Page:The Cannery Boat.pdf/45

Rh “Japan no good yet. Workers like this” (bending and cringing). “Men who don’t work like this” (haughty and pretending to punch and knock over his neighbour). “That no good! … Workers like this” (straightening up his body in a threatening way and advancing; then pretending to knock his neighbour down and kick him). “Men who don’t work like this” (running away). “Japan only workers. Fine country. Proletarians’ country! Understand?”

“Yes, yes, we understand.”

The Russian raised a strange voice and began a kind of dance.

“Japan workers, act!” (straightening himself and making to attack). “Very glad. Russia all glad. Banzai! … You go back to ship. In your ship men who don’t work like this” (haughty). “You, proletariat, do this!” (pretending to box—then swinging hands as before—then advancing). “Quite safe. You win! Understand?”

“We understand.” The young fishermen, who before they knew it had become very much excited, suddenly squeezed the Chinese man’s hand.

“We’ll do it … for sure we’ll do it!”

The head sailor thought all this was “Red,” that they were being egged on to do very terrible things. Like this, by such tricks, Russia was making a complete fool of Japan, he thought.

When the Russian had finished he shouted something and then pressed their hands with all his might. He embraced them and pressed his bristly face to theirs. The flustered Japanese, with their heads pushed back, did not know what to do.