"Whah at you think you is? Heavin? Cuba? Ain't nuthin' to drink on dis
car." A burly chef answered the Wildcat's inquiry.
"Dey's a cold boy back dere. Fell in de river an' stood out in de night
rain in Poteland. Can't git near him for' chips o' teeth flyin' through
de air. When he gits to shiverin' good he looks like him an' two twin
brothehs."
"White boy?" The chef ventured a casual inquiry.
"Is I said white boy? White boy packs it wid 'em. It's mah ol' Mud
Turtle podneh what craves de gin."
"'At's diff'unt." The chef grunted and got up from the poker game which
was raging. "Come wid me." He led the Wildcat into the kitchen of the
car. From one of the cupboards against the partition he lifted a pint
bottle full of a light yellow fluid. He poured some of this into a
smaller bottle. Out of another bottle containing a brown aromatic
liquid he filled the third bottle. He shook the smaller bottle until
the two liquids in it were mixed. He handed the bottle to the Wildcat.
"Give dat boy dis."
"Sho' will. What's de name o' dis licker?"
"Ain't got no public name. Us boys calls it 'hoof oil.' It kicks--some.
Better tie 'at boy's hind laigs does he take mo'n two drinks."
"What's de 'mgredients?"
"Dat's a church secret. Don't ask me no questions. 'At's five dollahs."
"Five dollahs! What you mean church secret?"
"I'se a hooch rabbi, off de run. I leads a Oakland ginagogue. I said
five dollahs. How you spec' us rabbis gwine to thrive, 'ceptin' by
takin' up de collection now an' den when we issues dis here rabbi
juice?"
"How come dat rabbi name?"
The chef looked at him. "You sho' is a' ignorant niggah. Ain't you met
up wid no rabbis yet?"
"Cain't say I is. What is dey?"
In the chef's gaze was an expression of contempt. "Boy, when you sees
me you sees a rabbi. I works at de rabbi business between trips. De
rabbi lodge was o'ganized wid all de culled bartenders. Now days mos'
all we rabbis is union bootleggers. Git back dah wid dat hoof oil befo'
it blows up. Whereat's de five dollahs?"
The Wildcat handed the chef a five-dollar bill and returned to his car,
where the Mud Turtle was doing the best he could to shake his arms off.
"Hot dam! Heah you is, ol' Mud Turtle. You sho' got a noble rattle in
yo' right han'. 'Pears like wid a pair o' gallopin' cubes you might
throw some killin' sevens. 'Sorb one drink o' dis heah rabbi juice an'
resurrect yo'self."
"One drink! Boy, gimme dat bottle. I handles mah licker!" The Wildcat
uncorked the bottle and held it to the Mud Turtle's chattering lips.
The Mud Turtle took a whiff of the liquid. Its perfume seemed to
inspire a new set of internal calisthenics in the Mud Turtle. After he
had quit writhing the Wildcat again pressed the remedy upon him. "Drink
it, fo' I drips it on you. Go ahead an' drink. I'll hol' yo' nose." He
succeeded in pouring the contents of the bottle into the Mud Turtle.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account