thedestroyer.deathcheck-第6部分

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　〃A）　Oh　gracious；　don't　tell　me　you're　one　of　those。　If　someone　told　you　he　unlocked　the　atom；　would　you　run　out　right　away　to　try　to　use　it　in　a　lightbulb　or　a　bomb？
　〃B）　This　little　plan　to　conquer　the　world？　Have　you　achieved　it？
　〃A）　What　difference　does　it　make9　It's　only　a　minor　byproduct　of　our　basic　work　here　at　XXX。
　〃B）　Would　you　explain　that　minor　function？
　〃A）　No；　not　now。　Only　when　we're　ready；　and　then　as　part　of　the　full　corpus　of　our　work。　Otherwise；　you　can　imagine　the　sort　of　people　we'd　have　running　around　here；　I'd　close　the　forum　first。〃
　End　of　Transcript。
　Remo　filled　the　basin　with　water　again　and　let　the　transcript　go　the　way　of　the　pictures；　first　to　whiteness；　then　particles；　then　dissolve。
　That　answered　one　of　the　why's。　A　was　Nils　Brewster；　head　of　the　Brewster　Forum　which　had　its　hands　on　〃a　little　plan　to　conquer　the　world。〃　Brewster　would　stop　everything　if　he　thought　the　military　or　the　government　was　moving　in。　That　explained　why　the　forum　had　been　a　CURE　function。　Probably　because　better　than　any　other　group　in　the　world；　CURE　could　watch　something　or　someone　without　anyone　knowing…neither　those　under　surveillance　nor　those　doing　the　surveillance。
　And　then　the　photographs　turned　up。　And　that　indicated　that　some　other　force　was　involved　somehow。　Moving　in。　And　the　United　States　could　not　allow　this　little　plan　to　conquer　the　world　to　go　to　someone　else。　And　therefore　everyone　involved；　everyone　who　might　know；　must　die…if　it　proved　necessary。
　Remo　pulled　the　plug　in　the　sink　and　the　milky　water　disappeared。　Maybe　a　sports　store　in　Des　Moines；　thought　Remo；　or　a　bar　in　Troy；　Ohio。　That　woman　in　the　cab　would　give　him　a　remendation。　The　bar　would　be　nice。　Until　a　customer　put　a　bullet　hi　his　head；　then　took　money　from　the　cash　register　to　make　it　seem　like　a　robbery。
　
　CHAPTER　SEVEN
　
　Remo　didn't　believe　it。
　He　had　driven　past　a　sign　that　read　〃Brewster　Forum；〃　into　a　lovely　little　village；　then　through　the　village；　then　past　a　blank　sign　which　he　read　in　his　rear…view　mirror　as　〃Brewster　Forum。〃
　He　turned　around　on　a　gravel　road　and　drove　the　rented　car　back。　Plush　little　homes；　some　with　sweeping　green　lawns；　others　hidden　by　shrubs；　manicured　sidewalks　and　roads；　tennis　courts；　a　golf　course　with　only　one　foursome　and　a　circle　of　small；　quaint　cottages。
　The　August　sun　blessed　the　rolling　Virginia　terrain。　A　man　in　blue　Bermuda　shorts　and　an　old　gray　shirt　pedaled　slowly　along　the　asphalt；　puffing　a　pipe　rhythmically。　He　was　a　small；　thin　man；　with　a　kind　and；　thoughtful　face　which　Remo　recognized　in　a　flash。　The　man　with　the　giraffe。　Remo　braked　the　car。
　〃Sir；〃　he　called　out　to　Dr。　Abram　Schulter。
　The　man　on　the　bicycle　seemed　startled　and　stopped；　almost　capsizing　himself。　He　was　the　only　other　person　on　the　street。　He　looked　at　Remo；　then　pointed　to　himself。
　〃Me？〃　asked　the　foremost　neurosurgeon　in　the　world。
　〃Yes；〃　said　Remo；　〃I'm　looking　for　Brewster　Forum。〃
　〃Ah；　yes。　Of　course。　Why　else　would　you　be　here？　Yes。　Natural。　Very　natural。〃
　〃Is　this　Brewster　Forum？
　〃Yes。　Did　you　miss　the　signs？〃　〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Then　what　would　lead　you　to　believe　this　is　not　Brewster　Forum？〃
　〃Well；　I　expected　some　fences　or　something。〃
　〃Whatever　for？〃
　Remo　could　not　answer　that　question。　What　was　he　to　say？　Because　you're　doing　something　so　top　secret　that　you　are　going　to　die　before　your　country　will　let　your　work　go　to　anyone　else？〃
　Not　even　a　fence。　What　was　probably　the　highest　priority　secret　project　in　the　nation　and　not　even　a　fence。
　〃Well；　to　keep　people　out；〃　Remo　answered。
　〃Out　of　what？；〃　pleasantly　asked　the　son　of　a　bitch　who　liked　to　screw　toy　giraffes。
　〃Out　of　this　place；〃　said　Remo；　barely　pleasant。
　〃Why　would　we　want　to　keep　anyone　out？〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　Remo　had　to　say。
　〃Then　why　should　we　have　a　fence？〃
　Remo　had　to　shrug。
　〃That's　an　interesting　question　you　asked；　son；〃　said　Doctor　Schulter。　〃Why　does　man　continuously　seek　to　set　boundaries？　Is　it　to　keep　people　out　or　just　to　identify　who　should　be　kept　out？〃
　In　a　vein　of　nastiness　which　Remo　knew　he　should　not　allow　himself；　he　snarled。　〃The　latter；　of　course。　It's　obvious　to　anyone　who　plants　tomatoes。〃　And　he　drove　off；　leaving　the　man　to　puzzle；　with　the　pipe　now　working　furiously　in　his　mouth。
　Remo　drove　back　to　the　cluster　of　cottages；　parking　near　a　fieldstone　walk　that　led　to　a　larger　white　building　with　green　shutters；　shaded　by　large　oaks。　The　newness　of　the　buildings　indicated　they　had　been　built　for　proximity　to　the　towering　trees。
　Remo　followed　the　fieldstones　to　the　door　of　the　building　and　knocked。　He　could　see　a　gravel　driveway　fifty　yards　away　that　led　into　the　circle　of　cottages　but　he　preferred　the　walk；　a　luxury　he　allowed　himself　only　rarely。　Just　doing　something　because　he　felt　like　it。　Almost　like　a　human　being。
　The　brass　knocker　was　made　in　a　peace　symbol　design；　a　circle　with　the　outline　of　a　phantom　bomber　inside　it。　At　least　that　was　what　it　had　always　looked　like　to　the　man　who　was　now　Remo　Pelham；　sent　to　replace　Peter　McCarthy。
　The　door　opened　and　down　around　the　doorknob　was　a　little　girl　with　pigtails；　round　pink　cheeks；　a　smile　and　dancing　eyes。
　〃Hello；〃　she　said。　〃My　name　is　Stephanie　Brewster。　I'm　six　years　old　and　the　daughter　of　Dr。　Nils　Brewster　who　is　obviously　my　father　since　I　am　his　daughter。〃
　〃Obviously；〃　said　Remo。　〃I'm　Remo　Pelham；　I'm　thirty　two　years　old　and　I　am　your　new　policeman　for　Brewster　Forum。　I'm　taking　the　place　of　the　man　who　went　away。〃
　〃You　mean　you're　our　new　security　officer。　To　replace　Mr。　McCarthy　who　OD'd　last　week？〃
　〃OD'd？〃
　〃Yes。　He　took　an　overdose　of　heroin。　Would　you　call　that　a　drug　problem？　I　mean　if　one　man　takes　an　overdose　and　dies；　does　that　constitute　a　problem？　Obviously；　it　is　no　problem　for　him。〃
　
　Remo　looked　more　closely。　Okay；　she　wasn't　a　midget。　Maybe　there　was　a　speaker　planted　on　her。
　Stephanie　Brewster　smiled　mischievously。　〃You're　shocked　because　I've　added　a　new　dimension　to　reality。　Six…year…old　girls　are　not　supposed　to　be　so　aware。　But　I'm　very　aware。　Prematurely　aware；　they　say；　and　I'm　going　to　face　problems　because　of　it　when　I　grow　up　unless　I　learn　to　adjust　my　own　peer　group。　That's　what　daddy　says。　Only　my　older　sister；　Ardath；　who　is　fifteen　years　old；　is　just　as　aware；　and　she　adjusted。　So　therefore；　I　should　adjust。　Right？〃
　〃I　guess　so；〃　said　Remo。
　〃Would　you　like　to　see　my　daddy？〃
　〃Yes；　I　would。〃。
　〃I'll　show　you　where　he　is　if　you　play　Frisbee　with　me　first。〃
　〃Why　don't　you　show　me　where　your　daddy　is　now　and　then　we'll　play　Frisbee？〃
　〃Because　if　we　play　Frisbee　first；　then　we'll　play　Frisbee　for　sure。　But　if　it's　later；　then　maybe　we'll　play　Frisbee。　Reality　is　so　much　more　meaningful　than　a　promise；　don't　you　think？　Especially　a　promise　from　someone　over　eight。〃
　〃I　never　trusted　anyone　over　eight　myself；〃　Remo　said。　When　you　are　overwhelmed；　you　are　overwhelmed。
　〃Do　you　have　a　Frisbee？〃
　〃No；　I'm　afraid　I　don't。〃
　〃But　you　said　you　would　play　Frisbee　with　me　and　if　you　don't　have　a　Frisbee；　how　can　we　play　Frisbee　together？〃　Her　faint　brows　furrowed　and　her　mouth　turned　down。　Her　blue　eyes　filled　with　tears。　She　stamped　a　foot。　〃You　said　you'd　play　Frisbee　with　me　and　you're　not　playing　Frisbee。　You　said　you'd　play　and　you　don't　have　a　Frisbee。　And　how　can　we　play　Frisbee　if　you　don't　have　one？　I　don't　have　a　Frisbee。〃
　Then　Stephanie　Brewster　covered　her　eyes　and　cried　like　the　six…year…old　girl　she　was。　And　Remo　picked　her　up　and　held　her　and　promised　her　a　Frisbee；　but　she　would　have　to　stop　rubbing　her　eyes　because　that　was　bad　for　them。
　〃I　know；〃　sobbed　Stephanie　Brewster。　〃The　retina　is　sensitive　to　pressure。〃
　〃Would　you　like　to　learn　a　Korean　proverb？〃
　〃What？〃　asked　Stephanie　cautiously；　clinging　to　her　unhappiness　lest　the　offering　fail　to　match　in　value　the　tears　she　was　shedding。
　〃You　should　rub　your　eyes　only　with　your　elbows。〃　？　〃But　you　can't　rub　your　eyes　with　your　elbows。〃
　Remo　smiled。　And　Stephanie　laughed。　〃I　see。　I　see。　You're　not　supposed　to　rub　your　eyes。〃
　〃That's　right。〃
　〃I　like　you。　e；　take　me　into　the　office。〃
　Remo　walked　into　an　office　off　the　living　room。　And　he　was　horrified　to　learn　that　this　was　where　Nils　Brewster　did　most　of　his　work；　that　the　papers　scattered　about　were　the　thinking　of　Brewster　Forum；　and　no　doubt　contained　that　little　plan　for　world　conquest。　No　gates；　no　locks；　and　a　six…year…old　girl　who　said；
　〃I　don't　understand　that　yet；　but　you　can　read　it。　But　leave　the　papers　in　the　same　order。　Daddy's　fussy。〃
　Leave　them　in　the　same　order。　Her　father　might　die　for　those　papers　because　he　was　fussy　and　left　them　in　the　same　order。　Remo　felt　sick。
　But　he　forced　himself　to　think　of　millions　of　people　and　their　lives。　He　stretched　thousands　out　on　roads；　smiling；　holding　hands；　every　home　in　America；　every　family；　every　crowd。　And　he　knew　that　if　the　word　came；　he　would　do　his　duty　and　kill…even　if　it　was　the　glorious；　brilliant　Nils　Brewster；　and　even　though　his　death　would　shatter　this　delicious　child；　Stephanie。
　It　was　Remo's　good　fortune　that　he　soon　met　Nils　Brewster；　and　the　meeting　made　his　possible　assignment　a　great　deal　easier。
　
　CHAPTER　EIGHT
　
　Nils　Brewster　was　not　dressed　in　chains　as　he　had　been　for　his　nude　portrait。　He　wore　a　short…sleeved　blue　shirt；　chinos　and　sneakers。　His　hair　flew　about　his　head　like　tornado…whipped　tumbleweed。
　Stephanie　had　gone　off　to　tell　her　mother　about　the　new　director　of　security；　and　had　left　Remo　in　the　only　large　building　hi　the　pound　that　might　have　housed　a　laboratory。　It　did　not。　It　was　an　auditorium；　now　filled　with　people　crowded　around　tables。
　The　first　thing　Doctor　Brewster　said　to　Remo　was：　〃Shhhhh。〃
　〃I'm　Remo　Pelham；　the　new。。。。〃
　〃I　know；　I　know。　Shhhhhh。'〃
　He　turned　and　Remo　followed。　It　was　a　chess　tourna　ment。　Remo　would　learn　later　that　Brewster　Forum　had　not　only　a　chess　tournament；　but　a　chess　instructor；　a　tennis　pro；　a　golf　pro；　a　singing　teacher；　a　karate　instructor；　a　musical　conductor；　its　own　little　newspaper　published　for　the　twenty…three　people　who　could　understand　what　was　going　on　in　the　forum；　including　to　Remo's　awesome　shock；　a　Russian…and　a　sky…diving　coach。
　〃We　provide　what　people　need　or　ask　for；〃　Brewster　told　him　later。
　〃No　skiing？〃
　〃The　weather's　not　right　here。　We　send　our　people　who　want　to　learn　to　the　Big　Boulder　Ski　School　at　Lake　Harmony。　They　teach　natur　teknik；　the　best　method　of　learning。　You　learn　parallel　right　away。〃
　〃That's　nice；〃　Remo　would　say；　wondering　for　just　a　moment　if　Nils　Brewster　had　not　devised　the　most　beautiful　hustle　of　the　Twentieth　Century。
　But　that　afternoon；　it　was　chess。　A　pudgy　man　with　bulging　brown　eyes　and　flicking　wrists　was　in　an　endgame　with　a　hulk　of　a　whitehaired　man　who　hovered　over　the　board　like　a　weightlifter　preparing　himself　for　a　record　hoist。　The　pudge　was　Dr。　James　Ratchett；　the　homosexual　in　the　cape；　versus　the　Jesuit　of　the　missionary　position。
　Ratchett　spied　Remo　and　pointed　a　delicate　finger。　〃Who　is　that？〃　he　asked。　It　was　an　obvious　ploy　to　divert　Father　Boyle's　attention　away　from　the　board　because；　on　the　two　buttoned　clock；　it　was　Father　Boyle's