cb.coldheart canyon-第22节

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　 Todd　felt　the　motion　of　the　nurse　as　she　slipped　the　fresh　pillow　into　place　behind　him。　Then；　with　the　same　tenderness　as　he　used　to　lift　him　up；　Burrows　carefully　lowered　Todd　back　down　upon　the　pillow。
　 〃There。　Isn't　that　better？〃　Burrows　said；　finally　letting　his　patient　go。　Todd　felt　a　pang　of　separation；　like　a　child　who'd　been　abruptly　deserted。　〃I'm　going　to　let　you　rest　for　a　while；〃　Burrows　went　on。　〃And　when　you've　slept；　we'll　talk　properly。〃
　 〃No。。。〃　Todd　said。
　 〃Your　brother　Don's　here　with　you。〃
　 〃I'm　here；　Todd。〃
　 〃I　want　to　talk　now。〃　Todd　said；　〃Not　later。　Now。　Donnie！　Make　him　stay。〃
　 〃It's　okay；　Kiddo；〃　Donnie　said　with　just　the　right　edge　of　threat；　〃Doctor　B。's　not　goin'　anywhere。　Answer　his　question；　Doc。〃
　 〃Well；　first　things　first；〃　Burrows　said。　〃There's　absolutely　nothing　wrong　with　your　eyes；　if　that's　what　you're　worried　about。　We　just　have　to　keep　the　dressings　in　place　around　your　eye…sockets。〃
　 〃You　didn't　tell　me　I'd　be　waking　up　in　the　dark；〃　Todd　said。
　 〃No。。。〃　Burrows　replied。　〃That's　because　the　procedure　didn't　go　quite　as　we　planned。　But　every　operation　is　a　little　different；　as　you'll　remember　I　explained　to　you。　I'm　sorry　I　wasn't　here　when　you　woke。。。〃
　 Now　that　he　was　calmer；　Todd　began　to　recall　some　of　the　things　about　Burrows　that　had　irritated　him。　One　of　them　was　that　voice　of　his：　that　fake　basso　profundo　that　was　a　practiced　attempt　to　conceal　his　queeniness；　and　to　match　his　voice　to　the　heroic　proportions　of　his　body。　An　artificial　body；　of　course。　The　man　was　a　walking　advertisement　for　his　craft。　He　was　fifty…five　at　least；　but　he　had　the　skin　of　a　baby；　the　arms　and　the　chest　of　a　body…builder　and　the　wasp…waist　of　a　showgirl。
　 〃Just　tell　me　the　truth；〃　Todd　said　to　him。　〃Did　something　go　wrong？　I'm　a　big　boy。　I　can　take　it。〃
　 There　was　a　pin…drop　silence。　Todd　waited。　Finally；　Burrows　said：　〃We　had　a　few　minor　plications　with　your　procedure；　that's　all。　I've　explained　it　all　to　your　brother　Donald。　There's　nothing…absolutely　nothing…for　you　to　be　concerned　about。　It's　just　going　to　take　a　little　more　time　than　we'd…〃
　 〃What　kind　of　plications？〃　〃We　don't　need　to　go　into　that　now；　Todd。〃
　 〃Yes；　we　do；〃　Todd　said。　〃It's　my　face；　for　fuck's　sake。　Tell　me　what's　going　on。　And　don't　screw　around　with　me。　I　don't　like　it。〃
　 〃Tell　him；　Doc；〃　Donnie　said；　quietly　but　firmly。
　 Todd　heard　Burrows　sigh。　Then　that　studied　voice　again：　〃You'll　remember　that　during　the　preparation　evaluation　I　did　warn　you　that　on　occasion　there　were　reactions　to　chemical　peels　which　could　not　be　predicted。　And　I'm　afraid　that's　what　happened　in　your　case。　You've　had　an　extreme；　and　as　I　say　pletely　unpredictable　allergic　response　to　the　peel。　I　don't　believe　for　one　moment　there's　going　to　be　any　significant　damage　in　the　long　term。　You're　a　healthy　young　man。　We're　going　to　see　some　swift　epidermal　regeneration…〃
　 〃What　the　fuck's　that？〃
　 〃Your　skin's　gonna　grow　back；〃　Donnie　replied；　his　Texan　drawl　turning　the　remark　into　a　piece　of　cold　edy。
　 〃What　do　you　mean？〃　Todd　said。
　 〃The　effect　of　the　procedure　we　use…as　I　explained　in　our　evaluation；　and　is　fully　described　in　the　literature　I　gave　you…〃
　 〃I　didn't　read　it；〃　Todd　said。　〃I　trusted　you。〃
　 〃…the　procedures　we　use　may　be　likened　to　a　very　controlled　chemical　burn；　which　produces　changes　in　the　dermis　and　the　epidermis。　Damaged　or　blemished　skin　is　removed；　and　after　forty…eight　hours　at　the　most；　new；　healthy　skin　is　naturally　generated；　which　has　pleasing　characteristics。　The　client　regains　a　youthful…〃
　 This　time　it　was　Donnie　who　interrupted　Burrows'　molassic　flow。　〃Tell　him　the　rest；〃　Donnie　said；　his　voice　thick　with　anger。　〃If　you　don't　tell　him；　I　will；〃　Donnie　went　on。　He　didn't　give　Burrows　a　chance　to　make　the　choice。　〃You've　been　out　of　it　since　you　had　the　operation；　Kiddo。　In　a　a。　For　three　days。　That's　why　they　sent　for　me。　They　were　getting　worried。　I　tried　to　have　you　moved　to　a　proper　hospital；　but　that　bitch　of　a　manager…Maxine；　is　it？…she　wouldn't　let　me。　She　said　you'd　want　to　stay　here。　Said　she　was　afraid　the　press　would　find　out　if　you　were　transferred。〃
　 〃We're　perfectly　capable　of　looking　after　Mr。　Pickett　here；〃　Burrows　said。　〃There　isn't　a　hospital　in　California　that　could　give　him　better　care。〃
　 〃Yeah；　well；　maybe；〃　Donnie　said。　〃Seems　to　me　he'd　still　be　better　off　in　Cedar　Sinai。〃
　 〃I　really　resent　the　implication…〃　Burrows　began。
　 〃Will　you　just　shut　the　fuck　up？〃　Donnie　said　wearily。　〃I　don't　give　a　monkey's　ass　what　you　resent。　All　I　care　about　is　getting　my　brother　properly　fixed　up　and　out　of　here。〃
　 〃And　as　I　say…〃
　 〃Yeah。　As　you　say。　Tell　you　what；　why　don't　you　and　Nurse　Karyn　there　step　out　for　a　few　minutes　and　let　me　have　a　private　word　with　my　brother？〃
　 Burrows　didn't　attempt　any　further　self…justification；　and　Todd　knew　why。　He　could　imagine　Donnie's　expression　in　perfect　detail：　both　brothers　got　colour　in　their　faces　when　they　were　riled　up；　and　a　cold　eye。　Burrows　duly　retreated；　which　was　the　wisest　thing　he　could　have　done。
　 〃I　want　to　get　you　out　of　here；　Kiddo；〃　Donnie　said　as　soon　as　they　had　gone。　〃I　don't　trust　these　people　as　far　as　I　could　throw　'em。　They're　full　of　shit。〃
　 〃I　need　to　talk　to　Maxine　before　we　do　anything。〃
　 〃What　the　fuck　for？　I　don't　trust　her　anymore　than　I　trust　these　sons　of　bitches。〃
　 There　was　a　long　silence。　Todd　knew　what　was　ing　next；　so　he　just　waited　for　it。
　 〃Just　so　you　know；〃　Donnie　said；　〃You've　done　some　damn…fool　things　in　your　life；　but　this　whole　deal　is　the　stupidest　idea　I　ever　heard。　Getting　yourself　a　fuckin'　face…lift？　What　kinda　thing　is　that？　Christ。　Does　Momma　know　about　this？〃
　 〃No。　I　put　you　down　as　next　of　kin。　I　thought　you'd　understand。〃
　 〃Well　I　can't　say　I　do。　It's　a　mess。　It's　a　goddam　mess。　And　I've　got　to　go　back　to　Texas　tomorrow。〃
　 〃Why　so　soon？〃
　 〃Because　I've　got　a　court　appearance　at　eight　o'clock　on　Thursday　morning。　Linda's　tryin'　to　take　away　my　weekends　with　Donnie　Junior；　and　if　I'm　not　in　court　her　lawyer's　going　to　get　the　judge　to　rule　against　me。　I've　been　up　before　him　a　couple　of　times；　and　he　doesn't　like　me。　So；　I'm　going　to　have　to　love　you　and　leave　you；　which　I　don't　much　like　doin'。　I　guess　I　could　call　Momma　and…〃
　 〃No！　No；　Donnie；　please。　I　don't　want　her　here。〃　Todd　reached　out　blind；　caught　hold　of　Donnie's　arm。　〃I'll　be　okay。　You　don't　have　to　worry　about　me。　I'll　be　just　fine。〃
　 〃All　right。　I　hear　you。　I　won't　call　Momma。　Besides；　the　worst's　over。　I'm　sure　that's　right。　But　listen　to　me；　you　get　yourself　the　hell　out　of　here　and　go　to　a　proper　hospital。〃
　 〃I　don't　want　the　press　finding　out　about　this。　If　Maxine　thinks…〃
　 〃Have　you　heard　a　fuckin'　word　I　said？〃　Donnie　said；　his　voice　getting　louder。　〃I　don't　trust　that　bitch。　She's　out　for　herself。　That's　all　she　cares　about。　Her　piece　of　the　action。〃
　 〃Don't　start　shouting。〃
　 〃Well；　what　the　fuck　do　you　expect？　I've　been　sitting　here　for　seventy…two　hours　straight　wondering　how　I　was　going　to　tell　Mom　that　you　died　having　plastic　fucking　surgery　on　your　fucking　face…〃　He　paused　for　a　breath。　〃Christ；　if　Dad　was　alive。。。he'd　be　so　damned　ashamed。〃
　 〃Okay；　Donnie。　I　get　the　message。　I'm　a　fuck…up。〃
　 〃You're　surrounded　by　so　many　ass…kissers；　you're　not　getting　good　advice。　It　makes　me　wanna　puke。　I　mean；　these　people。　They're　all　puttin　on　some　show…tellin'　me　this；　tellin'　me　that…and　meanwhile　you're　lying　there　at　death's　door。〃
　 〃And　will　they　give　you　a　straight　answer？　Will　they　fuck！〃　He　paused　to　draw　sufficient　breath　to　launch　in　afresh。　〃What　happened　to　you；　Kiddo？　Ten　years　ago　you　would　have　laughed　your　butt　off　at　the　thought　of　getting　a　face…lift。〃
　 Todd　let　go　of　Donnie's　arm。　He　drew　a　deep；　sorrowful　breath。　〃It's　hard　to　explain；〃　he　said。　〃But　I　got　to　stay　on　top　of　the　heap　somehow。　Younger　guys　keep　ing　along。。。〃
　
　 〃So　let　'em。　Why　do　you　need　to　stay　on　top？　Why　not　walk　away　from　it？　You've　had　a　good　run；　for　Christ's　sake。　You've　had　it　all；　I'd　say。　All　and　more。　I　mean　fuck！　What　more　do　you　want？　Why　do　this　to　yourself？〃
　 〃Because　I　like　the　life；　Donnie。　I　like　the　fame。　I　like　the　money。〃
　 Donnie　snorted。　〃How　much　more　money　do　you　damn　well　need？　You've　got　more　than　you　can　spend　if　you…〃
　 〃Don't　tell　me　what　I've　got　and　I　haven't　got。　You　don't　know　what　it　costs　to　live。　Houses　and　taxes。〃　He　stopped　his　defense；　took　a　different　track。　〃Anyhow；　I　don't　hear　you　plaining…〃
　 〃Wait…〃　Donnie　said；　knowing　what　was　ing。　But　Todd　wasn't　about　to　be　stopped。
　 〃…when　I　send　you　money。〃
　 〃Don't　start　that。〃
　 〃Why　not？　You　sit　there　tellin'　me　what　a　fuck…up　I　am；　but　you　never　said　no　to　the　cash　when　you　needed　it。　Which　is　all　the　time。　Who　paid　your　last　legal　bills；　Donnie？　And　the　mortgage　on　the　house　so　you　could　start　over　with　Linda；　for　the　third　time　or　fourth　time　or　whatever　it　was？　Who　paid　for　that　mistake？〃
　 He　let　the　question　hang　there；　unanswered。　Eventually；　very　quietly；　Donnie　said：　〃This　is　so　fucked。　I　came　here…〃
　 〃…to　see　whether　I　was　dead　or　alive。〃
　 〃…to　look　after　you。〃
　 〃You　never　cared　before；〃　Todd　said；　with　painful