cwilleford.cockfighter-第14部分

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tomer　sat　with　his　arms　locked　behind　his　back　glaring　down　distastefully　at　a　double　shot　of　whiskey。　At　night；　with　a　fair…sized　crowd；　a　bar　this　long　would　require　at　least　two　bartenders。
　　Beyond　the　bar　there　was　a　large　square　room　with　a　small　dance　floor；　a　raised　triangular　platform　in　the　corner　for　the　musicians　and　two　microphones。　There　were　about　thirty…five　small　circular　tables；　with　twisted　wire　ice…cream　parlor　chairs　stacked　on　top　of　them。　The　walls　of　the　large　room　had　been　painted　in　navy　blue。　Silver　cardboard　stars　had　been　pasted　at　random　upon　the　wall　and　ceiling　to　simulate　a　night　sky。　The　ceiling　was　black；　and　the　scattered　light　fixtures　on　the　ceiling　were　in　various　pastel　colors。
　　Between　the　bar　and　nightclub　section　there　were　two　lavatories；　with　their　doors　recessed　about　a　foot　into　the　wall。　A　crude　effort　at　humor　had　been　attempted　on　the　rest…room　doors：　One　was　labeled　SETFERS　and　the　other　POINTERS。　After　sizing　the　place　up；　I　sat　down　at　the　far　end　of　the　bar　and　made　the　sign　of　the　tall　one。　As　I　reached　for　the　stein　with　my　left　hand；　I　handed　the　bartender　the　slip　of　paper　with　my　right。
　　〃I　only　work　here；〃　he　said　indifferently；　eyeing　my　guitar。　〃The　James　Boys　are　supposed　to　play　out　the　month；　but　the　boss　is　in　the　back。〃　He　pointed　to　a　curtain　covering　an　arched　doorway　near　the　right　corner　of　the　bandstand。　〃Go　ahead　and　talk　to　him　if　you　want　to。〃　His　face　colored　slightly　as　he　realized　I　couldn't　talk；　but　he　smiled　and　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃His　name　is　Mr。　Vernon。　Lee　Vernon。〃
　　As　soon　as　I　finished　my　beer；　I　picked　up　my　guitar；　dropped　a　half　dollar　on　the　bar　and　headed　for　the　back；　pushing　the　curtain　to　one　side。　The　hallway　was　short。　There　was　a　door　leading　to　an　alley；　and　two　doors　on　either　side。　I　opened　the　first　door　on　the　right；　but　it　was　a　small　dressing　room；　I　knocked　at　the　door　opposite　the　dressing　room　and　didn't　enter　until　I　heard　〃e　in：；
　　For　a　nightclub　owner；　Lee　Vernon　was　a　much　younger　man　than　I　expected　to　meet。　He　was　under　thirty；　with　a　mass　of　black　curls；　a　smiling　well…tanned　face；　and　gleaming　china…blue　eyes。　There　were　three　open　ledgers　on　his　gray　metal　desk　and　a　few　thick　Manila　folders。　He　tapped　his　large　white　teeth　with　a　pencil　and　raised　his　black　eyebrows。　I　removed　my　guitar　from　the　case　before　I　handed　him　the　slip　of　paper。
　　Lee　Vernon　laughed　aloud　when　he　saw　the　word　JOB　and　shook　his　head　from　side　to　side　with　genuine　amusement。　〃A　nonsinging　guitar　player！〃　he　exclaimed；　still　smiling。　〃I　never　thought　I'd　see　the　day。　Go　ahead〃…he　looked　at　my　name　burned　into　the　guitar　box…〃Frank；　is　it？〃
　　I　nodded；　and　wiped　my　damp　fingers　on　my　jacket　so　the　plastic　pick　wouldn't　slip　in　my　fingers。　I　put　my　left　foot　on　a　chair；　and　cradled　the　instrument　over　my　knee。
　　〃Play　anything；　Frank；〃　Vernon　smiled。　〃I　don't　care。　I've　never　turned　down　an　excuse　to　quit　working　in　my　life。〃
　　I　vamped　a　few　chords　and　then　played　〃Empty　Pockets〃　all　the　way　through。　Mr。　Vernon　listened　attentively；　tapping　his　pencil　on　the　desk　in　time　with　the　music。　This　was　the　shortest　of　my　three　songs；　but　it　sounded　good　in　the　tiny　office。　The　ceiling　was　low　and　there　was　a　second　listen　effect　reverberating　in　the　room；　especially　during　the　thumping　part。
　　〃I　like　the　sound；　Frank；〃　Vernon　said。　〃You're　all　right。　All　right。　But　I　don't　think　I　can　use　you　right　now。　I'm　trying　to　build　the　Chez　Vernon　into　a　popular　night　spot；　and　the　James　Boys　pretty　well　fill　the　bill。　I　pay　them　eight　hundred　a　week　and　if　I　pay　much　more　than　that　for　music；　I'll　be　working　for　them　instea&of　for　myself。　Do　you　belong　to　the　union；　Frank？〃
　　I　shook　my　head。　The　idea　of　any　free　American　male　paying　gangsters　money　for　the　right　to　work　has　always　struck　me　as　one　of　the　most　preposterous　customs　we　have。
　　〃Tell　you　what；〃　Vernon　said　reflectively。　〃Do　you　really　need　a　job？〃
　　I　nodded　seriously。
　　〃Okay；　then。　The　James　Boys　play　a　forty…minute　set；　and　then　they　take　a　twenty…minute　break。　They　play　from　nine　till　midnight；　an　extra　hour　if　the　crowd　warrants　it；　and　till　two　a。m。　on　Saturday　nights。　In　my　opinion；　a　twentyminute　break　is　too　long；　and　I　lose　customers　sometimes　just　because　of　it；　but　those　were　the　terms　I　hired　them　under。　If　you　want　to　sit　in　by　yourself　on　the　stand　to　fill　the　breaks　I'm　willing　to　try　it　for　a　few　nights　to　see　how　it　goes。　I　can　give　you　ten　bucks　a　night；　but　that's　the　limit。〃
　　For　a　few　moments　I　thought　about　it；　but　ten　dollars　was　too　much　money　to　give　me　when　I　only　knew　three　songs。　I　held　up　five　fingers。
　　〃You　want　fifty　dollars？〃　Vernon　asked　incredulously。
　　I　shook　my　head　and　snapped　out　five　fingers。
　　〃You're　a　pretty　weird　cat。〃　Vernon　laughed。　〃Not　only　do　you　not　sing；　you're　honest。　Five　bucks　a　night　it　is；　Frank。　But　I'll　tell　Dick　James　to　clean　out　his　kitty　between　his　sets；　and　any　tips　you　get　on　the　breaks　belong　to　you。　You'll　pick　up　a　few　extra　bucks；　anyway。〃
　　I　nodded；　shook　hands　with　my　employer　and　returned　my　guitar　to　its　case。
　　〃e　in　about　eight　thirty；　Frank；〃　Vernon　concluded　the　interview；　〃and　I'll　introduce　you　to　the　James　Boys。〃
　　I　returned　to　the　hotel　and　stretched　out　on　my　bed　for　a　nap。　Although　I　had　taken　a　lower　figure　than　the　ten　he　offered；　I　still　felt　a　little　uneasy。　After　Lee　Vernon　heard　me　playing　the　same　songs　all　evening　he　wouldn't　be　too　happy　about　it。　But　during　the　days；　maybe　I　could　make　up　a　few　more。　If　so；　I　could　ask　for　a　raise　to　ten。　The　immediate　problem　was　remedied。　I　could　pay　my　room　rent　of　three　dollars　a　day；　and　eat　on　the　other　two　until　I　could　work　my　way　out　of　the　hole　with　an　ingenious　plan　of　some　kind。
　　A　few　minutes　later　I　was　asleep。
　　
　　
　　
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　　The　James　Boys　were　very　good。　If　Lee　Vernon　was　paying　them　eight　hundred　dollars　a　week；　they　were　worth　every　cent　of　it。
　　I　sat　at　the　end　of　the　bar　where　I　could　take　in　the　entire　room；　enjoying　the　music　and　the　singing；　and　the　antics　of　the　patrons　at　various　tables。　Not　many　of　the　couples　danced。　It　wasn't　the　smallness　of　the　floor　that　prevented　them　from　getting　to　their　feet；　it　was　just　that　the　James　Boys　were　more　amusing　to　watch　than　they　were　to　dance　to。　They　wore　red　Western　shirts　with　white　piping　on　the　collars　and　cuffs；　but　they　didn't　restrict　their　playing　to　Western　music。　They　seemed　to　be　equally　at　home　with　calypso　and　rock　'n'　roll。　Each　of　the　boys；　in　turn；　sang　into　the　microphone；　and　they　all　had　good　voices。
　　Dick　James　was　at　the　microphone；　and　his　face　had　a　mournful　expression。　He　said；　〃It　is　now　my　sad　duty　to　inform　you；　ladies　and　gentlemen；　that　for　the　next　twenty　minutes　we　will　be　absent　from　the　stand。〃
　　He　held　up　a　hand　to　silence　the　murmurs　of　disappointment。　〃We　don't　want　to　go。　Honest！　It's　just　that　we　can't　afford　to　drink　here。　We　have　to　go　down　the　street　to　a　little　place　where　the　drinks　are　cheaper。　And　I　might　add；〃　he　said　disingenuously；　〃unwatered！〃
　　A　very　small　ripple　of　laughter　went　through　the　room。　Perhaps　the　patrons　of　the　Chez　Vernon　thought　their　drinks　were　watered。
　　〃But　during　our　brief　absence；　the　management　has　obtained　for　your　listening　pleasure；　at　great　expense；　one　of　the　world's　greatest　guitarists！　Ladies　and　gentlemen；　I　give　you　Frank　Mansfield！〃
　　I　had　been　so　engrossed　in　watching　and　listening；　and　drinking　a　steady　procession　of　beers；　I　hadn't　realized　how　quickly　the　time　had　passed。　To　a　burst　of　enthusiastic　applause；　led　by　the　four　James　Boys；　I　threaded　my　way　through　the　close…packed　tables　to　the　stand。　As　I　sat　down　in　a　chair　on　the　stand　and　removed　my　guitar　from　its　case；　Dick　James　lowered　the　microphone　level　with　my　waist。
　　〃Good　luck；　Frank；〃　he　said；　and　followed　the　other　members　of　the　group　into　the　hallway　leading　to　the　dressing　room。　I　was　in　shirt　sleeves；　but　wore　my　hat。　I　wished　that　I　could　have　gone　with　them；　picked　up　my　coat　in　the　dressing　room；　and　made　a　getaway　through　the　back　door　to　the　alley。　In　anticipation　of　fresh　entertainment；　the　audience　was　fairly　quiet。　I　felt　like　every　eye　was　on　me　as　I　sat　under　the　baby　spot　on　the　small；　triangular　stand。
　　I　delayed　as　long　as　I　could；　well　aware　that　I　had　twenty　full　minutes　to　fill　before　the　James　Boys　returned；　and　not　enough　music　to　fill　it　with。　I　vamped　a　few　chords；　tuned　the　〃A〃　string　a　trifle　higher；　and　then　played　〃Empty　Pockets。〃　The　moment　I　hit　the　last　chord；　I　got　to　my　feet　and　bowed　from　the　waist　to　the　thin；　sporadic　applause。　Before　playing　〃Grandma's　Quilt；〃　I　went　through　the　motions　of　tuning　again；　and　slowed　the　tempo　of　the　song　as　I　picked　through　it。　The　applause　was　stronger　when　I　finished。　By　this　time　the　crowd　realized　that　my　music　was　unusual；　or；　at　least；　different。　My　last　number　was　the　best；　my　favorite；　and　my　nervousness　had　disappeared　pletely。　There　was　hardly　a　sound　from　the　audience　as　I　played　〃Georgia　Girl；〃　but　when　I　finished　and　stood　up　to　take　a　bow；　the　applause　was　definitely　generous。
　　〃I　could　take　lessons　from　you；〃　Dick　James　said；　as　he　climbed　onto　the　stand。　〃You　make　some　mighty　fine　sounds；　Frankerino。〃
　　I　nodded；　smiled　and　wet　my　lips。　The　James　Boys　were　also　unaware　that　my　repertoire　only　consisted　of　three　homemade　numbers。　Lee　Vernon；　a　tall　drink　in　his　hand；　crossed　the　room　and　congratulated　me。　He　whispered　something　to　Dick；　and　readjusted　the　microphone。　I　had　returned　my　guitar　to　the　case　and　was　halfway　to　the　bar　when　Vernon's　vdice　rasped　out　of　the　speakers　in　the　ceiling。
　　〃Ladies　and　gentlemen；　there's　something　you　don't　know　about　Frank　Mansfield！〃　His　voice　stopped　me；　and　I　looked　down　at　the　floor。　〃In　view　of　his　great　manual　dexterity；　it　may　be　difficult　to　believe；　but　Frank　Mansfield　is　the　only　deaf…and…dumb　guitar　player　in　the　world！　Let's　give　Frank　another　big　hand？　Let　him　feel　the　vibrations　through　the　floor！〃
　　As　the　drunken　crowd　applauded　wildly　and　stomped　their　feet　on　the　floor；　I　ran　across　the　room；　pushed　aside　the　curtain　to　the　hallway；　and　rushed　blindly　into　the　dressing　room。　I　supposed