Chapter III. Meeting our Man
The next morning Klein and Rabbin took the entire luggage and went to the saloon to occupy the room, Dewey Greenwood had promised to them. Meanwhile, Brunnow ran to the train station to make a telephone call to the Blackwater Police Department to inform the necessary person about their arrival to Armadillo.
There was no problem with the room. Greenwood even helped them to deliver their luggage to the second floor. That time, Klein saw the women. Nearly ten prostitutes sat on the couches laughing or smoking pipes. While Klein showed a grimace of disgust, Rabbin looked pleased.
Brunnow turned back after an hour. He entered the room and, putting his leg on a stool, he informed his comrades about the situation.
- Well, guys. I've talked to Mr. Fordham. He'll be at the place at seven PM. If we take a train we won't have to take a coach. The train leaves at 18.15. I've checked everything.
- Nice, Shlomo said. We'll have time to clean ourselves up.
- Yeah, where can we take a bath?
As they've started to talk about it, they realized how disgusting they smelt.
I will go ask Greenwood, Alex said, removing his leg from the stool.
Ok. Abe and me, we'll relax then.
Alex nodded and went away. He crossed the upper floor's passage and after descending from the stares he approached quickly to the bartender, who was serving a drink at the moment.
Hey, Mr. Greenwood. Is there any place where we could take a bath? Alex asked.
Well, in a river, I guess…, he said smiling.
And what about something closer?
Well, I have my own bathroom. But it will cost you something.
Fifty bucks is ok, huh? For three of us, I mean.
Greenwood thought a while. He served a whiskey for another guy and then looked at Alex.
75 bucks and you got it.
Ok, Mr. Greenwood, when Alex started talking, Greenwood smiled; I guess we'll go to the river. It will cost us less anyway.
Greenwood's face changed immediately. Alex has almost gone back to the room, when Greenwood yelled to him.
Hey, son! Ok. Fifty is ok. I'll do it for ya.
Alex lent over the handrails of the second floor and thanked Greenwood.
"You're welcome, son of a whore"- Greenwood murmured through his teeth.
In almost three hours, the bath was full of hot water. Brunnow, as he was the one who had arranged it all washed himself first. He was pleased to clean himself up, because the last time he had taken a bath was somewhere in Midwest. In Russia he did that twice a day.
While lying in the dirty tub with his knees sticking up from water, he shaved himself with a razor. After he did that, his face became ten years younger. It took him an hour to take a bath, then came Shlomo and started to knock at the door.
At 18.15 they were already sitting in the train, having their bags between the legs and on the knees. They all were gazing at the passing by landschafts. The wagon was almost empty. There were only three of them, a pastor who was reading Blackwater Ledger, a Mexican guy, and two other men. Half an hour later, the train arrived at Benedict Point; they barely got their luggage out. It was so damn heavy, that Klein didn't even try to protect the content. He just threw it at the ground from the train and then descended himself.
Benedict Point was a tiny railway station, which had a telegraph office, a sheriff's house, some three small houses and a stable. Also there was installed a mechanism that poured water to the trains that were going further to Gaptooth Ridge or Mexico.
Solomon's Folly was located not far away from the Benedict Point. Somewhere between the fifth and the seventh telegraph poles, there's a turn to the right that Morris Snead had been talking about. And then after two hundred meters, there's the barn. Klein, Rabbin and Brunnow handled with that distance in twenty minutes. When they arrived at the place, Klein stopped the guys and took a dirty piece of paper out of his pocket. Wet of sweat, the printed letters were half-erased, but anyhow readable.
New Austin, Cholla Springs: Solomon's Folly
A semi-destroyed brick house.
Enter the cellar.
Note: Inform the local agent about your arrival
Klein looked at the scene that opened in front of his eyes. There was an old barn and, right opposite a semi-destroyed house. Klein immediately noticed a double-horsed vehicle, standing near the brickwall. "Over there"-Klein indicated the place with his finger. They were in the right location. They went to the entrance to the cellar. They descended the stairs and knocked on the door. A sound of moving aside stool was immediately heard behind. In a second, a tall mighty man opened the door and pointed his revolver right in Klein's face. That was the second time he had a barril of a gun right in front of his nose.
Klein, nevertheless, spoke calmly like if nothing has happened.
Agent Shlomo Klein arrived as ordered. Nice to see you, Comrade Fordham.
Nice to see you too, Comrade Klein. The password, please.
Edelweiss.
Nice. Enter please, he said taking away his revolver.
Klein shook hands with Fordham and entered the cellar barely lifting his bags. Fordham helped him and then greeted Rabbin and Brunnow.
Hello, Comrade Rabbin. Pleased to meet you, he shook his dand with a kindly smile.
Shelom, Comrade, Rabbin answered, wearing his bags without any help.
Baron, Fordham inclined himself a bit, like if he was greeting a king or a high aristocracy member.
Bon soir, Monsieur Fordham, Brunnow greeted him in French like a noble.
When they all entered and breathed with a dusty air a bit, Klein ordered a password now from Fordham.
Montserrat, he said firmly.
Klein nodded in agreement. They all put their bags on the floor and stood near the table, which was put near the wall. There were three sacks lying on it and on top of every sack there was a hat. Fordham looked above and noticed big chinks between the desks, which could easely reveal their conversation.
We'll better speak Yiddish, guys.
Farshteyht zich, Brunnow said.
Fordham checked the time on his golden watch on a chain and decided finally to start.
American Communist Underground was informed about you being sent to New Austin for accomplishing the orders of High Commando. We've been commanded from Moscow to supply you with all the necessary stuff, he indicated at three sacks. We'll supply you with guns, money and medicaments. He then approached to a wooden box and took three revolvers out of it.
They're double-action. Capacity six rounds. Hope you guys know how to use them.
Zicher, Brunnow said with a smile.
Glad of ya, Baron, Fordham replied cheerfully.
In these lands your gun is your best friend. I am sure you will use it a lot of times. Just stay out of troubles with the law. Anyhow, if you're in a deep shit, that you can't even pay enough money for your crime, you should run to Mexico and inform us with a telegram.
He than approached again to the wooden box and took out two Henry repeaters and a rifle.
Who's got the best eyesight here? , He asked.
Ich, Klein said.
Fordham handed him the rifle. Rabbin and Brunnow were given repeaters. Than, he took an envelope out of his jacket and gave it to Klein.
Es iz di uvde, Fordham explained.
A sheynem dank, Klein started to open it.
Now, could you please show me what you got? , Fordham indicated the bags.
Yeh, zicher.
Klein put the envelope away and started to open a bag, which was lying in front of his legs. It took him a while to unbind the knots. When he succeeded, he took out a small book and lifted it to the light. "The Communist Manifesto" by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. He handed it to Mr. Fordham. Than he took out a brochure, that consisted of 30-60 pages. "Why America should be Communist". He gave it to Fordham. Than he took out a leaflet with an eloquent heading "How Capitalism is going to ruin US" and also gave it to Fordham. That one looked interested.
There is a load of agitation writings, propaganda pamflets, books for libraries and documents which you know to whom they have to be delivered, Klein said looking at Fordham with a bunch of literature in his hands.
Dank, Fordham said, putting the things back into the bag. I guess, our meeting is over, comrades. I have to go back to Blackwater. Your horses are in the barn. Hope ye'll arrive safe. Where do you stand by the way?
At Greenwood's saloon.
Ah. Good place. Just don't hump the local girls. Can get syphilis or a gonorrhea. Or devil knows what else.
Personal experience? Abe asked with a grin.
Knowledge of medicine, Fordham replied coldly.
Then they said goodbye to each other and helped Fordham to load the vehicle with bags. Five minutes later, Fordham left them near the broken house and disappeared behind the rocks. They descended the stairs and appeared again in the cellar. Three sacks with straw hats were still lying on the table. They started to change their clothes.
Brunnow naked himself till the white caleçons and then started to put the clothes out of the sack. There were a fine dark cotton shirt, sailcloth pants, high leather boots and a new poncho made of wool. Also there was a bandolier, which was full of rounds and a black bandana. In three minutes Brunnow stood dressed up, with his revolver in the holster and repeater on the back. He put on the hat and then felt himself great.
Klein and Rabbin had coats instead of a poncho.
They soon went to the barn, took their horses and galloped back to the saloon.
When they were in their room, door closed, Klein opened the envelope and invited Rabbin and Brunnow to read the briefing, which was coded.
From: The High Commando, Moscow
To: Agents Little, Nibbar and Baron
Your primary mission in New Austin will be to find a coherent place d'armes for later realization of the punitive operations on local authorities and a hideout for our agents and soldiers. You must also find enough people for the following Operation Asphyxia. Our fellow comrades should have Armadillo and MacFarlane's Ranch under control till the spring of 1910. Please inform your man when you are ready.
High Commando. Moscow.
