hr.thecarpetbaggers-第80章

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　David　stared　at　Jonas。　Why　shouldn't　Nevada　like　it？　It　captured　the　imagination　immediately。　There　wasn't　a　Western　star　in　the　business　who　wouldn't　jump　at　the　chance　of　making　a　series　like　that。　That　was　what　he'd　meant　by　creative　conceit。　Jonas　really　had　it。
　The　car　came　to　a　stop　in　front　of　the　hospital。　Jonas　leaned　over　and　opened　the　door。　〃You　get　off　here；〃　he　said　quietly。
　The　meeting　was　over。
　
　They　stood　in　front　of　his　car　and　watched　the　big　black　limousine　disappear　down　the　driveway。　David　opened　the　door　and　Rosa　looked　up　at　him。　〃It's　been　a　big　night；　hasn't　it？〃　she　asked　softly。
　He　nodded。　〃A　very　big　night。〃
　〃You　don't　have　to　take　me　back。　I　can　get　a　cab　here。　I'll　understand。〃
　He　looked　down　at　her；　his　face　serious；　then　he　smiled。　〃What　do　you　say　we　go　someplace　for　a　drink？〃
　She　hesitated　a　moment。　〃I　have　a　cottage　at　Malibu；〃　she　said。　〃It's　not　far　from　here。　We　could　go　there　if　you'd　like。〃
　They　were　at　the　cottage　in　fifteen　minutes。　〃Don't　be　upset　at　how　the　place　looks；〃　she　said；　putting　the　key　into　the　lock。　〃I　haven't　had　time　lately　to　straighten　up。〃
　She　flicked　on　the　light　and　he　followed　her　into　a　large　living　room　that　was　very　sparsely　furnished。　A　couch；　several　occasional　chairs；　two　small　tables　with　lamps。　At　one　end　was　a　fireplace；　at　the　other　a　solid　glass　wall　facing　the　ocean。　In　front　of　it　was　an　easel　holding　a　half…finished　oil　painting。　A　smock　and　palette　lay　on　the　floor。
　〃What　do　you　drink？〃　she　asked。
　〃Scotch；　if　you　have　it。〃
　〃I　have　it。　Sit　down　while　I　get　ice　and　glasses。〃
　He　waited　until　she　went　into　another　room；　then　crossed　to　the　easel。　He　looked　at　the　painting。　It　was　a　sunset　over　the　Pacific；　with　wild　red；　yellow　and　orange　hues　over　the　almost　black　water。　He　heard　ice　clink　in　a　glass　behind　him　and　turned。　She　held　out　a　drink　to　him。
　〃Yours？〃　he　asked；　taking　the　glass　from　her。
　She　nodded。　〃I'm　not　really　good　at　it。　I　play　the　piano　the　same　way。　But　it's　my　way　of　relaxing；　of　working　off　my　frustrations　over　my　incapabilities。　It's　my　way　of　pensating　for　not　being　a　genius。〃
　〃Not　many　people　are；〃　he　said。　〃But　from　what　I've　heard；　you're　a　pretty　good　doctor。〃
　She　looked　at　him。　〃I　suppose　I　am。　But　I'm　not　good　enough。　What　you　said　tonight　was　very　revealing。　And　very　true。〃
　〃What　was　that？〃
　〃About　creative　conceit；　the　ability　to　do　what　no　other　man　can　do。　A　great　doctor　or　surgeon　must　have　it；　too。〃　She　shrugged　her　shoulders。　〃I'm　a　very　good　workman。　Nothing　more。〃
　〃You　might　be　judging　yourself　unfairly。〃
　〃No；　I'm　not；〃　she　replied　quickly。　〃I've　studied　under　doctors　who　were　geniuses　and　I've　seen　enough　others　to　know　what　I'm　talking　about。　My　father；　in　his　own　way；　is　a　genius。　He　can　do　things　with　plastics　and　ceramics　that　no　other　man　in　the　world　can。　Sigmund　Freud；　who　is　a　friend　of　my　father's；　Picasso；　whom　I　met　in　France；　George　Bernard　Shaw；　who　lectured　at　my　college　in　England　…　they　are　all　geniuses。　And　they　all　have　that　one　quality　in　mon。　The　creative　conceit　that　enables　them　to　do　things　that　no　other　man　before　them　could　do。〃　She　shook　her　head。　〃No；　I　know　better。　I'm　no　genius。〃
　He　looked　at　her。　〃I'm　not；　either。〃
　David　turned　toward　the　ocean　as　she　came　and　stood　beside　him。　〃I've　known　some　geniuses；　too；〃　he　said。　〃Uncle　Bernie；　who　started　Norman　Pictures；　was　a　genius。　He　did　everything　it　now　takes　ten　men　to　do。　And　Jonas　Cord　is　a　genius；　too；　in　a　way。　But　I'm　not　sure　yet　in　what　area。　There　are　so　many　things　he　can　do；　it's　a　pity。〃
　〃I　know　what　you　mean。　My　father　said　almost　the　same　thing　about　him。〃
　He　looked　down　at　her。　〃It's　sad；　isn't　it？〃　he　said。　〃Two　ordinary　nongeniuses；　standing　here　looking　out　at　the　Pacific　Ocean。〃
　A　glint　of　laughter　came　into　her　eyes。　〃And　such　a　big　ocean；　too。〃
　〃The　biggest；〃　he　said　solemnly。　〃Or　so　some　genius　said。　The　biggest　in　the　world。〃　He　held　up　his　glass。　〃Let's　drink　to　that。〃
　They　drank　and　he　turned　again　to　the　ocean。　〃It's　warm；　almost　warm　enough　to　swim。〃
　〃I　don't　think　the　ocean　would　object　if　two　just　ordinary　people　went　for　a　swim。〃
　He　looked　at　her　and　smiled　slowly。　〃Could　we？〃
　She　laughed。　〃Of　course。　You'll　find　swimming　trunks　in　the　locker　in　the　utility　room。〃
　
　David　came　out　of　the　water　and　collapsed　on　the　blanket。　He　rolled　over　on　his　side　and　watched　her　running　up　the　beach　toward　him。　He　held　his　breath。　She　was　so　much　a　woman　that　he　had　almost　forgotten　she　was　also　a　doctor。
　She　dropped　beside　him　and　reaching　for　a　towel；　threw　it　across　her　shoulders。　〃I　didn't　think　the　water　would　be　so　cold。〃
　He　laughed。　〃It's　wonderful。〃　He　reached　for　a　cigarette。　〃When　I　was　a　kid；　we　used　to　go　swimming　off　the　docks　in　the　East　River。　It　was　never　like　this。〃　He　lit　the　cigarette　and　passed　it　to　her。
　〃Feel　better　now？〃　she　asked。
　He　nodded。　〃It's　just　what　the　doctor　ordered。〃　He　laughed。　〃All　the　knots　came　untied。〃
　〃Good；〃　she　said。　She　dragged　on　the　cigarette　and　passed　it　back　to　him。
　〃You　know；　Rosa；〃　he　said；　almost　shyly；　〃when　my　mother　asked　me　to　dinner　to　meet　you；　I　didn't　want　to　e。〃
　〃I　know；〃　she　said。　〃I　felt　the　same　way。　I　was　sure　you'd　be　a　real　slob。〃
　She　came　down　into　his　arms；　her　mouth　tasting　of　ocean　salt。　His　hand　found　her　breast　inside　her　bathing　suit。　He　felt　a　shiver　run　through　her　as　the　nipple　grew　into　his　palm；　then　her　fingers　were　on　his　thigh；　capturing　his　manhood。
　Slowly　he　reached　up　and　slipped　the　suit　from　her　shoulders　and　drew　it　down　over　her　body。　He　could　hear　her　breath　whistling　in　her　chest　as　he　pressed　his　face　against　her　breasts。　Her　arms　locked　around　his　head；　closing　out　the　night。　Suddenly；　her　fingers　were　frantic；　leading　him　to　her；　her　voice　harsh　and　insistent。　〃Don't　be　so　gentle；　David。　I'm　a　woman！〃
　
　13
　
　ROSA　CAME　INTO　THE　COTTAGE　AND　WENT　DIRECTLY　INTO　THE　BEDROOM。　She　glanced　at　the　clock　on　the　night　table。　It　was　time　for　the　six…o'clock　news。　She　turned　on　the　radio　and　the　announcer's　voice　filled　the　room　as　she　began　to　undress：
　Today　the　pride　of　the　German　army；　Rommel；　the　〃Desert　Fox；〃　got　his　first　real　taste　of　what　it　felt　like　to　eat　desert　sand　as；　in　the　midst　of　a　whirling；　blinding　sandstorm；　Montgomery　began　to　push　him　back　toward　Tobruk。　Obviously　inadequately　prepared　for　the　massive　onslaught；　the　Italians；　supporting　Rommel's　flanks；　were　surrendering　en　masse。　With　his　flanks　thus　exposed；　Rommel　had　no　choice　but　to　begin　to　fall　back　to　the　sea。　In　London　today；　Prime　Minister　Winston　Churchill　said…　
　She　flicked　off　the　radio。　War　news。　Nothing　but　war　news。　Today　she　didn't　want　to　hear　it。　She　turned　and　looked　at　her　naked　body　in　the　mirror　over　the　dresser。
　She　pressed　her　hand　to　her　stomach。　It　felt　strong　and　somehow　full　to　her。　She　turned　sideways　and　studied　herself。　She　was　still　flat　and　straight。　But　in　a　little　while；　she　would　begin　to　get　round　and　full。　She　smiled　to　herself　as　she　remembered　the　surprise　she　had　heard　in　Dr。　Mayer's　voice。　〃Why；　Doctor；　you're　pregnant！〃　There　had　been　a　look　of　amazement　in　his　eyes。
　She　had　laughed。　〃That's　what　I　thought；　Doctor。〃
　〃Well；〃　he　sputtered。　〃Well！〃
　〃Don't　be　so　shocked；　Doctor；〃　she　said；　almost　dryly。　〃These　things　are　known　to　happen　to　many　women。〃
　Then　she　was　surprised　by　the　sudden　feeling　of　pride　and　happiness　that　swept　through　her。　She　had　never　thought　she　would　feel　like　this。　The　thought　of　having　a　child　had　always　frightened　her。　Not　a　physical　kind　of　fear　but　rather　that　pregnancy　might　keep　her　from　her　work；　interfere　with　her　life。
　But　it　turned　out　to　be　not　like　that　at　all。　She　was　proud　and　happy　and　excited。　This　was　something　only　she　could　do。　There　had　never　been　a　man；　in　all　medical　history；　who　had　given　birth　to　a　child。
　She　threw　a　robe　around　her　shoulders　and　went　into　the　bathroom；　turning　on　the　tub　water。　Almost　languidly　she　sprinkled　the　bath　salts　into　it。　The　fragrance　came　up　and　tickled　her　nostrils。　She　sneezed。　〃Gesundheit！〃　she　said　aloud　to　herself　and　pressed　her　hands　to　her　stomach。
　She　laughed　aloud。　The　baby　wasn't　even　shaped　inside　her　yet　and　already　she　was　talking　to　it。　She　looked　at　her　face　in　the　bathroom　mirror。　Her　skin　was　clear　and　pink　and　her　eyes　were　sparkling。　She　smiled　again。　For　the　first　time　in　her　life；　she　was　glad　she　was　a　woman。
　Carefully　she　stepped　into　the　tub　and　sank　into　the　warm　water。　She　would　not　soak　too　long。　She　wanted　to　be　at　the　telephone　at　seven　o'clock　when　David　called　from　New　York。　She　wanted　to　hear　the　happiness　in　his　voice　when　she　told　him。
　
　David　looked　down　at　the　blue；　leather…bound　book　of　accounts。　Six　million　dollars'　profit　this　year。　Almost　two　million　last　year。　If　nothing　else；　the　figures　proved　how　right　had　been　the　deal　he　made　with　Bonner　three　years　ago。
　True；　Bonner　made　almost　as　much　for　himself。　But　he　had　a　right　to　it。　Almost　all　that　profit　had　e　from　his　own　big　pictures；　those　he　had　produced　and　financed　himself。　If　only　David　had　been　able　to　persuade　Jonas　to　e　up　with　the　financing　when　Bonner　offered　it　to　them。　If　he　had；　the　profit　this　year　would　have　been　ten　million　dollars。
　Only　one　thing　troubled　David。　During　the　past　year；　Cord　had　been　gradually　liquidating　part　of　his　stock　as　the　market　rose。　He'd　already　recovered　his　original　investment　and　the　twenty…three　per　cent　of　the　stock　he　still　owned　was　free　and　clear。　Ordinarily；　in　a　pany　this　size；　that　meant　control。　But　someone　was　buying。　It　was　the　story　of　Uncle　Bernie　all　over　again。　Only　this　time；　Jonas　was　on　the　wrong　side　of　the　fence。
　One　day；　a　broker　named　Sheffield　had　e　to　see　David。　He　was　rumored　to　be　the　head　of　a　powerful　syndicate　and　their　holdings　in　the　pany　were　considerable。　David　had　looked　at　him　questioningly；　as　he　sat　down。
　〃For　almost　a　year　now；　we've　been　trying　to　arrange　a　meeting　with　Mr。　Cord　to　discuss　our　mutual　problems；〃　Sheffield　said。　〃But　no　one　seems　to　know　where　he　is　or　how　he　can　be　reached。　We've　never　even　received　an　answer　to　our　letters。''
　〃Mr。　Cord　is　a　busy　man。〃
　〃I　know；〃　Sheffield　said　quickly。　〃I've　had　dealings　with　him　before。　The　least　I　can　say　is　that　he's　erratic。〃　He　drew　a　gold　cigarette　case　from　his　pocket　and　opened　it。　Carefully　he　took　out　a　cigarette　and　placed　it　between　his　lips。　He　lit　the　cigarette　and　as　carefully　put　the　case　back　in　his　pocket。　He　blew　a　cloud　of　smoke　toward　David。　〃Our　patience　is　at　an　end；〃　he　said。　〃We　have　a　considerable　investment　in　this　pany；　an　investment　that　will　tolerate　neither　a　dilettante　operation　nor　an　obvious　neglect　of　profit　opportunities。〃
　〃It　seems　to　me　the　investors　have　very　little　to　plain　about；〃　David　said。　〃Especially　in　view　of　the　profits　this　year。〃
　〃I　mend　your　loyalty；　Mr。　Woolf；〃　Sheffield　said。　He　smiled。　〃But　we　both　know　better。　My　group　of　investors　was　willing　to　advance　the　financing　needed　for　certain　pictures　which　might　have　doubled　our　profit。　Mr。　Cord　was　not。　We　are　willing　to　work　out　an　equitable　stock　and　profit…sharing　plan　for　certain　key　executives。　Mr。　Cord　is　not。　And　definitely　we　are　not　interested　in