Decisions would come later. That would be the hard part.
Norvell stared around the Hall curiously. It wasn’t as impressive as one might expect—though maybe, he thought, you
had to admire the Regular Republicans for then- common touch. There was certainly nothing showy about Republican Hall.
Norvell stopped, politely out of earshot, as Mundin spoke to a dark, sharp-featured man in shirtsleeves. Some kind of janitor, he guessed; he was astonished when Mundin called him over and introduced him to Del Dworcas.
Norvell said with a certain pride, “I’m really delighted to meet you, Mr. Dworcas. Your brother, Arnie, is very proud of you; we’re very good friends.”
Dworcas studied hirn thoughtfully. He asked irrelevantly, “Live around here?”
“Oh, no. Quite some distance away, but——” Dworcas seemed to lose interest. “Glad to meet you,” he said, turning away. “You want to see Arnie, he’s in Hussein’s across the street. Now, Charles, what was it you wanted to see me about?”
Norvell was left standing with his hand extended. He blinked a little, but—after all, he reminded himself, Mr. Dworcas was a busy man. And Arnie—lucky day!—was in some place called Hussein’s across the street.
On the way downstairs he caught a glimpse of the tune. After eleven!
Might as well be hanged for a sheep as for a lamb, he told himself recklessly. He turned his coat collar up and plunged out into the rain, almost into the arms of a policeman escorting a scrawny young girl into the Hall. His heart pounded, but the policeman paid him no attention; he crossed the street to the coffee shop.
Arnie was at a table by himself, reading. He looked up as Norvell came close, and hastily put the magazine away. He said nothing, except with his incredulous eyes.
Norvell slipped into a vacant seat, smiling at his little joke on Arnie. “Surprised to see me?” Arnie frowned. “What are you doing here?” Norvell lost his smile. “Can—can I have some coffee, Arnie?” he asked. “I came out without any money.” Arnie looked mildly outraged, but beckoned the grinning waiter.
Then Norvell told him—about the jail, and Mundin, and Del Dworcas. Arnie took it in without emotion—until Norvell stopped for breath, when Arnie permitted himself a smile.
“You’ve had a busy day,” he said humorously! “I’m glad you met Del, though; he’s a prince. Incidentally/ I’ve taken the liberty of asking a couple of his associate^ to the Field Day. So when you get the tickets———”
Norvell licked his lips. “Arnie———”
“When you get the tickets, will you get three extras?”
Norvell shook his head. “Arnie, listen to me. I can’t get the
tickets.”
Arnie’s chin went up. “You what?” “I got fired today. That’s why I didn’t have any money.” There was a pause. Dworcas began looking through his pockets for a cigarette. He found the pack and put it absently on the table in front of him without lighting one. He said
nothing.
Norvell said apologetically, “It—it wasn’t my fault, Arnie. This rat Stimmens——” He told the story from beginning to end. He said, “It’s going to be all right, Arnie. Don’t worry about me. It’s like you said. Maybe I should have canceled long ago. I’ll make a fresh start in Belly Rave. Virginia can help me; she knows her way around. We’ll find some place that isn’t too bad, you know, and get it fixed up. Some of those old houses are pretty interesting. And it’s only a question of time until——”
Dworcas nodded. “I see. You’ve taken an important step, Norvell. Naturally, I wish you the best of luck.”
“Thanks, Arnie,” Norvell said eagerly. “I don’t think it’ll be
so bad. I——”
“Of course,” Arnie went on meditatively, “it does put me in
kind of a spot.”
“You, Arnie?” Norvell cried, aghast.
Dworcas shrugged. “It doesn’t matter, I suppose. It’s just that the fellows at the shop warned me. They said you were probably stringing me along about the tickets. I don’t know what 111 tell them that won’t make you look pretty bad, Norvell.”
Norvell squeezed his eyes shut in an agony of self-flagellation. Loyal Arniel Concerned about his status in the eyes of the other engineers, when it would have been so easy simply to let them think the worst.