alistairmaclean.bearisland-第18部分

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it　to　e。　But　all　of　tomorrow　is　still　to　e。　Think　of　it。　All　of　it…the　livelong　day。〃　He　lifted　his　recharged　glass。　〃Others　drink　to　forget　the　past。　But　some　of　us…very；　very　few　and　it　would　not　be　right　of　me　to　say　that　we're　gifted　with　a　prescience　and　understanding　and　intelligence　far　beyond　the　normal　ken；　so　I'll　just　say　we're　different　some　of　us；　I　say；　drink　to　forget　the　future。　How；　you　will　ask；　can　one　forget　the　future？　Well；　for　one　thing；　it　takes　practice。　And；　of　course；　a　little　assistance。〃　He　drank　half　his　malt　in　one　gulp　and　intoned：　Tomorrow　and　tomorrow　and　tomorrow　creeps　in　this　petty　pace　from　day　to　day　to　the　last　syllable…〃
　〃Lonnie；〃　I　said；　I　don't　think　you're　the　least　little　bit　like　Macbeth。〃
　〃And　there　you　have　it　in　a　nutshell。　I'm　not。　A　tragic　figure；　a　sad　man；　fated　and　laden　with　doom。　Now；　me；　I'm　not　like　that　at　all。　We　Gilberts　have　the　indomitable　spirit；　the　unconquerable　soul。　Your　Shakespeares　are　all　very　well；　but　Walter　de　la　Mare　is　my　boy。〃　He　lifted　his　glass　and　squinted　myopically　at　it　against　the　light。　…Look　your　last　on　all　things　lovely　every　hour。〃'
　I　don't　think　he　quite　meant　it　in　that　way；　Lonnie。　Anyway；　doctor's　orders　and　do　me　a　favour…get　to　hell　out　of　here。　Otto　will　have　you　drawn　and　quartered　if　he　finds　you　here。〃
　〃Otto？　Do　you　know　something？〃　Lonnie　leaned　forward　confidentially。
　〃Otto's　really　a　very　kindly　man。　I　like　Otto。　He's　always　been　good　to　me；　Otto　has。　Most　people　are　good；　my　dear　chap；　don't　you　know　that？　Most　people　are　kind。　Lots　of　them　very　kind。　But　none　so　kind　as　Otto。　Why；　I　remember…〃
　He　broke　off　as　I　went　round　the　back　of　the　bar；　replaced　the　bottles；　locked　the　doors；　placed　the　keys　in　his　dressing…gown　pocket　and　took　his　arm。
　〃I'm　not　trying　to　deprive　you　of　the　necessities　of　life；〃　I　explained。
　〃Neither　am　I　being　heavy…handed　and　moralistic。　But　I　have　a　sensitive　nature　and　I　don't　want　to　be　around　when　you　find　out　that　your　assessment　of　Otto　is　a　hundred　percent　wrong。〃　Lonnie　came　without　a　single　murmur　of　protest。　Clearly；　he　had　his　emergency　supplies　cached　in　his　cabin。　On　our　stumbling　descent　of　the　panionway　he　said：
　〃You　think　I'm　headed　for　the　next　world　with　my　gas　pedal　flat　on　the　floor；　don't　you？〃
　〃As　long　as　you　don't　hit　anybody　it's　none　of　my　business　how　you　drive；　Lonnie。〃
　He　stumbled　into　his　cabin；　sat　heavily　on　his　bed；　then　moved　with　remarkable　swiftness　to　one　side：　I　could　only　conclude　that　he'd　inadvertently　sat　on　a　bottle　of　Scotch。　He　looked　at　me；　pondering；　then　said：
　〃Tell　me；　my　boy；　do　you　think　they　have　bars　in　heaven？〃
　〃I'm　afraid　I　have　no　information　on　that　one；　Lonnie。〃
　〃Quite；　quite。　It　makes　a　gratifying　change　to　find　a　doctor　who　is　not　the　source　of　all　wisdom。　You　may　leave　me　now；　my　good　fellow。〃
　I　looked　at　Neal　Divine；　now　quietly　asleep；　and　at　Lonnie；　impatiently　and　for　obvious　reasons　awaiting　my　departure；　and　left　them　both。
　Mary　Stuart　was　sitting　where　I'd　left　her；　arms　straight　out　on　either　side　and　fingers　splayed　to　counteract　the　now　noticeably　heavier　pitching　of　the　Morning　Pose：　the　rolling　effect；　on　the　other　hand；　was　considerably　less；　so　I　assumed　that　the　wind　was　still　veering　in　a　northerly　direction。　She　looked　at　me　with　the　normally　big　brown　eyes　now　preternaturally　huge　in　a　dreadfully　tired　face；　then　looked　away　again。
　〃I'm　sorry；〃　I　found　myself　apologising。　〃I've　been　discussing　classics　and　theology　with　our　production　manager。〃　I　made　for　my　corner　seat　and　sat　down　gratefully。　〃Do　you　know　him　at　all？〃
　〃Everybody　knows　Lonnie。〃　She　tried　to　smile。　〃We　worked　together　in　the　last　picture　I　made。〃　Again　she　essayed　a　smile。　〃Did　you　see　it？〃
　〃No。〃　I'd　heard　about　it　though；　enough　to　make　me　walk　five　miles　out　of　my　way　to　avoid　it。
　〃It　was　awful。　I　was　awful。　I　can't　imagine　why　they　gave　me　another　chance。〃
　〃You're　a　very　beautiful　girl；〃　I　said。　〃You　don't　have　to　be　able　to　act。　Performance　detracts　from　appearance。　Anyway；　you　may　be　an　excellent　actress。　I　wouldn't　know。　About　Lonnie？〃
　〃Yes。　He　was　there。　So　was　Mr。　Gerran　and　Mr。　Heissman。〃　I　said　nothing　so　she　went　on：　〃This　is　the　third　picture　we've　all　made　together。
　The　third　since　Mr。　Heissman…well；　since　he…〃
　I　know。　Mr。　Heissman　was　away　for　quite　a　bit。〃
　〃Lonnie's　such　a　nice　man。　He's　so　helpful　and　kind　and　I　think　he's　a　very　wise　man。　But　he's　a　funny　man。　You　know　that　Lonnie　likes　to　take　a　drink。　One　day；　after　twelve　hours　on　the　set　and　all　of　us　dead　tired；　when　we　got　back　to　the　hotel　I　asked　for　a　double　gin　and　he　became　very　angry　with　me。　Why　should　he　be　like　that？〃
　〃Because　he's　a　funny　man。　So　you　like　him？〃
　〃How　could　I　not　like　him？　He　likes　everybody　so　everybody　just　likes　him　back。　Even　Mr。　Gerran　likes　him…they're　very　close。　But；　then；　they've　known　each　other　for　years　and　years。〃
　I　didn't　know　that。　Has　Lonnie　a　family？　Is　he　married？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　I　think　he　was。　Maybe　he's　divorced。　Why　do　you　ask　so　many　questions　about　him？〃
　〃Because　Fin　a　typically　knowing；　prying　sawbones　and　I　like　to　know　as　much　as　possible　about　people　who　are　or　may　be　my　patients。　For　instance；　I　know　enough　about　Lonnie　now　never　to　give　him　a　brandy　if　he　were　in　need　of　a　restorative　for　it　wouldn't　have　the　slightest　effect。〃
　She　smiled　and　closed　her　eyes。　Conversation　over。　I　took　another　steamer　rug　from　under　my　seat；　wrapped　it　around　me…the　temperature　in　the　saloon　was　noticeably　dropping…and　picked　up　the　folder　that　Goin　had　given　me。　I　turned　to　page　1；　which；　apart　from　being　titled　B　Island；　started　off　without　any　preamble。
　〃It　is　widely　maintained；〃　it　read；　〃that　Olympus　Productions　is　approaching　the　making　of　this；　its　latest　production；　in　conditions　so　restrictive　as　to　amount　to　an　aura　of　almost　total　secrecy。　Allegations　to　this　effect　have　subsequently　made　their　appearance　in　popular　and　trade　presses　and　in　light　of　the　absence　of　production　office　denials　to　the　contrary　those　uncorroborated　assertions　have　achieved　a　considerable　degree　of　substance　and　credence　which　one　might　regard；　in　the　circumstances；　as　being　a　psychological　inevitability。〃　I　read　through　this　rubbish　again；　a　travesty　of　the　Queen's　English　fit　only　for　the　columns　of　the　more　learned　Sunday　papers；　and　then　I　got　it：　they　were　making　a　hush…hush　picture　and　didn't　care　who　knew。　And　very　good　publicity　it　was　for　the　film；　too；　I　thought；　but；　no；　I　was　doing　the　boys　an　injustice。　Or　so　the　boys　said。　The　article　continued：
　〃Other　cinematic　productions〃…I　assumed　he　meant　films…〃have　been　approached　and；　on　occasion；　even　executed　under　conditions　of　similar　secrecy　but　those　other　and；　one　is　afraid；　spurious　sub　rosa　ventures　have　had　for　their　calculated　aim　nothing　less；　regrettably；　than　the　extraction　of　the　maximum　free　publicity。　This；　we　insist；　and　with　some　pride；　is　not　the　objective　of　Olympus　Productions。〃　Good　old　Olympus；　this　I　had　to　see；　a　cinema　pany　who　didn't　want　free　publicity：　next　thing　we'd　have　the　Bank　of　England　turning　its　nose　up　at　the　sound　of　the　word　money。〃　〃Our　frankly　cabalistic　approach　to　this　production；　which　has　given　rise　to　so　much　intrigued　and　largely　ill…informed　speculation；　has；　in　fact；　been　imposed　upon　us　by　considerations　of　the　highest　importance：　the　handling　of　this；　a　story　which　in　the　wrong　hands　might　well　generate　potentially　and　dangerously　explosive　international　repercussions；　calls　for　the　utmost　in　delicacy　and　finesse；　essential　qualities　for　the　creation　of　what　we　confidently　expect　will　be　hailed　as　a　cinematic　masterpiece；　but　qualities　which　even　we　feel…nay；　are　certain…would　not　be　able　to　overe　the　immense　damage　done　by…and　we　are　certain　of　this…the　world…wide　furore　that　would　immediately　and　automatically　follow　the　premature　leaking　of　the　story　we　intend　to　film。
　〃We　are　confident；　however；　that　when…there　is　no　〃If…this　production　is　made　in　our　own　way；　in　our　own　time；　and　under　the　very　strictest　security　conditions…this　is　why　we　have　gone　to　the　quite　extraordinary　lengths　of　obtaining　notarised　oaths　of　secrecy　from　every　member　of　the　cast　and　crew　of　the　film　project　under　discussion；　including　the　managing　director　and　his　co…directors…we　will　have　upon　our　hands；　when　this　production　is　presented　to　a　public；　which　will　have　been　geared　by　that　time　to　the　highest　degree　of　expectancy；　a　tour　de　force　of　so　unparalleled　an　order　that　the　justification　for…〃
　Mary　Stuart　sneezed　and　I　blessed　her；　twice；　once　for　her　health　and　once　for　the　heaven…sent　interruption　of　the　reading　of　this　modestly　phrased　manifesto。　I　glanced　at　her　again　just　as　she　sneezed　again。　She　was　sitting　in　a　curiously　huddled　fashion；　hands　clasped　tightly　together；　her　face　white　and　pinched。　I　laid　down　the　Olympus　manifesto；　unwrapped　my　rug；　crossed　the　saloon　in　a　zigzag　totter　which　resulted　from　the　now　very　pronounced　pitching　of　the　Morning　Rose；　sat　beside　her　and　took　her　hands　in　mine。　They　were　icily　cold。
　〃You're　freezing；〃　I　said　somewhat　unnecessarily。
　〃I'm　all　right。　I'm　just　a　bit　tired。〃
　〃Why　don't　you　go　below　to　your　cabin？　It's　at　least　twenty　degrees　warmer　down　there　and　you'll　never　sleep　up　here　if　you　have　to　keep　bracing　yourself　all　the　time　from　falling　off　your　seat。〃
　〃No。　I　don't　sleep　down　there　either。　I've　hardly　slept　since…〃　She　broke　off。　〃And　I　don't　feel　nearly　so…so　queasy　up　here。　Please。〃
　I　don't　give　up　easily。　I　said：　〃Then　at　least　take　my　corner　scat；　you'll　be　much　more　fortable　there。〃
　She　took　her　hands　away。　〃Please。　Just　leave　me！'
　I　gave　up。　I　left　her。　I　took　three　wavering　steps　in　the　direction　of　my　scat；　halted　in　irritation；　turned　back　to　her　and　hauled　her　none　too　gently　to　her　feel？。　She　looked　at　me；　not　speaking；　in　tired　surprise；　and　continued　to　say　nothing；　and　to　offer　no　resistance；　as　I　led　her　across　to　my　corner；　brought　out　another　two　steamer　rugs；　cocooned　her　in　those；　lifted　her　feel？　onto　the　settee　and　sat　beside　her。　She　looked　up　at　me　for　a　few　seconds；　her　gaze　transferring　itself　from　my　right　eye　to　my　left　and　back　again；　then　she　turned　her　face　to　me；　closed　her　eyes　and　slid　one　of　her　icy　hands　under　my　jacket。　During　all　this　performance　she　didn't　speak　once　or　permit　any　expression　to　appear　on　her　face　and　I　would　have　been　deeply　moved　by　this　touching　trust　in　me　were　it　not　for　the　reflection　that　if　it　were　her　purpose　or　instructions　to　keep　as　close　an　eye　as　possible　on　me　she　could　hardly；　even　in　her　most　optimistic　moments　；　have　hoped　to　arrive　at　a　situation　where　she　could　keep　an　eye　within　half　an　inch　of　my　shirt　front。　I　couldn't　even　take　a　deep　breath　without　her　knowing　all　about　it。　On　the　other　hand；　if　she　were　as　innocent　as　the　driven　snow　that　had　now　pletely　obscured　the　plate　glass　not　six　inches　from　my　head；　then　it　was　less　than　likely　that　any　illdisposed　citizen　or　citizens　would　contemplate　taking　action　of　a　violent
　So　and　permanent　nature　against　me　as　long　as　I　had　Mary　Stuart　practically　sitting　on　my　lap。　It　was；　I　thought；　a　pretty　even　trade。　I　looked　down　at　the　half…hidden　lovely　face　and　reflected　that　I　was　possib