jg.paintedhouse-第26部分

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in　the　room。　The　light　was　dim；　the　shadows　heavy。
　　　〃Let's　move　forward；〃　Tally　whispered。　By　then　we'd　been　there　for　five　minutes；　and　though　I　was　frightened；　I　didn't　think　we　would　ever　get　caught。
　　　We　advanced　ten　feet；　and　then　nestled　down　in　another　safe　place。
　　　〃This　is　close　enough；〃　I　said。
　　　〃Maybe。〃
　　　The　light　from　the　room　fell　to　the　ground　outside。　The　window　had　no　screen；　no　curtains。　As　we　waited；　my　heart　slowed；　and　my　breathing　returned　to　normal。　My　eyes　focused　on　the　surroundings；　and　I　began　to　hear　the　sounds　of　the　night…the　crickets'　chorus；　the　bullfrogs　croaking　down　by　the　river；　the　murmuring　of　the　deep　voices　of　the　men　in　the　distance。
　　　My　mother　and　Gran　and　Mrs。　Latcher　also　talked　in　very　low　voices。　We　could　hear；　but　we　couldn't　understand。
　　　When　all　was　quiet　and　still；　Libby　screamed　in　agony；　and　I　nearly　jumped　out　of　my　skin。　Her　pained　voice　echoed　through　the　fields；　and　I　was　sure　she　had　died。　Silence　engulfed　the　pickup。　Even　the　crickets　seemed　to　stop　for　a　second。
　　　〃What　happened？〃　I　asked。
　　　〃A　labor　contraction；〃　Tally　said；　without　taking　her　eyes　off　the　window。
　　　〃What's　that？〃
　　　She　shrugged。　〃Just　part　of　it。　It'll　get　worse。〃
　　　〃That　poor　girl。〃
　　　〃She　asked　for　it。〃
　　　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　I　asked。
　　　〃Never　mind；〃　she　said。
　　　Things　were　quiet　for　a　few　minutes；　then　we　heard　Libby　crying。　Her　mother　and　Gran　tried　to　console　her。　〃I'm　so　sorry；〃　Libby　said　over　and　over。
　　　〃It's　gonna　be　all　right；〃　her　mother　said。
　　　〃Nobody'll　know　about　it；〃　Gran　said。　It　was　obviously　a　lie；　but　maybe　it　provided　a　little　relief　for　Libby。
　　　〃You're　gonna　have　a　beautiful　baby；〃　my　mother　said。
　　　A　stray　Latcher　wandered　over；　one　of　the　mid…sized　ones；　and　sneaked　its　way　close　to　the　window；　the　same　way　I'd　crept　upon　it　just　a　few　hours　earlier；　just　moments　before　Percy　nearly　maimed　me　with　the　dirt　clod。　He　or　she…I　couldn't　tell　the　difference…began　snooping　and　was　getting　an　eyeful　when　an　older　sibling　barked　at　the　end　of　the　house；　〃Lloyd；　get　away　from　that　window。〃
　　　Lloyd　immediately　withdrew　and　scurried　away　in　the　darkness。　His　trespass　was　promptly　reported　to　Mr。　Latcher；　and　a　vicious　tail…whipping　ensued　somewhere　nearby。　Mr。　Latcher　used　a　stick　of　some　variety。　He　kept　saying；　〃Next　time　I'll　get　me　a　bigger　stick！〃　Lloyd　thought　the　current　one　was　more　than　enough。　His　screams　probably　could　be　heard　at　the　bridge。
　　　When　the　mauling　was　over；　Mr。　Latcher　boomed；　〃I　told　you　kids　to　stay　close；　and　to　stay　away　from　the　house！〃
　　　We　could　not　see　this　episode；　nor　did　we　have　to；　to　get　the　full　effect。
　　　But　I　was　more　horrified　thinking　about　the　severity　and　duration　of　the　beating　I'd　get　if　my　father　knew　where　I　was　at　that　moment。　I　suddenly　wanted　to　leave。
　　　〃How　long　does　it　take　to　have　a　baby？〃　I　whispered　to　Tally。　If　she　was　weary；　she　didn't　show　it。　She　rested　on　her　knees；　frozen；　her　eyes　never　leaving　the　window。
　　　〃Depends。　First　one　always　takes　longer。〃
　　　〃How　long　does　the　seventh　one　take？〃
　　　〃I　don't　know。　By　then　they　just　drop　out；　I　guess。　Who's　had　seven？〃
　　　〃Libby's　mom。　Seven　or　eight。　I　think　she　drops　one　a　year。〃
　　　I　was　about　to　doze　off　when　the　next　contraction　hit。　Again　it　rattled　the　house　and　led　first　to　weeping　and　then　to　soothing　words　inside　the　room。　Then　things　leveled　off　once　more；　and　I　realized　this　might　go　on　for　a　long　time。
　　　
　　　When　I　couldn't　keep　my　eyes　open　any　longer；　I　curled　up　on　the　warm　soil　between　the　two　rows　of　cotton。　〃Don't　you　think　we　oughta　leave？〃　I　whispered。
　　　〃No；〃　she　said　firmly；　without　moving。
　　　〃Wake　me　up　if　anything　happens；〃　I　said。
　　　Tally　readjusted　herself。　She　sat　on　her　rear　and　crossed　her　legs；　and　gently　placed　my　head　in　her　lap。　She　rubbed　my　shoulder　and　my　head。　I　didn't　want　to　go　to　sleep；　but　I　just　couldn't　help　it。
　　　When　I　awoke；　I　was　at　first　lost　in　a　strange　world；　lying　in　a　field；　in　total　blackness。　I　didn't　move。　The　ground　around　me　wasn't　warm　anymore；　and　my　feet　were　cold。　I　opened　my　eyes　and　stared　above；　terrified　until　I　realized　there　was　cotton　standing　over　me。　I　heard　urgent　voices　nearby。　Someone　said；　〃Libby；〃　and　I　was　jolted　back　to　reality。　I　reached　for　Tally；　but　she　was　gone。
　　　I　rose　from　the　ground　and　peered　through　the　cotton。　The　scene　hadn't　changed。　The　window　was　still　open；　the　candles　still　burning；　but　my　mother　and　Gran　and　Mrs。　Latcher　were　very　busy。
　　　〃Tally！〃　I　whispered　urgently；　too　loud；　I　thought；　but　I　was　more　scared　than　ever。
　　　〃Shhhhh！〃　came　the　reply。　〃Over　here。〃
　　　I　could　barely　see　the　back　of　her　head；　two　rows　in　front　and　over　to　the　right。　She　had；　of　course；　angled　for　a　better　view。　I　knifed　through　the　stalks　and　was　soon　at　her　side。
　　　Home　plate　is　sixty　feet　from　the　pitcher's　mound。　We　were　much　closer　to　the　window　than　that。　Only　two　rows　of　cotton　stood　between　us　and　the　edge　of　their　side　yard。　Ducking　low　and　looking　up　through　the　stalks；　I　could　finally　see　the　shadowy　sweating　faces　of　my　mother　and　grandmother　and　Mrs。　Latcher。　They　were　staring　down；　looking　at　Libby；　of　course；　and　we　could　not　see　her。　I'm　not　sure　I　wanted　to　at　this　point；　but　my　buddy　certainly　did。
　　　The　women　were　reaching　and　shoving　and　urging　her　to　push　and　breathe　and　push　and　breathe；　all　the　while　assuring　her　that　things　were　going　to　be　fine。　Things　didn't　sound　fine。　The　poor　girl　was　bawling　and　grunting；　occasionally　yelling…high　piercing　shrieks　that　were　hardly　muffled　by　the　walls　of　the　room。　Her　anguished　voice　carried　deep　through　the　still　night；　and　I　wondered　what　her　little　brothers　and　sisters　thought　of　it　all。
　　　When　Libby　wasn't　grunting　and　crying；　she　was　saying；　〃I'm　sorry。　I'm　so　sorry。〃　It　went　on　and　on；　time　after　time；　a　mindless　chant　from　a　suffering　girl。
　　　〃It's　okay；　sweetie；〃　her　mother　replied　a　thousand　times。
　　　〃Can't　they　do　something？〃　I　whispered。
　　　〃Nope；　not　a　thing。　The　baby　es　when　it　wants　to。〃
　　　I　wanted　to　ask　Tally　just　exactly　how　she　knew　so　much　about　childbirthing；　but　I　held　my　tongue。　It　was　none　of　my　business；　and　she　would　probably　tell　me　so。
　　　Suddenly；　things　were　quiet　and　still　inside　the　room。　The　Chandler　women　backed　away；　then　Mrs。　Latcher　leaned　down　with　a　glass　of　water。　Libby　was　silent。
　　　〃What's　the　matter？〃　I　asked。
　　　〃Nothing。〃
　　　The　break　in　the　action　gave　me　time　to　think　of　other　things；　namely　getting　caught。　I'd　seen　enough。　This　adventure　had　run　its　course。　Tally　had　likened　it　to　the　trip　to　Siler's　Creek；　but　it　paled　in　parison　with　that　little　escapade。　We'd　been　gone　for　hours。　What　if　Pappy　stumbled　into　Ricky's　room　to　check　on　me？　What　if　one　of　the　Spruills　woke　up　and　started　looking　for　Tally？　What　if　my　father　got　bored　with　it　all　and　went　home？
　　　The　beating　I'd　get　would　hurt　for　days；　if　in　fact　I　survived　it。　I　was　beginning　to　panic　when　Libby　started　heaving　loudly　again；　while　the　women　implored　her　to　breathe　and　push。
　　　〃There　it　is！〃　my　mother　said；　and　a　frenzy　followed　as　the　women　hovered　frantically　over　their　patient。
　　　〃Keep　pushin'！〃　Gran　said　loudly。
　　　Libby　groaned　even　more。　She　was　exhausted；　but　at　least　the　end　was　in　sight。
　　　〃Don't　give　up；　sweetie；〃　her　mother　said。　〃Don't　give　up。〃
　　　Tally　and　I　were　perfectly　still；　mesmerized　by　the　drama。　She　took　my　hand　and　squeezed　it　tightly。　Her　jaws　were　clenched；　her　eyes　wide　with　wonder。
　　　〃It's　in'！〃　my　mother　said；　and　for　a　brief　moment　things　were　quiet。　Then　we　heard　the　cry　of　a　newborn；　a　quick　gurgling　protest；　and　a　new　Latcher　had　arrived。
　　　〃It's　a　boy；〃　Gran　said；　and　she　lifted　up　the　tiny　infant；　still　covered　in　blood　and　afterbirth。
　　　〃It's　a　boy；〃　Mrs。　Latcher　repeated。
　　　There　was　no　response　from　Libby。
　　　I'd　seen　more　than　I　bargained　for。　〃Let's　go；〃　I　said；　trying　to　pull　away；　but　Tally　wasn't　moving。
　　　Gran　and　my　mother　continued　working　on　Libby　while　Mrs。　Latcher　cleaned　the　baby；　who　was　furious　about　something　and　crying　loudly。　I　couldn't　help　but　think　of　how　sad　it　would　be　to　bee　a　Latcher；　to　be　born　into　that　small；　dirty　house　with　a　pack　of　other　kids。
　　　A　few　minutes　passed；　and　Percy　appeared　at　the　window。　〃Can　we　see　the　baby？〃　he　asked；　almost　afraid　to　look　in。
　　　〃In　a　minute；〃　Mrs。　Latcher　replied。
　　　They　gathered　at　the　window；　the　entire　collection　of　Latchers；　including　the　father；　who　was　now　a　grandfather；　and　waited　to　see　the　baby。　They　were　just　in　front　of　us；　halfway　between　home　and　the　mound；　it　seemed；　and　I　stopped　breathing　for　fear　they　would　hear　us。　But　they　weren't　thinking　about　intruders。　They　were　looking　at　the　open　window；　all　still　with　wonder。
　　　Mrs。　Latcher　brought　the　infant　over　and　leaned　down　so　he　could　meet　his　family。　He　reminded　me　of　my　baseball　glove；　he　was　almost　as　dark；　and　wrapped　in　a　towel。　He　was　quiet　for　the　moment　and　appeared　unimpressed　with　the　mob　watching　him。
　　　〃How's　Libby？〃　one　of　them　asked。
　　　〃She's　fine；〃　Mrs。　Latcher　said。
　　　〃Can　we　see　her？〃
　　　〃No；　not　right　now。　She's　very　tired。〃　She　withdrew　the　baby；　and　the　other　Latchers　retreated　slowly　to　the　front　of　the　house。　I　could　not　see　my　father；　but　I　knew　he　was　hiding　somewhere　near　his　truck。　Hard　cash　could　not　entice　him　to　look　at　an　illegitimate　newborn。
　　　For　a　few　minutes；　the　women　seemed　as　busy　as　they'd　been　just　before　the　birth；　but　then　they　slowly　finished　their　work。
　　　My　trance　wore　off；　and　I　realized　that　we　were　a　long　way　from　home。　〃We　gotta　go；　Tally！〃　I　whispered　urgently。　She　was　ready　and　I　followed　her　as　we　backtracked；　cutting　our　way　through　the　stalks　until　we　were　away　from　the　house；　then　turning　south　and　running　with　the　rows　of　cotton。　We　stopped　to　get　our　bearings。　The　light　from　the　window　could　not　be　seen。　The　moon　had　disappeared。　There　were　no　shapes　or　shadows　from　the　Latcher　place。　Total　darkness。
　　　We　turned　west；　again　stepping　across　the　rows；　cutting　through　the　stalks；　pushing　them　aside　so　they　wouldn't　scrape　our　faces。　The　rows　ended；　and　we　found　the　trail　leading　to　the　main　road。　My　feet　hurt；　and　my　legs　ached；　but　we　couldn't　waste　time。　We　ran　to　the　bridge。　Tally　wanted　to　watch　the　waters　swirling　below；　but　I　made　her　keep　going。
　　　〃Let's　walk；〃　she　said；　on　our　side　of　the　bridge；　and　for　a　moment　we　stopped　running。　We　walked　in　silence；　both　of　us　trying　to　catch　our　breath。　Fatigue　was　quickly　gaining　on　us；　the　adventure　had　been　worth　it；　but　we　were　paying　the　price。　We　were　approaching　our　farm　when　there　was　a　rumbling　behind　us。　Headlights！　On　the　bridge！　In　terror；　we　bolted　into　high　gear。　Tally　could　easily　outrun　me；　which　would've　been　humiliating　except　that　I　didn't　have　time　for　shame；　and　she　held　back　a　step　so　she　wouldn't　lose　me。
　　　I　knew　my　father　would　not　drive　fast；　not　at　night；　on　our　dirt　road；　with　Gran　and　my　mother　with　him；　but　the　headlights　were　still　gaining　on　us。　When　we　were　close　to　our　house；　we　jumped　the　shallow　ditch　and　ran　along　a　field。　The　engine　was　getting　louder。
　　　〃I'll　wait　here；　Luke；〃　she　said；　stopping　near　the　edge　of　our　yard。　The　truck　was　almost　upon　us。　〃You　run　to　the　back　porch　and　sneak　in。　I'll　wait　till