Part Two-12
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Last night these here friends e round to my house and say that Buster were home and had something to tellme about Willie. I run all the way and this here is what he said.’Yes.’
There were three of them. Willie and Buster and this other boy. They were friends. Then this here trouble e up. Portia halted. She wet her finger with her tongue and then moistened her dry lips with her finger. It were something to do with the way this here white guard picked on them all the time. They were out on roadwork one day and Buster he sassed bad theher boy he try to run off in the woods. They taken all three of them. They taken all three of them to the camp and put them in this here ice-cold room.’
He said yes again. But his head quavered and the word sounded like a rattle in his throat.
It were about six weeks ago, Portia said. You remember that cold spell then. They put Willie and them boys in this room like ice.’
Portia spoke in a low voice, and she her paused between words nor did the grief in her face soften. It was like a low song. She spoke and he could not uand. The sounds were distin his ear but they had no shape or meaning. It was as though his head were the prow of a boat and the sounds were water that broke on him and then flowed past. He felt he had to look behind to find the words already said.
. . . and their feets swolled up and they lay there and struggle on the floor and holler out. And nobody e. They hollered there for three days and three nights and nobody e.’
I am deaf, said Doctor Copeland. I ot uand.’
They put our Willie and them boys in this here ice-cold room.
There were a rope hanging down from the ceiling. They taken their shoes off and tied their bare feets to this rope. Willie and them boys lay there with their backs on the floor and their feets in the air. And their, feets swolled up and they struggle on the floor and holler out. It were ice-cold in the room and their feets froze. Their feets swolled up and they hollered for three nights and three days. And nobody e.
Doctor Copeland pressed his head with his hands, but still the steady trembling would not stop. I ot hear what you say.’
Then at last they e to get them. They quickly taken Willie and them boys to the sick ward and their legs were all swolled and froze. Gangrehey sawed off both our Willies feet.
Buster Johnson lost one foot and the other boy got well. But our Willie—he crippled for life now. Both his feet sawed off.’
The words were finished and Portia leaned over and struck her head upoable. She did not oan, but she struck her head again and again on the hard-scrubbed top of the table. The bowl and spoon rattled and he removed them to the sink. The words were scattered in his mind, but he did not try to assemble them. He scalded the bowl and spoon and washed out the dish-towel. He picked up something from the floor and put it somewhere.
Crippled? he asked. William?’
Portia knocked her head oable and the blows had a rhythm like the slow beat of a drum and his heart took up this rhythm also. Quietly the words came alive and fitted to the meaning and he uood.
When will they send him home?’
Portia leaned her drooping head on her arm. Buster dont know that. Soon afterward they separate all three of them in different places. They sent Buster to another camp. Since Willie only haves a few more months he think he liable to be home soon now.’
They drank coffee and sat for a long time, looking into each others eyes. His cup rattled against his teeth. She poured her coffee into a saucer and some of it dripped down on her lap.
William------ Doctor Copeland said. As he pronouhe name his teeth bit deeply into his tongue and he moved his jaw with pain. They sat for a long while. Portia held his hand.
The bleak m light made the windows gray. Outside it was still raining.
If I means to get to work I better go on now, Portia said.
He followed her through the hall and stopped at the hat-rack to put on his coat and shawl. The open door let in a gust of wet, cold air. Highboy sat out oreet curb with a wet neer over his head for prote. Along the
sidewalk there was a fence. Portia leaned against this as she walked. Doctor Copeland followed a few paces after her and his hands, also, touched the boards of the feo steady himself. Highboy trailed behind them.
He waited for the black, terrible anger as though for some beast out of the night. But it did not e to him. His bowels seemed weighted with lead, and he walked slowly and lingered against fences and the cold, wet walls of buildings by the way. Dest into the depths until at last there was no further chasm below. He touched the solid bottom of despair and there took ease.
In this he knew a certain strong and holy gladness. The persecuted laugh, and the black slave sings to his ed soul beh the whip. A song was in him now—although it was not music but only the feeling of a song. And the sodden heaviness of peace weighted down his limbs so that it was only with the strong, true purpose that he moved. Why did he go onward? Why did he not rest here upotom of utmost humiliation and for a while take his tent？
But he went onward.
?Uncle, said Mick. You think some hot coffee would make you feel better?’
Doctor Copeland looked into her face but gave no sign that he heard. They had crossed the town and e at last to the alley behind the Kellys house. Portia had entered first and then he followed. Highboy remained oeps outside. Mid her two little brothers were already i. Portia told of William. Doctor Copeland did not listen to the words but her voice had a rhythm—a start, a middle, and an end. Then when she was finished she began all over. Others came into the room to hear.
Doctor Copeland sat on a stool in the er. His coat and shawl steamed over the back of a chair by the stove. He held his hat on his knees and his long, dark hands moved nervously around the worn brim. The yellow insides of his hands were so moist that occesionally he wiped them with a handkerchief.
His head trembled, and all of his muscles were stiff with the effort to make it be still.Mr. Singer came into the room. Doctor Copeland raised up his
fa. Have you heard of this? he asked. Mr. Singer nodded. In his eyes there was no horror or pity or hate. Of all those who knew, his eyes alone did not express these reas. For he alone uood this thing.
Mick whispered to Portia, "Whats your fathers name?’
He named Be Mady Copeland.’
Mick leaned over close to Doctor Copeland and shouted in his face as though he were deaf. Be, dont you think some hot coffee would make you feel a little better?’
Doctor Copeland started.
Quit..hat h, Portia said. He hear well as you .’
Oh, said Mick. She emptied the grounds from the pot and put the coffee oove to boil again.
The mute still lingered in the doorway. Doctor Copeland still looked into his face. You heard?’
Whatll they do to those prison guards? Mick asked.
Honey, I just dont know, Portia said. I just dont know.’
Id do something. Fd sure do something about it.’
Nothing us could do would make no difference. Best thing us do is keep our mouth shut’
"They ought to be treated just like they did Willie and them.
Worse. I wish I could round up some people and kill those men myself.’
"That aint no Christian way to talk, Portia said. Js just rest bad know they going to be chopped up with pitchforks and fried everlasting by Satan.’
Anyway Willie still play his harp.’
With both feets sawed off that about all he do.’
The house was full of noise and u. In the room above the kit someone was moving furniture about. The dining-room was crowded with boarders. Mrs. Kelly hurried bad forth from the breakfast table to the kit. Mr. Kelly wandered about in a baggy pair of trousers and a bathrobe.
The young Kelly children ate greedily i. Doors banged and voices could be heard in all parts of the house.
Mick handed Doctor Copeland a cup of coffee mixed with watery milk. The milk gave the drink a gray-blue sheen. Some of the coffee had sloshed over into the saucer,
so first he dried the saucer and the rim of the cup with his handkerchief. He had not wanted coffee at all.
I wish I could kill them, Mick said.
The house quieted. The people in the dining-room went out to work. Mid Gee left for school and the baby was shut into one of the front rooms. Mrs. Kelly ed a towel around her head and took a broom with her upstairs.
The mute still stood in the doorway. Doctor Copeland gazed up into his face. You know of this? he asked again. The words did not sound—they choked in his throat—but his eyes asked the question all the same. Thee was gone.
Doctor Copeland and Portia were alone. He sat for some time oool in the er. At last he rose to go.
*You sit back down, Father. Us going to stay together this m. I going to fry some fish and have egg-bread and potatoes for the dinner. You stay on here, and then I means to serve you a good hot meal.’
You know I have calls.’
Less us just this one day. Please, Father. I feels like I going to really bust loose. Besides, I dont want you messing around ireets by yourself.’
He hesitated ahe collar of his overcoat. It was very damp. Daughter, I am sorry. You know I have visits.’
Portia held his shawl over the stove until the wool was hot.
She buttoned his coat and turned up the collar about his neck.
He cleared his throat and spat into one of the squares of paper that he carried with him in his pocket Then he burhe paper iove. On the way out he stopped and spoke to Highboy oeps. He suggested that Highboy stay with Portia if he could arrao get leave from work.
The air ierg and cold. From the low, dark skies the drizzling rain fell steadily. The rain had seeped into the garbage s and in the alley there was the rank odor of wet refuse. As he walked he balanced himself with the help of a fend kept his dark eyes on the ground.
He made all the strictly necessary visits. Theeo office patients from noon until two oclock. Afterward he sat at his desk with his fists ched tight. But it was useless to try to cogitate on this thing.
He wished never again to see a human face. Yet at the same time he could not sit alone in the empty room<tt>９９ｌｉb?t>. He put on his overcoat a out again into the wet, cold street. In his pocket were several prescriptions to be left at the pharmacy.
But he did not wish to speak with Marshall Nicolls. He went into the store and laid the prescriptions upon the ter. The pharmacist turned from the powders he was measuring and held out both his hands. His thick lips worked soundlessly for a moment before he gained his poise.
Doctor, he said formally. "You must be aware that I and all our colleagues and the members of my lodge and church—we have your sorrow uppermost in our minds and wish to extend to you our deepest sympathy.’
Doctor Copeland turned shortly a without a word. That was too little. Something more was he strong, true purpose, the will to justice. He walked stiffly, his arms held close to his sides, toward the main street. He cogitated without success. He could think of no white person of power in all the toas both brave and just. He thought of every lawyer, every judge, every public official with whose name he was familiar—but the thought of eae of these white men was bitter in his heart. At last he decided on the judge of the Superior Court. When he reached the courthouse he did not hesitate but entered quickly, determio see the judge that afternoon.
The wide front hall was empty except for a few idlers who lounged in the doorways leading to the offices oher side.
He did not know where he could find the judges office, so he wandered uainly through the building, looking at the placards on the doors. At last he came to a narrow passage.
Halfway through this corridor three white men stood talking together and blocked the way. He drew close to the wall to pass, but one of them turo stop him.
What you want?’
"Will you please tell me where the judges office is located?’
The white man jerked his thumb toward the end of the passage. Doctor Copeland reized him as a deputy sheriff.
They had seen each other dozens of times but the deputy did not remember him. All white people looked
similar to Negroes but Negroes took care to differentiate between them. Oher hand, all Negroes looked similar to white men but white men did not usually bother to fix the face of a Negro in their minds. So the white man said, What you want, Reverend?’
The familiar joking title led him. am not a minister, he said, I am a physi, a medical doy name is Be Mady Copeland and I wish to see the judge immediately ent business.’
The deputy was like other white men in that a clearly enunciated speech maddened him. Is that so? he mocked. He wi his friends. Then I am the deputy sheriff and my name is Mister Wilson and I tell you the judge is busy. e bae other day.’
It is imperative that I see the judge, Doctor Copeland said. I will wait.’
There was a bench at the entrance of the passage a down. The three white men tio talk, but he khat the sheriff watched him. He was determined not to leave.
More than half an hour passed. Several white me freely bad forth through the corridor. He khat the deputy was watg him a rigid, his hands pressed between his knees. His sense of prudeold him to go away aurn later iernoohe sheriff was not there.
All of his life he had been circumspe his dealings with such people. But now something in him would not let him withdraw.
e here, you! the deputy said finally.
His head trembled, and when he arose he was not steady on his feet. Yes?’
What you say you wao see the judge about?’
I did not say, said Doctor Copeland. I merely said that my business with him was urgent.’
?You t stand up straight. You been drinking liquor, havent you? I smell it on your breath.’
"That is a lie, said Doctor Copeland slowly. have not——’
The sheriff struck him on the face. He fell against the wall.
Two white men grasped him by the arm and dragged him doweps to the main floor. He did not resist.
Thats the trouble with this try, the sheriff said. These
damn biggity niggers like him.He spoke no word ahem do with him as they would. He waited for the terrible anger a it arise in him. Rage made him weak, so that he stumbled. They put him into the wagon with two men as guards. They took him to the station and then to the jail. It was only when they ehe jail that the strength of his rage came to him. He broke loose suddenly from their grasp. In a er he was surrouhey struck him on the head and shoulders with their clubs. A glorious strength was in him and he heard himself laughing aloud as he fought He sobbed and laughed at the same time. He kicked wildly with his feet. He fought with his fists and even struck at them with his head. Then he was clutched fast so that he could not move. They dragged him foot by foot through the hall of the jail. The door to a cell ened. Someone behind kicked him in the groin and he fell to his knees on the floor.
In the cramped cubicle there were five other prisoners— three Negroes and two white men. One of the white men was very old and drunk. He sat on the floor and scratched himself. The other white prisoner was a boy not more than fifteen years of age. The three Negroes were young. As Doctor Copeland lay on the bunk looking up into their faces he reized one of them.
How e you here? the young man asked. Aint you Doctor Copeland?’
He said yes.
*My name Dary White. You taken out my sisters tonsils last year.’
The icy cell ermeated with a rotten odor. A pail brimming with urine was in a er. Cockroaches crawled upon the walls. He closed his eyes and immediately he must have slept, for when he looked up again the small barred window was blad a bright light burned in the hall. Four empty tin plates were on the floor. His dinner of cabbage and bread was beside him.
He sat on the bunk and sneezed violently several times. When
he breathed the phlegm rattled in his chest. After a while the young white boy began to sneeze also. Doctor Copeland ran out of squares of paper and had to use sheets from a notebook in his pocket. The white boyleaned over the pail in the er or simply let the water run from his o the front of his shirt. His eyes were dilated, his clear cheeks flushed. He huddled on the edge of a bunk and groaned.
Soon they were led out to the lavatory, and on their return they prepared for sleep. There were six men to occupy four bunks. The old man lay sn on the floor. Dary and another boy squeezed into a bunk together.
The hours were long. The light in the hall burned his eyes and the odor in the cell made every breath a disfort. He could not keep warm. His teeth chattered and he shook with a hard chill. He sat up with the dirty bla ed around him and swayed to and fro. Twice he reached over to cover the white boy, who muttered and threw out his arms in sleep. He swayed, hi<big></big>s head in his hands, and from his throat there came a singing moan. He could not think of William. Nor could he even cogitate uporong, true purpose and draw strength from that. He could only feel the misery in him.
Theide of his fever turned. A warmth spread through him. He lay back, and it seemed he sank down into a place warm and red and full of fort.
The m the sun came out. The strange Southern winter was at its end. Doctor Copeland was released. A little group waited outside the jail for him. Mr. Singer was there.
Portia and Highboy and Marshall Nicolls were present also.
Their faces were fused and he could not see them clearly.
The sun was very bright.
Father, dont you know that aint no way to help our Willie? Messing around at a white folks courthouse? Best thing us do is keep our mouth shut and wait.’
Her loud voice echoed wearily in his ears. Thev climbed into a teaxicab, and then he was home and his face pressed into the fresh white pillow.
M
ICK could not sleep all night. Etta was sick, so she had to sleep in the living-room. The sofa was too narrow and short. She had nightmares about Willie. Nearly a month had gone by since Portia had told about what theyhad doo him—but still she couldnt fet it. Twi the night she had these bad dreams and woke up on the floor. A bump came out on her forehead. Then at six oclock she heard Bill go to the kit and fix his breakfast. It was daylight, but the shades were down so that the room was half-dark. She felt queer waking up in the living-room. She didnt like it. The sheet was twisted around her, half on the sofa and hah* on the floor. The pillowbbr>９９lｉｂ?</abbr> was in the middle of the room. She got up and opehe door to the hall. Nobody was oairs. She ran in her nightgown to the ba.
Move ee. KThe kid lay in the very ter of the bed. The night had been warm and he was naked as a jay bird. His fists were shut tight, and even in sleep his eyes were squinted like he was thinking about something very hard to figure out. His mouth en and there was a little wet spot on the pillow. She pushed him.
Wait------ he said in his sleep.
Move over on your side. ?Wait------Lemme just finishthis here dream—th<s></s>ishere------’
She hauled him over where he belonged and lay down close to him. When she opened her eyes again it was late, because the sun shone in through the back window. Gee was gone.
From the yard she heard kids voices and the sound of water runnia and Hazel were talking in the middle room. As she dressed a sudden notion came to her. She liste the door but it was hard to hear what they said. She jerked the door open quick to surprise them.
They were reading a movie magazia was still in bed.
She had her hand halfway over the picture of an actor. From here up dont you think he favors that boy who used to date with------’
How you feel this m, Etta? Mick asked. She looked down uhe bed and her private box was still in the exact place where she had left it
A lot you care, Etta said.
You try to pick a fight’
Ettas face eaked. There was a terrible pain iomad her ovary was diseased. It had something to do with being unwell. The doctor said they would have to cut out her ovary right away. But their Dad said they would have to wait. There wasnt any money.
?How do you expect me to act, anyway? Mick said. *I ask you a polite question and then you start to nag at me. I feel like I ought to be sorry for you because youre sick, but you wo me be det. Therefore I naturally get mad. She pushed back the bangs of her hair and looked close into the mirror. Boy! See this bump I got! I bet my heads broke. Twice I fell out last night and it seemed to me like I hit that table by the sofa. I t sleep in the living-room. That sofa cramps me so much I t stay in it’
Hush that talking so loud,Hazel said.
Mielt down on the floor and pulled out the big box. She looked carefully at the string that was tied around it. Say, have either of you fooled with this?’
Shoot! Etta said. What would we want to mess with your junk for?’
You just better not. Id kill anybody that tried to mess with my private things.’
Listen to that, Hazel said. "Mick Kelly, I think youre the most selfish person Ive ever known. You dont care a thing in the world about anybody but------’
Aw, poot! She slammed the door. She hated both of them.
That was a terrible thing to think, but it was true.
Her Dad was i with Portia. He had on bis bathrobe and was drinking a cup of coffee. The whites of his eyes were red and his cup rattled against his saucer. He walked round and round the kit table.
What time is it? Has Mister Singer go?’
?He been gone, Hon, Portia said. It near about ten oclock.’
Ten oclock! Golly! I never have slept that late before.*
*What you keep in that big hatbox you tote around with you?’
Mick reached into the stove and brought out half a dozen biscuits. Ask me no questions and Til tell you no lies. A bad
end es to a person who pries.*
If theres a little extra milk I think Til just have it poured over some crumbled bread, her Dad said. Grave yard soup. Maybe that will help settle my stomach.Mick split open the biscuits and put slices of fried white meat ihem. She sat down on the back steps to eat her breakfast. The m was warm and bright. Spare-ribs and Sucker were playing with Gee in the back yard. Sucker wore his sun suit and the other two kids had taken off all their clothes except their shorts. They were scooting each other with the hose. The stream of water sparkled bright in the sun.
The wind blew out sprays of it like mist and in this mist there were the colors of the rainbow. A line of clothes flapped in the wind—white sheets, Ralphs blue dress, a red blouse and nightgow and fresh and blowing out in different shapes. The day was almost like summer-time. Fuzy little yellowjackets buzzed around the honeysuckle on the alley fence.
"Watch me hold it up over my head! Gee hollered. Watch how the water runs down.’
She was too full of energy to sit still. Gee had filled a meal sack with dirt and hung it to a limb of the tree for a pung bag. She began to hit this. Puck! Pock! She hit it in time to the song that had been in her mind when she woke up. Gee had mixed a sharp ro the dirt and it bruised her knuckles.
Aoow! You skeeted the water right in my ear. Its busted my eardrum. I t even hear. Gimme here. Let me skeet some. Sprays of the water blew into her face, and ohe kids turhe hose on her legs. She was afraid her box would get wet, so she carried it with her through the alley to the front porch. Harry was sitting on his steps reading the neer.
She opened her box and got out the notebook. But it was hard to settle her mind on the song she wao write down.
Harry was looking over in her dire and she could not think.
She and Harry had talked about so many things lately. Nearly every day they walked home from school together. They talked about God. Sometimes she would wake up in the night and shiver over what they had said. Harry a.
That was a religion, the same as Baptist or Catholic or Jew.
Harry believed that after you were dead and buried you ged to plants and fire and dirt and clouds and water. It took thousands of years and then finally you were a part of all the world. He said he thoughtI that was better than being one single angel. Anyhow it was better than nothing.
Harry threw the neer into his hall and then came over.
Its hot like summer, he said. And only March.’
Yeah. I wish we could go swimming.’
We would if there lace.’
Theres not any place. Except that try club pool.’
I sure would like to do something—to get out and go somewhere.’
"Me too, she said, Wait! I know one place. Its out in the try about fifteen miles. Its a deep, wide creek in the woods. The Girl Scouts have a camp there in the summer-time. Mrs. Wells took me and Gee ae and Sucker swimming there oime last year.’
If you want to I get bicycles and we go tomorrow. I have a holiday one Sunday a month.’
Well ride out and take a piiner, Mick said.
O.K. ITl borrow the bikes.’
It was time for him to go to work. She watched him walk dowreet. He swung his arms. Halfway down the block there was a bay tree with low branches. Harry took a running jump, caught a limb, and ed himself. A happy feeling came in her because it was true they were real good friends.
Also he was handsome. Tomorrow she would borrow Hazels blue necklad wear the sfflc dress. And for dihey would take jelly sandwiches and Nehi. Maybe Harry would bring something queer, because they ate orthodox Jew. She watched him until he turhe er. It was true that he had grown to be a very good-looking fellow.
Harry in the try was different from Harry sitting on the
back steps reading the neers and thinking about Hitler.
They left early in the m. The wheels he borrowed were the kind for boys—with a bar between the legs. They strapped the lunches and bathing-suits to the fenders and were gone before nine oclock. The m was hot and sunny. Within an hour they were far out of town on a red clay road. The fields were bright and ereen and the sharp smell of pirees was in the air. Harry talked in a very excited way. The warm wind blew into their faces. Her mouth was very dry and she was hungry.
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.