THE SCAB
Arkady Leokum
T
HE TWO MEN
climb up the dark stairs on which the lino–
leum curves in and out and walk back along the first landing and
then they climb with short steps to the second floor.
"If
this is another Italian ... " McHugh says.
Brandt grins "They're tough, eh? Well ... " he knocks
on a door near the stairs, "We'll see." They stand outside
the door and stare vacantly, listening. Brandt knocks agam
sharply.
Finally there is the noise of a chair being moved inside
the room and there is a silence as if someone inside were listen–
ing too, or waiting. The two men look at each other. It is
better when the door is opened at once and they know what
they have to face and whom to deal with and they don't have
to stand there wondering and waiting.
Brandt is about to knock again when a voice suddenly very
close to the door says: "vVhat do you want?"
"Oh open up, will you?" says Brandt. He says it lightly.
"You know us, open up."
The man inside opens the door and sticks his head out.
He looks them up and down quickly.
"I don't know you."
"Sure
I
From the union-" the two push their way inside
the room. "Why sure you know us,-we're from the union
I"
The man comes away from the door slowly; but not too
close, he stands a little distance away.
"Well?"
"Well," Brandt looks around the room, "let's sit down
anyway." He feels very confident, and McHugh too glances
around, because this fellow isn't at all like the Italian was and
he is even frightened you can see and this is going to be an
easy job generally.
"Now let's sit down," Brandt says again and sits down
on the bed. The man follows him. He is thin with very bony
42
