hr.thecarpetbaggers-第35部分

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　A　look　of　relief　came　into　Weiss's　face。　〃Thanks；　Mr。　Smith；〃　he　said　gratefully。　〃I　really　appreciate　this。　Thanks　very　much。〃
　For　a　week；　Nevada　couldn't　bring　himself　to　read　it。　In　some　strange　way；　he　felt　that　if　he　did；　he'd　be　exposing　himself。　Then　one　evening；　he　came　into　the　library　after　dinner；　where　Von　Elster　was　waiting；　and　found　him　deeply　engrossed　in　this　script。
　〃How　long　have　you　been　sitting　on　this？〃　the　director　asked。
　Nevada　shrugged。　〃About　a　week。　You　know　how　it　is。　These　writers　are　always　ing　up　with　scripts。　Is　it　any　good？〃
　Von　Elster　put　it　down　slowly。　〃It's　more　than　good。　It's　great。　I　want　to　be　the　director　if　you　do　it。〃
　Late　that　night；　the　lamp　still　burning　near　his　bed；　Nevada　realized　what　the　director　meant。　Weiss　had　given　depth　and　purpose　to　his　portrait　of　a　man　who　lived　alone　and　developed　a　philosophy　born　of　pain　and　sadness。　There　was　no　glamour　in　his　crimes；　only　the　desperate　struggle　for　survival。
　Nevada　knew　as　he　read　it　that　the　picture　would　be　made。　The　script　was　too　good　to　be　passed　up。　For　his　own　self…protection；　he　had　to　make　the　picture。　If　it　escaped　into　someone　else's　hands；　there　was　no　telling　how　much　further　they'd　delve　into　the　life　of　Max　Sand。
　He　bought　the　script　from　Weiss　the　next　morning　for　one　thousand　dollars。
　
　Nevada　returned　to　the　present　suddenly。　〃Let's　hold　it　for　a　year；〃　Bernie　Norman　was　saying。　〃By　then；　we'll　know　which　way　to　jump。〃
　Dan　Pierce　looked　across　at　him。　Nevada　knew　the　look。　It　meant　that　Pierce　felt　he'd　gone　as　far　as　he　could。
　〃Chaplin　and　Pickford　had　the　right　idea　in　forming　United　Artists；〃　Nevada　said。　〃I　guess　that's　the　only　way　a　star　can　be　sure　of　making　the　pictures　he　wants。〃
　Norman's　eyes　changed　subtly。　〃They　haven't　had　a　good　year　since；〃　he　said。　〃They've　dropped　a　bundle。〃
　〃Mebbe；〃　Nevada　said。　〃Only　time　will　tell。　It's　still　a　new　pany。〃
　Norman　looked　at　Pierce　for　a　moment；　then　back　to　Nevada。　〃O。K。；〃　he　said。　〃I'll　make　a　deal　with　you。　We'll　put　up　a　half　million　toward　the　picture；　you　guarantee　all　the　negative　cost　over　that。〃
　〃That's　a　million　and　a　half　more！〃　Pierce　answered。　〃Where's　Nevada　going　to　get　that　kind　of　money？〃
　Norman　smiled。　〃The　same　place　we　do。　At　the　bank。　He　won't　have　any　trouble。　I'll　arrange　it。　You'll　own　the　picture　one　hundred　per　cent。　All　we'll　get　is　distribution　fees　and　our　money　back。　That's　a　better　deal　than　United　Artists　can　give。　That　shows　you　how　much　we　want　to　go　along　with　you；　Nevada。　Fair　enough？〃
　Nevada　had　no　illusions。　If　the　picture　didn't　make　it；　his　name　would　be　on　the　notes　at　the　bank；　not　Norman's。　He'd　lose　everything　he　had　and　more。　He　looked　down　at　the　blue…covered　script。　A　resolution　began　to　harden　inside　him。
　Jonas'　father　had　said　to　him　once　that　it　wasn't　any　satisfaction　to　win　or　lose　if　it　wasn't　your　own　money；　and　you'd　never　make　it　big　playing　for　table　stakes。　This　picture　just　couldn't　miss。　He　knew　it。　He　could　feel　it　inside　him。
　He　looked　up　at　Norman　again。　〃O。K。；　Bernie；〃　he　said。　〃It's　a　deal。〃
　When　they　came　out　into　the　fading　sunlight　in　front　of　Norman's　bungalow　office；　Nevada　looked　at　the　agent。　Pierce's　face　was　glum。　〃Maybe　you　better　e　down　to　my　office；〃　he　muttered。　〃We　got　a　lot　of　talking　to　do。〃
　〃It　can　keep　till　tomorrow；〃　Nevada　said。　〃I　got　pany　from　the　East　waitin'　for　me　at　home。〃
　〃You　just　bit　off　a　big　nut；〃　the　agent　said。
　They　started　toward　their　cars。　〃I　reckon　it's　about　time；〃　Nevada　said　confidently。　〃The　only　way　to　make　real　money　is　to　gamble　big　money。〃
　〃You　can　also　lose　big　that　way；〃　Pierce　said　dourly。
　Nevada　paused　beside　his　white　Stutz　Bearcat。　He　put　his　hand　affectionately　on　the　door；　much　in　the　same　manner　he　did　with　his　horses。　〃We　won't　lose。〃
　The　agent　squinted　at　him。　〃I　hope　you　know　what　you're　doing。　I　just　don't　like　it　when　Norman　es　in　so　fast　and　promises　us　all　the　profits。　There's　a　monkey　somewhere。〃
　Nevada　smiled。　〃The　trouble　with　you；　Dan；　is　you're　an　agent。　All　agents　are　suspicious。　Bernie　came　in　because　he　had　to。　He　didn't　want　to　take　any　chances　on　losin'　me。〃　He　opened　the　door　and　got　into　the　car。　〃I'll　be　down　at　your　office　at　ten　tomorrow　morning。〃
　〃O。K。；〃　the　agent　said。　He　started　toward　his　own　car；　then　stopped　and　came　back。　〃This　talking…picture　business　bothers　me。　A　couple　of　other　panies　have　announced　they're　going　to　make　talkies。〃
　〃Let　'em；〃　Nevada　said。　〃It's　their　headache。〃　He　turned　the　key；　pressed　the　starter　and　the　big　motor　sprang　into　life　with　a　roar。　〃It's　a　novelty；〃　he　shouted　to　the　agent　over　the　noise。　〃By　the　time　our　picture　es　out　people　will　have　forgotten　all　about　talkies。〃
　
　The　telephone　on　the　small　table　near　the　bed　rang　softly。　Rina　walked　over　and　picked　it　up。　It　was　one　of　those　new　French　telephones；　the　first　she'd　seen　since　she'd　returned　from　Europe。　The　now　familiar　insignia　was　in　the　center　of　the　dial；　where　the　number　usually　was　printed。　〃Hello。〃
　Nevada's　familiar　voice　was　in　her　ear。　〃Howdy；　friend。　You　all　settled　in？〃　
　〃Nevada！〃　she　exclaimed。　
　〃You　got　other　friends？〃
　She　laughed。　〃I'm　unpacked；〃　she　said。　〃And　amazed。〃　
　〃At　what？〃
　〃Everything。　This　place。　It's　fabulous。　I　never　saw　anything　like　it。〃
　His　voice　was　a　quiet　whisper　in　her　ear。　〃It's　not　very　much。　Paltry　little　spread；　but　I　call　it　home。〃
　〃Oh；　Nevada；〃　she　laughed；　〃I　still　can't　believe　it。　Why　did　you　ever　build　such　a　fantastic　house？　It's　not　like　you　at　all。〃
　〃It's　part　of　the　act；　Rina；〃　he　said。　〃Like　the　big　white　hat；　the　fancy　shirts　and　the　colored　boots。　You're　not　really　a　star　unless　you　have　the　trappings。〃
　〃With　N　Bar　S　on　everything？〃　she　asked。　
　〃With　N　Bar　S　on　everything；〃　he　repeated。　〃But　don't　let　it　throw　you。　There　are　crazier　things　in　Hollywood。〃
　〃I've　got　so　much　to　tell　you；〃　she　said。　〃What　time　will　you　be　home？〃
　〃Home？〃　He　laughed。　〃I　am　home。　I'm　down　in　the　bar；　waiting　for　you。〃
　〃I'll　be　down　in　a　minute；〃　she　said；　then　hesitated。　〃But；　Nevada；　how　will　I　find　the　bar？　This　place　is　so　immense。〃
　〃We　got　Indian　guides　just　for　occasions　like　this；〃　he　said。　〃I'll　send　one　up　after　you。〃
　She　put　down　the　telephone　and　went　over　to　the　mirror。　By　the　time　she　had　finished　applying　lipstick　to　her　mouth；　there　was　a　soft　knock　at　the　door。
　She　crossed　the　room　and　opened　it。
　Nevada　stood　there；　smiling。　〃Beg　pardon；　ma'am；〃　he　said　with　mock　formality。　〃I　jes'　checked　the　entire　joint　an'　you　won't　believe　it；　but　I　was　the　only　Indian　around！〃
　〃Oh；　Nevada！〃　she　said　softly。
　Then　suddenly　she　was　in　his　arms；　her　face　buried　against　the　hard　muscles　of　his　chest；　her　tears　staining　the　soft　white　front　of　his　fancy　shirt。
　
　
　JONAS　…　1930
　…
　Book　Three
　
　1
　
　THE　LIGHTS　OF　LOS　ANGELES　CAME　UP　UNDER　the　right　wing。　I　looked　over　at　Buzz；　sitting　next　to　me　in　the　cockpit。　〃We're　almost　home。〃
　His　pug…nosed　face　crinkled　in　a　smile。　He　looked　at　his　watch。　〃I　think　we　got　us　a　new　record；　too。〃
　〃The　hell　with　the　record；〃　I　said。　〃All　I　want　is　that　mail　contract。〃
　He　nodded。　〃We'll　get　it　now　for　sure。〃　He　reached　over　and　patted　the　dashboard。　〃This　baby　insured　that　for　us。〃
　I　swung　wide　over　the　city；　heading　for　Burbank。　If　we　got　the　airmail　contract；　Chicago　to　Los　Angeles；　it　wouldn't　be　long　before　Inter…Continental　would　span　the　country。　From　Chicago　east　to　New　York　would　be　the　next　step。
　〃I　see　in　the　papers　that　Ford　has　a　tri…motor　job　on　the　boards　that　will　carry　thirty…two　passengers；〃　Buzz　said。
　〃When　will　it　be　ready？〃
　〃Two；　maybe　three　years；〃　he　answered。　〃That's　the　next　step。〃
　〃Yeah；〃　I　said。　〃But　we　can't　afford　to　wait　for　Ford。　It　could　take　five　years　before　something　practical　came　from　them。　We　gotta　be　ready　in　two　years。〃
　Buzz　stared　at　me。　〃Two　years？　How　are　we　gonna　do　it？　It's　impossible。〃
　I　glanced　at　him。　〃How　many　mail　planes　are　we　flying　now？〃　
　〃About　thirty…four；〃　he　said。　
　〃And　if　we　get　the　new　mail　contract？〃　
　〃Double；　maybe　triple　that　many；〃　he　said。　He　looked　at　me　shrewdly。　〃What're　you　gettin'　at？〃
　〃The　manufacture