hr.thecarpetbaggers-第101部分

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ere's　always　a　stripper　working　on　the　stage；　while　the　other　girls　take　turns　hustling　the　suckers　for　drinks。〃
　Amos　hadn't　changed；　I　thought。　He　still　went　where　the　girls　were。　I　pushed　back　my　coffee　cup。　〃O。K。；　let's　go　get　him。〃
　〃I'm　ready；〃　Jennie　said。
　Vitale　looked　at　her。　〃Maybe　you'd　better　stay　here；　ma'am。　It's　a　pretty　rough　place。〃
　〃What？〃　Jennie　said　quickly。　〃And　miss　the　chance　of　breaking　in　my　new　mink　coat？〃
　
　La　Paree　was　one　of　about　twenty　similar　clubs　on　a　street　that　looked　like　every　other　Strip　Street　clear　across　the　country。　Its　windows　were　covered　with　posters　of　half…naked　girls　…　Maybellene；　Charlene；　Darlene　and　the　inevitable　Rosie　Tookus。　All　were　dancing　tonight。
　The　doorman　wore　an　ear…to…ear　grin　as　the　big　limousine　rolled　to　a　stop。　He　opened　the　door　with　a　flourish。　〃Wele；　folks。　They　e　from　all　over　the　world　to　La　Paree。〃
　They　certainly　did。　The　doorman　rushed　into　the　club；　where　a　small　man　in　a　dark　suit　materialized　before　us。　A　hat…check　girl；　in　a　pair　of　tights；　took　our　coats。　Jennie　shook　her　head　and　kept　her　coat　on　as　we　followed　him　down　the　dark；　narrow　smoke…filled　room　to　a　tiny　table　right　in　front　of　the　stage。
　A　stripper　was　working　just　over　our　heads。　The　drums　were　taking　a　slow　beat　and　she　was　grinding　away；　almost　down　to　the　bare　essentials。
　〃Two　bottles　of　your　best　champagne；〃　I　said。　This　wasn't　the　place　to　order　whisky。　Not　unless　you　had　a　zinc…lined　stomach。
　At　the　word　champagne；　the　stripper　paused　in　her　routine；　right　in　the　middle　of　a　bump；　and　looked　down。　I　saw　her　appraising　eyes　flick　over　me　as　she　put　on　her　most　seductive　smile。
　Then　Jennie　let　her　coat　fall　back　on　the　seat　and　took　off　her　turban。　Her　long　blond　hair　caught　all　the　flashes　of　light　from　the　spot　as　it　tumbled　down　around　her　shoulders。　As　quickly　as　it　had　appeared；　the　stripper's　smile　vanished。
　I　looked　at　Jennie。　She　smiled　back　at　me。　〃You　gotta　fight　fire　with　fire；〃　she　said。
　I　laughed。　A　white…shirted　waiter　came　up　with　two　bottles　of　champagne　in　a　bucket。　Quickly　he　put　three　glasses　down　on　the　table　and　opened　the　first　bottle。　The　cork　popped　and　the　champagne　spilled　down　over　the　sides　of　the　bottle。　He　filled　all　three　glasses　without　waiting　for　me　to　taste　the　wine　and　hurried　off。
　It　was　still　warm　but　it　was　a　good　champagne。　I　looked　at　the　bottle。　Heidsieck；　1937。　Even　if　the　label　was　a　phony；　it　wasn't　half　bad。　Then　I　noticed　a　white　chit　beside　me　on　the　table。　Eighty　dollars。
　〃If　you'd　e　in　a　cab；〃　Vitale　said；　〃it　only　would　have　cost　you　twenty　bucks　a　bottle。〃
　〃How　much　if　we'd　walked？〃
　He　grinned。　〃Fifteen。〃
　〃'Cheers；〃　I　said；　lifting　my　glass。
　No　sooner　had　we　put　down　our　glasses　than　the　waiter　was　refilling　them。　He　moved　quickly；　slopping　some　over　the　edge　of　the　glasses；　then　started　to　upend　the　bottle　into　the　ice　bucket。
　I　stopped　him　with　my　hand。　〃Not　so　fast；　friend。　If　I　don't　squawk　at　the　tariff；　the　least　you　can　do　is　let　us　finish　the　bottle。〃
　He　stared　at　me；　then　nodded。　He　put　the　bottle　into　the　bucket　right　side　up　and　disappeared。　There　was　a　roll　of　drums　and　the　stripper　went　off；　to　a　desultory　clatter　of　halfhearted　applause。
　〃He's　over　there；　down　at　the　end　of　the　bar；〃　Vitale　said。
　I　turned　to　look。　There　still　wasn't　much　light。　All　I　could　see　was　a　figure　hunched　over　the　bar；　a　glass　cupped　in　his　hands。
　〃I　might　as　well　go　get　him。〃
　〃Think　you'll　need　any　help？〃　Vitale　asked。
　〃No。　You　stay　here　with　Miss　Denton。〃
　The　lights　went　down　again　and　another　stripper　came　on。　As　I　walked　toward　the　bar；　a　girl　brushed　against　me　in　the　dark。　〃Looking　for　someone；　big　boy？〃　she　whispered。　It　was　the　stripper　who　had　just　e　down　off　the　stage。
　I　ignored　her　and　walked　down　the　bar　to　Amos。　He　didn't　look　up　as　I　climbed　onto　the　empty　stool　alongside　him。　〃A　bottle　of　Budweiser；〃　I　said　to　the　bartender。　The　bottle　was　in　front　of　me　and　my　dollar　gone　before　I　was　fully　settled　on　the　stool。
　I　turned　to　look　at　Amos；　who　was　watching　the　stage；　and　a　feeling　of　shock　ran　through　me。　He　was　old。　Incredibly　old　and　gray。　His　hair　was　thin　and　his　skin　hung　around　his　cheeks　and　jowls　the　way　a　skinny　old　man's　flesh　hangs。
　He　lifted　his　drink　to　his　lips。　I　could　see　his　hand　shaking　and　the　grayish…red　blotches　on　the　back　of　it。　I　tried　to　think。　He　couldn't　be　that　old。　The　most　he　could　be　was　his　middle　fifties。　Then　I　saw　his　eyes　and　I　knew　the　answer。
　He　was　beat　and　there　was　nothing　left　for　him　but　yesterdays。　The　dreams　were　gone　because　he'd　failed　all　the　challenges　and　the　dry　rot　of　time　had　set　in。　There　was　nowhere　left　for　him　to　go　but　down。　And　down　and　down；　until　he　was　dead。
　〃Hello；　Amos；〃　I　said　quietly。
　He　put　his　drink　down　and　turned　his　head　slowly。　He　looked　at　me　through　bloodshot；　watery　eyes。　〃Go　away；〃　he　whispered　in　a　hoarse；　whisky…soaked　voice。　〃That's　my　girl　dancing　up　there。〃
　I　glanced　up　at　the　stage。　She　was　a　redhead　who'd　seen　better　years。　They　were　a　good　bination；　the　two　of　them。　They'd　both　fought　the　good　fight　…　badly　…　and　lost。
　I　waited　until　the　music　crashed　to　its　finale　before　I　spoke　again。　〃I　got　a　proposition　for　you；　Amos。〃
　He　turned　toward　me。　〃I　told　your　messenger　I　wasn't　interested。〃
　For　a　moment；　I　was　ready　to　get　down　off　that　stool　and　walk　off。　Out　into　the　fresh；　cold　night　and　away　from　the　stench　of　stale　beer　and　sickness　and　decay。　But　I　didn't。　It　wasn't　only　the　promise　I'd　made　Forrester。　It　was　also　that　he'd　been　Monica's　father。
　The　bartender　came　up　and　I　ordered　us　both　a　round。　He　picked　up　the　five　and　left。
　〃I　told　Monica　about　the　job。　She　was　very　happy　about　it。〃
　He　turned　and　looked　at　me　again。　〃Monica　always　was　a　damn　fool；〃　he　said　hoarsely；　and　laughed。　〃You　know；　she　didn't　want　to　divorce　you。　She　was　crazy　mad；　but　afterward　she　didn't　want　to　divorce　you。　She　said　she　loved　you。〃
　I　didn't　answer　and　he　laughed　again。　〃But　I　straightened　her　out；〃　he　continued。　〃I　told　her　you　were　just　like　me；　that　neither　of　us　could　ever　resist　the　smell　of　cunt。〃
　〃That's　over　and　done　with；〃　I　said。　〃A　long　time　ago。〃
　He　slammed　the　glass　down　on　the　bar　with　a　trembling　hand。　〃It's　not　over！〃　he　shouted。　〃You　think　I　can　forget　how　you　screwed　me　out　of　my　own　pany？　You　think　I　can　forget　how　you　beat　me　out　of　every　contract；　wouldn't　let　me　get　started　again？〃　He　laughed　craftily。　〃I'm　no　fool。　You　think　I　didn't　know　you　had　men　following　me　all　over　the　country？〃
　I　stared　at　him。　He　was　sick。　Much　sicker　than　I　had　thought。
　〃And　now　you　e　with　a　phony　proposition；　huh？〃　He　smiled　slyly。　'Think　I'm　not　wise　to　you？　Think　I　don't　know　you're　tryin'　to　get　me　out　of　the　way　because　you　know　if　they　ever　get　a　look　at　my　plans；　you're　through？〃
　He　slid　off　the　stool　and　came　at　me　with　wildly　surging　fists。　〃Through；　Jonas！〃　he　screamed。　〃Through！　Do　you　hear　me？〃
　I　swung　around　on　the　stool　and　caught　at　his　hands。　His　wrists　were　thin　and　all　fragile　old　bone。　I　held　his　arms　and　suddenly　he　slumped　against　me；　his　head　on　my　chest。
　I　looked　down　at　him　and　saw　that　his　eyes　were　filled　with　weak　old　tears　of　rage　at　his　helplessness。　〃I'm　so　tired；　Jonas；〃　he　whispered。　〃Please　don't　chase　me　any　more。　I'm　sorry。　I'm　so　tired　I　can't　run　any…　〃
　Then　he　slipped　from　my　grasp　and　slid　down　to　the　floor。　The　redhead；　who　had　e　up　behind　him；　screamed　and　the　music　stopped；　suddenly。　There　was　a　press　of　people　around　us　as　I　started　to　get　down　from　the　stool。　I　felt　myself　pushed　back　against　the　bar　violently　and　I　stared　into　the　face　of　a　big　man　in　a　black　suit。　〃What's　goin'　on　here？〃
　〃Let　him　go；　Joe。〃　Vitale's　voice　came　from　behind　and　the　bouncer　turned　his　head　around。　〃Oh；　it's　you；　Sam。〃　The　pressure　against　my　chest　relaxed。
　I　looked　down　at　Amos。　Jennie　was　already　kneeling　beside　him；　loosening　his　shirt　collar　and　slipping　down　his　tie。　I　bent　over。　〃He　pass　out？〃
　Jennie　looked　up　at　me。　〃I　think　it's　more　than　that；〃　she　said。　〃He　feels　like　he's　burning　up　with　fever。　I　think　we'd　better　get　him　home。〃
　〃O。K。；〃　I　said。　I　took　out　a　roll　and　threw　a　hundred…dollar　bill　down　on　the　bar。　〃That's　for　my　table。〃　I　looked　up　and　saw　the　redhead　staring　at　me；　a　mascara　track　of　tears　streaming　down　her　cheeks。　I　peeled　off　another　hundred　and　pressed　it　into　her　hand。　〃Go　dry　your　tears。〃
　Then　I　bent　down　and　picking　Amos　up　in　my　arms；　started　for　the　door。　I　was　surprised　at　how　light　he　was。　Vitale　got　our　coats　from　the　hat…check　girl　and　followed　me　outside。
　〃He　lives　just　a　couple　of　blocks　away；〃　he　said　as　I　put　Amos　into　the　car。
　It　was　a　dirty　gray　rooming　house　and　two　cats　stood　on　open　garbage　cans　in　front　of　the　door；　glaring　at　us　with　their　baleful　yellow　night　eyes。　I　looked　up　at　the　building　from　the　car　window。　This　was　no　place　for　a　man　to　be　sick　in。
　The　chauffeur　jumped　out　and　ran　around　to　open　the　back　door。　I　reached　out　and　pulled　the　door　shut。　〃Go　back　to　the　Drake；　driver；〃　I　said。
　I　turned　and　looked　down　at　Amos；　stretched　out　on　the　back　seat。　Just　because　he　was　sick　didn't　make　me　feel　any　different　about　him。　But　I　couldn't　get　over　the　feeling　that　if　things　had　turned　out　a　little　differently；　it　might　have　been　my　own　father　lying　there。
　
　9
　
　THE　DOCTOR　CAME　OUT；　SHAKING　HIS　HEAD。　Jennie　was　right　behind　him。　〃He'll　be　all　right　when　he　wakes　up　in　the　morning。　Somebody　fed　him　a　slug　of　sodium　amytal。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃Knockout　drops；〃　Jennie　said。　〃A　Mickey。〃
　I　smiled。　My　hunch　was　right。　Vitale　had　left　nothing　to　chance。　I　wanted　Amos；　he　saw　to　it　that　I　got　him。
　〃He's　very　run　down；〃　the　doctor　added。　〃Too　much　whisky　and　too　little　food。　He　has　some　fever　but　he'll　be　all　right　with　a　little　care。〃
　〃Thank　you；　doctor；〃　I　said；　getting　up。
　〃You're　wele；　Mr。　Cord。　I'll　stop　by　in　the　morning　to　have　another　look　at　him。　Meanwhile；　Miss　Denton；　give　him　one　of　those　pills　every　hour。〃
　〃I'll　do　that；　doctor。〃
　The　doctor　nodded　and　left。
　I　looked　at　Jennie。　〃Wait　a　minute。　You　don't　have　to　sit　up　all　night　taking　care　of　that　slob。〃
　〃I　don't　mind；〃　she　said。　〃It　won't　be　the　f