jg.atimetokill-第88部分

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s　hands　and　begging　Ozzie　to　do　something。　Around　him　thousands　of　blacks　swarmed　and　yelled　in　perfect　unison。　Ozzie　asked　the　mayor　if　he　wanted　him　to　start　arresting　everybody　on　the　courthouse　lawn。
　Noose　parked　at　a　service　station　a　half　mile　south　of　the　jail；　and　walked　with　a　group　of　blacks　to　the　courthouse。　They　watched　him　curiously；　but　said　nothing。　No　one　would　suspect　he　was　a　person　of　authority。　Buckley　and　Musgrove　parked　in　a　driveway　on　Adams　Street。　They　cursed　and　walked　toward　the　square。　They　noticed　the　pile　of　rubble　that　had　been　Jake's　house　but　said　nothing。　They　were　too　busy　cursing。　With　state　troopers　leading　the　way；　the　Greyhound　from　Temple　reached　the　square　at　twenty　minutes　after　nine。　Through　the　dark　windows；　the　fourteen　passengers　stared　in　disbelief　at　the　carnival　around　the　courthouse。
　Mr。　Pate　called　the　packed　courtroom　to　order；　and　Noose　weled　his　jury。　He　apologized　for　the　trouble　outside；　but　there　was　nothing　he　could　do。　If　there　were　no　problems　to　report；　they　could　continue　deliberations。
　〃Very　well；　you　may　retire　to　the　jury　room　and　get　to　work。　We　will　meet　again　just　before　lunch。〃
　The　jurors　filed　out　and　went　to　the　jury　room。　The　Hailey　children　sat　with　their　father　at　the　defense　table。　The　spectators；　now　predominantly　black；　remained　seated　and　struck　up　conversations。　Jake　returned　to　his　office。
　Foreman　Acker　sat　at　the　end　of　the　long；　dusty　table　and　thought　of　the　hundreds；　perhaps　thousands；　of　Ford　Countians　who　had　served　in　this　room　and　sat　around　this　table　and　argued　about　justice　over　the　past　century。　Any　pride　he　may　have　felt　for　serving　on　the　jury　of　the　most　famous　case　was　greatly　overshadowed　by　what　happened　last　night。　He　wondered　how　many　of　his　predecessors　had　been　threatened　with　death。　Probably　a　few；　he　decided。
　The　others　fixed　their　coffee　and　slowly　found　seats　around　the　tables。　The　room　brought　back　fond　memories　for　Clyde　Sisco。　Prior　jury　duty　had　proved　lucrative　for　him；　and　he　relished　the　thought　of　another　handsome　payoff　for　another　just　and　true　verdict。　His　messenger　had　not　contacted　him。
　〃How　would　y'all　like　to　proceed？〃　the　foreman　asked。
　Rita　Mae　Plunk　had　an　especially　hard　and　unforgiving　look　about　her。　She　was　a　rough　woman　with　a　house　trailer；　no　husband；　and　two　outlaws　for　sons；　both　of　whom　had　expressed　hatred　for　Carl　Lee　Hailey。　She　had　a　few　things　she　wanted　to　get　off　her　large　chest。
　〃I　got　a　few　things　I　wanna　say；〃　she　informed　Acker。
　〃Fine。　Why　don't　we　start　with　you；　Miss　Plunk；　and　go　around　the　table。〃
　〃I　voted　guilty　yesterday　in　the　first　vote；　and　I'll　vote　guilty　next　time。　I　don't　see　how　anybody　could　vote　not　guilty；　and　I　want　just　one　of　you　to　explain　to　me　how　you　could　vote　in　favor　of　this　nigger！〃
　〃Don't　say　that　word　again！〃　yelled　Wanda　Womack。
　〃I'll　say　'nigger'　if　I　wanna　say　'nigger；'　and　there　ain't　a　damned　thing　you　can　do；〃　replied　Rita　Mae。
　〃Please　don't　use　that　word；〃　said　Frances　McGowan。
　〃I　find　it　personally　offensive；〃　said　Wanda　Womack。
　〃Nigger；　Nigger；　Nigger；　Nigger；　Nigger；　Nigger；〃　Rita　Mae　yelled　across　the　table。
　〃e　on；〃　said　Clyde　Sisco。
　〃Oh　boy；〃　said　the　foreman。　〃Look；　Miss　Plunk；　let's　be　honest；　okay。　Most　of　us　use　that　word；　from　time　to　time。
　I'm　sure　some　of　us　use　it　more　than　others。　But　it's　offensive　to　many　people；　and　I　think　it'd　be　a　good　idea　not　to　use　it　during　our　deliberations。　We've　got　enough　to　worry　about　as　it　is。　Can　we　all　agree　not　to　use　that　word？〃
　Everyone　nodded　but　Rita　Mae。
　Sue　Williams　decided　to　answer。　She　was　well　dressed；　attractive；　about　forty。　She　worked　for　the　county　welfare　department。　〃I　didn't　vote　yesterday。　I　passed。　But　I　tend　to　sympathize　with　Mr。　Hailey。　I　have　a　daughter；　and　if　she　was　raped；　it　would　greatly　affect　my　mental　stability。　I　can　understand　how　a　parent　might　crack　in　that　situation；　and　I　think　it's　unfair　for　us　to　judge　Mr。　Hailey　as　if　he　was　supposed　to　act　pletely　rational。〃
　〃You　think　he　was　legally　insane？〃　asked　Reba　Betts；　an　undecided。
　〃I'm　not　sure。　But　I　know　he　wasn't　stable。　He　couldn't　have　been。〃
　〃So　you　believe　that　nut　of　a　doctor　who　testified　for　him？〃　asked　Rita　Mae。
　〃Yes。　He　was　as　believable　as　the　State's　doctor。〃
　〃I　liked　his　boots；〃　said　Clyde　Sisco。　No　one　laughed。
　〃But　he's　a　convict；〃　said　Rita　Mae。　〃He　lied　and　tried　to　cover　Ft　up。　You　can't　believe　a　word　he　said。〃
　〃He　had　sex　with　a　girl　under　eighteen；〃　Clyde　said。　〃If　that's　a　crime；　then　a　bunch　of　us　should've　been　indicted。〃
　Again；　no　one　appreciated　the　attempt　at　humor。　Clyde　decided　to　stay　quiet　for　a　while。
　〃He　later　married　the　girl；〃　said　Donna　Lou　Peck；　an　undecided。
　They　went　around　the　table；　one　at　a　time；　expressing　opinions　and　answering　questions。　The　N　word　was　carefully　avoided　by　those　wanting　a　conviction。　The　battle　lines　became　clearer。　Most　of　the　undecideds　leaned　toward　guilty；　it　seemed。　The　careful　planning　by　Carl　Lee；　knowing　the　exact　movements　of　the　boys；　the　M…16…it　all　seemed　so　premeditated。　If　he　had　caught　them　in　the　act　and　killed　them　on　the　spot；　he　would　not　be　held　accountable。　But　to　plan　it　so　carefully　for　six　days　did　not　indicate　an　insane　mind。
　Wanda　Womack；　Sue　Williams；　and　Clyde　Sisco　leaned
　toward　acquittal…the　rest　toward　conviction。　Barry　Acker　was　noticeably　nonmittal。
　Agee　unfurled　a　long　blue　and　white　FREE　CARL　LEE　banner。　The　ministers　gathered　fifteen　abreast　behind　it；　and　waited　for　the　parade　to　form　behind　them。　They　stood　in　the　center　of　Jackson　Street；　in　front　of　the　courthouse；　while　Agee　screamed　instructions　to　the　masses。　Thousands　of　blacks　packed　tightly　behind　them；　and　off　they　went。　They　inched　down　Jackson；　and　turned　left　on　Caffey；　up　the　west　side　of　the　square。　Agee　led　the　marchers　in　their　now　familiar　battle　cry　of　〃Free　Carl　Lee！　Free　Carl　Lee！〃　They　screamed　it　in　an　endless；　repetitive；　numbing　chorus。　As　the　crowd　moved　around　the　square；　it　grew　in　number　and　volume。
　Smelling　trouble；　the　merchants　locked　up　and　headed　for　home　and　safety。　They　checked　their　policies　to　see　if　they　were　insured　for　riot　damage。　The　green　soldiers　were　lost　in　a　sea　of　black。　The　colonel；　sweating　and　nervous；　ordered　his　troops　to　circle　the　courthouse　and　stand　firm。　While　Agee　and　the　marchers　were　turning　onto　Washington　Street；　Ozzie　met　with　the　handful　of　Kluxers。　In　a　sincere　and　diplomatic　way；　he　convinced　them　things　could　get　out　of　hand；　and　he　could　no　longer　guarantee　their　safety。　He　acknowledged　their　right　to　assemble；　said　they　had　made　their　point；　and　asked　them　to　get　away　from　the　square　before　there　was　trouble。　They　huddled　quickly；　and　disappeared。
　When　the　banner　passed　under　the　jury　room；　all　twelve　gaped　from　the　window。　The　incessant　chanting　rattled　the　glass　panes。　The　bullhorn　sounded　like　a　loudspeaker　hanging　from　the　ceiling。　The　jurors　stared　in　disbelief　at　the　mob；　the　black　mob　which　filled　the　street　and　trailed　around　the　corner　onto　Caffey。　A　varied　assortment　of　homemade　signs　bobbed　above　the　masses　and　demanded　that　the　man　be　freed。
　〃I　didn't　know　there　were　this　many　niggers　in　Ford　County；〃　Rita　Mae　Plunk　said。　At　that　moment；　the　other　eleven　held　the　same　thought。
　Buckley　was　furious。　He　and　Musgrove　watched　from　a　third…floor　window　in　the　library。　The　roar　below　had　disrupted　their　quiet　conversation。
　〃I　didn't　know　there　were　this　many　niggers　in　Ford　County；〃　Musgrove　said。
　〃There　ain't。　Somebody　shipped　these　niggers　in　here。　I　wonder　who　put　them　up　to　it。〃
　〃Probably　Brigance。〃
　〃Yeah；　probably　so。　It's　mighty　convenient　that　they　start　all　this　hell…raising　when　the　jury　is　deliberating。　There　must　be　five　thousand　niggers　down　there。〃
　〃At　least。〃
　Noose　and　Mr。　Pate　watched　and　listened　from　a　second…floor　window　in　chambers。　His　Honor　was　not　happy。　He　worried　about　his　jury。　〃I　don't　see　how　they　can　concentrate　on　much　with　all　this　going　on。〃
　〃Pretty　。good　timing；　ain't　it；　Judge？〃　Mr。　Pate　said。
　〃It　certainly　is。〃
　〃I　didn't　know　we　had　that　many　blacks　in　the　whole　county。〃
　It　took　twenty　minutes　for　Mr。　Pate　and　Jean　Gillespie　to　find　the　attorneys　and　bring　the　courtroom　to　order。　When　it　was　quiet；　the　jurors　filed　into　their　seats。　There　were　no　smiles。
　Noose　cleared　his　throat。　〃Ladies　and　gentlemen；　it　is　time　for　lunch。　I　don't　suppose　you　have　anything　to　report。〃
　Barry　Acker　shook　his　head。
　〃That's　what　I　figured。　Let's　break　for　lunch；　until　one…thirty。　I　realize　you　cannot　leave　the　courthouse；　but　I　want　you　to　eat　for　a　while　without　working　on　the　case。　I　apologize　for　the　disturbance　outside；　but；　frankly；　I　can't　do　anything　about　it。　We'll　be　in　recess　until　one…thirty。〃
　In　chambers；　Buckley　went　wild。　〃This　is　crazy；　Judge！　There's　no　way　the　jury　can　concentrate　on　this　case　with　all　that　noise　out　there。　This　is　a　deliberate　effort　to　intimidate　the　jury。〃
　〃I　don't　like　it；〃　Noose　said。
　〃It　was　planned；　Judge！　It's　intentional！〃　Buckley　yelled。
　〃It　looks　bad；〃　Noose　added。
　〃I'm　almost　ready　for　a　mistrial！〃
　〃I　won't　grant　one。　What　do　you　say；　Jake？〃
　Jake　grinned　for　a　moment；　and　said；　〃Free　Carl　Lee。〃
　〃Very　funny；〃　Buckley　growled。　〃You　probably　planned　all　this。〃
　〃No。　If　you　will　recall；　Mr。　Buckley；　I　tried　to　prevent　it。　I　have　repeatedly　asked　for　a　change　of　venue。　I　have　repeatedly　said　the　trial　should　not　be　held　in　this　courthouse。　You　wanted　it　here；　Mr。　Buckley；　and　you　kept　it　here；　Judge　Noose。　You　both　now　look　foolish　plaining。〃
　Jake　was　impressed　with　his　arrogance。　Buckley　growled　and　stared　out　the　window。　〃Look　at　them。　Wild　niggers。　Must　be　ten　thousand　out　there。〃
　During　lunch　the　ten　thousand　grew　to　fifteen　thousand。　Cars　from　a　hundred　miles　away…some　with　Tennessee　plates…parked　on　the　shoulders　of　the　highways　outside　the　city　limits。　The　people　hiked　for　two　and　three　miles　under　a　blistering　sun　to　join　the　festivities　around　the　courthouse。　Agee　broke　for　lunch；　and　the　square　quieted。
　The　blacks　were　peaceful。　They　opened　their　coolers　and　picnic　baskets；　and　shared　with　each　other。　They　congregated　in　the　shade；　but　there　were　not　enough