Native Son - Richard Wright [141]
“Yes,” Mrs. Dalton whispered.
“Oh, Mrs. Dalton, come right this way,” Buckley said hurriedly.
“No; please,” Mrs. Dalton said. “What is it, Mrs. Thomas?”
Bigger’s mother ran and knelt on the floor at Mrs. Dalton’s feet.
“Please, mam!” she wailed. “Please, don’t let ’em kill my boy! You know how a mother feels! Please, mam…. We live in your house…. They done asked us to move…. We ain’t got nothing….”
Bigger was paralyzed with shame; he felt violated.
“Ma!” he shouted, more in shame than anger.
Max and Jan ran to the black woman and tried to lift her up.
“That’s all right, Mrs. Thomas,” Max said. “Come with me.”
“Wait,” Mrs. Dalton said.
“Please, mam! Don’t let ’em kill my boy! He ain’t never had a chance! He’s just a poor boy! Don’t let ’em kill ’im! I’ll work for you for the rest of my life! I’ll do anything you say, mam!” the mother sobbed.
Mrs. Dalton stooped slowly, her hands trembling in the air. She touched the mother’s head.
“There’s nothing I can do now,” Mrs. Dalton said calmly. “It’s out of my hands. I did all I could, when I wanted to give your boy a chance at life. You’re not to blame for this. You must be brave. Maybe it’s better….”
“If you speak to ’em, they’ll listen to you, mam,” the mother sobbed. “Tell ’em to have mercy on my boy….”
“Mrs. Thomas, it’s too late for me to do anything now,” Mrs. Dalton said. “You must not feel like this. You have your other children to think of….”
“I know you hate us, mam! You lost your daughter….”
“No; no…. I don’t hate you,” Mrs. Dalton said.
The mother crawled from Mrs. Dalton to Mr. Dalton.
“You’s rich and powerful,” she sobbed. “Spare me my boy….”
Max struggled with the black woman and got her to her feet Bigger’s shame for his mother amounted to hate. He stood with clenched fists, his eyes burning. He felt that in another moment he would have leaped at her.
“That’s all right, Mrs. Thomas,” Max said.
Mr. Dalton came forward.
“Mrs. Thomas, there’s nothing we can do,” he said. “This thing is out of our hands. Up to a certain point we can help you, but beyond that…. People must protect themselves. But you won’t have to move. I’ll tell them not to make you move.”
The black woman sobbed. Finally, she quieted enough to speak.
“Thank you, sir. God knows I thank you….”
She turned again toward Bigger, but Max led her from the room. Jan caught hold of Vera’s arm and led her forward, then stopped in the doorway, looking at Jack and G.H. and Gus.
“You boys going to the South Side?”
“Yessuh,” they said.
“Come on. I got a car downstairs. I’ll take you.”
“Yessuh.”
Buddy lingered, looking wistfully at Bigger.
“Good-bye, Bigger,” he said.
“Good-bye, Buddy,” Bigger mumbled.
The preacher passed Bigger and pressed his arm.
“Gawd bless you, son.”
They all left except Buckley. Bigger sat again upon the cot, weak and exhausted. Buckley stood over him.
“Now, Bigger, you see all the trouble you’ve caused? Now, I’d like to get this case out of the way as soon as possible. The longer you stay in jail, the more agitation there’ll be for and against you. And that doesn’t help you any, no matter who tells you it does. Boy, there’s not but one thing for you to do, and that’s to come clean. I know those Reds, Max and Erlone, have told you a lot of things about what they’re going to do for you. But, don’t believe ’em. They’re just after publicity, boy; just after building themselves up at your expense, see? They can’t do a damn thing for you! You’re dealing with the law now! And if you let those Reds put a lot of fool ideas into your head, then you’re gambling with your own life.”
Buckley stopped and relit his cigar. He cocked his head to one side, listening.
“You hear that?” he asked softly.
Bigger looked at him, puzzled. He listened, hearing a faint din.
“Come here, boy. I want to show you something,” he said, rising and catching hold of Bigger’s arm.
Bigger was reluctant to follow him.
“Come on. Nobody’s going to hurt you.”
Bigger followed him out of the door; there