jg.atimetokill-第35部分

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　〃You're　here　early　this　morning；　sweetheart；〃　Dell　said　to　her　favorite　customer　as　she　poured　his　coffee。
　〃At　least　I'm　here。〃　He　had　missed　a　few　mornings　since　the　amputation。　Looney　was　popular；　and　there　was　resentment　at　the　Coffee　Shop　and　around　town　for　Hailey's　lawyer。　He　was　aware　of　it　and　tried　to　ignore　it。
　There　was　resentment　among　many　for　any　lawyer　who　would　defend　a　nigger　for　killing　two　white　men。
　〃You　got　a　minute？〃　Jake　asked。
　〃Sure；〃　Dell　said；　looking　around。　At　five…fifteen；　the　cafe　was　not　yet　full。　She　sat　across　from　Jake　in　a　small　booth　and　poured　coffee。
　〃What's　the　talk　in　here？〃　he　asked。
　〃The　usual。　Politics；　fishing；　farming。　It　never　changes。　I've　been　here　for　twenty…one　years；　serving　the　same　food　to　the　same　people；　and　they're　still　talking　about　the　same　things。〃
　〃Nothing　new？〃
　〃Hailey。　We　get　a　lotta　talk　about　tnat。　except　wiicn　me　strangers　are　here；　then　it　goes　back　to　the　usual。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃Because　if　you　act　like　you　know　anything　about　the　case；　some　reporter　will　follow　you　outside　with　a　bunch　of　questions。〃
　〃That　bad；　huh？〃
　〃No。　It's　great。　Business　has　never　been　better。〃
　Jake　smiled　and　buttered　his　grits；　then　added　Tabasco。
　〃How　do　you　feel　about　the　case？〃
　Dell　scratched　her　nose　with　long；　red；　fake　fingernails　and　blew　into　her　coffee。　She　was　famous　for　her　bluntness；　and　he　was　hoping　for　a　straight　answer。
　〃He's　guilty。　He　killed　them。　It's　cut　and　dried。　But　he　had　the　best　damned　excuse　I've　ever　seen。　There's　some　sympathy　for　him。〃
　〃Let's　say　you're　on　the　jury。　Guilty　or　innocent？〃
　She　watched　the　front　door　and　waved　at　a　regular。　〃Well；　my　instinct　is　to　forgive　anyone　who　kills　a　rapist。　Especially　a　father。　But；　on　the　other　hand；　we　can't　allow　people　to　grab　guns　and　hand　out　their　own　justice。　Can　you　prove　he　was　crazy　when　he　did　it？〃
　〃Let's　assume　I　can。〃
　〃Then　I　would　vote　not　guilty；　even　though　I　don't　think　he　was　crazy。〃
　He　smeared　strawberry　preserves　on　dry　toast　and　nodded　his　approval。
　〃But　what　about　Looney？〃　she　asked。　〃He's　a　friend　of　mine。〃
　〃It　was　an　accident。〃
　〃Is　that　good　enough？〃
　〃No。　No；　it's　not。　The　gun　did　not　go　off　by　accident。　Looney　was　accidentally　shot；　but　I　doubt　if　that's　a　valid　defense。　Would　you　convict　him　for　shooting　Looney？〃；
　〃Maybe；〃　she　answered　slowly。　〃He　lost　a　leg。〃
　How　could　he　be　insane　when　he　shot　Cobb　and　Wil…lard；　and　not　when　he　shot　Looney；　Jake　thought；　but　didn't　ask。　He　changed　the　subject。
　〃What's　the　gossip　on　me？〃
　〃About　the　same。　Someone　was　asking　where　you　were　the　other　day；　and　said　you　don't　have　time　for　us　now　that
　you're　a　celebrity。　I've　heard　some　mumbling；　about　you　and　the　nigger；　but　it's　pretty　quiet。　They　don't　criticize　you　loudly。　I　won't　let　them。〃
　〃You're　a　sweetheart。〃
　〃I'm　a　mean　bitch　and　you　know　it。〃
　〃No。　You　just　try　to　be。〃
　〃Yeah；　watch　this。〃　She　jumped　from　the　booth　and　shouted　abuse　at　a　table　of　farmers　who　had　motioned　for　more　coffee。　Jake　finished　alone；　and　returned　to　the　office。
　When　Ethel　arrived　at　eight…thirty；　two　reporters　were　loitering　on　the　sidewalk　outside　the　locked　door。　They　followed　Ethel　inside　and　demanded　to　see　Mr。　Brigance。　She　refused；　and　asked　them　to　leave。　They　refused；　and　repeated　their　demand。　Jake　heard　the　motion　downstairs　and　locked　his　door。　Let　Ethel　fight　with　them。
　From　his　office　he　watched　a　camera　crew　set　up　by　the　rear　door　of　the　courthouse。　He　smiled　and　felt　a　wonderful　surge　of　adrenaline。　He　could　see　himself　on　the　evening　news　walking　briskly；　stern；　businesslike；　across　the　street　followed　by　reporters　begging　for　dialogue　but　getting　no　ments。　And　this　was　just　the　arraignment。　Imagine　the　trial！　Cameras　everywhere；　reporters　yelling　questions；　front　page　stories；　perhaps　magazine　covers。　An　Atlanta　paper　had　called　it　the　most　sensational　murder　in　the　South　in　twenty　years。　He　would　have　taken　the　case　for　free；　almost。
　Moments　later　he　interrupted　the　argument　downstairs；　and　warmly　greeted　the　reporters。　Ethel　disappeared　into　the　conference　room。
　〃Could　you　answer　some　questions？〃　one　of　them　asked。
　〃No；〃　Jake　answered　politely。　〃I　have　to　meet　with　Judge　Noose。〃
　〃Just　a　couple　of　questions？〃
　〃No。　But　there　will　be　a　press　conference　at　three　P。M。〃　Jake　opened　the　door；　and　the　reporters　followed　him　onto　the　sidewalk。
　〃Where's　the　press　conference？〃
　〃In　my　office。〃
　〃What's　the　purpose？〃
　〃To　discuss　the　case。〃
　Jake　walked　slowly　across　the　street　and　up　the　short
　driveway　to　the　courthouse　answering　questions　along　me　way。
　〃Will　Mr。　Hailey　be　at　the　press　conference？〃
　〃Yes；　along　with　his　family。〃
　〃The　girl；　too？〃
　〃Yes；　she　will　be　there。〃
　〃Will　Mr。　Hailey　…answer　questions？〃
　〃Maybe。　I　haven't　decided。〃
　Jake　said　good　day；　and　disappeared　into　the　courthouse；　leaving　the　reporters　to　chat　and　gossip　about　the　press　conference。
　Buckley　entered　the　courthouse　through　the　huge　wooden　front　doors；　amid　no　fanfare。　He　had　hoped　for　a　camera　or　two；　but　was　dismayed　to　learn　they　were　gathering　at　the　rear　door　to　catch　a　glimpse　of　the　defendant。　He　would　use　the　rear　door　in　the　future。
　Judge　Noose　parked　by　a　fire　hydrant　in　front　of　the　post　office　and　loped　along　the　east　sidewalk　across　the　courtyard　square　and　into　the　courthouse。　He；　too；　attracted　no　attention；　except　for　a　few　curious　stares。
　Ozzie　peered　through　the　front　windows　of　the　jail　and　watched　the　mob　waiting　for　Carl　Lee　in　the　parking　lot。　The　ploy　of　another　end　run　crossed　his　mind；　but　he　dismissed　it。　His　office　had　received　two　dozen　death　threats　on　Carl　Lee；　and　Ozzie　took　a　few　seriously。　They　were　specific；　with　dates　and　places。　But　most　were　just　general；　everyday　death　threats。　And　this　was　just　the　arraignment。　He　thought　of　the　trial；　and　mumbled　something　to　Moss　Junior。　They　surrounded　Carl　Lee　with　uniformed　bodies　and　marched　him　down　the　sidewalk；　past　the　press　and　into　a　rented　step　van。　Six　deputies　and　a　driver　piled　in。　Escorted　by　Ozzie's　three　newest　patrol　cars；　the　van　drove　quickly　to　the　courthouse。
　Noose　had　scheduled　a　dozen　arraignments　for　9：00　A。M。；　and　when　he　settled　into　the　chair　on　the　bench　he　shifted　through　the　files　until　he　found　Hailey's。　He　looked　to　the　front　row　in　the　courtroom　and　saw　a　somber　group　of　suspicious…looking　men；　all　newly　indicted。　At　the　far　end　of　the　front　row；　two　deputies　sat　next　to　a　handcuffed　defendant；　and　Brigance　was　whispering　to　him。　Must　be　Hailey。
　Noose　picked　up　a　red　court　file　and　adjusted　his　read…
　ing　glasses　so　they　would　not　hinder　his　reading。　〃State　versus　Carl　Lee　Hailey；　case　number　3889。　Will　Mr。　Hailey　e　forward？〃
　The　handcuffs　were　removed；　and　Carl　Lee　followed　his　attorney　to　the　bench；　where　they　stood　looking　up　to　His　Honor；　who　quietly　and　nervously　scanned　the　indictment　in　the　file。　The　courtroom　grew　silent。　Buckley　rose　and　strutted　slowly　to　within　a　few　feet　of　the　defendant。　The　artists　near　the　railing　busily　sketched　the　scene。
　Jake　glared　at　Buckley；　who　had　no　reason　to　stand　before　the　bench　during　the　arraignment。　The　D。A。　was　dressed　in　his　finest　black　three…piece　polyester　suit。　Every　hair　on　his　huge　head　had　been　meticulously　bed　and　plastered　in　place。　He　had　the　appearance　of　a　television　evangelist。
　Jake　walked　to　Buckley　and　whispered；　〃That's　a　nice　suit；　Rufus。〃
　〃Thanks；〃　he　replied；　somewhat　off…guard。
　〃Does　it　glow　in　the　dark？〃　Jake　asked；　then　returned　to　the　side　of　his　client。
　〃Are　you　Carl　Lee　Hailey？〃　asked　the　judge。
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Mr。　Brigance　your　attorney？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃I'm　holding　here　a　copy　of　an　indictment　returned　against　you　by　the　grand　jury。　Have　you　been　served　a　copy　of　this？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Have　you　read　it？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Have　you　discussed　it　with　your　attorney？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Do　you　understand　it？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Good。　I'm　required　by　law　to　read　it　to　you　in　open　court。〃　Noose　cleared　his　throat。　〃　'The　grand　jurors　of　the　State　of　Mississippi；　taken　from　the　body　of　good　and　lawful　citizens　of　Ford　County　thereof；　duly　elected；　empaneled；　sworn；　and　charged　to　inquire　in　and　for　said　county　and　stat