jg.paintedhouse-第24部分

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cheted　off　his　shins。　He　screamed　an　obscenity　and　instantly　charged　like　a　crazed　bull。
　　　Others　charged；　too。　My　father　from　shortstop。　Mr。　Spruill　from　beside　the　silo。　Some　of　the　Mexicans。　Me；　I　didn't　move。　I　held　my　ground　at　first　base；　too　horrified　to　take　a　step。　Everyone　seemed　to　be　yelling　and　running　toward　home　plate。
　　　Cowboy　retreated　not　a　step。　He　stood　perfectly　still　for　a　second；　his　brown　skin　wet；　his　long　arms　taut　and　ready；　and　his　teeth　showing。　When　the　bull　was　a　few　feet　away；　Cowboy's　hands　moved　quickly　around　his　pockets　and　a　knife　appeared。　He　jerked　it；　and　a　very　long　switchblade　popped　free…shiny；　glistening　steel；　no　doubt　very　sharp。　It　snapped　when　it　sprang　open；　a　sharp　click　that　I　would　hear　for　years　to　e。
　　　He　held　it　high　for　all　to　see；　and　Hank　skidded　to　a　stop。
　　　〃Put　it　down！〃　he　yelled　from　five　feet　away。
　　　With　his　left　hand；　Cowboy　made　a　slight；　beckoning　motion；　as　if　to　say；　e　on；　big　boy。　e　and　get　it。
　　　The　knife　shocked　everyone；　and　for　a　few　seconds　there　was　silence。　No　one　moved。　The　only　sound　was　heavy　breathing。　Hank　was　staring　at　the　blade；　which　seemed　to　grow。　There　was　no　doubt　in　anyone's　mind　that　Cowboy　had　used　it　before；　knew　how　to　use　it　well；　and　would　happily　behead　Hank　if　he　took　another　step　closer。
　　　Then　my　father；　holding　the　bat；　stepped　between　the　two；　and　Miguel　appeared　beside　Cowboy。
　　　〃Put　it　down；〃　Hank　said　again。　〃Fight　like　a　man。〃
　　　〃Shut　up！〃　my　father　said；　waving　the　bat　around　at　both　of　them。　〃Ain't　nobody　fightin'。〃
　　　Mr。　Spruill　grabbed　Hank's　arm　and　said；　〃Let's　go；　Hank。〃
　　　My　father　looked　at　Miguel　and　said；　〃Get　him　back　to　the　barn。〃
　　　Slowly；　the　other　Mexicans　grouped　around　Cowboy　and　sort　of　shoved　him　away。　He　finally　turned　and　began　walking；　the　switchblade　still　very　much　in　view。　Hank；　of　course；　wouldn't　budge。　He　stood　and　watched　the　Mexicans　leave；　as　if　by　doing　so　he　was　claiming　victory。
　　　〃I'm　gonna　kill　that　boy；〃　he　said。
　　　〃You've　killed　enough；〃　my　father　said。　〃Now　leave。　And　stay　away　from　the　barn。〃
　　　〃Let's　go；〃　Mr。　Spruill　said　again；　and　the　others…Trot；　Tally；　Bo；　and　Dale…began　to　drift　toward　the　front　yard。　When　the　Mexicans　were　out　of　sight；　Hank　stomped　away。　〃I'm　gonna　kill　him；〃　he　mumbled；　just　loud　enough　for　my　father　to　hear。
　　　I　collected　the　baseballs；　the　gloves；　and　the　bat；　and　hurried　after　my　parents　and　Gran。
　
　
　Chapter　12
　　　
　　　Later　that　afternoon；　Tally　found　me　in　the　backyard。　It　was　the　first　time　I'd　seen　her　walk　around　the　farm；　though　as　the　days　passed；　the　Spruills　showed　more　interest　in　exploring　the　area。
　　　She　was　carrying　a　small　bag。　She　was　barefoot　but　had　changed　into　the　same　tight　dress　she'd　been　wearing　the　first　time　I'd　seen　her。
　　　〃Will　you　do　me　a　favor；　Luke？〃　she　asked　ever　so　sweetly。　My　cheeks　turned　red。　I　had　no　idea　what　favor　she　wanted；　but　there　was　no　doubt　she'd　get　it　from　me。
　　　〃What？〃　I　asked；　trying　to　be　difficult。
　　　〃Your　grandma　told　my　mom　that　there's　a　creek　close　by　where　we　can　bathe。　Do　you　know　where　it　is？〃
　　　〃Yeah。　Siler's　Creek。　'Bout　a　half　a　mile　that　way；〃　I　said；　pointing　to　the　north。
　　　〃Are　there　any　snakes？〃
　　　I　laughed　like　snakes　shouldn't　bother　anyone。　〃Maybe　just　a　little　water　snake　or　two。　No　cottonmouths。〃
　　　〃And　the　water's　clear；　not　muddy？〃
　　　〃Should　be　clear。　It　hasn't　rained　since　Sunday。〃
　　　She　looked　around　to　make　sure　no　one　was　listening；　then　she　said；　〃Will　you　go　with　me？〃
　　　My　heart　stopped；　and　my　mouth　was　suddenly　dry。　〃Why？〃　I　managed　to　ask。
　　　She　grinned　again　and　rolled　her　eyes　away。
　　　〃I　don't　know；〃　she　cooed。　〃To　make　sure　nobody　sees　me。〃
　　　She　could've　said；　〃Because　I　don't　know　where　the　creek　is；〃　or　〃To　make　sure　there　are　no　snakes。〃　Or　something；　anything　that　had　nothing　to　do　with　seeing　her　bathe。
　　　But　she　didn't。
　　　〃Are　you　scared？〃　I　asked。
　　　〃Maybe　a　little。〃
　　　We　took　the　field　road　until　the　house　and　barn　were　out　of　sight；　then　turned　onto　a　narrow　path　we　used　for　spring　planting。　Once　we　were　alone；　she　began　to　talk。　I　had　no　idea　what　to　say；　and　I　was　relieved　that　she　knew　how　to　handle　the　situation。
　　　〃I'm　real　sorry　'bout　Hank；〃　she　said。　〃He's　always　causin'　trouble。〃
　　　〃Did　you　see　the　fight？〃　I　asked。
　　　〃Which　one？〃
　　　〃The　one　in　town。〃
　　　〃No。　Was　it　awful？〃
　　　〃Yeah；　pretty　bad。　He　beat　those　boys　so　bad。　He　beat　'em　long　after　the　fight　was　over。〃
　　　She　stopped；　then　I　stopped；　too。　She　walked　close　to　me；　both　of　us　breathing　heavily。　〃Tell　me　the　truth；　Luke。　Did　he　pick　up　that　stick　first？〃
　　　Looking　at　her　beautiful　brown　eyes；　I　almost　said；　〃Yes。〃　But　in　a　flash　something　caught　me。　I　thought　I'd　better　play　it　safe。　He　was；　after　all；　her　brother；　and　in　the　midst　of　one　of　the　many　Spruill　fights；　she　might　tell　him　everything　I　said。　Blood's　thicker　than　water；　Ricky　always　said。　I　didn't　want　Hank　ing　after　me。
　　　〃It　happened　real　fast；〃　I　said；　and　started　walking　off。　She　caught　up　immediately　and　said　nothing　for　a　few　minutes。
　　　〃Do　you　think　they'll　arrest　him？〃　she　asked。
　　　〃I　don't　know。〃
　　　〃What　does　your　grandpa　think？〃
　　　〃Hell　if　I　know。〃　I　thought　I　might　impress　her　by　using　some　of　Ricky's　words。
　　　〃Luke；　your　language！〃　she　said；　quite　unimpressed。
　　　〃Sorry。〃　We　walked　on。　〃Has　he　ever　killed　anybody　before？〃　I　asked。
　　　〃Not　that　I　know　of；〃　she　said。
　　　〃He　went　up　North　once；〃　she　continued　as　we　approached　the　creek。　〃And　there　was　some　trouble。　But　we　never　knew　what　happened。〃
　　　I　was　certain　there　was　trouble　wherever　Hank　went。
　　　Siler's　Creek　ran　along　the　northern　boundary　of　our　farm；　where　it　snaked　its　way　into　the　St。　Francis；　at　a　point　you　could　almost　see　from　the　bridge。　Heavy　trees　lined　both　sides；　so　in　the　summer　it　was　usually　a　cool　place　to　swim　and　bathe。　It　would　dry　up；　though；　and　quickly；　and　more　often　than　not；　there　wasn't　much　water。
　　　I　led　her　down　the　bank　to　a　gravel　bar；　where　the　water　was　deepest。　〃This　is　the　best　spot；〃　I　said。
　　　〃How　deep　is　it？〃　she　asked；　looking　around。
　　　The　water　was　clear。　〃　'Bout　here；〃　I　said；　touching　a　spot　not　far　below　my　chin。
　　　〃There's　nobody　around　here；　right？〃　She　seemed　a　bit　nervous。
　　　〃No。　Everybody's　back　at　the　farm。〃
　　　〃You　go　back　up　by　the　trail　and　look　out　for　me；　okay？〃
　　　〃Okay；〃　I　said；　without　moving。
　　　〃Go　on；　Luke；〃　she　said；　placing　her　bag　on　the　bank。
　　　〃Okay；〃　I　said；　and　started　away。
　　　〃And；　Luke；　no　peeking；　okay？〃
　　　I　felt　as　if　I'd　just　been　caught。　I　waved　her　off　as　if　the　thought　hadn't　crossed　my　mind。　〃Of　course　not；〃　I　said。
　　　I　crawled　up　the　bank　and　found　a　spot　a　few　feet　above　the　ground；　on　the　limb　of　an　elm。　Perched　there；　I　could　almost　see　the　top　of　our　barn。
　　　〃Luke！〃　she　called。
　　　〃Yes！〃
　　　〃Is　everything　clear？〃
　　　〃Yep！〃
　　　I　heard　water　splash　but　kept　my　eyes　to　the　south。　After　a　minute　or　two；　I　slowly　turned　around　and　looked　down　the　creek。　I　couldn't　see　her；　and　I　was　somewhat　relieved。　The　gravel　bar　was　just　around　a　slight　bend；　and　the　trees　and　limbs　were　thick。
　　　Another　minute　passed；　and　I　began　to　feel　useless。　No　one　knew　we　were　here；　so　no　one　would　be　trying　to　sneak　up　on　her。　How　often　would　I　have　the　chance　to　see　a　pretty　girl　bathing？　I　could　recall　no　specific　prohibition　from　the　church　or　the　Scriptures；　though　I　knew　it　was　wrong。　But　maybe　it　wasn't　terribly　sinful。
　　　Because　it　involved　mischief；　I　thought　of　Ricky。　What　would　he　do　in　a　situation　like　this？
　　　I　climbed　down　from　the　elm　and　sneaked　through　weeds　and　brush　until　I　was　above　the　gravel　bar；　then　I　slowly　crawled　through　the　bushes。
　　　Her　dress　and　underclothes　were　hung　over　a　branch。　Tally　was　deep　in　the　water；　her　head　covered　with　white　lather　as　she　gently　washed　her　hair。　I　was　sweating；　but　not　breathing。　Lying　on　my　stomach　in　the　grass；　peering　through　two　big　limbs；　I　was　invisible　to　her。　The　trees　were　moving　more　than　I　was。
　　　She　was　humming；　just　a　pretty　girl　bathing　in　a　creek；　enjoying　the　cool　water。　She　wasn't　looking　around　in　fear；　she　trusted　me。
　　　She　dipped　her　head　under　the　water；　rinsing　out　the　shampoo；　sending　the　lather　away　in　the　slight　current。　Then　she　stood　and　reached　for　a　bar　of　soap。　Her　back　was　to　me；　and　I　saw　her　rear　end；　all　of　it。　She　was　wearing　nothing；　which　was　exactly　what　I　wore　during　my　weekly　baths；　and　it　was　what　I　expected。　But　confirming　it　sent　a　shudder　throughout　my　body。　Instinctively；　I　raised　my　head；　I　guess　for　a　closer　look；　then　ducked　again　when　I　regained　my　senses。
　　　If　she　caught　me；　she'd　tell　her　father；　who'd　tell　my　father；　who'd　beat　me　until　I　couldn't　walk。　My　mother　would　scold　me　for　a　week。　Gran　wouldn't　speak　to　me；　she'd　be　so　hurt。　Pappy　would　give　me　a　tongue…lashing；　but　only　for　the　benefit　of　the　others。　I'd　be　ruined。
　　　In　water　up　to　her　waist；　she　bathed　her　arms　and　chest；　which　I　could　see　from　the　side。　I　had　never　seen　a　woman's　breasts　before；　and　I　doubted　if　any　seven…year…old　boy　in　Craighead　County　had。　Maybe　some　kid　had　stumbled　upon　his　mother；　but　I　was　certain　no　boy　my　age　had　ever　had　this　view。
　　　For　some　reason；　I　thought　of　Ricky　ag