Invisible man - Ralph Ellison [112]
The window was so high that I could barely hear the sound of traffic below . . . This was a bad beginning, but hell, I was being hired by Brother Jack, if he still wanted me, not this Emma woman. I'd like to show her how really black I am, I thought, taking a big drink of the bourbon. It was smooth, cold. I'd have to be careful with the stuff. Anything might happen if I had too much. With these people I'll have to be careful. Always careful. With all people I'll have to be careful . . .
"It's a pleasant view, isn't it?" a voice said, and I whirled to see a tall dark man. "But now would you mind joining us in the library?" he said.
Brother Jack, the men who had come along in the car, and two others whom I hadn't seen before were waiting.
"Come in, Brother," Jack said. "Business before pleasure is always a good rule, whoever you are. Some day the rule shall be business with pleasure, for the joy of labor shall have been restored. Sit down."
I took the chair directly before him, wondering what this speech was all about.
"You know, Brother," he said, "we don't ordinarily interrupt our social gatherings with business, but with you it's necessary."
"I'm very sorry," I said. "I should have called you earlier."
"Sorry? Why, we're only too glad to do so. We've been waiting for you for months. Or for someone who could do what you've done."
"But what . . . ?" I said.
"What are we doing? What is our mission? It's simple; we are working for a better world for all people. It's that simple. Too many have been dispossessed of their heritage, and we have banded together in brotherhood so as to do something about it. What do you think of that?"
"Why, I think it's fine," I said, trying to take in the full meaning of his words. "I think it's excellent. But how?"
"By moving them to action just as you did this morning. . . Brothers, I was there," he said to the others, "and he was magnificent. With a few words he set off an effective demonstration against evictions!"
"I was present too," another said. "It was amazing."
"Tell us something of your background," Brother Jack said, his voice and manner demanding truthful answers. And I explained briefly that I had come up looking for work to pay my way through college and had failed.
"Do you still plan to return?"
"Not now," I said. "I'm all done with that."
"It's just as well," Brother Jack said. "You have little to learn down there. However, college training is not a bad thing -- although you'll have to forget most of it. Did you study economics?"
"Some."
"Sociology?"
"Yes."
"Well, let me advise you to forget it. You'll be given books to read along with some material that explains our program in detail. But we're moving too fast. Perhaps you aren't interested in working for the Brotherhood."
"But you haven't told me what I'm supposed to do," I said.
He looked at me fixedly, picking up his glass slowly and taking a long swallow.
"Let's put it this way," he said. "How would you like to be the new Booker T. Washington?"
"What!" I looked into his bland eyes for laughter, seeing his red head turned slightly to the side. "Please, now," I said.
"Oh, yes, I'm serious."
"Then I don't understand you." Was I drunk? I looked at him; he seemed sober.
"What do you think of the idea? Or better still, what do you think of Booker T. Washington?"
"Why, naturally, I think he was an important figure. At least most people say so."
"But?"
"Well," I was at a loss for words. He was going too fast again. The whole idea was insane and yet the others were looking at me calmly; one of them was lighting up an underslung pipe. The match sputtered, caught fire.
"What is it?" Brother Jack insisted.
"Well, I guess I don't think he was as great as the Founder."
"Oh? And why not?"
"Well, in the first place, the Founder came before him and did practically everything Booker T. Washington did and a lot more. And more people believed in him. You hear a lot of arguments about Booker T. Washington, but few would argue about the Founder . . ."
"No, but perhaps that is because the Founder lies outside history, while Washington is still a living force. However, the new Washington shall work for the poor . . ."