hr.thecarpetbaggers-第27部分

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　His　hand　moved　up　to　his　shirt　and　tore　off　the　badge。　He　flung　it　into　the　dirt　at　her　feet　and　turned　away。
　The　girl　looked　down　at　the　badge　in　shock；　then　up　at　the　sheriff's　retreating　back。　She　started　to　move　after　him；　then　stopped。
　Far　down　the　street；　the　sheriff　was　mounting　his　horse。　He　turned　it　toward　the　hills。　His　shoulders　slumping　and　head　bowed；　wearily　he　moved　out　of　their　lives　and　into　the　bright；　glaring　sunlight；　as　the　screen　began　to　fade。
　There　was　silence　as　the　lights　came　up　in　the　theater。　Rina　turned　to　the　banker；　who　smiled　embarrassedly　at　her　and　cleared　his　throat。　〃That's　the　first　time　a　movie　ever　did　this　to　me。〃
　Oddly　enough；　she　felt　a　lump　in　her　own　throat。　〃Me；　too；〃　she　said　huskily。
　He　took　her　arm。　〃There's　Bernie　Norman　over　there。　I　want　to　go　over　and　congratulate　him。〃
　They　pushed　their　way　through　a　crowd　of　enthusiastic　well…wishers。　Norman　was　a　heavy…set　man　with　dark　jowls；　his　eyes　were　bright　and　elated。　〃How　about　that　guy；　Nevada　Smith？〃　he　asked。　〃Did　you　ever　see　anything　like　it？　Still　want　me　to　get　Tom　Mix　for　a　picture？〃
　The　banker　laughed　and　Rina　looked　up　at　him。　He　didn't　laugh　very　often。　〃Tom　Mix？〃　He　chortled。　〃Who's　he？〃
　Norman　hit　the　banker　on　the　back。　〃This　picture　will　net　two　million；〃　he　said　happily。　〃And　I　got　Nevada　Smith　starting　another　picture　right　away！〃
　
　The　limousine　turned　into　a　driveway　at　the　foot　of　the　hill。　It　passed　under　an　iron　gateway　over　which　the　now　familiar　insignia　was　emblazoned　and　began　to　wind　its　way　up　the　narrow　roadway　to　the　top　of　the　hill。　Rina　looked　out　the　window　and　saw　the　huge　house；　its　white　roof　turning　blood　orange　in　the　falling　sun。
　She　began　to　feel　strange。　What　was　she　doing　here？　This　wasn't　the　Nevada　she　knew。　Suddenly；　frantically；　she　opened　her　purse　and　began　to　search　through　it　for　Nevada's　cablegram。　Then　it　was　in　her　hand　and　she　felt　calmer　as　she　read　it。
　She　remembered　sending　him　a　wire　from　Switzerland　last　month。　It　had　been　three　years　since　she　had　heard　from　him。　Three　years　in　which　she　had　kept　on　running。　The　first　six　months　she　spent　in　Boston；　then　boredom　set　in。　New　York　was　next；　then　London；　Paris；　Rome；　Madrid；　Constantinople；　Berlin。　There　were　the　parties；　the　hungers；　the　fierce　affairs；　the　passionate　men；　the　voracious　women。　And　the　more　she　ran；　the　more　frightened　and　alone　she　became。
　And　then　came　the　morning　in　Zurich　when　she　awoke　with　the　sun　shining　in　her　eyes。　She　lay　naked　in　bed；　a　white　sheet　thrown　over　her。　Her　mouth　was　dry　and　parched；　she　felt　as　if　she　hadn't　had　a　drink　of　water　in　months。　She　reached　for　the　carafe　on　the　night　table　and　when　it　wasn't　there；　she　first　realized　she　wasn't　in　her　own　room。
　She　sat　up　in　a　room　that　was　furnished　in　expensive　European　fashion　but　wasn't　familiar　at　all。　She　looked　around　for　her　robe　but　there　wasn't　a　single　item　of　her　clothing　anywhere。　Vaguely　she　wondered　where　she　was。　There　were　cigarettes　and　matches　on　the　night　table　and　she　lit　one。　The　acrid　smoke　bit　into　her　lungs　as　the　door　opened。
　An　attractive　dark…haired　woman　came　into　the　room。　She　paused　when　she　saw　Rina　sitting　up　in　bed。　A　smile　came　to　her　lips。　She　came　over　to　the　bed。　〃Ah；　you　are　awake；　ma　chérie；〃　she　said　softly；　bending　and　kissing　Rina　on　the　mouth。
　Rina　stared　up　at　her；　her　eyes　wide。　〃Who　are　you？〃　
　〃Ah；　my　love；　you　do　not　remember　me？〃　
　Rina　shook　her　head。
　〃Maybe　this　will　refresh　your　memory；　my　darling；〃　the　woman　said；　dropping　her　gown　and　pressing　Rina's　head　to　her　naked　full　bosom。　〃There　now；　do　you　remember　how　much　we　loved　each　other？〃　Her　hand　caressed　Rina's　face。　Angrily　Rina　pushed　it　away。
　The　door　opened　again　and　a　man　came　in。　He　held　a　bottle　of　champagne　in　one　hand　and　was　pletely　nude。　He　smiled　at　them。　〃Ah；〃　he　said。　〃We　are　all　awake　once　again。　The　party　was　getting　dull。〃
　He　crossed　the　room　and　held　the　champagne　bottle　out　to　Rina。　〃Have　some　wine；　darling；〃　he　said。　〃The　trouble　is　…　one　wakes　up　with　such　a　terrible　thirst；　no？〃
　Rina　held　her　hands　to　her　temples。　She　felt　the　throbbing　pulse　beneath　her　fingers。　It　was　a　nightmare。　This　wasn't　real。　It　couldn't　be。
　The　man　stroked　her　head　solicitously。　〃A　headache；　no？　I　will　bring　some　aspirin。〃
　He　turned　and　left　the　room。　Terrified；　Rina　looked　up　at　the　woman。　〃Please；〃　she　begged。　〃I　think　I'm　going　out　of　my　mind。　Where　are　we？〃
　〃In　Zurich；　of　course；　at　Philippe's　place。〃　
　〃In　Zurich？〃　Rina　questioned。　〃Philippe？〃　She　looked　up　at　the　woman。　〃Was　that　Philippe？〃
　〃Mais　non；　of　course　not。　That　was　Karl；　my　husband。　Don't　you　remember？〃
　Rina　shook　her　head。　〃I　don't　remember　anything。〃　
　〃We　met　at　the　races　three　weeks　ago　in　Paris；〃　the　woman　said。　〃You　were　alone　in　the　box　next　to　Philippe's。　Your　friend　could　not　e；　remember？〃
　Rina　closed　her　eyes。　She　was　beginning　to　remember。　She　had　placed　a　bet　on　the　beautiful　red　roan　and　the　man　in　the　adjoining　box　had　leaned　over。　〃A　very　wise　choice；〃　he　had　said。　〃That　is　my　horse。　I　am　Le　te　de　Chaen。〃
　〃The　count　in　the　next　box！〃　Rina　exclaimed。
　The　woman　nodded。　She　smiled　again。　〃You　remember；〃　she　said　in　a　pleased　voice。　〃The　party　began　in　Paris　but　it　was　too　warm　there；　so　we　drove　here　to　Philippe's　chalet。　That　was　almost　two　weeks　ago。〃
　〃Two　weeks？〃
　The　woman　nodded。　〃It　has　been　a　wonderful　party；〃　she　said。　She　sat　down　on　the　bed　next　to　Rina。　〃You're　a　very　beautiful　girl。〃
　Rina　stared　at　her；　speechless。　The　door　opened　again　and　Karl　came　in；　a　bottle　of　aspirin　in　one　hand；　the　champagne　in　the　other。　A　tall　blond　man　wearing　a　dressing　robe　followed　him。　He　threw　some　photographs　down　on　the　bed。　〃How　do　you　like　them；　Rina？〃
　She　stared　down　at　the　pictures。　A　sick　feeling　began　to　e　up　into　her　throat。　This　could　not　be　her。　Not　like　this。　Nude。　With　that　woman　and　those　men。　She　looked　up　at　them　helplessly。
　The　count　was　smiling。　〃I　should　have　done　better；〃　he　said　apologetically。　〃But　I　think　there　was　something　the　matter　with　the　timer。〃
　The　woman　picked　them　up。　〃I　think　you　did　well　enough；　Philippe。〃　She　laughed。　〃It　was　so　funny。　Making　love　with　that　little　bulb　in　your　hand　so　you　could　take　the　picture。〃
　Rina　was　still　silent。
　Karl　bent　over　her。　〃Our　little　Américaine　is　still　sick；〃　he　said　gently。　He　held　out　two　aspirins　to　her。　〃Here；　take　these。　You　will　feel　better。〃
　Rina　stared　up　at　the　three　of　them。　〃I'd　like　to　get　dressed；　please；〃　she　said　in　a　weak　voice。
　The　woman　nodded。　〃But　of　course；〃　she　said。　〃Your　clothes　are　in　the　closet。〃　They　turned　and　left　the　room。
　Rina　got　out　of　bed　and　washed　her　face　quickly。　She　debated　over　taking　a　bath　but　decided　against　it。　She　was　in　too　much　of　a　hurry　to　leave。　She　dressed　and　walked　out　into　the　other　room。
　The　woman　was　still　in　her　peignoir；　but　the　men　had　changed　to　soft　shirts　and　white　flannels。　She　started　to　walk　out　without　looking　at　them。　The　man　named　Karl　called；　〃Mrs。　Cord；　you　forgot　your　purse。〃
　Silently　she　turned　to　take　it　from　him；　her　eyes　avoiding　his　face。
　〃I　put　in　a　set　of　the　photographs　as　a　memento　of　our　party。〃
　She　opened　the　bag。　The　pictures　stared　obscenely　up　at　her。　〃I　don't　want　them；〃　she　said；　holding　them　out。
　He　waved　them　aside。　〃Keep　them。　We　can　always　make　more　copies　from　the　negatives。〃
　Slowly　she　lifted　her　eyes　to　his　face。　He　was　smiling。　〃Perhaps　you　would　like　a　cup　of　coffee　while　we　talk　business？〃　he　asked　politely。
　The　negatives　cost　her　ten　thousand　dollars　and　she　burned　them　in　an　ash　tray　before　she　left　the　room。　She　sent　the　cable　to　Nevada　from　the　hotel；　as　soon　as　she　had　checked　in。
　
　I'M　LONELY　AND　MORE　FRIGHTENED　THAN　I　EVER　WAS　BEFORE。　ARE　YOU　STILL　MY　FRIEND？
　
　His　reply　reached　her　the　next　day；　with　a　credit　for　five　thousand　dollars　and　confirmed　reservations　from　Zurich　through　to　California。
　She　crinkled　the　cablegram　in　her　fingers　as　she　read　it　once　more　while　the　limousine　climbed　to　the　top　of　the　hill。　The　cable　was　typical　of　the　Nevada　she　remembered。　But　it　didn't　seem　at　all　like　the　Nevada　she　was　ing　to　see。
　
　I　AM　STILL　YOUR　FRIEND。
　
　It　was　signed　〃Nevada。〃
　
　17
　
　NEVADA　LEANED　BACK　IN　HIS　CHAIR　AND　LOOKED　around　the　large　office。　An　aura　of　tension　had　crept　into　the　room。　Dan　Pierce's　face　was　bland　and　smiling。　〃It　isn't　the　money　this　time；　Bernie；〃　he　said。　〃It's　just　that　we　feel　the　time　is　right。　Let's　do　a　picture　about　the　West　as　it　really　was　and　skip　the　hokum　that　we've　been　turning　out　for　years。〃
　Norman　looked　down　at　his　desk　for　a　moment；　his　hand　toying　with　the　blue…covered　script。　He　assumed　an　earnest　expression。　〃It　isn't　the　script；　believe　me；　Dan；〃　he　said；　turning　to　Von　Elster　for　assurance。　〃We　think　it's　great；　don't　we？〃
　The　lanky；　bald　director　nodded。　〃It's　one　of　the　greatest　I　ever　read。〃
　〃Then　why　the　balk？〃　the　agent　asked。
　Norman　shook　his　head。　〃The　time　isn't　right。　The　industry　is　too　upset。　Warner's　has　a　talking　picture　ing　out　soon。　The　Lights　of　New　York。　Some　people　think　that　when　it　es　out；　silent　movies　will　be　finished。〃
　Dan　Pierce　laughed。　〃Malarkey！　Movies　are　movies。　If　you　want　to　hear　actors　talk；　go　to　the　theater；　that's　where　talk　belongs。〃
　Norman　turned　to　Nevada；　his　voice　taking　on　a　fatherly　tone。　〃Look；　Nevada；　have　we　ever　steered　you　wrong？　From　the　day　you　first　came　here；　we've　treated　you　right。　If　it's　a　question　of　money；　that's　no　problem。　Just　name　the　figure。〃
　Nevada　smiled　at　him。　〃It　isn't　the　money；　Bernie。　You　know　that。　Ten　thousand　a　week　is　enough　for　any　man；　even　if　ine　taxes　have　gone　up　to　seven　per　cent。　It's　this　script。　It's　the　first　real　story　I've　ever　read　out　here。〃
　Norman　reached　for　a　cigar。　Nevada　leaned　back　in　his　chair。　He　remembered　when　he　had　first　heard　of　the　script。　It　was　last　year；　when　he　was　making　Gunfire　at　Sundown。
　One　of　the　writers；　a　young　man　with　glasses　and　a　very　pale　skin；　had　e　over　to　him。　〃Mr。　Smith；〃　he　asked　diffidently。　〃Can　I　trouble　you　for　a　minute？〃
　Nevada　turned　from　the　make…up　man。　〃Why；　sure…　〃　He　hesitated。
　〃Mark　Weiss；〃　the　writer　said　quickly。