CHAPTER4

  FirstLight

  Kellysleptnearlyeighthours,againarisingatthesoundofthegullstofindthatPamwasn‘tthere.Hewentoutsideandsawherstandingonthequay,lookingoutoverthewater,stillweary,stillrobbedoftheabilitytogettherestsheneeded.TheBayhaditsusualmorningcalm,theglassysurfacepunctuatedbythecircularripplesofbluefishchasingafterinsects.Conditionslikethisseemedsofittingtothestartofaday,agentlewesterlybreezeinhisface,andtheoddsilencethatallowedonetoheartherumbleofaboat‘smotorfromsofarawaythattheboatcouldnotbeseen.Itwasthesortoftimethatallowedyoutobealonewithnature,butheknewthatPammerelyfeltalone.Kellywalkedouttoherasquietlyashecouldandtouchedherwaistwithbothhishands.

  ‘Goodmorning.‘Shedidn‘tanswerforalongtime,andKellystoodstill,holdingherlightly,justenoughthatshecouldfeelhistouch.Shewaswearingoneofhisshirts,andhedidn‘twanthistouchtobesexual,onlyprotective.Hewasafraidtopresshimselfonawomanwho‘dsufferedthatkindofabuse,andcouldnotpredictwheretheinvisiblelinemightbe.

  ‘Sonowyouknow,‘shesaid,justloudlyenoughtobeheardoverthesilence,unabletoturnandfacehim.

  ‘Yes,‘Kellyanswered,equallyquiet.

  ‘Whatdoyouthink?‘Hervoicewasapainfulwhisper.

  ‘I‘mnotsurewhatyoumean,Pam.‘Kellyfeltthetremblingstart,andhehadtoresisttheurgetoholdhertighter.

  ‘Aboutme.‘

  ‘Aboutyou?‘Heallowedhimselftogetalittlecloser,alteringhisholduntilhisarmswrappedaroundherwaist,butnottightly.‘Ithinkyou‘rebeautiful.IthinkI‘mrealgladwemet.‘

  ‘Idodrugs.‘

  ‘Thedocssayyou‘retryingtoquit.That‘sgoodenoughforme.‘

  ‘It‘sworsethanthat.I‘vedonethings-‘Kellycutheroff.

  ‘Idon‘tcareaboutthat,Pam.I‘vedonethings,too.Andonethingyoudidformewasverynice.Yougavemesomethingtocareabout,andIdidn‘teverexpectthattohappen.‘Kellypulledhertighter.‘Thethingsyoudidbeforewemetdon‘tmatter.You‘renotalone,Pam.I‘mheretohelpifyouwantmeto.‘

  ‘Whenyoufindout‘shewarned.

  ‘I‘lltakemychances.IthinkIknowtheimportantpartsalready.Iloveyou,Pam.‘Kellysurprisedhimselfwiththosewords.He‘dbeentooafraidtovoicethethoughteventohimself.Itwastooirrational,butagainemotionwonoutoverreason,andreason,foronce,founditselfapproving.

  ‘Howcanyousaythat?‘Pamasked.Kellygentlyturnedheraroundandsmiled.

  ‘DamnedifIknow!Maybeit‘syourtangledhair-oryourrunnynose.‘Hetouchedherchestthroughtheshirt.‘No,Ithinkit‘syourheart.Nomatterwhat‘sbehindyou,yourheartisjustfine.‘

  ‘Youmeanthat,don‘tyou?‘sheasked,lookingathischest.Therewasalongmoment,thenPamsmiledupathim,andthat,too,waslikeadawn.Theorange-yellowglowoftherisingsunlitupherfaceandhighlightedherfairhair.

  Kellywipedthetearsfromherface,andthewetfeelofhercheekseliminatedwhateverdoubtshemighthavehad.‘We‘regoingtohavetogetyousomeclothes.Thisisnowayforaladytodress.‘

  ‘WhosaysI‘malady?‘

  ‘Ido.‘

  ‘I‘msoscared!‘

  Kellypulledheragainsthischest.‘It‘sokaytobescared.Iwasscaredallthetime.Theimportantpartistoknowthatyou‘regoingtodoit.‘Hishandsrubbedupanddownherback.Hehadn‘tintendedtomakethisasexualencounter,buthefoundhimselfbecomingarouseduntilherealizedthathishandswererubbingoverscarsmadebymenwithwhipsorropesorbeltsorotherodiousthings.Thenhiseyeslookedstraightoutoverthewater,anditwasjustaswellthatshecouldn‘tseehisface.

  ‘Youmustbehungry,‘hesaid,steppingawayfromher,holdingontoherhands.

  Shenodded.‘Starving.‘

  ‘ThatIcanfix.‘Kellyledherbythehandbacktothebunker.Alreadyhelovedhertouch.TheymetSamandSarahcomingfromtheothersideoftheislandafteramorning‘swalkandstretch.

  ‘Howareourtwolovebirds?‘Sarahaskedwithabeamingsmile,becauseshe‘dalreadyseentheanswer,watchingfromtwohundredyardsaway.

  ‘Hungry!‘Pamreplied.

  ‘Andwe‘regettingacoupleofscrewstoday,‘Kellyaddedwithawink.

  ‘What?‘Pamasked.

  ‘Propellers,‘Kellyexplained.‘ForSam‘sboat.‘

  ‘Screws?‘

  ‘Sailortalk,trustme.‘Hegrinnedather,andshewasn‘tsureifshecouldbelieveitornot.

  ‘Thattooklongenough,‘Tonyobserved,sippingcoffeefromapapercup.

  ‘Where‘smine?‘Eddiedemanded,irritablefromlackofsleep.

  ‘Youtoldmetoputthefuckingheateroutside,remember?Getyourown.‘

  ‘YouthinkIwantallthatsmokeandshitinhere?Youcandiefromthatmonoxideshit,‘EddieMorellosaidirritably.

  Tonywastiredaswell.Tootiredtoarguewiththisloudmouth.‘Okay,man,well,thecoffeepot‘soutside.Cupsaretheretoo.‘

  Eddiegrumbledandwentoutside.Неnrу,thethirdman,wasbaggingtheproductandkeptoutoftheargument.Ithadactuallyworkedoutalittlebetterthanhe‘dplanned.They‘devenboughthisstoryaboutAngelo,thuseliminatingonepotentialpartnerandproblem.Therewasatleastthreehundredthousanddollars‘worthoffinisheddrugsnowbeingweighedandsealedinplasticbagsforsaletodealers.Thingshadn‘tgonequiteasplanned.Theexpected‘fewhours‘ofworkhadlingeredintoanall-nightmarathonasthethreehaddiscoveredthatwhattheypaidforotherstodowasn‘tquiteaseasyasitlooked.Thethreebottlesofbourbonthey‘dbroughtalonghadn‘thelpedeither.Stillandall,overthreehundredthousanddollarsofprofitfromsixteenhoursofworkwasn‘tallthatbad.Andthiswasjustthebeginning.Tuckerwasjustgivingthemataste.

  EddiewasstillworriedabouttherepercussionsofAngelo‘sdemise.Buttherewasnoturningback,notafterthekilling,andhe‘dbeenforcedintobackingTony‘splay.Hegrimacedashelookedoutofavacantportholetowardsanislandnorthofwhathadoncebeenaship.Sunlightwasreflectingoffthewindows,ofwhatwasprobablyanice,largepowercruiser.Wouldn‘titbenicetogetoneofthose?EddieMorellolikedtofish,andmaybehecouldtakehiskidsoutsometime.Itwouldbeagoodcoveractivity,wouldn‘tit?

  Ormaybecrab,hetoldhimself.Afterall,heknewwhatcrabsate.Thethoughtevokedaquietbarkofalaugh,followedbyabriefshudder.Washesafe,linkedupwiththesemen?They-he-hadjustkilledAngeloVorano,nottwenty-fourhoursearlier.ButAngelowasn‘tpartoftheoutfit,andTonyPiaggiwas.Hewastheirlegitimacy,theirpipelinetothestreet,andthatmadehimsafe-forawhile.AslongasEddiestayedsmartandalert.

  ‘Whatroomdoyousupposethiswas?‘TuckeraskedPiaggi,justtomakeconversation.

  ‘Whatdoyoumean?‘

  ‘Whenthiswasaship,lookslikeitwasacabinorsomething,‘hesaid,sealingthelastenvelopeandplacingitinsidethebeercooler.‘Ineverthoughtaboutthat.‘Whichwasactuallytrue.

  ‘Captain‘scabin,youthink?‘Tonywondered.Itwassomethingtopassthetime,andhewasthoroughlysickofwhatthey‘ddoneallnight.

  ‘Couldbe,Isuppose.It‘sclosetothebridge.‘Themanstood,stretching,wonderingwhyitwasthathehadtodoallthehardwork.Theanswercameeasilyenough.Tonywasa‘made‘man.Eddiewantedtobecomeone.Hewouldneverbe,andneitherwouldAngelo,HenryTuckerreflected,gladforit.He‘dnevertrustedAngelo,andnowhewasnolongeraproblem.Onethingaboutthesepeople,theyseemedtokeeptheirword-andtheywouldcontinueto,aslongashewastheirconnectiontotherawmaterial,andnotoneminutelonger.Tuckerhadnoillusionsaboutthat.IthadbeengoodofAngelotomakehisconnectionwithTonyandEddie,andAngelo‘sdeathhadhadexactlytheeffectonHenrythathisowndeathwouldhaveontheothertwo:none.Allmenhavetheiruses,Tuckertoldhimself,closingthebeercooler.Andthecrabshadtoeattoo.

  Withluckthatwouldbethelastkillingforawhile.Tuckerdidn‘tshrinkfromit,buthedislikedcomplicationsthatoftencamefromkilling.Agoodbusinessransmoothly,withoutfuss,andmademoneyforeveryone,whichkepteveryonehappy,eventhecustomersatthefarendoftheprocess.Certainlythisloadwouldkeepthemhappy.ItwasgoodAsianheroin,scientificallyprocessedandmoderatelycutwithnontoxicelementsthatwouldgivetheusersarocketshiphighandacalm,gentledescentbacktowhateverrealitytheyweretryingtoescape.Thesortofrushtheywouldwanttoexperienceagain,andsothey‘dreturntotheirpushers,whocouldchargealittleextraforthisverygoodstuff.‘AsianSweet‘wasalreadythetradename.

  Therewasdanger,havingastreetname.Itgavethepolicesomethingtotarget,anametochaseafter,specificquestionstoask,butthatwastheriskinhavingahotproduct,andforthatreasonhe‘dselectedhisassociatesfortheirexperience,connections,andsecurity.Hisprocessingsitehadalsobeenselectedwithaneyetosecurity.Theyhadagoodfivemilesofvisibility,andafastboatwithwhichtomaketheirescape.Yeah,therewasdanger,tobesure,butalllifewasdanger,andyoumeasuredriskagainstreward.HenryTucker‘srewardforlessthanasingleday‘sworkwasonehundredthousanddollarsinuntaxedcash,andhewaswillingtoriskalotforthat.HewaswillingtoriskfarmoreforwhatPiaggi‘sconnectionscoulddo,andnowhehadtheminterested.Soonthey‘dbecomeasambitiousashewas.

  TheboatfromSolomonsarrivedafewminutesearly,withthepropellers.Thedoctorshadn‘ttoldKellytokeepPambusy,butitwasasimpleenoughprescriptionforherproblems.Kellywheeledtheportablecompressorbackontothedockandstarteditup,tellingherhowtoregulatetheairflowbykeepinganeyeonagauge.Nexthegotthewrenchesheneededandsetthemonthedockalso.

  ‘Onefinger,thisone,twofingers,thatone,andthreefingers,thisonehere,okay?‘

  ‘Right,‘Pamreplied,impressedwithKelly‘sexpertise.Hewashammingthingsupalittle,therestofthemknew,butthatwasokaywitheveryone.

  Kellyclimbeddowntheladderintothewater,andhisfirstjobwastocheckthethreadsonthepropshafts,whichappearedtobeindecentshape.Hereachedhishandoutofthewaterwithonefingerupandwasrewardedwiththerightwrench,whichheusedtoremovetheretainingnuts,thenhandedthemuponeatatime.Thewholeoperationtookonlyfifteenminutes,andtheshinynewscrewswerefullyattached,andnewprotectiveanodessetinplace.Hetookhistimegivingtheruddersalook,anddecidedthatthey‘dbeokayfortherestoftheyear,thoughSamshouldkeepaneyeonthem.Itwasarelief,asusual,toclimboutofthewaterandbreatheairthatdidn‘ttastelikerubber.

  ‘WhatdoIoweyou?‘Rosenasked.

  ‘Forwhat?‘Kellytookoffhisgearandswitchedoffthecompressor.

  ‘Ialwayspayamanforhiswork,‘thesurgeonsaidsomewhatself-righteously.

  Kellyhadtolaugh.‘Tellyouwhat,ifIeverneedabackoperation,youcanmakeitafreebie.Whatisityoudocscallthissortofthing?‘

  ‘Professionalcourtesy-butyou‘renotaphysician,‘Rosenobjected.

  ‘Andyou‘renotadiver.You‘renotaseamanyet,either,butwe‘regoingtofixthattoday,Sam.‘

  ‘IwasatthetopofmyPowerSquadronclass!‘Rosenboomed.

  ‘Doc,whenwegotkidsfromtrainingschool,weusedtosay,&"That‘sfine,sonny,butthishere‘sthefleet.&"Letmegetthegearstowedandwe‘llseehowwellyoucanreallydrivethisthing.‘

  ‘IbetI‘mabetterfishermanthanyouare,‘Rosenproclaimed.

  ‘Nextthey‘regoingtoseewhocanpeethefarthest,‘SarahobservedacidlytoPam.

  ‘That,too.‘Kellylaughedonhiswaybackinside.Tenminuteslaterhe‘dcleanedoffandchangedintoaT-shirtandcutoffs.

  HetookaplaceontheflyingbridgeandwatchedRosenpreparehisboatforgettingunderway.ThesurgeonactuallyimpressedKelly,particularlywithhislinehandling.

  ‘Nexttimeletyourblowersworkforawhilebeforeyoulightofftheengines,‘KellysaidafterRosenstartedup.

  ‘Butit‘sadiesel.‘

  ‘Numberone,&"it&"isa&"she,&"okay?Numbertwo,it‘sagoodhabittogetinto.Thenextboatyoudrivemightbegas.Safety,doc.Youevertakeavacationandrentaboat?‘

  ‘Well,yes.‘

  ‘Insurgeryyoudothesamethingthesameway,everytime?‘Kellyasked.‘Evenwhenyoudon‘treallyhaveto?‘

  Rosennoddedthoughtfully.‘Ihearyou.‘

  ‘Takeherout.‘Kellywaved.ThisRosendid,andrathersmartly,thesurgeonthought.Kellydidn‘t:‘Lessrudder,morescrews.Youwon‘talwayshaveabreezehelpingyouawayfromalongside.Propellerspushwater;ruddersjustdirectitalittle.Youcanalwaysdependonyourengines,especiallyatlowspeed.Andsteeringbreakssometimes.Learnhowtodowithoutit.‘WwW.XiaoShuo530.com

  ‘Yes,Captain,‘Rosengrowled.Itwaslikebeinganinternagain,andSamRosenwasusedtohavingthosepeoplesnaptohisorders.Forty-eight,hethought,wasalittleoldtobeastudent.

  ‘You‘rethecaptain.I‘mjustthepilot.Thesearemywaters,Sam.‘Kellyturnedtolookdownatthewelldeck.‘Don‘tlaugh,ladies,it‘llbeyourturnnext.Payattention!‘Quietly:‘You‘rebeingagoodsport,Sam.‘

  Fifteenminuteslatertheyweredriftinglazilyonthetide,fishinglinesoutunderawarmholidaysun.Kellyhadlittleinterestinfishing,andinsteadassignedhimselflockoutdutyontheflyingbridgewhileSamtaughtPamhowtobaitherline.Herenthusiasmsurprisedallofthem.SarahmadesurethatshewasliberallycoveredwithCoppertonetoprotectherpaleskin,andKellywonderedifalittletanwouldhighlightherscars.Alonewithhisthoughtsontheflyingbridge,Kellyaskedhimselfwhatsortofmanwouldabuseawoman.Hestaredoutthroughsquintedeyesatagentlyrollingsurfacedottedwithboats.Howmanypeoplelikethatwerewithinhissight?Whywasitthatyoucouldn‘ttellfromlookingatthem?

  Packingtheboatwassimpleenough.They‘dstockedinagoodsupplyofchemicals,whichtheywouldhavetoreplenishperiodically,butEddierememberedthespot,wellenough,andthewaterwasstillclear.

  ‘SweetJesus!‘Tonygasped.

  ‘Gonnabeagoodyearforcrabs,‘Eddienoted,gladthatTonywasshocked.Afittingkindofrevenge,Eddiethought,butitwasnotapleasantsightforanyofthem.Halfabushel‘sworthofcrabswerealreadyonthebody.Thefacewasfullycovered,aswasonearm,andtheycouldseemoreofthecreaturescomingin,drawnbythesmellofdecaythatdriftedthroughthewaterasefficientlyasthroughtheair:nature‘sownformofadvertising.Onland,Eddieknew,itwouldbebuzzardsandcrows.

  ‘Whatdoyoufigure?Twoweeks,maybethree,andthennomoreAngelo.‘

  ‘Whatifsomebody-‘

  ‘Notmuchchanceofthat,‘Tuckersaid,notbotheringtolook.‘Tooshallowforasailboattoriskcomingin,andmotorboatsdon‘tbothermuch.There‘sanicewidechannelhalfamilesouth,fishing‘sbetterthere,theysay.Iguessthecrabbersdon‘tlikeithereeither.‘

  Piaggihadtroublelookingaway,thoughhisstomachhadalreadyturnedoveronce.TheChesapeakeBaybluecrabs,withtheirclaws,weredismantlingthebodyalreadysoftenedbywarmwaterandbacteria,onelittlepinchatatime,tearingwiththeirclaws,pickingupthepieceswithsmallerpincers,feedingthemintotheirstrangelyalienmouths.He‘dwonderediftherewouldstillbeafacethere,eyestostareupataworldleftbehind,butcrabscoveredit,andsomehowitseemedlikelythattheeyeshadbeenthefirstthingstogo.Thefrighteningpart,ofcourse,wasthatifonemancoulddiethisway,socouldanother,andeventhoughAngelohadalreadybeendead,somehowPiaggiwassurethatbeingdisposedofthiswaywasworsethanmeredeath.HewouldhaveregrettedAngelo‘sdeath,exceptthatitwasbusiness,andAngelohaddeservedit.Itwasashame,inaway,thathisgruesomefatehadtobekeptasecret,butthatwasbusiness,too.Thatwashowyoukeptthecopsfromfindingout.Hardtoprovemurderwithoutabody,andheretheyhadaccidentallyfoundawaytoconcealanumberofmurders.Theonlyproblemwasgettingthebodieshere-andnotlettingothersknowofthemethodofdisposal,becausepeopletalk.TonyPiaggitoldhimself,asAngelohadtalked.AgoodthingthatHenryhadfoundoutaboutthat.

  ‘How‘boutcrabcakeswhenwegetbacktotown?‘EddieMorelloaskedwithalaugh,justtoseeifhecouldmakeTonypuke.

  ‘Let‘sgetthefuckoutahere,‘Piaggirepliedquietly,settlingintohisseat.Tuckertooktheengineoutofidleandpickedhiswayoutofthetidalmarsh,backintotheBay.

  Piaggitookaminuteortwotogetthesightoutofhismind,hopingthathecouldforgetthehorrorofitandrememberonlytheefficiencyoftheirdisposalmethod.Afterall,theymightbeusingitagain.Maybeafterafewhourshe‘dseehumorinit,Tonythought,lookingatthecooler.UnderthefifteenorsocansofNationalBohemianwasalayerofice,underwhichweretwentysealedbagsofheroin.Intheunlikelyeventthatanyonestoppedthem,itwasunlikelythatthey‘dlookfartherthanthebeer,therealfuelforBay-boaters.Tuckerdrovetheboatnorth,andtheotherslaidouttheirfishingrodsasthoughtheyweretryingtofindagoodplacetoharvestafewrockfishfromtheChesapeake.

  ‘Fishinginreverse,‘Morellosaidafteramoment,thenhelaughedloudlyenoughthatPiaggijoinedin.

  ‘Tossmeabeer!‘Tonycommandedbetweenlaughs.Hewasa‘mademan,‘afterall,anddeservedrespect.

  ‘Idiots,‘Kellysaidquietlytohimself.Thateighteen-footerwasgoingtoofast,tooclosetootherfishingboats.Itcouldcatchafewlines,andcertainlywouldthrowawakesuretodisturbothercraft.Thatwasbadseamanners,somethingKellywasalwayscarefultoobserve.Itwasjusttooeasyto-hell,itwasn‘tevenhardenoughtobe‘easy.‘Allyouhadtodowasbuyaboatandyouhadtherighttosailheraround.Notests,nonothing.KellyfoundRosen‘s7x50binocularsandfocusedthemontheboatthatwascomingcloseaboard.Threeassholes,oneofthemholdingupacanofbeerinmocksalute.

  ‘Bearoff,dickhead,‘hewhisperedtohimself.Thejerksinaboat,drinkingbeer,probablyhalf-pottedalready,noteveneleveno‘clockyet.Hegavethemagoodlook,andwasvaguelygratefulthattheypassednocloserthanfiftyyards.Hecaughtthename:Henry‘sEighth.Ifhesawthatnameagain,Kellytoldhimself,he‘dremembertokeepclear.

  ‘Igotone!‘Sarahcalled.

  &"Headsup,wegotabigwakecominginfromstarboard!‘Itarrivedaminutelater,causingthebigHatterastorocktwentydegreesleftandrightofvertical.

  ‘That,‘Kellysaid,lookingdownattheotherthree,‘iswhatImeanbybadseamanners!‘

  ‘Ayeaye!‘Samcalledback.

  ‘I‘vestillgothim,‘Sarahsaid.Sheworkedthefishin,Kellysaw,withconsummateskill.‘Prettybig,too!‘

  Samgotthenetandleanedovertheside.Amomentlaterhestoodbackup.Thenetcontainedastrugglingrockfish,maybetwelveorfourteenpounds.Hedumpedthenetinawater-filledboxinwhichthefishcouldwaittodie.ItseemedcrueltoKelly,butitwasonlyafish,andhe‘dseenworsethingsthanthat.

  Pamstartedsquealingamomentlaterasherlinewenttaut.Sarahputherrodinitsholderandstartedcoachingher.Kellywatched.ThefriendshipbetweenPamandSarahwasasremarkableasthatbetweenhimselfandthegirl.PerhapsSarahwastakingtheplaceofthemotherwhohadbeenlackinginaffection,orwhateverPam‘smotherhadlacked.Regardless,Pamwasrespondingwelltotheadviceandcounselofhernewfriend.KellywatchedwithasmilethatSamcaughtandreturned.Pamwasnewatthis,trippingtwiceasshewalkedthefisharound.AgainSamdidthehonorswiththenet,thistimerecoveringaneight-poundblue.

  ‘Tossitback,‘Kellyadvised.‘Theydon‘ttasteworthadamn!‘

  Sarahlookedup.‘Throwbackherfirstfish?Whatareyou,aNazi?Youhaveanylemonatyourplace,John?‘

  ‘Yeah,why?‘

  ‘I‘llshowyouwhatyoucandowithabluefish,that‘swhy.‘ShewhisperedsomethingtoPamthatevokedalaugh.Thebluewentintothesametank,andKellywonderedhowitandtherockwouldgetalong.

  MemorialDay,DutchMaxwellthought,alightingfromhisofficialcaratArlingtonNationalCemetery.Tomanyjustatimeforafive-hundred-mileautoraceinIndianapolis,oradayoff,orthetraditionalstartofthesummerbeachseason,astestifiedtobytherelativelackofautotrafficinWashington.Butnottohim,andnottohisfellows.Thiswastheirday,atimetorememberfallencomradeswhileothersattendedtootherthingsbothmoreandlesspersonal.AdmiralPodulskigotoutwithhim,andthetwowalkedslowlyandoutofstep,asadmiralsdo.Casimir‘sson,Lieutenant(juniorgrade)StanislasPodulski,wasnothere,andprobablyneverwouldbe.HisA-4hadbeenblottedfromtheskybyasurface-to-airmissile,thereportshadtoldthem,nearlyadirecthit.Theyoungpilothadbeentoodistractedtonoticeuntilperhapsthelastsecond,whenhisvoicehadspokenitslastepithetofdisgustoverthe‘guard‘channel.Perhapsoneofthebombshe‘dbeencarryinghadgoneoffsympathetically.Inanycase,thesmallattack-bomberhaddissolvedintoagreasycloudofblackandyellow,leavinglittlebehind;andbesides,theenemywasn‘tallthatfastidiousaboutrespectingtheremainsoffallenaviators.Andsothesonofabravemanhadbeendeniedhisrestingplacewithcomrades.Itwasn‘tsomethingthatCasspokeabout.Podulskikeptsuchfeelingsinside.

  RearAdmiralJamesGreerwasathisplace,ashe‘dbeenfortheprevioustwoyears,aboutfiftyyardsfromthepaveddriveway,settingflowersnexttotheflagattheheadstoneofhisson.

  ‘James?‘Maxwellsaid.Theyoungermanturnedandsaluted,wantingtosmileingratitudefortheirfriendshiponadaylikethis,butnotquitedoingso.Allthreeworetheirnavy-blueuniformsbecausetheycarriedwiththemapropersortofsolemnity.Theirgold-braidedsleevesglistenedinthesun.Withoutaspokenword,allthreemenlineduptofacetheheadstoneofRobertWhiteGreer,FirstLieutenant,UnitedStatesMarineCorps.Theysalutedsmartly,eachrememberingayoungmanwhomtheyhadbouncedontheirknees,whohadriddenhisbikeatNavalStationNorfolkandNavalAirStationJacksonvillewithCas‘sson,andDutch‘s.Whohadgrownstrongandproud,meetinghisfather‘sshipswhenthey‘dreturnedtoport,andtalkedonlyaboutfollowinginhisfather‘sfootsteps,butnottooclosely,andwhoseluckhadproveninsufficienttothemoment,fiftymilessouth-westofDanang.Itwasthecurseoftheirprofession,eachknewbutneversaid,thattheirsonsweredrawntoitalso,partlyfromreverenceforwhattheirfatherswere,partlyfromaloveofcountryimpartedbyeachtoeach,mostofallfromaloveoftheirfellowman.Aseachofthemenstandingtherehadtakenhischances,sohadBobbyGreerandStasPodulskitakentheirs.Itwasjustthatluckhadnotsmiledontwoofthethreesons.

  GreerandPodulskitoldthemselvesatthismomentthatithadmattered,thatfreedomhadaprice,thatsomemenmustpaythatpriceelsetherewouldbenoflag,noConstitution,noholidaywhosemeaningpeoplehadtherighttoignore.Butinbothcases,thoseunspokenwordsranghollow.Greer‘smarriagehadended,largelyfromthegriefofBobby‘sdeath.Podulski‘swifewouldneverbethesame.Thougheachmanhadotherchildren,thevoidcreatedbythelossofonewaslikeachasmnevertobebridged,andasmuchaseachmighttellhimselfthat,yes,itwasworththeprice,nomanwhocouldrationalizethedeathofachildcouldtrulybecalledamanatall,andtheirrealfeelingswerereinforcedbythesamehumanitythatcompelledthemtoalifeofsacrifice.Thiswasallthemoretruebecauseeachhadfeelingsaboutthewarthatthemorepolitecalled‘doubts,‘andwhichtheycalledsomethingelse,butonlyamongthemselves.

  ‘RememberthetimeBobbywentintothepooltogetMikeGoodwin‘slittlegirl-savedherlife?‘Podulskiasked.‘IjustgotanotefromMike.LittleAmyhadtwinslastweek,twolittlegirls.ShemarriedanengineerdowninHouston,worksforNASA.‘

  ‘Ididn‘tevenknowshewasmarried.Howoldisshenow?‘Jamesasked.

  ‘Oh,shemustbetwentytwenty-five?Rememberherfreckles,howthesunusedtobreedthemdownatJax?‘

  ‘LittleAmy,‘Greersaidquietly.‘Howtheygrow.‘Maybeshewouldn‘thavedrownedthathotJulyday,butitwasonemorethingtorememberabouthisson.Onelifesaved,maybethree?Thatwassomething,wasn‘tit?Greeraskedhimself.

  Thethreementurnedandleftthegravewithoutaword,headingslowlybacktothedriveway.Theyhadtostopthere.Afuneralprocessionwascomingupthehill,soldiersoftheThirdInfantryRegiment,‘TheOldGuard,‘doingtheirsomberduty,layinganothermantorest.Theadmiralslinedupagain,salutingtheflagdrapedonthecasketandthemanwithin.TheyoungLieutenantcommandingthedetaildidthesame.HesawthatoneoftheflagofficersworethepaleblueribbondenotingtheMedalofHonor,andtheseverityofhisgestureconveyedthedepthofhisrespect.

  ‘Well,theregoesanotherone,‘Greersaidwithquietbitternessaftertheyhadpassedby.‘DearGod,whatareweburyingthesekidsfor?‘

  ‘&"Payanyprice,bearanyburden,meetanyhardship,supportanyfriend,opposeanyfoe&"‘Casquoted.‘Wasn‘tallthatlongago,wasit?Butwhenitcametimetoputthechipsonthetable,wherewerethebastards?‘

  ‘Wearethechips,Cas,‘DutchMaxwellreplied.‘Thisisthetable.‘

  Normalmenmighthavewept,butthesewerenotnormalmen.Eachsurveyedthelanddottedwithwhitestones.ThishadbeenthefrontlawnofRobertE.Leeonce-thehousewasstillatopthehill-andtheplacementofthecemeteryhadbeenthecruelgestureofagovernmentthathadfeltitselfbetrayedbytheofficer.AndyetLeehadintheendgivenhisancestralhometotheserviceofthosemenwhomhehadmostloved.Thatwasthekindestironyofthisday,Maxwellreflected.

  ‘Howdothingslookuptheriver,James?‘

  ‘Couldbebetter,Dutch.Ihaveorderstocleanhouse.Ineedaprettybigbroom.‘

  ‘HaveyoubeenbriefedinonBOXWOODGREEN?‘

  ‘No.‘Greerturnedandcrackedhisfirstsmileoftheday.Itwasn‘tmuch,butitwassomething,theotherstoldthemselves.‘DoIwanttobe?‘

  ‘We‘llprobablyneedyourhelp.‘

  ‘Underthetable?‘

  ‘YouknowwhathappenedwithKINGPIN,‘CasimirPodulskinoted.

  ‘Theyweredamnedluckytogetout,‘Greeragreed.‘Keepingthisonetight,eh?‘

  ‘Youbetweare.‘

  ‘Letmeknowwhatyouneed.You‘llgeteverythingIcanfind.Youdoingthe&"three&"work,Cas?‘

  ‘That‘sright.‘Anydesignatorwitha-3attheenddenotedtheoperationsandplanningdepartment,andPodulskihadagiftforthat.HiseyesglitteredasbrightlyashisWingsofGoldinthemorningsun.

  ‘Good,‘Greerobserved.‘How‘slittleDutchdoing?‘

  ‘FlyingforDeltanow.Copilot,he‘llmakecaptaininduecourse,andI‘llbeagrandfatherinanothermonthorso.‘

  ‘Really?Congratulations,myfriend.‘

  ‘Idon‘tblamehimforgettingout.Iusedto,butnotnow.‘

  ‘What‘sthenameoftheSEALwhowentintogethim?‘

  ‘Kelly.He‘sout,too,‘Maxwellsaid.

  ‘YoushouldhavegottentheMedalforhim,Dutch,‘Podulskisaid.‘Ireadthecitation.Thatwasashairyastheycome.‘

  ‘Imadehimachief.Icouldn‘tgettheMedalforhim.‘Maxwellshookhishead.‘Notforrescuingthesonofanadmiral,Cas.Youknowthepolitics.‘

  ‘Yeah.‘Podulskilookedupthehill.Thefuneralprocessionhadstopped,andthecasketwasbeingmovedofftheguncarriage.Ayoungwidowwaswatchingherhusband‘stimeonearthend.‘Yeah,Iknowaboutpolitics.‘

  Tuckereasedtheboatintotheslip.Theinboard-outboarddrivemadethateasy.Hecuttheengineandgrabbedthemooringlines,whichhetiedoffquickly.TonyandEddieliftedthebeercooleroutwhileTuckercollectedtheloosegearandsnappedafewcoversintoplacebeforejoininghiscompanionsontheparkinglot.

  ‘Well,thatwasprettyeasy,‘Tonynoted.ThecoolerwasalreadyinthebackofhisFordCountrySquirestationwagon.

  ‘Whodoyousupposewontheracetoday?‘Eddieasked.They‘dneglectedtotakearadiowiththemforthetrip.

  ‘IhadayardbetonFoyt,justtomakeitinteresting.‘

  ‘NotAndretti?‘Tuckerasked.

  ‘He‘sapaisan,butheain‘tlucky.Bettingisbusiness,‘Piaggipointedout.Angelowasathingofthepastnow,andthemannerofhisdisposalwas,afterall,alittleamusing,thoughthemanmightnevereatcrabcakesagain.

  ‘Well,‘Tuckersaid,‘youknowwheretofindme.‘

  ‘You‘llgetyourmoney,‘Eddiesaid,speakingoutofplace.‘Endoftheweek,theusualplace.‘Hepaused.‘Whatifdemandgoesup?‘

  ‘Icanhandleit,‘Tuckerassuredhim.‘Icangetallyouwant.‘

  ‘Whatthehellkindofpipelinedoyouhave?‘Eddieasked,pushingfurther.

  ‘Angelowantedtoknowthat,too,remember?Gentlemen,ifItoldyouthat,youwouldn‘tneedme,wouldyou?‘

  TonyPiaggismiled.‘Don‘ttrustus?‘

  ‘Sure.‘Tuckersmiled.‘Itrustyoutosellthestuffandsharethemoneywithme.‘

  Piagginoddedapproval.‘Ilikesmartpartners.Staythatway.It‘sgoodforallofus.Youhaveabanker?‘

  ‘Notyet,haven‘tthoughtaboutitmuch,‘Tuckerlied.

  ‘Startthinking,Henry.Wecanhelpsetyouup,overseasbank.It‘ssecure,numberedaccount,allthatstuff.Youcanhavesomebodyyouknowcheckitout.Remember,theycantrackmoneyifyou‘renotcareful.Don‘tliveituptoomuch.We‘velostalotoffriendsthatway.‘

  ‘Idon‘ttakechances,Tony.‘

  Piagginodded.‘Goodwaytothink.Youhavetobecarefulinthisbusiness.Thecopsaregettingsmart.‘

  ‘Notsmartenough.‘Neitherwerehispartners,whenitcametothat,butonethingatatime.</div> 有的人死了,但没有完全死……

  无尽的昏迷过后,时宇猛地从床上起身。想要看最新章节内容,请下载爱阅小说app,无广告免费阅读最新章节内容。网站已经不更新最新章节内容,已经爱阅小说APP更新最新章节内容。

  他大口的呼吸起新鲜的空气,胸口一颤一颤。

  迷茫、不解,各种情绪涌上心头。

  这是哪?

  随后,时宇下意识观察四周,然后更茫然了。

  一个单人宿舍?

  就算他成功得到救援,现在也应该在病房才对。

  还有自己的身体……怎么会一点伤也没有。

  带着疑惑,时宇的视线快速从房间扫过,最终目光停留在了床头的一面镜子上。

  镜子照出他现在的模样,大约十七八岁的年龄,外貌很帅。

  可问题是,这不是他!下载爱阅小说app,阅读最新章节内容无广告免费

  之前的自己,是一位二十多岁气宇不凡的帅气青年,工作有段时间了。

  而现在,这相貌怎么看都只是高中生的年纪……

  这个变化,让时宇发愣很久。

  千万别告诉他,手术很成功……

  身体、面貌都变了,这根本不是手术不手术的问题了,而是仙术。

  他竟完全变成了另外一个人!

  难道……是自己穿越了?

  除了床头那摆放位置明显风水不好的镜子,时宇还在旁边发现了三本书。

  时宇拿起一看,书名瞬间让他沉默。

  《新手饲养员必备育兽手册》

  《宠兽产后的护理》

  《异种族兽耳娘评鉴指南》

  时宇:???

  前两本书的名字还算正常,最后一本你是怎么回事?

  “咳。”

  时宇目光一肃,伸出手来,不过很快手臂一僵。

  就在他想翻开第三本书,看看这究竟是个什么东西时,他的大脑猛地一阵刺痛,大量的记忆如潮水般涌现。

  冰原市。

  宠兽饲养基地。

  实习宠兽饲养员。网站即将关闭,下载爱阅app为您提供大神璇玑的璇玑之心刃·冷血悍将

  御兽师?

章节错误,点此报送(免注册), 报送后维护人员会在两分钟内校正章节内容,请耐心等待