Executioner's Song, The - Norman Mailer [119]
By now, Peacock had walked around in back of his Chevelle, and was standing behind the headlights, on the right-hand side of the road where it was dark. He had his weapon ready. He knew the suspect couldn't see him. The man's eyes would be blinded by the lights of the car, In turn, the other officers were standing back of the open doors of their patrol cars.
On command, the man took two steps away from his vehicle. He hesitated. They told him to lie down on the read. He hesitated again.
At that moment, his pickup truck started to roll away. He kept hesitating. He didn't know whether to run after the truck and set the emergency brake or to lie down. At this point, Peacock hollered, "LET THE TRUCK GO. LAY DOWN IMMEDIATELY. LET THE TRUCK GO." The man finally did as he was told and the white truck rolled farther and farther away from him and picked up speed going down that road which sloped all the way into town.
Slowly, gently, almost thoughtfully, it coasted off the shoulder, broke through a fence, ran through a pasture, and came to rest in the field.
Now all three officers, weapons out, moved forward along the blacktop. Peacock and the next officer were holding Service weapons. The third had a shotgun.
When they reached the man, Peacock put his gun away, frisked him right there on the ground. Simultaneously, Officer Allen began to read off the Miranda.
"You have the right to remain silent and refuse to answer questions. Do you understand?" asked Allen. There was a nod. The man didn't speak.
"Anything you say may be used against you in a court of law. Do you understand?" asked Allen. A nod.
"You have the right to consult an attorney before speaking to police and to have an attorney present during any questions now and in the future. Do you understand?" asked Allen. A nod.
"If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you without cost. Do you understand?" asked Allen.
The man nodded.
"If you do not have an attorney available, you have the right remain silent until you have an opportunity to consult one. Do understand?" asked Allen.
The man nodded.
"Now that l have advised you of your rights, are you willing to answer the questions without an attorney present?" asked Allen. All the while, Lieutenant Peacock was putting handcuffs on the man. "Be careful of that hand. It's been hurt," said the man.
Peacock fastened the restraints, turned him over, and began to go through his pockets. The fellow had upwards of $200 in large and small bills in various shirt pockets and pants pockets, and certainly had a wild look in his eye. "What am I going to do now?" said his expression. "What's my next move?"
Peacock had the feeling that the prisoner did not make any move without looking for the possibility of escape. Even though he had him handcuffed, Peacock remained on guard. It was as if he was still capturing the fellow. There was such resistance in the way this man hesitated whenever a command was given. He looked like a wildcat in a bag. Temporarily quiet.
A number of people had begun to come out of nearby houses and they stood in a circle staring at the captive. Lieutenant Nielsen arrived then in another police car and at that point, the prisoner spoke up suddenly. "Hey," he said, pointing at Gerald Nielsen, "I'm not going to talk to anybody but him."
They put him in the back seat of Peacock's car and Nielsen got in and said, "What's going on, Gary?" Gilmore said, "I'm hurting, you know? Can you give me one of those pills?" He pointed to the plastic bag where they had everything they took from his pockets. Nielsen said, "Well, we'll take you down,