Marron Shed fell in love. In love in the worst possible way—with
a woman far younger, who had tastes far beyond his means. He
charged into the affair with all the reserve of a bull in rut,
disdaining consequences, squandering his cash reserve as though it
came from a bottomless box. His boxes dried up. Two weeks after he
met Sue, he made a loan with Gilbert, the moneylender. Another loan
followed that, then another. Within a month he had gone into debt
farther than he had been during the winter.
And he did not care. The woman made him happy, and that was
that. Compounding his negative attributes was a tendency toward
willful stupidity and an unconscious confidence that money could be
no problem ever again.
Wally’s wife Sal visited the Lily one morning, grim and
slightly ashamed. “Marron,” she said, “can we
talk?”
“What’s the matter?”
“You were going to help with rent and stuff.”
“Sure. So what’s the problem?”
“Well, I don’t want to sound ungrateful or like I
have any right to expect you to support us, but our landlord is
threatening to throw us out on account of the rent hasn’t
been paid for two weeks. We can’t get work on account of
nobody is putting out any sewing right now.”
“The rent isn’t paid? But I saw him just the other
day . . . ” It hadn’t been just the
other day. He had forgotten. His mother, too. Her servants’
salaries would be due in a few days. Not to mention Lisa’s.
“Oh my,” he said. “I’m sorry. I forgot.
I’ll take care of it.”
“Shed, you’ve been good to us. You didn’t have
to be. I don’t like seeing you get into this kind of
mess.”
“What kind of mess?”
“With that woman. She’s trying to destroy
you.”
He was too puzzled to become angry. “Sue? Why?
How?”
“Give her up. It’ll hurt less if you break it off.
Everybody knows what she’s doing.”
“What’s she doing?” Shed’s voice was
plaintive.
“Never mind. I said more than I should already. If
there’s ever anything we can do for you, let us
know.”
“I will. I will,” he promised. He went upstairs, to
his hidden cash box, and found it barren.
There was not a gersh in the place, upstairs or down. What was
going on? “Lisa. Where’s all the money?”
“I hid it.”
“What?”
“I hid it. The way you’re carrying on, you’re
going to lose this place. You have a legitimate expense, tell me.
I’ll cover it.”
Shed goggled. He sputtered. “Who the hell do you think you
are, girl?”
“The girl who’s going to keep you in business in
spite of yourself. The girl who’s going to stop you from
being a complete fool with Gilbert’s woman.”
“Gilbert’s?”
“Yes. What did you think was going on?”
“Get out,” Shed snapped. “You don’t work
here anymore.”
Lisa shrugged. “If that’s what you want.”
“Where’s the money?”
“Sorry. Come see me when you get your common sense
back.”
Shed raged around the common room. His customers clapped, egging
him on. He threatened. He cajoled. Nothing worked. Lisa remained
adamant. “It’s my family!” he protested.
“You go prove that woman isn’t Gilbert’s
whore. Then I’ll give you the money and walk.”
“I’ll do that.”
“What if I’m right?”
“You’re not. I know her.”
“You don’t know shit. You’re infatuated. What
if I’m right?”
He was incapable of entertaining the possibility. “I
don’t care.”
“All right. If I’m right, I want to run things here.
You let me get us out of debt.”
Shed bobbed his head once and stormed out. He was not risking
anything. She was wrong.
What was her game? She was acting like a partner or something.
Like his mother had, after his father died and before she lost her
sight. Treating him like he did not have twice her experience of
business and the world.
He wandered for half an hour. When he came up from his
melancholy, he saw he was near Sailmakers’ Hall. Hell. He was
there; he’d just go see Gilbert. Make a loan so he could see
Sue that night. Little bitch Lisa could hide his money, maybe, but
she couldn’t keep him away from Gilbert.
Half a block later he began to suffer conscience pangs. Too many
people depended upon him. He shouldn’t make his financial
situation worse.
“Damned woman,” he muttered. “Shouldn’t
talk to me that way. Now she’s got me doubting
everybody.” He leaned against a wall and fought his
conscience. Sometimes lust pulled ahead, sometimes the urge toward
responsibility. He ached for Sue . . . He
should not need money if she really loved
him . . .
“What?” he said aloud. He looked again. His eyes had
not deceived him. That was Sue stepping into Gilbert’s
place.
His stomach sank like a falling rock. “No. She
couldn’t . . . There must be an
explanation.”
But his traitor mind started cataloguing little oddities about
their relationship, particularly mauling her penchant for spending.
A low-grade anger simmered over the fire of his hurt. He slipped
across the street, hurried into the alley leading behind
Gilbert’s place. Gilbert’s office was in the back. It
had an alley window. Shed did not expect that to be open. He did
hope to sneak a peek.
The window was not open, but he could hear. And the sounds of
lovemaking in no way approximated what he wanted to hear.
He considered killing himself on the spot. Considered killing
himself on Sue’s doorstep. Considered a dozen other dramatic
protests. And knew none would move either of these villains.
They began talking. Their chatter soon killed Shed’s
hold-out doubts. The name Marron Shed came up.
“He’s ready,” the woman said.
“I’ve taken him as far as I can. Maybe one more loan
before he starts remembering his family.”
“Do it, then. I want him wrapped up. Make the hill steep,
then grease it. He got away from Krage.”
Shed shook with anger.
“How far down do you have him?”
“Eighteen leva, and nearly another ten in
interest.”
“I can work him for another five.”
“Do it. I have a buyer hot to go.”
Shed left. He wandered the Buskin for hours. He looked so grim
people crossed the street. There is no vengeance as terrible as the
vengeance a coward plots in the dark of his heart.
Late that afternoon Shed strolled into Gilbert’s office,
all emotion locked back in the shadows he had discovered the night
he had run with Krage’s hunters. “I need fifteen leva,
Gilbert. In a hurry.”
Gilbert was startled. His one eye opened wide. “Fifteen?
What the hell for?”
“I’ve set up a sweet deal, but I have to close it
tonight. I’ll go a couple extra points if you
want.”
“Shed, you’re into me big now. I’m worried
about you covering that.”
“This deal goes off and I can clear it all.”
Gilbert stared. “What’s up, Shed?”
“Up?”
“You’re awful sure of yourself.”
Shed told the lie that hurt most. “I’m going to get
married, Gilbert. Going to ask the lady tonight. I want to close
this deal so I can make the Lily over into a decent place for
her.”
“Well,” Gilbert breathed. “Well, well, well.
Marron Shed getting married. Interesting. All right, Shed.
It’s not good business, but I’ll take a chance.
Fifteen, you said?”
“Thank you, Mr. Gilbert. I’m really
grateful . . . ”
“You sure you can meet the payments?”
“I’ll have you ten leva before the end of the week.
Guaranteed. And with Sue helping out at the Lily, I’ll have
no problem clearing enough to cover the rest.”
Gilbert controlled a thin smile. “Then you won’t
mind putting up collateral more valuable than your word?”
“Sir?”
“I want a lien on the Iron Lily.”
Shed pretended to think hard. Finally: “All right.
She’s worth the risk.”
Gilbert smiled the smile of a hungry stoat, but managed to look
worried at the same time. “Wait here. I’ll have a note
drawn up and get the money.”
Shed smiled nastily as Gilbert departed.
Marron Shed fell in love. In love in the worst possible way—with
a woman far younger, who had tastes far beyond his means. He
charged into the affair with all the reserve of a bull in rut,
disdaining consequences, squandering his cash reserve as though it
came from a bottomless box. His boxes dried up. Two weeks after he
met Sue, he made a loan with Gilbert, the moneylender. Another loan
followed that, then another. Within a month he had gone into debt
farther than he had been during the winter.
And he did not care. The woman made him happy, and that was
that. Compounding his negative attributes was a tendency toward
willful stupidity and an unconscious confidence that money could be
no problem ever again.
Wally’s wife Sal visited the Lily one morning, grim and
slightly ashamed. “Marron,” she said, “can we
talk?”
“What’s the matter?”
“You were going to help with rent and stuff.”
“Sure. So what’s the problem?”
“Well, I don’t want to sound ungrateful or like I
have any right to expect you to support us, but our landlord is
threatening to throw us out on account of the rent hasn’t
been paid for two weeks. We can’t get work on account of
nobody is putting out any sewing right now.”
“The rent isn’t paid? But I saw him just the other
day . . . ” It hadn’t been just the
other day. He had forgotten. His mother, too. Her servants’
salaries would be due in a few days. Not to mention Lisa’s.
“Oh my,” he said. “I’m sorry. I forgot.
I’ll take care of it.”
“Shed, you’ve been good to us. You didn’t have
to be. I don’t like seeing you get into this kind of
mess.”
“What kind of mess?”
“With that woman. She’s trying to destroy
you.”
He was too puzzled to become angry. “Sue? Why?
How?”
“Give her up. It’ll hurt less if you break it off.
Everybody knows what she’s doing.”
“What’s she doing?” Shed’s voice was
plaintive.
“Never mind. I said more than I should already. If
there’s ever anything we can do for you, let us
know.”
“I will. I will,” he promised. He went upstairs, to
his hidden cash box, and found it barren.
There was not a gersh in the place, upstairs or down. What was
going on? “Lisa. Where’s all the money?”
“I hid it.”
“What?”
“I hid it. The way you’re carrying on, you’re
going to lose this place. You have a legitimate expense, tell me.
I’ll cover it.”
Shed goggled. He sputtered. “Who the hell do you think you
are, girl?”
“The girl who’s going to keep you in business in
spite of yourself. The girl who’s going to stop you from
being a complete fool with Gilbert’s woman.”
“Gilbert’s?”
“Yes. What did you think was going on?”
“Get out,” Shed snapped. “You don’t work
here anymore.”
Lisa shrugged. “If that’s what you want.”
“Where’s the money?”
“Sorry. Come see me when you get your common sense
back.”
Shed raged around the common room. His customers clapped, egging
him on. He threatened. He cajoled. Nothing worked. Lisa remained
adamant. “It’s my family!” he protested.
“You go prove that woman isn’t Gilbert’s
whore. Then I’ll give you the money and walk.”
“I’ll do that.”
“What if I’m right?”
“You’re not. I know her.”
“You don’t know shit. You’re infatuated. What
if I’m right?”
He was incapable of entertaining the possibility. “I
don’t care.”
“All right. If I’m right, I want to run things here.
You let me get us out of debt.”
Shed bobbed his head once and stormed out. He was not risking
anything. She was wrong.
What was her game? She was acting like a partner or something.
Like his mother had, after his father died and before she lost her
sight. Treating him like he did not have twice her experience of
business and the world.
He wandered for half an hour. When he came up from his
melancholy, he saw he was near Sailmakers’ Hall. Hell. He was
there; he’d just go see Gilbert. Make a loan so he could see
Sue that night. Little bitch Lisa could hide his money, maybe, but
she couldn’t keep him away from Gilbert.
Half a block later he began to suffer conscience pangs. Too many
people depended upon him. He shouldn’t make his financial
situation worse.
“Damned woman,” he muttered. “Shouldn’t
talk to me that way. Now she’s got me doubting
everybody.” He leaned against a wall and fought his
conscience. Sometimes lust pulled ahead, sometimes the urge toward
responsibility. He ached for Sue . . . He
should not need money if she really loved
him . . .
“What?” he said aloud. He looked again. His eyes had
not deceived him. That was Sue stepping into Gilbert’s
place.
His stomach sank like a falling rock. “No. She
couldn’t . . . There must be an
explanation.”
But his traitor mind started cataloguing little oddities about
their relationship, particularly mauling her penchant for spending.
A low-grade anger simmered over the fire of his hurt. He slipped
across the street, hurried into the alley leading behind
Gilbert’s place. Gilbert’s office was in the back. It
had an alley window. Shed did not expect that to be open. He did
hope to sneak a peek.
The window was not open, but he could hear. And the sounds of
lovemaking in no way approximated what he wanted to hear.
He considered killing himself on the spot. Considered killing
himself on Sue’s doorstep. Considered a dozen other dramatic
protests. And knew none would move either of these villains.
They began talking. Their chatter soon killed Shed’s
hold-out doubts. The name Marron Shed came up.
“He’s ready,” the woman said.
“I’ve taken him as far as I can. Maybe one more loan
before he starts remembering his family.”
“Do it, then. I want him wrapped up. Make the hill steep,
then grease it. He got away from Krage.”
Shed shook with anger.
“How far down do you have him?”
“Eighteen leva, and nearly another ten in
interest.”
“I can work him for another five.”
“Do it. I have a buyer hot to go.”
Shed left. He wandered the Buskin for hours. He looked so grim
people crossed the street. There is no vengeance as terrible as the
vengeance a coward plots in the dark of his heart.
Late that afternoon Shed strolled into Gilbert’s office,
all emotion locked back in the shadows he had discovered the night
he had run with Krage’s hunters. “I need fifteen leva,
Gilbert. In a hurry.”
Gilbert was startled. His one eye opened wide. “Fifteen?
What the hell for?”
“I’ve set up a sweet deal, but I have to close it
tonight. I’ll go a couple extra points if you
want.”
“Shed, you’re into me big now. I’m worried
about you covering that.”
“This deal goes off and I can clear it all.”
Gilbert stared. “What’s up, Shed?”
“Up?”
“You’re awful sure of yourself.”
Shed told the lie that hurt most. “I’m going to get
married, Gilbert. Going to ask the lady tonight. I want to close
this deal so I can make the Lily over into a decent place for
her.”
“Well,” Gilbert breathed. “Well, well, well.
Marron Shed getting married. Interesting. All right, Shed.
It’s not good business, but I’ll take a chance.
Fifteen, you said?”
“Thank you, Mr. Gilbert. I’m really
grateful . . . ”
“You sure you can meet the payments?”
“I’ll have you ten leva before the end of the week.
Guaranteed. And with Sue helping out at the Lily, I’ll have
no problem clearing enough to cover the rest.”
Gilbert controlled a thin smile. “Then you won’t
mind putting up collateral more valuable than your word?”
“Sir?”
“I want a lien on the Iron Lily.”
Shed pretended to think hard. Finally: “All right.
She’s worth the risk.”
Gilbert smiled the smile of a hungry stoat, but managed to look
worried at the same time. “Wait here. I’ll have a note
drawn up and get the money.”
Shed smiled nastily as Gilbert departed.