Chapter 24 Karakarai Falls - 2

Wall Street's turf realignment is in full swing.This alone is enough for a few ordinary people to be very busy.For Klimrod, this is just a part of the dozens of operations he carried out at the same time. This is the case for the London operation, which is Leiber's first transaction outside of North America.However, this was preceded by another series of events involving 248 Rock shoe stores. At first it happened that one of the locations chosen for the restaurant was next door to a shoe store and had to be sub-leased to that store.A member of Berkovitch's team was sent to do the job, but it hit a snag right from the start.

The man came back and reported.Reber asked Benny Berkovich: "What reason does the other party have?" "Say it's the smell when it's made and it will drive their customers away." "Have your men found another location?" "It doesn't get any better than that." Belkovich's dark, melancholy, but rather piercing eyes met Reb's.Benny nodded and said: "O.K.. You'll get all the information you need." The next day, he reported as follows: first, the shoe store was one of a chain of shoe stores distributed throughout New York State; Rochelle and Buffalo each have a shoe factory that produces and sells their own products; third, Rock is a private equity company whose share value is indicated on the annual balance sheet; fourth, the shareholders are basically the Rock family members, and the rest are small shareholders, some of whom are leather merchants; fifth, the company is currently in a recession.

"The shoes they make are outdated, because from the twenties until now, they are always the same and out of date. They are getting more and more overwhelmed by the competition of their peers, and the situation is getting worse every month. Their next year's assets There will be a general decline in equity values ​​on the balance sheet." Belkovich wasn't talking, but was spitting out words in a high-pitched, moaning voice.His expression was always the same, as if an inescapable misfortune oppressed him day and night.When he was talking, he kept looking around, and even turned around to look behind him, to see if there were any invisible enemies watching.However, he was able to work eighteen hours a day without a break for weeks on end.

"Reber, are you interested in their whole business, or just this store?" "all." "As I expected. I have already investigated the situation of the Rock family. Right now, two brothers are in charge of the family. They haven't spoken to each other for twenty years. If they have something to do, they will write a note to each other. The two brothers each account for 2%. Ten shares, one named Everett and the other Harold. Everett was the elder brother, and more determined. Harold was more difficult to deal with: he believed that his mission in life was to make He carried forward the tradition of the Rock family in the shoe industry; he even believed that the shoes produced by Rock were one of the national treasures of the United States. He would repeat this sentence at least five times a day: 'You bought a pair of Rock shoes, and you will never wear them in your life! 'We have two ways of dealing with him, by exploiting his arrogance as a member of the Rock shoe family, and besides, he has a mistress named . . . "

"Don't talk about that," Reber said. "Whatever you want. Twenty per cent for Everett, twenty per cent for Harold. Fifteen per cent for one of their sisters, Ona. Some cousins, uncles, uncles, etc. for a hundred per cent." Twelve percent. Forty plus fifteen, plus twelve, a total of sixty-seven percent, which is the big head. Tanners have eighteen percent, and they're worried; anyone who wants to buy them, they'd like to ask The remaining 15 percent are sporadic and small stocks. The main supply of their leather is Longdon and Alister. We should deal with Alister. He is younger and more energetic. Longdon will Followed him."

"How about that sister?" "Married to a Tourette. Five children, two in college and three wanting to. They need money and have taken out a loan. I'll arrange that. Would you Want to buy them all?" "Two-thirds at least. Benny, you go get in touch with that sister, Alice, and Everett. Make individual direct contacts, and don't let any of them know that you've met the other two." "And what about Harold?" Reber turned to Diego grinning, his eyes fixed on his feet. Diego threw up his hands and said, "I see. I have to buy some shoes that won't break."

Diego has small feet, an American shoe size of six and a quarter.The pair of shoes he bought at a Rocker's on Broadway were big enough to carry him down the East River. He went to Harold Rock. "I couldn't control my emotions," he said. "When I was a child I loved a cow very much, it was my closest friend, but, believe it or not, the shoes on my little feet are now made of that cow's hide, and when I learned that it was slaughtered When it was over, I cried like a child." Harold is a thick-browed man who looks like a fanatical Quaker (Note: A Protestant sect founded by the British George Foggs (1624-1691), advocating penance and anti-war.) Saving disciples.He asked who Diego was.

"My name is Esteban Gómez-Gómez-Gómez," said Diego. "You must have heard of that name." "Never," said Harold coldly. "That surprises me. But wait, we sold four or five thousand head of cattle to a leather house called Longdon and Allister just a few months ago." "I know them," said Harold. It was through them, Diego said, that he tracked down Concepcón — his favorite childhood cow — from Texas to the shoe store on Broadway.Here he finally got his wish. "As for the workmanship of these shoes, they are superb. It is a crime to wear such a beautiful work of art on your feet. I will treasure them as soon as I get back to the hotel."

This whimsical compliment made Harold's brush-like eyebrows even higher, and he declared that Rock's shoes were for the customer's lifetime, and he didn't mind wearing them.He cited many examples to prove that he is not talking nonsense.Recently, for example, he attended the funeral of an old man named Horne who had worn Roque's shoes since 1893. "That's it, Gomez-Mr. Gomez, only this pair! The old man was buried in these shoes, and he still can wear them." Diego feigned admiration and said the shoes should be treated as genuine antiques. "I'm overwhelmed with admiration for the nobility of soul you've displayed in the face of calamity," he said, "as we Chihuahuas say, Muyhombre—have guts! Oh, by the way, in fact My name is not Gomez-Gomez, I'm exaggerating a bit. My real name is Gomez. In the name Gomez-Gomez-Gomez, the first Gomez is My father, the second is my uncle Cristobal, and the last is me. Just call me Gomez."

"What do you say is imminent?" Harold had asked five times. (Note: Half a page is missing here) "They're all dumping their shares in the Rock Shoe Company! Tonight, or tomorrow, in at most a year, your factories in New Rochelle and Buffalo won't be making the legendary Rock Shoes anymore. Your elderly customers They will drag their shoeless children and grandchildren to every shoe store in New York, weeping for their lost happiness, because Rock's shoes will never be known in the world..." "He's hooked. It's done," Diego reported to Reb Klimrod.

"We signed all the documents. At twelve o'clock at noon, he and I will formally set up a company to continue to produce and distribute Harold Rock's traditional brand-name products until 2050. I express to He promises: All the Gomezs will keep a corner in every shoe store they buy from him in the name of Haas. In this case, he only puts his own four percent Give me nineteen, which is roughly equivalent to nine percent of Rock's total shares. Do you think this is enough, or do you want me to go find him again?" Reber shook his head with a smile. "Gómez-Gómez-Gómez! Diego, what a crazy idea!" Diego's yellow eyes were shining with unnatural mischief o "I'm a complete madman. But not so much as you." Over the next few days, Klimrod began dismantling Rock AG.A loan from Hunter's Manhattan Bank helped him open one hundred and sixty-three new restaurants, spread as far north as Niagara Falls; all food supplied by Yava, which opened in the spring of 1951 The amount has exceeded the 30 million US dollar mark. Of Rock's original two hundred and forty-eight stores, twenty-nine continued to carry Rock's traditional products, a promise that had been scrupulously kept, as promised to Harold Rock.It's not just Rock's traditional products that are on sale, though.In February 1951, on behalf of Klimrod, Diego Haas signed a contract with a company in Milan, Italy, and the Italian company would send a group of technicians to the United States to carry out inspections in New Rochelle and Buffalo. The products of the two factories were reformed, the design was updated, and the variety of designs and colors was increased, so that they could also produce leather bags, and became the core of a series of manufacturers of sporting goods-but this was two years later. Most of the remaining fifty-six stores are located in the suburbs of New York.In December 1950, these fifty-six stores were exchanged for a twenty-eight percent stake in a laundry and dyeing company.The company has a director named Arnie Hinz, who is only a name, but is actually run by Abby Levine behind the scenes.Only this time, Klimrod's shareholding in a company did not reach 51%.The washing and dyeing company was first exchanged for shares in a shipping company.The same deal was later done with a stationery store in Brooklyn, in which Klimrod, through his agent Roger Dunn, had great influence and took advantage of holding for a time two-thirds That fact, merged it with a number of other companies that were also nominally run by Dunne.The above-mentioned activities were carried out at a rapid pace, which resulted in the purchase of the cargo ship "Java Blue Rose" in the early spring of 1951.That's when David Setiniaz had to make the most important decision of his life. "Last September," said Klimrod, "I told you that one day I would need you as a lawyer. That day has come, David." Setiniaz was puzzled for a moment. "But I'm a lawyer. What can prevent you from being my client?" "At the moment you are an attorney at Whittaker & Cobb. From now on, I want you to set up your own firm and run it alone." "But I'm only twenty-seven, Reb." "I'm not yet twenty-three years old. Wait a minute, I want to show you something..." Reber took out a letter from the cloth bag that he always carried with him (the sight of the cloth bag made Setiniaz very disgusted, and he was usually calm). "Look." The letter was signed by David Fellowes, the president of Hunter Manhattan Bank, and he promised to give Klimrod a credit limit of 50 million US dollars. "My God!" Setiniaz exclaimed involuntarily, in disbelief. "That's not all, David. I might be able to get the same promise from Harvey Barr. There are two or three other banks that are willing to offer, although the amount may be smaller. David, I want you to start your own business-my Meaning, you alone will be in charge of the work. You will have access to the experienced people you need as your assistants. But only you, only you know my name and know that I am the owner of all the companies I run The person behind the scenes. Of course, I am prepared to provide you with funding." "Problems like funding don't exist for me, and you know that." Setiniaz took a sip of his cold tea.Then he asked: "So, you will be my only client? Unique?" "That's not necessary. However, I shall have priority over the rest of the clients. Without exception. In fact, I reckon I'll give you so much work that you probably won't take any more at all." .” "My God! I don't even know what you're doing or why a guy like Fellowes would trust you so completely. I can only assume you're probably working for the Mafia?" Klimrod Wuer smiled. "You've had the idea a long time ago, haven't you?" "Yes," Setienaz admitted. "You accept my proposal, and I can give you details of all 'future activities.'" "You trust me that much?" "As much as a person can trust another person, I can trust you. You and I have been seeing each other for several months, three hours at a time." He smiled again. "Besides, I investigated you again." "To such an extent?" "Indeed to such an extent." His gray eyes became sharper. "David, I never take a risk I can avoid in placing my capital. There is no great risk in dealing with you. Are you going to agree7" "I really have no idea," Setiniaz said from the bottom of his heart. He asks a question: "Why are you so anonymous? Why do you dress yourself like this? I hate that nasty cloth bag!" "I like it," Reber said with a smile. "I don't want my picture in the paper. I don't want a house or anything." "You must be worth millions, tens of millions, or hundreds of millions of dollars. And you are only twenty-three years old!" "Are you ready to accept my proposal?" Setiniaz stood up, took a few steps, sat down again and said: "You are a wonder!" "Have you seen George Taras lately?" "Long time no see. I've had two or three phone calls with him, though." "He still hasn't told you anything?" "Tell me what? You've already asked me this question, I don't understand what kind of medicine you sell in your gourd?" Reber took out his passport. "It's a fake. I got it in Argentina for a thousand dollars." "Oh, no wonder you're afraid to show yourself," said Setiniaz, trying to sarcastically. "That's not the only reason, or the real reason. I can fix that in a few days. There's another reason, and you ought to know. Will you hear me, David?" "To hell with you." "David, I can see that you really, really want to discuss this other subject with me. You've been thinking about it for weeks, months! I mean your sister-in-law." For a while neither side said anything.Reber looked up at the ceiling. "I suspect that your wife is also curious about this question, perhaps more concerned than you. So, I want to answer this question that you did not ask. I have met Aestivation many times; we have even traveled together a few times. times. We're not going to live together." "She's not even in America right now." "Where she is, I know very well. Don't ask any more questions, David. If you asked, I wouldn't answer. If your mistress asked her with the whole Peggy family, she wouldn't either." Answer more. Well, you must hurry home and pack your bags." "My luggage?" Setiniaz seemed to be in a fog. "You and I are going to London tonight, David. Because you're with me from now on. Don't worry about it, I've got a first-class seat." Of course, David Setiniaz still has extremely clear memories of the few hours he and Klimrod flew across the Atlantic side by side.It was the first time the two of them had traveled together many times. He remembered that at that time, Leiber kept telling him one after another, one after another, the thrilling things in a slow and calm voice, with a slightly tired look as time went on.Setiniaz finds from his account that although the two men, whom he called "the black dog," Lierny and Berkovich, had worked a great deal (separately and never "crashed"), yet These two lawyers were far from the only ones involved. Setiniaz remembers times when he felt as if he were in a hallucinatory state and began to wonder about the impossibly long list of names, companies, deals, and firms spread across disparate regions—New York City, New York State, and beyond. There was Chicago, Boston, even Canada—probably in his dreams.In other cases, piling up so many items can feel like gibberish.In each case, Reber could name someone he had used, someone who had represented him, and someone he could trust to a certain extent.At that time, Leiber was conducting at least a hundred transactions, and for each of them, he could tell the exact number of investment funds down to the single digits of the dollar, the exact date of the whole process, Details and financial situation, he also told, he counted on nine firms in Baltimore, fourteen firms in Boston, twenty-three firms in Chicago ... how much profit each one would make for him, etc. As he relates all these circumstances, he never has to go back and correct any oversight.And for good reason, as he never forgets anything.In his mind, in his memory, everything was astonishingly clear, methodical, and accessible—quickly and precisely. In the semi-darkness of the cabin, most of the other passengers were asleep; and during these few hours, Setiniaz could hardly figure out what surprised him most; the one created by Klimrod. A set of frighteningly large institutions, the astronomical investment amount, or his puzzling brain structure.Whatever their nature these signs have but one name: genius. About half an hour before the plane was supposed to land in London, Setiazi felt a hand lightly touch his arm.He opened his eyes to see the stewardess bringing him coffee. "We're almost landing, David," Reber said. "did you sleep well?" "About two hours," grumbled David. He drank his coffee, which was pretty bad, and then turned away, only to be surprised to recognize the short, rosy-skinned Argentine behind Reber.Setiniaz only knew two things about this man with strange yellow eyes: first, his name was Diego Haas; In front of Ge, we can talk about everything." Haas asked Setignal with a smile: "Ever been to London?" "Ok." He only felt a bitter taste in his mouth, which was caused by lack of sleep and being woken up suddenly.He rubbed his eyes, then wiped his entire face, before he fully woke up.Through the small window, he could already see the coast of Cornwall.It's broad daylight outside the plane. "It's almost two o'clock in the afternoon here," Reber replied to Setiniaz's forthcoming question. Setiniaz thought with a feeling of distress that was not far from being outright mentally and physically exhausted: "What the hell am I doing here? Yesterday I was a young man at the law firm of Whittaker and Cobb. Promising lawyers, life is safe and secure, the road is straight and smooth, there will be no amazing twists and turns, thank God! And now I am on a flight to London, and one of the two people I am traveling with is really frightening, He looks like a activated assassin. I've left everything behind, first of all my wife, who must have thought I was crazy last night. Besides, when did I actually give my consent?" At the moment he asked: "I didn't dream last night, did I? Did you talk to me about your career?" Lei Jiu smiled. "You are not dreaming." "I'm afraid it's not a dream," said David darkly. Suddenly he was almost terrified at the immensity and scale of what Reber Klimrod had told him.So he said angrily: "I suppose you don't expect me to remember everything you said?" "As soon as we have some free time, I'll repeat everything to you. Then you can organize them any way you like." "Actually, an accountant would be more useful to you." "You're now like what's called in French 'Get up left foot first,'" Reber said. "No, I don't need a business-savvy accountant. When the time is right, you'll soon see." "Are there any papers kept somewhere, such as deeds, contracts, etc.? You don't shake hands and make all your deals with those men and women?" "In the vaults of the bank and the offices of the various lawyers. From now on you'll be consolidating everything. David, don't worry, it'll be all right." At this moment, they can already overlook the beautiful scenery of the English countryside. "And I told you what we're going to do in London: buy some ships." "Boat?" "Tanker, David."