第5部分(第2/8 頁)

n　next　to　me。

〃I　asked　him　if　he　would　teach　us　to　make　money；〃　Mike　said。

〃Oh；　and　what　did　he　say　to　that？〃　I　asked　with　cautious　curiosity。

〃Well；　he　had　a　funny　look　on　his　face　at　first；　and　then　he　said　he　would　make　us　an　offer。〃

〃Oh；〃　I　said；　rocking　my　chair　back　against　the　wall；　I　sat　there

perched　on　two　rear　legs　of　the　chair。

Mike　did　the　same　thing。

〃Do　you　know　what　the　offer　is？〃　I　asked。

〃No；　but　we'll　soon　find　out。〃

Suddenly；　Mike's　dad　burst　through　the　rickety　screen　door　and　onto　the　porch。　Mike　and　I　jumped　to　our　feet；　not　out　of　respect　but　because　we　were　startled。

〃Ready　boys？〃　Mike's　dad　asked　as　he　pulled　up　a　chair　to　sit　down

with　us。

We　nodded　our　heads　as　we　pulled　our　chairs　away　from　the　wall　to　sit　in　front　of　him。

He　was　a　big　man；　about　6　feet　tall　and　200　pounds。　My　dad　was　taller；　about　the　same　weight；　and　five　years　older　than　Mike's　dad。　They　sort　of　looked　alike；　though　not　of　the　same　ethnic　makeup。　Maybe　their　energy　was　similar。

〃Mike　says　you　want　to　learn　to　make　money？　Is　that　correct；　Robert？〃

I　nodded　my　head　quickly；　but　with　a　little　intimidation。　He　had　a　lot　of　power　behind　his　words　and　smile。

〃OK；　here's　my　offer。　I'll　teach　you；　but　I　won't　do　it　classroom…style。　You　work　for　me；　I'll　teach　you。　You　don't　work　for　me；　I　won't　teach　you。　I　can　teach　you　faster　if　you　work；　and　I'm　wasting　my　time　if　you　just