Deliverance - James Dickey [97]
and told him that Bobby would drive his car back down to the city and his wife or somebody could come after him whenever he was ready to move. That was all right with him. Bobby and I walked over to say good-bye to Lewis. He was eased back in the pillows. "I ought to be out of here in a week or two, myself," he said. "Sure," I said. "Lie back and enjoy yourself. This is not such a bad town." Bobby and I drove back to Biddiford's to wait for the sheriff. He came at five-thirty, and evil little Queen was with him. The sheriff took out a piece of paper. "You can use this for a statement," he said. "See if it says what you told us." I read it through. "It's all right," I said. "But I don't know these place names. Is this the right name of the rapids where I said we capsized?" "Yeah," he said. "That's the name: Griffin's Shoot." "OK," I said, and signed it. "You're sure, now," Sheriff Bullard asked. "You better believe I'm sure." "He ain't sure," Deputy Queen said, a lot louder than any of us. "He's lyin'. He's lyin' thu his teeth. He's done somethin', up yonder. He's done kilt my brother-in-law." "Listen, you little bastard," I said, and my voice was really quivering. "Maybe your brother-in-law killed somebody. Why are you bringing in all this talk of killing? The river did all the killing we saw. If you don't think it'll kill you, get your stupid ass on it and see for yourself." "Now, Mr. Gentry," the sheriff said. "Don't talk like that. Ain't no call for it." "Well, this'll do till there is," I said. "He's lyin'. Sheriff; don't let him go. Don't let the son of a bitch go." "We got nothing to hold him for, Arthel," the sheriff said. "Nothing. These boys've been through a lot. They want to get back home." "Don't let him go, I'm telling you. Listen, my sister called up last night, and she was just a-crying. Benson ain't come home yet. She knows he's dead. She just knows it. He ain't never been gone this long before. And these fellers was the only ones up in there, when he was." "Now, you don't know that, Arthel," the sheriff said. "What you mean is, they was the only city fellows." I shook my head as though I couldn't believe such stupidity, which was the case, sure enough. "Y'all can go any time you want to," the sheriff said. "Just leave me your addresses." I did and said, "OK. Let us know if you find anything." "Don't worry. You'll be the fust." I slept again, as in a place beyond all sleep, around on the other side of death, and came back, floating, when I thought I heard the ringing of the owl on the other birds, in Martha's wind-toy at home. It was early, and we were free. I dressed and went to Bobby's room and woke him. The woman who owned the place was up, and we paid her with the last of our money and drove to the filling station to get Lewis' car. The sheriff was sitting there talking to the owner. We got out. "Morning," he said. "Y'all getting an early start, eh?" "Thought we would," I said. "What can we do for you?" "Not a thing," he said. "Just wanted to make sure you had your keys, and everything you need." "We can make it fine," I said. "There is one thing, Sheriff, though. We owe some fellows up in Oree for bringing these cars down to us. Would you tell them that we'll send them the money, just as quick as we get back to the city? They'll believe you before they will us, because you live up here; they know who you are." "Be glad to," he said. "What're their names?" "Griner. They run a garage up there." "I'll get word to 'em. Don't worry about it. And you say they're the last people you saw, before you got down here?" "The last and only. There was also another man with them. I don't know who he was." "Maybe we ought to know who he was. I might even go up there and talk to all of 'em myself. And you kin be sure I'll tell 'em about the money." "OK. We're going along now." "Take it easy going home," he said. "And, buddy, let me tell you one thing. Don't ever do anything like this again. Don't come back up here." "You don't have to worry about that," I said. I grinned, and slowly, so did he. "Is this your way of telling