jg.atimetokill-第97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！


　Ellen　cursed　him；　but　her　words　were　muffled　groans。
　He　unzipped　the　navy　linen　skirt　on　the　right　side。　She　tried　to　kick；　but　the　heavy　rope　around　her　ankles　held　her　feet　to　the　pole。　He　placed　the　tip　of　the　knife　at　the　bottom　of　the　zipper；　and　cut　downward　through　the　hem。　He
　grabbed　around　the　waist　and　pulled　it　off　like　a　magician。　The　Kluxers　stepped　forward。
　He　slapped　her　on　the　butt；　and　said；　〃Nice；　very　nice。〃　He　stepped　back　to　admire　his　handiwork。　She　grunted　and　twisted　but　could　not　resist。　The　slip　fell　to　mid…thigh。　With　great　ceremony；　he　cut　the　straps；　then　sliced　it　neatly　down　the　back。　He　yanked　it　off　and　threw　it　at　the　foot　of　the　burning　cross。　He　cut　the　bra　straps　and　removed　it。　She　jerked　and　the　moans　became　louder。　The　silent　semicircle　inched　forward　and　stopped　ten　feet　away。
　The　fire　was　hot　now。　Her　bare　back　and　legs　were　covered　with　sweat。　The　light　red　hair　was　drenched　around　her　neck　and　shoulders。　He　reached　under　his　robe　again　and　brought　out　a　bullwhip。　He　popped　it　loudly　near　her^　and　she　flinched。　He　marched　backward；　carefully　measur^　ing　the　distance　to　the　pole。
　He　cocked　the　bullwhip　and　aimed　at　the　bare　back。　The　tallest　one　stepped　forward　with　his　back　to　her。　He　shook　his　head。　Nothing　was　said；　but　the　whip　disappeared。
　He　walked　to　her　and　grabbed　her　head。　With　his　knife；　he　cut　her　hair。　He　grabbed　handfuls　and　hacked　away　until　her　scalp　was　gapped　and　ugly。　It　piled　gently　around　her　feet。　She　moaned　and　did　not　move。
　They　headed　for　their　cars。　A　gallon　of　gasoline　was　splashed　inside　the　BMW　with　Massachusetts　tags　and　somebody　threw　a　match。
　When　he　was　certain　they　were　gone；　Mickey　Mouse　slid　from　the　bushes。　He　untied　her　and　carried　her　to　a　small　clearing　away　from　the　pasture。　He　gathered　the　remains　of　her　clothing　and　tried　to　cover　her。　When　her　car　finished　burning　beside　the　dirt　road；　he　left　her。　He　drove　to　Oxford；　to　a　pay　phone；　and　called　the　Lafayette　County　sheriff。
　Saturday　court　was　unusual　but　not　unheard　of；　especially　in　capital　cases　where　the　jury　was　locked　up。　The　participants　didn't　mind　because　Saturday　brought　the　end　one　day　nearer。
　The　locals　didn't　mind　either。　It　was　their　day　off；　and　for　most　Ford　Countians　it　was　their　only　chance　to　watch　the　trial；　or　if　they　couldn't　get　a　seat；　at　least　hang　around　the　square　and　see　it　all　first…hand。　Who　knows；　there　may　even　be　some　more　shooting。
　By　seven；　the　cafes　downtown　were　at　full　capacity　serving　nonregulars。　For　every　customer　who　was　awarded　a　seat；　two　were　turned　away　and　left　to　loiter　around　the　square　and　the　courthouse　and　wait　for　a　seat　in　the　courtroom。　Most　of　them　paused　for　a　moment　in　front　of　the　lawyer's　office；　hoping　to　catch　a　glimpse　of　the　one　they　tried　to　kill。　The　braggarts　told　of　being　clients　of　this　famous　man。
　Upward；　a　few　feet；　the　target　sat　at　his　desk　and　sipped　a　bloody　concoction　left　from　yesterday's　party。　He　smoked　a　Roi…Tan；　ate　headache　powders；　and　rubbed　the　cobwebs　from　his　brain。　Forget　about　the　soldier；　he　had　told　himself　for　the　past　three　hours。　Forget　about　the　Klan；　the　threats；　forget　everything　but　the　trial；　and　specifically　Dr。　W。T。　Bass。　He　uttered　a　short　prayer；　something　about　Bass　being　sober　on　the　witness　stand。　The　expert　and　Lucieh　had　stayed　through　the　afternoon；　drinking　and　arguing；　accusing　each　other　of　being　a　drunk　and　receiving　a　dishonorable　discharge　from　their　respective　professions。　Violence　flared　briefly　at　Ethel's　desk　when　they　were　leaving。　Nesbit　intervened　and　escorted　them　to　the　patrol　car　for　the　ride　home。　The　reporters　burned　with　curiosity　as　the　two　blind　drunks　were　led　from　Jake's　office　by　the　deputy　and　put　in　the　car；　where　they　continued　to　rage　and　cuss　at　each　other；　Lucien　in　the　back　seat；　Bass　in　the　front。
　He　reviewed　Ellen's　masterpiece　on　the　insanity　defense。　Her　outline　of　questions　for　Bass　needed　only　minor　changes。　He　studied　his　expert's　resume；　and　though　unim…
　pressive；　it　would　suffice　for　Ford　County。　The　nearest　psychiatrist　was　eighty　miles　away。
　Judge　Noose　glanced　at　the　D。A。　and　looked　sympathetically　at　Jake；　who　sat　next　to　the　door　and　watched　the　faded　portrait　of　some　dead　judge　hanging　over　Buckley's　shoulder。
　〃How　do　you　feel　this　morning；　Jake？〃　Noose　asked　warmly。
　〃I'm　fine。〃
　〃How's　the　soldier？〃　asked　Buckley。
　〃Paralyzed。〃
　Noose；　Buckley；　Musgrove；　and　Mr。　Pate　looked　at　the　same　spot　on　the　carpet　and　grimly　shook　their　heads　in　a　quiet　moment　of　respect。
　〃Where's　your　law　clerk？〃　Noose　asked；　looking　at　the　clock　on　the　wall。
　Jake　looked　at　his　watch。　〃I　don't　know。　I　expected　her　by　now。〃
　〃Are　you　ready？〃
　〃Sure。〃
　〃Is　the　courtroom　ready；　Mr。　Pate？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃Very　well。　Let's　proceed。〃
　Noose　seated　the　courtroom；　and　for　ten　minutes　offered　a　rambling　apology　to　the　jurors　for　yesterday's　delay。　They　were　the　only　fourteen　in　the　county　who　did　not　know　what　happened　Friday　morning；　and　it　might　be　prejudicial　to　tell　them。　Noose　droned　on　about　emergencies　and　how　sometimes　during　trials　things　conspire　to　cause　delays。　When　he　finally　finished；　the　jurors　were　pletely　bewildered　and　praying　that　somebody　would　call　a　witness。
　〃You　may　call　your　first　witness；〃　Noose　said　in　Jake's　direction。
　〃Dr。　W。T。　Bass；〃　Jake　announced　as　he　moved　to　the　podium。　Buckley　and　Musgrove　exchanged　winks　and　silly　grins。
　Bass　was　seated　next　to　Lucien　on　the　second　row　in　the　middle　of　the　family。　He　stood　noisily　and　made　his　way　to　the　center　aisle；　stepping　on　feet　and　assaulting　people　with
　his　heavy；　leather；　empty　briefcase。　Jake　heard　the　motion　behind　him　and　continued　smiling　at　the　jury。
　〃I　do；　I　do；〃　Bass　said　rapidly　at　Jean　Gillespie　during　his　swearing　in。
　Mr。　Pate　led　him　to　the　witness　stand　and　delivered　the　standard　orders　to　speak　up　and　use　the　microphone。　Though　mortified　and　hung　over；　the　expert　looked　remarkably　arrogant　and　sober。　He　wore　his　most　expensive　dark　gray　hand…sewn　wool　suit；　a　perfectly　starched　white　button…down；　and　a　cute　little　red　paisley　bow　tie　that　made　him　appear　rather　cerebral。　He　looked　like　an　expert；　in　something。　He　also　wore；　over　Jake's　objections；　a　pair　of　light　gray　ostrich　skin　cowboy　boots　that　he　had　paid　over　a　thousand　for　and　worn　less　than　a　dozen　times。　Lucien　had　insisted　on　the　boots　eleven　years　earlier　in　the　first　insanity　case。　Bass　wore　them；　and　the　very　sane　defendant　went　to　Parchman。　He　wore　them　in　the　second　insanity　trial；　again　at　Lucien's　behest；　again；　Parchman。　Lucien　referred　to　them　as　Bass's　good　luck　charm。
　Jake　wanted　no　part　of　the　damned　boots。　But　the　jury　could　relate　to　them；　Lucien　had　argued。　Not　expensive　ostrich　skin；　Jake　countered。　They're　too　dumb　to　know　the　difference；　replied　Lucien。　Jake　could　not　be　swayed。　The　rednecks　will　trust　someone　with　boots；　Lucien　had　explained。　Fine；　said　Jake；　let　him　wear　a　pair　of　those　camouflage　squirrel…hunting　boots　with　a　little　mud　on　the　heels　and　soles；　some　boots　they　could　really　identify　with。　Those　wouldn't　plement　his　suit；　Bass　had　inserted。
　He　crossed　his　legs；　laying　the　right　boot　on　his　left　knee；　flaunting　it。　He　grinned　at　it；　then　grinned　at　the　jury。　The　ostrich　would　have　been　proud。
　Jake　looked　from　his　notes　on　the　podium　and　saw　the　boot；　which　was　plainly　visible　above　the　rail　of　the　witness　stand。　Bass　was　admiring　it；　the　jurors　pondering　it。　He　choked　and　returned　to　his　notes。
　〃State　your　name；　please。〃
　〃Dr。　W。T。　Bass；〃　he　replied；　his　attention　suddenly　diverted　from　the　boot。　He　looked　grimly；　importantly　at　Jake。
　〃What　is　your　address？〃
　〃Nine…oh…eight　West　Canterbury；　Jackson；　Mississippi。〃
　〃What　is　your　profession？〃
　〃I　am　a　physician。〃
　〃Are　you　licensed　to　practice　in　Mississippi？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃When　were　you　licensed？〃
　〃February　8；　1963。〃
　〃Are　you　licensed　to　practice　medicine　in　any　other　state？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Where？〃
　〃Texas。〃
　〃When　did　you　obtain　that　license？〃
　〃November　3；　1962。〃
　〃Where　did　you　go　to　college？〃
　〃I　received　my　bachelor's　degree　from　Millsaps　College　in　1956；　and　received　my　M。D。；　or　Doctor　of　Medicine；　from　the　Unive