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Ninety Days Inside The Empire: A Novel by William Appleman Williams

The Dream and The Reality of Violence

Page 101

"That's all we got, Mitch. No more. If it don't beat guns then it don't make any difference nowhere for nobody. If we live that way and fail, then it all meant nothing anyway."

"I'm beginning to see that. So what do we do?"

"You talked to The Judge or Wendell?"

"Came here first."

"Well, your security officer is right. Worse than silly goin' to the police - let alone the sheriff. Sheriff Tommy Downs is a bad man and a dangerous one ...I worry 'bout that Mrs. Warrener puttin' him and his toughs on the Wyes. That would not be nice, either."

"I know, but one thing at a time. This one first."

"You right, just me wondering and worrying. I'll talk to Wendell and you see Marsh. My best thought right now is to go to Burton and ask him to tell Crown to get Mr. Richie Dillon the hell out of here by Monday morning. I'll move my car, Massa."

Marsh was worried about Mitch being so damn calm, and then by his refusal of even a small drink.

"You got to watch being too sober, Mitch. Makes people fly off the handle."

"You are a wise man, Judge. But I'm flying easy. The Reverend loosened me up just right. Any more and I'm liable to get to worrying about saving the bastard's soul."

"Well, I think Griff's right. If you take this to the law around here you'll just get laughed at plus a little check alongside your name, and dear Richie will be a hero to the Klan types. They'll figure he was really after you for being friends with the Niggers, and that's what I think, too. Him not you."

Mitch was up walking between the corner windows.

"I was slow on that, but I see it now. And like Security said, he ain't done anything illegal yet.".

"Oh, you could maybe force them to arrest Richie if Maggie identified him from the pictures, but he'd be out strutting on the streets in two hours. And Maggie'd be marked good. Mr. Hank, too. And the rest of you."

"We're marked anyway...."

"Not that way, my friend."

"...but I agree we can't get Maggie advertised. But I want her and Mr. Hank to get something out of this." He sat down. "So I guess I call Burton and tell him he's got a little problem, and as a dear friend I'd like to help him."

Marsh laughed, poured Mitch a short one just in case.

"Well, knowing you a bit, you just might pull it off. Appeals to me; you and Mr. Hank walking into the Country Club all spiffed-up to have a little private chat over lunch about rape and kidnapping. I like it. Make a good movie."

Mitch had to grin.

"You make it sound like the Marx brothers, for Christ's sake."

"That's good. If you can laugh you're out in front."

"Well, damn it, Mr. Hank's going to be in on this...."

"You the boss on that, and I take your point. What's left is to decide how political you want to get."

"I'm not sure I get that...."

"Oh, it'd come to you. Navy politics ain't kiddies kissing each other in the sandbox. But we need to get this done before Sunday because I hear Burton's going to Washington on Monday to get settled in. Just come back here for a few meetings and speeches before the November election."

"You playin' dumb on me?"

"No...oh, I begin to...."