thunter.fearloathinglasvegas-第25章

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；　with　Bruce　and　the　and　members；　that　the　car…keepers　knew　me　by　name…although　I'd　never　introduced　myself；　and　nobody　had　ever　asked　me。　I　just　assumed　it　was　all　part　of　the　gig　here；　that　that　they'd　probably　rifled　the　glove　partment　and　found　a　notebook　with　my　name　on　it。
　　The　real　reason；　which　didn't　occur　to　me　at　the　time；　was　that　I　was　still　wearing　my　ID/badge　from　the　District　Attorney's　Conference。　It　was　dangling　from　the　pocket…flap　of　my　multi…colored　bird…shooting　jacket；　but　I'd　long　since　forgotten　about　it。　No　doubt　they　all　assumed　I　was　some　kind　of　super　wierd　undercover　agent。。。or　maybe　not；　maybe　they　were　just　humoring　me　because　they　figured　anybody　crazy　enough　to　pose　as　a　cop　while　driving　around　Vegas　in　a　white　Cadillac　convertible　with　a　drink　in　his　hand　almost　had　to　be　Heavy；　and　perhaps　even　dangerous。　In　a　scene　where；　nobody　with　any　ambition　is　really　what　he　appears　to　be；'　there's　not　much　risk　in　acting　like　a　king…hell　freak。　The；　overseers　will　nod　wisely　at　each　other　and　mutter　about　〃these　goddamn　no…class　put…ons。〃　The　other　side　of　that　coin　is　the　〃Goddamn！　Who's　that？〃　syndrome。　This　es　from　people　like　doormen　and　floor…　walkers　who　assume　that　anybody　who　acts　crazy；　but　still　tips　big；　must　be　important…which　means　he　should　be　hu　mored；　or　at　least　treated　gently。
　　But　none　of　this　makes　any　difference　with　a　head　full　of　mescaline。　You　justblunder　around；　doing　anything　that　seems　to　be　right；　and　it　usually　is。　Vegas　is　so　full　of　natural　freaks…people　who　are　genuinely　twisted…that　drugs　aren't　really　a　problem；　except　for　cops　and　the　scag　syndicate。　Psychedelics　are　almost　irrelevant　in　a　town　where　you　can　wan　der　into　a　casino　any　time　of　the　day　or　night　and　witness　the　crucifixion　of　a　gorilla…on　a　flaming　neon　cross　that　suddenly　turns　into　a　pinwheel；　spinning　the　beast　around　in　wild　cir　cles　above　the　crowded　gambling　action。
　　
　　I　found　Bruce　at　the　bar；　but　there　was　no　sign　of　the　ape。　〃Where　is　it？〃　I　demanded。　〃I'm　ready　to　write　a　check。　I　want　to　take　the　bastard　back　home　on　the　plane　with　me。　I've　already　reserved　two　first…class　seats…R。　Duke　and　Son。〃
　　〃Take　him　on　the　plane？〃
　　〃Hell　yes；〃　I　said。　〃You　think　they'd　say　anything？　Call　at　tention　to　my　son's　infirmities？〃　He　shrugged。　〃Forget　it；〃　he　said。　〃They　just　took　him　away。　He　attacked　an　old　man　right　here　at　the　bar。　The　creep　started　hassling　the　bartender　about　'allowing　barefoot　rabble　in　the　place'　and　just　about　then　the　ape　let　out　a　shriek…so　the　loud　the　guy　threw　a　beer　at　him；　and　the　ape　went　crazy；　came　out　of　his　seat　like　a　jack…in…the　box　and　took　a　big　bite　out　of　the　old　man's　head　。。。　the　bartender　had　to　call　an　ambulance；　then　the　cops　came　and　took　the　ape　away。〃
　　〃Goddamnit；〃　I　said。　〃What's　the　bail？　I　want　that　ape。〃
　　〃Get　a　grip　on　yourself；〃　he　said。　〃You　better　stay　clear　of　that　jail。　That's　all　they　need　to　put　the　cuffs　on　you。　Forget　that　ape。　You　don't　need　him。〃　I　gave　it　some　thought；　then　decided　he　was　probably　right。　There　was　no　sense　blowing　everything　just　for　the　sake　of　some　violent　ape　I'd　never　met。　For　all　I　knew；　hed　take　a　bite　out　of　my　head　if　I　tried　to　bail　him　out。　It　would　take　him　a　while　to　calm　down；　after　the　shock　of　being　put　behind　bars；　and　I　couldnt　afford　to　wait　around。　〃When　are　you　taking　off？〃　Bruce　asked。
　　〃As　soon　as　possible；〃　I　said。　No　point　hanging　around　this　town　any　lobger。　IU　have　all　I　need。　Anything　else　would　only　confuse　me。〃　He　seemed　suprised。　〃You　found　the　American　Dream？〃　he　said。　〃In　this　town？〃　I　nodded。　〃We're　sitting　on　the　main　nerve　rightnow；〃　I　said。　〃You　remember　that　story　the　manager　told　us　about　the　owner　of　this　place？　How　he　always　wanted　to　run　away　and　join　the　circus　when　he　was　a　kid？〃　Bruce　ordered　two　more　beers。　He　looked　over　the　casino　for　a　moment；　then　shrugged。　〃Yeah；　I　see　what　you　mean；〃　he　said。　〃Now　the　bastard　has　his　own　circus；　and　a　license　to　steal；　too。〃　He　nodded。　〃You're　right…he's　the　model。〃
　　〃Absolutely；〃　I　said。　〃It's　pure　Horatio　Alger；　all　the　way　down　to　his　attitude。　I　tried　to　tell　the　woman　that　I　agreed　with　everything　he　stood　for；　but　she　said　if　I　knew　what　was　good　for　me　I'd　get　the　hell　out　of　town　and　not　even　think　about　bothering　the　Boss。　〃He　really　hates　reporters〃　she　said。　〃I　don't　mean　this　to　sound　like　a　warning；　bit　if　I　were　you　I'd　take　it　that　way　。。。　〃〃　Bruce　nodded。　The　Boss　was　paying　him　a　thousand　bucks　a　week　to　work　two　sets　a　night　in　the　Leopard　Lounge；　andanother　two　grand　for　the　group。　All　they　had　to　do　was　make　a　hell　of　a　lot　of　noise　for　two　hours　every　night。　The　Boss　didn't　give　a　flying　fuck　what　kind　of　songs　they　sang；　just　as　long　as　the　beat　was　heavy　and　the　amps　were　turned　up　loud　enough　to　lure　people　into　the　bar。
　　It　was　strange　to　sit　there　in　Vegas　and　hear　Bruce　singing　powerful　stuff　like　〃Chicago〃　and　〃Country　Song。〃　If　the　management　had　bothered　to　hear　the　lyrics；　the　whole　band　would　have　been　tarred　and　feathered。
　　Several　months　later；　in　Aspen；　Bruce　sang　the　same　songs　in　a　club　jammed　with　tourists　and　a　former　Astronaut*　and　when　the　last　set　was　over；　___　came　over　to　our　table　and　began　yelling　all　kinds　of　drunken；　super…patriot　gibber　ish；　hitting　on　Bruce　about　〃What　kind　of　nerve　does　a　god　damn　Canadian　have　to　e　down　here　and　insult　this　country？〃
　　〃Say　man；〃　I　said。　〃I'm　an　Amei…ican。　I　live　here；　and　I　agree　with　every　fucking　word　he　says。〃　At　this　point　the　hash…bouncers　appeared；　grinning　inscrutably　and　saying：　〃Good　evening　to　you　gentlemen。　The　I　Ching　says　it's　time　to　be　quiet；　right？　And　nobody　hassles　the　musicians　in　this　place；　is　that　clear？〃　The　Astronaut　left；　muttering　darkly　about　using　his　in　fluence　to　〃get　something　done；　damn　quick；〃　about　the　Immigration　Statutes。　〃What's　your　name？〃　he　asked　me；　as　the　hash…bouncers　eased　him　away。
　　〃Bob　Zimmerman；〃　I　said。　〃And　if　there's　one　thing　I　hate　in　this　world；　it's　a　goddamn　bonehead　Polack。〃
　　〃You　think　I'm　a　Polack？〃　he　screamed。　〃You　dirty　gold　bricker！　You're　all　shit！　You　don't　represent　this　country。〃
　　〃Christ；　let's　hope　to　hell　you　don't。〃　Bruce　Mmuttered。　____　was　still　raving　as　they　muscled　him　out　to　the　street。
　　T^he　nest　noght；　in　another　restaurant；　the　Astronaut　was　scarfing　his　chow…stone　soer…when　a　fourteen　year　old　boy　approached　the　table　to　ask　for　an　autograph。　____　acted　coy　moment；　feigning　embarrassment；　then　he　scrawled　his　signature　on　the　small　piece　of　paper　the　boy　handed　him。　The　boy　looked　at　it　for　a　moment；　then　tore　it　into　small　pieces　and　dropped　it　in　…____'s　lap。　〃Not　everybody　loves　you；　man。〃　he　said。　Then　he　went　back　and　sat　down　at　his　own　table　about　six　feet　away。
　　The　Astronaut's　party　was　speechiess。　Eight　or　ten　people…wives；　managers　and　favored　senior　engineers；　showing　a　good　time　in　fabulous　Aspen。　Now　they　looked　like　somebody　had　just　sprayed　their　table　with　shit…mist。　Nobody　a　word。　They　ate　quickly；　and　left　without　tipping。
　　So　much　for　Aspen　and　astronauts。　_____　would　never　have　kind　of　trouble　in　LasVegas。
　　A　little　bit　of　this　town　goes　a　very　long　way。　After　five　in　Vegas　you　feel　like　you've　been　here　for　five　years。　Some　people　say　they　like　it…but　then　some　people　like　Nixon；　too。　He　would　have　made　a　perfect　Mayor　for　this　town；　with　John　Mitchell　as　Sheriff　and　Agnew　as　Master　of　Sewers。
　　
　　　13。　End　of　the　Road　。。。Death　of　the　Whale。。。Soaking　Sweats　in　the　Airport。
　　
　　When　I　tried　to　sit　down　at　the　baccarat　table　the　bouncers　the　arm　on　me。　〃You　don't　belong　here；〃　one　of　them　said　quietly。　〃Let's　go　outside。〃
　　〃Why　not？〃　I　said。
　　They　took　me　out　to　the　front　entrance　and　signaled　for　the　Whale　to　be　brought　up。
　　〃Where's　your　friend？〃　they　asked；　while　we　waited。
　　'What　friend？〃　'The　big　spic。〃
　　〃Look；〃　I　said。　〃I'm　a　Doctor　of　Journalism。　You'd　never　me　hanging　around　this　place　with　a　goddamn　spic。〃　They。　laughed。　〃Then　what　about　this？〃　they　said。　And　they　confronted　me　with　a　big　photograph　of　me　and　my　attorney　at　a　table　in　the　floating　bar。
　　I　srugged。　〃That's　not　me；〃　I　said。　〃That's　a　guy　named　Thompson。　He　works　for　Rolling　Stone。。。a　really　vicious；　crazy　kind　of　person。　And　that　guy　sitting　next　to　him　is　a　hit　man　for　the　Mafia　in　Hollywood。　Shit；　have　you　studied　this　photograph？　What　kind　of　a　maniac　would　roam　around　wearing　one　black　glove。〃
　　〃We　noticed　that。〃　They　said。　〃Where　is　he　now？〃　I　shrugged。　〃He　moves　around　pretty　fast。　〃　I　said。　His　oerders　e　out　of　St。　Loius。〃　They　stared　at　me。　〃How　do　you　know　all　this　stuff？〃　I　showed　them　my　gold　PBA　badge；　flashing　it　quickly　with　my　back　to　the　crowd。　〃Act　natural；〃　I　whispered。　〃Don't　put　me　on　the　spot。〃　They　were　still　standing　there　when　I　drove　off　in　the　Whale。　The　geek　had　brought　it　up　at　exactly　the　right　moment。　I　gave　him　a　five…dollar　bill　and　hit　the　street　with　a　stylish　screech　of　rubber。
　　It　was　all　ovet　now。　I　drove　across　to　the　Flamingo　and　loaded　all　my　luggage　into　the　car。　I　tried　to　put　the　top　up；　for　privacy；　but　something　was　wrong　with　the　motor。　The　generator　light　had　been　on；　fiery　red；　ever　since　I'd　driven　the　thing　into　Lake　Mead　on　a　water　test。　A　quick　run　along　the　dashboard　disclosed　that　every　circuit　in　the　car　was　to　tally　fucked。　Nothing　worked。　Not　even　the　headlights…and　when　I　hit　the　air　conditioner　button　I　heard　a　nasty　explosion　under　the　hood。
　　The　top　was　jammed　about　halfway　up；　but　I　decided　to　try　for　the　airport。　If　this　goddamn　junker　wouldn't　run　right；　I　could　always　abandon　it　and　call　a　cab。　To　hell　with　this　gar　bage　from　Detroit。　They　shouldn't　be　allowed　to　get　away　with　it。
　　The　sun　was　ing　up　when　I　got　to　the　airport。　I　left　the　Whale　in　the　VIP　parking　lot。　A　kid　about　fifteen　years　old　checked　it　in；　but　I　refused　to　answer　his　questions。　He　was　very　excited　about　the　overall　condition　of　the　vehicle。　〃Holy　God！〃　he　kept　shouting。　〃How　did　this　happen？〃　He　kept　moving　around　the　car；　pointing　at　various　dents；　rips　and　crushed　places。
　　〃I　know；〃　I　said。　〃They　beat　the　shit　out　of　it。　This　is　a　ter　rible　goddamn　town　for　driving　around　in　convertibles。　The　worst　time　was　right　out　on　the　Boulevard　in　front　of　the　Sahara。　You　know　that　corner　where　all　the　junkies　hang　out？　Jesus；　I　couldn't　believe　it　when　they　all　went　crazy　at　once。〃　The　kid　was　none　too　bright。　His　face　had　gone　blank　early　on；　and　now　heseemed　in　a　state　of　mute　fear。
　　〃Don't　worry；〃　I　said。　〃I'm　insured。〃　I　showed　him　the　contract；　pointin　to　the　small…print　clause　where　it　said　I　was　insured　against　ALL　damages；　for　only　two　dollars　a　day。
　　The　kid　was　still　nodding　when　I　fled。　I　felt　a　bit　guilty　about　leaving　him　to　deal　with　the　car。　There　was　no　way　explain　the　massive　damage。　It　was　finished；　a　wreck；　totaled　out。　Under　normal　circumstances　I　would　have　been　seized　and　arrested　when　l　tried　to　turn　it　in。。。but　not　at　this　of　the　morning；　with　only　this　kid　to　deal　with。　I　was；　all；　a　〃VIP。〃　Otherwise；　they　would　never　have　chartered　the　car　to　me　in　the　first　place。。。。。
　　Let　the　chickens　e　home　to　roost；　I　thought　as　I　hurried　into　the　airport。　It　was　still　too　early　to　act　normal；　so　I　hunkered　down　in　th