The Battler

1. The Battler By: Sarah Tiwana and Laroneje Parker Period:5

2. Nick stood up He was all right

3. -- T -- R -- A -- C -- K-- He looked up the at the lights of the caboose going out of sight around the curve

4. swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp water swamp swamp water swamp swamp swamp swamp water swamp swamp water water swamp water swamp water water water water water water water water water water water water water water water water -- T -- R -- A -- C -- K-- water water water water water water water water water water water water water water water water water water water water There was water on both sides of the track, then tamarack swamp.

5. He felt of his knee. The pa nts were torn and the skin was barked. His hands were scraped there were sand and cinders driven up his nails. He went over to the edge of the track Down the little slope to the water and washed his hands water water water water water water water water water water water water water water water water -- T -- R -- A -- C -- K-- water water water water water water water water water water water water water water water water

6. That lousy crut of a brakeman He would get him someday. He would know him again That was a fine way to act He had fallen for it. WHAM Brakeman “Come here kid, I got something for you” and he lay on his hands and knees beside the track. Then -- T -- R -- A -- C -- K--

7. He washed them carefully getting the dirt out from the nails. He squatted down and bathed his knee dirt dirt dirt dirt dirt water water water water water water water water water water water water water water water water water -- T -- R -- A -- C -- K-- water water water water water water water water water water water water water water water water

8. Nick rubbed his eye BIG BUMP There was a coming up He would have a black eye, all right It ached already. That son of a crutting brakeman.

9. BIG BUMP He touched the bump over his eye with his fingers eye Oh, well, it was only a black eye. That was all he had gotten out of it. He wished he could see it. Could not see it looking into the water, though. It was dark and he was a long way off from anywhere

10. He wiped his hands on his trousers and stood up, hands embankment to the rails trousers Then climbed the

11. Nick train when it slowed had swung on to the freight down for the yards outside of Walton Junction

12. He started up the track It was well ballasted and made easy walking, sand and gravel packed between the ties, solid walking. -- T -- R -- A -- C -- K-- He must get to somewhere Nick walked along -- T -- R -- A -- C -- K--

13. The train with Nick on it, passed through Nick Kalkaska train as it started to get dark

14. Now he must be nearly to Mancelona Nick train Three or four miles of swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp

15. Walking so he kept on the ballast between the ties, He stepped along the swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp -- T -- R -- A -- C -- K-- swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp the swamp ghostly in the rising mist

16. His eyes ached and he was hungry He kept on hiking, putting the miles of track behind him -- T -- R -- A -- C -- K-- -- T -- R -- A -- C -- K-- -- T -- R -- A -- C -- K-- -- T -- R -- A -- C -- K--

17. Bridge Ahead there was a water water water water Nick crossed it water water water water Down below the water showed black between the slits of tie.

18. Hills Hills FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE Hills FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE Hills Hills Beyond the bridge were hills It was high on both sides of the -- T -- R -- A -- C -- K-- and dark Up the track Nick saw a

19. toward the fire carefully -- T -- R -- A -- C -- K-- He came up the FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE It was off to one side of the track, below the railway embankment

20. Nick dropped carefully down the embankment woods And cut into the to come up to the FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE through the trees

21. The fire was bright now, just at the edge of the trees There was a man sitting by it The man looked to be alone FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE

22. Nick stepped out and walked into the firelight FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE

23. The man looked at Nick and smiled In the fire light Nick saw that his face was misshapen His nose was sunken, his eyes were slits, he had queer-shaped lips Nick did not perceive all this at once, he only saw the man’s face was queerly formed and mutilated. It was like putty in color. Dead looking in the fire light. Get him with a rock sometime when he’s going through He was walking along the top of the cars slapping his arms and singing He went through here bout’ an hour and a half ago Where did you get the shiner? It must have made him feel good to bust you All you kids are tough That’s what I said I saw the bastard Off through the freight? A brake man busted me You’re a tough one, aren’t you? You got to be tough Hello! I’ll bust him The bastard! I’ll get him Yes No FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE

24. Nick was embarrassed He put on his cap. Nick felt like laughing the man took off his cap The little man’s wrist was thick and the muscles bulged above the bone. Nick felt the slow pumping under his fingers. He had only one ear. It was thickened and tight against the side of his head. Where the other ear should have been there was a stump. My hearts slow. It only beats forty a minute. Feel it. When you got it you don’t know about it They all bust their hands on me Listen, you ever been crazy? Don’t you think I could take it, kid? Take hold of my wrist. Put you fingers there Ever see one like that? I’m not quite right Sixty, that’s a minute. What did you make it? Listen, you count and I’ll count to sixty It ain’t any good if you haven’t got a watch Want to eat? They couldn’t hurt me Don’t you believe it? Call me Ad I could take it Do you like my pan? Sit down Look here! I don’t know How does it get you? I’m going on to town Don’t bother sure You bet! I’m crazy You know how I beat them? You know me, don’t you? That’s right. She never speeds up. Got a watch? No, I’m not You’re all right What’s the matter? No I’m crazy Listen! Listen Honest to God? Sure! I’m Ad Francis Neither have I No forty No yes cap Come on No No FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE

25. and came across the clearing to the fire A man dropped down the railroad embankment FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE

26. Glad to meet you. Where you say you’re from? Yes. I heard what the gentleman said I hear most of what goes on Are you hungry, Nick? That’s a fine town. I didn’t catch your name That ain’t what I asked you This is my pal Bugs. He’s crazy too He’s got a lot coming to him When are we going to eat, Bugs? He’s never been crazy, Bugs Right away Hello! Hear that Bugs? Hello bugs! Chicago Adams. Nick Adams Hungry as hell FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE

27. he was laying slices of ham Into a skillet As the skillet grew hot the grease sputtered Bugs into the skillet, turned the ham and broke the eg gs tipping it from side to side to baste the eggs with the hot fat.

28. Nick bit into the sandwich. The negro was sitting opposite him beside Ad. The hot fired ham and eggs tasted wonderful. Ad did not answer. He was looking at Nick. The little man looked down at Nick’s feet. As he looked down the negro, who had followed behind him as he moved away from the fire, set himself and tapped him across the base of the skull. Watch out how that egg runs. This is for you Mister Adams. The remainder is for myself Perhaps we’d better wait until latter. It’s better at the finish of the meal. Here Just close that sandwich, will you, please, and give it to Mister Francis No, you don’t. Hold onto your knife Mister Adams Will you have some Mister Adolph Francis? Will you cut some bread out of that bag, Mister Adams? Mister Adams is right hungry Will you bring me the bread Mister Adams? Do you like to dip your bread in ham fat? I spoke to you Mister Francis May I offer you a slice of bread dipped in the hot ham fat? Mister Francis? You come in here and act snotty about my face and smoke my cigars and drink my liquor and then talk snotty. I’ll tell you, you yellow-livered Chicago bastard. Where the hell do you think you get off? You come in here where nobody asks you and eat a man’s food and when he asks you to borrow a knife you get snotty You’re a hot sketch. Who the hell asked you to butt in here? You’re going to get your can knocked off. Do you get that? How the hell do you get that way? You’re damn right nobody did. Nobody asked you to stay either. I don’t want to hit you Thanks a lot You bet! Sure Who the hell do you think you are? Cut it out Nobody Let me take your knife, Nick You’re a snotty bastard. FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE You won’t get out of it that way. Your going to take a beating, see? All right then you bastard Try to hit me Hit me

29. He fell forward and Bugs dropped the cloth wrapped blackjack on the grass He took too many beatings, for one thing. But that just made him sort of simple. Then his sister was his manager and they were always being written up in the papers all about brothers and sisters and how she loved her brother and how he loved his sister, and then they got married in New York and that made a lot of unpleasantness Sure. Of course they wasn’t brother and sister not more than a rabbit, but there was a lot of people didn’t like it either way and they commenced to have disagreements, and one day she just went off and never came back I seen her a couple of times. She was an awful good-looking women. Looked enough like him to be twins. He wouldn’t be bad-looking without his face all busted You’ll hit a town about two miles up the track. Mancelona they call it. Good Bye. Good bye Mister Adams, Good bye and good luck! He likes to think I’m crazy and I don’t mind. I like to be with him and I like to see the country and I don’t have to commit no larceny to do it I met him in jail. He was busting people all the time after she went away and they put him in jail. I was in for cuttin’ a man Don’t you worry about him none, Mister Adams. I seen him like this plenty of times before Right away I liked him and when I got out I looked him up. I can wake him up any time now, Mister Adams. If you don’t mind I wish you’d sorta pull out I didn’t know how well you could take care of yourself and, anyway, I didn’t want you to hurt him or mark up him up no more than he is I know how to do it. He won’t remember any of it. I have to do it to change him when he gets that way He just went crazy. Will you have some more coffee Mister Adams? Oh, nothing. Just move around. He’s got money Sure. He spent all his money, though. Or they took it away from him. She sends him money Oh, a lot of things. Would you like a cup of this coffee Mister Adams? Will you bring me the water in the bucket, Mister Adams I like living like a gentleman He’s alright. There’s nothing to worry about. I’m sorry Mister Adams I’m afraid I hit him just a little hard He must have made a lot of money What made him crazy? You hurt him yourself Where did you meet him? I remember about it What do you all do? thanks It’s alright blackjack FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE

30. FIRE FIRE Nick walked away from the FIRE FIRE FIRE across the clearing to the railway -- T -- R -- A -- C – K--S-- Out of the range of the fire he listened Then he heard the little man “I got an awful headache, Bugs” “You’ll feel better Mister Francis, just you drink a cup of this hot coffee”

31. He found he had a ham sandwich in his hand and put it in his pocket Looking back from the mounting grade before the track curved into the hills he could see the firelight in the clearing -- T -- R -- A -- C -- K—S-- FIRE FIRE FIRE embankment and started up the Nick climbed the

32. The End