jg.atimetokill-第73部分

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　〃Free　Carl　Lee！〃
　〃Free　Carl　Lee！〃
　The　windows　of　the　courthouse　flew　open　as　the　clerks　and　secretaries　gawked　at　the　happening　below。　The　roar　could　be　heard　for　blocks　and　the　small　shops　and　offices　around　the　square　emptied。　The　owners　and　customers　filled　the　sidewalks　and　watched　in　astonishment。　The　demonstrators　noticed　their　spectators；　and　the　attention　fueled　the　chanting；　which　increased　in　tempo　and　volume。　The　vultures　had　loitered　about　waiting　and　watching；　and　the　noise　excited　them。　They　descended　upon　the　front　lawn　of　the　courthouse　with　cameras　and　microphones。
　Ozzie　and　his　men　directed　traffic　until　the　highway　and　the　streets　were　hopelessly　gridlocked。　They　maintained　a　presence；　although　there　was　no　hint　they　would　be　needed。
　Agee　and　every　full…time；　part…time；　retired；　and　prospective　black　preacher　in　three　counties　paraded　through　the　dense　mass　of　black　screaming　faces　and　made　their　way　to　the　podium。　The　sight　of　the　ministers　pumped　up　the　celebrants；　and　their　unified　chants　reverberated　around　the　square；　down　the　side　streets　into　the　sleepy　residential　districts　and　out　into　the　countryside。　Thousands　of　blacks　waved　their　placards　and　yelled　their　lungs　out。　Agee　swayed　with　the　crowd。　He　danced　across　the　small　podium。　He　slapped　hands　with　the　other　ministers。　He　led　the　rhythmic　noise　like　a　choir　director。　He　was　a　sight。
　〃Free　Carl　Lee！〃
　〃Free　Carl　Lee！〃
　For　fifteen　minutes；　Agee　whipped　the　crowd　into　a　frenzied；　coalescent　mob。　Then；　when　with　his　finely　trained　ear　he　detected　the　first　hint　of　fatigue；　he　walked　to　the　microphones　and　asked　for　quiet。　The　panting；　sweating　faces　yelled　on　but　with　less　volume。　The　chants　of　freedom　died　quickly。　Agee　asked　for　room　near　the　front　so　the　press　could　congregate　and　do　its　job。　He　asked　for　stillness　so　they　could　go　to　the　Lord　in　prayer。　Reverend　Roosevelt　offered　a　marathon　to　the　Lord；　an　eloquent；　alliterative　oratorical　fiesta　that　brought　tears　to　the　eyes　of　many。
　When　he　finally　said　〃Amen；〃　an　enormous　black　woman　with　a　sparkling　red　wig　stepped　to　the　microphones　and　opened　her　vast　mouth。　The　opening　stanza　of　〃We　Shall　Overe〃　flowed　forth　in　a　deep；　rich；　mellow　river　of　glorious　a　cappella。　The　ministers　behind　her　immediately　clasped　hands　and　began　to　sway。　Spontaneity　swept　the　crowd　and　two　thousand　voices　joined　her　in　surprising　harmony。　The　mournful；　promising　anthem　rose　above　the　small　town。
　When　they　finished；　someone　shouted　〃Free　Carl　Lee！〃　and　ignited　another　round　of　chanting。　Agee　quieted　them　again；　and　stepped　to　the　microphones。　He　pulled　an　index　card　from　his　pocket；　and　began　his　sermon。
　As　expected；　Lucien　arrived　late　and　half　loaded。　He　brought　a　bottle　and　offered　a　drink　to　Jake；　Atcavage；　and　Harry　Rex；　and　each　declined。
　〃It's　a　quarter　till　nine；　Lucien；〃　Jake　said。　〃We've　been　waiting　for　almost　an　hour。〃
　〃I'm　being　paid　for　this；　am　I？〃　he　asked。
　〃No；　but　I　asked　you　to　be　here　at　eight　sharp。〃
　〃And　you　also　told　me　not　to　bring　a　bottle。　And　I　informed　you　this　was　my　building；　built　by　my　grandfather；　leased　to　you　as　my　tenant；　for　a　very　reasonable　rent　I　might　add；　and　I　will　e　and　go　as　I　please；　with　or　without　a　bottle。〃
　〃Forget　it。　Did　you…〃
　〃What're　those　blacks　doing　across　the　street　walking　around　the　courthouse　in　the　dark？〃
　〃It's　called　a　vigil；〃　explained　Harry　Rex。　〃They've
　vowed　to　walk　around　the　courthouse　with　candles；　keeping　a　vigil　until　their　man　is　free。〃
　〃That　could　be　an　awfully　long　vigil。　I　mean；　those　poor　people　could　be　walking　until　they　die。　I　mean；　this　could　be　a　twelve…；　fifteen…year　vigil。　They　might　set　a　record。　They　might　have　candle　wax　up　to　their　asses。　Evenin'；　Row　Ark。〃
　Ellen　sat　at　the　rolltop　desk　under　William　Faulkner。　She　looked　at　a　well…marked　copy　of　the　jury　list。　She　nodded　and　smiled　at　Lucien。
　〃Row　Ark；〃　Lucien　said；　〃I　have　all　the　respect　in　the　world　for　you。　I　view　you　as　an　equal。　I　believe　in　your　right　to　equal　pay　for　equal　work。　I　believe　in　your　right　to　choose　whether　to　have　a　child　or　abort。　I　believe　in　all　that　crap。　You　are　a　woman　and　entitled　to　no　special　privileges　because　of　your　gender。　You　should　be　treated　just　like　a　man。〃　Lucien　reached　in　his　pocket　and　pulled　out　a　clip　of　cash。　〃And　since　you　are　a　law　clerk；　genderless　in　my　eyes；　I　think　you　should　be　the　one　to　go　buy　a　case　of　cold　Coors。〃
　〃No；　Lucien；〃　Jake　said。
　〃Shut　up；　Jake。〃
　Ellen　stood　and　stared　at　Lucien。　〃Sure；　Lucien。　But　I'll　pay　for　the　beer。〃
　She　left　the　office。
　Jake　shook　his　head　and　fumed　at　Lucien。　〃This　could　be　a　long　night。〃
　Harry　Rex　changed　his　mind　and　poured　a　shot　of　whiskey　into　his　coffee　cup。
　〃Please　don't　get　drunk；〃　Jake　begged。　〃We've　got　work　to　do。〃
　〃I　work　better　when　I'm　drunk；〃　said　Lucien。
　〃Me　too；〃　said　Harry　Rex。
　〃This　could　be　interesting；〃　said　Atcavage。
　Jake　laid　his　feet　on　his　desk　and　puffed　on　a　cigar。　〃Okay；　the　first　thing　I　want　to　do　is　decide　on　a　model　juror。〃
　〃Black；〃　said　Lucien。
　〃Black　as　old　Coaly's　ass；〃　said　Harry　Rex。
　〃I　agree；〃　said　Jake。　〃But　we　won't　get　a　chance。　Buck…ley　will　save　his　peremptory　challenges　for　the　blacks。　We　know　that。　We've　got　to　concentrate　on　white　people。〃
　〃Women；〃　said　Lucien。　〃Always　pick　women　for　crimi…
　nal　trials。　They　have　bigger　hearts；　bleeding　hearts；　and　they're　much　more　sympathetic。　Always　go　for　women。〃
　〃Naw；〃　said　Harry　Rex。　〃Not　in　this　case。　Women　don't　understand　things　like　taking　a　gun　and　blowing　people　away。　You　need　fathers；　young　fathers　who　would　want　to　do　the　same　thing　Hailey　did。　Daddies　with　little　girls。〃
　〃Since　when　did　you　get　to　be　such　an　expert　on　picking　juries？〃　asked　Lucien。　〃I　thought　you　were　a　sleazy　divorce　lawyer。〃
　〃I　am　a　sleazy　divorce　lawyer；　but　I　know　how　to　pick　juries。〃
　〃And　listen　to　them　through　the　wall。〃
　〃Cheap　shot。〃
　Jake　raised　his　arms。　〃Fellas；　please。　How　about　Victor　Onzell？　You　know　him；　Stan？〃
　〃Yeah；　he　banks　with　us。　He's　about　forty；　married；　three　or　four　kids。　White。　From　somewhere　up　North。　Runs　the　truck　stop　on　the　highway　north　of　town。　He's　been　here　about　five　years。〃
　〃I　wouldn't　take　him；〃　Lucien　said。　〃If　he's　from　up　North；　he　doesn't　think　like　we　do。　Probably　in　favor　of　gun　control　and　all　that　crap。　Yankees　always　scare　me　in　criminal　cases。　I've　always　thought　we　should　have　a　law　in　Mississippi　that　no　certified　yankee　could　sit　on　a　jury　down　here　regardless　of　how　long　he's　lived　here。〃
　〃Thank　you　so　much；〃　said　Jake。
　〃I'd　take　him；〃　said　Harry　Rex。
　〃Why？〃
　〃He's　got　kids；　probably　a　daughter。　If　he's　from　the　North　he's　probably　not　as　prejudiced。　Sounds　good　to　me。〃
　〃John　Tate　Aston。〃
　〃He's　dead；〃　said　Lucien。
　〃What？〃
　〃I　said　he's　dead。　Been　dead　for　three　years。〃
　〃Why's　he　on　the　list？〃　asked　Atcavage；　the　non…lawyer。
　〃They　don't　purge　the　voter　registration　list；〃　explained　Harry　Rex；　between　drinks。　〃Some　die　and　some　move　away；　and　it's　impossible　to　keep　the　list　up　to　date。　They've　issued　a　hundred　and　fifty　summons；　and　you　can　expect　a　hundred　to　a　hundred　and　twenty　to　show　up。　The　rest　have　died　or　moved　away。〃
　〃Caroline　Baxter。　Ozzie　says　she's　black；〃　Jake　said　flipping　through　his　notes。　〃Works　at　the　carburetor　plant　in　Karaway。〃
　〃Take　her；〃　said　Lucien。
　〃I　wish；〃　said　Jake。
　Ellen　returned　with　the　beer。　She　dropped　it　in　Lucien's　lap　and　…tore　a　sixteen…ounce　can　out　of　a　six…pack。　She　popped　the　top　and　returned　to　the　rolltop　desk。　Jake　declined；　but　Atcavage　decided　he　was　thirsty。　Jake　remained　the　non…drinker。
　〃Jpe　Kitt　Shepherd。〃
　〃Sounds　like　a　redneck；〃　said　Lucien。
　〃Why　do　you　say　that？〃　asked　Harry　Rex。
　〃The　double　first　name；〃　Lucien　explained。　〃Most　rednecks　have　double　first　names。　Like　Billy　Ray；　Johnny　Ray；　Bobby　Lee；　Harry　Lee；　Jesse　Earl；　Billy　Wayne；　Jerry　Wayne；　Eddie　Mack。　Even　their　women　have　double　first　names。　Bobbie　Sue；　Betty　Pearl；　Mary　Belle；　Thelma　Lou；　Sally　Faye。〃
　〃What　about　Harry　Rex？〃　asked　Harry　Rex。
　〃Never　heard　of　a　woman　named　Harry　Rex。〃
　〃I　mean　for　a　male　redneck。〃
　〃I　guess　it'll　do。〃
　Jake　interrupted。　〃Dell　Perry　said　he　used　to