jg.atimetokill-第91部分

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　〃I　feel　weak；〃　Jake　admitted。
　Agee　took　the　platform　on　the　front　steps　and　announced　the　jury　was　ready。　He　asked　for　quiet；　and　instantly　the　mob　grew　still。　They　moved　toward　the　front　columns。　Agee　asked　them　to　fall　to　their　knees　and　pray。　They　knelt　obediently　and　prayed　earnestly。　Every　man；　woman；　and　child　on　the　front　lawn　bowed　before　God　and　begged　him　to　let　their　man　go。
　The　soldiers　stood　bunched　together　and　also　prayed　for　an　acquittal。
　Ozzie　and　Moss　Junior　seated　the　courtroom　and　lined　deputies　and　reserves　around　the　walls　and　down　the　aisle。　Jake　entered　from　the　holding　room　and　stared　at　Carl　Lee　at　the　defense　table。　He　glanced　at　the　spectators。　Many　were　praying。　Many　were　biting　their　fingers。　Gwen　was　wiping　tears。　Lester　looked　fearfully　at　Jake。　The　children　were　confused　and　scared。
　Noose　assumed　the　bench　and　an　electrified　silence　engulfed　the　courtroom。　There　was　no　sound　from　the　outside。　Twenty　thousand　blacks　knelt　on　the　ground　like　Muslims。　Perfect　stillness　inside　the　courtroom　and　out。
　〃I　have　been　advised　that　the　jury　has　reached　a　verdict；　is　that　correct；　Mr。　Bailiff？　Very　well。　We　will　soon　seat　the　jury；　but　before　we　do　so　I　have　some　instructions。　I　will　not　tolerate　any　outbursts　or　displays　of　emotion。　I　will　direct　the　sheriff　to　remove　any　person　who　creates　a　disturbance。　If　need　be；　I　will　clear　the　courtroom。　Mr。　Bailiff；　will　you　seat　the　jury。〃
　The　door　opened；　and　it　seemed　like　an　hour　before　Eula　Dell　Yates　appeared　first　with　tears　in　her　eyes。　Jake　dropped　his　head。　Carl　Lee　stared　gamely　at　the　portrait　of　Robert　E。　Lee　above　Noose。　They　awkwardly　filled　the　jury
　box。　They　seemed　jittery；　tense；　scared。　Most　had　been　crying。　Jake　felt　sick。　Barry　Acker　held　a　piece　of　paper　that　attracted　the　attention　of　everyone。
　〃Ladies　and　gentlemen；　have　you　reached　a　verdict？〃
　〃Yes；　sir；　we　have；〃　answered　the　foreman　in　a　high…pitched；　nervous　voice。
　〃Hand　it　to　the　clerk；　please。〃
　Jean　Gillespie　took　it　and　handed　it　to　His　Honor；　who　studied　it　forever。　〃It　is　technically　in　order；〃　he　finally　said。
　Eula　Dell　was　flooding；　and　her　sniffles　were　the　only　sounds　in　the　courtroom。　Jo　Ann　Gates　and　Bernice　Toole　padded　their　eyes　with　handkerchiefs。　The　crying　could　mean　only　one　thing。　Jake　had　vowed　to　ignore　the　jury　before　the　verdict　was　read；　but　it　was　impossible。　In　his　first　criminal　trial；　the　jurors　had　smiled　as　they　took　their　seats。　At　that　moment；　Jake　had　bee　confident　of　an　acquittal。　Seconds　later　he　learned　that　the　smiles　were　because　a　criminal　was　about　to　be　removed　from　the　streets。　Since　that　trial；　he　had　vowed　never　to　look　at　the　jurors。　But　he　always　did。　It　would　be　nice　to　see　a　wink　or　a　thumbs　up；　but　that　never　happened。
　Noose　looked　at　Carl　Lee。　〃Will　the　defendant　please　rise。〃
　Jake　knew　there　were　probably　more　terrifying　requests　known　to　the　English　tongue；　but　to　a　criminal　lawyer　that　request　at　that　particular　moment　had　horrible　implications。　His　client　stood　awkwardly；　pitifully。　Jake　closed　his　eyes　and　held　his　breath。　His　hands　shook　and　his　stomach　ached。
　Noose　handed　the　verdict　back　to　Jean　Gillespie。　〃Please　read　it；　Madam　Clerk。〃
　She　unfolded　it　and　faced　the　defendant。　〃As　to　each　count　of　the　indictment；　we　the　jury　find　the　defendant　not　guilty　by　reason　of　insanity。〃
　Carl　Lee　turned　and　bolted　for　the　railing。　Tonya　and　the　boys　sprang　from　the　front　pew　and　grabbed　him。　The　courtroom　exploded　in　pandemonium。　Gwen　screamed　and　burst　into　tears。　She　buried　her　head　in　Lester's　arms。　The　reverends　stood；　looked　upward；　and　shouted　〃Hallelujah！〃　and　〃Praise　Jesus！〃　and　〃Lord！　Lord！　Lord！〃
　Noose's　admonition　meant　nothing。　He　rapped　the　gavel　half…heartedly　and　said；　〃Order；　order；　order　in　the
　seemed　content　to　allow　a　little　celebration。
　Jake　was　numb；　lifeless；　paralyzed。　His　only　movement　was　a　weak　smile　in　the　direction　of　the　jury　box。　His　eyes　watered　and　his　lip　quivered；　and　he　decided　not　to　make　a　spectacle　of　himself。　He　nodded　at　Jean　Gillespie；　who　was　crying；　and　just　sat　at　the　defense　table　nodding　and　trying　to　smile；　unable　to　do　anything　else。　From　the　corner　of　his　eye　he　could　see　Musgrove　and　Buckley　removing　files；　legal　pads；　and　important…looking　papers；　and　throwing　it　all　into　their　briefcases。　Be　gracious；　he　told　himself。
　A　teenager　darted　between　two　deputies；　through　the　door；　and　ran　through　the　rotunda　screaming　〃Not　guilty！　Not　guilty！〃　He　ran　to　a　small　balcony　over　the　front　_steps　and　screamed　to　the　masses　below　〃Not　guilty！　Not　guilty！〃　Bedlam　erupted。
　〃Order；　order　in　the　court；〃　Noose　was　saying　when　the　delayed　reaction　from　the　outside　came　thundering　through　the　windows。
　〃Order；　order　in　the　courtroom。〃　He　tolerated　the　excitement　for　another　minute；　then　asked　the　sheriff　to　restore　order。　Ozzie　raised　his　hands　and　spoke。　The　clapping；　hugging　and　praising　died　quickly。　Carl　Lee　released　his　children　and　returned　to　the　defense　table。　He　sat　close　to　his　attorney　and　put　his　arm　around　him；　grinning　and　crying　at　the　same　time。
　Noose　smiled　at　the　defendant。　〃Mr。　Hailey；　you　have　been　tried　by　a　jury　of　your　peers　and　found　not　guilty。　I　do　not　recall　any　expert　testimony　that　you　are　now　dangerous　or　in　need　of　further　psychiatric　treatment。　You　are　a　free　man。〃
　His　Honor　looked　at　the　attorneys。　〃If　there　is　nothing　further；　this　court　will　stand　adjourned　until　August　15。〃
　Carl　Lee　was　smothered　by　his　family　and　friends。　They　hugged　him；　hugged　each　other；　hugged　Jake。　They　wept　unashamedly　and　praised　the　Lord。　They　told　Jake　they　loved　him。
　The　reporters　pressed　against　the　railing　and　began　firing　questions　at　Jake。　He　held　up　his　hands；　and　said　he　would　have　no　ment。　But　there　would　be　a　full…blown　press　conference　in　his　office　at　2：00　P。M。
　Buckley　and　Musgrove　left　through　a　side　door。　The　jurors　were　locked　in　the　jury　room　to　await　the　last　bus　ride　to　the　motel。　Barry　Acker　asked　to　speak　to　the　sheriff。　Oz…zie　met　him　in　the　hallway；　listened　intently；　and　promised　to　escort　him　home　and　provide　protection　around　the　clock。
　The　reporters　assaulted　Carl　Lee。　〃I　just　wanna　go　home；〃　he　said　over　and　over。　〃I　just　wanna　go　home。〃
　The　celebration　kicked　into　high　gear　on　the　front　lawn。　There　was　singing；　dancing；　crying；　back…slapping；　hugging；　thanks…giving；　congratulating；　outright　laughing；　cheering；　chanting；　high　fives；　low　fives；　and　soul　brother　shakes。　The　heavens　were　praised　in　one　glorious；　tumultuous；　irreverent　jubilee。　They　packed　closer　together　in　front　of　the　courthouse　and　waited　impatiently　for　their　hero　to　emerge　and　bask　in　his　much　deserved　adulation。
　Their　patience　grew　thin。　After　thirty　minutes　of　screaming　〃We　Want　Carl　Lee！　We　Want　Carl　Lee！〃　their　man　appeared　at　the　door。　An　ear…splitting；　earth…shaking　roar　greeted　him。　He　inched　forward　through　the　mass　with　his　lawyer　and　family；　and　stopped　on　the　top　step　under　the　pillars　where　the　plywood　platform　held　a　thousand　microphones。　The　whooping　and　yelling　of　twenty　thousand　voices　was　deafening。　He　hugged　his　lawyer；　and　they　waved　to　the　sea　of　screaming　faces。
　The　shouting　from　the　army　of　reporters　was　pletely　inaudible。　Occasionally；　Jake　would　stop　waving　and　yell　something　about　a　press　conference　in　his　office　at　two。
　Carl　Lee　hugged　his　wife　and　children；　and　they　waved。　The　crowd　roared　its　approval。　Jake　slid　away　and　into　the　courthouse；　where　he　found　Lucien　and　Harry　Rex　waiting　in　a　corner；　away　from　the　mad　rush　of　spectators。　〃Let's　get　out　of　here；〃　Jake　yelled。　They　pushed　through　the　mob；　down　the　hall　and　out　the　rear　door。　Jake　spotted　a　swarm　of　reporters　on　the　sidewalk　outside　his　office。
　〃Where　are　you　parked？〃　he　asked　Lucien。　He　pointed　to　a　side　street；　and　they　disappeared　behind　the　Coffee　Shop。
　Sallie　fried　pork　chops　and　green　tomatoes；　and　served　them　on　the　porch。　Lucien　produced　a　bottle　of　expensive　cham…
　Rex　ate　with　his　fingers；　gnawing　on　the　bones　as　if　he　hadn't　seen　food　in　a　month。　Jake　played　with　his　food　and　worked　on　the　ice…cold　champagne。　After　two　glasses；　he　smiled　into　the　distance。　He　savored　the　moment。
　〃You　look　silly　as　hell；〃　Harry　Rex　said　with　a　mouthful　of　pork。
　〃Shut　up；　Harry　Rex；〃　Lucien　said。　〃Let　him　enjoy　his　finest　hour。〃
　〃He's　enjoying　it。　Look　at　that　smirk。〃
　〃What　should　I　tell　the　press？〃　Jake　asked。
　〃Tell　them　you　need　some　clients；〃　Harry　Rex　said。
　〃Clients　will　be　no　problem；〃　Lucien　said。　〃They'll　line　the　sidewalks　waiting　for　appointments。〃
　〃Why　didn't　you　talk　to　the　reporters　in　the　courthouse？　They　had　their　cameras　running　and　everything。　I　started　to　say　something　for　them；〃　Harry　Rex　said。
　〃I'm　sure　it　would've　been　a　gem；〃　Lucien　said。
　〃I've　got　them　at　my　fingertips；〃　Jake　said。　〃They're　not　going　anywhere。　We　could　sell　tickets　to　the　press　conference　and　make　a　fortune。〃
　〃Can　I　sit　and　watch；　please；　Jake；　please；〃　Harry　Rex　said。
　They　argued　over　whether　they　should　take　the　antique　Bronco　or　the　nasty　little　Porsche。　Jake　said　he　was　not　driving。　Harry　Rex　cursed　the　loudest；　and　they　loaded　into　the　Bronco。　Lucien　found　a　spot　in　the　rear　seat。　Jake　rode　shotgun　and　gave　instructions。　They　hit　the　back　streets；　and　missed　most　of　the　traffic　from　the　square。　The　highway　was　crowded；　and　Jake　directed　his　driver　through　a　myriad　of　gravel　roads。　They　found　blacktop；　and　Harry　Rex　raced　away　in　the　direction　of　the　lake。
　〃I　have　one　question；　Lucien；〃　Jake　said。
　〃What？〃
　〃And　I　want　a　straight　answer。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃Did　you　cut　a　deal　with　Sisco？〃
　〃No；　my　boy；　you　won　it　on　your　own。〃
　〃Do　you　swear？〃
　〃I　swear　to　God。　On　a　stack　of　Bibles。〃
　Jake　wanted　to　believe　him；　so　he　dropped　it。　They　rode　in　silence；　in　the　sweltering　heat；　and　listened　as　Harry　Rex　sang　along　with　the　stereo。　Suddenly；　Jake　pointed　and　yelled。　Harry　Rex　slammed　on　the　brakes；　made　a　wild　left　turn；　and　sped　down　another　gravel　road。
　〃Where　are　we　going？〃　Lucien　demanded。
　〃Just　hang　on；〃　Jake　said　as　he　looked　at　a　row　of　houses　approaching　on　the　right。　He　pointed　to　the　second　one；　and　Harry　Rex　pulled　into　the　driveway　and　parked　under　a　shade　tree。　Jake　got　out；　looked