jg.paintedhouse-第56节

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hree　thousand　members；　and　worrying　about　the　drastic　change　in　the　weather。　The　adults　were　worrying；　I　was　only　pretending。
　　　Bellevue　Baptist　had　an　orchestra；　of　all　things；　and　when　it　played　the　benediction；　Memphis　seemed　a　million　miles　away。　An　orchestra　in　a　church。　Gran's　older　daughter；　my　aunt　Betty；　lived　in　Memphis；　and　though　she　didn't　worship　at　Bellevue　she　knew　someone　who　did。　All　the　men　wore　suits。　All　the　families　drove　nice　cars。　It　was　indeed　a　different　world。
　　　Pappy　and　I　drove　to　the　river　to　check　our　gauge。　The　rains　were　taking　a　toll　on　Otis's　recent　grade　work。　The　shallow　ditches　beside　the　road　were　full；　gullies　were　forming　from　the　runoff；　and　mud　holes　were　holding　water。　We　stopped　in　the　middle　of　the　bridge　and　studied　the　river　on　both　sides。　Even　I　could　tell　the　water　was　up。　The　sandbars　and　gravel　bars　were　covered。　The　water　was　thicker　and　a　lighter　shade　of　brown；　evidence　of　drainage　from　the　creeks　that　ran　through　the　fields。　The　current　swirled　and　was　moving　faster。　Debris…driftwood　and　logs　and　even　a　green　branch　or　twofloated　atop　the　water。
　　　Our　gauge　was　still　standing；　but　barely。　Just　a　few　inches　remained　above　the　water。　Pappy　had　to　get　his　boots　wet　to　retrieve　the　stick。　He　pulled　it　up；　examined　it　as　if　it　had　done　something　wrong；　and　said；　almost　to　himself；　〃Up　'bout　ten　inches　in　twenty…four　hours。〃　He　squatted　and　tapped　the　stick　on　a　rock。　Watching　him；　I　became　aware　of　the　noise　of　the　river。　It　wasn't　loud；　but　the　water　was　rushing　by　and　streaming　over　the　gravel　bars　and　against　the　bridge　piers。　The　current　splashed　through　the　thick　shrubs　hanging　over　the　banks　and　pecked　away　at　the　roots　of　a　nearby　willow　tree。　It　was　a　menacing　noise。　One　I'd　never　heard。
　　　Pappy　was　hearing　it　all　too　well。　With　the　stick　he　pointed　at　the　bend　in　the　river；　far　to　the　right；　and　said；　〃It'll　get　the　Latchers　first。　They're　on　low　ground。〃
　　　〃When？〃　I　asked。
　　　〃Depends　on　the　rain。　If　it　stops；　then　it　might　not　flood　at　all。　Keeps　rainin'　though；　and　it'll　be　over　the　banks　in　a　week。〃
　　　〃When's　the　last　time　it　flooded？〃
　　　〃Three　years　ago；　but　that　was　in　the　spring。　Last　fall　flood　was　a　long　time　ago。〃
　　　I　had　plenty　of　questions　about　floods；　but　it　was　not　a　subject　Pappy　liked　to　dwell　on。　We　studied　the　river　for　a　while；　and　listened　to　it；　then　we　walked　back　to　the　truck　and　drove　home。
　　　〃Let's　go　to　Siler's　Creek；〃　he　said。　The　field　roads　were　too　muddy　for　the　truck；　so　Pappy　fired　up　the　John　Deere；　and　we　pulled　out　of　the　farmyard　with　most　of　the　Spruills　and　all　of　the　Mexicans　watching　us　with　great　curiosity。　The　tractor　was　never　operated　on　Sunday。　Surely　Eli　Chandler　was　not　about　to　work　on　the　Sabbath。
　　　The　creek　had　been　transformed。　Gone　were　the　clear　waters　where　Tally　liked　to　bathe。　Gone　were　the　cool　little　rivulets　running　around　rocks　and　logs。　Instead　the　creek　was　much　wider　and　filled　with　muddy　water　rushing　to　the　St。　Francis；　half　a　mile　away。　We　got　off　the　tractor　and　walked　to　the　bank。　〃This　is　where　our　floods　e　from；〃　Pappy　said。　〃Not　the　St。　Francis。　The　ground's　lower　here；　and　when　the　creek　runs　over；　it　heads　straight　for　our　fields。〃
　　　The　water　was　at　least　ten　feet　below　us；　still　safely　contained　in　the　ravine　that　had　been　cut　through　our　farm　decades　earlier。　It　seemed　impossible　that　the　creek　could　ever　rise　high　enough　to　escape。
　　　〃You　think　it'll　flood；　Pappy？〃　I　asked。
　　　He　thought　long　and　hard；　or　maybe　he　wasn't　thinking　at　all。　He　watched　the　creek　and　finally　said；　with　no　conviction　whatsoever；　〃No。　We'll　be　fine。〃
　　　There　was　thunder　to　the　west。
　　　
　　　I　walked　into　the　kitchen　early　Monday　morning；　and　Pappy　was　at　the　table；　drinking　coffee；　fiddling　with　the　radio。　He　was　trying　to　pick　up　a　station　in　Little　Rock　to　check　on　the　weather。　Gran　was　at　the　stove；　frying　bacon。　The　house　was　cold；　but　the　heat　and　smell　from　the　skillet　warmed　things　considerably。　My　father　handed　me　an　old　flannel　coat；　a　hand…me…down　from　Ricky；　and　I　reluctantly　put　it　on。
　　　〃We　pickin'　today；　Pappy？〃　I　asked。
　　　〃We'll　know　directly；〃　he　said；　without　taking　his　eyes　off　the　radio。
　　　〃Did　it　rain　last　night？〃　I　asked　Gran；　who　had　leaned　over　to　kiss　my　forehead。
　　　〃All　night　long；〃　she　said。　〃Now　go　fetch　some　eggs。〃
　　　I　followed　my　father　out　of　the　house；　down　the　back　steps；　until　I　saw　something　that　stopped　me　cold。　The　sun　was　barely　up；　but　there　was　plenty　of　light。　There　was　no　mistake　in　what　I　was　seeing。
　　　I　pointed　and　managed　to　say　only；　〃Look。〃
　　　My　father　was　ten　steps　away；　heading　for　the　chicken　coops。　〃What　is　it；　Luke？〃　he　asked。
　　　In　the　spot　under　the　oak　tree　where　Pappy　had　parked　his　truck　every　day　of　my　life；　the　ruts　were　bare。　The　truck　was　gone。
　　　〃The　truck；〃　I　said。
　　　My　father　walked　slowly　to　my　side；　and　for　a　long　time　we　stared　at　the　parking　spot。　The　truck　had　always　been　there；　forever；　like　one　of　the　oaks　or　one　of　the　sheds。　We　saw　it　every　day；　but　we　didn't　notice　it　because　it　was　always　there。
　　　Without　a　word；　he　turned　and　walked　up　the　back　steps；　across　the　porch；　and　into　the　kitchen。　〃Any　reason　why　the　truck　would　be　gone？〃　he　asked　Pappy；　who　was　trying　desperately　to　hear　a　scratchy　report　from　some　faraway　place。　Gran　froze　and　cocked　her　head　sideways　as　if　she　needed　the　question　repeated。　Pappy　turned　the　radio　off。　〃Say　what？〃　he　said。
　　　〃The　truck's　gone；〃　my　father　said。
　　　Pappy　looked　at　Gran；　who　looked　at　my　father。　They　all　looked　at　me　as　if　I'd　once　again　done　something　wrong。　About　this　time　my　mother　entered　the　kitchen；　and　the　entire　family　marched　single　file　out　of　the　house　and　right　up　to　the　muddy　ruts　where　the　truck　should've　been。
　　　We　searched　the　farm；　as　if　the　truck　could　have　somehow　moved　itself　to　another　location。
　　　〃I　left　it　right　here；〃　Pappy　said　in　disbelief。　Of　course　he'd　left　it　right　there。　The　truck　had　never　been　left　overnight　anywhere　else　on　the　farm。
　　　In　the　distance　Mr。　Spruill　yelled；　〃Tally！〃
　　　〃Somebody　took　our　truck；〃　Gran　said；　barely　audible。
　　　〃Where　was　the　key？〃　my　father　asked。
　　　〃By　the　radio；　same　as　always；〃　Pappy　said。　There　was　a　small　pewter　bowl　at　the　end　of　the　kitchen　table；　next　to　the　radio；　and　the　truck　key　was　always　left　there。　My　father　went　to　inspect　the　bowl。　He　returned　promptly　and　said；　〃The　key's　gone。〃
　　　〃Tally！〃　Mr。　Spruill　yelled　again；　louder。　There　was　a　flurry　of　activity　in　and　around　the　Spruills'　camp。　Mrs。　Spruill　emerged　and　began　walking　quickly　toward　our　front　porch。　When　she　saw　us　standing　beside　the　house；　gawking　at　the　empty　parking　space；　she　ran　over　and　said；　〃Tally's　gone。　We　can't　find　her　nowhere。〃
　　　The　other　Spruills　were　soon　behind　her；　and　before　long　the　two　families　were　looking　at　each　other。　My　father　explained　that　our　truck　was　missing。　Mr。　Spruill　explained　that　his　daughter　was　missing。
　　　〃Can　she　drive　a　truck？〃　Pappy　asked。
　　　〃No；　she　can't；〃　Mrs。　Spruill　said；　and　this　plicated　matters。
　　　There　was　silence　for　a　moment　as　everybody　pondered　the　situation。
　　　〃You　don't　suppose　Hank　could've　e　back　and　got　it；　do　you？〃　Pappy　asked。
　　　〃Hank　wouldn't　steal　your　truck；〃　Mr。　Spruill　said　with　a　mix　of　anger　and　confusion。　At　that　moment　almost　anything　seemed　both　likely　and　impossible。
　　　〃Hank's　home　by　now；〃　Mrs。　Spruill　said。　She　was　on　the　verge　of　tears。
　　　I　wanted　to　scream；　〃Hank's　dead！〃　and　then　run　into　the　house　and　hide　under　a　bed。　Those　poor　people　didn't　know　their　son　would　never　make　it　home。　This　secret　was　being　too　heavy　to　carry　alone。　I　took　a　step　behind　my　mother。
　　　She　leaned　close　to　my　father　and　whispered；　〃Better　go　check　on　Cowboy。〃　Because　I　had　told　her　about　Tally　and　Cowboy；　my　mother　was　ahead　of　the　rest　of　them。
　　　My　father　thought　for　a　second；　then　looked　in　the　direction　of　the　barn。　So　did　Pappy；　Gran；　and　finally　the　rest　of　the　group。
　　　Miguel　was　slowly　making　his　way　to　us；　taking　his　time；　leaving　tracks　in　the　wet　grass。　His　dirty　straw　hat　was　in　his　hand；　and　he　walked　in　such　a　way　that　made　me　think　that　he　had　no　desire　to　do　whatever　he　was　about　to　do。
　　　〃Mornin'；　Miguel；〃　Pappy　said；　as　if　the　day　was　off　to　the　same　old　beginning。
　　　〃Senor；〃　he　said；　nodding。
　　　〃Is　there　a　problem？〃　Pappy　asked。
　　　〃Si；　senor。　A　little　problem。〃
　　　〃What　is　it？〃
　　　〃Cowboy　is　gone。　I　think　he　sneaked　away　in　the　night。〃
　　　〃Must　be　contagious；〃　Pappy　mumbled；　then　spat　into　the　grass。　It　took　a　few　seconds　for　the　Spruills　to　add　things　together。　At　first　Tally's　disappearance　had　nothing　to　do　with　Cowboy's；　at　least　to　them。　Evidently　they　knew　nothing　about　the　couple's　secret　little　romance。　The　Chandlers　figured　things　out　long　before　the　Spruills；　but　then　we　had　the　benefit　of　my　inside　knowledge。
　　　Reality　slowly　settled　in。
　　　〃You　think　he　took　her？〃　Mr。　Spruill　said；　almost　in　panic。　Mrs。　Spruill　was　sniffling　now；　trying　to　hold　back　her　tears。
　　　〃I　don't　know　what　to　think；〃　Pappy　said。　He　was　much　more　concerned　with　his　pickup　than　with　the　whereabouts　of　Tally　and　Cowboy。
　　　〃Did　Cowboy　take　his　things　with　him？〃　my　father　asked　Miguel。
　　　〃Si；　senor。〃
　　　〃Did　Tall