jg.paintedhouse-第36节

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　　　Parley　was　in　a　daze；　but　he　walked　away　in　one　piece　and　seemed　to　be　proud　of　himself。　He　had　proved　his　manhood；　had　shown　no　fear；　and　had　e　within　two　seconds　of　winning　twenty　bucks。　The　next　volunteer　was　likewise　a　stranger；　a　bulky　young　man　named　Claude；　who　paid　three　dollars　for　a　chance　to　win　thirty。　He　weighed　twice　as　much　as　Parley　but　was　much　slower；　and　within　ten　seconds　Samson　had　nailed　him　with　a　Flying　Dropkick　and　wrapped　him　into　a　Pretzel。　With　ten　seconds　to　go；　he　hoisted　Claude　over　his　head；　and　in　a　magnificent　display　of　strength；　walked　to　the　edge　of　the　ring　and　tossed　him。
　　　Claude；　too；　walked　away　proudly。　It　was　apparent　that　Samson；　despite　his　theatrics　and　menacing　demeanor；　was　a　good　sport　and　would　not　harm　anyone。　And　since　most　young　men　wanted　to　have　some　contact　with　Delilah；　a　line　soon　formed　at　her　side。
　　　It　was　quite　a　spectacle；　and　Dewayne　and　I　sat　for　a　long　time　watching　Samson　dispose　of　one　victim　after　another　with　all　the　moves　in　his　repertoire。　The　Boston　Crab；　the　Scissors；　the　Piledriver；　the　Jackhammer；　the　Body　Slam。　Delilah　merely　had　to　mention　one　of　the　maneuvers　in　her　microphone　and　Samson　would　quickly　demonstrate　it。
　　　After　an　hour；　Samson　was　soaked　with　sweat　and　needed　a　break；　so　Dewayne　and　I　scooted　off　to　ride　the　Ferris　wheel　twice。　We　were　debating　whether　to　get　another　helping　of　cotton　candy　when　we　heard　some　young　men　talking　about　the　girlie　show。
　　　〃She　takes　off　everything！〃　one　of　them　said　as　he　walked　by；　and　we　forgot　about　the　cotton　candy。　We　followed　them　to　the　end　of　the　midway；　where　the　gypsies'　trailers　were　parked。　Behind　the　trailers　was　a　small　tent　that　had　obviously　been　erected　so　that　no　one　would　see　it。　A　few　men　smoked　and　waited；　and　they　all　had　a　guilty　look　about　them。　There　was　music　ing　from　the　tent。
　　　Some　carnivals　had　girlie　shows。　Ricky；　not　surprisingly；　had　been　seen　leaving　one　the　year　before；　and　this　had　caused　quite　an　uproar　in　our　house。　He　wouldn't　have　been　caught　if　Mr。　Ross　Lee　Hart　had　not　also　been　caught。　Mr。　Hart　was　a　steward　in　the　Methodist　church；　a　farmer　who　owned　his　land；　an　upright　citizen　who　was　married　to　a　woman　with　a　big　mouth。　She　went　searching　for　him　late　on　a　Saturday　night；　in　the　midst　of　the　carnival；　and　happened　to　see　him　leaving　the　forbidden　tent。　She　wailed　at　the　sight　of　her　wayward　husband；　he　ducked　behind　the　trailers。　She　gave　chase；　yelling　and　threatening；　and　Black　Oak　had　a　new　story。
　　　Mrs。　Hart；　for　some　reason；　told　everyone　what　her　husband　had　done；　and　the　poor　man　was　an　outcast　for　many　months。　She　also　let　it　be　known　that　leaving　the　tent　right　behind　him　was　Ricky　Chandler。　We　suffered　in　silence。　Never　go　to　a　girlie　show　in　your　hometown　was　the　unwritten　rule。　Drive　to　Monette　or　Lake　City　or　Caraway；　but　don't　do　it　in　Black　Oak。
　　　Dewayne　and　I　didn't　recognize　any　of　the　men　hanging　around　the　girlie　tent。　We　circled　through　the　trailers　and　flanked　in　from　the　opposite　side；　but　a　large　dog　had　been　chained　to　the　ground；　guarding　against　Peeping　Toms　like　us。　We　retreated　and　decided　to　wait　for　darkness。
　　　As　four　o'clock　approached；　we　had　to　make　a　painful　decisiongo　to　the　matinee；　or　stay　at　the　carnival。　We　were　leaning　toward　the　picture　show　when　Delilah　appeared　at　the　wrestling　ring。　She　had　changed　costumes；　and　was　now　wearing　a　two…piece　red　outfit　that　revealed　even　more。　The　crowd　flocked　to　her；　and　before　long　Samson　was　once　again　hurling　farm　boys　and　hillbillies　and　even　an　occasional　Mexican　out　of　the　ring。
　　　His　only　challenge　came　at　dark。　Mr。　Horsefly　Walker　had　a　deaf　and　dumb　son　who　weighed　three　hundred　pounds。　We　called　him　Grunt；　not　out　of　disrespect　or　cruelty…he'd　just　always　been　called　that。　Horsefly　put　up　five　dollars；　and　Grunt　slowly　climbed　into　the　ring。
　　　〃He's　a　big　one；　Samson；〃　Delilah　purred　into　the　mike。
　　　Samson　knew　it　might　take　a　bit　longer　to　shove　three　hundred　pounds　out　of　the　ring；　so　he　attacked　immediately。　He　went　in　low　with　a　Chinese　Take…Down；　a　move　designed　to　slap　both　ankles　together　and　cause　the　opponent　to　collapse。　Grunt　fell　all　right；　but　he　fell　on　Samson；　who　couldn't　help　but　groan　in　pain。　Some　of　the　crowd　yelled；　too；　and　began　cheering　on　Grunt；　who；　of　course；　couldn't　hear　a　thing。　Both　men　rolled　and　kicked　around　the　ring　until　Grunt　pinned　Samson　for　a　second。
　　　〃Forty　seconds！〃　Delilah　said；　the　clock　running　much　slower　with　Samson　flat　on　his　back。　He　kicked　a　few　times；　to　no　avail；　then　employed　the　Jersey　Flip；　a　quick　move　in　which　his　feet　swung　up　and　caught　Grunt　by　the　ears；　then　rolled　him　backward。　Samson　sprang　to　his　feet　as　Delilah　narrated　the　moves。　A　Flying　Dropkick　stunned　Grunt。
　　　〃Fifteen　seconds！〃　she　said；　the　clock　once　again　moving　quickly。　Grunt　charged　like　a　mad　bull；　and　both　men　went　down　again。　The　crowd　cheered　again。　Horsefly　was　hopping　around　the　outside　of　the　ring；　delirious。　They　grappled　for　a　while；　then　Delilah　said；　〃Ten　seconds。〃
　　　There　were　some　boos　directed　at　the　timekeeper。　Samson　twisted　and　yanked　Grunt's　arm　behind　his　back；　grabbed　a　foot；　and　slid　the　poor　boy　across　the　ring　and　through　the　ropes。　He　landed　at　his　father's　feet。　Horsefly　yelled；　〃You　cheatin'　sonofabitch！〃
　　　Samson　took　offense　to　this　language　and　motioned　for　Horsefly　to　enter　the　ring　himself。　Horsefly　took　a　step　forward　and　Samson　spread　the　ropes。　Delilah；　who'd　obviously　seen　such　threats　many　times；　said；　〃I　wouldn't　do　that　if　I　were　you。　He　hurts　people　when　he's　angry。〃
　　　By　then　Horsefly　was　looking　for　a　reason　to　hold　his　ground。　Samson　looked　ten　feet　tall　standing　at　the　edge　of　the　ring；　sneering　down。　Horsefly　bent　down　to　check　on　Grunt；　who　was　rubbing　his　shoulder　and　appeared　to　be　on　the　verge　of　tears。　Samson　laughed　at　them　as　they　walked　away；　then　to　taunt　us；　began　flexing　his　biceps　as　he　strolled　around　the　ring。　A　few　in　the　crowd　hissed　at　him；　and　that　was　exactly　what　he　wanted。
　　　He　handled　a　few　more　challengers；　then　Delilah　announced　that　her　man　had　to　eat　dinner。　They'd　be　back　in　an　hour　for　their　final　exhibition。
　　　It　was　now　dark。　The　air　was　filled　with　the　sounds　of　the　carnival；　the　excited　screams　of　kids　on　the　rides；　the　whoops　and　hollers　of　the　winners　at　the　booths　on　the　midway；　the　music　shrieking　forth　from　a　dozen　assorted　speakers；　all　playing　different　tunes；　the　constant　jabbering　of　the　barkers　as　they　enticed　folks　to　part　with　their　money　to　view　the　world's　largest　turtle　or　to　win　another　prize；　and；　above　all；　the　overwhelming　electricity　of　the　crowd。　People　were　so　thick　you　couldn't　stir　'em　with　a　stick；　as　Gran　liked　to　say。　Mobs　crowded　around　the　booths；　watching　and　cheering。　Long　lines　snaked　around　the　rides。　Packs　of　Mexicans　moved　slowly　about；　staring　in　amazement；　but　for　the　most　part；　hanging　on　to　their　money。　I　had　never　seen　so　many　people　in　one　place。
　　　I　found　my　parents　near　the　street；　drinking　lemonade　and　watching　the　spectacle　from　a　safe　distance。　Pappy　and　Gran　were　already　at　the　truck；　ready　to　leave　but　willing　to　wait。　The　carnival　came　only　once　a　year。
　　　〃How　much　money　you　got？〃　my　father　asked。
　　　〃　'Bout　a　dollar；〃　I　said。
　　　〃That　Ferris　wheel　doesn't　look　safe；　Luke；〃　my　mother　said。
　　　〃I've　been　on　it　twice。　It's　okay。〃
　　　〃I'll　give　you　another　dollar　if　you　won't　ride　it　again。〃
　　　〃It's　a　deal。〃
　　　She　handed　me　a　dollar　bill。　We　agreed　that　I　would　check　back　in　an　hour　or　so。　I　found　Dewayne　again；　and　we　decided　it　was　time　to　investigate　the　girlie　show。　We　darted　through　the　throng　along　the　midway　and　slowed　near　the　gypsies'　trailers。　It　was　much　darker　back　there。　In　front　of　the　tent　were　some　men　smoking　cigarettes；　and　in　the　door　was　a　young　woman　in　a　skimpy　costume　swinging　her　hips　and　dancing　in　a　naughty　way。
　　　As　Baptists；　we　knew　that　all　manner　of　dancing　was　not　only　inherently　evil　but　downright　sinful。　It　was　right　up　there　with　drinking　and　cussing　on　the　list　of　major　transgressions。
　　　The　dancer　was　not　as　attractive　as　Delilah；　nor　did　she　reveal　as　much　or　move　as　gracefully。　Of　course；　Delilah　had　years　of　experience　and　had　traveled　the　world。
　　　We　sneaked　along　the　shadows；　advancing　slowly　until　a　strange　voice　from　nowhere　said；　〃That's　far　enough。　You　boys　get　outta　here。〃　We　froze　and　looked　around；　and　about　that　time　we　heard　a　familiar　voice　yell　from　behind　us；　〃Repent；　ye　workers　of　iniquity！　Repent！〃
　　　It　was　the　Reverend　Akers；　standing　tall　with　his　Bible　in　one　hand　while　a　long；　crooked　finger　pointed　out　from　the　fist　of　the　other。
　　　〃You　brood　of　vipers！〃　he　yelled　at　the　top　of　his　lungs。
　　　I　don't　know　if　the　young　lady　stopped　dancing　or　if　the　men　scattered。　I　didn't　bother　to　look。　Dewayne　and　I　hit　the　ground　on　all　fours　and　crawled　like　hunted　prey　through　the　maze　of　trailers　and　trucks　until　we　saw　light　between　two　of　the　booths　on　the　midway。　We　emerged　and　got　lost　in　the　crowd。
　　　〃You　think　he　saw　us？〃　Dewayne　asked　when　we　were　safe。
　　　〃I　don't　know。　I　doubt　it。〃
　　　We　circled　around　and　wandered　back　to　a　safe　spot　near　the　gypsies'　trailers。　Brother　Akers　was　in　fine　form。　He'd　moved　to　within