绿里奇迹(英文版)-第48章

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ee　that　I'd　heard　about。　I　was　careful　never　to　mention　the　Detterick　twins。　I　don't　think　they　crossed　his　mind；　either。〃　
〃Course　not〃；　Harry　said。　〃Why　would　they　have？　That　case　is　solved；　after　all。〃　
〃I　said　I　guessed　there　was　no　sense　chasing　the　idea；　since　there　was　nothing　in　Wharton's　back　file。　I　mean；　there　was　plenty　in　the　file；　but　none　of　it　about　that　sort　of　thing。　Then　the　Sheriff　…　Catlett；　his　name　is　…　laughed　and　said　not　everything　a　bad　apple　like　Bill　Wharton　did　was　in　the　court　files；　and　what　did　it　matter；　anyway？　He　was　dead；　wasn't　he？　
〃I　said　I　was　doing　it　just　to　satisfy　my　own　curiosity；　nothing　else；　and　that　relaxed　him。　He　took　me　back　to　his　office；　sat　me　down；　gave　me　a　cup　of　coffee　and　a　sinker；　and　told　me　that　sixteen　months　ago；　when　Wharton　was　barely　eighteen；　a　man　in　the　western　part　of　the　county　caught　him　in　the　barn　with　his　daughter。　It　wasn't　rape；　exactly；　the　fellow　described　it　to　Catlett　as　'not　much　more'n　stinkfinger。；　Sorry；　honey。〃　
〃That's　all　right〃；　Janice　said。　She　looked　pale；　though。　
〃How　old　was　the　girl？〃　Brutal　asked。　
〃Nine〃；　I　said。　
He　winced。　
〃The　man　might've　taken　off　after　Wharton　himself；　if　he'd　had　him　some　big　old　brothers　or　cousins　to　give　him　a　help；　but　he　didn't。　So　he　went　to　Catlett；　but　made　it　clear　he　only　wanted　Wharton　warned。　No　one　wants　a　nasty　thing　like　that　right　out　in　public；　if　it　can　be　helped。　Anyway；　Sheriff　C。　had　been　dealing　with　e　…　had　him　in　the　reform　school　up　that　way　for　eight　months　or　so　when　Wharton　was　fifteen　…　and　he　decided　enough　was　enough。　He　got　three　deputies；　they　went　out　to　the　Wharton　place；　set　Missus　Wharton　aside　when　she　started　to　weep　and　wail；　and　then　they　warned　Mr。　William　'Billy　the　Kid；　Wharton　what　happens　to　big　pimple…faced　galoots　who　go　up　in　the　hayloft　with　girls　not　even　old　enough　to　have　heard　about　their　monthly　courses；　let　alone　started　them。　'We　warned　that　little　punk　good〃　Catlett　told　me。　'Warned　him　until　his　head　was　bleedin；　his　shoulder　was　dislocated；　and　his　ass　was　damn　near　broke。〃　
Brutal　was　laughing　in　spite　of　himself。　〃That　sounds　like　Purdom　County；　all　right；〃　he　said。　〃Like　as　not。〃　
〃It　was　three　months　later；　give　or　take；　that　Wharton　broke　out　and　started　the　spree　that　ended　with　the　holdup；〃　I　said。　〃That　and　the　murders　that　got　him　to　us。〃　
〃So　he'd　had　something　to　do　with　an　underage　girl　once；〃　Harry　said。　He　took　off　his　glasses；　huffed　on　them；　polished　them。　〃Way　underage。　Once　isn't　exactly　a　pattern；　is　it？〃　
〃A　man　doesn't　do　a　thing　like　that　just　once；〃　my　wife　said；　then　pressed　her　lips　together　so　tight　they　almost　weren't　there。　
Next　I　told　them　about　my　visit　to　Trapingus　County。　I'd　been　a　lot　more　frank　with　Rob　McGee　…　I'd　had　no　choice；　really。　To　this　day　I　have　no　idea　what　sort　of　story　he　spun　for　Mr。　Detterick；　but　the　McGee　who　sat　down　next　to　me　in　the　diner　seemed　to　have　aged　seven　years。　
In　mid…May；　about　a　month　before　the　holdup　and　the　murders　which　finished　Wharton's　short　career　as　an　outlaw；　Klaus　Detterick　had　painted　his　barn　（and；　incidentally；　Bowser's　doghouse　next　to　it）。　He　hadn't　wanted　his　son　crawling　around　up　on　a　high　scaffolding；　and　the　boy　had　been　in　school；　anyway；　so　he　had　hired　a　fellow。　A　nice　enough　fellow。　Very　quiet。　Three　days；　work　it　had　been。　No；　the　fellow　hadn't　slept　at　the　house；　Detterick　wasn't　foolish　enough　to　believe　that　nice　and　quiet　always　meant　safe；　especially　in　those　days；　when　there　was　so　much　dust…bowl　riffraff　on　the　roads。　A　man　with　a　family　had　to　be　careful。　In　any　case；　the　man　hadn't　needed　lodging；　he　told　Detterick　he　had　taken　a　room　in　town；　at　Eva　Price's。　There　was　a　lady　named　Eva　Price　in　Tefton；　and　she　did　rent　rooms；　but　she　hadn't　had　a　boarder　that　May　who　fit　the　description　of　Detterick's　hired　man；　just　the　usual　fellows　in　checked　suits　and　derby　hats；　hauling　sample　cases　…　drummers；　in　other　words。　McGee　had　been　able　to　tell　me　that　because　he　stopped　at　Mrs。　Price's　and　checked　on　his　way　back　from　the　Detterick　farm　…　that's　how　upset　he　was。　
〃Even　so；〃　he　added；　〃there's　no　law　against　a　man　sleeping　rough　in　the　woods；　Mr。　Edgebe。　I've　done　it　a　time　or　two　myself。〃　
The　hired　man　didn't　sleep　at　the　Dettericks；　house；　but　he　took　dinner　with　them　twice。　He　would　have　met　Howie。　He　would　have　met　the　girls；　Cora　and　Kathe。　He　would　have　listened　to　their　chatter；　some　of　which　might　have　been　about　how　much　they　looked　forward　to　the　ing　summer；　because　if　they　were　good　and　the　weather　was　good；　Mommy　sometimes　let　them　sleep　out　on　the　porch；　where　they　could　pretend　they　were　pioneer　wives　crossing　the　Great　Plains　in　Conestoga　wagons。　
I　can　see　him　sitting　there　at　the　table；　eating　roast　chicken　and　Mrs。　Detterick's　rye　bread；　listening；　keeping　his　wolf's　eyes　well　veiled；　nodding；　smiling　a　little；　storing　it　all　up。　
〃This　doesn't　sound　like　the　wildman　you　told　me　about　when　he　first　came　on　the　Mile；　Paul；〃　Janice　said　doubtfully。　〃Not　a　bit。〃　
〃You　didn't　see　him　up　at　Indianola　Hospital；　ma'am；〃　Harry　said。　〃Just　standin　there　with　his　mouth　open　and　his　bare　butt　hangin　out　the　back　of　his　Johnny。　Lettin　us　dress　him。　We　thought　he　was　either　drugged　or　foolish。　Didn't　we；　Dean？〃　
Dean　nodded。　
〃The　day　after　he　finished　the　barn　and　left；　a　man　wearing　a　bandanna　mask　robbed　Hampey's　Freight　Office　in　Jarvis；〃　I　told　them。　〃Cot　away　with　seventy　dollars。　He　also　took　an　1892　silver　dollar　the　freight　agent　carried　as　a　lucky　piece。　That　silver　dollar　was　on　Wharton　when　he　was　captured；　and　Jarvis　is　only　thirty　miles　from　Tefton。〃　
〃So　this　robber　this　wildman　you　think　he　stopped　for　three　days　to　help　Klaus　Detterick　pain　his　barn；〃　my　wife　said。　〃Ate　dinner　with　them　and　said　please　pass　the　peas　just　like　folks。〃　
〃The　scariest　thing　about　men　like　him　is　how　unpredictable　they　are〃；　Brutal　said。　〃He　might've　been　planning　to　kill　the　Dettericks　and　rifle　their　house；　then　changed　his　mind　because　a　cloud　came　over　the　sun　at　the　wrong　time；　or　something　like。　Maybe　he　just　wanted　to　cool　off　a　little。　But　most　likely　he　already　had　his　eye　on　those　two　girls　and　was　planning　to　e　back。　Do　you　think；　Paul？〃　
I　nodded。　Of　course　I　thought　it。　〃And　then　there's　the　name　he　gave　Detterick。〃　
〃What　name？〃　Jan　asked。　
〃Will　Bonney。〃　
〃Bonney？　I　don't　…　〃　
〃It　was　Billy　the　Kid's　real　name。〃　
〃Oh。〃　Then　her　eyes　widened。　〃Oh！　So　you　can　get　John　Coffey　off！　Thank　God！　All　you　have　to　do　is　show　Mr。　Detterick　a　picture　of　William　Wharton　。。。　his　mug…shot　should　do。。。〃　
Brutal　and　I　exchanged　an　unfortable　look。　Dean　was　looking　a　bit　hopeful；　but　Harry　was　staring　down　at　his　hands；　as　if　all　at　once　fabulously　interested　in　his　fingernails。　
〃What's　wrong？〃　Janice　asked。　〃Why　are　you　looking　at　each　other　that　way？　Surely　this　man　McGee　will　have　to…〃　
〃Rob　McGee　struck　me　as　a　good　man；　and　I　think　he's　a　hell　of　a　law　officer〃；　I　said；　〃but　he　swings　no　weight　in　Trapingus　County。　The　power　there　is　Sheriff　Cribus；　and　the　day　he　reopens　the　Detterick　case　on　the　basis　of　what　I　was　able　to　find　out　would　be　the　day　it　snows　in　hell。〃　
〃But　。。。　if　Wharton　was　there　。。。　if　Detterick　can　identify　a　picture　of　him　and　they　know　he　was　there。　。　。　〃　
〃Him　being　there　in　May　doesn't　mean　he　came　back　and　killed　those　girls　in　June〃；　Brutal　said。　He　spoke　in　a　low；　gentle　voice；　the　way　you　speak　when　you're　telling　someone　there's　been　a　death　in　the　family。　〃On　one　hand　you've　got　this　fellow　who　helped　Klaus　Detterick　paint　a　barn　and　then　went　away。　Turns　out　he　was　mitting　crimes　all　over　the　place；　but　there's　nothing　against　him　for　the　three　days　in　May　he　was　around　Tefton。　On　the　other　hand；　you've　got　this　big　Negro；　this　huge　Negro；　that　you　found　on　the　riverbank；　holding　two　little　dead　girls；　both　of　them　naked；　in　his　arms。〃　
He　shook　his　head。　
〃Paul's　right；　Jan。　McGee　may　have　his　doubts；　but　McGee　doesn't　matter。　Cribus　is　the　only　one　who　can　reopen　the　case；　and　Cribus　doesn't　want　to　mess　with　what　he　thinks　of　as　a　happy　ending　…　'it　was　a　nigger〃　thinks　he；　'and　not　one　of　our'n　in　any　case。　Beautiful。　I'll　go　up　there　to　Cold　Mountain；　have　me　a　steak　and　a　draft　beer　at　Ma's；　then　watch　him　fry；　and　there's　an　end　to　it；　〃　
Janice　listened　to　all　this　with　a　mounting　expression　of　horror　on　her　face；　then　turned　to　me。　〃But　McGee　believes　it；　doesn't　he；　Paul？　I　could　see　it　on　your　face。　Deputy　McGee　knows　he　arrested　the　wrong　man。　Won't　he　stand　up　to　the　Sheriff？〃　
〃All　he　can　do　by　standing　up　to　him　is　lose　his　job〃；　I　said。　〃Yes；　I　think　that　in　his　heart　he　knows　it　was　Wharton。　But　what　he　says　to　himself　is　that；　if　he　keeps　his　mouth　shut　and　plays　the　game　until　Cribus　either　retires　or　eats　himself　to　death；　he　gets　the　job。　And　things　will　be　different　then。　That's　what　he　tells　himself　to　get　to　sleep；　I　imagine。　And　he's　probably　not　so　much　different　than　Homer　about　one　thing。　He'll　tell　himself；　'After　all；　it's　only　a　Negro。　It's　not　like　they're　going　to　burn　a　white　man　for　it。；　〃　
〃Then　you'll　have　to　go　to　them〃；　Janice　said；　and　my　heart　turned　cold　at　the　decisive；　no…doubt…about…it　tone　of　her　voice。　〃Go　and　tell　them　what　you　found　out。〃　
〃And　how　should　we　tell　them　we　found　it　out；　Jan？〃　Brutal　asked　her　in　that　same　low　voice。　
〃Should　we　tell　them　about　how　Wharton　grabbed　John　while　we　were　taking　him　out　of　the　prison　to　work　a　miracle　on　the　Warden's　wife？〃　
〃No　。。。　of　course　not；　but。。。〃　She　saw　how　thin　the　ice　was　in　that　direction　and　skated　in　another　one。　〃Lie；　then；〃　she　said。　She　looked　defiantly　at　Brutal；　then　turned　that　look　on　me。　It　was　hot　enough　to　smoke　a　hole　in　newspaper；　you'd　have　said。　
〃Lie；〃　I　repeated。　〃Lie　about　what？〃　
〃About　what　got　you　going；　first　up　to　Purdom　County　and　then　down　to　Trapingus。　Go　down　there　to　that　fat　old　Sheriff　Cribus　and　say　that　Wharton　told　you　he　raped　and　murdered　the　Detterick　girls。　That　he　confessed。〃　She　switched　her　hot　gaze　to　Brutal　for　a　moment。　〃You　can　back　him　up；　Brutus。　You　can　say　you　were　there　when　he　confessed；　you　heard　it；　too。　Why；　Percy　probably　heard　it　as　well；　and　that　was　probably　what　set　him　off。　He　shot　Wharton　because　he　couldn't　stand　thinking　of　what　Wharton　had　done　to　those　children。　It　snapped　his　mind。　Just　。。。　What？　What　now；　in　the　name　of　God？〃　
It　wasn't　just　me　and　Brutal；　Harry　and　Dean　were　looking　at　her；　too；　with　a　kind　of　horror。　
〃We　never　reported　anything　like　that；　ma'am；〃　Harry　said。　He　spoke　as　if　talking　to　a　child。　〃The　first　thing　people'd　ask　is　why　we　didn't。　We're　supposed　to　report　anything　our　cell…babies　say　about　prior　crimes。　Theirs　or　anyone　else's。〃　
〃Not　that　we　would've　believed　him；〃　Brutal　put　in。　〃A　man　like　Wild　Bill　Wharton　lies　about　anything；　Jan。　Crimes　he's　mitted；　bigshots　he's　known；　women　he's　gone　to　bed　with；　touchdowns　he　scored　in　high　school；　even　the　damn　weather。〃　
〃But　。。。　but。。　〃　Her　face　was　agonized。　I　went　to　put　my　arm　around　her　and　she　pushed　it　violently　away。　〃But　he　was　there！　He　painted　their　goddamned　barn！　HE　ATE　DINNER　WITH　THEM！〃　
〃All　the　more　reason　why　he　might　take　credit　for　the　crime；〃　Brutal　said。〃　After　all；　what　harm？　Why　not　boast？　You　can't　fry　a　man　twice；　after　all。〃　
〃Let　me　see　if　I've　got　this　right。　We　here　at　this　table　know　that　not　only　did　John　Coffey　not　kill　those　girls；　he　was　trying　to　save　their　lives。　Deputy　McGee　doesn't　know　all　that；　of　course；　but　he　does　have　a　pretty　good　idea　that　the　man　condemned　to　die　for　the　murders　didn't　do　them。　And　still　。。。　still　I　。　。　you　can't　get　him　a　new　trial。　Can't　even　reopen　the　case。〃　
〃Yessum；〃　Dean　said。　He　was　polishing　his　glasses　furiously。　〃That's　about　the　size　of　it。〃　
She　sat　with　her　head　lowered；　thinking。　Brutal　started　to　say　something　and　I　raised　a　hand；　shushing　him。　I　didn't　believe　Janice　could　think　of　a　way　to　get　John　out　of　the　killing　box　he　was　in；　but　I　didn't　believe　it　was　impossible；　either。　She　was　a　fearsomely　smart　lady；　my　wife。　Fearsomely　determined；　as　well。　That's　a　bination　that　sometimes　turns　mountains　into　valleys。　
〃All　right〃；　she　said　at　last。　〃Then　you've　got　to　get　him　out　on　your　own。〃　
〃Ma'am？〃　Harry　looked　flabbergasted。　Frightened；　too。　
〃You　can　do　it。　You　did　it　once；　didn't　you？　You　can　do　it　again。　Only　this　time　you　won't　bring　him　back。〃　
〃Would　you　want　to　be　the　one　to　explain　to　my　kids　why　their　daddy　is　in　prison；　Missus　Edgebe？〃　Dean　asked。　〃Charged　with　helping　a　murderer　escape　jail？〃　
〃There　won't　be　any　of　that；　Dean；　we'll　work　out　a　plan。　Make　it　look　like　a　real　escape。〃　
〃Make　sure　it's　a　plan　that　could　be　worked　out　by　a　fellow　who　can't　even　remember　how　to　tie　his　own　shoes；　then〃；　Harry　said。　〃They'll　have　to　believe　that。〃　
She　looked　at　him　uncertainly。　
〃It　wouldn't　do　any　good；〃　Brutal　said。　〃Even　if　we　could　think　of　a　way；　it　wouldn't　do　any　good。〃　
〃Why　not？〃　She　sounded　as　if　she　might　be　going　to　cry。　〃Just　why　the　damn　hell　not？〃　
〃Because　he's　a　six…foot…eight…inch　baldheaded　black　man　with　barely　enough　brains　to　feed　himself〃；　I　said。　〃How　long　do　you　think　it　would　be　before　he　was　recaptured？　Two　hours？　Six？〃　
〃He　got　along　without　attracting