thedestroyer.deathcheck-第4部分

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　One　man　moved；　almost　floating　through　the　dark　crowd　to　the　table　of　the　bitter…faced　man。
　〃You're　as　obvious　as　a　bowl　of　garbage；　in　Tiffany's；〃　said　the　man　known　as　Remo　Pelham。
　〃Good　to　see　you。　I　want　to　congratulate　you　on　your　selection　as　director　of　security　for　Brewster　Forum。〃
　〃You're　sitting　here　like　a　stone。　Don't　you　think　some　one　might　wonder　what　a　man　who　acts　like　an　embahner　is　doing　in　the　Port　Alexandria？　Isn't　it　obvious　you're　here　to　meet　someone？〃
　〃So　what？〃
　〃So　look　as　if　you're　having　some　fun。　After　all；　aren't　we　playing　the　sex…frustrated　executive　who　frequents　places　like　this　for　voyeuristic　thrills？〃
　〃Something　like　that。　Even　better；　the　noise　levels　here　have　been　checked　out。〃
　〃You　don't　look　like　a　voyeur；〃　Remo　insisted。　〃You　aren't　even　interested　hi　the　women。〃
　〃I'm　interested　in　getting　out　of　here。　Now　listen…　Dammit；　why　the　hell　do　I　have　so　much　trouble　with　you？　Listen。〃　Smith　leaned　forward　as　a　new　dancer　came　center　floor　to　heavy　applause。
　〃You　look　upset。〃
　〃I　am。　Listen。　You　will　meet　a　man　on　the　Staten　Island　ferry　leaving　the　Battery　at　11　a。m。　tomorrow。　He　will　be　wearing　a　blue　and　red　striped　tie　and　carrying　a　gray　wrapped　package　the　size　of　a　briefcase。　It's　heavy　because　it's　a　water　case　around　water　soluble　documents。　Pictures　and　biographies。　You　can　get　the　documents　out　dry　using　the　Oriental　string　puzzle　Chiun　says　you　know。〃
　〃How　is　Chiun？〃
　〃Dammit；　will　you　listen？〃
　〃Will　you　tell　me　how　Chiun　is？〃
　〃He's　fine。〃
　〃He　was　worried　about　his　arteries。〃
　　　　〃I　don't　know　about　his　arteries。　He's　always　fine。　Now　listen。　Major　point。　Brewster　Forum　is　of　utmost　importance　to　the　country；　maybe　the　world。　Your　predecessor　was　one　of　ours　at　a　low　level。　He　was　murdered；　even　though　it　was　covered　as　a　suicidal　overdose　of　heroin。　He　stumbled　onto　something。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃We're　not　sure。　Pornographic　photos　of　the　top　staff　at　the　forum。　The　photos　are　genuine。　But　still　the　whole　thing　doesn't　ring　true。　You'll　see　that　when　you　meet　the　staff。　And　check　resume　four　against　pictures　10；　11；　and　12。〃
　〃It　doesn't　sound　like　it's　in　my　line；〃　Remo　said。
　Smith　ignored　the　interuption。　〃Ordinarily；　we'd　suspect　blackmail。　But　that　doesn't　cut　either。　Why　would　a　blackmailer　be　working　on　the　whole　staff　at　Brewster　Forum？　There　are　other　wealthier；　more　obvious；　victims。　No；　there's　something　more　to　it。〃
　〃It　still　doesn't　sound　like　it's　in　my　line。〃
　Smith　looked　up　into　Remo's　placid　brown　eyes。　〃Don't　misunderstand。　Brewster　Forum　is　very；　very　important。〃
　He　leaned　forward　conspiratorially。　〃A　plan　to　conquer　the　world。　You'll　see　on　a　transcript　that's　with　the　photos。　My　superior　doesn't　want　that　work　stopped。　But　if　it's　going　to　be　stopped；　we'll　do　the　stopping。　That's　you。　If　you　can　find　out　who's　responsible　for　the　sex　photos；　well　and　good。　If　you　can　straighten　out　that　mess　without　harm　to　the　Forum's　work；　even　better。　But　your　mission　is　to　set　up　the　deaths　of　every　one　of　the　top　staff　at　Brewster　Forum；　either　as　a　group　or　individually；　on　a　one…hour　call　if　necessary。　No　misses。　Death　as　an　absolute　certainty。〃
　Remo　interrupted。　〃I　read　something　like　this　once。　We're　going　to　destroy　them　in　order　to　save　them？〃
　〃Don't　get　cute；〃　Smith　said。　〃Whatever　it　is　they're　working　on　there；　my　superior　is　worried　about　an　enemy　getting　his　hands　on　it。　Someone　might　be　planning　to　blackmail　our　government。　That　could　explain　those　photos。　It　would　make　them　Worth　a　bundle。　But　other　agencies　are　planning　to　deal　with　the　photos。　We　just　want　to　be　ready　to　move　in　case　they　e　up　empty；　and　the　Forum　is　endangered。〃
　〃How　much　time　do　I　have？〃
　〃We　don't　know。　We　think　we　bought　some　time　because　McCarthy；　he　was　the　security　director；　came　up　with　the　negatives。　If　those　photos　are　really　tied　in　with　this；　it　might　mean　they　have　to　all　be　done　over。　That　would　have　to　take　a　while。　By　the　way。。。。〃
　〃I　know　what　'by　the　way'　means。〃　*　〃By　the　way。　When　you　get　your　package　from　the　man　on　the　ferry；　he　will　probably　want　to　talk　to　you。　Ask　you　about　your　job。　You　might　even　be　attacked。　If　you　are；　you　know　what　to　do。〃
　〃Yes；　I　know　what　to　do。　I　also　know　that　you　have　a　nasty　little　habit　of　cleaning　house　everytime　you　give　me　a　go…ahead。　Who　is　the　guy？〃
　〃None　of　your　business。〃
　〃Maybe　I'll　just　take　the　package。〃
　〃Maybe　you　will。　When　you　see　him；　mention　that　you　intend　to　take　up　photography　because　you　know　you　could　take　great　pictures　of　New　York's　skyline。〃
　〃Right。　Now　let　me　give　you　a　'by　the　way。'　I'm　just　taking　the　package。〃
　〃You　could　do　us　a　lot　of　good。〃
　Remo　leaned　back　and　smiled；　letting　his　brown　eyes　roam　from　the　voluptuous　figure；　glistening　and　writhing　in　rhythm　on　the　floor　to　the　very　stiff；　unusually　tense　fora　non…budget　month；　Harold　W。　Smith；　operational　head　of　CURE。
　〃Put　a　dollar　in　her　bra。〃
　〃What？；〃　said　Smith。
　〃Put　a　dollar　in　her　bra。〃
　〃I　will　not。〃
？〃You　will。〃。
　〃You　mean　to　tell　me　that　other　things　depend　upon　your　gratification　from　embarrassing　me？〃
　〃By　the　way；　I　don't　know。〃　Remo　grinned。
　〃All　right。　A　dollar；　you　said。〃
　Remo　watched　Smith　take　a　dollar　from　his　wallet　and；　holding　it　like；　a　live　bug；　extend　it　out　over　the　dance　floor。　The　woman；　whose　milky　skin　glistened　from　perspiration；　shimmy　shouldered　over　beneath　the　dollar　and　Smith　dropped　it；　then　turned　quickly　back　to　the　table　pretending　he　had　never　been　involved　in　anything　so　sordid。　The　bill　lay　on　the　throbbing　pink…white　mountains。
　〃Stuff　it　in。〃　'
　〃I　will　not。〃
　〃All　right。　Goodbye。〃
　〃All　right。〃
　〃Five　dollars。〃
　〃Five。　Now　see　here。。。。〃
　〃Five。〃
　〃All　right。　Five。　You　just　love　to　spend　money。〃
　Smith　crinkled　a　five…dollar　bill　in　his　hands；　and　with　a　get…it…over…fast　speed　leaned　down　to　the　woman　who　came　up　to　meet　his　money　with　her　bosom。　He　did　not　see　his　panion　also　reach　forward　with　money；　and　under　the　cover　of　this　motion　slip　a　hand　behind　the　jeweled　breast　cups　and　snap　the　metal　holding　band；　flipping　the　bra；　cups　and　all　around　Smith's　hand。
　
　The　breasts　ballooned　out。　Smith　gasped。　The　crowd　cheered。　The　woman　swung　at　Smith's　head；　reaching　for　her　bra。
　〃We　could　lose　our　license；　you　dumb　fuck；〃　she　screamed；　scoring　again　on　the　forehead　of　one　of　the　most　powerful　men　in　the　country；　who　desperately　tried　to　hold　on　his　glasses　while　trying　to　leave　the　table。
　And　the　man　known　as　Remo　Pelham　floated　to　the　door；　telling　everyone　he　passed；　〃You　never　know　by　the　looks。　You　never　know。　Shocking　what　these　degenerates　will　do。〃
　
　CHAPTER　FIVE
　
　The　package　bearer　might　very　well　have　lived　out　the　afternoon。　He　might　even　have　saved　his　colleague's　lives。　Certainly　there　was　no　danger　from　the　man　who　mentioned　his　love　for　photography　and　New　York　City　skylines。
　But　the　man　with　the　gray　package　said　something。　With　a　sneer；　he　said：　〃We　know　what's　in　the　water　package。　And　we　know　we　can't　open　it。　So　you're　going　to　open　it　for　us。　Do　you　know　why　you're　going　to　open　it　for　us？〃
　〃No；〃　said　Remo；　lying。　He　had　seen　the　two　big　men；　one　black　and　the　other　white；　pretending　to　lounge　on　the　seats　behind　them。　〃Beautiful　skyline；　don't　you　think？〃　He　breathed　deeply　of　the　almost　breathable　air　between　Staten　Island　and　New　York　City。
　〃You　are　going　to　open　the　package　because　you　want　to　save　your　life。　Look　behind　you。〃
　〃And　leave　the　beauty　of　the　gulls　and　the　twin　towers　of　the　trade　center；　the　Empire　State　Building？　My　little　island　in　the　sun？〃
　Remo　did　a　little　semi…pushup　against　the　second　deck　railing　of　the　ferry　and　watched　the　white　churning　swirls　bubble　out　back　toward　Manhattan。　Then　he　felt　two　strong　arms　on　each　of　his　arms。　He　looked　again　at　the　man　with　the　gray　package　and　the　sneer　and　said：
　〃You're　not　going　to　believe　this。　But　I'll　give　you　all　a　chance　to　live。〃
　The　man　did　not　believe　this。　The　man　believed　he　was　talking　to　a　prankster。
　So　the　man　who　cared　about　photography　went　with　the　large　men　and　the　man　with　the　package　to　a　paint　store　on　Staten　Island。　The　store　was　closed　that　day；　but　it　was　opened　for　them　by　a　fat　man。　With　a　gun。
　The　man　who　loved　photography　tried。　He　said：　〃Look。　You're　just　a　messenger。　You　give　the　package　to　me；　I'm　just　a　messenger。　I　give　it　to　someone　else。　Why　should　we　fight　over　it？〃
　The　man　with　the　package　sneered　again。　〃You're　wrong　all　around。　I'm　not　just　your　messenger。　He　met　with　an　accident。　You　are　not　just　a　messenger。　I　was　informed　otherwise。　It　seems　you　lose。〃
　〃Last　chance　to　reconsider；〃　Remo　said。
　〃Sorry；〃　said　the　other。　〃We'll　have　to　risk　it。〃
　Remo　registered　the　moves　of　his　four　adversaries。　The　two　big　men　were　obviously　in　condition；　he　had　felt　how　light　they　were　on　their　feet　when　they　walked　him　off　the　ferry。　The　man　with　the　package　had　been　in　condition　once。　The　short　man　who　had　opened　the　door　was　very　fat　and　had　never　been　in　condition。　But　he　made　up　for　it。　He　carried　a　snub…nosed　revolver。　A　snub…nosed　revolver　is　good　for　one　thing。　Close　work。　What　it　loses　in　accuracy；　it　gains　in　pactness。　It's　not　easy　to　reach　out；　grab　the　barrel　and　the　cylinder；　and　smother　the　falling　hammer；　all　in　one　motion。
　The　two　big　men　stayed　behind　Remo　as　the　man　put　the　gray　package　down　on　the　counter。　The　fat　man　stayed　near　the　shuttered　door。
　〃Well；〃　said　the　man　who　had　held　the　package。
　〃This　is　the　package　and　not　an　imitation？〃
　〃This　is　the　package。〃
　〃If　it's　an　imitation；　I　can　get　hurt。〃
　〃It　is　the　package。〃
　〃These　things　tend　to　explode。〃。
　〃Open　it。〃
　Remo　carefully　removed　the　clear　tape　from　the　tips　of　the　gray　package。　Through　the　holes　in　the　corners　protruded　four　knots　of　thin　red　string。　The　knots　were　symmetrical。　As　Remo　looked　at　them；　deeply；　with　his　mind　free；　he　could　almost　feel　the　inner　harmony　of　the　man　who　had　tied　them。　It　was　the　real　package。　Chiun　had　tied　the　knots。
　〃Something　wrong；　Pelham？〃
　〃How　did　you　know　my　name　was　Pelham？〃
　〃Untie　the　package。〃
　〃How　did　you　know　my　name　was　Pelham？〃
　〃Untie　the　package　and　I'll　tell　you。〃
　〃I　think　you　intend　to　kill　me。〃
　The　man　sneered　again。　〃That's　right。　But　we　can　kill　you　quickly。　Decently。　Or　we　can　kill　you　slowly　and　painfully。　Like　your　messenger。　Like　this。〃
　He　nodded　and　the　two　big　men　grabbed　Remo's　head　in　their　hands　and　began　to　squeeze。　The　fat　man　with　the　snub…nosed　gun　giggled。　The　man　with　the　package　watched；　waiting　to　see　pain　and　surrender　in　the　victims'　eyes。
　But　there　was　no　surrender。　Only　a　flash　of　contempt　and　anger。　The　man　dropped　to　his　hands；　fast　before　he　could　be　held　up。　Into　the　close　kneecap　of　the　black　man　went　an　elbow；　driving　the　kneecap　through　the　joint；　spinning　the　body　upside　down　so　the　Afro　went　crashing　into　the　counter　with　a　crack。　Up　into　the　white　man's　groin　went　a　single　hard　finger；　crushing　a　testicle　and　driving　the　man　into　the　air　and　then　back　against　a　pyramid　of　red　paint　cans　which　caught　the　shocked　body　and　surrendered；　splaying　cans　across　the　floor。
　The　fat　man　tried　to　squeeze　the　trigger。　He　was　still　trying　when