thunter.fearloathinglasvegas-第19章

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in　the　direction　of　the　noise。　Probably　he　thought　a　brawl　had　erupted…maybe　a　racial　conflict　of　some　kind；　something　that　couldn't　be　helped。
　　I　stood　up　and　plunged　toward　the　door。　It　seemed　like　as　good　a　time　as　any　to　flee。　〃Pardon　me；　I　feel　sick；〃　I　said　to　the　first　leg　I　stepped　on。　It　jerked　back；　and　I　said　it　again：　〃Sorry；　I'm　about　to　be　sick。。。sorry；　sick。。；　beg　pardon；　yes；　feeling　sick　。。。　This　time　a　path　opened　very　nicely。　Not　a　word　of　protest。　Hands　actually　helped　me　along。　They　feared　I　was　about　to　vomit；　and　nobody　wanted　it…at　least　not　on　them。　I　made　it　to　the　door　in　about　forty…five　seconds。
　　
　　My　attorney　was　downstairs　at　the　bar；　talking　to　a　sporty…looking　cop　about　forty　whose　plastic　name…tag　said　he　was　the　DA　from　someplace　in　Georgia。　〃I'm　a　whiskey　man；　myself；〃　he　was　saying。　〃We　don't　have　much　problem　with　drugs　down　where　I　e　from。〃
　　〃You　will；〃　said　my　attorney。　〃One　of　these　nights　you'll　wake　up　and　find　a　junkie　tearing　your　bedroom　apart。〃
　　〃Naw！〃　said　the　Georgia　man。　〃Not　down　in　my　parts。〃　I　joined　them　and　ordered　a　tall　glass　of　rum；　with　ice。
　　〃You're　another　one　of　these　California　boys；〃　he　said。　Your　friend　here's　been　tellin'　me　about　dope　fiends。〃
　　〃They're　everywhere；〃　I　said。　〃Nobody's　safe。　And　sure　as　not　in　the　South。　They　like　the　warm　weather。〃　They　work　in　pairs；〃　said　my　attorney。　〃Sometimes　in　gangs。　They'll　climb　right　into　your　bedroom　and　sit　on　your　chest；　with　big　Bowie　knives。〃　He　nodded　solemniy。　'〃They　might　even　sit　your　wife's　chest…put　the　blade　right　down　on　her　throat。〃
　　〃Jesus　god　almighty；〃
　　〃said　the　southerner。　〃What　the　hell's　goin'　on　in　this　country？〃
　　〃You'd　never　believe　it；〃　said　my　attorney。　〃In　L。A。　it's　out　of　control。　First　it　was　drugs；　now　it's　witchcraft。〃
　　〃Witchcraft？　Shit；　you　can't　mean　it！〃
　　〃Read　the　newspapers；〃　I　said。　〃Man；　you　don't　know　trouble　until　you　have　to　face　down　a　bunch　of　these　addicts　gone　crazy　for　human　sacrifice！〃
　　〃Naw！〃　he　said。　〃That's　science　fiction　stuff！〃
　　〃Not　where　we　operate；〃　said　my　attorney。　〃Hell；　in　Malibu　alone；　these　goddamn　Satan…worshippers　kill　six　or　eight　people　every　day。〃　He　paused　to　sip　his　drink。　〃And　all　they　want　is　the　blood；〃　he　continued。　〃They'll　take　people　right　off　the　street　if　they　have　to。〃　He　nodded。　〃Hell；　yes。　Just　the　other　day　we　had　a　case　where　they　grabbed　a　girl　right　out　of　a　McDonald's　hamburger　stand。　She　was　a　waitress。　About　six　teen　years　old。。。with　a　lot　of　people　watching；　too！〃
　　〃What　happened？〃　said　our　friend。　〃What　did　they　do　to　her？〃　He　seemed　very　agitated　by　what　he　was　hearing。
　　〃Do？〃　said　my　attorney。　〃Jesus　Christ　man。　They　chopped　her　goddamn　head　off　right　there　in　the　parking　lot！　Then　they　cut　all　kinds　of　holes　in　her　and　sucked　out　the　blood！〃
　　〃God　almighty！〃　The　Georgia　man　exclaimed。。。〃And　nobody　did　anything？〃
　　〃What　could　they　do？〃　I　said。　〃The　guy　that　took　the　head　was　about　six…seven　and　maybe　three　hundred　pounds。　He　was　packing　two　Lugers；　and　the　others　had　M…16s。　They　were　all　veterans。　〃
　　〃The　big　guy　used　to　be　a　major　in　the　Marines；〃　said　my　attorney。　〃We　know　where　he　lives；　but　we　can't　get　near　the　house。〃
　　〃Naw！〃　our　friend　shouted。　〃Not　a　major！〃
　　〃He　wanted　the　pineal　gland；〃　I　said。　〃That's　how　he　got　so　big。　When　he　quit　the　Marines　he　was　just　a　little　guy。〃
　　〃0　my　god！〃　said　our　friend。　〃That's　horrible！〃
　　〃It　happens　every　day；〃　said　my　attorney。　〃Usually　it's　whole　families。　During　the　night。　Most　of　them　don't　even　wake　up　until　they　feel　their　heads　going…and　then；　of　course；　it's　too　late。〃　The　bartender　had　stopped　to　listen。　I'd　been　watching　him。　His　expression　was　not　calm。
　　〃Three　more　rums；〃　I　said。　〃With　plenty　of　ice；　and　maybe　a　handful　of　lime　chunks。〃　He　nodded；　but　I　could　see　that　his　mind　was　not　on　his　work。　He　was　staring　at　our　name…tags。　〃Are　you　guys　with　that　police　convention　upstairs？〃　he　said　finally。
　　〃We　sure　are；　my　friend；〃　said　the　Georgia　man　with　a　big　smile。
　　The　bartender　shook　his　head　sadly。　〃I　thought　so；〃　he　said。　〃I　never　heard　that　kind　of　talk　at　this　bar　before。　Jesus　Christ！　How　do　you　guys　stand　that　kind　of　work？〃　My　attorney　smiled　at　him。　〃We　like　it；〃　he　said。　〃It's　groovy。〃　The　bartender　drew　back；　his　face　was　a　mask　of　repug　nance。
　　〃What's　wrong　with　you？〃　I　said。　〃Hell；　somebody　has　to　do　it。〃　He　stared　at　me　for　a　moment；　then　turned　away。
　　〃Hurry　up　with　those　drinks；〃　said　my　attorney。　〃We're　thirsty。〃　He　laughed　and　rolled　his　eyes　as　the　bartender　glanced　back　at　him。　〃Only　two　rums；〃　he　said。　〃Make　mine　a　Bloody　Mary。〃　The　bartender　seemed　to　stiffen；　but　our　Georgia　friend　didn't　notice。　His　mind　was　somewhere　else。　〃Hell；　I　really　hate　to　hear　this；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃Because　everything　that　happens　in　California　seems　to　get　down　our　way；　sooner　or　later。　Mostly　Atlanta；　but　I　guess　that　was　back　when　the　goddamn　bastards　were　peaceful。　It　used　to　be　that　all　we　had　to　do　was　keep　'em　under　surveillance。　They　didn't　roam　around　much。。。。〃　He　shrugged。　〃But　now；　Jesus；　nobody's　safe。　They　could　turn　up　anywhere。〃
　　〃You're　right；〃　said　my　attorney。　〃We　learned　that　in　California。　You　remember　where　Manson　turned　up；　don't　you？　Right　out　in　the　middle　of　Death　Valley。　He　had　a　whole　army　of　sex　fiends　out　there。　We　only　got　our　hands　on　a　few。
　　Most　of　the　crew　got　away；　just　ran　off　across　the　sand　dimes；　like　big　lizards　。。。　and　every　one　of　them　stark　naked；　except　for　the　weapons。〃　'They'll　turn　up　everwhere；　pretty　soon。〃　OI　said。　〃And　let's　hope　we'll　be　ready　for　them。〃　The　Georgia　man　whacked　his　fist　on　the　bar。　〃But　we　can't　just　lock　ourselves　in　the　house　and　be　prisoners！〃　he　ex　aimed。　〃We　don't　even　know　who　these　people　are！　How　do　you　recognize　them？
　　〃You　can't；〃　my　attorney　replied。　〃The　only　way　to　do　it　is　to　take　the　bull　by　the　horns…go　to　the　mat　with　this　scum！〃
　　〃What　do　you　mean　by　that？〃　he　asked。
　　〃You　know　what　I　mean；〃　said　my　attorney。　〃We've　done　it　before；　and　we　can　damn　well　do　it　again。〃
　　〃Cut　their　goddamn　heads　off；〃　I　said。　〃Every　one　of　them。　That's　what　we're　doing　in　California。〃
　　〃What？〃
　　〃Sure；〃　said　my　attorney。　〃It's　all　on　the　Q。T。；　but　everybody　who　matters　is　with　us　all　the　way　down　the　line。〃
　　〃God！　I　had　no　idea　it　was　that　bad　out　there！〃　said　our　friend。
　　〃We　keep　it　quiet；〃　I　said。　〃It's　not　the　kind　of　thing　you'd　to　talk　about　upstairs；　for　instance。　Not　with　the　press　around。〃　Our　man　agreed。　〃Hell　no！〃　he　said。　〃We'd　never　hear　the　~goddamn　end　of　it。〃
　　〃Dobermans　don't　talk；〃　I　said。
　　〃What？〃
　　〃Sometimes　it's　easier　to　just　rip　out　the　backstraps；〃　said　attorney。
　　〃They'll　fight　like　hell　if　you　try　to　take　the　I　without　dogs。〃
　　〃God　almighty！〃　We　left　him　at　the　bar；　swirling　the　ice　in　his　drink　and　not　smiling。　He　was　worried　about　whether　or　not　to　tell　his　wife　It　it。　〃She'd　never　understand；〃　he　muttered。　〃You　know　women　are。〃　I　nodded。　My　attorney　was　already　gone；　scurrying　through　of　slot　machines　toward　the　front　door。　I　said　goodbye　end；　warning　him　not　to　say　anything　about　what　him。
　　
　　　8。　Back　Door　Beauty。。。&　Finally　a　Bit　of　Serious　Drag　Racing　on　the　Strip
　　　
　　Sometime　around　midnight　my　attorney　wanted　coffee。　He　bad　been　vomiting　fairly　regularly　as　we　drove　around　the　Strip；　and　the　right　flank　of　the　Whale　was　badly　streaked。　We　were　idling　at　a　stoplight　in　front　of　the　Silver　Slipper　beside　a　big　blue　Ford　with　Oklahoma　plates。。。two　hoggish…　looking　couples　in　the　car；　probably　cops　from　Muskogee　using　the　Drug　Conference　to　give　their　wives　a　look　at　Vegas。　They　looked　like　they'd　just　beaten　Caesar's　Palace　for　about　38　at　the　blackjack　tables；　and　now　they　were　headed　for　the　Circus…Circus　to　whoop　it　up。。。。but　suddenly；　they　found　themselves　next　to　a　white　Cadillac　convertible　all　covered　with　vomit　and　a　300…pound　Samoan　in　a　yellow　fishnet　T…shirt　yelling　at　them：　〃Hey　there！　You　folks　want　to　buy　some　heroin？〃　No　reply。　No　sign　of　recognition。　They'd　been　warned　about　this　kind　of　crap：　Just　ignore　it。。。
　　'Hey；　honkies！〃　my　attorney　screamed。　〃Goddamnit；　I'm　serious！　I　want　to　sell　you　some　pure　fuckin'　smack！〃　He　was　hanging　out　of　the　car；　very　close　to　them。　But　still　nobody　an　swered。　I　glanced　over；　very　briefly；　and　saw　four　middle　Americanan　faces　frozen　with　shock；　staring　straight　ahead。
　　We　were　in　the　middle　lane。　A　quick　left　turn　would　be　ille　would　have　to　go　straight　ahead　when　the　light　en　escape　at　the　next　corner。　I　waited；　tapping　the　accelerator　nervously。。。
　　My　attorney　was　losing　control：　〃Cheap　heroin！〃　he　was　shouting。　〃This　is　the　real　stuff　You　won't　get　hooked！　God　damnit；　I　know　what　I　have　here！〃　He　whacked　on　the　side　of　the　car；　as　if　to　get　their　attention。。；　but　they　wanted　no　part　of　us。
　　〃You　folks　never　talked　to　a　vet　before？〃　said　my　attorney。　〃I　just　got　back　from　Veet　Naam。　This　is　scag；　folks！　Pure　scag！〃　Suddenly　the　light　changed　and　the　Ford　bolted　off　like　a　rocket。　I　stomped　on　the　accelerator　and　stayed　right　next　to　them　for　about　two　hundred　yards；　watching　for　cops　in　the　mirror　while　my　attorney　kept　screaming　at　them：　〃Shoot！　Fuck！　Scag！　Blood！　Heroin！　Rape！　Cheap！　munist！　Jab　it　right　into　your　fucking　eyeballs！〃　We　were　approaching　the　Circus…Circus　at　high　speed　and　the　Oklahoma　car　was　veering　left；　trying　to　muscle　into　the　turn　lane。　I　stomped　the　Whale　into　passing　gear　and　we　ran　fender　to　fender　for　a　moment。　He　wasn't　up　to　hitting　me；　there　was　horror　in　his　eyes。
　　The　man　in　the　back　seat　lost　control　of　himself。。。lunging　across　his　wife　and　snarling　wildly：　〃You　dirty　bastards！　Pull　over　and　I'll　kill　you！　God　damn　you！　You　bas　tards！〃　He　seemed　ready　to　leap　out　the　window　and　into　our　car；　crazy　with　rage。　Luckily　the　Ford　was　a　two…door。　He　couldn't　get　out。
　　We　were　ing　up　to　the　next　stoplight　and　the　Ford　was　still　trying　to　move　left。　We　were　both　running　full　bore。　I　glanced　over　my　shoulder　and　saw　that　we'd　left　the　other　traffic　far　behind；　there　was　a　big　opening　to　the　right。　So　I　mashed　on　the　brake；　hurling　my　attorney　against　the　dash　board；　and　in　the　instant　the　Ford　surged　ahead　I　cut　across　his　tail　and　zoomed　into　a　side…street。　A　sharp　right　turn　across　three　lanes　of　traffic。　But　it　worked。　We　left　the　Ford　stalled　in　the　middle　of　the　intersection；　hung　in　the　middle　of　a　screeching　left　turn。　With　a　little　luck；　he'd　be　arrested　for　reckless　driving。
　　My　attorney　was　laughing　as　we　careened　in　low　gear；　with　the　light　sout；　through　a　dusty　tangle　of　backstreets　behind　the　Desert　Inn。　〃Jesus　Christ；〃　he　said。　〃Those　Okies　were　getting　excited。　That　guy　in　the　back　seat　was　trying　to　bite　me！　Shit；　he　was　frothing　at　the　mouth。〃　He　nodded　solemnly。　〃I　should　have　maced　the　fucker。。。a　criminal　psychotic；　total　breakdown。。。you　never　know　when　they're　likely　to　explode。〃　I　swung　the　Whale　into　a　turn　that　seemed　to　lead　out　of　the　maze…but　instead　of　skidding；　the　bastard　almost　rolled。
　　〃Holy　shit！〃　my　attorney　screamed。　〃Turn　on　the　fucking　lights！〃　He　was　clinging　to　the　top　of　the　windshield。。。and　suddenly　he　was　doing　the　Big　Spit　again；　leaning　over　the　side。
　　I　refuse