cb.coldheart canyon-第22部分

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en　invaded　on　every　side　by　the　offspring　of　the　plants；　shrubs　and　trees　which　surrounded　it；　many　of　them　in　premature　flower。　Bird　of　Paradise　trees　twenty　feet　tall；　sycamore　and　eucalyptus；　rose　bushes　and　fox…gloves；　early　California　poppies　shining　like　satin　in　the　grass；　meadowfoam　and　corn　lily；　hairy　honeysuckle　and　wild　grape；　golden　yarrow；　blue　blossom　and　red　huckleberry。　And　everywhere；　of　course；　the　ubiquitous　pampas　grass；　soft；　fleecy　plumes　swaying　in　the　sun。　It　was　unmon；　even　uncanny；　verdancy。
　 Todd　strode　across　the　lawn；　which　was　still　wet　from　the　rain；　down　to　the　pool。　Dragonflies　flitted　everywhere；　bees　wove　their　nectar　trails　through　the　balmy　air。　The　pool　was　a　baroque　affair；　descending　from　the　relatively　restrained　style　of　the　main　house　into　pure　Hollywood　kitsch。　The　model；　perhaps；　was　B　de　Mille　Roman。　A　large　mock…classical　bronze　fountain　was　set　at　the　back　of　the　pool；　the　intertwined　limbs　of　its　figures…a　sea…god　and　his　female　attendants…rendered　more　baroque　still　by　the　tracery　of　living　vines　which　had　crept　up　over　it。　A　sizable　conch　in　the　sea…god's　hands　had　once　been　a　source　of　rejuvenating　waters　for　the　pool；　but　those　waters　had　ceased　to　flow　a　long　time　ago。　Todd　was　mildly　disappointed。　He　would　have　liked　to　have　seen　sparkling　blue　water　in　the　pool　instead　of　the　few　inches　of　bottle　green　rain…water　that　were　there　at　the　bottom。
　 He　turned　and　looked　back　towards　the　house。　It　was　still　more　impressive　from　this　side　than　it　had　been　from　the　front；　its　four　floors　rising　like　the　tiers　of　a　wedding　cake；　its　walls　lush　with　ivy　in　places；　and　in　others　naked。　Beyond　it；　further　up　the　hill；　Todd　could　just　see　a　glimpse　of　one　of　the　guest…house　that　Maxine　had　mentioned。　Altogether；　it　really　was　an　impressive　parcel　of　land；　with　or　without　the　buildings。　Had　Jerry　shown　it　to　him　as　part　of　the　grand　tour　Todd　might　well　have　been　tempted　to　invest。　The　fact　that　Jerry　hadn't　done　so　probably　meant　that　it　had　not　belonged　to　anyone　of　significance；　though　that　seemed　odd。　This　wasn't　just　any　Hollywood　show…place：　it　was　the　crème　de　la　crème；　a　glorious　confection　of　a　residence　designed　to　show　off　all　the　wealth；　power　and　taste　of　a　great　star。
　 By　the　time　he'd　made　his　way　back　inside；　Marco　had　turned　up　from　Greenblatt's　with　a　carload　of　supplies。　He　weled　his　boss　with　his　usual　crooked　smile　and　a　generous　glass　of　bourbon。　〃So　what　do　you　think　of　the　Old　Dark　House？〃　〃You　know。。。in　a　weird　way　I　like　it　here。〃
　 〃Really？〃　said　Maxine。　〃It's　nothing　like　your　taste。〃　She　was　plainly　still　mildly　irritated　by　their　earlier　exchange；　though　for　Todd　it　was　past　history；　soothed　away　by　his　wanderings　in　the　wilderness。
　 〃I　never　really　felt　fortable　in　Bel　Air；〃　he　said。　〃That　house　has　always　been　more　like　a　hotel　to　me　than　a　home。〃
　 〃I　wouldn't　say　this　place　was　exactly　cozy〃　Maxine　remarked。
　 〃Oh；　I　don't　know；〃　Todd　said。　He　sipped　on　his　bourbon；　smiling　into　his　glass。　〃Dempsey　would　have　liked　it；〃　he　said。
　
　
　SEVEN
　 On　Thursday；　18th　of　March；　Maxine　got　a　call　that　she　knew　was　ing。　The　caller　was　a　woman　called　Tammy　Lauper；　who　ran　the　International　Todd　Pickett　Appreciation　Society；　which　despite　its　high　falutin'　title　had　its　headquarters；　Maxine　knew；　in　the　Laupers'　house　in　Sacramento。　Tammy　was　calling　to　ask　a　very　simple　question；　one　that　she　said　she　was　'passing　on'　to　Maxine　from　millions　of　Todd's　fans　worldwide：　Where　was　Todd？
　 Maxine　had　dealt　with　Tammy　on　many　occasions　in　the　past；　though　if　she　possibly　could　she　ducked　the　calls　and　let　Sawyer　deal　with　them。　The　trouble　was　that　Tammy　Lauper　was　an　obsessive；　and　though　in　the　eight　years　she'd　been　running　the　'Appreciation　Society'…（she'd　once　said　to　Maxine　she　hated　to　hear　it　called　a　fan　club。　'I'm　not　an　hysterical　teenager；'　she'd　said。　This　was　true：　Tammy　Lauper　was　married；　childless；　and；　when　last　spotted；　an　overweight　woman　in　her　middle　thirties）…though　in　that　time　she'd　done　a　great　deal　to　support　Todd's　movies；　and　could　on　occasion　be　a　useful　disseminator　of　deliberately　erroneous　information；　she　was　not　somebody　Maxine　had　much　time　for。　The　woman　annoyed　her；　with　her　perpetual　questions　about　trivia；　and　her　unspoken　assumption　that　somehow　Todd　belonged　to　her。　When　she　was　obliged　to　speak　to　the　Lauper　woman…because　there　was　some　delicate　matter　in　the　air；　and　she　needed　to　carefully　modulate　the　flow　of　news…she　always　aimed　to　keep　the　exchanges　brief。　As　courteous　as　possible…Tammy　could　be　prickly　if　she　didn't　feel　as　though　she　was　being　given　her　due…but　brief。
　 Today；　however；　Tammy　wasn't　about　to　be　quickly　satisfied；　she　was　like　a　terrier　with　a　rat。　Every　time　Maxine　thought　she'd　satisfied　the　woman's　curiosity；　back　she'd　e　with　another　enquiry。
　 〃Something's　wrong；〃　she　kept　saying。　〃Todd's　not　been　seen　by　anyone。　Usually　when　he　goes　away；　members　of　the　Society　spot　him；　and　they　report　to　me。　But　I　haven't　heard　one　word。　Something's　wrong。　Because　I　always　hear。〃
　 〃I'm　sure　you　do。〃
　 〃So　what's　going　on？　You've　got　to　tell　me。〃
　 〃Why　should　anything　be　going　on？〃　Maxine　said；　doing　her　best　to　maintain　her　equilibrium。　〃Todd's　tired　and　he　needs　a　break；　so　he　went　away　for　a　few　weeks。〃
　 〃Out　of　state？〃
　 〃Yes。　Out　of　state。〃
　 〃Out　of　the　country？〃
　 〃I'm　afraid　he　asked　me　not　to　say。〃
　
　
　 〃Because　we've　got　members　all　over　the　world。〃
　 〃I　realize　that；　but…〃
　 〃When　he　went　on　his　honeymoon　to　Morocco；〃　Tammy　went　on；　〃I　had　six　reports　of　sightings。〃　（This　was　a　reference　to　the　event　which　had　caused　Maxine　more　publicity　problems　than　any　other　in　Todd's　life：　his　short…lived　marriage　to　the　exquisitely　emaciated　model　Avril　Fox；　which　had　been　strewn　with　potentially　image…besmirching　scenes：　adulteries；　a　couple　of　ménage…à…trois　involving　Avril's　sister；　Lucy；　and　a　spot　of　domestic　violence）。
　 〃Sometimes；〃　Maxine　said；　a　trace　of　condescension　creeping　into　her　voice　now；　〃Todd　likes　to　be　out　in　public。　Sometimes　he　doesn't〃。
　 〃And　right　now？〃
　 〃He　doesn't。〃
　 〃But　why　would　he　mind　being　seen？〃　Tammy　went　on。　〃If　there's　nothing　wrong　with　him。。。〃
　 Maxine　hesitated；　wondering　how　best　to　calm　the　suspicions　she　was　clearly　arousing。　She　couldn't　just　make　an　excuse　and　jump　off　the　phone；　that　would　make　the　Lauper　woman　even　more　curious　than　she　already　was。　She　had　to　maneuver　the　conversation　away　from　this　dangerous　area　as　carefully　as　possible。
　 〃I'll　tell　you　why；〃　she　said；　dropping　her　voice　a　little；　as　though　she　was　about　to　share　something　of　real　significance　with　Tammy。　〃He's　got　a　secret　project　in　the　works。〃
　 〃Oh？〃　Tammy　said。　She　didn't　sound　persuaded。　〃This　isn't　Warrior；　is　it？　I　read　that　script；　and…〃
　 〃No；　it　isn't　Warrior。　It's　a　very　personal　piece；　which　Todd　is　writing　himself。〃
　 〃He's　writing　it？　Todd　is　writing　something？　He　said　in　an　interview　with　People　last　July　he　hated　writing。　It　was　too　much　like　hard　work。〃
　 〃Well；　I　lied　a　little；〃　Maxine　said。　〃He's　not　doing　the　actual　writing。　He's　working　with　somebody　on　the　project。　A　very　well…respected　screenwriter；　actually。　But　he's　pouring　out　his　heart；　so　it'll　be　a　very　personal　project。〃　There　was　a　silence。　Maxine　waited。　Had　Tammy　taken　the　bait　or　not？
　 〃So　this　is　autobiographical；　this　movie？〃

　 〃I　didn't　say　it　was　a　movie。〃　Maxine　said；　taking　some　petty　pleasure　in　catching　Tammy　out。　〃It　may　end　up　on　the　screen；　but　right　now　he's　just　working　hard　to　get　his　feelings　down。　He　and　the　writer；　that　is。〃
　 〃Who　is　the　writer？〃
　 〃I　can't　say。〃
　 〃You　know　it　would　make　all　this　very　much　more　believable　if　you　gave　me　some　more　details；〃　Tammy　said。
　 That　was　it。　Maxine　lost　her　posure。　How　dare　this　little　bitch　suggest　her　lies　weren't　believable？
　 〃You　know　I've　really　said　more　than　I　should　already；　Tammy；〃　she　snapped。　〃And　I've　got　six　calls　waiting。　So　if　you'll　excuse　me…〃
　 〃Wait…What　am　I　going　to　tell　the　members？〃
　 〃What　I　just　told　you。〃
　 〃You　swear　Todd's　fine？〃
　 〃Good　God；　how　many　times？　Yes。　Todd　is　perfectly　fine。　In　fact；　he's　never　been　better。〃　She　drew　a　deep　breath；　and　attempted　to　calm　herself　a　little　before　she　ended　up　saying　something　she　regretted。　〃Look；　Tammy；　I　really　wish　I　could　tell　you　more。　But　this　is　a　matter　of　Todd's　privacy；　as　I'm　sure　you　understand。　He　needs　a　little　time　away　from　the　pressure　of　being　a　celebrity；　so　he　can　work　on　this　project；　and　when　he's　finished　I'm　sure　you'll　be　one　of　the　first　to　hear　about　it。　Now　really；　I've　got　to　go。〃
　 〃One　more　question；〃　Tammy　said。
　 〃Yes。〃
　 〃What's　it　called？〃
　 〃What's　what　called？〃　Maxine　replied；　playing　for　time。
　 〃The　script。　Or　the　book。　Or　whatever　it's　going　to　be。　What's　it　called？〃
　 Oh　shit；　Maxine　thought。　Now　she　was　in　deep。　Well；　why　the　hell　not　give　the　damn　woman　a　title？　She'd　lied　herself　into　a　hole　as　it　was；　one　more　shovelful　wouldn't　hurt。　She　pictured　Todd　in　an　image　now　indelibly　inscribed　in　her　mind's　eye；　sitting　waiting　for　Burrows　to　start　cutting　away　the　bandages。　And　the　title　came：　〃The　Blind　Leading　the　Blind；〃　she　said。
　 〃I　don't　like　that；〃　Tammy　said；　already　proprietorial。
　 〃Neither　do　I；〃　Maxine　replied；　thinking　not　just　of　the　title；　but　of　this　whole；　sprawling；　exhausting　mess。　〃Trust　me；　Tammy。　Neither　do　I。〃
　
　 Tammy　Jayne　Lauper　lived　on　Elverta　Road　in　Rio　Linda；　Sacramento；　in　a　one…story　ranch…style　house　fifteen　minutes　from　the　Sacramento　International　Airport；　where　her　husband　had　worked　for　eight　years　as　a　baggage　handler。　They　had　no　kids；　nor　any　hope　of　having　any；　this　side　of　a　miracle　of　Biblical　proportions。　Arnie　had　a　zero　sperm　count。　Tammy　didn't　mind　much。　Just　because　God　had　given　her　breasts　the　size　of　watermelons　didn't　mean　she　was　born　for　motherhood。　And　of　course　the　absence　of　children　left　plenty　of　space　in　the　house　for　all　the　files　relating　to　what　Arnie　sneeringly　called　Tammy's　little　'fan　club。'
　 〃It　isn't　a　fan　club；〃　Tammy　had　pointed　out　countless　times；　〃it's　an　Appreciation　Society。〃　Arnie　said　Tammy　wasn't　no　appreciator；　she　was　a　fan；　plain　and　simple；　and　he　knew　every　time　they'd　used　to　sleep　together　and　she　closed　her　eyes　it　was　that　dickhead　Pickett　she'd　been　imagining　on　top　of　her　fat　ass；　and　that　was　the　whole　unvarnished　truth　of　it。　When　Arnie　got　to　talking　like　that；　Tammy　would　just　tune　him　out。　He'd　stop　eventually；　when　he　knew　he　she　wasn't　listening；　go　back　to　sitting　in　front　of　the　TV　with　a　beer。
　 The　main　center　of　the　Todd　Pickett　Appreciation　Society's　operations　was　the　front　bedroom。　The　room　she　and　Arnie　slept　in　was　considerably　smaller；　but　as　she'd　pointed　out　to　him；　it　didn't　really　matter　since　all　they　did　was　sleep　in　it。　They　still　had　a　double　bed；　though　God　knows　why；　he　never　touched　her；　and　a　couple　of　years　back　she'd　stopped　wanting　him　to。　The　third　bedroom　（and　all　the　closets）；　were　used　for　storage：　files　of　clippings；　issues　of　the　fanzine　（quarterly　for　the　first　year；　then　monthly；　now　quarterly　again）；　photographs　and　biographies　to　be　distributed　to　new　members；　copies　of　press　kits　from　every　fi