hr.thecarpetbaggers-第96部分

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　his　hand　away。　〃I　don't　want　any。〃
　I　stared　into　his　dark　eyes　for　a　moment；　then　I　felt　rise　up　inside　me　a　hurt　and　a　loneliness　that　I　had　never　felt　before。　Suddenly；　I　began　to　cry。
　He　put　down　the　tureen。　〃Go　ahead　an'　weep；　Mr。　Cord。　Cry　yourself　out。　But　you'll　find　tears　won't　drown　you　any　more　than　whisky。〃
　He　was　sitting　on　the　porch　in　the　late…afternoon　sun　when　I　finally　came　out。　It　was　green　all　around；　bushes　and　trees　all　the　way　down　the　side　of　the　mountain；　until　it　ran　into　the　red　and　yellow　sands　of　the　desert。　He　got　to　his　feet　when　I　opened　the　door。
　I　walked　over　to　the　railing　and　looked　down。　We　were　a　long　way　from　people。　I　turned　and　looked　back　at　him。　〃What's　for　dinner；　Robair？〃　I　asked。
　He　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃To　tell　the　truth；　Mr。　Cord；　I　was　kind　of　waitin'　on　how　you　felt。〃
　〃There's　a　brook　near　here　that　has　the　biggest　trout　you　ever　saw。〃
　He　smiled。　〃A　mess　o'　trout　sounds　fine；　Mr。　Cord。〃
　It　was　almost　two　years　before　we　came　down　from　the　mountain。　Game　was　plentiful　and　once　a　week；　Robair　would　drive　down　for　supplies。　I　grew　lean　and　dark　from　the　sun　and　the　bloat　of　the　cities　disappeared　as　the　muscles　tightened　and　hardened　in　my　body。
　We　developed　a　routine　and　it　was　amazing　how　well　the　business　got　along　without　me。　It　merely　proved　the　old　axiom：　once　you　reached　a　certain　size；　it　was　pretty　difficult　to　stop　growing。　All　the　panies　were　doing　fine　except　the　picture　pany。　It　was　undercapitalized　but　it　didn't　matter　that　much　to　me　any　more。
　Three　times　a　week；　I　spoke　to　McAllister　on　the　telephone。　That　was　generally　sufficient　to　take　care　of　most　problems。　Once　a　month；　Mac　would　e　driving　up　the　winding　road　to　the　cabin；　his　brief　case　filled　with　papers　for　me　to　sign　or　reports　for　me　to　study。
　Mac　was　a　remarkably　thorough　man。　There　was　very　little　that　escaped　his　observant　eye。　In　some　mysterious　way；　everything　of　importance　that　was　going　on　in　any　of　the　panies　found　its　way　into　his　reports。　There　were　many　things　I　knew　I　should　attend　to　personally　but　somehow；　everything　seemed　a　long　way　off　and　very　unimportant。
　We'd　been　there　almost　a　year　and　a　half　when　we　had　our　first　outside　visitor。　I'd　been　out　hunting　and　was　ing　back　up　the　trail；　with　a　brace　of　quail　swinging　from　my　hand；　when　I　saw　a　strange　car　parked　in　front　of　the　cabin。　It　was　a　Chevy　with　California　license　plates。
　I　walked　around　and　looked　at　the　registration　on　the　steering　column：　Rosa　Strassmer；　M。D。；　1104　Coast　Highway；　Malibu；　Cal。　I　turned　and　walked　into　the　cabin。　There　was　a　young　woman　seated　on　the　couch；　smoking　a　cigarette。　She　had　dark　hair；　gray　eyes　and　a　determined　jaw。
　When　she　stood　up；　I　saw　she　was　wearing　a　faded　pair　of　Levis　that　somehow　accentuated　the　slim；　feminine　curve　of　her　hips。　〃Mr。　Cord？〃　she　asked；　holding　her　hand　out　to　me；　a　curious；　faint　accent　in　her　voice。　〃I'm　Rosa　Strassmer；　Otto　Strassmer's　daughter。〃
　I　took　her　hand；　staring　at　her　for　a　moment。　Her　grip　was　firm。　I　tried　to　keep　the　faint　tinge　of　annoyance　from　showing　in　my　voice。　〃How　did　you　know　where　to　find　me？〃
　She　took　out　an　envelope　and　gave　it　to　me。　〃Mr。　McAllister　asked　me　to　drop　this　off　when　he　heard　I　was　driving　through　here　on　my　vacation。〃
　I　opened　the　envelope　and　looked　at　the　paper　inside。　It　was　nothing　that　couldn't　have　waited　until　his　next　visit。　I　dropped　it　on　the　table。　Robair　came　into　the　room　just　then。　He　looked　at　me　curiously　as　he　took　the　brace　of　quail　and　my　gun　and　went　back　into　the　kitchen。
　〃I　hope　I　haven't　disturbed　you；　Mr。　Cord；〃　she　said　quickly。
　I　looked　at　her。　Whatever　it　was　I　felt；　it　wasn't　her　fault。　It　was　Mac's　not　too　subtle　reminder　that　I　couldn't　stay　on　the　mountain　forever。　〃No；〃　I　answered。　〃You　must　forgive　my　surprise。　We　don't　get　many　visitors　up　here。〃
　She　smiled　suddenly。　When　she　smiled；　her　face　took　on　a　strange　bright　beauty。　〃And　I　can　understand　why　you　don't　ask　people　to　e；　Mr。　Cord；〃　she　said。　〃More　than　two　people　would　crowd　a　paradise　like　this。〃
　I　didn't　answer。
　She　hesitated　a　moment；　then　started　for　the　door。　〃I　must　be　going　now；〃　she　said　awkwardly。　〃I'm　glad　to　have　met　you。　I've　heard　so　much　about　you　from　my　father。〃
　〃Dr。　Strassmer！〃
　She　turned　toward　me　in　surprise。　〃Yes；　Mr。　Cord？〃
　〃I'll　have　to　ask　you　to　forgive　me　again；〃　I　said　quickly。　〃Living　up　here　as　I　have；　I　seem　to　have　forgotten　my　manners。　How　is　your　father？〃
　〃He's　well　and　happy；　Mr。　Cord；　thanks　to　you。　He　never　gets　tired　of　telling　me　how　you　blackmailed　G？ring　into　letting　him　out　of　Germany。　He　thinks　you're　a　very　brave　man。〃
　I　smiled。　〃It's　your　father　who　is　brave；　doctor。　What　I　did　was　very　little。〃
　〃To　Mother　and　me；　it　was　a　great　deal；〃　she　said。　She　hesitated　again。　〃Now　I　really　must　be　going。〃
　〃Stay　for　dinner；〃　I　said。　〃Robair　has　a　way　of　stuffing　quail　with　wild　rice　that　I　think　you'd　enjoy。〃
　Her　eyes　searched　mine　for　a　moment。　〃I　will；〃　she　answered。　〃Under　one　condition　…　that　you　call　me　Rosa；　not　doctor。〃
　〃Agreed。　Now　sit　down　again　and　I'll　get　Robair　to　bring　you　something　to　drink。〃
　But　Robair　was　already　in　the　doorway　with　a　pitcher　of　Martinis。　It　was　too　late　for　her　to　leave　when　we　were　through　with　dinner；　so　Robair　fixed　up　the　tiny　guest　room　for　her。　She　went　to　bed　and　I　sat　in　the　living　room　for　a　while　and　then　went　to　my　room。
　For　the　first　time　in　a　long　while；　I　could　not　fall　asleep。　I　stared　up　at　the　shadows　dancing　on　the　ceiling。　There　was　a　sound　at　the　door　and　I　sat　up　in　the　bed。
　She　stood　there　silently　in　the　doorway　for　a　moment；　then　came　into　the　room。　She　stopped　at　the　side　of　my　bed　and　looked　down　at　me。　〃Don't　be　frightened；　lonely　man；〃　she　whispered　in　a　soft　voice。　〃I　want　nothing　more　from　you　than　this　night。〃
　〃But；　Rosa…　〃
　She　pressed　a　silencing　finger　to　my　lips　and　came　down　into　the　bed；　all　warmth　and　all　woman；　all　passion　and　all　understanding。　She　cradled　my　head　against　her　breast　almost　as　a　mother　would　a　child。　〃Now　I　understand　why　McAllister　sent　me　here。〃
　I　cupped　my　hands　beneath　her　firm　young　breasts。　〃Rosa；　you're　beautiful；〃　I　whispered。
　I　heard　her　laugh　softly。　〃I　know　I'm　not　beautiful；　but　I　am　happy　that　you　should　say　so。〃
　She　lay　her　head　back　against　the　pillow　and　looked　up　at　me；　her　eyes　soft　and　warm。　〃Kommen　sie；　liebchen；〃　she　said　gently；　reaching　for　me　with　her　arms。　〃You　brought　my　father　back　to　his　world；　let　me　try　to　bring　you　back　to　yours。〃
　In　me　morning；　after　breakfast；　when　she　had　gone；　I　walked　back　into　the　living　room　thoughtfully。　Robair　looked　at　me　from　the　table；　where　he　was　clearing　away　the　dishes。　We　didn't　speak。　We　didn't　have　to。　In　that　moment；　we　both　understood　that　it　was　only　a　matter　of　time　before　we　would　leave　the　mountain。
　The　world　was　not　that　far　away　any　more。
　
　McAllister　was　asleep　on　the　couch　when　I　entered　the　living　room。　I　walked　over　to　him　and　touched　his　shoulder。　He　opened　his　eyes　and　looked　up　at　me。　〃Hello；　Jonas；〃　he　said；　sitting　up　and　rubbing　his　eyes。　He　took　a　cigarette　and　lit　it。　A　moment　later；　the　sleep　was　gone　from　his　eyes。　〃I　waited　for　you　because　Sheffield　is　pressing　for　a　meeting；〃　he　said。
　I　dropped　into　the　chair　opposite　him。　〃Did　David　pick　up　the　stock？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Does　Sheffield　know　it　yet？〃
　〃I　don't　think　so；〃　he　said。　〃From　the　way　he's　talking；　my　guess　is　he　still　thinks　he's　got　it　in　the　bag。〃　He　ground　the　cigarette　out　in　the　ash　tray。　〃Sheffield　said　that　if　you'd　meet　with　him　before　the　meeting；　he'd　be　inclined　to　give　you　some　consideration　for　your　stock。〃
　I　laughed。　〃That's　very　kind　of　him；　isn't　it？〃　I　kicked　off　my　shoes。　〃Tell　him　to　go　to　hell。〃
　〃Just　a　minute；　Jonas；〃　Mac　said　quickly。　〃I　think　you'd　better　meet　with　him；　anyway。　He　can　make　a　lot　of　trouble。　After　all；　he'll　be　voting　about　thirty　per　cent　of　the　stock。〃
　〃Let　him；〃　I　snapped。　〃If　he　wants　a　fight；　I'll　curl　his　hair。〃
　〃Meet　him；　anyway；〃　Mac　urged。　〃You've　got　too　many　things　ing　up　to　get　involved　in　a　fight　right　now。〃
　He　was　right；　as　usual。　I　couldn't　be　in　six　places　at　one　time。　Besides；　if　I　wanted　to　make　The　Sinner；　I　didn't　want　a　stupid　minority…stockholder's　suit　holding　up　production。
　〃O。K。　Call　him　and　tell　him　to　e　over　right　now。〃
　〃Right　now？〃　Mac　asked。　〃My　God！　It's　four　o'clock　in　the　morning。〃
　〃So　what？　He's　the　one　who　wanted　a　meeting。〃
　Mac　went　over　to　the　telephone。
　〃And　when　you　get　through　talking　to　him；〃　I　said；　〃call　Moroni　on　the　Coast　and　find　out　if　the　bank　will　let　me　have　the　money　to　buy　in　Sheffield's　stock　if　I　give　them　a　first　mortgage　on　the　theaters。〃
　There　was　no　sense　in　using　any　more　of　my　own　money　than　I　had　to。
　
　3
　
　I　WATCHED　SHEFFIELD　LIFT　THE　COFFEE　CUP　TO　HIS　LIPS。　His　hair　was　a　little　grayer；　a　little　thinner；　but　the　rimless　eyeglasses　still　shone　rapaciously　over　his　long；　thin　nose。　Still；　he　accepted　defeat　much　more　graciously　than　I　would　have；　if　the　shoe　had　been　on　the　other　foot。
　〃Where　did　I　go　wrong；　Jonas？〃　he　asked　casually；　his　voice　as　detached　as　that　of　a　doctor　with　a　clinic　patient。　〃I　certainly　was　willing　to　pay　enough。〃
　I　slumped　down　in　my　chair。　'〃You　had　the　right　idea。　The　thing　was　that　you　were　using　the　wrong　currency。〃
　〃I　don't　understand。〃
　〃Movie　people　are　different。　Sure；　they　like　money　just　like　everybody　else。　But　there's　something　they　want　even　more。〃
　〃Power？〃
　I　shook　my　head。　〃Only　partly。　What　they　want　more　than　anything　else　is　to　make　pictures。　Not　just　movies　but　pictures　that　will　gain　them　recognition。　They　want　to　regard　themselves　as　artists。　Well　insulated　by　money；　of　course；　but　artists；　just　the　same。〃
　〃Then　because　you've　made　motion　pictures；　they　accepted　your　promises　rather　than　mine？〃
　〃I　guess　that's　about　it。〃　I　smiled。　〃When　I　produce　a　picture；　they　feel　I'm　sharing　the　same　risks　they　are。　I'm　not　risking　money。　Everything　I　am　goes　on　the　line。　My　reputation；　my　ability；　my　creative　conceit。〃
　〃Creative　conceit？〃
　〃It's　a　term　I　got　from　David　Woolf。　He　used　it　to　rate　certain　producers。　Those　who　had　it　made　great　pictures。　Those　who　di