jg.paintedhouse-第37部分

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　　　〃Is　that　so？〃　she　said　with　a　smile；　as　if　I　didn't　know　much　because　I　was　just　a　kid。　Then　the　smile　slowly　vanished　as　she　considered　this。　I　wondered　if　she；　too；　knew　something　about　the　secret　romance。
　　　〃Yes　ma'am。〃
　　　〃And　what　makes　you　think　this？〃
　　　〃I　caught　them　in　the　cotton　patch　this　mornin'。〃
　　　〃What　were　they　doing？〃　she　asked；　seeming　a　little　frightened　that　maybe　I'd　seen　something　I　shouldn't　have。
　　　〃I　don't　know；　but　they　were　together。〃
　　　〃Did　you　see　them？〃
　　　I　told　her　the　story；　beginning　with　the　voices；　then　the　cotton…mouth；　then　their　escape。　I　omitted　no　details；　and；　amazingly；　I　did　not　exaggerate　anything。　Maybe　the　size　of　the　snake；　but　for　the　most　part　I　clung　to　the　truth。
　　　She　absorbed　it　and　seemed　genuinely　astounded。
　　　〃What　were　they　doin'；　Mom？〃　I　asked。
　　　〃I　don't　know。　You　didn't　see　anything；　did　you？〃
　　　〃No　ma'am。　Do　you　think　they　were　kissin'？〃
　　　〃Probably；〃　she　said　quickly。
　　　She　reached　for　the　ignition　again　and　said；　〃Oh　well；　I'll　talk　to　your　father　about　it。〃
　　　We　drove　away　in　a　hurry。　After　a　moment　or　two　I　really　couldn't　tell　if　I　felt　any　better。　She'd　told　me　many　times　that　little　boys　shouldn't　keep　secrets　from　their　mothers。　But　every　time　I　confessed　one；　she　was　quick　to　shrug　it　off　and　tell　my　father　what　I'd　told　her。　I'm　not　sure　how　I　benefited　from　being　so　candid。　But　it　was　all　I　could　do。　Now　the　adults　knew　about　Tally　and　Cowboy。　Let　them　worry　about　the　problem。
　　　The　Latchers　were　picking　near　their　house；　so　by　the　time　we　rolled　to　a　stop；　we　had　an　audience。　Mrs。　Latcher　emerged　from　the　house　and　managed　a　smile；　then　she　helped　us　haul　the　food　to　the　front　porch。
　　　〃I　guess　you　wanna　see　the　baby；〃　she　said　softly　to　my　mother。
　　　I　wanted　to　see　it　also；　but　I　knew　my　chances　were　slim。　The　women　went　into　the　house。　I　found　a　spot　under　a　tree　near　our　truck；　and　I　planned　to　loiter；　alone；　just　minding　my　own　business　while　I　waited　for　my　mother。　I　didn't　want　to　see　any　of　the　Latchers。　The　fact　that　we　were　now　probably　related　by　blood　made　me　ill。
　　　Three　of　them　suddenly　appeared　from　around　the　truck…three　boys；　with　Percy　leading　the　group。　The　other　two　were　younger　and　smaller　but　just　as　lean　and　wiry　as　Percy。　They　approached　me　without　a　word。
　　　〃Howdy；　Percy；〃　I　said；　trying　to　at　least　be　polite。
　　　〃What're　you　doin'　here？〃　he　growled。　He　had　a　brother　on　each　side；　all　three　of　them　lined　up　against　me。
　　　〃My　mother　made　me　e；〃　I　said。
　　　〃You　ain't　got　no　business　here。〃　He　was　practically　hissing　through　his　teeth；　and　I　wanted　to　back　up。　In　fact；　I　wanted　to　tuck　tail　and　run。
　　　〃I'm　waitin'　for　my　mother；〃　I　said。
　　　〃We're　gonna　whup　your　ass；〃　Percy　said；　and　all　three　of　them　clenched　their　fists。
　　　〃Why？〃　I　managed　to　say。
　　　〃　'Cause　you're　a　Chandler；　and　your　Ricky　did　that　to　Libby。〃
　　　〃Wasn't　my　fault；〃　I　said。
　　　〃Don't　matter。〃　The　smallest　one　looked　particularly　fierce。　He　was　squinting　and　twisting　his　mouth　up　at　the　corners；　sort　of　snarling　at　me；　and　I　figured　the　first　punch　would　e　from　him。
　　　〃Three　on　one　ain't　fair；〃　I　said。
　　　〃Wasn't　fair　what　happened　to　Libby；〃　Percy　said　and　then；　quick　as　a　cat；　he　punched　me　in　the　stomach。　A　horse　could　not　have　kicked　any　harder；　and　I　went　down　with　a　shriek。
　　　I'd　had　a　few　scuffles　at　school…playground　push…and…shoves　that　were　broken　up　by　the　teachers　before　serious　blows　were　landed。　Mrs。　Emma　Enos；　the　third…grade　teacher；　gave　me　three　licks　for　trying　to　fight　Joey　Stallcup；　and　Pappy　could　not　have　been　prouder。　And　Ricky　used　to　be　rough　with　me；　wrestling　and　boxing　and　such。　I　was　no　stranger　to　violence。　Pappy　loved　to　fight；　and　when　I　hit　the　ground；　I　thought　of　him。　Somebody　kicked　me；　I　grabbed　a　foot；　and　instantly　there　was　a　pile　of　little　warriors；　all　kicking　and　clawing　and　cussing　in　the　dirt。　I　grabbed　the　hair　of　the　midsized　one　while　the　other　two　pounded　my　back。　I　was　determined　to　yank　his　head　off　when　Percy　landed　a　nasty　shot　to　my　nose。　I　went　blind　for　a　second；　and　they；　squealing　like　wild　animals；　piled　on　again。
　　　I　heard　the　women　yell　from　the　porch。　It's　about　time！　I　thought。　Mrs。　Latcher　arrived　first　and　began　pulling　boys　from　the　heap；　scolding　them　loudly　as　she　flung　them　around。　Since　I　was　on　the　bottom；　I　got　up　last。　My　mother　looked　at　me　in　horror。　My　clean　clothes　were　covered　with　dirt。　My　nose　was　oozing　warm　blood。
　　　〃Luke；　are　you　all　right？〃　she　said；　grabbing　my　shoulders。
　　　My　eyes　were　watery；　and　I　was　beginning　to　ache。　I　nodded　my　head　yes；　no　problem。
　　　〃Cut　me　a　switch！〃　Mrs。　Latcher　yelled　at　Percy。　She　was　growling　and　still　flinging　the　two　smaller　ones　around。　〃Whatta　you　mean　beatin'　up　that　little　boy　like　that？　He　ain't　done　nothin'。〃
　　　The　blood　was　really　flowing　now；　dripping　off　my　chin　and　staining　my　shirt。　My　mother　made　me　lie　down　and　tilt　my　head　back　to　stop　the　bleeding；　and　while　we　were　doing　this；　Percy　produced　a　stick。
　　　〃I　want　you　to　watch　this；〃　Mrs。　Latcher　said　in　my　direction。
　　　〃No；　Darla；〃　my　mother　said。　〃We're　leaving。〃
　　　〃No；　I　want　your　boy　to　see　this；〃　she　said。　〃Now　bend　over；　Percy。〃
　　　〃I　ain't　gonna　do　it；　Ma；〃　Percy　said；　obviously　scared。
　　　〃Bend　over；　or　I'll　get　your　father。　I'll　teach　you　some　manners。　Beatin'　up　that　little　boy；　a　visitor　to　our　place。〃
　　　〃No；〃　Percy　said；　and　she　hit　him　in　the　head　with　the　stick。　He　screamed；　and　she　whacked　him　across　the　ear。
　　　She　made　him　bend　over　and　grab　his　ankles。　〃You　let　go　and　I'll　beat　you　for　a　week；〃　she　threatened　him。　He　was　already　crying　when　she　started　flogging　away。　Both　my　mother　and　I　were　stunned　by　her　anger　and　brutality。　After　eight　or　ten　very　hard　licks；　Percy　started　yelping。　〃Shut　up！〃　she　shouted。
　　　Her　arms　and　legs　were　as　thin　as　the　stick；　but　what　she　lacked　in　size　she　made　up　for　in　quickness。　Her　blows　landed　like　machine…gun　fire；　fast　and　crisp；　popping　like　a　bullwhip。　Ten；　twenty；　thirty　shots；　and　Percy　was　bawling；　〃Please　stop　it；　Ma！　I'm　sorry！〃
　　　The　beating　went　on　and　on；　far　past　the　point　of　punishment。　When　her　arm　was　tired；　she　shoved　him　to　the　ground；　and　Percy　curled　into　a　tight　ball　and　wept。　By　then　the　other　two　were　already　in　tears。　She　grabbed　the　middle　one　by　the　hair。　She　called　him　Ray…ford　and　said；　〃Bend　over。〃　Rayford　slowly　clutched　his　ankles　and　somehow　withstood　the　assault　that　followed。
　　　〃Let's　go；〃　my　mother　whispered　to　me。　〃You　can　lie　down　in　the　back。〃
　　　She　helped　me　up　to　the　bed　of　the　truck；　and　by　then　Mrs。　Latcher　was　pulling　on　the　other　boy；　yanking　him　by　the　hair。　Percy　and　Rayford　were　lying　in　the　dirt；　victims　of　the　battle　they'd　started。　My　mother　turned　the　truck　around；　and　as　we　drove　off；　Mrs。　Latcher　was　battering　the　youngest　one。　There　were　loud　voices；　and　I　sat　up　just　enough　to　see　Mr。　Latcher　running　around　the　house　with　a　trail　of　children　behind　him。　He　yelled　at　his　wife；　she　ignored　him　and　kept　hammering　away。　When　he　reached　her；　he　grabbed　her。　Kids　were　swarming　everywhere；　everyone　seemed　to　be　either　screaming　or　crying。
　　　The　dust　boiled　behind　us；　and　I　lost　sight　of　them。　As　I　lay　down　again　and　tried　to　get　fortable；　I　prayed　that　I　would　never　again　set　foot　on　their　farm。　I　never　wanted　to　see　any　of　those　people　for　the　rest　of　my　life。　And　I　prayed　long　and　hard　that　no　one　would　ever　hear　the　rumor　that　the　Chandlers　and　the　Latchers　were　related。
　　　My　return　home　was　triumphant。　The　Spruills　were　cleaned　up　and　ready　for　town。　They　were　sitting　under　a　tree；　drinking　iced　tea　with　Pappy　and　Gran　and　my　father；　when　we　rolled　to　a　stop　less　than　twenty　feet　away。　As　dramatically　as　I　could；　I　stood　in　the　back　of　the　truck；　and　with　great　satisfaction　watched　them　react　in　shock　at　the　sight　of　me。　There　I　was…beaten；　bloodied；　dirty；　clothes　ripped；　but　still　standing。
　　　I　climbed　down；　and　everyone　gathered　around　me。　My　mother　stormed　forward　and　very　angrily　said；　〃You're　not　gonna　believe　what　happened！　Three　of　them　jumped　Luke！　Percy　and　two　others　caught　him　when　I　was　in　the　house。　The　little　criminals！　We're　takin'　food　over；　and　they　pull　a　stunt　like　this。〃
　　　Tally　was　concerned；　too；　and　I　think　she　wanted　to　reach　out　and　touch　me；　to　make　sure　I　was　all　right。
　　　〃Three　of　'em？〃　Pappy　repeated；　his　eyes　dancing。
　　　〃Yes；　and　they　were　all　bigger　than　Luke；〃　my　mother　said；　and　the　legend　began　to　grow。　The　size　of　my　three　attackers　would　increase　as　the　days　and　months　went　by。
　　　Gran　was　in　my　face；　staring　at　my　nose；　which　had　a　small　cut　on　it。　〃Might　be　broken；〃　she　said；　and　though　I　was　thrilled　to　hear　it；　I　was　not　looking　forward　to　her　treatment。
　　　〃You　didn't　run；　did　you？〃　Pappy　asked。　He；　too；　was　moving　in　closer。
　　　〃No　sir；〃　I　said　proudly。　I'd　still　be　running　if　given　half　a　chance。
　　　〃He　did　not；〃　my　mother　said　sternly。　〃He　was　kickin'　and　clawin'　just　as　hard　as　they　were。〃
　　　Pappy　beamed；　and　my　father　smiled。
　　　〃We'll　go　back　tomorrow　and　finish　'em　off；〃　Pappy　said。
　　　〃You'll　do　no　such　thing；〃　my　mother　said。　She　was　irritated　because　Pappy　loved　a　brawl。　But　then；　she　came　from　a　house　full　of　girls。　She　did　not　understand　fighting。
　　　〃Did　you　land　a　good　punch？〃　Pappy　asked。
　　　〃They　were　all　cryin'　when　I　left；〃　I　said。
　　　My　mother　rolled　her　eyes。
　　　Hank　shoved　his　way　through　the　group　and　bent　down　to　inspect　the　damage。　〃Say　there　was　three　of　'em；　huh？〃　he　growled　at　me。
　　　〃Yes　sir；〃　I　said；　nodding。
　　　〃Good　for　you；　boy。　It'll　make　you　tough。〃
　　　〃Yes　sir；〃　I　said。
　　　〃If　you　want　me　to；　I'll　show　you　some　tricks　on　how　to　handle　a　three…on…one　situation；〃　he　said　with　a　smile。
　　　〃Let's　get　cleaned　up；〃　my　mother　said。
　　　〃I　think　it's　broken；〃　Gran　said。
　　　〃You　okay；　Luke？〃　Tally　asked。
　　　〃Yep；〃　I　said；　as　tough　as　I　could。
　　　They　led　me　away　in　a　victory　march。
　
　
　Chapter　23
　　　
　　　The　Fall　Picnic　was　always　held　on　the　last　Sunday　in　September；　though　no　one　knew　exactly　why。　It　was　simply　a　tradition　in　Black　Oak；　a　ritual　as　ingrained　as　the　carnival　and　the　spring　revival。　It　was　supposed　to　somehow　link　the　ing　of　a　new　season；　the　beginning　of　the　end　of　the　harvest；　and　the　end　of　baseball。　It　wasn't　clear　if　all　this　was　acplished　with　one　picnic；　but　at　least　the　effort　was　made。
　　　We　shared　the　day　with　the　Methodists；　our　friends　and　friendly　rivals。　Black　Oak　was　too　small　to　be　divided。　There　were　no　ethnic　groups；　no　blacks　or　Jews　or　Asians；　no　permanent　outsiders　of　any　variety。　We　were　all　of　Anglo…Irish　stock；　maybe　a　strain　or　two　of　German　blood；　and　everybody　farmed　or　sold　to　the　farmers。　Every　body　was　a　Christian　or　claimed　to　be。　Disagreements　flared　up　when　a　Cubs　fan　said　too　much　at　the　Tea　Shoppe；　or　when　some　idiot　declared　John　Deere　to　be　inferior　to　another　brand　of　tractor；　but　for　the　most　part　life　was　peaceful。　The　older　boys　and　younger　men　liked　to　fight　behind　the　Co…op　on　Saturdays；　but　it　was　more　sport　than　anything　else。　A　beating　like　the　one　Hank　gave　the　Siscos　was　so　rare　that　the　town　was　still　talking　about　it。
　　　Individual　grudges　lasted　a　lifetime；　Pappy　carried　more　than　his　share。　But　there　were　no　serious　enemies。　There　was　a　clear