“Who’re you callin’ chicken?” Action pushed forward to line up his chin with Tony’s. “I’m listening.”

“Every dog knows his own,” Bernardo stood up to the Polack. “So I guess you weren’t talking to us.”

Earlier that night Tony had hidden from the Jets. Now, for reasons which he knew they could not understand, he had sought them out. But he had done so as much for Bernardo as for his sister. If it was at all possible, he had to prove to Bernardo that he had a right to see Maria, that he had left the Jets because he no longer cared to war on the Sharks, that he was grown up, a man who understood what being in love meant.

“I’m calling all of you chicken,” he said at last. “How come you have to use bricks, or knives or guns? What’s the matter, afraid to get in close and slug it out?” He showed them his white, hard knuckles. “Afraid to use plain skin?”

“What kind of rumble is plain skin?” Baby-John demanded. “At least you gotta use garbage.”

“We gave them the choice of weapons,” Riff explained to Tony. “We’re gonna use our fists anyway, so it’s up to them.”

“Both of you are ducking,” Tony continued. He had to talk quickly while he held the psychological advantage. “A fair fight can settle anything. That’s if you’ve got the guts to risk it. And if each side’s got a good man willing to slug it out.”

“I’d enjoy that,” Bernardo said quickly, his eyes indicating that he hoped Tony would represent the Jets. “Let it be a fair fight.”

“ ’Nardo,” Pepe called in dismay, “you mean the rest of us just get to look?”

“I’m not standing around for anyone!” Action said, as he smashed his empty coffee mug on the counter. “Not this man!”

“The commanders say yes or no,” Riff told Action, then turned to Bernardo. “Okay, fair fight it is. We shake on it?”

“We don’t have to shake again,” Bernardo said. “You’ve got my word for it, and why wait until tomorrow night when we can go right now?” He paused to look at Tony. “I’ll be waiting for you under the highway.”

“Correction,” Riff said, as he beckoned for Diesel to step forward. “This is our best fist man. And tomorrow night suits us fine.”

Unable to hide his disappointment, Bernardo pointed at Tony. “But I thought…”

“Who’re you choosin’?” Riff asked.

“Me,” Bernardo said as he looked at Tony and decided that Maria would have to be married to Chino sooner than they had planned. “I’m representing the Sharks.”

Diesel clasped both hands above his head. “The honor overwhelms me.”

“I offered to shake on it,” Riff said to Bernardo. “Because you didn’t shake, does that mean you’re backing out?”

Action thrust himself forward to gain the attention of the Sharks. “Look, Bernardo,” he began, “if you wanna change your mind, this is one man who is willin’ to listen.”