sidneysheldon.astrangerinthemirror-第42节

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　Sam　glanced　at　Jill；　puzzled。　She　had　not　seemed　to　him　the　kind　of　girl　capable　of　such　a　selfless　act。　Perhaps　he　had　misjudged　her。　
　〃What　are　your　plans？〃　he　asked　Toby。　〃I　suppose　you'll　want　to　rest　and　〃　
　〃He's　going　back　to　work；〃　Jill　said。　〃Toby's　too　talented　to　be　sitting　around　doing　nothing。〃　
　〃I'm　raring　to　go；〃　Toby　agreed。　
　〃Perhaps　Sam　has　a　project　for　you；〃　Jill　suggested。　
　They　were　both　watching　him。　Sam　did　not　want　to　discourage　Toby；　but　neither　did　he　want　to　hold　out　any　false　hopes。　It　was　not　possible　to　make　a　picture　with　a　star　unless　you　got　insurance　on　him；　and　no　pany　was　going　to　insure　Toby　Temple。　
　〃There's　nothing　in　the　shop　at　the　moment；〃　Sam　said　carefully。　〃But　I'll　certainly　keep　an　eye　open。〃　
　〃You're　afraid　to　use　him；　aren't　you？〃　It　was　as　though　she　was　reading　his　mind。
　〃Certainly　not。〃　But　they　both　knew　he　was　lying。　No　one　in　Hollywood　would　take　a　chance　on　using　Toby　Temple　again。　
　Toby　and　Jill　were　watching　a　young　edian　on　television。　
　〃He's　rotten；〃　Toby　snorted。　〃Damn　it；　I　wish　I　could　get　back　on　the　air。　Maybe　I　oughta　get　an　agent。　Somebody　who　could　check　around　town　and　see　what's　doing。〃　
　〃No！〃　Jill's　tone　was　firm。　〃We're　not　going　to　let　anyone　peddle　you。　You're　not　some　bum　looking　for　a　job。　You're　Toby　Temple。　We're　going　to　make　them　e　to　you。〃　
　Toby　smiled　wryly　and　said；　〃They're　not　beating　down　the　doors；　baby。〃　
　〃They　will　be；〃　Jill　promised。　〃They　don't　know　what　shape　you're　in。　You're　better　now　than　you　ever　were。　We　just　have　to　show　them。〃　
　〃Maybe　I　should　pose　in　the　nude　for　one　of　those　magazines。〃　
　Jill　was　not　listening。　〃I　have　an　idea；〃　she　said　slowly。　〃A　one…man　show。〃　
　〃Huh？〃　
　〃A　one…man　show。〃　There　was　a　growing　excitement　in　her　voice。　〃I'm　going　to　book　you　into　the　Hunrington　Hartford　Theatre。　Everybody　in　Hollywood　will　e。　After　that；　they'll　start　beating　down　the　doors！〃　
　And　everybody　in　Hollywood　did　e：　producers；　directors；　stars；　critics　　all　the　people　in　show　business　who　mattered。　The　theater　on　Vine　Street　had　long　since　been　sold　out；　and　hundreds　of　people　had　been　turned　away。　There　was　a　cheering　mob　outside　the　lobby　when　Toby　and　Jill　arrived　in　a　chauffeur…driven　limousine。　He　was　their　Toby　Temple。　He　had　e　back　to　them　from　the　dead；　and　they　adored　him　more　than　ever。　The　audience　inside　the　theater　was　there　partly　out　of　respect　for　a　man　who　had　been　famous　and　great；　but　mostly　out　of　curiosity。　They　were　there　to　pay　final　tribute　to　a　dying　hero；　a　burnt…out　star。　Jill　had　planned　the　show　herself。　She　had　gone　to　O'Hanlon　and　Rainger；　and　they　had　written　some　brilliant　material；　beginning　with　a　monologue　kidding　the　town　for　burying　Toby　while　he　was　still　alive。　Jill　had　approached　a　song…writing　team　that　had　won　three　Academy　Awards。　They　had　never　written　special　material　for　anyone；　but　when　Jill　said；　
　〃Toby　insists　you're　the　only　writers　in　the　world　who。。。〃　
　Dick　Landry；　the　director；　flew　in　from　London　to　stage　the　show。　Jill　had　assembled　the　finest　talent　she　could　find　to　back　up　Toby；　but　in　the　end　everything　would　depend　on　the　star　himself。　It　was　a　one…man　show；　and　he　would　be　alone　on　that　stage。　The　moment　finally　arrived。　The　house　lights　dimmed；　and　the　theater　was　filled　with　that　expectant　hush　that　precedes　the　ringing　up　of　the　curtain；　the　silent　prayer　that　on　this　night　magic　would　happen。　
　It　happened。　As　Toby　Temple　strolled　out　onto　the　stage；　his　gait　strong　and　steady；　that　familiar　impish　smile　lighting　up　that　boyish　face；　there　was　a　momentary　silence　and　then　a　wild　explosion　of　applause　and　yelling；　a　standing　ovation　that　rocked　the　theater　for　a　full　five　minutes。　Toby　stood　there；　waiting　for　the　pandemonium　to　subside；　and　when　the　theater　was　finally　still；　he　said；　〃You　call　that　a　reception？〃　And　they　roared。　He　was　brilliant。　He　told　stories　and　sang　and　danced；　and　he　attacked　everybody；　and　it　was　as　though　he　had　never　been　gone。　The　audience　could　not　get　enough　of　him。　He　was　still　a　superstar；　but　now　he　was　something　more；　he　had　bee　a　living　legend。　The　Variety　review　the　next　day　said；　〃They　came　to　bury　Toby　Temple；　but　they　stayed　to　praise　him　and　cheer　him。　And　how　he　deserved　it！　There　is　no　one　in　show　business　who　has　the　old　master's　magic。　It　was　an　evening　of　ovations；　and　no　one　who　was　fortunate　enough　to　be　there　is　likely　ever　to　forget　that　memorable。。。〃　The　Hollywood　Reporter　review　said；　〃The　audience　was　there　to　see　a　great　star　e　back；　but　Toby　Temple　proved　he　had　never　been　away。〃　All　the　other　reviews　were　in　the　same　panegyric　vein。　From　that　moment　on；　Toby's　phones　rang　constantly。　Letters　and　telegrams　poured　in　with　invitations　and　offers。　They　were　beating　the　doors　down。　
　Toby　repeated　his　one…man　show　in　Chicago　and　in　Washington　and　New　York；　everywhere　he　went；　he　was　a　sensation。　There　was　more　interest　in　him　now　than　there　had　ever　been。　In　a　wave　of　affectionate　nostalgia；　Toby's　old　movies　were　shown　at　art　theaters　and　at　universities。　Television　stations　had　a　Toby　Temple　Week　and　ran　his　old　variety　shows。　There　were　Toby　Temple　dolls　and　Toby　Temple　games　and　Toby　Temple　puzzles　and　jokebooks　and　T…shirts。　There　were　endorsements　for　coffee　and　cigarettes　and　toothpaste。　Toby　did　a　cameo　in　a　musical　picture　at　Universal　and　was　signed　to　do　guest　appearances　on　all　the　big　variety　shows。　The　networks　had　writers　at　work；　peting　to　develop　a　new　Toby　Temple　Hour。　The　sun　was　out　once　more；　and　it　was　shining　on　Jill。　There　were　parties　again；　and　receptions　and　this　ambassador　and　that　senator　and　private　screenings　and。。。　Everybody　wanted　them　for　everything。　They　were　given　a　dinner　at　the　White　House；　an　honor　usually　reserved　for　heads　of　state。　They　were　applauded　wherever　they　appeared。　But　now　it　was　Jill　they　were　applauding；　as　well　as　Toby。　The　magnificent　story　of　what　she　had　done；　her　feat　of　singlehandedly　nursing　Toby　bade　to　health　against　all　odds；　had　stirred　the　imagination　of　the　world。　It　was　hailed　by　the　press　as　the　love　story　of　the　century。　Time　Magazine　put　them　both　on　the　cover；　with　a　glowing　tribute　to　Jill　in　the　acpanying　story。　
　A　five…million…dollar　deal　was　made　for　Toby　to　star　in　a　new　weekly　television　variety　show；　starting　in　September；　only　twelve　weeks　away。　
　〃We'll　go　to　Palm　Springs　so　that　you　can　rest　until　then；〃　Jill　said。　
　Toby　shook　his　head。　〃You've　been　shut　in　long　enough。　We're　going　to　live　a　little。〃　He　put　his　arms　around　her　and　added；　〃I'm　not　very　good　with　words；　baby；　unless　they're　jokes。　I　don't　know　how　to　tell　you　what　I　feel　about　you。　I　　I　just　want　you　to　know　that　I　didn't　start　living　until　the　day　I　met　you。〃　And　he　abruptly　turned　away；　so　that　Jill　could　not　see　the　tears　in　his　eyes。　
　Toby　arranged　to　tour　his　one…man　show　in　London；　Paris　and　　the　greatest　coup　of　all　　Moscow。　Everyone　was　fighting　to　sign　him。　He　was　as　big　a　cult　figure　in　Europe　as　he　was　in　America。　
　
　They　were　out　on　the　fill；　on　a　sunny；　sparkling　day；　headed　for　Catalina。　There　were　a　dozen　guests　aboard　the　boat；　among　them　Sam　Winters　and　O'Hanlon　and　Rainger；　who　had　been　selected　as　the　head　writers　on　Toby's　new　television　show。　They　were　all　in　the　salon；　playing　games　and　talking。　Jill　looked　around　and　noticed　that　Toby　was　missing。　She　went　out　on　deck。　Toby　was　standing　at　the　railing；　staring　at　the　sea。　Jill　walked　up　to　him　and　said；　
　〃Are　you　feeling　all　right？〃　
　〃Just　watching　the　water；　baby。〃　　
　〃It's　beautiful；　isn't　it？〃　
　〃If　you're　a　shark。〃　He　shuddered。　〃That's　not　the　way　I　want　to　die。　I've　always　been　terrified　of　drowning。〃　
　She　put　her　hand　in　his。　〃What's　bothering　you？〃　
　He　looked　at　her。　〃I　guess　I　don't　want　to　die。　I'm　afraid　of　what's　out　there。　Here；　I'm　a　big　man。　Everybody　knows　Toby　Temple。　But　out　there。。。？　You　know　my　idea　of　Hell？　A　place　where　there's　no　audience。〃　
　The　Friars　Club　gave　a　Roast　with　Toby　Temple　as　the　guest　of　honor。　A　dozen　top　ics　were　on　the　dais；　along　with　Toby　and　Jill；　Sam　Winters　and　the　head　of　the　network　that　Toby　had　signed　with。　Jill　was　asked　to　stand　up　and　take　a　bow。　It　became　a　standing　ovation。　They're　cheering　me；　Jill　thought。　Not　Toby。　Me！　The　master　of　ceremonies　was　the　host　of　a　famous　nighttime　television　talk　show。　
　〃I　can't　tell　you　how　happy　I　am　to　see　Toby　here；〃　he　said。　〃Because　if　we　weren't　honoring　him　here　tonight；　we'd　be　holding　this　banquet　at　Forest　Lawn。〃　Laughter。　〃And　believe　me；　the　food's　terrible　there。　Have　you　ever　eaten　at　Forest　Lawn？　They　serve　leftovers　from　the　Last　Supper。〃　Laughter。　He　turned　to　Toby。　〃We　really　are　proud　of　you；　Toby。　I　mean　that。　I　understand　you've　been　asked　to　donate　a　part　of　your　body　to　science。　They're　going　to　put　it　in　a　jar　at　the　Harvard　Medical　School。　The　only　problem　so　far　is　that　they　haven't　been　able　to　find　a　jar　big　enough　to　hold　it。〃　Roars。　When　Toby　got　up　for　his　rebuttal；　he　topped　them　all。　Everyone　agreed　that　it　was　the　best　Roast　the　Friars　had　ever　held。　
　Clifton　Lawrence　was　in　the　audience　that　night。　He　was　seated　at　a　table　in　the　back　of　the　room　near　the　kitchen　with　the　other　unimporta