cb.coldheart canyon-第13部分

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er　actors…names　sometimes　you'd　never　heard　of…were　getting　the　scripts；　the　parts　and　the　deals　that　would　once　have　dropped　into　your　lap　as　a　matter　of　course？　There　was　no　pain　as　sharp　or　as　deep　as　the　news　of　somebody　else's　success。　If　it　was　an　actor　older　than　himself　that　was　bad　enough。　But　if　it　was　a　contemporary…or　worse；　somebody　younger；　somebody　prettier…it　made　him　so　crazy　he'd　have　to　go　pop　a　tranquilizer　or　three　to　stop　himself　getting　morose　and　foul…tempered。　And　even　the　happy　pills　didn't　work　the　way　they　had　in　the　old　days。　He'd　taken　too　many；　his　body　was　too　used　to　them。
　 So：　what　to　do；　what　to　do？
　 Should　he　sit　on　his　slowly…expanding　ass　and　start　to　avoid　the　mirror；　or　take　the　bull　by　the　horns　and　get　an　appointment　with　Doctor　Burrows？
　 He　remained　undecided　for　about　a　week。　And　then　one　evening；　sitting　at　home　alone　nursing　a　drink　and　flipping　the　channels　of　his　sixty…inch　TV；　he　came　upon　a　segment　from　the　telecast　of　last　year's　Oscar　ceremony。　A　young　actor；　whom　he　knew　for　a　fact　was　not　one　of　the　smartest　bunnies　in　town；　was　receiving　his　third　Oscar　of　the　night；　for　a　picture　he　had…at　least　according　to　the　credits…written；　directed　and　starred　in。　The　latter？　Well　there　was　no　disputing　that。　He　was　in　every　other　frame　of　the　damn　picture；　back…lit　and　golden。　He　was　playing　a　stuttering；　mentally　unstable　poor　boy　from　the　Deep　South；　a　role　which　he　claimed　he　had　based　on　the　life　of　his　father's　brother；　who　had　died　tragically　at　the　hands　of　a　lynch　mob　that　had　mistaken　him　for　a　rapist。　It　was　all　perfect　Oscar…fodder：　the　ambitious　young　artist　bucking　the　star　system　to　tell　a　tale　of　the　human　spirit；　rooted　in　his　own　family　history。
　 Except　that　the　truth　was　neither　so　moving　nor　so　magical。　Far　from　having　been　lynched；　the　'dead'　uncle　was　still　very　much　alive；　（or　so　gossip　around　town　went）　having　spent　twenty…two　years　in　jail　for　a　rape　that　he　did　not　to　this　day　contest。　He　had　received　a　healthy　pay…back　from　the　studio　that　released　the　picture　to　stay　conveniently　quiet；　so　that　his　story　could　be　told　the　Hollywood　way；　leaving　the　Golden　Boy　with　his　ten…thousand…watt　smile　to　walk　off　with　three　Oscars　for　his　mantelpiece。　Todd　had　it　on　good　authority　that　his　directorial　skills　extended　no　further　than　knowing　where　his　Winnebago　was　parked。
　 He　wasn't　the　only　one　aspiring　to　snatch　Todd's　throne。　There　were　plenty　of　others；　chirpy　little　cock…suckers　swarming　out　of　the　woodwork　to　play　the　King　of　Hollywood；　when　Todd　had　yet　to　vacate　the　role。
　 Well　fuck　'em。　He'd　knock　them　off　their　stolen　pedestals；　the　sons　of　bitches。　He'd　have　the　limelight　back　in　a　heartbeat…all　that　glory；　all　that　love…and　they'd　be　back　on　the　casting　couch　in　a　week　with　their　fannies　in　the　air。
　 So　what　if　it　cost　him　a　few　weeks　of　disfort？　It　would　be　worth　it　just　to　see　the　expressions　on　their　pretty　little　faces　when　they　realized　they'd　got　greedy　a　decade　too　early。
　 Contrary　to　recent　opinions；　the　King　of　the　Heart…throbs　was　not　dead。　He　was　ing　home；　and　he　was　going　to　look　like　a　million　dollars。
　
　
　FOUR
　 On　the　day　Todd　had　booked　to　see　Burrows　for　a　first　consultation；　he　had　to　cancel　at　the　last　minute。
　 〃You're　not　going　to　believe　my　excuse；〃　he　told　the　receptionist；　〃But　I　swear　it's　the　truth。〃
　 〃Go　on。〃
　 〃My　dog's　sick。〃
　 〃Well　that's　not　one　we　hear　very　often。　So；　gold　star　for　originality。〃
　 The　fact　was　that　Dempsey；　his　mutt；　was　not　looking　too　good　that　morning；　he'd　got　up　to　go　out　into　the　back　yard　for　his　morning　piss　and　he'd　stumbled；　as　though　one　of　his　legs　was　numb。　Todd　went　down　to　see　if　he　was　okay。　He　wasn't。　Though　he　still　put　on　a　happy　face　for　his　boss；　his　expression　looked　strangely　dislocated；　as　though　he　was　having　difficulty　focusing　on　Todd。
　 〃What's　wrong　with　you；　boy？〃
　 Todd　went　down　on　his　haunches　in　front　of　the　dog；　and　stroked　his　ears。　Dempsey　growled　appreciatively。　But　he　felt　unsteady　in　Todd's　arms；　as　though　at　any　moment　he　might　keel　over。
　 Todd　called　Maxine　and　told　her　he'd　be　at　the　vet's　for　the　next　few　hours。
　 〃Something　wrong　with　that　flatulent　old　dog　of　yours？〃
　 〃You'll　be　flatulent　when　you　get　to　his　age；〃　Todd　said。　〃And　yeah。　There　is　something　wrong。　He　keeps　falling　over。〃
　
　 He'd　had　Dempsey　eleven　years。　He'd　bought　the　dog　as　a　pup　just　before　he'd　started　to　shoot　Gunner。　As　a　consequence　the　dog's　first　real　experience　of　life　beyond　his　mother's　teat　was　being　carried　around　a　movie　studio　by　his　owner　and　adored；　all　of　which　he　thereafter　took　as　his　God…given　right。　Dempsey　had　been　with　Todd　on　every　set　since；　the　two　were　inseparable。　Todd　and　Dempsey；　Dempsey　and　Todd。　Thanks　to　those　early　experiences　of　universal　affection　he　was　a　confident　dog；　afraid　of　nobody；　and…unless　somebody　was　afraid　of　him…predisposed　to　be　friendly。

　 The　vet's　name　was　Doctor　Spenser；　an　ebullient　black　woman　who'd　been　looking　after　Dempsey　since　puppyhood。　She　did　a　few　tests　and　told　Todd　that　yes；　there　were　definitive　signs　that　Dempsey　was　having　cognitive　difficulties。
　 〃How　old　is　he　now？〃
　 〃He'll　be　twelve　next　March。〃
　 〃Oh　that's　right…we　didn't　know　his　birthday　so　we　said…〃
　 〃…Oscar　Night。〃
　 〃What's　wrong；　boy？〃　Doctor　Spenser　said　to　Dempsey；　ruffling　him　under　the　chin。　〃He's　certainly　not　his　usual　happy　self；　is　he？〃
　
　 〃Nope。〃
　 〃Well；　I'd　like　to　keep　him　in　here　for　a　few　tests。〃
　 〃I　brought　a　stool　sample　like　you　asked。〃
　 〃Thanks。〃
　 Todd　produced　a　small　Tupperware　container　of　dog　poop。　〃Well　we'll　have　that　analyzed。　You　want　the　container　back？　Just　kidding。　Don't　look　so　grim；　Todd…〃
　 〃I　don't　like　seeing　him　like　this。〃
　 〃It's　probably　a　virus　he's　picked　up。　We'll　give　him　a　few　antibiotics　and　he'll　be　good　as　new。〃
　 〃But　there's　something　weird　about　his　eyes。　Look。　He's　not　even　focusing　on　us。〃
　 Dempsey　had　raised　his　head；　knowing　full　well　he　was　being　talked　about；　but　plainly　he　was　having　some　difficulty　fixing　his　gaze　on　whoever　was　doing　the　talking。
　 〃This　couldn't　just　be　old　age；　could　it？〃
　 〃I　doubt　it。　He's　been　a　very　healthy　dog　so　far；　and　it's　my　experience　that　a　mutt　like　Dempsey　is　going　to　last　a　lot　longer　than　some　over…bred　hound。　You　leave　him　with　me。　Check　in　with　me　at　the　end　of　the　day。〃
　 Todd　did　that。　The　news　was　there　was　no　news。　The　stool　sample　had　gone　to　the　lab　to　be　analyzed；　and　meanwhile　Dempsey　was　looking　weak；　perhaps　a　little　disorientated；　but　there'd　been　no　noticeable　deterioration　in　his　condition。
　 〃You　can　either　take　him　home　tonight　or　leave　him　here。　He'll　be　perfectly　fine　here。　We　don't　actually　have　anybody　monitoring　the　dogs　from　eleven　pm　till　six　in　the　morning；　but　the　chances　of…〃
　 〃I'm　going　to　e　and　collect　him。〃
　 Despite　Spenser's　reassurances　that　there　had　been　no　deterioration；　Todd　disagreed。　Usually　when　he　arrived　at　the　vet's　after　Dempsey　had　stayed　in　for　a　couple　of　hours；　either　for　a　shot；　or　his　six…month　checkup；　he　was　greeted　by　the　dog　in　crazy　mode；　yapping　his　delight　at　seeing　his　boss　again；　and　ready　to　be　out　of　the　door　before　they　could　stick　another　damn　needle　in　his　backside。　But　today；　when　Dempsey　came　round　the　corner　it　seemed　to　take　a　moment　before　the　dog　even　realized　it　was　his　master　at　the　door；　calling　to　him。　And　when　he　came；　though　some　of　his　old　enthusiasm　returned；　he　was　a　shadow　of　his　former　self。　Doctor　Spenser　had　already　gone　off…duty　for　the　night。　Todd　asked　if　he　could　have　her　home　number；　but　there　were　some　things；　it　seemed；　even　being　Todd　Pickett　couldn't　get　you。
　 〃She's　got　kids　to　take　care　of；〃　the　male　nurse　said。　〃She　likes　to　keep　this　place　and　her　home…life　very　separate。〃
　 〃But　if　there's　an　emergency？〃
　 〃I'd　remend　going　to　the　twenty…four…hour　animal　hospital　on　Sepulveda。　There'll　be　doctors　there　all　night　if　anything　were　to　happen。　But　honestly；　I　think　it's　some　virus　he's　picked　up　out　at　the　dog　park；　and　it'll　just　take　a　course　of　antibiotics。〃
　 〃Well　can　I　take　some　antibiotics　then？〃　Todd　said；　getting　a　little　irritated　with　the　casual　way　Dempsey's　case　was　being　treated。
　 〃Doctor　Spenser　doesn't　want　to　give　Dempsey　anything　till　she's　got　some　results　from　the　stool　sample；　so　I'm　afraid　there'll　be　no　drugs　for　Dempsey　until　tomorrow。〃
　
　 Dempsey　didn't　eat。　He　just　looked　at　the　bowl　of　food　Marco　had　prepared　for　him；　and　turned　up　his　nose　at　it。
　 Then　he　went　to　lie　on　the　back　step　and　stayed　there　for　the　rest　of　the　evening。
　 In　the　middle　of　the　night　Todd　was　woken　by　what　sounded　like　the　effects　track　from　The　Exorcist；　a　stomach…wrenching　series　of　mumblings　and　eruptions。　He　switched　on　the　bedroom　light　to　find　Dempsey　at　the　bottom　of　his　bed；　standing　in　a　pool　of　bright　yellow　puke。　He　looked　horribly　ashamed　of　having　made　a　mess；　and　at　first　wouldn't　e　to　Todd　to　be　petted；　but　when　he　did…and　Todd　had　his　arms　around　the　dog…it　was　clear　he　was　in　a　bad　way。　Dempsey's　whole　body　was　cold；　and　he　was　trembling　violently。
　 〃e　on；　m'man；〃　he　said。　〃We're　gonna　take　you　to　get　some　proper　doctoring。〃
　 The　noise　had　woken　Marco；　who　got　dressed　to　drive　while　Todd　held　onto　Dempsey；　who　was　wrapped　in　his　favorite　forter；　a　quilt　Todd's　grandmother　had　made　for　her　grandson。　The　dog　lay　sprawled　over　Todd's　knee；　all　one　hundred　pounds　of　him；　while　Marco　drove　through　the　almost　empty　streets　to　Sepulveda。
　 It　was　five　minutes　after　five　in　the　morning　when　they　arrived　at　the　animal　hospital；　and　there　were　just　two　people　waiting　with　their　pets　to　be　helped。　Even　so　it　took　twenty…five　minutes　before　a　doctor　could　be　freed　up　to　see　Dempsey；　during　which　time　it　seemed　to　Todd　that　Dempsey's　condition　worsened。　His　shaking　became　more　violent　than　ever；　and　in　the　midst　of　one　of　his　spasms；　he　convulsively　shat　brown　gruel；　mostly　on　the　floor；　but　on　Todd's　leg　and　shoe　too。
　 〃Well　now；〃　said　the　night　doctor　brightly；　〃what　seems　to　be　the　trouble？〃
　 Todd　gave　him　an　exhaustive　run…down　on　the　events　of　the　last　day。　He　then　asked　Todd　to　pick　Dempsey　up　and　put　him　on　the　examination　table…choosing　this　particular　instant　to　remark　what　a　fan　of　Todd's　he　was；　as　though　Todd　could　have　given　a　damn　at　that　moment。
　 Then　he　examined　the　dog；　in　a　good　and　thorough　manner；　but　making　asides　throughout　as　to　which　movies　of　Todd's　he　and　his　wife　had　particularly　enjoyed　and　which　they　hadn't。　After　about　five　minutes　of　this；　seeing　the　expression　of　despair　and　anger　on　Todd's　face；　Marco　quietly　mentioned　that　Mr。　Pickett　was　really　only　interested　right　now　in　the　health　of　his　dog。　The　doctor's　mouth　tightened；　as　though　he'd　just　been　badly　offended；　and　his　handling　of　Dempsey　（at　least　to　Todd's　eyes）　seemed　to　bee　a　little　more　brusque。
　 〃Well；　you　have　a　very　sick　dog；〃　he　said　at　the　end　of　the　examination；　not　even　looking　at　Todd　but　talking　to　Marco。　He　was　plainly　embarrassed　by　his　earlier　show　of　fanboy　enthusiasm；　and　was　now　over…pensating　for　it　wildly。
　 Todd　went　to　sit　on　the　examination　table　to　cradle　Dempsey；　which　put　him　right　in　the　doctor's　line　of　sight。
　 〃Look