Milo walked around looking for asurveillance camera.
“None I can see, but who knows…”
Returning to the shelter lid, he squatted1, lifted the handle a few moreinches. Hiss2 hiss. He let it fall back into place.
“Air lock,” I said. “Keep nuclear fallout at bay.”
“Play canasta while the bombs drop.” Stretching prone3, he pressed his ear tosteel. “You hear the cries of a damsel in distress4 like I do?”
Off in the distance, a puny5 breeze barely ruffled6 the meadow. The trillingbird had gone mute. If clouds made noise, the silence might’ve relented.
I said, “Loud and clear. Grounds to search.”
He lifted the handle halfway7. Peered in. Had to stand and put his weightinto completing the arc. The hatch gave way with a final whisper and he steppedback. Waited. Inched over to the opening. Looked down again.
Snaking through a tube of corrugated9 steel was a spiral staircase, metaltreads stripped with friction10 pads. Bolts secured the flight to the undersideof the rim11.
“The big question remains,” he said.
“Is he down there.”
“None of those cars have been driven recently, but that could just mean he’sbunked down for a while.” Removing his desert boots, he unsnapped his holsterbut left the gun nestled. Sitting at the edge of the opening, he swung his legsin. “Something happens, you can have my Bert the Turtle lunch box.”
He descended12. I took off my shoes and followed.
“Stay up there, Alex.”
“And be here alone if he shows up?”
He started to argue. Stopped himself. Not because he’d changed his mind.
Staring at something.
At the bottom of the stairs was a door, same gray steel as the hatch. Ashiny brass14 coat hook was screwed to the metal.
From the hook, a white nylon cord hung taut15. Its ends were looped around apair of ears.
Waxy-white ears.
The head they connected to was lean, well-formed, crowned by thick, darkhair.
Well-formed face, but hideous16. Dermis17 more paperlike than corporeal18. Lumpsdistorted the cheekbones where stuffing had settled. Nearly invisible suturesheld the mouth shut and pried19 the eyes open. Blue eyes, wide with surprise.
Glass.
The thing that had once been Dylan Meserve was as lifelike as a milliner’smold.
Milo crawled out. His gullet throbbed20. Hepaced.
I got closer to the opening, smelled the formaldehyde. Saw writing on thedoor, an inch below the thing’s chin.
Shimmied down low enough, I read.
Neat printing, black marker.
PROJECT COMPLETED.
Below that, a date and a time. Two a.m. Four days ago.
--- oOo ---
Milo walked around for a while, searchingfor evidence of burial, returned shaking his head, looked into the maw of thebomb shelter. “Lord only knows what else is down there. The moral dilemma21 is…”
“Is there someone down there who can be saved,” I said. “If there is, willattempting it make matters worse. You could try calling him, if he’s downthere, maybe we can hear the ring.”
“If we can hear it, he’s probably heard us already.”
“At least he’s not going anywhere.” I eyed the dangling22 head. “Talk aboutprobable cause.”
He took out his cell and tried Brad Dowd’s number.
No sound from below.
His eyes widened. “Mr. Dowd? Lieutenant23 Sturgis…no, nothing huge but Ithought maybe we could chat about Reynold Peaty…just tying up loose ends…I washoping more like tonight, where are you? We stopped by there earlier…yeah, wemust’ve…listen, sir, no, no prob coming back to your house, we’re not far. Camarillo…actually it isrelated, but I’m not at liberty to say…sorry…so can we—you’re sure? Today wouldbe a lot easier, Mr. Dowd…okay, I understand, sure. Tomorrow it is.”
Click.
He said, “Hard day out in Pasadena,plumbing leaks, blah blah blah. Mr. Cool and Charming until I mentioned Camarillo. Got thislittle catch in his voice. Happy to cooperate, Lieutenant, but I just can’ttoday.”
“You shook him up, he needs to regroup. Maybe he’ll revert24 to what calmedhim down when he was a kid.”
“What’s that?”
“Arts and crafts.”
Milo went down in the hole again, poundedthe door while keeping his distance from the thing on the coat hook.
Sidled away from it and found a spot on the door where he could press hisear without touching25 dead flesh. He knocked on the metal door, then pounded.
Climbing back out, he brushed away nonexistent dirt. “If anyone’s in there,I can’t hear it and the door’s bolted solid.”
Lowering the hatch, he wiped it clean, scuffed26 out the footsteps we’d leftin the dirt halo.
We put our shoes on and retraced28 our steps back to the car, worked hard atobscuring our tracks.
I drove off the property and repeated the climb I’d taken when I’d overshot.When we found nowhere to hide the Sevillewithin walking distance, I turned around and descended.
A mailbox two properties down from Billy Dowd’s land was lettered with goldstick-ons: The Osgoods. A sagging29 plank-and-chicken-wire fence blocked a graveldrive.
Flag up on the box. Milo got out andchecked. “Least a week’s worth, let’s trespass30.”
Unlatching the gate, he stood back as I drove through, swung it closed,hopped back in.
The Osgoods owned a much smaller spread than Billy Dowd. Same oak-sycamorecombo, a flat brown lawn in place of a meadow. In the center, a pale greenfifties ranch31 house with a white-pebble roof squatted behind an empty corral.No animals, no animal smell. Half a dozen empty trash cans stood against oneside. A cheap prefab swing set tilted32 nearby and a child’s plastic trikeblocked the front door.
The sky had started to darken. No light spat33 from any windows.
Milo reached over the tricycle and knockedon the front door anyway. Left his card wedged between the door and jamb and anote under one of the Seville’swiper blades.
As we walked back to the road, I said, “What’d you write?”
“‘Oh, lucky citizens,’” he said, “‘you are doing your bit for God andcountry.’”
We reentered Billy’s property on foot, found a watch spot just shy of wherethe trees met the meadow.
Thirty feet back from the drive. The ground was spongy with dead leaves anddust. We sat against the stout34 trunk of a low-branching oak, nicely concealed35.
Milo and me, bugs36 and lizards37 and unseenscampering things.
Nothing to talk about. Neither of us wanted to talk. The sky was bruiseddeep blue, then black. I thought of Michaela and Dylan, camping down the road.
Led to the hoax38 spot by Brad Dowd.
Had he harbored plans of ending the game with a bloody39 surprise, only to bestymied by Michaela’s escape?
Was that reason to kill her?
Or did she just fit some kind of role?
Same for Dylan. I struggled to remember him from his photos, not the thing.
Time passed. Squeaks40 sounded above us, leaves shivered, then a delicateflutter of wings as a bat zipped out of the oak and circled high above themeadow.
Then another. Then four.
“Great,” said Milo. “When does the ominoussoundtrack start?”
“Da dum da dum.”
He laughed. I did, too. Why not?
We took turns napping. His second snooze lasted five minutes and when heshook himself awake, he said, “Shoulda brought water.”
“Who knew we’d be camping?”
“A Boy Scout’s always prepared. You scouted41, right?”
“Yup.”
“Me, too. If BSA only knew, huh? Think anyone’s down in that hole?”
“Hopefully not someone like Dylan,” I said.
He rested his face in one hand.
A moment later: “If he doesn’t show up tonight, Alex, you know how it’llhave to go.”
“Task force.”
“Can’t wait to write that warrant application. ‘Yes, your honor,taxidermy.’”
Night had settled in so completely it seemed permanent.
Neither of us spoke42 for the next half hour. When headlights yellowed theasphalt, we were both wide awake.
Fog lights. Engine purr. The vehicle’s squarish bulk passed us fast and spedtoward the barn.
We got to our feet, stayed in the tree cover, advanced.
The Range Rover came to a stop just to the left of the barn’s undersizedfront door, then silenced. A man got out the driver’s side, switched on a buglight above the door.
The bulb had a yellow-green tint8 and it turned Brad Dowd’s white hairchartreuse.
He went around to the passenger side, opened the door.
Held a hand out to someone.
Female, petite. A blousy jacket over trousers obscured her contours.
The two of them walked to the door and the woman waited as Brad opened it.Moved into the yellow beam. Profile limned43.
Firm chin, nubby little nose. Bobbed gray hair tinted44 olive by the light.
Nora Dowd said something that sounded perky. Brad Dowd turned toward her.Spread his arms wide.
She rushed into the hug.
Nothing sisterly about the gesture as her hands began caressing45 the back ofhis neck.
His hands cupped her rear. She giggled46.
Her face tilted up as their mouths met.
Long, grinding kiss. She reached down for his groin. He laughed. Shelaughed.
They went inside.
They were back moments later, walking hand-in-hand around the south side ofthe barn.
Nora skipping.
Brad said, “Gorgeous night, isn’t this just the best?”
Nora said, “Party time.”
They reached the bomb-shelter hatch. Nora stood by, fluffing her pageboy asBrad worked the lever. Putting weight into it, just as Milohad.
“Ooh,” she said. “My big strongma -yan.”
“Got something beaucoup strong for you, babe.”
“Got something soft and sweet for you, babe.”
The lid popped open. Brad pulled out a small penlight and aimed it into theopening. “You were right. I like him there.”
“Talk about a welcome,” said Nora. “Knock knock knock.”
“He always did like to hang out.”
Nora laughed.
Brad laughed.
She walked over and goosed him. “Is that a nuclear missile in your pocket orare you just happy to see me?”
Atrocious Mae West rendition.
Brad kissed her and touched her and switched off the penlight.
“Let’s get your stuff out of there. I’m sure you’re tired of mole47 life.”
“I’m ready,” she said. “But it was fun.”
Brad sat on the rim of the entry. As he prepared to descend13, Milo rushed him, threw a choke hold around his neck,yanked him back hard onto his back. Flipped48 him onto his belly49 just as quickly,did the arm twist and cuffed27 him.
Nora gave no struggle when I grabbed her and yanked her arms behind her.
Milo’s knee bore down on the center ofBrad’s back. Brad gasped50. “Can’t breathe.”
“If you can talk, you can breathe.”
I felt Nora tense up, was ready when she tried to break free. Soft arms, notmuch muscle tone and her wrists were so small I could grip both with one hand.I used two anyway, pulled her hard enough to arch her torso.
“You’re hurting me.”
“Leave her alone,” said Brad.
“Leave him alone,” said Nora.
“Family togetherness,” said Milo.“Touching.”
“It’s not what you think,” said Nora. “He’s not really my brother.”
“What is he?”
She laughed. Not a pretty sound.
Brad said, “Wait until you hear from our lawyer.”
“What’s the beef?” said Milo. “Taxidermusinterruptus?”
The two of them shut up.
收听单词发音 |
1
squatted
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的过去式和过去分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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hiss
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| v.发出嘶嘶声；发嘘声表示不满 | |
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prone
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| adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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puny
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| adj.微不足道的，弱小的 | |
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ruffled
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| adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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7
halfway
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| adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途 | |
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tint
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| n.淡色，浅色；染发剂；vt.着以淡淡的颜色 | |
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9
corrugated
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| adj.波纹的；缩成皱纹的；波纹面的；波纹状的v.（使某物）起皱褶(corrugate的过去式和过去分词) | |
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friction
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| n.摩擦，摩擦力 | |
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rim
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| n.(圆物的)边，轮缘；边界 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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taut
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| adj.拉紧的，绷紧的，紧张的 | |
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hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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dermis
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| n.真皮 | |
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corporeal
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| adj.肉体的，身体的；物质的 | |
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pried
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| v.打听，刺探（他人的私事）( pry的过去式和过去分词 )；撬开 | |
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throbbed
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| 抽痛( throb的过去式和过去分词 )； （心脏、脉搏等）跳动 | |
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dilemma
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| n.困境，进退两难的局面 | |
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dangling
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| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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24
revert
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| v.恢复，复归，回到 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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26
scuffed
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| v.使磨损( scuff的过去式和过去分词 )；拖着脚走 | |
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cuffed
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| v.掌打，拳打( cuff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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retraced
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| v.折回( retrace的过去式和过去分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯 | |
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sagging
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| 下垂[沉，陷]，松垂，垂度 | |
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30
trespass
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| n./v.侵犯，闯入私人领地 | |
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ranch
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| n.大牧场，大农场 | |
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tilted
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| v. 倾斜的 | |
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spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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bugs
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| adj.疯狂的，发疯的n.窃听器( bug的名词复数 )；病菌；虫子；[计算机]（制作软件程序所产生的意料不到的）错误 | |
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lizards
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| n.蜥蜴( lizard的名词复数 ) | |
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hoax
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| v.欺骗，哄骗，愚弄；n.愚弄人，恶作剧 | |
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39
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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40
squeaks
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| n.短促的尖叫声，吱吱声( squeak的名词复数 )v.短促地尖叫( squeak的第三人称单数 )；吱吱叫；告密；充当告密者 | |
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41
scouted
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| 寻找，侦察( scout的过去式和过去分词 )； 物色（优秀运动员、演员、音乐家等） | |
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42
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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43
limned
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| v.画( limn的过去式和过去分词 )；勾画；描写；描述 | |
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44
tinted
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| adj. 带色彩的 动词tint的过去式和过去分词 | |
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45
caressing
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| 爱抚的，表现爱情的，亲切的 | |
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46
giggled
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| v.咯咯地笑( giggle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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47
mole
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| n.胎块；痣；克分子 | |
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48
flipped
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| 轻弹( flip的过去式和过去分词 )； 按（开关）； 快速翻转； 急挥 | |
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49
belly
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| n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛 | |
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50
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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