hr.thecarpetbaggers-第31章

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ed。　If　I'm　going　to　lose　the　hand；　at　least　I　want　to　deal　the　cards。〃
　Nevada　nodded。　He'd　heard　my　father　say　the　same　words　often　enough。　And　he'd　been　the　one　who　taught　me　always　to　reach　for　the　deal　when　the　stakes　were　high。
　〃But　what　do　you　know　about　making　pictures？〃　Pierce　asked。
　〃Nothing；〃　I　said。　〃But　how　many　people　do　you　know　who　have　made　a　talking　picture？〃
　That　stopped　him。　I　could　see　the　prehension　e　into　his　eyes。　What　I　had　said　was　true。　It　was　a　new　business。　There　were　no　veterans　any　more。　I　turned　back　to　Nevada。　〃Well？〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　he　said　slowly。　〃I'm　lettin'　you　take　the　whole　risk。　I　can't　lose　anything。〃
　〃You're　wrong！〃　Pierce　said　quickly。　〃If　it's　a　stinker；　your　career　is　shot！〃
　Nevada　smiled　at　him。　〃I　got　along　pretty　good　before；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　a　little　old　to　worry　about　anything　I　fell　into　by　accident。〃
　〃Well；　Nevada？〃
　He　stuck　out　his　hand　and　the　worry　lines　around　his　eyes　lifted　suddenly　and　he　was　young　again。　〃It's　a　deal；　Junior。〃
　I　took　his　hand　and　then　went　over　to　the　telephone。　I　called　Moroni　at　the　bank。　〃Make　arrangements　to　transfer　the　loan　to　Cord　Explosives；〃　I　said。
　〃Good　luck；　Jonas；〃　he　said　with　a　chuckle。　〃I　had　the　feeling　you　were　going　to　do　it。〃
　〃Then　you　knew　more　than　I　did。〃
　〃That's　what　makes　a　good　banker；〃　he　said。
　I　hung　up　and　turned　back　to　the　others。　〃Now；　the　first　thing　I　do　is　fire　Von　Elster。〃
　Nevada's　face　was　shocked。　〃But　Von　is　one　of　the　best　in　the　business；〃　he　protested。　〃He's　directed　every　picture　I　ever　made。　He　discovered　me。〃
　〃He's　a　lousy　little　shit；〃　I　said。　〃The　minute　he　thought　you　were　in　trouble；　he　tried　to　sell　you　out。　He　had　Bernie　Norman　up　here　at　seven　o'clock　this　morning。　They　wanted　to　give　me　some　free　advice。　I　didn't　talk　to　them。〃
　〃Now　maybe　you'll　believe　me　when　I　say　Bernie　was　behind　the　squeeze；〃　Pierce　said。
　〃Like　it　or　not；　Nevada；〃　I　said；　〃we　made　a　deal。　It's　my　picture　and　what　I　say　goes。〃
　He　nodded　silently。
　〃The　next　thing　I　want　is　for　Pierce　to　arrange　for　me　to　see　as　many　of　the　talkies　as　possible　in　the　next　three　days。　Then；　next　weekend；　I'll　fly　you　all　to　New　York。　We're　goin'　to　spend　three　or　four　days　goin'　to　the　theater。　We　might　even　pick　up　a　stage　director　while　we're　there。　We'll　see。〃　I　paused　to　light　a　cigarette　and　saw　a　sudden　look　e　over　Nevada's　face。　〃What　are　you　smiling　at？〃
　〃Like　I　said；　you're　gettin'　more　like　your　pappy　every　day。〃
　I　grinned　back　at　him。　Just　then；　the　waiter　came　in　with　breakfast。　Nevada　and　Pierce　went　into　the　bathroom　to　wash　up　and　Rina　and　I　were　left　alone。
　There　was　a　gentle　look　on　her　face。　〃If　you'd　only　let　yourself　go；　Jonas；〃　she　said　softly；　〃I　think　you　might　bee　a　human　being。〃
　I　looked　into　her　eyes。　〃Don't　try　to　con　me；〃　I　said。　〃We　both　know　why　I　did　it。　You　and　I　made　our　deal　last　night。〃
　The　gentle　look　faded　from　her　face。　〃Do　you　want　me　to　blow　you　right　now？〃　she　asked。
　I　knew　I　had　hit　her　from　the　way　she　spoke。　I　smiled。　〃I　can　wait。〃
　〃So　can　I；〃　she　replied。　〃Forever；　if　I　have　to。〃　
　Just　then　the　telephone　rang。　〃Get　it；〃　I　said。　
　Rina　picked　it　up　and　I　heard　a　voice　crackle　for　a　moment；　then　she　handed　the　phone　to　me。　〃Your　wife。〃
　〃Hello；　Monica。〃
　Her　voice　was　filled　with　anger。　〃Business！〃　she　shrieked。　〃And　when　I　call　you　up；　some　cheap　whore　answers。　I　suppose　you're　going　to　tell　me　it's　your　stepmother！〃　
　〃That's　right！〃
　There　was　an　angry　click　and　the　phone　went　dead　in　my　hands。　I　looked　down　at　it　for　a　moment；　then　began　to　laugh。　Everything　was　so　right。
　And　so　wrong。
　
　7
　
　I　LOOKED　OUT　THE　WINDOW　AT　THE　FIELD。　There　were　several　planes　warming　up　on　the　line；　the　red；　white　and　blue　ICA　gleaming　in　the　circle　along　their　sides　and　under　their　wings。　I　looked　down　at　the　planning　board；　then　up　at　the　designer。
　Morrissey　was　young；　even　younger　than　I。　He　had　graduated　from　M。I。T。；　where　he'd　majored　in　aeronautical　engineering　and　design。　He　wasn't　a　flier；　he　was　of　a　new　generation　that　walked　on　the　sky。　What　he　proposed　was　radical。　A　single…wing；　two…motor　plane　that　would　outlift　anything　in　the　air。
　He　set　his　glasses　lower　on　his　nose。　〃The　way　I　see　it；　Mr。　Cord；〃　he　said　in　his　precise　manner；　〃is　that　by　deepening　the　wings；　we　get　all　the　lift　we　need　and　also　increase　our　fuel　capacity。　Plus　which；　we　have　the　added　advantage　of　keeping　our　pilot　in　direct　visual　control。〃
　〃What　I'm　interested　in　is　the　payload　and　speed；〃　I　said。
　〃If　my　calculations　are　correct；〃　Morrissey　said；　〃we　should　be　able　to　carry　twenty　passengers　in　addition　to　the　pilot　and　copilot　at　a　cruising　speed　of　about　two　fifty。　It　should　fly　for　about　six　hours　before　refueling。〃
　〃You　mean　we　could　fly　from　here　to　New　York　with　only　one　stopover　in　Chicago？〃　Buzz　asked　skeptically。　〃I　don't　believe　it！〃
　〃That's　what　my　calculations　show；　Mr。　Dalton；〃　Morrissey　said　politely。
　Buzz　looked　at　me。　〃You　can　throw　away　your　money　on　fool　schemes　like　this；〃　he　said；　〃but　not　me。　I've　been　through　too　many　of　these　pipe　dreams。〃
　〃About　how　much　would　it　take　to　build　the　first　one？〃　I　asked　Morrissey。
　〃Four　hundred；　maybe　five　hundred　thousand。　After　we　get　rid　of　the　bugs；　we　can　produce　them　for　about　a　quarter　of　a　million。〃
　Dalton　laughed　raucously。　〃A　half　million　bucks　for　one　airplane？　That's　crazy。　We'll　never　get　our　money　out。〃
　First…class　passage　coast　to　coast　by　train　was　over　four　hundred　dollars。　It　took　almost　four　full　days。　Plus　meals；　it　came　to　more　than　five　hundred　bucks　per　passenger。　A　plane　like　this　would　have　a　payload　of　seven　grand　a　trip；　plus　the　mail　franchise；　which　would　bring　it　up　to　about　eighty…five　hundred　dollars。　Flying　five　trips　a　week；　in　less　than　twenty　weeks　we　could　get　all　our　costs　back；　plus　operating　expenses。　From　there　on　in；　it　would　be　gravy。　Why；　we　could　even　afford　to　throw　in　free　meals　on　the　flight。
　I　looked　down　at　my　watch。　It　was　almost　nine　o'clock。　I　got　to　my　feet。　〃I　have　to　get　down　to　the　studio。　They're　shooting　the　first　scene　today。〃
　Dalton's　face　turned　red　with　anger。　〃e　off　it；　Jonas。　Get　down　to　business。　For　the　past　month　and　a　half；　all　you　been　doin'　is　spending　time　at　that　goddam　studio。　While　you're　jerkin'　off　with　that　lousy　picture；　we　got　to　find　ourselves　a　plane　to　build。　If　we　don't；　the　whole　industry　will　get　ahead　of　us。〃
　I　stared　at　him；　unsmiling。　〃As　far　as　I'm　concerned；〃　I　said；　〃we　have　one。〃
　〃You're　not…　〃　he　said　incredulously；　〃you　don't　mean　you're　goin'　to　take　a　chance　with　this？〃
　I　nodded；　then　turned　to　Morrissey。　〃You　can　start　building　the　plane　right　away。〃
　〃Wait　a　minute；〃　Dalton　snapped。　〃If　you　think　ICA　is　going　to　foot　the　bill；　you're　crazy。　Don't　forget　I　own　half　of　the　stock。〃
　〃And　Cord　Explosives　owns　the　other　half；〃　I　said。　〃Cord　Explosives　also　holds　over　half　a　million　dollars　of　mortgages　on　ICA　planes；　most　of　which　are　past　due　right　now。　If　I　foreclosed　on　them；　I'd　wind　up　owning　all　of　Inter…Continental　Airlines。〃
　He　stared　at　me　angrily　for　a　moment；　then　his　face　relaxed　into　a　grin。　〃I　shoulda　known　better；　Jonas。　I　shoulda　learned　my　lesson　when　I　lost　that　Waco　to　you　in　the　poker　game。〃
　I　smiled　back。　〃You're　a　great　flier；　Buzz。　You　stick　to　flying　and　leave　the　business　end　to　me。　I'll　make　a　rich　man　out　of　you　yet。〃
　He　reached　for　a　cigarette。　〃O。K。；〃　he　said　easily。　〃But　I　still　think　you're　nuts　to　build　this　plane。　We　could　lose　our　shirt　on　it。〃
　I　didn't　answer　as　we　walked　out　to　my　car。　There　was　no　use　explaining　to　Buzz　the　simple　rules　of　credit。　ICA　would　order　twenty　of　these　planes　from　Cord　Aircraft。　The　two　panies　would　then　give　chattel　mortgages　on　them　to　Cord　Explosives。　And　Cord　Explosives　would　discount　those　mortgages　at　the　banks；　even　before　the　planes　were　built。　The　worst　that　could　happen；　if　the　plane　was　no　good；　was　that　Cord　Explosives　would　end　up　with　a　whopping　tax　deduction。
　I　got　into　the　car。　〃Good　luck　with　the　picture！〃　Buzz　yelled　after　me　as　I　pulled　away。
　
　I　turned　into　the　main　gate　at　the　Norman　studios。　The　guard　looked　out　and　waved　me　on。　〃Good　morning；　Mr。　Cord；〃　he　called。　〃Good　luck；　sir。〃
　I　smiled　and　drove　toward　the　parking　lot。　There　was　a　small　marker　with　my　name　on　it。　MR。　CORD。　They　didn't　miss　a　trick　when　it　came　to　sucking　ass。　There　was　a　reserved　table　with　my　name　on　it　in　the　executive　dining　room。　I　also　had　a　private　bungalow　with　a　suite　of　offices　and　two　secretaries；　a　liquor　cabinet　stocked　to　the　brim；　an　electric　refrigerator；　a　private　can　and　shower；　a　dressing　room；　a　conference　room　and　two　secretarial　offices　in　addition　to　my　own。
　I　went　through　the　back　door　of　my　bungalow　and　directly　into　my　office。　I　wasn't　at　the　desk　more　than　a　moment　when　one　of　the　secretaries　came　in。　She　stood　in　front　of　the　desk；　looking　very　efficient　with　her　notebook　and　pencil。　〃Good　morning；　Mr。　Cord；〃　she　said　brightly。　〃Any　dictation？〃
　I　shook　my　head。　You'd　think　by　this　time　she'd　know　better。　For　the　past　five　weeks；　this　had　been　going　on　every　morning。　I　never　write　anything　…　messages；　memos；　instructions。　If　I　want　anything　written；　I　call　McAllister。　That's　what　lawyers　are　for。
　The　telephone　on　my　desk　buzzed。　She　picked　it　up。　〃Mr。　Cord's　office。〃　She　listened　a　moment；　then　turned　to　me。　〃They've　pleted　rehearsal　on　Stage　Nine。　And　they're　ready　for　their　first　take。　They　want　to　know　if　you'd　like　to　e　down。〃
　I　got　up。　〃Tell　them　I'm　on　my　way。〃　
　Stage　Nine　was　at　the　far　end　of　the　lot。　We　built　the　New　Orleans　set　there　because　we　figured　it　was　quieter　and　there　wouldn't　be　any　interfering　sounds　ing　across　from　the　other　stages。　I　began　to　hurry　along　the　brick　paths；　cursing　the　distance；　until　I　saw　a　messenger's　bicycle　leaning　against　one　of　the　executive　bungalows。　A　moment　later；　I　was　pedaling　like　mad　down　the　path。　I　heard　the　messenger　start　yelling　behind　me。
　I　pulled　around　to　front　of　Stage　Nine　and　almost　clashed　into　a　man　opening　the　door。　He　stood　there　and　looked　at　me　in　shocked　surprise。　It　was　Bernie　Norman。　〃Why；　Mr。　Cord；〃　he　said。　〃You　didn't　have　to　do　that。　You　could　have　called　for　a　car　to　bring　you　down　here。〃
　I　leaned　the　bike　against　the　wall。　〃I　didn't　have　time；　Mr。　Norman；〃　I　said。　〃They　said　they　were　ready　to　start。　It's　my　money　and　my　time　they're　spending　in　there。〃
　They　were　ready　to　play　the　first　scene；　the　one　where　Max；　as　a　young　man；　is　having　his　first　interview　with　the　madam　of　the　fancy　house。　That　wasn't　the　opening　of　the　picture；　but　that's　the　way　they　shoot　them。　They　make　all　the　interior　scenes　first；　then　the　exteriors。　When　it's　all　finished；　an　editor　splices　it　together　in　its　proper　sequence。
　The　actress　playing　the　madam　was　Cynthia　Randall；　Norman's　biggest　female　star。　She　was　supposed　to　be　the　sexiest　thing　in　the　movies。　Personally；　she　didn't　do　a　thing　for　me。　I　like　my　women　with　tits。　Two　make…up　men　and　a　hairdresser　were　hovering　over　her　as　she　sat　in　front　of　the　dressing　table　that　was　part　of　the　set。
　Nevada　was　standing　over　in　the　other　corner；　his　back　to　me；　talking　to　Rina。　He　turned　around　as　I　came　up　and　a　chill