mp.godfather-第87节

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f　she　were　ready　to　bite　the　nearest　object　of　her　obvious　passion。　She　resembled　nothing　so　much　as　a　female　animal　in　heat；　but　it　was　a　deliberate　act。　Johnny　Fontane　thought；　oh；　Christ；　one　of　them。　It　was　the　most　popular　approach　of　women　who　wanted　to　take　him　to　bed。　It　only　worked　when　he　was　very　drunk　and　he　wasn't　drunk　now。　He　gave　the　girl　one　of　his　famous　grins　and　said；　〃Thank　you；　honey。〃　The　girl　looked　at　him　and　parted　her　lips　in　a　thank…you　smile；　her　eyes　went　all　smoky；　her　body　tensed　with　the　torso　leaning　slightly　back　from　the　long　tapering　legs　in　their　mesh　stockings。　An　enormous　tension　seemed　to　be　building　up　in　her　body；　her　breasts　seemed　to　grow　fuller　and　swell　burstingly　against　her　thin　scantily　cut　blouse。　Then　her　whole　body　gave　a　slight　quiver　that　almost　let　off　a　sexual　twang。　The　whole　impression　was　one　of　a　woman　having　an　orgasm　simply　because　Johnny　Fontane　had　smiled　at　her　and　said；　〃Thank　you；　honey。〃　It　was　very　well　done。　It　was　done　better　than　Johnny　had　ever　seen　it　done　before。　But　by　now　he　knew　it　was　fake。　And　the　odds　were　always　good　that　the　broads　who　did　it　were　a　lousy　lay。
　
　He　watched　her　go　back　to　her　chair　and　nursed　his　drink　slowly。　He　didn't　want　to　see　that　little　trick　again。　He　wasn't　in　the　mood　for　it　tonight。
　
　It　was　an　hour　before　Nino　Valenti　began　to　go。　He　started　leaning　first；　wavered　back；　and　then　plunged　off　the　chair　straight　to　the　floor。　But　the　pit　boss　and　the　relief　dealer　had　been　alerted　by　the　first　weave　and　caught　him　before　he　hit　the　ground。　They　lifted　him　and　carried　him　through　the　parted　drapes　that　led　to　the　bedroom　of　the　suite。
　
　Johnny　kept　watching　as　the　cocktail　waitress　helped　the　other　two　men　undress　Nino　and　shove　him　under　the　bed　covers。　The　pit　boss　was　counting　Nino's　chips　and　making　a　note　on　his　pad　of　chits；　then　guarding　the　table　with　its　dealer's　chips。　Johnny　said　to　him；　〃How　long　has　that　been　going　on？〃
　
　The　pit　boss　shrugged。　〃He　went　early　tonight。　The　first　time　we　got　the　house　doc　and　he　fixed　Mr。　Valenti　up　with　something　and　gave　him　some　sort　of　lecture。　Then　Nino　told　us　that　we　shouldn't　call　the　doc　when　that　happened；　just　put　him　to　bed　and　he'd　be　OK　in　the　morning。　So　that's　what　we　do。　He's　pretty　lucky；　he　was　a　winner　again　tonight；　almost　three　grand。〃
　
　Johnny　Fontane　said；　〃Well；　let's　get　the　house　doc　up　here　tonight。　OK？　Page　the　casino　floor　if　you　have　to。〃
　
　It　was　almost　fifteen　minutes　before　Jules　Segal　came　into　the　suite。　Johnny　noted　with　irritation　that　this　guy　never　looked　like　a　doctor。　Tonight　he　was　wearing　a　blue　loose…knit　polo　shirt　with　white　trim；　some　sort　of　white　suede　shoes　and　no　socks。　He　looked　funny　as　hell　carrying　the　traditional　black　doctor's　bag。
　
　Johnny　said；　〃You　oughta　figure　out　a　way　to　carry　your　stuff　in　a　cut…down　golf　bag。〃
　
　Jules　grinned　understandingly；　〃Yeah；　this　medical　school　carryall　is　a　real　drag。　Scares　the　hell　out　of　people。　They　should　change　the　color　anyway。〃
　
　He　went　over　to　where　Nino　was　lying　in　bed。　As　he　opened　his　bag　he　said　to　Johnny。　〃Thanks　for　that　check　you　sent　me　as　a　consultant。　It　was　excessive。　I　didn't　do　that　much。〃
　
　〃Like　hell　you　didn't；〃　Johnny　said。　〃Anyway；　forget　that；　that　was　a　long　time　ago。　What's　with　Nino？〃
　
　Jules　was　making　a　quick　examination　of　heartbeat；　pulse　and　blood　pressure。　He　took　a　needle　out　of　his　bag　and　shoved　it　casually　into　Nino's　arm　and　pressed　the　plunger。　Nino's　sleeping　face　lost　its　waxy　paleness；　color　came　into　the　cheeks；　as　if　the　blood　had　started　pumping　faster。
　
　〃Very　simple　diagnosis；〃　Jules　said　briskly。　〃I　had　a　chance　to　examine　him　and　run　some　tests　when　he　first　came　here　and　fainted。　I　had　him　moved　to　the　hospital　before　he　regained　consciousness。　He's　got　diabetes；　mild　adult　stabile；　which　is　no　problem　if　you　take　care　of　it　with　medication　and　diet　and　so　forth。　He　insists　on　ignoring　it。　Also　he　is　firmly　determined　to　drink　himself　to　death。　His　liver　is　going　and　his　brain　will　go。　Right　now　he's　in　a　mild　diabetic　a。　My　advice　is　to　have　him　put　away。〃
　
　Johnny　felt　a　sense　of　relief。　It　couldn't　be　too　serious；　all　Nino　had　to　do　was　take　care　of　himself。　〃You　mean　in　one　of　those　joints　where　they　dry　you　out？〃　Johnny　asked。
　
　Jules　went　over　to　the　bar　in　the　far　corner　of　the　room　and　made　himself　a　drink。　〃No；〃　he　said。　〃I　mean　mitted。　You　know；　the　crazy　house。〃
　
　〃Don't　be　funny；〃　Johnny　said。
　
　〃I'm　not　joking；〃　Jules　said。　〃I'm　not　up　on　all　the　psychiatric　jazz　but　I　know　something　about　it；　part　of　my　trade。　Your　friend　Nino　can　be　put　back　into　fairly　good　shape　unless　the　liver　damage　has　gone　too　far；　which　we　can't　know　until　an　autopsy　really。　But　the　real　disease　is　in　his　head。　In　essence　he　doesn't　care　if　he　dies；　maybe　he　even　wants　to　kill　himself。　Until　that　is　cured　there's　so　hope　for　him。　That's　why　I　say；　have　him　mitted　and　then　he　can　undergo　the　necessary　psychiatric　treatment。〃
　
　There　was　a　knock　on　the　door　and　Johnny　went　to　answer　it。　It　was　Lucy　Mancini。　She　came　into　Johnny's　arms　and　kissed　him。　〃Oh；　Johnny；　it's　so　good　to　see　you；〃　she　said。
　
　〃It's　been　a　long　time；〃　Johnny　Fontane　said。　He　noticed　that　Lucy　had　changed。　She　had　gotten　much　slimmer；　her　clothes　were　a　hell　of　a　lot　better　and　she　wore　them　better。　Her　hair　style　fitted　her　face　in　a　sort　of　boyish　cut。　She　looked　younger　and　better　than　he　had　ever　seen　her　and　the　thought　crossed　his　mind　that　she　could　keep　him　pany　here　is　Vegas。　It　would　be　a　pleasure　hanging　out　with　a　real　broad。　But　before　he　could　turn　on　the　charm　he　remembered　she　was　the　doc's　girl。　So　it　was　out。　He　made　his　smile　just　friendly　and　said；　〃What　are　you　doing　ing　to　Nino's　apartment　at　night；　eh？〃
　
　She　punched　him　in　the　shoulder。　〃I　heard　Nino　was　sick　and　that　Jules　came　up。　I　just　wanted　to　see　if　I　could　help。　Nino's　OK；　isn't　he？〃
　
　〃Sure；〃　Johnny　said。　〃He'll　be　fine。〃
　
　Jules　Segal　had　sprawled　out　on　the　couch。　〃Like　hell　he　is；〃　Jules　said。　〃I　suggest　we　all　sit　here　and　wait　for　Nino　to　e　to。　And　then　we　all　talk　him　into　mitting　himself。　Lucy；　he　likes　you；　maybe　you　can　help。　Johnny；　if　you're　a　real　friend　of　his　you'll　go　along。　Otherwise　old　Nino's　liver　will　shortly　be　exhibit　A　in　some　university　medical　lab。〃
　
　Johnny　was　offended　by　the　doctor's　flippant　attitude。　Who　the　hell　did　he　think　he　was？　He　started　to　say　so　but　Nino's　voice　came　from　the　bed；　〃Hey；　old　buddy；　how；　about　a　drink。
　
　Nino　was　sitting　up　in　bed。　He　grinned　at　Lucy　and　said；　〃Hey；　baby；　e　to　old　Nino。〃　He　held　his　arms　wide…open。　Lucy　sat　on　the　edge　of　the　bed　and　gave　him　a　hug。　Oddly　enough　Nino　didn't　look　bad　at　all　now；　almost　normal。
　
　Nino　snapped　his　fingers。　〃e　on；　Johnny；　gimme　a　drink。　The　night's　young　yet。　Where　the　hell's　my　blackjack　table？〃
　
　Jules　took　a　long　slug　from　his　own　glass　and　said　to　Nino；　〃You　can't　have　a　think。　Your　doctor　forbids　it。〃
　
　Nino　scowled。　〃Screw　my　actor。〃　Then　a　play…acting　look　of　contrition　came　on　his　face。　〃Hey；　Julie；　that's　you。　You're　my　doctor；　right？　I　don't　mean　you；　old　buddy。　Johnny；　get　me　a　drink　or　I　get　up　out　of　bed　sad　get　it　myself。〃
　
　Johnny　shrugged　and　moved　toward　the　bar。　Jules　said　indifferently；　〃I'm　saying　he　shouldn't　have　it。〃
　
　Johnny　knew　why　Jules　irritated　him。　The　doctor's　voice　was　always　cool；　the　words　never　stressed　so　matter　how　dire；　the　voice　always　low　and　controlled。　If　he　gave　a　warning　the　warning　was　in　the　words　alone；　the　voice　itself　was　neutral；　as　if　uncaring。　It　was　this　that　made　Johnny　sore　enough　to　bring　Nino　his　water　glass　of　whiskey。　Before　he　handed　it　over　he　said　to　Jules；　〃This　won't　kill　him；　right？〃
　
　〃No；　it　won't　kill　him；〃　Jules　said　calmly。　Lucy　gave　him　an　anxious　glance；　started　to　say　something；　then　kept　still。　Meanwhile　Nino　had　taken　the　whiskey　and　poured　it　down　his　throat。
　
　Johnny　was　smiling　down　at　Nino；　they　had　shown　the　punk　doctor。　Suddenly　Nino　gasped；　his　face　seemed　to　turn　blue；　he　couldn't　catch　his　breath　and　was　choking　for　air。　His　body　leaped　upward　like　a　fish；　his　face　was　gorged　with　blood；　his　eyes　bulging。　Jules　appeared　on　the　other　side　of　the　bed　facing　Johnny　and　Lucy。　He　took　Nino　by　the　neck　and　held　him　still　and　plunged　the　needle　into　the　shoulder　near　where　it　joined　the　neck。　Nino　went　limp　in　his　hands；　the　heaves　of　his　body　subsided；　and　after　a　moment　he　slumped　down　back　onto　his　pillow。　His　eyes　closed　in　sleep。
　
　Johnny；　Lucy　and　Jules　went　back　into　the　living　room　part　of　the　suite　and　sat　around　the　huge　solid　coffee　table。　Lucy　picked　up　one　of　the　aquamarine　phones　and　ordered　coffee　and　some　food　to　be　sent　up。　Johnny　had　gone　over　to　the　bar　and　mixed　himself　a　drink。
　
　〃Did　you　know　he　would　have　that　reaction　from　the　whiskey？〃　Johnny　asked。
　
　Jules　shrugged。　〃I　was　pretty　sure　he　would。〃
　
　Johnny　said　sharply；　〃Then　why　didn't　you　warn　me？〃
　
　〃I　warned　you；〃　Jules　said。
　
　〃You　didn't　warn　me　right；〃　Johnny　said　with　cold　anger。　〃You　are　really　one　hell　of　a　doctor。　You　don't　give　a　shit。　You　tell　me　to　get　Nino　in　a