The Enormous Room
Page 11
XI
There was darkness, then bright sun. They stood on a street corner, andSummersby could read the signs as plainly as Watkins must have read themin the focusing lens of the matter transmitter on the unknown planet.
Broadway and 42nd Street. The five of them had clicked into being on thebusiest corner of New York.
"That old crook," said Adam, gulping. "He focused us here for a gag."
"I look _awful_," gasped Mrs. Full, and Summersby, glancing at her,agreed. Like all of them, she had lost weight; her skin showed theeffects of a week's washing without soap; and her skirt and blouse weremussed up, to say the least. All the men needed shaves. Calvin Full,recovering gradually from the shock of the goad, and still supported byVilla, looked like a Bowery wino.
"Is he coming?" asked Adam, addressing Summersby. "Will Watkins be alongtoo?"
"I don't know," said Summersby. He stared up at as much of the sky as hecould see beyond the block-high ads. "I hope so."
"My chili stand!" shouted Villa, suddenly awakening to the fact of NewYork about him. "That no-good relief man! I've got to see what he's doneto it!" Pushing Calvin to Adam, who grasped him by an arm, the Mexicanwaved hurriedly. "Come and see me," he said to all of them. "I'll giveyou a bowl free." He hastened away into the crowd.
"We've got to see about our clothes at the hotel," said Mrs. Full. Shesounded apologetic. "I hope we'll see you again, Adam, and Mr.Summersby."
"I doubt it," said Summersby. He looked at Full. "Coming out of it?" heasked.
"Thanks," said Cal, nodding. He took his wife's hand. "Gave you myaddress, didn't I?"
"I have it," said Summersby.
"Well, good-bye," said Mrs. Full.
"You did a fine job up there," said Adam Pierce. "I'm proud to haveknown you, ma'am."
"Thank you, Adam. Good-bye." They were gone.
"I suppose you'll be going too," said Adam, somewhat wistfully.
"I guess so. You'll go home?"
"I guess so," Adam repeated. "My folks will be sore. They'll neverbelieve such a story. They'll think I ran wild or something."
Summersby, still looking upward, and wondering if he could be staringblindly at the planet which Watkins must be trying to leave even now,put a hand on his heart. "Was he right? They did fix up everyone else."He laughed. It was the first time he had laughed normally in sevenmonths. "I could get into the rangers again," he said. "Adam, I've gotto see a doctor. I've got to find out something."
"Yes, sir," said Adam unhappily. Summersby looked at him. "Reallyworried about your folks?"
"Yes, sir."
"I'll come home and tell them, if you like."
Adam said gratefully, "Mr. Summersby, you're a gentleman."
"No," said Summersby, "no."
"Yes, sir, you are. Can we wait just a minute more? Mr. Watkins might bealong any minute now."
"We'll wait."
After a while Adam said, "Remember that first feed we got up there, piesand cookies and glass?"
"I remember it."
"They must have just aimed that machine at a bakery window here onEarth, and taken glass and all."
"That's it."
"Probably it was called a smash-and-grab robbery, down here." He kickedsomething, bent down and picked it up. It was the safe-cracker's gun. "Ididn't think he'd carry one," said the boy. He looked closer at it."God!"
"What is it?" Summersby shifted the briefcase and held out a hand. Adamlaid the weapon in his big palm. "He must have won it at the park thatday," Adam said. "That old crook! Old faker!"
Summersby held it up. It looked like a small automatic of blued steel,but it was plastic. He turned it over. A pencil-sharpener.
Summersby grunted. "A toy," he said, giving it back to Adam. "Nothingbut a kid's toy."