"Right now this is more your town than his. But make one mistake and
the same men who slapped your back in there will talk against you. And
Madrid will land on you with both feet."
"I don't see why Miss P-Persia p-puts up with him," Willie said. "I got
no respect for the man."
"You'd better have. He has to play the politician now, but he belongs
to a special race that lives in a different world from other men. You
stay in this business, you'll learn to recognize them quick enough.
They are not only capable of killing, they not only enjoy it, they
_think_ in terms of it."
Willie took a moment to digest that. "I g-guess I see what you mean.
He's c-c-cougar-fast with that gun. And his first in-st-stinct is to
reach for it."
They had reached the hotel. Tesno clapped Willie on the shoulder and
halted in front of the doorway.
"I'm going to be in Ellensburg for a few days, Willie. You walk easy,
and stay alive. And stick to the lemon pop."
"I'm s-sick of the s-stuff."
"There's a favor you can do for me," Tesno said. "You know Ben's
superintendant, Keef O'Hara? He gets on the booze, and I've been
nursemaiding him. I'd like you to take over."