jg.atimetokill-第83部分

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itioner　had　not　worked　in　six　years。　Jake　had　suggested　use　of　the　Saab。　Harry　Rex　had　cursed　him　for　his　stupidity。　The　red　Saab　was　an　easy　target　for　snipers。　No　one　would　suspect　the　Bronco。
　They　drove　slowly　in　the　general　direction　of　the　lake；　to　no　place　in　particular。　Willie　Nelson　wailed　from　the　cassette。　Harry　Rex　tapped　the　steering　wheel　and　sang　along。　His　normal　speaking　voice　was　coarse　and　unrefined。　With　song；　it　was　heinous。　Jake　sipped　his　beer　and　searched　for　daylight　through　the　windshield。
　The　heat　wave　was　about　to　be　broken。　Dark　clouds　loomed　to　the　southwest；　and　when　they　passed　Huey's　Lounge　the　rains　fell　and　showered　the　parched　earth。　It　cleansed　and　removed　the　dust　from　the　kudzu　that　lined　the　roadbeds　and　hung　like　Spanish　moss　from　the　trees。　It　cooled　the　scorched　pavement　and　created　a　sticky　fog　that　rose　three　feet　above　the　highway。　The　red　baked　gullies　absorbed　the　water；　and　when　full　began　to　carry　tiny　streams　downward　to　the　larger　field　drains　and　road　ditches。　The　rains　drenched　the　cotton　and　soybeans；　and　pounded　the　crop　rows　until　small　puddles　formed　between　the　stalks。
　Remarkably；　the　windshield　wipers　worked。　They　slapped　back　and　forth　furiously　and　removed　the　mud　and　insect　collection。　The　storm　grew。　Harry　Rex　increased　the　volume　of　the　stereo。
　The　blacks　with　their　cane　poles　and　straw　hats　camped
　under　the　bridges　and　waited　for　the　storm　to　blow　over。　Below　them；　the　still　creeks　came　to　life。　Muddy　water　from　the　fields　and　gullies　rushed　downward　and　stirred　the　small　streams　and　brooks。　The　water　rose　and　moved　forward。　The　blacks　ate　bologna　and　crackers　and　told　fishing　stories。
　Harry　Rex　was　hungry。　He　stopped　at　Treadway's　Grocery　near　the　lake；　and　bought　more　beer；　two　catfish　dinners；　and　a　large　bag　of　Cajiin…spiced　red…hot　barbecue　pork　skins。　He　threw　them　at　Jake。
　They　crossed　the　dam　in　a　blinding　downpour。　Harry　Rex　parked　next　to　a　small　pavilion　over　a　picnic　area。　They　sat　on　the　concrete　table　and　watched　the　rain　batter　Lake　Chatulla。　Jake　drank　beer　while　Harry　Rex　ate　the　catfish　dinners。
　〃When　you　gonna　tell　Carla？〃　he　asked；　slurping　beer。
　The　tin　roof　roared　above。　〃About　what？〃
　〃The　house。〃
　〃I'm　not　gonna　tell　her。　I　think　I　can　have　it　rebuilt　before　she　gets　back。〃
　〃You　mean　by　the　end　of　the　week？〃
　〃Yeah。〃
　〃You're　cracking　up；　Jake。　You're　drinking　too　much；　and　you're　losing　your　mind。〃
　〃I　deserve　it。　I've　earned　it。　I'm　two　weeks　away　from　bankruptcy。　I'm　about　to　lose　the　biggest　case　of　my　career；　for　which　I　have　been　paid　nine　hundred　dollars。　My　beautiful　home　that　everyone　took　pictures　of　and　the　old　ladies　from　the　Garden　Club　tried　to　get　written　up　in　Southern　Living　has　been　reduced　to　rubble。　My　wife　has　left　me；　and　when　she　hears　about　the　house；　she'll　divorce　me。　No　question　about　that。　So　I'll　lose　my　wife。　And　once　my　daughter　learns　that　her　damned　dog　died　in　the　fire；　she'll　hate　me　forever。　There's　a　contract　on　my　head。　I've　got　Klan　goons　looking　for　me。　Snipers　shooting　at　me。　There's　a　soldier　lying　up　in　the　hospital　with　my　bullet　in　his　spine。　He'll　be　a　vegetable；　and　I'll　think　about　him　every　hour　of　every　day　for　the　rest　of　my　life。　My　secretary's　husband　was　killed　because　of　me。　My　last　employee　is　in　the　hospital　with　a　punk　haircut　and　a　concussion　because　she　worked　for　me。　The　jury　thinks　I'm　a　lying　crook　because　of　my　expert　witness。　My　client　wants　to　fire　me。　When　he's　convicted；　every…
　body　will　blame　me。　He'll　hire　another　lawyer　for　the　appeal；　one　of　those　ACLU　types；　and　they'll　sue　me　claiming　ineffective　trial　counsel。　And　they'll　be　right。　So　I'll　get　my　ass　sued　for　malpractice。　I'll　have　no　wife；　no　daughter；　no　house；　no　practice；　no　clients；　no　money；　nothing。〃
　〃You　need　psychiatric　help；　Jake。　I　think　you　should　make　an　appointment　with　Dr。　Bass。　Here；　have　a　beer。〃
　〃I　guess　I'll　move　in　with　Lucien　and　sit　on　the　porch　all　day。〃
　〃Can　I　have　your　office？〃
　〃Do　you　think　she'll　divorce　me？〃
　〃Probably　so。　I've　had　four　divorces；　and　they'll　file　for　damned　near　anything。〃
　〃Not　Carla。　I　worship　the　ground　she　walks　on；　and　she　knows　it。〃
　〃She'll　be　sleeping　on　the　ground　when　she　gets　back　to　Clanton。〃
　〃Naw；　we'll　get　a　nice；　cozy　little　double…wide　trailer。　It'll　do　us　fine　until　the　bankruptcy　is　over。　Then　we'll　find　another　old　house　and　start　over。〃
　〃You'll　probably　find　you　another　wife　and　start　over。　Why　would　she　leave　a　swanky　cottage　on　the　beach　and　return　to　a　house　trailer　in　Clanton？〃
　〃Because　I'll　be　in　the　house　trailer。〃
　〃That's　not　good　enough；　Jake。　You'll　be　a　drunk；　bankrupt；　disbarred　lawyer；　living　in　a　house　trailer。　You　will　be　publicly　disgraced。　All　of　your　friends；　except　me　and　Lucien；　will　forget　about　you。　She'll　never　e　back。　It's　over；　Jake。　As　your　friend　and　divorce　lawyer；　I　advise　you　to　file　first。　Do　it　now；　tomorrow；　so　she'll　never　know　what　hit　her。〃
　〃Why　would　I　sue　her　for　divorce？〃
　〃Because　she's　gonna　sue　you。　We'll　file　first　and　allege　that　she　deserted　you　in　your　hour　of　need。〃
　〃Is　that　grounds　for　divorce？〃
　〃No。　But　we'll　also　claim　that　you're　crazy；　temporary　insanity。　Just　let　me　handle　it。　The　M'Naghten　Rule。　I'm　the　sleazy　divorce　lawyer；　remember。〃
　〃How　could　I　forget？〃
　Jake　poured　hot　beer　from　his　neglected　bottle；　and
　opened　another。　The　rain　slackened　and　the　clouds　lightened。　A　cool　wind　blew　up　from　the　lake。
　〃They'll　convict　him；　won't　they；　Harry　Rex？〃　he　asked；　staring　at　the　lake　in　the　distance。
　He　quit　chomping　and　wiped　his　mouth。　He　laid　the　paper　plate　on　the　table；　and　took　a　long　drink　of　beer。　The　wind　blew　light　drops　of　water　onto　his　face。　He　wiped　it　with　a　sleeve。
　〃Yeah；　Jake。　Your　man　is　about　to　be　sent　away。　I　can　see　it　in　their　eyes。　The　insanity　crap　just　didn't　work。　They　didn't　want　to　believe　Bass　to　begin　with；　and　after　Buckley　yanked　his　pants　down；　it　was　all　over。　Carl　Lee　didn't　help　himself　any。　He　seemed　rehearsed　and　too　sincere。　Like　he　was　begging　for　sympathy。　He　was　a　lousy　witness。　I　watched　the　jury　while　he　testified。　I　saw　no　support　for　him。　They'll　convict；　Jake。　And　quickly。〃
　〃Thanks　for　being　so　blunt。〃
　〃I'm　your　friend；　and　I　think　you　should　start　preparing　for　a　conviction　and　a　long　appeal。〃
　〃You　know；　Harry　Rex；　I　wish　I'd　never　heard　of　Carl　Lee　Hailey。〃
　〃I　think　it's　too　late；　Jake。〃
　Sallie　answered　the　door　and　told　Jake　she　was　sorry　about　the　house。　Lucien　was　upstairs　in　his　study；　working　and　sober。　He　pointed　to　a　chair　and　instructed　Jake　to　sit　down。　Legal　pads　littered　his　desk。
　〃I've　spent　all　afternoon　working　on　a　closing　argument；〃　he　said；　waving　at　the　mess　before　him。　〃Your　only　hope　of　saving　Hailey　is　with　a　spellbinding　performance　on　final　summation。　I　mean；　we're　talking　about　the　greatest　closing　argument　in　the　history　of　jurisprudence。　That's　what　it'll　take。〃
　〃And　I　assume　you've　created　such　a　masterpiece。〃'　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　have。　It's　much　better　than　anything　you　could　e　up　with。　And　I　assumed…correctly…　that　you　would　spend　your　Sunday　afternoon　mourning　the　loss　of　your　home　and　drowning　your　sorrows　with　Coors。　I　knew　you　would　have　nothing　prepared。　So　I've　done　it　for　you。〃
　〃I　wish　I　could　stay　as　sober　as　you；　Lucien。〃
　〃I　was　a　better　lawyer　drunk　than　you　are　sober。〃
　〃At　least　I'm　a　lawyer。〃
　Lucien　tossed　a　legal　pad　at　Jake。　〃There　it　is。　A　pilation　of　my　greatest　closing　arguments。　Lucien　Wilbanks　at　his　best；　all　rolled　into　one　for　you　and　your　client。　I　suggest　you　memorize　it　and　use　it　word　for　word。　It's　that　good。　Don't　try　to　modify　it；　or　improvise。　You'll　just　screw　it　up。〃
　〃I'll　think　about　it。　I've　done　this　before；　remember？〃
　〃You'd　never　know　it。〃
　〃Dammit；　Lucien！　Get　off　my　back！〃
　〃Take　it　easy；　Jake。　Let's　have　a　drink。　Sallie！　Sallie！〃
　Jake　threw　the　masterpiece　on　the　couch　and　walked　to　the　window　overlooking　the　backyard。　Sallie　ran　up　the　stairs。　Lucien　ordered　whiskey　and　beer。
　〃Were　you　up　all　night？〃　Lucien　asked。
　〃No。　I　slept　from　eleven　to　twelve。〃
　〃You　look　terrible。　You　need　a　good　night's　rest。〃
　〃I　feel　terrible；　and　sleep　will　not　help。　Nothing　will　help；　except　the　end　of　this　trial。　I　don't　understand；　Lucien。　I　don't　understand　how　everything　has　gone　so　wrong。　Surely　to　God　we're　entitled　to　a　little　good　luck。　The　case　should　not　even　be　tried　in　Clanton。　We　were　dealt　the　worst　possible　jury…a　jury　that's　been　tampered　with。　But　I　can't　prove　it。　Our　star　witness　was　pletely　destroyed。　The　defendant　made　a　lousy　witness。　And　the　jury　does　not　trust　me。　I　don't　know　what　else　could　go　wrong。〃
　〃You　can　still　win　the　case；　Jake。　It'll　take　a　miracle；　but　those　things　happen　sometimes。　I've　snatched　victory　from　the　jaws　of　defeat　many　times　with　an　effective　closing　argument。　Zero　in　on　one　or　two　jurors。　Play　to　them。　Talk　to　them。　Remember；　it　just　takes　one　to　hang　the　jury。〃
　〃Should　I　make　them　cry？〃
　〃If　you　can。　It's　not　that　easy。　But　I　believe　in　tears　in　the　jury　box。　It's　very　effective。〃
　Sallie　brought　the　drinks；　and　they　followed　her　downstairs　to　the　porch。　After　dark；　she　fed　them　sandwiches　and　fried　potatoes。　At　ten；　Jake　excused　himself　and　went　to　his　room。　He　called　Carla　and　talked　for　an　hour。　There　was　no　mention　of　the　house。　His　stomach　cramped　when　he　heard
　her　voice　and　realized　that　one　day　very　soon　he　would　be　forced　to　tell　her　that　the　house；　her　house；　no　longer　existed。　He　hung　up　and　prayed　she　didn't　read　about　it　in　the　newspaper。
　Clanton　returned　to　normal　Monday　morning　as　the　barricades　were　put　in　place　around　the　square　and　the　ranks　of　the　soldiers　swelled　to　preserve　the　public　peace。　They　loitered　about　in　loose　formation；　watching　as　the　Kluxers　returned　to　their　appointed　ground　on　one　side；　and　the　black　protestors　on　the　other。　The　day　of　rest　brought　renewed　energy　to　both　groups；　and　by　eight…thirty　they　were　in　full　chorus。　The　collapse　of　Dr。　Bass　had　been　big　news；　and　the　Kluxers　smelled　victory。　Plus　they　had　scored　a　direct　hit　on　Adams　Street。　They　appeared　to　be　louder　than　normal。
　At　nine；　Noose　summoned　the　attorneys　to　chambers。　〃Just　wanted　to　make　sure