ch.nakedcamethemanatee-第3节

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　She　craned　her　neck　for　a　look　just　as　the　pop…pop…pop　of　gunfire　erupted　from　somewhere。　That　did　it。　She　threw　the　truck　in　reverse；　chewed　rubber　all　along　the　space　where　the　Hog　had　been。　She　stopped　just　short　of　the　still…driverless　Accord；　dropped　into　low；　and　swung　the　pickup　around　in　front　of　Deal。　In　the　next　instant　she　was　speeding　away　toward　U。S。　1；　the　scuba　gear　dancing；　a　hand　and　slender　arm　waving　a　thank…you　as　she　disappeared。　Something　about　the　little　drama　left　Deal　with　a　curious　pang；　but　the　horns　were　deafening　at　his　back　and　he　didn't　have　long　to　consider　it。
　He　floored　the　Hog；　roared　past　the　stalled　traffic　himself。　The　kid　who　had　been　driving　the　Accord　was　just　struggling　up　off　his　hands　and　knees。　You　think　that　was　something；　wait　till　you　see　what's　ing　next；　Deal　thought；　then　had　to　yank　the　Hog　into　an　abrupt　turn　to　avoid　a　new　bottleneck　headed　out　of　the　Grove。
　He　found　himself　traveling　down　an　unfamiliar　narrow　lane　now；　a　tunnel　boring　through　a　dense　overhang　of　ficus；　Florida　holly；　and　strangler　fig。　He　was　forced　into　another　turn　and　another…like　running　a　maze…and　was　still　trying　to　brush　aside　the　image　of　the　striking　woman　behind　the　wheel　of　the　dive　truck。　Was　it　someone　he'd　met？　he　wondered。　Or　someone　he　wished　he　had？　In　the　next　instant；　he　was　clutching　the　wheel　tightly　as　the　Hog　bottomed　out　in　a　huge；　rain…filled　pothole；　spraying　water　like　a　Donzi　off　its　prow。
　The　filthy　water　was　just　clearing　from　his　windshield　when　Deal　saw　the　man；　or　what　he　presumed　was　a　man。　Though　the　whole　thing　couldn't　have　taken　more　than　a　few　seconds；　Deal's　mind　registered　details　with　the　precision　and　clarity　that　only　impending　disaster　can　bring。　The　figure　stood　in　the　middle　of　the　gloomy　tunnel　of　foliage；　arm　upflung　in　surprise；　face　twisted　in　the　glare　of　the　Hog's　headlights。　He　seemed　to　be　draped　in　a　tangle　of　old　shrimp　netting　which　itself　was　studded　with　still…dripping　seaweed；　battered　lobster…trap　buoys；　and　the　assorted　detritus　you'd　expect　to　find　floating　the　backwaters　of　the　nearby　bay　these　days。　There　was　something　odd　about　the　guy's　face；　a　lopsided　quality　that　suggested　he'd　already　had　one　accident　in　the　not　so　distant　past。　He　held　a　broken　oar　in　his　other　hand…something　he　might　have　been　using　as　a　cane；　or　a　makeshift　crutch；　and　which　had　probably　saved　his　life。
　The　man…the　ancient　mariner；　Deal　found　himself　thinking…vaulted　backward；　using　the　point　of　the　oar　for　leverage；　just　as　Deal　slammed　on　the　brakes。　The　Hog　seemed　to　sail　on　imperturbably　for　a　moment；　until　the　water　sloughed　off　the　linings　of　the　brakes。　When　they　did　catch　hold；　it　was　with　a　vengeance。　He　felt　the　heavy　rear　of　the　car　rip　loose　from　the　pavement　and　whip　around　violently；　a　force　like　a　giant　hand　pressing　him　back　in　the　seat。　He　was　sure　that　next　he'd　feel　the　muffled　thud　of　mariner　body　meeting　sheet　metal；　but　the　moment　passed；　and　instead　he　caught　a　glimpse　of　the　man's　astonished　face　peering　at　him　as　the　Hog　shot　past。
　The　pale；　distorted　face　receded　as　if　Deal　were　the　stationary　one；　he　watched　helplessly　as　the　man　was　yanked　into　oblivion　by　some　otherworldly　force。　Then　the　front　end　of　the　Hog　tipped　up　abruptly；　and　Deal　felt　himself　plunging　down　into　his　own　abyss。　There　was　a　crunching　sound；　metal　against　rock；　another；　and　another；　a　jolt　as　his　head　rammed　the　roof；　a　second　as　it　bashed　against　the　wheel。
　He　was　seeing　only　bright　flashes　of　light　now；　had　lost　all　sense　of　orientation。　Upside　down；　sideways；　going　forward；　or　back？　Impossible　to　know。　He　heard　a　tremendous　splash；　felt　another　jolt　and　a　momentary　weightlessness　before　gravity　finally　caught　up　with　him。　Gentle　rocking　now；　and　then　a　slow　but　steady　descent。　The　smell　of　seawater；　brackish　rot；　odor　of　the　grave；　he　thought。
　He　was　in　the　water　and　going　down。　Groggy；　he　felt　his　hands　grope　blindly；　frantically　for　the　handle　of　the　door。　He　sensed　a　great　coolness　envelop　his　chest；　his　groin；　his　neck。　Strange　objects　bumped　at　his　face；　slid　away；　curled　back　again。　He　felt　the　door　lever　slide　into　his　grasp　like　some　odd　creature　from　the　deep。　He　pulled。　Kicked　reflexively　at　the　door；　felt　resistance；　unlatched　his　seat　belt　in　a　kind　of　daze。
　He　felt　release　then；　free　drifting　in　water　that　was　cool　and　somehow　warm　at　once。　His　limbs　were　heavy　now；　his　head　lolling　in　the　current。　Whatever　instinctual　source　of　energy　had　enabled　him　to　escape　had　expended　itself。　He　floated　beneath　the　surface；　his　consciousness　teetering；　sensing　that　soon　he　would　open　his　mouth　and　take　that　great　last　gasp　that　would　fill　his　lungs　with　water　and　sink　him　like　a　stone。　Worst　of　all；　there　was　nothing　he　could　do　about　it；　not　one　thing。
　He　felt　the　pressure　building　in　his　chest；　acpanied　by　a　mounting　fire　in　his　brain。　He　willed　his　arms　to　move；　his　legs　to　kick；　but　the　signals　flew　off　down　blind　trails；　leaving　him　adrift；　rudderless；　a　ship　with　a　captain　shouting　orders　from　the　bridge　and　no　one　left　in　the　engine　room。　As　he　drifted　into　darkness；　he　dreamed　that　something…a　hand；　or　perhaps　a　diver's　fin…came　to　brush　against　his　chest；　and　then　he　became　aware　of　a　great　presence　swelling　up　beneath　him。　In　this　dream　or　vision；　he　began　to　rise　through　the　murky　water；　picking　up　speed；　spiraling　upward　toward　some　brilliant　pool　of　light。　Aside　from　the　rather　hackneyed　image　of　the　light；　it　seemed　a　lovely　dream　to　him；　one　in　which　he　felt　his　face　break　the　surface　of　the　water　as　if　it　were　a　tangible　membrane；　a　passage　into　some　other　world；　where　he　could　gulp　down　air　like　any　other　man；　and　simply　live　and　be。
　
　〃Just　lie　still；　you。〃　The　woman's　voice　came　to　him　from　the　darkness。　A　small　voice；　ancient；　and　yet　carrying　the　authority　of　its　years。　He　blinked　his　eyes；　realized　that　it　wasn't　just　darkness；　that　in　fact　he　couldn't　see。　He　raised　his　hands　in　a　panic；　felt　hers　pull　him　down。
　〃You've　got　some　nasty　bumps　and　cuts　there；〃　she　said。　〃I've　got　a　poultice　resting。　It's　not　to　be　disturbed。〃
　Deal　felt　the　pressure　of　cloth；　at　his　face。　Yes；　maybe　he　could　detect　a　nimbus　of　light。　He　blinked　again；　felt　his　lids　rustle　at　the　bandages；　smelled　vague　medicinal　odors。
　〃Hospital；〃　he　heard　himself　mumble。
　She　laughed。　〃There　won't　be　any　hospital　tonight；　unh…uh。　They　got　the　whole　of　Coconut　Grove　cordoned　off；　they　do。　Waitin'　for　the　fuss　to　burn　itself　out。〃
　Deal　heard　distant　shouts；　chanting；　the　double　boom　of　a　shotgun。　He　felt　a　wave　of　dizziness　sweep　over　him。　He　lay　back；　remembering；　trying　to　prehend　all　that　had　happened。
　〃Where　am　I？〃　he　managed；　at　last。　He　groped　about　him；　felt　crisp　sheets；　a　blanket；　realized　his　clothes　were　gone；　that　he　was　wearing　some　kind　of　flannel　gown。　A　lady's　nightgown？　It　couldn't　be。　Surely　it　couldn't。
　〃Keep　your　hands　off　those　bandages；　now；　or　I'll　tie　'em　down；　you　hear　me。〃　Deal　nodded；　rested　his　hands　on　his　chest。
　〃You're　one　lucky　boy；〃　she　cackled。　〃Lucky　old　Booger　took　a　liking　to　you；　lucky　I　was　there　to　pull　you　out。〃
　〃Booger？〃
　〃He's　a　manatee；〃　she　said。　〃He's　the　last　sane　creature　that　lives　in　these　parts；　and　that　includes　me。　All　the　fuss　erupted　downtown；　I　went　over　to　have　a　chat　with　Booger；　see　if　maybe　he　thought　this　was　a　sign。〃
　〃A　sign？〃　Deal's　head　was　swimming　again。
　〃The　beginning　of　the　end；〃　she　said。　〃Booger　and　me　got　a　running　bet。　Hundred　and　two；　I　think　I'll　be　around　to　witness　it；　he　says　we　got　a　ways　to　go　yet。　I　found　him　in　his　little　grotto；　keeping　you　propped　up　on　a　chunk　of　boat　seat。〃
　The　dream　was　ing　back　to　him　now。　The　vague　presence；　being　propelled　upward；　toward　a　pool　of　light　he'd　taken　for　the　light。　He　shook　his　head。
　〃Did　you　have　a　flashlight　with　you？〃　he　asked。
　〃You　think　I　can　see　in　the　dark？〃　she　snorted。　〃Here；　raise　up　some。　I　want　you　to　take　a　drink　of　this。〃
　He　felt　a　wiry　hand　under　his　neck；　sensed　something　warm　and　steaming　at　his　lips。　The　smell　was　bitter；　even　searing。　〃What　is　it？〃　he　said。
　〃Swamp　yarbs；〃　she　said。　〃Now　drink　it；　or　I'll　hold　your　nose　and　pour　it　down　you。〃
　Deal　sensed　it　wasn't　a　bluff。　He　was　so　weak　he　had　no　doubt　she　was　capable　of　doing　exactly　what　she　said。　He　nodded；　helped　her　guide　the　cup　to　his　lips。
　Despite　its　wretched　smell；　the　brew　tasted　amazingly　good。　Licorice；　he　thought。　And　something　earthy。　With　an　unidentifiable　blend　of　herbs。　It　was　bracing。　And　just　as　quickly；　soporific。　He　was　drifting　again　by　the　time　his　head　hit　the　pillow。
　〃Booger　showed　me　what　you　floated　in　on；〃　she　said。
　〃I　don't　know　what　you　mean；〃　Deal　said。
　〃What　you　had　tied　to　that　boat　seat；〃　she　said。
　Deal　shook　his　head。　〃I　。。。　I　fell　into　the　water；〃　he　said。
　〃Course　you　did；〃　she　said。　〃You　wrecked　your　boat　and　damn　near　drowned。〃
　〃No；〃　he　said。　He　felt　himself　spiraling。　〃I　didn't。〃
　〃Carrying　a　thing　like　that；　I'd　hate　to　admit　it　myself；〃　she　said。
　Deal　wanted　to　protest　again；　but　he　was　just　too　tired。
　〃I　showed　it　to　Booger；　though；〃　she　cackled。　〃Fried　his　apples；　I'll　tell　you。　See　there；　I　told　'im。　Here　es　the　end　of　the　world；　Booger；　just　like