Dulcy's upper lip began to sweat.

"Just the same old thing. Johnny's so jealous of me sometimes I think he's crazy."

"Why do you egg him on then? Do you just have to switch your ass at every man that passes by?"

Dulcy looked indignant.

"Me and Chink was friends before I even knew Johnny, and I don't see why I can't say hello to him if I want to. Johnny don't take no trouble to ignore his old flames, and Chink never was even that."

"Child, you're not trying to tell all that rumpus come just from you saying hello to Chink."

"You don't have to believe it unless you want to. Me and Val and Johnny was sitting at a ringside table when Chink came by and said, 'Hello, honey, how's the vein holding out?' I laughed. Everybody in Harlem knows that Chink calls Johnny my gold vein, and if Johnny had any sense he'd just laugh, too. But instead of that he jumped up before anybody knew what was happening and pulled his frog-sticker and began shouting about how he was going to teach the mother-raper some respect. So naturally Chink drew his own knife. If it hadn't been for Val and Joe Turner and Big Caesar keeping them apart Johnny would have started chivving on him right there. Didn't nothing really happen though 'cepting they knocked over some tables and chairs. What made it seem like such a big rumpus was some of those hysterical chicks began screaming and carrying on, trying to impress their niggers that they was scared of a little cutting."

She giggled suddenly. Mamie gave a start.

"It ain't nothing to laugh about," Mamie said sternly.

Dulcy's face fell. "I ain't laughing," she said. "I'm scared. Johnny's going to kill him."

Mamie went rigid. Moments passed before she spoke. Her voice was hushed from fear.