Page:The Cannery Boat.pdf/96

86 “I say, let’s break down the door and go to the Chief of the Police! Make him tell us why we’ve been arrested!”

“Yes, come on!”

“Let’s do some shouting!”

“It’s no use.” Rinkichi shook his head.

“Why isn’t it any use?” Seato started on him, as he had always done in the trade union during a hot debate.

“Now there’s no sense in that. We’re locked in. If we make a row it’ll only make things worse for us, and give them a reason to wipe us out. Our movement must develop in the streets, we must have the support of the whole working population. And actions like these, carried out by a score or so of people—are no good for anyone. Besides, things like that are altogether against our principles. We should never forget that.”

“But how can we sit here quietly and do nothing? Should we just listen to your theories?”

At that moment four policemen entered the cell. One of them, a thick-set man with a square beard, looked at them quietly for a moment and then said:

“You know, I hope, that you’re in a police cell now. What’s all this noise about?”

He started to knock the workers about. When he went for Seato, the latter jumped quickly aside and the policeman struck out too far and lost his balance. Enraged, he shouted, “Eh, you rascal!” and threw himself upon Seato. In a second Seato’s body struck the wall with a dull, heavy thud. The policeman was breathing heavily.