The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-09-18

IT WAS raining. The men hung
L around the fo'castle. There was
nothing to do. Stanley lay on his
back in his bunk. serenely putting a
cigarette. When in this position, he
was always bound to philosophise:
did you notice those 1ongshore
stiffs hanging around the docks here?
An ugly bunch of cut-throats. Hun
cry looking? Man, wouldn't throw
my leg over the side Of the gangway
here, for fear they'd bite it off. Hmm
Figure how hungry the women must
be hereF And did you see that
saWed-off army officer kiss the pas
senger's hand? She must have money
1t felt like giving that runt some
thing else to kiss. All decked out like
Fatty Blub getting ready for Lee
gion parade Must take three cadets
to keep all that tin on his chest
polished"
He puffed few seconds in 81
lence. Then: What do they drink in
this country, vodka?"
Eyes, vodka, beer, spreet, whatever
you want!" broke in somebody. 1t
was strange voice and the men
looked up. A tall, thin young fellow
dripping wet all over. Nobody had
heard him come into the fo'castle
He smiled and leaned up against
Lays bunk.
And all the women you want"
There was a snakelike twist to this
| fr11Or-y'e y 49,
like, His thin shoulders looked like
they were made for wriggling through
prison bars.
you Polack?" asked somebody
NO I'm a Latvian. But I can talk
Polish. And I been in the States
worked on American ships for quite
a while
"Got left behind?" asked the Pro-
lessor.
mo, I deserted Latvian ship
Grub was too awful, and no wages
Any chances on board here?"
The men shrugged their shoulders
Slim was leery of this fellow. Was he
trying to stoWaway? How'd he man.
age to get on board?
you fellows are just coming from
Leningrad, aren't you?"
Some of the men nodded.
How'd you like it there?"
The answers came slow: Pretty
good" said the Swede.
Sure building up there" offered
the Professor
"Everybody's got work there any,
how" called Stanley, don't see the
workers hanging around there, like
here, half-starved."
Better than this God-awful coun-
try" called Gunnar
Il wish I could have stayed there
for good" trumped Eddie.
|
CLIM was surprised not to hear any
y knocks against the Soviet Union
after all the kicking the men had
done there. He said nothing. The
stranger waited minute He seemed
to be weighing the feeling of the
crew towards the Soviet Union Then
he started feeling out again:
eyes, that's great thing they're
doing there. But it's tough on for
eign seamen there!"
How do you meanP" demanded
Gunnar.
ooh, no joints, no place to CO."
81 don't know about that" an
swered Stanley, I'VE had a pretty
good time there"
I'll say I did, anyway" Dragged
the Polack.
The stranger rubbed with his
thumb and forefinger: "Oh, you can
have a good time there all right, If
you have the roubles."
That's the hell of it; everything
is so dear there for foreigners,
moaned the Professor. He had drawn
exactly ten roubles during the whole
stay in Leningrad
The Latvian inquired how many
roubles he got for dollar.
Not quite two for one."
1.-TWO for one!" The Latvian seemed
surprised. Il know where you can
get six for one!"
Slim realized what this fellows game
was. He kept on sewing, exchanging
look with Gunnar.
Where's that?" inquired Gunnar
now
"Oh, not far from here" parted
the Latvian. why, you want to buy?"
Not at that price," answered Gun
mar. Il heard you can get 10 roubles
for a dollar here.
The Latvian feigned surprise.
Where did you hear that?"
At this point the bosn came In and
ordered the men to turn to. Gunnar
and Slim stalled behind a while un-
til they were the last ones left in
the focastle. Gunnar went over to
the Latvian:
well, what do you say?-fifty
roubles for five dollars?"
The Latvian hesitated. take five
dollars each, and I'll give 100 roubles
for ten dollars"
Gunnar looked at Slim, who said:
%. X. Got them on you?"
The man nodded in the affirma-
tive.
"All right" said Slim, "wait out
side a minute, I want to get nv
money" AS the man made to 20.
Slim added in a half whisper:
Go into the toilet there. Wen
meet you there in a minute"
When the door closed behind them.
Slim and Gunnar exchanged few