jg.atimetokill-第22部分

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　children　looked　upward　in　holy　terror。　Choir　members　lurched　and　lunged　and　jerked；　then　broke　down　and　shrieked　different　stanzas　of　the　same　song。　The　organist　played　one　song；　the　pianist　another；　and　the　choir　sang　whatever　came　over　it。　The　reverend　hopped　around　the　pulpit　in　his　long　white　robe　with　purple　trim；　yelling；　praying；　screaming　at　God；　and　perspiring。
　The　bedlam　rose　and　fell；　rising　it　seemed　with　each　new　fainting；　and　falling　with　fatigue。　Through　years　of　experience　Agee　knew　precisely　when　the　fury　reached　its　peak；　when　the　delirium　gave　way　to　weariness；　and　when　the　flock　needed　a　break。　At　that　precise　moment；　he　jigged　to　the　pulpit　and　slapped　it　with　the　power　of　God　Almighty。　Instantly　the　music　died；　the　convulsions　ceased；　the　fainters　awoke；　the　children　stopped　crying；　and　the　multitude　settled　submissively　into　the　pews。　It　was　time　for　the　sermon。
　As　the　reverend　was　about　to　preach；　the　rear　doors　opened　and　the　Haileys　entered　the　sanctuary。　Little　Tonya　walked　by　herself；　limping；　holding　her　mother's　hand。　Her　brothers　marched　behind；　and　Uncle　Lester　followed。　They　moved　slowly　down　the　aisle　and　found　a　seat　near　the　front。　The　reverend　nodded　at　the　organist；　who　began　to　play　softly；　then　the　choir　began　to　hum　and　sway。　The　deacons　stood　and　swayed　with　the　choir。　Not　to　be　outdone；　the　elders　stood　and　began　to　chant。　Then；　of　all　things；　Sister　Crystal　fainted　violently。　Her　fainting　was　contagious；　and　the　other　sisters　began　dropping　like　flies。　The　elders　chanted　louder　than　the　choir；　so　the　choir　got　excited。　The　organist　could　not　be　heard；　so　she　increased　the　volume。　The　pianist　joined　in　with　a　clanging　rendition　of　a　hymn　unlike　the　hymn　being　played　by　the　organist。　The　organist　thundered　back。　Reverend　Agee　fluttered　down　from　the　podium　and　danced　his　way　toward　the　Haileys。　Everyone　followed…the　choir；　the　deacons；　the　elders；　the　women；　the　crying　children…everyone　followed　the　reverend　to　greet　the　little　Hailey　girl。
　Jail　did　not　bother　Carl　Lee。　Home　was　more　pleasant；　but　under　the　circumstances；　he　found　jail　life　tolerable。　It　was　a　new　jail；　built　with　federal　money　under　the　mandate　of　a　prisoners'　rights　lawsuit。　The　food　was　cooked　by　two　huge　black　women　who　knew　how　to　cook　and　write　bad　checks。　They　were　eligible　for　early　release；　but　Ozzie　had　not　bothered　to　tell　them。　The　food　was　served　to　forty　prisoners；　give　or　take　a　few；　by　the　trusties。　Thirteen　of　the　prisoners　belonged　at　Parchman；　but　it　was　full。　So　they　waited；　never　knowing　if　the　next　day　would　be　their　day　for　the　dreaded　trip　to　the　sprawling；　enclosed　delta　farm　where　the　food　was　not　as　good；　the　beds　were　not　as　soft；　the　air　conditioning　was　nonexistent；　the　mosquitoes　immense；　plentiful；　and　vicious；　and　where　toilets　were　scarce　and　clogged。
　Carl　Lee's　cell　was　next　to　Cell　Two；　where　the　state　prisoners　waited。　With　two　exceptions；　they　were　black；　and　with　no　exceptions；　they　were　violent。　But　they　were　all　afraid　of　Carl　Lee。　He　shared　Cell　One　with　two　shoplifters　who　were　not　just　scared；　but　downright　terrified　of　their
　famous　cellmate。　Each　evening　he　was　escorted　to　Ozzie's　office；　where　he　and　the　sheriff　ate　dinner　and　watched　the　news。　He　was　a　celebrity；　and　he　liked　that　almost　as　much　as　did　his　lawyer　and　the　D。A。　He　wanted　to　explain　things　to　the　reporters；　tell　them　about　his　daughter　and　why　he　should　not　be　in　jail；　but　his　lawyer　said　no。
　After　Gwen　and　Lester　left　late　Sunday　afternoon；　Oz…zie；　Moss　Junior；　and　Carl　Lee　sneaked　out　the　rear　of　the　jail　and　went　to　the　hospital。　It　was　Carl　Lee's　idea；　and　Ozzie　saw　no　harm。　Looney　was　alone　in　a　private　room　when　the　three　entered。　Carl　Lee　took　one　look　at　the　leg；　then　stared　at　Looney。　They　shook　hands。　With　watery　eyes　and　a　breaking　voice　Carl　Lee　said　he　was　sorry；　that　he　had　no　intention　of　hurting　anyone　but　the　two　boys；　that　he　wished　and　prayed　he　could　undo　what　he　had　done　to　Looney。　Without　hesitation；　Looney　accepted　the　apology。
　Jake　was　waiting　in　Ozzie's　office　when　they　sneaked　back　into　the　jail。　Ozzie　and　Moss　Junior　excused　themselves；　leaving　the　defendant　with　his　lawyer。
　〃Where　have　y'all　been？〃　Jake　asked　suspiciously。
　〃Went　to　the　hospital　to　see　Looney。〃
　〃You　what！〃
　〃Nothin'　wrong；　is　it？〃
　〃I　wish　you　would　check　with　me　before　you　make　any　more　visits。〃
　〃What's　wrong　with　seein'　Looney？〃
　〃Looney　will　be　the　star　witness　for　the　State　when　they　attempt　to　send　you　to　the　gas　chamber。　That's　all。　He　ain't　on　our　side；　Carl　Lee；　and　any　talking　you　do　with　Looney　should　be　with　your　attorney　present。　Understand？〃
　〃Not　really。〃
　〃I　can't　believe　Ozzie　would　do　that；〃　Jake　mumbled。
　〃It　was　my　idea；〃　Carl　Lee　admitted。
　〃Well；　if　you　get　any　more　ideas；　please　let　me　know　about　them。　Okay？〃
　〃Okay。〃
　〃You　talked　to　Lester　lately？〃
　〃Yeah；　him　and　Gwen　came　by　today。　Brought　me　goodies。　Told　me　'bout　the　banks。〃
　Jake　planned　to　play　hardball　about　his　fee；　no　way　he　could　represent　Carl　Lee　for　nine　hundred　dollars。　The　case
　would　consume　his　practice　for　the　next　three　monms　ai　least；　and　nine　hundred　would　be　less　than　minimum　wage。　It　would　not　be　fair　to　him　or　his　family　to　work　for　nothing。　Carl　Lee　would　simply　have　to　raise　the　money。　There　were　plenty　of　relatives。　Gwen　had　a　big　family。　They　would　just　have　to　sacrifice；　maybe　sell　a　few　automobiles；　maybe　some　land；　but　Jake　would　get　his　fee。　If　not；　Carl　Lee　could　find　another　lawyer。
　〃I'll　give　you　the　deed　to　my　place；〃　Carl　Lee　offered。
　Jake　melted。　〃I　don't　want　your　place；　Carl　Lee。　I　want　cash。　Sixty…five　hundred　dollars。〃
　〃Show　me　how；　and　I'll　do　it。　You　the　lawyer；　you　figure　out　a　way。　I'm　with　you。〃
　Jake　was　beat　and　he　knew　it。　〃I　can't　do　it　for　nine　hundred　dollars；　Carl　Lee。　I　can't　let　this　case　bankrupt　me。　I'm　a　lawyer。　I'm　supposed　to　make　money。〃
　〃Jake；　I'll　pay　you　the　money。　I　promise。　It　may　take　a　long　time；　but　I'll　pay　you。　Trust　me。〃
　Not　if　you're　on　death　row；　thought　Jake。　He　changed　the　subject。　〃You　know　the　grand　jury　meets　tomorrow；　and　it'll　take　up　your　case。〃
　〃So　I　go　to　court？〃
　〃Naw；　it　means　you'll　be　indicted　tomorrow。　The　courthouse　will　be　full　of　people　and　reporters。　Judge　Noose　will　be　here　to　open　the　May　term　of　court。　Buckley'll　be　running　around　chasing　cameras　and　blowing　smoke。　It's　a　big　day。　Noose　starts　an　armed　robbery　trial　in　the　afternoon。　If　you're　indicted　tomorrow；　we'll　be　in　court　Wednesday　or　Thursday　for　the　arraignment。〃
　〃The　what？〃
　〃The　arraignment。　In　a　capital　murder　case；　the　judge　is　required　by　law　to　read　the　indictment　to　you　in　open　court　in　front　of　God　and　everybody。　They'll　make　a　big　deal　out　of　it。　We'll　enter　a　plea　of　not　guilty；　and　Noose　sets　the　trial　date。　We　ask　for　a　reasonable　bond；　and　he　says　no。　When　I　mention　bond　Buckley'll　scream　and　turn　cartwheels。　The　more　I　think　of　him　the　more　I　hate　him。　He'll　be　a　large　pain　in　the　ass。〃
　〃Why　don't　I　get　a　bond？〃
　〃For　capital　murder；　the　judge　does　not　have　to　set　a　bond。　He　can　if　he　wants　to；　but　most　don't。　Even　if　Noose
　set　a　bond；　you　couldn't　pay　it；　so　don't　worry　about　it。　You'll　be　in　jail　until　trial。〃
　〃I　lost　my　job；　you　know。〃
　〃When？〃
　〃Gwen　drove　over　Friday　and　got　my　paycheck。　They　told　her。　Nice；　ain't　it。　Work　there　eleven　years；　miss　five　days；　and　they　fire　me。　Guess　they　think　I　ain't　in'　back。〃
　〃I'm　sorry　to　hear　that；　Carl　Lee。　Real　sorry。〃
　The　Honorable　Omar　Noose　had　not　always　been　so　honorable。　Before　he　became　the　circuit　judge　for　the　Twenty…second　Judicial　District；　he　was　a　lawyer　with　meager　talent　and　few　clients；　but　he　was　a　politician　of　formidable　skills。　Five　terms　in　the　Mississippi　Legislature　had　corrupted　him　and　taught　him　the　art　of　political　swindling　and　manipulation。　Senator　Noose　prospered　handsomely　as　chairman　of　the　Senate　Finance　mittee；　and　few　people　in　Van　Buren　County　questioned　how　he　and　his　family　lived　so　affluently　on　his　legislative　salary　of　seven　thousand　dollars　a　year。
　Like　most　members　of　the　Mississippi　Legislature；　he　ran　for　reelection　one　time　too　many；　and　in　the　summer　of　1971　he　was　humiliated　by　an　unknown　opponent。　A　year　later；　Judge　Loopus；　his　predecessor　on　the　bench；　died；　and　Noose　persuaded　his　friends　in　the　Legislature　to　persuade　the　governor　to　appoint　him　to　serve　the　unexpired　term。　That's　how　ex…State　Senator　Noose　became　Circuit　Judge　Noose。　He　was　elected　in　1975；　and　reelected　in　1979　and　1983。
　Repentant；　reformed；　and　very　humbled　by　his　rapid　descent　from　power；　Judge　Noose　applied　himself　to　the　study　of　the　law；　and　after　a　shaky　start；　grew　to　the　job。　It　paid　sixty　thousand　a　year；　so　he　could　afford　to　be　honest。　Now；　at　sixty…three；　he　was　a　wise　old　judge；　well　respected　by　most　lawyers　and　by　the　state　Supreme　Court；　which　seldom　reversed　his　rulings。　He　was　quiet　but　charming；　patient　but　strict；　and　he　had　a　huge　monument　of　a　nose　that　was　very　long　and　very　pointed　and　served　as　a　throne　for　his　black…rimmed；　octagon…shaped　reading　glasses；　which　he　wore　constantly　but　never　used。　His　nose；　plus　his　tall；　gawky　frame；　plus　his　wild；　untamed；　dense　gray　hair；　plus　his　squeaky　voice；　had　given　rise　to　his　secret　nickname；　whispered　among　lawyers；　of　Ichabod。　Ichabod　Noose。　The　Honorable　Ichabod　Noose。
　He　assumed　the　bench；　and　the　crowded　courtroom　stood　as　Ozzie　mumbled　incoherently　a　statutorily　required
　paragraph　to　officially　open　the　May　term　of　the　Ford　County　Circuit　Court。　A　long；　flowery　prayer　was　offered　by　a　local　minister；　and　the　congregation　sat　down。　Prospective　jurors　filled　one　side　of　the　courtroom。　Criminals　and　other　litigants；　their　families　and　friends；　the　press；　and　the　curious　filled　the　other　side。　Noose　required　every　lawyer　in　the　county　to　attend　the　opening　of　the　term；　and　the　members　of　the　bar　sat　in　the　jury　box；　all　decked　out　in　full　regalia；　all　looking　important。　Buckley　and　his　assistant；　D。　R。　Mus…grove；　sat　at　the　prosecution's　table；　splendidly　representing　the　State。　Jake　sat　by　himself　in　a　wooden　chair　in　front　of　the　railing。　The　clerks　and　court　reporters　stood　behind　the　large　red　docket　books　on　the　workbench；　and　with　eve