jg.atimetokill-第114部分

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rying；　and　just　sat　at　the　defense　table　nodding　and　trying　to　smile；　unable　to　do　anything　else。　From　the　corner　of　his　eye　he　could　see　Musgrove　and　Buckley　removing　files；　legal　pads；　and　important…looking　papers；　and　throwing　it　all　into　their　briefcases。　Be　gracious；　he　told　himself。
　A　teenager　darted　between　two　deputies；　through　the　door；　and　ran　through　the　rotunda　screaming　〃Not　guilty！　Not　guilty！〃　He　ran　to　a　small　balcony　over　the　front　_steps　and　screamed　to　the　masses　below　〃Not　guilty！　Not　guilty！〃　Bedlam　erupted。
　〃Order；　order　in　the　court；〃　Noose　was　saying　when　the　delayed　reaction　from　the　outside　came　thundering　through　the　windows。
　〃Order；　order　in　the　courtroom。〃　He　tolerated　the　excitement　for　another　minute；　then　asked　the　sheriff　to　restore　order。　Ozzie　raised　his　hands　and　spoke。　The　clapping；　hugging　and　praising　died　quickly。　Carl　Lee　released　his　children　and　returned　to　the　defense　table。　He　sat　close　to　his　attorney　and　put　his　arm　around　him；　grinning　and　crying　at　the　same　time。
　Noose　smiled　at　the　defendant。　〃Mr。　Hailey；　you　have　been　tried　by　a　jury　of　your　peers　and　found　not　guilty。　I　do　not　recall　any　expert　testimony　that　you　are　now　dangerous　or　in　need　of　further　psychiatric　treatment。　You　are　a　free　man。〃
　His　Honor　looked　at　the　attorneys。　〃If　there　is　nothing　further；　this　court　will　stand　adjourned　until　August　15。〃
　Carl　Lee　was　smothered　by　his　family　and　friends。　They　hugged　him；　hugged　each　other；　hugged　Jake。　They　wept　unashamedly　and　praised　the　Lord。　They　told　Jake　they　loved　him。
　The　reporters　pressed　against　the　railing　and　began　firing　questions　at　Jake。　He　held　up　his　hands；　and　said　he　would　have　no　ment。　But　there　would　be　a　full…blown　press　conference　in　his　office　at　2：00　P。M。
　Buckley　and　Musgrove　left　through　a　side　door。　The　jurors　were　locked　in　the　jury　room　to　await　the　last　bus　ride　to　the　motel。　Barry　Acker　asked　to　speak　to　the　sheriff。　Oz…zie　met　him　in　the　hallway；　listened　intently；　and　promised　to　escort　him　home　and　provide　protection　around　the　clock。
　The　reporters　assaulted　Carl　Lee。　〃I　just　wanna　go　home；〃　he　said　over　and　over。　〃I　just　wanna　go　home。〃
　The　celebration　kicked　into　high　gear　on　the　front　lawn。　There　was　singing；　dancing；　crying；　back…slapping；　hugging；　thanks…giving；　congratulating；　outright　laughing；　cheering；　chanting；　high　fives；　low　fives；　and　soul　brother　shakes。　The　heavens　were　praised　in　one　glorious；　tumultuous；　irreverent　jubilee。　They　packed　closer　together　in　front　of　the　courthouse　and　waited　impatiently　for　their　hero　to　emerge　and　bask　in　his　much　deserved　adulation。
　Their　patience　grew　thin。　After　thirty　minutes　of　screaming　〃We　Want　Carl　Lee！　We　Want　Carl　Lee！〃　their　man　appeared　at　the　door。　An　ear…splitting；　earth…shaking　roar　greeted　him。　He　inched　forward　through　the　mass　with　his　lawyer　and　family；　and　stopped　on　the　top　step　under　the　pillars　where　the　plywood　platform　held　a　thousand　microphones。　The　whooping　and　yelling　of　twenty　thousand　voices　was　deafening。　He　hugged　his　lawyer；　and　they　waved　to　the　sea　of　screaming　faces。
　The　shouting　from　the　army　of　reporters　was　pletely　inaudible。　Occasionally；　Jake　would　stop　waving　and　yell　something　about　a　press　conference　in　his　office　at　two。
　Carl　Lee　hugged　his　wife　and　children；　and　they　waved。　The　crowd　roared　its　approval。　Jake　slid　away　and　into　the　courthouse；　where　he　found　Lucien　and　Harry　Rex　waiting　in　a　corner；　away　from　the　mad　rush　of　spectators。　〃Let's　get　out　of　here；〃　Jake　yelled。　They　pushed　through　the　mob；　down　the　hall　and　out　the　rear　door。　Jake　spotted　a　swarm　of　reporters　on　the　sidewalk　outside　his　office。
　〃Where　are　you　parked？〃　he　asked　Lucien。　He　pointed　to　a　side　street；　and　they　disappeared　behind　the　Coffee　Shop。
　Sallie　fried　pork　chops　and　green　tomatoes；　and　served　them　on　the　porch。　Lucien　produced　a　bottle　of　expensive　cham…
　Rex　ate　with　his　fingers；　gnawing　on　the　bones　as　if　he　hadn't　seen　food　in　a　month。　Jake　played　with　his　food　and　worked　on　the　ice…cold　champagne。　After　two　glasses；　he　smiled　into　the　distance。　He　savored　the　moment。
　〃You　look　silly　as　hell；〃　Harry　Rex　said　with　a　mouthful　of　pork。
　〃Shut　up；　Harry　Rex；〃　Lucien　said。　〃Let　him　enjoy　his　finest　hour。〃
　〃He's　enjoying　it。　Look　at　that　smirk。〃
　〃What　should　I　tell　the　press？〃　Jake　asked。
　〃Tell　them　you　need　some　clients；〃　Harry　Rex　said。
　〃Clients　will　be　no　problem；〃　Lucien　said。　〃They'll　line　the　sidewalks　waiting　for　appointments。〃
　〃Why　didn't　you　talk　to　the　reporters　in　the　courthouse？　They　had　their　cameras　running　and　everything。　I　started　to　say　something　for　them；〃　Harry　Rex　said。
　〃I'm　sure　it　would've　been　a　gem；〃　Lucien　said。
　〃I've　got　them　at　my　fingertips；〃　Jake　said。　〃They're　not　going　anywhere。　We　could　sell　tickets　to　the　press　conference　and　make　a　fortune。〃
　〃Can　I　sit　and　watch；　please；　Jake；　please；〃　Harry　Rex　said。
　They　argued　over　whether　they　should　take　the　antique　Bronco　or　the　nasty　little　Porsche。　Jake　said　he　was　not　driving。　Harry　Rex　cursed　the　loudest；　and　they　loaded　into　the　Bronco。　Lucien　found　a　spot　in　the　rear　seat。　Jake　rode　shotgun　and　gave　instructions。　They　hit　the　back　streets；　and　missed　most　of　the　traffic　from　the　square。　The　highway　was　crowded；　and　Jake　directed　his　driver　through　a　myriad　of　gravel　roads。　They　found　blacktop；　and　Harry　Rex　raced　away　in　the　direction　of　the　lake。
　〃I　have　one　question；　Lucien；〃　Jake　said。
　〃What？〃
　〃And　I　want　a　straight　answer。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃Did　you　cut　a　deal　with　Sisco？〃
　〃No；　my　boy；　you　won　it　on　your　own。〃
　〃Do　you　swear？〃
　〃I　swear　to　God。　On　a　stack　of　Bibles。〃
　Jake　wanted　to　believe　him；　so　he　dropped　it。　They　rode　in　silence；　in　the　sweltering　heat；　and　listened　as　Harry　Rex　sang　along　with　the　stereo。　Suddenly；　Jake　pointed　and　yelled。　Harry　Rex　slammed　on　the　brakes；　made　a　wild　left　turn；　and　sped　down　another　gravel　road。
　〃Where　are　we　going？〃　Lucien　demanded。
　〃Just　hang　on；〃　Jake　said　as　he　looked　at　a　row　of　houses　approaching　on　the　right。　He　pointed　to　the　second　one；　and　Harry　Rex　pulled　into　the　driveway　and　parked　under　a　shade　tree。　Jake　got　out；　looked　around　the　front　yard；　and　walked　onto　the　porch。　He　knocked　on　the　screen　door。
　A　man　appeared。　A　stranger。　〃Yeah；　whatta　you　want？〃
　〃I'm　Jake　Brigance；　and…〃
　The　door　flew　open；　and　the　man　rushed　onto　the　porch　and　grabbed　Jake's　hand。　〃Nice　to　meet　you；　Jake。　I'm　Mack　Loyd　Crowell。　I　was　on　the　grand　jury　that　almost　didn't　indict。　You　done　a　real　good　job。　I'm　proud　of　you。〃
　Jake　shook　his　hand　and　repeated　his　name。　Then　he
　remembered；　Mack　Loyd　Crowell；　the　man　who　told　Buckley　to　shut　up　and　sit　down　in　the　grand　jury。　〃Yeah；　Mack　Loyd；　now　I　remember。　Thanks。〃
　Jake　looked　awkwardly　through　the　door。
　〃You　lookin'　for　Wanda？〃　Crowell　asked。
　〃Well；　yes。　I　was　just　passing　by；　and　remembered　her　address　from　the　jury　research。〃
　〃You've　e　to　the　right　place。　She　lives　here；　and　I　do　too　most　of　the　time。　We　ain't　married　or　nothing；　but　we　go　together。　She's　layin'　down　takin'　a　nap。　She's　pretty　wore　out。〃
　〃Don't　wake　her；〃　Jake　said。
　〃She　told　me　what　happened。　She　won　it　for　you。〃
　〃How？　What　happened？〃
　〃She　made　them　all　close　their　eyes　and　listen　to　her。　She　told　them　to　pretend　that　the　little　girl　had　blond　hair　and　blue　eyes；　that　the　two　rapists　were　black；　that　they　tied　her　right　foot　to　a　tree　and　her　left　foot　to　a　fence　post；　that　they　raped　her　repeatedly　and　cussed　her　because　she　was　white。　She　told　them　to　picture　the　little　girl　layin'　there　beggin'　for　her　daddy　while　they　kicked　her　in　the　mouth　and　knocked　out　her　teeth；　broke　both　jaws；　broke　her　nose。　She　said　to　imagine　two　drunk　blacks　pouring　beer　on　her　and　pissing　in　her　face；　and　laughing　like　idiots。　And　then　she　told　them　to　imagine　that　the　little　girl　belonged　to　them　…their　daughter。　She　told　them　to　be　honest　with　themselves　and　to　write　on　a　piece　of　paper　whether　or　not　they　would　kill　those　black　bastards　if　they　got　the　chance。　And　they　voted；　by　secret　ballot。　All　twelve　said　they　would　do　the　killing。　The　foreman　counted　the　votes。　Twelve　to　zero。　Wanda　said　she'd　sit　in　that　jury　room　until