“Well, we could get a couple beers, can’t we?
I’m jus’ a-ravin’ for a beer.”
“I dunno,” said Tom. “Pa’d crap a litter of lizards if we buy beers.”
“Well, look, Tom.
I got six dollars.
You an’ me could get a couple pints an’ go down the line.
Nobody don’t know I got that six bucks.
Christ, we could have a hell of a time for ourselves.”
“Keep ya jack,” Tom said. “When we get out to the coast you an’ me’ll take her an’ we’ll raise hell.
Maybe when we’re workin’—” He turned in the seat. “I didn’ think you was a fella to go down the line.
I figgered you was talkin’ ’em out of it.”
“Well, hell, I don’t know nobody here.
If I’m gonna ride aroun’ much, I’m gonna get married.
I’m gonna have me a hell of a time when we get to California.”
“Hope so,” said Tom.
“You ain’t sure a nothin’ no more.”
“No, I ain’t sure a nothin’.”
“When ya killed that fella—did—did ya ever dream about it or anything?
Did it worry ya?”
“No.”
“Well, didn’ ya never think about it?”
“Sure.
I was sorry ’cause he was dead.”
“Ya didn’t take no blame to yourself ?”
“No.
I done my time, an’ I done my own time.”
“Was it—awful bad—there?”
Tom said nervously,
“Look, Al.
I done my time, an’ now it’s done.
I don’ wanna do it over an’ over.
There’s the river up ahead, an’ there’s the town.
Let’s jus’ try an’ get a con-rod an’ the hell with the res’ of it.”
“Ma’s awful partial to you,” said Al. “She mourned when you was gone.
Done it all to herself.
Kinda cryin’ down inside of her throat.
We could tell what she was thinkin’ about, though.”
Tom pulled his cap down low over his eyes.
“Now look here, Al. S’pose we talk ’bout some other stuff.”
“I was jus’ tellin’ ya what Ma done.”
“I know—I know.
But—I ruther not.
I ruther jus’—lay one foot down in front a the other.”
Al relapsed into an insulted silence.
“I was jus’ tryin’ to tell ya,” he said, after a moment.
Tom looked at him, and Al kept his eyes straight ahead.
The lightened truck bounced noisily along.
Tom’s long lips drew up from his teeth and he laughed softly.
“I know you was, Al.
Maybe I’m kinda stir-nuts.