Needle in a Haystack by Ernesto Mallo Read Free Book Online Page B

You’re not going to give me anything for the client I’m bringing you? Firstly, I already pay you for doing practically nothing, and secondly, the client hasn’t even shown up yet, and you already want a commission. Are you trying to say that I’m of no use to you? I get about as much use out of you as you do out of the money I pay you. Which is not enough. It’s
hardly my fault that it’s not enough. Nothing is ever enough for you. You’ve too many vices. Yeah, well that’s my problem. I couldn’t agree more. And if I decided to leave, where else would you find someone you could trust? Look, when I shave in the morning, I’m on my guard, because I don’t even trust my own shadow. I’ve a firm hand on the tiller, and I won’t ever let go. And in this world, the tiller means one thing: guelt . But Elías… Take your sob story to the temple. So you’re not going to give me anything at all for this? First let’s take a look at the fish, then we’ll decide how to cook it. The guy has some land you can take as guarantee on anything you lend him. Leave that side of things to me, I know a bit more about it than you. Fine, but don’t forget afterwards. I never forget anything. I particularly never forget how much you already owe me.
    Out on the landing, Amancio stands in front of the door in his best suit, his burglar outfit as he calls it, with a big smile, ringing Biterman’s bell, not noticing he’s being spied on by the neighbour through the peephole.
    That must be your mate. Go and attend to him. Hold on, let’s leave him to stew a moment. Did you go and see his land? It’s nice, although really the only thing left is the ranch house. Must be ten or twelve acres. It’s a bit abandoned but with a little cash you could do it up. Mother would have loved it. Everything involves a little cash with you. What’s it called? La Rencorosa: In Spite. What a name. I like it. Let him in and tell him to wait. I’m off to deal with an important internal call.
    Biterman grabs the newspaper off the table and, unfastening his trousers, goes and settles himself on the toilet. He has serious constipation problems, so this is a sacred moment. Horacio leaves the room, shutting the office door behind him, then goes to the front door and opens it. Amancio surveys the apartment. It’s one of those dark, poky little places with paper-thin walls,
everything made to the bare minimum. You couldn’t swing a cat in there. The furniture, the few decorations, the curtains, everything looks cheap and worn out, but the place smells of money.
    Amancio. Come on in. How’s it going man? Surviving. Your brother? He’s on a call right now, then he’ll see you. The other person rang so it could take a while. Did you go to see the ranch? Yes. And what did you think? The house is good but a bit rundown. With twenty bucks worth of painting and twenty on repairs it would be as good as new. That may well be, but you try getting twenty bucks out of my brother. The man’s careful with his money. Any coin that falls into his hands never sees the light of day again. Why is it called La Rencorosa? It’s a family story. My mother inherited the land from a spinster aunt but mum didn’t like it, never went. The old man took charge and ended up having an affair with some girl out there. She was some chinita from the village but with a breathtaking body. A bit of a womanizer, was he? And my granddad, and my great granddad, and my brother and me. It’s in the blood. Anyway, the story is he got her pregnant so he moved her into the ranch house, which was then called El Vergel: The Orchard . So one dark day gossip got back to my mum. She grabbed a shotgun, jumped in the car and headed for the country. She confronted the chinita and, in a fit of pique, gave her such a kicking that the miscarriage spat out. Then she threw her out onto the street. And what did your old man do? Nothing. Never even mentioned it. The only thing he ever said on the subject,