hr.thecarpetbaggers-第104节

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your　own　contract；　right　now。〃
　
　〃Four　million　bucks！〃　Irving　screamed。　〃Where　the　hell　do　you　think　I　can　lay　my　hands　on　that　kind　of　money？〃
　David　stared　at　his　friend。　〃e　on；　Needlenose。　This　is　tuchlas。〃
　〃And　what　if　Cord　says　he　don't　want　the　stock？〃　Irving　asked　in　a　quieter　voice。　〃What　do　I　do　with　it　then？　Use　it　for　toilet　paper？〃　He　chewed　on　his　cigar。　〃You're　supposed　to　be　my　friend。　I　go　wrong　on　a　deal　like　this；　I'm　nobody's　friend。　The　late　Yitzchak　Schwartz；　they'll　call　me。〃
　〃It　isn't　as　bad　as　that。〃
　〃Don't　tell　me　how　bad　it　is；〃　Irving　said　angrily。　〃From　jobs　like　mine　you　don't　get　fired。〃
　David　looked　at　him　for　a　moment。　〃I'm　sorry；　Irving。　I　have　no　right　to　ask　you　to　take　a　chance　like　this。〃　He　turned　and　started　for　the　door。
　His　friend's　voice　stopped　him。　〃Hey；　wait　a　minute！　Where　d'you　think　you're　going？〃
　David　stared　at　him。
　〃Did　I　say　I　definitely　wouldn't　do　it　for　you？〃　Irving　said。
　
　Aunt　May's　ample　bosom　quivered　indignantly。　〃Like　a　father　your　Uncle　Bernie　was　to　you；〃　she　said　in　her　shrill；　rasping　voice。　〃Were　you　like　a　son　to　him？　Did　you　appreciate　what　he　done　for　you？　No。　Not　once　did　you　say　to　your　Uncle　Bernie；　while　he　was　alive；　even　a　thank　you。〃　She　took　a　handkerchief　from　the　front　of　her　dress　and　began　to　dab　at　her　eyes；　the　twelve…carat　diamond　on　her　pinkie　ring　flashing　iridescently　like　a　spotlight。　〃It's　by　the　grace　of　God　your　poor　tante　isn't　spending　the　rest　of　her　days　in　the　poorhouse。〃
　David　leaned　back　in　the　stiff　chair　unfortably。　He　felt　the　chill　of　the　night　in　the　big；　barren　room　of　the　large　house。　He　shivered　slightly。　But　he　didn't　know　whether　it　was　the　cold　or　the　way　this　house　always　affected　him。　〃Do　you　want　me　to　start　a　fire　for　you；　Tante？〃
　〃You're　cold；　Duvidele？〃　his　Aunt　May　asked。
　He　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃I　thought　you　might　be　chilly。〃
　〃Chilly？〃　she　repeated。　〃Your　poor　old　tante　is　used　to　being　chilly。　It's　only　by　watching　my　pennies　I　can　afford　to　live　in　this　house。〃
　He　looked　at　his　watch。　〃It's　getting　late；　Tante。　And　I　have　to　get　going。　Are　you　going　to　give　me　the　proxies？〃
　The　old　woman　looked　at　him。　〃Why　should　I？〃　she　asked。　〃I　should　give　proxies　to　help　that　momser；　that　no…good；　who　stole　his　pany　from　your　uncle？〃
　〃Nobody　stole　the　pany。　Uncle　Bernie　would　have　lost　it　anyway。　He　was　lucky　to　find　a　man　like　Cord　to　let　him　off　so　easy。〃
　〃Lucky　he　was？〃　Her　voice　was　shrill　again。　〃Out　of　all　the　shares　he　had；　only　twenty…five　thousand　I　got　left。　What　happened　to　the　rest　of　them？　Tell　me。　What　happened；　hah？〃
　〃Uncle　Bernie　got　three　and　a　half　million　dollars　for　them。〃
　〃So　what？〃　she　demanded。　〃They　were　worth　three　times　that。〃
　〃They　were　worth　bupkas；〃　he　said；　losing　his　temper。　〃Uncle　Bernie　was　stealing　the　pany　blind　and　you　know　it。　The　stock　wasn't　worth　the　paper　it　was　printed　on。〃
　〃Now　you're　calling　your　uncle　a　thief。〃　She　rose　to　her　feet　majestically。　〃Out！〃　she　screamed；　pointing　at　the　door。　〃Out　from　my　house！〃
　He　stared　at　her　for　a　moment；　then　started　for　the　door。　Suddenly　he　stopped；　remembering。　Once　his　uncle　had　chased　him　out　of　his　office；　using　almost　the　same　words。　But　he'd　got　what　he　wanted。　And　his　aunt　was　greedier　than　Bernie　had　ever　been。　He　turned　around。
　〃True；　it's　only　twenty…five　thousand　shares；〃　he　said。　〃Only　a　lousy　one　per　cent　of　the　stock。　But　now　it's　worth　something。　At　least；　you　got　somebody　in　the　family　looking　out　for　your　interests。　But　give　your　proxies　to　Sheffield　and　see　what　happens。　He's　the　kind　that　got　Uncle　Bernie　into　Wall　Street　in　the　first　place。　If　you　do；　I　won't　be　there　to　watch　your　interests。　Your　stock　won't　be　worth　bupkas　again。〃
　She　stared　at　him　for　a　moment。　〃Is　that　true？〃
　He　could　see　the　calculating　machine　in　her　head　spinning。　〃Every　last　word　of　it。〃
　She　took　a　deep　breath。　〃So　e；〃　she　said。　〃I'll　sign　for　you　the　proxies。〃　She　turned　and　waddled　to　a　cabinet。　〃Your　uncle；　olev　a'sholem；　always　said　I　should　listen　to　you　when　I　wanted　advice。　That　David；　he　said；　has　a　good　head　on　his　shoulders。〃
　He　watched　her　take　some　papers　from　the　cabinet。　She　walked　over　to　a　desk；　picked　up　a　pen　and　signed　them。　He　took　them　and　put　them　in　his　jacket　pocket。　〃Thanks；　Aunt　May。〃
　She　smiled　up　at　him。　He　was　surprised　when　she　reached　out　her　hand　and　patted　his　arm　almost　timidly。　〃Your　uncle　and　me；　we　were　never　blessed　with　children；〃　she　said　in　a　tremulous　voice。　〃He　really　thought　of　you　like　his　own　son。〃　She　blinked　her　eyes　rapidly。　〃You　don't　know　how　proud　he　was；　even　after　he　retired　from　the　pany；　when　he　read　about　you　in　the　trade　papers。〃
　He　felt　a　knot　of　pity　for　the　lonely　old　woman　gather　in　his　throat。　〃I　know；　Aunt　May。〃
　She　tried　to　smile。　〃And　such　a　pretty　wife　you　got；〃　she　said。　〃Don't　be　a　stranger。　Why　don't　you　sometime　bring　her　here　to　have　tea　with　me？〃
　He　put　his　arms　around　the　old　woman　suddenly　and　kissed　her　cheek。　〃I　will；　Aunt　May；〃　he　said。　〃Soon。〃
　
　Rosa　was　waiting　in　his　office　when　he　got　back　to　the　studio。　〃When　Miss　Wilson　called　and　told　me　you'd　be　late；　I　thought　it　would　be　nice　if　I　came　down　and　we　had　dinner　out。〃
　〃Good；〃　he　said；　kissing　her　cheek。
　〃Well？〃
　He　sat　down　heavily　behind　his　desk。　〃Aunt　May　gave　me　her　proxies。〃
　〃That　means　you've　got　nineteen　per　cent　to　vote。〃
　He　looked　at　her。　〃It　won't　do　much　good　if　Jonas　doesn't　back　me　up。　Irving　told　me　he'd　have　to　sell　the　stock　to　Sheffield　if　Cord　wouldn't　pick　it　up。〃
　She　got　to　her　feet。　〃Well；　you've　done　all　you　could；〃　she　said　in　a　practical　voice。　〃Now　let's　go　to　dinner。〃
　His　secretary　came　in　just　as　David　got　to　his　feet。　〃There's　a　cablegram　from　London；　Mr。　Woolf。〃
　He　took　the　envelope　and　opened　it。
　
　SET　PRODUCTION　DATE　SINNER　MARCH　1。　
　 CORD。
　
　Just　as　he　was　about　to　hand　it　to　Rosa；　the　door　opened　and　his　secretary　came　in　again。　〃Another　cablegram；　Mr。　Woolf。〃
　Quickly　he　ripped　it　open。　His　eyes　skimmed　through　it　and　he　felt　a　sudden　relief　surge　through　him。
　
　MCALLISTER　READY　WHATEVER　CASH　NEEDED　SPIKE　SHEFFIELD。　GIVE　IT　TO　HIM　GOOD。
　
　Like　the　first　cablegram；　it　was　signed　CORD。　He　passed　them　both　to　Rosa。　She　read　them　and　looked　up　at　him　with　shining　eyes。　〃We　did　it！〃　he　said　excitedly。　He　had　started　to　pick　her　up　in　his　arms　when　the　door　opened　again。
　〃Yes；　Miss　Wilson？〃　he　said　in　an　annoyed　voice。
　The　girl　stood　hesitantly　in　the　doorway。　〃I'm　sorry　to　disturb　you；　Mr。　Woolf；〃　she　said；　〃but　another　cablegram　just　arrived。〃
　〃Well；　don't　stand　there。　Give　it　to　me。〃　He　looked　at　Rosa。　〃This　one　is　for　both　of　us；〃　he　said；　handing　it　to　her。　〃You　open　it。〃
　She　looked　down　at　the　envelope；　then　back　at　David。　A　smile　came　over　her　face。
　He　looked　down　at　the　cable　in　her　hand。
　
　MAZEL　TOV！　HOPE　IT　WILL　BE　TWINS！
　
　This　one　was　signed　JONAS。
　
　
　JONAS　…　1940
　…
　Book　Seven
　
　
　1
　
　〃THIS　IS　DAMN　STUPID！〃　FORRESTER　MUTTERED　as　he　lifted　the　CAB…200　into　the　air　behind　the　formation　of　Spitfires。
　〃What's　stupid？〃　I　asked；　looking　down　behind　me　from　the　copilot's　seat；　to　see　London　dropping　back　into　the　early…morning　haze。　There　were　several　fires　still　burning　from　last　night's　raid。　〃They　didn't　buy　our　plane　but　they'll　buy　all　the　B…17's　we　can　turn　out。　What　the　hell；　we　both　know　they　have　to　standardize。〃
　〃I'm　not　talking　about　that；〃　Roger　grumbled。
　〃Engines　one　and　two；　check；〃　Morrissey　called　from　behind　us。　〃Engines　three　and　four；　check。　You　can　cut　the　fuel　now。〃
　〃Check。〃　Roger　turned　down　the　mixture。　〃That's　what　I'm　talking　about；〃　he　said；　motioning　toward　Morrissey；　who　was　acting　as　flight　engineer。　〃It's　stupid　…　all　of　us　on　the　same　plane。　What　if　it　went　down？　Who'd　be　left　to　run　the　pany？〃
　I　grinned　at　him。　〃You　worry　too　much。〃　
　He　returned　my　smile　without　humor。　〃That's　what　you　pay　me　for。　The　president　of　the　pany　has　to　worry。　Especially　the　way　we're　growing。　We　grossed　over　thirty…five　million　last　year；　this　year　we'll　go　over　a　hundred　million　with　war　orders。　We'll　have　to　start　bringing　up　personnel　who　can　take　over　in　case　something　happens　to　us。〃
　I　reached　for　a　cigarette。　〃What's　going　to　happen　to　us？〃　I　asked；　lighting　it。　I　looked　at　him　through　the　cloud　of　smoke。　〃Unless　you　got　a　little　jealous　of　the　R。A。F。　back　there　and　are　thinking　about　going　back　into　the　service。〃
　He　reached　out　and　took　the　cigarette　from　my　mouth　and　put　it　between　his　lips。　〃You　know　better　than　that；　Jonas。　I　couldn't　keep　up　with　those　kids。　They'd　fly　rings　around　me。　If　I　have　to　be　an　armchair　pilot；　I'd　rather　do　it　here；　where　at　least　I'm　on　your　general　staff。〃
　There　was　something　in　what　he　said。　The　war　was　pushing　us　into　an　expansion　that　neither　of　us　had　ever　dreamed　of。　And　we　weren't　even　in　it　yet。　
　〃We'll　have　to　get　someone　to　run　the　Canadian　plant。〃　
　I　nodded　silently。　He'd　been　right　…　it　was　a　hell　of　a　wise　move。　We'd　fabricate　the　parts　in　our　plants　in　the　States　and　ship　them　to　Canada；　where　they'd　go　on　the　production　line。　As　they　rolled　off；　the　R。C。A。F。　would　fly　them　to　England。　If　it　worked