<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">41</span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">布鲁克林博物馆在每周的星期二对公众闭馆，但对艺术课学生和研究人员是开放的。www.mengyuanshucheng.com</span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">博物馆对高层次的学者来说是个绝好的学习场所。这里的职员们都很博学而且热情；一般情况下他们都会允许研究者们通过预订约会在星期二来观摩不对外展出的作品。</span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">弗朗西斯<font face="times new roman">·</font><font face="宋体">多拉德在周二下午两点刚过的时候从艾尔特地铁站口出来，他把自己装扮得像个学者：拿着一本笔记本，一份泰特美术馆的手册，腋下夹着一本威廉</font><font face="times new roman">·</font><font face="宋体">布莱克的传记。在他衬衫里藏着一把九毫米口径手枪，一件皮面的粗头短棍和一把剃须刀一样锋利的切片刀。这些武器紧贴着他的平平的腹部，中间用一个弹性绷带隔着。一块浸透了氯仿的布封在了一只塑料袋里，放在他的衣兜里。</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">他的手上拎着一只新的吉他套。</span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">在公园东路的中心位置、地铁出口的附近有三部投币公用电话，其中一部被偷走了，其他两部还能用。</span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">多拉德往里面投硬币直到他听到莱芭说：<font face="times new roman">“</font><font face="宋体">你好。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">他可以听到除她声音以外的暗室的噪音。</span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">你好，莱芭。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font><font face="宋体">他说。</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">嘿，</font><font face="times new roman">d</font><font face="宋体">。你觉得怎么样了？</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">两边过往的车辆让他几乎听不到莱芭的声音。<font face="times new roman">“</font><font face="宋体">还好。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">听起来像是在街上的电话亭里。我以为你在家养病呢。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">我想待会儿再跟你聊。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">好吧。一会儿打电话给我，好吗？</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">我想</font><font face="times new roman">……</font><font face="宋体">见你。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">我想让你见我，可今晚不成，我得加班。你会打电话给我吗？</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">我会的。如果不出</font><font face="times new roman">……”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">什么？</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">我会给你打电话的。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">我真的希望你赶紧好，</font><font face="times new roman">d</font><font face="宋体">。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">我知道，我会的。再见</font><font face="times new roman">……</font><font face="宋体">莱芭。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">好的。恐俱从他的胸骨传到腹部。他按捺住恐惧，过了马路。周二进布鲁克林博物馆的入口是右边的一个小门。多拉德在四个艺术系的学生后面进了门。学生们把背包和书包拿下来立在墙边，掏出他们的月票。门卫站在桌子后面检查票。</span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">轮到多拉德了。</span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">你订了约会了吗？</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">多拉德点了点头。<font face="times new roman">“</font><font face="宋体">油画研究部，哈帕小姐。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">请在这里签个到。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font><font face="宋体">门卫递给他笔。</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">多拉德用他自己的笔签了<font face="times new roman">“</font><font face="宋体">保罗</font><font face="times new roman">·</font><font face="宋体">克雷</font><font face="times new roman">”</font><font face="宋体">。</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">门卫拨通了楼上的分机。多拉德背对着桌子，端详着挂在入口处的罗伯特<font face="times new roman">·</font><font face="宋体">布卢姆的一幅画，名叫《葡萄收获节》。门卫在电话中确认了约会。从多拉德眼睛的余光里看到了大厅里的另一名保安。对，就是持枪的那名。</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">大厅后侧挨着商店有一个长椅在主电梯旁，</font><font face="times new roman">”</font><font face="宋体">门卫说，</font><font face="times new roman">“</font><font face="宋体">请在那里等一下。哈帕小姐会到那里接你的。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font><font face="宋体">他递给多拉德一块粉白相间的塑料胸牌。</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">我可以把我的吉他留在这里吗？</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">我会帮你看着的。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">不开灯的博物馆显得和昨天不一样。庞大的玻璃柜之间有阴影。多拉德坐在长椅上等了三分钟，哈帕小姐从电梯里出来了。<font face="times new roman">“</font><font face="宋体">克雷先生？我是伯拉</font><font face="times new roman">·</font><font face="宋体">哈帕。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">她看起来比他从圣路易斯打电话来时显得年轻。一个很聪明的女人，非常漂亮。她穿衬衫和裙子像穿制服一样。</span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">你打电话询问布莱克的水彩画。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font><font face="宋体">她说。</font><font face="times new roman">“</font><font face="宋体">我们上楼吧，我可以把画拿给你看。我们乘员工电梯，这边走。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">她带着他经过灭着灯的博物馆礼品店，穿过一个陈列着古老武器的小房间。他向四周快速地看着，并且要保持他夹带的东西不被发现。在美洲展区的走廊拐角有一部小电梯。</span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">哈帕小姐按了电钮。她把胳膊搭在胸前，等候着。她纯净的蓝蓝的眼睛看着他的胸牌，粉色加白色，夹在他的外衣翻领上。<font face="times new roman">“</font><font face="宋体">他给你的是第六层的证件。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font><font face="宋体">她说，</font><font face="times new roman">“</font><font face="宋体">不过没关系，今天五层没有保安。你在搞什么研究？</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">多拉德一直在点头和微笑。听到问题，他说：<font face="times new roman">“</font><font face="宋体">一篇关于巴茨的论文。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">托马斯</font><font face="times new roman">·</font><font face="宋体">巴茨？</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">他点点头。</span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">我没有读过他的什么作品。你只在脚注里看到他是布莱克的赞助人。他有趣吗？</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">我刚刚开始研究。我得去伦敦做深入调查。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">我记得国家美术馆里有布莱克为巴茨作的两幅水彩画。你看过了吗？</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">还没有。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">赶在大部分人开始对他感兴趣之前写最好。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">他点点头。电梯到了。</span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">五层。他有点刺痛的感觉，不过他的四肢有充盈的血在流动。很快就能见分晓了。如果事情不顺利，他也不会让他们抓到他的。</span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">她带着他走过美国名人肖像的走廊。这不是他昨天来时走的方向，但他知道自己现在的方位。会好的。</span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">可是在走廊里有件东西等着他。当他看到它时他站在那动不了了。</span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">伯拉<font face="times new roman">·</font><font face="宋体">哈帕意识到他没有跟上，就转过身。</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">他看起来全身僵直地立在墙上悬挂着的一幅小肖像前。她走回来，看看他到底在看什么。</span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">那是吉尔特</font><font face="times new roman">·</font><font face="宋体">斯图尔特给乔治</font><font face="times new roman">·</font><font face="宋体">华盛顿画的肖像。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font><font face="宋体">不，不是的。</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">你可以在美元的纸币上看到相似的头像。人们把这幅肖像叫兰斯唐毛葛画像，因为斯图尔特为兰斯唐毛葛侯爵作了这幅画，以感谢他在美国独立战争期间给予的支持</font><font face="times new roman">……</font><font face="宋体">没事吧，克雷先生？</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">多拉德脸色苍白。这比他见到过的所有的美元上的画像都糟糕。华盛顿半张半闭的眼睛，他的装得很蹩脚的假牙从像框中探出来。上帝啊，他看起来太像外婆了。多拉德觉得自己像是一个拿着橡皮刀的小孩。</span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">克雷先生，你还好吗？</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">回答或是结束这次行动。闯过这关。上帝，亲爱的，这太美妙了。你是我看到的最脏<font face="times new roman">……</font><font face="宋体">不。</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">得说点什么。</span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">我在接受放疗。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">你愿意坐下来待会儿吗？</font><font face="times new roman">”</font><font face="宋体">他周围有了一点药物的气味。</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">不用了。你先走，我会跟上的。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">你阻拦不了我的，外婆。上帝诅咒你，你要是还没死的话我就杀死你。你已经死了，死了。外婆已经死了。现在已经死了，永远地死了。我亲爱的上帝啊，这太美妙了。</span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">不过另一个可没有死，多拉德明白。</span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">他跟在哈帕小姐后面通过了<font face="times new roman">“</font><font face="宋体">恐怖的灌木丛</font><font face="times new roman">”</font><font face="宋体">。他们走进</font><font face="times new roman">“</font><font face="宋体">油画研究与收藏部</font><font face="times new roman">”</font><font face="宋体">的双开门。多拉德很快地向四周看了看。这是一个长长的、安静的房间。灯光很好，也摆满了在旋转式运动装置上存放的用布遮盖的油画。</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">一排小工作间在墙的一侧。最里边的一个工作间的门半掩着，他听到有人在打字。</span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>