Executioner's Song, The - Norman Mailer [175]
The new arrival stayed good. Kept to himself, read a book, made no trouble. Gibbs could see Gary getting agitated, however. There had been a deal talked about with Big Jake to bring Nicole in for a night. Jake had seen a saddle he wanted to buy. It would probably cost $100, but Gibbs thought he might be able to get the sum together. The deal was still very much in the unmade stage, but they had been thinking on it. Now, the presence of Powers would kill it.
Luis came by, and said through the bars, "Pow-ass, vy you heet a choovenile? He vuz just a keed, Pow-ass." Then he left.
Gilmore and Gibbs cracked up. They started to look at Powers and then they would laugh. "He vuz just a keed, Pow-ass," they would say, "just a keed." Then they would laugh again. Bart Powers looked like he hated it. Only he wasn't about to speak up, Gibbs noticed.
Powers had no cigarettes, so Gibbs flipped him a pack. "You don't owe me nothing," said Gibbs. "You could never pay me back, therefore I'm giving it to you."
"You've met a generous man," said Gilmore, looking Powers over, and added, "That's a nice-looking shirt you're wearing."
"Thanks," said Powers.
"I'd like to buy it," said Gary.
"It's the only shirt I got."
"Well, man," said Gary, "I'm going to trial soon, you see, and man, I want to appear in Court in proper attire, you know."
"I couldn't sell this shirt, why, it's a gift from my girl friend."
"I'll give you mucho cigarettes for it," said Gary. There was a nod from Gibbs. It would be Gibbs's carton.
"The shirt's all I got," said Powers.
"Give back the pack I just threw you," said Gibbs. Powers did.
Quickly.
"He vuz just a keed," said Gilmore.
They roared in Powers' face.
That evening, Gary said, "Nothing personal, but this cell is too crowded for three. I think it's in your best interest, Powers, to tell the man you can't get along in here." Gary looked as serious as a heart attack. "Tell him if he don't move you out tonight, I'll kill you."
Powers started yelling for Big Jake. "Nothing personal," Gary whispered.
"Oh, you want out?" said Big Jake. "Ready to go to Isolation? What's the matter, Powers? Can't smack these two around, huh? Can't say, 'Go back to your bunk 'cause I'm tired of looking at your face'? They don't play around, do they?" He nodded at Gilmore and Gibbs. "All right, I'll move you to the hole, Powers. Gary, here, has two murder charges. He don't need no more."
"Just get me out," said Powers. "Just put me in the hole."
After the transfer, Big Jake said, "I'd like to bring him here some night, and have you guys work on him. We can't do it, and he could sure use it."
Gibbs knew Gary didn't want to say no. It would hurt future negotiations for getting Nicole into his cell. Still, Gary said, "I won't, Jake. Powers is a prisoner like me. I can't work for you guys."
"Well," said Big Jake, "that's cool."
Next morning, they took Gary over to the nuthouse for a psychiatric, and he came back late for lunch. Big Jake gave him a Ding-Dong extra from the kitchen consisting of a double sandwich and a couple of pickles, plus a piece of fresh fruit. Gary said, "Hey, I really appreciate that."
Big Jake said, "Don't bother, Gary, it's not mine to do you a real favor."
They got playful that afternoon. A nothing-to-lose kind of mood.
Some pats of butter were left from Gibbs's midday meal, and they decided to flip the stuff through the bars. The idea was to see who could make the biggest splotch on the corridor wall.
Luis came back to investigate the laughter. "Geelmore and Geebs," he said, "you mees meal!" He got two trustees to clean up, and Geelmore and Geebs laughed so hard they got stomach cramps.
"Luis," said Gary, "is a tad bit retarded."
No dinner was served that evening. Around eight-thirty Luis came back with a pot of coffee looking like he felt a little sorry for them.
Gary asked, "Luis, are you married?"
The guard nodded.
"Do you have any naked pictures of your