jg.atimetokill-第95部分

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　Jake　awoke　in　the　darkness　with　a　slight　hangover；　a　headache　due　to　fatigue　and　Coors；　and　the　distant　but　unmistakable　sound　of　his　doorbell　ringing　continually　as　if　held　firmly　in　place　by　a　large　and　determined　thumb。　He　opened　the　front　door　in　his　nightshirt　and　tried　to　focus　on　the　two　figures　standing　on　the　porch。　Ozzie　and　Nesbit；　it　was　finally　determined。
　〃Can　I　help　you？〃　he　asked　as　he　opened　the　door。　They　followed　him　into　the　den。
　〃They're　gonna　kill　you　today；〃　Ozzie　said。
　Jake　sat　on　the　couch　and　massaged　his　temples。　〃Maybe　they'll　succeed。〃
　〃Jake；　this　is　serious。　They　plan　to　kill　you。〃
　〃Who？〃
　〃The　Klan。〃
　〃Mickey　Mouse？〃
　〃Yeah。　He　called　yesterday　and　said　something　was　up。　He　called　back　two　hours　ago　and　said　you're　the　lucky　man。　Today　is　the　big　day。　Time　for　some　excitement。　They　bury　Stump　Sisson　this　morning　in　Loydsville；　and　it's　time　for　the　eye…for…an…eye；　tooth…for…a…tooth　routine。〃
　〃Why　me？　Why　don't　they　kill　Buckley　or　Noose　or　someone　more　deserving？〃
　〃We　didn't　get　a　chance　to　talk　about　that。〃
　〃What　method　of　execution？〃　Jake　asked；　suddenly　feeling　awkward　sitting　there　in　his　nightshirt。
　〃He　didn't　say。〃
　〃Does　he　know？〃
　〃He　ain't　much　on　details。　He　just　said　they'd　try　to　do　it　sometime　today。〃
　〃So　what　am　I　supposed　to　do？　Surrender？〃
　〃What　time　you　goin'　to　the　office？〃
　〃What　time　is　it？〃
　〃Almost　five。〃
　〃As　soon　as　I　can　shower　and　dress。〃
　〃We'll　wait。〃
　At　five…thirty；　they　rushed　him　into　his　office　and　locked
　the　door。　At　eight；　a　platoon　of　soldiers　gathered　on　the　sidewalk　under　the　balcony　and　waited　for　the　target。　Harry　Rex　and　Ellen　watched　from　the　second　floor　of　the　courthouse。　Jake　squeezed　between　Ozzie　and　Nesbit；　and　the　three　of　them　crouched　in　the　center　tight　formation。　Off　they　went　across　Washington　Street　in　the　direction　of　the　courthouse。　The　vultures　sniffed　something　and　surrounded　the　entourage。
　The　abandoned　feed　mill　sat　near　the　abandoned　railroad　tracks　halfway　down　the　tallest　hill　in　Clanton；　two　blocks　north　and　east　of　the　square。　Beside　it　was　a　neglected　asphalt　and　gravel　street　that　ran　downhill　and　intersected　Cedar　Street；　after　which　it　became　much　smoother　and　wider　and　continued　downward　until　finally　it　terminated　and　merged　into　Quincy　Street；　the　eastern　boundary　of　the　Clanton　square。
　From　his　position　inside　an　abandoned　silo；　the　marksman　had　a　clear　but　distant　view　of　the　rear　of　the　courthouse。　He　crouched　in　the　darkness　and　aimed　through　a　small　opening；　confident　no　one　in　the　world　could　see　him。　The　whiskey　helped　the　confidence；　and　the　aim；　which　he　practiced　a　thousand　times　from　seven…thirty　until　eight；　when　he　noticed　activity　around　the　nigger's　lawyer's　office。
　A　rade　waited　in　a　pickup　hidden　in　a　run…down　warehouse　next　to　the　silo。　The　engine　was　running　and　the　driver　chain…smoked　Lucky　Strikes；　waiting　anxiously　to　hear　the　clapping　sounds　from　the　deer　rifle。
　As　the　armored　mass　stepped　its　way　across　Washington；　the　marksman　panicked。　Through　the　scope　he　could　barely　see　the　head　of　the　nigger's　lawyer　as　it　bobbed　and　weaved　awkwardly　among　the　sea　of　green；　which　was　surrounded　and　chased　by　a　dozen　reporters。　Go　ahead；　the　whiskey　said；　create　some　excitement。　He　timed　the　bobbing　and　weaving　as　best　he　could；　and　pulled　the　trigger　as　the　target　approached　the　rear　door　of　the　courthouse。
　The　rifle　shot　was　clear　and　unmistakable。
　Half　the　soldiers　hit　the　ground　rolling　and　the　other　half　grabbed　Jake　and　threw　him　violently　under　the　veranda/A　guardsman　screamed　in　anguish。　The　reporters　and
　TV　people　crouched　and　stumbled　to　the　ground；　but　valiantly　kept　the　cameras　rolling　to　record　the　carnage。　The　soldier　clutched　his　throat　and　screamed　again。　Another　shot。　Then　another。
　〃He's　hit！〃　someone　yelled。　The　soldiers　scrambled　on　all　fours　across　the　driveway　to　the　fallen　one。　Jake　escaped　through　the　doors　to　the　safety　of　the　courthouse。　He　fell　onto　the　floor　of　the　rear　entrance　and　buried　his　head　in　his　hands。　Ozzie　stood　next　to　him；　watching　the　soldiers　through　the　door。
　The　gunman　dropped　from　the　silo；　threw　his　gun　behind　the　back　seat；　and　disappeared　with　his　rade　into　the　countryside。　They　had　a　funeral　to　attend　in　south　Mississippi。
　〃He's　hit　in　the　throat！〃　someone　screamed　as　his　buddies　waded　around　the　reporters。　They　lifted　him　and　dragged　him　to　a　jeep。
　〃Who　got　hit？〃　Jake　asked　without　removing　his　palms　from　his　eyes。
　〃One　of　the　guardsmen；〃　Ozzie　said。　〃You　okay？〃
　〃I　guess；〃　he　answered　as　he　clasped　his　hands　behind　his　head　and　stared　at　the　floor。　〃Where's　my　briefcase？〃
　〃It's　out　there　on　the　driveway。　We'll　get　it　in　a　min　ute。〃　Ozzie　removed　his　radio　from　his　belt　and　barked　orders　to　the　dispatcher；　something　about　all　men　to　the　courthouse。
　When　it　was　apparent　the　shooting　was　over；　Ozzie　joined　the　mass　of　soldiers　outside。　Nesbit　stood　next　to　Jake。　〃You　okay？〃　he　asked。
　The　colonel　rounded　the　corner；　yelling　and　swearing。　〃What　the　hell　happened？〃　he　demanded。　〃I　heard　some　shots。〃
　〃Mackenvale　got　hit。〃
　〃Where　is　he？〃　the　colonel　said。　…
　〃Off　to　the　hospital；〃　a　sergeant　replied；　pointing　at　a　jeep　flying　away　in　the　distance。
　〃How　bad　is　he？〃
　〃Looked　pretty　bad。　Got　him　in　the　throat。〃
　〃Throat！　Why　did　they　move　him？〃
　No　one　answered。
　〃Did　anybody　see　anything？〃　the　colonel　demanded。
　Sounded　like　it　came　from　up；　Ozzie　said　the　looking　up　past　Cedar　Street。　〃Why　don't　you　send　a　jeep　up　there　to　look　around。〃
　〃Good　idea。〃　The　colonel　addressed　his　eager　men　with　a　string　of　terse　mands；　punctuated　liberally　with　obscenities。　The　soldiers　scattered　in　all　directions；　guns　drawn　and　ready　for　bat；　in　search　of　an　assassin　they　could　not　identify；　who　was；　in　fact；　in　the　next　county　when　the　foot　patrol　began　exploring　the　abandoned　feed　mill。
　Ozzie　laid　the　briefcase　on　the　floor　next　to　Jake。　〃Is　Jake　okay？〃　he　whispered　to　Nesbit。　Harry　Rex　and　Ellen　stood　on　the　stairs　where　Cobb　and　Willard　had　fallen。
　〃I　don't　know。　He　ain't　moved　in　ten　minutes；〃　Nesbit　said。
　〃Jake；　are　you　all　right？〃　the　sheriff　asked。
　〃Yes；〃　he　said　slowly　without　opening　his　eyes。　The　soldier　had　been　on　Jake's　left　shoulder。　〃This　is　kinda　silly；　ain't　it？〃　he　had　just　said　to　Jake　when　a　bullet　ripped　through　his　throat。　He　fell　into　Jake；　grabbing　at　his　neck；　gurgling　blood　and　screaming。　Jake　fell；　and　was　tossed　to　safety。
　〃He's　dead；　isn't　he？〃　Jake　asked　softly。
　〃We　don't　know　yet；〃　replied　Ozzie。　〃He's　at　the　hospital。〃
　〃He's　dead。　I　know　he's　dead。　I　heard　his　neck　pop。〃
　Ozzie　looked　at　Nesbit；　then　at　Harry　Rex。　Four　or　five　coin…sized　drops　of　blood　were　splattered　on　Jake's　light　gray　suit。　He　hadn't　noticed　them　yet；　but　they　were　apparent　to　everyone　else。
　〃Jake；　you've　got　blood　on　your　suit；〃　Ozzie　finally　said。　〃Let's　go　back　to　your　office　so　you　can　change　clothes。〃
　〃Why　is　that　important？〃　Jake　mumbled　to　the　floor。　They　stared　at　each　other。
　Dell　and　the　others　from　the　Coffee　Shop　stood　on　the　sidewalk　and　watched　as　they　led　Jake　from　the　courthouse；　across　the　street；　and　into　his　office；　ignoring　the　absurdities　thrown　by　the　reporters。　Harry　Rex　locked　the　front　door；　leaving　the　bodyguards　on　the　sidewalk。　Jake　went　upstairs　and　removed　his　coat。
　〃Row　Ark；　why　don't　you　make　some　margaritas；〃　Harry　Rex　said。　〃I'll　go　upstairs　and　stay　with　him。〃
　〃Judge；　we've　had　some　excitement；〃　Ozzie　explained　as　Noose　unpacked　his　briefcase　and　removed　his　coat。
　〃What　is　it？〃　Buckley　asked。
　〃They　tried　to　kill　Jake　this　mornin'。〃
　〃What！〃
　〃When？〃　asked　Buckley。
　〃　'Bout　an　hour　ago；　somebody　shot　at　Jake　as　he　was　in'　into　the　courthouse。　It　was　a　rifle　at　long　range。　We　have　no　idea　who　did　it。　They　missed　Jake　and　hit　a　guardsman。　He's　in　surgery　now。〃
　〃Where's　Jake？〃　asked　His　Honor。
　〃Over　in　his　office。　He's　pretty　shook　up。〃
　〃I　would　be　too；〃　Noose　said　sympathetically。
　〃He　wanted　you　to　call　him　when　you　got　here。〃
　〃Sure。〃　Ozzie　dialed　the　number　and　handed　the　phone　to　the　judge。
　〃It's　Noose；〃　Harry　Rex　said；　handing　the　phone　to　Jake。
　〃Hello。〃
　〃Are　you