hr.thecarpetbaggers-第73节

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　I　felt　her　shudder　and　tremble　under　me　and　a　shrill　scream　came　from　her　wings；　like　a　dame　getting　her　cherry　copped。　The　G　pinned　me　back　in　my　seat；　choking　the　air　back　into　my　throat　and　forcing　the　big　bubbles　right　up　into　my　eyes。　Suddenly；　the　pressure　lifted。　We　were　less　than　twenty…five　feet　off　the　water　when　we　started　to　climb。
　Forrester　looked　back　at　me。　〃I　haven't　been　this　scared　since　I　soloed　back　in　fifteen；〃　he　yelled；　grinning。　〃How　did　you　know　she　wouldn't　lose　her　wings　in　a　dive　like　that？〃
　〃Who　knew？〃　I　retorted。　〃But　this　was　as　good　a　time　as　any　to　find　out！〃
　He　laughed。　I　saw　his　hand　reach　forward　and　knock　on　the　instrument　panel。　〃What　a　plane。　Like　you　said；　she　sure　does　fly！〃
　〃Don't　tell　me。　Tell　that　old　coot　back　there。〃
　A　shadow　fell　across　his　face。　〃I'll　try。　But　I　don't　know　if　I　can　do　much　good。　It's　all　yours；〃　he　said；　raising　his　hands。　〃You　take　her　back　in　now。〃
　I　could　see　Morrissey　and　the　soldiers　standing　on　the　field；　watching　us　through　field　glasses　as　we　came　in。　I　put　her　into　a　wide　turn　and　tapped　Forrester　on　the　shoulder。　He　looked　back　at　me。　〃Ten　bucks　says　I　can　take　the　General's　hat　off　on　the　first　pass。〃
　He　hesitated　a　moment；　then　grinned。　〃You're　on！〃
　I　came　down　at　the　field　from　about　a　thousand　feet　and　leveled　off　about　fifteen　feet　over　the　runway。　I　could　see　the　startled　expression　on　their　faces　as　we　rushed　toward　them；　then　I　pulled　back　the　stick。　We　went　over　their　heads；　into　an　almost　vertical　climb；　catching　them　full　blast　in　the　prop　wash。
　I　looked　back　just　in　time　to　see　the　captain　running　after　the　General's　hat。　I　tapped　Forrester's　shoulder　again。　He　turned　to　look　back。　He　was　laughing　so　hard　there　were　tears　in　his　eyes。
　She　set　down　as　lightly　as　a　pigeon　ing　home　to　its　roost。　I　slid　back　the　plastic　canopy　and　we　climbed　down。　I　glanced　at　Forrester's　face　as　we　walked　over　to　the　group。　All　the　laughter　was　gone　from　it　now　and　the　wary　mask　was　back　on。
　The　General　had　his　hat　on　his　head　again。　〃Well；　Forrester；〃　he　said　stiffly。　〃What　do　you　think？〃
　Forrester　looked　into　his　manding　officer's　face。　〃Without　a　doubt；　sir；　this　is　the　best　fighter　in　the　air　today；〃　he　said　in　a　flat；　emotionless　voice。　〃I'd　suggest；　sir；　that　you　have　a　test　group　make　an　immediate　check　to　substantiate　my　opinion。〃
　〃Hmm；〃　the　General　said　coldly。　〃You　would；　eh？〃
　〃I　would；　sir；〃　Forrester　said　quietly。
　〃There　are　other　factors　to　be　considered；　Forrester。　Do　you　have　any　idea　of　what　these　planes　might　cost？〃
　〃No；　sir；〃　Forrester　answered。　'〃My　only　responsibility　is　to　evaluate　the　performance　of　the　plane　itself。〃
　〃My　responsibilities　go　much　further　than　that；〃　the　General　said。　〃You　must　remember　that　we're　operating　under　a　strict　budget。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃Please　bear　it　in　mind；〃　General　Gaddis　said　testily。　〃If　I　went　off　half…cocked　over　every　idea　you　Air　Corps　men　had；　there　wouldn't　be　money　enough　left　to　keep　the　Army　running　for　a　month。〃
　Forrester's　face　flushed。　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　I　glanced　at　him；　wondering　why　he　stood　there　and　took　it。　It　didn't　make　sense。　Not　with　the　reputation　he　had。　He　could　step　out　of　the　Army　and　knock　down　twenty　times　what　he　was　making　with　any　airline　in　the　country。　He　had　a　name　as　good　as　Rickenbacker's　any　day。
　The　General　turned　to　Morrissey。　〃Now；　Mr。　Morrissey；〃　he　said　in　an　almost　jovial　voice。　〃Whom　do　we　talk　to　about　getting　a　few　facts　and　figures　on　the　cost　of　this　airplane？〃
　〃You　can　talk　with　Mr。　Cord；　sir。〃
　〃Fine！〃　boomed　the　General。　〃Let's　go　into　the　office　and　call　him。〃
　〃You　don't　have　to　do　that；　General；〃　I　said　quickly。　〃We　can　talk　right　here。〃
　The　General　stared　at　me；　then　his　lips　broke　into　what　he　thought　was　an　expansive　smile。　〃No　offense　intended；　son。　I　didn't　connect　the　names。〃
　〃That's　all　right；　General。〃
　〃Your　father　and　I　are　old　friends；〃　he　said。　〃Back　during　the　last　war；　I　bought　a　lot　of　the　hard　stuff　from　him　and　if　it's　all　right　with　you；　I'd　like　to　talk　this　over　with　him。　Purely　for　old　times'　sake；　you　understand。　Besides；　this　can　turn　out　to　be　a　mighty　big　deal　and　I'm　sure　your　daddy　would　like　to　get　in　on　it　himself。〃
　I　felt　my　face　go　white。　I　had　all　I　could　do　to　control　myself。　How　long　did　you　have　to　live　in　a　man's　shadow？　My　voice　sounded　flat　and　strained　even　to　my　own　ears。　〃I'm　sure　he　would；　General。　But　I'm　afraid　you'll　have　to　talk　to　me；　you　can't　talk　to　him。〃
　〃Why　not？〃　The　voice　was　suddenly　cold。
　〃My　father's　been　dead　for　ten　years；〃　I　said；　turning　my　back　on　him　and　walking　toward　the　hangar。
　
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　I　WALKED　THROUGH　TO　THE　SMALL　ROOM　IN　THE　BACK　THAT　MORRISSEY　USED　AS　AN　OFFICE。　I　shut　the　door　behind　me　and　crossing　to　his　desk；　took　out　the　bottle　of　bourbon　that　was　always　there　for　me。　Pouring　a　shot　into　a　paper　cup；　I　tossed　the　whisky　down　my　throat。　It　burned　like　hell。　I　looked　down　at　my　hands。　They　were　trembling。
　There　are　some　people　who　won't　stay　dead。　It　doesn't　make　any　difference　what　you　do　to　them。　You　can　bury　them　in　the　ground；　dump　them　into　the　ocean　or　cremate　them。　But　the　memory　of　them　will　still　turn　your　guts　into　mush　just　as　if　they　were　still　alive。
　I　remembered　what　my　father　said　to　me　one　morning　down　at　the　corral　in　back　of　the　house。　It　was　a　little　while　after　his　marriage　to　Rina　and　I'd　e　down　one　morning　to　watch　Nevada　break　a　new　bronc。　It　was　along　about　five　o'clock　and　the　fast　morning　sun　was　just　raising　its　head　over　the　desert。
　The　bronc　was　a　mean　one；　a　wiry；　nasty　little　black　bastard　that；　every　time　it　threw　Nevada；　went　after　him　with　slashing　hoofs　and　teeth。　The　last　time　it　threw　him；　it　even　tried　to　roll　on　him。　Nevada　scrambled　out　of　the　way　and　just　did　make　it　over　the　fence。
　He　stood　there　leaning　against　the　fence　and　breathing　heavily　while　the　Mex　boys　chased　the　bronc。　Their　shrill　whoops　and　yells　split　the　morning　air。　〃He's　a　crazy　one；〃　Nevada　said。
　〃What're　you　going　to　do　with　him？〃　I　asked　curiously。　It　wasn't　often　I　saw　Nevada　take　three　falls　in　a　row。
　The　Mexicans　had　the　horse　now　and　Nevada　watched　them　lead　it　back。　〃Try　him　once　more；〃　he　answered　thoughtfully。　〃An'　if　that　doesn't　work；　turn　him　loose。〃
　My　father's　voice　came　from　behind　us。　〃That's　just　what　he　wants　you　to　do。〃
　Nevada　and　I　turned。　My　father　was　already　dressed　as　if　he　was　going　straight　to　the　plant。　He　was　wearing　his　black　suit　and　the　tie　was　neatly　centered　in　the　thickly　starched　white　collar　of　his　shirt。　〃Why　don't　you　put　a　clamp　on　his　muzzle　so　he　can't　snap　at　you？〃
　Nevada　looked　at　him。　〃Ain't　nobody　can　git　near　enough　to　that　hoss　without　losin'　an　arm。〃
　〃Nonsense！〃　my　father　said　tersely。　He　took　a　short　lariat　from　the　pegs　on　the　fence　and　ducking　between　the　bars；　stepped　out　into　the　corral。　I　could　see　his　hands　working　the　rope　into　a　small　halter　as　he　walked　toward　the　horse。
　The　bronc　stood　there　pawing　the　ground；　its　eyes　watching　my　father　balefully。　The　Mexicans　tightened　their　grip　on　the　lariats　around　the　horse's　neck。　The　bronc　reared　back　as　my　father　brought　the　loop　up　to　catch　it　around　the　muzzle。　At　the　same　time；　it　lashed　out　with　its　forefeet。　Father　just　got　out　of　the　way　in　time。
　He　stood　there　for　a　moment；　staring　into　the　horse's　eyes；　then　reached　up　again。　The　bronc　shook　its　head　wildly　and　slashed　savagely　at　my　father's　arm。　Again　the　hoofs　lashed　out；　just　missing　Father。
　The　bronc　was　really　wild　now；　twisting　and　turning　as　if　there　were　a　rider　on　it。　The　Mexicans　leaned　on　their　lariats　to　hold　it　still。　After　a　moment；　it　was　quiet　and　Father　walked　back　to　it。
　〃You　ornery　son　of　a　bitch；〃　my　father　said　quietly。　The　bronc　bared　its　teeth　and　snapped　at　him。　Father　seemed　to　move　his　arm　just　a　fraction　of　an　inch　and　the　bronc's　head　flashed　by　his　arm。　〃Let　him　go；〃　my　father　yelled　to　the　Mexicans。
　The　two　boys　looked　at　each　other　for　a　moment；　then　shrugging　in　that　almost　imperceptible　manner　they　had　to　absolve　themselves　of　responsibility；　let　up　on　their　lariats。
　Free　of　restraint；　the　bronc　was　motionless　for　a　fraction　of　a　second；　bewildered。　My　father　stood　there　in　front　of　him；　tall　and　broad　in　his　black　suit。　Their　eyes　were　about　on　a　level。　Then　slowly　my　father　started　to　bring　his　hand　up　again　and　the　bronc　exploded；　its　eyes　flashing；　its　teeth　bared；　as　it　reared　back　and　struck　out　with　its　hoofs。　This　time；　my　father　stepped　back　and　then　darted　as　the　bronc　came　down。
　I　saw　my　father's　clenched　fist　hanging　high　in　the　air　over　his　head　for　a　flashing　second。　The　bronc's　four　hoofs　struck　the　ground　and　Father's　fist　came　down　like　a　hammer；　just　over　the　bronc's　eyes。　The　thud　of　the　blow　echoed　back　against　the　side　of　the　house　like　a　small　explosion。　The　bronc　stood　there　for　a　moment；　then　sagged　slowly　to　its　knees；　its　front　legs　crumpling　as　if　they　had　suddenly　turned　to　rubber。
　Quickly　my　father　walked　around　to　the　side　and　slapped　his　open　palm　against　the　bronc's　neck。　The　horse　toppled　over　on　its　side。　For　a　moment；　it　lay　there；　its　sides　heaving；　then　it　raised　its　head　and　looked　up　at　my　father。　The　four　of　us　…　t