hr.thecarpetbaggers-第72部分

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　I　still　had　almost　four　hundred　miles　to　go　and　I　didn't　want　to　run　out　of　gas。
　
　6
　
　I　PUT　DOWN　AT　BURBANK　AT　TWO　O'CLOCK。　I　had　been　in　the　air　almost　fifteen　hours。　I　taxied　over　to　the　Cord　Aircraft　hangars；　cut　the　engines　and　began　to　climb　down。　The　engines　were　still　roaring　in　my　ears。
　I　stepped　to　the　ground　and　a　mob　surrounded　me。　I　recognized　some　of　them；　reporters。　〃I'm　sorry；　men；〃　I　said；　pushing　my　way　through　them　toward　the　hangar。　〃I'm　still　motor　deaf。　I　can't　hear　what　you're　saying。〃
　Buzz　was　there；　too；　a　big　grin　on　his　face。　He　grabbed　my　hand　and　pumped　it。　His　lips　were　moving　but　I　missed　the　first　part　of　what　he　said；　then　suddenly　my　hearing　was　back。
　〃。。。　set　a　new　east…to…west　coast…to…coast　record。〃
　Right　now　that　didn't　matter。　〃Do　you　have　a　car　waiting　for　me？〃
　〃Over　at　the　front　gate；〃　Buzz　said。
　One　of　the　reporters　pushed　forward。　〃Mr。　Cord；〃　he　shouted　at　me。　〃Is　it　true　you　made　this　flight　to　see　Rina　Marlowe　before　she　dies？〃
　He　needed　a　bath　after　the　look　I　gave　him。　I　didn't　answer。
　〃Is　it　true　that　you　bought　out　Norman　Pictures　just　to　get　control　of　her　contract？〃
　I　made　it　into　the　limousine　but　they　were　still　popping　questions　at　me。　The　car　began　to　roll。　A　motorcycle　cop　cut　in　front　of　us　and　opened　up　his　siren。　We　picked　up　speed　as　the　traffic　in　front　of　us　melted　away。
　〃I'm　sorry　about　Rina；　Jonas；〃　Buzz　said。　〃I　didn't　know　she　was　your　father's　wife。〃
　I　looked　at　him。　〃Where'd　you　find　out？〃
　〃It's　in　the　papers；〃　he　said。　〃The　Norman　studio　had　it　in　their　press　release；　together　with　the　story　about　your　flying　out　here　to　see　her。〃
　I　shut　my　lips　tight。　That　was　the　picture　business　for　you。　They　were　like　ghouls　hovering　around　a　grave。
　〃I've　got　a　container　of　coffee　and　a　sandwich　here　if　you　want　it。〃
　I　reached　for　the　coffee。　The　black　stuff　was　hot　and　I　could　feel　it　reach　down　inside　me。　I　turned　and　looked　out　the　window。　My　back　began　to　throb　and　ache　again。
　I　wondered　if　I　could　wait　until　we　got　to　the　hospital　before　I　went　to　the　bathroom。
　
　The　Colton　Sanitarium　is　more　like　a　hotel　than　a　hospital。　It's　set　back　high　in　the　Pacific　Palisades；　overlooking　the　ocean。　In　order　to　reach　it；　you　e　off　the　Coast　Highway　onto　a　narrow　winding　road　and　there's　a　guard　standing　at　the　iron　gate。　You　get　past　him　only　after　showing　the　proper　credentials。
　Dr。　Colton　is　no　California　quack。　He's　just　a　shrewd　man　who's　recognized　the　need　for　a　truly　private　hospital。　Movie　stars　go　there　for　everything　from　having　a　baby　to　taking　the　cure；　plastic　surgery　to　nervous　breakdowns。　And　once　inside　the　iron　gate；　they　can　breathe　safely　and　relax；　for　no　reporter　has　ever　been　known　to　get　inside。　They　can　feel　certain　that　no　matter　what　they've　gone　there　for；　the　only　word　that　will　ever　reach　the　outside　world　will　be　theirs。
　The　gateman　was　expecting　us；　for　he　began　to　open　the　gate　the　minute　he　spotted　the　motorcycle　cop。　Reporters　shouted　at　us　and　photographers　tried　to　take　pictures。　One　of　them　even　clung　to　the　running　board　until　we　got　inside　the　gate。　Then　a　second　guard　suddenly　appeared　and　lifted　the　man　off　bodily。
　I　turned　to　Buzz。　〃They　never　give　up；　do　they？〃
　Buzz's　face　was　serious。　〃From　now　on；　you'd　better　get　used　to　it；　Jonas。　Everything　you　do　will　be　news。〃
　I　stared　at　him。　〃Nuts；〃　I　said。　〃That's　only　for　today。　Tomorrow　it'll　be　somebody　else。〃
　Buzz　shook　his　head。　〃You　haven't　seen　the　papers　or　listened　to　the　radio　today。　You're　a　national　figure。　Something　about　what　you　were　doing　caught　the　public　imagination。　Radio　stations　gave　your　flight　progress　every　half　hour。　Tomorrow　the　Examiner　begins　running　your　life　story。　Nothing　like　you　has　swept　the　country　since　Lindbergh。〃
　〃What　makes　you　say　that？〃
　He　smiled。　〃Today's　Examiner　trucks。　They've　got　billboards　with　your　picture。　'Read　the　life　story　of　Hollywood's　man　of　mystery　…　Jonas　Cord。　By　Adela　Rogers　St。　Johns。'　〃
　I　stared　at　him。　I　guess　I　would　have　to　get　used　to　it。　St。　Johns　was　Hearst's　top　syndicated　sob　sister。　That　meant　the　old　man　up　at　San　Simeon　had　put　the　finger　of　approval　on　me。　From　now　on；　I　would　be　living　in　a　fish　bowl。
　The　car　stopped　and　a　doorman　appeared。　〃If　you'll　kindly　step　this　way；　Mr。　Cord；〃　he　said　respectfully。
　I　followed　him　up　the　steps　into　the　hospital。　The　white…uniformed　nurse　behind　the　desk　smiled　at　me。　She　indicated　a　black；　leather…bound　register。　〃If　you　please；　Mr。　Cord；〃　she　said。　〃It's　a　rule　of　the　hospital　that　all　visitors　have　to　sign　in。〃
　I　signed　the　register　quickly　as　she　pressed　a　button　underneath　the　counter。　A　moment　later；　another　nurse　appeared　at　the　desk。　〃If　you'll　e　with　me；　Mr。　Cord；〃　she　said　politely；　〃I'll　take　you　to　Miss　Marlowe's　suite。〃
　I　followed　her　to　a　small　bank　of　elevators　at　the　rear　of　the　lobby。　She　pressed　the　button　and　looked　up　at　the　indicator。　A　frown　of　annoyance　crossed　her　face。　〃I'm　sorry　to　inconvenience　you；　Mr。　Cord；　but　we'll　have　to　wait　a　few　minutes。　Both　elevators　are　up　at　the　operating　room。〃
　A　hospital　was　a　hospital　no　matter　how　hard　you　tried　to　make　it　look　like　a　hotel。　I　looked　around　the　lobby　until　I　located　what　I　was　looking　for。　It　was　a　door　marked　discreetly　GENTLEMEN。
　
　I　pulled　a　cigarette　from　my　pocket　as　the　elevator　doors　closed　behind　us。　Inside；　it　smelled　like　every　other　hospital。　Alcohol；　disinfectant；　formaldehyde。　Sickness　and　death。　I　struck　a　match　and　held　it　to　my　cigarette；　hoping　the　nurse　wouldn't　notice　my　suddenly　trembling　fingers。
　The　elevator　stopped　and　the　door　rolled　open。　We　stepped　out　into　a　clean　hospital　corridor。　I　dragged　deeply　on　the　cigarette　as　I　followed　the　nurse。　She　stopped　in　front　of　a　door。　〃I'm　afraid　you'll　have　to　put　out　that　cigarette；　Mr。　Cord。〃
　I　looked　up　at　a　small　orange　sign：
　NO　SMOKING　ALLOWED
　OXYGEN　IN　USE　INSIDE！
　I　took　another　drag　and　put　it　out　in　a　receptacle　next　to　the　door。　I　stood　there；　suddenly　afraid　to　go　inside。　The　nurse　reached　around　me　and　opened　the　door。　〃You　may　go　in　now；　Mr。　Cord。〃
　The　door　swung　open；　revealing　a　small　anteroom。　Another　nurse　was　seated　in　an　armchair；　reading　a　magazine。　She　looked　up　at　me。　〃e　in；　Mr。　Cord；〃　she　said　in　a　falsely　cheerful　tone。　〃We've　been　expecting　you。〃
　I　crossed　the　threshold　slowly。　I　heard　the　door　close　behind　me　and　the　footsteps　of　my　escort　disappearing。　There　was　another　door　opposite　the　entrance。　The　nurse　crossed　to　it。　〃Miss　Marlowe's　in　here；〃　she　said。
　I　stood　in　the　doorway。　At　first；　I　couldn't　see　her。　Ilene　Gaillard；　a　doctor　and　another　nurse　were　standing　next　to　the　bed；　their　backs　toward　me。　Then；　as　if　activated　by　some　signal；　they　all　turned　at　once。　I　walked　toward　the　bed。　The　nurse　moved　away　and　Ilene　and　the　doctor　separated　slightly　to　make　room　for　me。　Then　I　saw　her。
　A　clear　plastic　tent　was　suspended　over　her　head　and　shoulders　and　she　seemed　to　be　sleeping。　All　but　her　face　was　pletely　covered　with　a　heavy　white　bandage；　which　hid　all　her　shining　white…blond　hair。　Her　eyes　were　closed　and　I　could　see　a　faint　blue　tinge　under　the　flesh　of　the　lids。　The　skin　was　drawn　tightly　across　her　high　cheekbones；　leaving　a　hollow　around　her　sunken　cheeks；　so　that　you　had　the　feeling　that　the　flesh　beneath　had　disappeared。　Her　wide　mouth；　usually　so　warm　and　vivid；　was　pale　and　drawn　back　slightly　from　her　even　white　teeth。
　I　stood　there　silently　for　a　moment。　I　couldn't　see　her　breathe。　I　looked　at　the　doctor。　He　shook　his　head。　〃She's　alive；　Mr。　Cord；〃　he　whispered；　〃but　just　barely。〃
　〃May　I　speak　to　her？〃
　〃You　can　try；　Mr。　Cord。　But　don't　be　disappointed　if　she　doesn't　answer。　She's　been　like　this　for　the　last　ten　hours。　And　if　she　should　answer；　Mr。　Cord；　she　may　not　recognize　you。〃
　I　turned　back　to　her。　〃Rina；〃　I　said　quietly。　〃It's　me；　Jonas。〃
　She　lay　there　quietly；　not　moving。　I　put　my　hand　under　the　plastic　tent　and　found　hers。　I　pressed　it。　It　felt　cool　and　soft。　Suddenly　everything　came　to　a　wild　stop　inside　me。　Her　hand　was　cool。　She　was　already　dead。　She　was　dead。
　I　sank　to　my　knees　beside　the　bed。　I　pushed　the　plastic　aside　and　leaned　over　her。　〃Please；　Rina！〃　I　begged　wildly。　〃It's　me；　Jonas。　Please；　don't　die！〃
　I　felt　a　slight　pressure　from　her　hand。　I　looked　down　at　her；　the　tears　streaming　down　my　cheeks。　The　movement　of　her　hand　grew　a　little　stronger。　Then　her　eyes　opened　slowly　and　she　was　looking　up　into　my　face。
　At　first；　her　eyes　were　vague　and　far　away。　Then　they　cleared　and　her　lips　curved　into　a　semblance　of　a　smile。　〃Jonas；〃　she　whispered。　〃I　knew　you'd　e。〃
　〃All　you　ever　had　to　do　was　whistle。〃
　Her　lips　pursed　but　no　sound　came　out。　〃I　never　could　learn　to　whistle；〃　she　whispered。
　The　doctor's　voice　came　from　behind　me。　〃You'd　better　get　some　rest　now；　Miss　Marlowe。〃
　Rina's　eyes　went　past　my　shoulder　to　him。　〃No；〃　she　whispered。　〃Please。　I　haven't　much　time　left。　Let　me　speak　to　Jonas。〃
　I　turned　to　look　at　the　doctor。　〃All　right；〃　he　said。　〃But　just　for　a　moment。〃
　I　heard　the　door　click　behind　me；　then　I　looked　down　at　Rina。　Her　hand　lifted　slightly　and　stroked　my　cheek。　I　caught　her　fingers　and　pressed　them　to　my　lips。
　〃I　had　to　see　you；　Jonas。〃
　〃Why　did　you　wait　so　long；　Rina？〃
　〃That's　why　I　had　to　see　you；〃　she　whispered。　〃To　explain。〃
　〃What　good　are　explanations　now？〃
　〃Please　try　to　understand；　Jonas。　I　loved　you　from　the　moment　I　first　saw　you。　But　I　was　afraid。　I've　been　a　jinx　to　everyone　who　ever　loved　me。　My　mother　and　my　brother　died　because　they　loved　me。　My　father　died　of　a　broken　heart　in　prison。〃
　〃That　wasn't　your　fault。〃
　〃I　pushed　Margaret　down　the　stairs　and　killed　her。　I　killed　my　baby　even　before　it　was　born；　stole　Nevada's　career　from　him；　and　Claude　mitted　suicide　because　of　what　I　was　doing　to　him。〃
　〃Those　things　just　happened。　You　weren't　to　blame。〃
　〃I　was！〃　she　insisted　hoarsely。　〃Look　what　I　did　to　you；　to　your　marriage。　I　should　never　have　e　to　your　hotel　that　night。〃
　〃That　was　my　fault。　I　made　you。〃
　〃Nobody　made　me；〃　she　whispered。　〃I　came　because　I　wanted　to。　When　she　came；　I　knew　how　wrong　I　was。〃
　〃Why？〃　I　asked　bitterly。　〃Just　because　she　had　a　bel