sidneysheldon.astrangerinthemirror-第49部分

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…school…tie　smugness。　He　explained　how　it　had　managed　to　bee　less　powerful　than　Uganda　and　how　it　could　not　have　happened　to　a　more　deserving　country。　They　all　roared　with　laughter；　because　they　knew　that　Toby　Temple　was　only　joking。　He　did　not　mean　a　word　of　it。　Toby　loved　them。　As　they　loved　him。　
　The　reception　in　Paris　was　even　more　tumultuous。　Jill　and　Toby　were　guests　at　the　President's　Palace　and　were　driven　around　the　city　in　a　state　limousine。　They　could　be　seen　on　the　front　pages　of　the　newspapers　every　day；　and　when　they　appeared　at　the　theater；　extra　police　had　to　be　called　out　to　control　the　crowds。　At　the　end　of　Toby's　performance；　he　and　Jill　were　being　escorted　toward　their　waiting　limousine　when　suddenly　the　mob　broke　through　the　police　guard　and　hundreds　of　Frenchmen　descended　on　them；　screaming；　〃Toby；　Toby。。。　on　veut　Toby！〃　The　surging　crowd　held　out　pens　and　autograph　books；　pressing　forward　to　touch　the　great　Toby　Temple　and　his　wonderful　Jill。　The　police　were　unable　to　hold　them　back；　the　crowd　swept　them　aside；　tearing　at　Toby's　clothes；　fighting　to　obtain　a　souvenir。　Toby　and　Jill　were　almost　crushed　by　the　press　of　bodies；　but　Jill　felt　no　fear。　This　riot　was　a　tribute　to　her。　She　had　done　this　for　these　people；　she　had　brought　Toby　back　to　them。　
　Their　last　stop　was　Moscow。　Moscow　in　June　is　one　of　the　loveliest　cities　in　the　world。　Graceful　white　berezka　and　Upa　trees　with　yellow　flowerbeds　line　the　wide　boulevards　crowded　with　natives　and　visitors　strolling　in　the　sunshine。　It　is　the　season　for　tourists。　Except　for　official　visitors；　all　tourists　to　Russia　are　handled　through　Intourist；　the　government…controlled　agency　which　arranges　transportation；　hotels　and　guided　sightseeing　tours。　But　Toby　and　Jill　were　met　at　the　Sheremetyevo　International　Airport　by　a　large　Zil　limousine　and　driven　to　the　Metropole　Hotel；　usually　reserved　for　VIPs　from　satellite　countries。　The　suite　had　been　stocked　with　Stolichnaya　vodka　and　black　caviar。　General　Yuri　Romanovitch；　a　high　party　official；　came　to　the　hotel　to　bid　them　wele。　
　〃We　do　not　run　many　American　pictures　in　Russia；　Mr。　Temple；　but　we　have　played　your　movies　here　often。　The　Russian　people　feel　that　genius　transcends　all　boundaries。〃　
　Toby　had　been　booked　to　appear　at　the　Bolshoi　Theatre　for　three　performances。　Opening　night；　Jill　shared　in　the　ovation。　Because　of　the　language　barrier；　Toby　did　most　of　his　act　in　pantomime；　and　the　audience　adored　him。　He　gave　a　diatribe　in　his　pseudo…Russian；　and　their　laughter　and　applause　echoed　through　the　enormous　theater　like　a　benediction　of　love。　During　the　next　two　days；　General　Romanovitch　escorted　Toby　and　Jill　on　a　private　sightseeing　tour。　They　went　to　Gorky　Park　and　rode　on　the　giant　ferris　wheel；　and　saw　the　historic　Saint　Basil's　Cathedral。　
　They　were　taken　to　the　Moscow　State　Circus　and　given　a　banquet　at　Aragvi；　where　they　were　served　the　golden　roe　caviar；　the　rarest　of　the　eight　caviars；　zakushki；　which　literally　means　small　bites；　and　pashteet；　the　delicate　pate　baked　in　a　crust。　For　dessert；　they　ate　yablochnaya；　the　incredibly　delicious　apple　charlotte　pastry　with　apricot　sauce。　And　more　sightseeing。　They　went　to　the　Pushkin　Art　Museum　and　Lenin's　Mausoleum　and　the　Detsky　Mir；　Moscow's　enchanting　children's　shop。　They　were　taken　to　places　of　whose　existence　most　Russians　were　unaware。　Granovsko　Street；　crowded　with　chauffeur…driven　Chaikas　and　Volgas。　Inside；　behind　a　simple　door　marked　〃Office　of　Special　Passes〃；　they　were　ushered　into　a　store　crammed　with　imported　luxury　foodstuffs　from　all　over　the　world。　This　was　where　the　〃Nachalstvo〃；　the　Russian　elite；　were　privileged　to　shop。　They　went　to　a　luxurious　dacha；　where　foreign　films　were　run　in　the　private　screening　room　for　the　privileged　few。　It　was　a　fascinating　insight　into　the　People's　State。　
　On　the　afternoon　of　the　day　Toby　was　to　give　his　final　performance；　the　Temples　were　getting　ready　to　go　out　shopping。　Toby　said；　
　〃Why　dosn't　you　go　alone；　baby？　I　think　I'll　sack　out　for　a　while。〃　
　She　studied　him　for　a　moment。　〃Are　you　feeling　all　right？〃　
　〃Great。　I'm　just　a　little　tired。　You　go　buy　out　Moscow。〃　
　Jill　hesitated。　Toby　looked　pale。　When　this　tour　was　over；　she　would　see　to　it　that　Toby　had　a　long　rest　before　he　began　his　new　television　show。　
　〃All　right；〃　she　agreed。　〃Take　a　nap。〃　
　
　Jill　was　walking　through　the　lobby　toward　the　exit　when　she　heard　a　man's　voice　call；　〃Josephine〃；　and　even　as　she　turned；　she　knew　who　it　was；　and　in　a　split　second　the　magic　happened　again。　David　Kenyon　was　moving　toward　her；　smiling　and　saying；　
　〃I'm　so　glad　to　see　you〃；　and　she　felt　as　though　her　heart　would　stop。　He's　the　only　man　who　has　ever　been　able　to　do　this　to　me。　Jill　thought。　
　〃Will　you　have　a　drink　with　me？〃　David　asked。　
　〃Yes；〃　she　said。　
　The　hotel　bar　was　large　and　crowded；　but　they　found　a　paratively　quiet　table　in　a　corner　where　they　could　talk。　
　〃What　are　you　doing　in　Moscow？〃　Jill　asked。　
　〃Our　government　asked　me　to　e　over。　We're　trying　to　work　out　an　oil　deal。〃　
　A　bored　waiter　strolled　over　to　the　table　and　took　their　order　for　drinks。　
　〃How's　Cissy？〃　David　looked　at　her　a　moment；　then　said；　
　〃We　got　a　divorce　a　few　years　ago。〃　He　deliberately　changed　the　subject。　〃I've　followed　everything　that's　been　happening　to　you。　I've　been　a　fan　of　Toby　Temple's　since　I　was　a　kid。〃　Somehow；　it　made　Toby　sound　very　old。　〃I'm　glad　he's　well　again。　When　I　read　about　his　stroke；　I　was　concerned　about　you。〃　There　was　a　look　in　his　eyes　that　Jill　remembered　from　long　ago；　a　wanting；　a　needing。　〃I　thought　Toby　was　great　in　Hollywood　and　London；〃　David　was　saying。　
　〃Were　you　there？〃　Jill　asked；　in　surprise。　
　〃Yes。〃　Then　he　added　quickly；　〃I　had　some　business　there。〃　
　〃Why　didn't　you　e　backstage？〃　
　He　hesitated。　〃I　didn't　want　to　intrude　on　you。　I　didn't　know　if　you　would　want　to　see　me。〃　Their　drinks　arrived　in　heavy；　squat　glasses。　〃To　you　and　Toby；〃　David　said。　And　there　was　something　in　the　way　he　said　it；　an　undercurrent　of　sadness；　a　hunger；　
　〃Do　you　always　stay　at　the　Metropole？〃　Jill　asked。　
　〃No。　As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　had　a　hell　of　a　time　getting　〃　He　saw　the　trap　too　late。　He　smiled　wryly。　〃I　knew　you'd　be　there。　I　was　supposed　to　have　left　Moscow　five　days　ago。　I've　been　waiting；　hoping　to　run　into　you。〃　
　〃Why；　David？〃　
　It　was　a　long　time　before　he　replied。　When　he　spoke；　he　said；　〃It's　all　too　late　now；　but　I　want　to　tell　you　anyway；　because　I　think　you　have　a　right　to　know。〃　And　he　told　her　about　his　marriage　to　Qssy；　how　she　had　tricked　him；　about　her　attempted　suicide；　and　about　the　night　when　he　had　asked　Jill　to　meet　him　at　the　lake。　It　all　came　out　in　an　outpouring　of　emotion　that　left　Jill　shaken。　〃I've　always　been　in　love　with　you。〃　She　sat　listening；　a　feeling　of　happiness　flowing　through　her　body　like　a　warm　wine。　It　was　like　a　lovely　dream　e　true；　it　was　everything　she　had　wanted；　wished　for。　Jill　studied　the　man　sitting　across　from　her；　and　she　remembered　his　strong　hands　on　her；　and　his　hard　demanding　body；　and　she　felt　a　stirring　within　herself。　But　Toby　had　bee　a　part　of　her；　he　was　her　own　flesh；　and　David。。。　A　voice　at　her　elbow　said；　〃Mrs。　Temple！　We　have　been　looking　everywhere　for　you！〃　It　was　General　Romanovitch。　Jill　looked　at　David。　〃Call　me　in　the　morning。〃　
　Toby's　last　performance　in　the　Bolshoi　Theatre　was　more　exciting　than　anything　that　had　been　seen　there　before。　The　spectators　threw　flowers　and　cheered　and　stamped　their　feet　and　refused　to　leave。　It　was　a　fitting　climax　to　Toby's　other　triumphs。　A　large　party　was　scheduled　for　after　the　show；　but　Toby　said　to　Jill；　〃I'm　beat；　goddess。　Why　don't　you　go？　I'll　return　to　the　hotel　and　get　some　shut…eye。〃　
　Jill　went　to　the　party　alone；　but　it　was　as　though　David　were　at　her　side　every　moment。　She　carried　on　conversations　with　her　hosts　and　danced　and　acknowledged　the　tributes　they　were　paying　to　her；　but　all　the　time　her　mind　was　reliving　her　meeting　with　David。　I　warned　the　wrong　girl。　Cissy　and　I　are　divorced。　I've　never　Stopped　loving　you。　
　At　two　o'clock　in　the　morning；　Jill's　escort　dropped　her　at　her　hotel　suite。　She　went　inside　and　found　Toby　lying　on　the　floor　in　the　mid