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.m.XiaoShuo530.Com
‘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.‘
‘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
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