hr.thecarpetbaggers-第136节

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Morrissey　said。　〃How　is　he？〃
　〃Seemed　all　right　to　me；〃　I　said。　〃He　was　on　his　way　back　to　New　York。〃　I　looked　out　the　window　at　the　flat　Nevada　desert。　〃By　the　way；　did　you　ever　hear　exactly　what　it　was　he　was　working　on？〃
　〃Not　exactly。〃
　I　looked　at　him。　〃What　was　it　you　did　hear？〃
　〃I　didn't　hear　it　from　him；〃　Morrissey　said。　〃I　got　it　from　a　friend　of　mine　down　at　the　Engineers'　Club；　who　worked　on　it　for　a　little　while。　But　he　didn't　know　very　much　about　it；　either。　All　he　knew　was　that　it　was　called　the　Manhattan　Project　and　that　it　had　something　to　do　with　Professor　Einstein。〃
　I　could　feel　my　brows　knit　in　puzzlement。　〃What　could　Strassmer　do　for　a　man　like　Einstein？〃
　He　smiled　again。　〃After　all；　Strassmer　did　invent　a　plastic　beer　can　that　was　stronger　than　metal。〃
　〃So？〃　I　asked。
　〃So　maybe　the　Professor　got　Otto　to　invent　a　plastic　container　to　store　his　atoms　in；〃　Morrissey　said；　laughing。
　I　felt　a　wild　excitement　racing　inside　me。　A　container　for　atoms；　energy　in　a　bottle；　ready　to　explode　when　you　popped　the　cork。　The　little　man　hadn't　been　crazy。　He　knew　what　he　was　talking　about。　I'd　been　the　crazy　one。
　It　would　take　a　miracle；　I'd　thought。　Well；　Strassmer　and　his　friends　had　e　into　the　desert　and　made　one　and　now　they　were　going　home；　their　job　done。　What　it　was　or　how　they　did　it　I　couldn't　guess　and　didn't　care。
　But　deep　inside　me；　I　was　sure　that　it　had　happened。
　The　miracle　that　would　end　the　war。
　
　2
　
　I　GOT　OFF　THE　TRAIN　AT　RENO；　WHILE　MORRISSEY　WENT　ON　TO　LOS　ANGELES。　There　was　no　time　to　call　Robair　at　the　ranch；　so　I　took　a　taxi　to　the　factory。　We　barreled　through　the　steel…wire　gate；　under　the　big　sign　that　read　CORD　EXPLOSIVES；　now　more　than　a　mile　from　the　main　plant。
　The　factory　had　expanded　tremendously　since　the　war。　For　that　matter；　so　had　all　our　panies。　It　seemed　that　no　matter　what　we　did；　there　never　was　enough　space。
　I　got　out　and　paid　the　cabby　and　as　he　pulled　away；　I　looked　up　at　the　familiar　old　building。　It　was　worn　now；　and　looked　dingy　and　obsolete　pared　with　the　new　additions；　but　its　roof　was　gleaming　white　and　shining　in　the　sun。　Somehow；　I　could　never　bring　myself　to　move　out　of　it　when　the　other　executives　had　moved　their　offices　into　the　new　administration　building。　I　dropped　my　cigarette　on　the　walk　and　ground　it　into　dust　beneath　my　heel；　then　went　into　the　building。
　The　smell　was　the　same　as　it　always　was　and　the　whispers　that　rose　from　the　lips　of　the　men　and　women　working　there　were　the　same　as　I　always　heard　when　I　passed　by　〃El　hijo。〃　The　son。　It　had　been　twenty　years　and　most　of　them　hadn't　even　been　there　when　my　father　died　and　still　they　called　me　that。　Even　the　young　ones；　some　of　them　less　than　half　my　age。
　The　office　was　the　same；　too。　The　heavy；　oversized　desk　and　leather…covered　furniture　now　showed　the　cracks　and　wear　of　time。　There　was　no　secretary　in　the　outer　office　and　I　was　not　surprised。　There　was　no　reason　for　one　to　be　there。　They　hadn't　expected　me。
　I　walked　around　behind　the　desk　and　pressed　the　switch　down　on　the　squawk　box　that　put　me　right　through　to　McAllister's　office　in　the　new　building；　a　quarter　of　a　mile　away。　The　surprise　echoed　in　his　voice　as　it　came　through　the　box。　〃Jonas！　Where　did　you　e　from？〃
　〃The　Air　Corps；〃　I　said。　〃We　just　delivered　the　CA…JET　X。P。〃
　〃Good。　Did　they　like　it？〃
　〃I　guess　they　did；〃　I　answered。　〃They　wouldn't　trust　me　to　take　it　up。〃　I　leaned　over　and　opened　the　door　of　the　cabinet　below　the　telephone　table；　taking　out　the　bottle　of　bourbon　that　was　there。　I　put　the　bottle　on　the　desk　in　front　of　me。　〃How　do　we　stand　on　war…contract　cancellations　in　case　the　war　ends　tomorrow？〃
　〃For　the　explosive　pany？〃　Mac　asked。
　〃For　all　the　panies；〃　I　said。　I　knew　he　kept　copies　of　every　contract　we　ever　made　down　here　because　he　considered　this　his　home　office。
　〃It'll　take　a　little　time。　I'll　put　someone　on　it　right　away。〃
　〃Like　about　an　hour？〃
　He　hesitated。　When　he　spoke；　a　curious　note　came　into　his　voice。　〃All　right；　if　it's　that　important。〃
　〃It's　that　important。〃
　〃Do　you　know　something？〃
　〃No；〃　I　said　truthfully。　I　really　didn't　know。　I　was　only　guessing。　〃I　just　want　it。〃
　There　was　silence　for　a　moment；　then　he　spoke　again。　〃I　just　got　the　blueprints　from　Engineering　on　converting　the　radar　and　small…parts　division　of　Aircraft　to　the　proposed　electronics　pany。　Shall　I　bring　them　over？〃
　〃Do　that；〃　I　said；　flipping　up　the　switch。　Taking　a　glass　from　the　tray　next　to　the　Thermos　jug；　I　filled　it　half　full　with　bourbon。　I　looked　across　the　room　to　the　wall　where　the　portrait　of　my　father　looked　down　on　me。　I　held　the　glass　up　to　him。
　〃It's　been　a　long　time；　Pop；〃　I　said　and　poured　the　whisky　down　my　throat
　
　I　took　my　hands　from　the　blueprints　on　the　desk　and　snapped　and　rolled　them　up　tight；　like　a　coil　spring。　I　looked　at　McAllister。　〃They　look　all　right　to　me；　Mac。〃
　He　nodded。　〃I'll　mark　them　approved　and　shoot　them　on　to　Purchasing　to　have　them　requisition　the　materials　on　standby　orders；　to　be　delivered　when　the　war　ends。〃　He　looked　at　the　bottle　of　bourbon　on　the　desk。　〃You're　not　very　hospitable。　How　about　a　drink？〃
　I　looked　at　him　in　surprise。　Mac　wasn't　much　for　drinking。　Especially　during　working　hours。　I　pushed　the　bottle　and　a　glass　toward　him。　〃Help　yourself。〃
　He　poured　a　small　shot　and　swallowed　it　neat。　He　cleared　his　throat。　I　looked　at　him。　〃There's　one　other　postwar　plan　I　wanted　to　talk　to　you　about；〃　he　said　awkwardly。
　〃Go　ahead。〃
　〃Myself；〃　he　said　hesitantly。　〃I'm　not　a　young　man　any　more。　I　want　to　retire。〃
　〃Retire？〃　I　couldn't　believe　my　ears。　〃What　for？　What　in　hell　would　you　do？〃
　Mac　flushed　embarrassedly。　〃I've　worked　pretty　hard　all　my　life；〃　he　said。　〃I've　got　two　sons　and　a　daughter　and　five　grandchildren；　three　of　whom　I've　never　seen。　The　wife　and　I　would　like　to　spend　a　little　time　with　them；　get　to　know　them　before　it's　too　late。〃
　I　laughed。　〃You　sound　like　you　expect　to　kick　off　any　minute。　You're　a　young　man　yet。〃
　〃I'm　sixty…three。　I've　been　with　you　twenty　years。〃
　I　stared　at　him。　Twenty　years。　Where　had　they　gone？　The　Army　doctors　had　been　right。　I　wasn't　a　kid　any　more；　either。　〃We'll　miss　you　around　here；〃　I　said　sincerely。　〃I　don't　know　how　we'll　manage　without　you。〃　I　meant　it；　too。　Mac　was　the　one　man　I　felt　I　could　always　depend　on；　whenever　I　had　need　for　him。
　〃You'll　manage　all　right。　We've　got　over　forty　attorneys　working　for　us　now　and　each　is　a　specialist　in　his　own　field。　You're　not　just　one　man　any　more；　you're　a　big　pany。　You　have　to　have　a　big　legal　machine　to　take　care　of　you。〃
　〃So　what？〃　I　said。　〃You　can't　call　up　a　machine　in　the　middle　of　the　night　when　you're　in　trouble。〃
　〃This　machine　you　can。　It's　equipped　for　all　emergencies。〃
　〃But　what　will　you　do？　You　can't　tell　me　you'll　be　happy　just　lying　around　playing　grandpa。　You'll　have　to　have　something　to　occupy　your　mind。〃
　〃I've　thought　about　that；〃　he　said；　a　serious　look　ing　over　his　face。　〃I've　been　playing　around　so　long　with　corporate　and　tax　laws　that　I've　almost　forgotten　about　the　most　important　part　of　all。　The　laws　that　have　to　do　with　human　beings。〃　He　reached　for　the　bottle　again　and　poured　himself　another　small　drink。　It　wasn't　easy　for　him　to　sit　there　and　tell　me　what　he　was　thinking。
　〃I　thought　I'd　hang　my　shingle　outside　my　house　in　some　small　town。　Just　putter　around　with　whatever　happened　to　e　in　the　door。　I'm　tired　of　always　talking　in　terms　of　millions　of　dollars。　For　once；　I'd　like　to　help　some　poor　bastard　who　really　needs　it。〃
　I　stared　at　him。　Work　with　a　man　for　twenty　years　and　still　you　don't　know　him。　This　was　a　side　to　McAllister　that　I'd　never　even　suspected　existed。
　〃Of　course；　we'll　abrogate　all　of　the　contracts　and　agreements　between　us；〃　he　said。
　I　looked　at　him。　I　knew　he　didn't　need　the　money。　But　then；　neither　did　I。　〃Why　in　hell　should　we？　Just　show　up　at　the　board　of　directors'　meeting　every　few　months　so　at　least　I　can　see　you　once　in　a　while。〃
　〃Then　you…　you　agree？〃
　I　nodded。　〃Sure；　let's　give　it　a　spin　when　the　war　is　over。〃
　
　The　sheets　of　white　paper　grew　into　a　stack　as　he　skimmed　through　the　summary　of　each　of　the　contracts。　At　last；　Mac　was　finished　and　he　looked　up　at　me。　〃We　have　ample　protective…cancellation　clauses　in　all　the　contracts　except　one；〃　he　said。　〃That　one　is　based　on　delivery　before　the　end　of　the　war。〃
　〃Which　one　is　that？〃
　〃That　flying　boat　we're　building　for　the　Navy　in　San　Diego。〃
　I　knew　what　he　was　talking　about。　The　Centurion。　It　was　to　be　the　biggest　airplane　ever　built；　designed　to　carry　a　full　pany　of　one　hundred　and　fifty　men；　in　addition　to　the　twelve…man　crew；　two　light　amphibious　tanks　and　enough　mortar；　light　artillery；　weapons；　ammunition　and　supplies　for　an　entire　pany。　It　had　been　my　idea　that　a　plane　like　that　would　prove　useful　in　landing　raiding　parties　behind　the　lines　out　in　the　small　Pacific　islands。
　〃How　e　we　made　a　contract　like　that？〃
　〃You　wanted　it；〃　he　said。　〃Remember？〃
　I　remembered。　The　Navy　had　been　skeptical　that　the　big　plane　could　even　get　into　the　air；　so　I'd　pressured　them　into　making　a　deal　predicated　on　a　fully　tested　plane　before　the　war　ended。　That　was　ove