sidneysheldon.astrangerinthemirror-第26章

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　〃I　only　got　half　an　hour；〃　he　said。　〃Let　me　think　where　we　can　have　some　privacy。〃　He　stood　there　a　moment；　frowning　in　deep　thought；　then　brightened。　〃The　dubbing　room。　e　on。〃　The　dubbing　room　was　a　small；　soundproof　projection　chamber　where　all　the　sound　tracks　were　bined　on　one　reel。　Fred　Kapper　looked　around　the　bare　room　and　said；　
　〃Shit！　They　used　to　have　a　little　couch　in　here。〃　He　glanced　at　his　watch。　〃We'll　have　to　make　do。　Get　your　clothes　on；　sweetheart。　The　dubbing　crew'll　be　back　in　twenty　minutes。〃　
　Jill　stared　at　him　a　moment；　feeling　like　a　whore；　and　she　loathed　him。　But　she　did　not　let　it　show。　She　had　tried　it　her　way　and　had　failed。　Now　she　was　going　to　do　it　their　way。　She　took　off　her　dress　and　pants。　Kapper　did　not　bother　undressing。　He　merely　opened　his　zipper　and　took　out　his　tumescent　penis。　He　looked　at　Jill　and　grinned；　
　〃That's　a　beautiful　ass。　Bend　over。〃　Jill　looked　around　for　something　to　lean　against。　In　front　of　her　was　the　laugh　machine；　a　console　on　wheels；　filled　with　laugh…track　loops　controlled　by　buttons　on　the　outside。　
　〃e　on；　bend　over。〃　Jill　hesitated　a　moment；　then　leaned　forward；　propping　herself　up　by　her　hands。　Kapper　moved　in　back　of　her　and　Jill　felt　his　fingers　spreading　her　cheeks。　An　instant　later　she　felt　the　rip　of　his　penis　pressing　against　her　anus。　
　〃Wait！〃　Jill　said。　〃Not　there！　I　I　can't　〃　
　〃Scream　for　me；　baby！〃　and　he　plunged　his　organ　inside　her；　ripping　her　with　a　terrible　pain。　With　each　scream；　he　thrust　deeper　and　harder。　She　tried　frantically　to　get　away；　but　he　was　grabbing　her　hips；　shoving　himself　in　and　out；　holding　her　fast。　She　was　off　balance　now。　As　she　reached　out　to　get　leverage；　her　fingers　touched　the　buttons　of　the　laugh　machine；　and　instantly　the　room　was　filled　with　maniacal　laughter。　As　Jill　squirmed　in　a　burning　agony；　her　hands　pounded　the　machine；　and　a　woman　tittered　and　a　small　crowd　guffawed　and　a　girl　giggled　and　a　hundred　voices　cackled　and　chuckled　and　roared　at　some　obscene；　secret　joke。　The　echoes　bounced　hysterically　around　the　walls　as　Jill　cried　out　with　pain。　Suddenly　she　felt　a　series　of　quick　shudders　and　a　moment　later　the　alien　piece　of　flesh　inside　her　was　withdrawn；　and　slowly　the　laughter　in　the　room　died　away。　Jill　stayed　still；　her　eyes　shut；　fighting　the　pain。　When　finally　she　was　able　to　straighten　up　and　turn　around；　Fred　Kapper　was　zipping　up　his　fly。　
　〃You　were　sensational；　sweetheart。　That　screaming　really　turns　me　on。〃　
　And　Jill　wondered　what　kind　of　an　animal　he　would　be　when　he　was　nineteen。　He　saw　that　she　was　bleeding。　
　〃Get　yourself　cleaned　up　and　e　over　to　Stage　Twelve。　You　start　working　this　afternoon。〃　
　After　that　first　experience；　the　rest　was　easy。　Jill　began　to　work　regularly　at　all　the　studios：　Wamer　Brothers；　Paramount；　MGM；　Universal；　Columbia；　Fox。　Everywhere；　in　fact；　except　at　Disney；　where　sex　did　not　exist。　
　The　role　that　Jill　created　in　bed　was　a　fantasy；　and　she　acted　it　out　with　skill；　preparing　herself　as　though　she　were　playing　a　part。　She　read　books　on　Oriental　erotica　and　bought　philters　and　stimulants　from　a　sex　shop　on　Santa　Monica　Boulevard。　She　had　a　lotion　that　an　airline　stewardess　brought　her　from　the　Orient；　with　the　faintest　touch　of　wintergreen　in　it。　She　learned　to　massage　her　lovers　slowly　and　sensuously。　
　〃Lie　there　and　think　about　what　I'm　doing　to　your　body；〃　she　whispered。　She　rubbed　the　lotion　across　the　man's　chest　and　down　his　stomach　toward　his　groin；　making　gentle；　circling　motions。　〃Close　your　eyes　and　enjoy　it。〃　Her　fingers　were　as　light　as　butterfly　wings；　moving　down　his　body；　caressing　him。　When　he　began　to　have　an　erection；　Jill　would　take　his　growing　penis　in　her　hand　and　softly　stroke　it；　moving　her　tongue　down　between　his　legs　until　he　was　squirming　with　pleasure；　then　continuing　down　slowly；　all　the　way　to　his　toes。　Then　Jill　would　turn　him　over；　and　it　all　began　again。　When　a　man's　organ　was　limp；　she　put　the　head　of　it　just　inside　the　lips　of　her　vagina；　and　slowly　drew　him　inside　her；　feeling　it　grow　hard　and　stiff。　She　taught　the　men　the　waterfall；　and　how　to　peak　and　stop　just　before　an　orgasm　and　then　build　again　and　peak　again；　so　that　when　they　finally　came；　it　was　an　ecstatic　explosion。　They　had　their　pleasure　and　got　dressed　and　left。　No　one　ever　stayed　long　enough　to　give　her　the　loveliest　five　minutes　in　sex；　the　quiet　holding　afterward；　the　peaceful　oasis　of　a　lover's　arms。　Providing　Jill　with　acting　parts　was　a　small　price　to　pay　for　the　pleasure　she　gave　the　casting　men；　the　assistant　directors；　the　directors　and　the　producers。　She　became　known　around　town　as　a　〃red…hot　piece　of　ass〃；　and　everyone　was　eager　for　his　share。　And　Jill　gave　it。　Each　time　she　did；　there　was　that　much　less　self…respect　and　love　in　her；　and　that　much　more　hatred　and　bitterness。　She　did　not　know　how；　or　when；　but　she　knew　that　one　day　this　town　would　pay　for　what　it　had　done　to　her。　
　During　the　next　five　years；　Jill　appeared　in　dozens　of　movies　and　television　shows　and　mercials。　She　was　the　secretary　who　said；　〃Good　morning；　Mr。　Stevens〃；　and　the　baby…sitter　who　said；　〃Don't　worry　now；　you　two　have　a　good　evening。　I'll　put　the　children　to　bed〃；　and　the　elevator　operator　who　announced；　〃Sixth　floor　next〃；　and　the　girl　in　the　ski　outfit　who　confided；　〃All　my　girlfriends　use　Dainties〃。　But　nothing　ever　happened。　She　was　a　nameless　face　in　the　crowd。　She　was　in　the　Business；　and　yet　she　was　not；　and　she　could　not　bear　the　thought　of　spending　the　rest　of　her　life　like　this。　
　In　1969　Jill's　mother　died　and　Jill　drove　to　Odessa　for　the　funeral。　It　was　late　afternoon　and　there　were　fewer　than　a　dozen　people　at　the　service；　none　of　them　the　women　her　mother　had　worked　for　all　those　years。　Some　of　the　churchgoers　were　there；　the　doom…saying　revivalists。　Jill　remembered　how　terrified　she　had　been　at　those　meetings。　But　her　mother　had　found　some　sort　of　solace　in　them；　the　exorcising　of　whatever　demons　had　tormented　her。　A　familiar　voice　said　quietly；　
　〃Hello；　Josephine。〃　
　She　turned　and　he　was　standing'at　her　side　and　she　looked　into　his　eyes　and　it　was　as　though　they　had　never　been　apart；　as　though　they　still　belonged　to　each　other。　The　years　had　stamped　a　maturity　on　his　face；　added　a　sprinkling　of　gray　to　his　sideburns。　But　he　had　not　changed；　he　was　still　David；　her　David。　Yet　they　were　strangers。　He　was　saying；　
　〃I'm　very　sorry　about　your　mother。〃　
　And　she　heard　herself　replying；　〃Thank　you；　David。〃　
　As　though　they　were　reciting　lines　from　a　play。　
　〃I　have　to　talk　to　you。　Can　you　meet　me　tonight？〃　There　was　an　urgent　pleading　in　his　voice。　She　thought　of　the　last　time　they　had　been　together　and　of　the　hunger　in　him　then　and　the　promise　and　the　dreams。　She　said；　
　〃All　right；　David。〃　
　〃The　lake？　Do　you　have　a　car？〃　She　nodded。　
　〃I'll　meet　you　there　in　an　hour。〃　
　Cissy　was　standing　in　front　of　a　mirror；　naked；　getting　ready　to　dress　for　a　dinner　party　when　David　arrived　home。　He　walked　into　her　bedroom　and　stood　there　watching　her。　He　could　judge　his　wife　with　plete　dispassion；　for　he　felt　no　emotion　whatsoever　toward　her。　She　was　beautiful。　Cissy　had　taken　care　of　her　body；　keeping　it　in　shape　with　diet　and　exercise。　It　was　her　primary　asset　and　David　had　reason　to　believe　that　she　was　liberal　in　sharing　it　with　others；　her　golf　coach；　her　ski　teacher；　her　flight　instructor。　But　David　could　not　blame　her。　It　had　been　a　long　time　since　he　had　gone　to　bed　with　Cissy。　In　the　beginning；　he　had　really　believed　that　she　would　give　him　a　divorce　when　Mama　Kenyon　died。　But　David's　mother　was　still　alive　and　flourishing。　David　had　no　way　of　knowing　whether　he　had　been　tricked　or　whether　a　miracle　had　taken　place。　A　year　after　their　marriage；　David　had　said　to　Cissy；　
　〃I　think　it's　time　we　talked　about　that　divorce。〃　
　Cissy　had　said；　〃What　divorce？〃　And　when　she　saw　the　astonished；　look　on　his　face　she　laughed。　〃I　like　being　Mrs。　David　Kenyon；　darling。　Did　you　really　think　I　was　going　to　give　you　up　for　that　little　Polish　whore？〃　
　He　had　slapped　her。　The　following　day　he　had　gone　to　see　his　attorney。　When　David　was　finished　talking；　the　attorney　said；　
　〃I　can　get　you　the　divorce。　But　if　Cissy　is　set　on　hanging　on　to　you；　David；　it's　going　to　be　bloody　expensive。〃　
　〃Get　it。〃　
　When　Cissy　had　been　served　the　divorce　papers；　she　had　locked　herself　in　David's　bathroom　and　had　swallowed　an　overdose　of　sleeping　pills。　It　had　taken　David　and　two　servants　to　smash　the　heavy　door。　Cissy　had　hovered　on　the　brink　of　death　for　two　days。　David　had　visited　her　in　the　private　hospital　where　she　had　been　taken。　
　〃I'm　sorry；　David；〃　she　had　said。　〃I　don't　want　to　live　without　you。　It's　as　simple　as　that。〃　
　The　following　morning；　he　had　dropped　the　divorce　suit。　
　That　had　been　almost　ten　years　ago；　and　David's　marriage　had　bee　an　uneasy　truce。　He　had　pletely　taken　over　the　Kenyon　empire　and　he　devoted　all　of　his　energies　to　running　it。　He　found　physical　solace　in　the　strings　of　girls　he　kept　in　the　various　cities　around　the　world　to　which　his　business　carried　him。　But　he　had　never　forgotten　Josephine。　David　had　no　idea　how　she　felt　about　him。　He　wanted　to　know；　and　yet　he　was　afraid　to　find　out。　She　had　every　reason　to　hate　him。　When　he　had　heard　the　news　about　Josephine's　mother；　David　had　gone　to　the　funeral　parlor　just　to　look　at　Josephine。　The　moment　he　saw　her；　he　knew　that　nothing　had　changed。　Not　for　him。　The　years　had　been　swept　away　in　an　instant；　and　he　was　as　much　in　love　with　her　as　ever。　I　have　to　talk　to　you。。。　meet　me　tonight。　All　right；　David。。。。　The　lake。　
　Cissy　turned　around　as　she　saw　David　watching　her　in　the　pier　glass。　
　〃You'd　better　hurry　and　change；　David。　We'll　be　late。〃　
　〃I'm　going　to　meet　Josephine。　If　she'll　have　me；　I'm　going　to　marry　her。　I　think　it's　time　this　farce　ended；　don't　you？〃　
　She　stood　there；　staring　at　David；　her　naked　image　reflected　in　the　mirror。　〃Let　me　get　dressed；〃　she　said。　
　David　nodded　and　left　the　room。　He　walked　into　the　large　drawing　room；　pacing　up　and　down；　preparing　for　the　confrontation。　Surely　after　all　these　years　Cissy　would　not　want　to　hang　onto　a　marriage　that　was　a　hollow　shell。　He　would　give　her　anything　she　　He　heard　the　sound　of　Cissy's　car　starting　and　then　the　scream　of　tires　as　it　careened　down　the　driveway。　David　raced　to　the　front　door　and　looked　out。　Cissy's　Maserati　was　racing　toward　the　highway。　Quickly；　David　got　into　his　car；　started　the　engine　and　gunned　down　the　driveway　after　Cissy。　As　he　reached　the　highway；　her　car　was　just　disappearing　in　the　distance。　He　stepped　down　hard　on　the　accelerator。　The　Maserari　was　a　faster　car　than　David's　Rolls。　He　pressed　down　harder　on　the　gas　pedal：　70　。。。　80。。。　90。　Her　car　was　no　longer　in　sight。　Noo。。。　no　。。。　still　no　sign　of　her。　He　reached　the　top　of　a　small　rise；　and　there　he　saw　the　car；　like　a　distant　toy；　careening　around　a　curve。　The　torque　was　pulling　the　car　to　one　side；　the　tires　fighting　to　hold　their　traction　on　the　road。　The　Maserati　swayed　back　and　forth；　yawing　across　the　highway。　Then　it　leveled　off　and　made　it　the　curve。　And　suddenly　the　car　hit　left　shoulder　of　the　road　and　shot　into　the　air　like　a　catapult　and　rolled　over　and　across　the　fields。　David　pulled　Cissy's　unconscious