jg.atimetokill-第82部分

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hat's　worth。〃
　〃Rating？〃
　〃I　think　I　gave　her　a　six。〃
　〃Very　good。　Millard　Sills。〃
　〃Owns　a　pecan　orchard　near　Mays。　About　seventy　years　old。　His　nephew　was　shot　in　the　head　by　two　blacks　during　a　robbery　in　Little　Rock　several　years　ago。　Hates　blacks。　He　will　not　be　on　the　jury。〃
　〃Rating？〃
　〃Zero；　I　believe。〃
　〃Clay　Bailey。〃
　〃Age；　about　thirty。　Six　kids。　Devout　Pentecostal。　Works　at　the　furniture　plant　west　of　town。〃
　〃You've　given　him　a　ten。〃
　〃Yeah。　I'm　sure　he's　read　that　part　in　the　Bible　about　an　eye　for　an　eye；　etc。　Plus；　out　of　six　kids；　I'd　think　at　least　two　would　be　daughters。〃
　〃Do　you　have　all　of　them　memorized？〃
　He　nodded　and　took　a　drink。　〃I　feel　like　I've　known　them　for　years。〃
　〃How　many　will　you　recognize？〃
　〃Very　few。　But　I'll　know　more　about　them　than　Buck…ley。〃
　〃I'm　impressed。〃
　〃What！　What　did　you　say！　I　have　impressed　you　with　my　intellect！〃
　〃Among　other　things。〃
　〃I　feel　so　honored。　I've　impressed　a　genius　in　criminal　law。　The　daughter　of　Sheldon　Roark；　whoever　he　is。　A　real　live　summa　cum　laude。　Wait'111　tell　Harry　Rex。〃
　〃Where　is　that　elephant？　I　miss　him。　I　think　he's　cute。〃
　〃Go　call　him。　Ask　him　to　join　us　for　a　patio　party　as　we　watch　the　troops　prepare　for　the　Third　Battle　of　Bull　Run。〃
　She　headed　for　the　phone　on　Jake's　desk。　〃What　about　Lucien？〃
　〃No！　I'm　tired　of　Lucien。〃
　Harry　Rex　brought　a　fifth　of　tequila　he　found　somewhere　deep　in　his　liquor　cabinet。　He　and　the　law　clerk　argued　violently　over　the　proper　ingredients　of　a　good　margarita。　Jake　voted　with　his　clerk。
　They　sat　on　the　balcony；　calling　names　from　index　cards；　drinking　the　tangy　concoction；　yelling　at　the　soldiers；　and　singing　Jimmy　Buffet　songs。　At　midnight；　Nesbit　loaded　Ellen　in　his　patrol　car　and　took　her　to　Lucien's。　Harry　Rex　walked　home。　Jake　slept　on　the　couch。
　Monday；　July　22。　Not　long　after　the　last　margarita　Jake　bolted　from　the　couch　and　stared　at　the　clock　on　his　desk。　He　had　slept　for　three　hours。　A　swarm　of　wild　butterflies　fought　violently　in　his　stomach。　A　nervous　pain　shot　through　his　groin。　He　had　no　time　for　a　hangover。
　Nesbit　slept　like　an　infant　behind　the　wheel。　Jake　roused　him　and　jumped　in　the　back　seat。　He　waved　at　the　sentries；　who　watched　curiously　from　across　the　street。　Nesbit　drove　two　blocks　to　Adams；　released　his　passenger；　and　waited　in　the　driveway　as　instructed。　He　showered　and　shaved　quickly。　He　chose　a　charcoal　worsted　wool　suit；　a　white　pinpoint　button…down；　and　a　very　neutral；　noncontro…versial；　expressionless　burgundy　silk　tie　with　a　few　narrow　navy　stripes　for　good　measure。　The　pleated　pants　hung　perfectly　from　his　trim　waist。　He　looked　great；　much　more　stylish　than　the　enemy。
　Nesbit　was　asleep　again　when　Jake　released　the　dog　and　jumped　in　the　back　seat。
　〃Everything　okay　in　there？〃　Nesbit　asked；　wiping　the　saliva　from　his　chin。
　〃I　didn't　find　any　dynamite；　if　that's　what　you　mean。〃
　Nesbit　laughed　at　this；　with　the　same　irritating；　laughing　response　he　made　to　almost　everything。　They　circled　the　square　and　Jake　got　out　in　front　of　his　office。　Thirty　minutes　after　he　left；　he　turned　on　the　front　lights　and　made　the　coffee。
　He　took　four　aspirin　and　drank　a　quart　of　grapefruit　juice。　His　eyes　burned　and　his　head　ached　from　abuse　and　fatigue；　and　the　tiring　part　had　not　yet　begun。　On　the　conference　table　he　spread　out　his　file　on　Carl　Lee　Hailey。　It　had　been　organized　and　indexed　by　his　law　clerk；　but　he　wanted　to　break　it　down　and　put　it　back　together。　If　a　document　or　case　can't　be　found　in　thirty　seconds；　it's　no　good。　He　smiled　at　Jier　talent　for　organization。　She　had　files　and　sub…files　on　everything；　all　ten　seconds　away　at　a　fingertip。　In　a　one…inch；　three…ring　notebook　she　had　a　summary　of　Dr。　Bass's　qualifi…
　cations　and　the　outline　of　his　testimony。　She　had　made　notes　on　anticipated　objections　from　Buckley；　and　provided　case　authority　to　fight　his　objections。　Jake　took　great　pride　in　his　trial　preparation；　but　it　was　humbling　to　learn　from　a　third…year　law　student。
　He　repacked　the　file　in　his　trial　briefcase；　the　heavy　black　leather　one　with　his　initials　in　gold　on　the　side。　Nature　called；　and　he　sat　on　the　toilet　flipping　through　the　index　cards。　He　knew　them　all。　He　was　ready。
　A　few　minutes　after　five；　Harry　Rex　knocked　on　the　door。　It　was　dark　and　he　looked　like　a　burglar。
　〃Whatta　you　doing　up　so　early？〃　Jake　asked。
　〃I　couldn't　sleep。　I'm　kinda　nervous。〃　He　thrust　forward　a　loaded　paper　sack　with　grease　spots。　〃Dell　sent　these　over。　They're　fresh　and　hot。　Sausage　biscuits；　bacon　and　cheese　biscuits；　chicken　and　cheese　biscuits；　you　name　it。　She's　worried　about　you。〃
　〃Thanks；　Harry　Rex；　but　I'm　not　hungry。　My　system　is　in　revolt。〃
　〃Nervous？〃
　〃As　a　whore　in　church。〃
　〃You　look　pretty　haggard。〃
　〃Thanks。〃
　〃Nice　suit　though。〃
　〃Carla　picked　it　out。〃
　Harry　Rex　reached　into　the　sack　and　produced　a　handful　of　biscuits　wrapped　in　foil。　He　piled　them　on　the　conference　table　and　fixed　his　coffee。　Jake　sat　across　from　him　and　flipped　through　Ellen's　brief　on　M'Naghten。
　〃She　write　that？〃　Harry　Rex　asked　with　both　cheeks　full　and　his　jaws　grinding　rapidly。
　〃Yeah；　it's　a　seventy…five…page　summary　of　the　insanity　defense　in　Mississippi。　It　took　her　three　days。〃
　〃She　seems　very　bright。〃
　〃She's　got　the　brains；　and　she　writes　fluidly。　The　intellect　is　there；　but　she　has　trouble　applying　what　she　knows　to　the　real　world。〃
　〃Whatta　you　know　about　her？〃　Crumbs　fell　from　his　mouth　and　bounced　on　the　table。　He　brushed　them　onto　the　floor　with　a　sleeve。
　〃She's　solid。　Number　two　in　her　class　at　Ole　Miss。　I
　called　Nelson　Battles；　Assistant　Dean　of　the　Law　School；　and　she　checked　out　fine。　She　has　a　good　chance　of　finishing　number　one。〃
　〃I　finished　ninety…third　outta　ninety…eight。　I　would've　finished　ninety…second　but　they　caught　me　cheating　on　an　exam。　I　started　to　protest；　but　I　figured　ninety…third　was　just　as　good。　Hell；　I　figured；　who　cares　in　Clanton。　These　people　were　just　glad　I　came　back　here　to　practice　when　I　graduated　instead　of　going　to　Wall　Street　or　some　pjace　like　that。〃
　Jake　smiled　at　the　story　he　had　heard　a　hundred　times。
　Harry　Rex　unwrapped　a　chicken　and　cheese　biscuit。　〃You　look　nervous；　buddy。〃
　〃I'm　okay。　The　first　day　is　always　the　hardest。　The　preparation　has　been　done。　I'm　ready。。　It's　just　a　matter　of　waiting　now。〃
　〃What　time　does　Row　Ark　make　her　entrance？〃
　〃I　don't　know。〃
　〃Lord；　I　wonder　what　she'll　wear。〃
　〃Or　not　wear。　I　just　hope　she's　decent。　You　know　what　a　prude　Noose　is。〃
　〃You're　not　gonna　let　her　sit　at　counsel　table　are　you？〃
　〃I　don't　think　so。　She'll　stay　in　the　background；　sort　of　like　you。　She　might　offend　some　of　the　women　jurors。〃
　〃Yeah；　keep　her　there；　but　outta　sight。〃
　Harry　Rex　wiped　his　mouth　with　a　huge　paw。　〃You　sleeping　with　her？〃
　〃No！　I'm　not　crazy；　Harry　Rex。〃
　〃You're　crazy　if　you　don't。　That　woman　could　be　had。〃
　〃Then　have　her。　I've　got　enough　on　my　mind。〃
　〃She　thinks　I'm　cute；　don't　she？〃
　〃She　says　she　does。〃
　〃I　think　I'll　give　it　a　shot；〃　he　said　with　a　straight　face；　then　he　smiled；　then　he　burst　into　laughter　with　crumbs　spraying　the　bookshelves。
　The　phone　rang。　Jake　shook　his　head；　and　Harry　Rex　picked　up　the　receiver。　〃He's　not　here；　but　I'll　be　glad　to　give　him　the　message。〃　He　winked　at　Jake。　〃Yes　sir；　yes　sir；　uh　huh；　yes　sir。　It's　a　terrible　thing；　ain't　it。　Can　you　believe　a　man　would　do　it？　Yes　sir；　yes　sir；　I　agree　one　hundred　percent。　Yes　sir；　and　what's　your　name；　sir？　Sir？〃　Harry　Rex　smiled　at　the　receiver　and　laid　it　down。
　〃What'd　he　want？〃
　〃Said　you　was　a　shame　to　the　white　race　for　being　that　nigger's　lawyer；　and　that　he　didn't　see　how　any　lawyer　could　represent　a　nigger　such　as　Hailey。　And　that　he　hoped　the　Klan　got　ahold　of　you；　and　if　they　didn't　he　hoped　the　bar　association　looked　into　it　and　took　away　your　license　for　helping　niggers。　Said　he　knew　you　were　no　'count　because　you　were　trained　by　Lucien　Wilbanks　who　lives　with　a　nigger　woman。〃
　〃And　you　agreed　with　him！〃
　〃Why　not？　He　was　really　sincere；　not　hateful；　and　he　feels　better　now　that　it's　off　his　chest。〃
　The　phone　rang　again。　Harry　Rex　snatched　the　receiver。　〃Jake　Brigance；　Attorney；