按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
He preened almost visibly at my words。 His voice lowered to a confidential tone。 〃The word's all over the plant now。 D'ya think I ought to say something to them？ You know them Mexicans and Indians。 They're a might touchy and nervous and need a little calming down。〃
I looked at him。 He was probably right。 〃That's a good idea； Jake。 But I think it would seem better if I talk to them myself。〃
Jake had to agree with me whether he liked it or not。 That was his policy。 Not to disagree with the boss。 〃That's true； Jonas；〃 he said； masking his disappointment。 〃If you feel up to it。〃
〃I feel up to it；〃 I said； starting for the door。
Nevada's voice came after me。 〃What about him？〃
I turned back and followed his glance to the couch。 〃Call the undertakers and have them take care of him。 Tell them we want the best casket in the state。〃
Nevada nodded。
〃Then meet me out in front with the car and we'll go home。〃 I went out the door without waiting for his reply。 Jake trotted after me as I turned down the back corridor and went out onto the stairway leading to the plant。
Every eye in the factory turned toward me as I came through that doorway onto the little platform at the top of the staircase。 Jake held up his hands and quiet began to fall in the factory。 I waited until every machine in the place had e to a stop before I spoke。 There was something eerie about it。 It was the first time I had ever heard the factory pletely silent。 I began to speak and my voice echoed crazily through the building。
〃Mi padre ha muerto。〃 I spoke in Spanish。 My Spanish wasn't very good but it was their language and I continued in it。 〃But I； his son； am here and hope to continue in his good work。 It is indeed too bad that my father is not here to express his appreciation to all you good workers himself for everything you have done to make this pany a success。 I hope it is enough for you to know that just before he passed away； he authorized a five…per…cent increase in wages for every one of you who work in the plant。〃
Jake grabbed my arm frantically。 I shook his hand off and continued。 〃It is my earnest wish that I continue to have the same willing support that you gave to my father。 I trust you will be patient with me for I have much to learn。 Many thanks and may you all go with God。〃
I started down the steps and Jake came after me。 The workers made a path as I walked through。 They were silent for the most part； occasionally； one would touch me reassuringly as I passed by。 Twice I saw tears in someone's eyes。 At least my father didn't go uncried for。 Even if they were tears in the eyes of someone who didn't know him。
I came out of the factory into the daylight and blinked my eyes。 The sun was still in the sky。 I had almost forgotten it was there； it seemed so long ago。
The big Pierce…Arrow was right in front of the door； with Nevada at the wheel。 I started across toward it。 Jake's hand on my arm stopped me。 I turned toward him。
His voice was half whining。 〃What did you have to go and do that for； Jonas？ You don't know them bastards like I do。 Give 'em an inch； they'll want your arm。 Your father was always after me to keep the pay scale down。〃
I stared at him coldly。 Some people didn't learn fast enough。 〃Did you hear what I said in there； Jake？〃
〃I heard what you said； Jonas。 That's what I'm talking about。 I… 〃
I cut him off。 〃I don't think you did； Jake；〃 I said softly。 〃My first words were 'Mi padre ha muerto。' My father is dead。〃
〃Yes； but… 〃
〃That means exactly what it says； Jake。 He's dead。 But I'm not。 I'm here and the only thing you better remember is that I'm exactly like him in just one way。 I'll take no crap from anyone who works for me； and anyone who doesn't like what I do can get the hell out！〃
Jake learned fast。 He was at the car door； holding it open for me。 〃I didn't mean anything； Jonas。 I only… 〃
There was no use explaining to him that if you pay more； you get more。 Ford had proved that when he gave his workers raises the year before。 He more than tripled production。 I got into the car and looked back at the factory。 The black； sticky tar on the roof caught my eye。 I remembered it from the plane。
〃Jake；〃 I said。 〃See that roof？〃
He turned toward it and peered at it。 His voice was puzzled。 〃Yes； sir？〃
Suddenly I was very tired。 I leaned back against the cushions and closed my eyes。 〃Paint it white；〃 I said。
5
I DOZED AS THE BIG PIERCE ATE UP THE TWENTY MILES between my father's new house and the factory。 Every once in a while； I would open my eyes and catch a glimpse of Nevada watching me in the rear…view mirror； then my eyes would close again as if weighted down by lead。
I hate my father and I hate my mother and if I had had sisters and brothers； I would hate them； too。 No； I didn't hate my father。 Not any more。 He was dead。 You don't hate the dead。 You only remember them。 And I didn't hate my mother。 She wasn't my mother； anyway。 I had a stepmother。 And I didn't hate her。 I loved her。
That was why I had brought her home。 I wanted to marry her。 Only； my father said I was too young。 Nineteen was too young； he had said。 But he wasn't too young。 He married her a week after I had gone back to college。
I met Rina at the country club two weeks before vacation was over。 She came from back East； someplace in Massachusetts called Brookline； and she was like no one I had ever met before。 All the girls out here are dark and tanned from the sun； they walk like men； talk like men； even ride like men。 The only time you can be sure they are something else is in the evenings； when they wear skirts instead of Levi's； for even at the swimming pool； according to the fashion； they look like boys。 Flat…chested and slim…hipped。
But Rina was a girl。 You couldn't miss that。 Especially in a bathing suit； the way she was the first time I saw her。 She was slim； all right and her shoulders were broad； maybe too broad for a woman。 But her breasts were strong and full； jutting rocks against the silk…jersey suit that gave the lie to the fashion。 You could not look at them without tasting the milk and honey of their sweetness in your mouth。 They rested easy on a high rib cage that melted down into a narrow waist that in turn flared out into slim but rounded hips and buttocks。
Her hair was a pale blond that she wore long； tied back behind her head； again contrary to fashion。 Her brow was high； her eyes wide apart and slightly slanted； the blue of them reflecting a glow beneath their ice。 Her nose was straight and not too thin； reflecting her Finnish ancestry。 Perhaps her only flaw was her mouth。 It was wide … not generous…wide； because her lips were not full enough。 It was a controlled mouth that set firmly on a tapered； determined chin。
She had gone to Swiss finishing schools； was slow to laughter and reserved in her manner。 In two days； she had me swinging from the chandeliers。 Her voice was soft and low and had a faintly foreign sound that bubbled in your ear。
It was about ten days later； at the Saturday…night dance at the club； that I first knew how much I wanted her。 It was a slow； tight waltz and the lights were down low and blue。 Suddenly she missed half a step。 She looked up at me and smiled that slow smile。
〃You're very strong；〃 she said and pressed herself back against me。
I could feel the heat from her loins pouring into me as we began to dance again。 At last； I couldn't stand it any more。 I took her arm and started from the dance floor。
She followed me silently out to the car。 We climbed into the big Duesenberg roadster and I threw it into gear and we raced down the highway。 The night air on the desert was warm。 I looked at her out of the corner of my eyes。 Her head was back against the seat； her eyes closed to the wind。
I turned off into a date grove and cut the motor。 She was still leaning back against the seat。 I bent over and kissed her mouth。
Her mouth neither gave nor took。 It was like a well on an oasis in the desert。 It was there for when you needed it。 I reached for her breast。 Her hand caught mine and held it。
I lifted my head and looked at her。 Her eyes were open and yet they were guarded。 I could not see into them。 〃I want you；〃 I sai