Frank Yerby - The Homecoming

THE HOMECOMINGFRANK YERBY THE T R A I N stretched itself out long The train was bending itself around a and low against the tracks and ran very curve, and the soft, long, lost, lonesome fast and smooth. The drive rods flashed wail of the whistle cried out twice. Willie out of the big pistons like blades of light, stirred in his seat, watching the cabins and the huge counter-weighted wheels with the whitewash peeling off spinning were blurred solid with the speed. Out of backward past the train, lost in the im- the throat of the stack, the white smoke mensity of sun-blasted fields under a pale, blasted up in stiff hard pants, straight up yellowish white sky, the blue washed out for a yard; then the backward rushing by the sun swath, and no cloud showing. mass of air caught it, trailing it out over Up ahead, the water tower was rushing the cars like a veil. toward the train. Willie grinned. He had In the Jim Crow coach, just back of played under that tower as a boy. Water the mail car. Sergeant Willie Jackson was always leaking out of it, enough water pushed the window up a notch higher. to cool a hard, skinny, little black body The heat came blasting in the window in even in the heat of summer. The creek solid waves, bringing the dust with it, and was off somewhere to the south, green the cinders. Willie mopped his face with and clear under the willows, making a his handkerchief. It came away stained httle laughing sound over the rocks. He with the dust and sweat. could see the trees that hid it now, the "Damn," he said without heat, and lone clump standing up abruptly in the looked out at the parched fields that were brown and naked expanse of the fields. spinning backward past his window. Up Now the houses began to thicken, sep- on the edge of the skyline, a man stopped arated by only a few hundred yards in- his plowing to wave at the passing train. stead of by miles. The train slowed, snort- "How come we always do that?" Willie ing tiredly into another curve. Across the speculated icj^y. "Don't know a soul on diagonal of the bend, Willie could see the this train—not a soul—but he got to town, all of it—a few dozen buildings wave. Oh, well. . ." clustered around the Confederate Monu- 41 PRODUCED BY UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED don't care. "I didn't ing his black face glisten." Willie said. they stood aside and "No nation rose so white and pure. the boys. care. Monument. And stood in the shadow of the shaft. do you know where you're at?" at him curiously. boy?" he asked. and blue stripes in the "Not that I knows of. white." bayonet ready for the charge. I knows. white man. He stood there see no boys around. He started across the street toward the "Yes nothing. ain't you?" taking the weight on his right. throwing one leg a little "Jus plain yes. "You talking to me?" Willie said Now the train was grinding to a stop. Long time now I soldier. the rack and made his selections care- 42 PRODUCED BY UNZ. "They told me but he still stood erect with his chest out that. nudged his companion. know you was talking to me. At the foot The two men hesitated." Willie said quietly. softly. Nobody "You said boy. But I looked up at the statue of the Confederate don't care about that." around it on the little iron benches looked "Nigger." Willie said. to you. "I don't know. mak. frowning. You got ears." Willie de- middle and red and white stripes near the clared. He walked over to Willie looked past him at the dusty. He came on until he "Yes. nig- One of them was purple. man's voice was very quiet. white man. And I don't think you stifHy. let him pass. Willie spelled out the stood very still. Another was red with three "Ain't nobody ever told you to say sir white stripes near the ends. Then there was a yellow one with Willie. COMMON GROUND ment. Willie wore to a white man?" his collar loose. "I didn't else got off the train. gigantic hand. unpaved streets straggling out from the The heat was pushing down on it like a Monument. drops of sweat out on his forehead." Wilhe said. He for. "You know Goddamn well Fm talking fully keeping his left leg off the ground. "Ain't got nobody to buy nothing wood out of his mouth and grinned." and went into the town's lone Five and He stood there. the light pointing up the The two white men got up. two ends." Willie said. bisected by a single paved street.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED ." he decided. walking toward ends. He I knows you can have me killed. letting the words sink Ten Cent Store. The sunlight brought great ing to. He limped across the street none fell so free of stain. nigger?" the white man demanded. Willie swung down from the car. "Yes what?" the white man prompted." in the full glare. words: at the last moment. "How come I come in here?" he mut- One of the tall loungers took a sliver of tered. I'm asking you kindly. The white men who always sat better come any closer. thin red." and his belly sucked in. So please don't come no ing the musket with the little needle type closer. with two white ger?" one of them asked." The heat struck him in the face like a "Who the hell else could I been talk- physical blow. little strips of colored ribbon on his tunic." He stood still a moment. Willie started of the shaft there was an inscription toward them walking very slowly. complete with knapsack and hold. flattening it against the "I ask you a question. "Yes. They carved in stone." The white rust-brown earth. "Yes. "Ain't you forgetting something. watching him come. "Reckon Fll get some postxards to send "What do it say. boy. Then. into his brain. and his uniform was faded. " The salesgirl and the woman both "So I see! So I see! Come on back in turned toward him. No- body was following him. Then at last he was turning into a flagstone driveway. soaking his collar. Then deliberately he tossed the squeal of pleasure. set well back from the road in a clump of pine trees. He limped on down the the cards and the quarter in his hand. quarter on the counter and walked out "Willie! My. the sweat pouring down his black face. The houses thinned out again. He stuffed the cards in his the kitchen Martha. Willie limped on. her hand out. and rang the bell. But just be. boy. how fine you's look- the door." the old white man through the house. "Keep that one hoss outa sight. "Fix him something to eat. Martha. smiling sweetly. girl. powder-dry under the hammer blows of the sun." Then they all stopped talking at once and Then he was limping over to the counter. their mouths dropping the kitchen. saying." men in the center talking to the others. trotting stretched to take the money." "No. waiting. more. so the girl went his hand outstretched. the Confederate Monu. the a little knot of men had gathered around Memorial Bridge." WiUie said. curving toward a large. A very old black man opened the door. Willie followed the lean. a white woman The Colonel came out of the study." Willie said sharply.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED . ing! Sit down! Where you find him. Willie stood stih. Willie could see the two ment. He looked at Willie with a puzzled ex- pression. my. In Willie said. "The Colo- . bent figure of "My money the same color as hers. I never!" the white woman Colonel Bob?" gasped. fore she reached him. "I done growed. are you?" "I was here first. Then he slowed." 43 PRODUCED BY UNZ. looked at him. When Willie came out on the sidewalk. salesgirl started toward him. the Monument. he said. THE HOMECOMING fully: the new Post Office Building. the cook.d^ nel sure be glad to see you! I go call him —right now!" Then he was off. The block and turned the corner. very old house.-y^\^ . At the next corner he turned again. sweeping veranda. "Willie. and again at the next. "I just dropped by. "Well. down the hall. came toward the counter. "You little black "Can I help you?" scoundrel! Damn! You aren't little any "Look a here. "Willie!" the old man said. I want to talk to you. "Make this look like a real town. Uncle Ben?" Willie said." Wilhe said. There were no trees shading the dirt road." open. "Don't you remember me. on past Willie. squinting his red mottled old eyes against the light. gave a pocket. He went up on the broad." he said. Colonel Bob. They say that's Colonel Bob's boy." the Colonel said. would let you starve to death. have known it. Colonel Bob." He looked past her out the doorway where "They make them good now.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED . Why. looking at Willie. those dangblasted Yankees no sound at all. I'm go." "Wilhe!" Martha moaned. I git it. Thought it up all by myself. then I starves proud. "That was for done growed inside. pital. I Heart. Willie." tary information out of him. "while I pry some mili. Can't be a boy no more." she declared." they for?" "No. "I done forgot how to scratch "The yellow one mean Pacific Theater my head and shuffle my feet and grin of War.anybody's back door and they'll feed you. Willie." ain't suited for here no more." sidewalk for pennies. Martha was back now with coffee and "Somebody's been talking to you." "Got to be a man." is the Good Conduct Medal. "You've got a mighty heap of ribbons." "I done forgot too many things. aren't you. This here leg's a fake. boy." Willie explained. too." Willie said." said." a man. and they give me a swell meal. "And the red one when I don't feel like grinning. I seen men killed." he cake. Got to git it myself. And they the big pines were shredding the sun- teaches you before you leaves the hos. Can't ask for hand- "What! What the clinking ding dang outs round the back door. My own man. Got to come in ever gave you such an idea?" the front door. That's how come I got to go. My friends. "for you to talk to a white man to look after him. Just had a lot of time for think- "You're out for good. "teaching you the wrong things." he "What are the others for?" said slowly. COMMON GROUND the Colonel said. Can't Willie said. Colonel Bob. Colonel Bob. the words. She stood "Well. ing here?" "Hand grenade. Wil. I'll give you your old job back." Colonel Bob a good boy like you always got a white asked evenly. I ain't talking rid- "This here purple one is the Purple dles. Not even yours. "Don't talk "I knew you'd get that one." "What's that got to do with your stay- "Bad?" the Colonel demanded. Down here "Do you think it's right. Willie. I done lie?" fought and been most killed and now I'm "Yes. gleaming in a pleased smile. "What are "Now you're talking riddles. Colonel Bob. Nobody's "Good. "You always were a like that?" good boy. but no sound came out of it." Willie said. "Dinner be ready in a little." Willie. her white teeth right.light. "Begging your pardon. Can't "I can't stay here. "I ain't staying here." Colonel Bob silenced her with a lifted "Thank you." my leg.let my kids cut a buck and wing on the ing North." Willie said. hand. They had to take it Martha came over to the table bearing off." "Yes. I'll be damned! I never would there holding the tray." "Willie!" Martha said. "They feed me all Martha scurried off." the steaming food on the tray. forming "The North is no place for niggers. Colonel Bob.ing. "No." Martha's mouth was working." the like that! Don't you know you can't talk Colonel declared. Willie." I need an extra man on the place. Any time you get man like this—any white man—even hungry you can always come up to most me? 44 PRODUCED BY UNZ. " Willie smiled a little. Colonel Bob. "You better stay here until I can get you out after dark. "Maybe they after go. And in the trees. "My God!" "He crazy." he said "And did you have some kind of an softly. but then he thought better of it begs. "and don't move a muscle! I'll back doors. but Uncle to beg. "did you tell two Colonel Bob did not answer. folks be back in a minute. I'm gonna ketch it." Willie said slowly. I didn't say that. empty. And then we goes down on our knees and thing. Lawdy!" "Can't sneak off in the dark. Ever me. and closed his jaw down tight. "I'm gonna ketch me a train. Ben was scurrying through the kitchen Martha. it choke up in my throat like "You stay right there." he said. Martha. Colonel Bob. Don't know how to run. I ain't running." as though he were going to say some." house. "We done run and hid and anyhow we done got caught. nigh you?" Willie went past him out the door. Just knows how to fight." Colonel Bob Willie stood very still looking up said. he crazy! Told you he "Colonel Bob!" he croaked." time I do. Man want you on the Colonel Bob was looking at Willie." "You be kilt!" Martha declared. Now I lines. But Colonel Bob was coming back now. "Oh. Ain't coming to no more growled. I meant. THE HOMECOMING "I don't know. Done forgot how." He turned and going to say Mister Jackson—not no walked rapidly toward the front of the Uncle Willie. but that's what the steps he stopped. "You better go. And when I gits old." Colonel Bob black vomit. seas cap. you'd better through a break in the trees at the pale. "He done gone plum outa his mind!" "You better not go back to town." whitish blue sky. Colonel Bob. his face very red. thoughtful look. I can't even say yessir no more. Colonel 45 PRODUCED BY UNZ. "You're right." "Willie." like an ancient rabbit. In fact. "They kill you sure!" "We done run too much. go right now. a 'phone right now! Say they's after some slow. "Thank you. Jesus. argument with a white woman?" The old white man looked at Wilhe "Yes. and knotted into hard "You been awful good to me." Martha wailed. "There's crazy. Colonel Bob. reckon I be going." he said "Two o'clock today." "Good-bye. no bird sang. All I know is I got to "Yes. that's all. Willie. Don't know how ' Willie turned away to go." Willie said. On "Yes." he said. It was very high and Willie stood up and adjusted his over." the Colonel said.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED . colored soldier. Instead white men you'd kill them if they came he got up and held the screen door open. Colonel Bob!" trouble up in town. them. hurt dignity. noticed. walk was almost blocked with men with "All right. Colonel?" the young There were many people in the street. goad them into haste. moving slowly. He walked in an tions. steadily. grabbing Willie direction of town. not in perfect time." the street until they had almost reached "Looney!" Martha sobbed. he officer derrianded. without hastening their way they can think of. . What would happen if we let them— the white men came. His leg won't steps. turning neither marching. moving in toward him in the thick." Martha wept. and a long slow slouch take over now. it's Goddamned impossible. They went down no. looking That's it. He limped on. ed. the great red crosses gleaming on toward the dirt road where the heat was its sides." his artiiieial leg making a scraping rustle His blue eyes looked after the retreating on the sidewalk. "Crazy!" he roared. a soldier of the republic—wound. The two soldiers were out of it a visible thing. Willie opened his mouth to shriek at Willie. "Willie's no more crazy than I ing was loud in the silent street. they opened up their ranks to let him "Good-bye. "Plum the station. moving his lips in a tetchedl" prayer that had no words. don't know. old face. This man is a combat to their walk. his blue eyes widening dried and thickened tongue. The side. and turned his face in the almost before it was still. pass through. hurling straight toward them. and each time me. Tlren the young ofEcer with the heat was lessening. white hair. make any difference. ambulance. and with him an old man with Lee Avenue. each man that he passed swelling "Stop your blubbering!" Colonel Bob the number until the sound of them walk- snapped. ing. pride. COMMON GROUND Bob. Colonel Bob nodded." the ofEcer said. but I don't. Crazy. turning off the country road into ing down. curse them. Willie turned "They'll kill him. far more than usual. and behind him. Crazy thing. "We'll eyes of blue ice. beat upon beat. Then he was moving toward the station. And don't a man better touch to the right nor the left. Colonel Bob.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED . by the arms. . I thought I did. They swung out into a "And they'll do it in the meanest damned broad semicircle. "Three hundred years of wounded ily. no faster nor slower than he was going. Then it was upon them. the main street of the town. Maybe it's the world that's crazy. "This the man." He turned and went down the steps. and this thing to happen. He went on quietly. Then. that's it." he mused. . I He did not look back. by God!" down the road. "Out of his sound of their footsteps falling in behind mind!" him. Got to go absolutely straight line. wall of dust. He walked very the single silver bar on his cap was climb- slowly. am. was split from top to bottom by the wail "That's it! If I can make them think— of a siren. Going down the road march. "Three centuries of a little ragged." he called. stead- figure." PRODUCED BY UNZ. paying fatigue case—not responsible for his ac- no attention to them. the stillness in his pale." He but before his voice could rush past his stopped suddenly. Can't steal away to Jesus. Not all the dang hot silence. to where the khaki col- Then he was racing through the house ored truck was pounding up a billowing toward the telephone. But afterwards came the "Crazy. They all turned then." Colonel Bob said and faced them. dragging him toward the When he neared the one paved street. blasted ribbons in the world. screeching to Willie had gone on around the house a stop. Where I hang as on gallows wood. Nisei. "Got with one leg sticking out very stiflBy. But the soldiers were moving forward The illustrations are by Beinadine now. (Msei. where I can be a heat-softened asphalt as they went-. "Let me His best-selling The Foxes of Harrow was go!" published in February by Dial Press. A composite oi sneei and word. NISEI. The cherry blossom and the sword. man. My sallow cheek Is greenish in the subway light. Nisei!) My face of astigmatic eyes. H. NISEI. lieutenant. I got to go!" Frank Yerby will be remembered for The young ofEcer jerked his head in his story "Roads Going Down" in the the direction of the ambulance. You hear me. Nisei!) Set in the island centuries Oi the mixed stocks Yamato breeds. Summer 1945 issue of COMMON GROUND. 47 PRODUCED BY UNZ. Got to go North heavy heel drawing a line through the where I can be free. dragging the slim form with them. Custer. I have no face. NISEI! "But I got to go!" Willie said. {And this is censored: No one reads Of OUT dissimilarities. Other eyes. CONSTABLE I have no face— This is a face. {Nisei. Nisei!) Is this so yellow? Brown and plain White are the skins of old Japan. "Let me go!" Willie wept. the to ketch that train. NISEI! M.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED . More From Галина ДойчуSkip carouselcarousel previouscarousel nextRichHabits.pdfTramp Donald Dar Midasa 1000-words.pdfcapitolul 7Kollektiv_avtorov_Angliiskii_yazyk_dlya_ekonomistov_Litmir.net_267534_original_f3e00.pdfBlokh-TheorGrammGelbreit Dchon Ekonomicheskie Teorii i Celi Obshestva Litmir.net 268748 Ea08aMAD capitolul 8Fisher Stenli Ekonomika capitolul 6Despre Miepoteza SAGHIN LILIA.docxStructura Organizatorica Victoriabank Pv 274 Din 26 Decembrie 2012Rayevska N.M. - Modern English Grammarcapitolul 4Prezentare IKEAEticheta În Afacericapitolul 5Архипов Г.И., Садовничий В.А., Чубариков В.Н. Лекции По Математическому Анализуcapitolul 1Данилов Ю.М., Журбенко Л.Н., Никонова Г.А., Нуриева С.Н. 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