The Iron Dragon Never Sleeps Read Online Free PDF Page B

choice.”
    He looked under a pillow. “Where are those muffins?” he muttered.
    “Muffins?” said Marjorie.
    “Yes, muffins,” he repeated. “Mrs. Swanson gave me a few yesterday. They were wrapped in a napkin.”
    “I think Winnie has them. She went out for a ride.”
    He frowned. “You say she took all the muffins?”
    “She’s a growing girl. Besides, you had breakfast. Tell me, Eli, is it true that Mr. Crocker has cut off the Chinese food supplies?”
    “Where’d you hear that?”
    “Cisco has big ears for such a small town. Is it true?”
    He nodded. “Nothing to do with me, of course, but nothing I can do about it either. I don’t approve, though, if that’s what you’re wondering.” He cleared his throat. “Where did Winnie go anyway?”
    “She went riding on Handsome.”
    “This early? Well, I hope she’s got sense enough to stay away from the tracks. Tempers are getting short. No telling what might happen.”
    At the moment nothing was happening to Winnie. She was sitting under a tree by the trestle bridge. The sun was rising in the sky, and Lee was nowhere in sight.
    Winnie yawned. She had not slept well. Some new men had come in late. They tromped up the stairs, laughing and talking. She could hear them as they passed by in the hall.
    “They think they can wait us out,” said one.
    “We’ll teach them a lesson,” said another. “A few cracked heads is something they’ll understand.”
    Winnie sighed and took out her sketchpad. Us and Them, Was this some kind of game? Was she supposed to be on the railroad’s side because of her father? Or just because she wasn’t Chinese?
    “Over here, Lee!” she shouted as he appeared on the ridge.
    Lee came forward slowly. Twice he looked back over his shoulder.
    “I am sorry to be late. There was a meeting. I wanted to hear what was said. This Mr. Crocker is a hard man. He has spoken very plain. If we do not return to work by Monday, he will act.”
    Winnie nodded. “I know. My father says Crocker will fine you for keeping his other men and equipment idle.” She paused. “He’s used to getting his way, I think. Well, let’s not talk about
that
for now. I brought you some muffins. And more apples. And a sandwich, too. Mrs. Swanson made it for me.”
    She indicated the sack at her side.
    “Help yourself.”
    Lee examined the contents.
    “There is too much here,” he protested. “You will eat, too?”
    “Oh, I had a big breakfast,” Winnie lied. “You go ahead.”
    Lee bit into a corn muffin. “Very good,” he said.
    Winnie looked relieved. “I didn’t know what you liked,” she admitted.
    “I like salted cabbage, dried seaweed, bamboo sprouts, and mushrooms,” said Lee.
    “We didn’t have any vegetables or cuttlefish. I don’t like vegetables much.”
    “The way Americans cook them, I would not like them either. But I eat other things, too.”
    He turned his head. “Did you hear that?”
    “Hear what?”
    Lee frowned. “Perhaps it is nothing. But three men were walking not far behind me. They moved as I moved. And they were carrying clubs.”
    “Oh.”
    “I tried to run ahead and hide my way. I do not know if I succeeded.”
    “I don’t hear anything now,” said Winnie. “You said you went to a meeting this morning. Did it go well?”
    “Not so good, I think. Many workers are angry. They came to this country to make money. It is money they want to take home.”

    “Home?” Winnie was surprised. “You mean back to China?”
    Lee nodded. “Most who come do not wish to stay. The ones who do not gamble can save twenty dollars a month. That is a lot of money in China. My father always planned to return home to Kwangtung Province and buy a farm.”
    Winnie could not imagine leaving her own country just to find work. And then to go back afterward! The Chinese must love their country very much to do that.
    “And your mother came with him?” she asked.
    “No, no,” said Lee. “It is not a trip for women. He met my