cwilleford.cockfighter-第5部分

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ut　I　made　the　bet　in　good　faith　and　sure　didn't　know　Sandspur　had　him　a　cracked　bill。　But　if　you'd　won；　I　know　damned　well　you'd　of　e　around　for　eight　hundred　dollars　from　me。　So　I'm　here　for　the　car　and　trailer。〃
　　Still　seated；　I　shoved　the　envelope　toward　him。　Burke　unfastened　the　flap；　which　hadn't　quite　dried；　and　pawed　through　the　contents。　He　put　the　hundred　dollars　into　his　wallet　before　he　read　the　bill　of　sale。　His　face　reddened；　and　he　returned　the　bill　of　sale　to　the　envelope。
　　〃Please　accept　my　apology；　Mr。　Mansfield。　I　don't　know　why；　but　I　guess　I　expected　an　argument。〃
　　Either　he　was　plain　ignorant　or　he　was　trying　to　make　me　angry。　A　handshake　by　two　cockfighters　is　as　binding　as　a　sworn　statement　witnessed　by　a　notary　public；　and　he　knew　this　as　well　as　I　did。　For　a　long　moment　I　studied　his　red　face　and　then　concluded　that　he　was　merely　ill　at　ease　on　account　of　Dody's　presence　and　didn't　know　what　he　was　implying。
　　Dody　leaned　against　the　sink；　glaring　angrily　at　Burke。　〃I　never　heard　of　nobody　so　low…down　mean　to　take　a　family's　home　away　from　them！〃　she　said　scathingly。
　　Her　remark　was　uncalled　for；　but　it　caused　Burke　a　deeper　flush　of　embarrassment。　〃I　reckon　you　don't　know　Mr。　Mansfield；　little　lady；〃　he　said　defensively；　〃and　not　overmuch　about　cockfighting　neither。　But　a　bet　is　a　bet。〃
　　〃For　men；　yes！　But　what　about　me？〃　Dody　patted　her　big　breasts　several　times　with　both　hands　and　looked　beseechingly　into　Burke's　eyes。　He　was　troubled　and　he　scratched　his　head；　slanting　his　wary　eyes　in　my　direction。
　　I　stood　up；　smiled　grimly；　and　holding　out　my　hands　with　the　palms　up；　I　made　an　exaggerated　gesture　of　presentation　of　Dody　to　Jack　Burke。　There　could　be　no　mistake　about　the　meaning。
　　〃Well；　I　don't　rightly　know　about　that；　Mr。　Mansfield。〃　Burke　scratched　his　head。　〃I　already　got　me　a　lady　friend　up　Kissimmee　way。〃
　　I　stepped　out　from　behind　the　table　and　put　on　my　cowboy　hat。　Dody　came　flying　toward　me　with　clawing　nails。　The　space　was　cramped；　but　I　sidestepped　her　rush　and　planted　a　jolting　six…inch　jab　into　her　midriff。　Dody　sat　down　heavily　on　the　linoleum　floor　and　stayed　there；　gasping　for　breath　and　staring　up　at　me　round…eyed　with　astonished　disbelief。
　　There　are　three　good　ways　to　win　a　fight：　A　blow　to　the　solar　plexus；　first；　an　inscrutable　expression　on　your　face；　or　displaying　a　sharp　knife　blade　to　your　opponent。　Any　of　these　three　methods；　singly　or　in　bination；　will　usually　take　the　bellicosity　out　of　a　man；　woman　or　child。
　　The　swift　right　to　her　belly　and　the　sight　of　my　impassive　face　were　enough　to　take　the　fight　out　of　Dody。　Burke　tried　to　help　her　to　her　feet；　but　she　shrugged　his　hands　away　from　her　shoulders　as　she　regained　her　lost　breath。
　　〃You…can…go…to…hell；　Frank　Mansfield！〃　Dody　said　in　gasps。　〃I　can　take　care　of　myself！〃　However；　she　prudently　remained　seated；　supporting　herself　with　her　arms　behind　her　back。
　　Burke　said　nothing。　He　ran　his　fingers　nervously　through　his　long　hair；　looking　first　at　me　and　then　at　Dody　and　back　to　me　again。　He　wanted　to　say　something　but　didn't　know　what　he　wanted　to　say。　I　sat　down　at　the　table　again　and　scratched　out　a　short　note。
　　
　　Mr。　Burke…If　your　Little　David　is　still　around；　I　challenge　you　to　a　hack　at　the　Southern　Conference　Tournament…
　　
　　I　pushed　the　straw　cowboy　hat　back　from　my　forehead　and　handed　him　the　note。　After　reading　the　message；　Burke　crumpled　the　paper　and　looked　at　me　thoughtfully。
　　〃You　don't　have　any　fighting　cocks　left；　do　you；　Mr。　Mansfield？〃
　　I　shook　my　head；　and　moved　my　shoulders　in　a　barely　perceptible　shrug。
　　〃Do　you　honestly　believe　you　can　train　a　short…heeled　stag　to　beat　Little　David；　a　nine…time　winner〃…he　counted　on　his　fingers…〃in　only　six…months'　time？〃
　　In　reply；　I　pointed　to　the　crumpled　challenge　in　his　hand。　〃Sure；　Mr。　Mansfield。　I　accept；　but　it'll　be　your　funeral。　And　I　expect　you　to　put　some　money　where　your　mouth　is　when　the　hack's　held。〃
　　We　shook　hands。　I　picked　up　my　suitcase　and　guitar　and　went　outside。　As　I　collected　my　gaff　case　and　coop　together；　trying　to　figure　out　how　I　could　carry　everything；　Burke　and　Dody　followed　me　outside。　The　four　odd…sized　pieces　made　an　awkward　double　armload。
　　〃I'll　give　you　ten　bucks　for　that　coop；〃　Burke　offered。
　　The　suggestion　was　so　stupid　I　didn't　dignify　it　with　so　much　as　a　shrug。　If　Burke　wanted　a　coop　like　mine；　he　could　have　one　made。
　　Ralph　Hansen　had　Burke's　Ford　pickup　parked　on　the　road　about　twenty　yards　away　from　the　trailer。　Burke　strolled　over　to　his　truck　to　say　something　to　Ralph。　The　other　handler　was　in　the　truck　bed　with　Burke's　fighting　cocks。　The　truck　bed　had　steel…mesh　coops　welded　to　the　floor　on　both　sides；　with　solid　walls　separating　each　coop　so　that　none　of　the　cocks　could　see　each　other。　A　nice　setup　for　traveling；　with　plenty　of　space　down　the　center　to　carry　feed；　luggage　and　sleeping　bags。　I　walked　down　the　sandy　road　toward　the　open　gate　and　the　highway。
　　A　moment　later　Dody　caught　up　with　me　and　trotted　along　at　my　side。
　　〃Please；　Frank；〃　she　pleaded；　〃take　me　with　you。　I　don't　want　to　stay　with　Mr。　Burke。　He's　an　old　man！〃　
　　Burke　was　only　forty…five　or　…six　and　not　nearly　as　old　as　Dody　thought。　I　shook　my　head。　Dody　ran　ahead　of　me　then；　and　planted　herself　in　my　path；　spreading　her　long　bare　legs；　and　holding　her　arms　akimbo。　I　stopped。
　　〃I'll　be　good　to　you；　Frank；〃　she　said　tearfully。　〃Real　good！　Honest；　I　will！　I　know　you　don't　like　them　TV　dinners　I　been　fixin'；　but　I'm　really　a　good　cook　when　I　try。　And　I'll　prove　it　to　you　if　you'll　take　me　with　you。　I'll　wash　your　clothes　and　sew　and　everything！〃　She　began　to　blubber　in　earnest。　Juicy　tears　rolled　out　of　her　moist　brown　eyes　and　flowed　over　her　smooth　round　cheeks；　cutting　furrows　in　her　pancake　makeup。
　　I　jerked　my　head　for　her　to　get　out　of　my　way。　Dody　moved　reluctantly　to　one　side　and　let　me　pass。　At　the　open　gate　to　the　highway　I　put　my　luggage　down　and　lit　a　cigarette。　Ralph　stopped　the　white　pickup　at　the　gate。
　　〃I　can　carry　you　up　as　far　as　Kissimmee；　Mr。　Mansfield；〃　he　offered。　〃Mr。　Burke　is　going　to　bring　your　Caddy　and　trailer　up　tomorrow；　he　said。〃
　　I　shook　my　head　friendlily；　and　waved　him　on　his　way。　I　didn't　want　any　favors　from　Jack　Burke。　After　Ralph　made　his　turn　onto　the　highway；　I　looked　back　toward　my　old　trailer。　Jack　Burke　and　Dody　had　their　heads　together；　and　it　looked　like　both　of　them　were　talking　at　the　same　time。　A　moment　later；　Burke　held　the　trailer　door　open　for　Dody　and　then　followed　her　inside。
　　It　occurred　to　me　that　I　didn't　know　Dody's　last　name。　She　had　never　volunteered　the　information　and；　of　course；　I　had　never　asked　her。　I　hate　to　write　notes；　and　I　only　write　them　when　it　is　absolutely　necessary。　What　difference　did　it　make　whether　I　knew　her　last　name　or　not？　But　it　did　make　a　difference；　and　I　felt　a　sense　of　guilty　shame。
　　The　long　blue　convertible　came　gliding　down　the　trail　from　the　cockpit。　The　driver　stopped　at　the　gate。　The　blonde　sat　between　the　two　Miami　gamblers　on　the　front　seat；　and　Bifi　Sanders；　puffing　a　cigar；　was　sitting　alone　in　the　back。
　　〃Do　you　want　to　go　to　Miami；　by　any　chance？〃　Sanders　asked。
　　I　shook　my　head　and　smiled。
　　〃We've　got　plenty　of　room；〃　the　driver　added　cheerfully。　〃Glad　to　take　you　with　us。〃
　　I　shook　my　head　again　and　waved　them　on。　Sanders　raised　a　hand　in　a　two…finger　〃V〃　salute；　and　the　big　car　soon　passed　out　of　sight。
　　I　didn't　want　to　go　to　Miami；　and　I　had　turned　down　a　free　ride　to　Kissimmee。　Where　did　I　want　to　go？　The　lease　on　my　Ocala　farm　had　two　more　years　to　run；　and　it　was　all　paid　up　in　advance。　But　without　any　game　fowl；　and　without　hinds　to　buy　any；　there　was　no　point　in　going　there　right　now。　The　first　thing　on　the　agenda　was　to　obtain　some　money。　After　I　had　some　money；　I　could　start　worrying　about　game　fowl。
　　Doc　Riordan　owed　me　eight　hundred　dollars。　His　office　was　in　Jacksonville；　and　he　was　my　best　bet。　My　younger　brother；　Randall；　owed　me　three　hundred　dollars；　but　the　chances　of　getting　any　money　from　him　were　negligible。　Doc　Riordan　was　the　man　to　see　first。　Even　if　Doc　could　only　give　me　a　partial　payment　of　two　or　three　hundred；　it　would　be　a　start。　With　only　a　ten…dollar　bifi　in　my　watch　pocket；　and　a　little　loose　change；　I　felt　at　loose　ends。　After　collecting　some　money　from　Doc　I　could　make　a　fast　trip　home　to　Georgia　and　see　my　brother。　I　couldn't　go　home　pletely　broke。　I　never　had　before；　and　it　was　too　late　to　start　now。
　　As　I　thought　of　home　I　naturally　thought　of　Mary　Elizabeth。　My　last　visit　had　been　highly　unsatisfactory；　and　I　had　left　without　telling　her　good…bye。
　　On　my　last　trip　home　two　years　before；　I　had　been　driving　a　black　Buick　convertible；　and　I　had　worn　an　expensive　white　linen　suit。　Although　I　looked　prosperous；　most　of　it　was　front。　My　roll　had　only　consisted　of　five　hundred　dollars。　That　was　when　Randall　had　nicked　me　for　the　loan　of　three　hundred。　In　the　rare　letters　I　had　received　from　him　since…about　one　every　four　or　five　months…he　had　never　once　mentioned　returning　the　money。
　　Jacksonville　it　would　be　then。　If　nothing　else；　I　could　pick　up　my　mail　at　the　Jacksonville　post　office。
　　Two　ancient　trucks　rolled　through　the　gate　loaded　down　with　fruit　tramps。　They　were　returning　to　the　migrant　camp　on　the　other　side　of　Belle　Glade。　A　couple　of　the　men　shouted　to　me；　and　I　waved　to　them。　There　was　a　maroon　Cadillac　sedan　about　two　hundred　yards　behind　the　last　truck；　hanging　well　back　out　of　the　dust。　This　was　Ed　Middleton's　car。　As　he　came　abreast　of　the　gate；　I　grinned　and　stuck　out　my　thumb。　Mr。　Middleton　pressed　a　button；　and　the　right　front　window　slid　down　with　an　electronic　click。
　　〃Throw　your　stuff　in　the　back　seat；　Frank；〃　Ed　Middleton　said。　〃I　don't　want　to　lose　this　cold　air。〃　The　window　shot　up　again。
　　I　opened　the　back　door；　arranged　my　luggage　on　the　floor　so　it　would　ride　without　shifting；　slammed　the　door；　and　climbed　into　the　front　seat。　A　refreshing　icy　breeze　filled　the　roomy　interior　from　an　air…conditioning　system　that　actually　worked。
　　I　settled　backed　fortably；　and　Ed　pointed　the　nose　of　the　big　car　toward　Orlando。