Part Two-14
百度搜索 The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter 天涯 或 The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter 天涯在线书库 即可找到本书最新章节.
Blasphemer! Simms screamed. God will get you. You and allyour crew. God remembers the scoffers. Hewatches after me. God watches everybody but He watches me the most. Like He did Moses. God tells me things in the night.
God will get you.’
He took Simms down to a er store for Coca-Colas a-butter crackers. Simms began to work on him again.
When he left for the show Simms ran along behind him.
e to this er tonight at seven oclock. Jesus has a message just for you.’
The first days of April were windy and warm. White clouds trailed across the blue sky. In the wind there was the smell of the river and also the fresher smell of fields beyond the town.
The show was crowded every day from four iernoon until midnight. The crowd was a tough one. With the new spring he felt an uone of trouble.
One night he was w on the maery of the swings when suddenly he was roused from thought by the sounds of angry voices. Quickly he pushed through the crowd until he saw a white girl fighting with a cirl by the ticket booth of the flying-jinny. He wrehem apart, but still they struggled to get at each other. The crowd took sides and there was a bedlam of he white girl was a hunchback. She held something tight in her hand.
seen you, the cirl yelled. I ghy beat that hunch off your back, too.’
Hush your mouth, you blaigger!’
Low-down factory tag. I done paid my money and I ghy ride.
White man, you make her give me back my ticket.’
Blaigger slut!’
Jake looked from oo the other. The crowd pressed close.
There were mumbled opinions on every side.
I seen Lurie drop her ticket and I watched this here white lady pick it up. That the truth, a colored boy said.
"No nigger going to put her hands on no white girl while------？
"You quit that pushing me. I ready to hit back even if your skin do be white.’
Roughly Jake pushed into the thick of the crowd. All right!
he yelled. "Move on—break it up. Every damnone of you. There was something about the size of his fists that made the people drift sullenly away. Jake turned back to the two girls.
This here the way it is, said the cirl. bet I one of the few peoples here who done saved over fifty ts till Friday night. I done ironed double this week. I done paid a good nickel for that ticket she holding. And now I means to ride.Jake settled the trouble quickly. He let the hunchback keep the disputed ticket and issued another oo the cirl. For the rest of that evening there were no more quarrels. But Jake moved alertly through the crowd. He was troubled and uneasy.
In addition to himself there were five other employees at the show—two men to operate the swings and take tickets and three girls to mahe booths. This did not t Patterson.
The show-owner spent most of his time playing cards with himself in his trailer. His eyes were dull, with the pupils shrunken, and the skin of his neck hung in yellow, pulpy folds.
During the past few months Jake had had two raises in pay. At midnight it was his job to report to Patterson and hand over the takings of the evening. Sometimes Patterson did not notice him until he had been irailer for several minutes; he would be staring at the cards, sunk in a stupor. The air of the trailer was heavy with the stinks of food and reefers. Patterson held his hand over his stomach as though proteg it from something. He always checked over the ats very thhly.
Jake and the two operators had a squabble. These men were both former doffers at one of the mills. At first he had tried to talk to them ahem to see the truth. Once he ihem to a pool room for a drink. But they were so dumb he couldhem. Soon after this he overheard the versatioweehat caused the trouble. It was an early Sunday m, almost two oclock, and he had been cheg the ats with Patterson. Wheepped out of the trailer the grounds seemed empty. The moon was bright.
He was thinking of Singer and the free day ahead. Then as he passed by the swings he heard someone speak his he two oper-
Iators had finished work and were smoking together. Jake listened.
If theres anything I hate worse than a s a Red.’
He tickles me. I dont pay him no mind. The way he struts around. I never seen such a sawed-off runt. How tall is he, you re?’
Around five foot But he thinks he got to tell everybody so much. He oughta be in jail. Thats where. The Red Bolshivik.’
He just tickles me. I t look at him without laughing.’
He act biggity with me.’
Jake watched them follow the path toward Weavers Lane. His first thought was to rush out and front them, but a certain shrinking held him back. For several days he fumed in silence.
Then one night after work he followed the two men for several blocks and as they turned a er he cut in front of them.
I heard you, he said breathlessly. It so happened I heard every word you said last Saturday night. Sure Im a Red. At least I re I am. But what are you? They stood beh a street light. The two men stepped back from him. The neighborhood was deserted. You pasty-faced, shrunk-gutted, ricket-ridden little rats! I could reach out and choke your stringy necks—oo each hand. Runt or no, I could lay you on this sidewalk where theyd have to scrape you up with shovels.’
The two men looked at each other, cowed, and tried to walk on. But Jake would not let them pass. He kept step with them, walking backward, a furious sneer on his face.
All I got to say is this: Iure I suggest you e to me whenever you feel the o make remarks about my height, weight, at, demeanor, or ideology. And that last is not what I take a leak with either—case you dont knoill discuss it together.’
Afterward Jake treated the two men with angry pt.
Behind his back they jeered at him. Oernoon he found that the engine of the swings had been deliberately damaged and he had to work three hours overtime to fix it. Always he felt someone was laughing at him. Each time he heard the girls talking together he drew himself up straight and laughed carelessly aloud to himself as though thinking of some private joke.The warm southwest winds from the Gulf of Mexico were heavy with the smells of spring. The days grew longer and the sun was bright. The lazy warmth depressed him. He began to drink again. As soon as work was done he went home and lay down on his bed. Sometimes he stayed there, fully clothed and i, for twelve or thirteen hours. The restlesshat had caused him to sob and bite his nails only a few months before seemed to have gone. A beh his iia Jake felt the old tension. Of all the places he had been this was the loown of all. Or it would be without Singer. Only he and Singer uood the truth. He knew and could not get the dont-knows to see. It was like trying to fight darkness or heat or a stink in the air. He stared morosely out of his window. A stunted, smoked-blaed tree at the er had put out new leaves of a bilious green. The sky was always a deep, hard blue. The mosquitoes from a fetid stream that ran through this part of the town buzzed in the room.
He caught the itch. He mixed some sulphur and hog fat and greased his body every m. He clawed himself raw and it seemed that the itg would never be soothed. One night he broke loose. He had been sitting alone for many hours. He had mixed gin and whiskey and was very drunk. It was almost m. He leaned out of the window and looked at the dark silent street. He thought of all the people around him.
Sleeping. The dont-knows. Suddenly he bawled out in a loud voice: "This is the truth! You bastards dont know anything.
You dont know. You dont know!The street awoke angrily. Lamps were lighted and sleepy curses were called to him. The men who lived in the house rattled furiously on his door. The girls from a cat-house across the street stuck their heads out of the windows.
You dumb dumb dumb dumb bastards. You dumb dumb dumb dumb------’
Shuddup! ShuddupFThe fellows in the hall were pushing against the door: ?You drunk bull! Youll be a sight dumber whe thu with you.’
How many out there? Jake roared. He banged ay bottle on the windowsill. e<s>99ｌib.</s> on, everybody. e one, e all. Ill settle you three at a time.’
Thats right, Honey, a whore called.
The door was giving way. Jake jumped from the window and ran through a side alley. Hee-haw! Hee-haw! he yelled drunkenly. He was barefooted and shirtless. An hour later he stumbled into Singers room. He sprawled on the floor and laughed himself to sleep.
On an April m he found the body of a man who had been murdered. A young Negro. Jake found him in a ditch about thirty yards from the showgrounds. The Negros throat had been slashed so that the head was rolled back at a crazy ahe sun sho on his open, glassy eyes and flies hovered over the dried blood that covered his chest. The dead man held a red-and-yellow e with a tassel like the ones sold at the hamburger booth at the show. Jake stared gloomily down at the body for some time. Then he called the polio clues were found. Two days later the family of the dead man claimed his body at the mue.
At the Sunny Dixie there were frequent fights and quarrels.
Sometimes two friends would e to the show arm in arm, laughing and drinking—and before they left they would be struggling together in a panting rage. Jake was always alert.
Beh the gaudy gaiety of the show, the bright lights, and the lazy laughter, he felt something sullen and dangerous.
Through these dazed, disjointed weeks Simms nagged his footsteps stantly. The old man liked to e with a soapbox and<df</dfn> a Bible and take a stand in the middle of the crowd to preach. He talked of the sed ing of Christ. He said that the Day of Judgment would be October , . He
would point out certain drunks and scream at them in his raw, worn voice. Excitement made his mouth fill with water so that his words had a wet, gurgling sound. Once he had slipped in a up his stand numents could make him budge. He made Jake a present of a Gideon Bible, and told him to pray on his knees for one hour eaight and to hurl away every glass of beer arette that was offered him.
They quarreled over walls and fences. Jake had begunto carry chalk in his pockets, also. He wrote brief sentences.
He tried to word them so that a passerby would stop and ponder over the meaning. So that a man would wonder. So that a man would think. Also, he wrote short pamphlets and distributed them ireets.
If it had not been for Singer, Jake khat he would have left the town. Only on Sunday, when he was with his friend, did he feel at peace. Sometimes they would go for a walk together or play chess—but more often they spent the day quietly in Singers room. If he wished to talk Singer was always attentive. If he sat morosely through the day the mute uood his feelings and was not surprised. It seemed to him that only Singer could help him now.
Then one Sunday when he climbed the stairs he saw that Singers door en. The room was empty. He sat alone for more than two hours. At last he heard Singers footsteps oairs.
I was w about you. Where you been?*
Singer smiled. He brushed off his hat with a handkerchief and put it away. Then deliberately he took his silver pencil from his pocket and leaned over the mantelpiece to write a note.
What you mean? Jake asked when he read what the mute had written. Whose legs are cut off?’
Siook back the note and wrote a few additional sentences.
Huh! Jake said. That dont surprise me.’
He brooded over the piece of paper and then crumpled it in his hand. The listlessness of the past month was gone and he was tense and uneasy. Huh! he said again.
Singer put on a pot of coffee and got out his chessboard. Jake tore the o pieces and rolled the fragments between his
sweating palms.
But something be done about this, he said after a while.
You know it?’
Singer nodded uainly.
I want to see the boy ahe whole story. When you take me around there?’
Singer deliberated. Then he wrote on a pad of paper, Tonight.’
Jake held his hand to his mouth and began to walk restlessly around the room. We do something.’
J AKE and Singer waited on the front porch. When they pushed the doorbell there was no sound of a ring in the darkened house. Jake knocked impatiently and pressed his nose against the s door. Beside him Siood wooden and smiling, with two spots of color on his cheeks, for they had drunk a bottle of gin together. The evening was quiet and dark. Jake watched a yellow light shaft softly through the hall. And Portia opehe door for them.
I certainly trust you not been waiting long. So many folks been ing that us thought it wise to untach the bell. You gentlemens just let me take you hats—Father been mighty sick.’
Jake tiptoed heavily behind Singer down the bare, narrow hall.
At the threshold of the kit he stopped short The room was crowded and hot. A fire burned in the small wood stove and the windows were closed tight. Smoke mingled with a certain Negro smell. The glow from the stove was the only light in the room. The dark voices he had heard ba the hall were silent.
"These here are two white gentlemens e to inquire about Father, Portia said. I think maybe he be able to see you but I better go on in first and prepare him.’
Jake fingered his thick lower lip. On the end of his here was a latticed impression from the front s door. Thats not it, he said. I e to talk with your brother.’
The Negroes in the room were standing. Singer motioo them to be seated again. Two grizzled old men sat down on a bench by the stove. A loose-limbed mulatto lounged against
the window. On a camp cot in a er was a boy without legs whose trousers were folded and pinned beh his stumpy thighs.
Good evening, Jake said awkwardly. Your name Copeland?’
The boy put his hands over the stumps of his legs and shrank back close to the wall. My name Willie.’
Honey, dont you worry none, said Portia. This here is Mr.
Sihat you heard Father speak about. And this other white gentleman is Mr. Blount and he a very close friend of Mr.
Sihey just kindly e to inquireabout us in our trouble. She turo Jake and motioo the three other people in the room. This other boy leaning on the window is my brother too. Named Buddy. And these here over by the stove is two dear friends of my Father. Named Mr.
Marshall Nicolls and Mr. John Roberts. I think it a good idea to uand who all is in a room with you.’
Thanks, Jake said. He turo Willie again. I just want you to tell me about it so I get it straight in my mind.’
This the way it is, Willie said. I feel like my feets is still hurting. I got this here terrible misery down in my toes. Yet the hurt in my feets is down where my feets should be if they were on my --legs. And not where my feets is now. It a hard thing to uand. My feets hurt me so bad all the time and I dont know where they is. They never given them bae.
They s-somewhere more than a hundred m-miles from here.’
I mean about how it all happened, Jake said.
Uneasily Willie looked up at his sister. I dont remember—very good.’
Course you remember, Honey. You done already told us over and over.’
Well------ The boys voice was timid and sullen. *Uswere all out on the road and this here Buster say something to the guard. The w-white man taken a sti. Then this other boy he tries to run off. And I follow him. It all e about so quick I dont remember good just how it were. Theaken us back to the camp and------’
I know the rest, Jake said. But give me the names and addresses of the other two boys. And tell me the names of the guards.’
Listen here, white man. It seem to me like you meaning to get me into trouble.’
Trouble! Jake said rudely. "What in the name of Christ do you think youre in now?’
Less us quiet down, Portia said nervously. "This here the way it is, Mr. Blount. They do Willie off at the camp before his time were served. But they done also impressed it on him not to—I believe you uand what us means. Naturally Willie he scared. Naturally us means tobe careful—cause that the best thing us do. We already got enough trouble as is.’
What happeo the guards?’
Them w-white men were fired. That what they told me.’
And where are your friends now?’
"What friends?’
?Why, the other two boys.’
They n-not my friends, Willie said. Us all has had a big falling out’
How you mean?’
Portia pulled her earrings so that the lobes of her ears stretched out like rubber. "This here what Willie means. You see, during them three days when they hurt so bad they eo quarrel. Willie dont ever want to see any of them again. That ohing Father and Willie done argued about already. This here Buster------’
"Buster got a wooden leg, said the boy by the window. seen him oreet today.’
This here Buster dont have no folks and it were Fathers idea to have him move on in with us. Father want to round up all the boys together. How he res us feed them I sure dont know.’
That aint a good idea. And besides us was never very good friends anyway. Willie felt the stumps of his legs with his dark, strong hands. I just wish I knowed where my f-f-feets are. That the main thing worries me. The doctor never given them bae. I sure do wish I knowed where they are.’
Jake looked around him with dazed, gin-clouded eyes.
Everything seemed unclear and strahe heat in the
kit dizzied him so that voices echoed in his ears. The smoke choked him. The light hanging from the ceiling was turned on but, as the bulb was ed in neer to dim its strength, most of the light came from between the ks of the hot stove. There was a red glow on all the dark faces around him. He felt uneasy and alone. Singer had left the room to visit Portias father. Jake wanted him to e back so that they could leave. He walked awkwardly across the floor and sat down on the bench between Marshall Nicolls and John Roberts.
Where is Portias father? he asked.Doctor Copeland is in the front room, sir, said Roberts.
Is he a doctor?’
"Yes, sir. He is a medical doctor.’
There was a scuffle oeps outside and the back door opened. A warm, fresh breeze lightehe heavy air. First a tall boy dressed hi a linen suit and gilded shoes ehe room with a sa his arms. Behind him came a young boy of about seventeen.
Hey, Highboy. Hey there, Lancy, Willie said. What you all brought m<tt></tt>e?’
Highboy bowed elaborately to Jake and placed oable two fruit jars of wine. Lancy put beside them a plate covered with a fresh white napkin.
This here wine is a present from the Society, Highboy said.
And Lancys mother sent some peach puffs.’
How is the Doiss Portia? Lancy asked.
?Honey, he been mighty sick these days. What worries me is he s. It a bad sign when a person sick as he is suddenly e to be s. Portia turo Jake. Dont you think it a bad sign, Mr. Blount?’
Jake stared at her dazedly. I dont know.’
Lancy glanced sullenly at Jake and pulled down the cuffs of his outgrown shirt. Give the Doy familys regards.’
Us certainly do appreciate this, Portia said. "Father eaking of you just the other day. He haves a book he wants to give you. Wait just one minute while I get it and rinch out this plate to return to your Mother. This were certainly a kindly thing for her to do.’
Marshall Nicolls leaoward Jake and seemed about to speak to him. The old man wore a pair of pin-striped trousers and a m coat with a flower itonhole. He cleared his throat and said: Pardon me, sir—but unavoidably we overheard a part of your versation with William regarding the trouble he is now in. Iably we have sidered what is the best course to take.’
You one of his relatives or the preacher in his church?’
?No, I am a pharmacist. And John Roberts on your left is employed in the postal department of the gover.’
A postmaed John Roberts.
With your permission------ Marshall Nicolls took a yellow silk handkerchief from his pocket and gingerly blewhis nose. Naturally we have discussed this matter extensively.
And without doubt as members of the colored race here in this free try of America we are anxious to do our part toward extending amicable relationships.’
We wish always to do the right thing, said John Roberts.
And it behooves us to strive with care and not endahis amicable relationship already established. Then by gradual means a better dition will e about.’
Jake turned from oo the other. I doo follow you. The heat was suffog him. He wao get out. A film seemed to have settled o<mark></mark>ver his eyeballs so that all the faces around him were blurred.
Across the room Willie laying his harp. Buddy and Highboy were listening. The music was dark and sad. When the song was finished Willie polished his harp on the front of his shirt. I so hungry and thirsty the slobber in my mouth do out the tune. I certainly will be glad to taste some of that boogie-woogie. To have something good to drink is the only thing m-made me fet this misery. If I just knowed where my f-feets are now and could drink a glass of gin ever night I wouldnt mind so much.’
Dont fret, Hon. You going to have something, Portia said.
Mr. Blount, would you care to take a peach puff and a glass of wine?’
Thanks, Jake said. That would be good.’
Quickly Portia laid a cloth oable a down one plate and a fork. She poured a large tumblerful of the wine. You just make yourself fortable here. And if you dont mind I going to serve the others.’
The fruit jars were passed from mouth to mouth. Before Highboy passed a jar to Willie he borrowed Portias lipstid drew a red lio set the boundary of the drink. There were gurgling noises and laughter. Jake finished his puff and carried his glass back with him to his place betweewo old men. The home-made wine was rid strong as brandy.
Willie started a low dolorous tune on his harp. Portia snapped her fingers and shuffled around the room.
Jake turo Marshall Nicolls. *You say Portias father is a doctor?’
"Yes, sir. Yes, indeed. A skilled doctor.Whats the matter with him?’
The two Negroes glanced warily at each other.
He were in an act, said John Roberts.
What kind of an act?’
A bad one. A deplorable one.’
Marshall Nicolls folded and unfolded his silk handkerchief.
As we were remarking a while ago, it is important not to impair these amicable relations but to promote them in all ways early possible. We members of the colored race must strive in all ways to uplift our citizens. The Doctor in yonder has strived in every way. But sometimes it has seemed to me like he had nnized fully enough certais of the different races and the situation.’
Impatiently Jake gulped down the last swallows of his wine.
Christ sake, man, speak out plain, because I t uand a thing you say.’
Marshall Nicolls and John Roberts exged a hurt look.
Across the room Willie still sat playing music. His lips crawled over the square holes of the harmonica like fat, puckered caterpillars. His shoulders were broad and strong.
The stumps of his thighs jerked in time to the music. Highboy danced while Buddy and Portia clapped out the rhythm.
Jake stood up, and on his feet he realized that he was drunk. He staggered and then glanced vindictively around
him, but no one seemed to have noticed. Wheres Singer? he asked Portia thickly.
The music stopped. Why, Mr. Blount, I thought you knowed he was gone. While you were sitting at the table with your peach puff he e to the doorway and held out his watch to show it were time for him to go. You looked straight at him and shaken your head. I thought you khat.’
May<bdi></bdi>be I was thinking about something else. He turo Willie and said angrily to him: I never did eveo tell you what I e here for, I didnt e to ask you to do anything.
All I wanted—all I wanted was this. You and the other boys were to testify what happened and I was to explain why. Why is the only important thing—not what. I would have pushed you all around in a wagon and you would have told your story and afterward I would have ex-plained why. And maybe it might have meant something.
Maybe it------’
He felt they were laughing at him. fusion caused him tet what he had meant to say. The room was full of dark, strange faces and the air was too thick to breathe. He saw a door and staggered across to it. He was in a dark closet smelling of medie. Then his hand was turning another doorknob.
百度搜索 The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter 天涯 或 The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter 天涯在线书库 即可找到本书最新章节.