hr.thecarpetbaggers-第79章

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　She　smiled　and　pressed　his　hand　suddenly。　〃Please　e；〃　she　said。　〃It　would　make　me　feel　happier。　Then；　at　least；　I'd　know　you　weren't　angry　at　me　for　putting　my　…　how　do　you　say　it　…　two　cents　into　your　business。〃
　He　laughed；　and　still　holding　his　hand；　she　got　out　of　the　car　and　led　him　up　the　steps　to　the　hospital。
　
　He　stood　in　the　doorway　and　watched　as　she　gently　lifted　the　bandage　from　the　child's　face。　She　held　out　her　hand　silently　and　the　nurse　took　a　swab　from　a　bottle　and　handed　it　to　her。　〃This　may　hurt　a　little；　Mary；〃　she　said。　〃But　you　won't　move　or　talk；　will　you？〃
　The　girl　shook　her　head。
　〃All　right；　then；〃　Rosa　said。　〃Now　we'll　be　still；　very　still。〃　Her　voice　murmured；　low　and　soothing；　as　her　hand　quickly　traced　the　edge　of　the　girl's　lips　with　the　swab。　David　saw　the　child's　eyes　fill　with　sudden　tears。　For　a　moment；　he　thought　she　was　going　to　move　her　head　but　she　didn't。
　〃That's　fine；〃　Rosa　said　softly　as　the　nurse　took　the　swab　from　her　hand。　〃You're　a　brave　girl。〃　The　nurse　efficiently　replaced　the　bandage　across　the　girl's　mouth。　〃Tomorrow　morning；　we'll　take　off　the　bandage　and　you'll　be　able　to　go　home。〃
　The　girl　reached　for　a　pad　and　pencil　on　the　table　next　to　her　bed。　She　scribbled　quickly　for　a　moment；　then　handed　it　to　Rosa。　She　looked　down　at　the　paper　and　smiled。　〃Tomorrow　morning；　after　the　bandage　es　off。〃
　David　saw　the　sudden　smile　that　leaped　into　the　child's　eyes。　Rosa　turned　to　him　as　they　walked　down　the　corridor。　〃We　can　go　back　to　your　mother's　now。〃
　〃That　was　a　pretty　little　girl；〃　he　said　as　they　waited　for　the　elevator。
　〃Yes。〃
　〃What　was　the　matter　with　her？〃
　She　looked　at　him。　〃Harelip；〃　she　said。　〃The　child　was　born　with　it。〃　A　note　of　quiet　pride　came　into　her　voice。　〃Now　she'll　be　just　like　anyone　else。　No　one　will　stare　at　her　or　laugh　when　she　talks。〃
　The　door　opened　and　they　stepped　into　the　elevator。　David　pressed　the　button　and　the　door　closed。　He　noticed　the　note　the　girl　had　given　Rosa　still　in　her　hand。　He　took　it　from　her。　It　was　in　a　childish　scrawl。　〃When　will　I　be　able　to　talk？〃
　He　looked　at　Rosa。　〃It　must　make　you　feel　good。〃
　She　nodded。　〃Plastic　surgery　isn't　all　nose　jobs；　or　double…chin　corrections　for　movie　stars。　The　important　part　is　helping　people　so　they　can　live　normal　lives。　Like　Mary　up　there。　You've　no　idea　how　a　deformity　like　that　can　affect　a　child's　life。〃
　A　new　respect　for　her　grew　in　him　as　they　crossed　the　lobby　toward　the　front　door。　The　doorman　touched　his　cap。　〃I'll　get　your　car；　sir。〃
　As　he　ran　down　the　steps　and　crossed　over　to　the　parking　lot；　a　big　limousine　came　to　a　stop　in　front　of　them。　David　glanced　at　it　casually；　then　turned　toward　Rosa。　He　pulled　a　package　of　cigarettes　from　his　pocket。　〃Cigarette；　Rosa？〃
　He　heard　the　limousine　door　open　behind　him　as　Rosa　took　the　cigarette。　He　put　one　in　his　own　mouth　and　held　a　light　for　her。　〃You　wanted　to　see　me；　David？〃
　David　spun　around；　almost　dropping　his　lighter。　He　saw　the　white　blur　of　a　shirt；　then　a　head　and　shoulders　appeared　in　the　open　doorway　of　the　limousine。　It　was　Jonas　Cord。　David　stared　at　him　silently。
　Involuntarily　David　glanced　at　Rosa。　There　was　a　strange　look　in　her　eyes。　He　thought　she　might　be　frightened　and　his　hand　reached　out　for　her。
　Jonas'　voice　was　a　quiet　chuckle　behind　him。　〃It's　all　right；　David；〃　he　said。　〃You　can　bring　Rosa　with　you。〃
　
　12
　
　ROSA　SANK　BACK　ONTO　THE　SEAT　IN　THE　CORNER　OF　THE　LIMOUSINE。　She　glanced　at　David　sitting　next　to　her；　then　at　Jonas。　It　was　dark　inside　the　car　and　occasionally　the　light　from　an　overhead　street　lamp　would　flicker　across　Jonas'　face　as　he　sat　facing　them　on　the　jump　seat；　his　long　legs　stretched　across　the　Tonen。
　〃How　is　your　father；　Rosa？〃
　〃He　is　fine；　Mr。　Cord。　He　speaks　of　you　often。〃
　She　sensed　rather　than　saw　his　smile。　〃Give　him　my　best　when　you　see　him。〃
　〃I　will　do　that；　Mr。　Cord；〃　she　said。
　The　big　automobile　picked　up　speed　as　they　came　out　on　the　Coast　Highway。　Rosa　glanced　out　of　the　window。　They　were　going　north　toward　Santa　Barbara；　away　from　Los　Angeles。
　〃McAllister　said　you　wanted　to　see　me；　David。〃
　She　felt　David　stir　on　the　seat　beside　her。　He　leaned　forward。　〃We've　gone　about　as　far　as　we　can　on　our　own；　Jonas。　If　we're　to　go　any　further；　we'll　need　your　O。K。〃
　Jonas'　voice　was　emotionless。　〃Why　go　any　further？〃　he　asked。　〃I'm　satisfied　with　the　way　things　are。　You've　eliminated　your　operating　losses　and　from　now　on；　you　should　be　in　the　black。〃
　〃We　won't　stay　in　the　black　for　long。　The　unions　are　demanding　increases　or　they'll　strike。　That　will　absorb　any　profits。〃
　〃Let　them；〃　Jonas　said；　his　voice　still　emotionless。　〃You　don't　have　to　give　it　to　them。〃
　〃I　already　did；〃　David　answered。
　Rosa　could　almost　hear　the　moment's　silence。　She　looked　from　one　to　the　other；　though　she　couldn't　see　their　faces。
　〃You　did？〃　Jonas　said　quietly；　but　an　undercurrent　of　coldness　had　e　into　his　voice。　〃I　thought　union　negotiations　were　Dan's　province。''
　David's　voice　was　steady。　There　was　a　cautious　note　in　it　but　it　was　the　caution　used　by　a　man　seeking　his　way　through　unknown　territory；　not　that　of　fear。　〃It　was；　until　tonight；〃　he　said。　〃Until　it　affected　the　welfare　of　the　pany。　Then　it　became　my　business。〃
　〃Why　couldn't　Dan　settle　it？〃
　〃Because　you　never　replied　to　his　messages；〃　David　said　quietly。　〃He　felt　he　couldn't　make　a　deal　without　your　approval。〃
　〃And　you　felt　differently？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　Jonas'　voice　grew　colder。　〃What　makes　you　think　you　don't　need　my　approval　any　more　than　he　does？〃
　She　heard　a　click　as　David　flicked　his　lighter　and　held　the　flame　to　his　cigarette。　Light　danced　across　his　face　for　a　moment；　then　went　out。　The　cigarette　glowed　in　the　dark。　〃Because　I　assumed　that　if　you'd　wanted　me　to　bankrupt　the　pany；　you'd　have　told　me　so　two　years　ago。〃
　Jonas　ignored　the　answer。　〃What　else　did　you　want　to　see　me　about？〃
　〃The　government's　starting　that　antitrust　business　again；〃　David　said。　〃They　want　us　to　separate　the　theaters　from　the　studio。　I　sent　you　all　the　pertinent　data　some　time　ago。　We'll　have　to　give　them　an　answer。〃
　Jonas　sounded　uninterested。　〃I've　already　told　Mac　what　to　do　about　that。　We'll　be　able　to　stall　until　after　the　war；　when　we　ought　to　get　a　good　price　for　the　theaters。　There's　always　an　inflation　in　real　estate　after　a　war。〃
　〃What　if　we　don't　have　a　war？〃
　〃We'll　have　a　war；〃　Jonas　said　flatly。　〃Sometime　within　the　next　few　years。　Hitler　is　going　to　find　himself　in　a　bind。　He'll　have　to　expand　or　bust　the　whole　phony　prosperity　he's　brought　to　Germany。〃
　Rosa　felt　a　knot　in　her　stomach。　It　was　one　thing　to　feel　that　it　was　inevitable　because　you　always　kept　hoping　you　were　wrong。　But　to　put　it　as　simply　and　concisely　as　Jonas　。　。　。　Sans　emotion；　one　plus　one　equals　two。　War。　And　then　there　would　be　no　place　left　to　go。　Germany　would　rule　the　world。　Even　her　father　said　that　the　Fatherland　was　so　far　ahead　of　the　rest　of　the　world　that　it　would　take　them　a　century　to　catch　up。
　She　stared　at　David。　How　could　Americans　know　so　little？　Did　they　honestly　believe　that　they　could　escape　this　war　unscathed？　How　could　he　sit　there　talking　business　as　if　nothing　were　going　to　happen？　He　was　a　Jew。　Didn't　he；　too；　feel　the　shadow　of　Hitler　falling　across　him？
　She　heard　David　chuckle。　〃Then　we're　in　the　same　boat；〃　he　said。　She　stared　at　him　in　shocked　surprise　as　he　went　on　talking。　〃What　we've　done　by　virtue　of　enforced　economies　is　to　build　a　false　economy　for　ourselves。　One　in　which　we　count　as　profit　the　savings　produced　by　eliminating　the　waste　from　our　own　body。　But　we　haven't　created　any　new　sources　of　real　profit。〃
　〃And　that's　why　you've　been　talking　to　Bonner？〃
　She　felt　David　start　in　surprise。　For　the　first　time　that　evening；　his　voice　wasn't　assured。　〃Yes；〃　he　answered。
　〃I　suppose　you　felt　it　was　quite　within　your　authority　to　initiate　such　discussions　without　prior　consultations　with　me？〃　Jonas'　voice　was　still　quiet。
　〃As　far　back　as　a　year　ago；　I　sent　you　a　note　asking　your　permission　to　talk　to　Zanuck。　I　never　received　a　reply　and　Zanuck　signed　with　Fox。〃
　〃If　I'd　wanted　you　to　talk　to　him；　I'd　have　let　you　know；〃　Jonas　said　sharply。　〃What　makes　you　think　Dan　can't　do　what　Bonner　can？〃
　David　hesitated。　He　ground　his　cigarette　out　in　the　ash　tray　on　the　arm　rest　beside　him。　〃Two　things；〃　he　said　cautiously。　〃I'm　not　knocking　Dan。　He's　proved　himself　an　extremely　able　administrator　and　studio　executive。　He　has　developed　a　program　that　keeps　the　factory　working　at　maximum　efficiency；　but　one　of　the　things　he　lacks　is　the　creative　conceit　of　men　like　Bonner　and　Zanuck。　The　ability　to　seize　an　idea　and　personally　turn　it　into　a　great　motion　picture。〃
　He　stared　at　Jonas　in　the　dark。　They　passed　a　street　lamp；　which　revealed　Jonas　for　a　moment；　his　eyes　hooded；　his　face　impassive。　〃Lack　of　creative　conceit　is　the　difference　between　a　real　producer　and　a　studio　executive；　which　Dan　really　is。　The　creative　conceit　to　make　him　believe　he　can　make　pictures　better　than　anyone　else　and　the　ability　to　make　others　believe　it；　too。　To　my　mind；　you　showed　more　of　it　in　the　two　pictures　you　made　than　Dan　has　in　the　fifty…odd　pictures　he's　produced　in　the　last　two　years。〃
　〃And　what's　the　second？〃　Jonas　asked；　ignoring　the　implied　flattery　of　David's　words。　Rosa　smiled　to　herself　as　she　realized　that　he'd　accepted　the　remark　as　fact。
　〃The　second　is　money；〃　David　replied。　〃Assuming　Dan　could　develop　this　quality；　it　would　take　money　to　find　out。　Five　million　dollars；　to　make　two　or　three　big　pictures。　Money　which　you　don't　want　to　invest。　Bonner　brings　his　own　financing。　He'll　make　four　pictures　a　year；　and　our　own　investment　is　minimal　only　the　overhead　on　each。　Between　distribution　fees　and　profit…sharing；　we　can't　get　hurt；　no　matter　what　happens。　And　his　supervision　of　the　rest　of　the　program　can　do　nothing　but　help　us。〃
　〃You've　thought　about　what　this　would　do　to　Dan？〃　Jonas　asked。
　David　took　a　deep　breath。　〃Dan　is　your　responsibility；　not　mine。　My　responsibility　is　to　the　pany。〃　He　hesitated　a　moment。　〃There'd　still　be　a　lot　Dan　could　do。〃
　〃Not　the　way　you　want　it；〃　Jonas　said　flatly。　〃No　business　can　run　with　two　heads。〃
　David　was　silent。
　Jonas'　words　cut　sharply　through　the　dark　like　a　knife。　〃All　right；　make　your　deal　with　Bonner；〃　he　said。　〃But　it'll　be　up　to　you　to　get　rid　of　Dan。〃
　He　turned　in　the　jump　seat。　〃You　can　take　us　back　to　Mr。　Woolf's　car　now；　Robair。〃
　〃Yes；　Mr。　Cord。〃
　Jonas　turned　back　to　them。　〃I　saw　Nevada　earlier；〃　he　said。　〃He'll　make　that　series　for　us。〃
　〃Good。　We'll　begin　checking　story　properties　right　away。〃
　〃You　don't　have　to；〃　Jonas　said。　〃We　settled　that　already。　I　suggested　to　him　we　pick　up　the　character　Max　Sand　from　The　Renegade　and　take　it　from　there。〃
　〃How　can　we？　At　the　end　of　the　picture；　he　rode　off　into　the　hills　to　die。〃
　Jonas　smiled。　〃We'll　presume　he　didn't。　Suppose　he　lived；　took　another　name　and　got　religion。　And　that　he　spends　the　rest　of　his　life　helping　people　who　have　no　one　else　to　turn　to。　He　uses　his　gun　only　as　a　last　resort。　Nevada　liked　it。〃
　David　stared　at　Jonas。　Why　shouldn't　Nevada　like　it？　It　captured　the　imagination　immediately。　There　wasn't