William Gaddis - J R

— I know yes but please sit…

— Wants a receptacle for these depletion allowances has Nonny set up Alsaka Development Corp all this energy crisis legislation comes along chance to get in on these gas exploration write-offs retains Milliken’s hometown law firm out there to represent Alsaka so now Milliken’s in touch with the AEC about setting off an underground blast golf game arranged down there for you to discuss it what else can I do carry your golf bag? Even sheep membranes Milliken in on that one too minerals gas timber up to our ass in Indians I mean holy shit Bast what am I supposed to do!

— Yes well, well please just sit down Mister Davidoff I…

— Yes didn’t mean, just reach the point ask Mooneyham over there for a time cost estimate clean up that pollution mess out at X–L to head off this lawsuit he starts to describe a dream about a hair growing out of his eyeball see what I, what, what’s…

— Just your, your foot here I’d better just put my case down on the…

— Foot? Oh, oh top page there brush right off certainly do meticulous work don’t you Bast wrote a novel once myself you know, maybe a little jealous of you boys with a knack for the arts luxury I can’t afford never finished it, couldn’t just sit on my butt and indulge myself like that why the Boss is impressed the way you keep both balls in the air corporate picture and a hand in the music game had a feeling though since I came on board your corporate hold slipping a little Bast, mind not quite focused may just be the pressure of…

— No it’s, I’m thinking of leaving it the company I mean, I…

— What leaving the, leaving the company? Knew you and the Boss had a little communications gap didn’t know things had gone that far though Bast you…

— No it’s not exactly that it’s just, you see I…

— Always happens better offer someplace else these headhunters sniffing around first whiff of dissatisfaction they know it before you do the way we got Mister Ten-forty there, have you bought and sold before you know what’s happening the Boss know it yet?

— Yes well I’m sure he expects, I mean you see I just came in originally to help him to…

— Get things on their feet see why they came after you, not exactly a secret what you two put together overnight here really just starting to take off though can’t be planning to pull out tomorrow of course or you wouldn’t have picked up this option probably talked to Piscator just so you don’t plan to sell…

— No I mean I thought that’s why the loan was the only way I could…

— Don’t worry about it just so you’re not planning to sell, get it straight with Nonny wouldn’t leave you up the creek like the lawyer company I just left little weasel named Beaton father was a law partner of Senator Broos’ brother and their Washington lobbyist Frank Black only reason they keep him, left the barn door open when their top man picked up his option day before he quit ten minutes later they’re facing a minority suit paid out a fistful…

— Yes but all I…

— Better ride uptown with you put our heads together with the Boss go over the whole thing Bast heard he started looking at Diamond Cable when it fell to sixteen may be another of Crawley’s stunts specialist for Diamond probably sold it short there himself when Typhon pulled back on that tender offer rumor some big blocks in family trusts didn’t move when old man Cates cracked the whip but with City National banking Crawley Wiles all the rest of them got the Boss up to his ass in bellies on these five percent margins price drops and…

— Yes but listen Mister Davidoff about this stock opt…

— Thinking of leaving the company Bast sooner we sit down with the Boss the better see he’s expanding the board of directors for instance couple of names I never heard of looked in the Directory of Directors for Urquhart and this other one Teets? Not there either where he recruited them…

— No well you see I recruited them all he wanted was I think the law requires a certain number of…

— Seen how I’ve been running the store here Bast might want to put in a word at dinner for what’s this Virginia, Angels East what’s Angels East…

— That bald man Mister Davidoff his name is Mister Wall…

— Decker here give him this tell him I’m in conference oh and Virginia gang on the sofa there tell them Mister Bast and I have to get uptown the Boss wants…

— No please I’m listen I…

— Little embarrassing for me sometimes you know Bast admit I’ve never met the Boss put this profile together want to get a little feel for him chance to get across his image start grooming him for something big just take this X–L pollution mess, make a front page image as the good corporate citizen but he’s so mad at that smartass Boy Scout came up with those color ink samples from the stream there some school science project wants to let them sue get the kid in court have Nonny wipe up the floor with, wait you didn’t wear a coat?

— No but listen…

— Get mine be right with you put Mooneyham there on the stand they’d end up fining X–L triple damages plus costs shut down production till it’s cleaned up, get you or the Boss out there call it accidental spillage study underway get out for five six thousand good corporate citizen image give the little bastard a fifty dollar award engraved certificate banquet at Howard Johnson pull in his scout troop science teacher American Legion Woody Owl get the whole what lose something…?

— No I thought there were some sandwiches here I thought I’d just take…

— Must have cleaned them up wait something right behind plate right behind you Virginia what’s…

— It’s that cottage cheese with ketchup Mister Hopper had but he put out his cigar in the…

— No no call room service order Mister Bast a ham and like ham and cheese?

— No I’m never mind Virginia listen Mister Davidoff I have to leave and we can’t…

— Hold out a little longer put our heads together with the Boss over beef Wellington little place up near…

— No but listen I’m trying to tell you he’s not here he’s not at the uptown not in town at all Mister Davidoff he…

— Up there last night thought he was still on tap don’t worry about it ride up with you anyhow never seen the uptown layout you know, use some of that equipment you’re getting in right here if we had it shredder for instance and this Telecopier four hundred reminds me you might want Virginia on staff up there too, good hearted really tries heard you’re having some problems gal answering your phone told Crawley to wait Virginia want to call off those media boys tell them to freeload someplace else tonight oh and Vir…

— But wait that wait that that woman over there who’s…

— Skinner’s gal thought you’d met her Bast real topflight track record in curr something wrong there Virginia what’s…

— Listen I have to leave I’m…

— She put these contack lenses in this glass of water Mister Davidoff she thinks maybe Mister Mooneyham got it only now she can’t see who’s…

— Yes well look for just tell her to wait where’s Mister wait tell Mister Bast to wait be right with him man in the cowboy hat there what’s cowboy hat and boots who’s…

— That’s this Mister Brisboy Mister Davidoff he…

— Yes well tell him to Skinner’s gal there tell her to sit down find who drank that glass of wait get Mister Bast at the door there be right with him if Mister Ten-forty doesn’t show up tell Skinner to…

— But he’s here Mister Davidoff this Mister disomething he’s over at the sofa with them he said please don’t interrupt them and this Mister Duncan was up the hall he said Mister Skinner got mugged up by the mop closet they…