jg.paintedhouse-第28部分

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ody　lived　close　to　the　Latchers　but　us。　Ricky　had　been　the　nearest　tomcat。
　　　Church　business　suddenly　became　important；　and　the　women　talked　about　it　nonstop。　I　had　many　more　questions　about　the　Latcher　baby；　but　I　couldn't　sneak　in　a　word。　I　finally　gave　up　and　went　to　the　kitchen　to　listen　to　the　Cardinals　game。
　　　I　sorely　wanted　to　be　in　the　back　of　our　pickup　over　at　the　Latchers'；　eavesdropping　on　the　men　as　they　handled　the　situation。
　　　
　　　Long　after　I'd　been　sent　to　bed；　I　lay　awake；　fighting　sleep　because　the　air　was　alive　with　voices。　When　my　grandparents　talked　in　bed；　I　could　hear　their　soft；　low　sounds　creeping　down　the　narrow　hallway。　I　couldn't　understand　a　word；　and　they　tried　their　best　to　make　sure　no　one　heard　them。　But　at　times；　when　they　were　worried　or　when　they　were　thinking　about　Ricky；　they　were　forced　to　talk　late　at　night。　Lying　in　his　bed；　listening　to　their　muted　utterances；　I　knew　things　were　serious。
　　　My　parents　retreated　to　the　front　porch；　where　they　sat　on　the　steps；　waiting　for　a　breeze　and　a　break　from　the　relentless　heat。　At　first　they　whispered；　but　their　burdens　were　too　heavy；　and　their　words　could　not　be　suppressed。　Certain　that　I　was　asleep；　they　talked　louder　than　they　normally　would　have。
　　　I　slipped　out　of　bed　and　slid　across　the　floor　like　a　snake。　At　the　window；　I　glanced　out　and　saw　them　in　their　familiar　spot；　backs　to　me；　a　few　feet　away。
　　　I　absorbed　every　sound。　Things　had　not　gone　well　at　the　Latchers'。　Libby　had　been　somewhere　in　the　back　of　the　house　with　the　baby；　who　cried　nonstop。　All　the　Latchers　seemed　frayed　and　worn　out　by　the　crying。　Mr。　Latcher　was　angry　with　Percy　for　ing　to　our　house；　but　he　was　even　angrier　when　he　talked　about　Libby。　She　was　telling　that　she　didn't　want　to　fool　around　with　Ricky；　but　he　made　her　anyway。　Pappy　denied　this　was　the　case；　but　he　had　nothing　to　stand　on。　He　denied　everything；　and　said　he　doubted　if　Ricky　had　ever　met　Libby。
　　　But　they　had　witnesses。　Mr。　Latcher　himself　said　that　on　two　occasions；　just　after　Christmas；　Ricky　pulled　up　in　their　front　yard　in　Pappy's　pickup　and　took　Libby　for　a　ride。　They　drove　to　Monette；　where　Ricky　bought　her　a　soda。
　　　My　father　speculated　that　if　that　really　did　happen；　then　Ricky　chose　Monette　because　fewer　people　would　know　him　there。　He'd　never　be　seen　in　Black　Oak　with　the　daughter　of　a　sharecropper。
　　　〃She's　a　beautiful　girl；〃　my　mother　said。
　　　The　next　witness　was　a　boy　of　no　more　than　ten。　Mr。　Latcher　summoned　him　from　the　pack　huddled　around　the　front　steps。　His　testimony　was　that　he'd　seen　Pappy's　truck　parked　at　the　end　of　a　field　row；　next　to　a　thicket。　He　sneaked　up　on　the　truck；　and　got　close　enough　to　see　Ricky　and　Libby　kissing。　He　kept　it　quiet　because　he　was　scared；　and　had　e　forth　with　the　story　only　a　few　hours　earlier。
　　　The　Chandlers；　of　course；　had　no　witnesses。　On　our　side　of　the　river；　there'd　been　no　hint　of　a　budding　romance。　Ricky　certainly　would　not　have　told　anyone。　Pappy　would've　hit　him。
　　　Mr。　Latcher　said　he　suspected　all　along　that　Ricky　was　the　father；　but　Libby　had　denied　it。　And　in　truth；　there　were　a　couple　of　other　boys　who'd　shown　an　interest　in　her。　But　now　she　was　telling　everything…that　Ricky　had　forced　himself　on　her；　that　she　didn't　want　the　baby。
　　　〃Do　they　want　us　to　take　it？〃　my　mother　asked。
　　　I　almost　groaned　in　pain。
　　　〃No；　I　don't　think　so；〃　my　father　said。　〃What's　another　baby　around　their　house？〃
　　　My　mother　thought　the　baby　deserved　a　good　home。　My　father　said　it　was　out　of　the　question　until　Ricky　said　it　was　his　child。　Not　likely；　knowing　Ricky。
　　　〃Did　you　see　the　baby？〃　my　mother　asked。
　　　〃No。〃
　　　〃He's　the　spittin'　image　of　Ricky；〃　she　said。
　　　My　one　recollection　of　the　newest　Latcher　was　that　of　a　small　object　that　reminded　me；　at　the　time；　of　my　baseball　glove。　He　barely　looked　human。　But　my　mother　and　Gran　spent　hours　analyzing　the　faces　of　people　to　determine　who　favored　whom；　and　where　the　eyes　came　from；　and　the　nose　and　hair。　They'd　look　at　babies　at　church　and　say；　〃Oh；　he's　definitely　a　Chisenhall。〃　Or；　〃Look　at　those　eyes；　got　'em　from　his　grandmother。〃
　　　They　all　looked　like　little　dolls　to　me。
　　　〃So　you　think　he's　a　Chandler？〃　my　father　said。
　　　〃No　doubt　about　it。〃
　
　
　Chapter　18
　　　
　　　It　was　Saturday　again；　but　Saturday　without　the　usual　excitement　of　going　to　town。　I　knew　we　were　going　because　we　had　never　skipped　two　Saturdays　in　a　row。　Gran　needed　groceries；　especially　flour　and　coffee；　and　my　mother　needed　to　go　to　the　drugstore。　My　father　hadn't　been　to　the　Co…op　in　two　weeks。　I　didn't　have　a　vote　in　the　matter；　but　my　mother　knew　how　important　the　Saturday　matinee　was　to　the　proper　development　of　a　child；　especially　a　farm　kid　with　little　contact　with　the　rest　of　the　world。　Yes；　we　were　going　to　town；　but　without　the　usual　enthusiasm。
　　　A　new　horror　was　upon　us；　one　that　was　far　more　frightening　than　all　this　business　about　Hank　Spruill。　What　if　somebody　heard　what　the　Latchers　were　telling？　It　took　just　one　person；　one　whisper　at　one　end　of　Main　Street；　and　the　gossip　would　roar　through　the　town　like　a　wildfire。　The　ladies　in　Pop　and　Pearl's　would　drop　their　baskets　and　cover　their　mouths　in　disbelief。　The　old　farmers　hanging　around　the　Co…op　would　smirk　and　say；　〃I'm　not　surprised。〃　The　older　kids　from　church　would　point　at　me　as　if　I　were　somehow　the　guilty　one。　The　town　would　seize　the　rumor　as　if　it　were　the　gospel　truth；　and　Chandler　blood　would　be　forever　tainted。
　　　So　I　didn't　want　to　go　to　town。　I　wanted　to　stay　home　and　play　baseball　and　maybe　go　for　a　walk　with　Tally。
　　　Little　was　said　over　breakfast。　We　were　still　very　subdued；　and　I　think　this　was　because　we　all　knew　the　truth。　Ricky　had　left　behind　a　little　memory。　I　wondered　to　myself　if　he　knew　about　Libby　and　the　baby；　but　I　wasn't　about　to　bring　up　the　subject。　I'd　ask　my　mother　later。
　　　〃Carnival's　in　town；〃　Pappy　said。　Suddenly　the　day　was　better。　My　fork　froze　in　midair。
　　　〃What　time　are　we　goin'？〃　I　asked。
　　　〃The　same。　Just　after　lunch；〃　Pappy　said。
　　　〃How　late　can　we　stay？〃
　　　〃We'll　see　about　that；〃　he　said。
　　　The　carnival　was　a　wandering　band　of　gypsies　with　funny　accents　who　lived　in　Florida　during　the　winter　and　hit　the　small　farming　towns　in　the　fall；　when　the　harvest　was　in　full　swing　and　folks　had　money　in　their　pockets。　They　usually　arrived　abruptly　on　a　Thursday　and　then　set　up　on　the　baseball　field　without　permission；　and　stayed　through　the　weekend。　Nothing　excited　Black　Oak　like　the　carnival。
　　　A　different　one　came　to　town　each　year。　One　had　an　elephant　and　a　giant　loggerhead　turtle。　One　had　no　animals　at　all　but　specialized　in　odd　humans…tumbling　midgets；　the　girl　with　six　fingers；　the　man　with　an　extra　leg。　But　all　carnivals　had　a　Ferris　wheel；　a　merry…go…round；　and　two　or　three　other　rides　that　squeaked　and　rattled　and　generally　terrified　all　the　mothers。　The　Slinger　had　been　such　a　ride；　a　circle　of　swings　on　chains　that　went　faster　and　faster　until　the　riders　were　flying　parallel　to　the　ground　and　screaming　and　begging　to　stop。　A　couple　of　years　earlier　in　Monette；　a　chain　had　snapped；　and　a　little　girl　had　been　flung　across　the　midway　and　into　the　side　of　a　trailer。　The　next　week　the　Slinger　was　in　Black　Oak；　with　new　chains；　and　folks　lined　up　to　ride　it。
　　　There　were　booths　where　you　threw　rings　and　darts　and　shot　pellet　pistols　to　win　prizes。　Some　carnivals　had　fortune…tellers；　others　had　photo　booths；　still　others　had　magicians。　They　were　all　loud　and　colorful　and　filled　with　excitement。　Word　would　spread　quickly　through　the　county；　and　people　would　flock　in；　and　in　a　few　hours　Black　Oak　would　be　packed。　I　was　desperate　to　go。
　　　Perhaps；　I　thought；　the　excitement　of　the　carnival　would　suppress　any　curiosity　about　Libby　Latcher。　I　choked　down　my　biscuits　and　ran　outside。
　　　〃The　carnival's　in　town；〃　I　whispered　to　Tally　when　we　met　at　the　tractor　for　the　ride　to　the　fields。
　　　〃Y'all　goin'？〃　she　asked。
　　　〃Of　course。　Nobody　misses　the　carnival。〃
　　　〃I　know　a　secret；〃　she　whispered；　her　eyes　darting　around。
　　　〃What　is　it？〃
　　　〃Somethin'　I　heard　last　night。〃
　　　〃Where'd　you　hear　it？〃
　　　〃By　the　front　porch。〃
　　　I　didn't　like　the　way　she　was　stringing　me　along。　〃What　is　it？〃
　　　She　leaned　even　closer。　〃　'Bout　Ricky　and　that　Latcher　girl。　Guess　you　got　a　new　cousin。〃　Her　words　were　cruel；　and　her　eyes　looked　mean。　This　was　not　the　Tally　I　knew。
　　　〃What　were　you　doin'　out　there？〃　I　asked。
　　　〃None　of　your　business。〃
　　　Pappy　came　from　the　house　and　walked　to　the　tractor。　〃You'd　better　not　tell；〃　I　said　through　clenched　teeth。
　　　〃We　keep　our　secrets；　remember？〃　she　said；　moving　away。
　　　〃Yeah。〃
　　　I　ate　lunch　quickly；　then　hurried　about　the　task　of　getting　myself　scrubbed　and　bathed。　My　mother　knew　I　was　anxious　to　get　to　town；　so　she　wasted　no　time　with　her　scouring。
　　　All　ten　Mexicans　piled　into　the　back　of　the　truck　with　me　and　my　father；　and　we　pulled　away　from　our　farm。　Cowboy　had　picked　cotton　all　week　with　broken　ribs；　a　fact　that　had　not　gone　unnoticed　by　Pappy　and　my　father。　They　admired　him　greatly。　〃They're　tough　people；〃　Pappy　had　said。
　　　The　Spruills　were　scurrying　about；　trying　to　catch　us。　Tally　had　spread　the　word　about　the　carnival；　and　even　Trot　seemed　to　be　moving　with　a　purpose。
　　　When　we　crossed　the　river；　I　looked　long　and　hard　down　the　field　road　that　led　to　the　Latchers'　place；　but　their　little　shack　was　not　visible。　I　glanced　at　my　father。　He　was　looking；　too；　his　eyes　hard；　almost　angry。　How　could　those　people　have　intruded　into　our　lives？
　　　We　crept　along　the　gravel　road；　and　soon　the　Latcher　fields　were　behind　us。　By　the　time　we　stopped　at　the　highway；　I　was　once　again　dreaming　of　the　carnival。
　　　Our　driver；　of　course；　would　never　get　in　a　hurry。　With　the　truck　so　loaded　with　people；　I　doubted　if　it　would　do　thirty…seven；　and　Pappy　certainly　didn't　push　it。　It　took　an　hour；　it　seemed。
　　　Stick's　patrol　car　was　parked　by　the　Baptist　church。　Traffic　on　Main　was　already　slow；　the　sidewalks　brimming　with　activity。　We　parked；　and　the　Mexicans　scattered。　Stick　appeared　from　under　a　shade　tree　and　walked　straight　for　us。　Gran　and　my　mother　headed　for　the　stores。　I　hung　back　with　the　men；　certain　that　serious　matters　were　about　to　be　discussed。
　　　〃Howdy；　Eli。　Jesse；〃　Stick　said；　his　hat　tilted　to　one　side；　a　blade　of　grass　in　the　corner　of　his　mouth。
　　　〃Afternoon；　Stick；〃　Pappy　said。　My　father　just　nodded。　They　had　not　e　to　town　to　spend　time　with　Stick；　and　their　irritation　was　just　under　the　surface。
　　　〃I'm　thinkin'　'bout　arrestin'　that　Spruill　boy；〃　he　said。
　　　〃I　don't　care　what　you　do；〃　Pappy　shot　back；　his　anger　rising　fast。　〃Just　wait　till　the　cotton's　in。〃
　　　〃Surely　you　can　wait　a　month；〃　my　father　said。
　　　Stick　chewed　on　the　grass；　spat；　and　said；　〃I　suppose　so。〃
　　　〃He's　a　good　worker；〃　my　father　said。　〃And　there's　plenty　of　cotton。　You　take　him　now；　and　we'll　lose　six　field　hands。　You　know　how　those　people　are。〃
　　　〃I　suppose　I　could　wait；〃　Stick　said　again。　He　seemed　anxious　to　reach　a　promise。　〃I　been　talkin'　to　a　lot　of　people；　and　I　ain't　so　sure　your　boy　here　is　tellin'　the　truth。〃　He　gave　me　a　long　look　as　he　said　this；　and　I　kicked　gravel。
　　　〃Leave　him　out　of　it；　Stick；〃　my　father　said。　〃He's　ju