IwilldowhatI.’

    ?Yes,Igladtohaveyou.IbelieveinallHnfolksstigtogether—bloodkinandmarriagekin.Ibelieveinallusstrugglingalongandhelpingeachotherout,andsomedayuswillhavearewardintheBeyond.’

    Pshaw!DoctorCopelandsaidbitterly.Ibelieveinjustiow.’

    Whatthatyousayyoubelievein?YouspeaksohoarseIaint

    abletohearyou.’

    Injusticeforus.JusticeforusNegroes.Thatright.’

    Hefeltthefireinhimandhecouldill.Hewaositupandspeakinaloudvoice—yetwheriedtoraisehimselfhecouldnotfirength.ThewordsinhisheartgrewbigandtheywouldnotbesilentButtheoldmanhadceasedtolistenandtherewasohearhim.

    ?Git,LeeJa.Git,Honey.Pickupyourfeetsandquitthisherepoking.Usgotalongwaytogo.’

    AfternoonJAKEranataviolent,clumsypace.HewentthroughWeaversLahentoasidealley,climbedafendhastenedonward.Nausearoseinhisbellysothattherewasthetasteofvomitinhisthroat.Abarkingdogchasedbesidehimuntilhestoppedlongenoughtothreatenitwitharock.

    Hiseyesithhorrorandheheldhishandclappedtohisopenmouth.

    Christ!Sothiswasthefinish.Abrawl.Ariot.Afightwitheverymanforhimself.Bloodyheadsawithbrokenbottles.Christ!Andthewheezymusicoftheflying-jinnyabovethehedroppedhamburgersandcottondyandthescreamingyounguns.Andhiminitall.Fightingblindwiththedustandsun.Thesharpcutofteethagainsthisknuckles.Andlaughing.Christ!Andthefeelingthathehadletlooseawild,hardrhythminhimthatwouldntstop.Andthenlookingcloseintothedeadblackfadnotknowing.

    Notevenknowingifhehadkilledornot.Butwait.Christ!Nobodycouldhavestop