Native Son - Richard Wright [131]
“I reserve the right to determine whether I should defend him or not,” Max said.
“Listen, Max. You think I’m trying to hoodwink you, don’t you?” Buckley asked, turning and going to the door. “Let me show you something.”
A policeman opened the door and Buckley said,
“Tell ’em to come in.”
“O.K.”
The room was silent. Bigger sat on the cot, looking at the floor. He hated this; if anything could be done in his behalf, he himself wanted to do it; not others. The more he saw others exerting themselves, the emptier he felt. He saw the policeman fling the door wide open. Mr. and Mrs. Dalton walked in slowly and stood; Mr. Dalton was looking at him, his face white. Bigger half-rose in dread, then sat again, his eyes lifted, but unseeing. He sank back to the cot.
Swiftly, Buckley crossed the room and shook hands with Mr. Dalton, and, turning to Mrs. Dalton, said:
“I’m dreadfully sorry, madam.”
Bigger saw Mr. Dalton look at him, then at Buckley.
“Did he say who was in this thing with him?” Mr. Dalton asked.
“He’s just come out of it,” Buckley said. “And he’s got a lawyer now.”
“I have charge of his defense,” Max said.
Bigger saw Mr. Dalton look briefly at Jan.
“Bigger, you’re a foolish boy if you don’t tell who was in this thing with you,” Mr. Dalton said.
Bigger tightened and did not answer. Max walked over to Bigger and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“I will talk to him, Mr. Dalton,” Max said.
“I’m not here to bully this boy,” Mr. Dalton said. “But it’ll go easier with him if he tells all he knows.”
There was silence. The preacher came forward slowly, hat in hand, and stood in front of Mr. Dalton.
“Ah’ma preacher of the gospel, suh,” he said. “’N’ Ah’m mighty sorry erbout whut’s done happened t’ yo’ daughter. Ah knows of yo’ good work, suh. ’N’ the likes of this should’na come t’ yuh.”
Mr. Dalton sighed and said wearily,
“Thank you.”
“The best thing you can do is help us,” Buckley said, turning to Max. “A grave wrong has been done to two people who’ve helped Negroes more than anybody I know.”
“I sympathize with you, Mr. Dalton,” Max said. “But killing this boy isn’t going to help you or any of us.”
“I tried to help him,” Mr. Dalton said.
“We wanted to send him to school,” said Mrs. Dalton faintly.
“I know,” Max said. “But those things don’t touch the fundamental problem involved here. This boy comes from an oppressed people. Even if he’s done wrong, we must take that into consideration.”
“I want you to know that my heart is not bitter,” Mr. Dalton said. “What this boy has done will not influence my relations with the Negro people. Why, only today I sent a dozen ping-pong tables to the South Side Boys’ Club….”
“Mr. Dalton!” Max exclaimed, coming forward suddenly. “My God, man! Will ping-pong keep men from murdering? Can’t you see? Even after losing your daughter, you’re going to keep going in the same direction? Don’t you grant as much life-feeling to other men as you have? Could ping-pong have kept you from making your millions? This boy and millions like him want a meaningful life, not ping-pong….”
“What do you want me to do?” Mr. Dalton asked coldly. “Do you want me to die and atone for a suffering I never caused? I’m not responsible for the state of this world. I’m doing all one man can. I suppose you want me to take my money and fling it out to the millions who have nothing?”
“No; no; no…. Not that,” Max said. “If you felt that millions of others experienced life as deeply as you, but differently, you’d see that what you’re doing doesn’t help. Something of a more fundamental nature….”
“Communism!” Buckley boomed, pulling down the corners of his lips. “Gentlemen, let’s don’t be childish! This boy’s going on trial for his life. My job is to enforce the laws of this state….”
Buckley’s voice stopped as the door opened and the policeman looked inside.
“What is it?” Buckley asked.
“The boy’s folks are here.”
Bigger cringed. Not this! Not here; not now! He did not want his mother to come in here now, with these people standing round. He looked about with a wild, pleading expression. Buckley watched him, then turned back to the policeman.