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.At the trial he gave evidence against me. Gabrielshrugged. S "!Twas the right thing to do.The only thing. SThe Met charged me with double murder.But Maureen offered to testify for me.Toldthe whole story, every bit of it, though she knew she "!d never be able to hold up her headin the old neighborhood again.The abortionist was arrested.Maureen, too.Forced to submitto a medical exam. Gabriel sighed again. SYou know I meant to protect her.But all I didwas shame her, shame myself and destroy our family.If I "!d asked her, she would have rather pretended it never happened.Instead she was named in the papers, just like me.That "!s how Rebecca Eisenberg got involved. SRebecca Eisenberg? Joey didn "!t recognize the name. SSocial reformer.Prison reformer.Women "!s rights reformer, Gabriel added withboth eyebrows raised, as if daring Joey to mock her. SRebecca found a solicitor and gotMaureen off straightaway.She even tried to help the mad old bat who did the abortion, butthat was a lost cause.There were too many other complaints, too many women coming for-ward, maimed for life.Then Rebecca took my case, entirely on Maureen "!s word, beforeever meeting me.You know the type? Doesn "!t believe any man should hang, no matterwhat he "!s done.Has a million and one arguments Jesus, Buddha, Paddy downt "!pub, any authority you can think of.And she engaged a barrister who defended me onthe grounds of irresistible impulse. "! SI "!ve heard of that, Joey said. SIt doesn "!t mean a man is insane.Itmeans he was so provoked, so inflamed, he couldn "!t help himself.So he would havecommitted the exact same crime even if a policeman had been standing at his elbow. SWell done. Gabriel lit a new Pall Mall off the dog-end of the old.Joey studied Gab-riel through the wreath of smoke, tempted to reach across the table and touch the otherman "!s hand.Not because what he did to me doesn "!t matter.Even in his lowest moments, Joeydidn "!t value himself so little.But because in this place where he "!d lost so much,where nearly every comfort had been taken away, he alone had the power to forgive Gabriel.And with the realization of his power came the sweet, painful temptation to use it. SSo.I was spared from the noose, as you see, Gabriel continued dryly. SI "!dbeen prepared to die.Confess, be shriven, and go.Suddenly I was looking at the rest of mylife as a prisoner without hope of parole.I was so angry I could have strangled Rebecca, headded, grinning. SShe came to see me as soon as permitted.I walked into the visitingroom ready to tell her just what I thought of her her and all the do-gooders who stuck mehere for eternity, or near as makes no difference, to think on what I "!d done.Then I sawher.Joey couldn "!t read Gabriel "!s expression. SYou mean she was pretty? SThirty-five or forty.A spinster.Dressed like a blind man picked her clothes.Hatchetface and big brown cow eyes, Gabriel smiled fondly. SDo you know, Rebecca earned alaw degree? Top marks, but couldn "!t find anywhere to practice, being a woman.Earned adoctorate in sociology, too, what do you think of that? And there I was, with my primaryschool education, feeling superior to her because she was homely.But ignorance pushed meto do the right thing.I swallowed my bile and thanked her humbly.And she said saving a man from a meaningless death was its own reward. SDo you still hear from her? SSure and I do. Gabriel winked as if discussing an old girlfriend. SWe corres-pond, don "!t you know? Discuss books and what not.She visits me twice a year.Closestthing to a wife I "!ll ever have. SWhat happened to Maureen? STook the veil.Joined the Benedictines as Sister Mary Michael.Says she "!s foundtrue peace with God.Writes me every Christmas and Easter to say she loves me and praysfor my soul. Gabriel stopped, looking across the table to meet Joey "!s gaze.He openedhis mouth to say more, then closed it, plainly unable to get the words out. SGabe, Joey put his hand on the other man "!s. SLast night felt good.Not justgetting off.After.Why did you pull away?Gabriel "!s eyes dropped.Shifting the Pall Mall to his mouth, he placed his other handatop Joey "!s, his two hands enclosing Joey "!s slightly smaller one. SForgive me.Torchlight flashed into the cell.Buckland, who "!d pulled night duty for the month, pre-tended not to notice as they hastily pulled apart. SFor Chrissake, MacKenna, Cooper, what "!re you doing? Holding a séance? Try-ing to make contact with a dead witness since all the live ones say you "!re guilty?Joey, shaken by the interruption, didn "!t know what to say, but Gabriel chuckled.Main-taining close relations with guards like McCrory and Buckland served him well. SJust woke up to find Cooper sick over the bucket.Fancy a visit to the infirmary yet?Gabriel turned to Joey. SNo.I "!m better.Back to meals and work detail tomorrow, I promise. SGood man. Approaching the bars, Buckland lowered his voice. SMacKenna.Cranston showed me the restoration you did on his sideboard.Bang-up job. SRe-hung the doors.Carved in some flourishes.Sanded it down and slapped on acoat of varnish. Gabriel shrugged with perfectly false modesty. SWell, you know my Bettie "!s expecting, Buckland said. SThe cradle her mumgave us is wooden, older than Queen Victoria and twice as ugly.If I brought it round, couldyou fix it up? Not necessarily during common time.I might be able to shift your work detail. SOf course.Buckland grinned. SWhat "!ll it cost?Gabriel held up his cigarette. SYou know [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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.At the trial he gave evidence against me. Gabrielshrugged. S "!Twas the right thing to do.The only thing. SThe Met charged me with double murder.But Maureen offered to testify for me.Toldthe whole story, every bit of it, though she knew she "!d never be able to hold up her headin the old neighborhood again.The abortionist was arrested.Maureen, too.Forced to submitto a medical exam. Gabriel sighed again. SYou know I meant to protect her.But all I didwas shame her, shame myself and destroy our family.If I "!d asked her, she would have rather pretended it never happened.Instead she was named in the papers, just like me.That "!s how Rebecca Eisenberg got involved. SRebecca Eisenberg? Joey didn "!t recognize the name. SSocial reformer.Prison reformer.Women "!s rights reformer, Gabriel added withboth eyebrows raised, as if daring Joey to mock her. SRebecca found a solicitor and gotMaureen off straightaway.She even tried to help the mad old bat who did the abortion, butthat was a lost cause.There were too many other complaints, too many women coming for-ward, maimed for life.Then Rebecca took my case, entirely on Maureen "!s word, beforeever meeting me.You know the type? Doesn "!t believe any man should hang, no matterwhat he "!s done.Has a million and one arguments Jesus, Buddha, Paddy downt "!pub, any authority you can think of.And she engaged a barrister who defended me onthe grounds of irresistible impulse. "! SI "!ve heard of that, Joey said. SIt doesn "!t mean a man is insane.Itmeans he was so provoked, so inflamed, he couldn "!t help himself.So he would havecommitted the exact same crime even if a policeman had been standing at his elbow. SWell done. Gabriel lit a new Pall Mall off the dog-end of the old.Joey studied Gab-riel through the wreath of smoke, tempted to reach across the table and touch the otherman "!s hand.Not because what he did to me doesn "!t matter.Even in his lowest moments, Joeydidn "!t value himself so little.But because in this place where he "!d lost so much,where nearly every comfort had been taken away, he alone had the power to forgive Gabriel.And with the realization of his power came the sweet, painful temptation to use it. SSo.I was spared from the noose, as you see, Gabriel continued dryly. SI "!dbeen prepared to die.Confess, be shriven, and go.Suddenly I was looking at the rest of mylife as a prisoner without hope of parole.I was so angry I could have strangled Rebecca, headded, grinning. SShe came to see me as soon as permitted.I walked into the visitingroom ready to tell her just what I thought of her her and all the do-gooders who stuck mehere for eternity, or near as makes no difference, to think on what I "!d done.Then I sawher.Joey couldn "!t read Gabriel "!s expression. SYou mean she was pretty? SThirty-five or forty.A spinster.Dressed like a blind man picked her clothes.Hatchetface and big brown cow eyes, Gabriel smiled fondly. SDo you know, Rebecca earned alaw degree? Top marks, but couldn "!t find anywhere to practice, being a woman.Earned adoctorate in sociology, too, what do you think of that? And there I was, with my primaryschool education, feeling superior to her because she was homely.But ignorance pushed meto do the right thing.I swallowed my bile and thanked her humbly.And she said saving a man from a meaningless death was its own reward. SDo you still hear from her? SSure and I do. Gabriel winked as if discussing an old girlfriend. SWe corres-pond, don "!t you know? Discuss books and what not.She visits me twice a year.Closestthing to a wife I "!ll ever have. SWhat happened to Maureen? STook the veil.Joined the Benedictines as Sister Mary Michael.Says she "!s foundtrue peace with God.Writes me every Christmas and Easter to say she loves me and praysfor my soul. Gabriel stopped, looking across the table to meet Joey "!s gaze.He openedhis mouth to say more, then closed it, plainly unable to get the words out. SGabe, Joey put his hand on the other man "!s. SLast night felt good.Not justgetting off.After.Why did you pull away?Gabriel "!s eyes dropped.Shifting the Pall Mall to his mouth, he placed his other handatop Joey "!s, his two hands enclosing Joey "!s slightly smaller one. SForgive me.Torchlight flashed into the cell.Buckland, who "!d pulled night duty for the month, pre-tended not to notice as they hastily pulled apart. SFor Chrissake, MacKenna, Cooper, what "!re you doing? Holding a séance? Try-ing to make contact with a dead witness since all the live ones say you "!re guilty?Joey, shaken by the interruption, didn "!t know what to say, but Gabriel chuckled.Main-taining close relations with guards like McCrory and Buckland served him well. SJust woke up to find Cooper sick over the bucket.Fancy a visit to the infirmary yet?Gabriel turned to Joey. SNo.I "!m better.Back to meals and work detail tomorrow, I promise. SGood man. Approaching the bars, Buckland lowered his voice. SMacKenna.Cranston showed me the restoration you did on his sideboard.Bang-up job. SRe-hung the doors.Carved in some flourishes.Sanded it down and slapped on acoat of varnish. Gabriel shrugged with perfectly false modesty. SWell, you know my Bettie "!s expecting, Buckland said. SThe cradle her mumgave us is wooden, older than Queen Victoria and twice as ugly.If I brought it round, couldyou fix it up? Not necessarily during common time.I might be able to shift your work detail. SOf course.Buckland grinned. SWhat "!ll it cost?Gabriel held up his cigarette. SYou know [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]