Page 105 - Herzlia HS Magazine 2021

Trouble in Malba

Raphael Colombo was a serious man. His stiff demeanour could
radiate silent fear throughout a room like the oscillating ripples

from a recently dropped pebble on water. Tonight, the Phoenix Bar
was the victim of this very spell, turning dead-quiet upon Colombo’s
entrance. Located on the lower east side of Malba, New York City,

the club was located just on the frontier of the Italian mobs’
influence and it was Raphael Colombo’s job as a mob strongman to

assert this dominance. It was an occupation in which he took much
pride and had had much success.

As the crowd of partygoers once again began to ebb and flow with

music and dance, Colombo and his partner, the great Hispanic
brute known simply as “Shark”, slowly swam their way through the
group of working-class patrons. After politely but firmly

manoeuvring their way through the throng, they found themselves
in the clearing around the bar. By this time, the owner-bartender,

Johannes “John” Stone, had spotted them and was visibly alarmed,
the light beads of sweat on his brow turning discernible in the dim

neon light. His attempt to avoid them by momentarily helping out a
couple on a late-night date directly to Colombo’s left was futile but

Colombo let it slide. Raphael didn’t mind. He had time and besides,
let the poor man sweat. Soup always tasted better when it had
been left to simmer, he thought to himself. Raphael turned to face

the crowd and let his back rest against the rough bar table.