killers

TheKillers

ThedoorofHenry‟tdown

atthecounter.

“What‟syours?”Georgeaskedthem.

“Idon‟tknow,”oneofthemensaid.“Whatdoyouwanttoeat,Al?”

“Idon‟tknow,”saidAl.“Idon‟tknowwhatIwanttoeat.”

eotherendofthecounterNick

eentalkingtoGeorgewhentheycamein.

“I‟llhavearoastporktenderloinwithapplesauceandmashedpotatoes,”the

firstmansaid.

“Itisn‟treadyyet.”

“Whatthehelldoyouputitonthecardfor?”

“That‟sthedinner,”Georgeexplained.“Youcangetthatatsixo‟clock.

Georgelookedattheclockonthewallbehindthecounter.“It‟sfiveo‟clock.”

“Theclocksaystwentyminutespastfive,”thecondmansaid.

“It‟stwentyminutesfast.”

“Oh,tohellwiththeclock,”thefirstmansaid.“Whathaveyougottoeat?”

“Icangiveyouanykindofsandwiches,”Georgesaid.“Youcanhavehamand

eggs,baconandeggs,liverandbacon,orasteak.”

“Givemechickencroquetteswithgreenpeasandcreamsauceandmashed

potatoes.”

“That‟sthedinner.”

“Everythingwewant‟sthedinner,eh?That‟sthewayyouworkit.”

“Icangiveyouhamandeggs,baconandeggs,liver—”

“I‟lltakehamandeggs,”aderbyhatanda

ewassmallandwhiteandhe

asilkmufflerandgloves.

“Givemebaconandeggs,”boutthesamesizeas

acesweredifferent,re

tleaningforward,theirelbowsonthe

counter.

“Gotanythingtodrink?”Alasked.

“Silverbeer,bevo,ginger-ale,”Georgesaid.

“Imeanyougotanythingtodrink?”

“JustthoIsaid.”

“Thisisahottown,”saidtheother.“Whatdotheycallit?”

“Summit.”

“Everhearofit?”Alaskedhisfriend.

“No,”saidthefriend.

“Whatdotheydoherenights?”Alasked.

“Theyeatthedinner,”hisfriendsaid.“Theyallcomehereandeatthebig

dinner.

“That‟sright,”Georgesaid.

“Soyouthinkthat‟sright?”AlaskedGeorge.

“Sure.”

“You‟reaprettybrightboy,aren‟tyou?”

“Sure,”saidGeorge.

“Well,you‟renot,”saidtheotherlittleman.“Ishe,Al?”

“He‟sdumb,”edtoNick.“What‟syourname?”

“Adams.”

“Anotherbrightboy,”Alsaid.“Ain‟theabrightboy,Max?”

“Thetown‟sfullofbrightboys,”Maxsaid.

Georgeputthetwoplatters,oneofhamandeggs,theotherofbaconandeggs,

owntwosidedishesoffriedpotatoesandclodthe

wicketintothekitchen.

“Whichisyours?”heaskedAl.

“Don‟tyouremember?”

“Hamandeggs.”

“Justabrightboy,”edforwardandtookthehamandeggs.

watchedthemeat.

“Whatareyoulookingat?”MaxlookedatGeorge.

“Nothing.”

“elookingatme.”

“Maybetheboymeantitforajoke,Max,”Alsaid.

Georgelaughed.

“Youdon‟thavetolaugh,”Maxsaidtohim.“Youdon‟thavetolaughatall,

e?‟

“Allright,”saidGeorge.

“Sohethinksit‟sallright.”MaxturnedtoAl.“Hethinksit‟‟sa

goodone.”

“Oh,he‟sathinker,”ntoneating.

“What‟sthebrightboy‟snamedownthecounter?”AlaskedMax.

“Hey,brightboy,”MaxsaidtoNick.“Yougoaroundontheothersideofthe

counterwithyourboyfriend.”

“What‟stheidea?”Nickasked.

“Thereisn‟tanyidea.”

“Youbettergoaround,brightboy,”ntaroundbehindthe

counter.

“What‟stheidea?”Georgeasked.

“Noneofyourdamnedbusiness,”Alsaid.“Who‟soutinthekitchen?”

“Thenigger.”

“Whatdoyoumeanthenigger?”

“Theniggerthatcooks.”

“Tellhimtocomein.”

“What‟stheidea?”

“Tellhimtocomein.”

“Wheredoyouthinkyouare?”

“Weknowdamnwellwhereweare,”themancalledMaxsaid.“Dowelook

silly?”

“Youtalksilly,”A1saidtohim.“Whatthehelldoyouarguewiththiskidfor?

Listen,”hesaidtoGeorge,“telltheniggertocomeouthere.”

“Whatareyougoingtodotohim?”

“rhead,uldwedotoanigger?”

GeorgeopenedtheslitthatOpenedbackintothekitchen.“Sam,”hecalled.

“Comeinhereaminute.”

Thedoortothekitchenopenedandtheniggercamein.“Whatwasit?”he

menatthecountertookalookathim.

“Allright,ndrightthere,”Alsaid.

Sam,thenigger,standinginhisapron,lookedatthetwomensittingatthe

counter.“Yes,sir,”ownfromhisstool.

“I‟mgoingbacktothekitchenwiththeniggerandbrightboy,”hesaid.“Go

onbacktothekitchen,ithhim,brightboy.”Thelittleman

walkedafterNickandSam,thecook,rshut

‟t

lookatGeorgebutlookedinthemirrorthatranalongbackofthecounter.

Henry‟shadbeenmadeoverfromasaloonintoalunchcounter.

“Well,brightboy,”Maxsaid,lookingintothemirror,“whydon‟tyousay

something?”

“What‟sitallabout?”

“Hey,Al,”Maxcalled,“brightboywantstoknowwhatit‟sallabout.”

“Whydon‟tyoutellhim?”Al‟svoicecamefromthekitchen.

“Whatdoyouthinkit‟sallabout?”

“Idon‟tknow.”

“Whatdoyouthink?”

Maxlookedintothemirrorallthetimehewastalking.

“Iwouldn‟tsay.”

“Hey,Al,brightboysayshewouldn‟tsaywhathethinksit‟sallabout.”

“Icanhearyou,allright,”roppedopenthe

slitthatdishespasdthroughintothekitchenwithacatsupbottle.

“Listen,brightboy,”hesaidfromthekitchentoGeorge.“Standalittlefurther

ealittletotheleft,Max.”Hewaslikeaphotographer

arrangingforagrouppicture.

“Talktome,brightboy,”Maxsaid.“Whatdoyouthink‟sgoingtohappen?”

Georgedidnotsayanything.

“I‟lltellyou,”Maxsaid.“We‟nowabig

SwedenamedOleAnderson?”

“Yes.”

“Hecomesheretoeateverynight,don‟the?”

“Sometimeshecomeshere.”

“Hecomeshereatsixo‟clock,don‟the?”

“Ifhecomes.”

“Weknowallthat,brightboy,”Maxsaid.“

tothemovies?”

“Onceinawhile.”

“iesarefineforabrightboylike

you.”

“WhatareyougoingtokillOleAndersonfor?Whatdidheeverdotoyou?”

“revenenus.”

Andhe‟sonlygoingtoeusonce,”Alsaidfromthekitchen:

“Whatareyougoingtokillhimfor,then?”Georgeasked.

“We‟obligeafriend,brightboy.”

“Shutup,”saidAlfromthekitchen.“Youtalktoogoddamnmuch.”

“Well,‟tI,brightboy?”

“Youtalktoodamnmuch,”Alsaid.“Theniggerandmybrightboyare

emtieduplikeacoupleofgirlfriendsinthe

convent.”

“Isuppoyouwereinaconvent.”

“Youneverknow.”

“‟swhereyouwere.”

Georgelookedupattheclock.

“Ifanybodycomesinyoutellthemthecookisoff,andiftheykeepafterit,

youtellthemyou‟etthat,brightboy?”

“Allright,”Georgesaid.“Whatyougoingtodowithusafterward?”

“That‟lldepend,”Maxsaid.“That‟soneofthothingsyouneverknowatthe

time.”

rfromthe

tcarmotormancamein.

“Hello,George,”hesaid.“CanIgetsupper?”

“Sam‟sgoneout,”Georgesaid.“He‟llbebackinabouthalfanhour.”

“I‟dbettergoupthestreet,”

wastwentyminutes,pastsix.

“Thatwasnice,brightboy,”Maxsaid.“You‟rearegularlittlegentleman.”

“HeknewI‟dblowhisheadoff,”Alsaidfromthekitchen.

“No,”saidMax.“Itain‟‟im.”

Atsix-fifty-fiveGeorgesaid:“He‟snotcoming.”

orgehadgoneoutto

thekitchenandmadeaham-and-eggsandwich“togo”thatamanwantedto

thekitchenhesawAl,hisderbyhattippedback,sitting

onastoolbesidethewicketwiththemuzzleofasawed-offshotgunrestingon

dthecookwerebacktobackinthecorner,atoweltiedin

hadcookedthesandwich,wrappeditupinoiled

paper,putitinabag,broughtitin,andthemanhadpaidforitandgoneout.

“Brightboycandoeverything,”Maxsaid.“Hecancookandeverything.

You‟dmakesomegirlanicewife,brightboy.”

“Yes?”Georgesaid,“Yourfriend,OleAnderson,isn‟tgoingtocome.”

“We‟llgivehimtenminutes,”Maxsaid.

dsoftheclockmarkedven

o‟clock,andthenfiveminutespastven.

“Comeon,Al,”saidMax.“‟snotcoming.”

“Bettergivehimfiveminutes,”Alsaidfromthekitchen.

Inthefiveminutesamancamein,andGeorgeexplainedthatthecookwas

sick.

“Whythehelldon‟tyougetanothercook?”themanasked.“Aren‟tyou

runningalunch-counter?”Hewentout.

“Comeon,Al,”Maxsaid.

“Whataboutthetwobrightboysandthenigger?”

“They‟reallright.”

“Youthinkso?”

“‟rethroughwithit.”

“Idon‟tlikeit,”saidAl.“It‟ktoomuch.”

“Oh,whatthehell,”saidMax.“Wegottokeepamud,haven‟twe?”

“Youtalktoomuch,allthesame,”

cut-offbarrelsoftheshotgunmadeaslightbulgeunderthewaistofhistoo

ightenedhiscoatwithhisglovedhands.

“Solong,brightboy,”hesaidtoGeorge.“Yougotalotofluck.”

“That‟sthetruth,”Maxsaid.“Yououghttoplaytheraces,brightboy.”

watchedthem,throughthe

window,rtightovercoats

wentbackthrough

theswingingdoorintothekitchenanduntiedNickandthecook.

“Idon‟twantanymoreofthat,”saidSam,thecook.“Idon‟twantanymoreof

that.”

everhadatowelinhismouthbefore.

“Say,”hesaid.“Whatthehell?”Hewastryingtoswaggeritoff.

“TheyweregoingtokillOleAnderson,”Georgesaid.“Theyweregoingto

shoothimwhenhecameintoeat.”

“OleAnderson?”

“Sure.”

Thecookfeltthecornersofhismouthwithhisthumbs.

“Theyallgone?”heasked.

“Yeah,”saidGeorge.“They‟regonenow.”

“Idon‟tlikeit,”saidthecook.“Idon‟tlikeanyofitatall”

“Listen,”GeorgesaidtoNick.“YoubettergoeOleAnderson.”

“Allright.”

“Youbetternothaveanythingtodowithitatall,”Sam,thecook,said.“You

betterstaywayoutofit.”

“Don‟tgoifyoudon‟twantto,”Georgesaid.

“Mixingupinthisain‟tgoingtogetyouanywhere,”thecooksaid.“Youstay

outofit.”

“I‟llgoehim,”NicksaidtoGeorge.“Wheredoeshelive?”Thecookturned

away.

“Littleboysalwaysknowwhattheywanttodo,”hesaid.

“HelivesupatHirsch‟srooming-hou,”GeorgesaidtoNick.

“I‟llgoupthere.”

lked

upthestreetbesidethecar-tracksandturnedatthenextarc-lightdowna

ousupthestreetwasHirsch‟

cametothedoor.

“IsOleAndersonhere?”

“Doyouwanttoehim?”

“Yes,ifhe‟sin.”

Nickfollowedthewomanupaflightofstairsandbacktotheendofacorridor.

Sheknockedonthedoor.

“Whoisit?”

“It‟ssomebodytoeyou,on,”thewomansaid.

“It‟sNickAdams.”

“Comein.”

ersonwaslyingonthe

eenaheavyweightprizefighterandhe

otlook

atNick.

“Whatwasit?”heasked.

“IwasupatHenry‟s,”Nicksaid,“andtwofellowscameinandtiedupmeand

thecook,andtheysaidtheyweregoingtokillyou.”

ersonsaidnothing.

“Theyputusoutinthekitchen,”Nickwenton.“Theyweregoingtoshoot

youwhenyoucameintosupper.”

OleAndersonlookedatthewallanddidnotsayanything.

“GeorgethoughtIbettercomeandtellyouaboutit.”

“Thereisn‟tanythingIcandoaboutit,”OleAndersonsaid.

“I‟lltellyouwhattheywerelike.”

“Idon‟twanttoknowwhattheywerelike,”edat

thewall.“Thanksforcomingtotellmeaboutit.”

“That‟sallright.”

Nicklookedatthebigmanlyingonthebed.

“Don‟tyouwantmetogoandethepolice?”

“No,”OleAndersonsaid.“Thatwouldn‟tdoanygood.”

“Isn‟ttheresomethingIcoulddo?”

“in‟tanythingtodo.”

“Maybeitwasjustabluff.”

“‟tjustabluff.”

OleAndersonrolledovertowardthewall.

“Theonlythingis,”hesaid,talkingtowardthewall,“Ijustcan‟tmakeupmy

ereallday.”

“Couldn‟tyougetoutoftown?”

“No,”OleAndersonsaid.“I‟mthroughwithallthatrunningaround.”

Helookedatthewall.

“Thereain‟tanythingtodonow.”

“Couldn‟tyoufixitupsomeway?”

“wrong.”Hetalkedinthesameflatvoice.“Thereain‟tanythingto

whileI‟llmakeupmymindtogoout.”

“IbettergobackandeGeorge,”Nicksaid.

“Solong,”otlooktowardNick.“Thanksfor

comingaround.”

utthedoorhesawOleAndersonwithallhisclothes

on,lyingonthebedlookingatthewall.

“He‟sbeeninhisroomallday,”thelandladysaiddownstairs.“Iguesshe

don‟ohim:„on,yououghttogooutandtakea

walkonanicefalldaylikethis,‟buthedidn‟tfeellikeit.”

“Hedoesn‟twanttogoout.”

“I‟msorryhedon‟tfeelwell,”thewomansaid.“He‟

wasinthering,youknow.”

“Iknowit.”

“You‟dneverknowitexceptfromthewayhisfaceis,”thewomansaid.

Theystoodtalkingjustinsidethestreetdoor.“He‟sjustasgentle.”

“Well,goodnight,,‟Nicksaid.

“I‟,”thewomansaid.“ookafter

itforher.I‟.”

“Well,goodnight,,”Nicksaid.

“Goodnight,”thewomansaid.

Nickwalkedupthedarkstreettothecornerunderthearc-light,andthenalong

thecar-trackstoHenry‟wasinside,backofthecounter.

“DidyoueOle?”

“Yes,”saidNick.“He‟sinhisroomandhewon‟tgoout.”

ThecookopenedthedoorfromthekitchenwhenheheardNick‟svoice.

“Idon‟tevenlistentoit,”hesaidandshutthedoor.

“Didyoutellhimaboutit?”Georgeasked.

“imbutheknowswhatit‟sallabout.”

“What‟shegoingtodo?”

“Nothing.”

“They‟llkillhim.”

“Iguesstheywill.”

“HemusthavegotmixedupinsomethinginChicago.”

“Iguessso,”saidNick.

“It‟sahellofathing!”

“It‟sanawfulthing,”Nicksaid.

reacheddownforatowelandwipedthe

counter.

“Iwonderwhathedid?”Nicksaid.

“‟swhattheykillthemfor.”

“I‟mgoingtogetoutofthistown,”Nicksaid.

“Yes,”saidGeorge.“That‟sagoodthingtodo.”

“Ican‟tstandtothinkabouthimwaitingintheroomandknowinghe‟sgoing

‟stoodamnedawful.”

“Well,”saidGeorge,“youbetternotthinkaboutit.”