JК
The Case of the Caretakers Cat :: Гарднер Эрл Стенли
Страница: 47 из 146"What's good to keep from taking cold at a time like this, Doc?" he asked.
Dr. Jason said, unsympathetically, "Staying in a warm bed… They would have to pick a rainy night to do this. The man's been buried for days, but no one takes any interest in him until it starts to rain."
"How long will it take you to tell what you want after examining the body?"
"It may not take very long. It will depend somewhat on the extent to which the body was charred by heat."
"Bring out that coil of rope," one of the men in the grave ordered, "and get ready to pull. We can get the rope around the handles now."
A few moments later, with everyone straining on ropes, the coffin jerked, and started its uneven journey upward.
"Pull steady on them ropes, now; don't get it tilted up at one end, and take it easy."
The coffin reached the surface. Boards were shoved under it. Then the coffin slid along the wet, muddy boards until it rested on the firm ground.
One of the men produced a cloth and wiped the soil from the top of the coffin. A screwdriver made its appearance. After a moment, the lid of the coffin was swung back and a voice said, "Okay, Doc, it's all yours."
Dr. Jason stepped forward, leaned over the coffin, gave an exclamation, and tugged a flashlight from his pocket.
The men shuffled around in a circle, but, as yet, no one had picked up the gasoline lantern, so that the interior of the coffin was plunged in shadow.
"What's the verdict, Doctor?" the district attorney inquired.
Dr. Jason's pocket flashlight illuminated the interior of the coffin. His fingers moved the charred body.
"It's going to be hard to tell. The man's been burned to a crisp. I'll have to look for some place where clothing protected the skin somewhat."
"How about monoxide?"
"No need testing for that. It would be present anyway."
"Well, can you go ahead with your examination?"
"You mean here?"
"Yes."
"It would be difficult, and the conclusion wouldn't be final."
"Can you make a good guess?"
Dr. Jason sighed resignedly, started working with the screwdriver. "I'll answer that question in a few minutes," he said.
One of the men held a lantern. Dr. Jason, showing his resentment against the weather, his disapproval of the entire procedure, removed the top from the coffin. "Bring that light over here—no, not so close—don't let the shadow fall on the inside.
Dr. Jason said, unsympathetically, "Staying in a warm bed… They would have to pick a rainy night to do this. The man's been buried for days, but no one takes any interest in him until it starts to rain."
"How long will it take you to tell what you want after examining the body?"
"It may not take very long. It will depend somewhat on the extent to which the body was charred by heat."
"Bring out that coil of rope," one of the men in the grave ordered, "and get ready to pull. We can get the rope around the handles now."
A few moments later, with everyone straining on ropes, the coffin jerked, and started its uneven journey upward.
"Pull steady on them ropes, now; don't get it tilted up at one end, and take it easy."
The coffin reached the surface. Boards were shoved under it. Then the coffin slid along the wet, muddy boards until it rested on the firm ground.
One of the men produced a cloth and wiped the soil from the top of the coffin. A screwdriver made its appearance. After a moment, the lid of the coffin was swung back and a voice said, "Okay, Doc, it's all yours."
Dr. Jason stepped forward, leaned over the coffin, gave an exclamation, and tugged a flashlight from his pocket.
The men shuffled around in a circle, but, as yet, no one had picked up the gasoline lantern, so that the interior of the coffin was plunged in shadow.
"What's the verdict, Doctor?" the district attorney inquired.
Dr. Jason's pocket flashlight illuminated the interior of the coffin. His fingers moved the charred body.
"It's going to be hard to tell. The man's been burned to a crisp. I'll have to look for some place where clothing protected the skin somewhat."
"How about monoxide?"
"No need testing for that. It would be present anyway."
"Well, can you go ahead with your examination?"
"You mean here?"
"Yes."
"It would be difficult, and the conclusion wouldn't be final."
"Can you make a good guess?"
Dr. Jason sighed resignedly, started working with the screwdriver. "I'll answer that question in a few minutes," he said.
One of the men held a lantern. Dr. Jason, showing his resentment against the weather, his disapproval of the entire procedure, removed the top from the coffin. "Bring that light over here—no, not so close—don't let the shadow fall on the inside.