hr.thecarpetbaggers-第80部分

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　He　walked　down　the　aisle　to　the　foreman's　empty　desk。　He　turned　and　saw　the　men　watching　from　their　tables。　〃Where's　Wagner？〃
　They　looked　at　each　other　awkwardly　for　a　moment。　Finally；　the　Sheriff　answered　him。　〃He's　in　the　can；　sneaking　a　smoke。〃
　David　thanked　him　and　walked　down　the　back　aisle　to　the　washroom。　The　foreman　was　talking　to　another　man；　a　cigarette　in　his　hand。　David　came　up　behind　him。　〃Mr。　Wagner？〃
　Wagner　jumped。　He　turned　around；　a　strange　expression　on　his　face。　〃What's　the　matter；　David？〃　he　asked　angrily。　〃Can't　you　get　those　heralds　up？〃
　David　stared　at　him。　The　foreman　was　in　on　it；　all　right。　They　were　all　in　on　it。　He　laughed　bitterly　to　himself。　And　Uncle　Bernie　had　said　it　was　going　to　be　a　secret。
　〃Well；〃　the　foreman　said　irritably；　〃if　you　can't　do　it；　let　me　know。〃
　〃They're　up　here　now。　I　just　want　to　know　where　to　put　them。〃
　〃You　got　them　up　here　already？〃　Wagner　said。　His　voice　lost　the　faint　note　of　sureness　it　had　contained　a　moment　before。
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　Wagner　threw　his　cigarette　in　the　urinal。　〃Good；〃　he　said；　a　faintly　puzzled　look　on　his　face。　〃They　go　over　on　Aisle　Five。　I'll　show　you　which　bins。〃
　It　was　almost　ten　thirty　by　the　time　David　had　the　racks　empty　and　the　bins　filled。　He　pushed　the　last　package　of　heralds　into　place　and　straightened　up。　He　felt　the　sweat　streaming　through　his　shirt　and　looked　down　at　himself。　The　clean　white　shirt　that　his　mother　had　made　him　wear　was　grimy　with　dust。　He　wiped　his　forehead　on　his　sleeve　and　walked　down　to　the　foreman's　desk。　〃What　do　you　want　me　to　do　next？〃
　〃Were　there　five　hundred　bundles？〃　the　foreman　asked。
　David　nodded。
　The　foreman　pushed　a　sheet　of　paper　toward　him。　〃Initial　the　receipt　slip；　then。〃
　David　looked　over　the　paper　as　he　picked　up　a　pencil。　It　was　the　bill　for　the　heralds：　〃500　M　Heralds　@　1。00　per　M…500。00。〃　Expensive　paper；　he　thought；　as　he　scribbled　his　initials　across　the　bottom。
　The　telephone　on　the　desk　rang　and　the　foreman　picked　it　up。　〃Warehouse。〃
　David　could　hear　a　voice　crackling　at　the　other　end；　though　he　could　not　distinguish　the　words。　Wagner　was　nodding　his　head。　〃Yes；　Mr。　Bond。　They　just　came　in。〃
　Wagner　looked　over　at　David。　〃Get　me　a　sample　of　one　of　those　heralds；〃　he　said；　shielding　the　phone　with　his　hand。
　David　nodded　and　ran　down　the　aisle。　He　pulled　a　herald　from　one　of　the　bundles　and　brought　it　back　to　the　foreman。　Wagner　snatched　it　from　his　hand　and　looked　at　it。　〃No；　Mr。　Bond。　It's　only　one　color。〃
　The　voice　on　the　other　end　of　the　telephone　rose　to　a　shriek。　Wagner　began　to　look　unfortable；　and　shortly　afterward；　put　the　receiver　down　slowly。　〃That　was　Mr。　Bond　in　purchasing。〃
　David　nodded。　He　didn't　speak。
　Wagner　cleared　his　throat　unfortably。　〃Those　heralds　we　just　got。　It　was　supposed　to　be　a　two…color　job。〃
　David　looked　down　at　the　black…and…white　handbill。　He　couldn't　see　what　they　were　so　excited　about。　After　all；　they　were　only　throw…aways。　What　difference　did　it　make　whether　it　was　one　color　or　two？
　〃Mr。　Bond　says　to　junk　'em。〃
　David　looked　at　him　in　surprise。　〃Junk　'em？〃
　Wagner　nodded　and　got　to　his　feet。　〃Get　them　out　of　the　bins　and　downstairs　again；〃　he　said。　〃We'll　need　the　space。　The　new　ones　will　be　here　this　afternoon。〃
　David　shrugged。　This　was　a　screwy　business；　when　something　could　be　junked　even　before　it　was　paid　for。　But　it　was　none　of　his　concern。　〃I'll　get　right　on　it。〃
　It　was　twelve　thirty　when　he　came　out　on　the　loading　platform；　pushing　the　first　rack　of　heralds。　The　platform　boss　yelled。　〃Hey；　where　yuh　goin'　with　that？〃
　〃It's　junk。〃
　The　platform　boss　walked　over　and　looked　into　the　elevator。　〃Junk；　eh？〃　he　asked。　〃All　of　it？〃
　David　nodded。　〃Where　shall　I　put　it？〃
　〃You　ain't　puttin'　it　no　place；〃　the　boss　said。　〃Beat　it　right　back　upstairs　an'　tell　Wagner　to　shell　out　five　bucks　if　he　expects　me　to　get　rid　of　his　junk。〃
　Again　David　could　feel　his　anger　rising　slowly。
　Wagner　was　at　his　desk　when　David　got　back　upstairs。　〃The　platform　boss　wants　five　bucks　to　get　rid　of　that　junk。〃
　〃Oh；　sure；〃　Wagner　said。　〃I　forgot。〃　He　took　a　tin　box　out　of　his　desk　and　opened　it。　He　held　out　a　five…dollar　bill。
　David　stared　down　at　it。　〃You　mean　you　really　got　to　give　to　him？〃　he　asked　in　disbelief。
　Wagner　nodded。
　〃But　that's　good　newspaper　stock；〃　David　said。　〃My　father　would　haul　that　away　all　day　long。　It's　worth　a　dime　a　hundredweight。　That　batch　would　bring　fifty　bucks　at　any　junk　yard。〃
　〃We　haven't　the　time　to　bother　with　it。　Here；　give　him　the　five　bucks　and　forget　about　it。〃
　David　stared　at　him。　Nothing　in　this　business　made　any　sense　to　him。　They　junked　five　hundred　dollars'　worth　of　paper　before　they'd　paid　for　it；　then　didn't　even　want　to　salvage　fifty　bucks　out　of　it。　They'd　rather　pay　five　bucks　more　just　to　get　rid　of　it。
　His　uncle　couldn't　be　as　smart　as　they　said　he　was　if　he　ran　his　business　like　this。　He　must　be　lucky。　If　it　wasn't　luck；　then　his　father　would　have　been　a　millionaire。　He　took　a　deep　breath。　〃Do　I　get　an　hour　for　lunch；　Mr。　Wagner？〃
　The　foreman　nodded。　〃Sure。　We　all　do。〃
　〃Is　it　all　right　if　I　start　my　lunch　hour　now？〃
　〃You　can　start　right　after　you　take　care　of　the　heralds。〃
　〃If　it's　all　right　with　you；〃　David　said；　〃I'll　get　rid　of　them　on　my　lunch　hour。〃
　〃It's　O。K。　with　me；　but　you　don't　have　to。　You　get　a　full　hour　off　for　lunch。〃
　David　looked　at　the　telephone。　〃May　I　make　a　call？〃
　Wagner　nodded　and　David　called　Needlenose　at　Shocky's　garage。　〃How　quick　can　you　get　here　with　a　truck？〃　he　asked；　quickly　explaining　the　deal。
　〃Twenty　minutes；　Davy；〃　Needlenose　said。　There　was　a　moment's　silence；　then　Needlenose　came　on　again。　〃Shocky　says　he'll　only　blast　yuh　ten　bucks　for　the　truck。〃
　〃Tell　him　it's　a　deal；〃　David　said　quickly。　〃And　bring　along　a　pair　of　dusters。　We　might　have　a　little　trouble。〃
　〃Gotcha；　Davy；〃　Needlenose　said。
　〃O。K。；　I'll　be　out　in　front。〃
　Wagner　looked　at　him　anxiously　as　he　put　down　the　telephone。　〃I　don't　want　any　trouble；〃　he　said　nervously。
　David　stared　at　him。　If　they　were　all　so　afraid　of　him　they　wouldn't　let　him　do　his　job；　he　might　as　well　give　them　something　to　be　afraid　of。　〃You'd　know　what　trouble　is；　Mr。　Wagner；　if　Uncle　Bernie　ever　finds　out　you've　been　spending　five　dollars　to　lose　fifty。〃
　The　foreman's　face　suddenly　went　pale。　A　faint　beading　of　perspiration　came　out　on　his　forehead。　〃I　don't　make　the　rules；〃　he　said　quickly。　〃I　just　do　what　purchasing　tells　me。〃
　〃Then　you've　got　nothing　to　worry　about。〃
　Wagner　put　the　five…dollar　bill　back　in　the　tin　box；　then　put　the　box　back　in　his　desk　and　locked　the　drawer。　He　got　to　his　feet。　〃I　think　I'll　go　to　lunch；〃　he　said。
　David　sat　down　in　the　foreman's　chair　and　lit　a　cigarette；　ignoring　the　no…smoking　sign。　The　men　at　the　packing　tables　were　watching　him。　He　stared　back　at　them　silently。　After　a　few　minutes；　they　began　to　leave；　one　or　two　at　a　time；　apparently　on　their　way　to　lunch。　Soon　the　only　one　left　was　the　Sheriff。
　The　old　man　looked　up　from　the　package　he　was　tying。　〃You　take　my　word　for　it；〃　he　said。　〃It　ain't　worth　you　getting　killed　over。　That　Tony　downstairs；　he's　a　Cossack。　You　tell　your　uncle　to　give　you　a　different　job。〃
　〃How　can　I　do　that；　pop？〃　David　asked。　〃It　was　tough　enough　talking　him　into　this　one。　If　I　e　cryin'　to　him　now；　I　might　as　well　quit。〃
　The　old　man　walked　over　toward　him。　〃You　know　where　they　went？〃　he　asked　in　a　shrill　voice。　〃All　of　them？　They　didn't　go　to　lunch。　They're　downstairs　in　the　street。　They're　waiting　to　see　Tony　kill　you。〃
　David　dragged　on　his　cigarette　thoughtfully。
　〃How　e　five　bucks　is　that　important？〃
　〃From　every　tenant　in　the　building　he　gets　a　little　payoff。　He　can't　afford　to　let　you　off　the　hook。　Then　he　loses　everybody。〃
　〃Then　he's　a　shmuck；〃　David　said；　suddenly　angry。　〃All　I　wanted　to　do　was　my　job。　Nothing　would　have　happened；　he　could　still　have　gone　on　collecting　his　little　graft。〃
　David　got　to　his　feet　and　threw　the　cigarette　on　the　floor。　He　ground　it　out　under　his　heel。　There　was　a　bitter　taste　in　his　mouth。　The　whole　thing　was　stupid。　And　he　was　no　smarter　than　the　rest；　he　let　himself　fall　right　into　the　trap　they'd　prepared　for　him。　He　couldn't　back　down　now　even　if　he　wanted　to。　Neither　could　he　afford　to　lose　the　fight　downstairs。　If　he　did；　his　uncle　sure　as　hell　would　hear　about　it。　And　that　would　be　the　end　of　the　job。
　Needlenose　was　waiting　for　him　downstairs。
　〃Where's　the　truck？〃　David　asked。
　〃Across　the　street。　I　brought　the　dusters。　Which　ones　do　you　want　…　plain　or　spiked？〃
　〃Spiked。〃
　Needlenose's　hand　came　out　of　his　pocket　and　David　took　the　heavy　set　of　brass　knuckles。　He　looked　down　at　them。　The　round；　pointed　spikes　shone　wickedly　in　the　light。　He　slipped　them　into　his　pocket。
　〃How　do　we　handle　the　guy？〃　Needlenose　asked。　〃Chinee　style？〃
　It　was　a　mon　trick　in　Chinatown。　A　man　in　front；　a　man　behind。　The　victim　went　for　the　man　in　front　of　him　and　got　clipped　from　the　rear。　Nine　times　out　of　ten；　he　never　knew　what　hit　him。　David　shook　his　head。　〃No；〃　he　said。　〃I　gotta　take　care　of　this　one　myself　if　it's　going　to　do　any　good。〃
　〃The　guy'll　kill　yuh；〃　Needlenose　said。　〃He's　got　fifty　pounds　on　yuh。〃
　〃If　I　get　into　trouble；　you　e　and　get　me　out。〃
　〃If　you　get　into　trouble；〃　Needlenose　said　dryly；　〃it'll　be　too　late　to　do　anything　except　bury　yuh。〃
　David　looked　at　him；　then　grinned。　〃In　that　case；　send　the　bill　to　my　Uncle　Bernie。　It　was　all　his　idea。　Let's　go。〃
　
　6
　
　THEY　WERE　WAITING；　ALL　RIGHT。　THE　SHERIFF　HAD　BEEN　RIGHT。　The　whole　building　knew　what　was　going　to　happen。　Even　some　girls　from　the　cosmetic　pany　and　Henri　France。
　It　was　hot　and　David　felt　the　perspiration　ing　through　his　clothing。　The　platform　had　been　a　clatter　of　sound　…　people　talking；　pretending　to　eat　their　sandwiches　or　packed　lunches。　Now　the　pretense　was　gone；　conversations　and　lunches　forgotten。
　The　wave　of　silence　rolled　over　him　and　he　felt　their　curious；　almost　detached　stares。　Casually　he　looked　over　the　crowd。　He　recognized　several　of　the　men　from　the　packing　tables　upstairs。　They　averted　their　eyes　when　he　passed　by。
　Suddenly；　he　was　sick　inside。　This　was　madness。　He　was　no　hero。　What