hr.thecarpetbaggers-第20节

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　A　UNIVERSAL　PICTURE
　
　A　few　minutes　later；　he　passed　another　sign　in　front　of　Warner　Bros。
　
　WARNER　BROS。　PRESENT
　MILTON　SELLS
　IN
　THE　SEA　HAWK
　A　VITAGRAPH　PICTURE
　
　The　Norman　studio　was　about　five　miles　farther　down　the　road。　The　usual　billboard　was　out　in　front。
　
　BERNARD　B。　NORMAN　PRODUCTIONS
　PRESENT
　THE　SHERIFF　OF　PEACEFUL　VILLAGE
　WITH　AN　ALL…STAR　CAST
　He　turned　in　at　the　big　gate　where　a　gateman　stopped　him。
　〃Is　Dan　Pierce　here？〃　Nevada　asked。
　〃Just　a　moment。　I'll　see。〃　The　guard　went　back　into　his　booth　and　checked　a　sheet　of　paper。　〃You　must　be　the　man　he's　expecting；〃　he　said。　〃He's　on　the　back　lot。　Follow　the　road　there　right　out。　You　can't　miss　it。〃
　Nevada　thanked　him　and　put　the　car　into　gear。　He　drove　slowly；　for　the　road　was　filled　with　people。　Some　were　actors　in　varying　costumes　but　most　seemed　ordinary　working　men；　wearing　overalls　and　work　clothes。　He　rolled　past　some　very　large　buildings　and　after　a　few　minutes　was　out　in　the　clear。　Here　there　was　nothing　but　scrub　grass　and　hills。
　He　came　to　another　sign　as　he　reached　the　foot　of　the　first　hill。
　
　PEACEFUL　SET
　PARK　CARS　HERE
　
　He　followed　the　arrow。　Just　off　the　side　of　the　road　were　a　number　of　cars　and　trucks。　He　pulled　in　next　to　one　of　them　and　got　out。
　〃Dan　Pierce　up　there？〃　Nevada　asked　a　man　sitting　in　one　of　the　trucks。
　〃Is　he　with　the　Peaceful　crew？〃　the　driver　asked。
　〃I　reckon；〃　Nevada　said。
　〃They're　just　over　the　hill。〃
　At　the　crest　of　the　hill；　Nevada　paused　and　looked　down。　A　little　below　was　a　knot　of　people。
　〃Roll　'em；　they're　ing！〃　a　heavy　voice　shouted。
　Suddenly　a　stagecoach　came　roaring　along　the　dirt　road　below　him。　Just　as　it　took　the　curve；　Nevada　saw　the　driver　jump　off　and　roll　to　the　side　of　the　road。　A　moment　later；　the　horses　broke　free　of　their　traces　and　the　coach　tilted　off　the　side　of　the　road　and　went　tumbling　down　the　hill。
　The　dust　had　scarcely　subsided　when　a　voice　shouted；　〃Cut！　Cut！　God　damn　it；　Russell。　You　jumped　too　soon。　The　stage　didn't　go　over　the　hill　for　a　full　forty　frames　after　you！〃
　The　driver　got　up　from　the　side　of　the　road　and　walked　slowly　toward　the　group　of　men；　dusting　his　jeans　with　his　hat。
　Nevada　started　down　the　hill。　He　searched　the　crowd　for　Pierce；　but　didn't　see　him　anywhere。
　A　man　walked　past；　carrying　a　can　of　film。　〃Is　Dan　Pierce　around？〃　Nevada　asked。
　The　man　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃I　dunno。　Ask　him；〃　he　said；　pointing　at　a　young　man　wearing　knickers。
　〃Is　Dan　Pierce　around？〃
　The　young　man　looked　up。　〃He　had　to　go　up　to　the　front　office　for　a　phone　call。〃
　〃Thanks；〃　Nevada　said。　〃I'll　wait　for　him。〃　He　began　to　roll　a　cigarette。
　The　stentorian　voice　was　shouting　again。　〃Is　Pierce　back　with　that　goddam　stunt　man　yet？〃
　〃He　went　to　phone　him；〃　the　young　man　said。　A　startled　look　came　to　his　face　as　he　looked　at　Nevada　again。　〃Wait　a　minute；　sir；〃　he　yelled　and　started　toward　Nevada。　〃You　the　guy　Pierce　was　expecting？〃
　〃I　guess　so。〃
　〃e　with　me；〃　the　young　man　said。
　Nevada　followed　him　into　the　group　of　men　clustered　around　a　tall　man　next　to　the　camera。
　The　young　man　stopped　in　front　of　him。　〃This　is　the　man　Pierce　was　expecting；　sir。〃
　The　man　turned　and　looked　at　Nevada；　then　pointed　at　a　cliff　on　the　next　hill。　Below　the　cliff　flowed　a　wide　stream　of　water。　〃Could　you　jump　a　horse　off　that　cliff　into　the　water？〃
　Nevada　followed　the　pointing　finger。　It　was　about　a　sixty…foot　drop　and　the　horse　would　have　to　leap　out　at　least　fifteen　feet　to　land　in　the　water。
　〃We　have　the　stream　dug　twenty…five　feet　deep　right　there；〃　the　director　said。
　Nevada　nodded。　That　was　deep　enough。　〃I　reckon　it　can　be　done；〃　he　said。
　The　director　broke　into　a　smile。　〃Well；　I'll　be　goddamned！〃　he　roared。　〃We　finally　found　us　a　man　with　balls。〃　He　clapped　Nevada　on　the　back。　〃You　go　over　there　and　the　wrangler　will　give　you　the　horse。　We'll　be　ready　just　as　soon　as　we　get　this　shot　here。〃
　He　turned　back　to　the　cameraman。　Nevada　tapped　him　on　the　shoulder。　〃I　said　I　reckon　it　can　be　done；〃　he　said。　〃I　didn't　say　I'd　do　it。〃
　The　director　stared　at　him　curiously。　〃We're　paying　triple　the　stunt　rate；　isn't　ninety　dollars　enough　for　you？　O。K。；　I'll　make　it　a　hundred。〃
　Nevada　smiled。　〃You　got　me　wrong。　I　came　out　here　lookin'　for　Dan　Pierce。　I　ain't　no　stunt…rider。〃
　The　director's　mouth　twisted　contemptuously。　〃You　cowboys　are　all　alike。　All　talk　and　no　guts。〃
　Nevada　stared　at　him　for　a　minute。　He　felt　the　hard　knot　of　anger　tightening　inside　him。　He　was　tired　of　this；　of　the　runaround　he'd　been　getting　ever　since　Pierce's　office。　His　voice　went　cold。　〃It'll　cost　you　five　hundred　dollars　for　me　to　take　a　horse　off　that　cliff。〃
　The　director　stared　at　him；　then　broke　into　a　smile。　〃You　must've　heard　that　every　man　in　Hollywood　turned　that　jump　down。〃　
　Nevada　didn't　answer。
　〃O。K。　Five　hundred　it　is；〃　the　director　said　casually　and　turned　back　to　the　cameraman。
　Nevada　stood　near　the　horse's　head；　feeding　him　an　occasional　lump　of　sugar。　The　horse　nuzzled　his　hand。　He　patted　the　horse's　neck。　It　was　a　good　horse。　The　animal　responded　quickly　and　there　wasn't　a　frightened　bone　in　his　body。
　〃We're　about　ready；〃　the　director　said。　〃I've　got　cameras　covering　you　from　every　angle；　so　you　don't　have　to　worry　which　way　to　look。　You　go　when　I　give　the　signal。〃
　Nevada　nodded　and　mounted　the　horse。　The　director　stood　limned　against　the　edge　of　the　cliff；　his　hand　raised　in　the　air。　Suddenly；　his　hand　dropped　and　Nevada　dug　his　spurs　into　the　horse。　The　animal　leaped　forward　in　almost　a　full　gallop。　Nevada　gave　him　his　head　and　led　him　into　the　jump。
　Nevada　took　him　high　and　the　horse　started　down；　his　legs　stiff；　braced　for　a　short　fall。　Nevada　felt　the　great　beast's　heart　suddenly　pound　between　his　legs　as　his　hoofs　didn't　meet　the　expected　ground。
　The　animal　writhed　in　sudden　panic　as　it　began　to　tumble　forward。　Quickly　Nevada　kicked　free　of　the　stirrups　and　threw　himself　over　the　horse's　side。　He　saw　the　water　rushing　up　toward　him　and　hoped　he　had　jumped　far　enough　so　that　the　horse　didn't　land　on　top　of　him。
　He　hit　the　water　in　a　clean　dive　and　let　the　momentum　carry　him　deep。　He　felt　an　explosion　in　the　water　near　him。　That　would　be　the　horse。　His　lungs　were　burning　but　he　stayed　down　as　long　as　he　could。
　At　last；　he　had　to　e　up。　It　seemed　like　forever　till　he　broke　the　surface；　gasping。　He　turned　his　head　and　saw　the　horse　floating　on　its　side；　its　head　twisted　in　a　peculiar　manner。　There　was　a　look　of　great　agony　in　its　eyes。
　He　turned　and　swam　quickly　toward　the　bank。　Angrily　he　strode　toward　the　director。
　The　director　was　smiling。　〃That　was　great。　The　greatest　shot　ever　made！〃
　〃That　hoss's　back　is　probably　broke！〃　Nevada　said。　He　turned　and　looked　out　at　the　horse　again。　The　animal　was　struggling　to　keep　its　head　above　water。　〃Why　don't　somebody　shoot　the　poor　son　of　a　bitch？〃　Nevada　demanded。
　〃We　already　sent　for　the　wrangler　to　bring　a　rifle。　He's　back　on　the　other　hill。〃
　〃That　hoss'll　be　drowned　before　he　gets　here；〃　Nevada　snapped。　〃Hasn't　anybody　got　a　gun？〃
　〃Sure；　but　nobody　could　hit　him。　A　revolver's　no　good　at　that　distance。〃
　Nevada　stared　at　the　director。　〃Give　me　a　gun。〃
　Nevada　took　the　gun　and　hefted　it　in　his　hand。　He　spun　the　cylinder。　〃These　are　blanks；〃　he　said。　Someone　gave　him　bullets。　He　reloaded　the　gun　quickly　and　walked　over　to　the　side　of　the　stream。　He　fired　at　a　piece　of　wood　in　the　water。　The　gun　dragged　a　little　to　the　left。　He　waited　a　moment　until　the　horse　raised　its　head　again；　then　shot　the　animal　between　the　eyes。
　Nevada　walked　back　and　gave　the　director　the　gun。　Silently　the　big　man　took　it　and　held　out　a　pack　of　cigarettes。　Nevada　took　one　and　the　director　held　the　match　for　him。　Nevada　let　the　smoke　fill　his　lungs。
　A　man　came　running　up；　gasping　and　short　of　breath。　〃I'm　sorry；　Mr。　Von　Elster；〃　he　said　hoarsely。　〃I　just　can't　locate　that　stunt　man　anywhere。　But　I'll　get　you　another　one　tomorrow。〃
　〃Didn't　anybody　tell　you？　He　showed　up　already；　Pierce。　We　just　made　the　shot。〃
　Pierce　stared　at　him。　〃How　could　he？　I　just　left　him　back　at…　〃
　The　director　stepped　to　one　side；　revealing　Nevada。　〃Here　he　is。　See　for　yourself。〃
　Pierce　looked　at　Nevada；　then　at　the　director。　〃That's　not　the　one。　That's　Nevada　Smith。　He　owns　the　Great　Southwest　Rodeo　and　Wild…West　Show。〃　He　turned　back　to　Nevada　and　stuck　his　hand　out。　〃Good　to　see　you；　Nevada。〃　He　smiled。　〃What　brings　you　out　here？〃
　Nevada　glared　at　him。　The　anger　bubbled　up　again　inside　him。　He　lashed　out　quickly　and　Pierce　hit　the　ground　in　shocked　surprise。　He　stared　up　at　Nevada。　〃What's　got　into　you；　Nevada？〃
　〃What　I　want　to　know　is　how　much　the　Cody　show　got　into　you！〃
　Von　Elster　stepped　between　them。　〃I've　been　looking　for　someone　like　you　a　long　time；　Smith；〃　he　said。　〃Sell　your　show　and　e　to　work　for　us。　I'll　pay　you　two　fifty　a　week　to　start。〃
　Pierce's　voice　came　up　from　the　ground。　〃Oh；　no　you　don't；　Von　Elster。　A　thousand　a　week　or　nothing！〃
　Nevada　started　to　speak。　〃You　shut　up！〃　Dan　Pierce　told　him　authoritatively。　〃I'm　your　agent　and　don't　you　forget　it！〃　He　turned　back　to　Von　Elster。　〃This　stunt　will　be　all　o