Free Hotbed by Bill James Page B

seemed so rocky. Ember could have sited the interview somewhere less, such as the breakfast room or study. It would be amusing but tiresome now to bring out the eight wad and count off five. He’d look like some damn bookie. He wondered whether as Brown watched this procedure he’d realize he had comically underquoted. Ralph decided he would not show the other twenty also. Why be pointed? Let Brown go off with his five, uncertain if he’d done well or pathetically.
    Maybe he’d ring up his parents as if to talk about the weather and so on and mention as something incidental that he’d just landed a business commission at five grand a week, so stuff whatever it was his brother earned poncing about on the stage – not five grand a week, definitely. And his parents might consider five grand a week quite a bit, even though they’d been brassy enough to call a kid Joachim, a British kid.
    â€˜When I say “certain assurances” I’m thinking of a decent post on the financial side of the firm,’ Brown said.
    Ralph could have guessed Brown was thinking of a decent post on the financial side, but to pick up five when it could have been eight or ten didn’t seem much of a recommendation for someone thinking of a decent post on the financial side. Ember said: ‘We’re hoping to develop in several new directions. There will be openings.’
    â€˜You mean when Manse has been snuffed – deservedly snuffed?’
    â€˜It’s in the nature of a vibrant company to find previously untried channels,’ Ember replied.
    â€˜How are you going to do it, Ralph?’
    â€˜What?’
    â€˜See to Manse.’
    â€˜The purpose of this exercise is for you to get a working familiarity with the binary character, yet unity, of the companies,’ Ember replied.
    â€˜It’s not my sort of operation,’ Brown said.
    â€˜You’re backing out?’ Ralph felt almost pleased. Did he want to hand over preparations for the possible slaughter of Mansel Shale to this half-baked big-mouth? Didn’t Mansel merit a better angel of death than that, after all these years? Manse had a lot to be said for him, and Ralph wouldn’t at all have minded saying it, even if Manse might have to be put down for inescapable commercial reasons.
    â€˜It’s not my sort of operation to see to Manse,’ Brown answered. ‘I mean, actually to see to him personally. Listen, Ralph, have you got the wrong notion, because I’m called Turret?’
    It enraged Ember to be addressed like that, ‘Listen,’ on his own property. ‘What wrong notion, Joachim?’
    â€˜I don’t do hits.’
    â€˜Hits?’
    â€˜Shooting in a street battle is fine, entirely and efficiently fine. This is a matter of fighting for due territory, for respect, for security. But if you’re telling me to look for the clever moment to do Manse personally, and do it personally while I’m in there – that’s not on, Ralph.’
    â€˜What I have in mind is standard business practice at a certain upper level. Perhaps you’re not familiar with it yet. Someone considered executive material – potential executive material – is seconded in a career-expanding move to another business to learn – to absorb – its ways, its intricacies , first hand. A widening process,’ Ember explained.
    â€˜There’s a basic difference between warfare and execution.’
    Seminar time. ‘Very much a matter of observing mood, tendencies, atmosphere, and reporting back,’ Ember said. ‘In some respects akin to an ambassadorial mission. That’s how I’d like you to think of it. I’m puzzled by this talk of “hits”.’
    â€˜If it comes to carnage around the territory, I’ll be right there, sweetly with you, Ralph, my gun flair yours to count on. You’ll see then where the Turret name comes from. But I’m not one