《No Country for Old Men》第47章

ars。　the　big overland　trucks　loomed　up　in　the　glasses　and　drew　away。　he　squatted　on　his　heels　with his　elbows　on　his　knees；　watching。　then　he　went　back　to　the　motel。
he　set　his　alarm　for　one　oclock　and　when　it　went　off　he　got　up　and　showered　and dressed　and　walked　out　to　his　truck　with　his　small　leather　bag　and　put　it　behind　the　seat。
he　parked　in　the　motel　parking　lot　and　he　sat　there　for　some　time。　leaning　back　in　the seat　and　watching　in　the　rearview　mirror。　nothing。　the　police　cars　were　long　gone。　the yellow　police　tape　across　the　door　lifted　in　the　wind　and　the　trucks　droned　past　headed for　arizona　and　california。　he　got　out　and　walked　up　to　the　door　and　blew　out　the　lock with　his　stungun　and　walked　in　and　shut　the　door　behind　him。　he　could　see　the　room pretty　well　by　the　light　through　the　windows。　small　spills　of　light　from　the　bulletholes in　the　plywood　door。　he　pulled　the　little　bedside　table　over　to　the　wall　and　stood　and took　a　screwdriver　from　his　rear　pocket　and　began　to　back　the　screws　out　of　the louvered　steel　cover　of　the　airduct。　he　set　it　on　the　table　and　reached　in　and　pulled　out the　bag　and　stepped　down　and　walked　over　to　the　window　and　looked　out　at　the　parking lot。　he　took　the　pistol　from　behind　his　belt　and　opened　the　door　and　stepped　out　and closed　it　behind　him　and　stooped　under　the　tape　and　walked　down　to　his　truck　and　got　in。
he　set　the　bag　in　the　floor　and　hed　reached　for　the　key　to　turn　on　the　ignition　when　he saw　the　terrell　county　cruiser　pull　into　the　lot　in　front　of　the　motel　office　a　hundred　feet away。　he　let　go　of　the　key　and　sat　back。　the　cruiser　pulled　into　a　parking　space　and　the lights　went　out。　then　the　motor。　chigurh　waited；　the　pistol　in　his　lap。
when　bell　got　out　he　took　a　look　around　the　lot　and　then　walked　up　to　the　door　at　117 and　tried　the　knob。　the　door　was　unlocked。　he　ducked　under　the　tape　and　pushed　the door　open　and　reached　and　found　the　wallswitch　and　turned　on　the　light。
the　first　thing　he　saw　was　the　grille　and　the　screws　lying　on　the　table。　he　shut　the　door behind　him　and　stood　there。　he　stepped　to　the　window　and　looked　past　the　edge　of　the curtain　out　at　the　parking　lot。　he　stood　there　for　some　time。　nothing　moved。　he　saw something　lying　in　the　floor　and　stepped　over　and　picked　it　up　but　he　already　knew　what it　was。　he　turned　it　in　his　hand。　he　walked　over　and　sat　on　the　bed　and　weighed　the little　piece　of　brass　in　his　palm。　then　he　tilted　it　into　the　ashtray　on　the　bedside　table。
he　picked　up　the　telephone　but　the　line　was　dead。　he　put　the　receiver　back　in　the　cradle。
he　took　his　pistol　from　the　holster　and　flipped　open　the　gate　and　checked　the　shells　in the　cylinder　and　closed　the　gate　with　his　thumb　and　sat　with　the　pistol　resting　on　his knee。
you　dont　know　for　sure　that　hes　out　there；　he　said。
yes　you　do。　you　knew　it　at　the　restaurant。　thats　why　you　e　back　here。
well　what　do　you　aim　to　do？
he　got　up　and　walked　over　and　switched　off　the　light。　five　bulletholes　in　the　door。　he stood　with　the　revolver　in　his　hand；　his　thumb　on　the　knurled　hammer。　then　he　opened the　door　and　walked　out。
he　walked　to　the　cruiser。　studying　the　cars　in　the　lot。　pickup　trucks　for　the　most　part。
you　could　always　see　the　muzzleflash　first。　just　not　first　enough。　can　you　feel　it　when someone　is　watching　you？　a　lot　of　people　thought　so。　he　reached　the　cruiser　and opened　the　door　with　his　left　hand。　the　domelight　came　on。　he　stepped　in　and　pulled the　door　shut　and　laid　the　pistol　on　the　seat　beside　him　and　got　out　his　key　and　put　it　in the　ignition　and　started　the　car。　then　he　backed　out　of　the　parking　space　and　switched on　the　lights　and　swung　out　of　the　lot。
when　he　was　out　of　sight　of　the　motel　he　pulled　over　onto　the　shoulder　and　took　the speaker　from　the　hook　and　called　the　sheriffs　office。　they　sent　two　cars。　he　hung　the mike　up　and　put　the　cruiser　in　neutral　and　rolled　back　down　the　edge　of　the　highway until　he　could　just　see　the　motel　sign。　he　looked　at　his　watch。　1：45。　that　seven　minute time　would　make　it　1：52。　he　waited。　at　the　motel　nothing　moved。　at　1：52　he　saw　them e　down　the　highway　and　tail　each　other　up　the　offramp　with　sirens　on　and　lights blazing。　he　kept　his　eyes　on　the　motel。　any　vehicle　that　came　out　of　the　lot　and　headed up　the　access　road　hed　already　determined　to　run　it　off　the　road。
when　the　cruisers　pulled　into　the　motel　he　started　the　car　and　turned　on　the　lights　and did　a　u…turn　and　went　back　down　the　road　the　wrong　way　and　pulled　into　the　lot　and　got out。
they　went　down　the　parking　lot　vehicle　by　vehicle　with　flashlights　and　their　guns drawn　and　came　back　again。　bell　was　the　first　one　back　and　he　stood　leaning　against　his cruiser。　he　nodded　to　the　deputies。　gentlemen；　he　said。　i　think　we　been　outgeneraled。
they　holstered　their　pistols。　he　and　the　chief　deputy　walked　over　to　the　room　and　bell showed　him　the　lock　and　the　airvent　and　the　lock　cylinder。
whats　he　done　that　with；　sheriff？　the　deputy　said；　holding　the　cylinder　in　his　hand。
its　a　long　story；　bell　said。　im　sorry　to　of　got　you　all　out　here　for　nothin。
not　a　problem；　sheriff。
you　tell　the　sheriff　ill　call　him　from　el　paso。
yessir；　ill　sure　do　it。
two　hours　later　he　checked　into　the　rodeway　inn　on　the　east　side　of　town　and　got　the key　and　went　to　his　room　and　went　to　bed。　he　woke　at　six　as　he　always　did　and　got　up and　closed　the　curtains　and　went　back　to　bed　but　he　couldnt　sleep。　finally　he　got　up　and showered　and　dressed　and　went　down　to　the　coffeeshop　and　got　his　breakfast　and　read the　paper。　thered　be　nothing　about　moss　and　the　girl　yet。　when　the　waitress　came　with more　coffee　he　asked　her　what　time　they　got　the　evening　paper。
i　dont　know；　she　said。　i　quit　readin　it。
i　dont　blame　you。　i　would　if　i　could。
i　quit　readin　it　and　i　made　my　husband　quit　readin　it。
is　that　right？
i　dont　know　why　they　call　it　a　newspaper。　i　dont　call　that　stuff　news。
no。
when　was　the　last　time　you　read　somethin　about　jesus　christ　in　the　newspaper？
bell　shook　his　head。　i　dont　know；　he　said。　i　guess　id　have　to　say　it　would　be　a　while。
i　guess　it　would　too；　she　said。　a　long　while。
hed　knocked