hr.thecarpetbaggers-第67节
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He turned his back on her and walked away。 Norman covered his face with his hands。 Ten thousand dollars a day this was costing him。 He should have known better。
〃Action！〃
He opened his fingers and peered through them at the scene。 This time； he could hear Dunbar speaking to Rina in a low voice。
〃That's right； that's right； now you walk out。 You look down and see them。 First at Paul； then at Joseph。 You see the gun in Joseph's hand and you know what has happened。 Now you begin to look up。 You're thinking； they're dead。 Maybe you didn't love them but you lived with them； you used them。 Maybe for a moment one of them brings back a piece of your memory … the memory you lost and never recovered。 But for a fraction of a second； the veil lifts。 And it's your father； or your brother； or maybe the child you never had； lying there in the sand at your feet。 The tears start up in your eyes。〃
Slowly Norman's hands slipped away from his face。 He held his breath as he moved toward the side away from the camera； which blocked his view。 Rina was crying。 Real tears。
Dunbar was still whispering。 〃The tears have e but the veil has dropped again and you can't remember why you are crying。 The tears stop and your eyes are dry。 Now you turn and look out into the desert。 Out there in the lonely sand someone is waiting； someone with your memory。 You will find that person out there。 Then you'll really know who you are。 You begin to walk out into the desert 。 。 。 slowly 。 。 。 slowly 。 。 。 slowly。〃
Dunbar's voice faded as Rina began to walk away； even the proud； straight shape of her back calling for pity。 Norman looked around him。 The crew were staring at Rina。 They had forgotten everything on the set except her。 He felt a moisture in his eyes。 The damn scene had even got to him。
〃Cut！〃 Dunbar's voice was a hoarse； triumphant shout。 〃Print it！〃 He slumped back into his chair； exhausted。
The stage turned into bedlam； with everybody applauding。 Even the hard…bitten veterans of the crew were grinning。 Norman ran out onto the stage。 He grabbed Rina's hand excitedly。 〃You were wonderful； baby！〃 he said。 〃Magnificent！〃
Rina looked at him。 For a moment； it seemed as if she were far away； then her eyes cleared。 She looked toward Dunbar； seated in his chair； surrounded by the camera crew and his assistants； then back at Norman。 〃Do you really think so？〃
〃Would I say it if I didn't mean it； baby？〃 he replied； smiling。 〃You know me better than that。 Now； you take a good couple of weeks' rest。 I got Scheherazade all set to go。〃
She turned away from him and watched Dunbar； who was approaching them slowly； the lines of exhaustion showing clearly on his thin； forty…year…old face。 〃Thank you；〃 she said； taking Dunbar's hand。
He smiled wearily。 〃You're a great actress； Miss Marlowe；〃 he said； formal once again； now that their work was over。 〃It was a privilege working with you。〃
Rina stared at him for a moment； a new vitality flowing into her。 〃You're out on your feet；〃 she said； concern in her voice。
〃I'll be all right with some rest；〃 he said quickly。 〃I don't think I've slept a night through since the picture began。〃
〃We'll soon fix that；〃 Rina said confidently。 〃Ilene。〃
From somewhere in the crowd； Ilene suddenly appeared。 〃Call James and have him prepare the guest room for Mr。 Dunbar。〃
〃But； Miss Marlowe；〃 the director protested。 〃I can't put you to all that trouble！〃
〃Do you think I'd let you go back to that empty hotel room the way you're feeling？〃 Rina demanded。
〃But I promised Mother I'd call her the moment the picture was finished。〃
〃You can call her there。〃 Rina laughed。 〃We do have telephones； really。〃
Norman clapped Dunbar on the shoulder。 〃You do like Rina says； Dunbar。 You can use the rest。 You still got ten weeks of editing in front of you。 But don't worry； you got a great picture here。 I wouldn't be surprised if you both get Academy Awards！〃
Norman didn't believe it when he said it； but that was exactly the way it turned out。
19
NELIA DUNBAR； SIXTY…THREE YEARS OLD AND STRONG AS THE PROVERBIAL ROCK； crossed the room and looked down at her son。 〃That horrible creature；〃 she said quietly。
She slipped into the seat beside her son and took his head on her shoulder。 Absently she stroked his forehead。 〃I was wondering how long it would take you to see her in her true light；〃 she said。 〃I told you not to marry her。〃
Claude didn't answer。 There was no need to。 There was a familiar safety in his mother's arms。 There always had been。 Even when he was a child and had e running home from school when the boys ganged up on him。 His mother knew him。 He didn't have to tell her when he was troubled。 Instinctively she had moved out to California after his marriage to Rina。
He had never been very strong； always frail and thin； and the intense nervousness of his creative spurts left him drained and exhausted。 At times like that； his mother would see to it that he took to his bed … for weeks on end； sometimes。 She would serve him his meals； bring him the newspapers； read to him from the books they both loved。
Often he felt that these were the happiest moments of his life。 Here in the gentle pastels of the room his mother had decorated for him； he felt warm and fortable and at ease。 Everything he wanted was at his fingertips。 The dirtiness and petty meanness of the world were safely locked away outside the walls of that room。
His father had never been more than a vague nebulous shadow。 He could scarcely remember him； for he had died when Claude was only five。 His father's death had caused scarcely a noticeable ripple in the course of their lives； for they were left well off。 They weren't wealthy but never was there want。
〃You go back to the house and get what few things you need；〃 his mother said。 〃You can spend the night here。 In the morning； we'll see about a divorce。〃
He raised his head from his mother's shoulder and looked at her。 〃But； Mother； I wouldn't even know what to say to a lawyer。〃
〃Don't worry；〃 his mother said confidently。 〃I'll take care of everything。〃
He could feel a great weight lifting from his shoulders。 Once again； his mother had spoken the magic words。 But when he stood in the street in front of the house and saw Rina's car in the driveway； he was afraid to go in。 There would only be another scene and he wasn't up to it。 He had no more strength。
He looked at his wrist watch。 It was almost eleven o'clock。 She would be leaving soon because she had a luncheon date at the studio。 He walked back down the hill to the cocktail lounge just off the corner of Sunset。 He would have a drink while he waited。 He would be able to see her car as it came down the hill。
The cocktail lounge was dark as he entered； the chairs still up on the tables。 The bar was open； however； and there was already a customer seated with a glass of beer in front of him。 Claude climbed up on a stool near the window； from which he could watch the street。
He shivered slightly。 It had begun to drizzle as he came down the hill and was turning into one of those nasty； chilly afternoons peculiarly indigenous to sunny California。 He shivered again。 He hoped he wasn't catching cold。 〃Whisky and warm water；〃 he said to the bartender； remembering the drink his mother always gave him at the first sign of a cold。
The bartender looked at him peculiarly。 〃Warm water？〃
Claude nodded。 〃Yes； please。〃 He looked up and noticed that the lone customer was also staring at him … a young man in a yellow lumber jacket。 〃And a slice of lemon； if you have it；〃 he called after the bartender。
Claude picked up the small steaming mug。 He sipped at it and felt its warmth creep down toward his stomach。 He turned and looked out the window。 It was really raining now。 He picked up the mug again and to his surprise； it was empty。 He decided to have another。 There was time。 He knew exactly what Rina was doing right now。 He gestured to the bartender。
Right at this moment； she was seated in front of her dressing table； putting on her make…up； until it was precisely the way she wanted it。 Then she would fuss with her hair； teasing it until it hung carelessly； but with every strand in its allotted place。
She had a fetish about not getting anywhere on time。 She was always at least an hour late； most of the time even later。 It used to drive him crazy having to wait for her； but it never seemed to disturb anyone else。 They just took it for granted。
Claude looked down at the mug。 It was empty again。 He ordered another drink。 He was beginning to feel better。 Rina would be surprised when she came home and found his things gone。 No more would she call him half a man。 She'd find out just how much of a man he was when the lawyer served her with divorce papers。 She'd know then that she couldn't push him around。
And she'd never look at him again the way she had the first night they were married … with pity and yet contempt； and worst of all； the knowledge in her eyes that she saw into him deeply； laying bare the very secrets of his soul； secrets that he kept even from himself。
He had e into the darkened bedroom； holding in his hand a tray on which stood an iced bottle of champagne and two glasses。 〃I have e bearing w
