hr.thecarpetbaggers-第99节

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　〃I'll　be　glad　to　relay　your　suggestion　to　Mr。　Cord。〃
　〃That　won't　be　necessary；〃　Sheffield　said。　〃We　are　certain；　because　of　his　refusal　to　reply　to　our　requests　for　a　meeting；　that　he　is　not　interested。〃
　〃In　that　case；　why　did　you　e　to　me？〃　David　asked。　Now　the　preliminaries　were　over；　they　were　getting　down　to　the　heart　of　things。
　Sheffield　leaned　forward。　〃We　feel　that　the　success　of　this　pany　is　directly　attributed　to　you　and　your　policies。　We　have　the　highest　regard　for　your　ability　and　would　like　to　see　you　take　your　proper　place　in　the　pany　as　chief　executive　officer。〃　He　ground　out　his　cigarette　in　the　ash　tray　before　him。　〃With　proper　authority　and　pensation；　of　course。〃
　David　stared　at　him。　The　world　on　a　silver　platter。　〃That's　very　gratifying；〃　he　said　cautiously。　〃What　if　I　were　to　ask　you　to　leave　things　as　they　are？　What　if　I　were　to　persuade　Mr。　Cord　to　adopt　some　of　your　suggestions？　Would　that　be　satisfactory　to　you？〃
　Sheffield　shook　his　head。　〃With　all　due　respect　to　your　sincerity　…　no。　You　see；　we're　firmly　convinced　that　Cord　is　detrimental　to　the　progress　of　this　pany。〃
　〃Then　you'd　launch　a　proxy　fight　if　I　didn't　go　along　with　you？〃
　〃I　doubt　that　it　would　be　necessary；〃　Sheffield　said。　〃I　have　already　mentioned　that　we　own　a　considerable　amount　of　the　stock　outstanding。　Certain　brokers　have　pledged　us　an　additional　five　per　cent。〃　He　took　a　paper　from　his　pocket　and　handed　it　to　David。　〃And　here　is　a　mitment　from　Mr。　Bonner　to　sell　us　all　of　the　stock　in　his　possession　on　December　fifteenth；　the　day　of　the　annual　meeting；　next　week。　Mr。　Bonner's　ten　per　cent　of　the　stock　brings　our　total　to　thirty…eight　per　cent。　With　or　without　the　five　per　cent　you　own；　we　have　more　than　sufficient　stock　to　take　control　of　the　pany。　Even　with　proxies；　Mr。　Cord　would　not　be　able　to　vote　more　than　thirty　per　cent　of　the　stock。〃
　David　picked　up　the　sheet　of　paper　and　looked　at　it。　It　was　a　firm　mitment；　all　right。　And　it　was　Bonner's　signature。　He　pushed　the　paper　back　to　Sheffield　silently。　Suddenly；　he　remembered　the　old　Norman　warehouse；　where　he　had　first　gone　to　work。　The　king　must　die。　But　now　it　was　no　mere　platform　boss；　it　was　Jonas。　Until　this　moment；　he　had　never　let　himself　think　about　it。　Jonas　had　seemed　invulnerable。
　But　all　that　had　changed。　Jonas　was　slipping。　And　what　Sheffield　was　saying　in　effect　was；　string　along　with　us　and　we'll　make　you　king。　David　took　a　deep　breath。　Why　shouldn't　it　be　he？　It　was　something　he　had　felt　ever　since　that　first　day　in　the　warehouse。
　
　Rosa　put　the　newspaper　down　on　the　bed　and　reached　for　a　cigarette。　She　looked　at　the　clock。　It　was　after　eight。　That　made　it　after　eleven　o'clock　in　New　York。　David　should　have　called　by　now。　Usually；　if　he　expected　to　be　out　late；　he　would　let　her　know。
　Could　something　have　happened　to　him？　Could　he　be　lying　hurt　in　the　streets　of　New　York；　three　thousand　miles　away；　and　she'd　never　know　until　it　was　too　late？
　She　picked　up　the　telephone　and　called　him　at　his　hotel　in　New　York。　She　heard　the　rapid　relay　of　the　telephone　across　the　country；　then　the　phone　ringing　in　his　suite。　It　rang　for　a　long　time。
　〃Hello；〃　he　said。　His　voice　was　low　and　cautious。
　〃David；　are　you　all　right？〃
　〃I'm　fine；〃　he　said。
　〃I　was　worried。　Why　didn't　you　call？〃
　〃I'm　in　the　middle　of　a　meeting。〃
　〃Oh。　Are　you　alone？　Are　you　in　the　bedroom？〃
　〃Yes；〃　he　answered；　in　the　same　low；　cautious　voice。　〃I'm　in　the　bedroom。〃
　〃Are　you　sitting　on　the　bed？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃I'm　lying　on　the　bed。〃　She　waited　for　him　to　ask　the　usual　question。　This　time　he　didn't；　so　she　told　him；　anyway。　〃I　have　nothing　on；〃　she　whispered。　A　sudden　warmth　rose　up　in　her。　〃Oh；　David；　I　miss　you　so。　I　wish　you　were　here　beside　me。〃
　She　heard　the　faint　sound　of　a　striking　match。　〃I'll　be　out　there　by　the　end　of　the　week。〃
　〃I　can't　wait；　David。　Can　you？〃
　〃No；〃　he　said；　still　cautiously。
　〃Stretch　out　on　the　bed　for　a　moment；　David；〃　she　whispered。　〃I　want　you　to　feel　me　as　I　feel　you。〃
　〃Rosa…　〃
　〃Oh；　David；〃　she　whispered；　interrupting。　〃I　can　see　you　now。　Hard　and　strong。　I　can　feel　you　pouring　life　into　me。〃　She　closed　her　eyes　against　the　flush　of　heat　spreading　upward　from　her　loins。　She　could　hear　his　breathing　in　the　telephone。　〃David；〃　she　whispered。　〃I　cannot　wait。〃
　〃Rosa！〃　His　voice　was　harsh。　〃I…　〃
　Her　voice　was　warm　and　languid。　〃Freud　would　have　a　wonderful　time　with　me；〃　she　whispered。　〃Are　you　angry　with　me；　David；　for　being　so　greedy？〃
　〃No；〃　he　said。
　She　took　a　deep　breath。　〃I'm　glad；〃　she　said。　〃I　have　wonderful　news　to　tell　you；　darling。〃
　〃Can　it　wait　until　tomorrow；　Rosa？〃　he　said　quickly。　〃I'm　in　the　middle　of　an　important　meeting。〃
　She　hesitated　in　stunned　silence。
　He　took　it　for　acquiescence。　〃That's　a　good　girl；　darling；〃　he　said。　〃Bye　now。〃
　There　was　a　click　and　he　was　off　the　line　before　she　could　answer。　She　stared　at　the　telephone　in　bewilderment　for　a　moment；　then　put　it　down　slowly。
　She　reached　for　the　cigarette　still　smoldering　in　the　ash　tray。　The　acrid　smoke　burned　in　her　throat。　Angrily　she　ground　it　out。　She　turned　her　face　into　the　pillow　and　lay　there　silently。
　I　shouldn't　have　called　him；　she　thought。　He　said　he　was　busy。　She　got　up　from　the　bed　and　went　into　the　bathroom。　She　looked　at　herself　in　the　mirror。
　You　ought　to　be　able　to　understand；　she　told　herself。　There　have　been　times　you've　been　too　busy　to　e　to　the　telephone　when　he　called。　You；　of　all　people。
　Almost　surprised；　she　saw　the　tears　well　up　into　her　eyes　and　begin　to　run　down　her　cheeks。　Then　they　overwhelmed　her　and　she　sank　to　her　knees；　her　face　against　the　cold　porcelain　bathtub。　She　covered　her　face　with　her　hands。
　Was　this　what　it　meant　to　be　a　woman？
　
　14
　
　MAURICE　BONNER　SAT　UP　IN　THE　BED　AND　WATCHED　THE　GIRL　WALK　OVER　TO　A　CHAIR　AND　SIT　DOWN。　He　studied　her　appreciatively。　The　girl　was　naked。　And　beautiful。　The　strong；　full　breasts　resting　on　the　finely　boned　rib　cage。　The　flat；　hard　stomach　swelling　abruptly　into　the　surprising　rise　of　her　pubis；　then　tapering　gently　into　the　thighs　of　her　long；　slim　legs。
　He　watched　the　muscles　of　her　back　suddenly　e　into　play　as　she　turned　to　pick　up　a　pack　of　cigarettes　from　the　table。　He　nodded　to　himself。　She　was　beautiful；　all　right。　Perhaps　not　in　the　ordinary　sense　of　the　word　but　beautiful　as　a　whore　had　any　right　to　be。　And　never　was。
　〃Christ；　you're　ugly；〃　the　girl　said；　looking　at　him。
　He　grinned；　exposing　the　crooked；　uneven　teeth　in　his　long　horse　face。　What　she　said　was　nothing　new。　He　was　not　unaware　of　it　himself；　he　could　see　it　in　his　mirror。　He　threw　back　the　sheet　and　got　out　of　bed。
　〃Here；　cover　yourself；〃　the　girl　said；　flinging　a　towel　at　him。　〃You　look　like　an　ape　with　your　cock　hanging　down　like　that。〃　He　caught　the　towel　deftly　and　wrapped　it　around　his　waist。　〃Was　it　any　good？〃　he　asked　curiously；　taking　a　cigarette　from　the　package。
　She　didn't　answer。
　〃Was　it　worth　it？〃
　〃I　guess　it　was；〃　she　said　unemotionally。
　He　went　back　to　the　bed　and　sat　down　on　the　edge。　〃Is　that　all　it　is　to　you？〃　he　asked。　〃Just　another　John？〃
　She　stared　at　him。　〃You're　supposed　to　be　a　pretty　hep　guy。　You　want　the　truth？〃
　He　smiled　again。　〃The　truth；　of　course。〃
　〃You're　all　the　same　to　me；〃　she　said；　meeting　his　gaze　steadily。　〃You　might　as　well　be　goosing　me　with　a　Coca…Cola　bottle　for　all　the　difference　it　makes。〃
　〃Don't　you　feel　anything；　ever？〃
　〃Sure；〃　she　answered。　〃I'm　human。　But　not　with　the　customers。　I　can't　afford　it。　They　pay　for　perfection。〃　She　ground　out　the　cigarette　in　the　tray。　〃When　I　feel　I　got　to　get　my　kicks；　I　take　a　week　off　and　go　out　to　one　of　those　dude　ranches　that　cater　to　married　women　on　holiday。　There's　always　some　cowpoke　out　there　who　thinks　he's　making　it　big　for　me。　And　he　is；　because　I　don't　have　to　give　him　the　best。　But　the　Johns　pay。　You're　entitled。〃
　〃But　aren't　you　cheating　the　Johns？〃
　She　smiled　at　him。　〃Do　you　feel　cheated？〃
　〃No；〃　he　said。　Then　he　added　quickly；　〃I　don't　know。　I　didn't　know　you　were　acting。〃
　〃I　wasn't　acting；〃　she　said；　taking　another　cigarette。　〃I　was　working。　That's　my　job。〃
　He　didn't　speak。
　She　lit　the　cigarette　and　gestured　toward　him。　〃Look；〃　she　said。　〃You　eat　a　good　dinner。　Afterwards；　you　say　to　your　friends；　that　was　a　great　steak。　The　greatest。　You　don't　mind　talking　about　it。　You　even　tell　your　friends　where　you　had　it　so　they　can　get　themselves　one。　Right？〃
　He　nodded。
　〃It's　like　that　with　me；〃　she　said。　〃You　got　a　friend。　This　time　it's　Irv　Schwartz。　You're　playing　gin　and　he　looks　at　you　and　says；　'I　had　a　great　piece　last　night。　The　greatest。　Jennie　Denton。　Give　her　a　blast。'　So　you　e　over　and　put　your　money　on　the　table。　You　climb　up；　you　climb　down。　You　get　filled　with　air　like　a　balloon　and　float　around　the　world。　I'll　bet　it's　a　long　time　since　you　popped　three　times　in　as　many　hours。　Do　you　still　feel　cheated？〃
　He　laughed；　suddenly　feeling　young　and　strong。　She　was　right。　He　hadn't　felt　like　this　in　a　long　time；　maybe　twenty　years。　He　felt　the　warmth　return　to　his　loins。　He　got　up；　letting　the　towel　fall　to　the　floor。
　She　laughed。　〃You're　younger　than　I　thought。　Look；　its　midnight。〃
　〃So？〃　He　s