jg.atimetokill-第84部分

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　As　the　jurors　began　arriving；　they　walked　briskly　through　the　rows　of　soldiers。　They　clutched　their　summonses　and　listened　in　disbelief　as　the　two　groups　screamed　at　each　other。
　The　Honorable　Rufus　Buckley　arrived　in　Clanton　and　politely　informed　the　guardsmen　of　who　he　was　and　what　that　meant；　and　he　was　allowed　to　park　in　his　spot　marked　RESERVED　FOR　D。A。　next　to　the　courthouse。　The　reporters　went　wild。　This　must　be　important；　someone　had　broken　through　the　barricade。　Buckley　sat　in　his　well…used　Cadillac　for　a　moment　to　allow　the　reporters　to　catch　him。　They　surrounded　him　as　he　slammed　the　door。　He　smiled　and　smiled　and　made　his　way　ever　so　slowly　to　the　front　door　of　the　courthouse。　The　rapid　fire　of　questions　proved　irresistible；　and　Buckley　violated　the　gag　order　at　least　eight　times；　each　time　smiling　and　explaining　that　he　could　not　answer　the　question　he　had　just　answered。　Musgrove　trailed　behind　carrying　the　great　man's　briefcase。
　Jake　paced　nervously　in　his　office。　The　door　was　locked。　Ellen　was　downstairs　working　on　another　brief。　Harry　Rex　was　at　；the　Coffee　Shop　eating　another　breakfast　and　gossiping。　The　notecards　were　scattered　on　his　desk；　and　he　was
　tired　of　them。　He　flipped　through　a　brief；　then　walked　to　the　French　doors。　The　shouting　echoed　through　the　open　windows。　He　returned　to　the　desk　and　studied　the　outline　of　his　opening　ments　to　the　prospective　jurors。　The　first　impression　was　critical。
　He　lay　on　the　couch；　closed　his　eyes；　and　thought　of　a　thousand　things　he'd　rather　be　doing。　For　the　most　part；　he　enjoyed　his　work。　But　there　were　moments；　frightening　moments　like　this　one；　when　he　wished　he'd　bee　an　insurance　agent　or　a　stockbroker。　Or　maybe　even　a　tax　lawyer。　Surely　those　guys　didn't　regularly　suffer　from　nausea　and　diarrhea　at　critical　moments　in　their　careers。
　Lucien　had　taught　him　that　fear　was　good；　fear　was　an　ally；　that　every　lawyer　was　afraid　when　he　stood　before　a　new　jury　and　presented　his　case。　It　was　okay　to　be　afraid…　just　don't　show　it。　Jurors　would　not　follow　the　lawyer　with　the　quickest　tongue　or　prettiest　words。　They　would　not　follow　the　sharpest　dresser。　They　would　not　follow　a　clown　or　court　jester。　They　would　not　follow　the　lawyer　who　preached　the　loudest　or　fought　the　hardest。　Lucien　had　convinced　him　that　jurors　followed　the　lawyer　who　told　the　truth；　regardless　of　his　looks；　words；　or　superficial　abilities。　A　lawyer　had　to　be　himself　in　the　courtroom；　and　if　he　was　afraid；　so　be　it。　The　jurors　were　afraid　too。
　Make　friends　with　fear；　Lucien　always　said；　because　it　will　not　go　away；　and　it　will　destroy　you　if　left　uncontrolled。
　The　fear　hit　deep　in　his　bowels；　and　he　walked　carefully　downstairs　to　the　rest　room。
　〃How　are　you；　boss？〃　Ellen　asked　when。he　checked　on　her。
　〃Ready；　I　guess。　We'll　leave　in　a　minute。〃
　〃There　are　some　reporters　waiting　outside。　I　told　them　you　had　withdrawn　from　the　case　and　left　town。〃
　〃At　this　moment；　I　wish　I　had。〃
　〃Have　you　heard　of　Wendall　Solomon？〃
　〃Not　right　off　hand。〃
　〃He's　with　the　Southern　Prisoner　Defense　Fund。　I　worked　under　him　last　summer。　He's　tried　over　a　hundred　capital　cases　all　over　the　South。　He　gets　so　nervous　before　a　trial　he　can　neither　eat　nor　sleep。　His　doctor　gives　him　seda…
　tives；　but　he's　still　so　jumpy　no　one　speaks　to　him　on　opening　day。　And　that's　after　a　hundred　of　these　trials。〃
　〃How　does　your　father　handle　it？〃
　〃He　has　a　couple　of　martinis　with　a　Valium。　Then　he　lies　on　his　desk　with　the　door　locked　and　the　lights　off　until　it's　time　for　court。　His　nerves　are　ragged　and　he's　ill…tempered。　Of　course；　a　lot　of　that　is　natural。〃
　〃So　you　know　the　feeling？〃
　〃I　know　it　well。〃
　〃Do　I　look　nervous？〃
　〃You　look　tired。　But　you'll　do。〃
　Jake　checked　his　watch。　〃Let's　go。〃
　The　reporters　on　the　sidewalk　pounced　on　their　prey。　〃No　ment〃　he　insisted　as　he　moved　slowly　across　the　street　toward　the　courthouse。　The　barrage　continued。
　〃Is　it　true　you　plan　to　ask　for　a　mistrial？〃
　〃I　can't　do　that　until　the　trial　starts。〃
　〃Is　it　true　the　Klan　has　threatened　you？〃
　〃No　ment。〃
　〃Is　it　true　you　sent　your　family　out　of　town　until　after　the　trial？〃
　Jake　hesitated　and　glanced　at　the　reporter。　〃No　ment。〃
　〃What　do　you　think　of　the　National　Guard？〃
　〃I'm　proud　of　them。〃
　〃Can　your　client　get　a　fair　trial　in　Ford　County？〃
　Jake　shook　his　head；　then　added；　〃No　ment。〃
　A　deputy　stood　guard　a　few　feet　from　where　the　bodies　had　e　to　rest。　He　pointed　at　Ellen。　〃Who's　she；　Jake？〃
　〃She's　harmless。　She's　with　me。〃
　They　ran　up　the　rear　stairs。　Carl　Lee　sat　alone　at　the　defense　table；　his　back　to　the　packed　courtroom。　Jean　Gil…lespie　was　busy　checking　in　jurors　while　deputies　roamed　the　aisles　looking　for　anything　suspicious。　Jake　greeted　his　client　warmly；　taking　special　care　to　shake　his　hand；　smile　broadly　at　him；　and　put　his　hand　on　his　shoulder。　Ellen　unpacked　the　briefcases　and　neatly　arranged　the　files　on　the　table。
　Jake　whispered　to　his　client　and　looked　around　the　courtroom。　All　eyes　were　on　him。　The　Hailey　clan　sat　handsomely　in　the　front　row。　Jake　smiled　at　them　and　nodded　at　Lester。　Tbnya　and　the　boys　were　decked　out　in　their　Sunday
　clothes；　and　they　sat　between　Lester　and　Gwen　like　perfect　little　statues。　…The　jurors　sat　across　the　aisle；　and　they　were　carefully　studying　Hailey's　lawyer。　Jake　thought　this　would　be　a　good　time　for　the　jurors　to　see　the　family；　so　he　walked　through　the　swinging　gate　in　the　railing　and　went　to　speak　to　the　Haileys。　He　patted　Gwen　on　the　shoulder；　shook　hands　with　Lester；　pinched　each　of　the　boys；　and；　finally；　hugged　Tonya；　the　little　Hailey　girl；　the　one　who　had　been　raped　by　the　two　rednecks　who　got　what　they　deserved。　The　jurors　watched　every　move　of　this　production；　and　paid　special　attention　to　the　little　girl。
　〃Noose　wants　us　in　chambers；〃　Musgrove　whispered　to　Jake　as　he　returned　to　the　defense　table。
　Ichabod；　Buckley；　and　the　court　reporter　were　chatting　when　Jake　and　Ellen　entered　chambers。　Jake　introduced　his　clerk　to　His　Honor　and　Buckley　and　Musgrove；　and　to　Norma　Gallo；　the　court　reporter。　He　explained　that　Ellen　Roark　was　a　third…year　law　student　at　Ole　Miss　who　was　clerking　in　his　office；　and　requested　that　she　be　allowed　to　sit　near　counsel　table　and　participate　in　the　proceedings　in　chambers。　Buckley　had　no　objections。　It　was　mon　practice；　Noose　explained；　and　he　weled　her。
　〃Preliminary　matters；　gentlemen？〃　Noose　asked。
　〃None；〃　said　the　D。A。
　〃Several；〃　said　Jake　as　he　opened　a　file。　〃I　want　this　on　the　record。〃
　Norma　Gallo　started　writing。
　〃First　of　all；　I　want　to　renew　my　motion　for　a　change　of　venue…〃
　〃We　object；〃　interrupted　Buckley。
　〃Shut　up；　Governor！〃　Jake　yelled。　〃I'm　not　through；　and　don't　interrupt　me　again！〃
　Buckley　and　the　others　were　startled　by　this　loss　of　posure。　It's　all　those　margaritas；　thought　Ellen。
　〃I　apologize；　Mr。　Brigance；〃　Buckley　said　calmly。　〃Please　don't　refer　to　me　as　governor。〃
　〃Let　me　say　something　at　this　point；〃　Noose　started。　〃This　trial　will　be　a　long　and　arduous　ordeal。　I　can　appreciate　the　pressure　you're　both　under。　I've　been　in　your　shoes　many　times　myself；　and　I　know　what　you're　going　through。　You're　both　excellent　lawyers；　and　I'm　thankful　that　I　have
　two　fine　lawyers　for　a　trial　of　this　magnitude。　I　can　also　detect　a　certain　amount　of　ill　will　between　you。　That's　certainly　not　unmon；　and　I　will　not　ask　you　to　shake　hands　and　be　good　friends。　But　I　will　insist　that　when　you're　in　my　courtroom　or　in　these　chambers　that　you　refrain　from　interrupting　each　other；　and　that　the　shouting　be　held　to　a　bare　minimum。　You　will　refer　to　each　other　as　Mr。　Brigance；　and　Mr。　Buckley；　and　Mr。　Musgrove。　Now　do　each　of　you　understand　what　I'm　saying？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃Good。　Then　continue；　Mr。　Brigance。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Your　Honor；　I　appreciate　that。　As　I　was　saying；　the　defendant　renews　his　motion　for　a　change　of　venue。　I　want　the　record　to　reflect　that　as　we　sit　here　now　in　chambers；　at　nine…fifteen；　July　twenty…second；　as　we　are　about　to　select　a　jury；　the　Ford　County　Courthouse　is　surrounded　by　the　Mississippi　National　Guard。　On　the　front　lawn　a　group　of　Ku　Klux　Klansmen；　in　white　robes；　is　at　this　very　moment　yelling