hr.thecarpetbaggers-第101部分

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　Suddenly；　he　was　sick　inside。　This　was　madness。　He　was　no　hero。　What　purpose　would　it　serve？　What　was　so　big　about　this　lousy　job　that　he　had　to　get　himself　killed　over　it？　Then　he　saw　the　platform　boss　and　he　forgot　it　all。　There　was　no　turning　back。
　It　was　the　jungle　all　over　again　…　the　streets　down　on　the　East　Side；　the　junk　yards　along　the　river；　and　now　a　warehouse　on　Forty…third　Street。　Each　had　its　little　king　who　had　to　be　ever　ready　to　fight　to　keep　his　little　kingdom　…　because　someone　was　always　waiting　to　take　it　away　from　him。
　A　great　realization　came　to　David　and　with　it　a　surge　of　strength　and　power。　The　world　was　like　this；　even　his　uncle；　sitting　way　up　on　top　there；　was　a　king　in　his　own　way。　He　wondered　how　many　nights　Uncle　Bernie　stayed　awake　worrying　about　the　threats　to　his　empire。
　Kings　had　to　live　with　fear　…　more　than　other　people。　They　had　more　to　lose。　And　the　knowledge　was　always　there；　buried　deep　inside　them；　that　one　day　it　would　be　over。　For　kings　were　human；　after　all；　and　their　strength　would　lessen　and　their　minds　would　not　think　as　quickly。　And　kings　must　die　and　their　heirs　inherit。　It　would　be　that　way　with　the　platform　boss　and　it　would　be　that　way　with　his　Uncle　Bernie。　Someday；　all　this　would　be　his；　for　he　was　young。
　〃Get　the　truck；〃　he　said；　out　of　the　corner　of　his　mouth。
　Needlenose　walked　down　the　ramp　and　across　the　street　to　where　the　truck　was　parked。　David　turned　and　pushed　the　big　jack　over　to　the　nearest　wooden　rack。　He　pumped　the　handle　and　the　rack　lifted　off　the　floor。　He　came　to　the　edge　of　the　loading　platform　just　as　Needlenose　backed　the　truck　to　a　stop。
　Needlenose　came　down　from　behind　the　wheel。　〃Want　a　hand；　Davy？〃
　〃I'll　manage；〃　David　said。　He　pushed　the　loaded　jack　onto　the　open　platform　of　the　truck　and　pulled　the　release。　The　wooden　platform　sank　to　the　truck　floor。　He　sneaked　a　look　at　the　platform　boss　as　he　went　back　for　the　next　rack　of　heralds。　The　man　hadn't　moved。
　A　faint　hope　began　to　stir　inside　David。　Maybe　he'd　been　wrong；　maybe　they'd　all　been　wrong。　He　rolled　the　last　rack　onto　the　truck　and　pulled　the　release。　There　wasn't　going　to　be　a　fight　after　all。
　He　heard　a　faint　sigh　e　from　the　people　on　the　platform　as　he　turned　the　jack　around　to　wheel　it　off　the　truck。　He　looked　up。　The　platform　boss　was　standing　there；　blocking　the　end　of　the　truck。　Stolidly　David　pushed　the　jack　toward　him。　As　he　neared　the　platform　boss；　he　put　his　foot　on　the　front　of　the　jack　and　stared　at　David　silently。　David　looked　down　at　his　foot。　The　thick…soled；　heavy…toed　work　boot　rested　squarely　on　the　front　of　the　jack。
　David　looked　up　at　the　man　and　tried　to　push　the　jack　up　onto　the　loading　platform。　The　platform　boss's　foot　moved　quickly。　The　handle　of　the　jack　was　torn　from　David's　grasp　and　the　jack　itself　skidded　to　the　side；　the　front　half　pletely　off　the　truck。　Its　wheels　spun　in　the　narrow　space　between　the　loading　platform　and　the　truck。　The　nervous　sigh　came　again　from　the　crowd。
　The　platform　boss　spoke　in　a　flat　voice。　〃It'll　cost　yuh　five　bucks　to　get　off　that　truck；　Jew　boy；〃　he　said。　〃If　yuh　ain't　got　it；　jus'　stay　there！〃
　David　slipped　his　hand　into　his　pocket。　The　metal　was　icy　cold　against　his　fingers　as　he　slipped　the　brass　knuckles　over　his　hand。　〃I　got　something　for　you；〃　he　said　quietly；　as　he　walked　toward　the　man；　his　hand　still　in　his　pocket。
　〃Now　you're　getting　smart；　Jew　boy；〃　the　boss　said；　his　eyes　turning　away　from　David　toward　the　crowd。　It　was　at　that　moment　David　hit　him。　He　felt　the　shock　of　pain　run　up　his　arm　as　the　duster　tore　into　the　man's　face。　A　half　scream　of　pain　came　from　his　throat　as　the　metal　spikes　tore　his　cheek　open　like　an　overripe　melon。
　He　turned；　swinging　wildly　at　David；　the　blow　catching　him　on　the　side　of　the　head；　slamming　him　back　against　the　side　of　the　truck。　David　could　feel　his　forehead　beginning　to　swell。　It　had　to　be　a　quick　fight　or　the　man　would　kill　him。　He　shook　his　head　to　clear　it　and　looked　up　to　see　the　platform　boss　ing　at　him　again。　He　braced　his　feet　against　the　side　of　the　truck　and　using　the　added　leverage　this　gave　him；　lashed　out　at　the　man's　face。
　The　blow　never　reached　its　target。　The　platform　boss　caught　it　on　his　raised　arm　but　it　spun　him　backward　toward　the　edge　of　the　platform。　Again　David　lashed　out　at　him。　He　sidestepped　the　blow　but　stumbled　and　fell　from　the　platform　to　the　ground。
　David　leaned　over　the　big　hydraulic　jack　and　looked　down　at　him。　He　was　getting　to　his　hands　and　knees。　He　turned　his　face　up　to　David；　the　blood　running　down　his　cheeks；　his　lips　drawn　savagely　back　across　his　teeth。　〃I'll　kill　yuh　for　this；　yuh　Jew　bastard！〃
　David　stared　down　at　him。　The　man　was　up　on　one　knee。　〃You　wanted　it　like　this；　mister；〃　David　said　as　he　reached　for　the　handle　of　the　jack。
　The　platform　boss　screamed　once　as　the　heavy　jack　came　down　on　him。　Then　he　lay　quietly；　face　on　the　ground；　the　jack　straddling　his　back　like　a　primeval　monster。
　Slowly　David　straightened　up；　his　chest　heaving。　He　stared　at　the　crowd。　Already　they　were　beginning　to　melt　away；　their　faces　white　and　frightened。　Needlenose　climbed　up　on　the　truck。　He　looked　down　at　the　platform　boss。　〃Yuh　think　yuh　croaked　him？〃
　David　shrugged。　He　slipped　the　brass　knuckles　into　his　friend's　pocket。　〃You　better　get　the　truck　out　of　here。〃
　Needlenose　nodded　and　climbed　behind　the　wheel　as　David　stepped　across　onto　the　loading　platform。　The　truck　pulled　out　into　the　street　just　as　Wagner　came　up　with　a　policeman。　The　policeman　looked　at　David。　〃What　happened？〃
　〃There's　been　an　accident；〃　David　answered。
　The　policeman　looked　down　at　the　platform　boss。　〃Call　an　ambulance；〃　he　said　quickly。　〃Somebody　help　me　get　this　thing　off　him。〃
　David　turned　and　went　up　in　the　freight　elevator。　He　heard　the　clanging　of　the　ambulance　while　he　was　in　the　bathroom；　washing　up。　The　door　behind　him　opened　and　he　turned　around。
　The　Sheriff　was　standing　there；　a　towel　in　his　hand。　〃I　thought　you　could　use　this。〃
　〃Thanks。〃　David　took　the　towel　and　soaked　it　in　hot　water；　then　held　it　to　his　face。　The　heat　felt　soothing。　He　closed　his　eyes。　The　sound　of　the　ambulance　grew　fainter。　〃You　all　right？〃　the　old　man　asked。
　〃I'm　O。K。；〃　David　answered。
　He　heard　the　old　man's　footsteps。　The　door　closed　behind　him　and　David　took　the　towel　from　his　face。　He　stared　at　himself　in　the　mirror。　Except　for　a　slight　lump　on　his　temple；　he　looked　all　right。　He　rinsed　his　face　with　cold　water　and　dried　it。　Leaving　the　towel　hanging　over　the　edge　of　the　sink；　he　walked　out。
　A　girl　was　standing　near　the　staircase；　wearing　the　blue　smock　with　Henri　France　lettered　on　the　pocket。　He　stopped　and　looked　at　her。　She　looked　vaguely　familiar。　She　must　have　been　one　of　the　girls　he　had　seen　downstairs。
　She　smiled　at　him　boldly；　revealing　not　too　pretty　teeth。　〃Is　it　true　you're　old　man　Norman's　nephew？〃
　He　nodded。
　〃Freddie　Jones；　who　runs　your　still　lab；　says　I　ought　to　be　in　pictures。　He　had　me　pose　for　him。〃
　〃Yeah？〃
　〃I　got　them　here；〃　she　said。　〃Want　to　see　'em？〃
　〃Sure。〃
　She　smiled　and　took　some　photographs　out　of　her　pocket。　He　took　the　pictures　and　looked　at　them。　This　Freddie；　whoever　he　was；　knew　how　to　take　pictures。　She　looked　much　better　without　a　smile。　And　without　her　clothes。
　〃Like　'em？〃
　〃Yeah。〃
　〃You　can　keep　'em；〃　she　said。
　〃Thanks。〃
　〃If　you　get　a　chance；　show　'em　to　your　uncle　sometime；〃　she　said　quickly。　〃Lots　of　girls　get　started　in　pictures　that　way。〃
　He　nodded。
　〃I　seen　what　happened　downstairs。　It　was　sure　time　that　Tony　got　his　lumps。〃
　〃You　didn't　like　him？〃
　〃Nobody　liked　him；〃　she　said。　〃But　they　were　all　afraid　of　him。　The　cop　asked　me　what　happened。　I　told　him　it　was　an　accident。　The　jack　fell　on　him。〃
　He　looked　into　her　eyes。　They　were　hard　and　shining。
　〃You're　nice；〃　she　said。　〃I　like　you。〃　She　took　something　out　of　her　pocket　and　gave　it　to　him。　It　looked　like　a　small　tin　of　aspirin　but　the　lettering　read：　Henri　France　De　Luxe。
　〃You　don't　have　to　worry　about　those；〃　she　said。　〃They're　the　best　we　make。　You　can　read　a　newspaper　through　'em。　I　inspected　and　rolled　them　myself。〃
　〃Thanks。〃
　〃Got　to　get　back　to　work；〃　she　sai