rs.inthebestfamelies-第6章

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　　〃Well？〃　he　asked；　full　voice。
　　〃Have　you　got　a　dog　that　whimpers　at　night？〃
　　〃Whimpers？　No。〃
　　〃Then　shall　I　go　see　what　it　is？　I　hear　it　through　my　window。〃
　　〃It's　probably…turn　on　the　light；　will　you？〃
　　I　found　the　wall　switch　and　flipped　it。　His　pajamas　were　green　with　thin　white　stripes。　Giving　me　a　look　which　implied　that　here　was　one　more　reason　for　disapproving　of　my　being　there；　he　padded　past　me　into　the　hall　and　on　into　my　room；　me　following。　He　stood　a　moment　to　listen；　crossed　and　stuck　his　head　out　the　window；　pulled　it　in　again；　and　this　time　went　by　me　with　no　look　at　all　and　moving　fast。　I　followed　him　downstairs　and　to　the　side　door；　where　he　pushed　a　light　switch　with　one　hand　while　he　opened　the　door　with　the　other；　and　stepped　across　the　sill。
　　〃By　God；〃　he　said。　〃All　right。　Nobby；　all　right。〃
　　He　squatted。
　　I　take　back　none　of　my　remarks　about　Doberman　pinschers；　but　I　admit　that　that　was　no　time　to　expand　on　them；　nor　did　I　feel　like　it。　The　dog　lay　on　its　side　on　the　slab　of　stone　with　its　legs　twitching；　trying　to　lift　its　head　enough　to　look　at　Leeds；　and　from　its　side　that　was　up；　toward　the　belly　and　midway　between　the　front　and　hind　legs；　protruded　the　chased　silver　handle　of　a　knife。　The　hair　around　was　matted　with　blood。
　　The　dog　had　stopped　whimpering。　Now　suddenly　it　bared　its　teeth　and　snarled；　but　weakly。
　　〃All　right；　Nobby；〃　Leeds　said。　He　had　his　palm　against　the　side；　forward；　over　the　heart。
　　〃He's　about　gone；〃　he　said。
　　I　discovered　that　I　was　shivering；　decided　to　stop；　and　did。
　　〃Pull　the　knife　out　of　him？〃　I　suggested。　〃Maybe…〃
　　〃No。　That　would　finish　him。　I　think　he's　finished　anyhow。〃
　　He　was。　The　dog　died　as　Leeds　squatted　there　and　I　stood　not　permitting　myself　to　shiver　in　the　cold　night　breeze。　I　could　see　the　slender　muscular　legs　stretch　tight　and　then　go　loose；　and　after　another　minute　Leeds　took　his　hand　away　and　stood　up。
　　〃Will　you　please　hold　the　door　open？〃　he　asked。　〃It's　off　plumb　and　swings　shut。〃
　　I　obliged；　holding　it　wide　and　standing　aside　to　let　him　through。　With　the　dog's　body　in　his　arms；　he　crossed　to　a　wooden　bench　at　one　side　of　the　little　square　hall　and　put　the　burden　down。　Then　he　turned　to　me。　〃I'm　going　to　put　something　on　and　go　out　and　look　around。　e　or　stay；　suit　yourself。〃
　　〃I'll　e。　Is　it　one　of　your　dogs？　Or…〃
　　He　had　started　for　the　stairs；　but　halted。　〃No。　Sarah's…my　cousin's。　He　was　there　tonight；　you　saw　him。〃　His　face　twitched。　〃By　God；　look　at　him！　Getting　here　with　that　knife　in　him！　I　gave　him　to　her　two　years　ago；　he's　been　her　dog　for　two　years；　but　when　it　came　to　this　it　was　me　he　came　to。　By　God！〃
　　He　went　for　the　stairs　and　up；　and　I　followed。　Over　the　years　there　have　been　several　occasions　when　I　needed　to　get　some　clothes　on　without　delay；　and　I　thought　I　was　fast；　but　I　was　still　in　my　room　with　a　shoe　to　lace　when　Leed's　steps　were　in　the　hall　again　and　he　called　in　to　me；　〃Wait　downstairs。　I'll　be　back　in　a　minute。〃
　　I　called　that　I　was　ing；　but　he　didn't　halt。　By　the　time　I　got　down　to　the　little　square　hall　he　was　gone；　and　the　outside　door　was　shut。　I　opened　it　and　stepped　out　and　yelled；　〃Hey；　Leeds！〃
　　His　voice　came　from　somewhere　in　the　darkness。　〃I　said　wait！〃
　　Even　if　he　had　decided　not　to　bother　with　me　there　was　no　use　trying　to　dash　after　him；　with　my　handicap；　so　I　settled　for　making　my　way　around　the　er　of　the　house　and　across　the　graveled　rectangle　to　where　my　car　was　parked。　Getting　the　door　unlocked；　I　climbed　in　and　got　the　flashlight　from　the　dash　partment。　That　put　me；　if　not　even　with　Leeds　for　a　night　outdoors　in　the　country；　at　least　a　lot　closer　to　him。　Relocking　the　car　door；　I　sent　the　beam　of　the　flash　around　and　then　switched　it　off　and　went　back　to　the　side　door　of　the　house。
　　I　could　hear　steps；　faint；　then　louder；　and　soon　Leeds　appeared　within　the　area　of　light　from　the　hall's　window。　He　wasn't　alone。　With　him　was　a　dog；　a　length　ahead　of　him；　on　a　leash。　As　they　approached　I　courteously　stepped　aside；　but　the　dog　ignored　me　pletely。　Leeds　opened　the　door　and　they　entered　the　hall；　and　I　joined　them。
　　〃Get　in　front　of　her；〃　Leeds　said；　〃a　yard　off；　and　stand　still。〃
　　I　obeyed；　circling。
　　〃See；　Hebe。〃
　　For　the　first　time　the　beast　admitted　I　was　there。　She　lifted　her　head　at　me；　then　stepped　forward　and　smelled　my　pants　legs；　not　in　haste。　When　she　had　finished　Leeds　crossed　to　where　the　dead　dog　lay　on　the　bench；　made　a　sign；　and　Hebe　went　to　him。
　　Leeds　passed　his　fingertips　along　the　dead　dog's　belly；　touching　lightly　the　smooth　short　hair。　〃Take　it；　Hebe。〃
　　She　stretched　her　sinewy　neck；　sniffed　along　the　course　his　fingertips　had　taken；　backed　up　a　step；　and　looked　up　at　him。
　　〃Don't　be　so　damn　sure；〃　Leeds　told　her。　He　pointed　a　finger。　〃Take　it　again。〃
　　She　did　so；　taking　more　dme　for　it；　and　again　looked　up　at　him。
　　〃I　didn't　know　they　were　hounds；〃　I　remarked。
　　〃They're　everything　they　ought　to　be。〃　I　suppose　Leeds　made　some　signal；　though　I　didn't　see　it；　and　the　dog　started　toward　the　door；　with　her　master　at　the　other　end　of　the　leash。　〃They　have　excellent　scent；　and　this　one's　extraordinary。　She's　Nobby's　mother。〃
　　Outside；　on　the　slab　of　stone　where　we　had　found　Nobby；　Leeds　said；　〃Take　it；　Hebe；〃　and　when　she　made　a　low　noise　in　her　throat　as　she　tightened　the　leash；　he　added；　〃Quiet；　now。　I'll　do　the　talking。〃
　　She　took　him；　with　me　at　their　heels；　around　the　er　of　the　house　to　the　graveled　space；　across　that；　along　the　wall　of　the　main　outbuilding；　and　to　a　er　of　the　enclosed　run。　There　she　stopped　and　lifted　her　head。
　　Leeds　waited　half　a　minute　before　he　spoke。　〃Bah。　Can't　you　tell　dogs　apart？　Take　it！〃
　　I　switched　the　flashlight　on；　got　a　reprimand；　and　switched　it　off。　Hebe　made　her　throat　noise　again；　got　her　nose　down；　and　started　off。　We　crossed　the　meadow　on　the　trail　to　the　edge　of　the　woods　and　kept　going。　The　pace　was　steady　but　not　fast；　for　me　it　was　an　easy　stroll；　nothing　like　the　race　Leeds　had　led　me　previously。　Even　with　no　leaves　on　the　trees　it　was　a　lot　darker　there；　but　unless　my　sense　of　direction　was　pletely　cockeyed　we　were　sticking　to　the　trail　I　had　been　over　twice　before。
　　'We're　heading　straight　for　the　house；　aren't　we？〃　I　asked。
　　For　reply　I　got　only　a　grunt。
　　For　the　first　two　hundred　yards　or　so　after　entering　the　woods　it　was　a　steady　climb；　not　steep；　and　then　a　leveling　off　for　another　couple　of　hundred　yards　to　the　start　of　the　easy　long　descent　to　the　edge　of　the　Birchvale　manicured　grounds。　It　was　at　about　the　middle　of　the　level　stretch　that　Hebe　suddenly　went　crazy。　She　dashed　abruptly　to　one　side；　off　the　trail；　jerking　Leeds　so　that　he　had　to　dance　to　keep　his　feet；　then　whirled　and　came　back　into　him；　with　a　high　thin　quavering　noise　not　at　all　like　what　she　had　said　before。
　　Leeds　spoke　to　her　sharply；　but　I　don't　know　what　he　said。　By　then　my　eyes　had　got　pretty　well　acmodated　to　the　circumstances。　However；　I　am　not　saying　that　there　in　the　dark　among　the　trees；　at　a　distance　of　twenty　feet；　I　recognized　the　blob　on　the　ground。　I　do　assert　that　at　the　instant　I　pressed　the　button　of　the　flashlight；　before　the　light　came；　I　knew　already　that　it　was　the　body　of　Mrs。　Barry　Rackham。
　　This　time　I　got　no　reprimand。　Leeds　was　with　me　as　I　stepped　off　the　trail　and　covered　the　twenty　feet。　She　was　lying　on　her　side；　as　Nobby　had　been；　but　her　neck　was　twisted　so　that　her　face　was　nearly　upturned　to　the　sky；　and　I　thought　for　a　second　it　was　a　broken　neck　until　I　saw　the　blood　on　the　front　of　her　white　sweater。　I　stooped　and　got　my　fingers　on　her　wrist。　Leeds　picked　up　a　dead　leaf；　laid　it　on　her　mouth　and　nostrils；　and　asked　me　to　kneel　to　help　him　keep　the　breeze　away。
　　When　we　had　gazed　at　the　motionless　leaf　for　twenty　seconds　he　said；　〃She's　dead。〃
　　〃Yeah。〃　I　stood　up。　〃Even　if　she　weren't；　she　would　be　by　the　time　we　got　her　to　the　house。　I'll　go…〃
　　〃She　is　dead；　isn't　she？〃
　　〃Certainly。　I'll…〃
　　〃By　God。〃　He　got　erect；　ing　up　straight　in　one　movement。　〃Nobby　and　now　her。　You　stay　here…〃。
　　He　took　a　quick　step；　but　I　caught　his　arm。
　　He　jerked　loose；　violently。
　　I　said　fast；　〃Take　it　easy。〃　I　got　his　arm　again；　and　he　was　trembling。
　　〃You　bust　in　there　and　there's　no　telling　what　you'll　do。　Stay　here　and　I'll　go〃…He　pulled　free　and　started　off。
　　〃Wait！〃　I　manded；　and　he　halted。　〃But　first　get　a　doctor　and　call　the　police。　Do　that　first。　I'm　going　to　your　place。　We　left　that　knife　in　the　dog；　and　someone　might　want　it。　Can't　you　put　Hebe　on　guard　here？〃
　　He　spoke；　not　to　me　but　to　Hebe。　She　came　to　him；　a　darting　shadow；　close　to　him。　He　leaned　over　to　touch　the　shoulder　of　the　body　of　Mrs。　Barry　Rackham　and　said；　〃Watch　it；　Hebe。〃　The　dog　moved　alongside　the　body；　and　Leeds；　with　nothing　to　say　to　me；　went。　He　didn't　leap　or　run；　but　he　sure　was　gone。　I　called　after　him；　〃Phone　the　police　before　you　kill　anybody！〃　stepped　to　the　trail；　and　headed　for　Hillside　Kennels。
　　With　the　flashlight　I　had　no　trouble　finding　my　way。　This　time；　as　I　approached；　the　livestock　barked　plenty；　and；　hoping　the　kennel　doors　were　all　closed　tight；　I　had　my　gun　out　as　I　passed　the　runs　and　the　buildings。
　　Nothing　attacked　me　but　noise；　and　that　stopped　when　I　had　entered　the　house　and　dosed　the　door。　Apparently　if　an　enemy　once　got　inside　it　was　then　up　to　the　master。
　　Nobby　was　still　there　on　the　bench；　and　the　knife　was　still　in　him。　With　only　a　glance　at　him　in　passing；　I　made　for　the　little　living　room；　where　I　had　previously　seen　a　phone　on　a　table；　fumed　on　a　light；　went　to　the　phone；　and　got　the　operator　and　gave　her　a　number。　As　I　waited　a　look　at　my　wristwatch　showed　me　five　minutes　past　midnight。　I　hoped　Wolfe　hadn't　forgotten　to　plug　in　the　line　to　his　room　when　he　went　up　to　bed。　He　hadn't。　After　the　ring　signal　had　e　five　times　I　had　his　voice。
　　〃Nero　Wolfe　speaking。〃
　　〃Archie。　Sorry　to　wake　you　up；　but　I　need　orders。　We're　minus　a　client。Mrs。　Rackham。　This　is　a　quick　guess；　but　it　looks　as　if　someone　stabbed　her　with　a　knife　and　then　stuck　the　knife　in　a　dog。　Anyhow；　she's　dead。　I've　just…〃
　　〃What　is　this？〃　It　was　almost　a　bellow。　〃Flummery？〃
　　〃No；　sir。　I've　just　e　from　where　she's　lying　in　the　woods。　Leeds　and　I　found　her。　The　dog's　dead　too；　here　on　a　bench。　I　don't…〃
　　〃Archie！〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　〃This　is　insupportable。　In　the　circumstances。〃
　　〃Yes；　sir；　all　of　that。〃
　　〃Is　Mr。　Rackham　out　of　it？〃
　　〃Not　as　far　as　I　know。　I　told　you　we　just　found　her。〃
　　〃Where　are　you？〃
　　〃At　Leed's　place；　alone。　I'm　here　guarding　the　knife　in　the　dog。　Leeds　went　to　Birchvale　to　get　a　doctor　and　the　cops　and　maybe　to　kill　somebody。
　　I　can't　help　it。　I've　got　all　the　time　in　the　world。　How　much　do　you　want？〃
　　〃Anything　that　might　help。〃
　　〃Okay；　but　in　case　I　get　interrupted　here's　a　question　first。　On　two　counts；　because　I'm　here　working　for　you　and　because　I　helped　find　the　body；　they're　going　to　be　damn　curious。　How　much　do　I　spill？　There's　no　one　on　this　line　unless　the　operator's　listening　in。〃
　　A　grunt　and　a　pause。　〃On　what　I　know　now；　everything　about　Mrs。　Rackham's　talk　with　me　and　the　purpose　o