‘How do you like what’s goin’ on?’ Fred’s smile had gone but the two long creases remained like scars in his cheeks. He searched Newman’s face with his puffed slit eyes.

‘Going on how?’ Newman asked.

‘The neighborhood. They’ll be movin’ niggers in on us next.’

‘That’s the way it goes, Iguess.’

‘Everybody’s been talking about the new element movin’ around.’

‘That so.’

‘Only reason most of the block moved way out here was to get away from that element, and now they’re trailin’ us out here. You know that Finkelstein?’

‘The candy store?’

‘He’s got all his relatives movin’ into the house on the corner. The left-hand side next to the store.’ He glanced behind him.

This was what fascinated him about Fred. You wished he would speak more softly, but you somehow wanted him to go on for he said things you felt and dared not say. A foreboding of some sort of action always descended on him as Fred spoke. It was the same feeling he got around the pillars – something was building up inside the city, something thunderous and exhilarating.

‘We’re thinking of getting’ up a meeting. Jerry Buhl was talking to Petey about it.’

‘I thought that outfit was out.’

‘Out, nothin’,’ Fred said proudly, drawing down the corners of his mouth. In the mornings especially his lids were so puffed they nearly closed over his eyes. ‘Soon as the war’s over and the boys get back you’re goin’ to see fireworks like there never was around here. We’re just layin’ low till the boys come home. This meetin’ looks like the first start, y’know? Can’t tell, the war might be over any day, the way it looks. We want to be on our feet and ready. Y’know?’ He seemed to need Newman’s confirmation, for his expression became uncertain.

‘Uh huh,’ Newman muttered, waiting for him to speak on.

‘You want to come ? I’d take you along in the car.’

‘I’ll leave the meetings to you fellows,’ Mr Newman smiled encouragingly, as though deferring to Fred’s powerful build. But actually he did not like the type of people at those meetings. Half of them were cracked and the other half looked like they hadn’t had a new suit of clothes in years. ‘I’m not much good for meetings.’

Fred nodded, unimpressed. His tongue slid over his cigar-worn teeth and he looked out a window at the lights rocketing by.

‘All right,’ he said, blinking his eyes, rather hurt, ‘I thought I’d ask you. We just want to clean out the neighborhood, that’s all. I thought you’d be interested. All we gotta do is make it hot for them and they’ll pack up.’

‘Who?’ Mr Newman prompted avidly, his round face pleasantly interested.

‘The Jews on our block. And then we’ll help the boys across the avenue with the Spies. There’ll be pushcarts on the streets before you know it.’ He seemed indignant at Newman. He had a pocked chin which now showed little red bumps.