df.theedge-第15章

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ng。　I　wondered　how　much　he　would　fret　if　he　didn't　see　me　among　the　passengers；　and　I　hoped　not　much。
　　Nell　emerged　from　the　noise　of　the　crowd　and　came　across　towards　us；　a　clipboard　clasped　to　her　chest；　her　eyes　shining。　She　wore　another　severe　suit；　grey　this　time　over　a　white　blouse；　but　perhaps　in　honour　of　the　occasion　had　added　a　long　twisted　rope　of　coral；　pearls　and　crystal。
　　'It's　all　happening；'　she　said。　'I　can　hardly　believe　it；　after　all　these　months。　I　won't　kiss　you　both；　I'm　not　supposed　to　know　you　yet；　but　consider　yourselves　kissed。　It's　all　going　very　well。　Pierre　and　Donna　are　having　a　humdinger　of　a　row。　How　does　she　manage　to　cry　whenever　she　wants　to？　Is　that　the　suitcase　for　Vancouver？　Put　it　over　there　with　those　others　which　are　being　checked　right　through。　Mercer　Lorrimore　is　sweet；　I'm　so　relieved。　We　haven't　had　any　disasters　yet；　but　there　must　be　one　on　the　way。　I'm　as　high　as　a　kite　and　there's　no　champagne　in　the　orange　juice。'
　　She　stopped　for　breath　and　a　laugh　and　I　said；　'Nell；　if　Bill　Baudelaire　asks　you　if　I'm　here；　just　say　yes；　don't　say　where。'
　　She　was　puzzled　but　too　short　of　time　to　argue。　'Well　。。。　OK。'
　　'Thanks。'
　　She　nodded　and　turned　to　go　and　take　care　of　the　passengers；　and　the　James　Winterbourne　character　came　out　to　meet　her　and　also　to　talk　to　Zak。
　　'It's　too　much；'　he　plained；　'the　real　goddam　Chairman　of　the　Ontario　Jockey　Club　has　turned　up　to　do　the　'bon　voyage'　bit　himself。　I'm　out　of　a　job。'
　　'We　did　ask　him　first；'　Nell　said。　'We　suggested　it　right　at　the　beginning；　before　it　all　grew　so　big。　He's　obviously　decided　he　should　be　here　after　all。'
　　'Yes；　but。。。　what　about　my　fee？'
　　'You'll　get　it；'　Zak　said　resignedly。　'Just　go　back　and　jolly　things　along　and　tell　everyone　what　a　great　trip　they're　going　to　have。'
　　'I've　been　doing　that；'　he　grumbled；　but　returned　obediently　to　his　task。
　　'As　a　matter　of　fact；'　Nell　said；　her　brow　wrinkling；　'I　suppose　I　did　get　a　message　days　ago　to　say　the　Chairman　was　ing；　but　I　didn't　know　it　meant　him。　I　didn't　know　who　it　meant。　It　was　a　message　left　for　me　while　I　was　out。　'The　Colonel　is　ing。'　I　didn't　know　any　colonels。　Is　the　Chairman　a　colonel？'
　　'Yes；'　I　said。
　　'Oh　well；　no　harm　done。　I'd　better　go　and　see　if　he　needs　anything。'　She　hurried　off；　unperturbed。
　　Zak　sighed。　'I　could　have　saved　myself　that　fee。'
　　'How　do　you　mean？'
　　'Oh；　Merry　&　Co　pay　me　a　lump　sum　to　stage　the　mystery。　I　engage　the　actors　and　pay　them；　and　whatever　is　left　at　the　end　is　mine。　Not　much；　sometimes。'
　　Voices　were　suddenly　raised　over　in　the　crowd　and　people　began　scattering　to　the　edges　of　the　area；　clearing　the　centre　and　falling　silent。　Zak　and　I　instinctively　went　nearer；　he　in　front；　I　in　his　shadow。
　　On　the　floor；　sprawling；　lay　the　actor　Raoul；　with　Donna　and　Pierre　bending　down　to　help　him　up。　Raoul　dabbed　at　his　nose　with　the　back　of　his　hand；　and　everyone　could　see　the　resulting　scarlet　streak。
　　Mavis　Bricknell　began　saying　loudly　and　indignantly；　'He　hit　him。　He　hit　him。　That　young　man　hit　our　trainer　in　the　face。　He　had　no　right　to　knock　him　down。'
　　She　was　pointing　at　Sheridan　Lorrimore；　who　had　turned　his　back　on　the　scene。
　　I　glanced　at　Zak　for　enlightenment。
　　'That；'　he　said　blankly；　'wasn't　in　the　script。'
　　Nell　smoothed　it　over。
　　Sheridan　Lorrimore　could　be　heard　saying　furiously　and　fortissimo　to　his　father；　'How　the　hell　could　I　know　they　were　acting？　The　fellow　was　being　a　bore。　I　just　bopped　him　one。　He　deserved　it。　The　girl　was　crying。　And　he　was　crowding　me；　pushing　against　me。　I　didn't　like　it。'
　　His　father　murmured　something。
　　'Apologize？'　Sheridan　said　in　a　high　voice。　'Apol…oh；　all　right。　I　apologize。　Will　that　do？'
　　Mercer　drew　him　away　to　a　corner；　and　slowly；　haltingly；　the　general　good　humour　resurfaced。　Ironic　pliments　were　paid　to　Pierre；　Donna　and　Raoul　for　the　potency　and　effect　of　their　acting　and　Raoul　played　for　sympathy　and　looked　nobly　forgiving；　holding　a　handkerchief　to　his　nose　and　peering　at　it　for　blood；　of　which　there　seemed　to　be　not　much。
　　Zak　cursed　and　said　that　Pierre　had　in　fact　been　going　to　knock　Raoul　to　the　ground　at　a　slightly　later　time；　and　now　that　would　have　to　be　changed。　I　left　him　to　his　problems　because　it　was　ing　up　to　the　time　when　Emil　had　said　the　crew　should　board　the　train；　and　I　was　due　back　in　the　coffee　shop。
　　The　carrot　cakes　had　been　reduced　to　crumbs　and　the　coffee　cups　were　empty。　The　bussed　consignment　of　grooms　had　arrived　and　were　sitting　in　a　group　wearing　Race　Train　T…shirts　above　their　jeans。　Emil　looked　at　his　watch　and　another　crew　member　arrived　and　said　the　puter　in　the　crews'　room　downstairs　was　showing　that　the　special　train　had　just　pulled　into　the　station；　Gate　6；　Track　7；　as　expected。
　　'Bon；'　Emil　said；　smiling。　'Then；　Tommy；　your　duties　begin。'
　　Everyone　picked　up　their　travelling　bags　and　in　a　straggle　more　than　a　group　walked　back　towards　the　passengers'　assembly　area。　As　we　approached　we　could　hear　the　real　Chairman　of　the　Ontario　Jockey　Club　weling　everyone　to　the　adventure　and　we　could　see　Zak　and　the　other　actors　waiting　for　him　to　finish　so　that　they　could　get　on　with　the　mystery。
　　Jimmy　the　actor　was　dressed　in　a　maroon　VIA　Rail　station　uniform；　Zak　was　intent；　and　Ricky；　due　on　in　gory　glory　at　any　moment；　was　checking　in　a　small　handmirror　that　'blood'　was　cascading　satisfactorily　from　a　gash　on　his　head
　　Zak　flashed　a　glance　at　the　crew；　saw　me　and　gave　me　a　thumbs…up　sign　The　Chairman　wound　up　to　applause。　Zak　tapped　Ricky；　who　had　put　the　mirror　in　his　pocket；　and　Ricky　went　into　the　'I've　been　attacked'　routine　most　convincingly
　　Emil；　the　crew　and　I　wasted　no　time　watching。　We　went　on　past　and　came　to　Gate　6；　which　was　basically　a　staircase　leading　to　ground　level；　where　the　rails　were。　Even　though　it　was　high　morning；　the　light　was　dim　and　artificial　outside　as　acres　of　arched　roof　far　above　kept　out　the　Canadian　weather。
　　The　great　train　was　standing　there；　faintly　hissing；　silver；　immensely　heavy；　stretching　away　in　both　directions　for　as　far　as　one　could　see　in　the　gloom　In　the　Merry　&　Co　office；　I'd　learned　that　each　carriage　（build　of　strong　unpainted　corrugated　aluminium　with　the　corrugations　lying　horizontally）　was　eighty…five　feet　long；　and　there　were　fifteen　carriages　in　all；　counting　the　horses；　the　baggage　and　the　Lornmores。　With　the　engines　as　well；　this　train　covered　more　than　a　quarter　of　a　mile　standing　still
　　Two　furlongs；　I　thought　frivolously；　to　put　it　suitably。　Three　times　round　the　train　more　than　equalled　the　Derby。
　　There　was　another　long　banner；　duplication　of　the　one　in　the　station；　fastened　to　the　side　of　the　train；　telling　all　the　passengers　what　they　were　going　on；　if　they　were　still　in　any　doubt。　The　crew　divided　to　right　and　left　according　to　where　their　jobs　were　and；　following　Emil；　I　found　myself　climbing　up　not　into　the　dining　car　but　into　one　of　the　sleeping　cars。
　　Emil　briefly　consulted　a　notebook；　stowed　his　travel　bag　on　a　rack　in　a　small　bedroom　and　directed　me　to　put　my　bag　in　the　one　next　door。　He　said　I　should　remove　my　raincoat　and　my　jacket　and　hang　them　on　the　hangers　provided。
　　That　done；　he　closed　both　doors　and　we　descended　again　to　the　ground。
　　'It's　easier　to　walk　along　outside　while　we　are　in　the　station；'　he　explained。　He　was　ever　precise。　We　walked　along　beside　the　wheels　until　the　end　of　the　train　was　in　sight　and　finally　walked　past　the　dining　car　and　at　the　end　of　it　swung　upwards　through　its　rear　door　into　the　scene　of　operations。
　　The　special　dining　car　lived　up　to　its　name　with　a　blue　and　red　carpet；　big　blue　padded　leather　chairs；　polished　wood　gleaming　in　the　lights　and　glass　panels　engraved　with　birds。　There　were　windows　all　down　both　sides　with　blue　patterned　curtains　at　intervals　and　green　plants　lodged　above；　behind　pelmets。　Ten　feet　wide；　the　car　was　long　enough　to　acmodate　six　oblong　tables　down　each　side　of　a　wide　aisle　with　four　chairs　at　each…　forty…eight　seats；　as　promised。　All　quiet；　all　empty。　All　waiting。
　　'e；'　Emil　said；　leading　the　way　forward　through　the　splendour；　'I　show　you　the　kitchen。'
　　The　long；　silvery；　all…metal　kitchen　was　already　occupied　by　two　figures　dressed　in　white　trousers　and　jackets　topped　by　high　white　paper　hats：　the　diminutive　lady　chef　from　Montreal　and　a　tall　willowy　young　man　who　introduced　himself　as　Angus；　the　special　chef　employed　by　the　outside　firm　of　top　class　caterers　who　were　providing　for　this　journey　the　sort　of　food　not　usually　served　on　trains
　　It　seemed　to　my　amused　eyes　that　the　two　chefs　were　in　chilly　unfriendliness；　marking　out　their　territories；　each；　in　the　normal　course　of　events；　being　accustomed　to　being　the　boss。
　　Emil；　who　must　have　picked　up　the　same　signals；　spoke　with　a　true　leader's　decisiveness　'In　this　kitchen　this　week　'　he　said　to　me；　'Angus　is　to　mand。　Simone　will　assist。'　Angus　looked　relieved；　Simone　resentful。　'This　is　because；'　Emil　said；　as　if　it　clinched　matters；　which　it　did；　'Angus　and　his　pany　have　designed　le　menu　and　provided　the　food。'
　　The　matter；　everyone　could　see；　was　closed。　Emil　explained　to　me　that　on　this　trip　the　linen；　cutlery　and　glasses　had　been　provided　by　the　caterers；　and　without　more　ado　he　showed　me　first；　where　to　find　everything　and　second；　how　to　set　a　table。
　　He　watched　me　do　the　second　table　in　imitation　of　his　manner。　'You　learn　fast；'　he　said　approvingly。　'If　you　practise；　they　will　not　tell　you　are　not　a　waiter。'
　　I　practised　on　about　half　of　the　remaining　tables　while　the　two　other　dining…room　stewards；　the　real　regular　service　attendants；　Oliver　and　Cathy；　set　the　rest。　They　put　things　right　with　a　smile　when　I　got　them　wrong　and　I　fell　into　their　ways　and　rhythm　of　working　as　well　as　I　could。　Emil　surveyed　the　finished　dining　room　with　a　critical　eye　and　said　that　after　a　week　I　would　probably　be　able　to　fold　a　napkin　tidily。　They　all　smiled：　it　seemed　that　my　napkins　were　already　OK；　and　I　felt　quite　ridiculously　pleased；　and　also　reassured。Outside　the　windows；　the　red　hat　of　a　porter　trundling　luggage　went　by；　with；　in　its　wake；　the　Lorrimores。
　　'They're　boarding；'　Emil　said。　'When　the　train　departs；　our　passengers　will　all　e　here　for　the　champagne。'　He　bustled　about　with　champagne　flutes　and　ice　and　showed　me　how　to　fold　a　napkin　round　the　neck　of　a　bottle　and　how　to　pour　without　drips。　He　seemed　to　have　forgotten　about　only　letting　me　loose　on　water。
　　There　were　voices　outside　as　the　train　came　alive。　I　put　my　head　out　of　the　rear　door　of　the　dining　car　and；　looking　forward；　saw　all　the　passengers　climbing　upwards　into　the　sleeping　cars；　with　porters　following　after　with　their　bags。　Several　people　were　embarking　also　into　the　car　behind　the　dining　car；　into　the　car　which　prised　three　bedrooms；　a　bar；　a　large　lounge　area　and　an　upstairs　glass…domed　observation　deck；　the　whole　lot　known；　I'd　discovered；　as　the　dome　car。
　　Forward　by　the　gate　through　which　the　passengers　were　crowding；　Nell　was　doing　her　stuff　with　bandages　on　the　convincing　bloodiness　of　Ricky。　The　little　scene　concluded；　she　walked　aft；　looking　inward　through　the　windows；　searching　for　someone；　who　in　fact　turne