Bradbury, Ray - SSC 10 Read Free Page A

making
the deci sions! Look there, do ya see?
    They look.
    the doc, quite
obviously enjoying his moment of power in center stage of the crowd, walks back and forth between the two creatures on the bar. The crowd looks after him
from right to left. He is building his
moment of suspense. He squints one eye, closes both, rubs his chin, scratches his ear.
    The Men (restlessly) Ah ...
    the doc realizing
he has gone almost too jar, feeling his audience begin to drift away, now snatches their attention back by straightening up and exhaling briskly.
    The Doc
    Well,
now!
    The men quicken.
    the old man whispers
to the YOUNG man, grabbing his arm.
    The Old Man He's
ready for his pronouncement!
    the doc, veteran
of much medical play-acting, rocks on his feet, and points at the first "body."
    The Doc This
chap here—
    The crowd leans toward the chap.
    Bruises, lacerations, and agonizin '
backaches for two weeks run- nin '.
    Everyone nods at the shame of it. the doc now turns to the other and
makes his face grim. The men lean that way.
    As
for this one—
    He pauses.
    (In a dramatic whisper) Concussion.
    All Concussion!
    The quiet wind of their voices rises and falls in the silence.
    The Doc
    He'll
survive if we run him quick now to Meynooth Clinic.
Now then—whose car will volunteer?
    The crowd looks at itself, then turns as a
staring body toward the young man. He
feels the gentle shift as he is drawn from outside the ritual to its deep and
innermost core. He looks about, thinking
perhaps there may be another volunteer. Then he walks to the door, half opens it, and looks out.
    The Young Man {counting)
    . . . twelve . . . fourteen . . . sixteen bicycles . . . and,
two hundred yards down the road . . .
one automobile . . . mine.
    The Old Man Praise
God, that's fortunate!
    the young man turns
sheepishly. The crowd leans toward him. the young man nods, once, the doc quickens with
gratitude.
    The Doc
    A
volunteer!! Quick, lads, now, hustle this victim—gently—to our good friend's vehicle. Take his keys. Drive
the car up out side!
    the young man holds
out the keys as someone runs by, seizing them. The men reach out to lift the body and freeze when the young man clears his throat. All look to him. the young man circles them with his hand, tips his cupped hand
to his mouth, and nods at finn. The men gasp.
    Casey He's
right, of course! It's a cold night. One for the road!
    heeber finn Unes up the shot glasses lip to Up and sprinkles them all quickly with the passing bottle. Hands
seize the glasses. One of the victims is taken off the bar and set in a chair,
where, reviving, his face like a
white cheese, he feels a glass put in his trembly hand.
    The Old Man Here,
lad, now ... tell us ...
    Casey What
happened, eh . . . ?eh?
    The drinks are gulped. The second victim is hefted. The men head for the door, the young man, amazed, watches them go, his drink in his hand.
    The Old Man Finish
your drink, Mr. . . . ?
    The Young Man {faintly) McGuire.
    The Old Man By the saints, he is Irish!
    the young man looks — at the recovering victim, at the bar, the mirrors,
the two bikes against the wall, the fog seeping in through the door, then, at last, at the old man, and the depths of the drink in his hand.
    The Young Man {thoughtfully) No ... I don't think I am.
    He swigs his drink and heads for the door with the old man dogtrotting after. At the door he stops, for a
voice is speaking behind him. He does
not turn, but listens. Behind, over his shoulder, the recovered "victim" is sipping his drink and
talking to two men bent earnestly to listen.
    The Victim {hoarsely,
dramatically) Well . . . I'm on me
way home, blithe as you please, see, and—
    the young man steps
through the doors quickly. The pub lights go out. Outside, the fog-scrim appears, mist drifts in from either side. We hear voices off and away, and the
approach of the young man's car,
driven by someone. The car stops, just out of sight.
    A Voice There we are!
    Another Voice Now,
easy, inside