hr.thecarpetbaggers-第6节

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　〃Oh；　yeah？〃　I　asked。　〃Who　drew　the　agreement？　Her　lawyer？〃
　Father　chuckled　again。　〃No。　Mine。〃　His　voice　changed　abruptly。　It　grew　heavy　and　coarse　with　meaning。　〃Now　get　back　to　your　studies；　son；　and　don't　meddle　in　things　that　don't　concern　you。　It's　midnight　here　and　I'm　just　about　to　go　to　bed。〃
　The　telephone　went　dead　in　my　hands。　I　stared　at　it　for　a　moment；　then　slowly　put　it　down。　I　couldn't　sleep　that　night。　Across　my　mind's　eye　unreeled　pornographic　pictures　of　Rina　and　my　father　in　wild　sexual　embrace。　Several　times；　I　woke　up　in　a　cold　sweat。
　
　A　hand　was　shaking　me　gently。　Slowly　I　opened　my　eyes。　The　first　thing　I　saw　was　Nevada's　face。　〃Wake　up；　Jonas；〃　he　said。　〃We're　home。〃
　I　blinked　my　eyes　to　clear　the　sleep　from　them。
　The　last　piece　of　sun　was　going　down　behind　the　big　house。　I　shook　my　head　and　stepped　out　of　the　car。　I　looked　up　at　the　house。　Strange　house。　I　don't　think　I'd　spent　more　than　two　weeks　in　it　since　my　father　had　it　built　and　now　it　was　mine。　Like　everything　else　my　father　had　done。
　I　started　for　the　steps。　Rina　had　thought　of　everything。　Except　this。　My　father　was　dead。　And　I　was　going　to　tell　her。
　
　6
　
　THE　FRONT　DOOR　OPENED　AS　I　CROSSED　THE　VERANDA。　My　father　had　built　a　traditional　Southern　plantation　house；　and　to　run　it；　he　had　brought　Robair　up　from　New　Orleans。　Robair　was　a　Creole　butler　in　the　full　tradition。
　He　was　a　giant　of　a　man；　towering　a　full　head　over　me；　and　as　gentle　and　efficient　as　he　was　big。　His　father　and　grandfather　had　been　butlers　before　him　and　even　though　they　had　been　slaves；　they　had　instilled　in　him　a　pride　in　his　work。　He　had　a　sixth　sense　for　his　duties。　Somehow；　he　was　always　there　when　he　was　wanted。
　He　stepped　aside　to　let　me　enter。　〃Hello；　Master　Cord。〃　He　greeted　me　in　his　soft　Creole　English。
　〃Hello；　Robair；〃　I　said；　turning　to　him　as　he　closed　the　door。　〃e　with　me。〃
　He　followed　me　silently　into　my　father's　study。　His　face　impassive；　he　closed　the　door　behind　him。　〃Yes；　Mr。　Cord？〃
　It　was　the　first　time　he　had　called　me　Mister；　instead　of　Master。　I　looked　at　him。　〃My　father　is　dead；〃　I　said。　
　〃I　know；〃　he　said。　〃Mr。　Denby　called。〃　
　〃Do　the　others　know？〃　I　asked。
　He　shook　his　head。　〃I　told　Mr。　Denby　that　Mrs。　Cord　was　out　and　I　haven't　said　anything　to　the　other　servants。〃
　There　was　a　faint　sound　outside　the　closed　door。　Robair　continued　speaking　as　he　moved　swiftly　toward　it。　〃I　figured　you　would　want　to　break　the　sad　news　yourself。〃　He　threw　the　door　open。
　There　was　no　one　there。　He　stepped　quickly　out　the　door。　I　followed　him。　A　figure　was　hurrying　up　the　long　staircase　that　curved　around　the　entrance　hall　to　the　upper　floor。
　Robair's　voice　was　low　but　held　the　whip　of　authority。　〃Louise！〃
　The　figure　stopped。　It　was　Rina's　personal　maid。　
　〃e　down　here；〃　he　manded。　
　Louise　came　down　the　steps　hesitantly。　I　could　see　the　terrified　look　on　her　face　as　she　approached。　〃Yes；　Mr。　Robair？〃　Her　voice　was　frightened；　too。
　For　the　first　time；　Robair　let　me　see　how　he　kept　the　servants　in　line。　He　moved　almost　lazily　but　his　hand　met　her　face　with　the　impact　of　a　pistol　shot。　His　voice　was　filled　with　contempt。　〃How　many　times　do　I　tell　you　not　to　listen　at　doors？〃
　She　stood　holding　her　hand　to　her　face。　The　tears　began　to　run　down　her　cheeks。
　〃Now　you　get　back　to　the　kitchen。　I'll　deal　with　you　later。〃
　She　ran　toward　the　kitchen；　still　holding　her　face。　Robair　turned　back　to　me。　〃I　apologize　for　her；　Mr。　Cord；〃　he　said；　his　voice　once　more　deep　and　soft。　〃Ordinarily；　my　servants　don't　do　such　a　thing；　but　that　one　is　pretty　hard　to　keep　in　her　place。〃
　I　took　out　a　cigarette　and　almost　before　I　had　it　in　my　mouth；　Robair　struck　a　match　and　held　it　for　me。　I　dragged　deep。　〃That's　all　right；　Robair。　I　don't　think　she'll　be　with　us　much　longer。〃
　Robair　put　out　the　match　and　carefully　deposited　it　in　an　ash　tray。　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　I　looked　at　the　staircase　speculatively。　Oddly　enough；　I　hesitated。
　Robair's　voice　came　over　my　shoulder。　〃Mrs。　Cord　is　in　her　room。〃
　I　looked　at　him。　His　face　was　an　impenetrable　butler's　mask。　〃Thank　you；　Robair。　I'll　go　up　and　tell　her。〃
　I　started　up　the　staircase。　His　voice　held　me。　〃Mr。　Cord？〃　I　turned　and　looked　down　at　him。
　His　black　face　gleamed。　〃What　time　shall　I　serve　dinner；　sir？〃
　I　thought　for　a　moment。　〃About　eight　o'clock；〃　I　answered。
　〃Thank　you；　sir；〃　he　said　and　started　for　the　kitchen。
　
　I　knocked　softly　at　Rina's　door。　There　was　no　answer。　I　opened　it　and　walked　in。　Her　voice　came　from　the　bathroom。
　〃Louise；　bring　me　a　bath　towel。〃
　I　walked　into　the　bathroom　and　took　a　large　towel　from　the　stack　on　the　shelf　over　her　dressing　table。　I　started　for　the　enclosed　bathtub　just　as　she　slid　back　the　glass　door。
　She　was　gold　and　white　and　gleaming　with　the　water　running　down　her　body。　She　stood　there　for　a　moment　surprised。　Most　women　would　have　tried　to　cover　themselves。　But　not　Rina。　She　held　out　a　hand　for　the　towel。
　She　wrapped　it　around　her　expertly　and　stepped　from　the　tub。　〃Where's　Louise？〃　she　asked；　sitting　down　at　the　dressing　table。　
　〃Downstairs；〃　I　answered。
　She　began　to　dry　her　face　with　another　towel。　〃Your　father　wouldn't　like　this。〃　
　〃He'll　never　know；〃　I　answered。　
　〃How　do　you　know　I　won't　tell　him？〃　
　〃You　won't；〃　I　said　definitely。
　It　was　then　that　she　began　to　sense　something　was　wrong。　She　looked　up　at　me　in　the　mirror。　Her　face　was　suddenly　serious。　〃Did　something　happen　between　you　and　your　father；　Jonas？〃
　She　watched　me　for　a　moment；　there　was　still　a　puzzled　look　in　her　eyes。　She　gave　me　a　small　towel。　〃Be　a　good　boy；　will　you；　Jonas；　and　dry　my　back？　I　can't　reach　it。〃　She　smiled　up　into　the　mirror。　〃You　see；　I　really　do　need　Louise。〃
　I　took　the　towel　and　moved　closer　to　her。　She　let　the　big　bath　towel　slide　down　from　her　shoulders。　I　patted　the　beads　of　moisture　from　her　flawless　skin。　The　scent　of　her　perfume　came　up　to　me；　pungent　from　her　bath　warmth。
　I　pressed　my　lips　to　her　neck。　She　turned　toward　me　in　surprise。　〃Stop　that；　Jonas！　Your　father　said　this　morning　you　were　a　sex　maniac　but　you　don't　have　to　try　to　prove　it！〃
　I　stared　into　her　eyes。　There　was　no　fear　in　them。　She　was　very　sure　of　herself。　I　smiled　slowly。　〃Maybe　he　was　right；〃　I　said。　〃Or　maybe　he　just　forgot　what　it　was　like　to　be　young。〃
　I　pulled　her　off　the　seat　toward　me。　The　towel　fell　still　further　until　it　hung　only　by　the　press　of　our　bodies。　I　covered　her　mouth　with　mine　and　reached　for　her　breast。　It　was　hard　and　firm　and　strong　and　I　could　feel　her　heart　beating　wildly　beneath　it。
　Maybe　I　was　wrong　but　for　a　moment；　I　thought　I　could　feel　the　fires　in　her　reaching　toward　me。　Then；　angrily；　she　tore　herself　from　me。　The　towel　lay　unheeded　on　the　floor　now。　〃Have　you　gone　crazy？〃　she　spit　at　me；　her　breast　heaving。　〃You　know　at　any　minute　now　he　could　e　walking　through　that　door。〃
　I　stood　very　still　for　a　second；　then　let　the　built…up　pressure　in　my　lungs　escape　in　a　slow　sigh。　〃He'll　never　e　through　that　door　again；〃　I　said。
　The　color　began　to　drain　from　her　face　slowly。　〃What…　what　do　you　mean？〃　she　stammered。
　My　eyes　went　right　into　hers。　For　the　first　time；　I　could　see　into　them。　She　was　afraid。　Just　like　everyone　else　that　had　to　look　into　an　unknown　future。　〃Mrs。　Cord；〃　I　said　slowly；　〃your　husband　is　dead。〃
　Her　pupils　dilated　wildly　for　a　moment　and　she　sank　slowly　back　onto　the　seat。　By　reflex；　she　picked　up　the　towel　and　placed　it　around　her　again。　〃I　can't　believe　it；〃　she　said　dully。
　〃What　is　it　that　you　can't　believe；　Rina？〃　I　asked　cruelly。　〃That　he's　dead　or　that　you　were　wrong　when　you　married　him　instead　of　me？〃
　I　don't　think　she　even　heard　me。　She　looked　up　at　me；　her　eyes　dry；　but　there　was　a　gentle　sorrow　in　them　…　a　passion　I　never　knew　she　was　capable　of。　〃Was　there　any　pain？〃　she　asked。
　〃No；〃　I　answered。　〃It　was　quick。　A　stroke。　One　minute　he　was　as　big　as　life　and　roaring　like　a　lion；　and　the　next…　〃　I　snapped　my　fingers。　〃It　was　like　that。〃
　Her　eyes　were　still　on　mine。　〃I'm　glad　for　his　sake；〃　she　said　softly。　〃I　wouldn't　have　wanted　him　to　suffer。〃
　She　got　to　her　feet　slowly。　The　veil　came　down　over　her　eyes　again。　〃I　think　you'd　better　go　now；〃　she　said。
　This　was　the　familiar　Rina；　the　one　I　wanted　to　take　apart。　The　distant　one；　the　unattainable　one；　the　calculating　one。　〃No；〃　I　said。　〃I　haven't　finished　yet。〃
　She　started　past　me。　〃What　is　there　to　finish？〃　
　I　seized　her　arm　and　pulled　her　back　toward　me。　〃We're　not　finished；〃　I　said　into　her　upturned　face。　〃You　and　me。　I　brought　you　home　one　night　because　I　wanted　you。　But　you　chose　my　father　because　he　represented　a　quicker　return　for　you。　I　think　I've　waited　long　enough！〃
　She　stared　back　at　me。　She　wasn't　afraid　now。　This　was　the　ground　she　was　used　to　fighting　on。　〃You　wouldn't　dare！〃
　For　an　answer；　I　pulled　the　towel　from　her。　She　turned　to　run　from　the　room　but　I　caught　her　arm　and　pulled　her　back　to　me。　With　my　other　hand；　I　caught　her　hair　and　pulled　her　head　back　so　that　her　face　turned　up　to　mine。　〃No？〃
　〃I'll　scream；〃　she　gasped　hoarsely。　〃The　servants　will　e　running！〃
　I　grinned。　〃No；　they　won't。　They'll　only　think　it　a　cry　of　grief。　Robair's　got　t