Arkansas State press., 1942-01-30

who held out he felt a hot hate
l7nd fan: hr bad transferred las
fear Of the whites 10 Gus, lie
hated Gus because he knew that
| Gus was afraid, as even he was
and he feared Gus because he
felt Gus would consent and then
he would be compelled to &c
through with the robbery Like
n man about II shoot himself and
dreading to shoot and yet know
ing that he has to shoot and feel
me it all at once and powerfully
he watched Gus and waited for
him to say yes, But Gus did not
speak Bigger's teeth clamped SO
tight that his jaws ached, IL
edged toward Gus, hot looking at
! Gus, bat feeling the presence Of
Gus over all his body through
him, in and out # him, and hating
himself and Gus because he leIt
it, Then he could not stand 1t any
longer. The hysterleal tensity Ut
| his nerves urged him to speak, 10
free himself, He faced Gus, his
eyes red with anger and fear, his
fists clenchod and held still" to
his sides.
you black sonofabitch,' he SAID
in A voice that did not vary III
tone "You scared cause he's Il
white man"
Don't cuss me, Bigger Gus
said quietly,
81 am cussing you"
"You don't have to cuss me,
Gus said.
"Thep Why don't you use that
black tongue of yours?' Bigger
asked. "Why don't you say what
you going to do?"
81 don't have to use my tongue
unless | want to-
"You bastard! You scared bas-
tard!
"You amt my boss Gus said.
"You yellow I" Bigger said
"You scared to rob a white man.
cav, Bigger. Don't say that
&. H. said Leave i'm alone"
Hes yellow Bigger said Gle
won't go with us
81 didn't say | wouldn't go Gus
! said.
"Then, for Chissakes, say what
you going to do" Bigger said.
Gus leaned on his cue stick ane
gazed at Bigger and Bigger's sto.
mach frightened as though he were
expecting a blow and were getting
ready for it. His fist clenched
harder. In split second he felt
how his fist and arm and body
would feel If he hit Gus squarely
in the mouth, drawing blood; Gus
would fall and he would walk out
the whole thing would be oven
and the robbery would not take
place. And his thinking and feel
ing in this way made the choking
tightness rising from the pit OF
his stomach to his throat slacken
a little.
"You see, Bigger" began Gus
in tone that was a compromise
between kindness and pride. "You
see, Bigger, you the cause Of all
the trouble we ever have. It's your
hot temper. Now, how come you
want to cuss me? Amt | got a
wight to make up my mind .? Nav;
that amt your way. You start
cussing. You say I'm scared It's
you who's scared. You scared |
am going to say yes and you'll
have to 90 through with the job ="
Say that again, Say that again
and III take one of these balls
and sink it in your Goddam
mouth" Bigger said, his pride
wounded to the quick,
cav, for Chrissakes," Jack
said.
"You sec how he is" Gus said.
"Why don't you say what you
going to dor Bigger demanded.
"Aw Tn going with you all"
Gus said in a nervous tone that
sought to hide itself; tone that
buried on to other things. II
am going, but Bigger don't have
to act like that He don't have
to cuss me"
"Why didn't you say that at
first?' Bigger asked; his anger
amounted almost to frenzy. "You
make a man want to sock you.'
I'll help on the haul" Gus
continued as though Bigger had
not spoken, "IH be Goddam if
/ taking orders from you Big
ger! You inst scared coward
You calling me scared so nobody
will see how scared you is :"
Bigger leaped at him, but Jack
ran between them. G.. II caught
Gus arm and led him aside.
who's asking you to take or
drs?" Bigger said. q never want
to give orders to a piss-sop like
your"
"ioa boys cut out that racket
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