cwilleford.theburntorangeheresy-第24章

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t　get　packed；　and　we　can　get　out　of　here　and　be　on　our　way　in　a　few　minutes。　Okay？〃
　　I　held　open　the　door。　Still　nodding　her　head；　Berenice　crossed　the　hallway　to　her　room。
　　The　moment　her　door　closed；　I　wrapped　the　art　materials　in　the　sheet；　washed　the　ashtray　palette　under　the　bathtub　hot　water　tap　and　dried　it　with　a　towel。　I　slipped　on　my　trousers　and　a　shirt；　and　took　the　painting　and　the　small　bundle　of　art　materials　down　to　the　basement　garage　on　the　elevator。　I　dumped　the　bundle　in　a　garbage　can；　and　placed　the　painting　carefully；　wet　side　up；　in　the　trunk　of　my　car。　It　took　another　three　minutes　to　unfasten　the　canvas　covertible　top；　fold　it　back；　and　snap　the　fasteners　of　the　plastic　cover。　It　would　be　chilly　riding　with　the　top　back　at　this　time　of　night；　but　I　could　put　it　up　again　later。　The　night　garage　attendant；　a　young　black　man　wearing　white　overalls；　stood　in　the　doorway　of　the　small；　lighted　office；　watching　me　silently　as　I　struggled　with　the　top。　Finished；　I　crossed　the　garage；　handed　him　a　quarter；　and　told　him　I　was　checking　out。
　　〃Call　the　desk；　please；〃　I　said；　〃and　tell　the　clerk　to　send　a　bellman　with　a　truck　to　get　our　baggage　in　five…ten　and　fiveoh…five　in　about　fifteen　minutes。　Tell　the　bellman　to　pile　it　on　the　back　seat　when　he　es　down。　The　trunk　is　already　filled　with　other　things。〃
　　〃Yes；　sir；〃　he　said。
　　I　returned　to　my　room；　packed　in　less　than　five　minutes；　pulled　a　sleeveless　sweater　on　over　my　shirt；　and　slipped　into　my　sports　coat。　Berenice　wasn't　ready　yet；　but　I　helped　her　dose　her　suitcases；　and　advised　her　to　wear　her　warm　polo　coat　over　her　slack　suit。　The　bellman　came　with　his　truck；　and　when　we　got　off　at　the　lobby　to　check　out；　he　continued　on　down　to　the　basement　to　put　our　luggage　in　the　car。　Berenice　paid　the　bill；　which　was　surprisingly　reasonable；　by　cashing　two　traveler's　checks；　and　the　bellman　had　the　car　out　in　front　for　us　before　we　had　finished　checking　out。　The　night　deskman　didn't　ask　questions　about　why　we　were　leaving　in　the　middle　of　the　night；　and　I　didn't　volunteer　any　information。
　　The　night　air　was　chilly　when　we　got　into　the　car；　and　there　was　a　light；　misty　fog　hovering　fifty　feet　or　so　above　the　deserted　city　streets。　I　lit　two　cigarettes；　handed　Berenice　one　of　them；　and　pulled　away　from　the　curb。　She　shivered　slightly　and　huddled　down　in　her　seat。
　　〃You're　probably　wondering　why　I　put　the　top　back；〃　I　said。
　　〃Yes；　I　am。　But　after　the　way　you　barked　at　me　last　time；　I'm　almost　afraid　to　ask　any　questions。〃
　　I　laughed　and　patted　her　leg。　〃If　it　gets　too　cold；　I'll　put　it　up　again。　But　I　thought　it　would　be　best　to　get　as　much　fresh　air　as　possible　to　keep　myself　awake。　It　isn't　really　cold；　and　there　won't　be　much　traffic　this　time　of　night；　so　we　should　make　fairly　good　time。〃
　　Berenice　accepted　this　moronic　explanation；　and　I　increased　the　speed　the　moment　we　got　out　of　the　downtown　area　and　onto　the　new　four…lane　highway　that　was　still　bordered　by　residential　streets　containing　two…　and　three…story　houses。
　　From　my　examination　of　the　map　I　knew　that　there　were　several　small　lakes　between　Valdosta　and　Tifton；　and　a　few　pine　reserves　as　well；　first…　and　second…growth　forests　to　feed　the　Augusta　paper　mills。　Most　of　the　rich；　red　land　was　cultivated；　however…tobacco；　for　the　major　crop；　but　also　with　melons；　corn；　peas；　or　anything　else　that　a　farmer　wanted　to　grow；　including　flax。　East　of　Valdosta　was　the　Great　Okefenokee　Swamp；　which　filled　a　large　section　of　southeast　Georgia；　and　there　were　many　small　lakes；　streams；　and　brooks　that　filtered　well…silted　water　into　the　swamp。
　　I　was　unfamiliar　with　the　highway　and　the　countryside；　and　I　didn't　know　precisely　what　I　was　looking　for；　other　than　a　grove　of　pines；　a　finger　of　swamp；　and　a　rarely　used　access　road。　I　slowed　down　considerably　a　few　miles　north　of　Valdosta；　as　soon　as　I　was　in　open　country　with　only　widely　scattered　farmhouses；　and　I　began　to　keep　my　eyes　open　for　side　roads　leading　nowhere。　Berenice；　who　had　been　as　silent　as　a　martyr；　and　suffering　from　my　silence　as　well；　finally　had　to　open　her　mouth。
　　〃Well？〃　she　said。
　　〃Well；　what？〃
　　〃I'm　waiting　for　the　explanation；　that's　what。　You　said　you'd　explain；　what　are　you　waiting　for？〃
　　〃I've　been　thinking　things　over；　Berenice；　and　I'm　beginning　to　e　to　my　senses。　You　really　don't　think　it　would　be　a　good　idea；　do　you；　to　send　that　painting　to　Mr。　Cassidy？〃
　　〃That's　your　business；　James。　It　isn't　up　to　me　to　tell　you　what　to　do；　but　if　you're　asking　me　for　an　opinion　I'd　say　no。　But　as　you　said；　I　don't　know　all　there　is　to　know　about　what　it　is　you're　trying　to　do…so　until　I　do；　I'll　keep　my　long　'middle…western　nose'　out　of　your　business。〃
　　〃I　apologized　for　that；　sweetheart。〃
　　〃That's　all　right。　I　know　that　my　nose　fits　my　face。　What　does　bother　me　though　is　that　I've　been　more　or　less　forced　to　think　that　you　set　fire　to　Debierue's　house。〃
　　〃Me？〃　I　laughed。　〃What　makes　you　think　I'd　do　something　like　that？〃
　　〃Well；　for　one　thing；　you　didn't　show　any　surprise；〃　she　said　shrewdly；　〃when　I　told　you　about　the　news　of　the　fire　on　television。
　　〃Why　should　I　be　surprised？　His　vifia　in　France　burned　down；　too。　It　does　surprise　me；　however；　that　you　would　think　that　I　did　it。〃
　　〃Then　tell　me　that　you　didn't　do　it；　and　I'll　believe　you。〃
　　〃What　would　my　motive　be　for　doing　such　a　thing？〃
　　〃Why　not　give　me　a　simple　yes　or　no？〃
　　〃There　are　no　simple　yes　or　no　answers　in　this　world；　Big　Girl…none　that　I've　ever　found。　There　are　only　qualified　yes　and　no　answers；　and　not　many　of　them。〃
　　〃All　right；　James；　I　can't　think　of　a　valid　motive；　to　use　one　of　your　favorite　words；　'valid；　but　I　can　think　of　a　motive　that　you　might　consider　valid。　I　think　you've　faked　an　article　about　some　paintings　that　Debierue　was　supposed　to　paint；　but　didn't　paint。　You　looked　at　the　paintings　he　did　paint　and　didn't　like　them；　probably　because　they　didn't　meet　your　high　standards　of　what　you　thought　they　should　be；　so　you　burned　them　by　setting　fire　to　the　house。　You　then　invented　some　nonexistent　paintings　of　your　own　and　wrote　about　them　instead。〃
　　〃Jesus；　do　you　realize　how　crazy　that　sounds？〃
　　〃Yes；　I　do。　But　you　can　show　me　how　crazy　it　is　by　letting　me　read　the　article　you　wrote。　If　there's　no　mention　of　that　weird　orange…〃
　　〃Burnt　orange…〃
　　〃All　right；　burnt　orange　painting　in　your　article；　then　you　can　easily　prove　me　wrong。　I'll　apologize；　and　that'll　be　that。〃
　　〃That'll　be　that；　just　like　that？　And　then　you'll　expect　me　to　forgive　your　wild　accusation　as　if　you'd　never　made　it；　right？〃
　　〃I　said　that　I　might　be　wrong；　and　I　sincerely　hope　that　I　am。　It's　easy　enough　to　prove　me　wrong；　isn't　it？　What　I　do　know　though；　and　there's　nothing　you　can　ever　say　to　persuade　me　that　I'm　wrong；　is　that　Debierue　never　painted　that　picture　in　your　hotel　room。　You　painted　it。　It　was　still　wet　when　I　touched　it…including　Debierue's　signature。　And　the　only　reason　I　can　possibly　e　up　with　for　you　to　do　such　a　thing　is　because　you　want　to　write　about　it；　and　pass　it　off　as　Debierue's　work。　I…I　don't　know　what　to　think；　James；　the　whole　thing　has　given　me　a　headache。　And　really…you　may　not　believe　this…I　actually　don't　care！　Honestly；　I　don't！　But　I　don't　want　you　to　get　into　any　trouble；　either。　Arson　is　a　very　serious　offense；　James。〃
　　〃No　shit？〃
　　〃It　isn't　funny；　I'll　tell　you　that　much。　And　if　you　did　set　fire　to　Debierue's　house；　you　should　tell　me！〃
　　〃Why？　So　you　can　turn　me　in　to　the　police　for　arson？〃
　　〃Oh；　James；〃　she　wailed。　Berenice　put　her　face　into　cupped　hands　and　began　to　cry。
　　〃All　right；　Berenice；〃　I　said　quietly；　after　I　had　let　her　cry　for　a　minute　or　so；　〃I'll　tell　you　what　I'm　going　to　do。〃　I　handed　her　my　handkerchief。
　　She　shook　her　head；　took　a　Kleenex　tissue　out　of　her　purse；　and　blew　her　nose　with　a　refined　honk。
　　〃You're　right；　Berenice；　on　all　counts；〃　I　continued；　〃and　I　might　as　well　admit　it。　I　guess　I　got　carried　away；　but　it　isn't　too　late。　Setting　the　fire　was　an　accident。　I　didn't　do　it　on　purpose。　The　old　man　had　spified　some　turpentine；　and　I　accidentally　dropped　my　cigarette　and　it　caught。　I　thought　I'd　put　it　out；　but　apparently　it　flared　up　again。　Do　you　see？〃
　　She　nodded。　〃I　thought　it　was　something　like　that。〃
　　〃That's　the　way　it　happened；　I　guess。　But　painting　the　picture　was　another　matter。　I　don't　know　how　I　expected　to　get　away　with　it；　and　the　chances　are　I　would've　chickened　out　at　the　last　minute　anyway。　What　I'll　do　is　throw　the　picture　away；　and　then　rewrite　the　article　altogether；　using　the　information　I've　actually　got。〃
　　〃He　told　us　lots　of　interesting　things。〃
　　〃Sure　he　did。〃
　　There　was　a　dirt　road　on　the　right；　leading　into　a　thick　stand　of　pines。　I　made　the　turn；　shifted　down　to　second　gear；　but　kept　up　the　engine　speed　because　of　the　sand。
　　〃Where　are　you　going？〃
　　〃I'm　going　to　drive　back　in　here　well　off　the　highway　and　burn　the　painting。〃
　　〃You　can　wait　until　morning；　can't　you？〃
　　〃No。　I　think　that　the　sooner　I　get　rid　of　it　the　better。　If　I　kept　it　I　might　change　my　mind　again。　It　would　be　possible；　you　know；　to　get　away　with　it…〃
　　〃No；　it　wouldn't；　James；〃　she　said　crisply。
　　The　sandy　road；　after　more　than　a　mile；　ended　in　a　small　clearing。　The　clearing　was　filled　with　knee…high　grass；　and　we　were　pletely　surrounded　by　second…growth　slash　pine。　It　would　be　another　two　years；　at　least；　before　these　trees　would　be　tall　enough　to　cut。　I　left　the　lights　on　and　cut　the　engine。　Without　another　word　I　got　out　of　the　car；　opened　the　trunk　with　the　key；　and　picked　up　the　tire　iron。　It　was　about　ten　inches　long；　quite　hefty；　and　the　flattened　end；　although　it　wasn't　sharp；　was　thin　enough　to　make　a　good　cutting　edge。　Rounding　the　car　on　Berenice's　side；　I　brought　the　heavy　iron　down　on　her　head。
　　〃Ooauh！〃　She　expelled　her　breath；　clasped　both　hands　over　her　head；　and　turned　her　face　toward　me。　Her　eyes　were　wide　and　staring；　but　her　face　was　expressionless。　I　hadn't　hit　her　hard　enough；　or　I　had　miscalculated　the　thickness　of　her　hair；　piled　on　top　of　her　head；　which　had　cushioned　the　blow。　I　hit　her　on　top　of　the　head　again；　much　harder　this　time；　and　she　slumped　down　in　the　seat。
　　I　opened　the　door；　grabbed　the　thick　collar　of　her　polo　coat；　and　dragged　her　out　of　the　car。　She　was　inert；　unbelievably　heavy；　and　her　left　leg　was　still　in　the　front　seat。　I　was　working　one…handed；　still　clutching　the　tire　iron　in　my　right　hand；　and　trying　to　free　her　leg　from　the　car　door；　when　she　convulsed；　roiled　over；　and　came　up　off　the　ground；　head　down；　butting　me　in　the　stomach　like　a　goat。
　　Caught　by　surprise；　I　fell　backward　and　my　shoulder　hit　a　splintered　tree　stump。　At　the　same　time　my　left　elbow　banged　against　the　ground　sharply；　right　on　the　ulna　bone。　My　right　shoulder　felt　as　if　it　were　on　fire；　and　crazy　prickles　from　my　banged　funny　bone　danced　inside　my　forearm。　I　dropped　the　tire　iron；　rubbed　my　right　shoulder　with　the　fingers　of　my　left　hand；　and　the　pain　in　my　elbow　and　shoulder　gradually　subsided。　Through　the　trees；　and　getting　farther　away　every　second；　Berenice's　voice　screamed　shrilly。　I　picked　up　the　tire　iron。
　　I　turned　off　t