按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃The attraction is purely physical；〃 she said。
〃Watch it；〃 Jake said。 〃There's been no sex in this office since Lucien left。〃
〃 …；…。〃；eu iwxi mm j^ucien；〃 said Harry Rex。
〃Who's Lucien？〃
Jake and Harry Rex looked at each other。 〃You'll meet him soon enough；〃 Jake explained。
〃Your secretary is very sweet；〃 Ellen said。
〃I knew y'all would hit it off。 She's really a doll once you get to know her。〃
〃How long does that take？〃
〃I've known her for twenty years；〃 said Harry Rex； 〃and I'm still waiting。〃
〃How's the research ing？〃 Jake asked。
〃Slow。 There are dozens of M'Naghten cases； and they are all very long。 I'm about half through。 I planned to work on it all day here； that is； if that pit bull downstairs doesn't attack me。〃
〃I'll take care of her；〃 Jake said。
Harry Rex headed for the door。 〃Nice meetin' you； Row Ark。 I'll see you around。〃
〃Thanks； Harry Rex；〃 said Jake。 〃See you Wednesday night。〃
The dirt and gravel parking lot of Tank's Tonk was full when Jake finally found it after dark。 There had been no reason to visit Tank's before； and he was not thrilled about seeing the place now。 It was well hidden off a dirt road； six miles out of Clanton。 He parked far away from the small cinderblock building and toyed with the idea of leaving the engine running in case Tank was not there and a quick escape became necessary。 But he quickly dismissed the stupid idea because he liked his car； and theft was not only likely but highly probable。 He locked it； then double…checked it； almost certain that all or part of it would be missing when he returned。
The juke box blasted from the open windows； and he thought he heard a bottle crash on the floor； or across a table or someone's head。 He hesitated beside his car and decided to leave。 No； it was important。 He sucked in his stomach； held his breath； and opened the ragged wooden door。
Forty sets of black eyes immediately focused on this poor lost white boy with a coat and tie who was squinting
and trying to focus inside the vast blackness of their tonk。 He stood there awkwardly； desperately searching for a friend。 There were none。 Michael Jackson conveniently finished his song on the juke box； and for an eternity the tonk was silent。 Jake stayed close to the door。 He nodded and smiled and tried to act like one of the gang。 There were no other smiles。
Suddenly； there was movement at the bar and Jake's knees began vibrating。 〃Jake！ Jake！〃 someone shouted。 It was the sweetest two words he had ever heard。 From behind the bar he saw his friend Tank removing his apron and heading for him。 They shook hands warmly。
〃What brings you here？〃
〃I need to talk to you for a minute。 Can we step outside？〃
〃Sure。 What's up？〃
〃Just business。〃
Tank flipped on a light switch by the front door。 〃Say； everbody； this here is Carl Lee Hailey's lawyer； Jake Bri…gance。 A good friend of mine。 Let's hear it for him。〃
The small room exploded in applause and bravos。 Several of the boys at the bar grabbed Jake and shook his hand。 Tank reached in a drawer under the bar and pulled out a handful of Jake's cards； which he passed out like candy。 Jake was breathing again and the color returned to his face。
Outside； they leaned on the hood of Tank's yellow Cadillac。 Lionel Richie echoed through the windows and the crowd returned to normal。 Jake handed Tank a copy of the list。
〃Look at each name。 See how many of these folks you know。 Ask around and find out what you can。〃
Tank held the list near his eyes。 The light from the Michelob sign in the window glowed over his shoulder。 〃How many are black？〃
〃You tell me。 That's one reason I want you to look at it。 Circle the black ones。 If you're not sure； find out。 If you know any of the white folks； make a note。〃
〃I'll be glad to； Jake。 This ain't illegal； is it？〃
〃Naw； but don't tell anybody。 I need it back by Wednesday morning。〃
〃You're the boss。〃
_ … _… （tm）*； u。。u JUK。C ncaciea tor the office。 It was almost ten。 Ethel had retyped the list from the initial one provided by Harry Rex； and a dozen copies had been hand…delivered to selected； trusted friends。 Lucien； Stan At…cavage； Tank； Dell at the Coffee Shop； a lawyer in Karaway named Roland Isom； and a few others。 Even Ozzie got a list。
Less than three miles from the tonk was a small； neat white…framed country house where Ethel and Bud Iwitty had lived for almost forty years。 It was a pleasant house with pleasant memories of raising children who were now scattered up North。 The retarded son； the one who greatly resembled Lucien； lived in Miami for some reason。 The house was quieter now。 Bud hadn't worked in years； not since his first stroke in '75。 Then a heart attack； followed by two more major strokes and several small ones。 His days were numbered； and he had long since accepted the fact that he would most likely catch the big one and die on his front porch shelling butterbeans。 That's what he hoped for； anyway。
Monday night he sat on the porch shelling butterbeans and listening to the Cardinals on the radio。 Ethel was working in the kitchen。 In the bottom of the eighth with the Cards at bat and two on； he heard a noise from the side of the house。 He turned the volume down。 Probably just a dog。 Then another noise。 He stood and walked to the end of the porch。 Suddenly； a huge figure dressed in solid black with red； white； and black war paint smeared wickedly across his face jumped from the bushes； grabbed Bud and yanked him off the porch。 Bud's anguished cry was not heard in the kitchen。 Another warrior joined in and they dragged the old man to the foot of the steps leading up to the front porch。 One maneuvered him into a half…nelson while the other pounded his soft belly and bloodied his face。 Within seconds； he was unconscious。
Ethel heard noises and scurried through the front door。 She was grabbed by a third member of the gang； who twisted her arm tightly behind her and wrapped a huge arm around her throat。 She couldn't scream or talk or move； and was held there on the porch； terrified； watching below as the two thugs took turns with her husband。 On the front sidewalk ten
feet behind the violence stood three figures； each garbed in a full； flowing； white robe with red garnishment； each with a tall； white； pointed headdress from which fell a red and white mask that loosely covered each face。 They emerged from the darkness and watched over the scene as though they were the three wise men attending the manger。
After a long； agonizing minute； the beating grew monotonous。 〃Enough；〃 said the ruler in the middle。 The three terrorists in black ran。 Ethel rushed down the steps and slumped over her battered husband。 The three in white disappeared。
Jake left the hospital after midnight with Bud still alive but everyone pessimistic。 Along with the broken bones he had suffered another major heart attack。 Ethel had made a scene and blamed it all on Jake。
〃You said there was no danger！〃 she screamed。 〃Tell that to my husband！ It's all your fault！〃
He had listened to her rant and rave； and the embarrassment turned to anger。 He glanced around the small waiting room at the friends and relatives。 All eyes were on him。 Yes； they seemed