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Show page 201 "I was t h e r e myself," Thompson said. McFall's face brightened. "I been trying to place you." "We j u s t passed in the night, I ' d say," Thompson said. McFall continued: "Downtown a l i t t l e weasel hopped on the running board and offered to show us some fun. The guy driving said, ' I 'm game,' I said, 'Me too,* We went to this big club. The place i s r i t z y from the outside. This other joe and the hustler went in. I stayed in the truck to watch the gas u n t i l they came back. After five or six minutes the weasel came back, grinning, making signs to show what a time the joe was having i n s i d e . He got in the truck cab with me, talking a mile a minute and thumbing a bale of money. I shook my head, the gas wasn't mine. He kept on talking and waving his money. Two cans, just two cans. There I was dead broke and itching to get in the club in s t y l e . In a short time I was surrounded by friends of the weasel, a l l waving money, wanting gas. I crawled out and l e t the weasel have two cans. Why'd I do that? Well, I hadn't been paid in six weeks. I ended up with a handful of their money. In five minutes there wasn't a can of gas l e f t. I couldn't explain to the joe inside, so I moved out fast, driving his truck, a six-by." McFall aligned himself with a hardened gang of deserters. The gang, five in number, had looted or robbed every worthwhile supply depot in the area. They were wild, undisciplined misfits. McFall was lucky no one of them knocked him off, took his truck and money. Perhaps they needed the truck and driver too much. But t o keep h i s nerve McFall began swilling alcohol daily. He |
