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Chapter 20
Ifanybodytriestoclimbuplet’imhaveit.»
Altookthewrenchandclimbedupthebackboard,andhesettledhimselfcross-legged,thewrenchinhishand.Tompulledtheironjackhandlefromundertheseatandlaiditonthefloor,underthebrakepedal.«Awright,"hesaid.«Getinthemiddle,Ma.»
Pasaid,«Iain’tgotnothin’inmyhan’.»
«Youcanreachoveran’getthejackhandle,"saidTom.«IhopetoJesusyoudon’needit.»Hesteppedonthestarterandtheclankingflywheelturnedover,theenginecaughtanddied,andcaughtagain.Tomturnedonthelightsandmovedoutofthecampinlowgear.Thedimlightsfingeredtheroadnervously.Theyclimbeduptothehighwayandturnedsouth.Tomsaid,«Theycomesatimewhenamangetsmad.»
Mabrokein,«Tom—youtol’me—youpromisedmeyouwasn’tlikethat.Youpromised.»
«Iknow,Ma.I’ma-tryin’.Butthemdeputies—Didyoueverseeadeputythatdidn’haveafatass?An’theywaggletheirassan’floptheirgunaroun’.Ma,"hesaid,«ifitwasthelawtheywasworkin’with,why,wecouldtakeit.Butitain’tthelaw.They’rea-workin’awayatourspirits.They’rea-tryin’tomakeuscringean’crawllikeawhippedbitch.Theytryin’tobreakus.Why,JesusChrist,Ma,theycomesatimewhentheon’ywayafellacankeephisdecencyisbytakin’asockatacop.They’reworkin’onourdecency.»
Masaid,«Youpromised,Tom.That’showPrettyBoyFloyddone.Iknowedhisma.Theyhurthim.»
«I’ma-tryin’,Ma.HonesttoGod,Iam.
