hr.thecarpetbaggers-第121部分

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rld　she'd　left　behind。　It　was　pure　impulse　that　she　had　followed　in　driving　here　and　she　couldn't　blame　Jennie　if　she　refused　to　see　her。
　She　remembered　the　morning　after　the　engagement　party。　When　Jennie　hadn't　shown　up　at　the　studio；　no　one　had　thought　very　much　about　it。　And　David；　who'd　been　trying　to　reach　Jonas　at　the　plant　in　Burbank；　told　her　that　he　couldn't　locate　him；　either。
　When　the　next　day　and　the　day　after　that　had　passed　and　there　was　still　no　word　from　Jennie；　the　studio　really　began　to　worry。　Jonas　had　finally　been　located　in　Canada　at　the　new　factory　and　David　called　him　there。　His　voice　had　been　very　curt　over　the　telephone　as　he　told　David　that　the　last　time　he'd　seen　Jennie　was　when　he　left　her　home　the　night　of　the　party。
　David　immediately　called　Rosa　and　suggested　she　run　out　to　Jennie's　house。　When　she　got　there；　the　Mexican　servant　came　to　the　door。　〃Is　Miss　Denton　in？〃
　〃Se？orita；　she　not　in。〃
　〃Do　you　know　where　she　is？〃　Rosa　asked。　〃It's　very　important　that　I　get　in　touch　with　her。〃
　The　servant　shook　her　head。　〃The　se？orita　go　away。　She　not　say　where。〃
　Deliberately　Rosa　walked　past　her　into　the　house。　There　were　packed　boxes　all　along　the　hallway。　On　the　side　of　one　was　stenciled　Bekins；　Moving　&　Storage。　The　servant　saw　the　surprise　on　her　face。　〃The　se？orita　tell　me　to　close　the　house　and　go　away；　too。〃
　Rosa　didn't　wait　until　she　got　home；　but　called　David　from　the　first　pay　telephone　she　came　to。　He　said　he'd　try　to　speak　to　Jonas　again。
　〃Did　you　reach　Jonas？〃　she　asked；　as　soon　as　he　came　in　the　door　that　evening。
　〃Yes。　He　told　me　to　close　down　Aphrodite　and　have　Pierce　thrown　off　the　lot。　When　I　said　we　might　wind　up　with　a　lawsuit；　he　told　me　to　tell　Dan　that　if　he　wanted　to　start　anything；　Jonas　would　spend　his　last　dollar　to　break　him。〃
　〃But　what　about　Jennie？〃
　〃If　she　doesn't　show　up　by　the　end　of　the　week；　Jonas　told　me　to　have　her　put　on　the　suspended　list　and　stop　her　salary。〃
　〃And　their　engagement？〃
　〃Jonas　didn't　say；　but　I　guess　that's　over；　too。　When　I　asked　him　if　we　should　prepare　a　statement　for　the　press；　he　told　me　to　tell　them　nothing　and　hung　up。〃
　〃Poor　Jennie。　I　wonder　where　she　is？〃
　Now　Rosa　knew。　She　got　out　of　the　car　and　started　to　walk　slowly　toward　the　Mother　House。
　
　Sister　M。　Thomas　sat　quietly　in　her　small　room；　reading　her　Bible。　A　soft　knock　came　at　the　door。　She　got　to　her　feet；　the　Bible　still　in　her　hand；　and　opened　it。　The　light　from　the　window　in　the　hall　outside　her　room　turned　her　white　novice's　veil　a　soft　silver。　〃Yes；　sister？〃
　〃There's　a　visitor　to　see　you；　sister。　A　Mrs。　David　Woolf。　She's　in　the　visitors'　room　downstairs。〃
　Sister　Thomas　hesitated　a　moment；　then　spoke。　Her　voice　was　calm　and　quiet。　〃Thank　you；　sister。　Please　tell　Mrs。　Woolf　that　I　shall　be　down　in　a　few　minutes。〃
　The　nun　bowed　her　head　and　started　down　the　corridor　as　Sister　Thomas　closed　the　door。　For　a　moment；　she　leaned　her　back　against　it；　weak　and　breathless。　She　had　not　expected　Rosa　to　e。　She　drew　herself　up　and　crossed　the　small　room　to　kneel　before　the　crucifix　on　the　bare　wall　near　her　bed。　She　clasped　her　hands　in　prayer。　It　was　as　if　it　were　only　yesterday　that　she　had　e　here；　that　she　was　still　the　frightened　girl　who　had　spent　all　her　life　trying　to　hide　from　herself　her　love　for　God。
　She　remembered　the　kind　voice　of　the　Mother　Superior　as　she　had　knelt　before　her；　weeping；　her　head　in　the　soft　material　across　the　Mother　Superior's　lap。　She　felt　once　again　the　gentle　touch　of　the　stroking　fingers　on　her　head。
　〃Do　not　weep；　my　child。　And　do　not　fear。　The　path　that　leads　to　Our　Lord　may　be　most　grievous　and　difficult　but　Jesus　Christ；　Our　Saviour；　refuses　none　who　truly　seeks　Him。〃
　〃But；　Reverend　Mother；　I　have　sinned。〃
　〃Who　among　us　is　without　sin？〃　the　Reverend　Mother　said　softly。　〃If　you　take　your　sins　to　Him　who　takes　all　sins　to　Himself　to　share；　and　convince　Him　with　your　penitence；　He　will　grant　you　His　holy　forgiveness　and　you　will　be　wele　in　His　house。〃
　She　looked　up　at　the　Reverend　Mother　through　her　tears。　〃Then；　I　may　stay？〃
　The　Mother　Superior　smiled　down　at　her。　〃Of　course　you　may　stay；　my　child。〃
　
　Rosa　rose　from　the　chair　as　Sister　Thomas　came　into　the　visitors'　room。　〃Jennie？〃　she　said　tentatively。　〃Sister　Thomas；　I　mean。〃
　〃Rosa；　how　good　it　is　to　see　you。〃
　Rosa　looked　at　her。　The　wide…set　gray　eyes　and　lovely　face　belonged　to　Jennie；　but　the　calm　serenity　that　glowed　beneath　the　novice's　white　veil　came　from　Sister　Thomas。　Suddenly；　she　knew　that　the　face　she　was　looking　at　was　the　same　face　she　had　once　seen　on　the　screen；　enlarged　a　thousand　times　and　filled　with　the　same　love　as　when　the　Magdalen　had　stretched　forth　her　hand　to　touch　the　hem　of　her　Saviour's　gown。
　〃Jennie！〃　she　said；　smiling。　〃Suddenly；　I'm　so　happy　that　I　just　want　to　hug　you。〃
　Sister　Thomas　held　out　her　arms。
　Later；　they　strolled　the　quiet　paths　around　the　grounds　in　the　afternoon　sunlight　and　when　they　came　to　the　top　of　a　hill；　they　paused　there；　looking　down　into　the　green　valley　below　them。
　〃His　beauty　is　everywhere；〃　Sister　Thomas　said　softly；　turning　to　her　friend；　〃I　have　found　my　place　in　His　house。〃
　Rosa　looked　at　her。　〃How　long　do　you　remain　in　the　novitiate？〃
　〃Two　years。　Until　next　May。〃
　〃And　what　do　you　do　then？〃　Rosa　questioned。
　〃If　I　prove　worthy　of　His　grace；　I　take　the　black　veil　and　go　forth　in　the　path　of　the　Founding　Mother；　to　bring　His　mercy　to　all　who　may　need　it。〃
　She　looked　into　Rosa's　eyes　and　once　again　Rosa　saw　the　deep…lying　pool　of　serenity　within　them。　〃And　I　am　more　fortunate　than　most；〃　Sister　Thomas　added　humbly。　〃He　has　already　trained　me　in　His　work。　My　years　in　the　hospital　will　help　me　wherever　I　may　be　sent；　for　it　is　in　this　area　I　can　best　serve。〃
　
　JONAS　…　1945
　…
　Book　Nine
　
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　OUTSIDE；　THE　WHITE…HOT　MID…JULY　SUN　BEAT　DOWN　ON　THE　NEVADA　AIR　STRIP；　BUT　HERE　IN　THE　GENERAL'S　OFFICE；　THE　OVERWORKED　AIR…CONDITIONER　WHIRRED　AND　KEPT　THE　TEMPERATURE　DOWN　TO　AN　EVEN　EIGHTY　DEGREES。　I　looked　at　Morrissey；　then　across　the　table　to　the　General　and　his　staff。
　〃That's　the　story；　gentlemen；〃　I　said。　〃The　CA…JET　X。P。　should　reach　six　hundred　easier　than　the　British　De　Havilland…Rolls　jet　did　the　five…o…six　point　five　they're　bragging　about。〃　I　smiled　at　them　and　got　to　my　feet。　〃And　now；　if　you'll　step　outside；　gentlemen；　I'll　show　you。〃
　〃I　have　no　doubt　about　that；　Mr。　Cord；〃　the　General　said　smoothly。　〃If　there'd　been　any　doubts　in　our　minds；　you　never　would　have　got　the　contract。〃
　〃Then　what　are　we　waiting　for？　Let's　go。〃
　〃Just　a　moment；　Mr。　Cord；〃　the　General　said　quickly。　〃We　can't　allow　you　to　demonstrate　the　jet。〃
　I　stared　at　him。　〃Why　not？〃
　〃You　haven't　been　cleared　for　jet　aircraft；〃　he　said。　He　looked　down　at　a　sheet　of　paper　on　his　desk。　〃Your　medical　report　indicates　a　fractional　lag　in　your　reflexes。　Perfectly　normal；　of　course；　considering　your　age；　but　you'll　understand　why　we　can't　let　you　fly　her。〃
　〃That's　a　lot　of　crap；　General。　Who　the　hell　do　you　think　flew　her　down　here　to　deliver　her　to　you？〃
　〃You　had　a　perfect　right　to　…　then；〃　the　General　replied。　〃It　was　your　plane。　But　the　moment　she　touched　that　field　outside；　according　to　the　contract；　she　became　the　property　of　the　Army。　And　we　can't　afford　the　risk　of　allowing　you　to　take　her　up。〃
　I　slammed　my　fist　into　my　hand　angrily。　Rules；　nothing　but　rules。　That　was　the　trouble　with　these　damn　contracts。　Yesterday；　I　could　have　flown　her　up　to　Alaska　and　back　and　they　couldn't　have　stopped　me。　Or　for　that　matter；　even　catch　me。　The　CA…JET　X。P。　was　two　hundred　odd　miles　an　hour　faster　than　any　of　the　conventional　aircraft　the　Army　had　in　the　air。　Someday；　I'd　have　to　take　the　time　to　read　those　contracts。
　The　General　smiled　and　came　around　the　table　toward　me。　〃I　know　just　how　you　feel；　Mr。　Cord；〃　he　said。　〃When　the　medics　told　me　I　was　too　old　for　bat　flying　and　put　me　behind　a　desk；　I　wasn't　any　older　than　you　are　right　now。　And　I　didn't　like　it　any　more　than　you　do。　Nobody　likes　being　told　he　is　growing　older。〃
　What　the　hell　was　he　talking　about？　I　was　only　forty…one。　That　isn't　old。　I　could　still　fly　rings　around　most　of　those　damp…eared　kids　walking　around　on　the　field　outside　with　gold　and　silver　bars　and　oak　leaves　on　their　shoulders。　I　looked　at　the　General。
　He　must　have　read　the　surprise　in　my　eyes；　for　he　smiled　again。　〃That　was　only　a　year　ago。　I'm　forty…three　now。〃　He　offered　me　a　cigarette　and　I　took　it　silently。　〃Lieutenant　Colonel　Shaw　will　take　her　up。　He's　on　the　field　right　now；　waiting　for　us。〃
　Again；　he　read　the　question　in　my　eyes。　〃Don't　worry　about　it；〃　he　said　quickly。　〃Shaw's　pletely　familiar　with　the　plane。　He　spent　the　last　three　weeks　at　your　plant　in　Burbank　checking　her　out。〃
　I　glanced　at　Morrissey　but　he　was　carefully　looking　somewhere　else　at　the　time。　He'd　been　in　on　it；　too。　I'd　make　him　sweat　for　that　one。　I　turned　back　to　the　General。　〃O。K。；　General。　Let's　go　outside　and　watch　that　baby　fly。〃
　Baby　was　the　right　word　and　not　only　for　the　plane。　Lieutenant　Colonel　Shaw　couldn't　have　been　more　than　twenty　years　old。　I　watched　him　take　her　up　but　somehow　I　couldn't　stand　there　squinting　up　at　the　sky；　watching　him　put　her　through　her　paces。　It　was　like　going　to　a　lot　of　trouble　to　set　yourself　up　with　a　virgin　and　then　when　you　had　everything　warmed　up　and　ready；　you　opened　the　bedroom　door　and　found　another　guy　copping　the　cherry　right　under　your　nose。
　〃Is　there　anywhere　around　here　I　could　get　a　cup　of　coffee？〃
　〃There's　a　missary　down　near　the　main　gate；〃　one　of　the　soldiers　said。
　〃Thanks。〃
　〃You're　wele；〃　he　said　automatically；　never　taking　his　eyes　from　the　plane　in　the　sky；　while　I　walked　away。
　The　missary　wasn't　air…conditioned　but　they　kept　it　dark　and　it　wasn't　too　bad；　even　if　the　ice　cubes　in　the　iced　coffee　had　melted　before　I　got　the　glass　back　to　my　seat。　I　stared　morosely　out　of　the　window　in　front　of　my　table。　Too　young　or　too　old。　That　was　the　story　of　my　life。　I　was　fourteen　when　the　last　one　ended；　in　1918；　and　almost　over　the　age　limit　when　we　got　into　this　one。　Some　people　never　had　any　luck。　I　always　thought　that　war　came　to　every　generation　but　I　was　neither　one