dk.nightchills-第40节

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　〃The　lines　to　Bexford　。　。　。〃　Paul　brushed　strands　of　stiff；　frozen；　blood…crusted　hair　from　his　son's　white　forehead。　〃What　does　that　mean　to　us？〃
　〃You　can　ring　up　anyone　you　want　in　town　or　up　at　the　mill。　But　you　can't　place　a　long…distance　call。〃
　〃Who　told　you？〃
　〃The　operator。　Mandy　Ultman。〃
　〃Does　she　have　any　idea　when　they'll　get　it　fixed？〃
　〃Evidently；　there's　been　a　lot　of　damage；〃　Sam　said。　〃She　tells　me　a　crew　of　linemen　from　Bexford　are　already　working。　But　they'll　need　several　hours　to　put　things　right。〃
　〃How　many　hours？〃
　〃Well；　they're　not　even　sure　they　can　patch　it　up　any　time　before　tomorrow　morning。〃
　Paul　remained　at　his　son's　side；　kneeling　on　the　concrete　floor；　and　he　thought　about　what　Sam　had　said。
　〃One　of　us　should　drive　into　Bexford　and　call　the　state　police　from　there。〃
　〃Okay；〃　Paul　said。
　〃You　want　me　to　do　it？〃
　〃if　you　want。　Or　I　will。　It　doesn't　matter。　But　first　we　have　to　move　Mark　to　your　place。〃
　〃Move　him？〃
　〃Of　course。〃
　〃But　isn't　that　against　the　law？〃　He　cleared　his　throat　〃I　mean；　the　scene　of　the　crime　and　all　that〃
　〃I　can't　leave　him　here；　Sam。〃
　〃But　if　Bob　Thorp　did　this；　you　want　him　to　pay　for　it。　Don't　you？　If　you　move…move　the　body；　what　proof　do　you　have　that　you　actually　found　it　here？〃
　Surprised　by　the　steadiness　of　his　own　voice；　Paul　said；　〃The　police　forensic　specialists　will　be　able　to　find　traces　of　Mark's　hair　and　blood　in　the　freezer。〃
　〃But…〃
　〃I　can't　leave　him　here！〃
　Sam　nodded。　〃All　right〃　〃I　just　can't；　Sam。〃
　〃Okay。　We'll　get　him　to　the　car。〃　〃Thank　you。〃
　〃We'll　take　him　to　my　place。〃
　〃Thank　you。〃　〃How　will　we　carry　him？〃　〃You…take　his　feet。〃　Sam　touched　the　boy。　〃So　cold。〃　〃Be　careful　with　him；　Sam。〃　Sam　nodded　as　they　lifted　the　body。　〃Be　gentle　with　him；　please。〃　〃Okay。〃
　〃Please。〃
　〃I　will；〃　Sam　said。　〃I　will。〃
　　
　5
　2：00　P。M。
　THUNDER　CANNONED；　and　rain　shattered　against　the　windows　of　the　police　chief's　office。
　Two　men；　employees　of　other　governmental　departments　that　shared　the　municipal　building；　stood　with　their　backs　to　the　windows；　trying　to　look　stern；　authoritarian；　and　eminently　reliable。　Bob　Thorp　had　provided　them　with　bright　yellow　hooded　rain　slickers　with　POLICE　stenciled　across　their　shoulders　and　chests。　Both　men　were　in　their　middle　or　late　thirties；　yet　they　expressed　an　almost　childish　delight　at　the　opportunity　to　wear　these　raincoats：　adults　playing　cops　and　robbers。
　〃Can　you　use　a　gun？〃　Salsbury　asked　them。
　They　both　said　that　they　could。
　Salsbury　turned　to　Bob　Thorp。　〃Give　them　guns。〃
　〃Revolvers？〃　the　police　chief　asked。
　〃Do　you　have　shotguns？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃I　believe　those　would　be　better　than　revolvers；〃　Salsbury　said。　〃Don't　you　agree？〃
　〃For　this　operation？〃　Thorp　said。　〃Yes。　Much　better。〃
　〃Then　give　them　shotguns。〃
　A　brilliant　explosion　of　lightning　flashed　against　the　windows。　The　effect　was　stroboscopic：　everyone　and　every　object　in　the
　room　seemed　to　jump　rapidly　back　and　forth　for　an　instant；　although　in　reality　nothing　moved。
　Overhead　the　fluorescent　lights　flickered。
　Thorp　went　to　the　metal　firearms　cabinet　behind　his　desk；　unlocked　it；　and　fetched　two　shotguns。
　〃Do　you　know　how　to　use　these？〃　Salsbury　asked　the　men　in　the　yellow　raincoats。
　One　of　them　nodded。
　The　other　said；　〃Not　much　to　it。　These　babies　pack　a　hell　of　a　lot　of　punch。　You　pretty　much　just　have　to　point　in　the　general　direction　of　the　target　and　pull　the　trigger。〃　He　gripped　the　gun　with　both　hands；　admired　it；　smiled　at　it。
　〃Good　enough；〃　Salsbury　said。　〃The　two　of　von　will　go　out　to　the　parking　lot　behind　this　building；　get　in　the　spare　patrol　car；　and　drive　to　the　east　end　of　town。　Understand　me　so　far？〃
　〃To　the　east　end；〃　one　of　them　said。
　〃A　hundred　yards　short　of　the　turn　at　the　mouth　of　the　valley；　you'll　park　the　cruiser　across　the　highway　and　block　both　lanes　as　best　you　can。〃
　〃A　roadblock；〃　one　of　them　said；　obviously　pleased　with　the　way　the　game　was　developing。
　〃Exactly；〃　Salsbury　said。　〃If　anyone　wants　to　enter　Black　River…logging　trucks；　local　citizens；　maybe　visitors　from　out　of　town；　anyone　at　all…you'll　let　them　in。　However；　you'll　send　them　here；　straight　to　this　office。　You'll　tell　them　that　a　state　of　emergency　has　been　declared　in　Black　River　and　that　they　absolutely　must；　without　exception；　check　in　with　the　chief　of　police　before　they　go　on　about　their　business。〃
　〃What　kind　of　emergency？〃　〃You　don't　need　to　know。〃　One　of　them　frowned。
　The　other　said；　〃Everyone　we　stop　will　want　to　know。〃
　〃If　they　ask；　tell　them　that　the　chief　will　explain　it。〃　Both　men　nodded。
　Thorp　distributed　a　dozen　shotgun　shells　to　each　of　them。
　〃If　anyone　tries　to　leave　Black　River；〃　Salsbury　said；　〃you'll　also　direct　them　to　the　chief；　and　you'll　give　them　the　same　story　about　a　state　of　emergency。　Understood？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Every　time　you　send　someone　to　see　Bob；　whether　they　were　ing　into　town　or　trying　to　get　out　of　it；　you'll　radio　this　office。　That　way；　if　they　don't　show　up　within　a　few　minutes；　we'll　know　that　we've　got　some　renegades　on　our　hands。　Understood？〃
　They　both　said；　〃Yes。〃
　Salsbury　took　his　handkerchief　from　his　hip　pocket　and　blotted　the　perspiration　from　his　face。　〃If　anyone　leaving　town　tries　to　run　your　roadblock；　stop　them。　If　you　can't　stop　them　any　other　way；　use　the　guns。〃
　〃Shoot　to　kill？〃
　〃Shoot　to　kill；〃　Salsbury　said。　〃But　only　if　there's　no　other　way　to　stop　them。〃
　One　of　the　men　tried　to　look　like　John　Wayne　receiving　orders　at　the　Alamo；　shook　his　head　solemnly；　and　said；　〃Don't　worry。　You　can　count　on　us。〃
　〃Any　questions？〃
　〃How　long　will　we　be　in　charge　of　this　roadblock？〃
　〃Another　team　of　men　will　relieve　you　in　six　hours；〃　Salsbury　said。　〃At　eight　o'clock　this　evening。〃　He　jammed　his　handkerchief　back　into　his　pocket。　〃One　other　thing。　When　you　leave　this　room；　you　will　forget　that　you　ever　met　me。　You'll　forget　that　I　was　here。　You'll　remember　everything　I've　said　to　you　prior　to　what　I'm　saying　to　you　now；　every　previous　exchange　of　this　conversation　we've　just　had…but　you'll　think　that　Bob　Thorp　gave　you　your　instructions。　Is　that　perfectly　clear？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Perfectly。〃
　〃Then　get　moving。〃
　The　two　men　went　out　of　the　room；　forgetting　him　the　moment　they　set　foot　in　the　corridor。
　A　fiercely　white　pulse　of　lightning　washed　over　the　town；　and　a　crack　of　thunder　followed；　rattling　the　windows。
　〃Close　those　blinds；〃　Salsbury　said　irritably。
　Thorp　did　as　he　was　told。
　Salsbury　sat　down　behind　the　desk。
　When　he　had　drawn　the　Venetian　blinds；　Bob　Thorp　returned　to　the　desk　and　stood　in　front　of　it。
　Salsbury　looked　up　at　him　and　said；　〃Bob；　I　want　to　seal　this　burg　up　tight。　Real　tight。〃　He　made　a　fist　with　his　right　hand　by　way　of　example。　〃I　want　to　make　damned　sure　that　no　one　can　get　out　of　town。　Is　there　anything　else　that　I　should　block　in　addition　to　the　highway？〃
　Scratching　his　beetled　brow；　Thorp　said；　〃You　need　two　more　men　at　the　east　end　of　the　valley。　One　to　watch　the　river。　He　should　be　armed　with　a　rifle　so　he　can　pick　off　anyone　in　a　boat　if　he　has　to　do　that。　The　other　man　should　be　stationed　in　the　trees　between　the　river　and　the　highway。　Give　him　a　shotgun　and　tell　him　to　stop　anyone　who　tries　to　sneak　out　through　the　woods。〃
　〃The　man　at　the　river…he'd　have　to　be　an　expert　with　a　rifle；　wouldn't　he？〃　Salsbury　asked。
　〃You　wouldn't　need　a　master　rifleman。　But　he　would　have　to　be　a　fairly　good　shot。〃
　〃Okay。　We'll　use　one　of　your　deputies　for　that。　They're　all　good　with　a　rifle；　aren't　they？〃
　〃Oh；　sure。〃
　〃Good　enough　for　this？〃
　〃No　doubt　about　it。〃
　〃Anything　else？〃
　Thorp　thought　about　the　situation　for　almost　a　minute。　Finally　he　said；　〃There's　a　series　of　old　logging　roads　that　lead　up　into　the　mountains　and　eventually　hook　up　with　a　second　series　of　roads　that　e　from　the　lumber　operations　around　Bexford。　A　lot　of　that　route　has　been　abandoned。　None　of　it's　paved。　A　few　sections　may　be　graveled　if　they　haven't　been　washed　out　this　summer；　but　mostly　it's　just　dirt。　Narrow。　Full　of　weeds。　But　I　guess　if　a　man　was　determined　enough；　he　could　drive　out　that　way。〃
　〃Then　we'll　block　it；〃　Salsbury　said；　getting　up　from　the　chair。　He　paced　nervously　to　the　windows　and　back　to　the　desk。　〃This　town　is　mine。　Mine。　And　it'll　stay　that　way。　I'm　going
　to　keep　my　hands　on　every　man；　woman；　and　child　here　until　I've　solved　this　problem。〃
　The　situation　had　gotten　incredibly　far　out　of　hand。　He　would　have　to　call　Dawson。　Sooner　or　later。　Probably　sooner。　Couldn't　be　avoided。　But　before　he　placed　that　call；　he　wanted　to　be　certain　that　he　had　done　everything　that　he　could　possibly　do　without　Leonard's　help；　without　Klinger's　help。　Show　them　he　was　decisive。　Clever。　A　good　man　to　have　around。　His　efficiency　might　impress　the　general。　And　that　Christ…kissing　bastard。　Impress　them　enough　to　pensate　for　his　having　caused　the　crisis　in　the　first　place。　That　was　very　important。　Very　important。　Right　now　the　trick　was　to　survive　his　partners'　wrath。
　2：30　P。M。
　The　air　in　Sam's　library　was　stale　and　humid。
　Rain　drummed　on　the　outside　window；　and　hundreds　of　tiny　beads　of　dew　formed　on　the　inside。
　Still　nu