hr.thecarpetbaggers-第86节

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　But　when　they'd　been　married；　Chaim　had　gone　to　work　in　her　father's　business。　Then　the　pogroms　began　and　the　faces　of　Jews　became　thin　and　haunted。　They　left　their　homes　only　under　the　cover　of　night；　hurrying　about　like　little　animals　of　the　forest。　Or　they　sat　huddled　in　the　cellars　of　their　houses；　the　doors　and　windows　barred　and　locked；　like　chickens　trying　to　hide　to　the　pen　when　they　sense　the　approach　of　the　shochet。
　Until　that　night　when　she　could　stand　it　no　longer。　She　rose　screaming　from　the　pallet　at　her　husband's　side；　the　letter　from　her　brother　Bernard；　in　America；　still　fresh　in　her　mind。　〃Are　we　to　live　like　rabbits　in　a　trap；　waiting　for　the　Cossacks　to　e？〃　she　cried。　〃Is　it　into　this　dark　world　that　my　husband　expects　I　should　bring　forth　a　child？　Even　Jehovah　could　not　plant　his　seed　in　a　cellar。〃
　〃Hush！〃　Chaim's　voice　was　a　harsh　whisper。　〃The　name　of　the　Lord　shall　not　be　taken　in　vain。　Pray　that　He　does　not　turn　His　face　from　us。〃
　She　laughed　bitterly。　〃Already　He　has　forsaken　us。　He；　too；　is　fleeing　before　the　Cossacks。〃
　〃Quiet；　woman！〃　Chaim's　voice　was　an　outraged　roar。
　She　looked　at　the　other　pallets　in　the　damp　cellar。　In　the　dim　light；　she　could　barely　see　the　pale；　frightened　faces　of　her　parents。　Just　then　there　was　a　thunder　of　horse's　hoofs　outside　the　house　and　the　sound　of　a　gun　butt　against　the　locked　door。
　Quickly；　her　father　was　on　his　feet。　〃Quick；　kinder；〃　he　whispered。　〃The　storm　cellar　door　at　the　back　of　the　house。　Through　the　fields；　they　won't　see　you　leaving　that　way。〃
　Chaim　reached　for　Esther's　hand　and　pulled　her　to　the　storm　door。　Suddenly；　he　stopped；　aware　that　her　parents　were　not　following　them。　〃e；〃　he　whispered。　〃Hurry！　There　is　no　time。〃
　Her　father　stood　quietly　in　the　dark；　his　arm　around　his　wife's　shoulder。　〃We　are　not　going；〃　he　said。　〃Better　someone　be　here　for　them　to　find　or　they　will　begin　searching　the　fields。〃
　The　din　over　their　heads　grew　louder　as　the　gun　butts　began　to　break　through　the　door。　Chaim　walked　back　to　her　father。　〃Then　we　all　stay　and　face　them；〃　he　said　calmly；　picking　a　heavy　stave　up　from　the　floor。　〃They　will　learn　a　Jew　does　not　die　so　easily。〃
　〃Go；〃　her　father　said　quietly。　〃We　gave　our　daughter　in　marriage。　It　is　her　safety　that　should　be　your　first　concern；　not　ours。　Your　bravery　is　nothing　but　stupidity。　How　else　have　Jews　survived　these　thousand　years　except　by　running？〃
　〃But…　〃　Chaim　protested。
　〃Go；〃　the　old　man　hissed。　〃Go　quickly。　We　are　old；　our　lives　are　finished。　You　are　young；　your　children　should　have　their　chance。〃
　A　few　months　later；　they　were　in　America。　But　it　was　to　be　almost　twenty　years　before　the　Lord　God　Jehovah　relented　and　let　her　have　a　child。
　Last；　she　prayed　for　her　brother　Bernard；　who　was　a　macher　now　and　had　a　business　in　a　faraway　place　called　California；　where　it　was　summer　all　year　round。　She　prayed　that　he　was　safe　and　well　and　that　he　wasn't　troubled　by　the　Indians；　like　she　saw　in　the　movies　when　she　used　the　pass　he'd　sent　her。
　Her　prayers　finished；　she　went　back　into　the　kitchen。　The　soup　was　bubbling　on　the　stove；　its　rich；　heavy　chicken　aroma　almost　visible　in　the　air。　She　picked　up　a　spoon　and　bent　over　the　pot。　Carefully　she　skimmed　the　heavy　fat　globules　from　the　surface　and　put　them　in　a　jar。　Later；　when　the　fat　was　cold　and　had　congealed；　it　could　be　spread　on　bread　or　mixed　with　chopped　dry　meats　to　give　them　flavor。　While　she　was　bent　like　this　over　the　stove；　she　heard　the　front　door　open。
　From　the　footsteps；　she　knew　who　it　was。　〃That　you；　Duvidele？〃
　〃Yes；　Mama。〃
　Her　task　finished；　she　put　down　the　spoon　and　turned　around　slowly。　As　always；　her　heart　leaped　with　pride　as　she　saw　her　son；　so　straight　and　tall；　standing　there。
　〃Papa　went　to　shul；〃　David　said。　〃He'll　be　home　at　seven　o'clock。〃
　She　smiled　at　him。　〃Good；〃　she　said。　〃So　wash　your　hands　and　clean　up。　Supper　is　ready。〃
　
　3
　
　WHEN　DAVID　TURNED　THE　HORSE　INTO　THE　LITTLE　ALLEY　THAT　LED　TO　THE　BACK　OF　SHOCKY'S　GARAGE；　Needlenose　came　hurrying　up。　〃Is　that　you；　David？〃
　〃Who　did　yuh　think　it　would　be？〃　David　retorted　sarcastically。
　〃Geez；　we　didn't　know　whether　you'd　show　up　or　not。　It's　almost　ten　o'clock。〃
　〃I　couldn't　sneak　out　until　my　old　man　went　to　sleep；〃　David　said；　stopping　the　wagon　at　the　side　of　the　garage。
　A　moment　later；　Shocky　came　out；　his　bald　head　shining　in　the　dim　light。　He　was　of　medium　height；　with　a　heavy　barrel　chest　and　long　tapering　arms　that　reached　almost　to　his　knees。　〃You　took　long　enough　gettin'　here；〃　he　grumbled。
　〃I'm　here；　ain't　I？〃
　Shocky　didn't　answer。　He　turned　to　Needlenose。　〃Start　loading　the　cans；〃　he　said。　〃He　can　help　you。〃
　David　climbed　down　from　the　wagon　and　followed　Shocky　into　the　garage。　The　long　row　of　metal　cans　gleamed　dully　in　the　light　from　the　single　electric　bulb　hanging　high　in　the　ceiling。　David　stopped　and　whistled。　〃There　must　be　forty　cans　there。〃
　〃So　he　can　count；〃　Shocky　said。
　〃That's　four　hundred　pounds。　I　don't　think　Old　Bessie　can　haul　that　much。〃
　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