jg.atimetokill-第92部分

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　Harry　Rex　pulled　into　the　driveway　and　parked　under　a　shade　tree。　Jake　got　out；　looked　around　the　front　yard；　and　walked　onto　the　porch。　He　knocked　on　the　screen　door。
　A　man　appeared。　A　stranger。　〃Yeah；　whatta　you　want？〃
　〃I'm　Jake　Brigance；　and…〃
　The　door　flew　open；　and　the　man　rushed　onto　the　porch　and　grabbed　Jake's　hand。　〃Nice　to　meet　you；　Jake。　I'm　Mack　Loyd　Crowell。　I　was　on　the　grand　jury　that　almost　didn't　indict。　You　done　a　real　good　job。　I'm　proud　of　you。〃
　Jake　shook　his　hand　and　repeated　his　name。　Then　he
　remembered；　Mack　Loyd　Crowell；　the　man　who　told　Buckley　to　shut　up　and　sit　down　in　the　grand　jury。　〃Yeah；　Mack　Loyd；　now　I　remember。　Thanks。〃
　Jake　looked　awkwardly　through　the　door。
　〃You　lookin'　for　Wanda？〃　Crowell　asked。
　〃Well；　yes。　I　was　just　passing　by；　and　remembered　her　address　from　the　jury　research。〃
　〃You've　e　to　the　right　place。　She　lives　here；　and　I　do　too　most　of　the　time。　We　ain't　married　or　nothing；　but　we　go　together。　She's　layin'　down　takin'　a　nap。　She's　pretty　wore　out。〃
　〃Don't　wake　her；〃　Jake　said。
　〃She　told　me　what　happened。　She　won　it　for　you。〃
　〃How？　What　happened？〃
　〃She　made　them　all　close　their　eyes　and　listen　to　her。　She　told　them　to　pretend　that　the　little　girl　had　blond　hair　and　blue　eyes；　that　the　two　rapists　were　black；　that　they　tied　her　right　foot　to　a　tree　and　her　left　foot　to　a　fence　post；　that　they　raped　her　repeatedly　and　cussed　her　because　she　was　white。　She　told　them　to　picture　the　little　girl　layin'　there　beggin'　for　her　daddy　while　they　kicked　her　in　the　mouth　and　knocked　out　her　teeth；　broke　both　jaws；　broke　her　nose。　She　said　to　imagine　two　drunk　blacks　pouring　beer　on　her　and　pissing　in　her　face；　and　laughing　like　idiots。　And　then　she　told　them　to　imagine　that　the　little　girl　belonged　to　them　…their　daughter。　She　told　them　to　be　honest　with　themselves　and　to　write　on　a　piece　of　paper　whether　or　not　they　would　kill　those　black　bastards　if　they　got　the　chance。　And　they　voted；　by　secret　ballot。　All　twelve　said　they　would　do　the　killing。　The　foreman　counted　the　votes。　Twelve　to　zero。　Wanda　said　she'd　sit　in　that　jury　room　until　Christmas　before　she'd　vote　to　convict；　and　if　they　were　honest　with　themselves；　then　they　ought　to　feel　the　same　way。　Ten　of　them　agreed　with　her；　and　one　lady　held　out。　They　all　started　cryin'　and　cussin'　her　so　bad；　she　finally　caved　in。　It　was　rough　in　there；　Jake。〃
　Jake　listened　to　every　word　without　breathing。　He　heard　a　noise。　Wanda　Womack　walked　to　the　screen　door。　She　smiled　at　him　and　began　crying。　He　stared　at　her　through　the　screen；　but　could　not　talk。　He　bit　his　lip　and
　nodded。　〃Thanks；〃　he　managed　weakly。　She　wiped　her　eyes　and　nodded。
　On　Craft　Road；　a　hundred　cars　lined　both　shoulders　east　and　west　of　the　Hailey　driveway。　The　long　front　yard　was　packed　with　vehicles；　children　playing；　and　parents　sitting　under　shade　trees　and　on　car　hoods。　Harry　Rex　parked　in　a　ditch　by　the　mailbox。　A　crowd　rushed　to　greet　Carl　Lee's　lawyer。　Lester　grabbed　him　and　said；　〃You　done　it　again；　you　done　it　again。〃
　They　shook　hands　and　slapped　backs　across　the　yard　and　up　to　the　porch。　Agee　hugged　him　and　praised　God。　Carl　Lee　left　the　swing　and　walked　down　the　steps；　followed　by　his　family　and　admirers。　They　gathered　around　Jake　as　the　two　great　men　came　face　to　face。　They　clutched　hands　and　smiled　at　each　other；　both　searching　for　words。　They　embraced。　The　crowd　clapped　and　shouted。
　〃Thank　you；　Jake；〃　Carl　Lee　said　softly。
　The　lawyer　and　client　sat　in　the　swing　and　answered　questions　about　the　trial。　Lucien　and　Harry　Rex　joined　Lester　and　some　of　his　friends　under　a　shade　tree　for　a　little　drink。　Tonya　ran　and　jumped　around　the　yard　with　a　hundred　other　kids。
　At　two…thirty；　Jake　sat　at　his　desk　and　talked　to　Carla。　Harry　Rex　and　Lucien　drank　the　last　of　the　margaritas；　and　quickly　got　drunk。　Jake　drank　coffee　and　told　his　wife　he　would　leave　Memphis　in　three　hours　and　be　in　North　Carolina　by　ten。　Yes；　he　was　fine；　he　said。　Everything　was　okay；　and　everything　was　over。　There　were　dozens　of　reporters　packed　into　his　conference　room；　so　be　sure　and　watch　the　evening　news。　He　would　meet　with　them　briefly；　then　drive　to　Memphis。　He　said　he　loved　her；　missed　her　body；　and　would　be　there　soon。　He　hung　up。
　Tomorrow；　he'd　call　Ellen。
　〃Why　are　you　leaving　today！〃　Lucien　demanded。
　〃You're　stupid；　Jake；　just　stupid。　You've　got　a　thousand　reporters　in　the　palm　of　your　hand；　and　you're　leaving　town。　Stupid；　just　stupid；〃　Harry　Rex　shouted。
　Jake　stood。　〃How　do　I　look；　fellas？〃
　〃Like　a　dumbass　if　you　leave　town；〃　Harry　Rex　said。
　〃Hang　around　for　a　couple　of　days；〃　Lucien　pleaded。　〃This　is　an　opportunity　you'll　never　have　again。　Please；　Jake。〃
　〃Relax；　fellas。　I'm　going　to　meet　with　them　now；　let　them　take　my　picture；　answer　a　few　of　their　stupid　questions；　then　I'm　leaving　town。〃
　〃You're　crazy；　Jake；〃　Harry　Rex　said。
　〃I　agree；〃　said　Lucien。
　Jake　checked　the　mirror；　adjusted　Stan's　tie；　and　smiled　at　his　friends。　〃I　appreciate　you　guys。　I　really　do。　I　got　paid　nine　hundred　dollars　for　this　trial；　and　I　plan　to　share　it　with　y'all。〃
　They　poured　the　last　of　the　margaritas；　gulped　it　down；　and　followed　Jake　Brigance　down　the　stairs　to　face　the　reporters。
　
　
　
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