jg.paintedhouse-第36部分

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　of　my　mother　and　grandmother　and　Mrs。　Latcher。　They　were　staring　down；　looking　at　Libby；　of　course；　and　we　could　not　see　her。　I'm　not　sure　I　wanted　to　at　this　point；　but　my　buddy　certainly　did。
　　　The　women　were　reaching　and　shoving　and　urging　her　to　push　and　breathe　and　push　and　breathe；　all　the　while　assuring　her　that　things　were　going　to　be　fine。　Things　didn't　sound　fine。　The　poor　girl　was　bawling　and　grunting；　occasionally　yelling…high　piercing　shrieks　that　were　hardly　muffled　by　the　walls　of　the　room。　Her　anguished　voice　carried　deep　through　the　still　night；　and　I　wondered　what　her　little　brothers　and　sisters　thought　of　it　all。
　　　When　Libby　wasn't　grunting　and　crying；　she　was　saying；　〃I'm　sorry。　I'm　so　sorry。〃　It　went　on　and　on；　time　after　time；　a　mindless　chant　from　a　suffering　girl。
　　　〃It's　okay；　sweetie；〃　her　mother　replied　a　thousand　times。
　　　〃Can't　they　do　something？〃　I　whispered。
　　　〃Nope；　not　a　thing。　The　baby　es　when　it　wants　to。〃
　　　I　wanted　to　ask　Tally　just　exactly　how　she　knew　so　much　about　childbirthing；　but　I　held　my　tongue。　It　was　none　of　my　business；　and　she　would　probably　tell　me　so。
　　　Suddenly；　things　were　quiet　and　still　inside　the　room。　The　Chandler　women　backed　away；　then　Mrs。　Latcher　leaned　down　with　a　glass　of　water。　Libby　was　silent。
　　　〃What's　the　matter？〃　I　asked。
　　　〃Nothing。〃
　　　The　break　in　the　action　gave　me　time　to　think　of　other　things；　namely　getting　caught。　I'd　seen　enough。　This　adventure　had　run　its　course。　Tally　had　likened　it　to　the　trip　to　Siler's　Creek；　but　it　paled　in　parison　with　that　little　escapade。　We'd　been　gone　for　hours。　What　if　Pappy　stumbled　into　Ricky's　room　to　check　on　me？　What　if　one　of　the　Spruills　woke　up　and　started　looking　for　Tally？　What　if　my　father　got　bored　with　it　all　and　went　home？
　　　The　beating　I'd　get　would　hurt　for　days；　if　in　fact　I　survived　it。　I　was　beginning　to　panic　when　Libby　started　heaving　loudly　again；　while　the　women　implored　her　to　breathe　and　push。
　　　〃There　it　is！〃　my　mother　said；　and　a　frenzy　followed　as　the　women　hovered　frantically　over　their　patient。
　　　〃Keep　pushin'！〃　Gran　said　loudly。
　　　Libby　groaned　even　more。　She　was　exhausted；　but　at　least　the　end　was　in　sight。
　　　〃Don't　give　up；　sweetie；〃　her　mother　said。　〃Don't　give　up。〃
　　　Tally　and　I　were　perfectly　still；　mesmerized　by　the　drama。　She　took　my　hand　and　squeezed　it　tightly。　Her　jaws　were　clenched；　her　eyes　wide　with　wonder。
　　　〃It's　in'！〃　my　mother　said；　and　for　a　brief　moment　things　were　quiet。　Then　we　heard　the　cry　of　a　newborn；　a　quick　gurgling　protest；　and　a　new　Latcher　had　arrived。
　　　〃It's　a　boy；〃　Gran　said；　and　she　lifted　up　the　tiny　infant；　still　covered　in　blood　and　afterbirth。
　　　〃It's　a　boy；〃　Mrs。　Latcher　repeated。
　　　There　was　no　response　from　Libby。
　　　I'd　seen　more　than　I　bargained　for。　〃Let's　go；〃　I　said；　trying　to　pull　away；　but　Tally　wasn't　moving。
　　　Gran　and　my　mother　continued　working　on　Libby　while　Mrs。　Latcher　cleaned　the　baby；　who　was　furious　about　something　and　crying　loudly。　I　couldn't　help　but　think　of　how　sad　it　would　be　to　bee　a　Latcher；　to　be　born　into　that　small；　dirty　house　with　a　pack　of　other　kids。
　　　A　few　minutes　passed；　and　Percy　appeared　at　the　window。　〃Can　we　see　the　baby？〃　he　asked；　almost　afraid　to　look　in。
　　　〃In　a　minute；〃　Mrs。　Latcher　replied。
　　　They　gathered　at　the　window；　the　entire　collection　of　Latchers；　including　the　father；　who　was　now　a　grandfather；　and　waited　to　see　the　baby。　They　were　just　in　front　of　us；　halfway　between　home　and　the　mound；　it　seemed；　and　I　stopped　breathing　for　fear　they　would　hear　us。　But　they　weren't　thinking　about　intruders。　They　were　looking　at　the　open　window；　all　still　with　wonder。
　　　Mrs。　Latcher　brought　the　infant　over　and　leaned　down　so　he　could　meet　his　family。　He　reminded　me　of　my　baseball　glove；　he　was　almost　as　dark；　and　wrapped　in　a　towel。　He　was　quiet　for　the　moment　and　appeared　unimpressed　with　the　mob　watching　him。
　　　〃How's　Libby？〃　one　of　them　asked。
　　　〃She's　fine；〃　Mrs。　Latcher　said。
　　　〃Can　we　see　her？〃
　　　〃No；　not　right　now。　She's　very　tired。〃　She　withdrew　the　baby；　and　the　other　Latchers　retreated　slowly　to　the　front　of　the　house。　I　could　not　see　my　father；　but　I　knew　he　was　hiding　somewhere　near　his　truck。　Hard　cash　could　not　entice　him　to　look　at　an　illegitimate　newborn。
　　　For　a　few　minutes；　the　women　seemed　as　busy　as　they'd　been　just　before　the　birth；　but　then　they　slowly　finished　their　work。
　　　My　trance　wore　off；　and　I　realized　that　we　were　a　long　way　from　home。　〃We　gotta　go；　Tally！〃　I　whispered　urgently。　She　was　ready　and　I　followed　her　as　we　backtracked；　cutting　our　way　through　the　stalks　until　we　were　away　from　the　house；　then　turning　south　and　running　with　the　rows　of　cotton。　We　stopped　to　get　our　bearings。　The　light　from　the　window　could　not　be　seen。　The　moon　had　disappeared。　There　were　no　shapes　or　shadows　from　the　Latcher　place。　Total　darkness。
　　　We　turned　west；　again　stepping　across　the　rows；　cutting　through　the　stalks；　pushing　them　aside　so　they　wouldn't　scrape　our　faces。　The　rows　ended；　and　we　found　the　trail　leading　to　the　main　road。　My　feet　hurt；　and　my　legs　ached；　but　we　couldn't　waste　time。　We　ran　to　the　bridge。　Tally　wanted　to　watch　the　waters　swirling　below；　but　I　made　her　keep　going。
　　　〃Let's　walk；〃　she　said；　on　our　side　of　the　bridge；　and　for　a　moment　we　stopped　running。　We　walked　in　silence；　both　of　us　trying　to　catch　our　breath。　Fatigue　was　quickly　gaining　on　us；　the　adventure　had　been　worth　it；　but　we　were　paying　the　price。　We　were　approaching　our　farm　when　there　was　a　rumbling　behind　us。　Headlights！　On　the　bridge！　In　terror；　we　bolted　into　high　gear。　Tally　could　easily　outrun　me；　which　would've　been　humiliating　except　that　I　didn't　have　time　for　shame；　and　she　held　back　a　step　so　she　wouldn't　lose　me。
　　　I　knew　my　father　would　not　drive　fast；　not　at　night；　on　our　dirt　road；　with　Gran　and　my　mother　with　him；　but　the　headlights　were　still　gaining　on　us。　When　we　were　close　to　our　house；　we　jumped　the　shallow　ditch　and　ran　along　a　field。　The　engine　was　getting　louder。
　　　〃I'll　wait　here；　Luke；〃　she　said；　stopping　near　the　edge　of　our　yard。　The　truck　was　almost　upon　us。　〃You　run　to　the　back　porch　and　sneak　in。　I'll　wait　till　they　go　inside。　Hurry。〃
　　　I　kept　running；　and　darted　around　the　back　corner　of　the　house　just　as　the　truck　pulled　into　the　yard。　I　crept　into　the　kitchen　without　a　sound；　then　to　Ricky's　room；　where　I　grabbed　a　pillow　and　curled　up　on　the　floor；　next　to　the　window。　I　was　too　dirty　and　wet　to　get　into　bed；　and　I　prayed　they'd　be　too　tired　to　check　on　me。
　　　They　made　little　noise　as　they　entered　the　kitchen。　They　whispered　as　they　removed　their　shoes　and　boots。　A　ray　of　light　slanted　into　my　room。　Their　shadows　moved　through　it；　but　no　one　looked　in　on　little　Luke。　Within　minutes　they　were　in　bed；　and　the　house　was　quiet。　I　planned　to　wait　a　bit；　then　slip　into　the　kitchen　and　wash　my　face　and　hands　with　a　cloth。　Afterward　I'd　crawl　into　the　bed　and　sleep　forever。　If　they　heard　me　moving　about；　I'd　simply　say　that　they　had　awakened　me　when　they　got　home。
　　　Formulating　this　plan　was　the　last　thing　I　remember　before　falling　fast　asleep。
　
　
　Chapter　17
　　　
　　　I　don't　know　how　long　I　slept；　but　it　felt　like　only　minutes。　Pappy　was　kneeling　over　me；　asking　me　why　I　was　on　the　floor。　I　tried　to　answer；　but　nothing　worked。　I　was　paralyzed　from　fatigue。
　　　〃It's　just　me　and　you；〃　he　said。　〃The　rest　of　'em's　sleepin'　in。〃　His　voice　was　dripping　with　contempt。
　　　Still　unable　to　think　or　speak；　I　followed　him　to　the　kitchen；　where　the　coffee　was　ready。　We　ate　cold　biscuits　and　sorghum　in　silence。　Pappy；　of　course；　was　irritated　because　he　expected　a　full　breakfast。　And　he　was　furious　because　Gran　and　my　parents　were　sleeping　instead　of　preparing　for　the　fields。
　　　〃That　Latcher　girl　had　a　baby　last　night；〃　he　said；　wiping　his　mouth。　That　Latcher　girl　and　her　new　baby　were　interfering　with　our　cotton；　and　our　breakfast；　and　Pappy　could　barely　control　his　temper。
　　　〃She　did？〃　I　said；　trying　to　appear　surprised。
　　　〃Yeah；　but　they　still　ain't　found　the　daddy。〃
　　　〃They　haven't？〃
　　　〃No。　They　wanna　keep　it　quiet；　okay；　so　don't　say　anything　about　it。〃
　　　〃Yes　sir。〃
　　　〃Hurry　up。　We　gotta　go。〃
　　　〃What　t