thunter.fearloathinglasvegas-第7章

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　　〃Good　god！　Let's　get　out　of　here。　Where's　the　elevator？〃
　　〃Don't　go　near　that　elevator；〃　I　said。　〃That's　just　what　they　want　us　to　do　。　。　。　trap　us　in　a　steel　box　and　take　us　down　to　the　basement。〃　I　looked　over　my　shoulder；　but　nobody　was　following。
　　〃Don't　run；〃　I　said。　〃They'd　like　an　excuse　to　shoot　us。〃　He　nodded；　seeming　to　understand。　We　walked　fast　along　the　big　indoor　midway…shooting　galleries；　tattoo　parlors；　money…changers　and　cotton…candy　booths…then　out　through　a　bank　of　glass　doors　and　across　the　grass　downhill　to　a　parking　lot　where　the　Red　Shark　waited。
　　'You　drive；〃　he　said。　〃I　think　there's　something　wrong　with　me。〃
　　
　　　7。　Paranoid　Terror。。。and　the　Aweful　Specter　of　Sodomy。。。A　Flashing　of　Knives　and　Green　Water
　　
　　When　we　got　to　the　Mint　I　parked　on　the　street　in　front　of　the　casino；　around　a　corner　from　the　parking　lot。　No　point　risking　a　scene　in　the　lobby；　I　thought。　Neither　one　of　us　could　pass　for　drunk。　We　were　both　hyper…tense。　Extremely　menacing　vibrations　all　around　us。　We　hurried　through　the　casino　and　up　the　rear　escalator。
　　We　made　it　to　the　room　without　meeting　anybody…but　the　key　wouldn't　open　the　door。　My　attorney　was　struggling　desperately　with　it。　〃Those　bastards　have　changed　the　lock　on　us；〃　he　groaned。　〃They　probably　searched　the　room。　Jesus；　we're　finished。〃　Suddenly　the　door　swung　open。　We　hesitated；　then　hurried　inside。　No　sign　of　trouble。　〃Bolt　everything；〃　said　my　attorney。　〃Use　all　chains。〃　He　was　staring　at　two　Mint　Hotel　Room　keys　in　his　hand。　〃Where　did　this　one　e　from？〃　he　said；　holding　up　a　key　with　number　1221　on　it。
　　〃That's　Lacerda's　room；〃　I　said。
　　He　smiled。　〃Yeah；　that's　right。　I　thought　we　might　need　it。〃
　　〃What　for？〃
　　〃Let's　go　up　there　and　blast　him　out　of　bed　with　the　fire　he　said。
　　〃No；〃　I　said。　〃We　should　leave　the　poor　bastard　alone；　I　get　the　feeling　he's　avoiding　us　for　some　reason。〃
　　〃Don't　kid　yourself；〃　he　said。　〃That　Portuguese　son　of　bitch　is　dangerous。　He's　watching　us　like　a　hawk。〃　He　squinted　at　me。　〃Have　you　made　a　deal　with　him？〃
　　〃I　talked　with　him　on　the　phone；〃　I　said；　〃while　you　were　out　getting　the　car　washed。　He　said　he　was　turning　in　early；　so　he　can　get　out　there　to　the　starting　line　at　dawn。〃　My　attorney　was　not　listening。　He　utt。ered　an　anguished　cry　and　smacked　the　wall　with　both　hands。　〃That　dirty　bastard！〃　he　shouted。　〃I　knew　it！　He　got　hold　of　my　woman！〃　I　laughed。　〃That　little　blonde　groupie　with　the　film　crew？　You　think　he　sodomized　her？〃
　　〃That's　right…laugh　about　it！〃　he　yelled。　〃You　goddamn　honkies　are　all　the　same。〃　By　this　time　he'd　opened　a　new　bottle　of　tequila　and　was　quaffing　it　down。　Then　he　grabbed　a　grapefruit　and　sliced　it　in　half　with　a　Gerber　Mini…Magnum…a　stainless…steel　hunting　knife　with　a　blade　like　a　fresh…honed　straight　razor。
　　〃Where'd　you　get　that　knife？〃　I　asked。
　　〃Room　service　sent　it　up；〃　he　said。　〃I　wanted　something　to　cut　the　limes。
　　〃What　limes？〃
　　〃They　didn't　have　any；〃　he　said。　〃They　don't　grow　out　here　in　the　desert。〃　He　sliced　the　grapefruit　into　quarters　then　into　eighths。。。then　sixteenths　。　。　。　then　he　began　aimlessly　at　the　residue。　〃That　dirty　toad　bastard；〃　he　moaned。　〃I　knew　I　should　have　taken　him　out　when　I　had　the　chance。　Now　he　has　her。〃　I　remembered　the　girl。　We'd　had　a　problem　with　her　on　the　elevator　a　few　hours　earlier：　my　attorney　had　made　a　fool　of　himself。
　　〃You　must　be　a　rider；〃　she'd　said。　〃What　class　are　you　in？〃
　　〃Class？〃　he　snapped。　〃What　the　fuck　do　you　mean？〃
　　〃What　do　you　ride？〃　she　asked　with　a　quick　smile。　〃We're　filming　the　race　for　a　TV　series…maybe　we　can　use　you。〃
　　〃Use　me？〃　Mother　of　God；　I　thought。　Here　it　es。　The　elevator　was　crowded　with　race　people：　it　was　taking　a　long　time　to　get　from　floor　to　floor。　By　the　time　we'd　stopped　at　Three；　he　was　trembling　badly。　Five　more　to　go。　。
　　〃I　ride　the　big　ones！〃　he　shouted　suddenly。　〃The　really　big　fuckers！〃　I　laughed；　trying　to　de…fuse　the　scene。　〃The　Vincent　Black　Shadow；〃　I　said。　〃We're　with　the　factory　team。〃　This　brought　a　murmur　of　rude　dissent　from　the　crowd。　〃Bullshit；〃　somebody　behind　me　muttered。
　　〃Wait　a　minute！〃　my　attorney　shouted。。。and　then　to　the　girl：　〃Pardon　me；　lady；　but　I　think　there's　some　kind　of　ignorant　chicken…sucker　in　this　car　who　needs　his　face　cut　open。〃　He　plunged　his　hand　into　the　pocket　of　his　black　plastic　jacket　and　turned　to　face　the　people　crowded　into　the　rear　of　the　elevator。　〃You　cheap　honky　faggots；〃　he　snarled。　〃Which　one　of　you　wants　to　get　cut？〃　I　was　watching　the　overhead　floor…indicator。　The　door　opened　at　Seven；　but　nobody　moved。　Dead　silence。　The　door　closed。　Up　to　Eight。。。then　open　again。　Still　no　sound　ormovement　in　the　crowded　car。　Just　as　the　door　began　to　close　I　stepped　off　and　grabbed　his　arm；　jerking　him　out　just　in　time。　The　doors　slid　shut　and　the　elevator　light　dinged　Nine。　〃Quick！　Into　the　room；〃　I　said。　〃Those　bastards　will　have　on　us！〃　We　ran　around　the　corner　to　the　room。　My　attorney　was　laughing　wildly。　〃Spooked！〃　he　shouted。　〃Did　you　see　that？　They　were　spooked。　Like　rats　in　a　death…cage！〃　Then；　as　we　bolted　the　door　behind　us；　he　stopped　laughing。　〃God　damn；〃　he　said。　〃It's　serious　now。　That　girl　understood。　She　fell　in　love　with　me。〃
　　
　　Now；　many　hours　later；　he　was　convinced　that　Lacerda…the　so…called　photographer…had　somehow　got　his　hands　on　the　girl。　〃Let's　go　up　there　and　castrate　that　fucker；〃　he　said；　waving　his　new　knife　around　in　quick　circles　in　front　of　his　teeth。　〃Did　you　put　him　onto　her？〃
　　〃Look；〃　I　said；　〃you'd　better　put　that　goddamn　blade　away　and　get　your　head　straight。　I　have　to　put　the　car　in　the　lot。〃　I　was　backing　slowly　towards　the　door。　One　of　the　things　you　learn；　after　years　of　dealing　with　drug　people；　is　that　everything　is　serious。　You　can　turn　your　back　on　a　person；　but　never　turn　your　back　on　a　drug…especially　when　it's　waving　a　razor…sharp　hunting　knife　in　your　eyes。
　　〃Take　a　shower；〃　I　said。　〃I'll　be　back　in　twenty　minutes。〃　I　left　quickly；　locking　the　door　behind　me　and　taking　the　key　to　Lacerda's　room…the　one　my　attorney　had　stolen　earlier。　That　poor　geek；　I　thought；　as　I　hurried　down　the　escalator。　They　sent　him　out　here　on　this　perfectly　reasonable　assignment…just　a　few　photos　of　motorcycles　and　dune　buggies　racing　around　the　desert…and　now　he　was　plunged；　without　realizing　it；　into　the　maw　of　some　world　beyond　his　ken。　There　was　no　way　he　could　possibly　understand　what　was　happening。
　　
　　What　were　we　doing　out　here？　What　was　the　meaning　of　this　trip？　Did　I　actually　have　a　big　red　convertible　out　there　on　the　street？　Was　I　just　roaming　around　these　Mint　Hotel　escalators　in　a　drug　frenzy　of　some　kind；　or　had　I　really　e　out　here　to　Las　Vegas　to　work　on　a　story？
　　I　reached　in　my　pocket　for　the　room　key；　〃1850；〃　it　said。　At　least　that　much　was　real。　So　my　immediate　task　was　to　deal　with　the　car　and　get　back　to　that　room　。　。　。　and　then　hopefully　get　straight　enough　to　cope　with　whatever　might　happen　at　dawn。
　　Now　off　the　escalator　and　into　the　casino；　big　crowds　still　tight　around　the　crap　tables。　Who　are　these　people？　These　faces！　Where　do　they　e　from？　They　look　like　caricatures　of　used…car　dealers　from　Dallas。　But　they're　real。　And；　sweet　Jesus；　there　are　a　hell　of　a　lot　of　them…still　screaming　around　these　desert…city　crap　tables　at　four…thirty　on　a　Sunday　morning。　Still　humping　the　American　Dream；　that　vision　of　the　Big　Winner　somehow　emerging　from　the　last　…　minute　pre…dawn　chaos　of　a　stale　Vegas　casino。
　　Big　strike　in　Silver　City。　Beat　the　dealer　and　go　home　rich。　Why　not？　I　stopped　at　the　Money　Wheel　and　dropped　a　dollar　on　Thomas　Jefferson…a　2　bill；　the　straight　Freak　ticket；　thinking　as　always　that　some　idle　instinct　bet　might　carry　the　whole　thing　off。
　　But　no。　Just　another　two　bucks　down　the　tube。　You　bastards！
　　No。　Calm　down。　Learn　to　enjoy　losing。　The　important　thing　is　to　cover　this　story　on　its　own　terms；　leave　the　other　stuff　to　Life　and　Look…at　least　for　now。　On　the　way　down　the　escalator　I　saw　the　Life　man　twisted　feverishly　into　the　telegraph　booth；　chanting　his　wisdom　into　the　ear　of　some　horny　robot　in　a　cubicle　on　that　other　coast。　Indeed：　〃LAS　VEGAS　AT　DAWN…The　racers　are　still　asleep；　the　dust　is　still　on　the　desert；　50；000　in　prize　money　slumbers　darkly　in　the　office　safe　at　Del　Webb's　fabulous　Mint　Hotel　in　the　bright　heart　of　Casino　Center。　Extreme　tension。　And　our　Life　team　is　here　（as　always；　with　a　sturdy　police　escort。。。）。〃　Pause。　〃Yes；　operator；　that　word　was　police。　What　else？　This　is；　after　all；　a　Life　Special。。。
　　The　Red　Shark　was　out　on　Fremont　where　I'd　left　it。　I　drove　around　to　the　garage　and　checked　it　in…Dr。　Gonzo's　car；　no　problem；　and　if　any　of　your　men　fall　idle　we　can　use　awax　job　before　morning。　Yes；　of　course…just　bill　the　room。
　　
　　？　　？　　？
　　
　　My　attorney　was　in　the　bathtub　when　I　returned。　Submerged　in　green　water…the　oily　product　of　some　Japanese　bath　salts　he'd　picked　up　in　the　hotel　gift　shop；　along　with　a　new　AM/FM　radio　plugged　into　the　electric　razor　socket。　Top　volume。　Some　gibberish　by　a　thing　called　〃Three　Dog　Night；〃　about　a　frog　named　Jeremiah　who　wanted　〃Joy　to　the　World。〃First　Lennon；　now　this；　I　thought。　Next　we'll　have　Glenn　Campbell　screaming　〃Where　Have　All　the　Flowers　Gone？〃　Where　indeed？　No　flowers　in　this　town。　Only　carnivorous　plants。　I　turned　the　volume　down　and　noticed　a　hunk　of　chewed…up　white　paper　beside　the　radio。　My　attorney　seemed　not　to　notice　the　sound…change。　He　was　lost　in　a　fog　of　green　steam；　only　half　his　head　was　visible　above　the　water　line。
　　〃You　ate　this？〃　I　asked；　holding　up　the　white　pad。
　　He　ignored　me。　But　I　knew。　He　would　be　very　difficult　to　reach　for　the　next　six　hours。　The　whole　blotter　was　chewed　up。
　　〃You　evil　son　of　a　bitch；〃　I　said。　〃You　better　hope　there's　some　thorazine　in　that　bag；　because　if　there's　not　you're　in　bad　trouble　tomorrow。〃
　　〃Music！〃　he　snarled。　〃Turn　it　up。　Put　that　tape　on。〃
　　〃What　tape？〃
　　〃The　new　one。　It's　right　there。〃　I　picked　up　the　radio　and　noticed　that　it　was　also　a　tape　recorder…one　of　those　things　with　a　cassette…unit　built　in。　And　the　tape；　Surrealistic　Pillow；　needed　only　to　be　flipped　over。　He　had　already　gone　through　side　one…at　a　volume　that　must　have　been　audible　in　every　room　within　a　radius　of　one　hundred　yards；　walls　and　all。
　　〃'White　Rabbit；〃'　he　said。　〃I　want　a　rising　sound。〃
　　〃You're　doomed；〃　I　said。　〃I'm　leaving　here　in　two　hours…and　then　they're　going　to　e　up　here　and　beat　the　mortal　shit　out　of　you　with　big　saps。　Right　there　in　the　tub。〃
　　〃I　dig　my　own　graves；〃　he　said。　〃Green　water　and　the　White　Rabbit。。。put　it　on；　don't　make　me　use　this。〃　His　arm　lashed　out　of　the　water；　the　hunting　knife　gripped　in　his　fist。
　　〃Jesus；〃　I　muttered。　And　at　that　point　I　figured　he　was　I　help…lying　there　in　the　tub　with　a　head　full　of　acidand　the　sharpest　knife　I've　ever　seen；　totally　incapable　of　reason；　demanding　the　White　Rabbit。　This　is　it；　I　thought。　〃I've　gone　as　far　as　I　can　with　this　waterhead。　This　time　it's　a　suicide　trip。　This　time　he　wants　it。　He's　ready。。
　　〃OK；〃　I　said；　turning　the　tape　over　and　pushing　the　〃play〃　button。　〃But　do　me　one　last　favor；　will　you？　Can　you　give　me　two　hours？　That's　all　I　ask…just　two　hou