hr.thecarpetbaggers-第21部分

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lve　years　now。　An'　if　you　looked　close；　you　would　have　seen　they　ain't　a　mark　on　the　front　of　him；　nor　one　lash　laid　over　the　other。　I　know　they's　lots　of　things　wrong　about　my　job；　but　somebody's　gotta　do　it。　An'　it　mought　as　well　be　me；　because　I　don'　like　hurtin'　folks。　Not　even　pricks　like　Jim　Reeves。〃
　Max　stared　down　at　the　ground；　thinking　about　what　he　had　just　heard。　A　glimmer　of　understanding　began　to　lighten　the　sourness　in　his　stomach。　Silently　he　pushed　his　sack　of　makings　toward　the　trusty。　Without　speaking；　Mike　took　it　and　rolled　himself　a　cigarette。　Quietly　the　two　men　leaned　their　heads　back　against　the　hut；　smoking。
　
　Jim　Reeves　came　into　the　hut。　It　was　a　month　since　he　had　been　carried　out　of　the　cage；　encrusted　in　his　own　filth；　bent　over；　his　eyes　wild　like　an　animal's。　Now　his　eyes　searched　the　dark；　then　he　came　over　to　the　bunk　where　Max　lay　stretched　out　and　tapped　him　on　the　shoulder。　Max　sat　up。
　〃I　got　to　get　outa　here；〃　he　said。
　Max　stared　at　him　in　the　dark。　〃Don't　we　all？〃
　〃Don't　joke　with　me；　Injun；〃　Reeves　said　harshly。　〃I　mean　it。〃
　〃I　mean　it；　too；〃　Max　said。　〃But　ain't　nobody　made　it　yet。〃
　〃I　got　a　way　figured　out；〃　Reeves　said。　〃But　it　takes　two　men　to　do　it。　That's　why　I　e　to　you。〃
　〃Why　me？〃　Max　asked。　〃Why　not　one　of　the　men　on　a　long　stretch？〃
　〃Because　most　of　them　are　city　men；〃　Reeves　said；　〃and　we　wouldn'　last　two　days　in　the　swamp。〃
　Max　swung　into　a　sitting　position。　〃Now　I　know　you're　crazy；〃　he　said。　〃Nobody　can　get　th'ough　that　swamp。　It's　forty　miles　of　quicksand；　alligators；　moccasins　an'　razorbacks。　The　only　way　is　north；　past　the　village。〃
　A　bitter　smile　crossed　Reeves's　face。　〃That's　what　I　thought；〃　he　said。　〃It　was　easy；　over　the　fence　and　up　the　road。　Easy；　I　thought。　They　didn'　even　call　out　the　dogs。　They　didn'　have　to。　Every　damn　Cajun　in　the　neighborhood　was　out　lookin'　for　me。〃
　He　knelt　by　the　side　of　Max's　bunk。　〃The　swamp；〃　he　said。　〃That's　the　only　way。　I　got　it　figured　out。　We　get　a　boat　an'…　〃
　〃A　boat！〃　Max　said。　〃Where　in　hell　we　goin'　to　get　a　boat？〃
　〃It'll　take　time；〃　Reeves　said　cautiously。　〃But　ricin'　time　is　in'　up。　Warden　leases　us　out　to　the　big　planters　then。　Prison　labor　is　cheap　an'　the　warden　pockets　the　money。　Them　rice　paddies　is　half　filled　with　water。　There's　always　boats　around。〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　Max　said　doubtfully。
　Reeves's　eyes　were　glowing　like　an　animal's。　〃You　want　to　lose　two　whole　years　of　your　life　in　this　prison；　boy？　You　got　that　much　time　just　to　throw　away？〃
　〃Let　me　think　about　it；〃　Max　said　hesitantly。　〃I'll　let　you　know。〃
　Reeves　slipped　away　in　the　dark　as　Mike　came　into　the　hut。　The　trusty　made　his　way　directly　to　Max's　bunk。　〃He　been　at　you　to　go　th'ough　the　swamp　with　him？〃　he　asked。
　The　surprise　showed　in　Max's　voice。　〃How'd　you　know？〃
　〃He's　been　at　ev'ybody　in　the　place　an'　they　all　turned　him　down。　I　figgered　he'd　be　gettin'　to　you　soon。〃
　〃Oh；〃　Max　said。
　〃Don'　do　it；　boy；〃　the　giant　trusty　said　softly。　〃No　matter　how　good　it　looks；　don'　do　it。　Reeves　is　so　full　of　hate；　he　don'　care　who　gets　hurt　so　long　as　he　gets　out。〃
　Max　stretched　out　on　the　bunk。　His　eyes　stared　up　into　the　dark。　The　only　thing　that　made　sense　in　what　Reeves　had　said　was　the　two　years。　Max　didn't　have　two　years　to　throw　away。　Why；　in　two　years；　he'd　be　twenty…one。
　
　11
　
　〃MAN；　THIS　IS　REAL　FOOD；〃　MIKE　SAID　ENTHUSIASTICALLY　AS　HE　SAT　DOWN　BESIDE　MAX；　his　plate　piled　high　with　fat　back；　chitterlings；　collard　greens　and　potatoes。
　Max　looked　over　at　him　wearily。　Stolidly　he　pushed　the　food　into　his　mouth。　It　was　better　than　the　prison　food；　all　right。　They　didn't　see　as　much　meat　in　a　week　as　they　had　on　their　plates　right　now。　But　he　wasn't　hungry。　He　was　tired；　bent…over　tired　from　pulling　at　the　rice　all　day。　He　didn't　think　he'd　ever　straighten　out。
　Reeves　and　another　prisoner　sat　down　on　the　other　side　of　him。　Reeves　looked　over　his　plate　at　him；　his　mouth　working　over　the　fat　meat。　〃Picked　yourself　a　gal　yet；　boy？〃
　Max　shook　his　head。　They　were　there　all　right。　Cajun　girls；　young　and　strong；　with　their　short　skirts　and　muscular　thighs　and　legs。　Plenty　of　them；　all　over　the　fields；　working　side　by　side　with　the　men；　their　hair　flying　and　their　teeth　flashing　and　the　female　smell　of　them　always　in　your　nostrils。　It　didn't　seem　to　matter　to　them　that　the　men　were　prisoners。　Only　that　they　were　men　and　for　once　there　were　enough　of　them　to　go　around。
　〃I'm　too　tired；〃　Max　said。　He　put　his　plate　down　and　rubbed　his　ankle。　It　was　sore　from　the　leg　iron　and　walking　in　the　water　all　day。
　〃I'm　not；〃　the　prisoner　next　to　Reeves　said。　〃I　been　savin'　up　my　hump　a　whole　year　for　this　week。　I'm　gonna　git　me　enough　to　last　me　till　nex'　yeah。〃
　〃Better　not　pass　it　up；　Injun；〃　Reeves　said。　〃There　ain't　nothin'　in　this　world　like　Cajun　girls。〃　
　〃Man；　that's　the　truth；〃　the　other　prisoner　said　excitedly。　
　〃You　got　one　picked　out？〃　Reeves　asked　across　Max　to　Mike。　His　eyes　were　cold　and　baleful。　
　Mike　didn't　answer。　He　just　kept　eating。　
　Reeves's　face　darkened。　〃I　seen　you　out　there　on　the　field。　Walkin'　up　an'　down　with　that　rifle　in　your　hands。　Showin'　the　girls　what　you　got　in　them　tight　pants。〃
　Mike　still　didn't　reply。　He　began　to　wipe　up　the　gravy　in　his　plate　with　pieces　of　bread。
　Reeves's　laugh　was　nasty。　〃There's　always　some　half…wit　girl　lookin'　for　a　big　buck　nigger　with　a　cock　as　long　as　my　arm。　An'　I　bet　you　just　can't　wait　to　stick　it　into　some　white　girl。　That's　all　you　niggers　think　of；　stickin'　it　in　white　women。〃
　Mike　stuck　the　last　piece　of　bread　into　his　mouth　and　swallowed　it。　Regretfully　he　looked　down　at　the　empty　plate　and　got　to　his　feet。　〃Man；　that　was　sho'　good。〃
　〃I'm　talkin'　to　you；　nigger；〃　Reeves　said。
　For　the　first　time；　Mike　looked　down　at　him。　Almost　lazily　he　bent　over　Max　and　with　one　hand　picked　Reeves　up　by　the　throat。　He　held　him　writhing　in　the　air　at　the　level　of　his　head。　〃You　talkin'　to　me；　jailbird？〃
　Reeves　quaked；　his　voice　choking　in　his　throat。
　Mike　began　to　shake　Reeves　gently。　〃Remember　one　thing；　jailbird；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　a　trusty　an'　you'　jus'　a　prisoner。　You　likes　stayin'　healthy；　you　better　learn　to　shut　you'　mouth。〃
　Reeves's　arms　flailed　helplessly　in　the　air。　His　face　was　almost　purple。　Mike　shook　him　a　few　more　times；　then　casually　flung　him　at　the　wall　of　the　bunkhouse；　about　five　feet　away。
　Reeves　crashed　against　the　wall　and　slid　down　it　to　the　floor。　His　eyes　glared　at　Mike。　His　lips　moved　but　no　sound　escaped　them。
　Mike　smiled　at　him。　〃You'　learnin'；　jailbird；〃　he　said。　〃You'　learnin'。〃　He　picked　up　his　empty　plate。　〃I'm　goin'　see　if　I　can't　scrounge　me　some　more　of　these　eats。　I　swear　if　they　ain't　the　best　I　ever　tasted。〃
　Reeves　struggled　to　his　feet　as　the　trusty　walked　away。　〃I'll　kill　him！〃　he　swore　tightly。　〃Honest　to　God；　someday　before　I　get　out　of　here；　I'll　kill　that　nigger！〃
　There　was　an　air　of　expectancy　in　the　bunkhouse　that　night。　Max　was　stretched　out　on　his　bunk　and　the　feeling　was　contagious。　Suddenly；　he　wasn't　tired　any　more。　He　couldn't　sleep。
　The　guard　had　e　and　checked　the　leg　irons；　fastening　each　man　to　the　bed　post。　He　had　gone　to　the　door　and　stood　there　for　a　moment。　Then　he　laughed　into　the　dark　and　went　out。
　Almost　immediately；　Max　heard　the　scratch　of　a　match；　then　a　faint　glow　spread　through　the　darkness。　Max　turned　toward　the　light。　Somehow　one　of　the　men　had　got　a　candle。　It　burned　almost　gaily　at　the　head　of　his　bed。
　There　was　a　subdued　sound　of　laughter　in　the　room。　Max　heard　a　voice　say；　〃At　leas'　this　time　we　can　see　what　they　look　like。〃
　〃I　don't　care　what　they　look　like；〃　another　voice　answered　quickly；　〃as　long　as　they　got　big　tits。〃
　Still　another　voice　said　raucously；　〃Your　pecker　won't　know　what　to　do；　it's　so　used　to　yoh　lily…white　hand。〃
　A　soft　laughter　rippled　through　the　room。　About　a　half　hour　passed。　Max　could　hear　the　sounds　of　restless　movements；　men　twisting　anxiously　in　their　bunks。
　〃You　reckon　maybe　they　won't　show　up？〃　a　voice　asked　nervously。
　〃They'll　show　up；　all　right；〃　another　prisoner　replied。　〃They　been　waitin'　for　this　as　long　as　we　have。〃
　〃Sweet　Jesus。〃　An　anguished　voice　came　from　the　far　end　of　the　room。　〃I　can't　hold　it　no　more。　All　day　long　I　been　thinkin'　about　them　women；　about　tonight…　〃　His　voice　trailed　off　in　a　hoarse　moan。
　For　a　moment；　the　room　filled　with　the　sounds　of　the　men　turning　restlessly　in　their　bunks。　Max　felt　the　sweat　e　out　on　his　forehead　and　his　heart　began　to　beat　heavily。　He　rolled　over　on　his　stomach；　feeling　the　sweet；　heavy　warmth　suddenly　spread　into　his　loins。　For　a　moment　he　writhed；　caught　in　the　fire　of　a　wild　desire；　then　angrily　he　forced　himself　to　turn　over。　He　rolled　a　cigarette　with　trembling　fingers。　He　felt　shreds　of　the　tobacco　fall　around　him　but　he　finally　lit　it　and　dragged　the　smoke　deep　into　his　lungs。
　〃They　ain't　in'；〃　a　voice　cried；　almost　on　the　verge　of　tears。
　〃They　ain't　nothin'　but　a　bunch　of　cock…teasers！〃　another　voice　said　angrily。　〃T'　hell　with　them。〃
　Max　lay　quietly　in　his　bunk；　letting　the　smoke　trickle　through　his　nostrils。　The　candle　sputtered　and　flickered　out　and　now　the　bunkhouse　was　pitch　black。　Mike's　voice　came　softly　from　the　next　bunk。　〃How　you　doin'　boy？〃　
　〃All　right。〃
　〃Gimme　a　drag　of　that　there　butt。〃
　Their　hands　touched　briefly　as　Max　silently　held　the　cigarette　out。　The　cigarette　glowed　and　cast　a　faint　shine　over　Mike's　face　as　he　dragged　on　it。
　〃Don'　worry；　boy。〃　His　voice　was　soft　and　reassuring。　〃They'll　show　up　any　moment　now　the　candle's　out。　What　those　damn　fools　can't　seem　to　understan'　is　them　women　don'　want　to　see　'em；　anymore'n　they　want　theyselves　to　be　seen。〃
　A　moment　later；　the　bunkhouse　door　opened　and　the　women　began　to　e　in。　They　entered　silently；　their　bare　feet　making　the　faintest　whisper　on　the　floor。
　Max　turned　in　his　bunk；　hoping　he　could　catch　a　glimpse　of　the　one　that　would　e　to　him。　But　all　he　could　see　were　shadows　that　entered　and　then　were　lost　in　the　dark。　A　hand　touched　his　face。　He　started。
　〃Are　you　young　or　old？〃　a　voice　whispered。　
　〃Young；〃　he　whispered　back。
　Her　hand　found　his　and　brought　it　to　her　cheek。　For　a　moment；　his　fingers　explored　her　face　gentl