js&cs.thebridge-第15章

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　　ments；　toward　Kirk's　big　date　with　destiny。　He'd　believe　it　when　he　saw　it；　Kirk's　wake…up　call　came　at　least　three　times　a　month；　and　he　hadn't　woken　up　yet。　He　thumbed　in　the　dashboard　lighter；　fished　a　joint　of　homegrown　from　his　pocket　and　fired　when　ready；　going　shhhup　as　he　sucked　in　a　lungful　of　sweet　smoke。
　　He　offered　it　to　Kirk。　Kirk　abruptly　recoiled。　〃No；　I　better　not　。。。　〃　he　began；　then　just　as　suddenly　changed　his　mind。　〃Aw；　hell。　Who's　gonna　know？〃　Taking　a　tiny；　tentative　hit。
　　〃So　tell　me；〃　Mike　inquired；　〃why　you　think　this　is　such　a　big　deal。〃
　　〃Why？〃　Kirk　looked　astounded；　as　if　he'd　just　found　out　that　Mike　had　been　a　really　slow　child。　〃　'Cause　HazMat's　a　hook；　that's　why！　It's　not　just　a　story　in　itself；　it's　a　way　into　the　whole　larger　issue　of　toxic　waste；　from　a　local　perspective！　I　mean；　don't　you　see　how　hot　this　is？〃
　　Mike　said　nothing；　maddeningly　neutral。
　　〃Christ！〃　Kirk　yelled；　exasperated。　Then　he　took　another　tiny　hit　and　shot　Mike　a　demented　quiz…show…host　look。　〃Okay。　For　example。　Do　you　know　how　many　tons　of　toxic　shit　are　generated　around　here　every　year？〃
　　Mike　gave　him　a　slight；　startled　who　me？　look。　〃Um　。。。　〃　he　began。
　　〃Four　thousand　tons；〃　Kirk　answered　for　him；　dragging　out　the　words　dramatically。　〃That's　eight　million　pounds；　man。　Every　year。　In　this　county　alone。〃
　　〃Whoa。〃　Taking　the　joint　back；　toking　again。　The　figure　impressed　him。　〃That's　one　large　pile　of　shit。〃
　　〃Yup。　We're　talking　carcinogens；　mutagens；　fetalogens；　hallucinogens　。。。　〃　Kirk　was　in　Serious　Mode　now；　rattling　off　the　litany　with　practiced　vigor。　Mike　humored　him；　punctuating　each　technical　term　with　a　solemn　nod。　Especially　the　last　one。
　　Then　Quizmaster　Kirk　struck　again。　〃So　if　the　local　treatment　facility　can　only　actually　handle　maybe　sixty　percent　of　that；　where　does　the　rest　of　it　go？〃
　　〃Um　。。。　〃　Shrugging；　clueless。　Holding　in　his　hit。
　　〃Quick！〃　White　teeth　flashing。　〃Think！　Where　do　you　think　it　goes？〃
　　〃Umm　。。。　shit；　I　don't　know。〃　Exhaling；　huge。　〃Toad　Road；　I　guess。〃
　　〃Exactly！〃　Kirk　crowed。　〃And　a　hundred　other　places。　Like　any　goddam　place　they　want。　Burn　it。　Bury　it。　Dump　it　in　a　creek。　What　the　fuck　do　they　care？　It's　like　it　all　just　goes　away！〃
　　Mike　took　another　hit；　continued　listening　in　silence。
　　〃I　mean；　the　only　times　you　ever　hear　about　HazMat　are　a）　when　a　tanker　truck　flips　over　on　83　and　there's　no　way　to　hide　it；　or　b）　when　it's　a　fucking　Love　Canal。　You　never　hear　about　the　little　disasters；　where　maybe　it's　only　a　hundred　or　a　thousand　gallons；　and　it　all　drains　off　into　some　little　guy's　yard。　Those　are　the　kinds　of　stories　that　get　slipped　between　the　cracks。
　　〃That's　why　this　is　so　unbelievably　perfect。〃
　　He　paused　to　shake　his　head；　as　if　he　couldn't　believe　it　himself。　Mike　nodded　sympathetically。　〃I　mean；　I　must've　talked　to　Chris　about　this　fifty　times。　He　always　shrugs　it　off。　'No　hook；'　he　says；　'Makes　local　industry　look　bad。'　Hhhmph！〃
　　He　snorted　derisively。　Mike　handed　him　back　the　joint。　This　time；　there　was　no　hesitation。
　　〃Meanwhile；〃　he　continued；　〃every　year；　we　get　another　eight…million…pound　turd　in　our　pants。〃
　　Mike　laughed　out　loud。　Kirk　smiled；　pleased；　and　sucked　on　the　joint。　〃And　it's　only　a　matter　of　time；〃　he　concluded；　〃before　it　wakes　up　and　bites　off　our　ass。〃
　　〃I　like　it；〃　Mike　enthused。　〃If　I　were　you；　I'd　run　with　the　Giant　Ass…Biting　Turd　motif。〃
　　It　was　Kirk's　turn　to　laugh。　〃In　a　world　of　perfect　news　。。。　〃　he　said；　then　let　it　trail　off。　They　grew　quiet　for　a　moment；　each　in　his　own　buzzing；　contemplative　world。
　　〃So；〃　Mike　said　at　last。　〃I　hate　to　bring　this　up；　but　。。。　if　Chris　always　has　a　problem；　what's　gonna　make　this　any　different　。。。　？〃　Kirk　shot　him　a　glaring　you　dimwit　stare。　It　came　to　Mike　suddenly。　〃Oh；〃　he　said。
　　〃A　hook。　Exactly。〃　Sighing　wearily；　yet　triumphant。　〃A　terrible；　tragic；　specific　incident　with　lots　of　exclusive　footage。　Which　means　the　trick　is　to　nail　'em　while　their　pants　are　down；　get　the　shot　that　everyone　wants；　and　show　it　before　anyone　else。〃
　　〃I　gotcha。〃
　　〃The　only　thing　is　。。。　〃　Kirk　paused；　turning　thoughtful。　〃If　it　is　a　local　industry；　you　start　to　run　into　trouble　with　advertisers；　you　know？　And　those　guys　are　all　in　fucking　cahoots　。。。　〃
　　Mike　nodded。　〃Country　club。　Chamber　of　merce　。。。　〃
　　〃　。。。　it's　all　a　Good　Ol'　Boys　network。　And　then　you　run　into　the　fucking　Industrial　Development　Authority；　and　that　motherfucker　Blake　。。。　〃
　　〃Umm　。。。　I　don't　know；　dude。〃　All　of　a　sudden；　Mike　felt　a　nasty　little　blast　of　foreboding　run　through　him。　Like　everyone　else　in　local　news；　he　had　heard　stories　about　Werner　Blake。　They　were　not　happy　stories。　〃Correct　me　if　I'm　wrong；　but　I　don't　think　you　really　want　to　piss　those　people　off。　I　mean；　seriously。　If　you　push　too　hard；　they　could　severely　fuck　you　up。〃
　　〃Oh；　I　don't　think　so。〃　Kirk's　jaw　set　hard。
　　〃Oh；　you　don't　think　so？〃
　　〃No；　I　don't　think　so。〃　He　had　locked　into　Determined　Mode。　It　was　amazing；　in　such　moments；　how　much　like　a　little　kid　he　looked。　Mike　couldn't　help　picturing　him　in　high　school：　little　blond　blue…eyed　Super　Achiever；　The　Boy　Who　Could　Not　Fail。　He　didn't　seem　to　understand　that　anyone　can　fail。　Even　the　well…heeled　sons　of　the　powerful。
　　Even　the　sons　that　their　God　loved　the　most。
　　〃Okay。〃　Mike　knew　it　was　pointless　to　argue。　He'd　learned　a　long　time　ago　when　to　back　off　if　he　wanted　to　get　along　with　Kirk。　Keep　it　light；　keep　it　fun；　and　run　the　goddam　camera。
　　〃Just　watch；〃　Kirk　asserted；　eyes　flashing。　〃I'm　gonna　break　this　story。〃　He　took　another　hit；　cracked　the　window；　and　blew　it　out；　his　fantasy　blooming　bright　before　his　eyes。　〃I'm　gonna　make　waves　on　national　TV。〃
　　Mike　gave　a　stoned　chuckle　at　the　thought。　〃I　bet。〃
　　〃Yeah；　sure；　laugh　now；〃　Kirk　huffed。　〃But　I　got　a　good　feeling　about　this。　I　know　what　I'm　doing。〃
　　He　glanced　down　at　the　map；　then　suddenly　up；　at　the　unmarked　side　road　directly　upon　them。
　　〃Oops；〃　he　said。　〃Turn　here。〃
　　〃WHOA！！！〃　Mike　hollered；　sawing　the　wheel。　The　car　slid；　tires　squealing　into　the　turn；　chewing　up　shoulder　gravel　as　it　went。　Mike　seesawed　the　car；　stabilizing　it　without　losing　speed。　Stoned　or　no；　Mike　was　good。
　　〃JESUS；　man！　How　'bout　a　little　warning　next　time！〃　He　shook　his　head；　taking　the　joint　back。　〃I　swear；　you　are　the　worst　fucking　navigator。
　　〃Yeah；　yeah；〃　Kirk　said。　〃I　get　you　killed　。。。　〃
　　〃　。。。　and　I'll　never　speak　to　you　again。　Exactly。〃
　　They　snickered。　It　was　the　secret　of　their　success：　reckless　Mike　and　ruthless　Kirk；　the　Two　Horsemen　of　the　TV　News　Apocalypse。
　　Kirk　looked　back　at　the　directions。　〃Oops。　Turn　here。〃
　　〃SHIT！〃　Mike　wheeled　sharply；　skidded　around　another　one。
　　This　time；　the　road　made　an　abrupt　transition；　winding　into　thickly　overgrown　woods。　〃Okay；〃　Kirk　said。　〃Slow　down。〃　Mike　breathed　a　sigh　of　relief。　〃Over　there。〃
　　An　opening　in　the　trees　yawned　like　a　part　in　heavy　drapes。
　　〃This　is　the　place；〃　Kirk　said；　as　Mike　wheeled　off　the　main　road　and　stopped。
　　Toad　Road　stretched　out　before　them：　a　single　gravel　lane；　chuck…holed　and　foreboding。　The　sun　was　all　but　blotted　out　by　the　leafless　thicket　of　branches　overhead；　thin　beams　wormed　through　like　tiny　spotlights；　dappling　the　rutty　surface。
　　〃Fuckin'　aye。　This　is　excellent；〃　Kirk　enthused。　〃Two　and　Twenty…three'll　be　lucky　if　they　even　find　this　place　before　we　air。　We　aced　out　everybody。〃
　　Mike　nodded；　already　appraising　the　angles。　〃We　should　get　some　pickup　shots　here。〃
　　〃On　our　way　out；〃　Kirk　interjected。　〃I　wanna　get　in　there　now。〃　He　fished　in　the　pockets　of　his　cranberry　L。L。　Bean　parka；　producing　some　Binaca　and　a　tiny　squeeze…bottle　of　Visine。　He　spritzed　his　mouth；　put　a　glistening　drop　in　each　eye；　blinked　it　back；　and　straightened　his　tie。
　　〃Okay；　this　is　it；〃　he　said。　〃We　are　professionals。　There　is　no　dress　rehearsal。　And　this　is　the　big　time。　Right？〃
　　Mike　looked　at　him；　shaking　his　head。　〃Anyone　ever　tell　you　you're　fucking　crazy？〃
　　〃Like　a　fox；　buddy。〃　Winking。　〃Like　a　fucking　fox。〃
　　
　　And　this　is　how　Kirk　Bogarde　became　a　star。
　　They　found　Hal's　cruiser　three　quarters　of　a　mile　in：　parked　neatly　on　what　passed　for　the　right　shoulder　of　the　narrow　road；　just　as　he'd　left　it。　Mike　pulled　up　ten　yards　back　and　parked　on　the　left　bank。　They　piled　out。
　　〃Guess　we'll　have　to　walk　it；〃　Kirk　said；　gesturing　to　the　tree。　〃Better　get　a　few　inches　of　the　car。〃
　　Mike　nodded　and　popped　a　battery　into　the　camera。　It　was　a　pro　deck；　maybe　a　hundred　times　more　plicated　than　a　consumer…type　camcorder。　Mike　routinely　set　levels　ahead　of　time；　so　that　on　arrival　he　just　had　to　pop　in　a　battery　and　he　was　ready　to　rock。　He　focused　on　the　empty　cruiser；　did　a　slow　pan　up　and　over　to　the　tangled　mass　of　uprooted　flora；　and　stopped　at　Kirk。
　　〃Okay；〃　Kirk　said。　〃How　'bout　a　nice　pickup　shot　of　me　walking　by　the　downed　tree；　looking　pensive？〃
　　〃Soul　of　a　poet；〃　Mike　said；　utterly　deadpan。
　　Kirk　nodded；　got　himself　revved　to　Geraldo　speed。　〃Toxic　Waste；〃　he　intoned。　〃The　Everpresent　Menace　。。。　no。〃　Catching　himself。　〃Too　wordy。　Fuck。〃
　　Mike　took　a　position　in　the　road；　focusing　as　Kirk　improvised。
　　〃Toxic　Waste：　Legacy　of　Death　。。。　〃
　　It　was　then　that　they　heard　the　engine　cranking。
　　Hrrrnnn　nnn　nnn　nnn；　it　groaned；　filtering　through　the　dead；　bare　trees。　The　choked　metallic　grunt　of　an　ignition　firing。　Hrrrnnn　nnn　nnn　nnn　nnn　nnn。
　　〃What　the　fuck　。。。　？〃　Kirk　whispered；　staring　at　the　stormfall　blocking　the　road。　Hrrnnn　nnn　nnn　nnn　。。。
　　And　then；　in　the　distance；　the　engine　chugged　to　life：　exhaust　blatting　as　an　unknown　foot　fed　fuel　to　carb；　coaxing　bustion。
　　〃Someone's　ing；〃　Mike　said。
　　Somewhere　around　the　bend；　a　heavy　vehicle　chugged　and　heaved　onto　the　road。　ing　closer。　Heading　their　way。
　　〃Get　ready；〃　Kirk　hissed。　〃This　might　be　good。〃
　　Mike　shrugged　and　took　a　position　just　behind　the　bumper　of　the　van。　It　was　kinda　weird；　but　what　the　hey。　Kirk　hung　back　and　ran　through　his　schmooz　options；　readying　himself　for　whatever　came　down　the　pike。
　　Then　the　roar　came　closer；　and　the　real　weirdness　started。
　　The　truck　was　whining　and　grinding　through　the　gearbox；　picking　up　RPMs　at　any　expense。　The　way　it　was　burning　down　the　trail；　Kirk　noted；　they　had　a　minute　at　best　to　prepare。　And　it　gave　no　indication　of　slowing　down。
　　Heading　right　for　Nature's　little　roadblock　。。。
　　Jesus。　The　realization　was　sudden；　startling　and　sure。　They're　gonna　run　it。　〃ROLL　TAPE！〃　he　screamed。　〃They're　going　right　fucking　through！〃
　　〃Way　ahead　of　you；　dude；〃　Mike　said；　grinning。　He　sighted　the　road　for　optimum　coverage。　Hit　the　record　button。
　　And　history　was　made。
　　First；　a　study　in　glaring　contrast：　the　six…ton　kamikaze　whine　of　pissed…off　steel　against　an　ominously　still　backdrop　of　trees　and　mud。　Pan　and　zoom　on　the　thick　mass　of　limbs　skewed　across　the　road；　moving　in　as　the　roar　and　the　grind　grow　closer。
　　Passing　blip　of　Kirk　Bogarde；　mouthing　are　you　getting　this？　Looking　genuinely　nervous　now；　as　though　this　is　maybe　just　a　little　bit　realer　than　he　likes　his　coverage　and　he　doesn't　even　know　it　yet。
　　Th