按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
o when she got there。 She only knew that she had to get away from this place at once。 It was when she was walking out of her bedroom and saw the photographs of the movie stars on her wall that she suddenly knew where she was going。 Two hours later； she was on the bus for Hollywood。 Odessa and everyone in it receded in her mind； fading faster and faster as the bus swept her toward her new destiny。 She tried to make herself forget her raging headache。 Perhaps she should have seen a doctor about the terrible pains in her head。 But now she no longer cared。 That was part of her past； and she was sure they would go away。 From now on life was going to be wonderful。 Josephine Czinski was dead。 Long live Jill Castle。
BOOK TWO
Toby Temple became a superstar because of the unlikely position of a paternity suit； a ruptured appendix and the president of the United States。
The Washington Press Club was giving its annual dinner； and the guest of honor was the President。 It was a prestigious dinner attended by the Vice…President； senators； cabinet members； Chief Justices and anyone else who could buy； bestow or steal a ticket。 Because the event was always given national press coverage； the job of master of ceremonies bee a highly prized plum。
This year； one of America's edians had been chosen to direct the show。 One week after he had accepted； he was named defendant in a paternity affair involving a fifteen…year…old girl。 On the advice of his attorney； the edian immediately left the country for an indefinite vacation。 The dinner mittee turned to their number two choice； a popular motion…picture and television star。 He arrived in Washington the night before the dinner。 The following afternoon； on the day of the banquet； his agent phoned to announce that the actor was in the hospital； undergoing emergency surgery for a burst appendix。 There were only six hours left before the dinner。 The mittee frantically went through a list of possible replacents。 The important names were busy doing a movie or a television show； or were too far away to get to Washington in time。 One by one； the candidates were eliminated and finally； at the bottom of the list； the name of Toby Temple appeared。 A mittee member shook his head。
〃Temple's a nightclub ic。 He's too wild。 We wouldn't dare turn him loose on the President。〃
〃He'd be all right if we could get him to tone down his material。〃
The chairman of the mittee looked around and said； 〃I'll tell you what's great about him； fellows。 He's in New York City and he can be here in an hour。 The god damned dinner is tonight！〃
That was how the mittee selected Toby Temple。
As Toby looked around the crowded banquet hall； he thought to himself that if a bomb were dropped here tonight； the federal government of the United States would be leaderless。 The President was seated in the center of the speakers' table on the dais。 Half a dozen Secret Service men stood behind him。 In the last…minute rush of putting everything together； no one had remembered to introduce Toby to the President； but Toby did not mind。 The President will remember me； Toby thought。
He recalled his meeting with Downey； the chairman of the dinner mittee。 Downey had said；
〃We love your humor； Toby。 You're very funny when you attack people。 However〃 He had paused to clear his throat。 〃This is er a sensitive group here tonight。 Don't get me wrong。 It's not that they can't take a little joke on themselves； but everything said in this room tonight is going to be reported by the news media all over the world。 Naturally； none of us wants anything said that would hold the President of the United States or members of Congress up to ridicule。 In other words； we want you to be funny； but we don't want you to get anyone mad。〃
〃Trust me。〃 Toby had smiled。
The dinner plates were being cleared and Downey was standing in front of the microphone。 〃Mr。 President； honored guests； it's my pleasure to introduce to you our master of ceremonies； one of our brightest young edians； Mr。 Toby Temple！〃
There was polite applause as Toby rose to his feet and walked over to the microphone。 He looked out at the audience； then turned to the President of the United States。 The President was a simple； homespun man。 He did not believe in what he called top…hat diplomacy。 〃People to people；〃 he had said in a nationwide speech； 〃that's what we shed。 We've got to quit depending on puters and start listening our instincts again。 When I sit down with the heads of foreign powers； I like to negotiate by the seat of my pants。〃 had bee a popular phrase。
Now Toby looked at the President of the United States and said； his voice choked with pride；
〃Mr。 President； I can't tell you what a thrill it is for me to be up here on the me podium with the man who has the whole world wired to his ass。〃
There was a shocked hush for a long moment； then the President grinned； guffawed； and the audience suddenly exploded with laughter and applause。 From that moment on； Toby could do no wrong。 He attacked the senators in the from； the Supreme Court； the press。 They adored it。 They roared and howled； because they knew Toby did not really meant a word of what he said。 It was excruciatingly funny how these insults ing from that boyish； innocent face。 There were foreign ministers there that night。 Toby addressed them in a double…talk version of their own languages that sounded so real that they were nodding in agreement。 He was an idiot…savant； reeling off patter that praised them； berated them； and the meaning of his wild gibberish was so dear that every person in the room understood what Toby was saying。 He received a standing ovation。 The President walked straight to Toby and said；
〃That was brilliant； absolutely brilliant。 We giving a little supper at the White House Monday night； Toby； and I'd be delighted。。。〃
The following day； all the newspapers wrote about Toby Temple's triumph。 His remarks were quoted everywhere。 He was asked to entertain at the White House。 There he was even bigger sensation。 Important offers began pouring in from over the world。 Toby played the Palladium in London； have a mand performance for the Queen； he was asked to induct symphony orchestras for charity and to serve on the National Arts mittee。 He played golf with the President frequently and was invited to dinner at the White House again and again。 Toby met legislators and governors and the heads of America's largest corporations。 He insulted them all； and the more he attacked them； the more charmed they were。 They adored having Toby around； turning his acerbic wit loose on their guests。 Toby's friendship became a symbol of prestige among the Brahmins。 The offers that were ing in were phenomenal。 Clifton Lawrence was as excited about them as Toby； and Clifton's excitement had nothing to do with business or money。 Toby Temple had been the most wonderful thing that had happened to him in years； for he felt as though Toby were his son。 He had spent more time on Toby's career than on any of his other clients； but it had been worth it。 Toby had worked hard； had perfected his talent until it shone like a diamond。 And he was appreciative and generous； something that was r