Charlie walked back behind the bar and rejoined Durkin. “Hell with them if they can’t show the proper respect,” he said.

Durkin kept his eyes trained on his beer. “That’s what it has come to. Being laughed at by a couple of oafs like them.” He seemed lost in thought for a moment, then smiled reluctantly. “It’s tough enough every day looking out at a field growing full of Aukowies, knowing I got almost four years left before Lester can take over. With the way the town’s acting, I just don’t know, Charlie. I’m getting tired.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“I don’t know. Nothing.”

“You’re not going to stop your weeding?”

Durkin didn’t answer him.

“Jesus, Jack, if you are planning that give me some notice.” Charlie forced a nervous smile. “At least give me a chance to get on the first plane I can to Tahiti.”

“It wouldn’t do you any good. Aukowies would be there quick enough. Three or four weeks tops.”

“Jack, come on, you can’t let a couple of dumb asses like the Hagerty brothers get to you.”

“It’s not just them, Charlie. It’s the whole town. Chrissakes, even my wife, my two boys.”

“Your boys don’t believe?”

“Maybe Bert, but Lester can’t keep the smirk off his face.” He smiled weakly and waved a hand in front of him as if he were waving away the last few minutes. “Don’t worry, Charlie. Just feeling sorry for myself, that’s all. I may be tired but I’m not quitting my weeding. Hell, only a couple of months to first frost. I’ll make it. And things are going to change with Lester. I’m taking him with me in a few days. He’ll see firsthand those ain’t no weeds.”

Charlie’s heavy eyelids drooped a bit as he nodded to himself. “Any chance you can take me out there sometime?” he asked.

“I can’t do that. That would be violating the contract.”

“It might help to have other people see those creatures firsthand.”

Durkin thought about it and shook his head. “I’d like to. But I can’t violate the contract. If I start with this, who knows what rule I’d bend next. At some point we’d all be lost.”