jg.paintedhouse-第55部分

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s　of　the　night。　Our　food　being　given　away。　I　was　horrified　at　the　thought；　and　I　was　furious　with　Gran　for　making　such　an　offer　without　first　discussing　it　with　the　rest　of　us。
　　　Then　I　looked　at　Mr。　Latcher。　His　lips　were　trembling；　and　his　eyes　were　wet。　He　clutched　his　old　straw　hat　with　both　hands　at　his　waist；　and　he　was　so　ashamed　that　he　just　looked　at　the　ground。　I'd　never　seen　a　poorer；　dirtier；　or　more　broken　man。
　　　I　looked　at　my　mother。　She；　too；　had　wet　eyes。　I　glanced　at　my　father。　I'd　never　seen　him　cry；　and　he　wasn't　about　to　at　that　moment；　but　he　was　clearly　touched　by　Mr。　Latcher's　suffering。　My　hard　heart　melted　in　a　flash。
　　　〃Let's　get　a　move　on；〃　Gran　said　with　authority。　〃We'll　get　the　barn　ready。〃
　　　We　sprang　into　action；　the　men　loading　into　the　truck；　the　women　heading　for　the　barn。　Just　as　she　was　walking　away；　Gran　pulled　Pappy　by　the　elbow　and　whispered；　〃You　bring　Libby　and　that　baby　first。〃　It　was　a　direct　order；　and　Pappy　nodded。
　　　I　hopped　into　the　back　of　the　truck　with　Mr。　Latcher；　who　squatted　on　his　skinny　legs　and　said　nothing　to　me。　We　stopped　at　the　bridge；　where　my　father　got　out　and　began　walking　along　the　edge　of　the　river。　His　job　was　to　find　Mr。　Jeter's　boat　at　the　Cockleburr　Slough；　then　float　it　downstream　to　where　we'd　be　waiting　at　the　bridge。　We　crossed　over；　turned　onto　the　Latchers'　road；　and　went　less　than　a　hundred　feet　before　we　came　to　a　quagmire。　Ahead　of　us　was　nothing　but　water。
　　　〃I'll　tell　'em　you're　in'；〃　Mr。　Latcher　said；　and　with　that　he　was　off　through　the　mud；　then　the　water。　Before　long　it　was　up　to　his　knees。　〃Watch　out　for　snakes！〃　he　yelled　over　his　shoulder。　〃They're　everywhere。〃　He　was　trudging　through　a　lake　of　water；　with　flooded　fields　on　both　sides。
　　　We　watched　him　until　he　disappeared；　then　we　returned　to　the　river　and　waited　for　my　father。
　　　
　　　We　sat　on　a　log　near　the　bridge；　the　rushing　water　below　us。　Since　we　had　nothing　to　say；　I　decided　it　was　time　to　tell　Pappy　a　story。　First；　I　swore　him　to　secrecy。
　　　I　began　where　it　started；　with　voices　in　our　front　yard　late　at　night。　The　Spruills　were　arguing；　Hank　was　leaving。　I　followed　in　the　shadows；　and　before　I　knew　what　was　happening；　I　was　trailing　not　only　Hank　but　Cowboy　as　well。　〃They　fought　right　up　there；〃　I　said；　pointing　to　the　center　of　the　bridge。
　　　Pappy's　mind　was　no　longer　on　floods　or　farming　or　even　rescuing　the　Latchers。　He　glared　at　me；　believing　every　word　but　quite　astonished。　I　recounted　the　fight　in　vivid　detail；　then　pointed　again。　〃Hank　landed　over　there；　right　in　the　middle　of　the　river。　Never　came　up。〃
　　　Pappy　grunted　but　did　not　speak。　I　was　on　my　feet　in　front　of　him；　nervous　and　talking　rapidly。　When　I　described　my　encounter　with　Cowboy　minutes　later　on　the　road　near　our　house；　Pappy　cursed　under　his　breath。　〃You　should've　told　me　then；〃　he　said。
　　　〃I　just　couldn't。　I　was　too　scared。〃
　　　He　got　to　his　feet　and　walked　around　the　log　a　few　times。　〃He　murdered　their　son　and　stole　their　daughter；〃　he　said　to　himself。　〃My　oh　my。〃
　　　〃What're　we　gonna　do；　Pappy？〃
　　　〃Let　me　think　about　it。〃
　　　〃Do　you　think　Hank'll　float　to　the　top　somewhere？〃
　　　〃Nope。　That　Mexican　gutted　him。　His　body　sank　straight　to　the　bottom；　probably　got　eaten　by　those　channel　cats　down　there。　There's　nothin'　left　to　find。〃
　　　As　sickening　as　this　was；　I　was　somewhat　relieved　to　hear　it。　I　never　wanted　to　see　Hank　again。　I'd　thought　about　him　every　time　I　crossed　the　bridge。　I'd　dreamed　of　his　bloated　corpse　popping　up　from　the　depths　of　the　river　and　scaring　the　daylights　out　of　me。
　　　〃Did　I　do　anything　wrong？〃　I　asked。
　　　〃No。〃
　　　〃Are　you　gonna　tell　anybody？〃
　　　〃Nope；　I　don't　think　so。　Let's　keep　it　quiet。　We'll　talk　about　it　later。〃
　　　We　took　our　positions　on　the　log　and　studied　the　water。　Pappy　was　deep　in　thought。　I　tried　to　convince　myself　that　I　should　feel　better　now　that　I'd　finally　told　one　of　the　adults　about　Hank's　death。
　　　After　a　spell　Pappy　said；　〃Hank　got　what　was　in'　to　him。　We　ain't　tellin'　nobody。　You're　the　only　witness；　and　there's　no　sense　in　you　worryin'　about　it。　It'll　be　our　secret；　one　we'll　take　to　our　graves。〃
　　　〃What　about　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Spruill？〃
　　　〃What　they　don't　know　won't　hurt　'em。〃
　　　〃You　gonna　tell　Gran？〃
　　　〃Nope。　Nobody。　Just　me　and　you。〃
　　　It　was　a　partnership　I　could　trust。　I　did　indeed　feel　better。　I'd　shared　my　secret　with　a　friend　who　could　certainly　carry　his　portion　of　it。　And　we　had　decided　that　Hank　and　Cowboy　would　be　put　behind　us　forever。
　　　
　　　My　father　finally　arrived　in　Mr。　Jeter's　flat…bottomed　johnboat。　The　outboard　was　missing；　but　navigation　was　easy　because　of　the　strong　current。　He　used　a　paddle　as　a　rudder　and　came　ashore　under　the　bridge；　right　below　us。　He　and　Pappy　then　lifted　the　boat　from　the　river　and　manhandled　it　up　the　bank　to　the　truck。　Then　we　drove　back　to　the　Latchers'　road；　where　we　unloaded　the　boat　and　shoved　it　to　the　edge　of　the　floodwaters。　All　three　of　us　hopped　in；　our　feet　covered　with　mud。　The　adults　paddled　as　we　moved　along　the　narrow　road；　two　feet　above　the　ground；　rows　of　ruined　cotton　passing　by。
　　　The　farther　we　went；　the　deeper　the　water　became。　The　wind　picked　up　and　blew　us　into　the　cotton。　Both　Pappy　and　my　father　looked　at　the　sky　and　shook　their　heads。
　　　Every　Latcher　was　on　the　front　porch；　waiting　in　fear；　watching　every　move　we　made　as　the　boat　cut　through　the　lake　that　surrounded　their　house。　The　front　steps　were　submerged。　At　least　a　foot　of　water　covered　the　porch。　We　maneuvered　the　boat　up　to　the　front　of　the　house；　where　Mr。　Latcher　took　it　and　pulled　it　in。　He　was　chest…deep　in　the　water。
　　　I　looked　at　all　of　the　frightened　and　sad　faces　on　the　porch。　Their　clothes　were　even　more　ragged　than　the　last　time　I'd　been　there。　They　were　skinny　and　gaunt；　probably　starving。　I　saw　a　couple　of　smiles　from　the　younger　ones；　and　I　suddenly　felt　very　important。　From　out　of　the　crowd　stepped　Libby　Latcher；　holding　the　baby；　who　was　wrapped　in　an　old　blanket。　I'd　never　actually　seen　Libby　before；　and　I　couldn't　believe　how　pretty　she　was。　Her　light　brown　hair　was　long　and　pulled　tightly　behind　in　a　ponytail。　Her　eyes　were　pale　blue　and　had　a　glow　to　them。　She　was　tall　and　as　skinny　as　the　rest。　When　she　stepped　into　the　boat；　both　Pappy　and　my　father　steadied　her。　She　sat　beside　me　with　her　baby；　and　suddenly　I　was　face…to…face　with　my　newest　cousin。
　　　〃I'm　Luke；〃　I　said；　though　it　was　an　odd　time　to　make　introductions。
　　　〃I'm　Libby；〃　she　said；　with　a　smile　that　made　my　heart　race。　Her　baby　was　asleep。　He　had　not　grown　much　since　I'd　seen　him　in　the　window　the　night　he　was　born。　He　was　tiny　and　wrinkled　and　likely　hungry；　but　Gran　was　waiting　for　him。
　　　Rayford　Latcher　came　aboard　and　sat　as　far　away　from　me　as　possible。　He　was　one　of　the　three　who'd　beaten　me　the　last　time　I　was　on　their　property。　Percy；　the　oldest　boy　and　the　ringleader　of　that　assault；　was　hiding　on　the　porch。　Two　more　children　were　put　into　the　boat；　then　Mr。　Latcher　jumped　in。　〃We'll　be　back　in　a　few　minutes；〃　he　said　to　Mrs。　Latcher　and　the　others　still　on　the　porch。　They　looked　as　if　they　were　being　left　to　die。
　　　The　rain　hit　fast；　and　the　winds　shifted。　Pappy　and　my　father　paddled　as　hard　as　they　could；　but　the　boat　barely　moved。　Mr。　Latcher　jumped　into　the　water；　and　for　a　second　he　pletely　vanished。　Then　he　found　his　footing　and　stood　up；　covered　from　the　chest　down　in　water。　He　grabbed　a　rope　attached　to　the　bow　and　began　pulling　us　down　the　road。
　　　The　wind　kept　blowing　us　into　the　cotton；　so　my　father　crawled　out　of　the　boat　and　began　pushing　from　the　rear。　〃Watch　for　snakes；〃　Mr。　Latcher　warned　again。　Both　men　were　soaking　wet。
　　　〃Percy　almost　got　bit　by　one；〃　Libby　said　to　me。　〃It　floated　up　on　the　porch。〃　She　was　leaning　over　the　baby；　trying　to　keep　him　dry。
　　　〃What's　his　name？〃　I　asked。
　　　〃Don't　have　one　yet。〃
　　　I'd　never　heard　of　such　nonsense。　A　baby　without　a　name。　Most　of　the　ones　born　into　the　Baptist　Church　had　two　or　three　names　before　they　ever　got　into　the　world。
　　　〃When's　Ricky　ing　home？〃　she　whispered。
　　　〃I　don't　know。〃
　　　〃Is　he　okay？〃
　　　〃Yes。〃
　　　She　seemed　anxious　for　any　news　about　him；　and　this　made　me　unfortable。　However；　it　was　not　unpleasant　sitting　next　to　such　a　pretty　girl　who　wanted　to　whisper　to　me。　Her　younger　siblings　were　wild…eyed　with　the　adventure。
　　　As　we　neared　the　road；　the　water　became　shallow　and　the　boat　finally　hit　mud。　We　all　scrambled　out；　and　the　Latchers　were　loaded　into　our　truck。　Pappy　got　behind　the　wheel。
　　　〃Luke；　you　stay　with　me；〃　my　father　said。　As　the　truck　backed　away；　Mr。　Latcher　and　my　father　turned　the　boat　around　and　began　pushing　and　pulling　it　back　to　the　house。　The　wind　was　so　strong　they　had　to　lean　into　it。　I　rode　alone；　with　my　head　bowed；　trying　to　stay　dry。　The　rain　came　down　in　cold　pellets　that　grew　harder　by　the　minute。
　　　The　lake　around　the　house　was　churning　as　we　drew　close。　Mr。　Latcher　pulled　the　boat　in　again　and　began　yelling　instructions　to　his　wife。　A　small　Latcher　was　handed　down　from　the　porch　and　almost　dropped　when　a　gust　of　wind　hit　the　boat　and　knocked　it　away。　Percy　thrust　forward　a　broom　handle；　which　I　grabbed　to　help　pull　the　boat　back　to　the　porch。　My　father　was　yelling　this　and　that；　and　Mr。　Latcher　was　doing　the　same。　There　were　four　remaining　children；　and　all　of　them　wanted　to　board　at　once。　I　helped　them　in；　one　at　a　time。　〃Steady；　Luke！〃　my　father　said　a　dozen　times。
　　　When　the　children　were　in　the　boat；　Mrs。　Latcher　flung　over　a　burlap　sack　stuffed　with　what　appeared　to　be　clothing。　I　figured　it　was　a　collection　of　their　only　possessions。　It　landed　at　my　feet；　and　I　clutched　it　as　if　it　had　a　lot　of　value。　Next　to　me　was　a　shoeless　little　Latcher　girl…not　a　one　of　them　had　shoes…with　no　sleeves　on　her　shirt　to　cover　her　arms。　She　was　freezing；　and　she　clung　to　my　leg　as　if　she　might　be　taken　away　by　the　wind。　She　had　tears　in　her　eyes；　but　when　I　looked　at　her　she　said；　〃Thank　you。〃　Mrs。　Latcher　climbed　in；　stepping　among　her　children；　yelling　at　her　husband　because　he　was　yelling　at　her。　With　the　boat　fully　loaded　and　all　the　Latchers　accounted　for；　we　turned　around　and　headed　back　toward　the　road。　Those　of　us　on　board　cowered　low　to　shield　our　faces　from　the　rain。
　　　My　father　and　Mr。　Latcher　labored　furiously　to　push　the　boat　against　the　wind。　In　places　they　were　only　knee…deep　in　water；　but　within　a　few　steps　it　would　be　up　to　their　chests；　making　it　hard　for　them　to　get　any　leverage。　They　fought　to　keep　us　in　the　center　of　the　road　and　out　of　the　cotton。　The　return　leg　of　our　little　voyage　was　much　slower。
　　　Pappy　wasn't　waiting。　He　had　not　had　enough　time　to　drop　off　the　first　load　and　e　back　for　the　second。　When　we　got　to　the　mud；　my　father　tied　Mr。　Jeter's　johnboat　to　a　fence　post；　then　said；　〃No　sense　waitin'　here。〃　We　trudged　through　more　mud　and　fought　the　wind　and　rain　until　we　came　to　the　river。　The　Latcher　children　were　terrified　of　the　bridge；　and　I'd　never　heard　such　bawling　as　we　crossed　over。　They　clung　to　their　parents。　Mr。　Latcher　was　now　carrying　the　burlap　sack。　Halfway　over　the　St。　Francis；　I　looked　down　at　the　planks　in　front　of　me　and　noticed　that；　like　her　children；　Mrs。　Latcher　had　no　shoes。
　　　When　we　were　safe　on　our　side　of　the　river