thedestroyer.deathcheck-第19节

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　〃I　told　you　you'd　never　understand　about　us。〃
　〃Well；　I'm　going　to　see　her。〃
　〃You　don't　have　my　permission。〃
　〃How　do　I　get　it？〃
　〃You　don't。〃　
　〃Do　you　know　that　if　I　flick　your　nose　with　this　forefinger；〃　Remo　said；　bringing　the　forefinger　very　close　to　the　white　bandages；　〃I　can　cause　you　all　sorts　of　hurt？〃
　　　〃And　you'll　be　out　on　your　ass　before　the　throbbing　subsides。〃
　　　〃What　if　a　brick　should　fall　on　it　at　night　from　you　know　not　where？〃
　　　　　〃You'll　be　out　on　your　ass　before　it　hits　the　ground。〃
　　　〃What　if　I　teach　you　to　do　to　people　what　I　did　to　those　motorcycle　thugs？〃
　　　〃I'm　pushing　sixty；　man。〃
　　　〃I　could　teach　you　to　do　it　to　at　least　two　people。〃
　　　〃Young　people？〃
　　　〃Young　people。〃
　Dr。　Nils　Brewster　dialed　his　telephone　and　said　into　the　receiver：　〃Deborah；　I　thought　you　would　like　to　do　an　input　feedback　on　Remo　Pelham；　the　new　security　officer。　The　others　have　and。。。　oh。　Yes；　of　course。　Certainly　I　understand。〃　He　returned　the　telephone　to　the　receiver。
　〃She　said　she　was　busy　on　something　else。　But　you　have　my　permission。　I'll　deny　it　afterwards；　but　of　course　that'll　be　too　late。　At　least　you're　not　risking　your　job。　Now　when　do　we　start　on　the。。。。〃　Brewster　made　striking　motions　at　young　faces　and　young　stomachs；　dodging　very　swift　punches　of　young　athletes　whom　he　would　now　rend　asunder　should　the　little　twerps　dare　make　wiseass　ments　on　the　road　or　hi　restaurants　or　anywhere。　Anywhere。
　〃In　two　weeks。〃
　〃Two　weeks？〃　Brewster　looked　hurt；　cheated。
　〃Well；　you've　got　to　get　into　shape　first。　Run　a　quarter　of　a　mile　a　day　for　a　week；　then　a　half…mile　the　following　week。〃
　〃Anything　else？〃
　〃No。　That's　it。〃
　〃What　is　your　school　of　attack；　by　the　way？　Karate；　kung　fu；　judo？〃
　〃Wow　tu；〃　said　Remo；　making　up　the　most　idiotic　name　he　could　think　of。
　　　〃Wow　tu？　Never　heard　of　it。〃
　〃That's　why　it　works　so　well。　Do　you　think　anything　really　good　would　be　sold　out　of　a　gymnasium　or　a　book？〃
　〃Wow　tu；〃　repeated　Dr。　Nils　Brewster；　Faversham　Fellow　of　Sociology；　Ph。D。；　University　of　Chicago；　author　of　〃Man　as　Hostile　Environment。〃
　〃Wow　tu；〃　he　said　again；　and　in　the　place　where　dreams　are　formed　he　saw　his　older　daughter's　latest　boyfriend　crumple　to　the　floor　in　agony。
　Now　Remo　was　at　her　cottage。　Mosquitoes　and　moths　held　a　mass　rally　near　her　window　and　Remo　slapped　unsuccessfully　at　them　while　awaiting　her　answer。　He　knocked　again。
　　　〃Who　is　it？〃
　　　〃Your　security　officer；　Remo　Pelham。〃
　　　〃What　do　you　want？〃
　　　〃I　want　to　talk　to　you。〃
　　　〃About　what？〃
　　　〃I　don't　want　to　talk　out　here。〃
　　　〃e　back　tomorrow。〃
　　　〃Can　I　see　you　now？〃　
　　　〃NO。〃
　　　〃Are　you　busy？〃
　　　〃Will　you　go　away！〃　It　was　not　a　question。
　　　〃I　just　want　to　talk　to　you。〃
　There　was　silence　and　the　bugs　poured　in　reinforcements。　It　was　the　stale　hot　of　the　Virginia　summer；　a　deadening　sweat…demanding　night　that　buzzed　with　the　insects　of　the　land。　And　she　did　not　answer。
　　　　〃I'm　not　going　until　you　talk　to　me。〃
　〃Does　Brewster　know　you're　bothering　one　of　his　scientists？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃He　does　not。　That　is　a　lie。　Leave　me　alone。〃
　〃After　you　talk　to　mei〃
　He　heard　footsteps　pad　to　the　door。　It　opened；　and　Deborah　Hirshbloom　stood　before　him　with　the　unamused　tolerance　of　a　parent　declining　to　be　manipulated　by　the　antics　of　a　child。　Her　face　was　set；　but　calm；　enhancing　its　fine　smooth　lines。　Her　eyes　were　black　jewels　hi　a　setting　of　smooth；　milky　skin　garnished　with　the　joy　of　freckles。　Her　lips；　unpainted；　were　tight；　allowing　nothing　for　Remo　standing　before　her。
　〃All　right。　What？〃
　〃I'd　like　to　talk　to　you。　May　I　e　in？〃
　〃It's　late。〃
　〃I　know。　May　I　e　in？〃
　She　shrugged　and　beckoned　Remo　to　enter。　She　wore　a　plain　khaki　blouse　with　plain　khaki　shorts。　She　was　barefoot；　and　her　cottage　office　was　just　as　bare；　except　for　the　books　stacked　to　the　ceiling　and　a　chess　set　open　on　the　small　table；　near　the　lamp。　There　was　a　metal　cot　and　two　chairs。　She　sat　on　the　cot；　but　with　such　stiffness　that　it　obviously　was　not　an　invitation。
　〃May　I　sit　down？〃　Remo　asked；　nodding　to　the　chair。
　She　allowed　it。
　〃As　you　know；　the　other　department　heads　of　the　forum　have　been　interviewing　me。〃　She　did　not　respond。　Remo　continued：　〃And　I　wondered　why　you　had　not。〃
　〃Because　I'm　not　interested。〃
　〃I　was；　well；　sort　of　wondering　why。〃　
　〃Because　one　man　beating　up　seven　ridiculous　hoodlums　is　not　exactly　the　aweinspking　scientific　phenomena　my　colleagues　obviously　believe　it　to　be。〃
　〃Then　you　know　something　about　violence。〃
　〃I　am　learning　from　you；　and　I　like　no　part　of　it。　I　know　Hawkins　came　down　with　your　chute　and　you　with　his。　I　know　he　tried　to　kill　you　and　died　for　it。〃
　〃You're　Israeli；　aren't　you？〃
　〃Yes。　You　know　that。〃
　〃And　violence　offends　you？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Don't　all　Israelis　have　to　serve　in　the　Army？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃And　violence　still　offends　you？〃
　〃Of　course；　why　not？〃
　〃Because　you　people　couldn't　survive　without　violence。　Without　being　tough。　The　Arabs　could　have　peace　by　not　firing　a　shot。　You　people　would　have　another　holocaust。〃
　〃Mr。　Pelham；　what　are　you　driving　at？　That　because　we　are　outnumbered　one…hundred…fifty　to　one　by　people　who　unfortunately　have　made　our　annihilation　a　national　goal；　that　I　should　like　what　I　must　do　to　survive？　One　must　dig　latrines；　too；　for　survival。　But　you　do　not　have　to　like　digging　latrines。　What　do　you　really　want？　You　do　not　care　that　violence　offends　〃e。　This　does　not　interest　you。　What　do　you　want？〃
　〃Well；　I　have　a　problem　and　you　contribute　to　it。　You　see；　I'm　responsible　for　the　protection　of　everyone　here。　And　everyone　moves　around　so　much；　especially　you；　that　to　really　make　sure　I　can　provide　the　proper　security；　I　have　to　know　generally　where　I　can　reach　you　when　I　need　you。　That　attack　on　the　forum　by　the　motorcycle　gang　could　be　a　portent　of　things　to　e。　I'm　not　sure　they　will；　but　if　those　people　try　again；　I　want　to　make　sure　they　can't　reach　any　of　the　top　staff。〃
　〃There　is　a　word　in　English；　Mr。　Pelham；　that　describes　beautifully　what　you　have　just　said。　It　is　both　sharp　in　definition　and　meaningful　in　substance。〃
　Remo　knew　he　was　opening　a　door。　〃What　word？〃　he　said；　preparing　himself　for　the　deserved　consequences。
　〃Bullshit；〃　said　Dr。　Hirshbloom　sweetly。
　〃That's　unfair；　Deborah。〃
　〃That　is　your　name；　Remo；　it　is　bullshit　should　you　deny　it　to　your　grave。　They　called　for　you。　They　challenged　you。　And　they　got　you。　Or；　as　you　will；　you　got　them。〃
　〃They　went　for　me　first　so　that　they　could　get　to　you。　Certainly　you　are　aware　of　a　situation　like　that。　Russia　attacking　us　through　Israel。〃
　〃Why　must　you　put　everything　on　an　international　level？　You're　sitting　here；　asking　my　schedule；　obviously　not　to　protect　me　because　you　know　I　do　not　need　your　protection。　So　why　else　would　you　want　to　know　where　you　can　reach　me；　except　to　do　me　harm？　Right？〃
　〃Bullshit。〃
　〃Hah。　Mr。　Pelham。。。。〃
　〃Remo；　remember。〃
　〃All　right；　Remo。　Good　night。〃
　〃Deborah；　I　would　like　to　see　you　again。〃
　〃I'm　certain　you　will。　But；　please。　Not　in　such　frightening　fashion　as　the　other　day；　or　such　annoying　fashion　as　tonight。〃
　〃Frightening？　You　were　frightened？　You　didn't　seem　frightened？〃
　〃Now　I　am　terrified　because　now　T　know　you　even　had　time　to　look　around　at　me　and　the　other　scenery。〃　Deborah　sat　calm；　but　a　cool　formal　smile　set　it。　It　did　not　change；　and　Remo　recognized　the　personal　control　people　develop　when　they　are　faced　frequently　with　danger。　They　develop　it；　or　they　die；　or　they　are　incredibly　lucky。
　〃All　right。　I　had　time　to　look　around。　Suppose　that　is　so。　Suppose　my　defense　was　really　an　attack。　Suppose　all　those　things。〃
　〃Then　suppose；　Mr。　Pelham；　you're　not　a　policeman。〃
　〃All　right；　suppose　that。〃
　〃Then　you　must　be　something　else。〃
　〃Then　I'm　something　else。〃
　〃Then　I　don't　feel　fortable。　I　do　not　feel　fortable；　seeing　an　approach　to　attack　which　I　recognize；　and　then　seeing　added　an　awesome　ability　to　do　things　that　I　do　not　recognize　at　all。　I　was　truly　afraid　the　other　afternoon；　Mr。　Pelham。　And　I　was　afraid　of　you。　I　am　afraid　of　you　now。〃
　〃Strange　for　a　psychiatrist。〃
　〃I　am　tired　also；　Mr。　Pelham。　Good　night。　I　do　not　know　what　you　are　really　here　for。　Perhaps　it　is　even　to　be；　as　you　say；　a　security　officer。　But　I　have　seen　your　like　before。　When　I　was　a　little　girl；　a　volunteer　from　America。　He　taught　us　that　set；　and　two　days　ago　I　saw　it　on　you。〃
　Chiun　in　Israel？　Impossible。　The　set？　It　was　not　Chiun　who　taught　the　set；　the　apparently　awkward　foot　alignment　that　made　you　look　as　if　you　were　about　to　step　backward　when　really　you　moved　forward。　That　was　not　Chiun。　The　first　days　of　training　after　the　electrocution　were。。。。　Of　course；　the　set。　Conn　MacCleary。　Conn　MacCleary　in　Israel？
　Deborah　rose　to　usher　Remo　to　the　door。　Remo　remained　seated。
　〃This　man；　did　you　like　him？〃　Remo　asked。
　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　the　whole　village　loved　him。　But　he　is　dead　now；　a　fate　that　awaits　us　all。　It　is　really　only　a　question　of　when。　And　toward　extending　that　when；　we　are　all　devoted；　no？〃
　　　〃Where　did　this　man　die？〃
　　　〃You　seem　very　interested　in　this　man。　Why？〃
　　　〃Perhaps　I　knew　him。〃
　〃If　you　did　I　would　not　have　to