df.theedge-第12部分

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stakes　in　front　of　the　passengers。　You'd　better　have　an　acting　name；　too。　How　about。。。　um。。。　Tommy？'
　　'It's　all　right　by　me。'
　　'Right；　everybody；　this　is　Tommy；　a　waiter。'
　　They　nodded；　smiling；　and　I　was　introduced　to　them　one　by　one　by　the　names　they　would　use　on　the　train。
　　'Mavis　and　Walter　Bricknell；　racehorse　owners。'　They　were　middle…aged；　dressed　like　the　others　in　jeans　and　causal　sweaters。　'They're　married　in　real　life　too。'
　　David/Zak　went　briskly　along　the　row；　an　enormously　positive　person；　wasting　no　time。　'Ricky。。。　a　groom　in　the　mystery；　though　he'll　be　travelling　with　the　racegoers；　not　the　grooms。　His　part　in　the　mystery　finishes　at　Winnipeg；　and　he'll　be　getting　off　there。　This　is　Raoul；　racehorse　trainer　for　the　Bricknells；　their　guest　on　the　train。　Ben；　he's　an　old　groom　who　has　ridden　a　few　races。'　Ben　grinned　from　a　small；　deeply…lined　face；　looking　the　part。　'This　is　Giles：　don't　be　taken　in　by　his　good　looks；　he's　our　murderer。　This　is　Angelica；　who　you　won't　see　much　of　as　she's　the　first　victim。　And　Pierre；　he's　a　pulsive　gambler　in　love　with　the　Bricknells'　daughter；　Donna；　and　this　is　Donna。　And　last；　this　is　James　Winterbourne；　he's　a　big　noise　in　the　Ontario　Jockey　Club。'
　　I　don't　think　I　jumped。　The　big　name　in　the　Ontario　Jockey　Club　wore　a　three…day　beard　and　a　red　trilby　hat；　which　he　lifted　to　me　ceremoniously。　'Alas；'　he　said；　I'm　not　travelling。　My　part　ends　with　giving　the　train　an　official　blessing。　Too　bad。'
　　David/Zak　said　to　me；　'We're　walking　through　the　first　scene　now。　Everyone　knows　what　to　do。　This　is　Union　Station。　This　is　the　gathering　point　for　the　passengers。　They're　all　here。　Right；　guys；　off　we　go。'
　　Mavis　and　Walter　said；　'We're　chatting　to　other　passengers　about　the　trip。'
　　Pierre　and　Donna　said；　'We're　having　a　quiet　row。'
　　Giles　said；　'I'm　being　nice　to　the　passengers。'
　　Angelica：　'I　am　looking　for　someone　called　Steve。　I　ask　the　passengers　if　they've　seen　him。　He　is　supposed　to　be　travelling；　but　he　hasn't　turned　up。'
　　Raoul　said；　'I　put　my　two　cents'　worth　into　Pierre　and　Donna's　quarrel　as　I　want　to　break　them　up　so　I　can　marry　her　myself。　For　her　father's　money；　of　course。'
　　Pierre　said；　'Which　I　furiously　point　out。'
　　Donna：　'Which　I　don't　like；　and　am　near　to　tears。'
　　Ben：　'I　ask　Raoul　for　a　hand…out；　which　I　don't　get。　I　tell　a　lot　of　people　he's　stingy；　after　I　worked　for　him　all　those　years。　The　passengers　are　to　find　me　a　nuisance。　I　tell　them　I'm　travelling　on　the　racegoers'　part　of　the　train。'
　　James　Winterbourne　said；　'I　ask　for　attention　and　tell　everybody　that　we　have　horses；　grooms；　racegoers　and　all　your　owners　and　friends　on　the　train。　I　hope　everyone　will　have　a　great　time　on　this　historic　reenactment；　etc。；　etc。；　for　the　glory　of　Canadian　racing。'
　　Ricky　said；　'I　arrive。　One　of　the　station　staff…　who　will　be　Jimmy　（not　here　now）　in　staff　uniform…tries　to　stop　me；　but　I　run　in　among　the　passengers；　bleeding　all　over　the　place；　shouting　that　some　thugs　tried　to　hijack　one　of　the　horses　off　the　train；　but　I　shouted　and　the　maintenance　men　in　the　loading　yard　chased　them　away。　I　think　the　owners　should　know。'
　　Zak　said；　'Jimmy　runs　off　to　fetch　me　and　I　stride　in　and　tell　everyone　not　to　be　worried；　all　the　horses　are　safe　and　on　the　train；　but　to　make　sure　things　are　all　right　in　future　I　will　go　on　the　train　myself。　I　am　the　top　security　agent　for　the　railway。'　He　looked　round　the　pany　'All　right　so　far？　Then　James　Winterbourne　calms　everyone　down　and　tells　them　to　board　the　train　at　Gate　6；　Track　7。　I'll　check　that　that's　still　right；　on　Sunday　morning；　but　that's　what　we've　been　told　so　far。'
　　The　Bricknells　said；　'We　ask　you　which　horse　they　were　trying　to　hijack；　but　you　don't　know。　We　try　to　find　Ricky；　to　ask　him。　He's　not　our　groom；　but　we　are　always　anxious　sort　of　people。'
　　'Right；'　Zak　said。　'So　we　are　all　board。　It'll　take　a　good　half　hour。　Ricky　gets　bandaged　by　Nell　in　plain　view；　beside　the　train。　The　train　leaves　at　twelve。　Then　everyone　gathers　shortly　afterwards　in　the　dining　room　for　champagne。　We　do　scene　two　next；　just　before　lunch。'
　　They　'walked　through'　scene　two；　which　was　shorter　and　chiefly　established　Zak　as　being　in　charge；　and　had　Ricky　ing　to　say　that　he　didn't　know　which　of　the　horses　the　horse…nappers　had　been　making　for。。。　they　had　e　into　the　horse　car　wearing　masks；　brandishing　clubs。。。。　Ricky　had　been　alone　out　there　in　the　loading　yard　as　all　the　other　grooms　had　gone　back　to　the　station's　coffee　shop。
　　The　Bricknells　were　a…twitter。　Angelica　was　distraught　that　Steve　hadn't　turned　up。　Who　cared　about　a　horse；　where　was　Steve。
　　Who　was　Steve？　Zak　asked。　Angelica　said　he　was　her　business　manager。　What　business？　Zak　asked。　None　of　yours；　Angelica　tartly　said。
　　'Right；'　Zak　said；　'about　now　it　has　dawned　on　the　thickest　passenger　that　this　is　all　fiction。　They'll　be　smiling。　So　lunch　is　next。　Everyone　gets　the　afternoon　to　relax。　Our　next　scene　is　during　drinks　before　dinner。　That's　the　one　we　rehearsed　before　Nell　came。　Right。　We　may　have　to　change　things　a　bit　as　we　go　along；　so　we'll　do　the　rest　of　the　final　walk…throughs　in　one　of　the　bedrooms；　a　day　at　a　time。'
　　The　others　thought　this　reasonable　and　began　to　put　on　their　coats。
　　'Don't　you　have　a　script？'　I　asked　Zak。
　　'Not　formal　works　to　learn；　if　that's　what　you　mean。　No。　We　all　know　what　we've　got　to　establish　in　each　scene；　and　we　improvise。　When　we　plan　a　mystery；　the　actors　get　a　brief　outline　of　what's　going　to　happen　and　basically　what　sort　of　people　they　are；　then　they　invent　their　own　imaginary　life　stories；　so　that　if　any　passenger　asks　questions　in　conversations；　they　have　the　answers　ready。　I'd　advise　you　to　do　it；　too。　Invent　a　background；　a　childhood。。。　as　near　as　possible　to　the　real　thing　is　always　easiest。'
　　Thanks　for　the　tip；'　I　said。　'Will　you　let　me　know　your　plans　each　day；　and　also　tell　me　instantly　if　anything　odd　happens　you　don't　expect？　Even　small　things；　really。'
　　'Yes；　sure。　Ask　Nell；　too。　She　knows　the　story。　And　there　are　some　actors　who　weren't　here　today　because　they　don't　get　activated　until　later　on　the　trip。　They're　on　the　passenger　list。　Nell　will　point　them　out。'
　　He　stifled　a　yawn　and　looked　suddenly　very　tired；　a　plete　contrast　to　two　minutes　earlier；　and　I　suspected　he　was　one　of　those　people　who　could　turn　energy　on　and　off　like　a　tap。　One　of　Aunt　Viv's　best　friends　had　been　an　elderly　actor　who　could　walk　down　to　the　theatre　like　a　tired　old　pensioner　and　go　out　on　the　stage　and　make　the　audience's　hair　stand　on　end　with　his　power。
　　David　Flynn；　offering　me　a　lift　if　I　needed　one；　was　beginning　to　move　with　a　sort　of　lassitude　that　one　would　never　have　seen　in　Zak。　He　picked　up　Nell's　large　envelope；　opened　it　and　distributed　its　contents　to　the　others：　luggage　labels　saying　'Merry　&　Co'；　and　photocopied　sheets　of　'Information　and　Advice　to　Passengers'。
　　Scene　dressing；　I　supposed。　I　asked　him　if　he　would　be　going　anywhere　near　the　Merry　&　Co　office　and　he　said　he　would　detour　that　way　and　was　as　good　as　his　word。
　　'Do　you　do　this　all　the　time？'　I　asked　on　the　way。
　　'Act；　do　you　mean？　Or　mysteries？'
　　'Either。'
　　'Anything　I'm　offered；'　he　said　frankly。　'Plays。　mercials。　Bit　parts　in　series。　But　I　do　mostly　mysteries　now　that　they're　so　popular；　and　nearly　all　for　Merry　&　Co。　I　write　the　stories　to　suit　the　occasion。　I　was　engaged　for　a　doctors'　convention　last　week；　so　we　did　a　medical　crime。　Just　now　it's　racing。　Next　month　I've　got　to　think　up　something　for　a　fishing　club　weekend　train　trip　to　Halifax。　It　keeps　me　employed。　It　pays　the　bills。　It's　quite　good　fun。　It's　not　Stratford…upon…Avon。'
　　'What　about　the　other　actors？'　I　asked。　'The　ones　in　the　garage。'
　　'Much　the　same。　It's　work。　They　like　the　train　trips；　even　if　it　does　mean　shouting　all　the　scenes　against　the　wheel　noise　when　we're　going　along；　because　the　dining　cars　are　so　long。　Not　by　any　means　the　right　shape　for　a　stage。　We　don't　always　use　the　same　actors；　it　depends　on　the　characters；　but　they're　all　friendly；　we　never　take　anyone　who　can't　get　along。　It's　essential　to　be　tolerant　and　generous；　to　make　our　sort　of　improvisation　work。'
　　'I'd　no　idea　mysteries　were　such　an　industry。'
　　He　gave　a　small　sideways　smile。　'They　have　a　lot　in　England　too；　these　days。'
　　'Um。。。　I　said；　as　he　braked　to　a　halt　outside　the　Merry　&　Co　offices。　'How　English　do　I　sound　to　you？'
　　'Very。　An　educated　Englishman　in　an　expensive　suit。'
　　'Well；　the　original　plan　was　for　me　to　go　on　the　train　as　a　wealthy　owner。　What　would　you　think　of　my　accent　if　I　were　dressed　as　a　waiter　in　a　deep…yellow　waistcoat？'
　　'Harvest　gold；　that's　what　they　call　that　colour；'　he　said　thoughtfully。　'I　wouldn't　notice　your　accent　so　much；　perhaps。　There　are　thousands　of　English　immigrants　in　this　country；　after　all。　You'll　get　by　all　right；　I　should　think。'
　　I　thanked　him　for　the　lift　and　got　out　of　the　car。　He　yawned　and　turned　that　into　a　laugh；　but　I　reckoned　the　tiredness　was　real。　'See　you　Sunday；　Tommy；'　he　said；　and　I　dryly　said；　'Sure　thing；　Zak。'　He　drove　away　with　a　smile　and　I　went　into　the　Merry　&　Co　office　where　the　earli