jg.atimetokill-第69部分

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d　appropriately　for　this　office。　You're；　you're　indecent。〃
　Harry　Rex　raised　his　eyebrows　and　smiled　at　Jake。　They　watched　the　stairs　and　listened。
　〃My　boss；　who　happens　to　be　your　boss；　said　I　could　dress　like　this。〃
　〃But　you　forgot　something；　didn't　you？〃
　〃Jake　said　I　could　forget　it。　He　told　me　you　hadn't　worn
　a　bra　in　twenty　years。　He　said　most　of　the　women　in　Clanton　go　braless；　so　I　left　mine　at　home。〃
　〃He　what？〃　Ethel　screamed　with　arms　crossed　over　her　chest。
　〃Is　he　upstairs？〃　Ellen　asked　coolly。
　〃Yes；　I'll　call　him。〃
　〃Don't　bother。〃
　Jake　and　Harry　Rex　retreated　into　the　big　office　and　waited　for　the　law　clerk。　She　entered　carrying　a　large　briefcase。
　〃Good　morning；　Row　Ark；〃　Jake　said。　〃I　want　you　to　meet　a　good　friend；　Harry　Rex　Vonner。〃
　Harry　Rex　shook　her　hand　and　stared　at　her　shirt。　〃Nice　to　meet　you。　What　was　your　first　name？〃
　〃Ellen。〃
　〃Just　call　her　Row　Ark；〃　Jake　said。　〃She'll　clerk　here　until　Hailey's　over。〃
　〃That's　nice；〃　said　Harry　Rex；　still　staring。
　〃Harry　Rex　is　a　local　lawyer；　Row　Ark；　and　one　of　the　many　you　cannot　trust。〃
　〃What'd　you　hire　a　female　law　clerk　for；　Jake？〃　he　asked　bluntly。
　〃Row　Ark's　a　genius　in　criminal　law；　like　most　third…year　law　students。　And　she　works　very　cheap。〃
　〃You　have　something　against　females；　sir？〃　Ellen　asked。
　〃No　ma'am。　I　love　females。　I've　married　four　of　them。〃
　〃Harry　Rex　is　the　meanest　divorce　lawyer　in　Ford　County；〃　Jake　explained。　〃In　fact；　he's　the　meanest　lawyer；　period。　e　to　think　of　it；　he's　the　meanest　man　I　know。〃
　〃Thanks；〃　said　Harry　Rex。　He　had　stopped　staring　at　her。
　She　looked　at　his　huge；　dirty；　scuffed；　worn　wirigtips；　his　ribbed　nylon　socks　that　had　drooped　into　thick　wads　around　his　ankles；　his　soiled　and　battered　khaki　pants；　his　frayed　navy　blazer；　his　brilliant　pink　wool　tie　that　fell　eight　inches　above　his　belt；　and　she　said；　〃I　think　he's　cute。〃
　〃I　might　make　you　wife　number　five；〃　Harry　Rex　said。
　〃The　attraction　is　purely　physical；〃　she　said。
　〃Watch　it；〃　Jake　said。　〃There's　been　no　sex　in　this　office　since　Lucien　left。〃
　〃　…；…。〃；eu　iwxi　mm　j^ucien；〃　said　Harry　Rex。
　〃Who's　Lucien？〃
　Jake　and　Harry　Rex　looked　at　each　other。　〃You'll　meet　him　soon　enough；〃　Jake　explained。
　〃Your　secretary　is　very　sweet；〃　Ellen　said。
　〃I　knew　y'all　would　hit　it　off。　She's　really　a　doll　once　you　get　to　know　her。〃
　〃How　long　does　that　take？〃
　〃I've　known　her　for　twenty　years；〃　said　Harry　Rex；　〃and　I'm　still　waiting。〃
　〃How's　the　research　ing？〃　Jake　asked。
　〃Slow。　There　are　dozens　of　M'Naghten　cases；　and　they　are　all　very　long。　I'm　about　half　through。　I　planned　to　work　on　it　all　day　here；　that　is；　if　that　pit　bull　downstairs　doesn't　attack　me。〃
　〃I'll　take　care　of　her；〃　Jake　said。
　Harry　Rex　headed　for　the　door。　〃Nice　meetin'　you；　Row　Ark。　I'll　see　you　around。〃
　〃Thanks；　Harry　Rex；〃　said　Jake。　〃See　you　Wednesday　night。〃
　The　dirt　and　gravel　parking　lot　of　Tank's　Tonk　was　full　when　Jake　finally　found　it　after　dark。　There　had　been　no　reason　to　visit　Tank's　before；　and　he　was　not　thrilled　about　seeing　the　place　now。　It　was　well　hidden　off　a　dirt　road；　six　miles　out　of　Clanton。　He　parked　far　away　from　the　small　cinderblock　building　and　toyed　with　the　idea　of　leaving　the　engine　running　in　case　Tank　was　not　there　and　a　quick　escape　became　necessary。　But　he　quickly　dismissed　the　stupid　idea　because　he　liked　his　car；　and　theft　was　not　only　likely　but　highly　probable。　He　locked　it；　then　double…checked　it；　almost　certain　that　all　or　part　of　it　would　be　missing　when　he　returned。
　The　juke　box　blasted　from　the　open　windows；　and　he　thought　he　heard　a　bottle　crash　on　the　floor；　or　across　a　table　or　someone's　head。　He　hesitated　beside　his　car　and　decided　to　leave。　No；　it　was　important。　He　sucked　in　his　stomach；　held　his　breath；　and　opened　the　ragged　wooden　door。
　Forty　sets　of　black　eyes　immediately　focused　on　this　poor　lost　white　boy　with　a　coat　and　tie　who　was　squinting
　and　trying　to　focus　inside　the　vast　blackness　of　their　tonk。　He　stood　there　awkwardly；　desperately　searching　for　a　friend。　There　were　none。　Michael　Jackson　conveniently　finished　his　song　on　the　juke　box；　and　for　an　eternity　the　tonk　was　silent。　Jake　stayed　close　to　the　door。　He　nodded　and　smiled　and　tried　to　act　like　one　of　the　gang。　There　were　no　other　smiles。
　Suddenly；　there　was　movement　at　the　bar　and　Jake's　knees　began　vibrating。　〃Jake！　Jake！〃　someone　shouted。　It　was　the　sweetest　two　words　he　had　ever　heard。　From　behind　the　bar　he　saw　his　friend　Tank　removing　his　apron　and　heading　for　him。　They　shook　hands　warmly。
　〃What　brings　you　here？〃
　〃I　need　to　talk　to　you　for　a　minute。　Can　we　step　outside？〃
　〃Sure。　What's　up？〃
　〃Just　business。〃
　Tank　flipped　on　a　light　switch　by　the　front　door。　〃Say；　everbody；　this　here　is　Carl　Lee　Hailey's　lawyer；　Jake　Bri…gance。　A　good　friend　of　mine。　Let's　hear　it　for　him。〃
　The　small　room　exploded　in　applause　and　bravos。　Several　of　the　boys　at　the　bar　grabbed　Jake　and　shook　his　hand。　Tank　reached　in　a　drawer　under　the　bar　and　pulled　out　a　handful　of　Jake's　cards；　which　he　passed　out　like　candy。　Jake　was　breathing　again　and　the　color　returned　to　his　face。
　Outside；　they　leaned　on　the　hood　of　Tank's　yellow　Cadillac。　Lionel　Richie　echoed　through　the　windows　and　the　crowd　returned　to　normal。　Jake　handed　Tank　a　copy　of　the　list。
　〃Look　at　each　name。　See　how　many　of　these　folks　you　know。　Ask　around　and　find　out　what　you　can。〃
　Tank　held　the　list　near　his　eyes。　The　light　from　the　Michelob　sign　in　the　window　glowed　over　his　shoulder。　〃How　many　are　black？〃
　〃You　tell　me。　That's　one　reason　I　want　you　to　look　at　it。　Circle　the　black　ones。　If　you're　not　sure；　find　out。　If　you　know　any　of　the　white　folks；　make　a　note。〃
　〃I'll　be　glad　to；　Jake。　This　ain't　illegal；　is　it？〃
　〃Naw；　but　don't　tell　anybody。　I　need　it　back　by　Wednesday　morning。〃
　〃You're　the　boss。〃
　_　…　_…　（tm）*；　u。。u　JUK。C　ncaciea　tor　the　office。　It　was　almost　ten。　Ethel　had　retyped　the　list　from　the　initial　one　provided　by　Harry　Rex；　and　a　dozen　copies　had　been　hand…delivered　to　selected；　trusted　friends。　Lucien；　Stan　At…cavage；　Tank；　Dell　at　the　Coffee　Shop；　a　lawyer　in　Karaway　named　Roland　Isom；　and　a　few　others。　Even　Ozzie　got　a　list。
　Less　than　three　miles　from　the　tonk　was　a　small；　neat　white…framed　country　house　where　Ethel　and　Bud　Iwitty　had　lived　for　almost　forty　years。　It　was　a　pleasant　house　with　pleasant　memories　of　raising　children　who　were　now　scattered　up　North。　The　retarded　son；　the　one　who　greatly　resembled　Lucien；　lived　in　Miami　for　some　reason。　The　house　was　quieter　now。　Bud　hadn't　worked　in　years；　not　since　his　first　stroke　in　'75。　Then　a　heart　attack；　followed　by　two　more　major　strokes　and　several　small　ones。　His　days　were　numbered；　and　he　had　long　since　accepted　the　fact　that　he　would　most　likely　catch　the　big　one　and　die　on　his　front　porch　shelling　butterbeans。　That's　what　he　hoped　for；　anyway。
　Monday　night　he　sat　on　the　porch　shelling　butterbeans　and　listening　to　the　Cardinals　on　the　radio。　Ethel　was　working　in　the　kitchen。　In　the　bottom　of　the　eighth　with　the　Cards　at　bat　and　two　on；　he　heard　a　noise　from　the　side　of　the　house。　He　turned　the　volume　down。　Probably　just　a　dog。　Then　another　noise。　He　stood　and　walked　to　the　end　of　the　porch。　Suddenly；　a　huge　figure　dressed　in　solid　black　with　red；　white；　and　black　war　paint　smeared　wickedly　across　his　face　jumped　from　the　bushes；　grabbed　Bud　and　yanked　him　off　the　porch。　Bud's　anguished　cry　was　not　heard　in　the　kitchen。　Another　warrior　joined　in　and　they　dragged　the　old　man　to　the　foot　of　the　steps　leading　up　to　the　front　porch。　One　maneuvered　him　into　a　half…nelson　while　the　other　pounded　his　soft　belly　and　bloodied　his　face。　Within　seconds；　he　was　unconscious。
　Ethel　heard　noises　and　scurried　through　the　front　door。　She　was　grabbed　by　a　third　member　of　the　gang；　who　twisted　her　arm　tightly　behind　her　and　wrapped　a　huge　arm　around　her　throat。　She　couldn't　scream　or　talk　or　move；　and　was　held　there　on　the　porch；　terrified；　watching　below　as　the　two　thugs　took　turns　with　her　husband。　On　the　front　sidewalk　ten
　feet　behind　the　violence　stood　three　figures；　each　garbed　in　a　full；　flowing；　white　robe　with　red　garnishment；　each　with