Зима тревоги нашей
Chapter 14
Hecouldhavebeenagreatoneifhehadwished.Ididwonderwhyhedidn’twantto,justtotryouthistheory.
Businesspiledupthatmorning.ItwasworsethanIhadthoughtitmightbe.Thesunturnedhotandfierceandverylittlewindmoved,thekindofweatherthatdrivespeopleontheirvacationswhethertheywanttogoornot.Ihadalineofcustomerswaitingtobeserved.OnethingIknew,comehellorhighwater,Ihadtogetsomehelp.IfAllendidn’tworkout,I’dfirehimandgetsomeoneelse.
WhenMr.Bakercameinabouteleven,hewasinahurry.Ihadtostandoffsomecustomersandgointothestoreroomwithhim.
Heputabigenvelopeandasmalloneinmyhands,andhewassorushedthathebarkedakindofshorthand."TomWatsonsaysthedeed’sokay.Hedoesn’tknowwhetherit’spapered.Hedoesn’tthinkso.Hereareconveyances.GetsignatureswhereI’vechecked.Themoney’smarkedandthenumbersnoted.Here’sacheckallmadeout.Justsignit.SorryIhavetorush,Ethan.Ihatedoingbusinesslikethis."
"YoureallythinkIshouldgoahead?"
"Goddammit,Ethan,afterallthetroubleI’vegoneto—"
"Sorry,sir.Sorry.Iknowyou’reright."Iputthecheckonacanned-milkcartonandsigneditwithmyindeliblepencil.
Mr.Bakerwasn’ttoorushedtoinspectthecheck."Offertwothousandatfirst.Andraiseyouroffertwohundredatatime.Yourealize,ofcourse,you’veonlygotafive-hundredbalanceinthebank.Godhelpyouifyourunshort."
