hr.thecarpetbaggers-第7节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　I　grinned。　〃No；　they　won't。　They'll　only　think　it　a　cry　of　grief。　Robair's　got　them　in　the　kitchen　and　not　one　will　e　up　unless　I　send　for　her。〃
　〃Wait！〃　she　begged。　〃Please　wait。　For　your　father's　sake？〃　
　〃Why　should　I？〃　I　asked。　〃He　didn't　wait　for　me。〃　I　picked　her　up　and　carried　her　into　the　bedroom。　Her　fists　and　hands　scratched　at　my　face　and　beat　against　my　chest。
　I　threw　her　on　the　bed；　the　white　satin　cover　still　on　it。　She　tried　to　roll　off　on　the　other　side。　I　grabbed　her　shoulder　and　spun　her　back。　She　bit　my　hand　and　tried　to　scramble　away　when　I　pulled　it　back。　I　placed　my　knee　across　her　thighs　and　slapped　viciously　at　her　face。　The　blow　knocked　her　back　on　the　pillow。　I　could　see　the　white　marks　left　by　my　fingers。
　She　closed　her　eyes　for　a　moment　and　when　she　opened　them；　they　were　clouded　and　there　was　a　wildness　in　them　that　I　had　never　seen　before。　She　smiled　and　her　arms　went　up　around　my　neck；　pulling　me　down　to　her。　Her　mouth　fastened　against　mine。　I　could　feel　her　body　begin　to　move　under　me。
　〃Do　it　to　me；　Jonas！〃　she　breathed　into　my　mouth。　〃Now！　I　can't　wait　any　more。　I've　waited　so　long。〃　Her　searching　fingers　ran　down　my　hip　and　found　my　core。　She　turned　her　face　into　the　pillow；　her　movements　being　more　frenetic。　I　could　hardly　hear　her　fierce；　urgent　whisper。　〃Hurry；　Jonas。　Hurry！〃
　I　started　to　get　up　but　she　couldn't　wait　for　me　to　get　my　clothing　off。　She　pulled　me　down　again　and　took　me　inside　her。　She　was　like　a　burning　bed　of　coals。　She　drew　my　head　down　to　her　neck。
　〃Make　me　pregnant；　Jonas；〃　she　whispered　into　my　ear。　〃Make　me　pregnant　like　you　did　to　those　three　girls　in　Los　Angeles。　Put　your　life　into　me！〃
　I　looked　into　her　face。　Her　eyes　were　clear　and　there　was　a　taunting　triumph　in　them。　They　reflected　none　of　the　passion　of　the　body　beneath　me。　Her　arms　and　legs　tightened　around　me。
　She　smiled；　her　eyes　looking　into　mine。　〃Make　me　pregnant；　Jonas；〃　she　whispered。　〃Like　your　father　never　would。　He　was　afraid　someone　would　take　something　away　from　you！〃
　〃What…　what？〃　I　tried　to　get　up　but　she　was　like　a　bottomless　well　that　I　couldn't　get　out　of。
　〃Yes；　Jonas；〃　she　said；　still　smiling；　her　body　devouring　me。　〃Your　father　never　took　any　chances。　That's　why　he　made　me　sign　that　agreement　before　we　got　married。　He　wanted　everything　for　his　precious　son！〃
　I　tried　to　get　up　but　she　had　moved　her　legs　in　some　mysterious　manner。　Laughing；　triumphant；　she　said；　〃But　you'll　make　me　pregnant；　won't　you；　Jonas？　Who　will　know　but　us？　You　will　share　your　fortune　with　your　child　even　if　the　whole　world　believes　it　to　be　your　father's。〃
　She　rose　beneath　me；　seeking　and　demanding　my　life　force。　In　a　sudden　frenzy；　I　tore　myself　from　her；　just　as　my　strength　drained　from　me。　I　fell　across　the　bed　near　her　feet。
　The　agony　passed　and　I　opened　my　eyes。　Her　head　was　turned　into　the　pillow　and　she　was　crying。　Silently　I　got　to　my　feet　and　left　the　room。
　All　the　way　down　the　hall　to　my　room；　I　kept　thinking；　my　father　cared；　he　really　cared。　Even　if　I　didn't　see　it；　he　loved　me。
　He　loved　me。　But　never　enough　to　show　it。
　By　the　time　I　got　to　my　room；　the　tears　were　rolling　down　my　cheeks。
　
　7
　
　I　WAS　ON　THE　TINY　INDIAN　PINTO　THAT　I　HAD　WHEN　I　was　ten　years　old；　galloping　insanely　across　the　dunes。　The　panic　of　flight　rose　within　me　but　I　didn't　know　what　I　was　running　from。　I　looked　back　over　my　shoulder。
　My　father　was　following　me　on　the　big　strawberry　roan。　His　jacket　was　open　and　blowing　in　the　wind　and　I　could　see　the　heavy　watch　chain　stretched　tight　across　his　chest。　I　heard　his　voice；　weird　and　eerie　in　the　wind。　〃e　back　here；　Jonas。　Damn　you；　e　back！〃
　I　turned　and　urged　the　pinto　to　even　greater　speed；　I　used　my　bat　unmercifully　and　there　were　tiny　red　welts　on　the　horse's　side　from　where　I　had　hit　him。　Gradually；　I　began　to　pull　away。
　Suddenly；　as　if　from　nowhere；　Nevada　was　beside　me；　riding　easily　on　his　big　black　horse。　He　looked　across　at　me　calmly。　His　voice　was　low。　〃Go　back；　Jonas。　It's　your　father　calling　you。　What　kind　of　a　son　are　you；　anyway？〃
　I　didn't　answer；　just　kept　urging　my　horse　on。　I　looked　back　again　over　my　shoulder。
　My　father　was　pulling　his　horse　to　a　stop。　His　face　was　very　sad。　〃Look　after　him；　Nevada。〃　I　could　hear　him　only　faintly；　for　there　was　a　great　distance　between　us。　〃Look　after　him；　for　I　haven't　the　time。〃　He　turned　the　strawberry　roan　around　and　began　to　gallop　away。
　I　stopped　my　pony　and　turned　to　look　after　him。　He　was　already　growing　smaller　in　the　distance。　Even　his　outline　was　fading　in　the　sudden　tears　that　leapt　to　my　eyes。　I　wanted　to　cry　out　after　him；　〃Don't　go；　Father。〃　But　the　words　stuck　in　my　throat。
　I　sat　up　in　bed；　my　skin　wet　with　perspiration。　I　shook　my　head　to　get　the　echo　of　the　dream　out　of　it。　Through　the　open　window　I　could　hear　the　sound　of　horses　ing　from　the　corral　in　back　of　the　house。
　I　went　over　to　the　window　and　looked　out。　The　sun　was　at　five　o'clock　and　casting　a　long　morning　shadow。　Down　in　the　corral；　several　of　the　hands　were　leaning　against　the　fence；　watching　a　rider　trying　to　break　a　wiry　bay　colt。　I　squinted　my　eyes　against　the　sun。
　I　turned　from　the　window　quickly。　That　was　the　kind　of　medicine　I　needed。　Something　that　would　jar　the　empty　feeling　out　of　me；　that　would　clean　the　bitter　taste　from　my　mouth。　I　pulled　on　a　pair　of　Levi's　and　an　old　blue　shirt　and　started　from　the　room。
　I　headed　down　the　corridor　to　the　back　stairs。　I　met　Robair　just　as　I　came　to　them。　He　was　carrying　a　tray　with　a　glass　of　orange　juice　and　a　pot　of　steaming　coffee。　He　looked　at　me　without　surprise。　
　〃Good　morning；　Mr。　Jonas。〃　
　〃Good　morning；　Robair；〃　I　replied。
　〃Mr。　McAllister　is　here　to　see　you。　I　showed　him　into　the　study。〃
　I　hesitated　a　moment。　The　corral　would　have　to　wait。　There　were　more　important　things　I　had　to　do。　〃Thank　you；　Robair；〃　I　said；　turning　for　the　front　staircase。　
　〃Mr。　Jonas；〃　he　called　after　me。　
　I　stopped　and　looked　back　at　him。
　〃If　you're　goin'　to　talk　business；　Mr。　Jonas；　I　find　you　always　talk　better　if　you　got　something　in　your　stomach。〃
　I　looked　at　him；　then　at　the　tray。　I　nodded　and　sat　down　on　the　top　step。　Robair　set　the　tray　down　beside　me。　I　picked　up　the　glass　of　orange　juice　and　drained　it。　Robair　poured　the　coffee　and　lifted　the　cover　from　the　toast。　I　sipped　at　the　coffee。　Robair　was　right。　The　empty　feeling　was　in　my　stomach。　It　was　going　away　now。　I　picked　up　a　slice　of　toast。
　
　If　McAllister　noticed　the　way　I　was　dressed；　he　made　no　ment　about　it。　He　came　directly　to　the　point。　〃The　ten　per　cent　of　minority　stock　is　divided　as　follows；〃　he　said；　spreading　some　papers　on　the　desk。　〃Two　and　one　half　per　cent　each；　Rina　Cord　and　Nevada　Smith；　two　per　cent　each；　Judge　Samuel　Haskell　and　Peter　mack；　president　of　the　Industrial　Bank　of　Reno；　and　one　per　cent　to　Eugene　Denby。〃
　I　looked　at　him。　〃What's　the　stock　worth？〃
　〃On　what　basis？〃　he　asked。　〃Earnings　or　net　worth？〃
　〃Both；〃　I　answered。
　He　looked　down　at　his　papers　again。　〃On　the　basis　of　average　earnings　the　past　five　years；　the　minority　stock　is　worth　forty…five　thousand　dollars；　on　the　basis　of　net　worth　maybe　sixty　thousand　dollars。〃　He　lit　a　cigarette。　〃The　earning　potential　of　the　corporation　has　been　declining　since　the　war。〃
　〃What　does　that　mean？〃
　〃There　just　isn't　the　demand　for　our　product　in　peacetime　that　there　is　in　war；〃　he　answered。
　I　took　out　a　cigarette　and　lit　it。　I　began　to　have　doubts　about　the　hundred　thousand　a　year　I　was　paying　him。　〃Tell　me　something　I　don't　know；〃　I　said。
　He　looked　down　at　the　papers　again；　then　up　at　me。　〃mack's　bank　turned　down　the　two…hundred…thousand…dollar　loan　your　father　wanted　to　finance　the　German　contract　you　signed　yesterday。〃
　I　put　the　cigarette　out　slowly　in　the　ash　tray。　〃I　guess　that　leaves　me　a　little　short；　doesn't　it？〃
　McAllister　nodded。　〃Yes。〃
　My　next　question　took　him　by　surprise。　〃Well；　what　did　you　do　about　it？〃
　He　stared　at　me　as　if　I　were　psychic。　〃What　makes　you　think　that　I　did？〃
　〃You　were　in　my　father's　office　when　I　got　there　and　I　know　he　wouldn't　call　you　just　to　settle　with　that　girl's　parents。　He　could　have　done　that　himself。　And　you　took　the　job。　That　meant　you　were　sure　of　getting　your　money。〃
　He　began　to　smile。　〃I　arranged　another　loan　at　the　Pioneer　National　Trust　pany　in　Los　Angeles。　I　made　it　for　three　hundred　thousand；　just　to　be　on　the　safe　side。〃
　〃Good；〃　I　said。　〃That　will　give　me　the　money　I　need　to　buy　out　the　minority　stockholders。〃
　He　was　still　staring　at　me　with　that　look　of　surprise　in　his　eyes　when　I　dropped　into　the　chair　beside　him。　〃Now；〃　I　said；　〃tell　me　everything　you've　been　able　to　find　out　about　this　new　thing　my　father　was　so　hot　about。　What　was　it　you　called　it？　Plastics？〃
　
　8
　
　ROBAIR　SERVED　A　RANCH…STYLE　BREAKFAST：　STEAK　AND　eggs；　hot　biscuits。　I　looked　around　the　table。　The　last　plate　had　been　cleared　away　and　now　Robair　discreetly　withdrew；　closing　the　big　doors　behind　him。　I　drained　my　coffee　cup　and　got　to　my　feet。
　〃Gentlemen；〃　I　said；　〃I　know　I　don't　have　to　tell　you　what　a　shock　it　was　yesterday　to　find　myself　suddenly　with　the　responsibility　of　a　big　pany　like　Cord　Explosives。　That's　why