pbien.jaws-第2章

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　　　　　　　〃Say　again；　sir？〃　Hendricks　had　served　in　Vietnam　as　a　radio　man；　and　he　was　fond　of　military　terminology。
　　　　　　　〃One　of　my　house　guests　went　for　a　swim　at　about　one　this　morning；〃　said　Foote。
　　　　　　　〃She　hasn't　came　back　yet。　Her　date　found　her　clothes　on　the　beach。〃
　　　　　　　〃Hendricks　began　to　scribble　on　a　pad。　〃What　was　the　person's　name？〃
　　　　　　　〃Christine　Watkins。〃
　　　　　　　〃Age？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　know。　Just　a　second。　Say　around　twenty…five。　Her　date　says　that's　about　right。〃
　　　　　　　〃Height　and　weight？〃
　　　　　　　〃Wait　a　minute。〃　There　was　a　pause。　〃We　think　probably　about　five…seven；　between　one　twenty　and　one　thirty。〃
　　　　　　　〃Color　of　hair　and　eyes？〃
　　　　　　　〃Listen；　Officer；　why　do　you　need　all　this？　If　the　woman's　drowned；　she's　probably　going　to　be　the　only　one　you　have　…　at　least　tonight；　right？　You　don't　average　more　than　one　drowning　around　here　each　night；　do　you？〃
　　　　　　　〃Who　said　she　drowned；　Mr。　Foote？　Maybe　she　went　for　a　walk。〃
　　　　　　　〃Stark　naked　at　one　in　the　morning？　Have　you　had　any　reports　about　a　woman　walking　around　naked？〃
　　　　　　　Hendricks　relished　the　chance　to　be　insufferably　cool。　〃No；　Mr。　Foote；　not　yet。
　　　　　　　But　once　the　summer　season　starts；　you　never　know　what　to　expect。　Last　August；　a　bunch　of　faggots　staged　a　dance　out　by　the　club　…　a　nude　dance。　Color　of　hair　and　eyes？〃
　　　　　　　〃Her　hair　is。。。　oh；　dirty　blond；　I　guess。　Sandy。　I　don't　know　what　color　her　eyes　are。　I'll　have　to　ask　her　date。　No；　he　says　he　doesn't　know　either。　Let's　say　hazel。〃
　　　　　　　〃Okay；　Mr。　Foote。　We'll　get　on　it。　As　soon　as　we　find　out　anything；　we'll　contact　you。〃
　　　　　　　Hendricks　hung　up　the　phone　and　looked　at　his　watch。　It　was　5：10。　The　chief　wouldn't　be　up　for　an　hour；　and　Hendricks　wasn't　anxious　to　wake　him　up　for　something　as　vague　as　a　missing…person　report。　For　all　anybody　knew；　the　broad　was　off　humping　in　the　bushes　with　some　guy　she　met　on　the　beach。　On　the　other　hand；　if　she　was　washed　up　somewhere；　Chief　Brody　would　want　the　whole　thing　taken　care　of　before　the　body　was　found　by　some　nanny　with　a　couple　of　young　kids　and　it　became　a　public　nuisance。
　　　　　　　Judgment；　that's　what　the　chief　kept　telling　him　he　needed；　that's　what　makes　a　good　cop。　And　the　cerebral　challenge　of　police　work　had　played　a　part　in　Hendricks'　decision　to　join　the　Amity　force　after　he　returned　from　Vietnam。　The　pay　was　fair：　9；000　to　start；　15；000　after　fifteen　years；　plus　fringes。　Police　work　offered　security；　regular　hours；　and　the　chance　for　some　fun　…　not　just　thumping　unruly　kids　or　collaring　drunks；　but　solving　burglaries；　trying　to　catch　the　occasional　rapist　（the　summer　before；　a　black　gardener　had　raped　seven　rich　white　women；　not　one　of　whom　would　appear　in　court　to　testify　against　him）；　and　…　on　a　slightly　more　elevated　plane　…　the　opportunity　to　bee　a　respected；　contributing　member　of　the　munity。　And　being　an　Amity　cop　was　not　very　dangerous；　certainly　nothing　like　working　for　a　metropolitan　force。　The　last　dutyrelated　fatality　of　an　Amity　policeman　occurred　in　1957　when　an　officer　had　tried　to　stop　a　drunk　speeding　along　the　Montauk　Highway　and　had　been　run　off　the　road　into　a　stone　wall。
　　　　　　　Hendricks　was　convinced　that　as　soon　as　he　could　get　sprung　from　this　God…forsaken　midnight…to…eight　shift；　he　would　start　to　enjoy　his　work。　For　the　time　being；　though；　it　was　a　drag。　He　knew　perfectly　well　why　he　had　the　late　shift。　Chief　Brody　liked　to　break　in　his　young　men　slowly；　letting　them　develop　the　fundamentals　of　police　work　…　good　sense；　sound　judgment；　tolerance；　and　politeness　…　at　a　time　of　day　when　they　wouldn't　be　overtaxed。
　　　　　　　The　business　shift　was　8：00　A。M。　to　4：00　P。M。；　and　it　called　for　experience　and　diplomacy。　Six　men　worked　that　shift。　One　handled　the　summertime　traffic　at　the　intersection　of　Main　and　Water　streets。　Two　patrolled　in　squad　cars。　One　manned　the　phones　at　the　station　house。　One　handled　the　clerical　work。　And　the　chief　handled　the　public　…　the　ladies　who　plained　that　they　were　unable　to　sleep　because　of　the　din　ing　from　the　Randy　Bear　or　Saxon's；　the　town's　two　gin　mills；　the　homeowners　who　plained　that　bums　were　littering　the　beaches　or　disturbing　the　peace；　and　the　vacationing　bankers　and　brokers　and　lawyers　who　stopped　in　to　discuss　their　various　plans　for　keeping　Amity　a　pristine　and　exclusive　summer　colony。　Four　to　midnight　was　the　trouble　shift；　when　the　young　studs　from　the　Hamptons　would　flock　to　the　Randy　Bear　and　get　involved　in　a　fight　or　simply　get　so　drunk　that　they　became　a　menace　on　the　roads；　when；　very　rarely；　a　couple　of　predators　from　Queens　would　lurk　in　the　dark　side　streets　and　mug　passersby；　and　when；　about　twice　a　month　in　the　summer；　enough　evidence　having　accumulated；　the　police　would　feel　obliged　to　stage　a　pot　bust　at　one　of　the　huge　waterfront　homes。　There　were　six　men　on　four　to　midnight；　the　six　largest　men　on　the　force；　all　between　thirty　and　fifty　years　old。
　　　　　　　Midnight　to　eight　was　usually　quiet。　For　nine　months　of　the　year；　peace　was　virtually　guaranteed。　The　biggest　event　of　the　previous　winter　had　been　an　electrical　storm　that　had　set　off　all　the　alarms　linking　the　police　station　to　forty…eight　of　Amity's　biggest　and　most　expensive　homes。　Normally　during　the　summer；　the　mid…night…to…eight　shift　was　manned　by　three　officers。　One；　however；　a　young　fellow　named　Dick　Angelo；　was　now　taking　his　two…week　leave　before　the　season　began　to　swing。　The　other　was　a　thirty…year　veteran　named　Henry　Kimble；　who　had　chosen　the　midnight…to…eight　shift　because　it　permitted　him　to　catch　up　on　his　sleep　…　he　held　a　daytime　job　as　a　bartender　at　Saxon's。　Hendricks　tried　to　raise　Kimble　on　the　radio　…　to　get　him　to　take　a　walk　along　the　beach　by　Old　Mill　Road　…　but　he　knew　the　attempt　was　hopeless。　As　usual；　Kimble　was　sound　asleep　in　a　squad　car　parked　behind　the　Amity　Pharmacy。　And　so　Hendricks　picked　up　the　phone　and　dialed　Chief　Brody's　home　number。
　　　　　　　Brody　was　asleep；　in　that　fitful　state　before　waking　when　dreams　rapidly　change　and　there　are　moments　of　bleary　semiconsciousness。　The　first　ring　of　the　phone　was　assimilated　into　his　dream　…　a　vision　that　he　was　back　in　high　school　groping　a　girl　on　a　stairwell。　The　second　ring　snapped　the　vision。　He　rolled　over　and　picked　up　the　receiver。
　　　　　　　〃Yeah？〃
　　　　　　　〃Chief；　this　is　Hendricks。　I　hate　to　bother　you　this　early；　but　…〃
　　　　　　　〃What　time　is　it？〃
　　　　　　　〃Five…twenty。〃
　　　　　　　〃Leonard；　this　better　be　good。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　think　we've　got　a　floater　on　our　hands；　Chief。〃
　　　　　　　〃A　floater？　What　in　Christ's　name　is　a　floater？〃
　　　　　　　It　was　a　word　Hendricks　had　picked　up　from　his　night　reading。　〃A　drowning；〃　he　said；　embarrassed。　He　told　Brody　about　the　phone　call　from　Foote。　〃I　didn't　know　if　you'd　want　to　check　it　out　before　people　start　swimming。　I　mean；　it　looks　like　it's　going　to　be　a　nice　day。〃
　　　　　　　Brody　heaved　an　exaggerated　sigh。　〃Where's　Kimble？〃　he　said　and　then　added　quickly；　〃Oh；　never　mind。　It　was　a　stupid　question。　One　of　these　days　I'm　going　to　fix　that　radio　of　his　so　he　can't　turn　it　off。〃
　　　　　　　Hendricks　waited　a　moment；　then　said；　〃Like　I　said；　Chief；　I　hate　to　bother。。。〃
　　　　　　　〃Yeah；　I　know；　Leonard。　You　were　right　to　call。　As　long　as　I'm　awake；　I　might　as　well　get　up。　I'll　shave　and　shower　and　grab　some　coffee；　and　on　my　way　in　I'll　take　a　look　along　the　beach　in　front　of　Old　Mill　and　Scotch；　just　to　make　sure　your　'floater'　isn't　cluttering　up　somebody's　beach。　Then　when　the　day　boys　e　on；　I'll　go　out　and　talk　to　Foote　and　the　girl's　date。　I'll　see　you　later。〃
　　　　　　　Brody　hung　up　the　phone　and　stretched。　He　looked　at　his　wife；　lying　next　to　him　in　the　double　bed。　She　had　stirred　when　the　phone　rang；　but　as　soon　as　she　determined　that　there　was　no　emergency；　she　lapsed　back　into　sleep。
　　　　　　　Ellen　Brody　was　thirty…six；　five　years　younger　than　her　husband；　and　the　fact　that　she　looked　barely　thirty　was　a　source　of　both　pride　and　annoyance　to　Brody：　pride　because；　since　she　looked　handsome　and　young　and　was　married　to　him；　she　made　him　seem　a　man　of　excellent　taste　and　substantial　attraction；　annoyance　because　she　had　been　able　to　keep　her　good　looks　despite　the　strains　of　bearing　three　children；　whereas　Brody　…　though　hardly　fat　at　six…foot…one　and　two　hundred　pounds　…　was　beginning　to　be　concerned　about　his　blood　pressure　and　his　thickening　middle。　Sometimes　during　the　summer；　Brody　would　catch　himself　gazing　with　idle　lust　at　one　of　the　young；　longlegged　girls　who　pranced　around　town　…　their　untethered　breasts　bouncing　beneath　the　thinnest　of　cotton　jerseys。　But　he　never　enjoyed　the　sensation；　for　it　always　made　him　wonder　whether　Ellen　felt　the　same　stirring　when　she　looked　at　the　tanned；　slim　young　men　who　so　perfectly　plemented　the　long…legged　girls。　And　as　soon　as　that　thought　occurred　to　him；　he　felt　still　worse；　for　he　recognized　it　as　a　sign　that　he　was　on　the　unfortunate　side　of　forty　and　had　already　lived　more　than　half　his　life。
　　　　　　　Summers　were　bad　times　for　Ellen　Brody；　for　in　summer　she　was　tortured　by　thoughts　she　didn't　want　to　think　…　thoughts　of　chances　missed　and　lives　that　could　have　been。　She　saw　people　she　had　grown　up　with：　prep　school　classmates　now　married　to　bankers　and　brokers；　summering　in　Amity　and　wintering　in　New　York；　graceful　women　who　stroked　tennis　balls　and　enlivened　conversations　with　equal　ease；　women　who　（Ellen　was　convinced）　joked　among　themselves　about　Ellen　Shepherd　marrying　that　policeman　because　he　got　her　pregnant　in　the　back　seat　of　his　1948　Ford；　which　had　not　been　the　case。
　　　　　　　Ellen　was　twenty…one　when　she　met　Brody。　She　had　just　finished　her　junior　year　at　Wellesley　and　was　spending　the　summer　in　Amity　with　her　parents　…　as　she　had　done　for　the　previous　eleven　summers；　ever　since　her　father's　advertising　agency　transferred　him　from　Los　Angeles　to　New　York。　Although；　unlike　several　of　her　friends；　Ellen　Shepherd　was　hardly　obsessed　by　marriage；　she　assumed　that　within　a　year　or　two　after　finishing　college　she　would　wed　someone　from　approximately　her　own　social　and　financial　station。　The　thought　neither　distressed　nor　delighted　her。　She　enjoyed　the　modest　wealth　her　father　had　earned；　and　she　knew　her　mother　did　too。　But　she　was　not　eager　to　live　a　life　that　was　a　repetition　of　her　parents'。　She　was　familiar　with　the　petty　social　problems；　and　they　bored　her。　She　considered　herself　a　simple　girl；　proud　of　the　fact　that　in　the　yearbook　for　the　class　of　1953　at　Miss　Porter's　School　she　was　voted　Most　Sincere。
　　　　　　　Her　first　contact　with　Brody　was　professional。　She　was　arrested　…　or；　rather；　her　date　was。　It　was　late　at　night；　and　she　was　being　driven　home　by　an　extremely　drunk　young　man　intent　on　driving　very　fast　down　very　narrow　streets。　The　car　was　intercepted　and　stopped　by　a　policeman　who　impressed　Ellen　with　his　youth；　his　looks；　and　his　civility。　After　issuing　a　summons；　he　confiscated　the　keys　to　Ellen's　date's　car　and　drove　them　both　to　their　respective　homes。　The　next　morning；　Ellen　was　shopping　when　she　found　herself　next　to　the　police　station。　As　a　lark；　she　walked　in　and　asked　the　name　of　the　young　officer　who　had　been　working　at　about　midnight　the　night　before。　Then　she　went　home　and　wrote　Brody　a　thank…you　note　for　being　so　nice；　and　she　also　wrote　a　note　to　the　chief　of　police　mending　young　Mar