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"You're going to offer the men a raise of fifty cents a day," Gus said. He turned to Hall. "And you're going to accept his offer. "
Hall kept his face blank and said: "Is that so?"
"And I want your men back at work by noon today. "
Vyalov said: "And why the hell should we do what you tell us?"
"Because of the alternative. "
"Which is?"
"The president will send an army battalion to the foundry to take it over, secure it, release all finished products to customers, and continue to run it with army engineers. After the war, he might give it back. " He turned to Hall. "And your men can probably have their jobs back then, too. " Gus wished he had run this past Woodrow Wilson first, but it was too late now.
Lev said with amazement: "Does he have the right to do that?"
"Under wartime legislation, yes," said Gus.
"So you say," said Vyalov skeptically.
"Challenge us in court," said Gus. "Do you think there's a judge in this country who will side with you-and our country's enemies?" He sat back and stared at them with an arrogance he did not feel. Would this work? Would they believe him? Or would they call his bluff, laugh at him, and walk out?
There was a long silence. Hall's face was expressionless. Vyalov was thoughtful. Lev looked sick.
At last Vyalov turned to Hall. "Are you willing to settle for fifty cents?"
Hall just said: "Yes. "
Vyalov looked back at Gus. "Then we accept, too. "
"Thank you, gentlemen. " Gus closed his folder, trying to still the shaking of his hands. "I'll tell the president. "
{V}
Saturday was sunny and warm. Lev told Olga he was needed at the foundry, then he drove to Marga's place. She lived in a small room in Lovejoy. They embraced, but when Lev started to unbutton her blouse she said: "Let's go to Humboldt Park. "
"I'd rather screw. "
"Later. Take me to the park, and I'll show you something special when we come back. Something we haven't done before. "
Lev's throat went dry. "Why do I have to wait?"
"It's such a beautiful day. "
"What if we're seen?"
"There'll be a million people there. "
"Even so. . . "
"I suppose you're afraid of your father-in-law?"
"Hell, no," Lev said. "Listen, I'm the father of his grandchild. What's he going to do, shoot me?"
"Let me change my dress. "
"I'll wait in the car. If I watch you undress I might lose control. "
He had a new Cadillac three-passenger coupe, not the swankiest car in town but a good place to start. He sat at the wheel and lit a cigarette. He was afraid of Vyalov, of course. But all his life he had taken risks. He was not Grigori, after all. And things had worked out pretty well for him so far, he thought, sitting in his car, wearing a summer-weight blue suit, about to take a pretty girl to the park. Life was good.
