df.theedge-第59部分

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　　'I　would　think　so。'
　　'Oh　shit；　'Nell　said。
　　My　feelings　exactly；　I　thought。
　　We　went　on　into　the　saloon。　Mercer　said　almost　mechanically；　'Why　don't　we　stop？　We　have　to　go　back。'　He　no　longer　sounded；　I　thought；　as　if　he　expected　or　even　hoped　to　find　Sheridan　alive。
　　'Sir；　the　Conductor　is　radioing　for　instructions；'　I　said。
　　He　nodded。　He　was　a　reasonable　man　in　most　circumstances。　He　had　only　to　look　out　of　the　window　to　know　that　going　back　wouldn't　help。　He　knew　that　it　was　practically　impossible　for　anyone　to　fall　off　the　platform　by　accident。　He　certainly　believed；　from　his　demeanour；　that　Sheridan　had　jumped。
　　Mercer　sat　on　the　sofa；　his　arm　around　Xanthe　beside　him；　her　head　on　his　shoulder。　Xanthe　wasn't　crying。　She　looked　serious；　but　calm。　The　tragedy　for　Xanthe　hadn't　happened　within　that　half　hour；　it　had　been　happening　all　her　life。　Her　brother　had　been　lost　to　her　even　when　alive。
　　Nell　said；　'Shall　we　go；　Mr　Lorrimore？'；　meaning　herself　and　me。　'Can　I　do　anything　for　Mrs　Lorrimore？'
　　'No；　no；'　he　said。　'Stay。'　He　swallowed。　'You'll　have　to　know　what's　decided。。　what　to　tell　everyone。。。'　He　shook　his　head　helplessly。　'We　must　make　some　decisions。'
　　George　arrived　at　that　point　and　sat　down　in　an　armchair　near　Mercer；　leaning　forward　with　his　forearms　on　his　knees　and　saying　how　sorry　he　was；　how　very　sorry。
　　'We　have　to　go　back；'　Mercer　said。
　　'Yes；　sir；　but　not　the　whole　train；　sir。　Montreal　says　the　train　must　go　on　to　Vancouver　as　scheduled。'
　　Mercer　began　to　protest。　George　interrupted　him。　'Sir；　Montreal　say　that　they　are　already　alerting　all　the　authorities　along　the　canyon　to　look　out　for　your　son。　They　say　they　will　arrange　transport　for　you　to　return；　you　and　your　family；　as　soon　as　we　reach　Vancouver。　You　can　see　。。。'　he　glanced　out　of　the　window　'。。。　that　the　area　is　unpopulated；　eh？；　but　there　are　often　people　working　by　the　river。　There　is　a　road　running　along　quite　near　the　canyon；　as　well　as　another　railway　line　on　the　other　side。　There's　a　small　town　over　there　called。。。　er。。。'　he　coughed　'。。。　Hope。　It's　at　the　south　end　of　the　canyon；　eh？；　where　the　river　broadens　out　and　runs　more　slowly。　We're　almost　at　that　point　now；　as　you'll　see。　If　you　go　to　Hope；　Montreal　says；　you　will　be　in　the　area　if　there　is　any　news。'
　　'How　do　I　get　there？'　Mercer　said。　'Is　there　a　train　back？'
　　George　said；　'There　is；　yes；　but　only　one　a　day。　It's　the　Super…continental。　It　leaves　Vancouver　at　four　in　the　afternoon；　passes　through　Hope　at　seven。'
　　'That's　useless；'　Mercer　said。　'How　far　is　it　by　road？'
　　'About　a　hundred　and　fifty　kilometres。'
　　He　reflected。　'I'll　get　a　helicopter；'　he　said。
　　There　was　absolutely　no　point　in　being　rich；　I　thought；　if　one　didn't　know　how　to　use　it。
　　The　logistics　of　the　return　were　making　Mercer　feel　better；　one　could　see。　George　told　him　that　the　train　we　were　on　would　speed　up　considerably　once　we　were　clear　of　the　canyon；　and　that　we'd　be　in　Vancouver　in　two　hours　and　a　half。　They　discussed　how　to　engage　a　helicopter；　Mercer　already　had　a　car　meeting　him　at　the　station。　Nell　said　Merry　&　Co　would　arrange　everything；　as　they　had　indeed　already　arranged　the　car。　No　problem；　if　she　could　reach　her　office　by　telephone。　George　shook　his　head　He　would　relay　the　message　by　radio　through　Montreal。　He　brought　out　a　notepad　to　write　down　Merry　&　Go's　number　and　the　instruction　'Arrange　helicopter；　Nell　will　phone　from　Vancouver。'
　　'I'll　phone　from　the　train；'　she　said。
　　George　stood　up。　'I'll　get　moving　then；　Mr　Lorrimore。　We'll　do　everything　possible　'　He　looked　big；　awkward　and　unshaven；　but　Mercer　had　taken　strength　from　him　and　was　grateful。　'My　sympathy；'　George　said；　'to　Mrs　Lorrimore。'
　　The　tray　of　empty　tea　cups　still　lay　where　I'd　left　it　on　the　coffee　table。　I　picked　it　up　and　asked　if　there　was　anything　I　could　bring　them；　but　Mercer　shook　his　head。
　　'I'll　e　and　find　you；'　Xanthe　said；　'if　they　need　anything。'　She　sounded　petent　and　grown　up；　years　older　than　at　breakfast。　Nell　gave　her　a　swift　sweet　glance　of　appreciation；　and　she；　George　and　I　made　our　way　back　into　the　dome　car；　George　hurrying　off　to　his　radio　and　Nell　sighing　heavily　over　what　to　say　to　the　other　passengers。
　　'It'll　spoil　the　end　of　their　trip；'　she　said。
　　'Try　them。'
　　'You're　cynical。'
　　'Pretty　often。'
　　She　shook　her　head　as　if　I　were　a　lost　cause　and　went　into　the　dining　room　with　the　bad　news；　which　was　predictably　greeted　with　shock　but　no　grief。
　　'Poor　Xanthe；'　Rose　Young　exclaimed；　and　Mrs　Unwin　said；　'Poor　Bambi。'　The　sympathy　stage　lasted　ten　seconds。　The　deliciously　round…eyed　'isn't　it　dreadful'　stage　went　on　all　morning。
　　Julius　Apollo　Filmer　was　no　longer　in　the　dining　room　and　I　wished　he　had　been　as　I　would　like　to　have　seen　his　reactions。　Chance　would　seem　to　have　robbed　him　of　his　lever　against　Mercer；　or　would　he　reckon　that　Mercer　would　still　sacrifice　one　horse　to　preserve　the　reputation　of　the　dead。　Filmer　could　read　it　wrong；　I　thought。
　　There　was　a　cocktail　party　scheduled　for　that　evening　in　the　Four　Seasons　Hotel　for　Vancouver's　racing　big…wigs　to　meet　the　owners；　would　it　still　be　held；　several　anxiously　asked。
　　'Certainly；'　Nell　answered　robustly。　'The　party　and　the　race　will　go　on。'
　　No　one；　not　even　I；　was　cynical　enough　to　say；　'Sheridan　would　have　wished　it。'
　　I　helped　clear　away　the　breakfast　and　wash　the　dishes　and　pack　everything　into　boxes　for　sending　back　to　the　caterers　in　Toronto；　and　when　we'd　finished　I　found　that　Nell　had　collected　gratuities　from　the　passengers　to　give　to　the　waiters；　and　Emil；　Cathy　and　Oliver　had　split　it　four　ways。　Emil　put　a　bundle　of　notes　into　my　hand；　and　he　and　the　others　were　smiling。
　　'I　can't　take　it；'　I　said。
　　Emil　said；　'We　know　you　aren't　a　waiter；　and　we　know　you　aren't　an　actor；　but　you　have　worked　for　it　It's　yours。'
　　'And　we　know　you've　worked　all　morning　although　it's　obvious　you've　hurt　your　arm；'　Cathy　said。　'I　made　it　worse。。。　I'm　real　sorry。'
　　'And　it　would　all　have　been　very　much　harder　work　without　you；'　Oliver　said。　'So　we　thought　we'd　like　to　give　you　a　present。'
　　'And　that's　it；'　Cathy　added；　pointing　to　the　notes。
　　They　waited　expectantly；　wanting　my　thanks。
　　'I。。。　er；　I　don't　know。。。'　I　kissed　Cathy　suddenly；　hugged　her。　'All　right。　I'll　buy　something　to　remember　us　by。　To　remember　the　journey。　Thank　you　all　very　much。'
　　They　laughed；　pleased。　'It's　been　fun；'　Cathy　said；　and　Emil　added　ironically；　'But　not　every　week。'
　　I　shook　Emil's　hand；　and　Oliver's　Kissed　Cathy　again。　Shook　hands　with　Angus。　Was　offered　Simone's　cheek　for　a　peck。　I　looked　round　at　their　faces；　wanting　to　hold　on　to　the　memory。
　　'See　you　again；'　I　said；　and　they　said；　'Yes；'　and　we　all　knew　it　was　doubtful。　I　went　away　along　the　swaying　corridor；　taking　Tommy　to　extinction　and；　as　often　in　the　past；　not　looking　back。　Too　many　regrets　in　looking　back。
　　In　the　sleeping　cars　everyone　was　packing　and　holding　impromptu　parties　in　each　other's　rooms；　walking　in　and　out　of　the　open　doors。　Filmer's　door　was　shut。
　　Nell　was　in　her　roomette；　with　the　door　open；　packing。
　　'What's　wrong　with　your　arm？'　she　said；　folding　one　of　the　straight　skirts。
　　'Is　it　so　obvious？'
　　'Most　obvious　when　Cathy　bumped　into　you　with　her　tray。　The　shock　went　right　through　you。'
　　'Yes；　well；　it's　not　serious。'
　　'I'll　get　you　a　doctor。'
　　'Don't　be　silly。'
　　'I　suppose；'　she　said；　'Mercer　won't　run　his　horse　now　on　Tuesday。　Such　a　shame。　That　damned　Sheridan。'
　　The　biblical　description；　I　thought；　was　accurate。
　　'Xanthe；'　Nell　said；　putting　the　skirt　in　her　suitcase；　'says　you　were　kind　to　her　at　Lake　Louise。　Did　you　really　say　something　about　the　corruption　of　self…importance？　She　said　she　learned　a　lot。'
　　'She　grew　up　this　morning；'　I　said。
　　'Yes；　didn't　she？'
　　'If　we　go　to　Hawaii；'　I　said；　'you　can　wear　a　sarong　and　a　hibiscus　behind　your　ear。'
　　She　paused　in　the　packing。　'They　wouldn't　really　go；'　she　said　judiciously；　'with　a　clipboard。'
　　George　came　out　of　his　office　and　told　her　the　cellular　telephone　was　now　working；　if　she　wanted　to　make　her　calls；　and　I　went　into　my　roomette　and　changed　out　of　uniform　into　Tommy's　outdoor　clothes；　and　packed　everything　away。　The　train　journey　might　be　finished；　I　was　thinking；　but　my　real　job　wasn't。　There　was　much　to　be　done。　Filmer　might　be　sick；　but　it　was　sick　sharks　that　attacked　swimmers；　and　there　could　still　be　a　dorsal　fin　unseen　below　the　surface。
　　Nell　came　out　of　George's　office　and　along　to　my　door。　'No　helicopter　needed；'　she　said。　'They've　found　Sheridan　already。'
　　'That　was　quick。'
　　'Apparently　he　fell　on　to　a　fish　ladder。'
　　'You're　kidding　me。'
　　'No；　actually。'　She　stifled　a　laugh；　as　improper　to　the　occasion。　'George　says　the　ladders　are　a　sort　of　staircase　hundreds　of　metres　long　that　are　built　in　the　river　because　the　salmon　can't　swim　upstream　to　spawn　against　the　strength　of　the　water；　because　the　water　flows　much　faster　that　it　used　to　because　a　huge　rock…fall　constricted　it。'
　　'I'll　believe　it。'　I　said。
　　'Some　men　were　working　on　the　lower　ladder；'　she　said；　'and