hr.thecarpetbaggers-第39部分

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　〃If　there's　anything　special　that　needs　to　be　done；　I　guess　I'm　the　one　who　could　do　it；〃　she　said。　〃I'm　her　closest　friend。　She　gave　me　power　of　attorney。〃
　The　doctor　stared　at　her　silently。　She　could　read　what　was　in　his　mind　behind　those　shining　bifocals。　She　drew　her　head　up　proudly。　What　did　it　matter　what　he　thought？　What　did　it　matter　what　anyone　thought　now？
　〃Did　you　get　the　results　from　the　blood　tests？〃
　The　doctor　nodded。
　She　tried　to　keep　her　voice　from　shaking。　〃Is　it　leukemia？〃
　〃No；〃　he　said。　He　could　see　the　hope　spring　up　in　her　eyes。　Quickly　he　spoke　to　avoid　the　pain　of　disappointment。　〃It　was　what　we　thought。　Encephalitis。〃　He　noted　her　puzzled　expression。　〃Sometimes　it's　called　sleeping　sickness。〃
　The　hope　in　Ilene　refused　to　die。　〃Then　she　has　a　chance？〃
　〃A　very　small　one；〃　the　doctor　said；　still　watching　her　carefully。　〃But　if　she　lives；　there's　no　telling　what　she'll　be　like。〃
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　Ilene　asked　harshly。
　〃Encephalitis　is　a　virus　that　settles　in　the　brain；〃　he　explained　slowly。　〃For　the　next　four　or　five　days；　as　the　virus　builds　up　in　intensity；　she　will　be　subject　to　extraordinary　high　fevers。　During　these　fevers；　the　virus　will　attack　the　brain。　It　is　only　after　the　fever　breaks　that　we'll　be　able　to　tell　how　much　damage　she　has　sustained。〃
　〃You　mean　her　mind　will　be　gone？〃　Ilene's　eyes　were　large　with　horror。
　〃I　don't　know；〃　the　doctor　said。　〃The　damage　can　take　many　forms。　Her　mind；　perhaps　she'll　be　paralyzed　or　partly　so；　she　may　know　her　own　name；　she　may　not。　The　residual　effects　are　similar　to　a　stroke。　It　depends　on　what　part　of　the　brain　has　been　damaged。〃
　The　sick　fear　came　up　inside　her。　Quickly　she　caught　her　breath　against　it；　her　face　paling。　〃Breathe　deeply　and　sip　a　little　water；〃　the　doctor　said。
　She　did　as　he　manded　and　the　color　flooded　back　into　her　face。　〃Is　there　anything　we　can　do？　Anything　at　all？〃
　〃We're　doing　everything　we　can。　We　know　so　little　about　the　disease；　how　it's　transmitted。　In　its　more　mon　form；　in　tropical　countries；　it's　supposed　to　be　carried　by　insects　and　transmitted　by　their　bite。　But　many　cases；　in　the　United　States　and　elsewhere；　just　appear；　with　no　apparent　causation　at　all。〃
　〃We　just　got　back　from　Africa　three　months　ago；〃　Ilene　said。　〃We　made　a　picture　there。〃
　〃I　know；〃　the　doctor　said。　〃Miss　Marlowe　told　me　about　it。　That　was　what　first　made　me　suspicious。〃
　〃But　no　one　else　is　sick；〃　Ilene　said。　〃And　we　were　all　out　there　for　three　months；　living　exactly　the　same　way；　in　the　same　places。〃
　The　doctor　shrugged。　〃As　I　said；　we　aren't　really　sure　what　causes　it。〃
　Ilene　stared　at　him。　A　note　of　bewilderment　crept　into　her　voice。　〃Why　couldn't　it　be　me？〃　she　asked。　〃She　has　so　much　to　live　for。〃
　The　doctor　reached　across　the　table　and　patted　her　hand。　With　that　one　warm　gesture；　she　no　longer　resented　him；　as　she　did　most　men。　〃How　many　times　in　my　life　have　I　heard　that　question？　And　I'm　no　closer　to　the　answer　now　than　when　I　first　began　to　practice。〃
　She　looked　at　him　gratefully。　〃Do　you　think　we　should　say　anything　to　her？〃
　His　dark　eyes　grew　large　behind　his　glasses。　〃What　purpose　would　it　serve？〃　he　asked。　〃Let　her　have　her　dreams。〃
　
　Rina　heard　the　dim　voices　outside　the　door。　She　was　tired；　weary　and　tired；　and　everything　was　a　soft；　blurred　haze。　Vaguely　she　wondered　if　the　dream　would　e　again。　The　thin　edges　of　it　poked　at　her　mind。　Good。　It　was　ing。
　Softly；　fortably　now；　she　let　herself　slip　down　into　it。　Further　and　further　she　felt　herself　dropping　into　the　dream。　She　smiled　unconsciously　and　turned　her　face　against　the　pillow。　Now　she　was　surrounded　by　her　dream。　The　dream　of　death　she　had　dreamed　ever　since　she　was　a　little　girl。
　
　2
　
　IT　WAS　COOL　IN　THE　YARD　BENEATH　THE　SHADE　of　the　giant　old　apple　trees。　Rina　sat　in　the　grass　and　arranged　the　dolls　around　the　small　wooden　plank　that　served　as　a　table。
　〃Now；　Susie；〃　she　said　to　the　little　dark…haired　doll。　〃You　must　not　gulp　your　food。〃
　The　black　eyes　of　the　doll　stared　unwinkingly　back　at　her。　
　〃Oh；　Susie！〃　she　said　in　imaginary　concern。　〃You　spilled　it　all　over　your　dress！　Now　I'll　have　to　change　you　again。〃
　She　picked　up　the　doll　and　undressed　it　quickly。　She　washed　the　clothes　in　an　imaginary　tub；　then　ironed　them。　〃Now　you　stay　clean；〃　she　exclaimed　in　pretended　anger。
　She　turned　to　the　other　doll。　〃Are　you　enjoying　your　breakfast；　Mary？〃　She　smiled。　〃Eat　it　all　up。　It'll　make　you　big　and　strong。〃
　Occasionally；　she　would　glance　toward　the　big　house。　She　was　happy　to　be　left　alone。　It　wasn't　very　often　that　she　was。　Usually；　one　or　the　other　of　the　servants　would　be　calling　her　to　e　back　in。　Then　her　mother　would　scold　her　and　tell　her　that　she　was　not　to　play　in　the　yard；　that　she　must　stay　near　the　kitchen　door　at　the　far　side　of　the　house。
　But　she　didn't　like　it　there。　It　was　hot　and　there　was　no　grass；　only　dirt。　Besides；　it　was　near　the　stables　and　the　smell　of　the　horses。　She　didn't　understand　why　her　mother　always　made　such　a　fuss。　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Marlowe　never　said　anything　when　they　found　her　there。　Once；　Mr。　Marlowe　even　had　picked　her　up　and　swung　her　high　over　his　head；　tickling　her　with　his　mustache　until　she　almost　burst　with　hysterical　laughter。
　But　when　she'd　e　inside；　her　mother　had　been　angry　and　had　spanked　her　bottom　and　made　her　go　up　to　their　room　and　stay　there　all　afternoon。　That　was　the　worst　punishment　of　all。　She　loved　to　be　in　the　kitchen　while　her　mother　cooked　the　dinner。　Everything　smelled　so　good。　Everybody　always　said　her　mother　was　the　best　cook　the　Marlowes　had　ever　had。
　She　heard　footsteps　and　looked　up。　Ronald　Marlowe　threw　himself　to　the　ground　beside　her。　She　looked　down　again　and　finished　feeding　Susie；　then　said　in　a　matter…of…fact　voice；　〃Would　you　like　some　dinner；　Laddie？〃
　He　sniffed　disdainfully　from　the　superiority　of　his　lofty　eight　years。　〃I　don't　see　anything　to　eat。〃
　She　turned　toward　him。　〃You're　not　looking；〃　she　said。　She　forced　a　doll's　plate　into　his　hand；　〃Eat　it。　It's　very　good　for　you。〃
　Reluctantly　he　pretended　to　eat。　After　a　moment；　he　was　bored　and　got　to　his　feet。　〃I'm　hungry；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　going　in　and　get　some　real　food。〃
　〃You　won't　get　any；〃　she　said。
　〃Why　not？〃
　〃Because　my　mommy's　still　sick　and　nobody　cooked。〃
　〃I'll　get　something；〃　he　said　confidently。
　She　watched　him　walk　away　and　turned　back　to　her　dolls。　It　was　turning　dusk　when　Molly；　the　upstairs　maid；　came　out　looking　for　her。　The　girl's　face　was　red　from　crying。　〃e；　macushla；〃　she　said；　sweeping　Rina　up　in　her　arms。　〃It's　your　mither　that　wants　to　set　eyes　on　ye　again。〃
　Peters；　the　coachman；　was　there；　as　was　Mary；　the　downstairs　maid；　and　Annie；　the　scullery　helper。　They　were　standing　around　her　mother's　bed　and　they　made　way　for　her　as　she　came　over。　There　was　also　a　man　in　a　black　suit；　holding　a　cross　in　his　hand。
　She　stood　very　still　near　the　bed；　looking　at　her　mother　solemnly。　Her　mother　looked　beautiful；　her　face　so　white　and　calm；　her　white…blond　hair　brushed　back　softly　from　her　forehead。　Rina　moved　closer　to　the　bed。
　Her　mother's　lips　moved　but　Rina　couldn't　hear　what　she　was　saying。　The　man　in　the　black　suit　picked　her　up。　〃Kiss　your　mother；　child；〃　he　said。
　Obediently　Rina　kissed　her　mother's　cheek。　It　was　cool　to　her　lips。　Her　mother　smiled　again　and　closed　her　eyes；　then　suddenly　opened　them　and　looked　upward　unseeingly。　Quickly　the　man　shifted　Rina　to　his　other　arm。　He　reached　down　and　closed　her　mother's　eyes。
　Molly　held　out　her　arms　and　the　man　gave　Rina　to　her。　Rina　looked　back　at　her　mother。　She　was　sleeping　now。　She　looked　beautiful；　just　as　she　did　in　the　early　mornings　when　Rina　would　awaken　and　stare　at　her　over　the　edge　of　the　bed。
　Rina　looked　around　the　room　at　the　others。　The　girls　were　crying；　and　even　Peters；　the　coachman；　had　tears　in　his　eyes。　She　looked　up　into　Molly's　face。　〃Why　are　you　crying？〃　she　asked　solemnly。　〃Is　my　mommy　dead？〃
　The　tears　came　afresh　in　the　girl's　eyes。　She　hugged　Rina　closely　to　her。　〃Hush；　child；〃　she　whispered。　〃We're　crying　because　we　love　her。〃
　She　started　out　of　the　room　with　Rina　in　her　arms。　The　door　closed　behind　them　and　Rina　looked　up　into　her　face。　〃Will　Mommy　be　up　in　time　to　make　breakfast　tomorrow？〃
　Molly　stared　at　her　in　sudden　understanding。　Then　she　sank　to　her　knees　in　the　hallway　at　the　top　of　the　back　stairs。　She　rocked　back　and　forth　with　the　child　in　her　arms。　〃Oh；　my　poor　little　child；　my　poor　little　orphan　child；〃　she　cried。
　Rina　looked　up　at　her　and　after　a　moment；　the　tears　became　contagious　and　she；　too；　began　to　cry。　But　she　didn't　quite　know　why。
　Peters　came　into　the　kitchen　while　the　servants　were　eating　supper。　Rina　looked　up　at　him　and　smiled。　〃Look；　Mr。　Peters。〃　She　laughed　happily。　〃I　had　three　desserts！〃
　Molly　looked　down　at　her。　〃Hush；　child；〃　she　said　quickly；　the　tears　ing　again　to　her　eyes。　〃Finish　your　ice　cream。〃
　Rina　stared　at　her　thoughtfully　and　lifted　the　spoon　again　to　her　mouth。　She　couldn't　understand　why　the　girls　began　to　cry　every　time　they　spoke　to　her。　The　home…made　vanilla　ice　cream　tasted　cool　and　sweet。　She　took　another　spoonful。
　〃I　just　spoke　to　the　master；〃　Peters　said。　〃He　said　it　would　be　all　right　if　we　laid　her　out　in　my　room　over　the　stable。　And　Father　Nolan　said　we　could　bury　her　from　St。　Thomas'。〃
　〃But　how　can　we？〃　Molly　cried；　〃when　we　don't　even　know　if　she　was　a　Catholic？　Not　once　in　the　three　years　she's　been　here　did　she　go　to　Mass。〃
　〃What　difference　does　that　make？〃　Peters　asked　angrily。　〃Did　she　not　make　her　confession　to　Father　Nolan？　Did　she　not　receive　the　last　rites　from　him　and　take　the　Holy　Sacraments？　Father　Nolan　is　satisfied　that　she　was　a　Catholic。〃
　Mary；　the　downstairs　maid；　who　was　the　oldest　of　the　three　girls；　nodded　her　head　in　agreement。　〃I　think　Father　Nolan　is　right；〃　she　said。　〃Maybe　she'd　done　something　and　was　afraid　to　go　to　Mass；　but　the　important　thing　was　that　she　came　back　to　the　church　in　the　end。〃
　Peters　nodded　his　head　emphatically。　〃It's　settled；　then；〃　he　said；　starting　for　the　door。　He　stopped　and　looked　back　at　them。　〃Molly；　take　the　child　to　sleep　with　you　tonight。　I'm　goin'　down　to　the　saloon　and　get　sivral　of　the　boys　to　h