jg.atimetokill-第27部分

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　〃They're　fine。　I　talked　to　Mother　yesterday。〃
　〃Are　they　in　Knoxville？〃
　〃No；　sir。　They're　already　in　Wilmington　for　the　summer。〃
　〃Will　y'all　be　going　to　visit　them？〃　asked　Eva　as　she　poured　the　tea　from　a　one…gallon　ceramic　pitcher。
　Carla　glanced　at　Jake；　who　was　dipping　butterbeans　onto　Hanna's　plate。　He　did　not　want　to　discuss　Carl　Lee　Hailey。　Every　meal　since　Monday　night　had　centered　around　the　case；　and　Jake　was　in　no　mood　to　answer　the　same　questions。
　〃Yes；　ma'am。　We　plan　to。　It　depends　on　Jake's　schedule。　It　could　be　a　busy　summer。〃
　〃So　we've　heard；〃　Eva　said　flatly；　slowly　as　if　to　remind　her　son　he　had　not　called　since　the　killings。
　〃Is　something　wrong　with　your　phone；　son？〃　asked　Mr。　Brigance。
　〃Yes。　We've　had　the　number　changed。〃
　The　four　adults　ate　slowly；　apprehensively；　while　Hanna　looked　at　the　shortcake。
　〃Yes；　I　know。　That's　what　the　operator　told　us。　To　an　unlisted　number。〃
　〃Sorry。　I've　been　very　busy。　It's　been　hectic。〃
　〃So　we've　read；〃　said　his　father。
　Eva　stopped　eating　and　cleared　her　throat。　〃Jake；　do　you　really　think　you　can　get　him　off？〃
　〃I'm　worried　about　your　family；〃　said　his　father。　〃It　could　be　a　very　dangerous　case。〃
　〃He　shot　them　in　cold　blood；〃　Eva　said。
　〃They　raped　his　daughter；　Mother。　What　would　you　do　if　someone　raped　Hanna？〃
　〃What's　rape？〃　asked　Hanna。
　。　〃Never　mind；　dear；〃　Carla　said。　〃Could　we　please　change　the　subject。〃　She　looked　firmly　at　the　three　Bri…gances；　and　they　started　eating　again。　The　daughter…in…law　had　spoken；　with　wisdom；　as　usual。
　Jake　smiled　at　his　mother　without　looking　at　Mr。　Bri…gance。　〃I　just　don't　want　to　talk　about　the　case；　Mother。　I'm　tired　of　it。〃
　〃I　guess　we'll　have　to　read　about　it；〃　said　Mr。　Brigance。
　They　talked　about　Canada。
　At　about　the　time　the　Brigances　finished　lunch；　the　sanctuary　of　the　Mt。　Zion　Chapel　CME　rocked　and　swayed　as　the　Right　Reverend　Ollie　Agee　whipped　the　devotees　into　a　glorified　frenzy。　Deacons　danced。　Elders　chanted。　Women　fainted。　Grown　men　screamed　and　raised　their　arms　toward　the　heavens　as　the　small　children　looked　upward　in　holy　terror。　Choir　members　lurched　and　lunged　and　jerked；　then　broke　down　and　shrieked　different　stanzas　of　the　same　song。　The　organist　played　one　song；　the　pianist　another；　and　the　choir　sang　whatever　came　over　it。　The　reverend　hopped　around　the　pulpit　in　his　long　white　robe　with　purple　trim；　yelling；　praying；　screaming　at　God；　and　perspiring。
　The　bedlam　rose　and　fell；　rising　it　seemed　with　each　new　fainting；　and　falling　with　fatigue。　Through　years　of　experience　Agee　knew　precisely　when　the　fury　reached　its　peak；　when　the　delirium　gave　way　to　weariness；　and　when　the　flock　needed　a　break。　At　that　precise　moment；　he　jigged　to　the　pulpit　and　slapped　it　with　the　power　of　God　Almighty。　Instantly　the　music　died；　the　convulsions　ceased；　the　fainters　awoke；　the　children　stopped　crying；　and　the　multitude　settled　submissively　into　the　pews。　It　was　time　for　the　sermon。
　As　the　reverend　was　about　to　preach；　the　rear　doors　opened　and　the　Haileys　entered　the　sanctuary。　Little　Tonya　walked　by　herself；　limping；　holding　her　mother's　hand。　Her　brothers　marched　behind；　and　Uncle　Lester　followed。　They　moved　slowly　down　the　aisle　and　found　a　seat　near　the　front。　The　reverend　nodded　at　the　organist；　who　began　to　play　softly；　then　the　choir　began　to　hum　and　sway。　The　deacons　stood　and　swayed　with　the　choir。　Not　to　be　outdone；　the　elders　stood　and　began　to　chant。　Then；　of　all　things；　Sister　Crystal　fainted　violently。　Her　fainting　was　contagious；　and　the　other　sisters　began　dropping　like　flies。　The　elders　chanted　louder　than　the　choir；　so　the　choir　got　excited。　The　organist　could　not　be　heard；　so　she　increased　the　volume。　The　pianist　joined　in　with　a　clanging　rendition　of　a　hymn　unlike　the　hymn　being　played　by　the　organist。　The　organist　thundered　back。　Reverend　Agee　fluttered　down　from　the　podium　and　danced　his　way　toward　the　Haileys。　Everyone　followed…the　choir；　the　deacons；　the　elders；　the　women；　the　crying　children…everyone　followed　the　reverend　to　greet　the　little　Hailey　girl。
　Jail　did　not　bother　Carl　Lee。　Home　was　more　pleasant；　but　under　the　circumstances；　he　found　jail　life　tolerable。　It　was　a　new　jail；　built　with　federal　money　under　the　mandate　of　a　prisoners'　rights　lawsuit。　The　food　was　cooked　by　two　huge　black　women　who　knew　how　to　cook　and　write　bad　checks。　They　were　eligible　for　early　release；　but　Ozzie　had　not　bothered　to　tell　them。　The　food　was　served　to　forty　prisoners；　give　or　take　a　few；　by　the　trusties。　Thirteen　of　the　prisoners　belonged　at　Parchman；　but　it　was　full。　So　they　waited；　never　knowing　if　the　next　day　would　be　their　day　for　the　dreaded　trip　to　the　sprawling；　enclosed　delta　farm　where　the　food　was　not　as　good；　the　beds　were　not　as　soft；　the　air　conditioning　was　nonexistent；　the　mosquitoes　immense；　plentiful；　and　vicious；　and　where　toilets　were　scarce　and　clogged。
　Carl　Lee's　cell　was　next　to　Cell　Two；　where　the　state　prisoners　waited。　With　two　exceptions；　they　were　black；　and　with　no　exceptions；　they　were　violent。　But　they　were　all　afraid　of　Carl　Lee。　He　shared　Cell　One　with　two　shoplifters　who　were　not　just　scared；　but　downright　terrified　of　their
　famous　cellmate。　Each　evening　he　was　escorted　to　Ozzie's　office；　where　he　and　the　sheriff　ate　dinner　and　watched　the　news。　He　was　a　celebrity；　and　he　liked　that　almost　as　much　as　did　his　lawyer　and　the　D。A。　He　wanted　to　explain　things　to　the　reporters；　tell　them　about　his　daughter　and　why　he　should　not　be　in　jail；　but　his　lawyer　said　no。
　After　Gwen　and　Lester　left　late　Sunday　afternoon；　Oz…zie；　Moss　Junior；　and　Carl　Lee　sneaked　out　the　rear　of　the　jail　and　went　to　the　hospital。　It　was　Carl　Lee's　idea；　and　Ozzie　saw　no　harm。　Looney　was　alone　in　a　private　room　when　the　three　entered。　Carl　Lee　took　one　look　at　the　leg；　then　stared　at　Looney。　They　shook　hands。　With　watery　eyes　and　a　breaking　voice　Carl　Lee　said　he　was　sorry；　that　he　had　no　intention　of　hurting　anyone　but　the　two　boys；　that　he　wished　and　prayed　he　could　undo　what　he　had　done　to　Looney。　Without　hesitation；　Looney　accepted　the　apology。
　Jake　was　waiting　in　Ozzie's　office　when　they　sneaked　back　into　the　jail。　Ozzie　and　Moss　Junior　excused　themselves；　leaving　the　defendant　with　his　lawyer。
　〃Where　have　y'all　been？〃　Jake　asked　suspiciously。
　〃Went　to　the　hospital　to　see　Looney。〃
　〃You　what！〃
　〃Nothin'　wrong；　is　it？〃
　〃I　wish　you　would　check　with　me　before　you　make　any　more　visits。〃
　〃What's　wrong　with　seein'　Looney？〃
　〃Looney　will　be　the　star　witness　for　the　State　when　they　attempt　to　send　you　to　the　gas　chamber。　That's　all。　He　ain't　on　our　side；　Carl　Lee；　and　any　talking　you　do　with　Looney　should　be　with　your　attorney　present。　Understand？〃
　〃Not　really。〃
　〃I　can't　believe　Ozzie　would　do　that；〃　Jake　mumbled。
　〃It　was　my　idea；〃　Carl　Lee　admitted。
　〃Well；　if　you　get　any　more　ideas；　please　let　me　know　about　them。　Okay？〃
　〃Okay。〃
　〃You　talked　to　Lester　lately？〃
　〃Yeah；　him　and　Gwen　came　by　today。　Brought　me　goodies。　Told　me　'bout　the　banks。〃
　Jake　planned　to　play　hardball　about　his　fee；　no　way　he　could　represent　Carl　Lee　for　nine　hundred　dollars。　The　case
　would　consume　his　practice　for　the　next　three　monms　ai　least；　and　nine　hundred　would　be　less　than　minimum　wage。　It　would　not　be　fair　to　him　or　his　family　to　work　for　nothing。　Carl　Lee　would　simply　have　to　raise　the　money。　There　were　plenty　of　relatives。　Gwen　had　a　big　family。　They　would　just　have　to　sacrifice；　maybe　sell　a　few　automobiles；　maybe　some　land；　but　Jake　would　get　his　fee。　If　not；　Carl　Lee　could　find　another　lawyer。
　〃I'll　give　you　the　deed　to　my　place；〃　Carl　Lee　offered。
　Jake　melted。　〃I　don't　want　your　place；　Carl　Lee。　I　want　cash。　Sixty…five　hundred　dollars。〃
　〃Show　me　how；　and　I'll　do　it。　You　the　lawyer；　you　figure　out　a　way。　I'm　with　you。〃
　Jake　was　beat　and　he　knew　it。　〃I　can't　do　it　for　nine　hundred　dollars；　Carl　Lee。　I　can't　let　this　case　bankrupt　me。　I'm　a　lawyer。　I'm　supposed　to　make　money。〃
　〃Jake；　I'll　pay　you　the　money。　I　promise。　It　may　take　a　long　time；　but　I'll　pay　you。　Trust　me。〃
　Not　if　you're　on　death　row；　thought　Jake。　He　changed　the　subject。　〃You　know　the　grand　jury　meets　tomorrow；　and　it'll　take　up　your　cas