jg.atimetokill-第30部分

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brothers　whispered　above　the　sleep　of　the　inmates。
　〃Gotta　go　home；〃　Lester　mumbled；　somewhat　ashamed；　somewhat　timid。
　〃Why？〃　Carl　Lee　asked　as　if　he　had　been　expecting　it。
　〃My　wife　called　this　mornin'。　I　gotta　be　at　work　tomorrow　or　I'm　fired。〃
　Carl　Lee　nodded　approvingly。
　〃I'm　sorry；　bubba。　I　feel　bad　about　goin'；　but　I　ain't　got　no　choice。〃
　〃I　understand。　When　you　in'　back？〃
　〃When　you　want　me　back？〃
　〃For　the　trial。　It'll　be　real　hard　on　Gwen　and　the　kids。　Can　you　be　back　then？〃
　〃You　know　I'll　be　here。　I　got　some　vacation　time　and　all。　I'll　be　here。〃
　They　sat　on　the　edge　of　Carl　Lee's　bunk　and　watched　each　other　in　silence。　The　cell　was　dark　and　quiet。　The　two　bunks　opposite　Carl　Lee's　were　empty。
　〃Man；　I　forgot　how　bad　this　place　is；〃　Lester　said。
　〃I　just　hope　I　ain't　here　much　longer。〃
　They　stood　and　embraced；　and　Lester　called　for　Moss　Junior　to　open　the　cell。　〃I'm　proud　of　you；　bubba；〃　he　said　to　his　older　brother；　then　left　for　Chicago。
　aii　j…jcc　a　　acwvjiiu　　VIMIXU　　　ui　　me　　illuming　　wao　ilia　　aliuilicy；
　who　met　him　in　Ozzie's　office。　Jake　was　red　eyed　and　irritable。
　〃Carl　Lee；　I　talked　to　two　psychiatrists　in　Memphis　yesterday。　Do　you　know　what　the　minimum　fee　is　to　evaluate　you　for　trial　purposes？　Do　you？〃
　〃Am　I　supposed　to　know？〃　asked　Carl　Lee。
　〃One　thousand　dollars；〃　Jake　shouted。　〃One　thousand　dollars。　Where　can　you　find　a　thousand　dollars？〃
　〃I　gave　you　all　the　money　I　got。　I　even　offered…〃
　〃I　don't　want　the　deed　to　your　land。　Why？　Because　nobody　wants　to　buy　it；　and　if　you　can't　sell　it；　it's　no　good。　We've　got　to　have　cash；　Carl　Lee。　Not　for　me；　but　for　the　psychiatrists。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃Why！〃　Jake　repeated　in　disbelief。　〃Why？　Because　I'd　like　to　keep　you　away　from　the　gas　chamber；　and　it's　only　a　hundred　miles　from　here。　It's　not　that　far。　And　to　do　that；　we've　got　to　convince　the　jury　that　you　were　insane　when　you　shot　those　boys。　I　can't　tell　them　you　were　crazy。　You　can't　tell　them　you　were　crazy。　It　takes　a　psychiatrist。　An　expert。　A　doctor。　And　they　don't　work　for　free。　Understand？〃
　Carl　Lee　leaned　on　his　knees　and　watched　a　spider　crawl　across　the　dusty　carpet。　After　twelve　days　in　jail　and　two　court　appearances；　he　had　had　enough　of　the　criminal　justice　system。　He　thought　of　the　hours　and　minutes　before　the　killings。　What　was　he　thinking？　Sure　the　boys　had　to　die。　He　had　no　regrets。　But　did　he　contemplate　jail；　or　poverty；　or　lawyers；　or　psychiatrists？　Maybe；　but　only　in　passing。　Those　unpleasantries　were　only　by…products　to　be　encountered　and　endured　temporarily　before　he　was　set　free。　After　the　deed；　the　system　would　process　him；　vindicate　him；　and　send　him　home　to　his　family。　It　would　be　easy；　just　as　Les…ter's　episode　had　been　virtually　painless。
　But　the　system　was　not　working　now。　It　was　conspiring　to　keep　him　in　jail；　to　break　him；　to　make　orphans　of　his　children。　It　seemed　determined　to　punish　him　for　performing　an　act　he　considered　unavoidable。　And　now；　his　only　ally　was　making　demands　he　could　not　meet。　His　lawyer　asked　the　impossible。　His　friend　Jake　was　angry　and　yelling。
　〃Get　it；〃　Jake　shouted　as　he　headed　for　the　door。　〃Get　it　from　your　brothers　and　sisters；　from　Gwen's　family；　get　it　from　your　friends；　get　it　from　your　church。　But　get　it。　And　as　soon　as　possible。〃
　Jake　slammed　the　door　and　marched　out　of　the　jail。
　Carl　Lee's　third　visitor　of　the　morning　arrived　before　noon　in　a　long　black　limousine　with　a　chauffeur　and　Tennessee　plates。　It　maneuvered　through　the　small　parking　lot　and　came　to　rest　straddling　three　spaces。　A　large　black　bodyguard　emerged…from　behind　the　wheel　and　opened　the　door　to　release　his　boss。　They　strutted　up　the　sidewalk　and　into　the　jail。
　The　secretary　stopped　typing　and　smiled　suspiciously。　〃Good　mornin'。〃
　〃Mornin'；〃　said　the　smaller　one；　the　one　with　the　patch。　〃My　name　is　Cat　Bruster；　and　I'd　like　to　see　Sheriff　Walls。〃
　〃May　I　ask　what　for？〃
　〃Yes　ma'am。　It's　regardin'　a　Mr。　Hailey；　a　resident　of　your　fine　facility。〃
　The　sheriff　heard　his　name　mentioned；　and　appeared　from　his　office　to　greet　this　infamous　visitor。　〃Mr。　Bruster；　I'm　Ozzie　Walls。〃　They　shook　hands。　The　bodyguard　did　not　move。
　〃Nice　to　meet　you；　Sheriff。　I'm　Cat　Bruster；　from　Memphis。〃
　〃Yes。　I　know　who　you　are。　Seen　you　in　the　news。　What　brings　you　to　Ford　County？〃
　〃Well；　I　gotta　buddy　in　bad　trouble。　Carl　Lee　Hailey；　and　I'm　here　to　help。〃
　〃Okay。　Who's　he？〃　Ozzie　asked；　looking　up　at　the　bodyguard。　Ozzie　was　six　feet　four；　and　at　least　five　inches　shorter　than　the　bodyguard。　He　weighed　at　least　three　hundred　pounds；　most　of　it　in　his　arms。
　〃This　here　is　Tiny　Tom；〃　Cat　explained。　〃We　just　call　him　Tiny　for　short。〃
　〃I　see。〃
　〃He's　sort　of　like　a　bodyguard。〃　《
　〃He's　not　carryin'　a　gun；　is　he？〃
　〃Naw；　Sheriff；　he　don't　need　a　gun。〃
　rair　enougn。　wny　aon　t　you　and　liny　step　into　my　office？〃
　In　the　office；　Tiny　closed　the　door　and　stood　by　it　while　his　boss　took　a　seat　across　from　the　sheriff。
　〃He　can　sit　if　he　wants　to；〃　Ozzie　explained　to　Cat。
　〃Naw；　Sheriff；　he　always　stands　by　the　door。　That's　the　way　he's　been　trained。〃
　〃Sorta　like　a　police　dog？〃
　〃Right。〃
　〃Fine。　What'd　you　wanna　talk　about？〃
　Cat　crossed　his　legs　and　laid　a　diamond…clustered　hand　on　his　knee。　〃Well；　Sheriff；　me　and　Carl　Lee　go　way　back。　Fought　together　in　'Nam。　We　was　pinned　down　near　Da　Nang；　summer　of　'71。　I　got　hit　in　the　head；　and；　bam！；　two　seconds　later　he　got　hit　in　the　leg。　Our　squad　disappeared；　and　the　gooks　was　usin'　us　for　target　practice。　Carl　Lee　limped　to　where　Fs　layin'；　put　me　on　his　shoulders；　and　ran　through　the　gunfire　to　a　ditch　next　to　a　trail。　I　hung　on　his　back　while　he　crawled　two　miles。　Saved　my　life。　He　got　a　medal　for　it。　You　know　that？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃It's　true。　We　laid　next　to　each　other　in　a　hospital　in　Saigon　for　two　months；　then　got　our　black　asses　outta　Vietnam。　Don't　plan　to　go　back。〃
　Ozzie　was　listening　intently。
　〃And　now　that　my　man　is　in　trouble；　I'd　like　to　help。〃
　〃Did　he　get　the　M…16　from　you？〃
　Tiny　grunted　and　Cat　smiled。　〃Of　course　not。〃
　〃Would　you　like　to　see　him？〃
　〃Why　sure。　It's　that　easy？〃
　〃Yep。　If　you　can　move　Tiny　away　from　that　door；　I'll　get　him。〃
　Tiny　stepped　aside；　and　two　minutes　later　Ozzie　was　back　with　the　prisoner。　Cat　yelled　at　him；　hugged　him；　and　they　patted　each　other　like　boxers。　Carl　Lee　looked　awkwardly　at　Ozzie；　who　took　the　hint　and　left。　Tiny　again　closed　the　door　and　stood　guard。　Carl　Lee　moved　two　chairs　together　so　they　could　face　each　other　closely　and　talk。
　Cat　spoke　first。　〃I'm　proud　of　you；　big　man；　for　what　you　did。　Real　proud。　Why　didn't　you　tell　me　that's　why　you　wanted　the　gun？〃
　〃Just　didn't。〃
　〃How　was　it？〃
　〃Just　like　'Nam；　except　they　couldn't　shoot　back。〃
　〃That's　the　best　way。〃
　〃Yeah；　I　guess。　I　just　wish　none　of　this　had　to　happen。〃
　〃You　ain't　sorry；　are　you？〃
　Carl　Lee　rocked　in　his　chair　and　studied　the　ceiling。　〃I'd　do　it　over；　so　I　got　no　regrets　about　that。　I　just　wish　they　hadn't　messed　with　my　little　girl。　I　wish　she　was　the　same。　I　wish　none　of　it　ever　happened。〃
　〃Right；　right。　It's　gotta　be　tough　on　you　here。〃
　〃I　ain't　worried　'bout　me。　I'm　real　concerned　with　my　family。〃
　〃Right；　right。　How's　the　wife？〃
　〃She's　okay。　She'll　make　it。〃
　〃I　saw　in　the　paper　where　the　trial's　in　July。　You　been　in　the　paper　more　than　me　here　lately。〃
　〃Yeah；　Cat。　But　you　always　get　off。　I　ain't　so　sure　'bout　me。〃
　〃You　gotta　good　lawyer；　don't　you？〃
　〃Yeah。　He's　good。〃
　Cat　stood　and　walked　around　the　office；　admiring　Oz…zie's　trophies　and　certificates。　〃That's　the　main　reason　I　came　to　see　you；　my　man。〃
　〃What's　that？〃　Carl　Lee　asked；　unsure　of　what　his　friend　had　in　mind；　but　certain　his　visit　had　a　purpose。
　〃Carl　Lee；　you　know　how　many　times　I　been　on　trial？〃
　〃Seems　like　all　the　time。〃
　〃Five！　Five　times　they　put　me　on　trial。　The　federal　boys。　The　state　boys。　The　city　boys。　Dope；　gamblin'；　bribery；　guns；　racketeerin'；　whores。　You　name　it；　and　they've　tried　me　for　it。　And　you　know　somethin'；　Carl　Lee；　I've　been　guilty　of　it　all。　Evertime　I've　gone　to　trial；　I've　been　guilty　as　hell。　You　know　how　many　times　I　been　convicted？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃None！　Not　once　have　they　got　me。　Five　trials；　five　not　guilties。〃
　Carl　Lee　smiled　with　admiration。
　〃You　know　why　they　can't　convict　me？〃
　Carl　Lee　had　an　idea；　but　he　shook　his　head　anyway。
　〃Because；　　Carl　Lee；　I　got　the　smartest；　　meanest；
　v〃》…n_》n。^utai　illinium　lawyer　in　inese　pans；　。tie　cneats；　ne　plays　dirty；　and　the　cops　hate　him。　But　I'm　sittin'　here　instead　of　some　prison。　He'll　do　whatever　it　takes　to　win　a　case。〃
　〃Who　is　he？〃　Carl　Lee　asked　eagerly。
　〃You've　seen　him　on　television　walkin'　in　and　outta　court。　He's　in　the　papers　all　the　time。　Evertime　some　big…shot　crook　gets　in　trouble；　he's　there。　He　gets　the　drug　dealers；　the　politicians；　me；　all　the　big…time　thugs。〃
　〃What's　his　name？〃
　〃He　handles　nothin'　but　criminal　cases；　mainly　dope；　bribery；　extortion；　stuff　like　that。　But　you　know　what　his　favorite　is？〃
　〃What？〃
　〃Murder。　He　loves　murder　cases。　Ain't　never　lost　one。　Gets　all　the　big　ones　in　Memphis。　Remember　when　they　caught　those　two　niggers　throwin'　a　dude　off　the　bridge　into　the　Mississippi。　Caught　them　redhanded。　'Bout　five　years　ago？〃
　〃Yeah；　I　remember。〃
　〃Had　a　big　trial　for　two　weeks；　and　they　got　off。　He　was　the　man。　Walked　them　outta　there。　Not　guilty。〃
　〃I　think　I　remember　seein'　him　on　TV。〃
　〃Sure　you　did。　He's　a　bad　dude；　Carl　Lee。　I'm　tellin'　you　the　man　never　loses。〃
　〃What's　his　name？〃
　Cat　landed　in　his　chair　and　stared　solemnly　into　Carl　Lee's　face。　〃Bo　Marsharfsky；〃　he　said。
　Carl　Lee　gazed　upward　as　if　he　remembered　the　name。　〃So　what？〃
　Cat　laid　five　fingers　with　eight　carats　on　Carl　Lee's　knee。　〃So　he　wants　to　help　you；　my　man。〃
　〃I　already　got　one　lawyer　I　can't　pay。　How　I'm　gonna　pay　another？〃
　〃You　ain't　gotta　pay；　Carl　Lee。　That's　where　I　e　in。　He's　on　my　retainer　all　the　time。　I　own　him。　Paid　the　guy　'bout　a　hundred　thousand　last　year　just　to　keep　me　outta　trouble。　You　don't　pay。〃
　Suddenly；　Carl　Lee　had　a　keen　interest　in　Bo　Marsharfsky。　〃How　does　he　know　'bout　me？〃
　〃Because　he　reads　the　paper　and　watches　the　tube。　You
　know　how　lawyers　are