hr.thecarpetbaggers-第42部分

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　〃What　are　you　looking　at？〃
　The　two　boys　exchanged　quick；　embarrassed　glances　and　immediately　looked　away。　Tommy　fixed　his　eyes　out　over　the　water　and　Laddie　looked　down　at　the　raft。　
　She　stared　at　Laddie。　〃Well？〃　
　The　red　flush　crept　up　from　Laddie's　throat。　
　〃I　saw　you。　You　both　were　looking　at　my　chest！〃　she　said　accusingly。
　The　boys　again　exchanged　quick　glances。　Laddie　got　to　his　feet。　〃e　on；　Tommy；〃　he　said。　〃It's　getting　too　crowded　out　here！〃
　He　dove　from　the　raft　and　a　moment　later；　his　friend　followed。　Rina　watched　them　swimming　toward　the　shore　for　a　moment；　then　stretched　back　on　the　raft　and　stared　up　into　the　bright　sky。　Boys　were　strange　creatures；　she　thought。
　The　tight　bathing　suit　cut　into　her　breasts。　She　shrugged　her　shoulders　and　her　breasts　leaped　free　of　the　encumbering　suit。　She　looked　down　at　herself。
　They　were　white　against　the　dark　tan　of　her　arms　and　throat　and　the　nipples　were　flushed　and　pink　and　fuller　than　she　had　ever　seen　them　before。　Tentatively　she　touched　them　with　her　fingertips。　They　were　hard　as　tiny　pebbles　and　a　warm；　pleasant　kind　of　pain　flashed　through　them。
　The　warmth　of　the　sun　began　to　fill　them　with　a　sweet；　gentle　ache。　Slowly　she　began　to　massage　the　ache　away　and　gradually　the　warmth　spilled　from　her　breasts　down　into　her　body。　She　felt　herself　go　hazy　with　a　contentment　she　had　never　known　before。
　
　5
　
　RINA　STOOD　IN　FRONT　OF　THE　MIRROR　AND　ADJUSTED　the　straps　on　the　brassière。　She　took　a　deep　breath。　She　turned　to　her　mother；　sitting　on　the　bed　behind　her。
　〃There；　Mother；〃　she　said　proudly。　〃How　does　it　look？〃
　Geraldine　looked　at　her　daughter　doubtfully。　〃Perhaps　if　you　moved　it　to　the　last　hook；〃　she　said　hesitantly　and　delicately。
　〃I　tried；　Mother；〃　Rina　answered。　〃But　I　can't　wear　it　like　that。　It　cuts　into　me。〃
　Geraldine　nodded。　Next　time；　she　would　get　a　larger　size　but　who　ever　would　have　thought　a　thirty…four　would　be　so　tight　on　such　a　slender　frame？
　Rina　turned　back　to　the　mirror　and　looked　at　herself　with　satisfaction。　Now　she　was　beginning　to　look　outside　more　like　she　felt　inside。　She　noticed　her　mother　watching　her　in　the　mirror。
　〃Do　you　think　I　could　get　some　new　bathing　suits　too；　Mother？〃　she　asked。　〃The　ones　I　have　are　too　small　for　me。〃
　〃I　was　just　thinking　that；〃　her　mother　answered。　〃And　some　new　dresses；　too。　Maybe　Daddy　will　drive　us　down　to　Hyannis　Port　after　breakfast。〃
　Rina　flashed　a　happy　grin　and　ran　to　her　mother。　She　threw　her　arms　around　her。　〃Oh；　thank　you；　Mother！〃　she　cried　happily。
　Geraldine　drew　Rina's　head　down　to　her　breast。　She　kissed　the　top　of　the　white…blond　head　and　turned　the　child's　tanned　face　up　to　hers。　She　looked　down　into　Rina's　eyes；　her　fingers　lightly　stroking　her　daughter's　cheek。　〃What　is　happening　to　my　little　girl？〃　she　asked　almost　sadly。
　Rina　caught　her　mother's　hand　and　kissed　her　open　palm。　〃Nothing；　Mother；〃　she　said　with　the　sureness　and　confidence　that　was　to　bee　an　integral　part　of　her。　〃Nothing　but　what　you　told　me。　I'm　growing　up。〃
　Geraldine　looked　down　into　her　daughter's　face。　A　sudden　mist　came　into　her　eyes。
　〃Don't　be　in　too　much　of　a　hurry；　my　baby；〃　she　said；　pressing　Rina's　head　closely　to　her　bosom。　〃We　have　too　few　years　for　childhood。〃
　But　Rina　scarcely　heard　her。　And　if　she　had；　it　was　doubtful　that　the　words　would　carry　any　meaning。　For　they　were　only　words　and　words　were　as　futile　against　the　strong　forces　awakening　inside　her　as　the　waves　breaking　fruitlessly　against　the　shore　outside　the　window。
　
　Laddie　turned　and　swiftly　threw　the　ball　to　first　base。　The　runner　spun　and　slid　back　toward　safety；　his　heels　kicking　up　a　fine　spray　of　dust。　When　the　dust　cleared；　they　could　hear　the　umpire　call；　〃Yer　out！〃　and　the　game　was　over。
　The　boys　clustered　about　him；　pounding　his　back　happily。　〃Swell　game；　Laddie！〃　〃Good　pitching！〃　Then　they　dispersed　and　he　and　Tommy　were　alone；　threading　their　way　back　to　the　beach。
　〃What　yuh　doin'　this　afternoon？〃　Tommy　asked。　
　Laddie　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃Nothin'。〃　He　was　still　thinking　about　that　wild　pitch　that　Mahoney　hit　for　a　home　run。　He　should　never　have　let　the　ball　get　away　from　him　like　that。　He　had　to　do　better　if　he　wanted　to　make　the　varsity　team　at　Barrington　the　next　spring。　He　made　up　his　mind　to　spend　an　hour　every　afternoon　pitching　into　a　barrel。　They　said　that　was　how　Walter　Johnson　had　developed　his　control。
　〃The　Bijou's　got　a　new　Hoot　Gibson　picture；〃　Tommy　said。　
　〃I　saw　it　back　in　Boston。〃　Laddie　looked　at　his　friend。　〃When's　Joan　ing　down　again？〃
　〃My　cousin？〃　Tommy　asked。
　〃Yuh　know　anyone　else　by　that　name？〃　Laddie　asked　sarcastically。　
　〃Maybe　this　weekend；〃　Tommy　answered。
　〃Then　maybe　we'll　take　her　to　the　movies。〃　Laddie　said。
　〃Big　deal！〃　Tommy　snorted。　〃It's　O。K。　for　you　but　what　about　me？　It's　no　fun　sitting　next　to　you　and　watching　you　cop　feels。　Who'm　I　goin'　to　take？〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　Laddie　answered。
　Tommy　walked　along　for　a　moment；　then　snapped　his　fingers。　〃I　got　it！〃　he　said　excitedly。
　〃Who？〃
　〃Your　sister。　Rina。〃
　〃Rina？〃　Laddie　said。　〃She's　just　a　kid。〃
　Tommy　laughed。　〃She　ain't　such　a　kid。　They're　really　poppin'　out　on　her。　They　look　even　bigger　lately　than　when　we　seen　'em　on　the　raft　a　couple　weeks　ago。〃
　〃But　she's　only　thirteen；〃　Laddie　said。
　〃My　cousin　Joan's　only　fourteen　now。　She　was　thirteen　last　summer　when　you　were　nuzzlin'　her　on　the　back　porch。〃
　Laddie　looked　at　him。　Maybe　Tommy　was　right。　Rina　was　growing　up。　He　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃O。K。；〃　he　said　finally。　〃You　ask　her。　It　won't　do　any　good；　though。　I　don't　think　my　mother　will　let　her　go。〃
　〃She　will　if　you　ask　her；〃　Tommy　said　surely。
　〃I'm　goin'　in　to　shower　an'　put　on　my　suit；〃　Laddie　said。　〃I'll　meet　yuh　on　the　beach。〃
　〃O。K。；〃　Tommy　answered。　〃See　yuh。〃
　The　cottage　was　cool　and　silent　after　the　heat　and　noise　at　the　game。　Slowly　Laddie　walked　through　to　the　kitchen。　〃Molly？〃　he　called。
　There　was　no　answer　and　he　remembered　it　was　Thursday；　Molly's　day　off。　He　heard　a　noise　upstairs　and　walked　over　to　the　staircase。　〃Mother？〃
　Rina's　voice　came　down　to　him。　〃They　drove　down　to　Hyannis　Port　to　have　dinner　with　some　people。〃
　〃Oh；〃　he　said。　He　went　back　into　the　kitchen　and　opened　the　icebox。　He　took　out　a　bottle　of　milk　and　a　piece　of　chocolate　cake　and　put　them　on　the　table。　He　drank　the　milk　from　the　bottle　and　ate　the　cake　with　his　fingers。　It　wasn't　until　after　he　had　finished　that　he　remembered　he'd　promised　himself　he　wouldn't　touch　any　sweets　in　hopes　that　his　skin　would　clear　up。
　He　sat　there　in　a　kind　of　lethargy。　He　heard　the　bathroom　door　slam　and　footsteps　leading　back　to　Rina's　room。　Idly　he　wondered　what　she　was　doing　home　at　this　time　of　the　afternoon。　Usually　she　was　down　at　the　beach　already　with　her　giggling　bunch　of　silly　girl　friends。
　Maybe　Tommy　was　right。　She　was　growing　up。　Certainly　the　way　she　brazenly　sat　there　on　the　raft　with　her　boobs　half　hanging　out　and　letting　them　goggle　at　her　didn't　make　her　seem　like　a　kid。　Tommy　was　right　about　one　thing；　though。　They　were　bigger　than　his　cousin's。
　A　picture　of　Rina　sitting　on　the　raft　flashed　through　his　mind：　the　way　she　looked　at　them　while　they　looked　at　her；　her　hair　falling　wet　and　straight　to　her　shoulders；　her　lower　lip　pouting　and　kind　of　heavy。
　He　felt　a　familiar　heat　surge　through　him。　He　half　groaned　aloud。　Oh；　no；　not　again。　He'd　promised　himself　after　the　last　time；　he'd　stop。　He　got　to　his　feet　abruptly。　He　wouldn't　do　it　this　time。　He　picked　up　the　empty　plate　and　put　it　in　the　sink；　then　walked　out　of　the　kitchen　and　started　up　the　stairs。　He'd　grab　a　cold　shower　and　then　beat　it　out　to　the　beach。
　Rina's　room　was　opposite　the　head　of　the　staircase　and　the　door　was　partly　open。　He　was　almost　halfway　up　when　the　light　spilling　from　her　room　caught　his　eye。　There　was　a　movement　inside　the　room　and　he　stopped　on　the　staircase；　his　heart　pounding。　Slowly　he　sank　to　his　knees　so　that　only　his　eyes　were　above　the　top　of　the　landing。
　Rina　had　just　crossed　the　room　and　was　standing　in　front　of　the　mirror；　her　back　to　the　door；　clad　only　in　a　brassière　and　a　pair　of　bloomers。　While　he　watched；　she　reached　behind　her　and　unfastened　the　brassière；　then；　half　turning；　stepped　out　of　the　bloomers。　Holding　them　in　her　hand；　she　crossed　the　room　and　came　back　in　a　moment；　carrying　a　bathing　suit。　She　paused　again　in　front　of　the　mirror　and　stepped　into　the　suit。　Slowly　she　pulled　it　up　over　her　breasts　and　straightened　the　shoulder　straps。
　He　felt　faint　beads　of　perspiration　across　his　forehead。　This　was　the　first　time　he　had　ever　seen　a　grown…up　girl　pletely　naked。　He　had　never　thought　they　could　be　so　beautiful　and　exciting。
　Walking　quietly；　he　passed　her　room　and　went　into　his　own。　He　closed　the　door　and　sank；　still　trembling；　to　the　bed。　For　a　long　moment；　he　sat　there；　the　pain　of　the　heat　surging　inside　him　bending　him　almost　double。
　Slowly　he　reasoned　with　himself。　No。　He　mustn't。　Not　again。　If　he　gave　in　to　it　now；　he　would　always　give　in　to　it。　At　last；　he　began　to　feel　better。　He　wiped　his　forehead　with　his　arm　and　got　to　his　feet。
　All　you　needed　was　a　little　self…control　and　determination。　He　began　to　feel　proud　of　himself。　What　he　had　to　do　was　remove　himself　from　all　kinds　of　temptation。　That　meant　everything。　Even　the　French　pictures　he　had　bought　from　the　candy　store　down　in　Lobstertown。
　Quickly　he　opened　a　dresser　drawer　and　burrowing　underneath　a　broken　slat；　came　out　with　the　pictures。　He　placed　them　on　the　dresser　drawer　face　down。　He　wouldn't　even　look　at　them　one　last　time。　He'd　flush　them　down　the　toilet　when　he　went　in　to　take　his　shower。
　He　undressed　rapidly　and　put　on　his　bathrobe。　He　walked　back　to　the　dresser　and　caught　a　glimpse　of　his　face　in　the　mirror。　It　was　filled　with　a　noble　resolve。　It　was　amazing　how　quickly　resolution　could　reflect　itself。　He　turned　and　left　the　room；　forgetting　the　pictures　that　lay　on　the　dresser。
　He　was　drying　himself　in　front　of　the　mirror　when　he　heard　her　footsteps　turn　down　the　hall　to　his　room。　Suddenly；　he　froze　as　he　remembered。　The　pictures　were　still　on　the　dresser。　He　grabbed　for　the　bathrobe　on　the　door　behind　him。
　It　was　too　late。　When　he　go