pbien.jaws-第3章

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ote　a　note　to　the　chief　of　police　mending　young　Martin　Brody。　Brody　telephoned　to　thank　her　for　her　thank…you　note。
　　　　　　　When　he　asked　her　out　to　dinner　and　the　movies　on　his　night　off；　she　accepted　out　of　curiosity。　She　had　scarcely　ever　talked　to　a　policeman；　let　alone　gone　out　with　one。
　　　　　　　Brody　was　nervous；　but　Ellen　seemed　so　genuinely　interested　in　him　and　his　work　that　he　eventually　calmed　down　enough　to　have　a　good　time；　Ellen　found　him　delightful：　strong；　simple；　kind　…　sincere。　He　had　been　a　policeman　for　six　years。　He　said　his　ambition　was　to　be　chief　of　the　Amity　force；　to　have　sons　to　take　duck…shooting　in　the　fall；　to　save　enough　money　to　take　a　real　vacation　every　second　or　third　year。
　　　　　　　They　were　married　that　November。　Ellen's　parents　had　wanted　her　to　finish　college；　and　Brody　had　been　willing　to　wait　until　the　following　summer；　but　Ellen　couldn't　imagine　that　one　more　year　of　college　could　make　any　difference　in　the　life　she　had　chosen　to　lead。　There　were　some　awkward　moments　during　the　first　few　years。　Ellen's　friends　would　ask　them　to　dinner　or　lunch　or　for　a　swim；　and　they　would　go；　but　Brody　would　feel　ill　at　ease　and　patronized。　When　they　got　together　with　Brody's　friends；　Ellen's　past　seemed　to　stifle　fun。　People　behaved　as　if　they　were　fearful　of　mitting　a　faux　pas。
　　　　　　　Gradually；　as　friendships　developed；　the　awkwardness　disappeared。　But　they　never　saw　any　of　Ellen's　old　friends　any　more。　Although　the　shedding　of　the　〃summer　people〃　stigma　earned　her　the　affection　of　the　year…round　residents　of　Amity；　it　cost　her　much　that　was　pleasant　and　familiar　from　the　first　twenty…one　years　of　her　life。　It　was　as　if　she　had　moved　to　another　country。
　　　　　　　Until　about　four　years　ago；　the　estrangement　hadn't　bothered　her。　She　was　too　busy；　and　too　happy；　raising　children　to　let　her　mind　linger　on　alternatives　long　past。
　　　　　　　But　when　her　last　child　started　school；　she　found　herself　adrift；　and　she　began　to　dwell　on　memories　of　how　her　mother　had　lived　her　life　once　her　children　had　begun　to　detach　from　her：　shopping　excursions　（fun　because　there　was　enough　money　to　buy　all　but　the　most　outrageously　expensive　items）；　long　lunches　with　friends；　tennis；　cocktail　parties；　weekend　trips。　What　had　once　seemed　shallow　and　tedious　now　loomed　in　memory　like　paradise。
　　　　　　　At　first　she　tried　to　re…establish　bonds　with　friends　she　hadn't　seen　in　ten　years；　but　all　monality　of　interest　and　experience　had　long　since　vanished。　Ellen　talked　gaily　about　the　munity；　about　local　polities；　about　her　job　as　a　volunteer　at　the　Southampton　Hospital　…　all　subjects　about　which　her　old　friends；　many　of　whom　had　been　ing　to　Amity　every　summer　for　more　than　thirty　years；　knew　little　and　cared　less。　They　talked　about　New　York　polities；　about　art　galleries　and　painters　and　writers　they　knew。　Most　conversations　ended　with　feeble　reminiscences　and　speculations　about　where　old　friends　were　now。　Always　there　were　pledges　about　calling　each　other　and　getting　together　again。
　　　　　　　Once　in　a　while　she　would　try　to　make　new　friends　among　the　summer　people　she　hadn't　known；　but　the　associations　were　forced　and　brief。　They　might　have　endured　if　Ellen　had　been　less　self…conscious　about　her　house；　about　her　husband's　job　and　how　poorly　it　paid。　She　made　sure　that　everyone　she　met　knew　she　had　started　her　Amity　life　on　an　entirely　different　plane。　She　was　aware　of　what　she　was　doing；　and　she　hated　herself　for　it；　because　in　fact　she　loved　her　husband　deeply；　adored　her　children；　and　…　for　most　of　the　year　…　was　quite　content　with　her　lot。
　　　　　　　By　now；　she　had　largely　given　up　active　forays　into　the　summer　munity；　but　the　resentments　and　the　longings　lingered。　She　was　unhappy；　and　she　took　out　most　of　her　unhappiness　on　her　husband；　a　fact　that　both　of　them　understood　but　only　he　could　tolerate。　She　wished　she　could　go　into　suspended　animation　for　that　quarter　of　every　year。
　　　　　　　Brody　rolled　over　toward　Ellen；　raising　himself　up　on　one　elbow　and　resting　his　head　on　his　hand。　With　his　other　hand　he　flicked　away　a　strand　of　hair　that　was　tickling　Ellen's　nose　and　making　it　twitch。　He　still　had　an　erection　from　the　remnants　of　his　last　dream；　and　he　debated　rousing　her　for　a　quick　bit　of　sex。　He　knew　she　was　a　slow　waker　and　her　early　morning　moods　were　more　cantankerous　than　romantic。　Still；　it　would　be　fun。　There　had　not　been　much　sex　in　the　Brody　household　recently。　There　seldom　was；　when　Ellen　was　in　her　summer　moods。
　　　　　　　Just　then；　Ellen's　mouth　fell　open　and　she　began　to　snore。　Brody　felt　himself　turn　off　as　quickly　as　if　someone　had　poured　ice　water　on　his　loins。　He　got　up　and　went　into　the　bathroom。　It　was　nearly　6：30　when　Brody　turned　onto　Old　Mill　Road。　The　sun　was　well　up。
　　　　　　　It　had　lost　its　daybreak　red　and　was　turning　from　orange　to　bright　yellow。　The　sky　was　cloudless。
　　　　　　　Theoretically；　there　was　a　statutory　right…of…way　between　each　house；　to　permit　public　access　to　the　beach；　which　could　be　privately　owned　only　to　the　mean…high…water　mark。　But　the　rights…of…way　between　most　houses　were　filled　with　garages　or　privet　hedges。
　　　　　　　From　the　road　there　was　no　view　of　the　beach。　All　Brody　could　see　was　the　tops　of　the　dunes。　So　every　hundred　yards　or　so　he　had　to　stop　the　squad　car　and　walk　up　a　driveway　to　reach　a　point　from　which　he　could　survey　the　beach。
　　　　　　　There　was　no　sign　of　a　body。　All　he　saw　on　the　broad；　white　expanse　was　a　few　pieces　of　driftwood；　a　can　or　two；　and　a　yard…wide　belt　of　seaweed　and　kelp　pushed　ashore　by　the　southerly　breeze。　There　was　practically　no　surf；　so　if　a　body　was　floating　on　the　surface　it　would　have　been　visible。　If　there　is　a　floater　out　there；　Brody　thought；　it's　floating　beneath　the　surface　and　I'll　never　see　it　till　it　washes　up。
　　　　　　　By　seven　o'clock　Brody　had　covered　the　whole　beach　along　Old　Mill　and　Scotch　roads。　The　only　thing　he　had　seen　that　struck　him　as　even　remotely　odd　was　a　paper　plate　on　which　sat　three　scalloped　orange　rinds　…　a　sign　that　the　summer's　beach　picnics　were　going　to　be　more　elegant　than　ever。
　　　　　　　He　drove　back　along　Scotch　Road；　turned　north　toward　town　on　Bayberry　Lane；　and　arrived　at　the　station　house　at　7：10。
　　　　　　　Hendricks　was　finishing　up　his　paper　work　when　Brody　walked　in；　and　he　looked　disappointed　that　Brody　wasn't　dragging　a　corpse　behind　him。　〃No　luck；　Chief？〃　he　said。
　　　　　　　〃That　depends　on　what　you　mean　by　luck；　Leonard。　If　you　mean　did　I　find　a　body　and　if　I　didn't　isn't　it　too　bad；　the　answer　to　both　questions　is　no。　Is　Kimble　in　yet？〃
　　　　　　　〃No。〃
　　　　　　　〃Well；　I　hope　he　isn't　asleep。　That'd　look　just　dandy；　having　him　snoring　away　in　a　cop　car　when　people　start　to　do　their　shopping。〃
　　　　　　　〃He'll　be　here　by　eight；〃　said　Hendricks。　〃He　always　is。〃
　　　　　　　Brody　poured　himself　a　cup　of　coffee；　walked　into　his　office；　and　began　to　flip　through　the　morning　papers　…　the　early　edition　of　the　New　York　Daily　News　and　the　local　paper；　the　Amity　Leader；　which　came　out　weekly　in　the　winter　and　daily　in　the　summer。
　　　　　　　Kimble　arrived　a　little　before　eight；　looking；　aptly　enough；　as　if　he　had　been　sleeping　in　his　uniform；　and　he　had　a　cup　of　coffee　with　Hendricks　while　they　waited　for　the　day　shift　to　appear。　Hendricks'　replacement　came　in　at　eight　sharp；　and　Hendricks　was　putting　on　his　leather　flight　jacket　and　getting　ready　to　leave　when　Brody　came　out　of　his　office。
　　　　　　　〃I'm　going　out　to　see　Foote；　Leonard；〃　Brody　said。　〃You　want　to　e　along？　You　don't　have　to；　but　I　thought　you　might　want　to　follow　up　on　your。。。　floater。〃　Brody　smiled。
　　　　　　　〃Sure；　I　guess　so；〃　said　Hendricks。　〃I　got　nothing　else　going　today；　so　I　can　sleep　all　afternoon。〃
　　　　　　　They　drove　out　in　Brody's　car。　As　they　pulled　into　Foote's　driveway；　Hendricks　said；　〃What　do　you　bet　they're　all　asleep？　I　remember　last　summer　a　woman　called　at　one　in　the　morning　and　asked　if　I　could　e　out　as　early　as　possible　the　next　morning　because　she　thought　some　of　her　jewelry　was　missing。　I　offered　to　go　right　then；　but　she　said　no；　she　was　going　to　bed。　Anyway；　I　showed　up　at　ten　o'clock　the　next　morning　and　she　threw　me　out。　'I　didn't　mean　this　early；'　she　says。〃
　　　　　　　〃We'll　see；〃　said　Brody。　〃If　they're　really　worried　about　this　dame；　they'll　be　awake。〃
　　　　　　　The　door　opened　almost　before　Brody　had　finished　knocking。　〃We've　been　waiting　to　hear　from　you；〃　said　a　young　man。　〃I'm　Tom　Cassidy。　Did　you　find　her？〃
　　　　　　　〃I'm　Chief　Brody。　This　is　Officer　Hendricks。　No；　Mr。　Cassidy；　we　didn't　find　her。
　　　　　　　Can　we　e　in？〃
　　　　　　　〃Oh　sure；　sure。　I'm　sorry。　Go　on　in　the　riving　room。　I'll　get　the　Footes。〃
　　　　　　　It　took　less　than　five　minutes　for　Brody　to　learn　everything　he　felt　he　needed　to　know。　Then；　as　much　to　seem　thorough　as　from　any　hope　of　learning　anything　useful；　he　asked　to　see　the　missing　woman's　clothes。　He　was　shown　into　the　bedroom；　and　he　looked　through　the　clothing　on　the　bed。
　　　　　　　〃She　didn't　have　a　bathing　suit　with　her？〃
　　　　　　　〃No；〃　said　Cassidy。　〃It's　in　the　top　drawer　over　there。　I　looked。〃
　　　　　　　Brody　paused　for　a　moment；　taking　care　with　his　words；　then　said；　〃Mr。　Cassidy；　I　don't　mean　to　sound　flip　or　anything；　but　has　this　Miss　Watkins　got　a　habit　of　doing　strange　things？　I　mean；　like　taking　off　in　the　middle　of　the　night。。。　or　walking　around　naked？〃
　　　　　　　〃Not　that　I　know　of；〃　said　Cassidy。　〃But　I　really　don't　know　her　too　well。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　see；〃　said　Brody。　〃Then　I　guess　we'd　better　go　down　to　the　beach　again。　You　don't　have　to　e。　Hendricks　and　I　can　handle　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃I'd　like　to　e；　if　you　don't　mind。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　mind。　I　just　thought　you　might　not　want　to。〃
　　　　　　　The　three　men　walked　down　to　the　beach。　Cassidy　showed　the　policemen　where　he　had　fallen　asleep　…　the　indentation　his　body　had　made　in　the　sand　had　not　been　disturbed　…　and　he　pointed　out　where　he　had　found　the　woman's　clothes。
　　　　　　　Brody　looked　up　and　down　the　beach。　For　as　far　as　he　could　see；　more　than　a　mile　in　both　directions；　the　beach　was　empty。　Clumps　of　seaweed　were　the　only　dark　spots　on　the　white　sand。
　　　　　　　〃Let's　take　a　walk；〃　he　said。　〃Leonard；　you　go　east　as　far　as　the　point。
　　　　　　　Mr。　Cassidy；　let's　you　and　I　go　west。　You　got　your　whistle；　Leonard？　Just　in　case。〃
　　　　　　　〃I've　got　it；〃　said　Hendricks。　〃You　care　if　I　take　my　shoes　off？　It's　easier　walking　on　the　hard　sand；　I　don't　want　to　get　them　wet。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　care；〃　said　Brody。　〃Technically　you're　off　duty。　You　can　take　your　pants　off　if　you　want。　Of　course；　then　I'll　arrest　you　for　indecent　exposure。〃
　　　　　　　Hendricks　started　eastward。　The　wet　sand　felt　crisp　and　cool　on　his　feet。　He　walked　with　his　head　down　and　his　hands　in　his　pockets；　looking　at　the　tiny　shells　and　tangles　of　seaweed。　A　few　bugs　…　they　looked　like　little　black　beetles　…　skittered　out　of　his　path；　and　when　the　wave　wash　receded；　he　saw　minute　bubbles　pop　above　the　holes　made　by　sandworms。　He　enjoyed　the　walk。　It　was　a　funny　thing；　he　thought；　that　when　you　live　all　your　life　in　a　place；　you　almost　never　do　the　things　that　tourists　go　there　to　do　…　like　walk　on　the　beach　or　go　swimming　in　the　ocean。　He　couldn't　remember　the　last　time　he　went　swimming。　He　wasn't　even　sure　he　still　owned　a　bathing　suit。　It　was　like　something　he　had　heard　about　New　York　…　that　half　the　people　who　live　in　the　city　nev