Part 25 (1/2)
”Aah, you know Paco. He got p-o'ed at the picture and started to horse around. Dropped a beer bottle off of the balcony or something, I don't know.”
”Then this guy booted you guys out?”
”Yeah.”
”Did Paco give him a fight?”
”No,” Albert said, thoughtfully. They climbed up the side of a car and jumped from the top to the ground. ”He's too smart for that. They would of called the cops and all that kind of c.r.a.p. This way's better.”
”Yeah.”
”Nervous?”
”Yeah, real nervous. I'm dying to death, I'm so frigging nervous. Listen--when I get through tonight, Paco and all the rest of you guys better lay off me.”
”Don't worry.”
”So what is it?”
”Twenty-of. This is the place--he went by right over there.”
Julio wondered if Albert could hear his heart. And if Albert could read his thoughts He felt the greasy knife handle slip in his hands, so he took it out and wiped it on his trousers and tested it. He pushed the point of the blade into the soft wood of a car, pretending it was the Jewish boy's neck.
He pulled the knife and didn't do that any more.
They sat on the cindery ground beside a huge iron wheel.
”Really a rat, huh?” Julio said.
”The most,” Albert said.
”How old?”
”Who knows--twenty-five, thirty. You can't tell with them.”
”You don't suppose he--I mean this guy--you don't think he's got a family or anything like that, do you?”
”What the h.e.l.l kind of thing is that to say? Christ, no! Who'd marry a greaseball slob like that?”
Albert laughed softly, and took from his leather jacket pocket a redhandled knife that had to be operated manually. He opened it and began to clean his fingernails. Every two or three seconds he glanced up toward the dark unpaved street.
”So n.o.body's going to miss _him_, right?” Julio said.”No. We're going to all break down and cry. What's the matter, you chickening out? If you are, I ain't going to sit here on my can all--”
Julio clutched Albert's s.h.i.+rt-front and gathered it in his fist. ”Shut up. You hear? Shut your G.o.ddam face about that stuff or I'll break it for you.”
”Shhh, quiet down. . . we'll talk later. Let go. If you want to screw everything, just keep shooting your mouth.”
Julio felt perspiration course down his legs.
He tried to stop the shudder.
”Okay,” he said.
On tracks a mile distant a string of freight cars lumbered clumsily out of a siding, punching with heavy sounds at the night. There were tiny human noises, too, like small birds high out of sight.
Otherwise, there was only his own breathing.
”I want to hear 'mackerel snapper' when this is over,” Julio said.
”You ain't done nothing yet,” Albert said, looking away quickly.
”Screw you,” Julio said. But his voice started to crack, so he forced a yawn and stretched out his legs. ”So when the h.e.l.l we going to get a G.o.ddam sickle?” he said.
Albert didn't answer.
”Kind of a gang is this, anyway, we don't have any G.o.ddam sickles?”
”Five-of. He ought to be along pretty quick now.”
Julio grinned, closed the knife, reopened it with a swift soft click, closed it again. His hands were moist and the knife handle was coated with a grimy sweat which made it slippery. He wiped it carefully along the sides of his jeans.
”The Kats have got sickles. Five, for Chrissakes.”
”Kats, schmats,” Albert said. ”Knock it off, will you?”
”What's the matter, Albert? Don't tell me you're scared!”
Albert drew back his fist and hit Julio's shoulder, then quickly put a finger to his lips. ”_Shhh!_”
They listened.
It was nothing.
”Hey, little boy, hey Albert, know what?” Julio combed his hair. ”Know what I know? Paco, he don't think I'll do it. He wants you and Ito come back so he can give with the big-man routine. He don't think I'll do it.”
Albert looked interested.
”He's real sharp. Having a great big ball right now. Where's it going to put him when we get back with the Jewboy's ears?” Julio laughed.
In the stillness, footsteps rang sharply on the ground, but ponderously as gravel was crunched and stones were sent snapping.
The footsteps grew louder.
Albert listened, then he rose slowly and brushed the dirt from his jeans. He opened his knife, looked at Julio and Julio got up. They hunched close by the shadow of the boxcar.