hr.thecarpetbaggers-第23部分

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t　a　frightened　bone　in　his　body。
　〃We're　about　ready；〃　the　director　said。　〃I've　got　cameras　covering　you　from　every　angle；　so　you　don't　have　to　worry　which　way　to　look。　You　go　when　I　give　the　signal。〃
　Nevada　nodded　and　mounted　the　horse。　The　director　stood　limned　against　the　edge　of　the　cliff；　his　hand　raised　in　the　air。　Suddenly；　his　hand　dropped　and　Nevada　dug　his　spurs　into　the　horse。　The　animal　leaped　forward　in　almost　a　full　gallop。　Nevada　gave　him　his　head　and　led　him　into　the　jump。
　Nevada　took　him　high　and　the　horse　started　down；　his　legs　stiff；　braced　for　a　short　fall。　Nevada　felt　the　great　beast's　heart　suddenly　pound　between　his　legs　as　his　hoofs　didn't　meet　the　expected　ground。
　The　animal　writhed　in　sudden　panic　as　it　began　to　tumble　forward。　Quickly　Nevada　kicked　free　of　the　stirrups　and　threw　himself　over　the　horse's　side。　He　saw　the　water　rushing　up　toward　him　and　hoped　he　had　jumped　far　enough　so　that　the　horse　didn't　land　on　top　of　him。
　He　hit　the　water　in　a　clean　dive　and　let　the　momentum　carry　him　deep。　He　felt　an　explosion　in　the　water　near　him。　That　would　be　the　horse。　His　lungs　were　burning　but　he　stayed　down　as　long　as　he　could。
　At　last；　he　had　to　e　up。　It　seemed　like　forever　till　he　broke　the　surface；　gasping。　He　turned　his　head　and　saw　the　horse　floating　on　its　side；　its　head　twisted　in　a　peculiar　manner。　There　was　a　look　of　great　agony　in　its　eyes。
　He　turned　and　swam　quickly　toward　the　bank。　Angrily　he　strode　toward　the　director。
　The　director　was　smiling。　〃That　was　great。　The　greatest　shot　ever　made！〃
　〃That　hoss's　back　is　probably　broke！〃　Nevada　said。　He　turned　and　looked　out　at　the　horse　again。　The　animal　was　struggling　to　keep　its　head　above　water。　〃Why　don't　somebody　shoot　the　poor　son　of　a　bitch？〃　Nevada　demanded。
　〃We　already　sent　for　the　wrangler　to　bring　a　rifle。　He's　back　on　the　other　hill。〃
　〃That　hoss'll　be　drowned　before　he　gets　here；〃　Nevada　snapped。　〃Hasn't　anybody　got　a　gun？〃
　〃Sure；　but　nobody　could　hit　him。　A　revolver's　no　good　at　that　distance。〃
　Nevada　stared　at　the　director。　〃Give　me　a　gun。〃
　Nevada　took　the　gun　and　hefted　it　in　his　hand。　He　spun　the　cylinder。　〃These　are　blanks；〃　he　said。　Someone　gave　him　bullets。　He　reloaded　the　gun　quickly　and　walked　over　to　the　side　of　the　stream。　He　fired　at　a　piece　of　wood　in　the　water。　The　gun　dragged　a　little　to　the　left。　He　waited　a　moment　until　the　horse　raised　its　head　again；　then　shot　the　animal　between　the　eyes。
　Nevada　walked　back　and　gave　the　director　the　gun。　Silently　the　big　man　took　it　and　held　out　a　pack　of　cigarettes。　Nevada　took　one　and　the　director　held　the　match　for　him。　Nevada　let　the　smoke　fill　his　lungs。
　A　man　came　running　up；　gasping　and　short　of　breath。　〃I'm　sorry；　Mr。　Von　Elster；〃　he　said　hoarsely。　〃I　just　can't　locate　that　stunt　man　anywhere。　But　I'll　get　you　another　one　tomorrow。〃
　〃Didn't　anybody　tell　you？　He　showed　up　already；　Pierce。　We　just　made　the　shot。〃
　Pierce　stared　at　him。　〃How　could　he？　I　just　left　him　back　at…　〃
　The　director　stepped　to　one　side；　revealing　Nevada。　〃Here　he　is。　See　for　yourself。〃
　Pierce　looked　at　Nevada；　then　at　the　director。　〃That's　not　the　one。　That's　Nevada　Smith。　He　owns　the　Great　Southwest　Rodeo　and　Wild…West　Show。〃　He　turned　back　to　Nevada　and　stuck　his　hand　out。　〃Good　to　see　you；　Nevada。〃　He　smiled。　〃What　brings　you　out　here？〃
　Nevada　glared　at　him。　The　anger　bubbled　up　again　inside　him。　He　lashed　out　quickly　and　Pierce　hit　the　ground　in　shocked　surprise。　He　stared　up　at　Nevada。　〃What's　got　into　you；　Nevada？〃
　〃What　I　want　to　know　is　how　much　the　Cody　show　got　into　you！〃
　Von　Elster　stepped　between　them。　〃I've　been　looking　for　someone　like　you　a　long　time；　Smith；〃　he　said。　〃Sell　your　show　and　e　to　work　for　us。　I'll　pay　you　two　fifty　a　week　to　start。〃
　Pierce's　voice　came　up　from　the　ground。　〃Oh；　no　you　don't；　Von　Elster。　A　thousand　a　week　or　nothing！〃
　Nevada　started　to　speak。　〃You　shut　up！〃　Dan　Pierce　told　him　authoritatively。　〃I'm　your　agent　and　don't　you　forget　it！〃　He　turned　back　to　Von　Elster。　〃This　stunt　will　be　all　over　Hollywood　in　an　hour；〃　he　said。　〃I　could　take　him　down　the　line　to　Universal　or　Warner's。　They'd　snap　him　up　like　that。〃
　Von　Elster　stared　at　the　agent。　〃Five　hundred；〃　he　snapped。　〃And　that's　my　last　offer。〃
　Pierce　grabbed　Nevada's　arm。　〃e　on；　Nevada。　We'll　go　over　to　Warner's。　Every　studio's　looking　for　somebody　to　give　Tom　Mix　a　little　petition。〃
　〃Seven　fifty；〃　Von　Elster　said。
　〃For　six　months；　then　a　thousand　a　week　and　corresponding　increases　semiannually　thereafter。〃
　〃It's　a　deal；〃　Von　Elster　said。　He　shook　hands　with　Pierce　and　then　turned　to　Nevada。　He　smiled　and　held　out　his　hand。　〃What　did　you　say　your　name　was？〃
　〃Smith；　Nevada　Smith。〃
　They　shook　hands。　〃And　how　old　are　you；　young　fellow？〃
　Pierce　answered　before　Nevada　could　speak。　〃He's　thirty；　Mr。　Von　Elster。〃
　Nevada　started　to　open　his　mouth　in　protest　but　the　pressure　of　Pierce's　hand　on　his　arm　kept　him　silent。
　〃We'll　make　that　twenty…nine　for　publicity。〃　Von　Elster　smiled。　〃Now；　you　two　e　on　with　me　down　to　the　front　office。　I　want　to　tell　Norman　we　finally　found　the　Sheriff　of　Peaceful　Village！〃
　Nevada　turned　away　to　hide　a　smile。　He　wondered　what　the　men　down　on　the　prison　farm　so　many　years　ago　would　have　said　had　they　known　he'd　finally　turned　up　wearing　a　badge。　Even　if　it　was　only　in　the　movies。
　
　9
　
　〃MY　GOD！〃　THE　WARDEN　HAD　SAID　WHEN　THEY　brought　Max　into　his　office。　〃What　do　they　think　they're　doin'　down　there？　This　is　a　prison；　not　a　reform　school！〃
　〃Don't　let　his　looks　fool　you　none；　Warden；〃　the　tobacco…chewing　deputy　said；　throwing　the　papers　on　the　desk　for　the　warden　to　sign。　〃He's　a　mean　one；　all　right。　He　killed　a　man　down　in　New　Orleans。〃
　The　warden　picked　up　the　papers。　〃What's　he　up　for？　Murder？〃
　〃Nope；〃　the　deputy　replied。　〃Unlawful　use　of　a　weapon。　He　beat　the　murder　rap　…　self…defense。〃　He　let　go　a　wad　into　the　spittoon。　〃This　guy　caught　him　in　some　fancy　lady's　bedroom。〃　
　〃I　was　the　lady's　bodyguard；　Warden；〃　Max　said。　
　The　warden　looked　up　at　him　shrewdly。　〃That　didn't　give　you　the　right　to　kill　a　man。〃
　〃I　had　to；　Warden；〃　Max　said。　〃He　was　in'　at　me　with　a　knife　an'　I　had　to　defend　myself。　I　had　no　clothes　on。〃
　〃That's　right；　Warden。〃　The　deputy　cackled　lewdly。　〃Naked　as　a　jaybird　he　was。〃
　〃Sounds　like　a　genuine　case　of　self…defense　to　me；〃　the　warden　said。　〃How　e　they　hang　a　bum　one　like　this　on　him？〃
　〃It　was　a　cousin　of　the　Darcys　he　croaked；〃　the　deputy　said　quickly。
　〃Oh；〃　the　warden　said。　That　explained　everything。　The　Darcys　were　pretty　important　people　in　New　Orleans。　〃In　that　case；　you're　lucky　you　didn't　get　the　book。〃　He　signed　the　papers　and　pushed　them　across　the　desk。　〃Here　y'are；　Deputy。〃
　The　deputy　picked　up　the　papers　and　unlocked　Max's　handcuffs。　〃So　long；　rooster。〃
　The　warden　got　to　his　feet　heavily。　〃How　old　are　you；　boy？〃
　〃　'Bout　nineteen；　I　reckon；〃　Max　answered。
　〃That's　kinda　young　to　be　bodyguardin'　one　of　them　fancy　women　down　in　New　Orleans；〃　the　warden　said。　〃How'd　you　e　to　that？〃
　〃I　needed　a　job　when　I　got　out　of　the　Army；〃　Max　answered。　〃An'　she　wanted　someone　who　was　fast　with　a　gun。　I　was　fast　enough；　I　reckon。〃
　〃Too　fast；〃　the　warden　said。　He　walked　around　the　desk。　〃I'm　a　fair　man　but　I　don't　hold　with　no　trouble…makers。　You…all　just　get　up　every　mornin'；　do　your　work　like　you're　tol'　an'　you'll　have　no　trouble　with　me。〃
　〃I　understand；　Warden；〃　Max　said。
　The　warden　walked　to　the　door　of　his　office。　〃Mike！〃　he　roared。
　A　giant　Negro　trusty　stuck　his　head　in　the　door。　〃Yassuh；　Warden。〃
　〃Take　this　new　man　out　and　give　him　ten　lashes。〃
　The　surprise　showed　on　Max's　face。
　〃There's　nothin'　personal　in　it；〃　the　warden　said　quickly。　〃An　ounce　of　prevention；　I　always　say。　It　kinda　sticks　in　your　mind　if　you　ever　think　about　makin'　any　trouble。〃　He　walked　back　around　his　desk。
　〃C'mon；　boy；〃　the　Negro　said。
　The　door　closed　behind　them　and　they　started　down　the　corridor。　The　trusty's　voice　was　warm　and　forting。　〃Don'　you　worry　none　about　them　lashes；　boy；〃　he　said。　〃I　knocks　you　out　with　the　first　one　an'　you　never　feels　the　other　nine！〃
　
　Max　had　reached　New　Orleans　about　Mardi　Gras　tim