hr.thecarpetbaggers-第65节

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e　next　morning；　before　I　get　on　the　train；　I　try　to　locate　him　but　nobody　seems　to　know　where　he　is。　His　office　don't　even　know　he's　in　New　York。　He　disappeared　pletely。〃　Bernie　looked　down　at　his　desk。　〃A　real　meshuggeneh；　I　tell　you。〃
　David　smiled。　〃I　told　you　he'd　learn　fast。　His　arithmetic　is　right；　you　know。〃
　His　uncle　looked　up　at　him。　〃Don't　you　think　I　know　it's　right？〃　he　asked。　〃But　is　he　so　poor　that　I　have　to　give　him　bread　from　my　own　mouth？〃
　
　〃If　you'll　follow　me；　sir；〃　the　butler　said　politely。　〃Miss　Marlowe　is　in　the　solarium。〃
　David　nodded　and　followed　silently　up　the　staircase　and　to　the　back　of　the　house。　The　butler　halted　before　a　door　and　knocked。
　〃Mr。　Woolf　is　here；　mum。〃
　〃Tell　him　to　e　in；〃　Rina　called　through　the　closed　door。
　The　butler　held　the　door　open。　David　blinked　as　the　bright　California　sun　suddenly　spilled　down　on　him。　The　roof　of　the　room　was　a　clear　glass　dome　and　the　sides　were　of　glass；　too。
　There　was　a　tall　screen　at　the　far　end　of　the　room。　Rina's　voice　came　from　behind　it。　〃Help　yourself　to　a　drink　from　the　bar。　I'll　be　out　in　a　minute。〃
　He　looked　around　and　located　the　bar　in　the　corner。　There　were　casual；　canvas…covered　chairs　scattered　all　about　the　room　and　a　large　white　rug　over　most　of　the　floor。
　Ilene　Gaillard　came　out　from　behind　the　screen。　She　was　wearing　a　white　shirt　with　sleeves　rolled　to　just　above　her　elbows；　and　black　man…tailored　slacks　that　clung　tightly　to　her　narrow　hips。　Her　white…streaked　hair　was　brushed　back　in　a　severe　straight　line。
　〃Hello；　David。　Let　me　help　you。〃
　〃Thanks；　Ilene。〃
　〃Make　another　Martini　for　me；〃　Rina　called　from　behind　the　screen。
　Ilene　didn't　answer。　She　looked　at　David。　〃What　will　it　be？〃
　〃Scotch　and　water；〃　he　answered。　〃Just　a　little　ice。〃
　〃O。K。；〃　she　said；　her　hands　already　moving　deftly　behind　the　bar。　She　held　the　drink　toward　him。　〃There；　how's　that？〃
　He　tasted　it。　〃Great。〃
　〃Got　my　Martini　ready？〃　Rina　said　from　behind　him。
　He　turned。　She　was　just　ing　from　behind　the　screen；　tying　a　white　terry…cloth　robe　around　her。　From　the　glimpse　he　caught　of　the　tanned　thigh　beneath　the　robe　as　she　moved；　he　guessed　she　was　wearing　nothing　underneath。　〃Hello；　Rina。〃
　〃Hello；　David；〃　she　answered。　She　looked　at　Ilene。　〃Where's　my　drink？〃
　〃David's　obviously　here　on　business；〃　Ilene　said。　〃Why　don't　you　wait　until　after　you've　had　your　talk？〃
　〃Don't　be　so　bossy！〃　Rina　snapped。　〃Make　the　drink！〃　She　turned　to　David。　〃My　father　gave　me　Martinis　when　I　was　a　child。　I　can　drink　them　like　water。　Ilene　doesn't　seem　to　understand　that。〃
　〃Here。〃　Ilene's　voice　was　clipped。
　Rina　took　the　Martini　from　her。　〃Cheers；　David。〃
　〃Cheers；〃　David　replied。
　She　belted　down　half　her　Martini；　then　led　him　to　one　of　the　chairs。　〃Sit　down；〃　she　said；　dropping　into　another。
　〃Lovely　house　you　have；〃　he　said　politely。
　〃It　is　nice；〃　she　said。　〃Ilene　and　I　had　a　wonderful　time　furnishing　it。〃　She　reached　up　and　patted　Ilene's　cheek。　〃Ilene　has　the　most　wonderful　sense　of　color。　You　should　speak　to　your　uncle　about　letting　her　try　her　hand　at　art　direction。　I'm　sure　he'd　find　out　that　she　could　do　a　terrific　job。〃
　〃Rina；〃　Ilene　said；　a　happy　note　in　her　voice；　〃I'm　sure　David　didn't　e　here　to　talk　about　me。〃
　〃I'll　speak　to　Uncle　Bernie；〃　he　said　politely。　〃I'm　sure　she　could；　too。〃
　〃See？〃　Rina　said。　〃The　trouble　with　Ilene　is　that　she's　too　modest。　She's　one　of　the　most　talented　people　I　ever　met。〃
　She　held　up　her　empty　glass　toward　Ilene。　〃Refill。〃
　David　caught　a　glimpse　of　her　lush；　full　breasts。　It　would　take　more　than　massage　to　keep　her　weight　down　if　she　kept　on　drinking　like　that。
　Rina　cut　into　his　thoughts。　〃Did　the　old　bastard　decide　to　give　me　that　part　in　Sunspots？〃
　David　looked　at　her。　〃You　have　to　understand　my　uncle's　point　of　view；　Rina；〃　he　said　quickly。　〃You're　the　most　valuable　asset　the　pany　has。　You　can't　blame　him　if　he　doesn't　want　to　put　you　in　a　picture　that's　almost　certain　to　lay　an　egg。〃
　Rina　took　the　drink　from　Ilene。　〃What　it　all　boils　down　to；〃　she　said　belligerently；　''is　that　he　thinks　I　can't　act。　All　I'm　good　for　is　walking　around　as　near　naked　as　he　can　get　me。〃
　〃He　thinks　you're　a　fine　actress；　Rina。　But　more　important；　you're　the　one　in　a　million　who　is　a　star。　He's　just　trying　to　protect　you；　that's　all。〃
　〃I'll　protect　myself；〃　she　snapped　angrily。　〃Do　I　get　the　part　or　don't　I？〃
　〃You　get　it。〃
　〃Good；〃　she　said；　sipping　her　drink。　She　got　out　of　her　chair　and　he　realized　that　she　was　slightly　drunk。　〃Tell　your　uncle　for　me　that　I　won't　wear　a　brassière　the　next　time　I　e　to　his　office。〃
　〃I'm　sure　that　will　make　him　very　happy。〃　David　grinned　at　her。　He　put　down　his　drink　and　got　to　his　feet。
　〃I　think　he　wants　to　fuck　me；〃　she　said；　weaving　slightly。
　He　laughed。　〃Who　doesn't？〃　he　asked。　〃I　can　name　at　least　sixty　million　men　who've　thought　about　it。〃
　〃You　don't；〃　she　said；　her　eyes　suddenly　looking　right　into　his。
　〃Who　says？〃
　〃I　do；〃　she　said　seriously。　〃You　never　asked　me。〃
　〃Remind　me　to　get　up　my　nerve　sometime。〃
　〃What's　the　matter　with　right　now？〃　she　asked；　pulling　at　the　sash　of　her　robe。　It　fell　open；　revealing　her　nude　body。　He　stared；　so　surprised　that　he　was　unable　to　speak。
　〃Go　downstairs；　Ilene；〃　Rina　said　without　taking　her　eyes　off　him。　〃And　see　to　it　that　dinner　is　on　time。〃
　David　caught　a　glimpse　of　Ilene's　eyes　as　she　hurried　past　him　and　out　the　door。　If　he　lived　to　be　a　hundred　years　old；　he　would　never　forget　the　depth　of　the　pain　and　anguish　he　saw　there。
　
　18
　
　UNTIL　HE　MET　RINA　MARLOWE；　CLAUDE　DUNBAR　HAD　BEEN　IN　LOVE　WITH　ONLY　THREE　THINGS　IN　HIS　LIFE　…　his　mother；　himself　and　the　theater　…　and　in　that　order。　His　Hamlet　in　modern　dress　was　the　most　successful　Shakespearean　production　ever　played　in　a　New　York　theater。　But　it　was　his　direction　of　Sunspots；　an　otherwise　mediocre　play；　that　lifted　him　to　the　pinnacle　of　his　career。
　Sunspots　was　a　three…character　play　dealing　with　two　prospectors；　living　isolated　lives　at　the　edge　of　a　great　desert；　and　a　young　girl；　an　amnesiac；　who　wandered　into　their　camp。　It　develops　into　a　struggle　between　the　men；　the　younger　trying　to　protect　the　girl　from　the　lechery　of　the　older；　only；　after　succeeding；　to　succumb　himself　to　the　lechery　in　the　girl。
　It　was　all　talk　and　very　little　action；　and　despite　a　year's　run　on　Broadway；　Dunbar　had　been　so　surprised　when　Norman　called　and　told　him　he　had　bought　the　play　and　wanted　him　to　direct　the　motion　picture　that　he　had　agreed　without　hesitation。　It　was　only　after　he　got　to　California；　however；　that　he　learned　who　was　to　play　the　lead。
　〃Rina　Marlowe！〃　he'd　said　to　Norman。　〃But　I　thought　Davis　was　going　to　play　it。〃
　The　producer　had　stared　at　him　blandly。　〃Warner　screwed　me；〃　he　said；　lowering　his　voice　to　a　confidential　whisper。　〃So　right　away　I　thought　of　Rina。〃
　〃But　isn't　there　anyone　else；　Mr。　Norman？〃　he'd　asked；　stammering　slightly　as　he　always　did　when　upset。　〃What　about　the　girl　who　played　it　on　the　stage？〃
　〃No　name；〃　Norman　said　quickly。　〃This　is　an　important　property；　this　play　of　yours。　We　have　to　protect　it　with　all　the　box　office　we　can　get。　Rina　never　made　a　picture　that　didn't　make　money。〃
　〃Maybe；〃　Dunbar　admitted。　〃But　can　she　act？〃
　〃There's　no　better　actress　in　Hollywood　than　that　girl。　You're　a　director。　Go　over　to　her　house　this　afternoon　with　the　script　and　see　for　yourself。〃
　〃Mr。　Norman…　〃
　But　Norman　had　already　taken　his　arm　and　was　leading　him　to　the　door。　〃Be　fair；　Mr。　Dunbar。　Give　the　girl　a　chance；　work　with　her　a　little。　Then　if　you　still　think　she　can't　do　it；　we'll　see。〃
　So　efficient　had　the　producer　been　in　getting　rid　of　him　that　he　hadn't　been　aware　of　it　himself　until　he　stood　outside　the　closed　door；　with　the　three　secretaries　staring　at　him。
　He　felt　his　face　flush　and　to　cover　his　embarrassment；　he　went　over　to　the　girl　at　the　desk　nearest　the　door。　〃Could　you　tell　me　where　Miss　Marlowe　lives？〃　he　asked。　〃And　how　to　get　there？〃
　The　secretary　smiled。　〃I　can　do　better　than　that；　Mr。　Dunbar；〃　she　said　efficiently；　picking　up　the　telephone。　〃I'll　arrange　for　a　car　to　pick　you　up　and　take　you　there。〃
　That　afternoon；　before　he　went　to　Rina's　house；　Claude　Dunbar　dropped　into　a　theater　that　was　playing　her　latest　picture。　He　watched　the　screen　in　a　kind　of　fascinated　horror。　There　was　no　doubt　that　the　girl　was　beautiful。　He　could　even　see　that　she　had　a　type　of　animalism　that　would　appeal　to　a　certain　type　of　audience。　But　she　wasn't　the　kind　of　girl　called　for　in　the　play。
　The　girl　in　the　play　was　somber；　introspective；　frightened。　As　she　tried　to　recapture　her　memory；　she　looked　as　she　felt　…　gaunt；　tortured　and　burned　out　by　the　heat　of　the　desert。　The　fact　that　she　was　female　caused　the　desire　in　the　men；　not　her　physical　appearance。　And　it　wasn't　until　the　very　climax　that　the　play　revealed　the　root　of　her　fears　to　be　her　own　capacity　for　lechery。
　On　the　screen；　Rina　was　exciting　and　bold；　aware　of　her　sexuality　and　continually　flaunting　it　before　the　audience；　but　there　was　no　subtlety　in　her　acting。　And　yet；　in　all　honesty；　he　felt　the　surge　of　vitality　flowing　from　her。　When　she　was　on　the　screen；　no　matter　who　els