cwilleford.cockfighter-第1部分

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　　…Ezra　Pound
　　
　　
　　
　　1
　　
　　First；　I　closed　the　windows　and　bolted　the　flimsy　aluminum　door。　Then　I　flicked　on　the　overhead　light　and　snapped　the　Venetian　blinds　shut。　Without　the　cross　ventilation；　it　was　stifling　inside　the　trailer。　Outside；　in　the　florida　sunlight；　the　temperature　was　in　the　high　eighties；　but　inside；　now　that　the　door　and　the　windows　were　locked；　it　must　have　been　a　hundred　degrees。　I　wiped　the　sweat　away　from　my　streaming　face　and　neck　with　a　dishcloth；　dried　my　hands；　and　tossed　the　cloth　on　the　floor。　After　moving　Sandspur's　traveling　coop　onto　the　couch；　I　checked　the　items　on　the　table　one　more　time。
　　Leather　thong。　Cotton。　Razor　blade。　Bowl　of　lukewarm　soapy　water。　Pan　of　rubbing　alcohol。　Liquid　lead　ballpoint　pencil。　Sponge。　All　in　order。
　　I　lifted　the　lid　of　the　coop；　brought　Sandspur　out　with　both　hands；　turned　the　cock's　head　away　from　me；　and　then　held　him　firmly　with　my　left　hand　under　his　breast。　I　looped　the　noose　of　leather　over　his　dangling　yellow　feet；　slipped　it　tight　above　his　sawed　off　spur　stumps；　and　made　a　couple　of　turns　to　hold　it　snug。　Holding　the　chicken　with　both　hands　again；　I　lowered　him　between　my　legs　and　squeezed　my　knees　together　tight　enough　to　hold　him　so　he　couldn't　move　his　wings。　Sandspur　didn't　like　it。　He　hit　back　with　both　feet　four　times；　making　thumping　sounds　against　the　plastic　couch；　but　he　couldn't　get　away。
　　I　pinched　off　a　generous　wad　of　cotton　between　my　left　thumb　and　forefinger　and　clamped　my　fingers　over　his　lemon…yellow　beak。　There　was　just　enough　of　a　downward　curve　to　his　short　beak　so　he　couldn't　jerk　his　head　out　of　my　fingers。　He　couldn't　possibly　hurt　himself；　as　long　as　the　cotton　didn't　slip。
　　Impatient　knuckles　rapped　on　the　door。　Dody　again。　A　vein　throbbed　in　my　temple。　At　that　moment　I　would　have　given　anything　to　be　able　to　curse。
　　〃How　long　you　gonna　be；　Frank？〃　Dody's　petulant　voice　shrilled　through　the　door。　〃I　gotta　go　to　the　bathroom！〃
　　I　didn't　answer。　I　couldn't。　She　rapped　impatiently　a　couple　of　more　times　and　then　she　went　away。　At　least　she　didn't　holler　anymore。
　　My　right　hand　was　damp　again；　and　I　wiped　my　fingers　on　my　jeans；　still　holding　Sandspur's　beak　with　my　left　thumb　and　forefinger。　I　picked　up　the　razor　blade　and　cut　a　fine　hairline　groove　across　his　bifi　as　high　up　as　possible。　This　was　ticklish　work　and　I　cut　a　trifle　too　deep　on　the　right　side。　I　dropped　the　razor　blade　back　on　the　table　and　released　the　cock's　head。　I　picked　up　the　ballpoint　lead　pencil　with　my　left　hand　and　rubbed　the　point　across　my　right　fingertip　until　it　was　smeared　with　liquid　lead。　Pinching　off　more　cotton　with　my　left　hand；　I　caught　Sandspur's　beak　again　and　rubbed　the　almost　invisible　groove　with　my　leadsmeared　forefinger。　I　took　my　time；　and　Sandspur　glared　at　me　malevolently　with　his　shiny　yellow　eyes。
　　As　soon　as　I　was　satisfied；　I　unloosened　the　thong　around　his　feet　and　put　the　bird　on　the　table；　washed　his　legs　with　luke…warm　soapy　water；　and　rubbed　his　breast　and　thighs。　I　repeated　the　rubdown　with　alcohol。　I　was　particularly　careful　with　his　head　and　bill；　only　using　cotton　dipped　in　the　pan　of　alcohol。
　　Finished；　I　returned　the　items　to　my　gaff　case　and　dumped　the　used　soapy　water　and　alcohol　into　the　sink。　Sandspur　was　a　fine…looking　fighting　cock；　and　after　his　light　rubdown　he　felt　in　fine　feather。　Holding　his　head　high　he　strutted　back　and　forth　on　the　slick　Masonite　table。　He　was　a　Whitehackle　cross　in　peak　condition；　a　five…time　winner；　and　a　real　money　bird。　I　knew　he　would　win　this　afternoon；　but　I　also　knew　he　had　to　win。
　　I　stepped　in　close　to　the　table；　made　a　feinting　pinch　for　his　doctored　beak　and　he　tried　to　peck　me。　I　examined　his　beak；　and　even　under　close　scrutiny　the　bill　looked　cracked。　The　liquid　lead　inside　the　hairline　made　the　manufactured　crack　look　authentic　even　to　my　expert　eyes。　As　a　longtime　professional　cocker　I　knew　the　crack　would　fool　Mr。　Ed　Middleton；　Jack　Burke；　and　the　accordion…necked　fruit　tramp　bettors。　I　picked　Sandspur　up　and　lowered　him　gently　into　his　coop。
　　I　opened　the　door；　but　Dody　was　nowhere　in　sight。　She　was　probably　visiting　inside　one　of　the　other　trailers　in　the　camp。　After　sliding　up　all　the　windows　again　I　lit　a　cigarette　and　sat　down。　What　I　had　done　to　Sandspur's　bill　wasn't　exactly　illegal；　but　I　didn't　feel　too　proud　about　it。　I　only　wanted　to　boost　the　betting　odds　and　my　slender　roll。
　　Although　I　knew　I　couldn't　possibly　lose；　I　was　apprehensive　about　the　fight　ing　up。　Everything　I　had；　including　my　old　Caddy　and　my　Love…Lee…Mobile　Home；　was　down　on　this　single　cockfight。　And　Sandspur　was　the　only　cock　I　had　left。　In　my　mind；　I　reviewed　my　impulsive　bet。　I　had　been　a　damned　fool　to　bet　the　car　and　trailer。
　　
　　
　　At　four　that　morning　I　had　slid　out　of　bed　without　waking　Dody　and　switched　on　the　light。　Dody　slept　like　a　child；　mainly　because　she　was　a　child。　The　girl　was　only　sixteen。　I　had　picked　her　up　in　Homestead；　Florida；　three　weeks　before　at　a　juke　joint　near　the　trailer　camp　where　I　had　been　staying。　Her　parents　had　their　trailer　in　the　Homestead　camp；　and　Dody　was　only　one　out　of　their　five　children。　It　was　a　family　of　fruit　tramps；　and　I　doubt　very　much　if　they　even　missed　her　when　I　took　her　away　with　me。　I　wasn't　the　first　man　to　sleep　with　Dody；　not　by　any　means。　There　had　been　dozens　before　me；　but　seeing　her　asleep　and　vulnerable　that　morning　made　me　feel　uneasy　about　our　relationship。　She　was　awfully　damned　young。　At　thirty…two；　I　was　exactly　twice　as　old　as　Dody。
　　It　was　too　hot　in　Belle　Glade　to　have　even　a　sheet　over　you；　and　Dody　lay　on　her　back　wearing　a　flimsy　cotton　shorty　nightgown。　She　slept　with　her　mouth　open；　her　long　taffy…colored　braids　stretched　out　on　the　pillow。　Her　face　was　flushed　with　sleep；　and　she　didn't　look　twelve　years　old；　much　less　sixteen。　Her　body　was　fully　mature；　however；　with　large；　melon…heavy　breasts；　and　long　tapering　legs。　In　her　clumsy；　uninhibited　way　she　was　surprisingly　good　in　bed。　She　was　as　strong　as　a　tractor；　but　not　quite　as　intelligent。
　　I　felt　sorry　for　Dody。　She　didn't　have　much　to　show　for　her　life　so　far。　With　her　parents；　she　had　followed　crops　all　over　the　country…staying　locked　in　a　car　by　a　field　someplace　until　she　was　big　enough　to　carry　baskets…and　this　constant　exposure　to　the　itinerant　agricultural　worker's　lackadaisical　code　of　living　had　made　her　wise　beyond　her　age。　After　spending　the　night　with　me　in　my　trailer　in　Homestead；　she　had　begged　to　be　taken　along；　and　I　brought　her　with　me　to　Belle　Glade。　Why　I　weakened　I　don't　know；　but　at　the　time　I　had　been　depressed。　I　had　lost　four　birds　in　the　Homestead　fighting；　and　if　Sandspur　hadn't　won　his　fight；　the　Homestead　meet　would　have　been　a　major　disaster。　But　three　weeks　is　a　long　time　to　live　with　a　young；　demanding　girl…and　a　stupid；　irritating　girl；　at　that。
　　Anyway；　it　was　four　a。m。　I　dressed　and　took　Sandspur　outside　and　around　to　the　back　of　the　trailer。
　　It　was　stifi　dark　and　I　wanted　to　flirt　him　for　exercise。　A　cooped　bird　gets　stale　in　a　hurry。　I　sidestepped　the　chicken　six　times；　gave　him　six　rolls；　and　let　him　drink　a　half　dip　of　water。　He　would　get　no　more　water　until　after　the　fight。　When　the　sky　began　to　lighten　I　released　him。　Sandspur　lifted　his　head　and　crowed　twice。　I　lit　my　first　cigarette　of　the　day。　As　I　watched　the　cock　scratch　in　the　loose　sand；　a　shadow　fell　across　my　face。　I　looked　up　and　there　was　Jack　Burke；　a　wide　grin　splitting　his　homely　face。　I　scooped　Sandspur　up　quickly；　dropped　him　into　the　coop　and　closed　the　lid。　Burke　had　seen　him；　but　there　still　wasn't　enough　light　for　a　close　look。
　　〃That　the　mighty　Sandspur？〃　Burke　said。
　　I　nodded。
　　〃He　don't　look　like　no　five…time　winner　to　me。　Tell　you　what　I'll　do；　Mr。　Mansfield；〃　Burke　said；　as　though　he　were　doing　me　a　big　favor；　〃I'll　give　you　two　to　ones'
　　When　Burke　made　this　offer；　I　had　just　started　to　get　to　my　feet。　But　now　I　decided　to　remain　in　my　squatting　position。　Burke　is　a　man　of　average　height；　but　I　am　a　full　head　taller　than　he　is；　and　my　eyes　are　bluer。　My　blond　hair　is　curly；　and　his　lank　blond　hair　is　straight。　Looking　down　on　me　that　way　gave　him　a　psychological　advantage；　a　feeling　of　power；　and　I　wanted　him　to　have　it…hoping　that　his　overconfidence　would　help　me　get　even　better　odds　that　afternoon。
　　Burke　had　written　me　a　postcard　to　Homestead；　challenging　Sandspur　to　the　fight　at　even　money。　I　had　accepted　by　return　mail；　glad　to　get　a　chance　at　his　Ace　cock；　Little　David。　Little　David　wasn't　so　little　in　his　reputation。　He　was　an　eight…time　winner　and　had　had　a　lot　of　publicity。　When　my　Sandspur　beat　Burke's　Little　David；　his　value　would　be　doubled；　and　my　chances　for　taking　the　Southern　Conference　championship　would　be　improved。
　　On　the　drive　from　Homestead　to　Belle　Glade；　I　had　thought　of　the　crack…on…the…bill　plan；　and　now　I　didn't　want　even　money　or　two　to　one　either。　After　the　bettors　looked　at　the　birds　before　the　pitting；　I　expected　to　get　odds　of　four　to　one；　at　least。　I　had　eight　hundred　and　fifty　dollars　in　my　wallet　and　I　didn't　want　to　take　Burke's　offer；　but　after　accepting　an　even…money　fight　by　mail；　I　couldn't　legitimately　turn　down　the　new　odds。
　　I　snapped　my　fingers　out　four　times；　folded　in　my　thumb；　and　held　up　four　fingers。　I　nodded　twice。
　　〃You　mean　you've　only　got　a　hundred　dollars　to　bet？〃　Burke　said；　with　a　short　angry　laugh。　〃1　figured　on　taking　you　for　at　least　a　thousand！〃
　　I　pointed　to　the　coop　and　lifted　a　forefinger　to　show　Burke　I　only　had　the　one　cock。　He　knew　very　well　I　had　lost　four　birds　at　Homestead。　By　this　time；　everybody　in　Florida　and　half　of　Georgia　knew　it。
　　Jack　Burke　followed　the　Cocker's　Code　of　Conduct；　and　he　was　honest；　but　he　disliked　me。　Although　my　luck　had　been　mostly　bad　for　the　last　three　years；　four　years　before　at　Bioxi　my　novice　stag；　Pinky；　had　killed　his　Ace；　Pepperpot。　He　would　never　be　able　to　forgive　or　forget　that　beating。　Pinky　had　won　only　one　fight　against　five　for　his　cock；　and　Burke　had　taken　a　terrific　loss　at　five…to…one　odds。　More　than　the　money　he　had　lost；　he　had　resented　my　winning。　A　columnist　in　The　Southern　Cockfighter　had　unfairly　blamed　his