cpatricia.unnaturalexposure-第46节

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　'No　one's　gotten　sick　here；'　Marino　said；　as　he　struggled　to　get　cuffs　over　his　boots。
　'No；　but　I'm　worried　that　at　the　very　start　of　this　thing；　some　people　snuck　through　the　cracks；　got　out　of　Tangier　and　came　here。　Point　being；　don't　expect　much　friendliness　in　these　parts。'
　'Who's　at　the　campground？'　someone　else　asked。
　'Right　now；　the　FBI　agents　that　found　the　body。'
　'What　about　other　campers？'　Marino　said。
　'Here's　what　I've　been　told；'　Martinez　said。　'When　the　agents　went　in；　they　found　maybe　half　a　dozen　campers　and　only　one　with　a　phone　hookup。　That　was　campsite　sixteen；　and　they　banged　on　the　door。　Nothing；　so　they　look　in　a　window　and　see　the　body　on　the　floor。'
　'The　agents　didn't　go　inside？'　I　said。
　'No。　Realizing　it　might　be　the　perp's；　they　worried　it　could　be　contaminated　and　didn't。　But　I'm　afraid　one　of　the　rangers　did。'
　'Why？'　I　asked。
　'You　know　what　they　say。　Curiosity　killed　the　cat。　Apparently　one　of　the　agents　had　gone　to　the　airstrip　where　you　landed　to　pick　up　two　other　agents。　Whatever。　At　some　point；　no　one　was　looking　and　the　ranger　went　inside；　came　right　back　out　like　a　ball　of　fire。　Said　there　was　some　kind　of　monster　in　there　straight　out　of　Stephen　King。　Don't　ask　me。'　He　shrugged　and　rolled　his　eyes。
　I　looked　at　the　USAMRIID　team。
　'We'll　take　the　ranger　back　with　us；'　said　a　young　man　whose　Army　pins　identified　him　as　a　captain。　'By　the　way；　my　name　is　Clark。　This　is　my　crew；'　he　said　to　me。　'They'll　take　good　care　of　him；　put　him　in　quarantine；　keep　an　eye　on　him。'
　'Campsite　sixteen；'　Marino　said。　'We　know　anything　about　who　rented　that？'
　'We　don't　have　those　details　yet；'　Martinez　said。　'Everybody　suited　up？'　He　scanned　us　and　it　was　time　to　go。
　The　Coast　Guard　took　us　in　two　Boston　Whalers　because　where　we　were　going　was　too　shallow　for　a　cutter　or　patrol　boat。　Martinez　was　piloting　mine；　standing　up　and　calm　as　if　racing　forty　miles　an　hour　on　choppy　waters　was　a　very　normal　thing　to　do。　I　honestly　thought　I　might　sail　overboard　at　any　moment　as　I　held　hard　to　the　rail；　sitting　on　the　side。　It　was　like　riding　a　mechanical　bull；　air　rushing　so　fast　into　my　nose　and　mouth；　I　could　barely　breathe。
　Marino　was　across　the　boat　from　me　and　looked　like　he　might　get　sick。　I　tried　to　mouth　a　reassurance　to　him；　but　he　stared　blankly　at　me　as　he　held　on　with　all　his　strength。　We　eventually　slowed　in　a　cove　called　Flat　Cat；　thick　with　cat…tails　and　spartina　grass；　where　there　were　NO　WAKE　signs　as　the　park　got　near。　I　could　see　nothing　but　pines。　Then　as　we　got　closer；　there　were　paths　and　bathrooms；　a　small　ranger　station；　and　only　one　camper　peeking　through。　Martinez　glided　us　into　the　pier；　and　another　Guardsman　tied　us　to　a　piling　as　the　engine　quit。
　'I'm　gonna　puke；'　Marino　said　in　my　ear　as　we　clumsily　climbed　out。
　'No　you're　not。'　I　gripped　his　arm。
　'I　ain't　going　inside　that　trailer。'
　I　turned　around　and　looked　at　his　wan　face。
　'You're　right。　You're　not；'　I　said。　'That's　my　job；　but　first　we　need　to　locate　the　ranger。'
　Marino　stalked　off　before　the　second　boat　had　docked；　and　I　looked　through　the　woods　toward　the　camper　that　was　deadoc's。　Rather　old　and　missing　whatever　had　towed　it；　it　was　parked　as　far　from　the　rangers'　station　as　was　possible；　tucked　in　the　shadow　of　loblolly　pines。　When　all　of　us　were　ashore；　the　USAMRIID　team　passed　out　the　familiar　orange　suits；　air　packs　and　extra　four…hour　batteries
　'Here's　what　we're　doing。'　It　was　the　USAMRIID　team　leader　named　Clark　who　spoke。　'We　suit　up　and　get　the　body　out。'
　'I　would　like　to　go　in　first；'　I　said。　'Alone。'
　'Right。'　He　nodded。　'Then　we　see　if　there's　anything　hazardous　in　there；　which　hopefully　there's　not。　We　get　the　body　out；　and　the　camper's　hauled　out　of　here。'
　'It's　evidence；'　I　said；　looking　at　him。　'We　can't　just　haul　it　out　of　here。'
　I　knew　what　he　was　thinking　by　the　look　on　his　face。　The　killer　may　be　dead；　the　case　closed。　The　camper　was　a　biological　hazard　and　should　be　burned。
　'No；'　I　said　to　him。　'We　don't　close　this　so　quickly。　We　can't。'
　He　hesitated；　blowing　out　in　frustration　as　he　stared　off　at　the　camper。
　'I'll　go　in；'　I　said。　'Then　I'll　tell　you　what　we　need　to　do。'
　'Fair　enough。'　He　raised　his　voice　again。　'Guys？　Let's　go。　No　one　inside　but　the　M。E。　until　you　hear　otherwise。'
　They　followed　us　through　the　forest；　the　portable　isolator　in　our　wake；　an　eerie　caisson　not　meant　for　this　world。　Pine　needles　were　crisp　beneath　my　feet；　like　shredded　wheat；　and　the　air　was　sharp　and　clean　as　the　camper　got　closer。　It　was　a　Dutchman　travel　trailer；　maybe　eighteen　feet　long；　with　a　fold…out　orange…striped　awning。
　'That's　old。　Eight　years；　I　bet；'　said　Marino；　who　knew　about　such　things。
　'What　would　it　take　to　tow　it？'　I　asked　as　we　put　on　our　suits。
　'A　pickup；'　he　said。　'Maybe　a　van。　This　doesn't　need　nothing　with　a　lot　of　horsepower。　What　are　we　supposed　to　do？　Put　these　over　everything　else　we　already　got　on？'
　'Yes；'　I　said；　zipping　up。　'What　I'd　like　to　know　is　what　happened　to　the　vehicle　that　hauled　this　thing　here。'
　'Good　question；'　he　said；　huffing　as　he　struggled。　'And　where's　the　license　plate？'
　I　had　just　turned　on　my　air　when　a　young　man　emerged　from　trees　in　a　green　uniform　and　smoky　hat。　He　seemed　rather　dazed　as　he　looked　at　all　of　us　in　our　orange　hoods　and　suits；　and　I　sensed　his　fear。　He　did　not　get　close　to　us　as　he　introduced　himself　as　the　night　shift　park　ranger。
　Marino　spoke　to　him　first。　'You　ever　see　the　person　staying　in　there？'
　'No；'　the　ranger　said。
　'What　about　guys　on　the　other　shifts？'
　'No　one　remembers　seeing　anyone；　just　lights　on　at　night　sometimes。　Hard　to　say。　As　you　can　see　it's　parked　pretty　far　from　the　station。　You　could　go　out　to　the　showers　or　whatever　and　not　necessarily　be　noticed。'
　'No　other　campers　here？'　I　asked　over　the　rush　of　air　inside　my　hood。
　'Not　now。　There　were　maybe　three　other　people　when　I　found　the　body；　but　I　encouraged　them　to　leave　because　there　might　be　some　kind　of　disease。'
　'Did　you　question　them　first？'　Marino　asked；　and　I　could　see　he　was　irritated　by　this　young　ranger　who　had　just　chased　off　all　of　our　witnesses。
　'Nobody　knew　a　thing；　except　one　person　did　think　he　ran　into　him。'　He　nodded　at　the　camper。　'Evening　before　last。　In　the　bathroom。　Big　grubby　guy　with　dark　hair　and　a　beard。'
　'Taking　a　shower？'　I　asked。
　'No；　ma'am。'　He　hesitated。　'Taking　a　leak。'
　'Doesn't　the　camper　have　a　bathroom？'
　'I　really　don't　know。'　He　hesitated　again。　'To　tell　you　the　truth；　I　didn't　stay　in　there。　Minute　I　saw　that。　Well；　whatever　it　was。　I　was　gone　like　a　second。'
　'And　you　don't　know　what　towed　this　thing？'　Marino　then　asked。
　The　ranger　was　looking　very　unfortable　now。　'This　time　of　year　it's　usually　quiet　out　here；　and　dark。　I　had　no　reason　to　notice　what　vehicle　it　was　hooked　up　to；　and　in　fact　don't　recall　there　even　being　one。'
　'But　you　got　a　plate　number。'　Marino's　stare　was　unfriendly　through　his　hood。
　'Sure　do。'　Relieved；　the　ranger　pulled　a　folded　piece　of　paper　from　his　pocket。　'Got　his　registration　right　here。'　He　opened　it。　'Ken　A。　Perley；　Norfolk；　Virginia。'
　He　handed　the　paper　to　Marino；　who　sarcastically　said；　'Oh　good。　The　name　the　asshole　stole　off　a　credit　card。　So　I'm　sure　the　plate　number　you　got　is　accurate；　too。　How　did　he　pay？'
　'Cashier's　check。'
　'He　gave　this　to　someone　in　person？'　Marino　asked。
　'No。　He　made　the　reservation　by　mail。　No　one　ever　saw　anything　except　the　paperwork　in　your　hand。　Like　I　said；　we　never　saw　him。'
　'What　about　the　envelope　this　thing　came　in？'　Marino　said。　'Did　you　save　it　so　maybe　we　got　a　postmark？'
　The　ranger　shook　his　head。　He　nervously　glanced　at　suited　scientists；　who　were　listening　to　his　every　word。　He　stared　at　the　trailer　and　wet　his　lips。
　'You　mind　my　asking　what's　in　there。　And　what's　going　to　happen　to　me　'cause　I　went　in？'　His　voice　cracked　and　he　looked　like　he　might　cry。
　'It　could　be　contaminated　with　a　virus。'　I　said　to　him。　'But　we　don't　know　that　for　sure。　Everybody　here　is　going　to　take　care　of　you。'
　'They　said　they　were　going　to　lock　me　up　in　some　room；　like　solitary　confinement。'　Fear　erupted；　his　eyes　wild；　voice　loud。　'I　want　to　know　exactly　what's　in　there　that　I　might　have　got！'
　'You'll　be　in　exactly　the　same　thing　I　was　last　week；'　I　assured　him。　'A　nice　room　with　nice　nurses。　For　a　few　days　of　observation。　That's　all。'
　'Think　of　it　as　a　vacation。　It　really　ain't　that　big　of　a　deal。　Just　because　people　are　in　these　suits；　don't　go　getting　hinky；'　Marino　said　as　if　he　were　one　to　talk。
　He　went　on　as　if　he　were　the　great　expert　in　infectious　diseases；　and　I　left　the　two　of　them　and　approached　the　camper　alone。　For　a　moment；　I　stood　within　feet　of　it　and　looked　around。　To　my　left　were　acres　of　trees；　then　the　river　where　our　boats　were　moored。　Right　of　me；　through　more　trees；　I　could　hear　the　sounds　of　a　highway。　The　camper　was　parked　on　a　soft　floor　of　pine　needles；　and　what　I　noticed　first　was　the　scraped　area　on　the　white…painted　tongue。
　Getting　close；　I　squatted　and　rubbed　gloved　fingers　over　deep　gouges　and　scrapes　in　aluminum　in　an　area　where　the　Vehicle　Identification　Number；　or　VIN；　should　have　been。　Near　th