hr.thecarpetbaggers-第90部分

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　〃I　wasn't　acting；〃　she　said；　taking　another　cigarette。　〃I　was　working。　That's　my　job。〃
　He　didn't　speak。
　She　lit　the　cigarette　and　gestured　toward　him。　〃Look；〃　she　said。　〃You　eat　a　good　dinner。　Afterwards；　you　say　to　your　friends；　that　was　a　great　steak。　The　greatest。　You　don't　mind　talking　about　it。　You　even　tell　your　friends　where　you　had　it　so　they　can　get　themselves　one。　Right？〃
　He　nodded。
　〃It's　like　that　with　me；〃　she　said。　〃You　got　a　friend。　This　time　it's　Irv　Schwartz。　You're　playing　gin　and　he　looks　at　you　and　says；　'I　had　a　great　piece　last　night。　The　greatest。　Jennie　Denton。　Give　her　a　blast。'　So　you　e　over　and　put　your　money　on　the　table。　You　climb　up；　you　climb　down。　You　get　filled　with　air　like　a　balloon　and　float　around　the　world。　I'll　bet　it's　a　long　time　since　you　popped　three　times　in　as　many　hours。　Do　you　still　feel　cheated？〃
　He　laughed；　suddenly　feeling　young　and　strong。　She　was　right。　He　hadn't　felt　like　this　in　a　long　time；　maybe　twenty　years。　He　felt　the　warmth　return　to　his　loins。　He　got　up；　letting　the　towel　fall　to　the　floor。
　She　laughed。　〃You're　younger　than　I　thought。　Look；　its　midnight。〃
　〃So？〃　He　stared　at　her。
　〃The　deal　was　two　bills　till　midnight；〃　she　said。　〃You're　all　paid　up。　It's　three　bills　from　here　till　morning。　But　that　includes　breakfast。〃
　He　laughed。　〃You're　worse　than　MCA。　O。K。；　it's　a　deal。〃
　She　smiled　and　got　to　her　feet。　〃e　on。〃
　He　followed　her　into　a　large　bathroom　with　a　giant　square　marble　tub　sunken　into　the　floor。　There　was　a　rubbing　table　against　the　wall　under　the　window。　She　gestured　to　it。　〃Get　up　there。'
　He　sat　on　the　edge　of　the　table　and　watched　her　open　the　medicine　cabinet。　She　took　down　a　safety　razor；　a　tube　of　shaving　cream　and　a　brush。　She　filled　a　tumbler　with　water　and　soaked　a　washcloth　under　the　tap。　These　she　placed　on　the　edge　of　the　sink　near　the　table。　〃Lie　down；〃　she　said；　dipping　the　brush　into　the　tumbler　and　working　up　a　lather　with　the　cream。
　〃What　are　you　going　to　do？〃
　〃What　does　it　look　like？〃　she　asked。　〃I'm　going　to　shave　you。〃
　〃I　shaved　this　evening。〃
　She　laughed。　〃Not　your　face；　stupid。〃　She　reached　out　a　hand　and　pressed　him　back　onto　the　table。　〃I　want　to　see　what　you　look　like　underneath　all　that　fur。〃
　〃But…　〃
　〃Lie　still；〃　she　said　fiercely；　already　beginning　to　brush　the　lather　on　his　chest。　〃I　won't　cut　you。　I　used　to　do　this　all　the　time　when　I　worked　in　the　hospital。〃
　The　lather　was　oddly　soothing。　〃You　worked　in　a　hospital？〃
　She　nodded。　〃I　graduated　from　nursing　school　when　I　was　twenty；〃　she　said。　〃Cum　laude；　too。〃
　〃Why'd　you　leave　it？〃
　He　scarcely　felt　the　razor　moving　over　his　body。　She　turned　to　rinse　it　under　the　tap。　〃Sixty…five　a　month；　eighteen　hours　a　day；〃　she　said；　turning　back　to　him。　She　began　to　lather　the　other　side　of　his　chest。　〃And　too　many　jokers　thinking　it　was　free。〃
　He　laughed　as　the　razor　glided　across　his　stomach。　〃That　tickles。〃
　She　rinsed　the　razor　again。　〃Turn　over；〃　she　said。　〃I　want　to　do　your　back　and　shoulders。〃
　He　rolled　over　on　his　stomach　and　rested　his　face　on　his　arms。　The　faint　menthol　smell　of　the　lather　came　up　into　his　nostrils。　He　felt　the　razor　moving　quickly　over　him。　He　closed　his　eyes。
　She　tapped　him　on　the　shoulders　and　he　opened　his　eyes。　She　reached　into　the　cabinet　and　took　out　a　bar　of　soap。　Breaking　off　the　wrapping；　she　handed　it　to　him。　〃Now　take　a　hot　shower　and　scrub　yourself　clean。〃
　The　water　shot　down　at　him　in　a　needle　spray；　filling　the　stall　with　steam　and　the　scent　of　jasmine　from　the　soap。　He　could　feel　his　skin　beginning　to　tingle　and　glow。　When　he　came　out；　his　face　was　ruddy　and　smiling。
　She　held　a　large　bath　sheet　toward　him。　〃Dry　yourself　and　get　back　on　the　table。〃
　He　toweled　himself　quickly　and　stretched　out。　She　took　a　small　hand　vibrator　from　the　cabinet　and　plugged　it　into　the　socket。　She　began　to　massage　him　slowly。　The　buzzing　sound　of　the　vibrator　seemed　to　stretch　and　loosen　the　muscles　in　his　body。　〃This　is　better　than　a　Turkish　bath；〃　he　said。
　〃This　is　a　Turkish　bath；〃　she　said　dryly；　then　switched　off　the　vibrator　and　threw　the　towel　over　him。　〃Now；　you　just　lie　there　for　a　few　minutes。〃
　He　watched　as　she　leaned　over　the　marble　tub　and　turned　on　the　water。　She　tested　it　carefully　until　it　was　just　the　temperature　she　wanted；　then　let　it　run。　When　the　water　had　risen　about　four　inches　up　the　side　of　the　tub；　she　turned　it　off。　〃O。K。；〃　she　said。　〃Get　up。〃
　He　sat　up；　the　towel　falling　behind　him。　〃You　know；〃　she　said；　〃you　don't　look　half　bad　with　all　that　hair　off。〃　She　kicked　the　bathroom　door　closed；　revealing　a　full…length　mirror　on　the　back。
　He　looked　into　the　mirror　and　a　smile　broke　over　his　lips。　She　was　right。　Suddenly；　he　looked　twenty　years　younger。　His　body　was　clean　and　white　under　all　that　hair。　He　even　felt　slimmer。
　She　smiled　at　him　in　the　mirror。　〃Enough　narcissism；〃　she　said。　〃Get　into　the　tub。〃
　He　sat　down　in　the　water。　It　was　just　slightly　warmer　than　body　temperature。　〃Stretch　out。　I'll　be　right　back。〃
　He　leaned　back　in　the　tub　and　in　a　moment；　she　came　back　into　the　bathroom。　In　one　hand　she　carried　a　magnum　bottle　of　champagne；　in　the　other　a　small　vial。　She　put　the　champagne　on　the　floor；　opened　the　vial　and　let　a　few　drops　from　it　fall　into　the　water。　The　heavy　scent　of　jasmine　immediately　filled　the　room。　She　put　the　vial　back　on　the　basin　and　picked　up　the　champagne　bottle。
　Expertly　she　ripped　the　foil　and　sprung　the　wire　from　around　the　cork。　The　cork　popped　and　the　champagne　flowed　over　her　fingers。　〃You　forgot　the　glasses；〃　he　said；　watching　her。
　〃Don't　be　silly。　Only　fools　drink　this　stuff。　This　is　for　the　tub。　It's　better　than　bubble　bath。〃　She　began　to　empty　the　bottle　into　the　water　around　him。
　The　wine　fizzed　and　tickled　his　skin　with　a　refreshing　sensation。　She　put　the　empty　bottle　on　the　floor　and　took　a　cigarette　box　from　the　cabinet。　Opening　it；　she　took　out　a　cigarette　and　lit　it。　He　smelled　the　dull；　acrid　pungency　of　marijuana。
　She　dragged　once　on　the　cigarette　and　held　it　toward　him。　〃Here；〃　she　said。　〃Two　puffs。　No　more。〃
　He　shook　his　head。　〃No；　thanks。　I　don't　go　for　that　stuff。〃
　〃Don't　give　me　a　hard　time；〃　she　said。　〃I　only　want　to　slow　you　down　a　little。〃
　He　took　the　cigarette　from　her　hand　and　gingerly　put　it　between　his　lips。　He　drew　on　it。　The　smoke　went　down　deep　inside　him。　There　was　no　need　for　him　to　blow　it　out。　His　body　had　soaked　it　up　like　a　sponge。
　He　looked　down　at　himself　in　wonder。　Suddenly　he　felt　so　buoyant。　His　body　was　so　clean　and　strong。　He　looked　up　at　her　as　she　stepped　into　the　tub。　He　dragged　on　the　cigarette　again。　He　could　feel　himself　floating　lightly　in　the　water。
　〃That's　enough。〃　She　took　the　cigarette　from　his　lips　and　tossed　it　into　the　bowl。
　〃This　is　crazy；〃　he　said；　smiling；　as　she　stretched　out　in　the　water　beside　him。
　〃It　had　better　be；〃　she　said；　lowering　her　head　to　his　chest；　where　he　lay　covered　with　a　shallow　layer　of　water。　He　gave　a　start　of　surprise　as　he　felt　her　teeth　scrape　lightly　across　his　breast。　She　raised　her　head；　smiling　as　she　looked　at　him。　〃It　had　better　be；〃　she　repeated。　〃That　bottle　of　champagne　cost　me　twenty　bucks。〃
　
　He　never　knew　exactly　when　the　idea　came　to　him。　It　was　probably　while　he　was　asleep。　But　it　didn't　matter。　It　was　there　when　he　came　down　to　breakfast　that　morning。　And　he　had　the　confidence　that　came　with　the　success　of　many　such　ideas　in　the　past。
　She　looked　up　from　the　dining…room　table　when　she　heard　the　sound　of　his　feet　on　the　staircase。　〃Good　morning；　Mr。　Bonner。　Hungry？〃
　He　returned　her　smile　with　appreciation。　〃Starved；〃　he　said；　surprising　himself。　It　had　been　a　long　time　since　he'd　felt　like　eating　a　good　breakfast。　Juice　and　coffee　was　his　usual　routine。
　He　saw　her　foot　move　as　she　pressed　a　button　on　the　floor　under　the　table。　A　chime　echoed　from　the　kitchen　in　the　back　of　the　house。　〃Drink　your　juice；〃　she　said。　〃Your　breakfast　will　be　out　in　a　minute。〃
　He　sat　down　opposite　her　and　lifted　the　large　glass　of　tomato　juice　out　of　the　ice　in　which　it　had　been　resting。　〃Cheers。〃
　He　looked　at　her　with　approval。　In　the　clear　light　of　morning；　there　wasn't　a　trace　of　a　line　on　her　face。　Her　eyes　were　clear　and　dark　and　there　was　only　a　light　touch　of　color　on　her　lips。　Her　pale…brown　hair　was　secured　neatly　behind　her　head　in　a　pony　tail。　Her　arms　were　tan　against　her　white；　short…sleeved　sport　blouse；　which　was　tucked　neatly；　almost　primly；　into　a　casually　tailored；　gored　skirt。
　The　door　behind　her　opened　and　a　heavy…set　Mexican　woman　waddled　in　carrying　a　large　tray；　the　contents　of　which　she　transferred　to　the　huge　Lazy　Susan　in　the　center　of　the　table。　Then　she　deftly　removed　the　empty　glass　from　in　front　of　him　and　replaced　it　with　a　large　dinner　plate。　〃Café；　un　momento；〃　she　said　quickly　and　vanished。
　〃Help　yourself；　Mr。　Bonner；〃　Jennie　said。　〃You'll　find　ham；　bacon；　steak；　kippers　and　kidneys　on　the　plates　with　the　green　covers。　There　are　fried　eggs；　scrambled　eggs　and　French　fries　under　the　yellow　covers。〃
　He　spun　the　Lazy　Susan　until　he　found　the　ham　and　served　himself。　As　he　filled　his　plate；　the　Mexican　woman　came　back　with　a　pot　of　coffee　and　hot　rolls　and　toast。　He　looked　down　at　his　plate。　The　ham　was　just　the　way　he　liked　it。
　Jennie　was　helping　herself　to　a　generous　portion　of　steak。　〃You　set　a　hell　of　a　fine　table；〃　he　said　as　the　Mexican　woman　filled　his　coffee　cup。
　Jennie　smiled　at　him。　〃There's　nothing　cheap　in　this　house。〃
　The　Mexican　servant　walked　over　and　filled　Jennie's　cup；　then　waddled　back　into　the　kitchen。　〃You　look　like　you're　playing　tennis　this　morning；〃　he　said。
　She　nodded。　〃That's　exactly　what　I'm　doing。　I　play　for　two　hours　every　morning。〃
　〃Where　do　you　play？〃
　〃Bel　Air。　I　have　a　standing　date　with　Frankie　Gardner。〃
　He　raised　an　eyebrow。　Frankie　Gardner　was　one　of　the　top　tennis　pros　in　the　country。　He　was　expensive　…　at　least　twenty…five　dollars　an　hour。　〃Is　he　one　of　your　customers？〃　he　asked　curiously。
　〃I　don't　play　with　my　customers。　It's　bad　for　business。　I　buy　his　time　like　anybody　else。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃I　like　the　exercise；〃　she　said。　〃It　helps　me　keep　in　shape。　You　know　by　now　that　sometimes　I　put　in　some　pretty　long　ho