cwilleford.cockfighter-第7部分

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but　in　the　fight　he　received　a　slight　battering。　The　next　day　at　the　scheduled　S。C。T。　pitting；　I　had　been　forced　to　pit　Freelance　again　because　I　had　posted　a　two…hundreddollar　forfeit；　and　I　had　been　too　ashamed　to　withdraw。　Freelance　lost；　and　I　had　lost　my　chance　for　the　award。
　　A　few　weeks　later；　while　brooding　about　this　lost　fight；　a　fight　that　had　been　lost　by　my　personal　vanity　and　big　mouth；　I　made　my　self…imposed　vow　of　silence。　I　intended　to　keep　the　vow　until　I　was　awarded　that　little　silver　medal。　No　one；　other　than　myself；　knew　about　my　vow；　and　I　could　have　broken　it　at　any　time　without　losing　face。　But　I　would　know；　and　I　had　to　shave　every　day。　At　first　it　had　been　hell；　especially　when　I　had　had　a　few　drinks　and　wanted　to　get　in　on　the　chicken　talk　in　a　bar　or　around　the　cockhouses　at　a　game　club；　but　I　had　learned　how　to　live　with　it。
　　On　the　day　Mr。　Middleton　picked　me　up　in　his　Cadillac　at　Captain　Mack's　Trailer　Court　in　Belle　Glade；　I　hadn't　said　a　word　to　anyone　in　two　years　and　seven　months。
　　
　　
　　〃You're　a　hard　man　to　talk　to　since　you　lost　your　voice！〃　Ed　Middleton　boomed　in　his　resonant　baritone。
　　With　a　slight　start；　I　turned　and　grinned　at　him。
　　〃I　mean　it；〃　he　said　seriously。　〃I　feel　like　a　radio　announcer　talking　into　a　microphone　in　a　soundproof　room。　I　know　I　must　be　reaching　somebody；　but　I'll　be　damned　if　I　know　who　it　is。　You've　changed　a　lot　in　the　last　two　or　three　years；　Frank。　I　know　you're　working　as　hard　as　you　ever　did；　but　you　shouldn't　take　life　too　seriously。　And　don't　let　a　run　of　bad　luck　get　you　down；　do　you　hear？〃
　　I　nodded。　Ed　jabbed　me　in　the　ribs　sharply　with　his　elbow。
　　〃You've　still　got　a　lot　of　friends；　you　big　dumb　bastard！〃　he　finished　gruffly。　With　a　quick　movement　he　snapped　on　the　dash　radio；　twisted　the　volume　on　full　and　almost　blasted　me　out　of　my　seat。　He　turned　the　volume　down　again　and　said　bitterly：　〃And　on　top　of　everything　else；　there's　nothing　on　the　radio　these　days　but　rock　'n'　roll！〃
　　He　left　the　radio　on　anyway；　and　said　no　more　until　we　reached　Saint　Cloud。　We　pulled　into　the　parking　area　of　a　garish　drive…in　restaurant　and　got　out　of　the　car。　It　was　only　six　thirty；　but　the　sun　had　dropped　out　of　sight。　There　were　just　a　few　jagged　streaks　of　orange　in　the　western　sky；　an　intermingling　of　nimbus　clouds　and　smoke　from　runaway　muck　fires。　As　we　admired　these　fiery　fingers　in　the　sky；　Mr。　Middleton　smacked　his　lips。
　　〃How　does　a　steak　sound；　Frank？〃
　　I　certainly　didn't　intend　to　spend　my　remaining　ten　dollars　on　a　steak。　In　reply；　I　emptied　my　pockets　and　showed　him　a　double　handful　of　junk；　and　some　loose　change。
　　〃I　didn't　expect　you　to　pay　for　it；〃　he　said　resentfully。　〃Let's　go　inside。〃
　　The　sirloin　was　excellent。　So　was　the　baked　potato　and　green　salad　and　three　cups　of　coffee　that　went　with　it。　After　three　weeks　of　Dody's　halfhearted　cooking；　I　appreciated　a　good　steak　dinner。　On　regular　fare；　such　as　greens；　pork　chops；　string　beans；　cornbread　and　so　on；　I'm　a　fairly　good　cook；　and　I　enjoy　the　preparation　of　my　own　meals。　But　I　never　prepare　food　when　I　have　a　woman　around　to　do　it　for　me。　As　I　ate；　I　wondered　vaguely　how　Jack　Burke　was　making　out　with　the　girl。　Although　I　was　broke；　the　steak　restored　my　good　spirits；　and　I　felt　a　certain　sense　of　newfound　freedom　now　that　I　no　longer　had　Dody　to　worry　about。
　　We　lingered　over　dinner　for　more　than　an　hour　and　didn't　arrive　at　Mr。　Middleton's　home　until　after　nine。　His　ranchstyle；　concrete　brick　and　stucco　house　was　about　three　miles　off　the　main　highway　on　a　private　gravel　road　and　pletely　surrounded　by　orange　groves。　An　avid　fisherman；　Ed　had　built　his　home　with　the　rear　terrace　overlooking　a　small　pond。　He　parked　in　a　double　carport；　set　well　away　from　the　house；　backing　in　beside　a　blue　Chevy　pickup。
　　Before　we　crossed　the　flagstone　patio；　Ed　flipped　a　switch　in　the　carport　and　flooded　the　patio　and　most　of　the　small　lake　with　light。　The　pond　was　about　forty　yards　in　diameter；　and　there　was　an　aluminum　fishing　skiff　tied　to　a　concrete　block　pier　at　the　edge　of　the　gently　sloping　lawn。
　　〃I've　stocked　the　damned　lake　with　fish　four　different　times；〃　Ed　said　angrily；　〃but　they　disappear　someplace。　Hide　in　the　muck　at　the　bottom；　I　suppose。　Anyway；　I've　never　been　able　to　catch　very　many。〃
　　When　the　lights　were　turned　on；　Mrs。　Middleton　opened　the　back　door　and　peered　out。　Her　dark　hair；　shot　through　with　streaks　of　gray；　was　coiled　in　a　heavy　round　bun　at　the　nape　of　her　neck。
　　〃Who's　that　with　you；　Ed？〃　she　asked。
　　We　crossed　the　patio　to　the　door　and　Ed　kissed　his　wife　on　the　mouth。　He　gripped　my　upper　arm　with　his　thick　fingers　and　pulled　me　in　front　of　him。
　　〃Frank　Mansfield；　Martha。　You　remember　him；　I'm　sure。　He's　going　to　spend　the　night　with　us。〃
　　〃Of　course；〃　Martha　said。　〃e　on　inside；　Frank；　before　the　mosquitoes　eat　you　alive！〃
　　We　entered　the　kitchen　and　I　blinked　unfortably　beneath　the　blue…and…yellow　fluorescent　lights。　I　shook　hands　with　Mrs。　Middleton　after　she　wiped　her　hands　unnecessarily　on　her　clean　white　apron。　She　was　a　motherly　woman；　about　ten　or　fifteen　years　younger　than　her　husband；　but　without　any　children　to　〃mother。〃
　　〃Have　you　boys　had　your　dinner？〃　she　asked。
　　〃We　had　a　little　something　in　Saint　Cloud；〃　Ed　admitted。　〃Restaurants！〃　she　said。　〃Why　didn't　you　bring　Frank　on　home　to　dinner　when　you　were　that　close？〃　she　scolded。　〃Sit　down；　Frank！　How've　you　been？　Could　you　eat　a　piece　of　key　lime　pie？　Of　course　you　can。　I　know　you　both　want　coffee。〃
　　As　we　sat　down　at　the　breakfast　nook　together；　Ed　winked　at　me。　Mrs。　Middleton　bustled　around　in　her　bright　and　shiny　kitchen；　banging　things　together；　just　as　busy　as　she　could　be。
　　〃Force　some　pie　down　anyway；　Frank；〃　Mr。　Middleton　said　in　a　loud　stage　whisper。　〃I'm　going　to　eat　a　piece　even　though　I　hate　it。〃
　　〃Ha！〃　Martha　said　from　beside　the　stove。　〃You　hate　it　all　right！〃
　　After　we　were　served　and　eating　our　pie；　there　was　nothing　else　Mrs。　Middleton　could　do　for　us。　She　stood　beside　the　table　with　her　hands　clasped　beneath　her　apron；　working　her　pursed　lips　in　and　out。　I　had　the　feeling　that　she　wanted　to　ask　me　questions；　but　out　of　consideration　for　my　socalled　affliction；　she　wanted　to　phrase　her　questions　so　that　I　could　answer　them　yes　or　no；　and　yet　she　couldn't　manage　any　questions　of　that　kind。　I　hadn't　seen　Mrs。　Middleton　or　talked　to　her　for　at　least　four　years。　As　I　recalled；　the　last　time　I　had　seen　her　was　at　a　banquet　held　following　the　International　Cockfighting　Tournament　in　Saint　Petersburg。　My　〃dumbness〃　had　been　a　subject　that　she　and　her　husband　had　undoubtedly　discussed　between　them。
　　〃Sit　down；　Martha；〃　Ed　said。　〃Have　a　cup　of　coffee　with　us。〃
　　〃And　stay　awake　all　night？　No　thanks。〃　She　sat　beside　her　husband；　however；　and　smiled　across　the　table。　〃Do　you　like　the　pie；　Frank？〃
　　I　kissed　my　fingertips　and　rolled　my　eyes　toward　the　ceiling。
　　〃Lime　is　Ed's　favorite。〃　She　put　a　hand　on　her　husband's　sleeve。　〃How　was　the　trip；　Ed？〃
　　Ed　Middleton　put　his　fork　crosswise　on　his　empty　plate；　wiped　his　lips　with　a　napkin；　and　looked　steadily　at　his　wife。　〃The　trip　doesn't　matter；　Martha；〃　he　said；　〃because　it　was　the　last；　the　very　last。〃
　　For　a　long　time；　a　very　long　time　it　seemed　to　me；　the　elderly　couple　looked　into　each　other's　eyes。　Mr。　Middleton　smiled　and　nodded　his　head；　and　Martha's　lower　lip　began　to　tremble　and　her　eyes　were　humid。　An　instant　later　she　was　crying。　She　hurriedly　left　the　table；　put　her　apron　to　her　face　and；　still　crying；　ran　out　of　the　room。
　　Mr。　Middleton　crumpled　the　square　of　linen　and　tossed　it　toward　the　stove。　The　napkin　fluttered　to　the　floor；　and　he　smiled　and　shook　his　head。
　　〃She's　crying　because　she's　happy；〃　he　said。　〃Well；　dammit；　I　promised　to　give　up　cockfighting；　and　a　promise　is　a　promise！〃　He　got　up　from　the　table；　doubled　his　right　fist；　and　punched　me　hard　on　the　shoulder。　〃Pour　yourself　some　more　coffee；　eat　another　piece　of　pie。　I'll　be　back　in　a　minute。〃
　　He　pushed　through　the　swinging　door　and　disappeared。　The　lime　pie　was　tart；　tasty；　with　a　wonderful　two…inch　topping　of　snow　white；　frothy　meringue。　I　ate　two　more　pieces；　drank　two　more　cups　of　coffee。　I　smoked　two　cigarettes。　Just　as　I　was　beginning　to　wonder　whether　Ed　was　going　to　e　back　to　the　kitchen　or　not；　he　pushed　through　the　door。
　　〃e　on；　Frank；〃　he　snapped　his　fingers；　〃let's　go　get　your　suitcase。〃
　　We　went　out　to　his　Caddy；　and　after　he　unlocked　the　doors；　I　got　my　suitcase　out　of　the　back。　When　we　returned　to　the　kitchen；　he　switched　off　the　patio　lights。　I　followed　him　through　the　living　room　and　into　his　study。
　　〃This　was　supposed　to　be　a　third　bedroom；〃　he　explained。　〃Actually；　it　was　designed　as　the　master　bedroom；　and　it's　a　lot　larger　than　the　other　two　bedrooms　in　the　back。　But　Martha　and　I　decided　to　each　take　a　small　bedroom　apiece　so　our　snoring　wouldn't　bother　each　other。　And　besides；　I　needed　a　large　room　like　this　as　an　office。　A　big　man　needs　a　big　room。〃　He　opened　the　door　leading　to　the　bathroom。　〃Here's　the　can；　Frank。　Take　a　shower　if　you　want　to。　There's　always　hot　water；　and　these　towels　are　all　clean　in　here。　I'll　get　you　some　sheets。〃
　　Ed　left　the　room　and　I　could　hear　him　clumping　down　the　hallway；　yelling　to　his　wife　and　asking　her　where　she　kept　the　clean　sheets　hidden。
　　The　Middletons'　ranch…style　home　was　so　modern　in　design　and　color　that　the　old…fashioned　furniture　in　the　study　was　out　of　place。　The　walls　were　painted　a　bright　warm　blue；　and　there　were　matching　floor…to…ceiling　drapes　over　both　windows。　The　floor　was　black…and…white　pebbled　terrazzo；　and　there　the　modernity　stopped。　The　floor　was　covered　with　an　oval…shaped　hooked　rag　rug。　There　was　an　ugly；　well…scratched；　walnut　rolltop　desk　against　one　wall；　and　there　was　an　ancient　horsehair…stuffed　Victorian　couch　against　the　opposite　wall。　Beneath　one　window　there　was　a　scuffed　cowhide　easy　chair；　and　a　shiny　black　steamer　trunk　under　the　other　window。　A　red…lacquered　straight　chair；　with　a　circular　cane　seat；　stood　beside　the　desk。　Three　heavy　wrought…iron　smoking　stands　pleted　the　furnishings。
　　I　was　attracted　to　the　framed　photographs　on　the　wal