jg.paintedhouse-第15部分

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　　　We　didn't　want　Stick　to　hear　us；　so　we　said　nothing　throughout　the　entire　meal。　Pappy　ate　slower　than　usual；　because　he　wanted　Stick　to　sit　and　wait　and　stew；　and　maybe　get　mad　and　leave。　I　doubted　if　the　delay　bothered　Stick。　I　could　almost　hear　him　licking　his　plate。
　　　My　father　gazed　at　the　table　as　he　chewed；　his　mind　seemingly　off　on　the　other　side　of　the　world；　probably　Korea。　Both　my　mother　and　Gran　looked　very　sad；　which　was　not　unusual　after　the　verbal　beating　we　received　each　week　from　Brother　Akers。　That's　another　reason　I　always　tried　to　sleep　during　his　sermons。
　　　The　women　had　much　more　sympathy　for　Jerry　Sisco。　As　the　hours　passed；　his　death　became　sadder。　His　meanness　and　other　undesirable　qualities　were　slowly　forgotten。　He　was；　after　all；　a　local　boy；　someone　we　knew；　if　only　in　passing；　and　he'd　met　a　terrible　end。
　　　And　his　killer　slept　in　our　front　yard。
　　　We　heard　noises。　The　Spruills　were　back　from　the　river。
　　　
　　　The　inquest　took　place　under　our　tallest　pin　oak；　about　halfway　between　the　front　porch　and　Camp　Spruill。　The　men　gathered　first；　Pappy　and　my　father　stretching　and　rubbing　their　stomachs；　and　Stick　looking　particularly　well　fed。　He　carried　a　sizable　belly；　which　pulled　his　brown　shirt　at　the　buttons；　and　it　was　obvious　that　Stick　did　not　spend　his　days　in　the　cotton　fields。　Pappy　said　he　was　lazy　as　hell　and　slept　most　of　the　time　in　his　patrol　car；　under　a　shade　tree　near　Gurdy　Stone's　hot　dog　stand　on　the　edge　of　town。
　　　From　the　other　end　of　the　yard　came　the　Spruills；　all　of　them；　with　Mr。　Spruill　leading　the　pack　and　Trot　bringing　up　the　rear；　twisting　and　snuffling　along　in　his　now　familiar　gait。　I　walked　behind　Gran　and　my　mother；　peeking　between　them　and　trying　to　keep　my　distance。　Only　the　Mexicans　were　absent。
　　　A　loose　huddle　formed　around　Stick；　the　Spruills　loitering　on　one　side；　the　Chandlers　hanging　around　the　other；　though　when　it　came　down　to　it；　we　were　all　on　the　same　side。　I　was　not　pleased　to　be　allied　with　Hank　Spruill；　but　the　cotton　was　more　important　than　anything　else。
　　　Pappy　introduced　Stick　to　Mr。　Spruill；　who　awkwardly　shook　Stick's　hand　and　then　took　a　few　steps　back。　It　looked　like　the　Spruills　were　expecting　the　worst；　and　I　tried　to　remember　if　any　of　them　had　witnessed　the　fight。　There'd　been　a　large　crowd　and　things　had　happened　so　fast。　Dewayne　and　I　had　been　mesmerized　by　the　bloodletting。　I　couldn't　recall　really　noticing　the　faces　of　the　other　spectators。
　　　Stick　worked　a　blade　of　grass　that　was　protruding　from　one　corner　of　his　mouth；　and　with　both　thumbs　hung　in　his　pants　pockets；　he　studied　our　hill　people。　Hank　leaned　against　the　pin　oak；　sneering　at　anybody　who　dared　to　look　at　him。
　　　〃Had　a　big　fight　in　town　yesterday　behind　the　Co…op；〃　Stick　announced　in　the　direction　of　the　Spruills。　Mr。　Spruill　nodded　but　said　nothing。　〃Some　local　boys　got　into　it　with　a　fella　from　the　hills。　One　of　'em；　Jerry　Sisco；　died　this　mornin'　in　the　hospital　in　Jonesboro。　Fractured　skull。〃
　　　Every　Spruill　began　fidgeting；　except　Hank；　who　didn't　move。　They　obviously　had　not　heard　the　latest　on　Jerry　Sisco。
　　　Stick　spat　and　shifted　his　weight；　and　he　seemed　to　enjoy　being　the　man　in　the　middle；　the　voice　of　authority　with　a　badge　and　a　gun。　〃And　so　I'm　lookin'　around；　askin'　questions；　just　tryin'　to　find　out　who　was　involved。〃
　　　〃Ain't　none　of　us；〃　Mr。　Spruill　said。　〃We're　peaceful　folks。〃
　　　〃Is　that　so？〃
　　　〃Yes　sir。〃
　　　〃Did　y'all　go　to　town　yesterday？〃
　　　〃We　did。〃
　　　Now　that　the　lying　had　started；　I　peeked　from　between　the　two　women　for　a　better　look　at　the　Spruills。　They　were　clearly　frightened。　Bo　and　Dale　stood　close　together；　their　eyes　darting　around。　Tally　studied　the　dirt　at　her　bare　feet；　unwilling　to　look　at　us。　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Spruill　seemed　to　be　looking　for　friendly　faces。　Trot；　of　course；　was　in　another　world。
　　　〃You　got　a　boy　named　Hank？〃　Stick　asked。
　　　〃Maybe；〃　Mr。　Spruill　said。
　　　〃Don't　play　games　with　me；〃　Stick　growled　with　sudden　anger。　〃I　ask　you　a　question；　you　give　me　a　straight　answer。　We　got　a　jail　over　in　Jonesboro　with　lots　of　room。　I　can　take　the　whole　family　in　for　questions。　You　understand？〃
　　　〃I'm　Hank　Spruill！〃　came　a　thunderous　voice。　Hank　strutted　through　the　huddle　and　stood　within　striking　distance　of　Stick；　who　was　much　smaller　but　managed　to　maintain　his　cockiness。
　　　Stick　studied　him　for　a　second；　then　asked；　〃Did　you　go　to　town　yesterday？〃
　　　〃I　did。〃
　　　〃Did　you　get　in　a　fight　behind　the　Co…op？〃
　　　〃Nope。　I　stopped　a　fight。〃
　　　〃Did　you　beat　up　the　Sisco　boys？〃
　　　〃I　don't　know　their　names。　There　was　two　of　'em　beatin'　up　a　boy　from　the　hills。　I　stopped　it。〃
　　　Hank's　face　was　smug。　He　showed　no　fear；　and　I　grudgingly　admired　him　for　the　way　he　confronted　the　law。
　　　The　deputy　looked　around　the　crowd；　and　his　eyes　stopped　with　Pappy。　Stick　was　hot　on　the　trail　and　quite　proud　of　himself。　With　his　tongue　he　moved　the　blade　of　grass　to　the　other　corner　of　his　mouth；　then　looked　up　at　Hank　again。
　　　〃Did　you　use　a　stick　of　wood？〃
　　　〃Didn't　need　to。〃
　　　〃Answer　the　question。　Did　you　use　a　stick　of　wood？〃
　　　Without　hesitating；　Hank　said；　〃Nope。　They　had　a　two…by…four。〃
　　　This；　of　course；　conflicted　with　what　someone　else　had　reported　to　Stick。　〃I　guess　I　better　take　you　in；〃　Stick　said；　but　made　no　move　for　the　handcuffs　dangling　from　his　belt。
　　　Mr。　Spruill　took　a　step　forward　and　said　to　Pappy；　〃If　he　leaves；　we　leave；　too。　Right　now。〃
　　　Pappy　was　prepared　for　this。　Hill　people　were　noted　for　their　ability　to　break　camp　and　disappear　quickly；　and　none　of　us　doubted　Mr。　Spruill　meant　what　he　said。　They　would　be　gone　in　an　hour；　back　to　Eureka　Springs；　back　to　their　mountains　and　their　moonshine。　It　would　be　virtually　impossible　to　harvest　eighty　acres　of　cotton　with　just　the　Mexicans　to　help　us。　Every　pound　was　crucial。　Every　hand。
　　　〃Slow　down；　Stick；〃　Pappy　said。　〃Let's　talk　about　this。　You　and　I　both　know　the　Siscos　are　good　for　no　thin'。　They　fight　often；　and　they　fight　dirty。　Seems　to　me　they　picked　on　the　wrong　fella。〃
　　　〃I　got　a　dead　body；　Eli。　You　understand？〃
　　　〃Two　against　one　sounds　like　self…defense　to　me。　Nothin'　fair　about　two　against　one。〃
　　　〃But　look　how　big　he　is。〃
　　　〃Like　I　said；　the　Siscos　picked　on　the　wrong　fella。　You　and　I　both　know　they　had　it　in'。　Let　the　boy　tell　his　story。〃
　　　〃I　ain't　no　boy！〃　Hank　snapped。
　　　〃Tell　what　happened；〃　Pappy　said；　stalling　for　time。　Drag　it　out；　and　maybe　Stick　would　find　some　reason　to　leave　and　e　back　in　a　few　days。
　　　〃Go　ahead；〃　Stick　said。　〃Let's　hear　your　story。　God　knows　ain't　nobody　else　talkin'。〃
　　　Hank　shrugged　and　said；　〃I　walked　up　to　the　fight；　saw　these　two　little　sodbusters　beatin'　up　on　Doyle；　and　so　I　broke　it　up。〃
　　　〃Who's　Doyle？〃　Stick　asked。
　　　〃Boy　from　Hardy。〃
　　　〃You　know　him？〃
　　　〃Nope。〃
　　　〃Then　how　do　you　know　where　he's　from？〃
　　　〃Just　do。〃
　　　〃Damn　it！〃　Stick　said；　then　spat　near　Hank。　〃Nobody　knows　nothin'。　Nobody　saw　nothin'。　Half　the　town　was　behind　the　Co…op；　but　nobody　knows　a　damned　thing。〃
　　　〃Sounds　like　two　against　one；〃　Pappy　said　again。　〃And　watch　your　language。　You're　on　my　property；　and　there're　ladies　present。〃
　　　〃Sorry；〃　Stick　said；　touching　his　hat　and　nodding　in　the　direction　of　Mother　and　Gran。
　　　〃He　was　just　breakin'　up　a　fight；〃　my　father　said；　his　first　words。
　　　〃There's　more　to　it；　Jesse。　I've　heard　that　after　the　fight　was　over；　he　picked　up　a　piece　of　wood　and　beat　the　boys。　I　figure　that's　when　the　skull　was　fractured。　Two　against　one　ain't　fair；　and　I　know　it's　the　Siscos；　but　I　ain't　sure　one　of　'em　had　to　get　killed。〃
　　　〃I　didn't　kill　nobody；〃　Hank　said。　〃I　broke　up　a　fight。　And　there　was　three　of　'em；　not　two。〃
　　　It　was　about　time　Hank　set　the　record　straight。　It　seemed　odd　to　me　that　Stick　didn't　know　that　three　of　the　Siscos　had　been　maimed。　All　he　had　to　do　was　count　the　battered　faces。　But　they　had　probably　been　hauled　off　by　their　kin　and　hidden　back　home。
　　　〃Three？〃　Stick　repeated　in　disbelief。　The　entire　gathering　seemed　to　freeze。
　　　Pappy　seized　the　moment。　〃Three　against　one；　and　there's　no　way　you　can　take　him　in　for　murder。　No　jury　in　this　county'll　ever　convict　if　it's　three　against　one。〃
　　　For　a　moment　Stick　seemed　to　agree；　but　he　wasn't　about　to　concede。　〃That's　if　he's　tellin'　the　truth。　He'll　need　witnesses；　and　right　now　they're　few　and　far　between。〃　Stick　turned　to　face　Hank　again　and　said；　〃Who　were　the　three？〃
　　　〃I　didn't　ask　their　names；　sir；〃　Hank　said　with　perfect　sarcasm。　〃We　didn't　have　a　chance　to　say　howdy。　Three　against　one　takes　up　a　lotta　time；　especially　if　you're　the　one。〃
　　　Laughter　would've　upset　Stick；　and　nobody　wanted　to　run　that　risk。　So　we　just　lowered　our　heads　and　grinned。
　　　〃Don't　get　smart　with　me；　boy！〃　Stick　said；　trying　to　reassert　himself。　〃Don't　suppose　you　got　any　witnesses；　do　you？〃
　　　The　humor　vanished　into　a　long　period　of　silence。　I　was　hoping　that　maybe　Bo　or　Dale　would　step　forward　and　claim　to　be　a　witness。　Since　the　Spruills　had　just　proved　that　they　would　lie　under　pressure；　it　seemed　sensible　to　me　that　one　of　them　would　quickly　verify　Hank's　version。　But　nobody　moved；　nobody　spoke。　I　slipped　over　a　few　inches　and　was　directly　behind　my　mother。
　　　Then　I　heard　words　that　would　change　my　life。　With　the　air　perfectly　still；　Hank　said；　〃Little　Chandler　saw　it。〃
　　　Little　Chandler　almost　wet　his　pants。
　　　When　I　opened　my　eyes；　everyone　was　staring　at　me；　of　course。　Gran　and　my　mother　looked　particularly　horrified。　I　felt　guilty　and　looked　guilty；　and　I　knew　in　an　instant　that　every　person　there　believed　Hank。　I　was　a　witness！　I'd　seen　the　fight。
　　　〃e　here；　Luke；〃　Pappy　said；　and　I　walked　as　slowly　as　humanly　possible　to　a　spot　in　the　center。　I　glanced　up　at　Hank；　and　his　eyes　were　glowing。　He　wore　his　usual　smirk；　and　his　face　told　me　that　he　knew　I　was　caught。　The　crowd　inched　in　as　if　surrounding　me。
　　　〃Did　you　see　the　fight？〃　Pappy　asked。
　　　I'd　been　taught　in　Sunday　school　from　the　day　I　could　walk　that　lying　would　send　you　straight　to　hell。　No　detours。　No　second　chances。　Straight　into　the　fiery　pit；　where　Satan　was　waiting　with　the　likes　of　Hitler　and　Judas　Iscariot　and　General　Grant。　Thou　shalt　not　bear　false　witness；　which；　of　course；　didn't　sound　exactly　like　a　strict　prohibition　against　lying；　but　that　was　the　way　the　Baptists　interpreted　it。　And　I'd　been　whipped　a　couple　of　times　for　telling　little　fibs。　〃Just　tell　the　truth　and　get　it　over　with〃　was　one　of　Gran's　favorite　sayings。
　　　I　said；　〃Yes　sir。〃
　　　〃What　were　you　doin'　there？〃
　　　〃I　heard　there　was　a　fight；　so　I　took　off　and　watched　it。〃　I　wasn't　about　to　include　Dewayne；　at　least　not　until　I　had　to。
　　　Stick　dropped　to　one　knee　so　that　his　chubby　face　was　eye…level　with　mine。　〃Tell　me　what　you　saw；〃　he　said。　〃And　tell　the　truth。〃
　　　I　glanced　at　my　father；　who　was　hovering　over　my　shoulder。　And　I　looked　at　Pappy；　who；　oddly；　didn't　seem　at　all　angry　with　me。
　　　I　sucked　in　air　until　my　lungs　were　full；　and　I　looked　at　Tally；　who　was　watching　me　very　closely。　Then　I　looked　at　Stick's　flat　nose　and　his　black；　puffy　eyes；　and　I　said；　〃Jerry　Sisco　was　fightin'　some　man　from　the　hills。　Then　Billy　Sisco　jumped　on　him；　too。　They　were　beatin'　him　up　pretty　bad　when　Mr。　Hank　stepped　in　to　help　the