jg.atimetokill-第67部分

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h　the　notecards。　There'll　probably　be　a　hundred　and　twenty。〃
　〃Whatever　you　say。〃
　Daybreak　brought　the　army　out　in　force。　The　barricades　were　reinstalled；　and　on　each　corner　of　the　square　soldiers　clustered　around　the　orange　and　white　barrels　blocking　the　street。　They　were　poised　and　anxious；　watching　every　car　intently；　waiting　for　the　enemy　to　attack；　wanting　some　excitement。　Things　stirred　a　little　when　a　few　of　the　vultures　in　their　pact　wagons　and　minivans　with　fancy　logos　on　the　doors　appeared　at　seven…thirty。　The　troops　surrounded　the　vehicles　and　informed　everyone　there　would　be　no　parking　around　the　courthouse　during　the　trial。　The　vultures　disappeared　down　the　side　streets；　then　moments　later　reappeared　on　foot　with　their　bulky　cameras　and　equipment。　Some　set　up　camp　on　the　front　steps　of　the　courthouse；　others　by　the　back　door；　and　another　group　in　the　rotunda　outside　the　main　door　of　the　courtroom　on　the　second　floor。
　Murphy；　the　janitor　and　only　real　eyewitness　to　the　killings　of　Cobb　and　Willard；　informed　the　press；　as　best　he　could；　that　the　courtroom　would　be　opened　at　eight；　and　not　a　minute　before。　A　line　formed　and　soon　circled　the　rotunda。
　The　church　buses　parked　somewhere　off　the　square；　and　the　marchers　were　led　slowly　down　Jackson　Street　by　the　ministers。　They　carried　FREE　CARL　LEE　signs　and　sang　〃We　Shall　Overe〃　in　a　perfect　chorus。　As　they　neared　the　square；　the　soldiers　heard　them　and　the　radios　began　squawking。　Ozzie　and　the　colonel　conferred　quickly；　and　the　soldiers　relaxed。　The　marchers　were　led　by　Ozzie　to　a　section　of　the　front　lawn　where　they　milled　about　and　waited　under　the　watchful　eyes　of　the　Mississippi　National　Guard。
　At　eight；　a　metal　detector　was　moved　to　the　front　doors　of　the　courtroom；　and　a　trio　of　heavily　armed　deputies　began　slowly　searching　and　admitting　the　crowd　of　spectators　that　now　filled　the　rotunda　and　trailed　off　into　the　halls。　Inside　the　courtroom；　Prather　directed　traffic；　seating　people　on　the　long　pews　on　one　side　of　the　aisle　while　reserving　the　other　side　for　the　jurors。　The　front　pew　was　reserved　for　the　family；　and　the　second　row　was　filled　with　courtroom　artists　who　immediately　began　sketching　the　bench　and　the　bar　and　the　portraits　of　Confederate　heroes。
　The　Klan　felt　obligated　to　make　its　presence　known　on　opening　day；　especially　to　the　prospective　jurors　as　they　arrived。　Two　dozen　Kluxers　in　full　parade　dress　walked　quietly　onto　Washington　Street。　They　were　immediately　stopped　and　surrounded　by　soldiers。　The　potbellied　colonel　swaggered　across　the　street　and　for　the　first　time　in　his　life　came　face　to　face　with　a　white…robed　and　white…hooded　Ku　Klux　Klansman；　who　happened　to　be　a　foot　taller。　He　then　noticed　the　cameras；　which　had　gravitated　to　this　confrontation；　and　the　bully　in　him　vanished。　His　usual　bark　and　growl　was　instantly　replaced　by　a　high…pitched；　nervous；　trembling　stutter　that　was　inprehensible　even　to　himself。
　Ozzie　arrived　and　saved　him。　〃Good　mornin'；　fellas；〃　he　said　coolly　as　he　stepped　beside　the　faltering　colonel。　〃We've　got　you　surrounded；　and　we've　got　you　outnumbered。　We　also　know　we　can't　keep　you　from　being　here。〃
　〃That's　right；〃　said　the　leader。
　〃If　you'll　just　follow　me　and　do　as　I　say；　we　won't　have　any　trouble。〃
　They　followed　Ozzie　and　the　colonel　to　a　small　area　on　the　front　lawn；　where　it　was　explained　that　this　was　their　turf　for　the　trial。　Stay　there　and　stay　quiet；　and　the　colonel　would　personally　keep　the　troops　off　them。　They　agreed。
　As　expected；　the　sight　of　the　white　robes　aroused　the　blacks　who　were　some　two　hundred　feet　away。　They　began　shouting：　〃Free　Carl　Lee！　Free　Carl　Lee！　Free　Carl　Lee！〃
　The　Klansmen　shook　their　fists　and　shouted　back：
　〃Fry　Carl　Lee！〃
　〃Fry　Carl　Lee！〃
　〃Fry　Carl　Lee！〃
　Two　rows　of　troops　lined　the　main　sidewalk　that　divided　the　lawn　and　led　to　the　front　steps。　Another　row　stood　between　the　sidewalk　and　the　Klansmen；　and　one　between　the　sidewalk　and　the　blacks。
　As　the　jurors　began　arriving；　they　walked　briskly　through　the　rows　of　soldiers。　They　clutched　their　summonses　and　listened　in　disbelief　as　the　two　groups　screamed　at　each　other。
　The　Honorable　Rufus　Buckley　arrived　in　Clanton　and　politely　informed　the　guardsmen　of　who　he　was　and　what　that　meant；　and　he　was　allowed　to　park　in　his　spot　marked　RESERVED　FOR　D。A。　next　to　the　courthouse。　The　reporters　went　wild。　This　must　be　important；　someone　had　broken　through　the　barricade。　Buckley　sat　in　his　well…used　Cadillac　for　a　moment　to　allow　the　reporters　to　catch　him。　They　surrounded　him　as　he　slammed　the　door。　He　smiled　and　smiled　and　made　his　way　ever　so　slowly　to　the　front　door　of　the　courthouse。　The　rapid　fire　of　questions　proved　irresistible；　and　Buckley　violated　the　gag　order　at　least　eight　times；　each　time　smiling　and　explaining　that　he　could　not　answer　the　question　he　had　just　answered。　Musgrove　trailed　behind　carrying　the　great　man's　briefcase。
　Jake　paced　nervously　in　his　office。　The　door　was　locked。　Ellen　was　downstairs　working　on　another　brief。　Harry　Rex　was　at　；the　Coffee　Shop　eating　another　breakfast　and　gossiping。　The　notecards　were　scattered　on　his　desk；　and　he　was
　tired　of　them。　He　flipped　through　a　brief；　then　walked　to　the　French　doors。　The　shouting　echoed　through　the　open　windows。　He　returned　to　the　desk　and　studied　the　outline　of　his　opening　ments　to　the　prospective　jurors。　The　first　impression　was　critical。
　He　lay　on　the　couch；　closed　his　eyes；　and　thought　of　a　thousand　things　he'd　rather　be　doing。　For　the　most　part；　he　enjoyed　his　work。　But　there　were　moments；　frightening　moments　like　this　one；　when　he　wished　he'd　bee　an　insurance　agent　or　a　stockbroker。　Or　maybe　even　a　tax　lawyer。　Surely　those　guys　didn't　regularly　suffer　from　nausea　and　diarrhea　at　critical　moments　in　their　careers。
　Lucien　had　taught　him　that　fear　was　good；　fear　was　an　ally；　that　every　lawyer　was　afraid　when　he　stood　before　a　new　jury　and　presented　his　case。　It　was　okay　to　be　afraid…　just　don't　show　it。　Jurors　would　not　follow　the　lawyer　with　the　quickest　tongue　or　prettiest　words。　They　would　not　follow　the　sharpest　dresser。　They　would　not　follow　a　clown　or　court　jester。　They　would　not　follow　the　lawyer　who　preached　the　loudest　or　fought　the　hardest。　Lucien　had　convinced　him　that　jurors　followed　the　lawyer　who　told　the　truth；　regardless　of　his　looks；　words；　or　superficial　abilities。　A　lawyer　had　to　be　himself　in　the　courtroom；　and　if　he　was　afraid；　so　be　it。　The　jurors　were　afraid　too。
　Make　friends　with　fear；　Lucien　always　said；　because　it　will　not　go　away；　and　it　will　destroy　you　if　left　uncontrolled。
　The　fear　hit　deep　in　his　bowels；　and　he　walked　carefully　downstairs　to　the　rest　room。
　〃How　are　you；　boss？〃　Ellen　asked　when。he　checked　on　her。
　〃Ready；　I　guess。　We'll　leave　in　a　minute。〃
　〃There　are　some　reporters　waiting　outside。　I　told　them　you　had　withdrawn　from　the　case　and　left　town。〃
　〃At　this　moment；　I　wish　I　had。〃
　〃Have　you　heard　of　Wendall　Solomon？〃
　〃Not　right　off　hand。〃
　〃He's　with　the　Southern　Prisoner　Defense　Fund。　I　worked　under　him　last　summer。　He's　tried　over　a　hundred　capital　cases　all　over　the　South。　He　gets　so　nervous　before　a　trial　he　can　neither　eat　nor　sleep。　His　doctor　gives　him　seda…
　tives；　but　he's　still　so　jumpy　no　one　speaks　to　him　on　opening　day。　And　that's　after　a　hundred　of　these　trials。〃
　〃How　does　your　father　handle　it？〃
　〃He　has　a　couple　of　martinis　with　a　Valium。　Then　he　lies　on　his　desk　with　the　door　locked　and　the　lights　off　until　it's　time　for　court。　His　nerves　are　ragged　and　he's　ill…tempered。　Of　course；　a　lot　of　that　is　natural。〃
　〃So　you　know　the　feeling？〃
　〃I　know　it　well。〃
　〃Do　I　look　nervous？〃
　〃You　look　tired。　But　you'll　do。〃
　Jake　checked　his　watch。　〃Let's　go。〃
　The　reporters　on　the　sidewalk　pounced　on　their　prey。　〃No　ment〃　he　insisted　as　he　moved　slowly　across　the　street　toward　the　courthouse。　The　barrage　continued。
　〃Is　it　true　you　plan　to　ask　for　a　mistrial？〃
　〃I　can't　do　that　until　the　trial　starts。〃
　〃Is　it　true　the　Klan　has　threatened　you？〃
　〃No　ment。〃
　〃Is　it　true　you　sent　your　family　out　of　town　until　after　the　trial？〃
　Jake　hesitated　and　glanced　at　the　reporter。　〃No　ment。〃
　〃What　do　you　think　of　the　National　Guard？〃
　〃I'm　proud　of　them。〃
　〃Can　your　client　get　a　fair　trial　in　Ford　County？〃
　Jake　shook　his　head；　then　added；　〃No　ment。〃
　A　deputy　stood　guard　a　few　feet　from　where　the　bodies　had　e　to　rest。　He　pointed　at　Ellen。　〃Who's　she；　Jake？〃
　〃She's　harmless。　She's　with　me。〃
　They　ran　up　the　rear　stairs。　Carl　Lee　sat　alone　at　the　defense　table；　his　back　to　the　packed　courtroom。　Jean　Gil…lespie　was　busy　checking　in　jurors　while　deputies　roamed　the　aisles　looking　for　anything　suspicious。　Jake　greeted　his　client　warmly；　taking　special　care　to　shake　his　hand；　smile　broadly　at　him；　and　put　his　hand　on　his　shoulder。　Ellen　unpacked　the　briefcases　and　neatly　arranged　the　files　on　the　table。
　Jake　whispered　to　his　client　and　looked　around　the　courtroom。　All　eyes　were　on　him。　The　Hailey　clan　sat　handsomely　in　the　front　row。　Jake　smiled　at　them　and　nodded　at　Lester。　Tbnya　and　the　boys　were　decked　out　in　their　Sunday
　clothes；　and　they　sat　between　Lester　and　Gwen　like　perfect　little　statues。　…The　jurors　sat　across　the　aisle；　and　they　were　carefully　studying　Hailey's　lawyer。　Jake　thought　this　would　be　a　good　time　for　the　jurors　to　see　the　family；　so　he　walked　through　the　swinging　gate　in　the　railing　and　went　to　speak　to　the　Haileys。　He　patted　Gwen　on　the　shoulder；　shook　hands　with　Lester；　pinched　each　of　the　boys；　and；　finally；　hugged　Tonya；　the　little　Hailey　girl；　the　one　who　had　been　raped　by　the　two　rednecks　who　got　what　they　deserved。　The　jurors　watched　every　move　of　this　production；　and　paid　special　attention　to　the　little　girl。
　〃Noose　wants　us　in　chambers；〃　Musgrove　whispered　to　Jake　as　he　returned　to　the　defense　table。
　Ichabod；　Buckley；　and　the　court　reporter　were　chatting　when　Jake　and　Ellen　entered　chambers。　Jake　introduced　his　clerk　to　His　Honor　and　Buckley　and　Musgrove；　and　to　Norma　Gallo；　the　court　reporter。　He　explained　that　Ellen　Roark　was　a　third…year　law　student　at　Ole　Miss　who　was　clerking　in　his　office；　and　requested　that　she　be　allowed　to　sit　near　counsel　table　and　participate　in　the　p