hr.thecarpetbaggers-第96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！


　He　turned　to　Rosa。　〃Sorry　to　bust　in　on　your　party　like　this；　Doc；〃　he　said。　〃But　it　was　good　seeing　you　again。〃
　〃That's　all　right；　Mr。　Schwartz。〃
　They　watched　Irving　walk　over　to　the　curb　and　get　into　his　car；　a　Cadillac　convertible。　He　started　the　motor　and　looked　up　at　them。　〃Hey；　you　two。　Yuh　know　what？〃
　〃What？〃　David　asked。
　Irving　grinned。　〃Like　your　Mama　would　say；　yon　make　a　nice…looking　couple。〃
　They　watched　him　turn　the　corner；　then　David　looked　at　Rosa。　It　seemed　to　him　that　her　face　was　slightly　flushed。　He　took　her　arm。　〃My　car　is　across　tike　street。〃
　She　was　silent　almost　the　whole　way　to　the　hospital。　'Something　bothering　you；　Doc？〃　he　asked。
　〃Now　you're　doing　it；〃　she　said。　〃Everybody　calls　me　Doc。　I　liked　it　better　when　you　called　me　Rosa。〃
　He　smiled。　〃What's　on　your　mind；　Rosa？〃
　She　looked　down　at　the　dashboard　of　the　car。　〃We　came　all　the　way　to　America　to　get　away　from　them。〃
　〃Them？〃　David　asked。
　〃The　same　as　in　Germany；〃　she　said　tersely。　〃The　Nazis。　The　gangsters。　They're　the　same；　really。　They　both　say　the　same　things。　Take　us　or　you'll　get　the　munists。　And　we'll　be　easier　to　get　along　with；　you　can　deal　with　us。〃　She　looked　up　at　him。　〃But　what　do　you　say　when　you　find　they've　taken　everything　away　from　you？　That　was　the　gimmick　they　used　to　take　over　Germany。　To　save　it　from　the　munists。〃
　〃You're　intimating　my　friend　Irving　Schwartz　is　a　Nazi？〃
　She　stared　at　him。　〃No；　your　friend　is　not　a　Nazi；〃　she　said　seriously。　〃But　the　same　insanity　for　power　motivates　him。　Your　friend　is　a　very　dangerous　man。　He　carries　a　gun；　did　you　know　that？〃
　David　nodded。　〃I　saw　it。〃
　〃I　wonder　what　he　would　have　done　it　you'd　refused　him；〃　she　said　softly。
　〃Nothing。　Needlenose　wouldn't　harm　me。〃
　Again　her　gray　eyes　flashed　at　him。　〃No；　not　with　a　gun；〃　she　said　quickly。　〃Against　you；　he　has　other　weapons。　Economic　weapons　that　could　bankrupt　your　business。　But　a　man　does　not　carry　a　gun　if　he　does　not　intend　to　use　it；　sooner　or　later。〃
　David　stopped　the　car　in　front　of　the　hospital。　〃What　do　you　think　I　should　have　done？　Refuse　to　make　a　deal　with　Irving　and　let　everything　I've　worked　for　all　these　years　go　to　pot？　Ruin　every　lousy　investor　who　has　put　his　faith　and　money　in　the　pany？　Put　our　employees　out　on　the　streets　looking　for　jobs？　Is　that　what　I　should　have　done？　Is　it　my　fault　that　my　employees　haven't　brains　enough　to　choose　decent　representatives　and　see　to　it　that　they　have　an　honest　union？〃　Without　realizing　it；　his　voice　had　risen　in　anger。
　Suddenly；　she　leaned　over　and　put　her　hand　on　his　where　it　rested　on　the　wheel。　Her　hand　was　warm　and　firm。　〃No；　of　course　it's　not　your　fault；〃　she　said　quickly。　〃You　did　what　you　thought　was　right。〃
　A　doorman　came　down　the　long　steps　and　opened　the　car　door。　〃Good　evening；　Dr。　Strassmer。〃
　〃Good　evening；　Porter；〃　she　said。　She　straightened　up　and　looked　at　David。　〃Would　you　like　to　e　in　and　see　where　I　work？〃
　〃I　don't　want　to　get　in　your　way。　I　don't　mind　waiting　here　if　you'd　rather。〃
　She　smiled　and　pressed　his　hand　suddenly。　〃Please　e；〃　she　said。　〃It　would　make　me　feel　happier。　Then；　at　least；　I'd　know　you　weren't　angry　at　me　for　putting　my　…　how　do　you　say　it　…　two　cents　into　your　business。〃
　He　laughed；　and　still　holding　his　hand；　she　got　out　of　the　car　and　led　him　up　the　steps　to　the　hospital。
　
　He　stood　in　the　doorway　and　watched　as　she　gently　lifted　the　bandage　from　the　child's　face。　She　held　out　her　hand　silently　and　the　nurse　took　a　swab　from　a　bottle　and　handed　it　to　her。　〃This　may　hurt　a　little；　Mary；〃　she　said。　〃But　you　won't　move　or　talk；　will　you？〃
　The　girl　shook　her　head。
　〃All　right；　then；〃　Rosa　said。　〃Now　we'll　be　still；　very　still。〃　Her　voice　murmured；　low　and　soothing；　as　her　hand　quickly　traced　the　edge　of　the　girl's　lips　with　the　swab。　David　saw　the　child's　eyes　fill　with　sudden　tears。　For　a　moment；　he　thought　she　was　going　to　move　her　head　but　she　didn't。
　〃That's　fine；〃　Rosa　said　softly　as　the　nurse　took　the　swab　from　her　hand。　〃You're　a　brave　girl。〃　The　nurse　efficiently　replaced　the　bandage　across　the　girl's　mouth。　〃Tomorrow　morning；　we'll　take　off　the　bandage　and　you'll　be　able　to　go　home。〃
　The　girl　reached　for　a　pad　and　pencil　on　the　table　next　to　her　bed。　She　scribbled　quickly　for　a　moment；　then　handed　it　to　Rosa。　She　looked　down　at　the　paper　and　smiled。　〃Tomorrow　morning；　after　the　bandage　es　off。〃
　David　saw　the　sudden　smile　that　leaped　into　the　child's　eyes。　Rosa　turned　to　him　as　they　walked　down　the　corridor。　〃We　can　go　back　to　your　mother's　now。〃
　〃That　was　a　pretty　little　girl；〃　he　said　as　they　waited　for　the　elevator。
　〃Yes。〃
　〃What　was　the　matter　with　her？〃
　She　looked　at　him。　〃Harelip；〃　she　said。　〃The　child　was　born　with　it。〃　A　note　of　quiet　pride　came　into　her　voice。　〃Now　she'll　be　just　like　anyone　else。　No　one　will　stare　at　her　or　laugh　when　she　talks。〃
　The　door　opened　and　they　stepped　into　the　elevator。　David　pressed　the　button　and　the　door　closed。　He　noticed　the　note　the　girl　had　given　Rosa　still　in　her　hand。　He　took　it　from　her。　It　was　in　a　childish　scrawl。　〃When　will　I　be　able　to　talk？〃
　He　looked　at　Rosa。　〃It　must　make　you　feel　good。〃
　She　nodded。　〃Plastic　surgery　isn't　all　nose　jobs；　or　double…chin　corrections　for　movie　stars。　The　important　part　is　helping　people　so　they　can　live　normal　lives。　Like　Mary　up　there。　You've　no　idea　how　a　deformity　like　that　can　affect　a　child's　life。〃
　A　new　respect　for　her　grew　in　him　as　they　crossed　the　lobby　toward　the　front　door。　The　doorman　touched　his　cap。　〃I'll　get　your　car；　sir。〃
　As　he　ran　down　the　steps　and　crossed　over　to　the　parking　lot；　a　big　limousine　came　to　a　stop　in　front　of　them。　David　glanced　at　it　casually；　then　turned　toward　Rosa。　He　pulled　a　package　of　cigarettes　from　his　pocket。　〃Cigarette；　Rosa？〃
　He　heard　the　limousine　door　open　behind　him　as　Rosa　took　the　cigarette。　He　put　one　in　his　own　mouth　and　held　a　light　for　her。　〃You　wanted　to　see　me；　David？〃
　David　spun　around；　almost　dropping　his　lighter。　He　saw　the　white　blur　of　a　shirt；　then　a　head　and　shoulders　appeared　in　the　open　doorway　of　the　limousine。　It　was　Jonas　Cord。　David　stared　at　him　silently。
　Involuntarily　David　glanced　at　Rosa。　There　was　a　strange　look　in　her　eyes。　He　thought　she　might　be　frightened　and　his　hand　reached　out　for　her。
　Jonas'　voice　was　a　quiet　chuckle　behind　him。　〃It's　all　right；　David；〃　he　said。　〃You　can　bring　Rosa　with　you。〃
　
　12
　
　ROSA　SANK　BACK　ONTO　THE　SEAT　IN　THE　CORNER　OF　THE　LIMOUSINE。　She　glanced　at　David　sitting　next　to　her；　then　at　Jonas。　It　was　dark　inside　the　car　and　occasionally　the　light　from　an　overhead　street　lamp　would　flicker　across　Jonas'　face　as　he　sat　facing　them　on　the　jump　seat；　his　long　legs　stretched　across　the　Tonen。
　〃How　is　your　father；　Rosa？〃
　〃He　is　fine；　Mr。　Cord。　He　speaks　of　you　often。〃
　She　sensed　rather　than　saw　his　smile。　〃Give　him　my　best　when　you　see　him。〃
　〃I　will　do　that；　Mr。　Cord；〃　she　said。
　The　big　automobile　picked　up　speed　as　they　came　out　on　the　Coast　Highway。　Rosa　glanced　out　of　the　window。　They　were　going　north　toward　Santa　Barbara；　away　from　Los　Angeles。
　〃McAllister　said　you　wanted　to　see　me；　David。〃
　She　felt　David　stir　on　the　seat　beside　her。　He　leaned　forward。　〃We've　gone　about　as　far　as　we　can　on　our　own；　Jonas。　If　we're　to　go　any　further；　we'll　need　your　O。K。〃
　Jonas'　voice　was　emotionless。　〃Why　go　any　further？〃　he　asked。　〃I'm　satisfied　with　the　way　things　are。　You've　eliminated　your　operating　losses　and　from　now　on；　you　should　be　in　the　black。〃
　〃We　won't　stay　in　the　black　for　long。　The　unions　are　demanding　increases　or　they'll　strike。　That　will　absorb　any　profits。〃
　〃Let　them；〃　Jonas　said；　his　voice　still　emotionless。　〃You　don't　have　to　give　it　to　them。〃
　〃I　already　did；〃　David　answered。
　Rosa　could　almost　hear　the　moment's　silence。　She　looked　from　one　to　the　other；　though　she　couldn't　see　their　faces。
　〃You　did？〃　Jonas　said　quietly；　but　an　undercurrent　of　coldness　had　e　into　his　voice。　〃I　thought　union　negotiations　were　Dan's　province。''
　David's　voice　was　steady。　There　was　a　cautious　note　in　it　but　it　was　the　caution　used　by　a　man　seeking　his　way　through　unknown　territory；　not　that　of　fear。　〃It　was；　until　tonight；〃　he　said。　〃Until　it　affected　the　welfare　of　the　pany。　Then　it　became　my　business。〃
　〃Why　couldn't　Dan　settle　it？〃
　〃Because　you　never　replied　to　his　messages；〃　David　said　quietly。　〃He　felt　he　couldn't　make　a　deal　without　your　approval。〃
　〃And　you　felt　differently？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　Jonas'　voice　grew　colder。　〃What　makes　you　think　you　don't　need　my　approval　any　more　than　he　does？〃
　She　heard　a　click　as　David　flicked　his　lighter　and　held　the　flame　to　his　cigarette。　Light　danced　across　his　face　for　a　moment；　then　went　out。　The　cigarette　glowed　in　the　dark。　〃Because　I　assumed　that　if　you'd　wanted　me　to　bankrupt　the　pany；　you'd　have　told　me　so　two　years　ago。〃
　Jonas　ignored　the　answer。　〃What　else　did　you　want　to　see　me　about？〃
　〃The　government's　starting　that　antitrust　business　again；〃　David　said。　〃They　want　us　to　separate　the　theaters　from　the　studio。　I　sent　you　all　the　pertinent　data　some　time　ago。　We'll　have　to　give　them　an　answer。〃
　Jonas　sounded　uninterested。　〃I've　already　told　Mac