按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
She pointed again； and they turned onto a smaller； paved road that snaked its way deeper into the sticks。 They finally stopped in front of an abandoned white frame house with weeds shooting from the porch and ivy swarming into the windows。 It was fifty yards from the road； and the gravel drive leading to it was gullied and impassable。 The front lawn was overgrown with Johnsongrass and cocklebur。 The mailbox was barely visible in the ditch beside the road。
〃The Cayhall estate；〃 she mumbled； and they sat for a long time in the car and looked at the sad little house。
〃What happened to it？〃 Adam finally asked。
〃Oh； it was a good house。 Didn't have much of a chance； though。 The people were a disappointment。〃 She slowly removed her sunglasses and wiped her eyes。 〃I lived here for eighteen years； and I couldn't wait to leave it。〃
〃Why is it abandoned？〃
She took a deep breath； and tried to arrange the story。 〃I think it was paid for many years ago； but Daddy mortgaged it to pay the lawyers for his last trial。 He； of course； never came home again； and at some point the bank foreclosed。 There are eighty acres around it； and everything was lost。 I haven't been back here since the foreclosure。 I asked Phelps to buy it； and he said no。 I couldn't blame him。 I really didn't want to own it myself。 I heard later from some friends here that it was rented several times； and I guess eventually abandoned。 I didn't know if the house was still standing。〃
〃What happened to the personal belongings？〃
〃The day before the foreclosure； the bank allowed me to go in and box up anything I wanted。 I saved some things … photo albums； keepsakes； yearbooks； Bibles； some of Mother's valuables。 They're in storage in Memphis。〃
〃I'd like to see them。〃
〃The furniture was not worth saving； not a decent piece of anything。 My mother was dead； my brother had just mitted suicide； and my father had just been sent to death row； and I was not in the mood to keep a lot of memorabilia。 It was a horrible experience； going through that dirty little house and trying to salvage objects that might one day bring a smile。 Hell； I wanted to burn everything。 Almost did。〃
〃You're not serious。〃
〃Of course I am。 After I'd been here for a couple of hours； I decided to just burn the damned house and everything in it。 Happens all the time； right？ I found an old lantern with some kerosene in it； and I sat it on the kitchen table and talked to it as I boxed stuff up。 It would've been easy。〃
〃Why didn't you？〃
〃I don't know。 I wish I'd had the guts to do it； but I remember worrying about the bank and the foreclosure and； well； arson is a crime； isn't it？ I remember laughing at the idea of going off to prison where I'd be with Sam。 That's why I didn't strike a match。 I was afraid I'd get in trouble and go to prison。〃
The car was hot now； and Adam opened his door。 〃I want to look around；〃 he said； getting out。 They picked their way down the gravel drive； stepping over gullies two feet wide。 They stopped at the front porch and looked at the rotting boards。
〃I'm not going in there；〃 she said firmly and pulled her hand away from his。 Adam studied the decaying porch and decided against stepping on it。 He walked along the front of the house； looking at the broken windows with vines disappearing inside。 He followed the drive around the house； and Lee tagged along。
The backyard was shaded by old oaks and maples； and the ground was bare in places where the sun was kept out。 It stretched for an eighth of a mile down a slight incline until it stopped at a thicket。 The plot was surrounded by woods in the distance。
She took his hand again； and they walked to a tree beside a wooden shed that； for some reason； was in much better condition than the house。 〃This was my tree；〃 she said； looking up at the branches。 〃My own pecan tree。〃 Her voice had a slight quiver。
〃It's a great tree。〃
〃Wonderful for climbing。 I'd spend hours here； sitting in those branches； swinging my feet and resting my chin on a limb。 In the spring and summer； I'd climb about halfway up； and no one could see me。 I had my own little world up there。〃
She suddenly closed her eyes and covered her mouth with a hand。 Her shoulders trembled。 Adam placed his arm around her and tried to think of something to say。
〃This is where it happened；〃 she said after a moment。 She bit her lip and fought back tears。 Adam said nothing。
〃You asked me once about a story；〃 she said with clenched teeth as she wiped her cheeks with the backs of her hands。 〃The story of Daddy killing a black man。〃 She nodded toward the house。 Her hands shook so she stuck them in her pockets。
A minute passed as they stared at the house； neither wanting to speak。 The only rear door opened onto a small； square porch with a railing around it。 A delicate breeze ruffled the leaves above them and made the only sound。
She took a deep breath； then said； 〃His name was Joe Lincoln； and he lived down the road there with his family。〃 She nodded at the remnants of a dirt trail that ran along the edge of a field then disappeared into the woods。 〃He had about a dozen kids。〃
〃Quince Lincoln？〃 Adam asked。
〃Yeah。 How'd you know about him？〃
〃Sam mentioned his name the other day when we were talking about Eddie。 He said Quince and Eddie were good friends when they were kids。〃
〃He didn't talk about Quince's father； did he〃
〃No。〃
〃I didn't think so。 Joe worked here on the farm for us； and his family lived in a shotgun house that we also owned。 He was a good man with a big family； and like most poor blacks back then they just barely survived。 I knew a couple of his kids； but we weren't friends like Quince and Eddie。 One day the boys were playing here in the backyard； it was summertime and we weren't in school。 They got into an argument over a small toy； a Confederate Army soldier； and Eddie accused Quince of stealing it。 Typical boy stuff； you know。 I think they were eight or nine years old。 Daddy happened to walk by； over there； and Eddie ran to him and told how Quince had stolen the toy。 Quince emphatically denied it。 Both boys were really mad and on the verge of tears。 Sam； typically； flew into a rage and cursed Quince； calling him all sorts of names like ‘thieving little nigger' and ‘sorry little nigger bastard。' Sam demanded the soldier； and Quince started crying。 He kept saying he didn't have it； and Eddie kept saying he did。 Sam grabbed the boy； shook him real hard； and started slapping him on the butt。 Sam was yelling and screaming and cursing； and Quince was crying and pleading。 They went around the yard a few times with Sam shaking him and hitting him。 Quince finally pulled free； and ran home。 Eddie ran into our house； and Daddy followed him inside。 A moment later； Sam stepped through the door there； with a walking cane； which he carefully laid on the porch。 He then sat on the steps and waited patiently。 He smoked a cigarette and watched the dirt road。 The Lincoln house was not far away； and； sure enough； within a few minutes Joe came running out of the trees there with Quince right behind him。 As he got close to the house； he saw Daddy waiting on him； and he slowed to a walk。 Daddy