The-Killers

TheKillersThedoorofHenry’slunchroomopenedandtwomencamein.Theysatdownatthecounter.“What’syours?”Georgeaskedthem.“Idon’tknow,”oneofthemensaid.“Whatdoyouwanttoeat,Al?”“Idon’tknow,”saidAl.“Idon’tknowwhatIwanttoeat.”Outsideitwasgettingdark.Thestreetlightcameonoutsidethewindow.Thetwomenatthecounterreadthemenu.FromtheotherendofthecounterNickAdamswatchedthem.HehadbeentalkingtoGeorgewhentheycamein.“I’llhavearoastporktenderloinwithapplesauceandmashedpotatoes,”thefirstmansaid.“Itisn’treadyyet.”“Whatthehelldoyouputitonthecardfor?”“That’sthedinner,”Georgeexplained.“Youcangetthatatsixo’clock.Georgelookedattheclockonthewallbehindthecounter.“It’sfiveo’clock.”“Theclocksaystwentyminutespastfive,”thesecondmansaid.“It’stwentyminutesfast.”“Oh,tohellwiththeclock,”thefirstmansaid.“Whathaveyougottoeat?”“Icangiveyouanykindofsandwiches,”Georgesaid.“Youcanhavehamandeggs,baconandeggs,liverandbacon,orasteak.”“Givemechickencroquetteswithgreenpeasandcreamsauceandmashedpotatoes.”“That’sthedinner.”“Everythingwewant’sthedinner,eh?That’sthewayyouworkit.”“Icangiveyouhamandeggs,baconandeggs,liver—”“I’lltakehamandeggs,”themancalledAlsaid.Heworeaderbyhatandablackovercoatbuttonedacrossthechest.Hisfacewassmallandwhiteandhehadtightlips.Heworeasilkmufflerandgloves.“Givemebaconandeggs,”saidtheotherman.HewasaboutthesamesizeasAl.Theirfacesweredifferent,buttheyweredressedliketwins.Bothworeovercoatstootightforthem.Theysatleaningforward,theirelbowsonthecounter.“Gotanythingtodrink?”Alasked.“Silverbeer,bevo,ginger-ale,”Georgesaid.“Imeanyougotanythingtodrink?”“JustthoseIsaid.”“Thisisahottown,”saidtheother.“Whatdotheycallit?”“Summit.”“Everhearofit?”Alaskedhisfriend.“No,”saidthefriend.“Whatdotheydoherenights?”Alasked.“Theyeatthedinner,”hisfriendsaid.“Theyallcomehereandeatthebigdinner.“That’sright,”Georgesaid.“Soyouthinkthat’sright?”AlaskedGeorge.“Sure.”“You’reaprettybrightboy,aren’tyou?”“Sure,”saidGeorge.“Well,you’renot,”saidtheotherlittleman.“Ishe,Al?”“He’sdumb,”saidAl.HeturnedtoNick.“What’syourname?”“Adams.”“Anotherbrightboy,”Alsaid.“Ain’theabrightboy,Max?”“Thetown’sfullofbrightboys,”Maxsaid.Georgeputthetwoplatters,oneofhamandeggs,theotherofbaconandeggs,onthecounter.Hesetdowntwosidedishesoffriedpotatoesandclosedthewicketintothekitchen.“Whichisyours?”heaskedAl.“Don’tyouremember?”“Hamandeggs.”“Justabrightboy,”Maxsaid.Heleanedforwardandtookthehamandeggs.Bothmenatewiththeirgloveson.Georgewatchedthemeat.“Whatareyoulookingat?”MaxlookedatGeorge.“Nothing.”“Thehellyouwere.Youwerelookingatme.”“Maybetheboymeantitforajoke,Max,”Alsaid.Georgelaughed.“Youdon’thavetolaugh,”Maxsaidtohim.“Youdon’thavetolaughatall,see?’“Allright,”saidGeorge.“Sohethinksit’sallright.”MaxturnedtoAl.“Hethinksit’sallright.That’sagoodone.”“Oh,he’sathinker,”Alsaid.Theywentoneating.“What’sthebrightboy’snamedownthecounter?”AlaskedMax.“Hey,brightboy,”MaxsaidtoNick.“Yougoaroundontheothersideofthecounterwithyourboyfriend.”“What’stheidea?”Nickasked.“Thereisn’tanyidea.”“Youbettergoaround,brightboy,”Alsaid.Nickwentaroundbehindthecounter.“What’stheidea?”Georgeasked.“Noneofyourdamnedbusiness,”Alsaid.“Who’soutinthekitchen?”“Thenigger.”“Whatdoyoumeanthenigger?”“Theniggerthatcooks.”“Tellhimtocomein.”“What’stheidea?”“Tellhimtocomein.”“Wheredoyouthinkyouare?”“Weknowdamnwellwhereweare,”themancalledMaxsaid.“Dowelooksilly?”“Youtalksilly,”A1saidtohim.“Whatthehelldoyouarguewiththiskidfor?Listen,”hesaidtoGeorge,“telltheniggertocomeouthere.”“Whatareyougoingtodotohim?”“Nothing.Useyourhead,brightboy.Whatwouldwedotoanigger?”GeorgeopenedtheslitthatOpenedbackintothekitchen.“Sam,”hecalled.“Comeinhereaminute.”Thedoortothekitchenopenedandtheniggercamein.“Whatwasit?”heasked.Thetwomenatthecountertookalookathim.“Allright,nigger.Youstandrightthere,”Alsaid.Sam,thenigger,standinginhisapron,lookedatthetwomensittingatthecounter.“Yes,sir,”hesaid.Algotdownfromhisstool.“I’mgoingbacktothekitchenwiththeniggerandbrightboy,”hesaid.“Goonbacktothekitchen,nigger.Yougowithhim,brightboy.”ThelittlemanwalkedafterNickandSam,thecook,backintothekitchen.Thedoorshutafterthem.ThemancalledMaxsatatthecounteroppositeGeorge.Hedidn’tlookatGeorgebutlookedinthemirrorthatranalongbackofthecounter.Henry’shadbeenmadeoverfromasaloonintoalunchcounter.“Well,brightboy,”Maxsaid,lookingintothemirror,“whydon’tyousaysomething?”“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,”Alsaidfromthekitchen.Hehadproppedopentheslitthatdishespassedthroughintothekitchenwithacatsupbottle.“Listen,brightboy,”hesaidfromthekitchentoGeorge.“Standalittlefurtheralongthebar.Youmovealittletotheleft,Max.”Hewaslikeaphotographerarrangingforagrouppicture.“Talktome,brightboy,”Maxsaid.“Whatdoyouthink’sgoingtohappen?”Georgedidnotsayanything.“I’lltellyou,”Maxsaid.“We’regoingtokillaSwede.DoyouknowabigSwedenamedOleAnderson?”“Yes.”“Hecom