ss.iftomorrowcomes-第38部分

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　the　same　reason；　aren't　we？〃
　
　Tracy　had　no　idea　what　he　was　talking　about。　〃Look；　Mr。　Bowers…〃
　
　〃Stevens；〃　he　said　easily。　〃Jeff　Stevens。〃
　
　〃Whatever。〃　Tracy　started　to　rise。
　
　〃Wait。　I'd　like　to　explain　about　the　last　time　we　met。〃
　
　〃There's　nothing　to　explain；〃　Tracy　assured　him。　〃An　idiot　child　could　have　figured　it　out…　and　did。〃
　
　〃I　owed　Conrad　Morgan　a　favor。〃　He　grinned　ruefully。　〃I'm　afraid　he　wasn't　too　happy　with　me。〃
　
　There　was　that　same　easy；　boyish　charm　that　had　pletely　taken　her　in　before。　For　God's　sake；　Dennis；　it　isn't　necessary　to　put　cuffs　on　her。　She's　not　going　to　run　away。。。。
　
　She　said　hostilely；　〃I'm　not　too　happy　with　you；　either。　What　are　you　doing　aboard　this　ship？　Shouldn't　you　be　on　a　riverboat？〃
　
　He　laughed。　〃With　Maximilian　Pierpont　on　board；　this　is　a　riverboat。〃
　
　〃Who？〃
　
　He　looked　at　her　in　surprise。　〃e　on。　You　mean　you　really　don't　know？〃
　
　〃Know　what？〃
　
　〃Max　Pierpont　is　one　of　the　richest　men　in　the　world。　His　hobby　is　forcing　petitive　panies　out　of　business。　He　loves　slow　horses　and　fast　women；　and　he　owns　a　lot　of　both。　He's　the　last　of　the　big…time　spenders。〃
　
　〃And　you　intend　to　relieve　him　of　some　of　his　excess　wealth。〃
　
　〃Quite　a　lot　of　it；　as　a　matter　of　fact。〃　He　was　eyeing　her　speculatively。　〃Do　you　know　what　you　and　I　should　do？〃
　
　〃I　certainly　do；　Mr。　Stevens。　We　should　say　good…bye。〃
　
　And　he　sat　there　watching　as　Tracy　got　up　and　walked　out　of　the　dining　room。
　
　She　had　dinner　in　her　cabin。　As　she　ate；　she　wondered　what　ill　fate　had　placed　Jeff　Stevens　in　her　path　again。　She　wanted　to　forget　the　fear　she　had　felt　on　that　train　when　she　thought　she　was　under　arrest。　Well；　I'm　not　going　to　let　him　spoil　this　trip。　I'll　simply　ignore　him。
　
　After　dinner　Tracy　went　up　on　deck。　It　was　a　fantastic　night；　with　a　magic　canopy　of　stars　sprayed　against　a　velvet　sky。　She　was　standing　at　the　rail　in　the　moonlight；　watching　the　soft　phosphorescence　of　the　waves　and　listening　to　the　sounds　of　the　night　wind；　when　he　moved　up　beside　her。
　
　〃You　have　no　idea　how　beautiful　you　look　standing　there。　Do　you　believe　in　shipboard　romances？〃
　
　〃Definitely。　What　I　don't　believe　in　is　you。〃　She　started　to　walk　away。
　
　〃Wait。　I　have　some　news　for　you。　I　just　found　out　that　Max　Pierpont　isn't　on　board；　after　all。　He　canceled　at　the　last　minute。〃
　
　〃Oh；　what　a　shame。　You　wasted　your　fare。〃
　
　〃Not　necessarily。〃　He　eyed　her　speculatively。　〃How　would　you　like　to　pick　up　a　small　fortune　on　this　voyage？〃
　
　The　man　is　unbelievable。　〃Unless　you　have　a　submarine　or　a　helicopter　in　your　pocket；　I　don't　think　you'll　get　away　with　robbing　anyone　on　this　ship。〃
　
　〃Who　said　anything　about　robbing　anyone？　Have　you　ever　heard　of　Boris　Melnikov　or　Pietr　Negulesco？〃
　
　〃What　if　I　have？〃
　
　〃Melnikov　and　Negulesco　are　on　their　way　to　Russia　for　a　championship　match。　If　I　can　arrange　for　you　to　play　the　two　of　them；〃　Jeff　said　earnestly；　〃we　can　win　a　lot　of　money。　It's　a　perfect　setup。〃
　
　Tracy　was　looking　at　him　incredulously。　〃If　you　can　arrange　for　me　to　play　the　two　of　them？　That's　your　perfect　setup？〃
　
　〃Uh…huh。　How　do　you　like　it？〃
　
　〃I　love　it。　There's　just　one　tiny　hitch。〃
　
　〃What's　that？〃
　
　〃I　don't　play　chess。〃
　
　He　smiled　benignly。　〃No　problem。　I'll　teach　you。〃
　
　〃You're　insane；〃　Tracy　said。　〃If　you　want　some　advice；　you'll　find　yourself　a　good　psychiatrist。　Good　night。〃
　
　**********
　
　The　following　morning　Tracy　literally　bumped　into　Boris　Melnikov。　He　was　jogging　on　the　Boat　Deck；　and　as　Tracy　rounded　a　corner；　he　ran　into　her；　knocking　her　off　her　feet。
　
　〃Watch　where　you're　going；〃　he　growled。　And　he　kept　running。
　
　Tracy　sat　on　the　deck；　looking　after　him。　〃Of　all　the　rude…！〃　She　stood　up　and　brushed　herself　off。
　
　A　steward　approached。　〃Are　you　hurt；　miss？　I　saw　him…〃
　
　〃No；　I'm　fine；　thank　you。〃
　
　Nobody　was　going　to　spoil　this　trip。
　
　When　Tracy　returned　to　her　cabin；　there　were　six　messages　to　call　Mr。　Jeff　Stevens。　She　ignored　them。　In　the　afternoon　she　swam　and　read　and　had　a　massage；　and　by　the　time　she　went　into　the　bar　that　evening　to　have　a　cocktail　before　dinner；　she　was　feeling　wonderful。　Her　euphoria　was　short…lived。　Pietr　Negulesco；　the　Romanian；　was　seated　at　the　bar。　When　he　saw　Tracy；　he　stood　up　and　said；　〃May　I　buy　you　a　drink；　beautiful　lady？〃
　
　Tracy　hesitated；　then　smiled。　〃Why；　yes；　thank　you。〃
　
　〃What　would　you　like？〃
　
　〃A　vodka　and　tonic；　please。〃
　
　Negulesco　gave　the　order　to　the　barman　and　turned　back　to　Tracy。　〃I'm　Pietr　Negulesco。〃
　
　〃I　know。〃
　
　〃Of　course。　Everyone　knows　me。　I　am　the　greatest　chess　player　in　the　world。　In　my　country；　I　am　a　national　hero。〃　He　leaned　close　to　Tracy；　put　a　hand　on　her　knee；　and　said；　〃I　am　also　a　great　fuck。〃
　
　Tracy　thought　she　had　misunderstood　him。　〃What？〃
　
　〃I　am　a　great　fuck。〃
　
　Her　first　reaction　was　to　throw　her　drink　in　his　face；　but　she　controlled　herself。　She　had　a　better　idea。　〃Excuse　me；〃　she　said；　〃I　have　to　meet　a　friend。〃
　
　**********
　
　She　went　to　look　for　Jeff　Stevens。　She　found　him　in　the　Princess　Grill；　but　as　Tracy　started　toward　his　table；　she　saw　that　he　was　dining　with　a　lovely…looking　blonde　with　a　spectacular　figure；　dressed　in　an　evening　gown　that　looked　as　if　it　had　been　painted　on。　I　should　have　known　better；　Tracy　thought。　She　turned　and　headed　down　the　corridor。　A　moment　later　Jeff　was　at　her　side。
　
　〃Tracy。。。　did　you　want　to　see　me？〃
　
　〃I　don't　want　to　take　you　away　from　your。。。　dinner。〃
　
　〃She's　dessert；〃　Jeff　said　lightly。　〃What　can　I　do　for　you？〃
　
　〃Were　you　serious　about　Melnikov　and　Negulesco？〃
　
　〃Absolutely。　Why？〃
　
　〃I　think　they　both　need　a　lesson　in　manners。〃
　
　〃So　do　I。　And　we'll　make　money　while　we　teach　them。〃
　
　〃Good。　What's　your　plan？〃
　
　〃You're　going　to　beat　them　at　chess。〃
　
　〃I'm　serious。〃
　
　〃So　am　I〃
　
　〃I　told　you；　I　don't　play　chess。　I　don't　know　a　pawn　from　a　king。　I…〃
　
　〃Don't　worry；〃　Jeff　promised　her。　〃A　couple　of　lessons　from　me；　and　you'll　slaughter　them　both。〃
　
　〃Both？〃
　
　〃Oh；　didn't　I　tell　you？　You're　going　to　play　them　simultaneously。〃
　
　**********
　
　Jeff　was　seated　next　to　Boris　Melnikov　in　the。　Double　Down　Piano　Bar。
　
　〃The　woman　is　a　fantastic　chess　player；〃　Jeff　confided　to　Melnikov。　〃She's　traveling　incognito。〃
　
　The　Russian　grunted。　〃Women　know　nothing　about　chess。　They　cannot　think。〃
　
　〃This　one　does。　She　says　she　could　beat　you　easily。〃
　
　Boris　Melnikov　laughed　aloud。　〃Nobody　beats　me…　easily　or　not。〃
　
　〃She's　willing　to　bet　you　ten　thousand　dollars　that　she　can　play　you　and　Pietr　Negulesco　at　the　same　time　and　get　a　draw　with　at　least　one　of　you。〃
　
　Boris　Melnikov　choked　on　his　drink。　〃What！　That's…　that's　ridiculous！　Play　two　of　us　at　the　same　time？　This…　this　female　amateur？〃
　
　〃That's　right。　For　ten　thousand　dollars　each。〃
　
　〃I　should　do　it　just　to　teach　the　stupid　idiot　a　lesson。〃
　
　〃If　you　win；　the　money　will　be　deposited　in　any　country　you　choose。〃
　
　A　covetous　expression　flitted　across　the　Russian's　face。　〃I've　never　even　heard　of　this　person。　And　to　play　the　two　of　us！　My　God；　she　must　be　insane。〃
　
　〃She　has　the　twenty　thousand　dollars　in　cash。〃
　
　〃What　nationality　is　she？〃
　
　〃American。〃
　
　〃Ah；　that　explains　it。　All　rich　Americans　are　crazy；　especially　their　women。〃
　
　Jeff　started　to　rise。　〃Well；　I　guess　she'll　just　have　to　play　Pietr　Negulesco　alone。〃
　
　〃Negulesco　is　going　to　play　her？〃
　
　〃Yes；　didn't　I　tell　you？　She　wanted　to　play　the　two　of　you；　but　if　you're　afraid。。。〃
　
　〃Afraid！　Boris　Melnikov　afraid？〃　His　voice　was　a　roar。　〃I　will　destroy　her。　When　is　this　ridiculous　match　to　take　place？〃
　
　〃She　thought　perhaps　Friday　night。　The　last　night　out。〃
　
　Boris　Meinikov　was　thinking　hard。　〃The　best　two　out　of　three？〃
　
　〃No。　Only　one　game。〃
　
　〃For　ten　thousand　dollars？〃
　
　〃That　is　correct。〃
　
　The　Russian　sighed。　〃I　do　not　have　that　much　cash　with　me。〃
　
　〃No　problem；〃　Jeff　assured　him。　〃All　Miss　Whitney　really　wants　is　the　glory　of　playing　the　great　Boris　Melnikov。　If　you　lose；　you　give　her　a　personally　autographed　picture。　If　you　win；　you　get　ten　thousand　dollars。〃
　
　〃Who　holds　the　stakes？〃　There　was　a　sharp　note　of　suspicion　in　his　voice。
　
　〃The　ship's　purser。〃
　
　〃Very　well；〃　Melnikov　decided。　〃Friday　night　We　will　start　at　ten　o'clock；　promptly。〃
　
　〃She'll　be　so　pleased；〃　Jeff　assured　him。
　
　The　following　morning　Jeff　was　talking　to　Pietr　Negulesco　in　the　gymnasium；　where　the　two　men　were　working　out。
　
　〃She's　an　American？〃　Pietr　Negulesco　said。　〃I　should　have　known。　All　Americans　are　cuckoo。〃
　
　〃She's　a　great　chess　player。。〃
　
　Pietr　Negulesco　made　a　gesture　of　contempt。　〃Great　is　not　good　enough。　Best　is　what　counts。　And　I　am　the　best。〃
　
　〃That's　why　she's　so　eager　to　play　against　you。　If　you　lose；　you　give　her　an　autographed　picture。　If　you　win；　you　get　ten　thousand　dollars　in　cash。。。〃
　
　〃Negulesco　does　not　play　amateurs。〃
　
　〃。。。deposited　in　any　country　you　like。〃
　
　〃Out　of　the　question。〃
　
　〃Well；　then；　I　guess　she'll　have　to　play　only　Boris　Melnikov。〃
　
　〃What？　Are　you　saying　Melnikov　has　agreed　to　play　against　this　woman？〃
　
　〃Of　course。　But　she　was　hoping　to　play　you　both　at　once。〃
　
　〃I've　never　heard　of　anything　so…　so…〃　Negutesco　sputtered；　at　a　loss　for　words。　〃The　arrogance！　Who　is　she　that　she　thinks　she　can　defeat　the　two　top　chess　masters　in　the　world？　She　must　have　escaped　from　some　lunatic　asylum。〃
　
　〃She's　a　little　erratic；〃　Jeff　confessed；　〃but　her　money　is　good。　All　cash。〃
　
　〃You　said　ten　thousand　dollars　for　defeating　her？〃
　
　〃That's　right。〃
　
　〃And　Boris　Meinikov　gets　the　same　amount？〃
　
　〃If　he　defeats　her。〃
　
　Pietr　Negulesco　grinned。　〃Oh；　he　will　defeat　her。　And　so　will　I。〃
　
　〃Just　between　us；　I　wouldn't　be　a　bit　surprised。〃
　
　〃Who　will　hold　the　stakes？〃
　
　〃The　ship's　purser。〃
　
　Why　should　Melnikov　be　the　only　one　to　take　money　from　this　woman？　thought　Pietr　Negutesco