hr.thecarpetbaggers-第56章

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　He　fell　to　his　knees　beside　the　bed　and　looked　at　her。　〃Please；〃　he　cried。　〃Please；　you've　got　to　understand。　I　married　you　because　I　love　you　but　I'm　not　like　the　others。　My　mother　says　I'm　more　nervous　and　high　strung。〃
　She　didn't　answer　and　he　saw　the　horrible　bination　of　pity；　contempt　and　knowledge　e　fleetingly　into　her　eyes。　〃Don't　look　at　me　like　that；〃　he　begged。　〃It　will　be　better　the　next　time。　I　won't　be　so　nervous。　I　love　you。　I　love　you。〃
　He　felt　her　hand　touch　his　head　gently；　then　slowly　stroke　his　temples。　Gradually；　his　tears　subsided　and　he　seized　her　hands；　kissing　them　gratefully。　〃It　will　be　better；　darling；〃　he　promised。
　But　it　was　never　any　better。　There　was　something　about　the　plete　femaleness　of　her　body；　her　terrifying　sexuality；　that　frightened　him　into　plete　impotency。
　〃What　did　you　say？〃　The　words　took　him　from　the　past　into　the　present。　He　looked　up。　The　other　customer；　the　young　man　in　the　yellow　jacket；　was　speaking　to　him。　〃I　thought　you　said　something　to　me。　I'm　sorry。〃
　Claude　felt　foolish。　There　was　no　doubt　that　he　had　spoken。　Very　often　he　did　while　lost　in　thought。　He　began　to　feel　embarrassed。　〃I　did；〃　he　said；　quickly　trying　to　cover　his　embarrassment。　〃I　said　it　turned　into　a　rather　nasty　day；　didn't　it？〃
　The　young　man's　eyes　went　past　him　to　the　window；　then　back。　〃Yes；〃　he　said　politely。　〃It　sure　did。〃
　Claude　looked　at　him。　He　seemed　like　a　nice　enough　young　man。　Handsome；　too；　in　a　rough　sort　of　way。　Probably　an　actor；　down　on　his　luck；　who'd　stopped　in　to　nurse　a　beer　until　the　rain　stopped。　He　picked　up　his　mug。　It　was　empty　again。　〃Let　me　buy　you　a　drink；〃　he　said。
　The　boy　nodded。　〃I'd　like　another　beer。　Thanks。〃
　〃Bartender；　a　beer　for　the　young　gentleman；〃　Claude　called。　He　tapped　his　mug。　〃And　I'll　have　another　of　these。〃
　It　wasn't　until　three　drinks　later；　when　he　saw　Rina's　car　turn　downtown　onto　Sunset；　that　he　got　the　idea。　After　all；　there　were　quite　a　few　things　he　wanted　to　take　with　him　and　he　couldn't　carry　all　of　them　alone。
　After　he　rang　the　bell　the　second　time　he　remembered　it　was　Thursday　and　all　the　servants　were　off。　He　took　out　his　key。　They　went　right　up　the　staircase　to　his　room。　He　opened　the　closet　and　took　out　a　valise。　〃You　empty　those　drawers；〃　he　said　to　the　boy。　〃I'll　get　another　suitcase。〃
　He　left　the　room　for　a　moment　and　when　he　returned；　his　panion　was　holding　a　picture　of　Rina　that　had　been　standing　on　the　bureau。　〃Who's　this？〃
　〃My　wife；〃　Claude　answered　tersely。　Then　he　giggled。　〃Will　she　be　surprised　when　she　gets　home　and　finds　I'm　gone。〃
　〃You　Rina　Marlowe's　husband？〃
　Claude　nodded。　〃But　not　for　long　now；　thank　God！〃
　The　boy　looked　at　him　strangely。　〃What　do　you　want　to　walk　out　on　a　dish　like　that　for？〃　he　asked。
　Claude　snatched　the　picture　angrily　from　his　hand　and　threw　it　against　the　wall。　The　glass　shattered　and　fell　into　tiny　bits　on　the　carpet。　He　turned　and　walked　into　the　bathroom。　He　took　off　his　jacket　and　loosened　his　tie。　He　turned　on　the　taps　to　wash　his　hands　but　the　sound　of　the　water　rushing　into　the　basin　reminded　him　suddenly　of　the　time　he　had　walked　into　the　solarium。　He　remembered　the　sound　the　water　had　made　in　the　fountain　as　he　became　aware　of　Rina；　lying　nude　on　the　table；　being　given　a　massage　by　Ilene。
　Ilene　was　nude　to　the　waist；　her　lower　half　enclosed　in　the　tight…fitting　black　trousers　she　usually　wore。　He　noticed　the　stringy　muscles　working　along　her　back　as　her　hands　moved　gently　over　Rina's　body。
　Rina　had　one　arm　thrown　over　her　face　to　shield　her　eyes　from　the　sun。　Her　body　writhed　sensuously　under　Ilene's　touch。　When　they　became　aware　of　his　presence；　Rina　lifted　her　arm。　He　felt　a　vague　surprise　at　the　straight　flatness　of　Ilene's　chest。　〃Don't　stop；　darling；〃　Rina　said　huskily　to　Ilene。
　Obediently　Ilene　began　to　massage　again。　The　sensuous　rhythm　seemed　to　return　to　Rina's　body　as　she　lay　there；　her　head　turned　to　the　side；　watching　him。　After　a　moment；　she　put　her　arms　up　and　drew　Ilene's　head　down　to　her　hips；　〃Kiss　me；　lover；〃　she　manded；　her　eyes　still　watching　Claude。
　He　turned　suddenly　and　fled　from　the　room；　the　sound　of　her　mocking　laughter；　mixed　with　the　sound　of　the　water　from　the　fountain；　echoing　in　his　ears。
　Remembering；　he　lifted　his　hands　to　his　face。　It　was　bathed　in　perspiration。　His　clothing　clung　to　him　stickily。　His　skin　began　to　feel　crawly。　He　decided　to　take　a　shower。
　The　hot　needle　spray　of　the　shower　began　to　relax　him。　It　seemed　to　bring　the　inner　warmth　of　the　whisky　to　the　surface　of　his　skin。　Luxuriously　he　lathered　himself　with　the　delicately　scented　soap　his　mother　ordered　from　London　especially　for　him。
　He　stepped　out　of　the　shower；　rubbing　himself　vigorously。　He　looked　down　with　satisfaction　at　his　pink；　tingling　skin。　He　liked　being　clean。　He　looked　for　his　robe；　but　it　wasn't　on　its　usual　hook。　〃Would　you　get　the　blue　robe　from　the　closet　for　me；　please；〃　he　called　automatically；　without　thinking。
　He　took　the　bottle　of　cologne　down　from　the　shelf　and　sprinkled　it　lavishly　into　his　hand；　then　began　to　rub　himself　down。　Some　instinct　caused　him　to　look　up　into　the　mirror。　The　boy　was　standing　in　the　open　door；　watching　him。　The　robe　was　thrown　over　his　arm。　He　had　taken　off　his　yellow　jacket；　revealing　a　dirty　white　T…shirt。
　Claude　saw　the　thick　black　hair　that　sprouted　wildly　from　the　young　man's　arms；　shoulders　and　chest。　A　feeling　of　distaste　ran　through　him。　〃You　can　leave　it　on　the　chair；〃　he　said；　covering　himself　partly　with　the　towel。
　Instead；　the　boy　grinned　knowingly　at　him　and　came　into　the　bathroom；　kicking　the　door　shut　behind　him　with　his　foot。
　Claude　turned　around　angrily。　〃Get　out　of　here！〃
　The　young　man　didn't　move。　His　smile　grew　even　broader。　〃Aw；　e　off　it；　old　man；〃　he　said。　〃You　didn't　really　bring　me　up　here　to　help　you　with　your　packing；　did　you？〃
　〃Get　out　or　I'll　call　for　help；〃　Claude　said；　feeling　a　strangely　exciting　fear。
　The　boy　laughed。　〃Who'll　hear？〃　he　asked。　〃I　was　wise　to　you　the　minute　you　told　me　the　servants　were　off。〃
　〃You　horrible　thing！〃　Claude　screamed。　He　felt　a　stunning　blow　on　the　side　of　his　head　and　he　fell　sprawling。　He　pulled　himself　to　his　hands　and　knees。　〃Please　go；〃　he　whispered；　his　voice　breaking。
　The　young　man　raised　his　hand　threateningly。　Instinctively　Claude　shrank　back　but　he　wasn't　quick　enough。　The　open　palm　cracked　smartly　across　the　side　of　his　face；　knocking　his　head　sideways　against　the　toilet　bowl。　He　stared　up　at　the　boy　with　frightened　eyes。
　〃You　don't　really　want　me　to　go；　do　you？〃　the　young　man　said；　his　hand　tugging　at　the　black　leather　belt　around　his　waist。　〃You're　the　kind　that　likes　to　get　roughed　up　a　little　first。〃
　〃I　am　not！〃
　〃No？〃　The　boy　laughed　derisively；　raising　the　belt。　〃Don't　crap　me；　I　can　see。〃
　For　a　fraction　of　a　moment；　Claude　did　not　know　what　he　meant；　then　he　looked　down　at　himself。　A　crazy　thought　went　racing　through　his　mind。　If　Rina　could　only　see　him　now；　she　would　know　he　was　a　man。
　The　belt　cut　down　across　his　back；　sending　a　thin　shiver　of　agony　down　his　spine。　〃That's　enough！〃　he　whimpered。　〃Please　don't　hit　me　any　more！〃
　
　He　raised　himself　wearily　from　the　floor　and　looked　out　into　the　bedroom。　The　boy　was　gone；　taking　with　him　all　the　money　Claude　had　had　with　him。　Slowly　he　got　into　the　shower　again　and　turned　on　the　hot　water。
　He　felt　his　strength　returning　as　the　water　soaked　into　his　skin。　What　a　horrible　thing　to　have　happen；　he　thought；　remembering　all　the　indignities　the　young　man　had　subjected　him　to。　A　warm　feeling　of　satisfaction　came　to　him。　If　he　had　been　the　stronger；　he　would　have　shown　him。　He　felt　the　excitement　begin　to　beat　inside　his　chest　as　he　thought　how　he　would　have　torn　the　belt　from　the　young　man's　hand　and　beaten　him　with　it　until　he　bled。　He　felt　the　sudden　surge　of　power　to　his　loins。
　It　was　precisely　at　that　moment　that　the　truth　came　to　him。　〃Oh；　no！〃　He　cried　aloud　in　shock　at　the　realization。　What　everyone　had　said　about　him　was　true。　It　was　only　he　who　had　been　blind　to　it　until　his　own　body　betrayed　him。
　A　dazed　kind　of　anger　came　over　him。　Leaving　the　water　running；　he　stepped　from　the　shower　stall。　He　opened　the　medicine　cabinet　and　took　down　the　old…fashioned　straight　razor　that　he　had　used　ever　since　he　began　to　shave　…　the　razor　that　had　stood　proudly　for　him　as　a　symbol　of　his　manhood。
　A　wild；　crazy　kind　of　anger　rolled　blindly　over　him　as　he　slashed　viciously　at　himself。　If　he　was　not　to　be　a　man；　at　least　he　could　turn　himself　into　a　woman。　Again　and　again；　he　slashed　at　himself。　Until　at　last；　his　strength　gone；　he　collapsed　onto　the　floor。
　〃Damn　you！〃　he　cried。　〃Damn　you；　Mother！〃
　They　were　the　last　words　he　ever　said。
　
　20
　
　DAVID　WOOLF　STOOD　IN　THE　DOORWAY　OF　THE　BATHROOM；　NAUSEA　RISING　IN　THE　PIT　OF　HIS　STOMACH。　There　was　blood　everywhere；　on　the　white…and…blue　tiles　of　the　floor　and　walls；　along　the　sides　of　the　white　bathtub；　sink　and　toilet　bowl。
　It　was　hard　to　believe　that　it　was　only　thirty　minutes　ago　that　the　door　of　his　office　had　burst　open　to　reveal　his　uncle；　his　face　flushed　and　purple；　as　it　always　was　whenever　he　was　upset。　〃Get　right　over　to　Rina　Marlowe's　house；〃　Bernie　Norman　said。　〃One　of　the　boys　in　publicity　just　got　a　tip　from　the　Beverly　Hills　police　station　that　Dunbar　mitted　suicide。〃
　David　was　already　on　his　way　to　the　door。
　〃Make　sure　she's　protected！〃　the　old　man　called　after　him。　〃Two　million　dollars　in　unreleased　negatives　we　got　on　her！〃
　He　picked　up　Harry　Richards；　chief　of　the　studio　guards；　at　the　gate　on　the　way　out。　Richards；　a　former　police　sergeant；　was　in　good　with　all　the　cops。　He　took　the　short　cut　over　the　back　roads　through　Coldwater　Canyon　to　Sunset。　He　was　at　Rina's　house　in　twenty　minutes。
　Now　the　two　white…jacketed　mortuary　attendants　were　lifting　Dunbar's　somehow　shrunken　body　into　the　small；　basket…like　stretcher　and　covering　it　with　a　white　canvas　sheet。
　The　attendants　picked　up　the　stretcher　and　David　moved　aside　to　let　them　pass。　He　lit　a　cigarette　as　they　carried　the　body　through　the　bedroom　and　out　into　the　corridor。　The　first　acrid　taste　of　smoke　settled　his　stomach。　A　faint　screaming　came　from　the　downstairs　foyer　and　he　started　hurriedly　for　the　door；　wondering　if　somehow　Rina　had　got　away　from　the　doctor。　But　when　he　got　to　the　head　of　the　staircase；　he　saw　that　it　wasn't　Rina　at　all。　It　was　Dunbar's　mother。
　She　was　struggling　to　free　herself　from　the　grasp　of　two　red…faced　policemen　as　the　white…covered　stretcher　went　by。　〃My　baby！〃　she　screamed。　〃Let　me　see　my　baby！〃　The　attendants　moved　impassively　past　her　and　out　the　door。　David　could　see　the　crowd　of　reporters　outside；　pressing　against　the　door　as　it　opened　and　closed。　He　started　down　the　staircase；　hearing　the　old　woman　begin　to　scream　again。
　She　had　pulled　herself　partly　free　of　one　of　the　policemen　and　with　one　hand　she　held　onto　the　railing　of　the　staircase。　〃You　murdered　my　son；　you　bitch！〃　The　high…pitched　voice　seemed　to　fill　the　whole　house。　〃You　killed　him　because　you　found　out　he　was　ing　back　to　me！〃　The　old　woman　had　her　other　hand　free　now。　She　seemed　to　be　trying　to　pull　herself　up　the　stairs。
　〃Get　that　crazy　old　woman　out　of　here！〃　David　turned；