hr.thecarpetbaggers-第37节

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　〃This　time；　venture；〃　I　said。　〃I　need　an　opinion　from　somebody　who　hasn't　any　ax　to　grind。〃
　〃From　every　report　I've　had；　it　could　be　a　very　good　gamble。〃
　〃Thanks；〃　I　said。　〃Now　do　me　a　favor。　Hold　off　any　action　on　the　loan　until　I　talk　to　you　later　in　the　day。　Maybe　I'll　e　in　on　the　guarantee　in　place　of　Norman。〃
　〃You'll　still　need　another　million　after　that。〃
　〃I　know；〃　I　answered。　〃But　my　writing　hand's　still　good。　I　can　always　sign　another　note。〃
　Moroni　laughed　pleasantly　as　we　said　our　good…bys。　He　wasn't　worried。　He　knew　I　could　cover　the　money　easily　out　of　the　advance　I　got　from　the　syndicate　that　leased　the　patents　on　my　plastic　mold。　Bankers　always　were　ready　to　lend　you　as　much　money　as　you　wanted；　so　long　as　you　could　put　up　collateral。
　I　looked　down　at　my　watch　as　I　put　down　the　phone。　It　was　almost　seven　thirty　and　I　felt　fuzzy。　I　started　to　pick　up　the　phone；　then　changed　my　mind。　The　hell　with　them。　Let　them　wait　if　they　wanted　to　see　me。　I　turned　and　went　into　the　bathroom　to　take　a　shower。
　The　telephone　rang　three　different　times　while　I　was　under　the　shower。　I　stood　there　letting　the　hot　water　soak　into　my　skin　and　wash　away　the　weariness。　It　was　almost　eight　o'clock　when　I　came　out　of　the　bathroom　and　the　telephone　began　ringing　again。
　It　was　Von　Elster　again。　His　voice　was　low　and　conspiratorial。　〃Nevada；　his　agent　and　Rina　are　on　their　way　up；〃　he　whispered。　〃They　didn't　see　us。〃
　〃Good；〃　I　said。
　〃But　how　are　we　going　to　meet？〃
　〃I　guess　it's　too　late　now；〃　I　said　easily。　〃I'll　just　have　to　take　my　chances　with　Nevada's　agent；　I　guess。　Tell　your　Mr。　Norman　I　appreciate　his　offer；　though。　If　there's　anything　I　need；　I'll　call　him。''
　I　heard　his　gasp　of　shock　as　I　hung　up。　I　laughed　and　wondered　how　he　was　going　to　explain　that　to　his　boss。　I　climbed　into　my　trousers　and　was　reaching　for　a　shirt　when　a　knock　came　at　the　door。
　〃e　in；〃　I　yelled　from　the　bedroom。　I　heard　the　door　open　and　finished　buttoning　up　my　shirt。　I　looked　for　my　shoes　but　they　were　over　on　the　other　side　of　the　bed。　It　wasn't　worth　walking　over　to　get　them　so　I　came　out　in　my　bare　feet。
　Rina　was　already　seated　on　the　big　couch。　Nevada　and　another　man　were　standing　in　the　middle　of　the　room。　A　slow　smile　came　over　Nevada's　face。　He　held　out　his　hand。　〃Jonas；〃　he　said　warmly。
　I　took　his　hand　awkwardly。　It　seemed　funny　to　shake　hands　with　him　as　one　would　with　a　stranger。　〃Nevada。〃
　There　were　faint　lines　of　strain　in　the　corners　of　his　eyes；　but　for　a　moment　they　disappeared　as　he　looked　up　into　my　face。　〃You're　lookin'　more　like　your　pappy　every　day；　son。〃
　〃You're　lookin'　pretty　good　yourself。　Where'd　you　get　them　duds？〃
　A　faint　tinge　of　sheepishness　came　into　his　face。　〃That's　part　of　the　act；〃　he　said。　〃I　got　to　wear　'em。　The　kids　expect　it。〃　He　fished　in　his　pocket　with　that　familiar　gesture　and　came　up　with　a　package　of　makin's。　He　began　to　roll　a　cigarette。　〃I　been　readin'　a　lot　about　you　in　the　papers。　Flyin'　from　Paris　to　Los　Angeles；　gettin'　married　an'　all。　Your　wife　with　you？〃　
　I　shook　my　head。
　He　glanced　at　me　shrewdly。　In　that　moment；　I　knew　he　knew　how　it　was　with　Monica　and　me。　He　could　read　me　like　a　book。　I　could　never　hide　anything　from　him。　〃Too　bad；〃　he　said。　〃I'd　like　to　have　met　her。〃
　I　looked　at　the　other　man　to　change　the　subject。　Nevada　caught　himself　quickly。　〃Oh；　this　is　Dan　Pierce；　my　agent。〃
　We　shook　hands　and　I　came　right　to　the　point。　〃I　saw　your　picture　last　night；〃　I　said。　〃I　liked　it。　Too　bad　you　have　to　make　it　over。〃
　〃I　thought　talking　pictures　wouldn't　last；〃　Nevada　said。
　〃That's　not　the　whole　story；　Nevada；〃　Pierce　broke　in　angrily。　He　turned　to　me。　〃Nevada　wanted　the　picture　silent；　sure；　but　by　the　time　we'd　started　shooting；　he　saw　he　was　wrong。　We　tried　then　to　turn　it　into　a　talkie　but　we　couldn't。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃Norman　wouldn't　let　us；〃　Pierce　said。　〃He　only　had　one　sound　stage　at　that　time　and　he　was　using　it　for　one　of　his　own　pictures。　He　insisted　we　start　shooting　right　away　or　he'd　withdraw　his　guarantee。〃
　The　picture　was　clear　now。　The　whole　thing　had　been　a　sucker　play　from　the　start。　I　looked　at　Nevada。　I　didn't　understand　it。　He　was　a　better　poker　player　than　that。
　Nevada　read　me　again。　〃I　know　what　you're　thinkin'；　boy；〃　he　said　quickly。　〃But　I　wanted　to　make　this　picture。　It　said　something　that　none　of　the　other　phonies　I'd　been　in　even　came　close　to。〃
　〃What　about　Norman？〃　I　asked。　〃How　e　they　won't　advance　you　the　money　to　shoot　it　over？〃
　〃They've　run　out　of　credit；〃　Nevada　said。　〃That's　why　the　bank　is　calling　the　loan。〃
　〃That's　a　lot　of　crap！〃　Pierce　exploded　again。　〃We're　caught　in　a　squeeze　play。　Bernie　Norman　makes　the　bank　call　our　loan　and　the　bank　turns　the　picture　back　to　him。　He　gets　it　for　peanuts　…　about　a　third　what　it　would　have　cost　him　to　make　it。〃
　〃How　much　would　it　take　to　make　the　picture　over？〃　I　asked。
　Nevada　looked　at　me。　〃About　a　million　bucks。〃
　〃Plus　the　loan　the　bank　is　calling；〃　Pierce　added　quickly。
　I　turned　to　him。　〃Would　you　still　have　Norman　release　the　picture？〃
　He　nodded。　〃Sure。　They've　got　ten　thousand　contracts　on　it　an'　if　it's　a　talkie；　not　a　theater　will　cancel　out。〃
　〃If　it's　silent？〃
　〃We'll　be　lucky　to　get　fifteen　hundred；〃　he　said。　〃They　all　want　talkies。〃
　〃What　do　you　think　I　should　do？〃
　Nevada　hesitated　a　moment；　then　his　eyes　came　squarely　on　mine。　〃I　wouldn't　do　it　if　I　was　you；〃　he　said　frankly。　〃You　could　blow　the　whole　bundle。〃
　I　saw　the　look　that　Pierce　threw　him。　It　was　filled　with　anger　but　also　with　a　peculiar　sort　of　respect。　To　Pierce　I　was　just　another　sucker。　But　to　his　credit；　he　recognized　that　I　was　something　more　to　Nevada。
　I　stared　at　him　for　a　moment；　then　turned　and　looked　down　at　Rina；　sitting　on　the　couch。　Her　face　was　impassive。　Only　her　eyes　were　pleading。
　I　turned　back　to　Nevada。　〃I'll　take　the　shot；〃　I　said。　〃But　only　on　one　condition。　I'll　buy　you　out　and　it　will　be　my　picture。　And　when　we　make　it　again；　we'll　make　it　the　way　I　want　it。　There'll　be　no　arguments；　everybody　will　do　as　they're　told。　You　included。　If　I'm　going　to　lose　the　hand；　at　least　I　want　to　deal　the　cards。〃
　Nevada　nodded。　He'd　heard　my　father　say　the　same　words　often　enough。　And　he'd　been　the　one　who　taught　me　always　to　reach　for　the　deal　when　the　stakes　were　high。
　〃But　what　do　you　know　about　making　pictures？〃　Pierce　asked。
　〃Nothing；〃　I　said。　〃But　how　many　people　do　you　know　who　have　made　a　talking　picture？〃
　That　stopped　him。　I　could　see　the　prehension　e　into　his　eyes。　What　I　had　said　was　true。　It　was　a　new　business。　There　were　no　veterans　any　more。　I　turned　back　to　Nevada。　〃Well？〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　he　said　slowly。　〃I'm　lettin'　you　take　the　whole　risk。　I　can't　lose　anything。〃
　〃You're　wrong！〃　Pierce　said　quickly。　〃If　it's　a　stinker；　your　career　is　shot！〃
　Nevada　smiled　at　him。　〃I　got　along　pretty　good　before；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　a　little　old　to　worry　about　anything　I　fell　into　by　accident。〃
　〃Well；　Nevada？〃
　He　stuck　out　his　hand　and　the　worry　lines　around　his　eyes　lifted　suddenly　and　he　was　young　again。　〃It's　a　deal；　Junior。〃
　I　took　his　hand　and　then　went　over　to　the　telephone。　I　called　Moroni　at　the　bank。　〃Make　arrangements　to　transfer　the　loan　to　Cord　Explosives；〃　I　said。
　〃Good　luck；　Jonas；〃　he　said　with　a　chuckle。　〃I　had　the　feeling　you　were　going　to　do　it。〃
　〃Then　you　knew　more　than　I　did。〃
　〃That's　what　makes　a　good　banker；〃　he　said。
　I　hung　up　and　turned　back　to　the　others。　〃Now；　the　first　thing　I　do　is　fire　Von　Elster。〃
　Nevada's　face　was　shocked。　〃But　Von　is　one　of　the　best　in　the　business；〃　he　protested。　〃He's　directed　every　picture　I　ever　made。　He　discovered　me。〃
　〃He's　a　lousy　little　shit；〃　I　said。　〃The　minute　he　thought　you　were　in　trouble；　he　tried　to　sell　you　out。　He　had　Bernie　Norman　up　here　at　seven　o'clock　this　morning。　They　wanted　to　give　me　some　free　advice。　I　didn't　talk　to　them。〃
　〃Now　maybe　you'll　believe　me　when　I　say　Bernie　was　behind　the　squeeze；〃　Pierce　said。
　〃Like　it　or　not；　Nevada；〃　I　said；　〃we　made　a　deal。　It's　my　picture　and　what　I　say　goes。〃
　He　nodded　silently。
　〃The　next　thing　I　want　is　for　Pierce　to　arrange　for　me　to　see　as　many　of　the　talkies　as　possible　in　the　next　three　days。　Then；　next　weekend；　I'll　fly　you　all　to　New　York。　We're　goin'　to　spend　three　or　four　days　goin'　to　the　theater。　We　might　even　pick　up　a　stage　director　while　we're　there。　We'll　see。〃　I　paused　to　light　a　cigarette　and　saw　a　sudden　look　e　over　Nevada's　face。　〃What　are　you　smiling　at？〃
　〃Like　I　said；　you're　gettin'　more　like　your　pappy　every　day。〃
　I　grinned　back　at　him。　Just　then；　the　waiter　came　in　with　breakfast。　Nevada　and　Pierce　went　into　the　bathroom　to　wash　up　and　Rina　and　I　were　left　alone。
　There　was　a　gentle　look　on　her　face。　〃If　you'd　only　let　yourself　go；　Jonas；〃　she　said　softly；　〃I　think　you　might　bee　a　human　being。〃
　I　looked　into　her　eyes。　〃Don't　try　to　con　me；〃　I　said。　〃We　both　know　why　I　did　it。　You　and　I　made　our　deal　last　night。〃
　The　gentle　look　faded　from　her　face。　〃Do　you　want　me　to　blow　you　right　now？〃　she　asked。
　I　knew　I　had　hit　her　from　the　way　she　spoke。　I　smiled。　〃I　can　wait。〃
　〃So　can　I；〃　she　replied。　〃Forever；　if　I　have　to。〃　
　Just　then　the　telephone