Read Online Trick Baby by Iceberg Slim - Free Book Online

Mississippi. He was very angry. Tonight around ten, he ordered us from his house. We didn’t know where to go until I remembered you. And here we are.”
    Suddenly, Blue clapped his palms against his ears. He twisted and pounded them against the side of his head in a savage ritual of mental agony. He pointed his chin at the ceiling.
    I heard a creaky pop as he wobbled his head around like a punchy pug loosening up before the phantom clang of an inner gong. The hook, the convincer was in play. By whatever name, its purpose was the same. The Reverend’s mouth was an awed chasm.
    Then, in tinny tones of an amateur ventriloquist’s dummy, Blue said, “Think of yourself, Blue. You’re sixty-seven years old. Why stick your neck out? Call the police and turn in those no-good niggers. They’re not worth the money you plan to spend Monday to get them out of the country.
    â€œI know Bob Bigelow worries you. You can’t forget his one noble deed. You feel you’re in his debt. You don’t owe him anything. He didn’t save your life. Turn them in and enjoy what’s left of your life.”
    Then in his true voice, Blue said, “Thank you, Lord, for priding me again.”
    Like a sleepwalker Blue went to the bed. He got our coats and hats. He walked over to me. I took my hat and coat. I rose from the couch and put them on. I helped Blue put on his.
    The Reverend sat there staring at us. We weren’t worried. Reverend was like a bloody bar room brawler, too anted in the fray to feel the pain right away of the knife in his back. We walked toward the doorway.
    The delayed pain of Blue’s hook struck and wrenched a cry of anguish from Reverend Joe. He propelled himself from the bunk. He charged past me and grabbed Blue’s arm and spun him around. His eyes were wild.
    He shouted, “Satan’s trying to trick you. That ain’t the Lord’svoice you heard. Satan’s trying to fool you into hell. You got sense enough to know that were Satan lying when he told you I ain’t caring for my friend that saved my life.
    â€œHe knows the Lord ain’t never going to allow you in heaven if you betray our friends in need. I ain’t going to let you do it. You ain’t going nowhere. The Lord will forgive the vilest sinner and take him to his bosom.
    â€œI ain’t going to let you leave here until Monday. Blue, the Lord ain’t going to let no harm befall you here. He knows, just like Satan, that you planning to get them boys away. You’ll be blessed when you do.”
    Blue shrugged him off.
    He said, “Reverend Joe, I’m afraid to stay. That voice I heard was the same voice I heard when that phone was snatched from my hands. I can’t afford to disobey the Lord. Johnny, what do you think?”
    I said, “Blue, I just don’t know. I know the devil is pretty clever. He bamboozled Adam and Eve into the original sin. Reverend Joe’s word can be trusted. Let’s stay here in the safe hands of Reverend Josephus and Jesus.”
    Blue said, “Johnny, maybe you’re right. I love Reverend Josephus and trust his judgment.”
    Reverend said, “Praise the Lord. Good night, friends.” He walked from the room.
    I took off my suit-coat and shoes. I couldn’t get Phala off my mind. I kept thinking about the filth and her screaming and all. I put my coat on the couch. I loosened my tie and sprang to the top bunk. I didn’t turn the blanket back. If bedbugs were there I didn’t want to see them.
    For a long moment I stared through the doorless entrance to the bedroom. The tiny wall light gave the hallway the murky dimness of a mortuary slumber-room.
    Blue’s bulk shook the bed when he lay down. I didn’t want totalk. We lay there in the shadows. I listened to Blue’s heavy breathing for a long time.
    Finally he said, “I wonder why the hell Cleo isn’t home yet? God! I hope those torturers