hr.thecarpetbaggers-第84节

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　all。　But　he's　pletely　covered　by　his　stock　and　debentures。〃
　〃You're　right；〃　McAllister　agreed。　〃You　have　no　guarantee；　but　then；　neither　has　he　any　guarantee　about　what　his　stock　will　be　worth　if　your　operation　of　the　pany　should　prove　unsuccessful。　As　I　see　it；　it's　up　to　you　two　to　make　it　work。〃
　〃But　if　the　study　David　made　is　correct；〃　Dan　continued；　〃we　won't　be　halfway　through　our　first　picture　before　we'll　be　unable　to　meet　our　weekly　payroll。　I　don't　know　what　got　into　Jonas。　You　can't　make　million…dollar　pictures　without　money。〃
　〃Who　says　we　have　to　make　million…dollar　pictures？〃　David　asked　quietly。
　Suddenly；　the　whole　pattern　was　very　clear。　Now　he　was　beginning　to　understand　what　Jonas　had　done。　At　first；　he　had　felt　a　disappointment　at　not　being　put　in　charge　of　the　studio。　He　would　have　liked　the　title　of　President　on　his　door。　But　Cord　had　cut　through　the　whole　business　like　a　knife　through　butter。　In　reality；　the　studio　was　only　a　factory　turning　out　the　product　of　the　pany。　Administration；　sales　and　theaters　were　under　his　control　and　that　was　where　the　money　came　from。　Money　always　dictated　studio　policy　and　he　controlled　the　money。
　〃For　a　million　bucks；　we　can　turn　out　ten　pictures。　And　be　taking　in　revenue　from　the　first　before　the　fifth　goes　into　production。〃
　〃Not　me；〃　Dan　said　quickly。　〃I　haven't　e　this　far　in　the　business　just　to　make　quickies。　That's　for　Republic　or　Monogram。〃
　〃Columbia；　Warners　and　RKO　aren't　too　proud；〃　David　said；　a　new　hardness　ing　into　his　voice。
　〃Let　them　if　they　want　to；〃　Dan　snapped。　〃I've　got　a　reputation　to　maintain。〃
　〃Don't　give　me　that　crap；〃　David　exploded。　〃The　only　thing　this　business　respects　is　success。　And　they　don't　care　how　you　get　it　so　long　as　it　adds　up　at　the　box　office。　The　whole　industry　knows　you　maneuvered　Cord　into　buying　the　pany　so　you　could　bee　a　producer。　You　won't　have　any　reputation　left　if　you　walk　out。〃
　〃Who　said　anything　about　walking　out？〃
　David　relaxed　in　his　chair。　A　new　feeling　of　power　came　over　him。　Now　he　understood　why　his　Uncle　Bernie　had　found　it　so　difficult　to　let　go。　He　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃You　heard　what　Cord　said。　If　you　won't　do　it；　somebody　else　will。〃
　Pierce　stared　at　him　for　a　moment；　then　looked　at　McAllister。　The　attorney's　face　was　impassive。　〃That's　all　very　well　for　you　to　say；〃　Pierce　grumbled。　〃But　while　I'm　out　there　getting　my　brains　kicked　in；　what're　you　going　to　be　doing？〃
　〃Seeing　to　it　that　we　survive　long　enough　for　you　to　get　your　production　program　working；〃　David　answered。
　〃How？〃　McAllister　asked；　an　interested　look　ing　over　his　face。
　〃Tomorrow　I'm　laying　off　forty　per　cent　of　personnel　throughout　the　pany。〃
　〃That's　pretty　drastic；〃　McAllister　said。　〃Will　you　be　able　to　function　under　those　conditions？〃
　David　watched　the　attorney's　face。　This　was　another　kind　of　test。　〃We'll　be　able　to　function；〃　he　said　quietly。
　〃That's　no　way　to　make　friends；〃　Pierce　injected。
　〃I　couldn't　care　less；〃　David　replied　caustically。　〃I'm　not　trying　to　win　a　popularity　contest。　And　that　will　be　only　the　beginning。　I　don't　care　who　gets　hurt　…　the　pany　is　going　to　survive。〃
　For　a　moment；　the　attorney　stared　at　him。　Then　David　saw　a　frosty　glimmer　of　a　smile　lurking　deep　in　his　eyes。　McAllister　turned　to　Dan。　〃What　do　you　think？〃
　Dan　was　smiling。　〃I　think　we'll　make　it。　Why　do　you　think　Jonas　wanted　him　to　stick　around？〃
　McAllister　reached　into　his　brief　case。　〃There's　your　contract；〃　he　said　to　David。　〃Jonas　wants　you　to　sign　it　tonight。〃
　David　stared　at　the　lawyer。　〃What　about　Dan？〃
　McAllister　smiled。　〃Dan　signed　his　the　day　of　the　board　meeting。〃
　For　a　moment；　David　felt　anger　climbing　up　inside　him。　The　whole　thing　had　been　an　act。　They　had　put　him　through　the　wringer　just　to　see　what　would　happen。　Then　he　drew　in　his　breath。　What　difference　did　it　make？　He　reached　for　the　fountain　pen　the　attorney　held　out　toward　him。
　This　was　only　the　beginning。　They　were　still　outsiders　and　it　would　be　a　long　time　before　they　knew　as　much　about　the　pany　as　he　did。　And　by　that　time；　it　wouldn't　matter　any　more。
　Once　he　signed　the　contract；　he　was　in　charge。
　
　The　connecting　door　between　his　room　and　his　uncle's　opened　and　light　spilled　through　into　the　darkness。　〃Are　you　in　there；　David？〃
　He　sat　up　on　the　bed　and　swung　his　feet　to　the　floor。　He　reached　out　and　turned　on　the　lamp　next　to　the　bed。　〃Yes；　Uncle　Bernie。〃
　Norman　came　into　the　room。　〃Nu？〃　he　said。　〃You　saw　him？〃
　David　nodded；　reaching　for　a　cigarette。　〃I　saw　him。〃　He　lit　the　cigarette。　〃He　looks　terrible。　Rina's　death　must　have　hit　him　pretty　hard。〃
　The　old　man　laughed。　〃Sorry　for　him　I　can't　feel；〃　he　said　bitterly。　〃Not　after　what　he's　done　to　me。〃　He　took　a　cigar　from　his　pocket　and　stuck　it　into　his　mouth　unlit。　〃He　offered　you　a　job；　no？〃
　David　nodded。
　〃What　job？〃
　〃Executive　vice…president。〃
　His　uncle　raised　his　eyebrows。　〃That　so？〃　he　asked　interestedly。　〃Who's　president？〃
　〃Dan　Pierce。　He's　going　to　make　the　pictures。　I'm　to　run　everything　else　…　administration；　sales　and　theaters。〃
　The　cigar　bobbed　up　and　down　excitedly　in　the　old　man's　mouth。　A　broad　smile　came　over　his　face。　〃My　boy；　I'm　proud　of　you。〃　He　clapped　his　hand　on　David's　shoulder。　〃I　always　said　someday　you'd　amount　to　something。〃
　David　looked　at　his　uncle　in　surprise。　This　wasn't　the　reaction　he　had　expected。　An　accusation　of　betrayal　would　have　been　more　like　it。　〃You　are？〃
　〃Of　course　I　am；〃　Bernie　said　enthusiastically。　〃What　else　did　I　expect　of　my　own　sister's　son？〃
　David　stared　up　at　him。　〃I　thought…　〃
　〃Thought？〃　the　old　man　said；　still　smiling。　〃What　difference　does　it　make　what　you　thought？　Bygones　is　bygones。　Now　we　can　really　put　our　heads　together。　I'll　show　you　ways　to　make　money　you　never　dreamed　about。〃
　〃Make　money？〃
　〃Sure；〃　Bernie　replied；　lowering　his　voice　to　a　confidential　tone。　〃A　goyishe　kopf　is　always　a　goyishe　kopf。　With　you　in　charge；　who　will　know　what's　going　on？　Tomorrow；　I'll　let　all　the　suppliers　know　the　old　deal　is　still　on。　Only　now　you　get　twenty…five　per　cent　of　the　kickback。〃
　〃Twenty…five　per　cent？〃
　〃What's　the　matter？〃　Bernie　asked　shrewdly。　〃Twenty…five　per　cent　isn't　enough　for　you？〃
　David　didn't　answer。
　〃So　your　Uncle　Bernie　ain't　a　chazer。　All　right。　Fifty；　then。〃
　David　ground　out　his　cigarette　in　the　ash　tray。　He　got　to　his　feet　and　walked　silently　to　the　window。　He　looked　down　into　the　park　across　the　street。
　〃What's　the　matter？〃　his　uncle　said　behind　him。　〃Fifty…fifty　ain't　fair？　You　owe　me　something。　If　it　wasn't　for　me；　you'd　never　have　got　this　job。〃
　David　felt　his　bitterness　rise　up　into　his　throat。　He　turned　and　looked　at　the　old　man。　〃I　owe　you　something？〃　he　said　angrily。　〃Something　for　all　those　years　you　kept　me　hustling　my　tail　off　for　a　lousy　three　fifty　a　week？　Every　time　I　asked　you　for　more　money　you　cried　about　how　much　the　pany　was　losing。　And　all　the　time；　you　were　siphoning　off　a　million　bucks　a　year　into　your　own　pocket。〃
　〃That　was　different；〃　the　old　man　said。　〃You　don't　understand。〃
　David　laughed。　〃I　understand　all　right；　Uncle　Bernie。　What　I　understand　is　that　you've　got　fifteen　million　dollars　free　and　clear。　If　you　live　to　be　a　thousand；　you　couldn't　spend　all　you've　got。　And　still　you　want　more。〃
　〃So　what's　wrong　with　that？〃　Bernie　demanded。　〃I　worked　for　it。　I'm　entitled　to　it。　You　want　I　should　let　go　everything　just　because　some　shlemiel　screwed　me　out　of　my　own　business？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃You　take　the　side　of　that…　that　Nazi　against　your　own　flesh　and　blood？〃　the　old　man　shrieked　at　him；　his　face　flushing　angrily。
　David　stared　at　the　old　man。　〃I　don't　have　to　take　sides；　Uncle　Bernie；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃You　yourself　have　admitted　it's　not　your　pany　any　more。〃
　〃But　you're　running　the　pany。〃
　〃That's　right。〃　David　nodded。　〃I'm　running　the　pany。　Not　you。〃
　〃Then　you're　keeping　everything　for　yourself？〃　the　old　man　said　accusingly。
　David　turned　his　back　on　his　uncle；　without　speaking。　For　a　moment；　there　was　silence；　then　his　uncle's　voice。　〃You're　even　worse　than　him；〃　Bernie　said　bitterly。　〃At　least；　he　wasn't　stealing　from　his　own　flesh　and　blood。〃
　〃Leave　me　alone；　Uncle　Bernie；〃　David　said　without　turning　around。　〃I'm　tired。　I　want　to　get　some　sleep。〃
　He　heard　the　old　man's　footsteps　cross　the　room　and　the　door　slam　angrily　behind　him。　He　leaned　his　head　wearily　against　the　side　of　the　window。　So　that　was　why　the　old　man　hadn't　gone　back　to　California　right　after　the　meeting。　He　felt　a　lump　e　into　his　throat。　He　didn't　know　why　but　suddenly　he　felt　like　crying。
　The　faint　sound　of　a　clanging　bell　came　floating　up　to　him　from　the　street。　He　moved　his　head　slightly；　looking　out　of　the　window。　The　clanging　grew　louder　as　an　ambulance　turned　west　on　to　Fifty…ninth　from　Fifth　Avenue。　He　turned　and　walked　slowly　from　the　window　back　into　the　room；　the　clanging　growing　fainter　in　his　ears。　All　his　life　it　had　been　like　that；　somehow。
　When　he　rode　up　front　on　the　junk　wagon；　with　his　father　sitting　next　to　him　on　the　hard　wooden　seat；　it　had　seemed　that　was　the　only　sound　he'd　ever　heard。　The　clanging　of　a　bell。
　
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　THE　COWBELLS　SUSPENDED　ACROSS　THE　WAGON　behind　him　cla