sounded hollow. Others evidently thought so too because a chorus of jeers erupted.
It was the first note of antagonism and ugliness. The distinguished-looking man, Seth Orinda, turned sharply, raising a hand in caution. The jeering ceased.
'Whichever way it looks to you folks here,' he asserted to Edwina, 'the fact is, we've all come to put some money in your bank. That's what I mean by an act of hope. We figure that when you see us all, and realize the way we feel, you'll maybe change your minds.' 'And if we don't?'
'Then I reckon we'll go on finding more people and more bits of money. And we can do it. We've a lot more good souls coming here today, and tomorrow, and the day after. Then, by the weekend, word will have got around' he swung toward the press reporters 'so there'll be others, and not just from Forum East, who’ll join with us next week. Just to open an account, of course. To help out this poor bank. Nothing else.'
More voices added cheerfully, 'Yeah man, a whole lot more people'… 'We ain't got much bread, but we sure got numbers'… 'Tell your friends to come an' support us.'
'Of course,' Orinda said, his expression innocent, 'some of the folks who are putting money in the bank today may have to come and take it out tomorrow, or the next day, or next week. Most haven't got so much that they can leave it in long. But then, soon as we can we'll be back to put it in again.' His eyes glittered mischievously. 'We aim to keep you busy.' 'Yes,' Edwina said, 'I understand your aim.'
One of the reporters, a slim blond girl, asked, 'Mr. Orinda, how much will all of you be depositing in the bank?'
'Not much,' he told her cheerfully. 'Most have come with just five dollars. That's the smallest amount this bank will take. Isn't that right?' He looked at Edwina who r added.
Some banks, as Edwina and those listening were aware, required a minimum of fifty dollars to open a savings account, a hundred for checking. A few had no minimums at all. First Mercantile American seeking to encourage small savers compromised at five dollars.
Another thing once an account was accepted, most of the original five dollars could be withdrawn, with any credit balance sufficient to keep the account open. Seth Orinda and others had clearly realized this and proposed to drown the downtown branch bank with in-and-out transactions. Edwina thought: they might well succeed.
Yet nothing illegal or provably obstructionist was being done.
Despite her responsibilities and annoyance of a few moments earlier, Edwina was tempted to laugh, though realized she mustn't. She glanced again at Nolan Wainwright who shrugged and said quietly, 'While there's no obvious disturbance there's nothing we can do except regulate the traffic.'
The bank security chief swung toward Orinda and said firmly, 'We'll expect all of you to help us keep this place orderly, inside and out. Our guards will give directions about how many people can come in at once, and where the waiting line should stay.'
The other nodded agreement. 'Naturally, sir, my friends and I will do everything possible to help. We don't want any disturbance either. But we shall expect you to be fair.' 'What's that mean?' 'those of us in here,' Orinda declared, 'and those outside, are customers just like anybody else who comes to this bank. And while we're willing to wait our turn and be patient, we don't expect others to get specially favored treatment or to be allowed in here ahead of us who've waited. What I mean is, anybody arriving no matter who must go to the back of the line.' 'We'll see about that.'
'So will we, sir. Because if you do it some other way, it'll be a clear case of discrimination. Then you'll hear us holler.' The reporters, Edwina saw, were still making notes.
She eased her way through the press of people, to the three new account desks, already supplemented by two more, while a further two were being set up.
One of the auxiliary desks, Edwina noted, was occupied by Juanita Nunez. She caught Edwina's eye, and they exchanged smiles. Edwina was suddenly reminded that the Nunez girl lived at Forum East: Had she known in advance of today's invasion? Then she reasoned: Either way, it made no difference.
Two of the bank's junior officers were supervising the new account activity and it was clear that all other work today would fall seriously behind.
The heavyset black man, who had been among the earliest arrivals, was getting up as Edwina arrived. The girl who had dealt with him, no longer nervous, said, 'This is Mr. Euphrates. He just opened an account.'
'Deacon Euphrates. Least, that's what most call me.' Edwina was offered an enormous hand which she took.
'Welcome to First Mercantile American, Mr. Euphrates.'
'Thank you, that's real nice. In fact, so nice that I think maybe after all I'll pop a little more bread in this here account.' He examined a handful of small change, selected a quarter and two dimes, then strolled over to a teller.
Edwina asked the new accounts clerk, 'What was the initial deposit?' 'Five dollars.', 'Very well Just try to keep going as fast as you can.'
'I’ll do that, Mrs. D'Orsey, but that one took a long time because he asked a lot of questions about withdrawals and interest rates. He had them written out on paper.' 'Did you get the paper?' 'No.'
'Others will probably have the same thing. Try to get one and show it to me.'
It might provide a clue, Edwina thought, as to who had planned and executed this expert invasion. She did not believe that anyone she had spoken to so far was the key organizing figure.
Something else emerging: The attempt to inundate the bank would not be limited to merely opening new accounts. Those who had already opened accounts were now forming lines at tellers' counters, paying in or withdrawing tiny amounts at a glacial pace, asking questions or engaging tellers in conversation.
So not only would regular customers have difficulty getting into the building but, once inside, they would be further impeded.
She told Nolan Wainwright about the written lists of questions and her instructions to the girl clerk. The security chief approved. 'I'd like to see them, too.' 'Mr. Wainwright,' a secretary called over, 'telephone.'
He took the call and Edwina heard him say, 'It is a demonstration, even if not in the legal sense. But it's peaceful and we could make trouble for ourselves by hasty decisions. The last thing we want is an ugly confrontation.'
It was comforting, Edwina reasoned, to have Wainwright's sane solidity available. As he replaced the phone a thought occurred to her. 'Someone mentioned calling the city police,' she said.
'They came when I first got here and I sent them away. They'll haul back fast if we need them. I hope we won't.' He motioned to the telephone, then in the direct lion of FMA Headquarters Tower. 'Word has got to the brass. They're pressing panic buttons over there.'
'One thing they could try is restoring funds to Forum East.'
For the first time since his arrival, a brief smile crossed Wainwright's face. 'I'd like to see that, too. But this isn't the way and, where the bank's money is on the line, outside pressure won't alter a thing.'
Edwina was about to say, 'I wonder,' then changed her mind, remaining silent.
While they watched, the crowd monopolizing the bank's central floor area remained as great; the uproar, if anything, a little louder than before. Outside, the lengthening line stayed fixedly in place. It was now 9:45.
4
Also at 9:45 A.M., three blocks from First Mercantile American Headquarters Tower, Margot Bracken was operating a command post from an inconspicuously parked Volkswagen.
Margot had intended to remain remote from the execution of her pressure ploy, but in the end she hadn't been able to. Like a war horse which paws the ground at the scent of battle, her resolve had weakened then dissolved.
Margot's concern about embarrassing Alex or Edwina remained, however, and was the reason for her absence from the front line of action on Rosselli Plaza.
If she appeared she would be quickly identified by members of the press, whose presence Margot knew about since she had arranged advance tip-offs to newspapers TV, and radio.
Therefore, messengers were discreetly bringing news of developments to her car and carrying instructions back.
Since Thursday night a sizable feat of organization had been carried through
On Friday, while Margot worked on the master plan, Seth, Deacon, and several committee members recruited block captains in and around Forum East. They described what was to be done only in general terms, but the
