Steel Read Online Free Page A

deadly.
    â€œOpen it up,” he said.
    â€œSon-of-a—” Pole muttered as he got the plate off. “You find another goddamn mechanic that coulda kep’ this steam shovel together any better these last years. You just find one.”
    Kelly didn’t answer. He stood rigidly, watching while Pole put down the curved plate and looked inside.
    When Pole touched it, the trigger spring broke in half and part of it jumped across the room.
    Kelly stared at the shoulder pit with horrified eyes.
    â€œOh, Christ,” he said in a shaking voice. “Oh, Christ. ”
    Pole started to say something, then stopped. He looked at the ashen-faced Kelly without moving.
    Kelly’s eyes moved to Pole.
    â€œFix it,” he said, hoarsely.
    Pole swallowed. “Steel, I—”
    â€œ Fix it!”
    â€œI can’t! That spring’s been fixin’ t’break for—”
    â€œYou broke it! Now fix it!” Kelly clamped rigid fingers on Pole’s arm. Pole jerked back.
    â€œLet go of me!” he said.
    â€œWhat’s the matter with you!” Kelly cried. “Are you crazy? He’s got t’be fixed. He’s got t’be!”
    â€œSteel, he needs a new spring.”
    â€œWell, get it!”
    â€œThey don’t have ’em here, Steel,” Pole said. “I told ya. And if they did have ’em, we ain’t got the sixteen-fifty t’get one.”
    â€œOh—Oh, Jesus ,” said Kelly. His hand fell away and he stumbled to the other side of the room. He sank down on the bench and stared without blinking at the tall motionless Maxo.
    He sat there a long time, just staring, while Pole stood watching him, the pry still in his hand. He saw Kelly’s broad chest rise and fall with spasmodic movements. Kelly’s face was a blank.
    â€œIf he don’t watch ’em,” muttered Kelly, finally.
    â€œWhat?”
    Kelly looked up, his mouth set in a straight, hard line. “If he don’t watch, it’ll work,” he said.
    â€œWhat’re ya talkin’ about?”
    Kelly stood up and started unbuttoning his shirt.
    â€œWhat’re ya—”
    Pole stopped dead, his mouth falling open. “Are you crazy? ” he asked.
    Kelly kept unbuttoning his shirt. He pulled it off and tossed it on the bench.
    â€œSteel, you’re out o’ your mind!” Pole said. “You can’t do that!”
    Kelly didn’t say anything.
    â€œBut you’ll—Steel, you’re crazy! ”
    â€œWe deliver a fight or we don’t get paid,” Kelly said.
    â€œBut—Jesus, you’ll get killed! ”
    Kelly pulled off his undershirt. His chest was beefy, there was red hair swirled around it. “Have to shave this off,” he said.
    â€œSteel, come on ,” Pole said. “You—”
    His eyes widened as Kelly sat down on the bench and started unlacing his shoes.
    â€œThey’ll never let ya,” Pole said. “You can’t make ’em think you’re a—” He stopped and took a jerky step forward. “Steel, fuh Chrissake!”
    Kelly looked up at Pole with dead eyes.
    â€œYou’ll help me,” he said.
    â€œBut they—”
    â€œNobody knows what Maxo looks like,” Kelly said. “And only Waddow saw me. If he don’t watch the bouts we’ll be all right.”
    â€œBut—”
    â€œThey won’t know,” Kelly said. “The B’s bleed and bruise too.”
    â€œSteel, come on ,” Pole said shakily. He took a deep breath and calmed himself. He sat down hurriedly beside the broad-shouldered Irishman.
    â€œLook,” he said. “I got a sister back East—in Maryland. If I wire ’er, she’ll send us the dough t’get back.”
    Kelly got up and unbuckled his belt.
    â€œSteel, I know a guy in Philly with a B-five, wants t’sell cheap,” Pole said desperately. “We could scurry up the cash