Chapter 9

Joe wondered which ideal would be crushed first.

“Because James Murphy,” Levin said, answering Novak’s question with a smirk, “master of the Universe, asked him to, I guess.”

“More men to work is good.” Novak looked at Joe for approval. He seemed to think Joe had answers.

“No, more men means more chaos.” Levin shook his head, looking down into his empty plate. “If only they’d let me out of here.”

Across the room, Joe spotted Dubois sitting alone. But he couldn’t help him. Couldn’t be seen with him.

“You think those new men are gonna work the forest too?”

“No, Novak,” Levin said, “they’re coming here for the Grand Ball.”

“Why are you so sarcastic? It hurts my feelings.”

“Anyway,” Levin said, obviously disconcerted by Novak’s candid words, “with the way things are going across the ocean, pretty soon, there’s gonna be a liberation. The laborers of the world, the essence of humanity, the men whose backs have been lashed by the proverbial whip of capitalism and―”