jg.atimetokill-第26部分

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ll〃　occasionally；　and　this　distinguished　him　from　most　of　the　other　reporters　who
　clung　to　their　crisp；　precise；　modern　American　pronunciation。
　〃What's　that？〃　McKittrick　pointed　to　the　center　of　Jake's　desk。
　〃That's　a　tape　recorder；〃　Jake　answered。
　McKittrick　sat　his　own　recorder　on　the　desk　and　looked　at　Jake's。　〃May　I　ask　why？〃
　〃You　may。　It's　my　office；　my　interview；　and　if　I　want　to　record　it；　I　will。〃
　〃Are　you　expecting　trouble？〃
　〃I'm　trying　to　prevent　it。　I　hate　to　be　misquoted。〃
　〃I'm　not　known　for　misquoting。〃
　〃Good。　Then　you　won't　mind　if　both　of　us　record　ever…thing。〃
　〃You　don't　trust　me；　do　you；　Mr。　Brigance？〃
　〃Hell　no。　And　my　name　is　Jake。〃
　〃Why　don't　you　trust　me？〃
　〃Because　you're　a　reporter；　you're　from　a　New　York　paper；　you're　looking　for　a　sensational　story；　and　if　you're　true　to　form；　you'll　write　some　well…informed；　moralistic　piece　of　trash　depicting　us　all　as　racist；　ignorant　rednecks。〃
　〃You're　wrong。　First　of　all；　I'm　from　Texas。〃
　〃Your　paper　is　from　New　York。〃
　〃But　I　consider　myself　a　Southerner。〃
　〃How　long　have　you　been　gone？〃
　〃About　twenty　years。〃
　Jake　smiled　and　shook　his　head；　as　if　to　say：　That's　too　long。
　〃And　I　don't　work　for　a　sensational　newspaper。〃
　〃We'll　see。　The　trial　is　several　months　away。　We'll　have　time　to　read　your　stories。〃
　〃Fair　enough。〃
　Jake　punched　the　play　button　on　his　tape　recorder；　and　McKittrick　did　likewise。
　〃Can　Carl　Lee　Hailey　receive　a　fair　trial　in　Ford　County？〃
　〃Why　couldn't　he？〃　Jake　asked。
　〃Well；　he's　black。　He　killed　two　white　men；　and　he　will　be　tried　by　a　white　jury。〃
　〃You　mean　he　will　be　tried　by　a　bunch　of　white　racists。〃
　〃No；　that's　not　what　I　said；　nor　what　I　implied。　Why　do
　you　automatically　assume　I　think　you　are　all　a　bunch　of　racists？〃
　〃Because　you　do。　We're　stereotyped；　and　you　know　it。〃
　McKittrick　shrugged　and　wrote　something　on　his　steno　pad。　〃Will　you　answer　the　question？〃
　〃Yes。　He^can　receive　a　fair　trial　in　Ford　County；　if　he's　tried　here。〃
　〃Do　you　want　it　tried　here？〃
　〃I'm　sure　we'll　try　to　move　it。〃
　〃To　where？〃
　〃We　won't　suggest　a　place。　That's　up　to　the　judge。〃
　〃Where　did　he　get　the　M…16？〃
　Jake　chuckled　and　stared　at　the　tape　recorder。　〃I　do　not　know。〃
　〃Would　he　be　indicted　if　he　were　white？〃
　〃He's　black；　and　he　has　not　been　indicted。〃
　〃But　if　he　were　white；　would　there　be　an　indictment？〃
　〃Yes；　in　my　opinion。〃
　〃Would　he　be　convicted？〃
　〃Would　you　like　a　cigar？〃　Jake　opened　a　desk　drawer　and　found　a　Roi…Tan。　He　unwrapped　it；　then　lit　it　with　a　butane　lighter。
　〃No　thanks。〃
　〃No；　he　would　not　be　convicted　if　he　were　white。　In　my　opinion。　Not　in　Mississippi；　not　in　Texas；　not　in　Wyoming。　I'm　not　sure　about　New　York。〃
　〃Why　not？〃
　〃Do　you　have　a　daughter？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Then　you　wouldn't　understand。〃
　〃I　think　I　do。　Will　Mr。　Hailey　be　convicted？〃
　〃Probably。〃
　〃So　the　system　does　not　work　as　fairly　for　blacks？〃
　〃Have　you　talked　with　Raymond　Hughes？〃
　〃No。　Who　is　he？〃
　〃He　ran　for　sheriff　last　time；　and　had　the　misfortune　of　making　the　runoff　against　Ozzie　Walls。　He's　white。　Ozzie；　of　course；　is　not。　If　I'm　not　mistaken；　he　got　thirty…one　percent　of　the　vote。　In　a　county　that's　seventy…four　percent　white。　Why　don't　you　ask　Mr。　Hughes　if　the　system　treats　blacks　fairly？〃
　〃I　was　referring　to　the　judicial　system。〃
　〃It's　the　same　system。　Who　do　you　think　sits　in　the　jury　box？　The　same　registered　voters　who　elected　Ozzie　Walls。〃
　〃Well；　if　a　white　man　would　not　be　convicted；　and　Mr。　Hailey　will　probably　be　convicted；　explain　to　me　how　the　system　treats　both　fairly。〃
　〃It　doesn't。〃
　〃I'm　not　sure　I'm　following　you。〃
　〃The　system　reflects　society。　It's　not　always　fair；　but　it's　as　fair　as　the　system　in　New　York；　or　Massachusetts；　or　California。　It's　as　fair　as　biased；　emotional　humans　can　make　it。〃
　〃And　you　think　Mr。　Hailey　will　be　treated　as　fairly　here　as　he　would　be　in　New　York？〃
　〃I'm　saying　there's　as　much　racism　in　New　York　as　in　Mississippi。　Look　at　our　public　schools…they're　as　desegregated　as　any。〃
　〃By　court　order。〃
　〃Sure；　but　what　about　the　courts　in　New　York。　For　years　you　pious　bastards　pointed　your　fingers　and　noses　at　us　down　here　and　demanded　that　we　desegregate。　It　happened；　and　it　has　not　been　the　end　of　the　world。　But　you've　conveniently　ignored　your　own　schools　and　neighborhoods；　your　own　voting　irregularities；　your　own　all…white　juries　and　city　councils。　We　were　wrong；　and　we've　paid　dearly　for　it。　But　we　learned；　and　although　the　change　has　been　slow　and　painful；　at　least　we're　trying。　Y'all　are　still　pointing　fingers。〃
　〃I　didn't　intend　to　refight　Gettysburg。〃
　〃I'm　sorry。　What　defense　will　we　use？　I　do　not　know　at　this　point。　Honestly；　it's　just　too　early。　He　hasn't　even　been　indicted。〃
　〃Of　course　he　will？〃
　〃Of　course　we　don't　know　yet。　More　than　likely。　When　will　this　be　printed？〃
　〃Maybe　Sunday。〃
　〃Makes　no　difference。　No　one　here　takes　your　paper。　Yes；　he　will　be　indicted。〃
　McKittrick　glanced　at　his　watch；　and　Jake　turned　off　his　recorder。
　〃Look；　I'm　not　a　bad　guy；〃　McKittrick　said。　〃Let's　drink　a　beer　sometime　and　finish　this。〃
　〃Off　the　record；　I　don't　drink。　But　I　accept　your　invitation。〃
　The　First　Presbyterian　Church　of　Clanton　was　directly　across　the　street　from　the　First　United　Methodist　Church　of　Clanton；　and　both　churches　were　within　sight　of　the　much　larger　First　Baptist　Church。　The　Baptists　had　more　members　and　money；　but　the　Presbyterians　and　Methodists　adjourned　earlier　on　Sunday　and　outraced　the　Baptists　to　the　restaurants　for　Sunday　dinner。　The　Baptists　would　arrive　at　twelve…thirty　and　stand　in　line　while　the　Presbyterians　and　Methodists　ate　slowly　and　waved　at　them。
　Jake　was　content　not　to　be　a　Baptist。　They　were　a　bit　too　narrow　and　strict；　and　they　were　forever　preaching　about　Sunday　night　church；　a　ritual　Jake　had　always　struggled　with。　Carla　was　raised　as　a　Baptist；　Jake　a　Methodist；　and　during　the　courtship　a　promise　was　negotiated；　and　they　became　Presbyterians。　They　were　happy　with　their　church　and　its　activities；　and　seldom　missed。
　On　Sunday；　they　sat　in　their　usual　pew；　with　Hanna　asleep　between　them；　and　ignored　the　sermon。　Jake　ignored　it　by　watching　the　preacher　and　picturing　his　confronting　Buckley；　in　court；　before　twelve　good　and　lawful　citizens；　as　the　nation　watched　and　waited；　and　Carla　ignored　it　by　watching　the　preacher　and　mentally　redecorating　the　dining　room。　Jake　caught　a　few　inquisitive　stares　during　the　worship　service；　and　he　figured　his　fellow　church　members　were　somewhat　awed　to　have　a　celebrity　among　them。　There　were　some　strange　faces　in　the　congregation；　and　they　were　either　long…lost　repentant　members　or　reporters。　Jake　was　unsure　until　one　persisted　in　staring　at　him…then　he　knew　they　were　all　reporters。
　〃Enjoyed　your　sermon；　Reverend；〃　Jake　lied　as　he　shook　hands　with　the　minister　on　the　steps　outside　the　sanctuary。
　〃Good　to　see　you；　Jake；〃　replied　the　reverend。　〃We've　watched　you　all　week　on　TV。　My　kids　get　excited　every　time　they　see　you。〃
　〃Thanks。　Just　pray　for　us。〃
　They　drove　to　Karaway　for　Sunday　lunch　with　Jake's
　parents。　Gene　and　Eva　Brigance　lived　in　the　old　family　house；　a　sprawling　country　home　on　five　acres　of　wooded　land　in　downtown　Karaway；　three　blocks　from　Main　Street　and　two　blocks　from　the　school　where　Jake　and　his　sister　put　in　twelve　years。　Both　were　retired；　but　young　enough　to　travel　the　continent　in　a　mobile　home　each　summer。　They　would　leave　Monday　for　Canada　and　return　after　Labor　Day。　Jake　was　their　only　son。　An　older　daughter　lived　in　New　Orleans。
　Sunday　lunch　on　Eva's　table　was　a　typical　Southern　feast　of　fried　meats；　fresh　garden　vegetables…boiled；　battered；　baked；　and　raw；　homemade　rolls　and　biscuits；　two　gravies；　watermelon；　cantaloupe；　peach　cobbler；　lemon　pie；　and　strawberry　shortcake。　Little　of　it　would　be　eaten；　and　the　leftovers　would　be　neatly　packaged　by　Eva　and　Carla　and　sent　to　Clanton；　where　it　would　last　for　a　week。
　〃How　are　your　parents；　Carla？〃　Mr。　Brigance　asked　as　he　passed　the　rolls。
　〃They're　fine。　I　talked　to　Mother　yesterday。〃
　〃Are　they　in　Knoxville？〃
　〃No；　sir。　They're　already　in　Wilmington　for　the　summer。〃
　〃Will　y'