cwilleford.cockfighter-第43部分

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ded　him。　As　the　old　couple　turned　away　from　us　to　lead　the　way　into　the　dining　room；　Omar　shrugged　his　shoulders　helplessly；　and　winked　at　me。　I　grinned　and　nodded　my　head。　Actually；　my　partner　had　shown　considerable　restraint。　The　senator　had　been　correct　in　everything　he　said。　If　Omar　had　tried　to　argue　with　him；　the　old　man　would　have　cut　him　to　shreds。
　　Except　for　Omar　and　myself；　the　guests　seated　around　the　dinner　table　were　a　rather　eccentric　group。　I　had　known　most　of　them　for　years；　but　even　to　me　it　seemed　like　an　unusual　gathering　of　people。　All　of　us　wore　our　entry　numbers　on　the　backs　of　our　coats。　We　needed　these　numbers　in　the　pit　as　identification　for　the　benefit　of　the　spectators。　But　we　also　had　to　wear　them　at　all　times　for　Senator　Foxhall。　He　knew　our　names；　and　he　knew　them　well；　but　sometimes　he　had　a　tendency　to　forget　them。　When　he　did　forget；　he　checked　his　typewritten　list　of　entries　against　our　numbers　so　he　could　address　any　one　of　us　by　name　without　embarrassment。
　　Senator　Foxhall　sat　at　the　head　of　the　long　table；　and　Mrs。　Pierce　was　seated　at　the　opposite　end。　Ed　Middleton　and　Peach　Owen　were　seated　on　either　side　of　the　senator。　Next　to　Ed　was　Buddy　Waggoner；　the　second　referee；　who　would　preside　over　the　drag　pit。
　　By　their　entry　numbers；　the　remaining　guests　were　seated　around　the　table；　clockwise　from　Buddy　Waggoner。
　　No。　1。　Johnny　McCoy　and　Colonel　Bob　Moore；　USAF　（Retired）。　Johnny　McCoy　and　his　partner；　Colonel　Bob；　flew　to　meets　all　over　the　U。S。　from　their　fifty…thousand…acre　ranch　near　Dan's　Derrick；　Texas；　in　a　Lear　jet。　Colonel　Bob；　although　he　had　been　retired　for　at　least　ten　years；　still　wore　his　Air　Force　blue　uniform　at　all　times。　Only　two　days　before；　this　Texas　partnership　had　fought　in　the　Northwest　Cockfighting　Tourney　in　Seattle；　Washington。　From　there；　they　had　flown　back　to　Dan's　Derrick　and　picked　up　fresh；　newly　conditioned　gamecocks。　They　then　had　flown　in　to　Macon。　The　senator's　limousine　and　private　game…fowl　trailer　had　brought　them　from　Macon　to　Mifiedgeville。
　　No。　2。　Pete　Chocolate；　Pahokee；　Florida。　Except　for　the　senator；　Pete　Chocolate　was　the　only　male　guest　wearing　dinner　clothes。　He　had　spoiled　the　effect；　however；　by　wearing　a　blue…and…white　T…shirt　under　his　black　tuxedo　jacket。　And　around　his　neck　he　wore　an　immaculate　creamcolored　ascot　scarf。
　　No。　3。　Dirty　Jacques　Bonin；　Bioxi；　Mississippi。　There　was　nothing　〃dirty〃　about　Jacques　Bonin's　appearance。　His　suit　was　flawlessly　tailored；　and　his　spatulate　nails　were　freshly　manicured。　Clean　shaven　and　soberly　attired；　he　looked　like；　and　was；　a　church　deacon。　He　had　earned　the　appellation　of　Dirty　Jacques　during　World　War　II　when　he　had　organized　the　gang　of　strikebreakers　who　killed　or　maimed　eighty　striking　long…shoremen　on　the　Mobile　docks。　He　had　never　lived　the　name　down；　although　his　full…time　occupation　was　now　the　breeding　and　fighting　of　Louisiana　Mugs。
　　No。　4。　Jack　Burke。　Dody　sat　beside　her　husband；　and　I　sat　next　to　her…one　of　Mrs。　Pierce's　ideas。　Dody　spoke　to　me　once；　and　only　once；　during　dinner。
　　〃Jack　told　me　to　apologize　for　kicking　you　at　Plant　City；〃　she　whispered。
　　I　waited　politely　for　her　to　continue；　but　that　was　all　she　said。
　　Jack　Burke　also　spoke　to　me　during　dinner；　leaning　forward　in　his　chair　and　twisting　his　head　in　my　direction。
　　〃Let's　make　it　an　even　thousand　bet　between　Little　David　and　your　chicken；　Frank。　I've　okayed　it　with　Ed　and　Peach　to　have　the　hack　immediately　after　the　last　tourney　fight　while　the　judges　tote　up　the　final　scores。　All　right？〃
　　When　I　nodded　in　agreement；　he　sat　back　in　his　chair。
　　No。　5。　The　English…Polish　team　of　Mansfield　and　Baradinsky。
　　No。　6。　Roy　Whipple　and　his　son；　Roy；　Jr。　Mr。　Whipple　was　the　old　cockfighter　who　had　shared　the　velvet　love　seat　with　me　in　the　bridal　suite　of　the　Southerner　Hotel　in　Chattanooga。　He　had　lost　a　bundle　in　the　holdup；　but　it　hadn't　dented　his　bankroll。　The　old　man　owned　three　Asheville；　North　Carolina；　resort　hotels。　Roy；　Jr。；　was　a　senior　at　the　University　of　North　Carolina；　Chapel　Hill；　and　had　obtained　special　permission　from　the　dean　of　men　to　assist　his　father　at　the　meet。
　　No。　7。　Baldy　Allen；　of　Columbus；　Georgia；　was　the　owner　of　several　liquor　stores。　Breeding　and　fighting　milk…white　Doms　was　not　only　a　sideline　for　Baldy；　it　was　a　profitable　enterprise。　His　gregarious　wife；　Jean　Ellen；　who　did　his　betting　for　him；　acpanied　Baldy　everywhere。
　　No。　8。　Johnny　Norris；　Birmingham；　Alabama。　Johnny　was　famous　as　a　conditioner　of　game　fowl；　but　I　didn't　consider　him　a　first…rate　handler。　For　fifteen　years　he　had　conditioned　cocks　for　the　late　Ironclaw　Burnstead。　When　Mr。　Burnstead　died；　he　left　Johnny　three　hundred　thousand　in　cash　and　his　entire　flock　of　game　fowl。　In　the　past　three　years；　Johnny　had　gained　a　reputation　as　an　all…around　cocker；　and　this　was　his　first　entry　in　the　S。C。　Tourney。
　　During　dinner；　I　listened　attentively　to　the　conversation。　All　I　heard　was　〃chicken　talk。〃　The　only　subject　that　any　of　us　had　in　mon　was　cockfighting；　and　the　love　of　cockfighting　was　the　distinguishing　feature　of　every　entry。　Every　man　present　had　the　game　fowl；　the　knowledge；　the　ability　and　the　determination　to　win　the　tourney；　but　only　one　of　us　could　win。
　　I　intended　to　be　that　one。
　　
　　
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　　Out　of　long　habit　more　than　anything　else；　I　drank　a　quick　cup　of　coffee　in　the　dining　room　the　next　morning　and　was　in　the　cockhouse　by　five　thirty。　Gamecocks　cooped　for　long　periods　in　a　small　two…by…two　stall　have　a　tendency　to　get　sleepy　and　bored。　Too　much　lassitude　makes　a　cock　sluggish　when　pitted。　To　wake　them　up；　I　took　each　cock　out　of　its　coop　and　washed　its　head　with　a　damp　sponge　dipped　in　cheap　whiskey。　By　the　time　I　finished　the　sponging　at　seven　thirty；　our　gamecocks　were　skipping　up　and　down　inside　their　stalls　with　rejuvenated　animation　and　crowing　and　clucking　with　happiness。
　　Omar　joined　me　at　eight；　and　a　few　minutes　later　Doc　Riordan　showed　up　at　the　cockhouse　to　wish　me　luck　in　the　tourney。　The　pharmacist　and　my　partner　hit　it　off　well　together　from　the　moment　they　met。
　　〃I　never　miss　the　Southern　Conference　Tourney；〃　Doc　told　Omar；　〃but　all　season　long　I've　been　chained　to　my　desk。　I'm　the　president　of　the　Dixie　Pharmaceutical　pany；　as　Frank　may　have　told　you；　and　this　year　our　firm　is　launching　a　new　product。〃　He　reached　into　his　coat　pocket　and　handed　Omar　a　small　white　packet。　〃Licarbo！〃　he　said　proudly。　〃Advertising　is　our　biggest　headache；　although　the　raising　of　capital　isn't　the　simple　matter　it　used　to　be：；
　　〃Who　handles　your　advertising？〃　Omar　asked；　tearing　open　the　sample　and　cautiously　tasting　the　product　with　the　tip　of　his　tongue。
　　〃Unfortunately'　Doc　sighed；　〃I　have　to　handle　it　myself。　That's　been　my　main　trouble。　But　I'm　a　registered　pharmacist；　and　most　of　the　drugstores　in　Jax　have　allowed　me　to　put　my　posters　in　their　windows。〃
　　〃I　think　you've　got　a　good　idea　here　in　Licarbo；〃　Omar　said　sincerely。　〃After　the　tourney　I　won't　have　too　much　to　do　until　April；　and　maybe　you　and　I　can　get　together　on　this　product。　I　used　to　be　in　advertising　in　New　York。　Perhaps　Frank　told　you？〃
　　〃No；　he　didn't。〃　Doc　looked　at　me　reproachfully。　〃I　didn't　know　Frank　had　himself　a　partner　until　I　read　the　account　of　the　Plant　City　Main　between　you…all　and　Jack　Burke。　Now；　that　was　a　main　I　wish　I'd　seen！　That　reminds　me；　Frank…〃　Doc　took　a　small　bottle　of　black…and…gray　capsules　out　of　his　pocket　and　placed　it　on　the　workbench。　〃These　are　energy　capsules。　I　made　'em　up　for　Mr。　Burke　from　a　formula　he　gave　me；　and　they　should　be　good。　They　take　about　an　hour　for　the　best　results；　but　when　I　made　'em　up　for　Mr。　Burke's　chickens；　I　said　to　myself：　'While　I'm　at　it；　I'll　just　make　up　a　batch　for　Frank　Mansfield：
　　〃We　appreciate　it；　Doctor；〃　Omar　said…and　then　to　me；　〃The　restaurant　should　be　open　by　now。　Let's　get　some　breakfast。〃
　　Shaking　my　head；　I　opened　my　gaff　case　on　the　workbench　and　started　to　polish　gaffs　with　my　conical　grinding　stone。
　　〃I'll　have　some　coffee　with　you；　Mr。　Baradinsky；〃　Doc　offered。
　　〃Fine。　I'd　like　to　find　out　more　about　Licarbo。〃
　　〃Right　now；〃　Doc　said；　〃advertising　isn't　quite　as　important　as　raising　a　little　capital。　However；　I'd　appreciate　any　advice　you'd…〃
　　〃I'll　bring　you　some　coffee；　Frank；〃　Omar　said　over　his　shoulder。　〃Capital；　Doctor；　is　simply　a　matter　of　devious　stratagems　worked　out　through　a　mathematical　process　known　as　pressure　patterns　peculiar　to　pecuniary　people。〃
　　As　soon　as　they　were　out　of　earshot　I　opened　the　small　bottle　of　energy　capsules　Doc　had　given　me；　dumped　them　on　the　floor；　and　crushed　them　into　powder　with　my　heel。　The　capsules　might　have　been　wonderful；　but　I　wouldn't　take　any　chances　with　them。　Jack　Burke　knew　that　Doc　Riordan　was　a　friend　of　mine；　and　that　fact　alone　was　enough　to　make　me　distrust　the　medicine。　Perhaps　Jack　didn't　have　enough　brains　to　plan　anything　so　devious；　but　I　wouldn't　have　used　a　strange　product　on　my　chickens　whether　Burke's　name　had　been　mentioned　or　not。　A　major　tournament　is　not　the　place　for　experimentation。
　　
　　
　　As　the　parking　lot　filled　slowly；　I　leaned　against　the　locked　door　of　our　cockhouse　and　watched　the　arriving　cars　as　they　pulled　in　and　parked　under　the　directions　of　the　attendants。　By　nine　a。m。；　when　the　time　came　for　Omar　and　me　to　go　over　to　the　pit　for　the　opening　of　the　tourney；　there　was　still　no　sign　of　either　Bernice　or　Mary　Elizabeth。
　　Tension　was　building　up　inside　me；　as　it　always　does　just　before　a　meet；　and　I　was　happy　when　Peach　Owen　disengaged　the　mike；　and　handed　it　to　Senator　Foxhall。　Peach　played　out　the　extra　cord　behind　the　senator　as　the　old　man　marched　stiffly　to　the　center　of　the　pit。　The　senator　waited　for　silence；　which　didn't　take　very　long。　This　early　in　the　morning；　there　were　only　about　two　hundred　spectators；　but　by　two　in　the　afternoon；　the　place　would　be　jammed。
　　〃Ladies　and　gentlemen；〃　Senator　Foxhall　said　in　his　high　reedy　voice；　〃wele　to　the　Southern　Conference　Tourney！　We　sincerely　hope　that　all　of　you　will　have　a　good　time。　There　is　only　one　rule　that　you　must　observe　during　the　meet。〃　He　paused。　〃Conduct　yourselves　like　ladies