The Deep Read Online Free Page B

when Bennett got it. Jeez, Deep. The club’s big. You can’t let things get shook.”
    I waved him quiet. From the stand Benny-from-Brooklyn was getting all wound up. He was nominating himself for king and from the look on his face it was all over but the shouting.
    The Knights were big. They had loot. They were the protectors of the precinct. They were a political power that had need of a fine hand at the wheel and Benny was the man.
    I looked around to see how the others were taking it, and it was still just like the old days. They didn’t like it but they weren’t looking for a showdown, either. They all had that bland, drawn expression that mirrored nothing, accepting what came for the time being, at least.
    When Benny turned on his smile I knew the talking was about over. Next they’d take a standing, unanimous vote and go up to the bar for a beer. The others anticipated it too and shuffled in their seats.
    Benny said, “Now ... if there are no further questions?”
    I got up and let the seat slam back. “I got something, Benny.” Beside me Cat coughed nervously and tried to slouch down farther.
    All those heads swiveled, frowned against the glare of the lights, squinted at this off-beat note. The murmuring started at the corners and swept inward like a gentle wave. Nobody wanted to be the first to call. At this stage of the game only the kings were on the board.
    Benny had let it go too long. It got away from him and he knew it. He tried to stop it, but Dixie nudged him to silence and he said, “Who is that down there?”
    I said, “Look hard and you’ll know.”
    Then somebody said it from the far side. That one word and all the heads swiveled back fast. They got together in small bunches, passing it on, then Benny got it too. His face grew flushed and Dixie stood there like a stick with a kill-look plastered across his mouth.
    When it was real quiet I said, “In case any of you new slobs aren’t familiar with the rules I’m going to tell you. Nobody’s reorganizing anything around here. I’m taking over. Just like that.”
    Benny held onto the mike for support. “You watch it, Deep. You’re not coming back here ...”
    â€œCome here, Benny.”
    You could hear the quiet.
    I said it again. “Come here, Benny. Take ten giant steps and three baby ones.”
    Up on the little rostrum Benny took his giant step first. Then one more. Then down the stairs. Then he stopped.
    â€œRight here, Benny. One more baby step.”
    The red was gone and his face had a pasty look. He was all tongue, trying to keep his lips wet down. He walked up in front of me and stood there. So nobody could miss it I did it real slow. I smashed him one across the chops with my open hand and sent him spinning into the wall with his eyes gone all misty.
    Then I said, “Dixie ...” and the squeal on the door gasped and beside me Cat edged down a seat.
    Dixie didn’t take baby steps. He came in the crabwise walk of his with a flat, deadly grin that meant he had a new hole in his arm tonight. He was flying so high he forgot there were still a few who weren’t scared to death of the shiv he loved so well. I let him get close enough to kiss me off with his eyes, took the blade out of his fingers so fast he never knew I had it until I raked him hard over the ribs where the blood could make a mess for everybody to see. When I hit him his teeth powdered and he fell against Benny-from-Brooklyn and lay there sucking air.
    I grinned at all the eyes. “Now you know the rules. This isn’t exactly a democracy. It’s more like a dictatorship and I’m the cheese. We hand it from one to another the way we like and when you think you’re big enough to take over, then try. Just try. Be sure you’re big enough, that’s all.”
    When I looked around all the little pig eyes tightened in false smiles. Some turned away, some