ss.iftomorrowcomes-第16部分

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naked　up　between　Tracy's　legs；　and　she　whispered；　〃Nobody　says　no　to　me；　you　cunt。　I'm　in'　to　get　you　tonight；　littbarn；　and　I'm　gonna　fuck　your　ass　off。〃
　
　Tracy　fought　wildly　to　get　loose。　Suddenly；　she　felt　Big　Bertha　being　lifted　off　her。　Ernestine　had　the　huge　Swede　by　the　neck　and　was　throttling　her。
　
　〃You　goddamn　bitch！〃　Ernestine　was　screaming。　〃I　warned　you！〃　She　slashed　her　fingernails　across　Big　Bertha's　face；　clawing　at　her　eyes。
　
　〃I'm　blind！〃　Big　Bertha　screamed：　〃I'm　blind！〃　She　grabbed　Ernestine's　breasts　and　starting　pulling　them。　The　two　women　were　punching　and　clawing　at　each　other　as　four　guards　came　running　up。　It　took　the　guards　five　minutes　to　pull　them　apart。　Both　women　were　taken　to　the　infirmary。　It　was　late　that　night　when　Ernestine　was　returned　to　her　cell。　Lola　and　Paulita　hurried　to　her　bunk　to　console　her。
　
　〃Are　you　all　right？〃　Tracy　whispered。
　
　〃Damned　right；〃　Ernestine　told　her。　Her　voice　sounded　muffled；　and　Tracy　wondered　how　badly　she　had　been　hurt。　〃I　made　my　Ruby…do　yesterday。　I'm　gettin'　outta　this　joint。　You　got　a　problem。　That　mother　ain't　gonna　leave　you　alone　now。　No　way。　And　when　she's　finished　fuckin'　with　you；　she's　gonna　kill　you。〃
　
　They　lay　there　in　the　silent　darkness。　Finally；　Ernestine　spoke　again。　〃Maybe　it's　time　you　and　me　talked　about　bustin'　you　the　hell　outta　here。〃
　
　
　
　BOOK　ONE
　Chapter　10
　
　
　
　〃You're　going　to　lose　your　governess　tomorrow；〃　Warden　Brannigan　announced　to　his　wife。
　
　Sue　Ellen　Brannigan　looked　up　in　surprise。　〃Why？　Judy's　very　good　with　Amy。〃
　
　〃I　know；　but　her　sentence　is　up。　She's　being　released　in　the　morning。〃
　
　They　were　having　breakfast　in　the　fortable　cottage　that　was　one　of　the　perquisites　of　Warden　Brannigan's　job。　Other　benefits　included　a　cook；　a　maid；　a　chauffeur；　and　a　governess　for　their　daughter；　Amy；　who　was　almost　five。　All　the　servants　were　trusties。　When　Sue　Ellen　Brannigan　had　arrived　there　five　years　earlier；　she　had　been　nervous　about　living　on　the　grounds　of　the　penitentiary；　and　even　more　apprehensive　about　having　a　house　full　of　servants；who　were　all　convicted　criminals。
　
　〃How　do　you　know　they　won't　rob　us　and　cut　our　throats　in　the　middle　of　the　night？〃　she　had　demanded。
　
　〃If　they　do；〃　Warden　Brannigan　had　promised；　〃I'll　put　them　on　report。〃
　
　He　had　persuaded　his　wife；　without　convincing　her；　but　Sue　Ellen's　fears　had　proved　groundless。　The　trusties　were　anxious　to　make　a　good　impression　and　cut　their　time　down　as　much　as　possible；　so　they　were　very　conscientious。
　
　〃I　was　just　getting　fortable　with　the　idea　of　leaving　Amy　in　Judy's　care；〃　Mrs。　Brannigan　plained。　She　wished　Judy　well；　but　she　did　not　want　her　to　leave。　Who　knew　what　kind　of　woman　would　be　Amy's　next　governess？　There　were　so　many　horror　stories　about　the　terrible　things　strangers　did　to　children。
　
　〃Do　you　have　anyone　in　particular　in　mind　to　replace　Judy；　George？〃
　
　The　warden　had　given　it　considerable　thought。　There　were　a　dozen　trusties　suitable　for　the　job　of　taking　care　of　their　daughter。　But　he　had　not　been　able　to　get　Tracy　Whitney　out　of　his　mind。　There　was　something　about　her　case　that　he　found　deeply　disturbing。　He　had　been　a　professional　criminologist　for　fifteen　years；　and　he　prided　himself　that　one　of　his　strengths　was　his　ability　to　assess　prisoners。　Some　of　the　convicts　in　his　care　were　hardened　criminals；　others　were　in　prison　because　they　had　mitted　crimes　of　passion　or　succumbed　to　a　momentary　temptation；　but　it　seemed　to　Warden　Brannigan　that　Tracy　Whitney　belonged　in　neither　category。　He　had　not　been　swayed　by　her　protests　of　innocence；　for　that　was　standard　operating　procedure　for　all　convicts。　What　bothered　him　was　the　people　who　had　conspired　to　send　Tracy　Whitney　to　prison。　The　warden　had　been　appointed　by　a　New　Orleans　civic　mission　headed　by　the　governor　of　the　state；　and　although　he　steadfastly　refused　to　bee　involved　in　politics；　he　was　aware　of　all　the　players。　Joe　Romano　was　Mafia；　a　runner　for　Anthony　Orsatti。　Perry　Pope；　the　attorney　who　had　defended　Tracy　Whitney；　was　on　their　payroll；　and　so　was　Judge　Henry　Lawrence。　Tracy　Whitney's　conviction　had　a　decidedly　rank　odor　to　it。
　
　Now　Warden　Brannigan　made　his　decision。　He　said　to　his　wife；　〃Yes。　I　do　have　someone　in　mind。〃
　
　**********
　
　There　was　an　alcove　in　the　prison　kitchen　with　a　small　Formica…topped　dining　table　and　four　chairs；　the　only　place　where　it　was　possible　to　have　a　reasonable　amount　of　privacy。　Ernestine　Littlechap　and　Tracy　were　seated　there；　drinking　coffee　during　their　ten…minute　break。
　
　〃I　think　it's　about　time　you　tol'　me　what　your　big　hurry　is　to　bust　outta　here；〃　Ernestine　suggested。
　Tracy　hesitated。　Could　she　trust　Ernestine？　She　had　no　choice。　〃There…　there　are　some　people　who　did　things　to　my　family　and　me。　I've　got　to　get　out　to　pay　them　back。〃
　
　〃Yeah？　What'd　they　do？〃
　
　Tracy's　words　came　out　slowly；　each　one　a　drop　of　pain。　〃They　killed　my　mother。〃
　
　〃Who's　they？〃
　
　〃I　don't　think　the　names　would　mean　anything　to　you。　Joe　Romano；　Perry　Pope；　a　judge　named　Henry　Lawrence；　Anthony　Orsatti…〃
　
　Ernestine　was　staring　at　her　with　her　mouth　open。　〃Jesus　H。　Christ！　You　puttin'　me　on；　girl？〃
　
　Tracy　was　surprised。　〃You've　heard　of　them？〃
　
　〃Heard　of　'em！　Who　hasn't　heard　of　'em？　Nothin'　goes　down　in　New　Or…fuckin'…leans　unless　Orsatti　or　Romano　says　so。　You　can't　mess　with　them。　They'll　blow　you　away　like　smoke。〃
　
　Tracy　said　tonelessly；　〃They've　already　blown　me　away。〃
　
　Ernestine　looked　around　to　make　sure　they　could　not　be　overheard。　〃You're　either　crazy　or　you're　the　dumbest　broad　I've　ever　met。　Talk　about　the　untouchables！〃　She　shook　her　head。　〃Forget　about　'em。　Fast！〃
　
　〃No。　I　can't。　I　have　to　break　out　of　here。　Can　it　be　done？〃
　
　Ernestine　was　silent　for　a　long　time。　When　she　finally　spoke；　she　said；　〃We'll　talk　in　the　yard。〃
　
　**********
　
　They　were　in　the　yard；　off　in　a　corner　by　themselves。
　
　〃There've　been　twelve　bust…outs　from　this　joint；〃　Ernestine　said。　〃Two　of　the　prisoners　were　shot　and　killed。　The　other　ten　were　caught　and　brought　back。〃　Tracy　made　no　ment。　〃The　tower's　manned　twenty…four　hours　by　guards　with　machine　guns；　and　they're　mean　sons　of　bitches。　If　anyone　escapes；　it　costs　the　guards　their　jobs；　so　they'd　just　as　soon　kill　you　as　look　at　you。　There's　barbed　wire　all　around　the　prison；　and　if　you　get　through　that　and　past　the　machine　guns；　they　got　hound　dogs　that　can　track　a　mosquito's　fart。　There's　a　National　Guard　station　a　few　miles　away；　and　when　a　prisoner　escapes　from　here　they　send　up　helicopters　with　guns　and　searchlights。　Nobody　gives　a　shit　if　they　bring　you　back　dead　or　alive；　girl。　They　figure　dead　is　better。　It　discourages　anyone　else　with　plans。〃
　
　〃But　people　still　try；〃　Tracy　said　stubbornly。
　
　〃The　ones　who　broke　out　had　help　from　the　outside…　friends　who　smuggled　in　guns　and　money　and　clothes。　They　had　getaway　cars　waltin'　for　'em。〃　She　paused　for　effect。　〃And　they　still　got　caught。〃
　
　〃They　won't　catch　me；〃　Tracy　swore。
　
　A　matron　was　approaching。　She　called　out　to　Tracy；　〃Warden　Brannigan　wants　you。　On　the　double。〃
　
　**********
　
　〃We　need　someone　to　take　care　of　our　young　daughter；〃　Warden　Brannigan　said。　〃It's　a　voluntary　job。　You　don't　have　to　take　it　if　you　don't　wish　to。〃
　
　Someone　to　take　care　of　our　young　daughter。　Tracy's　mind　was　racing。　This　might　make　her　escape　easier。　Working　in　the　warden's　house；　she　could　probably　learn　a　great　deal　more　about　the　prison　setup。
　
　〃Yes；〃　Tracy　said。　〃I'd　like　to　take　the　job。〃
　
　George　Brannigan　was　pleased。　He　had　an　odd；　unreasonable　feeling　that　he　owed　this　woman　something。　〃Good。　It　pays　sixty　cents　an　hour。　The　money　will　be　put　in　your　account　at　the　end　of　each　month。〃
　
　Prisoners　were　not　allowed　to　handle　cash；　and　all　monies　accumulated　were　handed　over　upon　the　prisoner's　release。
　
　l　won't　be　here　at　the　end　of　the　month；　Tracy　thought；　but　aloud　she　said；　〃That　will　be　fine。〃
　
　〃You　can　start　in　the　morning。　The　head　matron　will　give　you　the　details。〃
　
　〃Thank　you；　Warden。〃
　
　He　looked　at　Tracy　and　was　tempted　to　say　something　more。　He　was　not　quite　sure　what。　Instead；　he　said；　〃That's　all。〃
　
　**********
　
　When　Tracy　broke　the　news　to　Ernestine；　the　black　woman　said　thoughtfully；　〃That　means　they　gonna　make　you　a　trusty。　You'll　get　the　run　of　the　prison。　That　might　make　bustin'　out　a　little　easier。〃
　
　〃How　do　I　do　it？〃　Tracy　asked。
　
　〃You　got　three　choices；　but　they're　all　risky。　The　first　way　is　a　sneak…out。　You　use　chewin'　gum　one　night　to　jam　the　locks　on　your　cell　door　and　the　corridor　doors。　You　sneak　outside　to　the　yard；　throw　a　blanket　over　the　barbed　wire；　and　you're　off　and　runnin'。〃
　
　With　dogs　and　helicopters　after　her。　Tracy　could　feel　the　bullets　from　the　guns　of　the　guards　tearing　into　her。　She　shuddered。　〃What　are　the　other　ways？〃
　
　〃The　second　way's　a　breakout。　That's　where　you　use　a　gun　and　take　a　hostage　with　you。　If　they　catch　you；　they'll　give　you　a　deuce　with　a　nickel　tail。〃　She　saw　Tracy's　puzzled　expression。　〃That's　another　two　to　five　years　on　your　sentence。〃
　
　〃And　the　third　way？〃
　
　〃A　walkaway。　That's　for　trusties　who　are　out　on　a　work　detail。　Once　you're　out　in　the　open；　girl；　you　jest　keep　movin'。〃
　
　Tracy　thought　about　that。　Without　money　and　a　car　and　a　place　to　hide　out；　she　would　have　no　chance。　〃They'd　find　out　I　was　gone　at　the　next　head　count　and　e　looking　for　me。〃
　
　Ernestine　sighed。　〃There　ain't　no　perfect　escape　plan；　girl。　That's　why　no　one's　ever　made　it　outta　this　place。〃
　
　I　will；　Tracy　vowed。　I　will。
　
　**********
　
　The　morning　Tracy　was　taken　to　Warden　Brannigan's　home　marked　her　fifth　month　as　a　prisoner。　She　was　nervous　about　meeting　the　warden's　wife　and　child；　for　she　wanted　this　job　desperately。　It　was　going　to　be　her　key　to　freedom。
　
　Tracy　walked　into　the　large；　pleasant　kitchen　and　sat　down。　She　could　feel　the　perspiration　bead　and　roll　down　from　her　underarms。　A　woman　clad　in　a　muted　rose…colored　housecoat　appeared　in　the　doorway。
　
　She　said；　〃Good　morning。〃
　
　〃Good　morning