cwilleford.cockfighter-第20部分

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　　〃Well；　well；〃　he　said　with　false　heartiness；　holding　onto　my　hand　and　grinning；　〃if　it　isn't　the　junior　birdman！〃
　　He　patted　his　wife　on　her　broad　rump；　crossed　to　the　sideboard　and　poured　a　shot　glass　full　of　bourbon。　He　swiftly　drank　two　neat　shots　before　turning　around。
　　〃Wele　home；　Bubba；〃　he　said；　〃how　long　are　you　going　to　stay？〃
　　He　sat　at　the　table；　and　I　dropped　into　my　seat　again。　Randall　looked　well。　He　always　did；　whether　he　had　a　hangover　or　didn't　have　one。　His　face　was　a　little　puffy；　but　he　was　freshly　shaven；　and　his　curly　russet　hair　had　been　cut　recently。　His　starched　white　shirt；　however；　was　frayed　at　the　cuffs。　The　knot　of　his　red…and…blue　striped　rep　tie　was　a　well…adjusted　double　windsor；　and　his　black；　well…worn　oxford　flannel　trousers　were　sharply　creased。
　　When　I　managed　to　catch　his　eyes　with　mine；　I　shrugged。
　　〃I　see；〃　he　nodded；　〃the　enigmatic　response。　Before　I　came　downstairs　I　looked　outside；　both　in　front　and　out　back；　and　didn't　see　a　car　parked。　Until　I　realized　it　was　you；　I　thought　Frances　was　merely　talking　to　herself　again。　But　if　you're　broke；　you're　wele　to　stay　home　as　long　as　you　like　and　close　ranks　with　me。　I've　never　been　any　flatter。〃
　　〃I　saved　two　pork　chops　for　you；　Randy；〃　Frances　said　quickly。
　　〃No；　thanks。　Just　coffee。　Save　the　chops　for　my　lunch。〃　Randall　smiled　abstractedly；　clasped　his　fingers　behind　his　head　and　studied　the　ceiling。　〃It　isn't　difficult　to　divine　the　purpose　of　your　visit；　Bubba；〃　he　continued。　〃When　you're　flush；　you　wheel　up　in　a　convertible；　your　pockets　stuffed　with　dollar　cigars。　When　you're　broke；　you're　pletely　broke；　and　on　your　uppers。　But　if　the　purpose　of　your　visit　is　to　collect　the　honest　debt　I　owe　you；　you're　out　of　luck。　Three　hundred　dollars！〃　He　shook　his　head　and　snorted。　〃Frankly；　Bubba；　I'd　have　a　hard　time　raising　twenty！〃
　　He　leaned　forward　in　his　chair　and　said　derisively；　〃But　you　can　live　here　as　long　as　you　like。　We　can　still　eat；　and　thanks　to　Daddy　there's　a　wonderful　roof　over　our　heads。　And　whether　we　pay　our　bills　in　town　or　not；　the　Mansfield　credit　is　still　good'
　　To　drink　the　coffee　Frances　set　before　him；　Randall　gripped　the　large　white　mug　with　both　hands。　His　fingers　didn't　tremble；　but　it　must　have　taken　a　good　deal　of　concentrated　effort　to　hold　them　steady。
　　〃Going　to　see　Mary　Elizabeth？〃　he　asked　suddenly。
　　I　shrugged　and　lit　a　cigarette。　I　offered　the　pack　to　my　brother。　He　held　up　a　palm　in　refusal；　changed　his　mind　and　took　one　out　of　the　pack。　He　held　both　of　his　hands　in　his　lap；　after　putting　the　cork　tip　in　his　mouth；　and　I　had　to　lean　across　the　table　to　light　it　for　him。
　　〃You　kind　of　believe　in　long　engagements；　don't　you；　Bubba？〃　he　said；　smiling　sardonically。　〃It's　been　about　seven　years　now；　hasn't　it？〃
　　〃Eight。〃　Frances　emended。　〃Eight　years　e　November。〃
　　〃Well；　you　can't　say　I　haven't　done　my　part　to　bring　you　together；〃　Randall　said　wryly；　watching　my　face　closely。　〃Five　years　ago　our　farms　were　almost　three　miles　apart。　But　thanks　to　selling　land　to　Wright　Gaylord；　we're　less　than　a　mile　away　from　them　now！〃　He　laughed　with　genuine　amusement。
　　I　was　unable　to　listen　to　him　any　longer。　He　made　me　feel　sick　to　my　stomach。　I　rose　from　the　table；　and　picked　up　my　shaving　kit　from　the　sideboard。
　　〃There's　plenty　of　hot　water　upstairs　if　you　want　to　shave；　but　not　enough　yet　for　a　bath。　Lately　I've　taken　to　turning　the　heater　off　at　night　and　not　lighting　it　again　till　I　get　up；〃　Frances　said。　〃Your　room　is　dusty；　too；　but　when　Leona　es　over　this　morning　I'll　have　her　do　it　up　and　put　fresh　sheets　on　the　bed。〃
　　I　nodded　at　my　sister…in…law　and　left　the　room。　As　I　climbed　the　stairs　to　the　second　floor；　Randall　said；　〃Maybe　you'd　better　scramble　me　a　couple　of　eggs；　Hon。　But　don't　put　any　grease　in　the　skillet；　just　a　little　salt　。　。
　　Not　only　was　Randall　weak；　he　was　a　petty　tyrant　to　his　long…suffering　wife。　Before　she　could　scramble　eggs　she　would　have　to　pour　the　good　milk　gravy　into　a　bowl；　and　wash　and　dry　the　frying　pan。
　　My　old　room　was　at　the　very　end　of　the　upstairs　hallway；　next　to　the　bathroom。　When　Daddy　bought　the　farm　and　moved　us　out　from　town；　I　had　been　elated　about　the　move　because　it　meant　having　a　room　to　myself。　And　somehow；　Daddy　had　made　a　go　of　the　farm　when　many　other　good　farmers　were　half　starving　in　Georgia。　He　had　earned　a　fair　sum　by　not　planting　things　and　by　collecting　checks　from　the　government。　But　even　when　times　were　excellent；　he　had　never　made　any　real　money　out　of　the　farm。　He　was　a　fair　farmer；　but　a　poor　businessman。　Daddy　had　only　been　good　for　giving　Randall　and　me　advice；　cheap　advice；　and　he　had　never　found　anything　in　either　one　of　us　except　our　faults。
　　My　room　was　dusty　all　right；　as　Frances　had　said。　It　had　also　been　used　as　a　catchall　storeroom　during　the　two　years　I　had　been　away。　The　stripped　double　bed　had　been　stacked　with　some　cardboard　cartons　full　of　books；　two　shadeless　table　lamps　and　two　carelessly　rolled　carpets。　Extra　pieces　of　dilapidated　furniture　had　been　tossed　haphazardly　into　the　room；　and　the　hand…painted　portrait　of　Grandpa　was　lying　flat　on　top　of　my　desk。　A　thick　layer　of　dust　was　scattered　over　everything。　When　I　opened　the　window；　dust　puffs　as　large　as　tennis　balls　took　out　after　each　other　across　the　floor。
　　For　a　moment　or　two　I　looked　out　the　window　at　the　familiar　view；　but　it　didn't　seem　the　same。　Something　was　missing。　And　then　I　noticed　that　the　ten…acre　stand　of　slash　pine　had　disappeared…cut　down　and　sold　as　firewood　probably；　and　not　replanted。
　　I　lifted　the　stern…faced　portrait　of　Grandpa　off　the　desk　and　leaned　it　against　the　dresser。　I　wiped　the　surface　of　the　desk　with　my　handkerchief。　After　rummaging　through　the　drawers；　I　found　a　cheap；　lined　tablet　with　curling　edges。　Sitting　down　at　the　desk；　I　took　out　my　ballpoint。
　　It　took　approximately　a　half　hour　to　write　out　a　list　of　instructions　for　Judge　Brantley　Powell。　I　wanted　to　be　sure　that　I　covered　everything　pletely　so　he　wouldn't　have　any　questions。　After　rereading　the　list；　and　making　a　few　interlinear　corrections；　I　folded　the　sheaf　of　papers　and　stuffed　them　into　my　hip　pocket。
　　I　went　into　the　bathroom　and　shaved；　planning　on　an　immediate　departure　for　town　in　order　to　catch　the　judge　in　his　office　before　he　went　home　for　the　day。　After　returning　to　my　room；　I　was　rebuttoning　my　shirt　when　a　soft　rap　sounded　at　the　door。
　　〃Bubba；〃　Randall's　voice　called　through　the　door。　〃How　long're　you　going　to　be？〃
　　I　opened　the　door　and　looked　quizzically　at　my　brother。　He　was　smiling　a　sly；　secretive　smile。　Whenever　Mother　had　caught　him　smiling　that　way；　she　slapped　his　face　on　general　principles；　knowing　instinctively　that　he　had　done　something　wrong；　and　also　knowing　that　she　would　never　find　out　what　he　had　done。
　　〃e　on　downstairs；〃　he　said　mysteriously。　〃I've　got　a　surprise　for　you。〃　Still　smiling；　he　turned　away　abruptly　and　descended　the　stairs。
　　I　slipped　into　my　corduroy　jacket；　put　my　hat　on　and　followed　him。
　　The　surprise　was　Mary　Elizabeth；　the　last　person　I　wanted　to　see　right　then；　standing　at　the　bottom　of　the　stairs；　cool　and　crisp　in　a　wide…necked　white　blouse；　blue　velvet　pinafore　and　white　sling　pumps。　Ordinarily；　I　would　have　stopped　to　see　Mary　Elizabeth　first；　before　ing　home；　but　I　didn't　want　to　see　her　at　all　when　I　was　broke　and　without　a　car。　My　last　visit　home；　when　I　had　first　made　my　vow　of　silence；　had　been　a　strained；　miserable　experience　for　both　of　us。
　　〃Hello；　Frank；〃　Mary　Elizabeth　said　shyly；　〃wele　home。〃
　　She　hadn't　changed　a　fraction　in　two　years。　She　was　every　bit　as　beautiful　as　I　remembered。　Mary　Elizabeth　had　pale　golden　hair；　and　dark　blue　eyes…which　often　changed　to　emerald　green　in　bright　sunlight…a　pink…and…white　plexion；　fair；　thick；　untouched　pale　brows；　and　long　delicate　hands。　Her　figure　was　more　buxom　than　it　had　been　ten　years　before；　but　that　was　to　be　expected。　She　was　no　longer　a　young　girl。　She　was　a　mature　woman　of　twentynine。
　　A　moment　later　Mary　Elizabeth　was　in　my　arms　and　I　was　kissing　her；　and　it　was　as　though　I　had　never　been　away。　There　was　a　loud　click　as　Randall　closed　the　double　doors　to　the　dining　room　and　left　us　alone。　At　the　sound；　Mary　Elizabeth　twisted　her　face　to　one　side。　I　released　her　reluctantly　and　stepped　back。
　　〃Your　voice　still　hasn't　e　back。〃　It　was　a　statement；　not　a　question。
　　Slowly；　regretfully；　I　shook　my　head。
　　〃And　you　haven't　been　to　a　doctor　either；　have　you？〃　she　said　accusingly。
　　Again　the　negative　headshake；　but　acpanied　this　time　with　a　stubborn　smile。
　　〃I've　had　a　lot　of　time　to　think　about　it；　Frank；〃　she　said　eagerly；　〃and　I　don't　believe　your　sudden　loss　of　speech　is　organic　at　all。　There's　something　psychological　about　it。〃　She　dropped　her　eyes　demurely。　〃We　can　discuss　it　later　at　The　Place。　Randall's　telephone　call　caught　me　just　as　I　was　leaving　for　school；　and　I　don't　think　Mr。　Caldwell　liked　it　very　well　when　I　called　him　the　last　minute　that　way。　When　I　take　a　day　off　without　notice；　or　get　sick　or　something；　he　has　to　take　my　classes。
　　〃But　I've　packed　a　lunch；　and　it's　still　warm　enough　to　go　for　a　swim　at　The　PlaceShe　colored　prettily。　〃If　you　want　to　go？〃
　　I　opened　the　front　door　and　took　her　arm。　As　we　climbed　into　her　yellow　Nova；　she　was　over　her　initial　nervousness；　and　she　began　to　scold　me。
　　〃Did　it　ever　occur　to　you；　Frank；　that　even　a　picture　postcard　mailed　in　advance　would　be　helpful　to　everybody　concerned？〃　I　rather　enjoyed　the　quality　of　Mary　Elizabeth's　voice。　Like　most　schoolteachers　of　the　female　sex；　she　had　an　overtone　of　fretful　impatience　in　her　voice；　and　this　note　of　controlled　irascibility　amused　me。
　　I　grinned　and　tweaked　the　nipple　of　her　right　breast　gently　through　the　thinness　of　her　white　cotton　blouse。
　　〃Don't！〃　The　sharp　expletive　was　delivered　furiously；　and　her　blue…green　eyes　blazed　with　sudden　anger。　She　set　her　lips　grimly　and　remained　silent　for　the　remainder　of　the　short　drive　to　her　farm；　where　she　lived　with　her　brother。　As　she　pulled　into　the　yard　and　parked　beneath　a　giant　pepper　tree；　I　noticed　that　she　had　cooled　off。　The　moment　she　turned　off　the　engine；　I　pulled