Page:The Cannery Boat.pdf/193

Rh opened, and a girl in a nightdress poked out her hand. The powder had come off her face in patches and she wore a stupid expression.

“Hello, sweetie,” one of the men shouted. “Did you have a good time last night?”

The others all cackled, but the girl just stared at their sweaty grimed figures. Sinking back into listlessness again, they tried no more sallies.

Leaving the village behind them they were again on a monotonous road lined with paddy fields. The ladder and the pole had become the worst burden to them. Their feet were not very tired; it was in the upper part of their bodies that they felt it. How much further, O Lord?

“I hope we find the trouble soon!”

“So do I. It’s as bad as hunting for yer girl.”

“For your enemy, more like.”

“Now the snow’s all gone, maybe it’s mended itself. Don’t you reckon all the snow ahead will soon be melted?” said another, although he knew such hopes were vain.

“And so you mean to say we may as well turn back?”

“No such luck.” They all gave a joyless laugh as they glanced in Soroku’s direction.

“It’s no good talking like that. Suppose when we got there they found it wasn’t all right, there’d be hell to pay.” Soroku gave the warning rather unwillingly, with his head down.

“There’s nothing I’d enjoy more than a good row and then to be fired. Who wants to stick at a job like this all his life?”

As one of the skilled workers said this, Soroku