jg.atimetokill-第89部分

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　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　trees　to　go　around。　They　filled　the　courthouse　in　search　of　cold　water　and　rest　rooms。　They　walked　the　sidewalks　and　gazed　in　the　windows　of　the　closed　shops　and　stores。　Fearing　trouble　from　the　horde；　the　Coffee　Shop　and　the　Tea　Shoppe　closed　during　lunch。　Outside　of　Claude's；　they　lined　the　sidewalk　for　a　block　and　a　half。
　Jake；　Harry　Rex；　and　Lucien　relaxed　on　the　balcony　and　enjoyed　the　circus　below。　A　pitcher　of　fresh；　slushy　mar…garitas　sat　on　the　table　and　slowly　disappeared。　At　times　they　participated　in　the　rally；　yelling　〃Free　Carl　Lee〃　or　humming　along　with　〃We　Shall　Overe。〃　No　one　knew　the　words　but　Lucien。　He　had　learned　them　during　the　glorious　civil　rights　days　of　the　sixties；　and　still　claimed　to　be　the　only　white　in　Ford　County　who　knew　all　the　words　to　every　stanza。　He　had　even　joined　a　black　church　back　then；　he　explained　between　drinks；　after　his　church　voted　to　exclude
　black　members。　He　dropped　out　after　a　three…hour　sermon　ruptured　a　disc。　He　had　decided　white　people　were　not　cut　out　for　that　kind　of　worship。　He　still　contributed；　however。
　Occasionally；　a　crew　of　TV　people　would　stray　near　Jake's　office　and　serve　up　a　question。　Jake　would　pretend　not　to　hear；　then　finally　yell　〃Free　Carl　Lee。〃
　Precisely　at　one…thirty；　Agee　found　his　bullhorn；　unfurled　his　banner；　lined　up　the　ministers　and　gathered　his　marchers。　He　started　with　the　hymn；　sung　directly　into　the　bullhorn；　and　the　parade　crawled　down　Jackson；　then　onto　Caffey；　and　around　and　around　the　square。　Each　lap　attracted　more　people　and　made　more　noise。
　The　jury　room　was　silent　for　fifteen　minutes　after　Reba　Betts　was　converted　from　an　undecided　to　a　not　guilty。　If　a　man　raped　her；　she　just　might　blow　his　head　off　if　she　got　the　chance。　It　was〃now　five　to　five　with　two　undecideds；　and　a　promise　looked　hopeless。　The　foreman　continued　to　straddle　the　fence。　Poor　old　Eula　Dell　Yates　had　cried　one　way；　then　cried　the　other；　and　everyone　knew　she　would　eventually　go　with　the　majority。　She　had　burst　into　tears　at　the　window；　and　was　led　to　her　seat　by　Clyde　Sisco。　She　wanted　to　go　home。　Said　she　felt　like　a　prisoner。
　The　shouting　and　marching　had　taken　its　toll。　When　the　bullhorn　passed　nearby；　the　anxiety　level　in　the　small　room　reached　a　frenzied　peak。　Acker　would　ask　for　quiet；　and　they　would　wait　impatiently　until　the　racket　faded　to　the　front　of　the　courthouse。　It　never　disappeared　pletely。　Carol　Corman　was　the　first　to　inquire　about　their　safety。　For　the　first　time　in　a　week；　the　quiet　motel　was　awfully　attractive。
　Three　hours　of　nonstop　chanting　had　unraveled　whatever　nerves　were　left。　The　foreman　suggested　they　talk　about　their　families　and　wait　until　Noose　sent　for　them　at　five。
　Bernice　Toole；　a　soft　guilty；　suggested　something　they　had　all　thought　about　but　no　one　had　mentioned。　〃Why　don't　we　just　tell　the　judge　we　are　hopelessly　deadlocked？〃
　〃He'd　declare　a　mistrial；　wouldn't　he？〃　asked　Jo　Ann　Gates。
　〃Yes；〃　answered　the　foreman。　〃And　he　would　be　re…
　tried　in　a　few　months。　Why　don't　we　call　it　a　day；　and　try　again　tomorrow？〃
　They　agreed。　They　were　not　ready　to　quit。　Eula　Dell　cried　softly。
　At　four；　Carl　Lee　and　the　kids　walked　to　one　of　the　tall　windows　lining　each　side　of　the　courtroom。　He　noticed　a　small　knob。　He　turned　it；　and　the　windows　swung　open　to　a　tiny　platform　hanging　over　the　west　lawn。　He　nodded　at　a　deputy；　and　stepped　outside。　He　held　Tonya　and　watched　the　crowd。
　They　saw　him。　They　yelled　his　name　and　rushed　to　the　building　under　him。　Agee　led　the　marchers　off　the　street　and　across　the　lawn。　A　wave　of　black　humanity　gathered　under　the　small　porch　and　pressed　forward　for　a　closer　look　at　their　champion。
　〃Free　Carl　Lee！〃
　〃Free　Carl　Lee！〃
　〃Free　Carl　Lee！〃
　He　waved　at　his　fans　below　him。　He　kissed　his　daughter　and　hugged　his　sons。　He　waved　and　told　the　kids　to　wave。
　Jake　and　his　small　band　of　hombres　used　the　diversion　to　stagger　across　the　street　to　the　courthouse。　Jean　Gillespie　had　called。　Noose　wanted　to　see　the　lawyers　in　chambers。　He　was　disturbed。　Buckley　was　raging。
　〃I　demand　a　mistrial！　I　demand　a　mistrial！〃　he　yelled　at　Noose　the　second　Jake　walked　in。
　〃You　move　for　a　mistrial；　Governor。　You　don't　demand；〃　Jake　sard　through　glassy　eyes。
　〃You　go　to　hell；　Brigance！　You　planned　all　this。　You　plotted　this　insurrection。　Those　are　your　niggers　out　there。〃
　〃Where's　the　court　reporter？〃　Jake　asked。　〃I　want　this　on　the　record。〃
　〃Gentlemen；　gentlemen；〃　Noose　said。　〃Let's　be　professionals。〃
　〃Judge；　the　State　moves　for　a　mistrial；〃　Buckley　said；　somewhat　professionally。
　〃Overruled。〃
　〃All　right；　then。　The　State　moves　to　allow　the　jury　to　deliberate　at　someplace　other　than　the　courthouse。〃
　〃Now　that's　an　interesting　idea；〃　Noose　said。
　〃I　see　no　reason　why　they　can't　deliberate　at　the　motel。　It's　quiet　and　few　people　know　where　it　is；〃　Buckley　said　confidently。
　〃Jake？〃　Noose　said。
　〃Nope；　it　won't　work。　There　is　no　statutory　provision　giving　you　the　authority　to　allow　deliberations　outside　the　courthouse。〃　Jake　reached　in　his　pocket　and　found　several　folded　papers。　He　threw　them　on　the　desk。　〃State　versus　Dubose；　1963　case　from　Linwood　County。　The　air　conditioning　in　the　Linwood　County　Courthouse　quit　during　a　heat　wave。　The　circuit　judge　allowed　the　jury　to　deliberate　in　a　local　library。　The　defense　objected。　Jury　convicted。　On　appeal；　the　Supreme　Court　ruled　the　judge's　decision　was　improper　and　an　abuse　of　discretion。　The　court　went　on　to　hold　that　the　jury　deliberations　must　take　place　in　the　jury　room　in　the　courthouse　where　the　defendant　is　being　tried。　You　can't　move　them。〃
　Noose　studied　the　case　and　handed　it　to　Musgrove。
　〃Get　the　courtroom　ready；〃　he　said　to　Mr。　Pate。
　With　the　exception　of　the　reporters；　the　courtroom　was　solid　black。　The　jurors　looked　haggard　and　strained。
　〃I　take　it　you　do　not　have　a　verdict；〃　Noose　said。
　〃No；　sir；〃　replied　the　foreman。
　〃Let　me　ask　you　this。　Without　indicating　any　numerical　division；　have　you　reached　a　point　where　you　can　go　no　further？〃
　〃We've　talked　about　that；　Your　Honor。　And　we'd　like　to　leave；　get　a　good　night's　rest；　and　try　again　tomorrow。　We're　not　ready　to　quit。〃
　〃That's　good　to　hear。　I　apologize　for　the　distractions；　but；　again；　there's　nothing　I　can　do。　I'm　sorry。　You'll　just　have　to　do　your　best。　Anything　further？〃
　〃No；　sir。〃
　〃Very　well。　We'll　stand　adjourned　until　nine　A。M。　tomorrow。〃
　Carl　Lee　pulled　Jake's　shoulder。　〃What　does　all　this　mean？〃
　〃It　means　they're　deadlocked。　It　could　be　six　to　six；　or　eleven　to　one　against　you；　or　eleven　to　one　for　acquittal。　So　；　don't　get　excited。〃
　Barry　Acker　cornered　the　bailiff　and　handed　him　a　folded　sheet　of　paper。　It　read：
　Luann：
　Pack　the　kids　and　go　to　your　mother's。　Don't　tell　anyone。　Stay　there　until　this　thing　is　over。　Just　do　as　I　say。　Things　are　dangerous。
　Barry
　〃Can　you　get　this　to　my　wife　today？　Our　number　is　881…0774。〃
　〃Sure；〃　said　the　bailiff。
　Tim　Nunley；　mechanic　down　at　the　Chevrolet　place；　former　client　of　Jake　Brigance；　and　Coffee　Shop　regular；　sat　on　a　couch　in　the　cabin　deep　in　the　woods　and　drank　a　beer。　He　listened　to　his　Klan　brothers　as　they　got　drunk　and　cursed　niggers。　Occasionally；　he　cursed　them　too。　He　had　noticed　whispering　for　the　past　two　nights　now；　and　felt　something　was　up。　He　listened　carefully。
　He　stood　to　get　another　beer。　Suddenly；　they　jumped　him。　Three　of　his　rades　pinned　him　against　the　wall　and　pounded　him　with　fists　and　feet。　He　was　beaten　badly；　then　gagged；　bound；　and　dragged　outside；　across　the　gravel　road；　and　into　the　field　where　he　had　been　inducted　as　a　member。　A　cross　was　lit　as　he　was　tied　to　a　pole　and　stripped。　A　bullwhip　lashed　him　until　his　shoulders；　back；　and　legs　were　solid　crimson。
　Two　dozen　of　his　ex…brethren　watched　in　mute　horror　as　the　pole　and　limp　body　were　soaked　with　kerosene。　The　leader；　the　one　with　the　bullwhip；　stood　next　to　him　for　an　eternity。　He　pronounced　the　death　sentence；　then　threw　a　match。
　Mickey　Mouse　had　been　silenced。
　They　packed　their　robes　and　belongings；　and　left　for　home。　Most　would　never　return　to　Ford　County。
　Wednesday。　For　the　first　time　in　weeks　Jake　slept　more　than　eight　hours。　He　had　fallen　asleep　on　the　couch　in　his　office；　and　he　awoke　at　five　to　the　sounds　of　the　military　preparing　for　the　worst。　He　was　rested；　but　the　nervous　throbbing　returned　with　the　thought　that　this　day　would　probably　be　the　big　day。　He　showered　and　shaved　downstairs；　and　ripped　open　a　new　pack　of　Fruit　of　the　Loom　he　had　purchased　at　the　drug　store。　He　dressed　himself　in　Stan　Atcavage's　finest　navy　all…season　suit；　which　was　an　inch　too　short　and　a　bit　loose；　but　not　a　bad　fit　under　the　circumstances。　He　thought　of　the　rubble　on　Adams　Street；　then　Carla；　and　the　knot　in　his　stomach　began　to　churn。　He　ran　for　the　newspapers。
　On　the　front　pages　of　the　Memphis；　Jackson；　and　Tu…pelo　papers　were　identical　photos　of　Carl　Lee　standing　on　the　small　porch　over　the　mob；　holding　his　daughter　and　waving　to　his　people。　There　was　nothing　about　Jake's　house。　He　was　relieved；　and　suddenly　hungry。
　Dell　hugged　him　like　a　lost　child。　She　removed　her　apron　and　sat　next　to　him　in　a　corner　booth。　As　the　regulars　arrived　and　saw　him；　they　stopped　by　and　patted　him　on　the　back。　It　was　good　to　see　him　again。　They　had　missed　him；　and　they　were　for　him。　He　looked　gaunt；　she　said；　so　he　ordered　most　of　the　menu。
　〃Say；　Jake；　are　all　those　blacks　gonna　be　back　today？〃　asked　Bert　West。
　〃Probably；〃　he　said　as　he　stabbed　a　chunk　of　pancakes。
　〃I　heard　they's　plannin'　to　bring　more　folks　this　mornin'；〃　said　Andy　Rennick。　〃Ever　nigger　radio　station　in　north　Mississippi　is　tellin'　folks　to　e　to　Clanton。〃
　Great；　thought　Jake。　He　added　Tabasco　to　his　scrambled　eggs。
　〃Can　the　jury　hear　all　that　yellin'？〃　asked　Bert。
　〃Sure　they　can；〃　Jake　answered。　〃That's　why　they're　doing　it。　They're　not　deaf。〃
　〃That's　gotta　scare　them。〃
　Jake　certainly　hoped　so。
　〃How's　the　family？〃　Dell　asked　quietly。
　〃Fine；　I　guess。　I　talked　to　Carla　every　night。〃
　〃She　scared？〃
　〃Terrified。〃
　〃What　have　th