@@@@@He had never quite allowed himself to state
@@@@@He had never quite allowed himself to state this fear before on the patrol"Just like the fuggin Army," he said furiously, and again he felt guilty for having used an obscenity "What're you gettin' your balls in an uproar?" Polack asked "No priest," Martinez said eagerlyPolack had spoken with such assurance that Martinez was certain he had some answer, some escape from the aisles of the catechism "You think it ain't important?" Gallagher asked "Listen, you want to know somethin?" Polack said"You don't got to worry about that stuffIt's all a lousy racket
They were appalledGallagher peeked instinctively over his shoulder at the mountainBoth he and Martinez wished they were not sitting with Polack"What are you, a fuggin atheist?" This time the profanity did not matterGallagher was thinking that it was true the Italians and Polacks always made the worst Catholics "You believe that crap?" Polack asked"Listen, I been t'rough the mill, I know what the score isIt's just a goddam good racket for makin' money
Martinez tried not to listen Polack was riding his angerA long-repressed hostility was coming out, and with it a sustaining bravado, for he also was afraidHe felt as if he were taunting a guy like Lefty Rizzo"You're a Mex, and you're Irish, you get some benefits outa the goddam thingThe Polacks they don't get a damn thingYou ever hear of a Polack cardinal in America? NawI oughta know, I got a sister a n
