The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1942-10-03


oL the pillow IN ner mouth
II didn mean to kill her. Iusl
pulled the pillow over her face
and she died. Her ma came INTO
the room and the gIrl VAS try lug
To say something and her ma had
her hands stretched Out, ike TINS.
see? l was scared she was going
10 touch me. ! just sort Of push
ed the pillow hard over the girrs
lace to keep her from yelling
Her ma didn't touch ne; got
out OF the way. But when She LEFT
| went to the bed and the girl.
she. She was dead. That vas ALL
She was dead. Il didn't mean. "
You didn't plan TO Kill hero
Nav swear didn't. But
what's the use? Nobodyll believe
me-"
Honey. don't you see:
WHAT
They'll say. 800"
Bessie cried again. He caught
her face in his hands. He was
concerned; he wanted 10 see this
thing through her eyes at that
moment.
WHAT"
They'll. They'll say you raped
her"
Bigger stared. He had entirely
forgotten the moment when he
had carried Mary up the stairs.
So deeply had he pushed It all
back down into him that It was
not until now that its real mean
ing came hack. They would say
he raped her and there would be
nc way TO prove that ne had not.
That fact had not assumed i'm
portance in his eyes until now.
He stood up. his Jaws harden
ing. Had he raped her? Yes. he
-ad raped her. Every time he
'elt as he had felt that nieht. he
'aped. But rape was not what
ne did TO women. Rape was
what one felt when ones. hack
vas against wall and one had
{ strike out. whether one wanted
o or not. TO keep the pack from
filling one. He committed rape |
very time he looked into a white /
ace. lie was long. taut piece
4 rubber which thousand white
lands had stretched 10 the snap /
ling point. and when he snapped |
I was rape. But It was rape |
when he cried out in hate deep
n his heart as he felt the strain |
II living day by day. That, too
vas rape.
"They found herr" Bessie ask
I'd.
"Hunh -
"They found herr?
"Yeah. Her bones. -"
@Bonesl"
Jaw. Bessie. I didn't know what
TO do. put her in the furnace.
Bessie flung her face to his wet
coat and walled violently.
Bigger
"Hunh p
"What we going to do?"
81 don't know
"Theyll be looking for us"
"They got my picture.
"Where can we hide"
I'VE can stay in some OF them
old houses for awhile"
But they might find us there "
"Theres plenty OF 'em. It'll be
like hiding in r jungle"
The milk on the stove boiled
over Bessie rose. her lips still
twisted with sobs. and turned on
the electric switch. She poured
ont n glass OF milk and brought
IL 10 him. He slipped 1t. slowly,
then set the glass aside and lean
ed over again They were silent.
Eeesie gave him the glass once
more and he drank II down. then
another glass. lie stood up. his
legs and entire body feeling heavy
and sleepy.
Get your clothes on. And get
them blankets and quilts. We got
10 get ont. Of here"
She went 10 the he'd and rolled
the covers back. rolling the pil.
lows with them: as she worked
bigger went 10 her and put MS
hands on her shoulders.
"where's tho hoitle?'
She got II from her purse and
gave II IN him: he drank a long
swallow and she put u back.
"Hurrv up" he said.
She sohbed softly as she work
cd nansing now and then to wipe
tears from her eyes. Bigger stood
in the middle ~ the floor. think
ing Maybe they searching AZ
home now: maybe thew talking 70
Ma and Vera and Buddy. nc
crossed the floor and twitched
bach the curtains and looked ont.
The streets we're white ann
emnty. He turned and saw bess''
hent and motionless over inc
pile Of bedclothing.
Come on: we got 70 get out OF
here"
ct don't care what happens.
"come on. You can't act IKE
that" . -.
what could ne DO with her
She would he a dangerous nuI-
den. " would he impossible 70
,ske her n she were going 70 act
IKE this. md yet no coulc NO
leave her here. ro'Hlv. no FneW
mat ne had ~ tete Nor with h'm
ana Then A. some future time SET
lie things with her. settle tnem
49, ~ouid not leave him