thecarwasclosebywhentheycameout,butearlwasgone.hehadstoppedthecar,cutthelights,andwalkedbacktowardsthebigcabinwithoutsayinganythingtome.hewasstillwhistling,gropingforsomehalf-rememberedtune.

wadeclimbedcarefullyintothebackseatandigotinbesidehim.dr.verringerdrove.ifhisjawhurtbadlyandhisheadached,hedidn’tshowitormentionit.wewentovertheridgeanddowntotheendofthegraveleddrive.earlhadalreadybeendownandunlockedthegateandpulleditopen.itoldverringerwheremycarwasandhepulledupclosetoit.wadegotintoitandsatsilent,staringatnothing.verringergotoutandwentroundbesidehim.hespoketowadegently.

「aboutmyfivethousanddollars,mr.wade.thecheckyoupromisedme.」

wadesliddownandrestedhisheadonthebackoftheseat.「i’llthinkaboutit.」

「youpromisedit.ineedit.」

「duress,thewordis,verringer,athreatofharm.ihaveprotectionnow.」

「ifedandwashedyou,」verringerpersisted.「icameinthenight.iprotectedyou,icuredyou—forthetimebeing,atleast.」

「notfivegrandworth,」wadesneered.「yougotplentyoutofmypockets.」

verringerwouldn’tletgo.「ihaveapromiseofaconnectionincuba,mr.wade.youarearichman.youshouldhelpothersintheirneed.ihaveearltolookafter.toavailmyselfofthisopportunityineedthemoney.iwillpayitbackinfull.」

ibegantosquirm.iwantedtosmoke,butiwasafraiditwouldmakewadesick.

「likehellyou’dpayitback,」wadesaidwearily.「youwon’tlivelongenough.oneofthesenightsblueboywillkillyouinyoursleep.」

verringersteppedback.icouldn’tseehisexpression,buthisvoicehardened.「therearemoreunpleasantwaystodie,」hesaid.「ithinkyourswillbeoneofthem.」

hewalkedbacktohiscarandgotintoit.hedroveinthroughhisgatesandwasgone.ibackedandturnedandheadedtowardsthecity.afteramileortwowademuttered:「whyshouldigivethatfatslobfivethousanddollars?」

「noreasonatall.」

「thenwhydoifeellikeabastardfornotgivingittohim?」

「noreasonatall.」

heturnedhisheadjustenoughtolookatme.「hehandledmelikeababy,」wadesaid.「hehardlyleftmealoneforfearearlwouldcomeinandbeatmeup.hetookeverydimeihadinmypockets.」

「youprobablytoldhimto.」

「youonhisside?」

「skipit,」isaid.「thisisjustajobtome.」

silenceforacoupleofmilesmore.wewentpastthefringeofoneoftheoutlyingsuburbs.wadespokeagain.

「maybei’llgiveittohim.he’sbroke.thepropertyisforeclosed.hewon’tgetadimeoutofit.allonaccountofthatpsycho.whydoeshedoit?」

「iwouldn’tknow.」

「i’mawriter,」wadesaid.「i’msupposedtounderstandwhatmakespeopletick.idon’tunderstandonedamnthingaboutanybody.」

iturnedoverthepassandafteraclimbthelightsofthevalleyspreadoutendlesslyinfrontofus.wedippeddowntothehighwaynorthandwestthatgoestoventura.afterawhilewepassedthroughencino.istoppedforalightandlookeduptowardsthelightshighonthehillwherethebighouseswere.inoneofthemthelennoxeshadlived.wewenton.

「theturn-offisprettyclosenow,」wadesaid.「ordoyouknowit?」

「iknowit.」

「bytheway,youhaven’ttoldmeyourname.」

「philipmarlowe.」

「nicename.」hisvoicechangedsharply,saying:「waitaminute.youtheguythatwasmixedupwithlennox?」

「yeah.」

hewasstaringatmeinthedarknessofthecar.wepassedthelastbuildingonthemaindragofencino.

「iknewher,」wadesaid.「alittle.himineversaw.queerbusiness,that.thelawboysgaveyoutheroughedge,didn’tthey?」

ididn’tanswerhim.

「maybeyoudon’tliketotalkaboutit,」hesaid.

「couldbe.whywoulditinterestyou?」

「hell,i’mawriter.itmustbequiteastory.」

「taketonightoff.youmustbefeelingprettyweak.」

「okay,marlowe.okay.youdon’tlikeme.igetit.」

wereachedtheturn-offandiswungthecarintoitandtowardsthelowhillsandthegapbetweenthemthatwasidlevalley.

「idon’teitherlikeyouordislikeyou,」isaid.「idon’tknowyou.yourwifeaskedmetofindyouandbringyouhome.whenideliveryouatyourhousei’mthrough.whyshepickedonmeicouldn’tsay.likeisaid,it’sjustajob.」

weturnedtheflankofahillandhitawider,morefirmlypavedroad.hesaidhishousewasamilefartheron,ontherightside.hetoldmethenumber,whichialreadyknew.foraguyinhisshapehewasaprettypersistenttalker.