hr.thecarpetbaggers-第34章

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sses。　I　was　glad　to　see　that　other　things　could　occupy　his　mind　besides　airplanes。
　〃There　isn't　a　brassière　made　that　can　keep　them　from　jiggling；〃　I　said。　〃And　still　look　natural。　I　want　you　to　design　one　that　will。〃
　He　turned　back　to　me；　an　expression　of　shock　on　his　face。　〃You're　joking；　Mr。　Cord！〃
　〃I　was　never　more　serious　in　my　life。〃
　〃But…　but　I　don't　know　anything　about　brassières。　I'm　an　aeronautical　engineer；〃　he　stammered；　blushing　a　bright　pink。
　〃That's　why　I　called　you；〃　I　said　calmly。　〃I　figured　if　you　can　design　planes　that　have　to　withstand　thousands　of　pounds　of　stress　you　ought　to　be　able　to　e　up　with　something　that　would　hold　up　a　little　thing　like　a　pair　of　tits。〃　I　turned　to　the　costume　designer。　〃Fill　him　in　on　what　he　needs　to　know。〃
　Miss　Gaillard　looked　at　me；　then　at　Morrissey。　〃Perhaps　it　would　be　better　if　we　worked　in　my　office　in　Wardrobe。　I　have　everything　there　you　might　need。〃
　Morissey　had　been　staring　at　Rina's　breasts　while　the　designer　spoke。　For　a　moment；　I　thought　he　was　paralyzed；　then　he　turned　around。　〃I　think　I　might　be　able　to　do　something。〃
　〃I　knew　you　could；〃　I　said；　smiling。
　〃I'm　not　promising　anything；　of　course。　But　it's　a　very　intriguing　problem。〃
　I　kept　a　straight　face。　〃Very；〃　I　said　solemnly。
　Morrissey　turned　to　the　designer。　〃Do　you　happen　to　have　a　pair　of　calipers？〃
　〃Calipers？　What　do　we　need　calipers　for？〃
　Morrissey　looked　at　her　in　amazement。　〃How　else　would　we　be　able　to　measure　the　depth　and　the　circumference？〃
　She　stared　at　him　blankly　for　a　moment；　then；　taking　his　arm；　began　to　walk　him　toward　the　door。　〃I'm　sure　we　can　get　a　pair　from　Engineering。　You'd　better　e　with　us；　Rina。〃
　Morrissey　was　back　in　a　little　over　an　hour。　He　came　in　waving　a　sheet　of　paper。　〃I　think　we've　got　it！　It　was　really　very　simple　once　we　found　the　point　of　stress。　The　weight　of　each　breast　pulls　to　either　side。　That　means　the　origin　of　stress　falls　between　them；　right　in　the　center　of　the　cleavage。〃
　I　stared　at　him。　His　language　was　a　curious　mixture　of　engineering　and　wardrobe　design。　But　he　was　too　wrapped　up　in　his　explanation　to　pay　attention　to　my　look。　〃The　whole　thing　then　became　a　problem　of　pensation。　We　had　to　find　a　way　to　utilize　the　stress　to　hold　the　breasts　steady。　I　inserted　a　V…shaped　wire　in　the　cleavage　using　the　suspension　principle。　Understand？〃　
　I　shook　my　head。　〃You　went　way　past　me。〃　
　〃You　know　the　principle　used　in　a　suspension　bridge？〃　
　〃Vaguely；〃　I　said。
　〃Under　that　principle；　the　more　pressure　the　mass　exerts　against　itself；　the　more　pressure　is　created　to　hold　it　in　place。〃
　I　nodded。　I　still　didn't　understand　it　pletely。　But　I　had　all　I　needed　for　now。　What　I　wanted　to　know　was　would　it　work？
　I　didn't　have　long　to　wait　for　the　answer。　Rina　came　into　the　office　shortly　after　that　with　Ilene　Gaillard。　Deliberately　she　let　the　wrap　fall　to　the　floor　and　stood　there　in　the　repaired　negligee。
　〃Walk　toward　Mr。　Cord；〃　the　designer　said。　
　Slowly　Rina　walked　toward　me。　I　couldn't　take　my　eyes　from　her。　The　sweetest　pair　of　knockers　a　man　ever　put　his　head　down　on。　She　stopped　in　front　of　my　desk　and　looked　down　at　me。　For　the　first　time　that　afternoon；　she　spoke。　〃Well？〃
　I　was　conscious　of　the　effort　it　took　to　raise　my　eyes　and　look　up　into　her　face。　Her　eyes　were　cold　and　calculating。　The　bitch　was　always　exactly　aware　of　the　effect　she　had　on　me。　She　started　to　turn　away。　〃One　more　thing；　Miss　Gaillard；〃　I　said。　〃Tomorrow　when　we　start　shooting；　I　want　her　in　a　black　negligee；　instead　of　that　white　one。　I　want　everybody　to　know　she's　a　whore；　not　a　virgin　bride。〃
　〃Yes；　Mr。　Cord。〃　Ilene　came　up　to　my　desk；　her　eyes　shining。　〃I　really　think　we're　going　to　set　a　new　style　with　Miss　Marlowe。　Unless　I'm　pletely　mistaken；　women　all　over　the　world　will　be　trying　for　her　style　once　this　picture　es　out。〃
　I　grinned　at　her。　〃We　didn't　set　the　fashion；　Miss　Gaillard；〃　I　said。　〃Women　looked　like　women　long　before　either　of　us　was　born。〃
　She　nodded　and　started　out。　I　looked　around　the　room。　The　meeting　was　over　and　everybody　was　getting　stiffly　to　his　feet。　Nevada　was　the　last　one　out　and　I　called　him　back。
　He　came　back　to　my　desk。　I　turned　and　looked　at　my　secretary。　She　was　still　sitting　there；　her　book　filled　with　shorthand　notes。　〃What've　you　got　there？〃　I　asked。　
　〃The　minutes　of　the　meeting。〃
　〃What　for？〃
　〃It's　a　pany　rule；〃　she　said。　〃Minutes　of　all　executive　meetings　are　recorded　and　copies　circulated。〃
　〃Give　me　that　book。〃　I　held　it　over　the　wastebasket　and　set　a　match　to　it。　When　the　flame　caught；　I　dropped　it　into　the　basket　and　looked　up　at　her。
　She　was　staring　at　me　with　an　expression　of　horror。
　〃Now　trot　your　fat　little　ass　out　of　here；〃　I　said。　〃And　if　I　ever　hear　of　any　minutes　of　meetings　in　this　office　ever　showing　up　outside　these　walls；　you'll　be　looking　for　another　job。〃
　Nevada　was　smiling　as　I　turned　back　to　him。　〃I'm　sorry　I　had　to　speak　the　way　I　did；　Nevada。〃
　〃That's　all　right；　Junior。　I　shouldn't　have　shot　my　mouth　off。〃
　〃There's　a　lot　of　people　in　this　town　think　I'm　a　sucker　and　that　I　got　conned　into　a　bum　deal。　You　and　I　know　that's　not　true　but　I　have　to　stop　that　kind　of　talk。　I　can't　afford　it。〃
　〃I　understand；　Junior。　Your　pappy　was　the　same　way。　There　was　only　one　boss　when　he　was　around。〃
　Suddenly；　I　realized　how　far　apart　we'd　grown。　For　a　moment；　I　had　a　wave　of　nostalgia　for　my　childhood；　when　I　could　always　reach　out　to　Nevada　for　assurance。　It　wasn't　that　way　any　more。　It　was　exactly　the　opposite。　Nevada　was　leaning　on　me。　〃Thanks；　Nevada；〃　I　said；　forcing　a　smile　to　my　lips。　〃And　don't　worry。　Everything'll　turn　out　all　right　now。〃
　He　turned　and　I　watched　him　walk　out　of　the　office。　Shortly　after　he　left　Dan　Pierce　came　into　the　office。　I　reached　for　a　cigarette　and　lit　it。　〃About　what　you　said　this　morning。　I　think　we　ought　to　change　the　script。　You　better　send　for　the　writers　right　away。〃
　He　grinned　knowingly。　〃I　already　did。〃
　
　10
　
　WE　PLETED　THE　PICTURE　IN　FOUR　WEEKS。　Nevada　knew　what　was　happening　but　he　never　said　a　word。　Two　weeks　after　that；　we　held　the　first　sneak　preview　at　a　theater　out　in　the　valley。
　I　got　there　late　and　the　studio　publicity　man　let　me　in。　〃There　are　only　a　few　seats　left　on　the　side；　Mr。　Cord；〃　he　apologized。
　I　looked　down　at　the　orchestra。　There　was　a　section　roped　off　in　the　center　for　studio　guests。　It　was　jammed。　Everybody　at　the　studio　from　Norman　on　down　was　there。　They　were　all　waiting　for　me　to　fall　on　my　ass。
　I　went　up　into　the　balcony　just　as　the　lights　went　down　and　the　picture　came　on。　I　found　my　way　in　the　dark　to　a　seat　in　the　middle　of　a　bunch　of　youngsters　and　looked　up　at　the　screen。
　My　name　looked　funny　up　there。
　
　JONAS　CORD　PRESENTS…　
　
　But　the　feeling　left　when　the　credits　were　over　and　the　picture　began。　After　ten　minutes　had　passed　I　started　to　sense　a　restlessness　in　the　kids　around　me。　〃Aw；　shit；〃　I　heard　one　of　them　whisper。　〃I　thought　this　was　gonna　be　somethin'　different。　It's　just　another　friggin'　Western。〃
　Then　Rina　came　on　screen。　Five　minutes　later；　when　I　looked　around　me；　the　kids'　faces　were　staring　up　at　the　screen；　their　mouths　partly　open；　their　expressions　rapt。　There　wasn't　a　sound　except　their　breathing。　Next　to　me　sat　a　boy　holding　a　girl's　hand　tightly　in　his　lap。　When　Rina　finally　pulled　Nevada　down　onto　the　bed　with　her；　I　could　feel　the　kid　squirm。　He　whispered；　〃Jesus！〃
　I　reached　for　a　cigarette　and　began　to　smile。　Nobody　had　to　tell　me　this　picture　was　box　office。　When　I　came　down　into　the　lobby　after　it　was　over；　Nevada　was　standing　in　the　corner　surrounded　by　kids　and　signing　autographs。　I　looked　for　Rina。　She　was　at　the　other　end　of　the　lobby　surrounded　by　reporters。　Bernie　Norman　was　hovering　over　her　like　a　proud　father。
　Dan　was　standing　in　the　center　of　a　circle　of　men。　He　looked　up　as　I　came　over。　〃You　were　right；　Jonas；〃　he　cried　jubilantly。　〃She　creamed　'em。　We'll　gross　ten　million　dollars！〃
　I　gestured　and　he　followed　me　out　to　my　car。　〃When　this　is　over；〃　I　said；　〃bring　Rina　to　my　hotel。〃
　He　stared　at　me。　〃It's　still　eating　yuh；　isn't　it？〃
　〃Don't　lecture　me；　just　do　as　I　say！〃
　〃What　if　she　won't　e？〃
　〃She'll　e；〃　I　said　grimly。　〃Just　tell　her　it's　collection　day！〃
　It　was　one　o'clock　in　the　morning　and　I　was　halfway　through　a　bottle　of　bourbon　when　the　knock　came　on　the　door。　I　went　over　and　opened　it。
　Rina　walked　into　the　room　and　I　closed　the　door。　She　turned　to　face　me。　〃Well？〃
　I　gestured　toward　the　bedroom。　She　looked　at　me　for　a　moment；　then　shrugged　her　shoulders　and　nonchalantly　started　for　the　bedroom。　〃I　told　Nevada　I　was　ing　here；〃　she　said　over　her　shoulder。
　I　spun　her　around　violently。　〃What　the　hell　did　you　do　a　damnfool　thing　like　that　for？〃
　Her　eyes　appraised　me　calmly。　〃Nevada　and　I　are　going　to　get　married。　I　told　him　I　wanted　to　be　the　first　to　tell　you。〃
　I　couldn't　believe　my　ears。　〃No！〃　I　shouted　hoarsely。　〃You　can't。　I　won't　let　you。　He's　an　old　man；　he's　through。　You'll　be　the　biggest　star　in　the　business　when　this　picture　es　out。〃
　〃I　know。〃
　〃If　you　know；　then　why？　You　don't　need　him。　You　don't　need　anybody。〃
　〃Because　when　I　needed　him；　he　helped　me；〃　she　said　evenly。　〃Now　it's　my　turn。　He　needs　me。〃
　〃He　needs　you？　Why？　Because　he　was　too　proud　to　do　his　own　crawling？〃
　〃That's　not　true　and　you　know　it！〃
　〃Making　you　a　star　was　my　idea！〃
　〃I　didn't　ask　you　for　it；〃　Rina　said　angrily。　〃I　didn't　even　want　it。　Don't　think　I　didn't　see　what　you　were　doing。　Cutting　down　his　part　in　his　own　picture；　building　me　up　as　a　monument　to　your　own　ego　while　you　were　ruining　him！〃
　〃I　didn't　see　you　trying　to　stop　me；〃　I　said。　〃We　both　know　he's　on　the　way　out。　There's　a　new　kind　of　cowboy　over　at　one　of　the　studios。　A　singing　cowboy。　He　uses　a　guitar　instead　of　a　gun！〃
　〃You　know　everything；　don't　you！〃　Her　hand　slashed　angrily　out　at　my　face。　I　could　feel　its　sting　even　as　she　spoke。　〃That's　why　he　needs　me　more　than　ever！〃
　I　exploded　and　grabbed　her　by　the　shoulders；　shaking　her　violently。　〃What　about　me？　Why　do　you　think　I　went　into　this？　Not　for　Nevada。　For　you！　Did　you　ever　stop　to　think　that　when　I　came　rushing　up　here　to　see　you；　that　maybe　I　needed　you？〃
　She　stared　into　my　eyes　angrily。
　〃You'll　never　need　anybody；　Jonas；　only　yourself。　Otherwise；　you　wouldn't　have　left　your　wife　down　there　all　by　herself。　If　you　had　any　feelings　at　all；　even　pity；　you'd　have　gone　down　there；　or　had　her　e　up　here。〃　
　〃You　leave　my　wife　out　of　this！〃
　She　turned　to　pull　away　and　the　front　of　her　dress　tore　down　to　her　waist。　I　stared　at　her。　Her　breasts　rose　and　fell　and　I　could　feel　the　fever　climb　up　in　me。　〃Rina！〃　I　crushed　my　mouth　down　on　hers。　〃Rina；　please。〃
　Her　mouth　moved　for　a　moment　as　she　struggled　to　get　away　from　me；　then　she　was　pressing　herself　closer　and　closer；　her　arms　around　my　neck。　That's　the　way　we　were　when　the　door　behind　me　opened。　〃Get　outa　here！〃　I　said　hoarsely；　without　bothering　to　turn　around。　
　〃Not　this　time；　Jonas！〃
　I　gave　Rina　a　shove　toward　the　bedroom；　then　turned　around　slowly　to　face　my　father…in…law　and　another　man。　Behind　them　was　Monica；　standing　in　the　doorway。　I　stared　at　her。　She　had　a　belly　way　out