Action counted heads—there were eight—no, nine Jets present, if he counted Anybodys—and ground his cigarette into the floor of the truck. “I guess we’d better get started,” he said, “because I figure some of us must’ve got picked up. Now, are there any objections to my taking over?”

“Suits me,” Mouthpiece said.

“Fine,” Action continued after everyone had murmured that he was leader. “Who’s got a plan?”

“I have,” Anybodys said before Baby-John could speak. “We gotta save Tony. Because some certain parties are lookin’ for him.”

“So I say let’m find him and save us the trouble,” Diesel said. “Action, don’t you think we’ve had enough? We gotta get outa here before we’re taken downtown for photographing with a number ’cross our chests. Certain parties are looking for Tony—I hope they find him. Dirty bastard.” He spat. “If it wasn’t for him Riff would be alive and I woulda taken Bernardo.”

“Who’s lookin’ for Tony?” Action ignored Diesel.

Anybodys shifted to a part of the cushion through which the springs had not broken. “The Sharks,” she said. “After everybody scattered, I figured I oughta infiltrate the PR territory. See what was goin’ on. It doesn’t take much of a shadow to hide me and I can move like nothin’ most people ever saw.”

“You are something most people never saw,” Snowboy said. “So stop building and get on with it.”

“You’ve got something to tell us?” Action asked Anybodys. “We’re listening.”

“I heard Chino talking to some of the Sharks. I was real close to them and they didn’t know it.” She could not resist the tone of accomplishment. “And he was telling them something about Tony and Bernardo’s sister. Then he started to swear in spic but I understand a little.” Again she paused. “Swore if it was the last thing he did, he was gonna get Tony.”

“Tony’ll knock his effen head off,” Diesel said. “I mean the old Tony could.”

“Could be,” Anybodys agreed. “That’s if Chino doesn’t blow Tony apart first. I saw the gun he showed them.”

“Goddamn them!” Action was on his feet. “Them lousy PR’s don’t let up! I don’t wanna hear nothing outa you that sounds like double-crossing talk. I got no love for Tony, but if anybody fixes him it’s us. No spics. Do I hear any objections?”

Standing before each of the Jets, Action moved on when he saw each of them move his head to signify that he was making the decisions, and like them or not, they were binding on all of them.

“We’ve gotta find him,” Action said. “So we’ll spread out. Anybodys, you think you can find Graziella and the other chicks?”

“I guess so,” she said.

“Then tell them to look too. And whoever finds Tony brings him back here. So somebody’s gotta stay. Somebody who’s not afraid of being alone in the dark.”

“That’s me,” Baby-John said.

“Then you stay. And if anybody shows give them the word. If Tony shows he stays here with you. Understand?”