The day of the locust by Nathanael West Read Free Book Online Page A

though he had been kicked, then rubbed the seat of his trousers ruefully.
    Homer understood that this was to amuse, so he laughed.
    Harry thanked him by bowing again, but something went wrong. The exertion had been too much for him. His face blanched and he fumbled with his collar.
    "A momentary indisposition," he murmured, wondering himself whether he was acting or sick.
    "Sit down," Homer said.
    But Harry wasn't through with his performance. He assumed a gallant smile and took a few unsteady steps toward the couch, then tripped himself. He examined the carpet indignantly, made believe he had found the object that had tripped him and kicked it away. He then limped to the couch and sat down with a whistling sigh like air escaping from a toy balloon.
    Homer poured more water. Harry tried to stand up, but Homer pressed him back and made him drink sitting. He drank this glass as he had the other two, in quick gulps, then wiped his mouth with his handkerchief, imitating a man with a big mustache who had just drunk a glass of foamy beer.
    "You are indeed kind, sir," he said. "Never fear, some day I'll repay you a thousandfold."
    Homer clucked.
    From his pocket Harry brought out a small can and held it out for him to take.
    "Compliments of the house," he announced. "'Tis a box of Miracle Solvent, the modern polish par excellence, the polish without peer or parallel, used by all the movie stars..."
    He broke off his spiel with a trilling laugh.
    Homer took the can.
    "Thank you," he said, trying to appear grateful. "H much is it?"
    "The ordinary price, the retail price, is fifty cents, but you can have it for the extraordinary price of a quarter, the wholesale price, the price I pay at the factory."
    "A quarter?" asked Homer, habit for the moment having got the better of his timidity. "I can buy one twice that size for a quarter in the store."
    Harry knew his man.
    "Take it, take it for nothing," he said contemptuously. Homer was tricked into protesting.
    "I guess maybe this is a much better polish."
    "No," said Harry, as though he were spurning a bribe. "Keep your money. I don't want it."
    He laughed, this time bitterly.
    Homer pulled out some change and offered it.
    "Take it, please. You need it, I'm sure. I'll have two cans."
    Harry had his man where he wanted him. He began to practice a variety of laughs, all of them theatrical, like a musician tuning up before a concert. He finally found the right one and let himself go. It was a victim's laugh.
    "Please stop," Homer said.
    But Harry couldn't stop. He was really sick. The last block that held him poised over the runway of self-pity had been knocked away and he was sliding down the chute, gaining momentum all the time. He jumped to his feet and began doing Harry Greener, poor Harry, honest Harry, well-meaning, humble, deserving, a good husband, a model father, a faithful Christian, a loyal friend.
    Homer didn't appreciate the performance in the least. He was terrified and wondered whether to phone the police. But he did nothing. He just held up his hand for Harry to stop.
    At the end of his pantomime, Harry stood with his head thrown back, clutching his throat, as though waiting for the curtain to fall. Homer poured him still another glass of water. But Harry wasn't finished. He bowed, sweeping his hat to his heart, then began again. He didn't get very far this time and had to gasp painfully for breath. Suddenly, like a mechanical toy that had been overwound, something snapped inside of him and he began to spin through his entire repertoire. The effort was purely muscular, like the dance of a paralytic. He jigged, juggled his hat, made believe he had been kicked, tripped, and shook hands with himself. He went through it all in one dizzy spasm, then reeled to the couch and collapsed.
    He lay on the couch with his eyes closed and his chest heaving. He was even more surprised than Homer. He had put on his performance four or five times already that day and nothing like this had