Emperor of the North Page #3

[Yardlet] Talk up, boy. Tell him.

You're a tenderfoot.

- Bullshit. He came in on the 19.

Bought himself a free ride on the special.

They saw him get off.

[Train Whistle Blowing In Distance]

You know what I do to people

who say what you've done?

I did it.

I rode your goddamn train.

There's only one bo

that's got the stuff to try me.

You ain't even on the list.

Any tramp that sets foot on my train...

I'd hold him out

and shake him to death like a snake.

Yeah. I'm onto you, kid.

You're nothin' but a lousy little bum.

I rode your train free,

and I wasn't the only one.

[Gagging]

- Tell me about it.

Don't matter.

- Oh, it does to me.

Let's you and me take a

walk down by the crick-...

...[Straining]

And discuss this, just you and me.

A- #1. A-#1.

- [Cigaret Choking, Whimpering]

His name is on the tower. I seen it.

The gink said he'd come in on the 19.

He's goin' back out in the morning.

Northbound to Portland.

A- #1? Who's A-#1?

[Grunts]

Never met him... yet.

[Train Whistle Blowing In Distance]...

Five dollars he makes it

all the way to Portland.

[Yardlet] Five dollars?

What are ya talkin' about, to Portland?

The kid was a fluke.

Now, he was a cinch bet, but no hobo

is gonna ride Shack all the way to Portland.

That- It'd take more than a miracle.

A-#1 ain't just any bo for five.

You're covered.

- Let Jack hold it.

Okay. Here.

- Not me. I want no part of it.

Who's gonna hold the money?

- Okay, okay. I'll handle the money.

Now look. I- I hate Shack

as much as any of you guys...

...but that bo ain't even gonna make it outta...

...the yards, and here's

another five to prove it.

Five too? Take it.

- And he's got a chance if there's fog.

You're covered.

[All Chattering Loudly]

- [Man] Put me down for seven bucks.

[Chattering Continues]

Tell the telegraph operator

to let the boys down the line in on it.

Tell 'em in North Plains

what they got comin'.

Tell 'em in Eugene, Albany, Salem.

Tell 'em.

[Operator]

Cottage Grove will cover

all bets up to $600...

...on or against A-#1 riding

the Shack to Portland.

Attention, Cottage Grove.

North Plains bets $85 on the Shack,

$78 on A-#1.

This is Albany. $177 on A-#1.

Attention:
Portland advises

it's a federal crime...

...to use the telegraph line

for the purpose of making wagers.

Portland also advises

we are betting $255 on the Shack.

Okay, fellas. I got a week's pay

on the Shack's big nose.

A whole week's pay?

- Twenty dollars- any or all of it?

You got a customer. Remember

me? I'll take half.

You're covered.

Hey, don't take all of it. Give me two.

- You got it.

I'll take 75 cents Put me down for 75 cents.

- [All Chattering]...

No trust, Harry. Put up or shut up.

- Give me 50 cents.

You're on.

[Laughs]

Well?

The other side. Go on.

Jesus.

[Metal Creaking]...

...[Overlapping Chatter]

- Try the awls.

A hatpin.

It's only got two tumblers.

- What do you know about tumblers?

Come on.

- Gently, gently, gently. That'll do it.

[Rattles]

You know, Cracker and that Shack

really baitin' the trap today.

Shack'd rather kill a man

than give him a free ride.

That's it. Easy, easy.

Goddamn Shack's gonna put this down

in his bad-day book.

He sure is.

- Easy, Smile. It's like a woman.

Opens wide with an easy touch.

[Smile] There she goes.

Ha-ha. [Laughing]...

...[Smile Continues Laughing]

- [Others Chattering]

I'm proud of this bastard.

Magic fingers gets you stuff like that.

- [Chattering Fades]...

...[Cheering, Laughing]

- Shh.

[Smile Shushing]...

...[Cheering Fades]

Right. In the trenches. Out of sight.

Come on. Come on.

Well?

- All set.

Wish I was goin' with him.

- Me too.

[Steam Hisses]...

Almost makes me wanna

go back on the road.

She's a big ride.

Treat her right, bo.

Turn her upside down,

says, 'made in hell.'

You've got your work cut out for ya. There's...

...a fast mail going through

the junction at 7:10.

That's 11 minutes.

- I'll be there in four.

Three miles?

Not at yard speed you won't.

I won't be goin' yard

speed. I'm gonna highball.

Highball?

The hell you are, Shack.

- I'm not givin' away another free ride.

I can't even see the end

of my train in this fog.

I'm gonna have 20 miles an hour under me

before he has his first chance.

If he wants to try to deck that,

he'll end up sellin' pencils.

This is my yard, and I'll give you the clip

on how you go, or I'll telegraph Division.

Well, now, you telegraph Division.

And what are ya gonna say- that you're

gonna open up this road to tramps? Ha.

There.

[Blows]

Move.

6:
59.

- 6:
59.

[Whistle Blowing]

- Here she comes.

[Whistle Blows]...

...[Man]

Come on, Shack. We got

our money down on ya.

[Workers Shouting, Chattering]...

All the way, Shack. All the way, Shack.

- That's it.

You're a loser, Shack.

A- #1's gonna ride your back all the way.

[Shouting, Chattering Continues]

Forget it, Shack.

A-#1 's gonna ride ya all the way.

That son of a b*tch is gonna highball.

- What did you expect?

Yeah, he's gonna highball in the yard.

- Naturally.

But in the yard?

That's great. Faster.

Goddamn you. Faster.

Shack. Shack, she's old.

She oughta be in the shop.

Shack. Shack, she's old.

She oughta be in the shop.

Shack, her cylinder packing's

wearin' through.

[Engineer] Shack. Listen, Shack.

[Shack]

Keep it open. Give her steam-all she'll take.

Shack, her side rod's poundin'.

Can't you hear it?

Shack, can't you hear it?

She's bindin'.

She's gonna bleed.

- [Shack] I can't hear nothin'.

Now, you keep it open.

You hear me?

You keep it wide open.

[Engineer] She can't take it, Shack.

She can't take it. Shack.

[All Shouting]

- Come on, Shack. A-#1 's waitin' for ya.

Here she comes.

- Get down. Get down.

And there she goes.

- [Others Laughing]...

...[Wheels Scraping]

Close the throttle.

Shut that throttle.

[Brakes Screeching]...

...[Stoker] Lord have mercy.

Holy jumpin' Jesus.

[Yelps]...

...[Whimpering] Christ.

[Smile] Guess who, Shack.

It's the big, bad bo, Shack...

...and he's gonna bite your big, bad ass.

[Hoboes Laughing]...

That switch is turned.

- [Man] Hey, Shack, we spoil your day?

[All Laughing]

Where the hell is Shack?

Damned if I know.

He's outta sight up-track.

7:
02. Eight minutes. Sh*t.

Shack, you ain't so high

and mighty now, are you?

[All Laughing]...

Doesn't Shack know we're

runnin' out of time?

Boxed in, Hogger-...

...out of track front and back.

Ain't never heard of such a thing.

Highballin' outta the yards,

bustin' through switches. Geez.

Hey, Shack,

you left your caboose hangin' out.

I hope you've got

your pension paid up, Shack.

Holy sh*t.

Hey, cover man, now you know

what ass-whuppin' is all about.

[Laughing]

- S-Six m-minutes.

Don't worry, Shack. It ain't so bad.

We'll keep a place for you in the jungle-...

...six... feet... down.

Hey, back her off.

She ain't clear.

You get a chance,

you use this, understand?

[Shack]

Hurry up. Let's get this

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