            ,,*APT] ,,XXIII

  ,AT LA/ ! SLEEPY ATMOSPH]E 0 /IRR$--&
VIGOR\SLY3 ! MURD] TRIAL CAME ON 9 !
C\RT4 ,X 2CAME ! ABSORB+ TOPIC ( VILLAGE
TALK IMMLY4 ,TOM CD N GET AWAY F X4 ,E
REF];E 6! MURD] S5T A %U4] 6HIS HE>T1 =
8 TR\#D 3SCI;E & FE>S ALM P]SUAD$ HM T
^! REM>KS 7 PUT =? 9 8 HE>+ Z 8FEEL]S02
HE DID N SEE H[ HE CD 2 SUSPECT$ ( "K+
ANY?+ AB ! MURD]1 B / HE CD N 2 -=TA# 9
! MID/ ( ? GOSSIP4 ,X KEPT HM 9 A COLD
%IV] ALL ! "T4 ,HE TOOK ,HUCK 6A L"OLY
PLACE 6H A TALK ) HM4 ,X WD 2 "S RELIEF
6UNS1L 8 T;GUE =A LL :ILE2 6DIVIDE 8
BURD5 ( 4TRESS ) ANO!R SU6]]4 ,MOREOV]1
HE WANT$ 6ASSURE HMF T ,HUCK _H REMA9$
4CREET4
  8,HUCK1 H Y "E TOLD ANYBODY AB--T80
  8'B\T :AT80
  8,Y "K :AT40
  8,OH--'C\RSE ,I HAV5'T40
  8,N"E A ^W80
  8,N"E A SOLIT>Y ^W1 S HELP ME4 ,:AT
MAKES Y ASK80
  8,WELL1 ,I 0 AFE>D40
  8,:Y1 ,TOM ,SAWY]1 WE WDN'T 2 ALIVE
TWO "DS IF T GOT F.D \4 ,,Y "K T40
  ,TOM FELT M -=TA#4 ,AF A PAUSE3
  8,HUCK1 !Y CDN'T ANYBODY GET Y 6TELL1
CD !Y80
  8,GET ME 6TELL8 ,:Y1 IF ,I WANT$ T
HALF-BRE$ DEVIL 6DR[ND ME !Y CD GET ME
6TELL4 ,!Y A9'T NO DI6]5T WAY40
  8,WELL1 T'S ALL "R1 !N4 ,I RECKON
WE'RE SAFE Z L;G Z WE KEEP MUM4 ,B LET'S
SWE> AG1 ANYWAY4 ,X'S M SUR]40
  8,I'M AGRE$40
  ,S !Y SWORE AG ) DR1D SOLEMNITIES4
  8,:AT IS ! TALK >.D1 ,HUCK8 ,I'VE HE>D
A P[] ( X40
  8,TALK8 ,WELL1 X'S J ,MUFF ,POTT]1
,MUFF ,POTT]1 ,MUFF ,POTT] ALL ! "T4 ,X
KEEPS ME 9 A SW1T1 3/ANT1 S'S ,I WANT
6HIDE SOM']S40
  8,T'S J ! SAME WAY !Y G ON R.D ME4 ,I
RECKON HE'S A GON]4 ,DON'T Y FEEL SORRY
= HM1 "S"TS80
  8,MO/ ALW--MO/ ALW4 ,HE A9'T NO A3.T2
B !N HE HA9'T "E D"O ANY?+ 6HURT
ANYBODY4 ,J FI%ES A LL1 6GET M"OY 6GET
DRUNK ON--& LOAFS >.D 3SID]A#2 B "L1 WE
ALL D T--L1/WAYS MO/ ( U--PR1*]S & S* L4
,B HE'S K9D ( GD--HE GIVE ME HALF A FI%1
ONCE1 :5 "! W>N'T 5 = TWO2 & LOTS ( "TS
HE'S K9D ( /OOD 0ME :5 ,I 0 \ ( LUCK40
  8,WELL1 HE'S M5D$ KITES = ME1 ,HUCK1 &
KNITT$ HOOKS ON 6MY L9E4 ,I WI% WE CD
GET HM \ ( "!40
  8,MY6 WE CDN'T GET HM \1 ,TOM4 ,& 2SS1
'TWDN'T D ANY GD2 !Y'D KET* HM AG40
  8,YES--S !Y WD4 ,B ,I HATE 6HE> 'EM
ABUSE HM S L ! DICK5S :5 HE N"E D"O--T40
  8,I D TOO1 ,TOM4 ,"L1 ,I HE> 'EM SAY
HE'S ! BLOODIE/ LOOK+ VILLA9 9 ? C.TRY1
& !Y WOND] HE WASN'T "E HUNG 2F40
  8,YES1 !Y TALK L T1 ALL ! "T4 ,I'VE
HE>D 'EM SAY T IF HE 0 6GET FREE !Y'D
LYN* HM40
  8,& !Y'D D X1 TOO40
  ,! BOYS _H A L;G TALK1 B X BR"\ !M LL
-=T4 ,Z ! TWILI<T DREW ON1 !Y F.D !MVS
HANG+ AB ! NEI<BORHOOD (! LL ISOLAT$
JAIL1 P]H ) AN UNDEF9$ HOPE T "S?+ WD
HAPP5 T MI<T CLE> AWAY _! DI6ICULTIES4
,B NO?+ HAPP5$2 "! SEEM$ 6BE NO ANGELS
OR FAIRIES 9T]E/$ 9 ? LUCK.S CAPTIVE4
  ,! BOYS DID Z !Y _H (T5 D"O 2F--W5T 6!
CELL GRAT+ & GAVE ,POTT] "S TOBA3O &
MAT*ES4 ,HE 0 ON ! GR.D FLOOR & "! 7 NO
GU>DS4
  ,8 GRATITUDE = _! GIFTS _H ALW SMOTE
_! 3SCI;ES 2F--X CUT DEEP] ?AN "E1 ? "T4
,!Y FELT C[>DLY & TR1*]\S 6! LA/ DEGREE
:5 ,POTT] SD3
  8,Y'VE BE5 MI<TY GD 6ME1 BOYS--BETT]'N
ANYBODY ELSE 9 ? T[N4 ,& ,I DON'T =GET
X1 ,I DON'T4 ,(T5 ,I SAYS 6MYF1 SAYS ,I1
,8,I US$ 6M5D ALL ! BOYS0' KITES & ?+S1
& %[ 'EM ": ! GD FI%9' PLACES WAS1 & 2FR
'EM :AT ,I CD1 & N[ !Y'VE ALL =GOT OLD
,MUFF :5 HE'S 9 TR\#2 B ,TOM DON'T1 &
,HUCK DON'T--,,!Y DON'T =GET HM1 SAYS
,I1 ,8& ,I DON'T =GET !M40' ,WELL1 BOYS1
,I D"O AN AW;L ?+--DRUNK & CRAZY AT ! "T
--T'S ! ONLY WAY ,I A3.T = X--& N[ ,I
GOT 6SW+ = X1 & X'S "R4 ,"R1 & ,,BE/1
TOO1 ,I RECKON--HOPE S1 ANYWAY4 ,WELL1
WE WON'T TALK AB T4 ,I DON'T WANT 6MAKE
,,Y FEEL BAD2 Y'VE 2FRI5D$ ME4 ,B :AT ,I
WANT 6SAY1 IS1 DON'T ,,Y "E GET DRUNK--
!N Y WON'T "E GET "H4 ,/& A LITT] FURD]
WE/--S--T'S X2 X'S A PRIME -=T 6SEE
FACES T'S FRLY :5 A BODY'S 9 S* A MUCK (
TR\#1 & "! DON'T N"O -E "H B Y\RN4 ,GD
FRLY FACES--GD FRLY FACES4 ,GIT UP ON "O
ANO!R'S BACKS & LET ME T\* 'EM4 ,T'S X4
,%AKE H&S--Y\RN'LL -E "? ! B>S1 B M9E'S
TOO BIG4 ,LL H&S1 & W1K--B !Y'VE HELP$
,MUFF ,POTT] A P[]1 & !Y'D HELP HM M IF
!Y CD40
  ,TOM W5T HOME MIS]A#1 & 8 DR1MS T NI<T
7 FULL ( HORRORS4 ,! NEXT "D &! "D AF1
HE HUNG AB ! C\RT-ROOM1 DRAWN 0AN ALM
IRRESI/I# IMPULSE 6G IN1 B =C+ HMF 6/AY
\4 ,HUCK 0 HAV+ ! SAME EXP]I;E4 ,!Y
/UDI\SLY AVOID$ EA* O!R4 ,EA* W&]$ AWAY1
F "T 6"T1 B ! SAME 4MAL FASC9,N ALW BR"\
!M BACK PRES5TLY4 ,TOM KEPT 8 E>S OP5 :5
IDL]S SAUNT]$ \ (! C\RTROOM1 B 9V>IABLY
HE>D 4TRESS+ NEWS--! TOILS 7 CLOS+ M & M
REL5T.SLY >.D POOR ,POTT]4 ,AT ! 5D (!
SECOND "D ! VILLAGE TALK 0 6! E6ECT T
,9JUN ,JOE'S EVID;E /OOD FIRM & UN%AK51
& T "! 0 N ! SLI<TE/ "Q Z 6:AT ! JURY'S
V]DICT WD BE4
  ,TOM 0 \ LATE1 T NI<T1 & CAME 6B$ "? !
W9D[4 ,HE 0 9 A TREM5D\S /ATE (
EXCITE;T4 ,X 0 H\RS 2F HE GOT 6SLEEP4
,ALL ! VILLAGE FLOCK$ 6! C\RT-H\SE !
NEXT MORN+1 = ? 0 6BE ! GRT "D4 ,BO?
SEXES 7 AB EQU,Y REPRES5T$ 9 ! PACK$
AUDI;E4 ,AF A L;G WAIT ! JURY FIL$ 9 &
TOOK _! PLACES2 %ORTLY AFW1 ,POTT]1 PALE
& HA7>D1 TIMID & HOPE.S1 0 BR"\ IN1 )
*A9S ^U HM1 & S1T$ ": ALL ! CURI\S EYES
CD />E AT HM2 NO LESS 3SPICU\S 0 ,9JUN
,JOE1 /OLID Z "E4 ,"! 0 ANO!R PAUSE1 &
!N ! JUDGE >RIV$ &! %]IFF PROCLAIM$ !
OP5+ (! C\RT4 ,! USUAL :ISP]+S AM;G !
LAWY]S & GA!R+ TGR ( PAP]S FOLL[$4 ,^!
DETAILS & A3OMPANY+ DELAYS "W$ UP AN
ATMOSPH]E ( PREP>,N T 0 Z IMPRESSIVE Z X
0 FASC9AT+4
  ,N[ A WIT;S 0 CALL$ :O TE/IFI$ T HE
F.D ,MUFF ,POTT] WA%+ 9 ! BROOK1 AT AN
E>LY H\R (! MORN+ T ! MURD] 0 4COV]$1 &
T HE IMMLY SN1K$ AWAY4 ,AF "S FUR!R "Q+1
C\NSEL =! PROSECU;N SD3
  8,TAKE ! WIT;S40
  ,! PRISON] RAIS$ 8 EYES =A MO;T1 B
DROPP$ !M AG :5 8 [N C\NSEL SD3
  8,I H NO "QS 6ASK HM40
  ,! NEXT WIT;S PROV$ ! F9D+ (! KNIFE
NE> ! CORPSE4 ,C\NSEL =! PROSECU;N SD3
  8,TAKE ! WIT;S40
  8,I H NO "QS 6ASK HM10 ,POTT]'S LAWY]
REPLI$4
  ,A ?IRD WIT;S SWORE HE _H (T5 SE5 !
KNIFE 9 ,POTT]'S POSSES.N4
  8,TAKE ! WIT;S40
  ,C\NSEL = ,POTT] DECL9$ 6"Q HM4 ,!
FACES (! AUDI;E 2GAN 62TRAY ANNOY.E4
,DID ? ATTORNEY M1N 6?R[ AWAY 8 CLI5T'S
LIFE )\T AN EF=T8
  ,S"EAL WIT;SES DEPOS$ 3C]N+ ,POTT]'S
GUILTY 2HAVIOR :5 BR"\ 6! SC5E (! MURD]4
,!Y 7 ALL[$ 6L1VE ! /& )\T 2+ CROSS-"Q$4
  ,E DETAIL (! DAMAG+ CIRCUM/.ES T
O3URR$ 9 ! GRAVEY>D ^U T MORN+ : ALL
PRES5T REMEMB]$ S WELL 0 BR"\ \ 0CR$I#
WIT;SES1 B N"O ( !M 7 CROSS- EXAM9$
0,POTT]'S LAWY]4 ,! P]PLEX;Y &
4SATISFAC;N (! H\SE EXPRESS$ XF 9
MURMURS & PROVOK$ A REPRO( F ! B5*4
,C\NSEL =! PROSECU;N N[ SD3
  8,0! OA?S ( CITIZ5S ^: SIMPLE ^W IS
ABV SUSPICION1 WE H FA/5$ ? AW;L CRIME1
2Y ALL POSSIBIL;Y ( "Q1 ^U ! UNHAPPY
PRISON] AT ! B>4 ,WE RE/ \R CASE "H40
  ,A GROAN ESCAP$ F POOR ,POTT]1 & HE
PUT 8 FACE 9 8 H&S & ROCK$ 8 BODY S(TLY
6& FRO1 :ILE A PA9;L SIL;E REIGN$ 9 !
C\RT-ROOM4 ,_M M5 7 MOV$1 & _M WOM5'S
-PAS.N TE/IFI$ XF 9 TE>S4 ,C\NSEL =! DE-
F;E ROSE & SD3
  8,YR HONOR1 9 \R REM>KS AT ! OP5+ ( ?
TRIAL1 WE =E%AD[$ \R PURPOSE 6PROVE T \R
CLI5T DID ? FE>;L DE$ :ILE "U ! 9FLU;E (
A BL & IRRESPONSI# DELIRIUM PRODUC$
0DR9K4 ,WE H *ANG$ \R M9D4 ,WE % N (F] T
PLEA40 ,7,!N 6! CL]K37' 8,CALL ,?OMAS
,SAWY]60
  ,A PUZZL$ AMAZE;T AWOKE 9 E FACE 9 !
H\SE1 N EV5 EXCEPT+ ,POTT]'S4 ,E EYE
FA/5$ XF ) WOND]+ 9T]E/ ^U ,TOM Z HE
ROSE & TOOK 8 PLACE ^U ! /&4 ,! BOY
LOOK$ WILD 5\<1 = HE 0 BADLY SC>$4 ,!
OA? 0 ADM9I/]$4
  8,?OMAS ,SAWY]1 ": 7 Y ON ! SEV5TE5? (
,JUNE1 AB ! H\R ( MIDNI<T80
  ,TOM GL.ED AT ,9JUN ,JOE'S IRON FACE &
8 T;GUE FAIL$ HM4 ,! AUDI;E LI/5$
BR1?.S1 B ! ^WS REFUS$ 6-E4 ,AF A FEW
MO;TS1 H["E1 ! BOY GOT A LL ( 8 /R5G?
BACK1 & MANAG$ 6PUT 5 ( X 96HIS VOICE
6MAKE "P (! H\SE HE>3
  8,IN ! GRAVEY>D60
  8,A LL BIT L\D]1 PL1SE4 ,DON'T 2
AFRAID4 ,Y W]E--0
  8,IN ! GRAVEY>D40
  ,A 3TEMPTU\S SMILE FLITT$ ACR ,9JUN
,JOE'S FACE4
  8,W]E Y ANY": NE> ,HORSE ,WILLIAMS'
GRAVE80
  8,YES1 SIR40
  8,SP1K UP--J A TRIFLE L\D]4 ,H[ NE> 7
Y80
  8,NE> Z ,I AM 6Y40
  8,W]E Y HI451 OR N80
  8,I 0 HID40
  8,":80
  8,2H ! ELMS T'S ON ! $GE (! GRAVE40
  ,9JUN ,JOE GAVE A B>ELY P]CEPTI# />T4
  8,ANY "O ) Y80
  8,YES1 SIR4 ,I W5T "! )--0
  8,WAIT--WAIT A MO;T4 ,N"E M9D M5;N+ YR
-PANION'S "N4 ,WE W PRODUCE HM AT !
PROP] "T4 ,DID Y C>RY ANY?+ "! ) Y40
  ,TOM HESITAT$ & LOOK$ 3FUS$4
  8,SP1K \1 MY BOY--DON'T 2 DI6ID5T4 ,!
TRU? IS ALW RESPECTA#4 ,:AT DID Y TAKE
"!80
  8,ONLY A--A--D1D CAT40
  ,"! 0 A RIPPLE ( MIR?1 : ! C\RT *ECK$4
  8,WE W PRODUCE ! SKELETON ( T CAT4
,N[1 MY BOY1 TELL U "EY?+ T O3URR$--TELL
X 9 YR [N WAY--DON'T SKIP ANY?+1 & DON'T
2 AFRAID40
  ,TOM 2GAN--HESITAT+LY AT F/1 B Z HE
W>M$ 6HIS SUBJECT 8 ^WS FL[$ M & M
EASILY2 9 A LL :ILE E S.D C1S$ B 8 [N
VOICE2 E EYE FIX$ XF ^U HM2 ) "P$ LIPS &
BAT$ BR1? ! AUDI;E HUNG ^U 8 ^WS1 TAK+
NO NOTE ( "T1 RAPT 9 ! <A/LY FASC9,NS (!
TALE4 ,! /RA9 ^U P5T EMO;N R1*$ XS
CLIMAX :5 ! BOY SD3
  8--& Z ! DOCTOR FET*$ ! BO>D >.D &
,MUFF ,POTT] FELL1 ,9JUN ,JOE JUMP$ )!
KNIFE &--0
  ,CRA%6 ,QK Z LI<TN+ ! HALF-BRE$ SPRANG
=A W9D[1 TORE 8 WAY "? ALL OPPOS]S1 & 0
G"O6


