dk.solesurvivor-第45部分

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　　'Get　out　of　the　way；'　she　demanded。
　　'Where's　Nina？'
　　'Joe；　for　God's　sake…'
　　This　was　the　first　time　that　Rose　Tucker　had　seemed　vulnerable；　and　Joe　was　going　to　take　advantage　of　the　moment　to　get　what　he　most　wanted。　'Where's　Nina？'
　　'Later。　I　promise。'
　　'Now。'
　　From　upstairs　came　a　loud　clatter。
　　Rose　gasped；　turned　from　the　door；　and　pressed　her　gaze　upon　the　ceiling　again　as　if　it　might　crash　down　on　them。
　　Joe　heard　voices　raised　in　argument；　filtered　through　the　elevator　shaft…Mahalia's　and　those　of　at　least　two　or　three　men。　He　was　sure　that　the　clatter　was　the　sound　of　empty　packing　crates　and　pallets　being　dragged　and　tossed　away　from　the　cab　door。
　　When　the　men　in　the　leather　jackets　discovered　the　elevator　and　knew　there　was　a　lower　floor　to　the　building；　they　might　realize　that　they　had　left　an　escape　gate　open　by　not　covering　the　beach。　Indeed；　others　might　even　now　be　looking　for　a　way　down　the　sheer　forty…foot　bluff；　with　the　hope　of　cutting　off　that　route。
　　Nevertheless；　face　to　face　with　Rose；　recklessly　determined　to　have　an　answer　at　any　cost；　fiercely　insistent；　Joe　pressed　his　question：　'Where's　Nina？'
　　'Dead；'　she　said；　seeming　to　wrench　the　word　from　herself。
　　'Like　hell　she　is。'
　　'Please；　Joe…'
　　He　was　furious　with　her　for　lying　to　him；　as　so　many　others　had　lied　to　him　during　the　past　year。　'Like　hell　she　is。　No　way。　No　damn　way。　I've　talked　to　Mercy　Ealing。　Nina　was　alive　that　night　and　she's　alive　now；　somewhere。'
　　'If　they　know　we're　in　this　building；'　Rose　repeated　in　a　voice　that　now　shook　with　urgency；　'they　can　remote　us。　Like　the　Delmanns。　Like　Lisa。　Like　Captain　Blane！'
　　'Where　is　Nina？'
　　The　elevator　motor　rumbled　to　life；　and　the　cab　began　to　hum　upward　through　the　shaft。
　　'Where　is　Nina？'
　　Overhead　the　banquet…room　lights　dimmed；　probably　because　the　elevator　drew　power　from　their　circuit。
　　At　the　dimming　of　the　lights；　Rose　cried　out　in　terror；　threw　her　body　against　Joe；　trying　to　knock　him　off　his　feet；　and　clawed　frenziedly　at　the　hand　that　he　had　clamped　over　the　lower　deadbolt。
　　Her　nails　gouged　his　flesh；　and　he　hissed　in　pain　and　let　go　of　the　lock；　and　she　pulled　open　the　door。　In　came　a　breeze　that　smelled　of　the　ocean；　and　out　went　Rose　into　the　night。
　　Joe　rushed　after　her；　onto　a　twenty…foot…wide；　eighty…foot…long；　elevated　wood　deck　overhung　by　the　restaurant。　It　reverberated　like　a　kettle　drum　with　each　footfall。
　　The　scarlet　sun　had　bled　into　a　grave　on　the　far　side　of　Japan。　The　sky　and　the　sea　to　the　west　were　raven　meeting　crow；　as　feathery　smooth　and　sensuous　and　inviting　as　death。
　　Rose　was　already　at　the　head　of　the　stairs。
　　Following　her；　Joe　found　two　flights　that　led　down　fourteen　or　sixteen　feet　to　the　beach。
　　As　dark　as　Rose　was；　and　darkly　dressed；　she　all　but　vanished　in　the　black　geometry　of　the　steps　below　him。　When　she　reached　the　pale　sand；　however；　she　regained　some　definition。
　　The　strand　was　more　than　a　hundred　feet　across　at　this　point；　and　the　phosphorescent　tumble　of　surf　churned　out　a　low　white　noise　that　washed　like　a　ghost　sea　around　him。　This　was　not　a　swimming　or　surfing　beach；　and　there　were　no　bonfires　or　even　Coleman　lanterns　in　sight　in　either　direction。
　　To　the　east；　the　sky　was　a　postulant　yellow　overlaid　on　black；　full　of　the　glow　of　the　city；　as　insistent　as　it　was　meaningless。　Cast　from　high　above；　the　pale　yellow　rectangles　of　light　from　the　restaurant　windows　quilted　part　of　the　beach。
　　Joe　did　not　try　to　stop　Rose　or　to　slow　her。　Instead；　when　he　caught　up　with　her；　he　ran　at　her　side；　shortening　his　stride　to　avoid　pulling　ahead　of　her。
　　She　was　his　only　link　to　Nina。　He　was　confused　by　her　apparent　mysticism；　by　her　sudden　transit　from　beatific　calm　to　superstitious　terror；　and　he　was　furious　that　she　would　lie　to　him　about　Nina　now；　after　she　had　led　him　to　believe；　at　the　cemetery；　that　she　would　ultimately　tell　him　the　full　truth。　Yet　his　fate　and　hers　were　inextricably　linked；　because　only　she　could　ever　lead　him　to　his　younger　daughter。
　　As　they　ran　north　through　the　soft　sand　and　passed　the　corner　of　the　restaurant；　someone　rushed　at　them　from　ahead　and　to　the　right；　from　the　bluff；　a　shadow　in　the　night；　quick　and　big；　like　the　featureless　beast　that　seeks　us　in　nightmares；　pursuer　through　corridors　of　dreams。
　　'Look　out；'　Joe　warned　Rose；　but　she　also　saw　the　oning　assailant　and　was　already　taking　evasive　action。
　　Joe　attempted　to　intervene　when　the　hurtling　dark　shape　moved　to　cut　Rose　off…but　he　was　blindsided　by　a　second　man　who　came　at　him　from　the　direction　of　the　sea。　This　guy　was　as　big　as　a　professional　football　linebacker；　and　they　both　went　down　so　hard　that　the　breath　should　have　been　knocked　out　of　Joe；　but　it　wasn't；　not　entirely…he　was　wheezing　but　breathing…because　the　sand　in　which　they　landed　was　deep　and　soft；　far　above　the　highest　lapping　line　of　the　pacting　tide。
　　He　kicked；　flailed；　ruthlessly　used　knees　and　elbows　and　feet；　and　rolled　out　from　under　his　attacker；　scrambling　to　his　feet　as　he　heard　someone　shout　at　Rose　farther　along　the　strand…'Freeze；　bitch！'…after　which　he　heard　a　shot；　hard　and　flat。　He　didn't　want　to　think　about　that　shot；　a　whip　of　sound　snapping　across　the　beach　to　the　growling　sea；　didn't　want　to　think　about　Rose　with　a　bullet　in　her　head　and　his　Nina　lost　again　forever；　but　he　couldn't　avoid　thinking　about　it；　the　possibility　like　a　lash　burn　branded　forever　across　the　surface　of　his　brain。　His　own　assailant　was　cursing　him　and　pushing　up　now　from　the　sand；　and　as　Joe　spun　around　to　deal　with　the　threat；　he　was　full　of　the　meanness　and　fury　that　had　gotten　him　thrown　out　of　the　youth…boxing　league　twenty　years　ago；　seething　with　church…vandalizing　rage…he　was　an　animal　now；　a　heartless　predator；　cat…quick　and　savage…and　he　reacted　as　though　this　stranger　were　personally　responsible　for　poor　Frank　being　crippled　with　rheumatoid　arthritis；　as　if　this　sonofabitch　had　worked　some　hoodoo　to　make　Frank's　joints　swell　and　deform；　as　if　this　wretched　thug　were　the　sole　perpetrator　who　had　somehow　put　a　funnel　in　Captain　Blane's　ear　and　poured　an　elixir　of　madness　into　his　head；　so　Joe　kicked　him　in　the　crotch；　and　when　the　guy　grunted　and　began　to　double　over；　Joe　grabbed　the　bastard's　head　and　at　the　same　time　drove　a　knee　upward；　shoving　the　face　down　into　the　knee　and　jamming　the　knee　up　hard　into　the　face；　a　ballet　of　violence；　and　he　actually　heard　the　crunch　of　the　man's　nose　disintegrating　and　felt　the　bite　of　teeth　breaking　against　his　knee　cap。　The　guy　collapsed　backward　on　the　beach；　all　at　once　choking　and　spitting　blood　and　gasping　for　breath　and　crying　like　a　small　child；　but　this　wasn't　enough　for　Joe；　because　he　was　wild　now；　wilder　than　any　animal；　as　wild　as　weather；　a　cyclone　of　anger　and　grief　and　frustration；　and　he　kicked　where　he　thought　ribs　would　be；　which　hurt　him　almost　as　much　as　it　hurt　the　broken　man　who　received　the　blow；　because　Joe　was　only　wearing　Nikes；　not　hard…toed　shoes；　so　he　tried　to　stomp　the　guy's　throat　and　crush　his　windpipe；　but　stomped　his　chest　instead…and　would　have　tried　again；　would　have　killed　him；　not　quite　realizing　that　he　was　doing　so；　but　then　he　was　rammed　from　behind　by　a　third　attacker。
　　Joe　slammed　facedown　onto　the　beach；　with　the　weight　of　this　new　assailant　atop　him；　at　least　two　hundred　pounds　pinning　him　down。　Head　to　one　side；　spitting　sand；　he　tried　to　heave　the　man　off；　but　this　time　his　breath　was　knocked　out　of　him；　he　exhaled　all　of　his　strength　with　it；　and　he　lay　helpless。
　　Besides；　as　he　gasped　desperately　for　air；　he　felt　his　attacker　thrust　something　cold　and　blunt　against　the　side　of　his　face；　and　he　knew　what　it　must　be　even　before　he　heard　the　threat。
　　'You　want　me　to　blow　your　head　off；　I'll　do　it；'　the　stranger　said；　and　his　reverberant　voice　had　a　ragged　homicidal　edge。　'I'll　do　it；　you　asshole。'
　　Joe　believed　him　and　stopped　resisting。　He　struggled　only　for　his　breath。
　　Silent　surrender　wasn't　good　enough　for　the　angry　man　atop　him。　Answer　me；　you　bastard。　You　want　me　to　blow　your　damn　head　off？　Do　you？'
　　'No。'
　　'Do　you？'
　　'No。'
　　'Going　to　behave？'
　　'Yes。'
　　'I'm　out　of　patience　here。'
　　'All　right。'
　　'Sonofabitch；'　the　stranger　said　bitterly。
　　Joe　said　nothing　more；　just　spit　out　sand　and　breathed　deeply；　getting　his　strength　back　with　his　wind；　though　trying　to　stave　off　the　return　of　the　brief　madness　that　had　seized　him。
　　Where　is　Rose？
　　The　man　atop　Joe　was　breathing　hard　too；　expelling　foul　clouds　of　garlic　breath；　not　only　giving　Joe　time　to　calm　down　but　getting　his　own　strength　back。　He　smelled　of　a　time…scented　cologne　and　cigarette　smoke。
　　What's　happened　to　Rose？
　　'We're　going　to　get　up　now；'　the　guy　said。　'Me　first。　Getting　up；　I　got　this　piece　aimed　at　your　head。　You　stay　flat；　dug　right　into　the　sand　the　way　you　are；　just　the　way　you　are；　until　I　step　back　and　tell　you　it's　okay　to　get　up。'　For　emphasis；　he　pressed　the　muzzle　of　the　gun　more　deeply　into　Joe's　face；　twisting　it　back　and　forth；　the　inside　of　Joe's　cheek　pressed　painfully　against　his　teeth。　'You　understand；　Carpenter？'
　　'Yes。'
　　'I　can　waste　you　and　walk　away。'
　　'I'm　cool。'
　　'Nobody　can　touch　me。'
　　'Not　me；　anyway。'
　　'I　mean；　I　got　a　badge。'
　　'Sure。'
　　'You　want　to　see　it？　I'll　pin　it　to　your　damn　lip。'
　　Joe　said　nothing　more。
　　They　hadn't　shouted　Police；　which　didn't　prove　that　they　were　phony　cops；　only　that　they　didn't　want　to　advertise。　They　hoped　to　do　their　business　quickly；　cleanly…and　get　out　before　they　were　required　to　explain　their　presence　to　the　local　authorities；　which　would　at　least　tangle　them　in　inter…jurisdictional　paperwork　and　might　result　in　troubling　questions　about　what　legitimate　laws　they　were　enforcing。　If　they　weren't　strictly　employees　of　Teknologik；　they　had　some　measure　of　federal　power　behind　them；　but　they　hadn't　shouted　FBI　or　DEA　or　ATF　when　they　had　burst　out　of　the　night；　so　they　were　probably　operatives　with　a　clandestine　agency　paid　for　out　of　those　many　billions　of　dollars　that　the　government　dispensed　off　the　accounting　books；　from　the　infamous　Black　Budget。
　　Finally　the　stranger　eased　off　Joe；　onto　one　knee；　then　stood　and　hacked　away　a　couple　of　steps。　'Get　up。'
　　Rising　from　the　sand；　Joe　was　relieved　to　discover　that　his　eyes　were　rapidly　adapting　to　the　darkness。　When　he　had　first　e　out　of　the　banquet　room　and　run　north　along　the　beach；　hardly　two　minutes　ago；　the　gloom　had　seemed　deeper　than　it　was　now。　The　longer　he　remained　night　blind　to　any　degree；　the　less　likely　he　would　be　to　see　an　advantage　and　to　be　able　to　seize　it。　Although　his　rakish　Panama　hat　was　gone；　and　in　spite　of　the　darkness；　the　gunman　was　clearly　recognizable：　the　storyteller。　In　his　white　slacks　and　white　shirt；　with　his　long　white　hair；　he　seemed　to　draw　the　meagre　ambient　light　to　himself；　glowing　softly　like　an　entity　at　a　séance。
　　Joe　glanced　back　and　up　at　Santa…Fe…by…the…Sea。　He　saw　the　silhouettes　of　diners　at　their　tables；　but　they　probably　couldn't　see　the　action　on　the　dark　beach。
　　Crotch…kicked；　face…slammed；　the　disabled　agent　still　sprawled　nearby　on　the　s