jg.thefirm-第10节

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und　into　the　massive　ovens　where　the　best　pork　ribs　were　barbecued　in　the　best　barbecue　restaurant　in　a　city　known　for　world…class　barbecue。　The　Rendezvous　was　downstairs；　beneath　the　alley；　beneath　an　ancient　red…brick　building　that　would　have　been　demolished　decades　earlier　had　it　not　been　for　the　famous　tenant　in　the　basement。
　　There　was　always　a　crowd　and　a　waiting　list；　but　Thursdays　were　slow；　it　seemed。　They　were　led　through　the　cavernous；　sprawling；　noisy　restaurant　and　shown　a　small　table　with　a　red…checked　tablecloth。　There　were　stares　along　the　way。　Always　stares。　Men　stopped　eating；　froze　with　ribs　hanging　from　their　teeth；　as　Abby　McDeere　glided　by　like　a　model　on　a　runway。　She　had　stopped　traffic　from　a　sidewalk　in　Boston。　Whistles　and　catcalls　were　a　way　of　life。　And　her　husband　was　used　to　it。　He　took　great　pride　in　his　beautiful　wife。
　　An　angry　black　man　with　a　red　apron　stood　before　them。　〃Okay；　sir；〃　he　demanded。
　　The　menus　were　mats　on　the　tables；　and　pletely　unnecessary。　Ribs；　ribs　and　ribs。
　　〃Two　whole　orders；　cheese　plate；　pitcher　of　beer；〃　Mitch　shot　back　at　him。　The　waiter　wrote　nothing；　but　turned　and　screamed　in　the　direction　of　the　entrance：　〃Gimme　two　whole；　cheese；　pitcher！〃
　　When　he　left；　Mitch　grabbed　her　leg　under　the　table。　She　slapped　his　hand。
　　〃You're　beautiful；〃　he　said。　〃When　was　the　last　time　I　told　you　that　you　are　beautiful？〃
　　〃About　two　hours　ago。〃
　　〃Two　hours！　How　thoughtless　of　me！〃
　　〃Don't　let　it　happen　again。〃
　　He　grabbed　her　leg　again　and　rubbed　the　knee。　She　allowed　it。　She　smiled　seductively　at　him；　dimples　forming　perfectly；　teeth　shining　in　the　dim　light；　soft　pale　brown　eyes　glowing。　Her　dark　brunet　hair　was　straight　and　fell　perfectly　a　few　inches　below　her　shoulders。
　　The　beer　arrived　and　the　waiter　filled　two　mugs　without　saying　a　word。　Abby　took　a　small　drink　and　stopped　smiling。
　　〃Do　you　think　Lamar's　okay？〃　she　asked。
　　〃I　don't　know。　I　thought　at　first　he　was　drunk。　I　felt　like　an　idiot　sitting　there　watching　him　get　soaked。〃
　　〃Poor　guy。　Kay　said　the　funerals　will　probably　be　Monday；　if　they　can　get　the　bodies　back　in　time。〃
　　〃Let's　talk　about　something　else。　I　don't　like　funerals；　any　funeral；　even　when　I'm　there　out　of　respect　and　don't　know　the　deceased。　I've　had　some　bad　experiences　with　funerals。〃
　　The　ribs　arrived。　They　were　served　on　paper　plates　with　aluminum　foil　to　catch　the　grease。　A　small　dish　of　slaw　and　one　of　baked　beans　sat　around　a　foot…long　slab　of　dry　ribs　sprinkled　heavily　with　the　secret　sauce。　They　dug　in　with　fingers。
　　〃What　would　you　like　to　talk　about？〃　she　asked。
　　〃Getting　pregnant。〃
　　〃I　thought　we　were　going　to　wait　a　few　years。〃
　　〃We　are。　But　I　think　we　should　practice　diligently　until　then。〃
　　〃We've　practiced　in　every　roadside　motel　between　here　and　Boston。〃
　　〃I　know；　but　not　in　our　new　home。〃　Mitch　ripped　two　ribs　apart；　slinging　sauce　into　his　eyebrows。
　　〃We　just　moved　in　this　morning。〃
　　〃I　know。　What're　we　waiting　for？〃
　　〃Mitch；　you　act　as　though　you've　been　neglected。〃
　　〃I　have；　since　this　morning。　I　suggest　we　do　it　tonight；　as　soon　as　we　get　home；　to　sort　of　christen　our　new　house。〃
　　〃We'll　see。〃
　　〃Is　it　a　date？　Look；　did　you　see　that　guy　over　there？　He's　about　to　break　his　neck　trying　to　see　some　leg。　I　oughta　go　over　and　whip　his　ass。〃
　　〃Yes。　It's　a　date。　Don't　worry　about　those　guys。　They're　staring　at　you。　They　think　you're　cuteJi
　　〃Very　funny。〃
　　Mitch　stripped　his　ribs　clean　and　ate　half　of　hers。　When　the　beer　was　gone；　he　paid　the　check　and　they　climbed　into　the　alley。　He　drove　carefully　across　town　and　found　the　name　of　a　street　he　recognized　from　one　of　his　many　road　trips　of　the　day。　After　two　wrong　turns；　he　found　Meadow…brook；　and　then　the　home　of　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Mitchell　Y。　McDeere。
　　The　mattress　and　box　springs　were　stacked　on　the　floor　of　the　master　bedroom；　surrounded　by　boxes。　Hearsay　hid　under　a　lamp　on　the　floor　and　watched　as　they　practiced。
　　Four　days　later；　on　what　should　have　been　his　first　day　behind　his　new　desk；　Mitch　and　his　lovely　wife　joined　the　remaining　thirty…nine　members　of　；　and　their　lovely　wives；　as　they　paid　their　last　respects　to　Martin　S。　Kozinski。　The　cathedral　was　full。　Oliver　Lambert　offered　a　eulogy　so　eloquent　and　touching　not　even　Mitchell　McDeere；　who　had　buried　a　father　and　a　brother；　could　resist　chill　bumps。　Abby's　eyes　watered　at　the　sight　of　the　widow　and　the　children。　That　afternoon；　they　met　again　in　the　Presbyterian　church　in　East　Memphis　to　say　farewell　to　Joseph　M。　Hodge。
　　　
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　　THE　small　lobby　outside　Royce　McKnight's　office　was　empty　when　Mitch　arrived　precisely　at　eight…thirty；　on　schedule。　He　hummed　and　coughed　and　began　to　wait　anxiously。　From　behind　two　file　cabinets　an　ancient　blue…haired　secretary　appeared　and　scowled　in　his　general　direction。　When　it　was　apparent　he　was　not　wele；　he　introduced　himself　and　explained　he　was　to　meet　Mr。　McKnight　at　this　appointed　hour。　She　smiled　and　introduced　herself　as　Louise；　Mr。　McKnight's　personal　secretary；　for　thirty…one　years　now。　Coffee？　Yes；　he　said；　black。　She　disappeared　and　returned　with　a　cup　and　saucer。　She　notified　her　boss　through　the　inter　and　instructed　Mitch　to　have　a　seat。　She　recognized　him　now。　One　of　the　other　secretaries　had　pointed　him　out　during　the　funerals　yesterday。
　　She　apologized　for　the　somber　atmosphere　around　the　place。　No　one　felt　like　working；　she　explained；　and　it　would　be　days　before　things　were　normal。　They　were　such　nice　young　men。　The　phone　rang　and　she　explained　that　Mr。　McKnight　was　in　an　important　meeting　and　could　not　be　disturbed。　It　rang　again；　she　listened；　and　escorted　him　into　the　managing　partner's　office。
　　Oliver　Lambert　and　Royce　McKnight　greeted　Mitch　and　introduced　him　to　two　other　partners；　Victor　Milligan　and　Avery　Tolar。　They　sat　around　a　small　conference　table。　Louise　was　sent　for　more　coffee。　Milligan　was　head　of　tax；　and　Tolar；　at　forty…one；　was　one　of　the　younger　partners。
　　〃Mitch；　we　apologize　for　such　a　depressing　beginning；〃　McKnight　said。　〃We　appreciate　your　presence　at　the　funerals　yesterday；　and　we're　sorry　your　first　day　as　a　member　of　our　firm　was　one　of　such　sadness。〃
　　〃I　felt　I　belonged　at　the　funerals；〃　Mitch　said。
　　〃We're　very　proud　of　you；　and　we　have　great　plans　for　you。　We've　just　lost　two　of　our　finest　lawyers；　both　of　whom　did　nothing　but　tax；　so　we'll　be　asking　more　of　you。　All　of　us　will　have　to　work　a　little　harder。〃
　　Louise　arrived　with　a　tray　of　coffee。　Silver　coffee　server；　fine　china。
　　〃We　are　quite　saddened；〃　said　Oliver　Lambert。　〃So　please　bear　with　us。〃
　　They　all　nodded　and　frowned　at　the　table。　Royce　McKnight　looked　at　some　notes　on　a　legal　pad。
　　〃Mitch；　I　think　we've　covered　this　before。　At　this　firm；　we　assign　each　associate　to　a　partner；　who　acts　as　a　supervisor　and　mentor。　These　relationships　are　very　important。　We　try　to　match　you　with　a　partner　with　whom　you　will　be　patible　and　able　to　work　closely；　and　we're　usually　right。　We　have　made　mistakes。　Wrong　chemistry；　or　whatever；　but　when　that　happens　we　simply　reassign　the　associate。　Avery　Tolar　will　be　your　partner。〃
　　Mitch　smiled　awkwardly　at　his　new　partner。
　　〃You　will　be　under　his　direction；　and　the　cases　and　files　you　work　on　will　be　his。　Virtually　all　of　it　will　be　tax　work。〃
　　〃That's　fine。〃
　　〃Before　I　forget　it；　I'd　like　to　have　lunch　today；〃　Tolar　said。
　　〃Certainly；〃　Mitch　said。
　　〃Take　my　limo；〃　Mr。　Lambert　said。
　　〃I　had　planned　to；〃　said　Tolar。
　　〃When　do　I　get　a　limo？〃　Mitch　asked。
　　They　smiled；　and　seemed　to　appreciate　the　relief。　〃In　about　twenty　years；〃　said　Mr。　Lambert。
　　〃I　can　wait。〃
　　〃How's　the　BMW？〃　asked　Victor　Milligan。
　　〃Great。　It's　ready　for　the　five…thousand…mile　service。〃
　　〃Did　you　get　moved　in　okay？〃
　　〃Yes；　everything's　fine。　I　appreciate　's　assistance　in　everything。　You've　made　us　feel　very　wele；　and　Abby　and　I　are　extremely　grateful。〃
　　McKnight　quit　smiling　and　returned　to　the　legal　pad。　〃As　I've　told　you；　Mitch；　the　bar　exam　has　priority。　You've　got　six　weeks　to　study　for　it　and　we　assist　in　every　way　possible。　We　have　our　own　review　courses　directed　by　our　members。　All　areas　of　the　exam　will　be　covered　and　your　progress　will　be　closely　watched　by　all　of　us；　especially　Avery。　At　least　half　of　each　day　will　be　spent　on　bar　review；　and　most　of　your　spare　time　as　well。　No　associate　in　this　firm　has　ever　failed　the　exam。〃
　　〃I　won't　be　the　first。〃
　　〃If　you　flunk　it；　we　take　away　the　BMW；〃　Tolar　said　with　a　slight　grin。
　　〃Your　secretary　will　be　a　lady　named　Nina　Huff。　She's　been　with　　more　than　eight　years。　Sort　of　temperamental；　not　much　to　look　at；　but　very　capable。　She　knows　a　lot　of　law　and　has　a　tendency　to　give　advice；　especially　to　the　newer　attorneys。　It'll　be　up　to　you　to　keep　her　in　place。　If　you　can't　get　along　with　her；　we'll　move　her。〃
　　〃Where's　my　office？〃
　　〃Second　floor；　down　the　hall　from　Avery。　The　interior　woman　will　be　here　this　afternoon　to　pick　out　the　desk　and　furnishings。　As　much　as　possible；　follow　her　advice。〃
　　Lamar　was　also　on　the　second　floor；　and　at　the　moment　that　thought　was　forting。　He　thought　of　him　sitti