hr.thecarpetbaggers-第34节

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tion；　you　with　that　record…breaking　flight。　I　guess　I　just　misunderstood　what　you　told　me。〃
　He　turned　to　the　others。　〃I'm　sorry；　gentlemen；〃　he　said　smoothly；　himself　once　more。　〃It's　my　fault。　I　didn't　mean　to　mislead　you　but　I　misunderstood　Mr。　Cord。　My　apologies。〃
　An　awkward　silence　fell　in　the　room。　For　a　moment　nobody　spoke；　then　I　grinned　and　walked　over　to　the　urinal。　〃This　is　just　so　we　don't　have　to　write　this　meeting　off　as　a　total　loss；〃　I　said　over　my　shoulder。
　It　was　Sheffield　who　made　the　first　break。　I　heard　him　whispering　hurriedly　to　the　others。　When　I　turned　around；　he　looked　at　me。　〃Split　it　with　you；〃　he　said。　〃Twelve　five。〃
　They　wanted　it　real　bad　if　they　came　up　that　quickly。　At　first；　I　shook　my　head；　then　I　had　an　idea。　〃I　heard　a　great　deal　about　you　from　my　father；〃　I　said。　〃He　said　you　were　a　real　sportsman；　that　you'd　gamble　on　anything。〃
　A　smile　appeared　on　his　thin　lips。　〃I've　been　known　to　wager　a　bit　at　times；〃　he　admitted。
　〃For　two　and　a　half　million　dollars；　I'll　bet　you　can't　pee　into　that　far　urinal　from　where　you're　standing；〃　I　said；　pointing　to　the　one　about　four　feet　from　him。　〃If　you　do；　the　deal　is　yours　for　twelve　five。　If　you　don't；　I　get　fifteen。〃
　His　mouth　hung　open；　his　eyes　staring　behind　their　glasses。　〃Mr。　Cord！〃　he　sputtered。
　〃You　can　call　me　Jonas；〃　I　said。　〃Remember　it's　for　two　and　a　half　million　dollars。〃
　He　looked　at　the　others。　They　stared　back　at　him。　Then　at　me。　Finally　the　Mahlon　Chemical　man　spoke　up。　〃It's　two　and　a　half　million　dollars；　Martin。　I'd　take　a　shot　at　it　for　that　kind　of　money！〃
　Sheffield　hesitated　a　moment。　He　looked　at　Mac　but　Mac　wouldn't　meet　his　gaze。　Then　he　turned　toward　the　urinal；　his　hand　going　to　his　fly。　He　looked　at　me。　I　nodded。　Nothing　happened。　Nothing　at　all。　He　just　stood　there；　a　red　flush　creeping　up　his　collar　into　his　face。　A　moment　passed；　another　moment。　His　face　was　red　now。
　I　broke　the　silence。　〃All　right；　Mr。　Sheffield；〃　I　said　with　a　straight　face。　〃I　concede。　You　win　the　bet。　The　deal　is　for　twelve　five。〃
　He　stared　at　me；　trying　to　read　my　mind。　I　kept　my　expression　blank。　I　held　out　my　hand　toward　him。　He　hesitated　a　moment；　then　took　it。
　〃May　I　call　you　Martin？〃　I　asked。
　He　nodded；　a　faint　smile　appearing　on　his　thin　lips。　〃Please　do。〃
　I　shook　his　hand。　〃Martin；〃　I　said　solemnly。　〃Your　fly　is　open！〃
　
　3
　
　MCALLISTER　MADE　THE　NECESSARY　CHANGES　IN　THE　CONTRACTS　AND　WE　SIGNED　THEM　RIGHT　THERE。　It　was　after　four　thirty　when　we　came　out　into　the　lobby。　I　started　for　the　elevator　when　Amos　Winthrop　tapped　me　on　the　shoulder。
　I　didn't　want　to　talk　to　him。　〃Can　it　keep　until　morning；　Amos？〃　I　asked。　〃I　gotta　get　some　sleep。〃
　His　face　crinkled　in　a　knowing　smile。　He　hit　me　on　the　shoulder　jovially。　〃I　know　the　kind　of　sleepin'　you　want　to　do；　boy；　but　this　is　important。〃　
　〃Nothing　can　be　that　important。〃
　The　elevator　door　opened　and　I　stepped　into　it。　Amos　was　right　beside　me。　The　operator　started　to　close　the　doors。　〃Just　a　minute；〃　I　said。
　The　doors　rolled　open　again　and　I　stepped　out。　〃All　right；　Amos；〃　I　asked。　〃What　is　it？〃
　We　walked　over　to　a　couch　and　sat　down。　〃I　need　another　ten　thousand；〃　he　said。
　I　stared　at　him。　No　wonder　he　was　always　broke。　He　spent　it　faster　than　they　could　print　it。　〃What　happened　to　all　the　cash　you　got　for　your　stock？〃
　An　embarrassed　expression　crossed　his　face。　〃It's　gone；〃　he　said。　〃You　know　how　much　I　owed。〃
　I　knew。　He　owed　everybody。　By　the　time　he　got　through　with　his　creditors　and　his　ex…wives；　I　could　see　where　the　fifty　grand　had　gone。　I　was　beginning　to　feel　sorry　I'd　included　him　in　the　deal　but　I'd　thought　he'd　be　able　to　contribute　something　to　the　pany。　At　one　time；　he　was　one　of　the　best　designers　of　aircraft　in　the　country。
　〃Your　contract　doesn't　provide　for　advances　like　that；〃　I　said。
　〃I　know；〃　he　answered。　〃But　this　is　important。　It　won't　happen　again；　I　promise。　It's　for　Monica。〃
　〃Monica？〃　I　looked　at　him。　This　was　going　to　be　good。　〃What　about　her？〃
　He　shook　his　head。　〃I　want　to　send　her　to　her　mother　in　England。　She's　too　much　for　me。　I　can't　control　her　any　more。　She's　seeing　some　guy　on　the　sly　and　I　have　a　feeling　if　she　isn't　balling　him　already；　she　soon　will　be。〃
　For　a　moment；　I　stared　at　him。　I　wondered　if　this　wasn't　a　gentle　form　of　blackmail。　It　could　be　that　he　already　knew　and　was　taking　this　way　of　letting　me　know。　〃Do　you　know　the　guy？〃
　He　shook　his　head。　〃If　I　did；　I'd　kill　him；〃　he　said　vehemently。　〃A　nice　sweet　innocent　kid　like　her。〃
　I　kept　my　face　impassive。　Love　is　blind　but　parents　are　blinder。　Even　a　cheater　like　Amos；　with　all　his　knowledge；　was　no　smarter　than　Joe　Doakes　in　Pomona。　〃You　talk　to　her？〃
　He　shook　his　head　again。　〃I　tried　but　she　won't　listen。　You　know　how　kids　are　nowadays。　They　learn　everything　in　school；　you　can't　teach　them　anything。　When　she　was　sixteen；　I　found　a　package　of　Merry　Widows　in　her　pocketbook。〃
　He　should　have　stopped　her　then。　He　was　about　three　years　too　late。　She　was　nineteen　now　and　carried　her　own　brass　ring。　〃Guys　like　you　never　learn。〃
　〃What　was　I　supposed　to　do？〃　he　asked　truculently。　〃Keep　her　locked　in　her　room？〃
　I　shook　my　head。　〃You　could　have　tried　being　her　father。〃　
　〃What　makes　you　such　an　expert？〃　he　snapped。　〃You　won't　talk　like　that　after　you　have　kids　of　your　own。〃
　I　could　have　told　him。　I　had　a　father　who　was　too　busy　with　his　own　life；　too。　But　I　was　tired。　I　got　to　my　feet。　
　〃What　about　the　money？〃　he　asked　anxiously。　
　〃I'll　give　it　to　you；〃　I　said。　A　feeling　of　disgust　suddenly　came　up　in　me。　What　did　I　need　guys　like　this　around　me　for？　They　were　like　leeches。　Once　they　got　into　you；　they　never　let　go。　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　I'll　give　you　twenty…five　thousand。〃
　An　expression　of　surprised　relief　flooded　across　his　face。　〃You　will；　Jonas？〃　
　I　nodded。　〃On　one　condition。〃
　For　the　first　time；　caution　came　into　his　eyes。　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　〃I　want　your　resignation。〃
　〃From　Winthrop　Aircraft？〃　His　voice　was　incredulous。
　〃From　Cord　Aircraft；〃　I　said　pointedly。
　The　color　began　to　drain　from　his　face。　〃But…　but　I　started　the　pany。　I　know　everything　about　it。　I　was　just　planning　a　new　plane　that　the　Army　will　sure　as　hell　go　for…　〃
　〃Take　the　money；　Amos；〃　I　said　coldly。　〃You've　had　it。〃　I　started　for　the　elevator。　I　stepped　inside　and　the　boy　closed　the　doors　in　his　face。　〃Going　up；　Mr。　Cord？〃　he　asked。
　I　stared　at　him。　That　was　a　stupid　question。　What　other　way　was　there　to　go？
　〃All　the　way；〃　I　said　wearily。
　Monica　was　lying　across　the　bed　in　the　tops　of　my　pajamas；　half　asleep。　She　opened　her　eyes　and　looked　at　me。　〃Everything　go　all　right？〃　
　I　nodded。
　She　watched　me　as　I　threw　my　shirt　across　a　chair。　〃What　did　Daddy　want？〃
　I　stepped　out　of　my　trousers　and　caught　the　pajama　bottoms　she　threw　at　me。　〃He　just　turned　in　his　resignation；〃　I　said；　kicking　off　my　shorts　and　getting　into　the　pajamas。
　She　sat　up　in　bed；　her　brown　eyes　widening　in　surprise。　〃He　did？〃　
　I　nodded。　
　〃I　wonder　why？〃
　I　looked　at　her。　〃He　said　it　had　something　to　do　with　you。　That　he　wanted　more　time　to　be　your　father。〃
　She　stared　at　me　for　a　moment；　then　began　to　laugh。　〃Well；　I'll　be　damned；〃　she　said。　〃All　my　life　I　wanted　him　to　pay　some　kind　of　attention　to　me　and　now；　when　I　don't　need　him　any　more；　he　suddenly　wants　to　play　daddy。〃　
　〃Don't　need　him　any　more？〃
　She　nodded。　〃Not　any　more。　Ever；〃　she　said　slowly。　She　came　off　the　bed　and　laid　her　head　against　my　chest。　Her　voice　was　a　childlike　whisper　of　confidence。　〃Not　now　that　I　have　you。　You're　everything　to　me　…　father；　brother；　lover。〃
　I　stroked　her　soft　brown　hair　slowly。　Suddenly；　a　surge　of　sympathy　came　up　inside　me。　I　knew　how　alone　you　could　be　when　you　were　nineteen。
　Her　eyes　were　closed　and　there　were　faintly　blue　weary　hollows　in　the　soft　white　flesh　beneath　them。　I　pressed　my　lips　lightly　to　her　forehead。　〃e　to　bed；　child；〃　I　said　gently。　〃It's　almost　morning。〃
　She　was　asleep　in　a　moment；　her　head　resting　on　my　shoulder；　her　neck　in　the　crook　of　my　arm。　For　a　long　time；　I　couldn't　fall　asleep。　I　lay　there　looking　down　at　her　quiet　face　as　the　sun　came　up　and　light　spilled　into　the　room。
　Damn　Amos　Winthrop！　Damn　Jonas　Cord！　I　cursed　all　men　who　were　too　busy　and　self…centered　to　be　fathers　to　their　children。
　I　began　to　feel　weariness　seep　through　me。　Half　asleep；　I　felt　her　move　beside　me　and　the　warmth　of　her　long；　graceful　body　flowed　down　along　my　side。　Then　sleep　came。　The　dark；　starless　night　of　wonderful　sleep。
　We　were　married　the　next　evening　at　the　Little　Chapel　in　Reno。
　
　4
　
　I　SAW　THE　GLEAMING　PHOSPHORESCENCE　MOVING　in　the　water　and　flicked　the　fly　gaily　across　the　stream　just　over　the　trout。　The　instinct　came　up　in　me。　I　knew　I　had　him。　Everything　was　right。　The　water；　the　flickering　shadows　from　the　trees　lining　the　bank；　the　bottle…blue；　green　and　red　tail　of　the　fly　at　the　end　of　my　line。　Another　moment　and　the　bastard　would　strike。　I　set　myself　when　I　heard　Monica's　voice　from　the　bank　behind　me。
　〃Jonas！〃
　Her　voice　shattered　the　stillness　and　the　trout　dived　for　the　bottom　of　the　stream。　The　fly　began　to　drag　and　before　I　turned　around；　I　knew　the　hon