　he　could　breathe　without　choking。
“How　–　long？”　gasped　Refugio。
“Two　days。　A　week。　Or　now；　Refugio。　Would　you　prefer　to　die　now？”
Refugio　tried　not　to　moan。　Then；　realizing　what　Kestrel　had　said；　he　stared　into　the　slanted　black
eyes　so　close　to　his　own。
“Suicide　is　a　mortal　sin；”　said　Refugio；　his　voice　shallow　and　hoarse。
“I’m　not　a　Catholic；”　said　Kestrel；　“and　I’m　not　speaking　of　suicide。”
In　the　silence；　Kestrel　could　hear　Refugio’s　fast；　shallow　breathing。
“Please　understand　me；”　said　Refugio；　his　tongue　thick　with　pain。　“I’m　Catholic。　I　can’t　ask　for
death。　Please　–　you　must　–　understand。　I　can’t　–　ask。”
Kestrel　nodded。　As　he　lowered　Refugio　back　onto　the　gurney；　his　head　lolled　back　over
Kestrel’s　arm。　Kestrel’s　right　hand　moved　in　a　blur　of　speed　and　power。　With　a　single　clean
crack；　its　calloused　edge　broke　Refugio’s　neck。
There　was　silence；　then　came　Ana’s　thin；　strangled　cry。
Kestrel　spun　toward　the　door　that　opened　into　the　flower　shop。　He　saw　Ana’s　startlingly　pale
face；　her　wide　black　eyes　ringed　by　the　hated　blue　makeup；　her　white　teeth　bruising　her　lower　lip。
“Ana；　Ana；”　murmured　Kestrel。　“When　will　you　learn　not　to　open　doors？”
Ana　looked　at　him　wildly。　She　started　to　speak；　but　could　not。　She　wanted　to　be　comforted；　but
the　only　man　who　could　comfort　her　was　the　very　man　who　had　frightened　her。
“Murderer。”
“You’re　very　American；　Ana　Oshiga；　American　and　Christian。　You　would　have　left　Refugio　in
agony　and　called　it　the　will　of　God。”　Kestrel　went　to　a　long　counter　and　began　opening　drawers。
He　moved　quickly；　collecting　the　items　he　needed。　“Bring　my　uniform；”　he　said　without　turning
around。　“Quickly。　And　get　two　pails　from　the　flower　shop。”
Ana　watched　Kestrel；　carrying　a　handful　of　makeup；　approach　the　corpse。
She　fled　back　into　the　flower　shop。
When　she　returned　with　the　two　buckets　and　uniform；　Refugio’s　corpse　was　naked　on　the
embalming　table。
“Bolt　the　door。”
Ana　turned　and　fumbled　with　the　bolt。
“They’re　leaving；”　she　said　hesitantly。　“The　Rincons。　They’ve　taken　the　flower　trucks　and　the
hearses　and　all　but　one　car。”
“Good。”
Kestrel　dressed　the　corpse。　The　uniform　was　too　small。　He　opened　up　the　back　of　the　clothes
with　a　scalpel。