Зеленая миля

Chapter 1

           Shewaiteduntilhegothisovercoathalfoff,thendroppedhischeatinggutsontohistwo-toneshoes.UsedoneofCutter’sownrazorstodoit.TwonightsbeforeshewasduetositinOldSparky,shecalledmetohercellandsaidshehadbeenvisitedbyherAfricanspirit-fatherinadream.Hetoldhertodiscardherslave-nameandtodieunderherfreename,Matuomi.Thatwasherrequest,thatherdeathwarrantshouldbereadunderthenameofBeverlyMatuomi.Iguessherspirit-fatherdidn’tgiveheranyfirstname,oroneshecouldmakeout,anyhow.Isaidyes,okay,fine.Onethingthoseyearsservingasthebull-goosescrewtaughtmewasnevertorefusethecondemnedunlessIabsolutelyhadto.InthecaseofBeverlyMatuomi,itmadenodifferenceanyway.Thegovernorcalledthenextdayaroundthreeintheafternoon,commutinghersentencetolifeintheGrassyValleyPenalFacilityforWomenallpenalandnopenis,weusedtosaybackthen.IwasgladtoseeBev’sroundassgoingleftinsteadofrightwhenshegottothedutydesk,letmetellyou.

           Thirty-fiveyearsorsolaterhadtobeatleastthirty-fiveIsawthatnameontheobituarypageofthepaper,underapictureofaskinny-facedblackladywithacloudofwhitehairandglasseswithrhinestonesatthecorners.ItwasBeverly.She’dspentthelasttenyearsofherlifeafreewoman,theobituarysaid,andhadrescuedthesmall-townlibraryofRainesFallsprettymuchsingle-handed.ShehadalsotaughtSundayschoolandhadbeenmuchlovedinthatlittlebackwater.

Настройки
Фон страницы
Размер шрифта
Межстрочный интервал
Фразовые глаголы
Показать / Скрыть меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Страница 3 из 520