The Assistant by Bernard Malamud Page A

out for a while. I had a rough time. My heartburn is acting up.” He hung up his cue, then wiped his face with a dirty handkerchief.
    â€œWhy don’t you go to a doctor?” Frank said.
    â€œThe hell with them.”
    â€œSome medicine might help you.”
    â€œWhat will help me is if my goddam father drops dead.”
    â€œI want to talk to you, Ward,” Frank said in a low voice.
    â€œSo talk.”
    Frank nodded toward the players at the next table.
    â€œCome out in the yard,” Ward said. “I got something I want to say to you.”

    Frank followed him out the rear door into a small enclosed back yard with a wooden bench against the building. A weak bulb shone down on them from the top of the doorjamb.
    Ward sat down on the bench and lit a cigarette. Frank did the same, from his own pack. He puffed but got no pleasure from the butt, so he threw it away.
    â€œSit down,” said Ward.
    Frank sat on the bench. Even in the fog he stinks, he thought.
    â€œWhat do you want me for?” Ward asked, his small eyes restless.
    â€œI want my gun, Ward. Where is it?”
    â€œWhat for?”
    â€œI want to throw it in the ocean.”
    Ward snickered. “Cat got your nuts?”
    â€œI don’t want some dick coming around and asking me do I own it.”
    â€œI thought you said you bought the rod off a fence.”
    â€œThat’s right.”
    â€œThen nobody’s got a record of it, so what are you scared of?”
    â€œIf you lost it,” Frank said, “they trace them even without a record.”
    â€œI won’t lose it,” Ward said. After a minute he ground his cigarette into the dirt. “I will give it back to you after we do this job I have on my mind.”
    Frank looked at him. “What kind of a job?”
    â€œKarp. I want to stick him up.”
    â€œWhy Karp?—there are bigger liquor stores.”
    â€œI hate that Jew son of a bitch and his popeyed Louis. When I was a kid all I had to do was go near banjo eyes and they would complain to my old man and get me beat up.”
    â€œThey would recognize you if you go in there.”
    â€œBober didn’t. I will use a handkerchief and wear some
/ different clothes. Tomorrow I will go out and pick up a car. All you got to do is drive and I will make the heist.”
    â€œYou better stay away from that block,” Frank warned. “Somebody might recognize you.”
    Ward moodily rubbed his chest. “All right, you sold me. We will go somewheres else.”
    â€œNot with me,” Frank said.
    â€œThink it over.”
    â€œI’ve had all I want.”
    Ward showed his disgust. “The minute I saw you I knew you would puke all over.”
    Frank didn’t answer.
    â€œDon’t act so innocent,” Ward said angrily. “You’re hot, the same as me.”
    â€œI know,” Frank said.
    â€œI slugged him because he was lying where he hid the rest of the dough,” Ward argued.
    â€œHe didn’t hide it. It’s a poor, lousy store.”
    â€œI guess you know all about that.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œCan the crud. I know you been working there.”
    Frank drew a breath. “You following me again, Ward?” Ward smiled. “I followed you one night after you left the poolroom. I found out you were working for a Jew and living on bird crap.”
    Frank slowly got up. “I felt sorry for him after you slugged him, so I went back to give him a hand while he was in a weak condition. But I won’t be staying there long.”
    â€œThat was real sweet of you. I suppose you gave him back the lousy seven and a half bucks that was your part of the take?”
    â€œI put it back in the cash register. I told the Mrs the business was getting better.”
    â€œI never thought I would meet up with a goddam Salvation Army soldier.”
    â€œI did it to quiet my conscience,” Frank said.

    Ward rose.