cwilleford.cockfighter-第42部分

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etty　blue　chicken　getting　along？〃
　　In　a　lightweight　gray　linen　suit；　with　a　pink…and…gray　striped　tie；　Ed　didn't　look　like　a　sick　man　to　me；　but　the　brown　circles　under　his　eyes　were　a　little　darker　on　his　pale　face。　He　looked　happy；　however；　and　he　hadn't　been　happy　when　I　last　saw　him　in　Orlando。　Despite　his　appearance　of　well…being；　he　was　still　liable　to　have　a　heart　attack　at　any　moment。
　　Still　gripping　Ed's　hand；　I　jerked　my　head　for　Omar　to　e　forward　and　introduce　himself。
　　〃How　do　you　do？〃　Omar　said。　〃I've　seen　you　referee；　Mr。　Middleton；　but　I've　never　had　the　pleasure　of　meeting　you。〃
　　〃Glad　to　meet　you　at　last　then；　Mr。　Baradinsky。　Evidently　you've　been　a　settling　influence　on　my　boy　here。　When　I　heard　about　the　holdup　in　Chattanooga；　I　checked　right　away；　and　don't　think　I　wasn't　surprised　when　I　learned　that　you　two　had　pulled　out　before　the　meet！　The　old　Frank　Mansfield　I　knew　would've　been　right　in　there；　reaching　for　the　ceiling　with　the　rest　of　'em。〃
　　Omar　laughed。　〃If　there's　any　influencing　going　on；　Mr。　Middleton；　it's　Frank　working　on　me；　not　the　other　way　around。〃
　　〃Well；　e　on　in；〃　Ed　entered　the　hail　ahead　of　us。　〃I'm　not　the　official　greeter　here；　Mr。　Baradinsky。　I'm　only　filling　in　for　Mrs。　Pierce。　She　had　to　go　downtown　for　something　or　other。〃　Ed　snapped　his　fingers　at　a　grinning　Negro　boy　of　fourteen　or　fifteen　in　a　white　short　jacket。　〃Take　the　bags　out　of　the　station　wagon　to　Number　Five　upstairs。〃
　　〃Yes；　sir！〃　the　boy　said　quickly。　He　had　been　eager　enough　to　get　our　luggage；　but　the　three　of　us　had　blocked　his　way。
　　While　Omar　and　I　signed　the　guest　register；　Ed　Middleton　surprised　me　again。
　　〃I'm　not　here　as　a　spectator；　Frank；〃　he　explained。　〃I'm　the　referee；　and　don't　think　I　won't　be　watching　every　move　you　make　in　the　pits。〃　He　turned　to　my　partner。　〃I　retired　a　while　back　from　active　cockfighting；　Mr。　Baradinsky；　but　I　decided　later　that　I　was　too　young　to　quit。〃
　　Ed　laughed；　and　then　he　looked　at　me；　staring　directly　into　my　eyes。　〃I　promised　Martha　I'd　quit；　as　you　know；　Frank〃…he　shrugged…〃but　now　the　promise　doesn't　mean　anything…now　that　she's　passed　away。　And　I　know　damned　well　she　wouldn't　want　me　sitting　around　all　by　myself。〃
　　I　nodded　sympathetically　and　smiled。　Two　full　and　active　days　on　his　feet　could　very　well　kill　Ed　Middleton。　And　yet；　I　was　still　glad　to　see　him　and　delighted　to　learn　that　he　was　the　Number　One　pit　official。　Suppose　he　did　keel　over　dead？　That　was　a　much　better　way　to　go　than　eating　his　guts　out　with　boredom　while　he　stared　at　a　grove　of　orange　trees。
　　〃Say；　Frank；〃　Ed　snapped　his　fingers　as　we　started　to　go　upstairs；　〃did　your　partner　ever　see　the　senator's　flock　of　fancy　chickens？〃
　　〃No；　I　haven't；　Mr。　Middleton；〃　Omar　said；　〃although　I've　heard　enough　about　them。〃
　　〃Good！　Mrs。　Pierce'll　be　back　soon；　and　I'll　take　you　on　the　ten…cent　guided　tour。〃
　　We　climbed　the　stairs　to　the　second　floor　to　where　the　Negro　boy　held　the　door　open。　I　gave　him　a　five…dollar　bill；　which　was　plenty；　but　Omar　gave　him　a　five　as　well。　The　boy　was　so　astonished　by　the　size　of　the　two　gratuities；　he　returned　to　our　room　in　less　than　three　minutes　with　four　additional　bath　towels；　a　bowlful　of　ice　cubes　and　a　pitcher　of　orange　juice。
　　Omar　glanced　critically　around　the。　room　and　eyed　the　cut…glass　chandelier　in　the　high　ceiling。　〃I'll　say　this　much；　Frank；〃　Omar　said；　〃the　rag　rug　on　the　floor　isn't　made　of　rags；　the　furniture　wasn't　made　in　Grand　Rapids；　and　that　calendar　on　the　wall　above　my　bed　wasn't　placed　there　by　any　Baptist。〃
　　I　opened　my　suitcase　on　my　bed　and　urpacked；　putting　my　extra　black　button…down　shirts　and　white　socks　into　the　high　walnut　dresser　between　our　beds。　Omar　pushed　open　the　double　French　windows　and　looked　out；　his　hands　clasped　behind　his　back。
　　〃There's　a　good　view　of　the　cockpit　from　here；　Frank；〃　he　said。　〃The　dome　has　turned　rose　in　the　afternoon　sun。　Take　a　look　at　it。〃
　　I　joined　him　at　the　window。　A　half　mile　away；　the　dome　was　pink　on　one　side；　and　on　the　other　side；　away　from　the　sun；　the　shadows　were　a　dark　purple。　The　twenty　separated　concrete　cockhouses　formed　a　U　on　the　southern　side　of　the　circular　pit。　The　Atlanta　architect　who　had　built　the　cockpit　had　settled　for　concrete　blocks；　but　had　incorporated　many　of　the　features　of　the　Royal　Cockpit　at　Whitehall　Palace　into　the　structure。　The　long　narrow　windows；　recessed　deeply　into　the　walls；　were　traditional；　but　they　didn't　let　in　enough　light。　The　five　strong　electric　lights　over　the　pit　had　to　be　turned　on　for　both　day　and　night　fighting。
　　The　square　squat　ugly　restaurant；　with　a　white　asbestos　tile　roof；　had　been　added　ten　years　after　the　cockpit　had　been　finished　and　was　connected　to　the　pit　by　a　screened…in　breezeway。　The　restaurant　was　entirely　out　of　keeping　with　the　general　design；　and　I　had　always　thought　it　a　pity　that　it　hadn't　been　built　in　the　first　place　by　the　original　architect。
　　The　interior　of　the　two…story　pit　held　circular　tiers　rising　steeply　to　the　rim　of　the　dome；　and　seated　four　hundred　people。　The　judge's　box　was　to　the　right　of　the　connecting　hall　to　the　drag　pit；　and　the　press　box　was　directly　above　this　exit。　Including　the　new　doorway　that　had　been　cut　through　the　wall　leading　to　the　restaurant；　there　were　five　arched　doorways　to　the　pit。
　　I　finished　my　unpacking；　and　slipped　on　my　jacket　again　in　preparation　to　go　out。　Omar　turned　away　from　the　windows；　and　poured　a　glass　of　orange　juice。
　　〃I　want　to　tell　you　something；　Frank。〃　The　husky　tone　of　his　voice　stopped　me　before　I　reached　the　door。　〃Whether　we　win　the　tourney　or　not；　I　want　you　to　know　that　I'll　always　be　grateful　to　you　for　getting　me　this　far。　This　is　truly　the　greatest　experience　of　my　life。〃
　　He　said　this　so　warmly　that　I　hit　him　fondly　on　the　arm　with　my　fist。　I　was　tempted　to　tell　my　partner　about　my　vow　of　silence；　but　this　wasn't　the　time　to　tell　him。　If　he　knew　that　my　voice　was　riding　on　the　prospect　of　being　awarded　the　Cockfighter　of　the　Year　award；　he　would　have　gotten　more　nervous　about　the　oute　than　he　was　already。
　　〃Well；〃　he　said　cheerfully；　clearing　his　throat；　〃isn't　it　about　time　to　take　a　look　at　those　fancy　chickens？〃
　　I　wagged　my　chin　and　pointed　to　his　chest。　I　couldn't　go　with　him；　but　I　knew　he　would　enjoy　seeing　them。　Senator　Foxhall　had　one　of　the　finest　collections　of　fancy　game　fowl　in　the　world。　He　had　turned　fancier；　after　getting　too　old　to　fight　chickens　in　the　pit。　He　raised　purebred　Gallus　Bankivas；　the　original　wild　jungle　fowl　from　which　all　game　fowl　are　descended；　Javanese　cocks；　with　tails　ten　feet　long；　miniature　bantams　from　Japan…beautiful　little　creatures　not　much　larger　than　quail…and　many　other　exotic　breeds。　If　Mary　Elizabeth　came　to　the　meet；　I　intended　to　show　them　to　her。　But　I　couldn't　go　with　Ed　and　Omar　right　then。　I　had　to　drive　into　Milledgevifie。
　　I　had　wired　the　Sealbach　Hotel　and　reserved　four　rooms；　but　with　the　crowd　of　visitors　expected　the　next　day　I　knew　the　manager　wouldn't　hold　them　for　me　unless　I　paid　for　them　in　advance。　I　wrote　a　short　note　for　Omar；　telling　him　where　I　was　going　and　why。
　　〃if　you　want　me　to；　I'll　go　with　you。〃
　　I　shook　my　head。
　　〃Okay。　But　rest　easy　about　your　guests；　Frank。　I'll　see　that　they're　well　taken　care　of；　don't　worry。　Didn't　I　ever　tell　you　that　I　was　once　a　vice…president　in　charge　of　public　relations？〃
　　I　waved　a　hand　in　his　direction；　and　drove　into　town。
　　
　　
　　By　seven　thirty　that　evening　all　the　official　entries　had　signed　in；　and　the　great　downstairs　hall　was　crowded　as　we　waited　for　Senator　Foxhall　to　e　downstairs　to　lead　the　way　into　the　dining　room。　On　time；　the　old　man　came　down　the　wide　stairs；　clutching　his　housekeeper's　arm　tightly　for　support。　A　slight；　spare　man；　not　much　taller　than　a　fifteen…year…old　boy；　he　stifi　managed　to　hold　himself　rigidly　erect。　In　his　old…fashioned；　broad…lapeled　dinner　jacket　and　white　piqué　vest；　he　had　an　almost　regal　appearance。　His　pale　blue　eyes；　deeply　recessed　now　in　his　old　age；　were　stifi　alert　and　friendly　behind　his　gold…rimmed　glasses　as　he　passed　through　the　crowd。　Somehow；　he　had　preserved　his　hair；　and　his　ivory　mane　was　bed　straight　back　from　his　high　forehead　in　a　well…groomed　pompadour。
　　Ed　Middleton；　my　partner　and　I　were　standing　together。　When　the　senator　reached　us；　Ed　introduced　the　old　man　to　Omar。
　　〃Oh；　yes。　Baradinsky？　You're　a　Russian；　aren't　you？〃
　　〃No；　sir；〃　Omar　replied。　〃Polish。〃
　　〃You　look　like　a　Russian。〃
　　〃It's　probably　the　beard；〃　Omar　said　self…consciously。
　　〃Maybe　so。　Anyway；　you're　in　good　hands　with　Frank　Mansfield。〃　The　senator　smiled　in　my　direction；　exposing　his　blue…gray　false　teeth。　〃You'll　teach　him　our　American　ways；　won't　you；　son？〃
　　Smiling　in　return；　I　nodded　my　head。　Omar's　great…greatgrandfather　had　emigrated　to　the　United　States；　but　it　would　have　been　useless　to　explain　this　fact　to　the　senator。
　　Senator　Foxhall　nodded　his　head　thoughtfully　about　twenty　times　before　speaking　again。
　　〃Frank　is　a　good　man；　Mr。　Baradinsky。　I　knew　his　granddaddy。　You　listen　to　Frank　and　you'll　learn　something　about　gamecocks。　Did　you　ever　hear　of　Polish　poultry？〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　〃Well；　they　don't　e　from　Poland！　I'll　bet　you　didn't　know　that；　did　you？〃
　　〃No；　sir；　I　didn't。〃
　　〃I　didn't　think　you　did；〃　the　old　man　said　gleefully。　〃Not　many　people　do。　Did　you　know　that；　Ed？〃
　　〃I　sure　did；　Senator；〃　Ed　said；　with　a　rueful　laugh。　〃I　once　tried　to　cross　some　frizzle…haired　Polish　cocks；　and　after　losing　three　in　the　pit；　I　found　out　that　they　wouldn't　face　when　they　were　hurt。〃
　　〃You　should've　e　to　me；〃　the　old　man　said。　〃I　could've　told　you　that　and　saved　you　some　money。〃　He　turned　back　to　Omar。　〃Cockfighting　in　Poland　has　never　been　up　to　standard；　Mr。　Baradinsky。　They　don't　feed　them　right。　Same　thing　with　Ireland。　Gamecocks　can't　fight　on　raw　potatoes；　Mr。　Baradinsky。〃
　　〃I'll　remember　that；〃　Omar　said　blandly。
　　Mrs。　Pierce；　the　senator's　housekeeper　for　more　than　thirty　years；　tugged　on　the　old　man's　arm。　〃We'd　better　go　in　to　dinner　now；〃　she　reminded　him。　As　the　old　couple　turned　away　from　us　to　lead　the　way　into　the　dining　room；　Omar　shrugged　h