hr.thecarpetbaggers-第71章

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　Shocky　looked　at　him。　〃You　hauled　that　much　last　time。〃
　〃No；　I　didn't；〃　David　said。　〃It　was　only　thirty　cans。　And　even　then；　there　were　times　I　thought　Old　Bessie　was　goin'　to　croak　on　me。　Suppose　she　did？　There　I'd　be　with　a　dead　horse　and　two　hundred　gallons　of　alky　in　the　wagon。　It's　bad　enough　if　my　old　man　ever　finds　out。〃
　〃Just　this　once；〃　Shocky　said。　〃I　promised　Gennuario。〃
　〃Why　don't　you　use　one　of　your　trucks？〃
　〃I　can't　do　that；〃　Shocky　replied。　〃That's　just　what　the　Feds　are　lookin'　for。　They　won't　be　lookin'　for　a　junk　wagon。〃
　〃The　most　I'll　take　is　twenty…five　cans。〃
　Shocky　stared　at　him。　〃I'll　make　it　twenty　bucks　this　one　time；''　he　said。　〃You　got　me　in　a　bind。〃
　David　was　silent。　Twenty　dollars　was　more　than　his　father　netted　in　a　whole　week；　sometimes。　And　that　was　going　out　with　the　wagon　six　days　a　week。　Rain　or　shine；　summer　heat　or　bitter　winter　cold；　every　day　except　Saturday；　which　his　father　spent　in　shul。
　〃Twenty…five　bucks；〃　Shocky　said。
　〃O。K。　I'll　take　a　chance。〃
　〃Start　loadin'；　then。〃　Shocky　picked　up　a　can　with　each　of　his　long　arms。
　David　sat　alone　on　the　wagon　seat　as　Old　Bessie　slowly　plodded　her　way　uptown。　He　pulled　up　at　a　corner　to　let　a　truck　go　by。　A　policeman　slowly　sauntered　over。　〃What're　ye　doin'　out　tonight；　Davy？〃
　Furtively　David　cast　a　look　at　the　back　of　the　wagon。　The　cans　of　alcohol　lay　hidden　under　the　tarpaulin；　covered　with　rags。　〃I　heard　they're　payin'　a　good　price　for　rag　over　at　the　mill；〃　he　answered。　〃I　thought　I'd　clean　out　the　wagon。〃
　〃Where's　your　father？〃
　〃It's　Friday　night。〃
　〃Oh；〃　the　policeman　answered。　He　looked　up　at　David　shrewdly。　〃Does　he　know　ye're　out？〃
　David　shook　his　head　silently。
　The　policeman　laughed。　〃You　kids　are　all　alike。〃
　〃I　better　get　goin'　before　the　old　man　misses　me；〃　David　said。　He　clucked　to　the　horse　and　Old　Bessie　began　to　move。　The　policeman　called　after　him　and　David　stopped　and　looked　back。
　〃Tell　your　father　to　keep　an　eye　peeled　for　some　clothes　for　a　nine…year…old　boy；〃　he　called。　〃My　Michael　is　outgrowin'　the　last　already。〃
　〃I　will；　Mr。　Doyle；〃　David　said　and　flicked　the　reins　lightly。　Shocky　and　Needlenose　were　already　there　when　David　pulled　up　against　the　loading　platform。　Gennuario　stood　on　the　platform　watching　as　they　began　to　unload。
　The　detectives　appeared　suddenly　out　of　the　darkness　with　drawn　guns。　〃O。K。；　hold　it！〃
　David　froze；　a　can　of　alcohol　still　in　his　arms。　For　a　moment；　he　thought　of　dropping　the　can　and　running　but　Old　Bessie　and　the　wagon　were　still　there。　How　would　he　explain　that　to　his　father？
　〃Put　the　can　down；　boy；〃　one　of　the　detectives　said。
　Slowly　David　put　down　the　can　and　turned　to　face　them。　〃O。K。；　against　the　wall。〃
　〃Yuh　shouldn't　'a'　tried　it；　Joe；〃　a　detective　said　to　Gennuario　when　he　arrived。
　Gennuario　smiled。　David　looked　at　him。　He　didn't　seem　in　the　least　disturbed　by　what　had　happened。　〃e　inside；　Lieutenant；〃　he　said　easily。　〃We　can　straighten　this　out；　I'm　sure。〃
　The　lieutenant　followed　Gennuario　into　the　building　and　it　seemed　to　David　that　they　were　gone　forever。　But　ten　minutes　later；　they　came　out；　both　smiling。
　〃All　right；　you　guys；〃　the　lieutenant　said。　〃It　seems　we　made　a　big　mistake。　Mr。　Gennuario　explained　everything。　Let's　go。〃　As　quickly　as　they　had　e；　the　detectives　disappeared。　David　stood　staring　after　them　with　an　open　mouth。
　
　Needlenose　sat　silently　on　the　wagon　beside　David　as　they　turned　into　the　stable。　〃I　tol'　yuh　everything　was　fixed；〃　he　said　when　they　came　out　in　the　street。
　David　looked　at　him。　Fixed　or　not；　this　was　as　close　as　he　wanted。　Even　the　twenty…five　dollars　in　his　pocket　wasn't　worth　it。　〃I'm　through；〃　he　said　to　Needlenose。　〃No　more。〃
　Needlenose　laughed。　〃Yuh　scared？〃
　〃Damn　right　I'm　scared。　There　must　be　an　easier　way　to　make　a　living。〃
　〃If　yuh　find　one；〃　Needlenose　said；　〃let　me　know〃。　He　laughed。　〃Shocky's　got　a　couple　or　Chinee　girls　over　at　his　flat。　He　says　we　can　screw　'em　tonight　if　we　want。〃
　David　didn't　answer。
　〃Sing　Loo　will　be　there；〃　Needlenose　said。　〃You　know；　the　pretty　little　one；　the　dancer　who　shaves　her　pussy。〃
　David　hesitated；　feeling　the　quick　surge　of　excitement　leap　through　him。
　
　It　was　one　o'clock　by　the　big　clock　in　the　window　of　Goldfarb's　Delicatessen　when　he　turned　the　corner　of　his　street。　A　police　car　was　parked　in　front　of　the　door。　There　was　a　group　of　people　surging　around；　peering　curiously　into　the　hallway。
　A　sudden　fear　ran　through　David。　Something　had　gone　wrong。　The　police　had　e　to　arrest　him。　For　a　moment；　he　felt　like　running　in　the　opposite　direction。　But　a　pulsion　drew　him　toward　the　house。　〃What　happened？〃　he　asked　a　man　standing　on　the　edge　of　the　crowd。
　〃I　dunno；〃　the　man　answered。　He　peered　at　him　curiously。　〃I　heard　one　of　the　cops　say　somebody　was　dying　up　there。〃
　Suddenly；　frantically；　David　pushed　his　way　through　the　crowd　into　the　house。　As　he　ran　up　the　staircase　toward　the　apartment　on　the　third　floor；　he　heard　the　scream。
　His　mother　was　standing　in　the　doorway；　struggling　in　the　arms　of　two　policemen。　〃Chaim；　Chaim！〃
　David　felt　his　heart　constrict。　〃Mama；〃　he　called。　〃What　happened？〃
　His　mother　looked　at　him　with　unseeing　eyes。　〃A　doctor　I　call　for；　policemen　I　get；〃　she　said；　then　turned　her　face　down　the　hallway　toward　the　toilets。　〃Chaim；　Chaim！〃　She　screamed　again。
　David　turned　and　followed　her　gaze。　The　door　to　one　of　the　toilets　stood　open。　His　father　sat　there　on　the　seat；　leaning　crazily　against　the　wall；　his　eyes　and　mouth　open；　moisture　trickling　down　into　his　gray　beard。
　〃Chaim！〃　his　mother　screamed　accusingly。　〃It　was　gas　you　told　me　you　got。　You　didn't　tell　me　you　were　ing　out　here　to　die。〃
　
　4
　
　〃SO　IT　IS　MY　FAULT　HIS　FATHER　DIES　BEFORE　HE　CAN　FINISH　SCHOOL？〃　UNCLE　BERNIE　SAID　ANGRILY。　〃Let　him　get　a　job　and　go　nights　if　he　wants　to　go　so　bad。〃
　David　sat　on　the　edge　of　his　chair　and　looked　at　his　mother。　He　didn't　speak。　〃It's　not　charity　I'm　asking；　Bernie；〃　she　said。　〃David　wants　a　job。　That's　all　I'm　asking　you　for。〃
　Norman　turned　and　looked　down　at　his　nephew　suspiciously。　〃Maybe　a　job　you'd　like　in　my　pany　as　a　vice…president；　hah？〃
　David　got　to　his　feet　angrily。　〃I'm　going　out；　Ma；〃　he　said。　〃Everything　they　said　about　him　is　true。〃
　〃Say　about　me？〃　his　uncle　shouted。　〃What　do　they　say　about　me？〃
　David　looked　at　him。　〃Down　at　the　shul　when　I　went　to　say　Yiskor　for　Papa；　they　told　me　about　you。　They　said　you　didn't　e　to　the　funeral　because　you　were　afraid　somebody　might　ask　you　for　a　few　pennies。〃
　〃From　California　I　should　e　in　one　day？〃　Norman　shouted。　〃Wings　I　ain't　got。〃
　He　started　for　the　door。　〃Wait　a　minute；　David；〃　his　mother　said　quietly。　She　turned　to　her　brother。　〃When　you　needed　five　hundred　dollars　before　the　war　for　your　business；　who　did　you　get　it　from？〃
　She　waited　a　moment　before　answering　herself。　〃From　your　poor　schnorrer　of　a　brother…in…law；　Chaim；　the　junkman。　He　gave　you　the　money　and　you　gave　him　a　piece　of　paper。　The　piece　of　paper　I　still　got　but　did　we　ever　see　the　money？〃
　〃Paper？〃　Bernie　said。　〃What　paper？〃
　〃I　still　got　it；〃　she　said。　〃In　the　box　Chaim　put　it　in　that　night；　the　night　he　gave　you　the　money。〃
　〃Let　me　see。〃　Bernie's　eyes　followed　her　as　she　left　the　room。　He　was　beginning　to　remember　now。　It　was　a　certificate　promising　his　brother…in…law　five　per　cent　of　the　Norman　pany　stock　when　he　bought　out　the　old　Diamond　Film　pany。　He　had　forgotten　all　about　it。　But　a　smart　lawyer　could　make　it　worth　a　lot　of　money。
　His　sister　came　back　into　the　room　and　handed　him　a　sheet　of　paper。　It　was　faded　and　yellow　but　the　date　on　it　was　still　bright　and　clear。　September　7；　1912。　That　was　fourteen　years　ago。　How　time　had　flown。
　He　looked　at　his　sister。　〃It's　against　my　policy　to　hire　relatives；〃　he　said。　〃It　looks　bad　for　the　business。〃
　〃So　who's　to　know　he's　your　nephew？〃　Esther　said。　〃Besides；　who　will　do　more　for　you　than　your　own　flesh　and　blood？〃
　He　stared　at　her　for　a　moment；　then　got　to　his　feet。　〃All　right。　I'll　do　it。　It's　against　my　better　judgment　but　maybe　you're　right。　Blood　is　thicker　than　water。　Over　on　Forty…third　Street；　near　the　river；　we　got　a　warehouse。　They'll　put　him　to　work。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Uncle　Bernie；〃　David　said　gratefully。
　〃Mind　you；　not　one　word　about　being　my　nephew。　One　word　I　hear　and　you're　finished。〃
　〃I　won't　say　anything；　Uncle　Bernie。〃
　Norman　started　for　the　door。　But　before　he　went　out；　he　turned；　the　paper　in　his　hand。　He　folded　it　and　put　it　into　his　pocket。　〃This　I'm　taking　with　me；〃　he　said　to　his　sister。　〃When　I　get　back　to　my　office；　they'll　send　you　a　check　for　the　five　hundred　dollars　with　interest　for　the　fourteen　years。　At　three　per　cent。〃
　A　worried　look　came　over　his　sister's　face。　〃Are　you　sure　you　can　afford　it；　Bernie？〃　she　asked　quickly。　〃There　is　no　hurry。　We'll　manage　if　David　is　working。〃
　〃Afford　it；　shmafford　it；〃　Norman　said　magnanimously。　〃Let　nobody　say　that　Bernie　Norman　doesn't　keep　his　word。〃
　
　It　was　a　dirty　gray　factory　building　down　near　the　Hudson　River；　which　had　fallen　into　disuse　and　been　converted　into　lofts。　There　were　two　large　freight　elevators　in　the　back　and　three　small　passenger　elevators　near　the　front　entrance；　scarcely　large　enough　to　handle　the　crowd　of　workers　that　surged　in　at　eight　o'clock　each　morning　and　out　at　six　o'clock　each　night。
　The　building　was　shared　by　five　tenants。　The　ground　floor　housed　an　automobile…parts　pany；　the　second；　a　mercial　cosmetic　manufacturer；　the　third；　the　pressing　plant　for　a　small　record　pany；　the　fourth；　the　factory　of　the　Henri　France　pany；　the　world's　largest　manufacturer　of　popular…priced　contraceptives　and　prophylactics。　The　fifth　and　sixth　floors　belonged　to　Norman　Pictures。
　David　arrived　early。　He　got　off　the　elevator　on　the　sixth　floor　and　walked　slowly　down　the　wide　aisle　between　rows　of　steel　and　wooden　shelves。　At　the　end；　near　the　back　windows；　were　several　desks；　placed　back　to　back。
　〃Hello；〃　David　called。　〃Anybody　here？〃　His　voice　echoed　eerily　through　the　cavernous　empty　floor。　There　was　a　clock　over　one　of　the　desks。　It　said　seven　thirty。
　The　freight…elevator　door　clanged　open　and　a　white…haired　man　stuck　his　head　out　and　peered　down　the　aisle　at　David。　〃I　thought　I　heard　somebody　calling；〃　he　said。
　David　walked　up　to　him。　〃I'm　supposed　to　see　the　foreman　about　a　job。〃
　〃Oh；　are　you　the　one？〃
　David　was　confused。　〃What　d'yuh　mean？〃
　〃The　new　boy；〃　the　elevator　operator　replied。　〃Old　man　Norman's　nephew。〃
　David　didn't　answer。　He　was　too　surprised。　The　elevator　operator　got　ready　to　swing　shut　the　doors。　〃Nobody's　here　yet。　They　don't　get　in　till　eight　o'clock。〃
　The　steel　doors　closed　and　the　elevator　moved　creakingly　down　out　of　sight。　David　turned　from　the　elevator　thoughtfully。　Uncle　Bernie　had　told　him　not　to　say　anything。　He　hadn't。　But　they　already　knew。　He　wondered　if　his　uncle　knew　that　they　knew。　He　started　back　toward　the　desks。
　He　stopped　suddenly　in　front　of　a　large　poster。　The　lettering　was　in　bright　red　…　Vilma　Banky　and　Rod　LaRocque。　The　picture　portrayed　Miss　Banky　lying　on　a　sofa；　her　dress　well　up　above　her　knees。　Behind　her　stood　Mr。　LaRoque；　darkly　handsome　in　the　current　Valentino　fashion；　staring　dow