Read Online Affliction by Russell Banks - Free Book Online Page B

motherfucker!” Wade said, and he grabbed Horner’s shoulder hard with his left hand and shoved him down into his seat, knocking his hat to the ground. “Jesus, Horner, you just fucking wait until we’re through, goddammit!”
    To Lillian, standing at the door on the other side, Wade said, “Don’t you say a fucking word. I didn’t hit him. I’m not going to hit anybody.”
    Her face had gone white and rigid. Slowly, she tightened her lips and shook her head from side to side, as if to deny having done anything that might have offended him, and insilence, she drew the car door carefully open and let herself in, then closed it and instantly leaned around and locked both rear doors and her own. Horner swiftly closed his door, and Lillian reached over his shoulder and locked it, then stared straight out the windshield, as Horner started the car and edged it through the crowd of people crossing the lane in front of them. The crowd parted for the silver Audi, and in a second the car was at the end of the dirt lane, turning right onto Route 29, and gone.
    Â 
    Wade looked at the ground and saw Horner’s dark-green Tyrolean hat. Leaning down, he picked it up and examined it with care, as if unsure of its function.
    Hettie had rolled down the window next to her, and now Jack leaned across the girl’s lap and said to him, “Wade? Hey, you okay, man?”
    â€œYeah, I’m okay. Sonofabitch lost his hat,” he said, and he started walking toward the town hall.
    â€œYou want to get a beer, man? We’re going to Toby’s— you want to meet us there?”
    Wade didn’t answer. He heard Jack’s truck start up and lumber off. Then, in front of him, leaving the town hall, came Nick Wickham and, a few steps behind, Margie. Nick nodded agreeably as he passed, but Margie stopped and smiled.
    â€œHi. Party’s over,” she said.
    â€œYeah. I got to do some stuff in my office.”
    â€œNew hat?” She pointed at the crumpled hat in his hand.
    He shook his head no.
    â€œJill’s up, I see.”
    He said, “Yeah, for a while.”
    â€œHow’s she doing?”
    â€œOkay,” he said. “She’s fine.”
    â€œNice. Well, listen, give her my love, will you?” She took a step away from him.
    â€œWill do.”
    â€œYou two want to do anything tomorrow you need a third party for, give me a call, okay? I got no plans, and I’m off tomorrow.”
    â€œLike hell you are,” Wickham interrupted from behind her. “It’s the first day of hunting season, and I’ll need you atleast in the morning,” he said. “I thought I told you this morning already.”
    Margie slowly turned and faced him. “No, Nick, you didn’t.”
    â€œYeah, well, so long as you ain’t got any plans, whyn’t you come in at six and work through lunch. Take Saturday off instead.” He started walking away. “See you later, Wade,” he called back.
    â€œYeah.”
    Margie shrugged helplessly and smiled. “Well, that’s that.”
    â€œYeah. You be careful of that little bastard,” Wade said in a weary voice. “He’s dying to get into your pants, you know.”
    â€œNo kidding. But don’t worry, I can protect my virtue okay. I mean, c’mon, Wade, give me a break.” She laughed and showed him her large good-humored face.
    He turned away and said, “Listen, I gotta go. See you tomorrow, maybe.”
    â€œYou okay?”
    â€œYeah.” He grabbed the door and pulled it open.
    â€œWell, give my love to Jill!”
    Wade nodded without turning around and went in. There were still a half-dozen people inside the hall, chatting and cleaning up—LaRiviere, Chub Merritt and his round little wife, Lorraine, and the Congregational minister and the priest from Littleton who served the Lawford parish part time and one or two others. Wade slipped by them