10
September 8th, 5 p.m.
GRANTHAM looked round the large room, his face cold and sneering. There were some thirty girls standing around the room. Some of them had on wraps, others just wore knickers and black stockings. They were all looking sullen and were only suppressing their fury because Madam, a big, hard−featured woman, stood behind Grantham.
Grantham said, “You girls’ve got to shake up your ideas. We’ve done badly here this week. I’m going to try a little experiment. Next week you’ll all go on a commission basis. See how you get on with that.” There was a low murmur from the girls. Madam said, “Shut up, you!”
Grantham’s lips twisted into a sneering smile. He turned to Madam. “You’ve been too soft with these bitches,” he said. “Get hold of the ringleaders and turn them over to my men. They’ll knock the starch out of them. What the hell do they think they’re here forfun?”
Out of the crowd of girls Fan suddenly pressed forward. “Hey, bastard,” she said, “let me tell you something. Since you’ve taken over, we girls ain’t had any breaks. We don’t get money. We don’t know how much we’ve earned. Now you say you’re just giving us commission.”
Grantham looked her over. “Who do you think you’re talkin’ to?” he said.
“Heel number one,” Fan returned. “I for one ain’t goin’ to take any more from yousee?”
Grantham turned to Madam. “What you waitin’ for? That’s one of ’em who wants handlin’.”
Madam walked over to Fan, who stood her ground, her eyes flashing dangerously. She said, “Lay off, or you’ll get hurt.”
There was a long pause, then the door jerked open and Lu came in with a rush. His face was covered with livid bruises and his collar and tie were missing.
Grantham stared at him. “What the hell?”
“Come on, boss,” Lu panted, “I’ve got a car outside. The lid’s blown off. Let’s go.”
“You mad?” Grantham said, forgetting that the girls were listening curiously.
“I tell you we’ve got to beat it. That swine Ellinger’s got the Perminger dame. She’ll spill everything.”
Grantham went white with rage. “I told you to get her,” he snarled.
“I knowI know. Don’t stand arguing. I tried. He got there first. Come on, boss.”
Grantham turned to the door. Fan got in his way and he shoved her to one side. “Get out of my way, you cow!” he shouted.
Fan seemed to go mad. She sprang at him, shrieking for the other girls to join in. Grantham flung her away, and then went down under a heap of furious harpies.
Lu hesitated, then turned and bolted for the door. Julie threw herself in his way and they went down on the floor together. Three other girls piled on top of him.
Fan was shrieking like a madwoman. “Give it to the swines! Tear ’em apart!” she yelled, making a dive at Madam, who ran screaming out of the room.
Grantham fought his way to his feet, hitting out right and left with his fists. He was badly frightened. It was only by swinging his arms violently that he kept off the claw−like fingers that quested for his face. He took a couple of steps back as the shrieking girls bore down on him, and then his heel was seized by one of the fallen ones and he went over with a thud that shook the room.
Lu was bawling for help as he twisted and squirmed under the mass of girls. Grantham had his hands too full to do anything. He beat them off a second time and got to the door.
“Don’t let him get out!” Fan screamed. “Bring the bastard down!” She rushed across the room and flung herself on Grantham, biting and tearing at him with her teeth and nails.
Grantham swung his fist and hit her in her throat, sending her reeling backwards. He pulled open the door and got out into the hall.
Andree and Julie pulled him down as he reached the front door. Andree traced three livid marks on his face with her nails. Grantham began to sob for breath. He kicked them away and bolted upstairs.
Lu was helpless in the hands of the girls who had seized him. There was a girl hanging on to each of his limbs, pinning him to the floor. His clothes were in ribbons and his face was a mask of blood where they had clawed him. He screamed on a high note with terror as they dragged the rest of his clothes off him.
Fan fought her way to him, pulling off the girls and throwing them on one side. “Let me get at the heel!”
she shrilled. “I’ll teach him somethin’. Get out of the way!”
The girls drew back, their faces savage and lustful. They crowded round again, as Fan knelt over the sobbing man.
“Get a knife, someone,” she shouted. “I’m goin’ to fix this guy so he doesn’t play around any more.”
A knife materialized from somewhere and was handed over the heads of the girls. Fan seized it.
Lu gave a horrible strangled scream when he saw the flash of steel, and when she laid hands on him he nearly went mad. “Don’t do itdon’t do it!” he screamed. “Nononoaaah! Aaaaah!”
The girls suddenly drew away, leaving him lying there. A long ribbon of blood ran towards them so that they drew further back, shuddering.
Fan, her eyes gleaming madly, shrilled, “What are you waitin’ for? Where’s the other one?”
In a body they stampeded for the door. Andree and Julie had already gone upstairs. They could hear them thumping on a door.
Fan, her hands covered in blood, ran up the stairs, with the others behind her. They brushed the two girls away from the door and threw themselves forward. The door creaked and bulged, but held.
Grantham backed against the wall, terrified. He rushed to the window and threw it up. Far below him he could see cars passing and people moving about in the streets. He leant far out of the window and began to yell at the top of his voice.
Faces turned towards him. People stopped and pointed. Cars came to a standstill, and people got out to look at him. He saw a policeman move towards the house with a slow measured tread. Behind him he heard the door creak, and he yelled again, his voice going off pitch with terror.
Then with a crash the door flew open, and he spun round, his back to the window.
Fan stood there, her hair wild and her eyes savage. He saw the bloodstained knife gripped in her hand and he turned back to the window. He heard his own voice screaming in panic as he tried to climb out.
They all came across the room in a wave. Hands seized him and dragged him back. He went down under them with a thin wail of terror.