{ibe rctl tere of Aner ahead made om rtegue gi | ‘Senn the wet legs mint st conten ie eae | lSedrigheerese ap he mane iy ota sch | “estan ll ne Lng the Tt Bao Gon (196) ad ut abe My | mere iL ier aa a ti aden inst o senso a sree et spslenmasip become ‘pinay stator he Enh apeseced many presuretbemore han ast ‘ter br hence proce ail sgacant orl sre No {siete as been betel ong whe eperence ook nvr thc el ferent indeed cho peo placer thet taht om. In it tly te nde of dcininaton ar spe nd in commaent {Eyascreythingto mes, ewe ma compare inparance that af any * | joe elles rceneSocni a rb plo hin deat ped Tetatis fom ving Mt sh Mn (5) Going to Mest the Man ‘Was the mate?” she asked “don't noe sod yng t aah, T gues Tm dred.” “ive Been working oo har" she i. “hep ellng you." “Weleda, woman” he sino ny ok He ied nai, he 1 | mated failed pn Then est ay tere, sent angry aed eleae sete 1) | ied hits obacho bot refused ener lsh. He stroked ber ‘esti a vil, He cold not sk ert do jus ie thing for in, Jato lp him ot jst for le wl dhe ay he could ask niger lt | Gace lay theres an sighed. Theimage of black il caused a dtant ‘cent nin ike fa a ight Lat aun th ccitement wes moe inte a aeng hi oa, trade ston pore “Go tosleep” she sl, gent yo at ed day toro "Mele sid andolled over on his, facing her, oe and still on one beet. “Goddamn the niggers The Bk stinking coors. You'd think dey Inn. Wouldnt you think they learn mean, would you?” "They gong tbe out there tmorre" se sald, and took his hand away, “resomerdeep” lecwcen biel sang a the fel anetary of ssf’ A fait ight came from the shiters the moon mae al Two dog fr aay, were barking st each oer, ick and forth nite, as though thy were greetngo make an appointment. He heard car coming north on ‘hero ane al x up, his and eahing fr hs holser, which was on che neat the bed on tp of is pnts. The lights atthe shutters end ‘eed fo tayel across the rom and thes wet ot, The sound ofthe eat ‘ipped say, he hear chit gavel, dn heard no more: Some ve ped ‘dent probably heading back fo tat college coming from where? "swat said ews to Inthe morning They could be coming from any ire frm out of tte most Hl, nd they would beat the cour-house “emorom The ngges were geting read Wl, they would be ready to. Te moaned. He wanted vo let whsever was inhi out but i wouldnt | come et: Goddamn he sid aloud, and tured gai, on his sie, aay fom | Gee stating a the shutters, He was «big healthy man and he ad never EN ie aL De aa _———-1382 / Janus BaLowin had any trouble sleping And he wae old enough yet to have any robe [etingup-—the was onl fort. And he was «good man, « God featng an, held ied to do bis duty all is life and he had ben a deputy shes {for several years. Nothing had ever bodhered him belore, ertany not et ting up. Sometines, sure, lke any othr man, knew that he wanted = Title mare spice than Grace coud give im snd he would dive over yonder snd pick up'a black piece or acest her, t came tothe same thing, but he ‘hull that now, more, There warn ling what might happen once Jour aus was in the ais And they were low enough oll s man the, ton, {rey om of them, or the gil herself might do right wale she war mang Believe you mode her fal so good. The niggers. Whit had dhe good Long ‘Alighhed nmind when head the ger? Wl Thy wor typed ‘ha al righe Damn. Damm. Godda, Thirws helping im to slep. He ted agin, town Grace ago, and sored close oer warm body He fl somthing be had never felt before, He felt that he would ike to ld her, old her hold er, and be ben ee ea cid and never have to get up in the marin again and go downtown toface those faces, good Chit, they were ugly and never have to enter that jall howe again and sell that sel and hear that singing never again feel that ily, Kinky greary hae under hi han, never sala watch hove Mack breasts ap against he laping extle prod, never hear the moans sgn ee sich hat blood run dawn of the ft lpr slit or the sealed eyes stale open. Taey were animals they were no etter than anima, what cou be dane wih peopel that? Here they had been inacielized country for yes ‘nd they sl edie animal. Tele houses were da, witha thor ed brardinthe windows, the mel was enough to ke ou puke your gue, snd thes they nt whale tbe, pumping ot it oked ik, every dans fveminates, and laughing and alg nd plying mane ike they did hae ‘caren the world) and beckoned they dy neither, and coming tothe door ino che sunlight, just standing hee, jut ooking fools, not thinking ‘anything but fs geting back to whac they were dong ayn, Yes shy Me Jes {sorely wil Mr Jesse Fine weather, Mr, Jease: Why [thank you, Me Jess He had worked fora ma order house fo awe and it had eh Joes collect dhe payments forthe su they bought. They were to duno vw tat they wer being cheated Mind, but that was o Shin of his as ‘owas st supposed to dois ob. They would be lte~they dint have the Sense to put money aside; but was ey to scare them, and be never el hd anyeouble. Hell theyalliked hn, the ids used ose when became tothe dor He gave them candy, somtine, or chewing gu, and rubbed {heir raph bullet eade—may the candy shosld have been, pleoned ‘The kids were grown now He had had trouble with one of them tos “There ws thle niger today” he sds and wopped his vies sounded pocllas He touched Grace. You awake” he asked. She mumbled some ‘hing inpatient she was probaly eligi to goto sleep 1 was all ih. He new that he was not lone. “Whats fanny time” he ad “to be thinking abou thing ike that—yo listening” She mumbled something apnin He elled exe mh hack. “This lgerb ne ofthe ingleders-Welhad ouble wth him fore We mst ae Id hi out there a the werk Ear teeo four mes. Well ig 2 snne cthe boys relly had to whip that niggers at today” He looked oe st Grace; he could toask aun. The ‘dnoe ana he fo star Bocking seb et hy ove, they ja kt srouldimove this senor and hee coupe af the othe Siegert goo them stop. Wl, them ta. He ee Hino cell by Jen. and is boy the prod to him Sida have mach "oberon mmeand patito for andbleod ar He pase lm, tale, be beg refed te eles imdyou ste going Beard malcing torso sting Ie svet pong! role rod in tthe prod i his fle ands on, falafel wih oubad enough? Jebad not knw though, shot ound enough otthboytse shaking, He oon lose to avery pec Inemory at sed fh elee Hey "We man He stopped. Fors “ou temember ‘The bay sid, fo Sarl open, gang ‘as Mla Bose "hte nae ye hee ting faltnck puteome 10 Meer rue Maw / 1383 ze emul ot ll whether she wos Hstening o not an he was aad co ceria had i ine youl to eye tauhed, ba eae ed they woulda stay were Big JimC. wanted ther, no, they had Sane Goking wae al anand he courthouse so couldn noting or "eB gee through aid Big J C told them to disperse and they woukdnt say Re Kept up Ut singing 0 Big JimC gared that he others hs hg would won, i etn the inglesde, but he woul creme de wont let the oer move, they hed to beat him and 2 see the thes and thy the them inthe wogan—at dn se this aa GT pot teal Tey were tl singing and I ws supposed to make a AL couldn make them stp for me but kx be could make Cp oP Tic tying on te round eng and moaning hey bad threw fm oP by hell and low ws coming out his ers from where Bik Hee dnd bi boys ha hippo hn, Wouldnt you bik the lean? Eat srt hi ude jerked smne roe and he kind of sereamed—but he ‘Restle uch voice [fe "You make them stop thst singing," aid tim, re eanie? You make them tp that singing He acted ie he did't hear JeRRET pret him psn under is ems and he ost roe around on he ern Eigodsared coming rom fe moth. He'd pissed his pont already Peery Ris mouth fl dry ands tot was as ough as sadpmpe: TERRES ce began to hurt all enw that peculiar extement which ‘aad ge elem lo all ze ging stop your singing, said to him, ede sng to atop coming dows othe cost howe and deping tab seg ny he pele end keoping vs Rom our dts and keeping doe aerating ok white worctandpetigallhem Norternern his Meee own bod ramet" Ar be sad thi he hep proding the Per Torin rs Beneath the eet he had no ye taken of The boy MSE sow dit and water and blood and tried to sees sin ihe good it his ttle, but the seream id not come out ony kindof ‘Sel Sot.a moon He sopped He was not supposed to kl he niger. The cared waa teenble edo. Te boy was sll “You hear me be called, Sind ecsogi?"The ging went n"You had enough” His fooleapt out, Teele tw going to ard caught the boy sh on theo Jess, Se thcupht is int mo migper hia god bully and he ereamed aps, iat chough? You going to make them stop that singing. now?” But the boy as ut Ard no he nas shaking warse dan the bay hadbeen sg Heer odin one col see fim. A the sane time, fe ek wsy Seen Ee Poesia, pertelar oy something deep in him and deep in his Seater ered, et whatever ae in is memory eladed him, He tok ‘fh beiet He wed to the cel door. “Whiteman,” the bo, fom be flor, behind him. He sapped For ome reson, he grabbed his prbates "You remexiber OL ula” REPS bom the flor wi hie mouth fll of blood, and ane ye, sare a thatthe eye of aca in the dak "My grandmother’ name se Me fla sso, Ni fuller You ging calla women y Tier nnnes yee And tose Kd in gong to sop singing» We ging Uebeath nglng toil every ane of you miserable white mothers go stat rg tof yards: Then he lose the one ee he pat blood is ead Felieck agate the lor1384 / Joss BaLowon He looked down atthe boy, whom he had been seing, of and on, fr more ‘than a ear and suddenly remembered him: Old Jla had been one of imailcdercustomery ance old woman, He had no sen her for ea, he Suppose that she must be dead “Heed walked into the yard, the boy had ben siting ina sing, He had smiled at the boy, nd asked, "Ol Jala ome?” The hoy looked at him for» longtime before he answered, "Dan no Ok Jain ive here” "Thi ier house know her. Sh’ ved he for years ‘The boy shook hind "Yo might know a Ol Jus someplace es, wie san. But dont nobody by that name lve here: He watched the boy the boy watched hm, The boy cesta wast more shan ten: White mane He dg have time tebe Fsting wud ws nent ‘ray id: He yl, "Hey! Ola ua But only silence answered him. The expression om the boy's face di nue change. The sun beatdown on them both, sland sent; he had te fsing that he had been caught up in anghtmar nightmare dreamed by a chi, pers one ofthe nighimares he imsel had dreamed as ch. Iba ht Feeling -cverything fair, without undergoing anyother change bd bes subtly and hideously dirplaced: he tees, the sun, the patches ol gras inthe {ard the leaning porch andthe weary poh steps and the ears he trindows and the blackhole ofthe door which looked ithe entrance tos ‘ve, andthe ees ofthe plkaninny el al, were charge with mslenlence ‘White mn. He looked atthe bo. "She's gone out?" ‘The boy sid noting ‘Welle sad teller I passed by and pass by next week" He stated tog; he stopped. You wat some cheng gu?” ‘The boy got down fom the sing and started for dhe house. He sit don'twant aoting you gt, white man," He walled nt the house and cued the door behind him, 'Now the boy looked as though he wee dead. Jase wanted to go one him and pick im up snd pistol whip him ntl he boy ead buret ope ie melo. He began t tremble with what he believed was rage sett, bole fold and hot, raced down his body, he singing ld him as though mee {weird uncontolale, monstrous howling rumbling up fom the dpe of Tom belly he et an cy fear sein him and ase him op, aed he sot Ihe howled, “You lacy me pump ome shite blood into you every once hile your women! Heres mbat got forall the black bitches i he ror Then he was, abruptly almost too weak to stands to his bw ‘ent is horror, neath his own fingers, he fle hse violently sie rich no warning at all he dropped his hands and he staed tthe by and Feet the ell. All tbat singing they do"he si “AI that singing” could nt een ber the first time he hod heard she had been hearing al i ers the sound with which e was most famlarthough sas also the sound ot ‘hich he had been leat conecous-—andit had slay contained sm obseue ‘Comfort. They wee singing to God, They were singing for merey nd thy Ioped to ge te heaven ane had even vmetimes fy when lacing 2 the eyes of some ofthe od women, fer ofthe very old ren ha they ee Singing for mercy fr his sou, too, OF cours he had never thought of et Ieoven ¢ oT Feed thes theraler mth Jevand eroe: eaingtc Bey hed ears, vould the sr tento th treme tis oul che feats, Sin hiee Inhie nos Tew Thy had site fol elerae ftetonee ‘hanged they had eke stores thee dy beenuse ter Ue thee they knew move thet ges bat tds ad ack ‘ikoueth ‘ould noti Goine ro Mane vis Max 1385 even or of what Cog or cull, for them Cw the same fot wee, he yepposed, and heaven was where good people went—he sp SST had ever though much slow what it reant tobe a good person, ‘iced tobe god peson and test everybody ight wasn his fae the nlgger ed ten into thelr heads o Bight ogninst God and go against ‘Remfeltddown nthe Bibl for everyone oral Any preacher would tell ‘pes He wun only dolng his duty: protecting white people from the nig 7d the nigers fom themselves And there were slots of yood ig te Sunda had to emer tat they ween ll Hke tht oy this ‘ES.aoon, and the good gers mint be mighty sad to see what was bap slag ce people They would thank am ven this was over In that way Fee the Ueto them not qui looking him i the eye, low vole, ssh ile ale: We surly harks you, Me Jae. From the btiom of our Tan Wwe thanks you He siled, They hadnt all gone crx. Ths wouble Nein pane Te knew tha the young people bad changed some ofthe words (ihe long: He hed serely en tothe words before and e did na testo them now; bt he knew dat he word wor diferente could hear thn mack He did pot now ifthe ces were aillerent he had never, before this rouble began, watched them a dey sen, but he certainly di not ike (tat he saw now They ated im, abd his hatred was blacker than thee Tata blacker han thir sin eer than tet blood, and harder, by far, Ton is clus Each dy each night fle worm out aching wth her me [nts moss and ling his lngs tough he were drwaing—drownig “niggers: and it aslo be done pain whea he wok. Tt woul never en Tengu never end: Pecos tht wat what the singing had meant al along. ‘Toy had not been singing blak a ato eave, they ad been singing te fll nt all, Eezyone ek thls black supiclon in msn ways, but no ne knew bow to xpress Mem much older than, who had boea responsible For lw and telcrmuch longer than he, were new mech quieter than they had bees, nd ‘he tone of theless in away tha could not quite puis ings on, had {hanged These mem were hs model hey had been ends to his athe, nd Shey bad taught hi wate mena to be aman. He looked to chem for outage nowt twas tht he dds Know that what be was doing was ght— tine tht, nobody had oe in that twas. only that he mised te ease {nc yet But he didnt hve mr tine tang ou th each ther these days They tended to say done to het fais every fre minute Teesuse ody knew what might nappen next. Explosions rocked the night tfther rangi owe, Each ime cach man wondered ently f perhaps this ie he dome ed not fall nto the wrong bands. They thought that they lew here all the guns wes but they eould not possibly know every nove that war made in hat secret place where the dares lived, From dine Totime ewan suggestd that they rm porse and search the home of every age bu the hei one ite. or one hg this might ave brought the {star fom the Nor dont on her backs fo another, although dhe ls fers nee scattered throughout the tlowndow in the how near the all fond ace, way west nea the mal, up onthe hl, the welhlf ones, nd ‘Sme out ner the ealege—nothng seemed t happenin ene par of town ‘Rat he niger immediatly ong in he oer: This meant chat hey Couldnt eake them by surprise Tey are mentioned it, bu they xe dat1386 / Janes Barown some of the niggers had guns. I stood treason as they sid, since aera “ico them had been tbe Army There were niggers nthe Army rit now EGR Knowe they wouldn't hae ad any trouble stalig this ha-aeed ‘Decrement blind the whole weed wes ding lok atthe Buropean oun ‘Ered al hose cunts Alsi. They mad jokes about titer hey, td they eure the goverment In Washinglon, which had betrayed the, Tuhey had ntyet formed spose: Now thelr town had been a out ie tome toms ine Nort, whee alle niggers lived tpether none local, ‘B5y cal have gone down snd set ice fo the houses and brought bout Jer tha way fthe nlgpers hada ved none pce they could have kept FRetceimone pace Butte way this toom wa ladon the fire could hardy te conn weal pa aloe tea he gers oul be HiySchcbtngit to spread Sill from'me to Uae, they spoke of ng ay vijrao that nov these mata ear mong them that somebody might ps Crys igh he mach "They rately mented anything not decty related to che war that thy sore Bahtng, bu tl hd filed to establish been them the unspoken ‘Sunes of soldiers during awor-Eaeh man In the thing sence sich sped outward from thelr excnges, dete laughter, and ther anc ots, seemed yresting in vas deprec of darkest, witha secret which fheevuld ot onelae to himself, nd hich, howerer direct i tlated so (iets elaed yet mote surely to bis pvacy and his past. They couldn ages be sre fer all, hat they a all dome he sare things: They had wines dreamed that thie privacy Could contin any element of troy, oud TBocaen, ttf to evel Hel othe erty of» fdgment dy, whe ‘emainig uneatabl and inaecesbe to themselves; nor had they dreamed ‘ha the pest while cesta refasingto be forgotten, cold yet so stabboraly ‘Rinse rbe tomembered, They fet temacver mysteriously se at nghtat TSTonge enerng into the real concerns of eter people-vwhie here they Tere, at-numbered fighting to save the ced work, They had thought “Bae people would care-peeple dia eare; noc enough, anyway, bel ther would hare beew ab, ell oa east rei even to have een Forced to sumender. Tue they bad lant, proebly forever thei old ad ey nnecton with each thes. They were fred to depend on each theca SEuPst the tame time oust each oer ler Who could ell when one af ‘ern nght not betray em all, for mone, for the cae of confeston? Bat tu one dared mone what there might be to eonfes, Tey were soles Fighting wer, but ther lationship to each oer was that of ceomplcesin ‘ime. They a had to keep thet oaths shut T topped the ier at ordan (Out the darkness ofthe oom, out of nowhere, the ine sme Ang? chim, wth the melody andthe best He cored wotleshcvard Mle Inge Ttepped nthe rier Jordan: Where od he head that ong Grace ha whispered "You aval? ‘She Bd not annwer If she wos trae, she waned him to sleep, Her brea ing we slow and es, her body slowly rose and fl Tepe the river Jordan : ‘Thetbter came oy base, He began to eat Te elt an overwhelming fer, which yet conte ® canis aod deen plessre Isteppat The iter eh be sister sb fie anh Beda in Tsepped The ete ke Hewarme Alpesh ‘rofl ape gly on the ie Dont th "Wel hae tat” He sa teal oo, ‘Oh, Lon ebad a Mey wesle He began Sp trad Well eb Wedkdnt th sole So have That was Nor aad seth mor ut Os “Os cont ped up th Ting ak PW jus sorpedihce ‘you hee Mic he Mister eed ia fee ount hey ends: ‘icy Ted ft fhe,Goto ro Meer se Maw / 1387 ppl in the ier tort ‘eter come 0m). Fi oe lwas he vin the carbeteen is mater and sie had as ma’ ep sleepy and yet el of ete as er camel a apa he dt els, There wes 29 Dee ny had sald got etal the others ed tne ff on ee dire road. They were almost hse Tp nthe rior oda, ‘timer came over head Tlookd-way over te ater ie, Heres aking ep ey ing be ey ng fr hfe i eeng ey wey nd oe ag the te sd the sound ike they jst about to go ane ia seca Fe yd ad ead cross the boy and lapped i ie {Shon shoul ling hs hand to st thre fora nament “Don ae “Polk hat wa” she sald aor atte gng to doe si you cam make wp your mind Pree te ling uss? When T begin ofc gts Kind of pal, 0" ‘ks Lol Come om and ease my rable min Coe tod nage, eit who ved nearby: ls name wos Ot a gee inthe ie. No hehought of Ors made Him lek Fee hiner His modher put Fer arm around hi Hoste she sa wre iho conn’ sald his father He began to whistle asin, Ties bam morning ese id He did not now why esd seek the darkness of ex, sounded small and acesng esa seen Od for a coupe of moming” hs mothers Trane re: But he ws only eapermed abot shis morning TRESS ater " echon Ot folks wa fa et him show hi sathis morning aren eae do nothing" Now is oie sounded questioning ‘at Ot gbing” mld i ater, “hes to litle” The cr ts 1 ari olen house, whch now solemnly approached them the [Beta mca chin ein “hie us want to make sre Ot don do-nobing! ssid bi fae, nd spe tc Helo eon awe And yout im what your Dey ‘st you ear” "ern" he sid. Penne wed fthe ght. The dog moaned and prance but they nine et inside. He cul not sep. He yale, eating the ee don ymin and moaning outside, the sawing ofthe ck Haare ic ol gs bck fa ate ten nosound at ol ut he MeSH beng of te igh The darkness presed on hs eyes ke a ae He tre be tre again. He wanted calle other [iets Rae ther would not ke this He was ely afraid. Then be Cea eae etic nthe other eam, ow wth joke i ts bus hid earn ene ghtened him mare, he Kae what was going heppen le1368) Janes BaLoWN puthis hed under the blanket, then pushed his head out gain fo far, [agate dark windows He hestd hie mothers man, hs father sigh be gi tedhis tect, Then thet bed begs to rock His fathers breathing semed to fl she word That moming, before the sun had gathered all te strength, men ond women, some fed and sone pale ith eaitement, cate Wi ne, Jones father seemed to law what the news was before the fst jlo ‘opp Inthe yd, and he ano, erg, "Tey got him, then? They ge hia” “he int jalopy held eight people, three men and two women and thse children The eildren were sing onthe laps ofthe rows. Jes feof them, the to boss they shyly and uncomfortably rected eachother, isa noc iow the “Je, they got hin sid one ofthe women, the eer ope, who wore a wide tata a fancy, fade te ress. "They Found him eal this mom” How fac had he got” Jess’ father asked, ‘He hada got no farther than Harness" one ofthe men id. Look ie he got lst up therein all them teer—ot maybe he Just got soscared he ‘out move,” They a lighed "es, snd you now ts cara gravee, toed the younger woman, and thay night gain “ts that where they got hm no?" asked Jess’ father. 3y this time there were thre ear pled eblnd the ist one, with eveyone locking exited and shining, and Jesse mitled that they were ering fo. Iva ea Fourh fly iene "Nea, thats where he sald one ofthe mén,"delare, eso, you ging tokeep usher all da long answering your dam fool questions, Come on tment got ne ine to waste ‘Dont baer puting up no fod," ced a woman from one ofthe her cay, we got enough ant came on” "Vin, hank you” si Jose Fath, “we Be right along, then.” "Thetier get asmeater forthe boy” ak hs mother, "im ease it ams ol* Jesse woth his mothe’ thin ee cross dhe yard, He knew tht she ko vetted Yo comb he ara Ute and maybe pt on a beter dress, the des the wore to church, le father gueszed ths, to, for he yelled behind be “Now don you go trying turn yourself into no movie sa. You ust come tn Bathe luge he sid te and winked she mens is wie mas Soange ane peter than most of theater women. He lapped Jesse onthe Vad and stared pulling hi toward the ear. "You al oon" he sad be Heht behind you ese, you go te up that there dog while | get this et sited" The cars sputtered and coughed and shook; the caravan began 1 0 Inight dust led the alr Ae soon ae wasted up, the dog began to bak Jose mother came out of the house caying a jacket for his father and eater for Jest. She ad put aibbon ier Baie and had an oi sol ‘ound her shoulders x Put these in theca, 0," she ad, and handed eierthing to hin, She bent do stroked the dog, eed ose thee wet mate In mm ‘hen went backup the ves porch steps and closed the dor “Came on sai his ates nit nothing n there Fr nobody to stat.” He Yon ha dae ‘esse got in asthe tem tempted ‘omar Not nlc had afe "Tha igh iho that knocked Hosted didnot ase aed knew toad a fr ae Find chem, ws eppent Kad grown ace fecha Ok head not sce sore then oo illic eve ‘sad hs mom Ie ll along chilens were seein the yard ‘Bice ts een the tag in the st on oot ing the teh ‘blackness Eoin the lcked oflwers: He Pet dare A other nd hs th sngng wi snger thi futher ip bd allow He ethan ame tl orate {tr other pat “tothe car anger okoune to Masr-r#e Max / 1389 vex sting inthe ct which ee nd bleed The a ca of be 7a sed but he sound of ning ated bend them 2 eating hve obi ahs, loving sl fh a oregon the ght dy te sense ingon west and suey ls moter ptm and closed the oor andthe cr Bega ee a in ai he ah" Whee are we ging? Are we ing On ele rie 4 fing tat he ne whee they wee ging but he i not ar Ce her std "wee ging on pln You on eer for pt pene Shee we he asked; fer a moment stipe down oid Miss Staci stock sid is other, at we might sx i.” Re Mio otf gpa be dee Wa Oss be hr—bu he ase ecto, vo whch a suange and uncomfortable wm. be aaa at snot Te ery inthe oer cor sete the sca Fe ed sees ar care had jlned thems tere were cate wd a ey nee singing, The sun peered suddenly wry Ba and Shinde ytd il aad Hedi not quite understand what so ede id not kn hat asked noone ask He oy Ppeni med forthe solaon of sch mre to 40S He a on rth, it i could nat sk Os about i Anyway {Sl ths Ot Tort dae ad ot seen blackface anywhere for a hep reeled an they began cueing up he one are than ey to Hares tha here wee no lack faces onthe hl which evn ack people snywbere. Frm the bowsesin wich they rae ra ros no coke ced noe seedmaybe oe or 70 Teed on sen, that waa Tere was no one atthe windows, no ah pone iting the prc, nd the dors werecloved: He rane exeany ane and een women washing in the yard (here ta co esd claesines\ mun workings he fel hire ly Fees Gack men pase hem onthe road ober momings hr "en he et emetic ppg tei has ning jk Aa a old wie api the oi hte swarms Dn bt et Mine dl ire sana the white ofthe le ox he Sa est othe, pede lg eh dead dex Fee he grevear hae noone sek or walked and be sy a i a ake Whe ae they? Where are theyll? Bat be dd na lowers, He wai ew seep the sun grew cold. He loked a his eee the Thy loked taght ead, seeming Be steing fo aaa is echoed ond echoed hs griveyard sence, They wee sh a pw: They nee bokngatvometing be oul ne ten ange cruel cars heat ls ips rm time ome nk Cao cry ase bs father's tongue, twas though he lowed. He wire And hi fader body suddenly seemed Sense, ena ise bch wee ge-ten, lnk ello he ate nn thre ors tint wich had mere te elo Fa her bar and ested the bon, leaning forward nook Bis mothe: rat lak all gh si hs father, and lugs, "When Fe yu, he ging swear throwed hier for not ing sce dhe bad nigger—the one1390 / Janes Baxowin sng, Woldt be surprise if he don't come back to haune you” And he Tough agai. The siaging now slow began to cease and he vealed that hey were ner ing the destination, They had reached a staght, nao, pebbly.rad, with een ether abe The sight feed down on ther rom e eat eight, Er thaugh they weee underwater, andthe branches of the tees scraped ‘pune secary wth tearing wound. To he igo ther, and beneath them, Ifenblenow ay the town and tothe ef mies of ees hich ed to the high mounts range which hs ancestor had crossed inorder to ste in his Tey Now ll was sent, except forthe bumping ofthe ies apalnst the rocky ead, the sputtering of motes, andthe sound ofwerying eh, And they [ened ta mone more lowly Thry weve egnning to cin agnn. He etched cas ahead athe ted patiently upward disappearingint the Tight of the clearing, Present, he fl heir vel also rise, heard his Fathers change breathing, the sumight Bit is foe, the trees moved away fom then, ai they were there Ae their arrose the clearing, he looked ‘Sound: There seemed tobe milion, thre were certainly hundreds of peo fic thr clearing staring toward something he could note. There Wasa Fi. He sould not see the ames, but he enlled the smoke. Then they were tm he elke sie ofthe clearing ong the ees ga. His father drove off, ‘Revoadand poked the car behinds pretmany ober cars. He looked down, steve Mii ght" he asked "Mes sie sad. rel come ony then,” his father sid He reached over and opened the door on hs motheré sd. His naher stepped oat st. They flowed et fina the clearing At Bethe wns sare ony of confusion, of his mother and {her peeting and being goed, Mmslf being handled, hugged, at pat {ed at told Row much be had gown, The wid Mew the smoke fom the Fee ars the cleaving int hs eyes and no, He ould not se ve the backs tf the people in ont of him The sounds of lnoghing ard cursing and ‘ratt_and something lseeiled in waves rom the ont of the mob the [ick Tue font expressed thelr delight a what they sow and his delight TolledInckwordy wave upon ate, acros the cleaing more acid than the ‘Tole Tis fates reached down suddenly and sat Jes on his shoul "Now he sa the fioof igs and boxes, piled high lames made ple ccange id yelow and hin as all under the steadier light ofthe sm gy ‘hac rake lle upmerd and youted over heir beads, Beyond the shfng ‘ural ive and sme, he rade ont ft ony length of pearing chai, [Stochal to reat lnk the te, then he sat hat this hain bound i block ands together the wrist, diy yellow pa facing dirty yellow pain “Thesmoke poured up, the hands dropped out of ight a ey went up from he ‘wd. Tan the hands slow came at ler sin pulled upward by the Shin This time he saw the ish nesting, Hoody head—he had net ‘efor seen a hed with so much hairon irs lack and so tangled tht i scemed lik another jungle. The head ws hanging He saw the forehead Flatand high, with» ind af se of ein the cote, ke he hai ike is Father ods they called ea widow's peay and se mangled eyebrows be wie ‘owe he cloned eyes, and the lining eye lashes andthe banging bi ol ‘teu wih blood ond sweat is ads were straight above his ead All eee pled ‘mon dn Bis Filled par say sctcthing beard for now Imre wed th stein peal ieee Berd isco The theme ve inert athe formate death they lenened non do Wha di Wfather bode {endef i fat sett eemed ol fers Prats, ane Son ora ditt theodore omet te tuned his othe ace. He Seni ashe te had never fa auton tere ferderesced ad ben tht mat Stony wih night swept {gen The an shh thie Sema wih the sein Now thee op seed Spin Theat dt sg te ban, thes “eset but se ‘shen and huge leet thing he sethed theme ited sigh Bic i seemed lon ‘ied othe tran ele howling sd curt i The head‘oh, aed hah say the ie the od a md te be Goto vo Muar me Maw / 1391 us welt pled dowd sm hc hand; and he was a lg an, i swe ed ewe ck non Aan ne and ae Jee aL pn ers aos hh ey by he ane. He wanted rs evatng be dd ntnom wat but nothing hes cou eve been oie crowd romred nxn a0 mn sepped forvard and pu sea eed omthe fe The flames bap up. He thought he heard the ang gS Myer, bu he wes not sure Sweat was pouring fom the hain it rae ured down his ies, ve bis ches nto hs navel and his groin, arp gan, he nas tied ain. Now Jesse knew that be heard Pe end nent back, the mouth wide open, blood bubbling fom i cf ann ofthe neck ned out ese clung ois ater neck ae cy alle over thecrow The ery af al the people rose ‘aes ing us ry He wanted death o come ikl. They wanted sr death wate and twas ther ho held death, iow, on a leash which sai thence by Hule, What fd he do? Je wondered What did the see dud hede?-but he could skis father. He was seated on rpaSer choudes, but his fthers fr aay. There were to older men, Herne ee taker raising and ering the chai, eveyone, idem ‘ea med to be esponsil forthe Gre, There was no aieft om the ig a ered the eyes nan wee wie open, sweat the eves of 2 arene tae mole now sre a tere oder across the cleaving, theodor f something burning wich was both ewe and rotten. este she mle und wo the Bel of fes. He watched his mele en Her eyes were very night, her mouth was open: she was nore ‘Tih has he hod ever sex he, ad moe strange. He began 0 fee joy TERS over ft before: He watched te hanging gleaming body the most Head re ere object he nd ever sean tl hen. One of hs fathers FenRuI eed upand in his hand he bel flan Jesse wished that he Hee mek Tees long. right fe and the su sered tn catch Ae kt creas leit ws biter than the fie. And wave of Teo top ecw ese ifthe’ hands om is anes slip and ee cman wit the lol waled toward the crowd, ssiog sighs heh a were signal lene flls he heard his wsber cough. Then seamat pe fe walked upto the hanging body He warned and smiled cee titer was mslence all ver the Bel The hanging bea looked Te. Noe CO pabarcous no, that the Bre had burned ost teror SEGRSSCTES 2 Sit elf took the gers rst in is and one PAE eeting though he vere weighing them. Inthe ead ofthe one wiih hand the Hlager’spivatessccmed as emote as eat bring weighed #2 Tenthes bur sect hears oy much hese, and Jesse fe hs scrotum thts cad huge, huges much tigger than his fathe’, acid, hile the eee ugh had ever cee sl then, apd the Blckst. The white hand sree ag Mele heen, careeed them. Then the ding man's eyes PERSE roto ers eer cul not hae ben slong ot a second tere Sea Tonge thon'a yea. Then Jesse scene, ond the crowd PLAS the le Mashed est up, the down, crting de dead thing SESPRGY he bod came arn down, Then the eromd shed fora Tog IBS by wt tba th kes, wi rocks, th stones Haar ae tate Jae etd te wm weight, fell downord toward Her EnE Gad Someone stepped forward and drenched the body with292 / Fuasvany O°Connon eroens: Where dhe man had bean, e great sheet of Maan appeared Jesse's father lvered him othe ground, "Wel oli yo sld i father, you was’enever ging forget hi pie nl Hi father face ws fll of sweat, his eye were ery peaceful A that ‘momen Jest loved his ater mor than he hd ever loved hn. He felt ‘is father ad eared him trough eights, hed revealed oa reat sccret which would be the hey his forever, ST reckon; he sad“ ecko {ese father tok him bythe hand snd, with hi mother Ile behind ther ilking and lnoghing with the ther wore, they walked trough he towd,serowe the eleaing. The black body was on he pound, the chan, which ad eld was being llad up by one of hs father’ ends. Whatever Te frend let undone, the hands and the kalves and the stones of the po ple daceomplished, The head was eave n, one eye a tor Out, one ee tru hanging, But one had to look earefllyto realize this, fo ews now, Inerelyablick charred object on the blak, chared pround. He lay send. ‘igled with what had been a wound between what had beens eg. Ste ging to leae bi hare, then?” Jenee whispered. “Yeah snd hie fater, they cone and et hm by and by. T2eckon we be tec gt ver there end got some ofthat food before i all gone “Tretkon” he muttered now to himeelf, "Trecan.” Grace etined and touched him onthe thigh the moonlight covered her ke glong Something bubbled up in him, is mature agin returned to him He dhought ofthe bay In the wall he thought of the man in the fe; he ought of the he and (gab himself and stoked heel and tert ound something between ‘high hugh and «how, came ou of him and dogged his sleeping wile up ‘on aneelbow She stared a hn ins moonlight which had now grown cold ‘tice He thought of the morning nd grabbed her, Insphing and eryng ey {ngandlughing, nd he whispered, are staked he, ashe took er, "Come ‘on, ss Im ging to do you ke a nigger jst ike niger, come on, su, land low me ust like you'd love a nigges.” Hethought ofthe morning she Inbored and she moaned, though of morning ashe labored harder than he ever ha before, and before his bors hod ended, he heard the fst cock com Sd the dogs begin to bark, snd the round of sor on the grovel oad 1965 FLANNERY O'CONNOR 1925-1964 (Cains ane the tenth entre shor try iter aba In Snunas ed with ber stern Miledpeile, Cena fr mucho her ie {hater titi tie err of ered bt Se ‘ons fa conisnoe derivate served but the coroe weaned erie ‘sen et e195 ons cul gt rnd ony on crates. Sh was ewe: ‘vl nd ctr wl 1964, wen he pus Yate olf and ied es 8 Reman Cat Jit of fare ‘hepa sesh eighty wt Vik Berd me Bethea ce Biche ete smote are ag Pues tenn ‘Stet of Aout Aner sea teal ‘alee! opel ‘eth ed ec thee pes ‘at se eal pa Secon tol the South ‘pees nth terre thre Sl gee reps Ted he smhen the characters Cmaee anys res a ‘hn sd Bhar ‘ie ed wir (Soe Onecare sets acer at Besides the new Scat hat Shemp te fend ef they a he oher expresso ktamen, bt whe