hr.thecarpetbaggers-第19节

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　He　didn't　answer。
　〃Young　men　are　all　alike；〃　she　continued。　〃They　only　want　one　thing　from　me。〃　Her　lips　drew　back　across　her　white　teeth　and　she　spat　the　words　out　at　him。　〃To　fuck！　To　do　nothing　but　fuck；　fuck；　fuck！〃
　He　stared　at　her；　a　kind　of　shock　running　through　him　at　hearing　her　clear　and　venomously　ladylike　articulation　of　the　so　familiar　word。　Then　it　was　gone　and　he　smiled。
　〃What　do　you　expect；　Rina？〃　he　asked。　〃Why　are　you　tellin'　me　all　this？〃
　Her　eyes　looked　into　his　face。　〃Because　I　want　you　to　know　me；〃　she　said。　〃I　want　you　to　understand　what　I'm　like。　No　man　ever　has。〃
　The　cigarette　scorched　his　lips。　He　put　it　out　quickly。　〃Why　me？〃
　〃Because　you're　not　a　boy。〃　The　answer　came　quickly。　〃You're　a　grown　man。〃　
　〃An'　you；　Rina？〃　he　asked。
　Her　eyes　became　almost　defiant　but　her　voice　betrayed　her　unsureness。　〃I　think　I'm　a　Lesbian。〃　
　He　laughed。
　〃Don't　laugh！〃　she　said　quickly。　〃It's　not　so　crazy。　I've　been　with　girls　and　I've　been　with　men。　And　I've　never　made　it　with　a　man；　not　with　any　man　like　I　have　with　a　girl。〃　She　laughed　bitterly。　〃Men　are　such　fools。　It's　so　easy　to　make　them　believe　what　they　want　to。　And　I　know　all　the　tricks。〃
　His　male　vanity　was　aroused。　〃Maybe　that's　because　you　ain't　never　e　up　against　a　real　man。〃
　A　challenging　note　came　into　her　voice。　〃Oh；　no？〃　He　felt　her　fingers　lightly　search　his　thighs　beneath　the　blanket　and　find　his　phallus。　Quickly　she　threw　the　blanket　aside　and　pressed　her　head　into　his　lap。　He　felt　the　movement　of　her　lips；　and　suddenly　he　was　angry。
　He　pulled　her　head　back　by　the　hair。　〃What're　you　tryin'　to　prove？〃　he　asked　harshly。
　Her　breath　came　hard　and　uneven。　〃That　you're　the　man；〃　she　whispered。　〃The　one　man　that　can　make　me　feel。〃　
　He　stared　at　her；　not　answering。
　〃You　are　the　one；　Nevada；〃　she　whispered。　〃I　know　it。　I　can　feel　it　down　inside　me。　You　can　make　me　whole　again。　I'll　never　be　afraid　any　more。〃
　She　turned　her　head　again　but　his　hand　held　her　firm。　Her　eyes　were　wide　and　desperate。　〃Please；　Nevada；　please。　Let　me　prove　how　I　can　love　you！〃　She　began　to　cry　again。
　Suddenly；　he　got　to　his　feet　and　went　over　to　the　fireplace。　He　stirred　the　coals　alive；　fed　them　kindling　and　another　log。　A　moment　later；　a　crackling　heat　came　sparkling　into　the　room。　He　turned　to　look　at　her。　She　was　still　sitting　on　the　floor　in　front　of　the　couch；　watching　him。
　Slowly　he　walked　back　toward　her。　〃When　I　asked　you　up　here；　Rina；　I　thought　I　was　doin'　the　right　thing。〃　He　sat　down　and　reached　for　a　cigarette。
　Before　he　could　light　it；　she　held　a　match　for　him。　〃Yes；　Nevada？〃　she　questioned　softly。
　The　flame　glowed　in　his　eyes　and　died　as　the　match　went　out。　〃I　ain't　the　man　you're　lookin'　for；　Rina。〃
　Her　fingers　touched　lightly　on　his　cheek。　〃No；　Nevada；〃　she　said　quickly。　〃That's　not　true。〃
　〃Mebbe　not；〃　he　said　and　a　slow　smile　came　over　his　lips。　〃But　I　figger　I'm　too　young。　You　see；　all　I　want　to　do　with　you　is　…　fuck；　fuck；　fuck！〃
　She　stared　at　him　for　a　moment　and　then　she　began　to　smile。　She　got　up　quickly　and　took　the　cigarette　from　his　mouth。　Her　lips　brushed　fleetingly　against　his　for　a　moment；　then　she　walked　to　the　fire　and　turned　to　face　him。　She　put　the　cigarette　between　her　lips　and　inhaled　deeply。
　Then　she　made　a　slight　movement　and　the　robe　fell　to　the　floor。　The　leaping　fire　turned　her　naked　body　into　red　gold。　Swiftly　she　threw　the　cigarette　into　the　fireplace　behind　her　and　started　back　toward　him。
　〃Maybe　it's　better　this　way；〃　she　said；　ing　down　into　his　outstretched　arms。　〃Now　we　can　be　friends。〃
　
　8
　
　〃THE　SHOW'S　IN　TROUBLE；〃　THE　CASHIER　SAID。
　Nevada　glanced　at　Rina。　She　was　looking　out　the　window　of　the　ticket　wagon；　watching　the　last　act　of　the　Wild…West　show　going　on　in　the　arena。　The　faint　sounds　of　the　whooping　and　yelling　drifted　back　to　them　on　the　still；　warm　air。
　〃How　much　trouble？〃　Nevada　asked；　his　eyes　ing　back　from　her。
　〃Enough；〃　the　cashier　said　flatly。　〃We're　booked　in　a　week　behind　Buffalo　Bill　Cody's　show　for　the　whole　summer。　If　these　two　weeks　are　any　indication；　we'll　drop　forty　thousand　this　season。〃
　A　bugle　sounding　a　charge　hung　in　the　air。　Nevada　shifted　in　his　unfortable　wooden　chair　and　began　to　roll　a　cigarette。　The　performance　was　almost　over　now。　The　cavalry　was　ing　to　the　rescue　of　the　beleaguered　pioneers。　He　stuck　the　cigarette　in　his　mouth。
　〃How'd　you　let　a　stupid　thing　like　that　happen？〃　he　asked；　the　cigarette　dangling　unlit　from　his　lips。
　〃Wasn't　my　fault；　Nevada；〃　the　cashier　answered　quickly。　〃I　think　the　agent　sold　us　out。〃
　Nevada　didn't　answer。　He　lit　the　cigarette。
　〃What　you　going　to　do？〃　the　cashier　asked　worriedly。
　Nevada　filled　his　lungs　with　smoke。　〃Play　out　the　season。〃
　〃For　forty　grand？〃　The　cashier's　voice　was　shocked。　〃We　can't　afford　to　lose　that　much　money！〃
　Nevada　studied　him。　The　cashier's　face　was　flushed　and　embarrassed。　He　wondered　why　the　man　seemed　so　upset。　It　wasn't　his　money　that　was　going　to　be　lost。
　〃We　can't　afford　not　to；〃　Nevada　said。　〃We　fold　up；　we　lose　all　our　top　hands。　They　won't　sign　with　us　for　next　year　if　we　dump　'em　now。〃
　Nevada　got　to　his　feet；　walked　over　to　the　window　and　looked　out。　The　Indians　were　riding　out　of　the　arena　with　the　whooping　cavalry　hot　after　them。　He　turned　back　to　the　cashier。　〃I'm　takin'　Mrs。　Cord　down　to　the　railroad　station。　I'll　drop　in　at　the　agent's　office　after　that。　You　wait　for　me　here。　I'll　be　back。〃　
　〃O。K。；　Nevada；〃　the　cashier　answered。　
　Nevada　took　Rina's　arm　as　they　went　down　the　wagon　steps。　They　cut　across　the　field　to　his　car。　All　around　them　hustled　performers；　hurrying　their　horses　to　the　corral；　racing　to　their　wagons　to　change　clothes；　yelling　to　each　other　about　their　plans　for　the　evening。
　Rina　turned　to　him　as　they　reached　the　car。　〃Let　me　stay　with　you；　Nevada；　please。〃
　He　smiled　slowly。　〃I　thought　we　had　that　settled。〃　
　〃But；　Nevada；〃　Her　eyes　grew　serious。　〃There's　nothing　for　me　back　East。　Really。　Here；　at　least；　I　can　feel　alive；　excitement…　
　〃Stop　actin'　like　a　kid；〃　he　said。　〃You're　a　grown　woman　now。　This　ain't　no　life　for　you。　You'd　be　sick　of　it　in　a　week。〃
　〃I'll　buy　half　your　losses　this　season　if　you　let　me　stay；〃　she　said　quickly。
　He　looked　at　her　sharply。　He　thought　she　hadn't　even　heard　the　conversation　back　in　the　wagon；　she　had　seemed　so　engrossed　in　the　show。　〃You　can't　afford　it；〃　he　said。　
　〃And　you　can？〃　she　countered。
　〃Better'n　you；〃　he　said　quickly。　〃I　got　more'n　just　the　one　thing　goin'　for　me。〃
　She　stared　at　him　for　a　moment；　then　got　into　the　car。　She　didn't　speak　until　they　were　at　the　station　and　she　was　ready　to　board　the　train。　
　〃You'll　write　me；　Nevada？〃　she　asked。　
　〃I　ain't　much　for　writin'；〃　he　said。
　〃But　you'll　keep　in　touch？〃　she　persisted。　〃You'll　answer　if　I　write　you？〃　
　He　nodded。
　〃You'll　let　me　e　and　visit　you　sometimes？〃　she　asked。　〃If　I'm　lonely　and　frightened？〃　
　〃That's　what　friends're　for；〃　he　said。　
　A　hint　of　moisture　came　into　her　eyes。　〃You've　been　a　good　friend；　Nevada；〃　she　said　seriously。
　She　kissed　him　on　the　cheek　and　climbed　up　the　steps　of　the　Pullman　car。　At　the　door；　she　turned　and　waved　brightly；　then　disappeared　inside。　He　saw　her　face　appear　in　the　window　for　a　moment　as　the　train　began　to　move。　Then　she　was　gone　and　he　turned　and　walked　out　of　the　station。
　He　walked　up　a　rickety　flight　of　stairs　that　led　into　a　dust…ridden　corridor。　The　paint　on　the　door　was　scratched　and　worn；　the　lettering　simple　and　faded。
　DANIEL　PIERCE　…　BOOKING　AGENT
　The　office　lived　up　to　the　reputation　of　the　corridor　outside。　A　girl　looked　up　at　him　from　a　littered　desk。　Her　hair　bore　traces　of　its　last　henna　rinse；　the　gum　cracked　in　her　mouth　as　she　asked；　almost　hostilely；　〃What　d'ya　want？〃
　〃Dan　Pierce　in？〃　he　asked。
　She　studied　Nevada　for　a　moment；　her　eyes　taking　in　his　worn　leather　jacket；　the　faded　Levi's；　the　wide…brimmed　cowboy　hat。　〃If　you're　lookin'　for　a　job；〃　she　said；　〃there　ain't　any。〃
　〃I'm　not　lookin'　for　a　job；〃　he　said　quickly。　〃I'm　lookin'　for　Mr。　Pierce。〃
　〃You　got　an　appointment？〃
　Nevada　shook　his　head。　〃No。〃
　〃He　don't　see　nobody　without　an　appointment；〃　she　said　brusquely。
　〃I'm　from　the　Wild…West　show；〃　Nevada　said。　〃He'll　see　me。〃
　A　spark　of　interest　appeared　on　her　face。　〃The　Buffalo　Bill　show？〃
　Nevada　shook　his　head。　〃No。　The　Great　Southwest　Rodeo。〃
　〃Oh。〃　The　interest　vanished　from　her　face。　〃The　other　one。〃
　Nevada　nodded。　〃Yeah；　the　other　one。〃
　〃Well；　he　ain't　here；〃　she　said。
　〃Where　can　I　find　him？〃　he　asked。
　〃I　don't　know。　He　went　out　to　a　meeting。〃
　Nevada's　voice　was　insistent。　〃Where？〃
　Something　in　his　eyes　made　her　answer。　〃He　went　over　to　Norman　Pictures。　He's　on　the　back　lot　trying　to　sell　them　some　client　for　a　Western。〃
　〃How　do　I　get　there？〃
　〃It's　out　on　Lankershim　Boulevard；　past　Universal；　past　Warner's。〃
　〃Thanks；〃　he　said　and　walked　out。
　
　He　saw　the　big　billboard　in　front　of　Universal　as　soon　as　he　turned　onto　Lankershim。
　
　UNIVERSAL　PICTURES
　THE　HOME　OF　TOM　MIX　AND　TONY
　SEE
　RIDERS　OF　THE　PURPLE　SAGE
　A　UNIVERSAL　PICTURE
　
　A　few　minutes　later；　he　passed　another　sign　in　front　of　Warner　Bros。