thedestroyer.deathcheck-第8部分

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t　indignantly。
　He　walked　awhile　with　his　daughter；　up　the　tree…graced　lane　and　over　the　sweetly…whistling　brook　to　Ratchett's　house；　that　white　plastered　obscenity　shaped　like　an　egg；　that　new　design　that　only　an　American　could　call　art。　Only　an　American　or　a　Frenchman。　How　wise　it　had　been　on　everyone's　part　to　put　it　behind　a　knoll；　invisible　to　sensitive　eyes。
　〃He　would　make　a　fantastic　lay；〃　said　the　daughter。
　〃My　dear；　for　you　anything　is　a　fantastic　lay；〃　he　said　wearily。
　〃Not　anything。〃
　〃What　is　excluded？　Please　let　me　know。　I　will　buy　one。〃
　〃I　wouldn't　screw　a　black。〃
　〃A　black　man；　that　is？　A　black　dog　or　black　horse　is　different？〃
　〃It's　not　the　same。〃。
　〃No；　it　is　not　the　same。　What　makes　you　this　way？〃
　〃Watching　people　herded　into　ovens　and　having　one's　home　lit　with　lampshades　of　human　skin　might　be　conducive　to　some　deviation　in　a　little　girl。〃
　〃Yes。　That。　Well；　it　was　the　times。〃
　〃And　I　have　my　times；　father。〃
　〃Yes；　I　suppose　you　do。〃。
　〃I　want　that　man。　I　must　have　him。〃
　〃Not　yet。〃
　〃It's　always　not　yet。　Every　day　is　not　yet。　Yesterday　was　not　yet。　Tomorrow　will　be　not　yet。　I　am　tired　of　being　deprived。　Always　deprived。　Changing　names；　changing　homes。　All　the　time。　Running。　From　Americans　and　British　and　French　and　Russians。　Now　even　from　our　own　people　in　Germany　and　God　help　us；　from　the　Jews。　It　disgusts　me　to　run　from　Jews。　I　want　to　tell　the　whole　world　who　we　are；　what　we　are。　We　should　be　proud。　We　are　Nazis。〃
　〃Quiet。〃
　〃Nazis。　Nazis。　Nazis；　Seig　heil。〃　
　　〃Quiet。〃
　〃Do　I　get　him？〃
　〃Yes。　But　not　yet。〃
　〃Nazi；　Nazi；　Nazi。。　Dr。　Hans　Frichtmann；　of　Treblinka；　Buchenwald　and　various　other　resorts　of　final　solution。　Dr。　Hans。。。。〃
　〃All　right。　All　right。　You　can　have　him。〃
　〃When？〃
　〃Soon。〃
　〃With　the　pictures　too？〃；
　〃I　don't　know。〃
　〃I　like　being　a　star；　daddy。　I　like　to　see　your　face　when　you　photograph　me。　That　is　the　best　part。〃
　〃All　right。　Go　home　now；　dear。　I　must　see　Dr。　Ratchett；〃　he　said　wearily。
　〃I　will　go。　It　makes　you　sick　to　see　me　do　those　things？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃That　is　the　best　part。〃
　He　watched　his　daughter　stride　happily　away；　putting　another　victory　in　her　pocket；　then　entered　the　home　of　Dr。　James　Ratchett。　Ratchett　had　not　yet　entered　his　special　place；　but　was　cutting　at　a　dark　wedge　which　looked　like　dried　chewing　tobacco；　but　was　really　hashish。　The　wedge　was　the　size　of　a　domino　and　he　watched　Ratchett's　pudgy　fingers　work　the　razor　at　an　edge；　cutting　slivers　into　the　small　bronze　bowl　of　a　pipe。　Every　other　sliver　missed。
　〃The　beast；〃　Ratchett　said；　〃I　can't　even　fill　my　pipe。〃
　〃Poor　man。　How　could　they　let　this　happen　to　you？　Here；　I　will　prepare　your　pipe。〃　They　sat　in　Ratchett's　living　room；　a　dramatic　affair　of　black　and　white。　Behind　the　fireplace；　bordered　by　two　curved　elephant　tusks；　was　the　place　he　knew　Ratchett　would　enter。
　The　back　of　the　fireplace　was　the　lone　slit　of　dark　red。　The　white　tusks　surrounded　it　and　were　surrounded　themselves　by　a　circle　of　black。　Ratchett　was　the　only　person　at　Brewster　Forum　who　did　not　grasp　the　symbolism　of　his　design。　But　then　a　man's　sickness　is　invariably　hidden　from　his　soul。
　〃That　policeman　made　a　very　good　move；〃　he　said；　packing　the　pipe　for　Ratchett。
　〃If　I　knew　that　cop　knew　what　he　knew；　I　never　would　have　played　that　way　against　Boyle。　You　know　I'm　a　better　player　than　that。〃　
　〃I　know。〃
　〃It　won't　count　in　the　tournament；　will　it？〃
　〃I'm　afraid　it　must。〃
　〃It　shouldn't。　Boyle　had　help。〃
　〃You　offered　to　allow　it。〃
　〃That　Boyle。　I　could　beat　him　any　day　of　the　week。　Any　day。〃
　〃Yes；　you　can。〃
　〃I　could　kill　him。〃
　〃What　for？〃
　〃For　doing　that　to　me。〃
　〃He　didn't　do　anything　to　you。〃
　〃He　took　that　cop's　advice；　that　night　watchman　who　is　all　of　a　sudden　allowed　to　play　in　our　tournaments。〃
　〃Yes；　he　took　the　advice。　But　who　gave　it？　Did　you　see　him　laugh　at　you？〃
　〃He　didn't　laugh。〃
　〃He　smirked　and　started　the　laughing。　All　the　time　he　knew　you　were　only　toying　with　Boyle　and　he　knew　you　could　beat　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