ss.iftomorrowcomes-第18部分

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de　laundry。〃　Ernestine　laughed　her　Butterfly　McQueen　imitation。
　
　Tracy　was　no　longer　listening。　She　knew　how　she　was　going　to　escape。
　
　
　
　BOOK　ONE
　Chapter　11
　
　
　
　〃George；　I　don't　think　we　should　keep　Tracy　on。〃
　
　Warden　Brannigan　looked　up　from　his　newspaper。　〃What？　What's　the　problem？〃
　
　〃I'm　not　sure；　exactly。　I　have　the　feeling　that　Tracy　doesn't　like　Amy。　Maybe　she　just　doesn't　like　children。〃
　
　〃She　hasn't　been　mean　to　Amy；　has　she？　Hit　her；　yelled　at　her？〃
　
　〃No。。。〃
　
　〃What；　then？〃
　
　〃Yesterday　Amy　ran　over　and　put　her　arms　around　Tracy；　and　Tracy　pushed　her　away。　It　bothered　me　because　Amy's　so　crazy　about　her。　To　tell　you　the　truth；　I　might　be　a　little　jealous。　Could　that　be　it？〃
　
　Warden　Brannigan　laughed。　〃That　could　explain　a　lot；　Sue　Ellen。　I　think　Tracy　Whitney　is　just　right　for　the　job。　Now；　if　she　gives　you　any　real　problems；　let　me　know；　and　I'll　do　something　about　it。〃
　
　〃All　right；　dear。〃　Sue　Ellen　was　still　not　satisfied。　She　picked　up　her　needlepoint　and　began　stabbing　at　it。　The　subject　was　not　closed　yet。
　
　〃Why　can't　it　work？〃
　
　〃I　tol'　you；　girl。　The　guards　search　every　truck　going　through　the　gate。〃
　
　〃But　a　truck　carrying　a　basket　of　laundry…　they're　not　going　to　dump　out　the　laundry　to　check　it。〃
　
　〃They　don'　have　to。　The　basket　is　taken　to　the　utility　room；　where　a　guard　watches　it　bein'　filled。〃
　
　Tracy　stood　there　thinking。　〃Ernie。。。　could　someone　distract　that　guard　for　five　minutes？〃
　
　〃What　the　hell　good　would…？〃　She　broke　off；　a　slow　grin　lighting　her　face。　〃While　someone　pumps　him　full　of　sunshine；　you　get　into　the　bottom　of　the　hamper　and　get　covered　up　with　laundry！〃　She　nodded。　〃You　know；　I　think　the　damned　thing　might　work。〃
　
　〃Then　you'll　help　me？〃
　
　Ernestine　was　thoughtful　for　a　moment。　Then　she　said　softly；　〃Yeah。　I'll　he'p　you。　It's　my　last　chance　to　give　Big　Bertha　a　kick　in　the　ass。〃
　
　The　prison　grapevine　buzzed　with　the　news　of　Tracy　Whitney's　impending　escape。　A　breakout　was　an　event　that　affected　all　prisoners。　The　inmates　lived　vicariously　through　each　attempt；　wishing　they　had　the　courage　to　try　it　themselves。　But　there　were　the　guards　and　the　dogs　and　the　helicopters；　and；　in　the　end；　the　bodies　of　the　prisoners　who　had　been　brought　back。
　
　With　Ernestine's　help；　the　escape　plan　moved　ahead　swiftly。　Ernestine　took　Tracy's　measurements；　Lola　boosted　the　material　for　a　dress　from　the　millinery　shop；　and　Paulita　had　a　seamstress　in　another　cell　block　make　it。　A　pair　of　prison　shoes　was　stolen　from　the　wardrobe　department　and　dyed　to　match　the　dress。　A　hat；　gloves；　and　purse　appeared；　as　if　by　magic。
　
　〃Now　we　gotta　get　you　some　ID；〃　Ernestine　informed　Tracy　〃You'll　need　a　couple　a　credit　cards　and　a　driver's　license。〃
　
　〃How　can　I…？〃
　
　Ernestine　grinned。　〃You　jest　leave　it　to　old　Ernie　Littlechap。〃
　
　The　following　evening　Ernestine　handed　Tracy　three　major　credit　cards　in　the　name　of　Jane　Smith。
　
　〃Next；　you　need　a　driver's　license。〃
　
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　Sometime　after　midnight　Tracy　heard　the　door　of　her　cell　being　opened。　Someone　had　sneaked　into　the　cell。　Tracy　sat　up　in　her　bunk；　instantly　on　guard。
　
　A　voice　whispered；　〃Whitney？　Let's　go。〃
　
　Tracy　recognized　the　voice　of　Lillian；　a　trusty。　〃What　do　you　want？〃　Tracy　asked。
　
　Ernestine's　voice　shot　out　of　the　darkness。　〃What　kind　of　idiot　child　did　your　mother　raise？　Shut　up　and　don't　ask　questions。〃
　
　Lillian　said　softly；　〃We　got　to　do　this　fast。　If　we　get　caught；　they'll　have　my　ass。　e　on。〃
　
　〃Where　are　we　going？〃　Tracy　asked；　as　she　followed　Lillian　down　the　dark　corridor　to　a　stairway。　They　went　up　to　the　landing　above　and；　after　making　sure　there　were　no　guards　about；　hurried　down　a　hallway　until　they　came　to　the　room　where　Tracy　had　been　fingerprinted　and　photographed。　Lillian　pushed　the　door　open。　〃In　here；〃　she　whispered。
　
　Tracy　followed　her　into　the　room。　Another　inmate　was　waiting　inside。
　
　〃Step　up　against　the　wall。〃　She　sounded　nervous。
　
　Tracy　moved　against　the　wall；　her　stomach　in　knots。
　
　〃Look　into　the　camera。　e　on。　Try　and　took　relaxed。〃
　
　Very　funny；　Tracy　thought。　She　had　never　been　so　nervous　in　her　life。　The　camera　clicked。
　
　〃The　picture　will　be　delivered　in　the　morning；〃　the　inmate　said。　〃It's　for　your　driver's　license。　Now　get　out　of　here…　fast。〃
　
　Tracy　and　Lillian　retraced　their　steps。　On　the　way；　Lillian　said；　〃I　hear　you're　changin'　cells。〃
　
　Tracy　froze。　〃What？〃
　
　〃Didn't　you　know？　You're　movin'　in　with　Big　Bertha。〃
　
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　Ernestine；　Lola；　and　Paulita　were　waiting　up　for　Tracy　when　she　returned。　〃How'd　it　go？〃
　
　〃Fine。〃
　
　Didn't　you　know？　You're　movin'　in　with　Big　Bertha。
　
　〃The　dress'll　be　ready　for　you　Sattiday；〃　Paulita　said。
　
　The　day　of　Ernestine's　release。　That's　my　deadline；　Tracy　thought。
　
　Ernestine　whispered；　〃Everythin'　is　cool。　The　laundry　pickup　Sattiday　is　two　o'clock。　You　gotta　be　in　the　utility　room　by　one…thirty。　You　don'　have　to　worry　about　the　guard。　Lola　will　keep　him　busy　next　door。　Paulita　will　be　in　the　utility　room　waitin'　for　you。　She'll　have　your　clothes。　Your　ID　will　be　in　your　purse。　You'll　be　drivin'　out　the　prison　gates　by　two…fifteen。〃
　
　Tracy　found　it　difficult　to　breathe。　Just　talking　about　the　escape　made　her　tremble。　Nobody　gives　a　shit　if　they　bring　you　back　dead　or　alive。。。。　They　figure　dead　is　better。
　
　In　a　few　days　she　would　be　making　her　break　for　freedom。　She　had　no　illusions：　The　odds　were　against　her。　They　would　eventually　find　her　and　bring　her　back。　But　there　was　something　she　had　sworn　to　take　care　of　first。
　
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　The　prison　grapevine　knew　all　about　the　contest　that　had　been　fought　between　Ernestine　Littlechap　and　Big　Bertha　over　Tracy。　Now　that　the　word　was　out　that　Tracy　was　being　transferred　to　Big　Bertha's　cell；　it　was　no　accident　that　no　one　had　mentioned　anything；　to　Big　Bertha　about　Tracy's　escape　plan：　Big　Bertha　did　not　like　to　hear　bad　news。　She　was　often　apt　to　confuse　the　news　with　the　bearer　and　treat　that　person　accordingly。　Big　Bertha　did　not　learn　about　Tracy's　plan　until　the　morning　the　escape　was　to　take　place；　and　it　was　revealed　to　her　by　the　trusty　who　had　taken　Tracy's　picture。
　
　Big　Bertha　took　the　news　in　ominous　silence。　Her　body　seemed　to　grow　bigger　as　she　listened。
　
　〃What　time？〃　was　all　she　asked。
　
　〃This　afternoon　at　two　o'clock；　Bert。　They're　gonna　hide　her　in　the　bottom　of　a　laundry　hamper　in　the　utility　room。〃
　
　Big　Bertha　thought　about　it　for　a　long　time。　Then　she　waddled　over　to　a　matron　and　said；　〃I　gotta　see　Warden　Brannigan　right　away。〃
　
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　Tracy　had　not　slept　all　night。　She　was　sick　with　tension。　The　months　she　had　been　in　prison　seemed　like　a　dozen　eternities。　Images　of　the　past　flashed　through　her　mind　as　she　lay　on　her　bunk；　staring　into　the　dark。
　
　I　feel　like　a　princess　in　a　fairy　tale；　Mother。　I　didn't　know　anyone　could　be　this　happy。
　
　So！　You　and　Charles　want　to　get　married。
　
　How　long　a　honeymoon　are　you　planning？
　
　You　shot　me；　you　bitch！。。。
　
　Your　mother　mitted　suicide。。。。
　
　I　never　really　knew　you。。。。
　
　The　wedding　picture　of　Charles　smiling　at　his　bride。。。。
　
　How　many　eons　ago？　How　many　planets　away？
　
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　The　morning　bell　clanged　through　the　corridor　like　a　shock　wave。　Tracy　sat　up　on　her　bunk；　wide　awake。　Ernestine　was　watching　her。　〃How　you　feelin'；　girl？〃
　
　〃Fine；〃　Tracy　lied。　Her　mouth　was　dry；　and　her　heart　was　beating　erratically。
　
　〃Well；　we're　both　leavin'　here　today。〃
　
　Tracy　found　it　hard　to　swallow。　〃Uh…huh。〃
　
　〃You　sure　you　kin　get　away　from　the　warden's　house　by　one…thirty？〃
　
　〃No　problem。　Amy　always　takes　a　nap　after　lunch。〃
　
　Paulita　said；　〃You　can't　be　late；　or　it　won't　work。〃
　
　〃I'll　be　there。〃
　
　Ernestine　reached　under　her　mattress　and　took　out　a　roll　of　bills。　〃You're　gonna　need　some　walkin'　around　money。　It's　only　two　hundred　bucks；　but　it'll　get　you　on　your　way。〃
　
　〃Ernie；　I　don't　know　what　to…〃
　
　〃Oh；　jest　shut　up；　girl；　and　take　it。〃
　
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　Tracy　forced　herself　to　swallow　some　breakfast。　Her　head　was　pounding；　and　every　muscle　in　her　body　ached。　I'll　never　make　it　through　the　day；　she　thought。　I've　got　to　make　it　through　the　day。
　
　There　was　a　strained；　unnatural　silence　in　the　kitchen；　and　Tracy　suddenly　realized　she　was　the　cause　of　it。　She　was　the　object　of　knowing　looks　and　nervous　whispers。　A　breakout　was　about　to　happen；　and　she　was　the　heroine　of　the　drama。　In　a　few　hours　she　would　be　free。　Or　dead。
　
　She　rose　from　her　unfinished　breakfast　and　headed　for　Warden　Brannigan's　house。　As　Tracy　waited　for　a　guard　to　unlock　the　corridor　door；　she　came　face…to…face　with　Big　Bertha。　The　huge　Swede　was　grinning　at　her。
　
　She's　going　to　be　in　for　a　big　surprise；　Tracy　thought。
　
　She's　all　mine　now；　Big　Bertha　thought。
　
　**********
　
　The　morning　passed　so　slowly　that　Tracy　felt　she　would　go　out　of　her　mind。　The　minutes　seemed　to　drag　on　interminably。　She　read　to　Amy　and　had　no　idea　what　she　was　reading。　She　was　aware　of　Mrs。　Brannigan　watching　from　the　window。
　
　〃Tracy；　let's　play　hide…and…seek。〃
　
　Tracy　was　too　nervous　to　play　games；　but　she　dared　not　do　anything　to　arouse　Mrs。　Brannigan's　suspicions。　She　forced　a　smile。　〃Sure。　Why　don't　you　hide　first；　Amy？〃
　
　They　were　in　the　front　yard　of　the　bungalow。　In　the　far　distance　Tracy　could　see　the　building　where　the　utility　room　was　located。　She　had　to　be　there　at　exactly　1：30。　She　would　change　into　the　street　clothes　that　had　been　made　for　her；　and　by　1：45　she　would　be　lying　in　the　bottom　of　the　large　clothes　hamper；　covered　over　with　uniforms　and　linens。　At　2：00　the　laundryman　would　e　by　for　the　hamper　and　wheel　it　out　to　his　truck。　By　2：15　the　truck　would　drive　through　the　gates　on　its　way　to　the　nearby　town　where　the　laundry　plant　was　located。
　
　The　driver　can't　see　in　the　back　of　the　truck　from　the　front　seat。　When　the　truck　gets　to　town　and　stops　for　a　red　light；　just　open　the　door；　step　out；　real　cool；　and　catch　a　bus　to　wherever　you're　goi