46
PARTISAN REVIEW
man sudenly stiffens and wriggles out. "Wait I" he shouts.
"Wait will you! For God's sake don't hit me!" he clings to
Brandt. "Don't hit!
I
won't scab. Never! I'm not gonna
scab!" he clings to Brandt's coat. "Look, I'll picket with you!
You'll see-1 swear I'll picket with you to-morrow!" his mouth
is slobbering and he twists in Brandts hands.
Brandt stares for a moment. "What?" He looks at the
man. "What did you say? Did you hear?" he shouts. "Did
you hear what he said l He'll
picket with us I
You son of a
bitch, you'll picket with us?" he swings into the man's face, and
again and then suddenly he lets himself go and beats into the
face again and again till the man's head is bouncing against the
wall and he falls to the floor.
"Picket with us?" Brandt shouts and McHugh grabs his
arm and pulls him away. But he twists back, his eyes wild, and
McHugh pulls him to the door. "Did you hear what the bastard
said? Picket with us!" Brandt shouts and McHugh drags and
pulls him down the stairs, but he can't calm him and he drags
him out.
