sidneysheldon.astrangerinthemirror-第34章

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ill　were　possessed。　Her　clothes　hung　loosely　on　her；　but　she　had　no　idea　of　how　much　weight　she　had　lost　or　how　she　looked。　Her　face　was　thin　and　drawn；　her　eyes　hollow。　Her　once　beautiful　shiny　black　hair　was　lusterless　and　stringy。　She　did　not　know；　nor　would　she　have　cared。　
　
　One　day　Jffl　found　a　telegram　under　the　door　asking　her　to　phone　Dr。　Kaplan。　No　time。　The　routine　must　be　kept。　The　days　and　nights　became　a　blur　of　bathing　Toby　and　exercising　him　and　changing　him　and　shaving　him　and　feeding　him。　And　then　starting　all　over　again。　She　got　a　walker　for　Toby　and　fastened　his　fingers　around　it　and　moved　his　legs；　holding　him　up；　trying　to　show　him　the　motions；　walking　him　back　and　forth　across　the　room　until　she　was　asleep　on　her　feet；　not　knowing　any　longer　where　or　who　she　was；　or　what　she　was　doing。　Then；　one　day；　Jill　knew　that　it　had　all　e　to　an　end。　
　She　had　been　up　with　Toby　half　the　night　and　had　finally　gone　into　her　own　bedroom；　where　she　had　fallen　into　a　dazed　slumber　just　before　dawn。　When　Jill　awakened；　the　sun　was　high　in　the　sky。　She　had　slept　long　past　noon。　Toby　had　not　been　fed　or　bathed　or　changed。　He　was　lying　in　his　bed；　helpless；　waiting　for　her；　probably　panicky。　Jill　started　to　rise　and　found　that　she　could　not　move。　She　was　filled　with　such　a　bottomless；　bone…deep　weariness　that　her　exhausted　body　would　no　longer　obey　her。　She　lay　there；　helpless；　knowing　that　she　had　lost；　that　it　had　all　been　wasted；　all　the　days　and　nights　of　hell；　the　months　of　agony；　none　of　it　had　meant　anything。　Her　body　had　betrayed　her；　as　Toby's　had　betrayed　him。　Jill　had　no　strength　left　to　give　him　anymore；　and　it　made　her　want　to　weep。　It　was　finished。　She　heard　a　sound　at　her　bedroom　door　and　she　raised　her　eyes。　Toby　was　standing　in　the　doorway；　by　himself；　his　trembling　arms　clutching　his　walker；　his　mouth　making　unintelligible　slobbering　noises；　working　to　say　something。　〃Jiiuiugb。。。　Jiiiiiigh。。。〃　He　was　trying　to　say　〃Jill〃。　She　began　to　sob　uncontrollably；　and　she　could　not　stop。　
　From　that　day　on；　Toby's　progress　was　spectacular。　For　the　first　time；　he　knew　he　was　going　to　get　well。　He　no　longer　objected　when　Jill　pushed　him　beyond　the　limits　of　his　endurance。　He　weled　it。　He　wanted　to　get　well　for　her。　Jill　bad　bee　his　goddess；　if　he　had　loved　her　before；　he　worshiped　her　now。　And　something　had　happened　to　Jill。　Before；　it　had　been　her　own　life　she　was　fighting　for；　Toby　was　merely　the　instrument　she　was　forced　to　use。　But　somehow；　that　had　changed。　It　was　as　though　Toby　had　bee　a　part　of　her。　They　were　one　body　and　one　mind　and　one　soul；　obsessed　with　the　same　purpose。　They　had　gone　through　a　purging　crucible。　His　life　bad　been　in　her　hands；　and　she　had　nurtured　it　and　strengthened　it；　and　saved　it；　and　out　of　that　had　grown　a　kind　of　love。　Toby　belonged　to　her；　just　as　she　belonged　to　him。　
　Jill　changed　Toby's　diet；　so　that　he　began　to　regain　the　weight　he　had　lost。　He　spent　time　in　the　sun　every　day　and　took　long　walks　around　the　grounds；　using　the　walker；　then　a　cane；　building　up　his　strength。　When　the　day　came　that　Toby　could　walk　by　himself；　the　two　of　them　celebrated　by　having　a　candlelight　dinner　in　the　dining　room。　Finally；　Jill　felt　that　Toby　was　ready　to　be　seen。　She　telephoned　Dr。　Kaplan；　and　his　nurse　put　him　on　the　phone　immediately。　
　〃Jill！　I've　been　terribly　worried。　I've　tried　to　telephone　you　and　there　was　never　any　answer。　I　sent　a　telegram；　and　when　I　didn't　hear；　I　assumed　you　had　taken　Toby　away　somewhere。　Is　hehas　he　？〃　
　〃e　and　see　for　yourself；　Eli。〃　
　Dr。　Kaplan　could　not　conceal　his　astonishment。　
　〃It's　unbelievable；〃　he　told　Jill。　〃It's　　it's　like　a　miracle。〃　
　〃It　is　a　miracle；〃　Jill　said。　Only　in　this　life　you　made　your　own　miracles；　because　God　was　busy　elsewhere。　
　〃People　still　call　me　to　ask　about　Toby；〃　Dr。　Kaplan　was　saying。　〃Apparently　they've　been　unable　to　get　through　to　you。　Sam　Winters　calls　at　least　once　a　week。　Clifton　Lawrence　has　been　calling。〃　
　Jill　dismissed　Clifton　Lawrence。　But　Sam　Winters！　That　I　was　good。　Jill　had　to　find　a　way　to　let　the　world　know　that　Toby　Temple　was　still　a　superstar；　that　they　were　still　the　Golden　Couple。　
　Jill　telephoned　Sam　Winters　the　next　morning　and　asked　him　if　he　would　like　to　e　and　visit　Toby。　Sam　arrived　at　the　house　an　hour　later。　Jill　opened　the　front　door　to　let　him　in；　and　Sam　tried　to　conceal　his　shock　at　her　appearance。　Jill　looked　ten　years　older　than　when　he　had　last　seen　her。　Her　eyes　were　hollow　brown　pools　and　her　face　was　etched　with　deep　lines。　She　had　lost　so　much　weight　that　she　looked　almost　skeletal。　
　〃Thank　you　for　ing；　Sam。　Toby　will　be　pleased　to　see　you。〃　
　Sam　had　been　prepared　to　see　Toby　in　bed；　a　shadow　of　the　man　he　had　once　been；　but　he　was　in　for　a　stunning　surprise。　Toby　was　lying　on　a　pad　alongside　the　pool　and；　as　Sam　approached；　Toby　rose　to　his　feet；　a　little　slowly；　but　steadily；　and　held　out　a　firm　hand。　He　appeared　tanned　and　healthy；　better　than　he　had　looked　before　his　stroke。　It　was　as　though　through　some　arcane　alchemy；　Jill's　health　and　vitality　had　sowed　into　Toby's　body；　and　the　sick　tides　that　had　ravaged　Toby　had　ebbed　into　Jill。　
　〃Hey！　It's　great　to　see　you；　Sam。〃　Toby's　speech　was　a　little　slower　and　more　precise　than　before；　but　it　was　clear　and　strong。　There　was　no　sign　of　the　paralysis　Sam　had　heard　about。　There　was　still　the　same　boyish　face　with　the　bright　blue　eyes。　Sam　gave　Toby　a　hug　and　said；　
　〃Jesus；　you　really　had　us　scared。〃　
　Toby　grinned　and　said；　〃You　don't　have　to　call　me　'Jesus'　when　we're　alone。〃　
　Sam　looked　at　Toby　more　closely　and　marveled。　
　〃I　honestly　can't　get　over　it。　Damn　it；　you　look　younger。　The　whole　town　was　making　funeral　arrangements。〃　
　〃Over　my　dead　body；〃　Toby　smiled。　
　Sam　said；　〃It's　fantastic　what　the　doctors　today　can　…〃　
　〃No　doctors。〃　Toby　turned　to　look　at　Jill　and　naked　adoration　shone　from　his　eyes。　〃You　want　to　know　who　did　it？　Jill。　just　Jill。　With　her　two　bare　hands。　She　threw　everybody　out　and　made　me　get　on　my　feet　again。〃　
　Sam　glanced　at　Jill；　puzzled。　She　had　not　seemed　to　him　the　kind　of　girl　capable　of　such　a　selfless　act。　Perhaps　he　had　misjudged　her。　
　〃What　are　your　plans？〃　he　asked　Toby。　〃I　suppose　you'll　want　to　rest　and　〃　
　〃He's　going　back　to　work；〃　Jill　said。　〃Toby's　too　talented　to　be　sitting　around　doing　nothing。〃　
　〃I'm　raring　to　go；〃　Toby　agreed。　
　〃Perhaps　Sam　has　a　project　for　you；〃　Jill　suggested。　
　They　were　both　watching　him。　Sam　did　not　want　to　discourage　Toby；　but　neither　did　he　want　to　hold　out　any　false　hopes。　It　was　not　possible　to　make　a　picture　with　a　star　unless　you　got　insurance　on　him；　and　no　pany　was　going　to　insure　Toby　Temple。　
　〃There's　nothing　in　the　shop　at　the　moment；〃　Sam　said　carefully。　〃But　I'll　certainly　keep　an　eye　open。〃　
　〃You're　afraid　to　use　him；　aren't　you？〃　It　was　as　though　she　was　reading　his　mind。
　〃Certainly　not。〃　But　they　both　knew　he　was　lying。　No　one　in　Hollywood　would　take　a　chance　on　using　Toby　Temple　again。　
　Toby　and　Jill　were　watching　a　young　edian　on　television。　
　〃He's　rotten；〃　Toby　snorted。　〃Damn　it；　I　wish　I　could　get　back　on　the　air。　Maybe　I　oughta　get　an　agent。　Somebody　who　could　check　around　town　and　see　what's　doing。〃　
　〃No！〃　Jill's　tone　was　firm。　〃We're　not　going　to　let　anyone　peddle　you。　You're　not　some　bum　looking　for　a　job。　You're　Toby　Temple。　We're　going　to　make　them　e　to　you。〃　
　Toby　smiled　wryly　and　said；　〃They're　not　beating　down　the　doors；　baby。〃　
　〃They　will　be；〃　Jill　promised。　〃They　don't　know　what　shape　you're　in。　You're　better　now　than　you　ever　were。　We　just　have　to　show　them。〃　
　〃Maybe　I　should　pose　in　the　nude　for　one　of　those　magazines。〃　
　Jill　was　not　listening。　〃I　have　an　idea；〃　she　said　slowly。　〃A　one…man　show。〃　
　〃Huh？〃　
　〃A　one…man　show。〃　There　was　a　growing　excitement　in　her　voice。　〃I'm　going　to　book　you　into　the　Hunrington　Hartford　Theatre。　Everybody　in　Hollywood　will　e。　After　that；　they'll　start　beating　down　the　doors！〃　
　And　everybody　in　Hollywood　did　e：　producers；　directors；　stars；　critics　　all　the　people　in　show　business　who　mattered。　The　theater　on　Vine　Street　had　long　since　been　sold　out；　and　hundreds　of　people　had　been　turned　away。　There　was　a　cheering　mob　outside　the　lobby　when　Toby　and　Jill　arrived　in　a　chauffeur…driven　limousine。　He　was　their　Toby　Temple。　He　had　e　back　to　them　from　the　dead；　and　they　adored　him　more　than　ever。　The　audience　inside　the　theater　was　there　partly　out　of　respect　for　a　man　who　had　been　famous　and　great；　but　mostly　out　of　curiosity。　They　were　there　to　pay　final　tribute　to　a　dying　hero；　a　burnt…out　star。　Jill　had　planned　the　show　herself。　She　had　gone　to　O'Hanlon　and　Rainger；　and　they　had　written　some　brilliant　material；　beginning　with　a　monologue　kidding　the　town　for　burying　Toby　while　he　was　still　alive。　Jill　had　approached　a　song…writing　team　that　had　won　three　Academy　Awards。　They　had　never　written　special　material　for　anyone；　but　when　Jill　said；　
　〃Toby　insists　you're　the　only　writers　in　the　world　who。。。〃　
　Dick　Landry；　the　director；　flew　in　from　London　to　stage　the　show。　Jill　had　assembled　the　finest　talent　she　could　find　to　back　up　Toby；　but　in　the　end　everything　would　depend　on　the　star　himself。　It　was　a　one…man　show；　and　he　would　be　alone　on　that　stage。　The　moment　finally　arrived。　The　house　lights　dimmed；　and　the　theater　was　filled　with　that　expectant　hush　that　precedes　the　ringing　up　of　the　curtain；　the　silent　prayer　that　on　this　night　magic　would　happen。　
　It　happened。　As　Toby　Temple　strolled　out　onto　the　stage；　his　gait　strong　and　steady；　that　familiar　impish　smile　lighting　up　that　boyish　face；　there　was　a　momentary　silence　and　then　a　wild　explosion　of　applause　and　yelling；　a　standing　ovation　that　rocked　the　theater　for　a　full　five　minutes。　Toby　stood　there；　waiting　for　the　pandemonium　to　subside；　and　when　the　theater　was　finally　still；　he　said；　〃You　call　that　a　reception？〃　And　they　roared。　He　was　brilliant。　He　told　stories　and　sang　and　danced；　and　he　attacked　everybody；　and　it　was　as　though　he　had　never　been　gone。　The　audience　could　not　get　enough　of　him。　He　was　still　a　superstar；　but　now　he　was　something　more；　he　had　bee　a　living　legend。　The　Variety　review　the　next　day　said；　〃They　came　to　bury　Toby　Temple；　but　they　stayed　to　praise　him　and　cheer　him。　And　how　he　deserved　it！　There　is　no　one　in　show　business　who　has　the　old　master's　magic。　It　was　an　evening　of　ovations；　and　no　one　who　was　fortunate　enough　to　be　there　is　likely　ever　to　forget　that　memorable。。。〃　The　Hollywood　Reporter　review　said；　〃The　audience　was　there　to　see　a　great　star　e　back；　but　Toby　Temple　proved　he　had　never　been　away。〃　All　the　other　reviews　were　in　the　same　panegyric　vein。　From　that　moment　on；　Toby's　phones　rang　constantly。　Letters　and　telegrams　poured　in　with　invitations　and　offers。　They　were　beating　the　doors　down。　
　Toby　repeated　his　one…man　show　in　Chicago　and　in　Washington　and　New　York；　everywhere　he　went；　he　was　a　sensation。　There　was　more　interest　in　him　now　than　there　had　ever　been。　In　a　wave　of　affectionate　nostalgia；　Toby's　old　movies　were　shown　at　art　theaters　and　at　universities。　Television　stations　had　a　Toby　Temple　Week　and　ran　his　old　variety　shows。　There　were　Toby　Temple　dolls　and　Toby　Temple　games　and　Toby　Temple　puzzles　a