e。

I　heard　a　train…whistle　in　the　distance　…　the　threefifty　to　Priceford；　I　imagine；　but　I　couldn't　be　sure；　because　I'd　never　heard　it　before。　Not　from　Cold　Mountain；　I　hadn't；　because　the　closest　it　came　to　the　state　pen　was　ten　miles　east。　I　couldn't　have　heard　it　from　the　pen；　so　you　would　have　said　and　so；　until　November　of　'32；　I　would　have　believed；　but　I　heard　it　that　day。

Somewhere　a　lightbulb　shattered；　loud　as　a　bomb。

〃What　did　you　do　to　me？〃　I　whispered。　〃Oh　John　；　what　did　you　do？〃

〃I'm　sorry；　boss；〃　he　said　in　his　calm　way。　〃I　wasn't　thinkin。　Ain't　much；　I　reckon。　You　feel　like　regular　soon。〃

I　got　up　and　went　to　the　cell　door。　It　felt　like　walking　in　a　dream。　When　I　got　there；　he　said：　〃You　wonder　why　they　didn't　scream。　That's　the　only　thing　you　still　wonder　about；　ain't　it？　Why　those　two　little　girls　didn't　scream　while　they　were　still　there　on　the　porch。〃

I　turned　and　looked　at　him。　I　could　see　every　red　snap　in　his　eyes；　I　could　see　every　pore　on　his　face。。。　and　I　could　feel　his　hurt；　the　pain　that　he　took　in　from　other　people　like　a　sponge　takes　in　water。　I　could　see　the　darkness　he　had　spoken　of；　too。　It　lay　in　all　the　spaces　of　the　world　as　he　saw　it；　and　in　that　moment　I　felt　both　pity　for　him　and　great　relief。　Yes；　it　was　a　terrible　thing　we'd　be　doing；　nothing　would　ever　change　that　。。。　and　yet　we　would　be　doing　him　a　favor。

〃I　seen　it　when　that　bad　fella；　he　done　grab　me；〃　John　said。　〃That's　when　I　knowed　it　was　him　done　it。　I　seen　him　that　day；　I　was　in　the　trees　and　I　seen　him　drop　them　down　and　run　away；　but　…　〃

〃You　forgot；〃　I　said。

〃That's　right；　boss。　Until　he　touch　me；　I　forgot。〃

〃Why　didn't　they　scream；　John　？　He　hurt　them　enough　to　make　them　bleed；　their　parents　were