sidneysheldon.astrangerinthemirror-第36章

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　the　crowd　swept　them　aside；　tearing　at　Toby's　clothes；　fighting　to　obtain　a　souvenir。　Toby　and　Jill　were　almost　crushed　by　the　press　of　bodies；　but　Jill　felt　no　fear。　This　riot　was　a　tribute　to　her。　She　had　done　this　for　these　people；　she　had　brought　Toby　back　to　them。　
　Their　last　stop　was　Moscow。　Moscow　in　June　is　one　of　the　loveliest　cities　in　the　world。　Graceful　white　berezka　and　Upa　trees　with　yellow　flowerbeds　line　the　wide　boulevards　crowded　with　natives　and　visitors　strolling　in　the　sunshine。　It　is　the　season　for　tourists。　Except　for　official　visitors；　all　tourists　to　Russia　are　handled　through　Intourist；　the　government…controlled　agency　which　arranges　transportation；　hotels　and　guided　sightseeing　tours。　But　Toby　and　Jill　were　met　at　the　Sheremetyevo　International　Airport　by　a　large　Zil　limousine　and　driven　to　the　Metropole　Hotel；　usually　reserved　for　VIPs　from　satellite　countries。　The　suite　had　been　stocked　with　Stolichnaya　vodka　and　black　caviar。　General　Yuri　Romanovitch；　a　high　party　official；　came　to　the　hotel　to　bid　them　wele。　
　〃We　do　not　run　many　American　pictures　in　Russia；　Mr。　Temple；　but　we　have　played　your　movies　here　often。　The　Russian　people　feel　that　genius　transcends　all　boundaries。〃　
　Toby　had　been　booked　to　appear　at　the　Bolshoi　Theatre　for　three　performances。　Opening　night；　Jill　shared　in　the　ovation。　Because　of　the　language　barrier；　Toby　did　most　of　his　act　in　pantomime；　and　the　audience　adored　him。　He　gave　a　diatribe　in　his　pseudo…Russian；　and　their　laughter　and　applause　echoed　through　the　enormous　theater　like　a　benediction　of　love。　During　the　next　two　days；　General　Romanovitch　escorted　Toby　and　Jill　on　a　private　sightseeing　tour。　They　went　to　Gorky　Park　and　rode　on　the　giant　ferris　wheel；　and　saw　the　historic　Saint　Basil's　Cathedral。　
　They　were　taken　to　the　Moscow　State　Circus　and　given　a　banquet　at　Aragvi；　where　they　were　served　the　golden　roe　caviar；　the　rarest　of　the　eight　caviars；　zakushki；　which　literally　means　small　bites；　and　pashteet；　the　delicate　pate　baked　in　a　crust。　For　dessert；　they　ate　yablochnaya；　the　incredibly　delicious　apple　charlotte　pastry　with　apricot　sauce。　And　more　sightseeing。　They　went　to　the　Pushkin　Art　Museum　and　Lenin's　Mausoleum　and　the　Detsky　Mir；　Moscow's　enchanting　children's　shop。　They　were　taken　to　places　of　whose　existence　most　Russians　were　unaware。　Granovsko　Street；　crowded　with　chauffeur…driven　Chaikas　and　Volgas。　Inside；　behind　a　simple　door　marked　〃Office　of　Special　Passes〃；　they　were　ushered　into　a　store　crammed　with　imported　luxury　foodstuffs　from　all　over　the　world。　This　was　where　the　〃Nachalstvo〃；　the　Russian　elite；　were　privileged　to　shop。　They　went　to　a　luxurious　dacha；　where　foreign　films　were　run　in　the　private　screening　room　for　the　privileged　few。　It　was　a　fascinating　insight　into　the　People's　State。　
　On　the　afternoon　of　the　day　Toby　was　to　give　his　final　performance；　the　Temples　were　getting　ready　to　go　out　shopping。　Toby　said；　
　〃Why　dosn't　you　go　alone；　baby？　I　think　I'll　sack　out　for　a　while。〃　
　She　studied　him　for　a　moment。　〃Are　you　feeling　all　right？〃　
　〃Great。　I'm　just　a　little　tired。　You　go　buy　out　Moscow。〃　
　Jill　hesitated。　Toby　looked　pale。　When　this　tour　was　over；　she　would　see　to　it　that　Toby　had　a　long　rest　before　he　began　his　new　television　show。　
　〃All　right；〃　she　agreed。　〃Take　a　nap。〃　
　
　Jill　was　walking　through　the　lobby　toward　the　exit　when　she　heard　a　man's　voice　call；　〃Josephine〃；　and　even　as　she　turned；　she　knew　who　it　was；　and　in　a　split　second　the　magic　happened　again。　David　Kenyon　was　moving　toward　her；　smiling　and　saying；　
　〃I'm　so　glad　to　see　you〃；　and　she　felt　as　though　her　heart　would　stop。　He's　the　only　man　who　has　ever　been　able　to　do　this　to　me。　Jill　thought。　
　〃Will　you　have　a　drink　with　me？〃　David　asked。　
　〃Yes；〃　she　said。　
　The　hotel　bar　was　large　and　crowded；　but　they　found　a　paratively　quiet　table　in　a　corner　where　they　could　talk。　
　〃What　are　you　doing　in　Moscow？〃　Jill　asked。　
　〃Our　government　asked　me　to　e　over。　We're　trying　to　work　out　an　oil　deal。〃　
　A　bored　waiter　strolled　over　to　the　table　and　took　their　order　for　drinks。　
　〃How's　Cissy？〃　David　looked　at　her　a　moment；　then　said；　
　〃We　got　a　divorce　a　few　years　ago。〃　He　deliberately　changed　the　subject。　〃I've　followed　everything　that's　been　happening　to　you。　I've　been　a　fan　of　Toby　Temple's　since　I　was　a　kid。〃　Somehow；　it　made　Toby　sound　very　old。　〃I'm　glad　he's　well　again。　When　I　read　about　his　stroke；　I　was　concerned　about　you。〃　There　was　a　look　in　his　eyes　that　Jill　remembered　from　long　ago；　a　wanting；　a　needing。　〃I　thought　Toby　was　great　in　Hollywood　and　London；〃　David　was　saying。　
　〃Were　you　there？〃　Jill　asked；　in　surprise。　
　〃Yes。〃　Then　he　added　quickly；　〃I　had　some　business　there。〃　
　〃Why　didn't　you　e　backstage？〃　
　He　hesitated。　〃I　didn't　want　to　intrude　on　you。　I　didn't　know　if　you　would　want　to　see　me。〃　Their　drinks　arrived　in　heavy；　squat　glasses。　〃To　you　and　Toby；〃　David　said。　And　there　was　something　in　the　way　he　said　it；　an　undercurrent　of　sadness；　a　hunger；　
　〃Do　you　always　stay　at　the　Metropole？〃　Jill　asked。　
　〃No。　As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　had　a　hell　of　a　time　getting　〃　He　saw　the　trap　too　late。　He　smiled　wryly。　〃I　knew　you'd　be　there。　I　was　supposed　to　have　left　Moscow　five　days　ago。　I've　been　waiting；　hoping　to　run　into　you。〃　
　〃Why；　David？〃　
　It　was　a　long　time　before　he　replied。　When　he　spoke；　he　said；　〃It's　all　too　late　now；　but　I　want　to　tell　you　anyway；　because　I　think　you　have　a　right　to　know。〃　And　he　told　her　about　his　marriage　to　Qssy；　how　she　had　tricked　him；　about　her　attempted　suicide；　and　about　the　night　when　he　had　asked　Jill　to　meet　him　at　the　lake。　It　all　came　out　in　an　outpouring　of　emotion　that　left　Jill　shaken。　〃I've　always　been　in　love　with　you。〃　She　sat　listening；　a　feeling　of　happiness　flowing　through　her　body　like　a　warm　wine。　It　was　like　a　lovely　dream　e　true；　it　was　everything　she　had　wanted；　wished　for。　Jill　studied　the　man　sitting　across　from　her；　and　she　remembered　his　strong　hands　on　her；　and　his　hard　demanding　body；　and　she　felt　a　stirring　within　herself。　But　Toby　had　bee　a　part　of　her；　he　was　her　own　flesh；　and　David。。。　A　voice　at　her　elbow　said；　〃Mrs。　Temple！　We　have　been　looking　everywhere　for　you！〃　It　was　General　Romanovitch。　Jill　looked　at　David。　〃Call　me　in　the　morning。〃　
　Toby's　last　performance　in　the　Bolshoi　Theatre　was　more　exciting　than　anything　that　had　been　seen　there　before。　The　spectators　threw　flowers　and　cheered　and　stamped　their　feet　and　refused　to　leave。　It　was　a　fitting　climax　to　Toby's　other　triumphs。　A　large　party　was　scheduled　for　after　the　show；　but　Toby　said　to　Jill；　〃I'm　beat；　goddess。　Why　don't　you　go？　I'll　return　to　the　hotel　and　get　some　shut…eye。〃　
　Jill　went　to　the　party　alone；　but　it　was　as　though　David　were　at　her　side　every　moment。　She　carried　on　conversations　with　her　hosts　and　danced　and　acknowledged　the　tributes　they　were　paying　to　her；　but　all　the　time　her　mind　was　reliving　her　meeting　with　David。　I　warned　the　wrong　girl。　Cissy　and　I　are　divorced。　I've　never　Stopped　loving　you。　
　At　two　o'clock　in　the　morning；　Jill's　escort　dropped　her　at　her　hotel　suite。　She　went　inside　and　found　Toby　lying　on　the　floor　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　unconscious；　his　right　hand　stretched　out　toward　the　telephone。　
　
　matic　Polyclinic　at　3　Sverchkov　Prospekt。　Three　top　spedalists　were　summoned　in　the　middle　of　the　night　to　examine　him。　Everyone　was　sympathetic　toward　Jill。　The　chief　of　the　hospital　escorted　her　to　a　private　office；　where　she　waited　for　news。　It's　like　a　rerun；　Jill　thought。　All　this　had　happened　before。　It　had　a　vague；　unreal　quality。　Hours　later；　the　door　to　the　office　opened　and　a　short；　fat　Russian　waddled　in。　He　was　dressed　in　an　ill…fitting　suit　and　looked　like　an　unsuccessful　plumber。　
　〃I　am　Dr。　Durov；〃　he　said。　〃I　am　in　charge　of　your　husband's　case。〃　
　〃I　want　to　know　how　he　is。〃　
　〃Sit　down；　Mrs。　Temple；　please。〃　
　Jill　had　not　even　been　aware　that　she　had　stood　up。　〃Tell　me。〃　
　〃Your　husband　has　suffered　a　stroke　　technically　called　a　cerebral　venous　thrombosis。〃　
　〃How　bad　is　it？〃　
　〃It　is　the　most　　what　do　you　say？　　hard…hitting；　dangerous。　If　your　husband　lives　　and　it　is　too　soon　to　tell　　he　will　never　walk　or　speak　again。　His　mind　is　dear　but　he　is　pletely　paralyzed。〃　
　
　Before　Jill　left　Moscow；　David　telephoned　her。　
　〃I　can't　tell　you　how　sorry　I　am；〃　he　said。　〃I'll　be　standing　by。　Anytime　you　need　me；　I'll　be　there。　Remember　that。〃　It　was　the　only　thing　that　helped　Jill　keep　her　sanity　in　the　nightmare　that　was　about　to　begin。　
　
　The　journey　home　was　a　hellish　deja　vu。　The　hospital　litter　in　the　plane；　the　ambulance　from　the　airport　to　the　house；　the　sickroom。　Except　that　this　time　it　was　not　the　same。　Jill　had　known　it　the　moment　they　had　allowed　her　to　see　Toby。　His　heart　was　beating；　his　vital　organs　functioning；　in　every　respect　he　was　a　living　organism。　And　yet　he　was　not。　He　was　a　breathing；　pulsating　corpse；　a　dead　man　in　an　oxygen　tent；　with　tubes　and　needles　running　into　his　body　like　antennae；　feeding　him　the　vital　fluids　that　were　necessary　to　keep　him　alive。　His　face　was　twisted　in　a　horrifying　rictus　that　made　him　look　as　though　he　were　grinning；　his　lips　pulled　up　so　that　his　gums　were　exposed。　I　am　afraid　I　can　offer　you　no　hope；　the　Russian　doctor　had　said。　
　That　had　been　weeks　ago。　Now　they　were　back　home　in　Bel…Air。　Jill　had　immediately　called　in　Dr。　Kaplan；　and　he　had　sent　for　specialists　who　had　summoned　more　specialists；　and　the　answer　always　came　out　the　same：　a　massive　stroke　that　had　heavily　damaged　or　destroyed　the　nerve　centers；　with　very　little　chance　of　reversing　the　damage　that　had　already　been　done。　There　were　nurses　around　the　clock　and　a　physiotherapist　to　work　with　Toby；　but　they　were　empty　gestures。　The　object　of　all　this　attention　was　grotesque。　Toby's　skin　had　turned　yellow；　and　his　hair　was　falling　out　in　large　tufts。　His　paralyzed　limbs　were　shriveled　and　stringy。　On　his　face　was　the　hideous　grin　that　he　could　not　control。　He　was　monstrous　to　look　at；　a　death's　head。　But　his　eyes　were　alive。　And　how　alive！　They　blazed　with　the　power　and　frustration　of　the　mind　trapped　in　that　useless　shell。　Whenever　Jill　walked　into　his　room；　Toby's　eyes　would　follow　her　hungrily；　frantically；　pleading。　For　what？　For　her　to　make　him　walk　again？　Talk　again？　To　turn　him　into　a　man　again？　She　would　stare　down　at　him；　silent；　thinking：　A　part　of　me　is　lying　in　that　bed；　suffering；　trapped。　They　were　bound　together。　She　would　have　given　anything　to　have　saved　Toby；　to　have　saved　herself。　But　she　knew　that　there　was　no　way。　Not　this　time。　The　phones　rang　constantly；　and　it　was　a　replay　of　all　those　other　phone　calls；　all　those　other　offers　of　sympathy。　But　there　was　one　phone　call　that　was　different。　David　Kenyon　telephoned。　
　〃I　just　want　you　to　know　that　whatever　I　can　do　　anything　at　all　　I'm　waiting。〃　
　Jill　thought　of　how　he　looked；　tall　and　handsome　and　strong；　and　she　thought　of　the　misshapen　caricature　of　a　man　in　the　next　room。　
　〃Thank　you；　David。　I　appreciate　it。　There's　nothing。　Not　at　the　moment。〃　
　〃We've　got　some　fine　doctors　in　Houston；〃　he　said。　〃Some　of　the　best　in　the　world。　I　could　fly　them　down　to　him。〃　
　Jill　could　feel　her　throat　t