iancaldwell&dustinthomason.theruleoffour-第53章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


he　tree　line　of　the　Institute　woods；　its　canopy　tinseled　in　white。
　〃He's　still　at　the　police　station；〃　Paul　says；　almost　to　himself。　〃The　lights　are　off。〃
　〃Jesus；　Paul；〃　I　say。　〃How　do　even　you　know　the　blueprint　is　here？〃
　〃It's　the　only　other　place　he　could've　hidden　it。〃
　Gil　doesn't　even　hear　us。　Shaken　by　the　sight　of　Taft's　house；　he　lightens　pressure　on　the　brakes；　letting　us　roll　in　neutral；　prepared　to　go　back。　Just　as　his　foot　begins　to　engage　the　clutch；　though；　Paul　yanks　the　door　handle　and　stumbles　out　onto　the　curb。
　〃Damn　it。〃　Gil　brings　the　Saab　to　a　halt　and　gets　out。　〃Paul！〃
　The　wind　hisses　around　the　door　as　he　opens　it；　muffling　his　words。　I　can　see　Paul　mouth　something　to　us；　pointing　at　the　house。　He　begins　hiking　toward　it　in　the　snow。
　〃Paul　。　。　。〃　I　get　out　of　the　car；　trying　to　keep　my　voice　at　a　whisper。
　A　light　in　the　neighboring　house　es　on；　but　Paul　pays　no　attention。　He　paces　up　to　Taft's　front　porch　and　puts　his　ear　to　the　door；　gently　rapping。
　The　wind　whips　through　the　columns　of　the　fa？ade；　licking　puffs　of　snow　from　the　eaves。　The　window　next　door　goes　black。　When　Paul　gets　no　answer；　he　tries　to　turn　the　knob；　but　the　lock　holds　fast。
　〃What　do　we　do？〃　Gil　says；　beside　him。
　Paul　knocks　again；　then　pulls　a　ring　of　keys　from　his　pocket　and　cradles　one　into　the　slot。　Putting　a　shoulder　into　the　wood；　he　sweeps　the　door　forward。　Hinges　squeal。
　〃We　can't　do　this；〃　I　say　as　I　walk　toward　them；　trying　for　some　authority。
　But　Paul　is　already　inside；　scanning　the　first　floor。　Without　a　word；　he's　deep　into　the　house。
　〃Vincent？〃　es　his　voice；　feeling　out　the　darkness。　〃Vincent；　are　you　here？〃
　The　words　bee　distant。　I　hear　feet　on　a　staircase；　then　nothing。
　〃Where'd　he　go？〃　Gil　says；　moving　toward　me。
　There　is　an　odd　odor　in　here；　distant　but　strong。　The　wind　es　at　our　backs；　snapping　our　jackets；　making　the　fingers　of　Gil's　hair　twist　in　the　updraft。　I　turn　and　shut　the　door　behind　us。　Gil's　cell　phone　begins　to　ring。
　I　flip　a　wall　switch；　but　the　room　stays　dark。　My　eyes　are　beginning　to　adjust。　Taft's　dining　room　is　in　front　of　me；　baroque　furniture　and　dark　walls　and　claw…legged　chairs。　At　the　far　end　is　the　foot　of　a　staircase。
　Gil's　phone　rings　again。　He　is　behind　me；　calling　out　Paul's　name。　The　odor　intensifies。　Three　objects　sit　in　a　tangle　on　the　credenza　by　the　staircase。　A　tattered　billfold；　a　set　of　keys；　a　pair　of　eyeglasses。　Suddenly　everything　es　into　focus。
　I　turn　back。　〃Answer　the　phone。〃
　By　the　time　he　reaches　into　his　pocket；　I'm　already　climbing　the　stairs。
　〃Katie　。　。　。　？〃　I　can　hear　him　say。
　Everything　is　overlapping　shadows。　The　staircase　seems　fractured；　like　darkness　through　a　prism。　Gil's　voice　rises。
　What？　Jesus　。　。　。
　Then　he's　racing　up　the　stairs；　pushing　at　my　back；　barking　at　me　to　hurry；　telling　me　what　I　already　know。
　Taft's　not　at　the　police　station。　They　released　him　more　than　an　hour　ago。
　We　reach　the　landing　just　in　time　to　hear　Paul　screaming。
　Gil　is　pressing　me　forward；　forcing　me　up　toward　the　sound。　Like　the　shadow　of　a　wave　at　the　moment　before　impact；　it　settles　over　me　that　we　are　too　late；　that　it　has　already　happened。　Gil　pushes　past　me；　moving　down　a　corridor　to　the　right；　and　I'm　aware　of　myself　in　flashes；　in　the　gaps　between　instincts。　My　legs　are　in　motion。　Time　is　slowing；　the　world　is　cycling　in　a　lower　gear。
　Oh　God；　Paul　moans。　Help　me。
　The　walls　of　the　bedroom　are　shot　with　moonlight。　Paul's　voice　es　from　the　bathroom。　The　smell　is　here；　of　fireworks　and　cap　guns；　of　everything　out　of　place。　There　is　blood　on　the　walls。　In　the　tub　is　a　body。　Paul　is　on　his　knees；　bent　over　the　porcelain　rim。
　Taft　is　dead。
　　
　Gil　stumbles　out　of　the　room；　but　my　eyes　trip　over　the　sight。　Taft　lies　on　his　back　in　the　basin；　his　gut　flattened　on　top　of　him。　There　is　a　gunshot　in　his　chest；　and　another　between　his　eyes；　with　a　well　of　blood　still　seeping　across　his　forehead。　When　Paul　extends　a　trembling　arm；　I　feel　the　sudden　urge　to　laugh。　The　sensation　es；　then　fades。　I　feel　sleepy；　almost　drunk。
　Gil　is　calling　the　police。　An　emergency；　he　says。　On　Olden　Street。　At　the　Institute。
　His　voice　is　loud　against　the　silence。　Paul　mumbles　the　house　number；　and　Gil　echoes　it　into　the　phone。
　Hurry。
　Suddenly　Paul　raises　himself　from　the　floor。　〃We　need　to　get　out　of　here。〃
　〃What？〃
　My　senses　are　returning。　I　put　a　hand　on　Paul's　shoulder；　but　he　darts　into　the　bedroom；　looking　everywhere…the　space　beneath　the　bed；　the　crack　between　the　doors　of　Taft's　closet；　odd　slats　in　tall　bookshelves。
　〃It's　not　here　。　。　。〃　he　says。　Then　he　turns；　struck　by　something　else。　〃The　map；〃　he　blurts。　〃Where's　my　map？〃
　Gil　looks　at　me　as　if　this　is　it；　the　sign　that　Paul　has　lost　touch。
　〃In　the　lockbox　at　Ivy；〃　he　says；　taking　Paul　by　the　arm。　〃Where　we　put　it。〃
　But　Paul　shakes　him　off　and　begins　toward　the　stairs　on　his　own。　In　the　far　distance　there　es　the　sound　of　sirens。
　〃We　can't　leave；〃　I　call　out。
　Gil　glances　at　me；　but　follows　him。　The　sirens　are　closer　now…blocks　away；　but　rising。　Outside；　through　the　window；　the　hills　are　the　color　of　metal。　In　a　church　somewhere；　it　is　Easter。
　〃I　lied　to　the　police　about　Vincent；〃　Paul　cries　back。　〃I　can't　be　here　when　they　find　him。〃
　I　follow　them　out　the　front　door；　pushing　toward　the　Saab。　Gil　fires　the　engine；　flooding　it　with　gas；　and　the　car　roars　in　neutral；　loud　enough　to　bring　on　the　lights　in　the　house　next　door。　Throwing　the　gearshift　into　first；　he　guns　the　engine　again。　When　the　tires　catch　asphalt；　the　car　rockets　into　motion。　Just　as　Gil　turns　onto　an　adjoining　road；　the　first　patrol　car　arrives　at　the　opposite　end　of　the　street。　We　watch　as　it　es　to　a　stop　in　front　of　Taft's　house。
　〃Where　are　we　going？〃　Gil　says；　glancing　at　Paul　in　the　rearview　mirror。
　〃Ivy；〃　he　says。
　
　Chapter　28
　
　The　club　is　silent　when　we　arrive。　Someone　has　piled　rags　on　the　floor　of　the　main　hall　to　sop　up　the　alcohol　Parker　spilled；　but　puddles　of　booze　still　glisten。　Curtains　and　tablecloths　are　stained。　Nowhere　is　the　staff　to　be　found。　Kelly　Danner　seems　to　have　emptied　the　club　of　every　last　soul。
　The　carpet　on　the　stairway　to　the　second　floor　is　damp　underfoot；　where　partygoers　have　trudged　alcohol　up　on　the　bottoms　of　their　shoes。　At　the　entrance　to　the　Officers'　Room；　Gil　closes　the　door　and　flicks　on　the　overhead　lamp。　The　remains　of　the　broken　wet　bar　are　pushed　up　into　a　corner。　A　fire　has　been　left　to　die　in　the　fireplace；　but　the　embers　are　still　raw；　spitting　up　stray　flames　and　red　heat。
　Seeing　the　phone　on　the　table；　I　think　of　the　number　I　couldn't　remember　when　Gil's　cell　phone　went　dead；　and　it　es　to　me　suddenly；　what　all　of　this　is。　A　failure　of　memory；　a　mismunication。　The　line　connecting　Richard　Curry　to　Paul　has　filled　with　static；　and　somehow　Curry's　message　was　lost。　Yet　Curry　had　made　his　demands　clear。
　Tell　me　where　the　blueprint　is；　Vincent；　he　said　at　the　Good　Friday　lecture；　and　you　won't　see　me　again。　That's　the　only　business　we　have　anymore。　But　Taft　refused。
　Gil　produces　a　key　and　opens　the　mahogany　lockbox。　〃Here；〃　he　says　to　Paul；　pulling　out　the　map。
　I　can　see　Curry　again；　advancing　toward　Paul　in　the　courtyard；　then　backing　away　toward　the　chapel；　toward　Dickinson　Hall　and　Bill　Stein's　office。
　〃Jesus；〃　Gil　says；　〃how　are　we　going　to　deal　with　this？〃
　〃Call　the　police；〃　I　tell　him。　〃Curry　could　e　for　Paul。〃
　〃No；〃　Paul　says。　〃He　won't　hurt　me。〃
　But　Gil　meant　something　else：　dealing　with　what　we've　done；　fleeing　Taft's　house。　〃Curry　killed　Taft？〃　he　says。
　I　lock　the　door。　〃And　he　killed　Stein。〃
　The　room　suddenly　feels　airtight。　The　wreckage　of　the　wet　bar；　brought　up　from　downstairs；　gives　the　place　a　sweet；　rotten　odor。
　Gil　stands　at　the　head　of　the　table；　speechless。
　〃He　won't　hurt　me；〃　Paul　repeats。
　But　I　remember　the　letter　we　found　in　Stein's　desk。　I　have　a　proposition　for　you。　There's　more　than　enough　here　to　suit　both　of　us。　Followed　by　Curry's　reply；　which　I'd　misunderstood　until　now：　What　about　Paul？
　〃He　will；〃　I　say。
　〃You're　wrong；　Tom；〃　Paul　snaps。
　But　I'm　seeing　more　and　more　clearly　where　this　all　leads。
　〃You　showed　Curry　the　diary　when　we　went　to　the　exhibit；〃　I　tell　him。　〃He　knew　Taft　had　stolen　it。〃
　〃Yes；　but…〃
　〃Stein　even　told　him　they　were　going　to　steal　your　thesis。　Curry　wanted　to　get　it　before　they　did。〃
　〃Tom…〃
　〃Then；　at　the　hospital；　you　told　him　everything　you'd　found。　You　even　told　him　you　were　looking　for　the　blueprint。〃
　I　reach　for　the　phone；　but　Paul　places　a　hand　down　on　the　receiver；　holding　it　in　place。
　〃Stop；　Tom；〃　he　says。　〃Listen　to　me。〃
　〃He　killed　them。〃
　Now　it's　Paul　who　leans　in；　looking　heartbroken；　to　say　something　Gil　and　I　don't　expect。
　〃Yes。　That's　what　I'm　telling　you。　Will　you　just　listen？　That's　what　he　meant　at　the　hospital。　Remember？　Just　before　you　came　into　the　waiting　room？　We　understand　each　other；　son。　He　told　me　he　couldn't　sleep　because　he　was　worried　about　me。〃
　〃So？〃
　Paul's　voice　trembles。　〃Then　he　said；　If　I'd　known　what　you　were　going　to　do；　I　would've　done　things　differently。　Richard　thought　I　knew　he'd　killed　Bill。　He　meant　he　would've　done　it　differently　if　he'd　known　I　was　going　to　leave　Vincent's　lecture　early。　That　way　the　police　wouldn't　have　e　looking　for　me。〃
　Gil　begins　pacing。　On　the　far　side　of　the　room；　a　log　breaks　in　the　fireplace。
　〃Remember　the　poem　he　mentioned　at　the　exhibit？〃
　〃Browning。　'Andrea　del　Sarto。'　〃
　〃How　did　it　go？〃
　〃　'You　do　what　many　dream　of；　all　their　lives；'　〃　I　tell　him。　〃　'Dream？　Strive　to　do；　and　agonize　to　do；　and　fail　in　doing。'　〃
　〃Why　would　he　choose　that　poem？〃
　〃Because　it　went　with　the　del　Sarto　painting。〃
　Paul　bangs　his　hand　on　the　table。　〃No。　Because　we　solved　what　he　and　your　father　and　Vincent　never　solved。　What　Richard　dreamed　of　doing；　all　his　life。　What　he　strove；　and　agonized；　and　failed　in　doing。〃
　A　frustration　has　e　over　him　that　I　haven't　seen　since　we　worked　together；　when　he　seemed　to　expect　that　we　could　act　as　a　single　organism；　think　a　single　thought。　It　shouldn't　be　taking　you　that　long。　It　shouldn't　be　that　hard。　We　are　riddling　again；　puzzling　meaning　from　a　man　he　thinks　we　ought　to　know　equally。　I　have　never　understood　Colonna；　or　Curry；　well　enough　for　Paul。
　〃I　don't　understand；〃　Gil　says；　seeing　that　something　has　e　between　us；　something　outside　his　experience。
　〃The　paintings；〃　Paul　says；　still　to　me；　trying　to　make　me　see。　〃The　stories　of　Joseph。　I　even　told　you　what　they　meant。　We　just　didn't　know　what　Richard　was　getting　at。　Now　Jacob　loved　Joseph　more　than　all　his　children；　because　he　was　the　son　of　his　old　age。　And　he　made　him　a　coat　of　many　colors。〃
　He　waits　for　me　to　give　some　signal；　to　tell　him　I　understand；　but　I　can't。
　〃It's　a　gift；〃　he　says　finally。　〃Richard　thinks　he's　giving　me　a　gift。〃
　〃A　gift？〃　Gil　asks。　〃Have　you　lost　your　mind？　What　gift？〃
　〃This；〃　Paul　says；　extending　his　arms；　enpassing　everything。　〃What　he　did　to　Bill。　What　he　did　to　Vincent。　He　stopped　them　from　taking　it　away　from　me。　He's　giving　me　what　I　found　in　the　Hypnerotomachia。〃
　There　is　an　awful　equanimity　when　he　says　it；　fear　and　pride　and　sadness　circling　around　a　quie