hr.thecarpetbaggers-第103章

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　The　doctor　laughed　and　shook　his　head。　〃No；　thanks。　I'd　worry　too　much。〃
　〃How　e　you　don't　ask　me　how　I　feel；　Doc？　Colton's　been　in　here　four　times　already　and　each　time　he　asked　me。〃
　The　doctor　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃Why　should　I？　I　know　how　you　feel。　You　hurt。〃
　〃I　hurt　like　hell；　Doc；〃　Standhurst　said。　〃Colton　said　those　stones　you　took　out　of　me　were　big　as　baseballs。〃
　〃They　were　pretty　big；　all　right。〃
　〃He　also　said　I'd　be　wearing　this　bag　you　hooked　into　me　until　the　kidney　healed　and　took　over　again。〃
　〃You'll　be　wearing　it　quite　a　while。〃
　The　old　man　stared　at　him。　〃You　know；　you're　both　full　of　shit；〃　he　said　calmly。　〃I'll　wear　this　in　my　grave。　And　that　isn't　too　far　off；　either。〃
　〃I　wouldn't　say　that。〃
　〃I　know　you　wouldn't；〃　Standhurst　said。　〃That's　why　I'm　saying　it。　Look；　Doc；　I'm　eighty…one　years　old。　And　at　eighty…one；　if　a　man　lives　that　long；　he　gets　to　be　a　good　smeller　of　death　…　for　anyone；　including　himself。　You　learn　to　see　it　in　the　face　or　eyes。　So　don't　bullshit　me。　How　long　have　I　got？〃
　The　doctor　looked　into　the　old　man's　eyes　and　saw　that　he　wasn't　afraid。　If　anything；　there　was　a　look　of　lively　curiosity　reflected　there。　He　made　up　his　mind　quickly。　Colton　was　all　wrong　in　the　way　he　was　handling　it。　This　was　a　man。　He　deserved　the　truth。　〃Three　months；　if　you're　lucky；　Mr。　Standhurst。　Six；　if　you're　not。〃
　The　old　man　didn't　blink　an　eyelash。　〃Cancer？〃
　The　surgeon　nodded。　〃Malignant　and　metastatic；〃　he　answered。　〃I　removed　one　plete　kidney　and　almost　half　of　the　other。　That's　why　you　have　that　waste　bag。〃
　〃Will　it　be　painful？〃
　〃Very。　But　we　can　control　it　with　morphine。〃
　〃To　hell　with　that；〃　the　old　man　said。　〃Dying　is　about　the　only　thing　in　life　I　haven't　experienced。　It's　something　I　don't　want　to　miss。〃
　The　teletype　began　to　clatter　suddenly　and　the　old　man　glanced　over　at　it；　then　back　at　the　doctor。　〃How　will　I　know　when　it's　close；　Doc？〃
　〃Watch　the　urine　in　that　bag；〃　the　doctor　said。　〃The　redder　it　gets；　the　nearer　it　is。　That　means　the　kidney　is　passing　clear　blood　instead　of　urine；　because　the　cancer　will　have　choked　off　the　kidney　pletely。〃
　The　look　in　the　old　man's　eyes　was　bright　and　intelligent。　〃That　means　I'll　probably　die　of　uremic　poisoning。〃
　〃Possibly。　If　nothing　else　goes　wrong。〃
　Standhurst　laughed。　〃Hell；　Doc；〃　he　said；　〃I　could　have　done　that　twenty　years　ago　if　I'd　just　kept　on　drinking。〃
　The　surgeon　laughed。　〃But　look　at　all　the　fun　you'd　have　missed。〃
　The　old　man　smiled　up　at　him。　〃You　Socialists　will　probably　declare　a　national　holiday。〃
　〃I　don't　know；　Mr。　Standhurst。〃　The　doctor　returned　his　smile。　〃Who　would　we　have　to　plain　about　then？〃
　〃I'm　not　worried；〃　the　old　man　said。　〃Hearst　and　Patterson　will　still　be　around。〃
　The　doctor　held　out　his　hand。　〃Well；　I've　got　to　be　going；　Mr。　Standhurst。〃
　Standhurst　took　his　hand。　〃Good…by；　Doc。　And　thanks。〃
　The　surgeon's　dark　eyes　were　serious。　〃Good…by；　Mr。　Standhurst；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　sorry。〃　He　started　for　the　door。　The　old　man's　voice　turned　him　around。
　〃Will　you　do　me　a　favor；　Doc？〃
　〃Anything　I　can；　Mr。　Standhurst。〃
　〃That　nurse　up　in　the　operating　room；〃　Standhurst　said。　〃The　one　with　the　gray　eyes　and　the　tits。〃
　The　surgeon　knew　whom　he　meant。　〃Miss　Denton？〃
　〃If　that's　her　name；〃　the　old　man　said。
　The　surgeon　nodded。
　〃She　said　if　I　wanted　to　see　her　without　her　mask；　she'd　e　down。　Would　you　leave　word　with　Colton　on　your　way　out　that　I'd　like　her　to　join　me　for　lunch？〃
　The　surgeon　laughed。　〃Will　do；　Mr。　Standhurst〃
　
　10
　
　JENNIE　PICKED　UP　THE　BOTTLE　OF　CHAMPAGNE　AND　POURED　IT　INTO　THE　TALL　GLASS　FILLED　WITH　ICE　CUBES。　The　wine　bubbled　up　with　a　fine　frothy　head；　then　settled　back　slowly　as　she　filled　it　to　the　brim。　She　put　the　glass　straw　into　the　glass　and　handed　it　to　Standhurst。　〃Here's　your　ginger　ale；　Charlie。〃
　He　grinned　at　her　mischievously。　〃If　you're　looking　for　something　to　bring　up　the　gas；〃　he　said；　〃champagne　beats　ginger　ale　any　time。〃　He　sipped　at　it　appreciatively。　〃Ah；〃　he　said　and　burped。　〃Have　some；　maybe　it　will　make　you　feel　sexy。〃
　〃What　good　would　it　do　you　if　I　did？〃　Jennie　retorted。
　〃I'd　feel　good　just　remembering　what　I'd　have　done　if　it　were　twenty　years　ago。〃
　〃Better　make　it　forty；　to　be　safe。〃
　〃No。〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃Twenty　was　the　best。　Maybe　it's　because　I　appreciated　it　more　then；　knowing　it　wasn't　going　to　last　very　long。〃
　The　teletype　in　the　corner　of　the　library　began　to　chatter。　Jennie　got　up　out　of　the　chair　and　walked　over　to　it。　When　it　stopped；　she　tore　the　message　off　and　came　back　to　him。　〃They　just　nominated　Roosevelt　for　a　second　term。〃　She　handed　him　the　yellow　sheet。
　〃I　expected　that；〃　he　said。　〃Now　they'll　never　get　the　son　of　a　bitch　out　of　there。　But　why　should　I　worry？　I　won't　be　around。〃
　The　telephone　began　to　ring　almost　as　he　finished　speaking。　It　was　the　direct　wire　from　his　Los　Angeles　paper。　She　picked　it　up　off　the　desk　and　brought　it　over　to　him。　〃Standhurst；〃　he　said　into　it。
　She　could　hear　a　faint　buzz　on　the　other　end　of　the　wire。　His　face　was　expressionless　as　he　listened。　〃Hell；　no！　There's　time　enough　to　editorialize　after　he's　made　his　acceptance　speech。　At　least；　then　we'll　have　an　idea　of　what　promises　he's　going　to　break。　No　editorials　until　tomorrow。　That　goes　for　all　the　papers。　Put　it　on　the　teletype。〃
　He　put　down　the　telephone　and　looked　at　her。　Immediately；　the　teletype　began　to　clatter　again。　She　walked　over　and　looked　down　at　it。　Green　letters　began　to　appear　on　the　yellow　paper。
　FROM　CHARLES　STANDHURST　TO　ALL　PAPERS：　IMPORTANT。　ABSOLUTELY　NO　EDITORIALS　RE　NOMINATION　ROOSEVELT　UNTIL　ACCEPTANCE　SPEECH　IS　MADE　AND　EVALUATED。　REPEAT。　ABSOLUTELY　NO　EDITORIALS　RE　NOMINATION　ROOSE…　
　She　walked　away　from　the　teletype　while　it　was　still　chattering。　〃That's　your　orders；　boss。〃
　〃Good。　Now　turn　the　damn　thing　off　so　we　can　talk。〃
　She　went　over　and　flipped　the　switch；　then　came　back　and　sat　down　opposite　him。　She　took　a　cigarette　and　lit　it　as　he　sipped　the　champagne　through　the　straw　reflectively。　〃What　are　your　plans　when　this　job　is　over？〃
　〃I　haven't　thought　much　about　it。〃
　〃You　better　start；〃　he　said。　〃It　won't　be　long　now。〃
　She　smiled　at　him。　〃Anxious　to　get　rid　of　me？〃
　〃Don't　be　silly；〃　he　said。　〃The　only　reason　I've　stayed　alive　this　long　is　because　I　didn't　want　to　leave　you。〃
　Something　in　his　voice　made　her　look　searchingly　at　him。　〃You　know；　Charlie；　I　believe　you　really　mean　that。〃
　〃Of　course　I　do；〃　he　snapped。
　Suddenly　touched；　she　came　over　to　the　side　of　his　chair　and　kissed　his　cheek。　〃Hey；　Nurse　Denton；〃　he　said。　〃I　think　you're　breaking　down。　I'll　get　you　in　the　sack　yet。〃
　〃You　got　me　a　long　time　ago；　Charlie。　The　only　trouble　is；　we　didn't　meet　soon　enough。〃
　When　she　thought　about　it；　that　was　true。　The　very　first　time　she'd　e　down　to　have　lunch　with　him　in　the　hospital；　the　day　after　the　operation；　she'd　liked　him。　She　knew　he　was　dying　and　after　a　moment；　she　knew　that　he　knew　it。　But　it　didn't　stop　him　from　playing　the　gallant。　None　of　that　bland；　tasteless　hospital　food　for　him；　even　if　he　couldn't　eat。
　Instead；　the　food　was　rushed　by　motorcar　from　Romanoff's　with　a　police　escort　out　in　front　and　the　siren　blaring　all　the　way。　And　along　with　the　food　came　a　ma？tre　d'　and　two　waiters　to　serve　it。
　He　sat　up　in　his　bed；　sipping　champagne　and　watching　her　eat。　He　liked　the　way　she　ate。　Picky　eaters　were　usually　selfish　lovers。　They　gave　you　nothing；　demanding　the　same　sort　of　unattainable　satisfaction　in　bed　that　they　demanded　from　the　table。　He　made　up　his　mind　instantly；　as　he　always　did。　〃I'm　going　to　be　sick　for　a　while；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　going　to　need　a　nurse。　How　would　you　like　the　job？〃
　She'd　looked　up　from　her　coffee；　her　gray　eyes　quizzical。　〃There　are　nurses　who　specialize　in　home　care；　Mr。　Standhurst。　They'd　probably　be　better　at　it　than　I　am。〃
　〃I　asked　you。〃
　〃I　have　a　job　at　Los　Angeles　General；〃　she　said。　〃A　good　job。　Then　sometimes　I　get　special　calls　to　help　out　here；　like　this　one。　It's　the　kind　of　work　I'm　good　at。〃
　〃How　much　do　you　make？〃
　〃Eighty…five　a　month；　room　and　board。〃
　〃I'll　pay　you　a　thousand　a　week；　room　and　board；〃　he　said。
　〃But　that's　ridiculous！〃
　〃Is　it？〃　he　asked；　watching　her　steadily。　〃I　can　afford　it。　When　the　doctor　left　here　this　morning；　he　told　me　I've　only　got　three　months　to　go。　I　always　expect　to　pay　a　little　bit　more　when　I　can't　offer　a　steady　job。〃
　She　looked　down　as　the　waiter　refilled　her　coffee　cup。　〃You'd　be　here　for　about　three　weeks；〃　she　said。　〃That　will　give　me　time　to　give　notice。　When　do　you　want　me　to　start？〃
　〃Right　now。　And　don't　worry　about　the　notice。　I　already　told　Colton　and　Los　Angeles　General　that　you　were　ing　to　work　for　me。〃
　She　stared　at　him　for　a　moment　then　put　down　her　cup　and　got　to　her　feet。　She　gestured　to　the　ma？tre　d'　and　immediately　the　waiters　began　to　wheel　the　table　out。　〃Hey；　what's　the　idea？〃　Standhurst　asked。
　Jennie　didn't　answer　as　she　walked　to　the　foot　of　the　table　and　picked　up　the　chart。　She　studied　it　for　a　moment　and　then　came　over　and　took　the　glass　of　champagne　out　of　his　hand。　〃If　I'm　working　for　you　now；〃　she　said；　〃it's　time　you　got　some　rest。〃
　
　Time　never　passes　as　quickly　as　when　it's　running　out；　he　thought。　Somehow；　everything　seems　sharper；　clearer　to　the　mind；　even　decisions　are　arrived　at　more　easily。　Perhaps　it　was　because　the　responsibility　for　them　couldn't　e　home　to　roost。　No　one　can　win　an　argument　with　a　grave。
　He　felt　the　pain　race　through　him　like　a　knife。　He　didn't　flinch　but　from　her　face；　he　knew　that　she　knew。　A　strange　kind　of　munication　had　grown　between　them。　Words　weren't　necessary。　There　were　times　he　thought　she　felt　the　pain；　too。
　〃Maybe　you'd　better　go　to　bed；〃　she　said。
　〃Not　just　yet。　I　want　to　talk　to　you。〃
　〃O。K。；〃　she　said。　〃Go　ahead。〃
　〃You're　not　going　back　to　the　hospital；　are　you？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　I　haven't　really　thought　about　it。〃
　〃You'll　never　be　happy　in　a　job　like　that　again。　I've　spoiled　you。　There's　nothing　like　a　lot　of　money。〃
　She　laughed。　〃You're　so　right；　Charlie。　I've　been　thinking　about　that。　Nothing's　going　to　seem　right　ever　again。〃
　He　studied　her　thoughtfully。　〃I　could　leave　you　something　in　my　will；　or　even　marry　you。　But　my　children　would　probably　make　a　federal　case　out　of　it　and　say　you　influenced　me。　All　you'd　get　is　a　lot　of　grief。〃
　She　met　his　gaze。　〃Thanks　for　thinking　about　it；　anyway；　Charlie。〃
　〃You　need　to　make　a　lot　of　money；〃　he　said。　〃Why　did　you　decide　to　be　a　nurse？　You　always　wanted　to　be　one？〃
　〃No。〃　She　shrugged　her　shoulders。　〃What　I　really　wanted　to　be　was　another　Helen　Wills。　But　I　got　a　scholarship　to　St。　Mary's；　so　I　went。〃
　〃Even　being　a　tennis　bum　takes　money。〃
　〃I　know。　Anyway；　it's　too　late　now。　I'd　be　satisfied　if　I　could　just　make　enough　to　hire　the　best　pro　around　and　play　two　hours　every　day。〃
　〃See！〃　he　said　triumphantly。　〃That's　a　hundred　bucks　a　day；　right　there。〃
　〃Yeah。　I'll　probably　end　up　back　at　the　hospital。〃
　〃You　don't　have　to。〃
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　she　asked；　looking　at　him。　〃That's　all　I　ever　trained　for。〃
　〃You　started　training　for　something　else　long　before　you　studied　nursing。　Being　a　woman。〃
　〃Well；　I　cou