jg.atimetokill-第75部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


in　years；　he　said。　He　admired　them　and　their　sacrifices　in　being　there。　He　knew　they　had　jobs　and　families；　but　this　was　important。　He　talked　about　the　glory　days　when　they　were　feared　in　Mississippi　and　had　clout。　Those　days　must　return；　and　it　was　up　to　this　very　group　of　dedicated　men　to　take　a　stand　for　white　people。　The　march　could　be　dangerous；　he　explained。　Niggers　could　march　and　demonstrate　all　day　long　and　no　one　cared。　But　let　white　folks　try　and　march　and　it　was　dangerous。　The　city　had　issued　a　permit；　and　the　nigger　sheriff　promised　order；　but　most　Klan　marches　nowadays　were　disrupted　by　roving　bands　of　young　wild　nigger　punks。　So　be　careful；　and　keep　ranks。　He；　Stump；　would　do　the　talking。
　They　listened　intently　to　Stump's^rep　talk；　and　when　he　finished　they　loaded　into　a　dozen　cars　and　followed　him　to　town。
　Few　if　any　people　in　Clanton　had　ever　seen　the　Klan　march；　and　as　2：00　P。M。　approached　a　great　wave　of　excitement　rippled　around　the　square。　The　merchants　and　their　customers　found　excuses　to　inspect　the　sidewalks。　They　milled　about　importantly　and　watched　the　side　streets。　The　vultures　were　out　in　full　force　and　had　congregated　near　the　gazebo　on　the　front　lawn。　A　group　of　young　blacks　gathered
　nearby　under　a　massive　oak。　Ozzie　smelled　trouble。　They　assured　him　they　had　only　e　to　watch　and　listen。　He　threatened　them　with　jail　if　trouble　started。　He　stationed　his　men　at　various　points　around　the　courthouse。
　〃Here　they　e！〃　someone　yelled；　and　the　spectators　strained　to　get　a　glimpse　of　the　marching　Klansmen　as　they　strutted　importantly　from　a　small　street　onto　Washington　Avenue；　the　north　border　of　the　square。　They　walked　cautiously；　but　arrogantly；　their　faces　hidden　by　the　sinister　red　and　white　masks　hanging　from　the　royal　headdresses。　The　spectators　gawked　at　the　faceless　figures　as　the　procession　moved　slowly　along　Washington；　then　south　along　Caffey　Street；　then　east　along　Jackson　Street。　Stump　waddled　proudly　in　front　of　his　men。　When　he　neared　the　front　of　the　courthouse；　he　made　a　sharp　left　turn　and　led　his　troops　down　the　long　sidewalk　in　the　center　of　the　front　lawn。　They　closed　ranks　in　a　loose　semicircle　around　the　podium　on　the　courthouse　steps。
　The　vultures　had　scrambled　and　fallen　over　themselves　following　the　march；　and　when　Stump　stopped　his　men　the　podium　was　quickly　adorned　with　a　dozen　microphones　trailing　wires　in　all　directions　to　the　cameras　and　recorders。　Under　the　tree　the　group　of　blacks　had　grown　larger；　much　larger；　and　some　of　them　walked　to　within　a　few　feet　of　the　semicircle。　The　sidewalks　emptied　as　the　merchants　and　shopkeepers；　their　customers；　and　the　other　curious　streamed　across　the　streets　onto　the　lawn　to　hear　what　the　leader；　the　short　fat　one；　was　about　to　say。　The　deputies　walked　slowly　through　the　crowd；　paying　particular　attention　to　the　group　of　blacks。　Ozzie　placed　himself　under　the　oak；　in　the　midst　of　his　people。
　Jake　watched　intently　from　the　window　in　Jean　Gilles…pie's　second　floor　office。　The　sight　of　the　Klansmen；　in　full　regalia；　their　cowardly　faces　hidden　behind　the　ominous　masks；　gave　him　a　sick　feeling。　The　white　hood；　for　decades　a　symbol　of　hatred　and　violence　in　the　South；　was　back。　Which　one　of　those　men　had　burned　the　cross　in　his　yard？　Were　they　all　active　in　planning　the　bombing　of　his　home？　Which　one　would　try　something　next？　From　the　second　floor；　he　could　see　the　blacks　inch　closer。
　〃You　niggers　were　not　invited　to　this　rally！〃　Stump
　screamed　into　the　microphone；　pointing　at　the　blacks。　〃This　is　a　Klan　meetin'；　not　a　meetin'　for　a　buncha　niggers！〃
　From　the　side　streets　and　small　alleys　behind　the　rows　of　red　brick　buildings；　a　steady　stream　of　blacks　moved　toward　the　courthouse。　They　joined　the　others；　and　in　seconds　Stump　and。his　boys　were　outnumbered　ten　to　one。　Ozzie　radioed　for　backup。
　〃My　name's　Stump　Sisson；〃　he　said　as　he　removed　his　mask。　〃And　I'm　proud　to　say　I'm　the　Mississippi　Imperial　Wizard　for　the　Invisible　Empire　of　the　Ku　Klux　Klan。　I'm　here　to　say　that　the　law…abidin'　white　folks　of　Mississippi　are　sick　and　tired　of　niggers　stealin'；　rapin'；　killin'；　and　gettin'　by　with　it。　We　demand　justice；　and　we　demand　that　this　Hailey　nigger　be　convicted　and　his　black　ass　sent　to　the　gas　chamber！〃
　〃Free　Carl　Lee！〃　screamed　one　of　the　blacks。
　〃Free　Carl　Lee！〃　they　repeated　in　unison。
　〃Free　Carl　Lee！〃
　〃Shut　up；　you　wild　niggers！〃　Stump　shrieked　back。　〃Shut　up；　you　animals！〃　His　troops　stood　facing　him；　frozen；　with　their　backs　to　the　screaming　crowd。　Ozzie　and　six　deputies　moved　between　the　groups。
　〃Free　Carl　Lee！〃
　〃Free　Carl　Lee！〃
　Stump's　naturally　colorful　face　had　turned　an　even　deeper　red。　His　teeth　nearly　touched　the　microphones。　〃Shut　up；　you　wild　niggers！　You　had　your　rally　yesterday　and　we　didn't　disturb　you。　We　have　a　right　to　assemble　in　peace；　just　like　you　do！　Now；　shut　up！〃
　The　chanting　intensified。　〃Free　Carl　Lee！　Free　Carl　Lee！〃
　〃Where's　the　sheriff？　He's　supposed　to　keep　law　and　order。　Sheriff；　do　your　job。　Shut　those　niggers　up　so　we　can　assemble　in　peace。　Can't　you　do　your　job；　Sheriff？　Can't　you　control　your　own　people？　See；　folks；　that's　what　you　get　when　you　elect　niggers　to　public　office。〃
　The　shouting　continued　and　Stump　stepped　back　from　the　microphones　and　watched　the　blacks。　The　photographers　and　TV　crews　spun　in　circles　trying　to　record　it　all。　No　one　noticed　a　small　window　on　the　third　floor　of　the　courthouse。　It　opened　slowly；　and　from　the　darkness　within　a
　wuuc　mcuumo　was　tnrown　onto　the　podium　below。　It　landed　perfectly　at　Stump's　feet　and　exploded；　engulfing　the　wizard　in　dames。
　The　riot　was　on。　Stump　screamed　and　rolled　wildly　down　the　front　steps。　Three　of　his　men　shed　their　heavy　robes　and　masks　and　attempted　to　cover　him　and　smother　the　flames。　The　wooden　podium　and　platform　burned　with　the　thick；　unmistakable　smell　of　gasoline。　The　blacks　charged；　wielding　sticks　and　knives　and　hacking　at　anything　with　a　white　face　or　white　robe。　Under　each　white　robe　was　a　short　black　nightstick；　and　the　Klansmen　proved　ready　for　the　assault。　Within　seconds　of　the　explosion；　the　front　lawn　of　the　Ford　County　Courthouse　was　a　battlefield　as　men　screamed　and　cursed　and　howled　in　pain　through　thick；　heavy　smoke。　The　air　was　filled　with　rocks　and　stones　and　nightsticks　as　the　two　groups　brawled　in　hand…to…hand　bat。
　Bodies　began　falling　on　the　lush；　green　grass。　Ozzie　fell　first；　the　victim　of　a　wicked　smash　to　the　base　of　his　skull　with　a　wrecking　bar。　Nesbit；　Prather；　Hastings；　Pirtle；　Tatum；　and　other　deputies　ran　here　and　there　attempting　unsuccessfully　to　separate　various　batants　before　they　killed　each　other。　Instead　of　running　for　cover；　the　vultures　darted　cra…zily　through　the　midst　of　the　smoke　and　violence　valiantly　trying　to　capture　yet　a　better　shot　of　the　blood　and　gore。　They　were　sitting　ducks。　One　cameraman；　his　right　eye　buried　deep　in　his　camera；　caught　a　jagged　piece　of　brick　with　his　left　eye。　He　and　his　camera　dropped　quickly　to　the　sidewalk；　where；　after　a　few　seconds；　another　cameraman　appeared　and　filmed　his　fallen　rade。　A　fearless；　busy　female　reporter　from　a　Memphis　station　charged　into　the　melee　with　her　microphone　in　hand　and　her　cameraman　at　her　heels。　She　dodged　a　brick；　then　maneuvered　too　close　to　a　large　Klansman　who　was　just　finishing　off　a　couple　of　black　teenagers；　when；　with　a　loud　piercing　scream；　he　slapped　her　pretty　head　with　his　nightstick；　kicked　her　as　she　fell；　then　brutally　attacked　her　cameraman。
　Fresh　troops　from　the　Clanton　City　Police　arrived。　In　the　center　of　the　battle；　Nesbit；　Prather；　and　Hastings　came　together；　stood　with　their　backs　to　each　other；　and　began　firing　their　Smith　&　Wesson　。357　magnum　service　revolvers
　into　the　air。　The　sound　of　the　gunfire　quelled　the　riot。　The　warriors　froze　and　searched　for　the　gunfire；　then　quickly　separated　and　glared　at　each　other。　They　retreated　slowly　to　their　own　groups。　The　officers　formed　a　dividing　line　between　the　blacks　and　the　Klansmen；　all　of　whom　were　thankful　for　the　truce。
　A　dozen　wounded　bodies　were　unable　to　retreat。　Ozzie　sat　dazed；　rubbing　his　neck。　The　lady　from　Memphis　was　unconscious　and　bleeding　profusely　from　the　head。　Several　Klansmen；　their　wh