hr.thecarpetbaggers-第95部分

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　〃Dan　Pierce。　He's　going　to　make　the　pictures。　I'm　to　run　everything　else　…　administration；　sales　and　theaters。〃
　The　cigar　bobbed　up　and　down　excitedly　in　the　old　man's　mouth。　A　broad　smile　came　over　his　face。　〃My　boy；　I'm　proud　of　you。〃　He　clapped　his　hand　on　David's　shoulder。　〃I　always　said　someday　you'd　amount　to　something。〃
　David　looked　at　his　uncle　in　surprise。　This　wasn't　the　reaction　he　had　expected。　An　accusation　of　betrayal　would　have　been　more　like　it。　〃You　are？〃
　〃Of　course　I　am；〃　Bernie　said　enthusiastically。　〃What　else　did　I　expect　of　my　own　sister's　son？〃
　David　stared　up　at　him。　〃I　thought…　〃
　〃Thought？〃　the　old　man　said；　still　smiling。　〃What　difference　does　it　make　what　you　thought？　Bygones　is　bygones。　Now　we　can　really　put　our　heads　together。　I'll　show　you　ways　to　make　money　you　never　dreamed　about。〃
　〃Make　money？〃
　〃Sure；〃　Bernie　replied；　lowering　his　voice　to　a　confidential　tone。　〃A　goyishe　kopf　is　always　a　goyishe　kopf。　With　you　in　charge；　who　will　know　what's　going　on？　Tomorrow；　I'll　let　all　the　suppliers　know　the　old　deal　is　still　on。　Only　now　you　get　twenty…five　per　cent　of　the　kickback。〃
　〃Twenty…five　per　cent？〃
　〃What's　the　matter？〃　Bernie　asked　shrewdly。　〃Twenty…five　per　cent　isn't　enough　for　you？〃
　David　didn't　answer。
　〃So　your　Uncle　Bernie　ain't　a　chazer。　All　right。　Fifty；　then。〃
　David　ground　out　his　cigarette　in　the　ash　tray。　He　got　to　his　feet　and　walked　silently　to　the　window。　He　looked　down　into　the　park　across　the　street。
　〃What's　the　matter？〃　his　uncle　said　behind　him。　〃Fifty…fifty　ain't　fair？　You　owe　me　something。　If　it　wasn't　for　me；　you'd　never　have　got　this　job。〃
　David　felt　his　bitterness　rise　up　into　his　throat。　He　turned　and　looked　at　the　old　man。　〃I　owe　you　something？〃　he　said　angrily。　〃Something　for　all　those　years　you　kept　me　hustling　my　tail　off　for　a　lousy　three　fifty　a　week？　Every　time　I　asked　you　for　more　money　you　cried　about　how　much　the　pany　was　losing。　And　all　the　time；　you　were　siphoning　off　a　million　bucks　a　year　into　your　own　pocket。〃
　〃That　was　different；〃　the　old　man　said。　〃You　don't　understand。〃
　David　laughed。　〃I　understand　all　right；　Uncle　Bernie。　What　I　understand　is　that　you've　got　fifteen　million　dollars　free　and　clear。　If　you　live　to　be　a　thousand；　you　couldn't　spend　all　you've　got。　And　still　you　want　more。〃
　〃So　what's　wrong　with　that？〃　Bernie　demanded。　〃I　worked　for　it。　I'm　entitled　to　it。　You　want　I　should　let　go　everything　just　because　some　shlemiel　screwed　me　out　of　my　own　business？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃You　take　the　side　of　that…　that　Nazi　against　your　own　flesh　and　blood？〃　the　old　man　shrieked　at　him；　his　face　flushing　angrily。
　David　stared　at　the　old　man。　〃I　don't　have　to　take　sides；　Uncle　Bernie；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃You　yourself　have　admitted　it's　not　your　pany　any　more。〃
　〃But　you're　running　the　pany。〃
　〃That's　right。〃　David　nodded。　〃I'm　running　the　pany。　Not　you。〃
　〃Then　you're　keeping　everything　for　yourself？〃　the　old　man　said　accusingly。
　David　turned　his　back　on　his　uncle；　without　speaking。　For　a　moment；　there　was　silence；　then　his　uncle's　voice。　〃You're　even　worse　than　him；〃　Bernie　said　bitterly。　〃At　least；　he　wasn't　stealing　from　his　own　flesh　and　blood。〃
　〃Leave　me　alone；　Uncle　Bernie；〃　David　said　without　turning　around。　〃I'm　tired。　I　want　to　get　some　sleep。〃
　He　heard　the　old　man's　footsteps　cross　the　room　and　the　door　slam　angrily　behind　him。　He　leaned　his　head　wearily　against　the　side　of　the　window。　So　that　was　why　the　old　man　hadn't　gone　back　to　California　right　after　the　meeting。　He　felt　a　lump　e　into　his　throat。　He　didn't　know　why　but　suddenly　he　felt　like　crying。
　The　faint　sound　of　a　clanging　bell　came　floating　up　to　him　from　the　street。　He　moved　his　head　slightly；　looking　out　of　the　window。　The　clanging　grew　louder　as　an　ambulance　turned　west　on　to　Fifty…ninth　from　Fifth　Avenue。　He　turned　and　walked　slowly　from　the　window　back　into　the　room；　the　clanging　growing　fainter　in　his　ears。　All　his　life　it　had　been　like　that；　somehow。
　When　he　rode　up　front　on　the　junk　wagon；　with　his　father　sitting　next　to　him　on　the　hard　wooden　seat；　it　had　seemed　that　was　the　only　sound　he'd　ever　heard。　The　clanging　of　a　bell。
　
　2
　
　THE　COWBELLS　SUSPENDED　ACROSS　THE　WAGON　behind　him　clanged　lazily　as　the　weary　horse　inched　along　through　the　pushcarts　that　lined　both　sides　of　Rivington　Street。　The　oppressive　summer　heat　beat　down　on　his　head。　He　let　the　reins　lay　idle　in　his　fingers。　There　wasn't　much　you　could　do　to　guide　the　horse。　It　would　pick　its　own　way　through　the　crowded　street；　moving　automatically　each　time　a　space　opened　up。
　〃Aiyee　caash　clothes！〃　His　father's　singsong　call　penetrated　the　sounds　of　the　market　street；　lifting　its　message　high　to　the　windows　of　the　tenements；　naked；　blind　eyes　staring　out　unseeing　into　the　hungry　world。
　〃Aiyee　caash　clothes！〃
　He　looked　down　from　the　wagon　to　where　his　father　was　striding　along　the　crowded　sidewalk；　his　beard　waving　wildly　as　his　eyes　searched　the　windows　for　signs　of　business。　There　was　a　certain　dignity　about　the　old　man　…　the　broad…brimmed　black　beaver　hat　that　had　e　from　the　old　country；　the　long　black　coat　that　flapped　around　his　ankles；　the　shirt　with　its　heavily　starched　but　slightly　wilted　wing　collar；　and　the　tie　with　the　big　knot　resting　just　below　his　prominent　Adam's　apple。　The　face　was　pale　and　cool；　not　even　a　faint　sign　of　perspiration　dampened　the　brow；　while　David's　was　dripping　with　sweat。　It　seemed　almost　as　if　the　heavy　black　clothing　provided　insulation　against　the　heat。
　〃Hey；　Mister　Junkman！〃
　His　father　moved　out　into　the　gutter　to　get　a　better　look。　But　it　was　David　who　saw　her　first　…　an　old　woman　waving　from　the　fifth…floor　window。　〃It's　Mrs。　Saperstein；　Pop。〃
　〃You　think　I　can't　see？〃　his　father　asked；　grumbling。　〃Yoo…hoo；　Mrs。　Saperstein！〃
　〃Is　that　you；　Mr。　Woolf？〃　the　woman　called　down。
　〃Yes；〃　the　old　man　shouted。　〃What　you　got？〃
　〃e　up；　I'll　show　to　you。〃
　〃I　don't　want　winter　clothes；〃　the　old　man　shouted。　〃Who's　to　buy？〃
　〃Who　said　about　winter　clothes？　e　up；　you'll　see！〃
　〃Tie　the　horse　over　there；〃　his　father　said；　pointing　to　an　open　space　between　two　pushcarts。　〃Then　e　to　carry　down　the　stuff。〃
　David　nodded　as　his　father　crossed　the　street　and　disappeared　into　the　entrance　of　a　house。　He　nudged　the　horse　over　and　tied　it　to　a　fire　hydrant。　Then　he　slipped　a　feed　bag　over　its　weary　muzzle　and　started　after　his　father。
　He　felt　his　way　up　through　the　dark；　unlit　hallway　and　staircase　and　stopped　outside　the　door。　He　knocked。　The　door　opened　immediately。　Mrs。　Saperstein　stood　there；　her　long　gray　hair　folded　in　coils　on　top　of　her　head。　〃e　in；　e　in。〃
　David　came　into　the　kitchen　and　saw　his　father　sitting　at　the　table。　In　front　of　him　was　a　plate　filled　with　cookies。　〃A　gluz　tay；　David？〃　the　old　woman　asked；　going　to　the　stove。
　〃No；　thanks；　Mrs。　Saperstein；〃　he　answered　politely。
　She　took　a　small　red　can　from　the　shelf　over　the　stove；　then　carefully　measured　two　teaspoonfuls　of　tea　into　the　boiling　water。　The　tea　leaves　immediately　burst　open　and　spun　around　madly　on　the　surface。　When　she　finally　poured　the　tea　into　a　glass　through　a　strainer　and　set　it　in　front　of　his　father；　it　was　almost　as　black　as　coffee。
　His　father　picked　up　a　lump　of　sugar　from　the　bowl　and　placed　it　between　his　lips；　then　sipped　the　tea。　After　he　swallowed　the　first　scalding　mouthful；　he　opened　his　mouth　and　said；　〃Ah！〃
　〃Good；　isn't　it？〃　Mrs。　Saperstein　was　smiling。　〃That's　real　tea。　Swee…Touch…Nee。　Like　in　the　old　country。　Not　like　the　chazerai　they　try　to　sell　you　here。〃
　His　father　nodded　and　lifted　the　glass　again。　When　he　put　it　back　on　the　table；　it　was　empty　and　the　polite　formalities　were　over。　Now　it　was　time　to　attend　to　business。　〃Nu；　Mrs。　Saperstein？〃
　But　Mrs。　Saperstein　wasn't　quite　ready　to　talk　business　yet。　She　looked　over　at　David。　〃Such　a　nice　boy；　your　David；〃　she　said　conversationally。　〃He　reminds　me　of　my　Howard　at　his　age。〃　She　picked　up　the　plate　of　cookies　and　held　it　toward　him。　〃Take　one；〃　she　urged。　〃I　baked　myself。〃
　David　took　a　cooky　and　put　it　in　his　mouth。　It　was　hard　and　dry　and　crumbled　into　little　pieces。　〃Take　another；〃　she　urged。　〃You　look　thin；　you　shou