hr.thecarpetbaggers-第105节

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　go　on　the　production　line。　As　they　rolled　off；　the　R。C。A。F。　would　fly　them　to　England。　If　it　worked；　we　could　knock　about　three　weeks　off　the　production　time　for　each　plane。
　The　idea　also　had　some　fiscal　advantages。　The　British　and　Canadian　governments　were　willing　to　finance　the　building　of　the　plant　and　we'd　save　two　ways。　The　factory　would　cost　less　because　we　would　have　no　interest　charges　and　the　tax　on　net　ine　could　be　taken　in　Canada；　where　the　depreciation　allowance　was　four　times　that　allowed　by　Uncle　Sam。　And　His　Majesty's　boys　were　happy；　too；　because　living　in　the　sterling　bloc；　they'd　have　fewer　American　dollars　to　pay　out。
　〃O。K。；　I　agree。　But　none　of　the　boys　working　for　us　has　the　experience　to　take　on　a　big　job　like　that　except　Morrissey。　And　we　can't　spare　him。　You　got　anybody　in　mind？〃
　〃Sure；〃　he　said；　shooting　a　curious　look　at　me。　〃But　you　aren't　going　to　like　it。〃
　I　stared　at　him。　〃Try　me　and　see。〃
　〃Amos　Winthrop。〃
　〃No！〃
　〃He's　the　only　man　around　who　can　handle　it；〃　he　said。　〃And　he　won't　be　available　for　long。　The　way　things　are　going；　somebody's　going　to　snap　him　up。〃
　〃Let　them！　He's　a　prick　and　a　lush。　Besides；　he's　bombed　out　on　everything　he　ever　did。〃
　〃He　knows　aircraft　production；〃　Forrester　said　stubbornly。　He　glanced　at　me　again。　〃I　heard　what　happened　between　you　two　but　that's　got　nothing　to　do　with　this。〃
　I　didn't　answer。　Up　ahead　of　us；　I　saw　the　Spitfire　formation　leader　waggle　his　wings。　It　was　the　signal　to　break　radio　silence。　Forrester　leaned　forward　and　flipped　the　switch。　〃Yes；　Captain？〃
　〃This　is　where　we　leave　you；　old　boy。〃
　I　looked　down。　The　gray　waters　of　the　Atlantic　stared　back　at　me。　We　were　a　hundred　miles　off　the　coast　of　the　British　Isles。
　〃O。K。；　Captain；〃　Forrester　said。　〃Thank　you。〃
　〃Safe　home；　chaps。　And　don't　forget　to　send　us　the　big　ones。　We'll　be　needing　them　next　summer　to　pay　Jerry　back　a　little。〃
　Forrester　laughed　in　his　mike。　The　British　had　just　taken　the　shellacking　of　their　lives　and　here　they　were　worried　about　getting　their　licks　in。　〃You'll　have　them；　Captain。〃
　〃Righto。　Radio　out。〃
　He　waggled　the　wings　of　his　Spitfire　again　and　the　formation　peeled　away　in　a　wide；　sweeping　circle　back　toward　their　coast。　Then　there　was　silence　and　we　were　alone　over　the　Atlantic　on　our　way　home。
　I　pulled　out　of　my　safety　belt　and　stood　up。　〃If　it's　O。K。　with　you；　I'm　going　back　and　grab　a　little　snooze。〃
　Roger　nodded。　I　opened　the　partment　door。　〃You　just　think　about　what　I　said；〃　he　called　after　me。
　〃If　you're　talking　about　Amos　Winthrop；　forget　it。〃
　Morrissey　was　sitting　dejectedly　in　the　engineer's　bucket　seat。　He　looked　up　when　I　came　in。　〃I　don't　understand　it；〃　he　said　sadly。
　I　sat　down　on　the　edge　of　the　bunk。　〃It's　easy　enough　to　figure　out。　The　B…17　flies　with　a　five…man　crew　against　our　nine。　That　means　they　can　put　almost　twice　as　many　planes　in　the　air。　Round　trip　to　Germany　at　the　most　is　two　thousand　miles；　so　they　don't　need　a　five…thousand…mile　range。　Besides；　the　operational　costs　are　just　a　little　more　than　half　ours。〃
　〃But　this　plane　can　go　ten　thousand　feet　higher　and　two　hundred　miles　an　hour　faster；〃　Morrissey　said。　〃And　it　carries　almost　twice　the　pay　load　of　bombs。〃
　〃The　trouble　with　you；　Morrissey；　is　you're　ahead　of　the　times。　They're　not　ready　for　planes　like　this　one　yet。〃
　I　saw　the　stricken　look　e　over　his　face。　For　a　moment；　I　felt　sorry　for　him。　And　what　I'd　said　was　true。　For　my　money；　he　was　the　greatest　aircraft　engineer　in　the　world。　〃Forget　it。　Don't　worry；　they'll　catch　up　to　you　yet。　Some…day；　they'll　be　flying　planes　like　this　by　the　thousands。〃
　〃Not　in　this　war；〃　he　said　resignedly。　He　picked　up　a　Thermos　from　a　cardboard　carton。　〃I　think　I'll　take　some　coffee　up　to　Roger。〃
　He　went　forward　into　the　pilot's　partment　and　I　stretched　out　on　the　bunk。　The　drone　of　the　four　big　engines　buzzed　in　my　ears。　I　closed　my　eyes。　Three　weeks　in　England　and　I　don't　think　I　had　a　good　night's　rest　the　whole　time。　Between　the　bombs　and　the　girls。　The　bombs　and　the　girls。　The　bombs。　The　girls。　I　slept。
　
　The　shrill　shriek　of　the　falling　bomb　rose　to　its　orgiastic　climax　as　it　fell　nearby。　All　conversation　at　the　dinner　table　hung　suspended　for　a　moment。
　〃I'm　worried　about　my　daughter；　Mr。　Cord；〃　the　slim；　gray…haired　woman　on　my　right　said。
　I　looked　at　her；　then　glanced　at　Morrissey；　seated　opposite　me。　His　face　was　while　and　strained。　I　turned　back　to　the　woman。　The　bomb　had　landed　practically　next　door　and　she　was　worried　about　her　daughter；　safe　in　America。　Maybe　she　should　be。　She　was　Monica's　mother。
　〃I　haven't　seen　Monica　since　she　was　nine　years　old；〃　Mrs。　Holme　continued　nervously。　〃That　was　almost　twenty　years　ago。　I　think　of　her　often。〃
　You　didn't　think　of　her　often　enough；　I　thought　to　myself。　I　used　to　think　it　was　different　with　mothers。　But　they　were　no　different　than　fathers。　They　thought　of　themselves　first。　At　least　that　was　one　thing　I'd　had　in　mon　with　Monica。　Our　parents　never　gave　a　damn　about　us。　My　mother　died　and　hers　had　run　away　with　another　man。
　She　looked　up　at　me　from　the　deep　violet　eyes　under　the　long　black　lashes　and　I　could　see　the　beauty　she'd　passed　on　to　her　daughter。　〃Do　you　think　you　might　see　her　when　you　return　to　the　States；　Mr。　Cord？〃
　〃I　doubt　it；　Mrs。　Holme；〃　I　said。　〃Monica　lives　in　New　York　now。　I　live　in　Nevada。〃
　She　was　silent　for　a　moment；　then　again　came　the　piercing　look　from　her　eyes。　〃You　don't　like　me　very　much；　do　you；　Mr。　Cord？〃
　〃I　hadn't　really　thought　about　it；　Mrs。　Holme；〃　I　said　quickly。　〃I'm　sorry　if　I　give　that　impression。〃
　She　smiled。　〃It　wasn't　anything　you　said。　It　was　just　that　I　could　sense　a　shrinking　in　you　when　I　told　you　who　I　was。〃　She　played　nervously　with　her　spoon。　〃I　expect　Amos　told　you　all　about　me　…　about　how　I　ran　off　with　someone　else；　leaving　him　with　a　child　to　raise　alone？〃
　〃Winthrop　and　I　were　never　that　close。　We　never　discussed　you。〃
　〃You　must　believe　me；　Mr。　Cord；〃　she　whispered；　a　sudden　intensity　in　her　voice。　〃I　didn't　abandon　my　daughter。　I　want　her　to　know　that；　to　understand　it。〃
　Nothing　ever　changed。　It　was　still　more　important　for　parents　to　be　understood　than　to　understand。
　〃Amos　Winthrop　was　a　woman…chaser　and　a　cheat；〃　she　said　quietly；　without　bitterness。　〃The　ten　years　of　our　marriage　were　a　hell。　On　our　honeymoon；　I　discovered　him　with　other　women。　And　finally；　when　I　fell　in　love　with　a　decent；　honest　man；　he　blackmailed　me　into　giving　up　my　daughter　under　the　threat　of　exposure　and　the　ruination　of　that　man's　career　in　His　Majesty's　service。〃
　I　looked　at　her。　That　made　sense。　Amos　was　a　cute　one　with　tricks　like　that。　I　knew。　〃Did　you　ever　write　Monica　and　tell　her　that？〃
　〃How　does　one　write　something　like　that　to　one's　own　daughter？〃
　I　didn't　answer。
　〃About　ten　years　ago；　I　heard　from　Amos　that　he　was　sending　her　over　to　stay　with　me。　I　thought　then　that　when　she　got　to　know　me；　I'd　explain　and　she'd　understand。〃　She　nodded　slightly。　〃I　read　in　the　papers　of　your　marriage　and　she　never　came。〃
　The　butler　came　and　took　away　the　empty　plates。　Another　servant　placed　demitasse　cups　before　us。　When　he　went　away；　I　spoke。　〃Just　what　is　it　you　would　like　me　to　do；　Mrs。　Holme？〃
　Her　eyes　studied　my　face　for　a　moment。　I　saw　the　slight　hint　of　moisture　in　them。　Her　voice　was　steady；　though。　〃If　you　should　happen　to　speak　with　her；　Mr。　Cord；〃　she　said；　〃let　her　know　that　I　asked　for　her；　that　I　think　of　her　and　that　I'd　appreciate　hearing　from　her。〃
　I　nodded　slowly。　〃I'll　do　that；　Mrs。　Holme。〃
　The　butler　began　to　pour　coffee　as　the　dull　thud　of　bombs　rolled　into　the　heavily　draped　room　like　a　muffled　sound　of　thunder　in　peacetime　London。
　
　The　roar　of　the　four　big　motors　came　back　into　my　ears　as　I　opened　my　eyes。　Morrissey　was　in　the　bucket　seat；　his　head　tilted　unfortably　to　one　side　as　he　dozed。　He　opened　his　eyes　as　I　sat　up。　〃How　long　was　I　sleeping？〃　I　asked。
　〃About　four　hours。〃
　〃I　better　give　Roger　some　relief；〃　I　said；　getting　to　my　feet。
　Forrester　looked　up　as　I　came　into　the　partment。　〃You　must　have　been　tired。　For　a　while；　you　were　snoring　so　loud　back　there　I　was　beginning　to　think　we　had　five　motors　instead　of　four。〃
　I　sank　into　the　copilot's　seat。　〃I　thought　I'd　give　you　a　little　relief。　Where　are　we？〃
　〃About　here；〃　he　said；　his　finger　pointing　to　the　map　on　the　holder　between　us。　I　looked　down。　We　were　about　a　thousand　miles　out　over　the　ocean。
　〃We're　slow。〃
　He　nodded。　〃We　ran　into　heavy　head　winds。〃
　I　reached　for　the　wheel　and　pulled　it　back　to　me　until　it　locked　in。　〃O。K。；〃　I　said。　〃I　got　her。〃
　He　released　his　wheel；　got　to　his　feet　and　stretched。　〃I　think　I'll　try　to　get　a　nap。〃
　〃Fine；〃　I　said；　looking　out　through　the　windshield。　It　was　beginning　to　rain。
　〃Sure　you　can　keep　your　eyes　open　for　a　few　hours？〃
　〃I'll　manage。〃
　He　laughed。　〃Either　you're　a　better　man　than　I　am；　Gunga　Din；　or　I'm　getting　old。　For　a　while；　back　there；　I　thought　you　were　going　to　fuck　every　woman　in　England。〃
　I　looked　up　at　him；　grinning。　〃With　the　way　those　bombs　were　ing　down；　I　thought　I　better　make　the　most　of　it。〃
　He　laughed　again　and　left　the　partment。　I　turned　back　to　the　controls。