hr.thecarpetbaggers-第43节

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〃
　Ilene　nodded　and　went　out　into　the　corridor。　She　felt　the　tightness　in　her　chest；　the　mist　that　constantly　had　pressed　against　her　eyes　these　last　few　weeks。　She　came　out　of　the　elevator　and　started　for　the　coffee　shop。
　Still　lost　in　her　thoughts；　she　didn't　hear　the　doctor　until　her　hand　was　on　the　door。　〃Miss　Gaillard？〃　For　a　moment；　she　had　no　voice。　She　could　only　nod　dumbly。　〃Mind　if　I　join　you？〃
　〃Not　at　all；〃　she　said。
　He　smiled　and　held　the　door　open　for　her。　They　went　inside　to　a　corner　table。　The　doctor　waved　his　hand　and　two　cups　of　coffee　appeared　before　them。　〃How　about　a　bun？〃　he　asked。　〃You　look　as　if　you　could　use　a　little　food。〃　He　laughed　in　his　professional　manner。　〃There's　no　sense　in　having　another　patient　just　now。〃
　〃No；　thank　you；〃　she　said。　〃The　coffee　will　do　fine。〃
　The　doctor　put　down　his　coffee　cup。　〃Good　coffee。〃
　She　nodded。　〃Rina　is　sleeping。〃　She　said　the　first　thing　that　came　into　her　mind。
　〃Good。〃　The　doctor　nodded；　looking　at　her。　His　dark　eyes　shone　brightly　through　the　bifocals。　〃Does　Miss　Marlowe　have　any　relatives　out　here？〃
　〃No；〃　Ilene　answered　quickly。　Then　the　implication　hit　her。　She　stared　at　him。　〃You　mean　。　。　。〃　Her　voice　trailed　off。
　〃I　don't　mean　anything；〃　the　doctor　said。　〃It's　just　that　in　cases　like　this；　we　like　to　know　the　names　of　the　next　of　kin　in　case　something　does　happen。〃
　〃Rina　has　no　relatives　that　I　know　of。〃
　The　doctor　looked　at　her　curiously。　〃What　about　her　husband？〃
　〃Who？〃　Ilene's　voice　was　puzzled。　
　〃Isn't　she　married　to　Nevada　Smith？〃　the　doctor　asked。
　〃She　was；〃　Ilene　answered。　〃But　they　were　divorced　three　years　ago。　She's　been　married　since　then　to　Claude　Dunbar；　the　director。〃
　〃That　ended　in　divorce；　too？〃
　〃No；〃　Ilene　answered　tersely。　Her　lips　tightened。　〃He　mitted　suicide；　after　they'd　been　married　a　little　over　a　year。〃
　〃Oh；〃　the　doctor　said。　〃I'm　sorry。　I　guess　I　haven't　had　much　time　these　last　few　years　to　keep　up　with　things。〃
　〃If　there's　anything　special　that　needs　to　be　done；　I　guess　I'm　the　one　who　could　do　it；〃　she　said。　〃I'm　her　closest　friend。　She　gave　me　power　of　attorney。〃
　The　doctor　stared　at　her　silently。　She　could　read　what　was　in　his　mind　behind　those　shining　bifocals。　She　drew　her　head　up　proudly。　What　did　it　matter　what　he　thought？　What　did　it　matter　what　anyone　thought　now？
　〃Did　you　get　the　results　from　the　blood　tests？〃
　The　doctor　nodded。
　She　tried　to　keep　her　voice　from　shaking。　〃Is　it　leukemia？〃
　〃No；〃　he　said。　He　could　see　the　hope　spring　up　in　her　eyes。　Quickly　he　spoke　to　avoid　the　pain　of　disappointment。　〃It　was　what　we　thought。　Encephalitis。〃　He　noted　her　puzzled　expression。　〃Sometimes　it's　called　sleeping　sickness。〃
　The　hope　in　Ilene　refused　to　die。　〃Then　she　has　a　chance？〃
　〃A　very　small　one；〃　the　doctor　said；　still　watching　her　carefully。　〃But　if　she　lives；　there's　no　telling　what　she'll　be　like。〃
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　Ilene　asked　harshly。
　〃Encephalitis　is　a　virus　that　settles　in　the　brain；〃　he　explained　slowly。　〃For　the　next　four　or　five　days；　as　the　virus　builds　up　in　intensity；　she　will　be　subject　to　extraordinary　high　fevers。　During　these　fevers；　the　virus　will　attack　the　brain。　It　is　only　after　the　fever　breaks　that　we'll　be　able　to　tell　how　much　damage　she　has　sustained。〃
　〃You　mean　her　mind　will　be　gone？〃　Ilene's　eyes　were　large　with　horror。
　〃I　don't　know；〃　the　doctor　said。　〃The　damage　can　take　many　forms。　Her　mind；　perhaps　she'll　be　paralyzed　or　partly　so；　she　may　know　her　own　name；　she　may　not。　The　residual　effects　are　similar　to　a　stroke。　It　depends　on　what　part　of　the　brain　has　been　damaged。〃
　The　sick　fear　came　up　inside　her。　Quickly　she　caught　her　breath　against　it；　her　face　paling。　〃Breathe　deeply　and　sip　a　little　water；〃　the　doctor　said。
　She　did　as　he　manded　and　the　color　flooded　back　into　her　face。　〃Is　there　anything　we　can　do？　Anything　at　all？〃
　〃We're　doing　everything　we　can。　We　know　so　little　about　the　disease；　how　it's　transmitted。　In　its　more　mon　form；　in　tropical　countries；　it's　supposed　to　be　carried　by　insects　and　transmitted　by　their　bite。　But　many　cases；　in　the　United　States　and　elsewhere；　just　appear；　with　no　apparent　causation　at　all。〃
　〃We　just　got　back　from　Africa　three　months　ago；〃　Ilene　said。　〃We　made　a　picture　there。〃
　〃I　know；〃　the　doctor　said。　〃Miss　Marlowe　told　me　about　it。　That　was　what　first　made　me　suspicious。〃
　〃But　no　one　else　is　sick；〃　Ilene　said。　〃And　we　were　all　out　there　for　three　months；　living　exactly　the　same　way；　in　the　same　places。〃
　The　doctor　shrugged。　〃As　I　said；　we　aren't　really　sure　what　causes　it。〃
　Ilene　stared　at　him。　A　note　of　bewilderment　crept　into　her　voice。　〃Why　couldn't　it　be　me？〃　she　asked。　〃She　has　so　much　to　live　for。〃
　The　doctor　reached　across　the　table　and　patted　her　hand。　With　that　one　warm　gesture；　she　no　longer　resented　him；　as　she　did　most　men。　〃How　many　times　in　my　life　have　I　heard　that　question？　And　I'm　no　closer　to　the　answer　now　than　when　I　first　began　to　practice。〃
　She　looked　at　him　gratefully。　〃Do　you　think　we　should　say　anything　to　her？〃
　His　dark　eyes　grew　large　behind　his　glasses。　〃What　purpose　would　it　serve？〃　he　asked。　〃Let　her　have　her　dreams。〃
　
　Rina　heard　the　dim　voices　outside　the　door。　She　was　tired；　weary　and　tired；　and　everything　was　a　soft；　blurred　haze。　Vaguely　she　wondered　if　the　dream　would　e　again。　The　thin　edges　of　it　poked　at　her　mind。　Good。　It　was　ing。
　Softly；　fortably　now；　she　let　herself　slip　down　into　it。　Further　and　further　she　felt　herself　dropping　into　the　dream。　She　smiled　unconsciously　and　turned　her　face　against　the　pillow。　Now　she　was　surrounded　by　her　dream。　The　dream　of　death　she　had　dreamed　ever　since　she　was　a　little　girl。
　
　2
　
　IT　WAS　COOL　IN　THE　YARD　BENEATH　THE　SHADE　of　the　giant　old　apple　trees。　Rina　sat　in　the　grass　and　arranged　the　dolls　around　the　small　wooden　plank　that　served　as　a　table。
　〃Now；　Susie；〃　she　said　to　the　little　dark…haired　doll。　〃You　must　not　gulp　your　food。〃
　The　black　eyes　of　the　doll　stared　unwinkingly　back　at　her。　
　〃Oh；　Susie！〃　she　said　in　imaginary　concern。　〃You　spilled　it　all　over　your　dress！　Now　I'll　have　to　change　you　again。〃
　She　picked　up　the　doll　and　undressed　it　quickly。　She　washed　the　clothes　in　an　imaginary　tub；　then　ironed　them。　〃Now　you　stay　clean；〃　she　exclaimed　in　pretended　anger。
　She　turned　to　the　other　doll。　〃Are　you　enjoying　your　breakfast；　Mary？〃　She　smiled。　〃Eat　it　all　up。　It'll　make　you　big　and　strong。〃
　Occasionally；　she　would　glance　toward　the　big　house。　She　was　happy　to　be　left　alone。　It　wasn't　very　often　that　she　was。　Usually；　one　or　the　other　of　the　servants　would　be　calling　her　to　e　back　in。　Then　her　mother　would　scold　her　and　tell　her　that　she　was　not　to　play　in　the　yard；　that　she　must　stay　near　the　kitchen　door　at　the　far　side　of　the　house。
　But　she　didn't　like　it　there。　It　was　hot　and　there　was　no　grass；　only　dirt。　Besides；　it　was　near　the　stables　and　the　smell　of　the　horses。　She　didn't　understand　why　her　mother　always　made　such　a　fuss。　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Marlowe　never　said　anything　when　they　found　her　there。　Once；　Mr。　Marlowe　even　had　picked　her　up　and　swung　her　high　over　his　head；　tickling　her　with　his　mustache　until　she　almost　burst　with　hysterical　laughter。
　But　when　she'd　e　inside；　her　mother　had　been　angry　and　had　spanked　her　bottom　and　made　her　go　up　to　their　room　and　stay　there　all　afternoon。　That　was　the　worst　punishment　of　all。　She　loved　to　be　in　the　kitchen　while　her　mother　cooked　the　dinner。　Everything　smelled　so　good。　Everybody　always　said　her　mother　was　the　best　cook　the　Marlowes　had　ever　had。
　She　heard　footsteps　and　looked　up。　Ronald　Marlowe　threw　himself　to　the　ground　beside　her。　She　looked　down　again　and　finished　feeding　Susie；　then　said　in　a　matter…of…fact　voice；　〃Would　you　like　some　dinner；　Laddie？〃
　He　sniffed　disdainfully　from　the　superiority　of　his　lofty　eight　years。　〃I　don't　see　anything　to　eat。〃
　She　turned　toward　him。　〃You're　not　looking；〃　she　said。　She　forced　a　doll's　plate　into　his　hand；　〃Eat　it。　It's　very　good　for　you。〃
　Reluctantly　he　pretended　to　eat。　After　a　moment；　he　was　bored　and　got　to　his　feet。　〃I'm　hungry；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　going　in　and　get　some　real　food。〃
　〃You　won't　get　any；〃　she　said。
　〃Why　not？〃
　〃Because　my　mommy's　still　sick　and　nobody　cooked。〃
　〃I'll　get　something；〃　he　said　confidently。
　She　watched　him　walk　away　and　turned　back　to　her　dolls。　It　was　turning　dusk　when　Molly；　the　upstairs　maid；　came　out　looking　for　her。　The　girl's　face　was　red　from　crying。　〃e；　macushla；〃　she　said；　sweeping　Rina　up　in　her　arms。　〃It's　your　mither　that　wants　to　set　eyes　on　ye　again。〃
　Peters；　the　coachman；　was　there；　as　was　Mary；　the　downstairs　maid；　and　Annie；　the　scullery　helper。　They　were　standing　around　her　mother's　bed　and　they　made　way　for　her　as　she　came　over。　There　was　also　a　man　in　a　black　suit；　holding　a　cross　in　his　hand。
　She　stood　very　still　near　the　bed；　looking　at　her　mother　solemnly。　Her　mother　looked　beautiful；　her　face　so　white　and　calm；　her　white…blond　hair　brushed　back　softly　from　her　forehead。　Rina　moved　closer　to　the　bed。
　Her　mother's　lips　moved　but　Rina　couldn't　hear　what　she　was　saying。　The　man　in　the　black　suit　picked　her　up。　〃Kiss　your　mother；　child；〃　he　said。