thedestroyer.slavesafari-第2章

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　〃Yes。　Early；〃　said　Lippincott；　assuming　that　was　what　he　should　say。
　The　sergeant　ushered　him　into　a　living　room　with　ornate　Victorian　furniture；　chairs　stuffed　to　disfort；　bric…a…brac　filling　crannies；　large　portraits　in　gold　frames　of　African　chiefs。　It　was　not　British；　but　almost　British。　Not　the　almost…British　of　Busati；　but　the　almost…British　of　another　colony。　Lippincott　could　not　place　it。
　The　sergeant　motioned　Lippincott　to　a　seat　and　clapped　his　hands。
　〃A　drink？〃　he　said；　lowering　himself　into　a　stuffed　sofa。
　〃No；　no；　thank　you。　We　can　begin　now；〃　he　said。
　〃You　must　have　a　drink　first　and　relax；〃　said　the　sergeant；　grinning。　An　old　wizened　black　woman　came　into　the　room　silently。
　〃We'll　have　two　of　your　special　mint　juleps；〃　the　sergeant　said。
　Mint　juleps。　That　was　it。　This　home　was　furnished　the　pre…Civil　War　South；　American　South；　thought　Lippincott。　Like　a　pre…Civil　War　whorehouse；　perhaps　in　Charleston；　South　Carolina。
　Lippincott　made　a　show　of　looking　at　his　watch。
　〃Don't　rush　yourself；　the　girls　will　wait；〃　said　the　sergeant。　The　man　was　exasperating；　thought　Lippincott。
　〃Tell　me；　Lippincott；　what　brings　you　to　Busati？〃
　Lippincott　resented　the　over…familiar　use　of　the　last　name；　but　answered；　〃I'm　an　amateur　archaeologist。　I'm　looking　for　the　causes　of　the　breakdown　of　the　great　Loni　Empire　and　the　assumption　of　power　by　the　Hausa　tribe。　Look。　I'm　not　really　thirsty　and　I'd　like　to　get　on　with；　well；　with　the　business　at　hand。〃
　〃I'm　sorry　for　the　inconvenience；〃　said　the　sergeant；　〃but　you　are　not　on　the　approved　list　to　use　this　house；　so　I'll　have　to　find　out　more　about　you　before　you　may　begin。　Terribly　sorry；　old　boy。〃
　〃All　right；　what　do　you　want　to　know？〃
　〃Must　you　make　it　seem　like　an　interrogation；　old　boy？〃　the　sergeant　said。　〃Interrogations　are　so　crass。〃
　〃When　crass　is　faster；　crass　is　nicer。〃
　〃All　right；　if　you　must　be　barbaric；　who　told　you　of　this　place？〃
　〃The　Minister　of　Public　Safety；〃　lied　Lippincott。
　〃Did　he　tell　you　the　rules？'
　〃No。〃
　〃The　rules　are　these。　You　don't　ask　the　girls　their　names。　You　tell　no　one　of　this　house。　No　one。　And；　old　boy；　you　don't　just　drive　up　to　the　gate。　You　phone　in　advance。　Make　an　appointment。　Understand？〃
　〃Yeah。　Yeah。　C'mon。　How　much？〃
　〃It　depends　upon　what　you　want　to　do。〃
　Lippincott　did　not　feel　fortable　talking　about　it。　He　had　never　done　this　before；　not　what　he　wanted　to　do；　and　before　ing　to　Busati　had　never　even　suspected　that　he　had　such　desires。　He　fumbled　with　the　words；　stepping　into　the　area　of　his　longings；　then　skirting　them；　then　approaching　them　from　another　angle。
　〃Whips　and　chains；　you　mean；〃　said　the　sergeant。
　Lippincott　nodded　silently。
　〃That's　not　so　unusual。　Two　hundred　dollars。　If　you　kill　her；　that's　12；000。　Severe　damage　is　prorated。　These　girls　are　valuable。〃
　〃All　right；　all　right　Where　do　I　go？〃
　〃Cash　in　advance。〃
　Lippincott　paid；　and　after　insolently　recounting　the　money；　the　sergeant　led　him　upstairs　to　a　long　broad　hallway。　They　stopped　in　front　of　a　polished　steel　door。　From　a　tall　chest　next　to　the　door；　the　sergeant　took　a　cardboard　box；　and　handed　it　to　Lippincott。
　〃Your　whips　and　chains　are　in　here。　Hooks　are　on　the　wall。　If　the　girl　gives　you　any　trouble；　just　ring　the　buzzer　in　the　room。　If　she　refuses　you　anything；　threaten　to　ring　the　buzzer。　She　shouldn't　be　any　trouble　though。　Been　here　three　months。　Only　the　really　new　ones　give　trouble。　Haven't　been　educated；　so　to　speak。〃
　The　sergeant　took　a　key　from　a　ring　on　his　belt　and　unlocked　the　door。　Lippincott　gripped　the　paper　box　tightly　under　his　arm　and　went　into　the　room　like　a　schoolboy　discovering　an　abandoned　pastry　shop。
　He　slammed　the　door　behind　him；　and　in　his　rush　into　the　room；　almost　stumbled　over　a　wide　metal　cot。　On　it　lay　a　nude　woman；　her　legs　drawn　up　to　her　stomach；　her　arms　shielding　her　head；　her　red　hair　a　dirty　tangle　on　the　mattress；　which　was　speckled　with　dried　bloodstains。
　The　room　smelled　of　camphor　and　Lippincott　assumed　it　must　be　from　the　ointment　that　glistened　on　the　girl's　flanks　over　fresh　and　precisely　drawn　lash　marks。　Lippincott　suddenly　felt　passion　for　the　creature　and　was　tempted　to　leave　the　room；　perhaps　even　buy　her　freedom；　when　she　peered　from　beneath　her　folded　arms　and　seeing　a　man　with　a　box；　rose　slowly　from　the　cot。　When　he　saw　her　young　breasts　flecked　with　dried　blood　as　she　rose　from　the　cot；　a　driving　rage　enveloped　him；　and　when　she　dutifully　walked　to　the　dirty；　blood…spattered　wall　and　raised　her　hands　above　her　head　to　an　iron　ring；　Lippincott　was　trembling。　He　fumbled　the　chains　around　her　wrists；　then　pounced　on　the　whip　as　if　someone　might　snatch　it　from　him。
　As　he　readied　himself　for　the　stroke；　the　girl　asked；　〃Do　you　want　screaming？〃　She　was　American。
　〃Yes；　screaming。　Lot　of　screaming。　If　you　don't　scream；　I'll　whip　harder　and　harder。〃
　Lippincott　whipped　and　the　girl　screamed　with　each　cutting　crack。　Back　came　the　whip；　then　forward；　crack；　and　the　polished　snakelike　cord　glistened　with　blood；　back　and　forward；　back　and　forward；　faster　until　the　screams　and　the　whip　and　the　cracking　became　a　single　sound　of　anguish　and　then　it　was　over。　James　Forsythe　Lippincott　was　spent　and　with　the　sudden　quenching　of　his　strange　and　sudden　thirst；　his　powers　of　reasoning　assumed　mand　and　he　was　suddenly　afraid。
　He　realized　now　the　girl　had　screamed　almost　as　a　duty　despite　the　great　pain。　She　was　probably　drugged。　Her　back　looked　like　raw　meat。
　What　if　someone　had　taken　pictures　of　him？　He　could　deny　them。　It　would　be　his　word　against　some　bush　nigger's。　What　if　the　Minister　of　Public　Safety　found　out　he　used　his　name　improperly？　Well；　three；　maybe　four　hundred　dollars　would　take　care　of　that。
　What　if　the　girl　died？　Twelve　thousand　dollars。　He　gave　more　than　that　each　year　to　the　Brotherhood　Union　for　Human　Dignity。
　So　why　be　afraid？
　〃Are　you　through；　Lippy？〃　the　redheaded　girl　asked　dully；　her　voice　heavy　with　drugs。　〃If　you　are；　you're　supposed　to　take　the　chains　off。〃
　〃How　do　you　know　my　name？　That's　only　used　in　my　social　circle。〃
　〃Lippy；　this　is　Busati。　Are　you　through？〃
　〃Uh；　yes；〃　he　said；　going　to　the　wall　to　get　a　better　look　at　her　face　in　the　dimly　lit　room。　She　was　about　twenty　five；　the　fine；　lean　nose　had　been　broken　days　before　and　was　swollen　and　blue　now。　There　was　a　gash　in　the　lower　lip　that　had　crusted　around　the　edges。
　〃Who　are　you？〃
　〃Don't　ask。　Just　let　me　die；　Lippy。　We're　all　going　to　be　dead。〃
　〃I　know　you；　don't　I？　You're。。。　you're；〃　and　he　saw　the　features；　now　mangled；　that　had　once　graced　Chesapeake　Bay　society；　one　of　the　Forsythe　girls；　a　second　cousin。
　〃What　are　you　doing　here；　Cynthia？〃　he　said；　and　then；　in　horror；　remembered　and　said；　〃We　just　buried　you　in　Baltimore。〃
　〃Save　yourself；　Lippy；〃　she　groaned。
　In　his　panic；　that　was　just　what　Lippincott　intended　to　do。　He　envisioned　Cynthia　Forsythe　somehow　getting　back　to　Baltimore　and　disclosing　his　terrible　secret。　Lippincott　grabbed　the　end　of　the　whip　and　wrapped　it　around　the　girl's　neck。
　〃You're　a　fool；　Lippy；　you　always　were；〃　she　said　and　James　Forsythe　Lippincott　tightened　the　whip　and　kept　pulling　the　ends　until　the　red　swollen　face　of　the　girl　disclosed　a　tongue　and　the　eyes　bulged　and　he　kept　pulling。
　The　sergeant　downstairs　understood　why　James　Forsythe　Lippincott　did　not　wish　to　write　out　a　personal　check；　and　yes；　he　would　trust　him　to　return　to　his　hotel　and　make　arrangements　with　the　National　Bank　of　Bu…sati　to　get　cash。　〃We　do　not　worry；〃　the　sergeant　said。　〃Where　would　you　go？〃
　Lippincott　nodded；　although　he　was　not　sure　what　the　sergeant　meant。　He　understood　only　that　he　would　be　allowed　to　pay　for　what　happened　upstairs；　and　that　was　all　he　wanted　to　hear。
　When　Lippincott　returned　to　his　hotel；　Walla　was　still　missing。　He　called　for　him　several　times；　then　vowed　that　when　he　saw　Walla　again；　the　busboy　would　get　a　beating　to　carry　on　his　back　for　the　rest　of　his　life。
　The　vice…president　of　the　bank　offered　to　supply　guards　to　Lippincott　because　walking　around　Busati　with　12；000　was　not　the　wisest　of　courses。　〃This　is　not　New　York　City；〃　the　banker　explained；　apologetically　and　inaccurately。
　Lippincott　refused。　He　was　sorry　three　blocks　later。　One　of　the　many　military　patrols　stopped　him　and　as　he　reached　into　his　pocket　to　show　his　identification　and　a　ten…dollar　bill；　he　must　have　disclosed　the　bulk　of　his　cash；　for　the　officer　reached　into　his　pocket　and　took　out　the　envelope　of　one　hundred　and　twenty　hundred…dollar　bills。
　〃That　belongs　to　the　house　with　the　iron　gate；〃　said　Lippincott　hoping　the　power　the　house　seemed　to　have　would　extend　to　the　officer。　Apparently　it　didn't；　because　the　officer　simply　double…checked　Lippincott's　identification；　asked　him　again　if　he　were　indeed　James　Forsythe　Lippincott；　then　shoved　him　into　the　Land　Rover　and　personally　drove　the　vehicle　away。
　Out　of　the　capital　they　drove；　and　along　the　great　Busati　River　they　drove。　Darkness　fell　over　the　Busati　and　still　they　drove　on；　alone；　the　rest　of　the　patrol　having　been　ordered　to　stay　back　in　the　city。　They　drove　so　far　that　when　they　stopped　Lippincott　swore　the　stars　seemed　close；　as　close　and　as　clear　as　they　must　have　been　when　man　first　descended　from　the　trees。
　The　officer　told　Lippincott　to　get　out。
　〃Look；　I　can　give　you　twice　that　amount　of　money。　You　don't　have　to　kill　me；〃　said　Lippincott
　〃Get　out；〃　said　the　officer。
　〃I'm　a　personal　friend　of　the　Minister　of　Public　Safety；〃　said　Lippincott。
　〃You'll　find　him　over　there　behind　that　wide　tree；〃　said　the　officer。　〃Go。〃
　So　Lippincott；　finding　the　Africa　night　chilly　and　his　heart　even　chillier；　went　to　the　wide　tree　that　rose　like　a　little　prickly　mountain　from　the　Busati　plain。
　〃Hello？〃　he　said　but　no　one　answered。　His　elbow　brushed　up　against　something　on　the　tree。　He　looked　around。　It　。was　a　boot。　A　leg　was　in　the　boot　and　on　top　of　the　leg　was　a　body。　The　dangling　hands　were　black。　The　body　did　not　move　and　it　smelled　of　the　last　release　of　the　bowels。　The　body　was　in　an　officer's　uniform。　Lippincott　stepped　back　to　escape　the　smell　and　to　try　for　a　better　look　at　the　face。　Suddenly　a　flashlight　illuminated　the　body's　features。　It　was　the　Minister　of　Public　Safety。　A　large　spike　protruded　from　his　head。　He　had　been　nailed　to　the　tree。
　〃Hello；　Lippy；〃　said　an　American　voice。
　〃What？〃　gasped　Lippincott。
　〃Hello；　Lippy。　Squat　down　on　your　haunches。　No；　not　your　butt　on　the　ground。　On　your　haunches；　like　a　slave　waiting　for　his　master。　On　the　haunches。　That's　right。　Now；　Lippy；　before　you　die；　if　you're　very　nice；　you　may　ask　me　a　question。〃
　The　flashlight　had　gone　off　and　now　the　voice　came　out　of　the　African　dark；　and　try　as　he　might；　Lippincott　could　not　see　the　speaker。
　〃Look；〃　he　said；　〃I　don't　know　who　you　are；　but　I　can　make　you　a　rich　man。　Congratulations　on　successfully　scaring　the　crap　out　of　me；　Now；　how　much？〃
　〃I've　got　what　I　want；　Lippy。〃
　〃Who　are　you？〃
　〃Is　that　your　one　question？〃
　〃No；　my　one　question　is　what　do　you　want？〃
　〃All　right；　Lippy；　I'll　answer　that。　I　want　to　revenge　my　people。　I　want　to　be　accepted　in　my　father's　house。〃
　〃I'll　buy　your　father's　house。　How　mu