Free Zero-G by Alton Gansky Page B

your barroom psychology.”
    â€œHave it your way, buddy. I just pour ’em. You can drink for whatever reason you like. Don’t mean nuthin’ to me.”
    â€œSmart man.”
    â€œThis boy giving you trouble, Ronny?” It was Mikey.
    â€œNaw, he just likes his own company. Nothing wrong with that.”
    â€œYou want me to toss ’im, Ronny? I’ll toss the young punk if you want.”
    The new guy grinned. “You? Toss me? Listen, you old booze hound, you can barely stand. Take a step back before I have you licking dirt off the floor.”
    â€œWhat makes you think you can talk to me like that? I was whipping guys like you when I was in junior high.”
    â€œThat’s enough, Mikey.”
    â€œHit him, Mikey. Hit him good.” The voice came from an old man in the back.
    â€œShut up, Henry. Finish your drink and go home. I’m not going to have a fight ten minutes to closing. That goes for you too, Mikey. Finish your drink and call it a night.”
    â€œI can take him, Ronster. I can take him good.”
    The man began to slip from his stool but before his foot could touch floor, Ronny had removed a Louisville Slugger from beneath the bar and pointed the business end between the two men.
    â€œThis ends now, gentlemen. First guy to throw a punch goes home with a goose egg on the side of his head courtesy of me. Got it?”
    No answer. The two men eyed each other. If a fight broke out, then Mikey, who had more sheets to the wind than New Guy, would be sobering up in the emergency room. If he hadn’t been so certain of that, he might have let Mikey lay a couple of roundhouses to the young guy’s noggin.
    â€œI ain’t kidding around here, gentlemen. Once I crack a skull, I have to fill out a great deal of paperwork with the police, and I don’t like paperwork. Cool it. Cool it now.”
    â€œAll right, Ronster. I’ll step away, but if this pencil-neck geek gives you any more grief, you let me know. I’ll take him outside and school him in some manners.”
    â€œI’m ready, old man.”
    â€œGo sit down, Mikey.” Ronny tapped his friend’s chest with the bat. Mikey backed away.
    New Guy sat down and took his glass in his hand. “I’d have killed him. He can’t be serious about taking me.”
    â€œDon’t fool yourself, friend. Before Mikey took up drinking, he did some serious boxing. Had promise. I seen him put more than one man on the mat.”
    â€œWhat? Fifty years ago? I did some work in the ring myself. How do you think I got this ear?”
    â€œYou gonna finish that drink or try to dry it up with all yer talk?”
    The customer knocked back the drink in a single gulp. “Answer your question?”
    â€œYeah, now I got one more. You know how to work a door?” Ronny kept the bat in his hands, ready for action.
    The man looked at the door. He got the hint. Slipping from the stool, he started for it, then stopped and sighed. He returned to where he had been sitting. Ronny saw him catch a glance of Mikey, who had yet to take his eyes off the stranger.
    â€œLook. I’m sorry. I’m new in town and I’m not used to sitting around bars. You’re right. I lost my job last week and I’m trying to find work. I guess the depression and the booze got to me. How much time until closing?”
    â€œFive minutes.” Ronny eyed the man. Something didn’t feel right. He watched as the man reached for his wallet and removed a ten and two fives. The bills were folded in the middle, the ten resting inside the fives. He dropped the bills on the counter.
    â€œBuy Mikey another and keep the change for yourself.” He tossed the bill on the bar, returned his wallet to his back pocket, then inserted his hands into his front pockets. Ronny could hear keys jingle and paper rustle.
    â€œNo hard feelings.”
    â€œThanks.” The man waved at the handful of