Nevada turned from the make…up man。 〃Why； sure… 〃 He hesitated。
〃Mark Weiss；〃 the writer said quickly。
Nevada smiled。 〃Sure； Mark； what can I do for you？〃
〃I've got a script I'd like you to read；〃 Weiss said quickly。 〃I spent two years researching it。 It's about one of the last gun fighters in the Southwest。 I think it's different from anything that's ever been made。〃
〃I'd be glad to read it。〃 That was one of the hazards of being a star。 Everyone had a script they wanted you to read and each was the greatest ever written。 〃What's it called？〃
〃The Renegade。〃 He held out a blue…covered script。
The script felt heavy in his hand。 He opened it to the last page and looked at the writer doubtfully。 The script was three times standard length。 〃Pretty long； isn't it？〃
Weiss nodded。 〃It is long but there was no way I could see to cut it。 Everything in there is true。 I spent the last two years checking old newspaper files through the entire Southwest。〃
Nevada turned back to the make…up man； the script still in his hand。 〃What happened to him？〃 he asked over his shoulder。
〃Nobody seems to know。 One day he just disappeared and nothing was ever heard about him again。 There was a posse after him； and they think he died there in the mountains。〃
〃A new story's always good；〃 Nevada said。 〃People are getting tired of the same old heroes。 What do you call this guy？〃
The writer's voice seemed to hang in the air。 〃Sand；〃 he said。 〃Max Sand。〃
The script slipped from Nevada's fingers。 He felt the blood rush from his face。 〃What did you say？〃 he asked hollowly。
Weiss stared at him。 〃Max Sand。 We can change it but that was his real name。〃
Nevada shook his head and looked down at the script。 It lay there in the dust。 Weiss knelt swiftly and picked it up。 〃Are you all right； Mr。 Smith？〃 he asked in a concerned voice。
Nevada took a deep breath。 He felt his self…control returning。 He took the script from the outstretched hand and forced a smile。
A look of relief came into Weiss's face。 〃Thanks； Mr。 Smith；〃 he said gratefully。 〃I really appreciate this。 Thanks very much。〃
For a week； Nevada couldn't bring himself to read it。 In some strange way； he felt that if he did； he'd be exposing himself。 Then one evening； he came into the library after dinner； where Von Elster was waiting； and found him deeply engrossed in this script。
〃How long have you been sitting on this？〃 the director asked。
Nevada shrugged。 〃About a week。 You know how it is。 These writers are always ing up with scripts。 Is it any good？〃
Von Elster put it down slowly。 〃It's more than good。 It's great。 I want to be the director if you do it。〃
Late that night； the lamp still burning near his bed； Nevada realized what the director meant。 Weiss had given depth and purpose to his portrait of a man who lived alone and developed a philosophy born of pain and sadness。 There was no glamour in his crimes； only the desperate struggle for survival。
Nevada knew as he read it that the picture would be made。 The script was too good to be passed up。 For his own self…protection； he had to make the picture。 If it escaped into someone else's hands； there was no telling how much further they'd delve into the life of Max Sand。
He bought the script from Weiss the next morning for one thousand dollars。
Nevada returned to the present suddenly。 〃Let's hold it for a year；〃 Bernie Norman was saying。 〃By then； we'll know which way to jump。〃
Dan Pierce looked across at him。 Nevada knew the look。 It meant that Pierce felt he'd gone as far as he could。
〃Chaplin and Pickford had the right idea in forming United Artists；〃 Nevada said。 〃I guess that's the only way a star can be sure of making the pictures he wants。〃
Norman's eyes changed subtly。 〃They haven't had a good year since；〃 he said。 〃They've dropped a bundle。〃
〃Mebbe；〃 Nevada said。 〃Only time will tell。 It's still a new pany。〃
Norman looked at Pierce for a moment； then back to Nevada。 〃O。K。；〃 he said。 〃I'll make a deal with you。 We'll put up a half million toward the picture； you guarantee all the negative cost over that。〃
〃That's a million and a half more！〃 Pierce answered。 〃Where's Nevada going to get that kind of money？〃
Norman smiled。 〃The same place we do。 At the bank。 He won't have any trouble。 I'll arrange it。 You'll own the picture one hundred per cent。 All we'll get is distribution fees and our money back。 That's a better deal than United Artists can give。 That shows you how much we want to go along with you； Nevada。 Fair enough？〃
Nevada had no illusions。 If the picture didn't make it； his name would be on the notes at the bank； not Norman's。 He'd lose everything he had and more。 He looked down at the blue…covered script。 A resolution began to harden inside him。
Jonas' father had said to him once that it wasn't any satisfaction to win or lose if it wasn't your own money； and you'd never make it big playing for table stakes。 This picture just couldn't miss。 He knew it。 He could feel it inside him。
He looked up at Norman again。 〃O。K。； Bernie；〃 he said。 〃It's a deal。〃
When they came out into the fading sunlight in front of Norman's bungalow office； Nevada looked at the agent。 Pierce's face was glum。 〃Maybe you better e down to my office；〃 he muttered。 〃We got a lot of talking to do。〃
〃It can keep till tomorrow；〃 Nevada said。 〃I got pany from the East waitin' for me at home。〃
〃You just bit off a big nut；〃 the agent said。
They started toward their cars。 〃I reckon it's about time；〃 Nevada said confidently。 〃The only way to make real money is to gamble big money。〃
〃You can also lose big that way；〃 Pierce said dourly。
Nevada paused beside his white Stutz Bearcat。 He put his hand affectionately on the door； much in the same manner he did with his horses。 〃We won't lose。〃
The agent squinted at him。 〃I hope you know what you're doing。 I just don't like it when Norman es in so fast and promises us all the profits。 There's a monkey somewhere。〃
Nevada smiled。 〃The trouble with you； Dan； is you're an agent。 All agents are suspicious。 Bernie came in because he had to。 He didn't want to take any chances on losin' me。〃 He opened the door and got into the car。 〃I'll be down at your office at ten tomorrow morning。〃
〃O。K。；〃 the agent said。 He started toward his own car； then stopped and came back。 〃This talking…picture business bothers me。 A couple of other panies have announced they're going to make talkies。〃
〃Let 'em；〃 Nevada said。 〃It's their headache。〃 He turned the key； pressed the starter and the big motor sprang into life with a roar。 〃It's a novelty；〃 he shouted to the agent over the noise。 〃By the time our picture es out people will have forgotten all about talkies。〃
The telephone on the small table near the bed rang softly。 Rina walked over and picked it up。 It was one of those new French telephones； the first she'd seen since she'd returned from Europe。 The now familiar insignia was in the center of the dial； where the number usually was printed。 〃Hello。〃
Nevada's familiar voice was in her ear。 〃Howdy； friend。 You all settled in？〃
〃Nevada！〃 she exclaimed。
〃You got other friends？〃
She laughed。 〃I'm unpacked；〃 she said。 〃And amazed。〃
〃At what？〃
〃Everything。 This place。 It's fabulous。 I never saw anything like it。〃
His voice was a quiet whisper in her ear。 〃It's not very much。 Paltry little spread； but I call it home。〃
〃Oh； Nevada；〃 she laughed； 〃I still can't believe it。 Why did you ever build such a fantastic house？ It's not like you at all。〃
〃It's part of the act； Rina；〃 he said。 〃Like the big white hat； the fancy shirts and the colored boots。 You're not really a star unless you have the trappings。〃
〃With N Bar S on everything？〃 she asked。
〃With N Bar S on everything；〃 he repeated。 〃But don't let it throw you。 There are crazier things in Hollywood。〃
〃I've got so much to tell you；〃 she said。 〃What time will you be home？〃
〃Home？〃 He laughed。 〃I am home。 I'm down in the bar； waiting for you。〃
〃I'll be down in a minute；〃 she said； then hesitated。 〃But； Nevada； how will I find the bar？ This place is so immense。〃
〃We got Indian guides just for occasions like this；〃 he said。 〃I'll send one up after you。〃
She put down the telephone and went over to the mirror。 By the time she had finished applying lipstick to her mouth； there was a soft knock at the door。
She crossed the room and opened it。
Nevada stood there； smiling。 〃Beg pardon； ma'am；〃 he said with mock formality。 〃I jes' checked the entire joint an' you won't believe it； but I was the only Indian around！〃
〃Oh； Nevada！〃 she said softly。
Then suddenly she was in his arms； her face buried against the hard muscles of his chest； her tears staining the soft white front of his fancy shirt。
JONAS … 1930
…
Book Three
1
THE LIGHTS OF LOS ANGELES CAME UP UNDER the right wing。 I looked over at Buzz； sitting next to me in the cockpit。 〃We're almost home。〃
His pug…nosed face crinkled in a smile。 He looked at his watch。 〃I think we got us a new record； too。〃
〃The hell with the record；〃 I said。 〃All I want is that mail contract。〃
He nodded。 〃We'll get it now for sure。〃 He reached over and patted the da