js&cs.thebridge-第23章

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。　〃Now。〃
　　Henkel　cut　power；　and　inadvertently　held　his　breath。
　　。。。　While　deep　in　the　reactor　vessel；　hundreds　of　yards　away；　the　magnetic　ratcheting　mechanism　de…energized。　Over　the　monitor　came　a　massive　pressed　roar　as　several　tons　of　control　rods　slammed　into　the　coolant　pool；　obliterating　the　song。
　　At　twelve　fifty…nine　precisely；　they　shut　the　reactor　down。
　　At　1　p。m。；　it　started　back　up。
　　All　on　its　own。
　　
　　
　　　Twenty…One
　　　
　　Home；　such　as　it　was；　was　a　low…slung　postmodern　split…level　with　a　shared　private　drive；　snug　on　the　low　tolling　hills　of　the　country　club's　sixteenth　hole。
　　Inside；　Blake　retreated　to　his　study。　It　was　a　quiet　sanctuary　with　a　southern　exposure；　recently　redone　in　ebony　inlay；　burnished　oak；　and　cloth…bound　special　editions。　A　small　fire　crackled　in　the　zero…clearance　fireplace；　scenting　the　air　with　hickory　and　redwood；　a　pair　of　bronze　dogs　nestled　before　it　on　the　sprawling　hand…carved　Aubusson　rug；　positioned　so　as　to　gaze　with　blind；　doting　eyes　on　the　face　of　their　master。
　　Blake　settled　in　behind　his　expansive　antique　barrister's　desk　and　brought　thumb　and　forefinger　up　to　pinch　the　bony　ridge　between　his　eyes。　A　tumbler　of　Chivas　and　a　bottle　of　Tylenol　sat　before　him；　awaiting　ingestion。
　　He　had　a　slight　tension　headache。　Nothing　serious；　but　enough　to　put　him　out　of　sorts。　Carol　had　toddled　off　to　her　tennis　lessons　after　performing　her　perfunctory　wifely　duties；　downstairs　the　stereo　thudded　with　the　ceaseless　caterwauling　their　deadbeat　son　called　music。
　　Butthole　something…or…anothers；　Blake　winced　in　recognition；　he　was　almost　able　to　distinguish　some　of　them　from　each　other　at　this　point；　through　sheer　osmosis。
　　He　sighed　mightily；　his　family　was　his　bane。　In　the　euphemistic　lexicon　of　talk…show　shrinks；　they　were　dysfunctional；　in　reality；　they　simply　hated　each　other。
　　Not　that　their　hate　was　simple。　Indeed；　it　was　a　richly　textured　blend　of　disappointment；　spoiled　ideals；　and　abcessed　emotion；　a　lifetime　in　the　making。　Werner's　climb　up　Country　Club　Road　had　been　at　the　expense　of　much　toil；　many　long　hours　at　the　office　and　on　the　road。　He　broke　his　back　to　provide　the　best　of　everything　for　his　loved　ones；　only　to　have　it　thrown　back　in　his　face。
　　Which　left　contempt　as　the　linchpin　of　the　Blake　family　dynamic。　It　was　virtually　the　only　thing　they　shared。
　　Fortunately；　the　house　was　large　and　sprawling；　big　enough　to　contain　three　lives　that　crossed　only　when　forced；　big　enough　to　afford　him　space　and　the　peace　to　contemplate　the　business　at　hand。
　　First　and　foremost；　a　follow…up　call。
　　Blake　punched　the　number　into　the　speakerphone；　downed　two　caplets；　and　waited　patiently　as　it　patched　through。
　　〃Hello？〃　A　child　answered；　a　young　girl；　from　the　sound　of　it。　Very　young。　Thea；　he　recalled；　Blake　made　a　point　of　always　remembering　names。
　　〃Hello；　Thea；〃　he　said；　modulating　his　tones。　〃Is　your　daddy　in？〃
　　〃Nope。〃
　　〃Can　I　speak　to　your　mommy；　please？〃
　　〃Hokay。〃　A　muffled　Mommmeee！
　　Then：　〃Hello　。。。　？〃
　　〃Marge；　it's　Werner。　Is　Harry　there？〃
　　〃No；〃　she　replied。　〃He's　at　the　office。〃　From　the　false；　deliberately　cheerful　tone　of　her　voice；　Blake　instantly　gleaned　two　things：　she　was　worried　about　her　husband；　and　she　had　no　idea　what　was　going　on。　〃He　said　he　left　some　papers　there。〃
　　〃Aha；〃　Werner　said；　nodding　to　himself。　Batting　one　for　two；　so　far。　〃Did　he　say　when　he'd　be　back？〃
　　〃No；　he　didn't；〃　she　offered。　〃But　he　left　right　after　we　got　back　from　church；　so　I'd　imagine　he's　still　there；　if　you　want　to　try　him。〃
　　Her　voice　trilled　and　cracked　on　the　word　try：　desperate　pleasantry　in　overdrive；　frightening　to　behold。　〃I　see；〃　he　replied；　leaning　back　in　his　chair　and　drawing　the　last　word　out。　〃Hmmm　。。。　〃
　　〃Werner？〃
　　〃Yes？〃
　　〃I　。。。　〃　She　paused；　as　he　knew　she　would。　This　was　taking　a　lot　out　of　her；　piping　up　like　this。　Meddling　in　her　husband's　affairs。　He　could　picture　her　easily　in　his　mind：　standing　in　her　kitchen　with　her　centurion　helmet　of　dense…sprayed　hair；　an　insect…headed　worker/wife　straining　against　the　rigid　confines　of　her　intelligence　and　experience。
　　All　she　knew　was　that　her　husband　was　hurting　inside；　which　was　most　certainly　true；　and　that　she　was　afraid　for　him；　which　he　had　no　doubt　was　true　as　well。
　　He　counted　the　beats　until　she　started　again。　He　was　correct　within　a　fraction　of　a　second。
　　〃I'm　worried　about　Harry；〃　she　said。
　　〃Mm…hmm。〃
　　〃He　won't　tell　me　what's　the　matter；　of　course…he's　a　very　private　person…but；　well；　you　saw　him　today。〃
　　〃Yes。〃　Acutely　sympathetic。　〃I　did。〃
　　〃He　looks　terrible。〃　She　paused　for　dramatic　effect。　He　could　picture　every　troubled　shake　of　her　head。　〃It　scares　me。　You　know　how　he　is；　with　his　heart　condition　and　all。〃
　　In　the　invisible　privacy　of　his　home；　he　could　smile　without　fear。　〃No；〃　he　said。　〃I　didn't　know　about　that。〃
　　〃Oh；　yes。　He　nearly　had　a　stroke　last　March；　and　his　doctor　told　him　that　。。。　〃　she　began。　At　that　point；　it　was　safe　to　let　her　voice　phase　out　for　the　duration　of　the　litany；　throw　in　mm…hmms　at　the　appropriate　junctures。
　　He　needed　time　to　think。
　　The　thing　could　go　a　couple　of　ways；　he　knew：　one　bad；　the　other　worse；　but　you　played　the　hand　life　dealt　you。　It　was　just　a　matter　of　where　the　damage　stopped：　with　Leonard；　or　all　the　way　at　the　top。　Either　way；　Leonard　was　screwed；　so　humanitarian　concerns　weren't　even　part　of　the　discussion。
　　But　it　was　thoughtful　of　him　to　provide　the　heart　condition；　Blake　mused。　Either　way；　that　could　e　in　handy。
　　The　fascinating　story　of　Dr。　Deitrich's　healthful　hints　was　wrapping　up。　Time　to　tune　back　in。
　　〃　。。。　never　listens；〃　she　continued。　〃That's　why；　when　he　took　you　aside　in　church　。。。　〃
　　〃I'm　sorry；〃　he　interrupted。　〃But　that's　pretty　much　why　I　called。〃
　　〃Oh？〃　It　was　her　rum　to　listen；　and　God　was　she　grateful。　Tell　me　something；　she　silently　pleaded。　Tell　me　what　I　want　to　hear。
　　He　hated　to　disappoint　her。　But　not　very　much。　〃I　don't　know；〃　he　said。　〃He　was　obviously　upset；　and　it　seemed　that　he　wanted　to　tell　me　something　important。　But　then　he　just　stopped；　and；　frankly；　I　haven't　been　able　to　stop　thinking　about　it　ever　since。〃
　　〃Oh；　dear。〃　Her　tone　epitomized　distress。　If　it　turned　out　that　he　never　came　home　again；　she　would　be　able　to　tell　her　friends　that　she'd　known　it　was　happening。　She'd　just　felt　it。　You　know？
　　Another　Mystery　of　the　Unknown　revealed。　And　thank　you；　Time…Life　Books。
　　〃Well；　I'll　just　give　a　call　down　there；〃　he　said。　〃See　if　we　can't　straighten　this　out。〃
　　〃Oh；　thank　you。〃　She　meant　it　with　all　her　heart。
　　〃And　in　the　meantime；〃　he　suggested；　〃take　care　of　yourself　and　the　little　ones；　will　you？〃
　　Blake　rang　off　a　moment　later；　leaned　back　in　his　chair；　and　let　his　thoughts　run　free。　The　pop　and　fizzle　of　expensive　hardwoods　going　up　in　smoke　was　meditative；　much…needed　tonic　to　his　nerves。
　　So　much　to　do；　he　thought。　So　little　time。
　　And　miles　to　go　before　I　sleep　。。。
　　
　　Meanwhile；　on　the　other　side　of　town；　Harold　Leonard　was　about　to　awaken。
　　He　paced　the　length　of　his　clogged　offices：　a　Skinner…box　rat；　up　to　his　neck　in　rifled　files　and　rationalizations。　He　was　weighing　the　terrors　of　turning　state's　evidence　against　the　sheer　fathomless　depth　of　the　shit　he　was　in。
　　Outside　lay　the　crumbling　chemical　domain　that　was　Leonard's　legacy。　Shoehorned　into　a　seven…acre　facility　on　the　outskirts　of　town。　Paradise　Waste　Disposal　was　originally　touted　as　a　kind　of　franchise；　one…stop　shopping　for　the　growing　waste　industry。　Garbage　had　long　since　passed　wheat　or　oil　or　steel　as　the　nation's　perennial　bumper　crop；　and　Paradise　Waste　was　built　to　take　big　bites　of　the　toxic　pie。　Solid　into　the　ground；　liquid　into　the　river；　medical　into　the　incinerator　and　up　into　the　sky。　Even　radioactive；　once　the　permits　went　through。
　　Paradise　Waste　Disposal　was　nothing　if　not　ambitious。
　　Between　Blake's　EPA　connections　and　his　。。。　other　connections…shadowy　suits　with　Jersey　plates…Leonard's　little　plant　had　mushroomed　into　a　modern　success　story；　the　proverbial　right　way　that　Blake　and　the　industrial　munity　had　used　to　beat　the　NIMBY…ridden　local　troublemakers　into　placency。　Not　In　My　Back　Yard　was　old　thinking；　a　luxury　no　longer　affordable；　Paradise　Waste　Disposal　was　the　future。
　　It　was　a　raging　success。
　　Too　successful；　in　fact。　Paradise　Waste　had　blossomed；　then　burgeoned；　then　bloated　to　bursting　on　its　own　success。　It　had　bee　a　hodgepodge　of　pits；　ponds；　landfills；　and　storage　tanks；　all　filled　to　capacity　and　beyond。　Forty　thousand　drums　stood…stacked　and　staggered；　palleted　and　piled…in　rows　as　long　as　city　blocks。　A　rainbow　smorgasbord　of　pestilence　intermingled　on　the　site：　dioxins；　PCBs；　amine　leachates；　heavy　metals；　mercury；　and　benzene。　Just　last　week；　Harold　had　gotten　a　shipment　of　a　thousand　drums　of　tetraethyl　leads　so　unstable　that　they　spontaneously　busted　on　contact　with　air。
　　Business　was　booming；　all　right。　The　incinerators　burned　night　and　day。
　　It　still　wasn't　enough。
　　Harold　opened　his　file　of　〃special〃　invoices；　hands　trembling。　There　was　no　denying　it。　Conville　Chain；　Penn/Dover　Laboratories；　General　Unidyne；　MegaTech　Industries；　Paradise　Caterpillar；　Paradise　Air　Conditioners；　on　down　to　Paradise　Paper　Products　。。。　He　had　accepted　〃overstock〃　from　all　of　them；　and　on　a　frighteningly　regular　basis。　Plus　the　midnight　runs　from　Blake's　business　associates　in　Philly　and　Jersey。
　　Once　delivered；　they　washed　their　hands　of　it。
　　After　that；　it　was　his　problem。
　　By　his　own　crude　reckoning；　almost　six　thousand　drums　had　been　farmed　out　to　the　Pussers　over　the　current　fiscal　year。　God　only　knew　where　the　next　disaster　would　spring　up；　grinning　like　a　skull…faced　warning　label：　in　a　borehole；　under　an　elementary　school；　right　in　the　goddamned　reservoir。　His　entire　operation　thrived　in　a　vacuum　of　neglect；　courting　scandal　like　a　bent…over　congressional　page。
　　A　scandal　would　lead　to　an　investigation。
　　An　investigation　would　lead　to　an　indictment。
　　An　indictment　to　a　trial。
　　And　the　trial…bone's　connected　to　the　。。。　JAIL…bone　。。。
　　〃Shut　up！〃　Leonard　pounded　the　singsong　nattering　in　his　skull；　already　feeling　the　rope　tighten　around　his　neck。　When　he　closed　his　eyes；　he　saw　himself：　crying　out　to　his　accusers　in　the　courtroom　of　his　mind；　waving　handfuls　of　crumpled　invoices　at　the　featureless　shadow…faces。　Protesting　the　inevitability　of　his　guilt。
　　To　no　avail。
　　〃Oh；　God；〃　he　croaked　in　desperate；　spontaneous　prayer。　〃Oh；　God；　please　。。。　〃　Everything　he'd　built　was　ing　down　around　his　ears；　collapsing　into　rubble　and　ruin。　Paradise　Waste　Disposal　was　a　rock　tied　around　his　neck　and　hurled　into　the　abyss；　and　Leonard　was　just　standing　on　the　edge；　watching　the　line　play　out。
　　〃Oh；　God；〃　he　reiterated；　dry…heaving　tears；　〃please　。。。　〃
　　And　suddenly　a　fist　closed　around　Harold's　cholesterol…clotted　heart；　sending　lightning　stabs　of　pain　slicing　through　his　chest。　He　broke　out　in　an　instantaneous；　copious　sweat　and　dropped　the　sheaf　of　papers　scattering　to　the　floor。
　　〃No；〃　he　whinnied；　stripped　of　air　and　power。　〃Not　l