df.theedge-第23部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　'Yes。。。'　I　said；　thinking。　'Is　the　steam　pipe　the　only　thing　connecting　one　car　to　the　next？　Except　the　links；　of　course。'
　　That's　right。'
　　'What　about　electricity。。。　and　water？'
　　He　shook　his　head。　'Each　car　makes　its　own　electricity。　Self　contained。　They　have　generators　under　the　floors。。。　like　dynamos　on　bicycles。。。　that　make　electricity　from　the　wheels　going　round。　The　problem　is　that　when　we're　going　slowly；　the　lights　flicker。　Then　there　are　batteries　for　when　we're　stopped；　but　they'd　only　last　for　forty…five　minutes；　eh？；　if　we　weren't　plugged　into　the　ground　supply　at　a　station。　After　that　we're　down　to　emergency　lighting；　just　the　aisle　lights　and　not　much　else　for　about　four　hours；　then　we're　in　the　dark。　''And　water？'　I　asked。
　　'It's　in　the　roof。'
　　'Really？'　I　said；　surprised。
　　He　patiently　explained。　'At　city　stations；　we　have　water　hydrants　every　eighty…five　feet；　the　length　of　the　cars。　One　to　each　car。　Also　the　main　electricity；　same　thing；　eh？　Anyway；　the　water　goes　up　under　pressure　into　the　tanks　in　the　roof　and　feeds　down　again　to　the　washrooms　by　gravity。'
　　Fascinating；　I　thought。　And　it　had　made　unhitching　the　Lorrimores'　car　a　paratively　quick　and　easy　job。
　　'The　new　cars；'　George　said；　'will　be　heated　by　electricity；　not　steam；　so　we'll　be　doing　away　with　the　steam　pipe；　eh？　And　they'll　have　tanks　for　the　sewage；　which　now　drops　straight　down　on　to　the　tracks；　of　course。'
　　'Canada's　railways；'　I　said　politely；　'will　be　the　envy　of　the　world。'
　　He　chuckled。　'The　trains　between　Montreal　and　Toronto　are　late　three…quarters　of　the　time　and　the　new　engines　break　down　regularly。　The　old　rolling　stock；　like　this　train；　is　great。'
　　He　picked　up　the　headset　again。　I　raised　a　hand　in　farewell　and　went　back　to　the　dining　room　where　the　real　mystery　had　easily　usurped　Zak's；　though　some　were　sure　it　was　part　of　the　plot。
　　Xanthe　had　cheered　up　remarkably　through　being　the　centre　of　sympathetic　attention；　and　Filmer　was　telling　Mercer　Lorrimore　he　should　sue　the　railway　pany　for　millions　of　dollars　for　negligence。　The　near…disaster　had　galvanized　the　general　consciousness　to　a　higher　adrenaline　level；　probably　because　Xanthe　had　not；　in　fact；　been　carried　off　like　Angelica。
　　Nell　was　sitting　at　a　table　with　a　fortyish　couple　who　she　later　told　me　owned　one　of　the　horses　in　the　box…car；　a　dark　bay　called　Redi…Hot。　The　man　beckoned　to　me　as　I　stood　around　vaguely；　and　asked　me　to　fetch　cognac　for　him；　vodka　with　ice　for　his　wife　and。。。　what　for　Nell？
　　'Just　Coke；　please；'　she　said。
　　I　went　to　the　kitchen　where　I　knew　the　Coke　was；　but　made　frantic　question　mark　signals　to　Nell　about　the　rest。　Emil；　the　chefs；　Oliver　and　Cathy　had　finished　cleaning　up　and　had　all　gone　off　duty。　I　had　no　alcohol…divining　rod　to　bend　a　twig　in　the　direction　of　brandy　or　Smirnoff。
　　Nell　said　something　to　the　owners　and　came　to　join　me；　stifling　laughter。
　　'Yes；　very　funny；'　I　said；　'but　what　the　hell　do　I　do？'
　　'Take　one　of　the　small　trays　and　get　the　drinks　from　the　bar。　I'll　explain　they　have　to　pay　for　them。'
　　'I　haven't　seen　you　for　five　minutes　alone　today；'　I　plained。
　　'You're　downstairs；　I'm　up。'
　　'I　could　easily　hate　you。'
　　'But　do　you？'
　　'Not　yet；　'I　said。
　　'If　you're　a　good　little　waiter；　I'll　leave　you　a　tip。'
　　She　went　back　to　her　place　with　a　placent　bounce　to　her　step；　and　with　a　curse；　but　not　meaning　it；　I　took　the　Coke　and　a　glass　to　her　table　and　went　on　into　the　dome　car　for　the　rest。　After　I'd　returned　and　delivered　the　order　someone　else　asked　for　the　same　service；　which　I　willingly　performed　again；　and　yet　again。
　　On　each　trip　I　overheard　snatches　of　the　bar…room　conversations　and　could　hear　the　louder　buzz　of　continuing　upheaval　along　in　the　lounge；　and　I　thought　that　after　I'd　satisfied　everyone　in　the　dining　room　I　might　drift　along　to　the　far　end　with　my　disarming　little　tray。The　only　person　not　wholly　in　sympathy　with　this　plan　was　the　bartender　who　plained　that　I　was　supposed　to　be　off　duty　and　that　the　passengers　should　e　to　the　bar　to　buy　the　drinks　themselves；　I　was　syphoning　off　his　tips。　I　saw　the　justice　of　that　and　offered　to　split　fifty　fifty。　He　knew　very　well　that；　without　my　running　to　and　fro；　the　passengers　mostly　wouldn't　be　bothered　to　move　to　drink；　so　he　accepted　fast；　no　doubt　considering　me　a　mug　as　well　as　an　actor。
　　Sheridan　Lorrimore；　who　was　sitting　at　a　table　apart　from　his　parents；　demanded　I　bring　him　a　double　Scotch　at　once。　He　had　a　carrying　voice；　and　his　sister　from　two　tables　away　turned　round　in　disapproval。
　　'No；　no；　you're　not　supposed　to；'　she　said。
　　'Mind　your　own　business。'　He　turned　his　head　slightly　towards　me　and　spoke　in　the　direction　of　my　tie。　'Double　Scotch；　at　the　double。'
　　'Don't　get　it；'　Xanthe　said。
　　I　stood　irresolute。
　　Sheridan　stood　up；　his　ready　anger　rising。　He　put　out　a　hand　and　pushed　my　shoulder　fiercely。
　　'Go　on；'　he　said。　'Damn　well　do　as　I　say。　Go　and　get　my　drink。'
　　He　pushed　again　quite　hard　and　as　I　turned　away　I　heard　him　snigger　and　say；　'You　have　to　kick　'em；　you　know。'
　　I　went　into　the　dome　car　and　stood　behind　the　bar　with　the　bartender；　and　felt　furious　with　Sheridan；　not　for　his　outrageous　behaviour　but　because　he　was　getting　me　noticed。　Filmer　had　been　sitting　with　his　back　to　me；　it　was　true；　but　near　enough　to　overhear。
　　Mercer　Lorrimore　appeared　tentatively　in　the　bar　doorway　and　came　in　when　he　saw　me。
　　'I　apologize　for　my　son；'　he　said　wearily；　and　I　had　a　convincing　impression　that　he'd　apologized　countless　times　before。　He　pulled　out　his　wallet；　removed　a　twenty…dollar　note　from　it　and　offered　me　the　money。
　　'Please　don't；'　I　said。　'There's　no　need。'
　　'Yes；　yes。　Take　it。'
　　I　saw　he　would　feel　better　if　I　did；　as　if　paying　money　would　somehow　excuse　the　act。　I　thought　he　should　stop　trying　to　buy　pardons　for　his　son　and　pay　for　mental　treatment　instead。　But　then；　perhaps　he　had。　There　was　more　wrong　with　Sheridan　than　ill…temper；　and　it　had　been　obvious　to　his　father　for　a　long　time。
　　I　didn't　approve　of　what　he　was　doing；　but　if　I　refused　his　money　I　would　be　more　and　more　visible；　so　I　took　it；　and　when　he　had　gone　off　in　relief　back　towards　the　dining　car　I　gave　it　to　the　barman。
　　'What　was　that　all　about？'　he　asked　curiously；　pocketing　the　note　without　hesitation。　When　I　explained；　he　said；　'You　should　have　kept　the　money。　You　should　have　charged　him　triple。'
　　'He　would　have　felt　three　times　as　virtuous；'　I　said；　and　the　barman　looked　at　me　blankly。
　　I　didn't　go　back　to　the　dining　car　but　forward　into　the　lounge；　where　again　the　sight　of　my　yellow　waistcoat　stirred　a　few　thirsts；　which　I　did　my　best　to　acmodate。　The　barman　was　by　now　mellow　and　helpful　and　said　we　were　rapidly　running　out　of　the　ice　that　had　e　aboard　in　bags　in　Sudbury。
　　Up　in　the　dome；　the　uncoupling　of　the　private　car　had　given　way　to　speculation　about　whether　the　northern　lights　would　oblige：　the　weather　was　right；　apparently。　I　took　a　few　drinks　up　there　（including　some　for　Zak　and　Donna；　which　amused　them）；　and　on　my　way　down　the　stairs　saw　the　backs　of　Mercer　and　Bambi；　Filmer　and　Daffodil；　as　they　walked　through　the　lounge　towards　the　door　to　the　private　car。　Mercer　stood　aside　to　let　Bambi　lead　the　other　two　through　the　short　noisy　joining　section；　and　then；　before　going　himself；　he　looked　back；　saw　me　and　beckoned。
　　'Bring　a　bowl　of　ice；　will　you？'　he　said　when　I　reached　him。　'To　the　saloon。'
　　'Yes；　sir；'　I　said。
　　He　nodded　and　departed；　and　I　relayed　the　request　to　the　barman　who　shook　his　head　and　said　he　was　down　to　six　cubes。　I　knew　there　were　other　bags　of　cubes　in　the　kitchen　refrigerator；　so；　feeling　that　I　had　been　walking　the　train　for　a　lifetime；　I　went　along　through　the　dining　room。　to　fetch　some。
　　There　weren't　many　people　still　in　there；　though　Xanthe　was　still　being　forted　and　listened　to　by　Mrs　Young。　Nell　sat　opposite　Sheridan　Lorrimore　who　seemed　to　be　telling　her　that　he　had　wrapped　his　Lamborgini　round　a　tree　recently　and　had　ordered　a　new　one。
　　'Tree？'　Nell　said；　smiling。
　　He　looked　at　her　unprehendingly。　Sheridan　wasn't　a　great　one　for　jokes。　I　fetched　a　bag　of　ice　and　a　bowl　from　the　kitchen；　swayed　back　to　the　bar　and　in　due　course　took　the　bowl　of　ice　（on　a　tray）　to　the　saloon。
　　The　four　of　them　were　sitting　in　armchairs；　Bambi　talking　to　Daffodil；　Mercer　to　Filmer。
　　Mercer　said　to　me；　'You'll　find　glasses　and　cognac　in　the　cupboard　in　the　dining　room。　And　Benedictine。　Bring　them　along　here；　will　you？'
　　'Yes；　sir。'
　　Filmer　paid　me　no　attention。　In　the　neat　dining　room；　the　cupboards　had　glass　fronts　with　pale　green　curtains　inside　them。　In　one　I　found　the　bottles　and　glasses　as　described；　and　took　them　aft。
　　Filmer　was　saying；　'Will　Voting　Right　go　on　to　the　Breeders'　Cup　if　he　wins　at　Winnipeg？'
　　'He's　not　running　at　Winnipeg；'　Mercer　said。　'He　runs　at　Vancouver。'
　　'Yes；　I　meant　Vancouver。'
　　Daffodil　with　enthusiasm　was　telling　a　cool　Bambi　that　she　should　try　some　face　cream　or　other　that　helped　with　wrinkles。
　　'Just　leave　everything；'　Mercer　said　to　me。　'We'll　pour。'
　　'Yes；　sir；'　I　said；　and　retreated　as　he　began　the　ultimate　heresy　of　sloshing　Remy　Martin's　finest　on　to　rocks。
　　Mercer　would　know　me　everywhere　on　the　train；　I　thought；　but　none　of　the　other　three　would。　I　hadn't　met　Filmer's　eyes　all　day；　had　been　careful　not　to；　and　it　seemed　to　me　that　his　attention　had　been　exclusively　focused　upon　what　he　had　now　achieved；　a　visiting…terms　acquaintanceship　with　Mercer　Lorrimore。
　　There　was　now　loud　music　in　the　lounge；　with　two　couples　trying　to　dance　and　falling　over　with　giggles　from　the　perpetual　motion　of　the　dance…floor。　Up　in　the　dome；　aurora　borealis　was　doing　its　flickering　fiery　best　on　the　horizon；　and　in　the　bar　there　was　a　group　playing　poker　in　serious　silent　concentration。　Playing　for　thousands；　the　barman　said。Between　the　bar　and　the　dining　room　there　were　three　bedrooms；　and　in　one　of　those；　with　the　door　open；　was　a　sleeping…car　attendant；　dressed　exactly　like　myself。
　　'Hello；'　he　said；　as　I　paused　in　the　doorway。　'e　to　help？'
　　'Sure；'　I　said。　'What　do　I　do？'
　　'Yo