thedestroyer.deathcheck-第10节

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　him　in　a　fair　game。　But　he　saw　he　could　beat　you；　the　only　way　he　could；　by　taking　your　generosity　toward　Boyle　and　turning　it　on　you。〃
　〃Yes。　The　only　way　he　could　beat　me。　Humiliate　me。〃
　〃Of　course；　and　everybody　laughed　along　with　him。〃
　〃The　bastards。〃
　〃They　can't　help　it。　As　long　as　that　man　is　here；　they　will　laugh　at　you。〃
　〃Nonsense。　They　know　he's　only　a　policeman。〃
　〃They　will　laugh　the　more。〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Yes。　When　they　see　you。　They　will　laugh　inside。〃
　〃You're　a　beast　for　telling　me　this。〃
　〃I　am　your　friend。　A　friend　tells　the　truth。〃
　〃You're　still　a　beast。〃
　He　handed　Ratchett　the　pipe　and　answered：　〃Perhaps　I　should　not　have　told　you。　After　all；　there　is　only　one　way　you　can　humiliate　him　and　you　would。not　stoop　to　that。〃
　〃What　way？〃
　〃Your　friends　on　the　motorcycles。　Your；　what　do　you　call　them；　rough　trade。　Imagine　a　policeman　who　cannot　stop　hoodlums。〃
　〃You're　right。　I　wouldn't　do　that。　Nils　would　be　in　a　snit。　An　absolute　snit。〃
　〃How　would　he　know　it's　you？〃
　〃I　would　never　stoop　that　low。　Never。〃　Dr。　James　Ratchett　smiled。　〃I'm　in　the　right　mood　now。　Would　you　like　to　join　me　in　my　place？　Share　the　peace　pipe？〃
　〃Thank　you　no；　I　must　get　home。〃
　〃Besides；〃　said　Doctor　Ratchett；　〃even　if　Nils　did　find　out；　how　could　he　replace　Dr。　James　Ratchett？〃
　〃How　could　he；　indeed？〃
　〃Of　course；　I　would　never　stoop　so　low。〃
　〃Of　course。〃
　〃Be　at　the　offices　tomorrow　at　noon；〃　Ratchett　said　with　a　giggle；　and　ducked　between　the　elephant　tusks　into　the　next　room。
　The　man　once　known　as　Dr。　Hans　Frichtmann　smiled　at　Ratchett's　back；　then　left　the　egg…shaped　house。　He　would　see　what　he　would　see。　Some　chess　moves；　he　knew　very　well；　could　be　very　destructive。　Especially　the　ones　that　appeared　brilliant　at　first。
　This　Remo　Pelham　person　had　made　a　serious　mistake。　With　luck；　it　would　be　a　fatal　mistake。　And　by　the　time　they　sent　yet　another　to　replace　him；　the　people　who　had　drafted　the　plan　to　conquer　the　world　would　be　in　the　control　of　another　power；　who　would　know　how　to　use　that　plan。　And　Dr。　Hans　Frichtmann　would　be　gone。
　
　CHAPTER　TEN
　
　Nils　Brewster　would　have　to　get　it　over　with。　He　didn't　let　garbage　collect　in　the　kitchen。　Paid　his　bills　on　time。　Saw　the　dentist　when　his　teeth　acted　up。　There　was　no　reason　to　put　it　off　any　longer。　He　would　do　it。　Get　it　over　with。
　〃Send　in　Remo　what's…his…name；〃　said　Nils　Brewster　into　his　inter　and　promptly　felt　quite　satisfied　with　his　integrity。
　His　office　faced　out　onto　a　circle；　a　mass　of　green　ringed　by　black　gravel。　Rimming　the　circle　were　the　white　cottages　of　the　forum；　which　served　as　both　offices　and　living　quarters　for　the　forum's　top　brass。　Farther　back；　beyond　the　ring　of　cottages；　one　could　see　more　traditional　lab　and　office　buildings　where　the　hirelings　worked。　The　view　of　the　circle　was　piece…mealed　through　small；　cozy；　wood…encased　windows　in　Brewster's　office；　which　made　the　world　look　like　a　chess　game。　The　trees　were　mid…board　and　the　sky　was　enemy　territory。
　A　white　couch　graced　the　far　wall　of　Brewster's　office；　and　original　paintings；　mostly　geometric　forms　in　day…glo　colors；　hung　from　the　walls。　On　the　floor　was　a　Polar　Bear　Rug；　〃a　little　whimsey　of　mine；　Lord　knows　I　get　so　few　indulgences。〃　That　little　indulgence　had　cost　more　than　12；000。　It　was　paid　for　by　one　of　the　funding　foundations　which　annually　produced　a　report　showing　how　it　made　life　better　for　mankind；　particularly　black　mankind。　For　some　reason；　the　12；000　was　linked　to　understanding　black　rage。
　The　office　was　pleasant　and　warm。　That　was　the　way　Nils　Brewster　had　intended　it　to　be；　a　setting　mirroring　the　warmth　and　wisdom　and　understanding　of　the　tweed　draped　hulk　who　occupied　it。
　When　Remo　entered；　he　saw　the　hulk。　He　saw　it　puffing　away　at　a　pipe；　engrossed　in　being　Nils　Brewster；　Ph。D；　Chicago　U。；　director　of　Brewster　Forum；　author　of　several　books　which　a　few　thousand　owned；　a　few　hundred　read；　and　seven　or　eight　understood。　He　saw　the　hulk　was　about　to　tolerate　him。
　〃Glad　to　see　you；〃　Doctor　Brewster　crooned　in　a　low　Massachusetts　mumble　which　crackled　saliva　on　the　S's。　〃You're　Remo。。。　Remo。。。。〃
　〃Remo　Pelham。〃
　〃That's　right。　Our　chess…playing　policeman。　Well；　what　can　I　do　for　you？〃
　〃Well；　first　of　all；　I'd　like　to　know　what　you　do　here？〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃Because　I　can't　figure　out　what　I'm　supposed　to　do　here；　until　I　find　out　what　you　do　here；　can　I？〃
　〃Never　mind。〃
　〃Never　mind？〃
　Remo　stood　before　the　desk　still；　waiting　to　be　offered　a　seat。　The　offer　did　not　e；　so　he　sat　anyway。
　〃That's　right；　never　mind。〃　Brewster　said　this　with　a　smile。
　〃Why　should　I　never　mind？〃
　〃Simply　because　you　wouldn't　understand。〃
　〃Try　me。〃　
　　〃I'd　rather　not。〃
　〃I'd　rather　you　would；〃　Remo　said。
　〃Really　now；〃　Brewster　said；　crossing　a　leg　while　sucking　the　fumes　from　the　lit　pipe。　〃You'd　rather'　I　would。　Well；　do　you　know　that　the　only　reason　you're　here　is　because　of　a　government　grant？　You　e　with　it。　Now　I　don't　wish　to　make　your　stay　here　unpleasant；　but　you　are　an　unwanted　guest。　Already；　last　night；　with　your　uncivilized　behavior　at　the　chess　tournament；　you　have　created　dissension　among　my　staff。　I　can　do　without　that。　I　can　also　do　without　your　skulking　about　trying　to　proyide　security　and　protection　for　things　that　need　neither　security　nor　protection。〃
　〃Did　McCarthy　understand　that？〃
　〃McCarthy　was　a　policeman；　for　heaven's　sakes。〃
　〃Who　is　a　dead　policeman。〃
　〃Right。　A　dead　policeman。〃　Brewster　said　it　as　if　he　had　been　asked　to　say　a　prayer　for　a　departed　piece　of　roast　beef。　〃Oppressive　violence…that　is；　violence　in　reaction　to　violence…breeds　greater　violence。　A　pure　example　is　McCarthy。　Do　you　understand　what　I'm　talking　about？〃
　〃I　think　you're　trying　to　say　that　McCarthy　got　himself　killed。〃
　〃Right。　You're　brighter　than　I　thought。　Now；　let's　take　this　supposition　a　little　farther。　Let　us　assume　that　violence　is　an　expurgative；　that　it　is…try　to　follow　me…a　natural　and　necessary　occurrence　and　that　to　try　to　curb　it　or　redirect　it　produces　awesomely　more…devastating　circumstances；　by　a　basic　geometric　progression　of　intensity；　an　intensity　that　we　cannot　now　measure　but　that　we　will　ultimately　use　as　a　guideline；　much　in　the　way　of　E　equals　MC　square。　Do　you　follow？〃
　〃Yes。　You're　full　of　shit。〃
　〃Really？　How？〃
　〃Never　mind。　I　really　don't　think　I　can　explain　it　to　you。〃
　Brewster　broke　into　the　kind　of　delighted　grin　a　father　gets　when　his　six　year　old　son　challenges　him　to　checkers。
　〃You　can't　explain　it　to　me？〃
　〃No。　No；　I　can't；〃　Remo　said；　and　he　was　not　smiling　or　enjoying　what　he　said。　〃I　can　only　say　that　violence　has　all　the　virtue　of　a　cut　into　flesh。　Done　to　cure…to　heal…it　is　good。　Done　to　harm；　it　is　bad。　The　act　itself　is　neither　good　nor　bad。　Just　painful。〃
　〃But　don't　you　see；　Mr。　Pelham；　that　for　violence　to　be　employed　for　good　or　bad　is　impossible。　There　is　no　good　or　bad。〃　Doctor　Brewster　sat　with　limbs　close　to　body　and　smiled　as　if　he　had　a　belly　full　of　warm　milk。
　〃You　are　full　of　shit；〃　Remo　said。
　〃And　you　are　another　fascist　functionary　who　dribbles　righteousness　until　I　cross　your　palm　with　silver。　The　good　guys　and　the　bad　guys。　Law　and　order　versus　the　people　in　black　hats。　It　is　not　that　way；　Mr；　Pelham。〃
　〃It　can　be　no　other　way；　Doctor　Brewster；〃　Remo　said　and　he　caught　his　jaw　trembling。　Goddam　it；　it　was　the　peak。　More　than　three　months　of　it　this　and　he　was　ing　apart　at　the　seams。　Sitting　here；　trying　to　talk　sense　to　this　liberalisric　lunatic。　Brewster　was　still　talking：
　〃Please。　We　really　just　cannot　afford　this　here；　of　all　places。　I　am　willing　to　discuss　anything　you　wish；　but　please　no　overreaction。　You　have　a　job　to　do；　such　as　it　is；　and　I　have　a　job　to　do。　We're　here　together；　let's　make　the　most　of　it。〃
　〃What　makes　you　think　McCarthy　was　killed？〃　Remo　said；　calm　again。
　〃I　knew　you　would　e　back　to　that。　I　think　he　was　killed　because　he　is　not　the　sort　of　man　to　use　heroin。　To　use　heroin；　you　must　have　a　basic　dissatisfaction　with　your　role　in　life。　McCarthy　never　had　enough　imagination　to　be　dissatisfied。　He　was　a　bear…in…a…saloon　type；　Knights　of　Columbus；　worry　about　mortgage。　Very　nice　fellow；　indeed。　And　frankly；　I　prefer　him　to　you。　McCarthy　was　a　realist。〃
　〃And　knowing　or　believing　he　was　murdered；　you　didn't　give　your　suspicions　to　anyone？〃
　〃And　have　this　place　crawling　with　law　enforcement　types？〃
　Brewster　sucked　on　his　pipe　with　finality；　a　man　who　saw　the　world　in　clear　light　while　the　rest　muddled　in　the　fog。　The　Remo　Pelhams　of　the　world　who　prehended　nothing；　even　of　such　an　elemental　subject　as　violence。
　Through　the　English　glass　windows　of　the　office　came　a　distant　roar　that　rather　rapidly　became　louder；　than　a　symphony　of　belching　exhausts　that　rode　into　the　circle；　and　then　round　and　round　the　small　blue　fountain。
　The　motorcycle　riders　looked　like　refugees　from　the　SS。　They　had　black　leather　jackets；　high　peaked　caps；　and　swastikas　on　their　backs。　Unlike　the　SS；　however；　they　were　unshaven；　and　there　was　no　uniformity　to　their　cycles；　green　and　red　and　yellow　and　black；　festooned　with　rib…。　bons；　banners　and　skull；　leather　pieces　flowing　over　highly　polished　chro