The thundering； crackling noise of the fire； plus the rumbling of the fire engines； plus the loud voices； attracted
neighbors from several blocks。 They crowded together in the lawns across the street and watched。
Jake and Nesbit ran down the street。 The chief spotted them and came running。
〃Jake！ Is anybody in the house？〃
〃No！〃
〃Good。 I didn't think so。〃
〃Just a dog。〃
〃A dog！〃
Jake nodded and watched the house。
〃I'm sorry；〃 said the chief。
They gathered at Ozzie's car in front of Mrs。 Pickle's house。 Jake answered questions；
〃That's not your Volkswagen under there； is it； Jake？〃
Jake stared in stunned silence at Carla's landmark。 He shook his head。
〃I didn't think so。 Looks like that's where it started。〃
〃I don't understand；〃 said Jake。
〃If it ain't your car； then somebody parked it there； right？ Notice how the floor of the carport is burnin'？ Concrete don't normally burn。 It's gasoline。 Somebody loaded the VW with gasoline； parked it and ran away。 Probably had some kinda device which set the thing off。〃
Prather and two volunteers agreed。
〃How long's it been burning？〃 Jake asked。
〃We got here ten minutes ago；〃 the chief said； 〃and it was well involved。 I'd say thirty minutes。 It's a good fire。 Somebody knew what they's doin'。〃
〃I don't suppose we could get anything out of there； could we？〃 Jake asked in general； knowing the answer。
〃No way； Jake。 It's too involved。 My men couldn't go in there if people were trapped。 It's a good fire。〃
〃Why do you say that？〃
〃Well； look at it。 It's burnin' evenly through the house。 You can see flames in every window。 Downstairs and up。 ？That's very unusual。 In just a minute； it'll burn through the roof。〃
Two squads inched forward with the lines； shooting water in the direction of the windows by the front porch。 A smaller line was aimed at a window upstairs。 After watching for a minute or two as the water disappeared into the flames
with no noticeable effect； the chief spat and said； 〃It'll burn to the ground。〃 With that he disappeared around an engine and began shouting。
Jake looked at Nesbit。 〃Will you do me a favor？〃
〃Sure； Jake。〃
〃Drive over to Harry Rex's and bring him back。 I'd hate for him to miss this。〃
〃Sure。〃
For two hours Jake； Ozzie； Harry Rex； and Nesbit sat on the patrol car and watched the fire fulfill the chiefs prediction。 From time to time a neighbor would stop by and extend sympathies and ask about the family。 Mrs。 Pickle； the sweet old woman next door； cried loudly when informed by Jake that Max had been consumed。
By three； the deputies and other curious had disappeared； and by four the quaint little Victorian had been reduced to smoldering rubble。 The last of the firemen smothered any sign of smoke from the ruins。 Only the chimney and burnt frames of two cars stood above the remains as the heavy rubber boots kicked and plowed through the waste looking for sparks or hidden flames that might somehow leap from the dead and burn the rest of the wreckage。
They rolled up the last of the lines as the sun began to appear。 Jake thanked them when they left。 He and Harry Rex walked through the backyard and surveyed the damage。
〃Oh well；〃 Harry Rex said。 〃It's just a house。〃
〃Would you call Carla and tell her that？〃
〃No。 I think you should。〃
〃I think I'll wait。〃
Harry Rex looked at his watch。 〃It's about breakfast time； isn't it？〃
〃It's Sunday morning； Harry Rex。 Nothing's open。〃
〃Ah； Jake； you're an amateur； and I'm a professional。 I can find hot food at any time of any day。〃
〃The truck stop？〃
〃The truck stop！〃
〃Okay。 And when we finish we'll go to Oxford to check on Row Ark。〃
〃Great。 I can't wait to see her with a butch haircut。〃
Sallie grabbed the phone and threw it at Lucien； who rumbled with it until it was arranged properly next to his head。
〃Yeah； who is it？〃 he asked； squinting through the window into the darkness。
〃Is this Lucien Wilbanks？〃
〃Yeah； who's this？〃
〃Do you know Clyde Sisco？〃
〃Yeah。〃
〃It's fifty thousand。〃
〃Call me back in the morning。〃
Sheldon Roark sat in the window with his feet on the back of a chair； reading the Memphis Sunday paper's version of the Hailey trial。 On the bottom of the front page was a picture of his daughter and the story about her encounter with the Klan。 She rested fortably in the bed a few feet away。 The left side of her head was shaved and covered with a thick bandage。 The left ear was sewn with twenty…eight stitches。 The severe concussion had been downgraded to a mild concussion； and the doctors had promised she could leave by Wednesday。
She had not been raped or whipped。 When the doctors called him in Boston they were short on details。 He had flown for seven hours not knowing what they had done to her； but expecting the worst。 Late Saturday night； the doctors ran more X rays and told him to relax。 The scars would fade and the hair would grow back。 She had been frightened and roughed up； but it could have been much worse。
He heard a motion in the hall。 Someone was arguing with a nurse。 He laid the paper on her bed and opened the door。
A nurse had caught Jake and Harry Rex sneaking down the hall。 She explained that visiting hours started at 2：00 P。M。； and that happened to be six hours away； that only family members were allowed； and that she would call security if they didn't leave。 Harry Rex explained that he didn't give a damn about visiting hours or any other silly rules of the hospital； that it was his fiancee and that he would see her one last time before she died； and that if the nurse didn't shut up he would sue her for harassment because he was a lawyer and hadn't sued anybody in a week and was getting anxious。
〃What's going on here？〃 Sheldon said。
Jake looked at the small man with the red hair and green eyes； and said； 〃You must be Sheldon Roark。〃
〃I am。〃
〃I'm Jake Brigance。 The one…〃
〃Yes； I've been reading about you。 It's okay； nurse； they're with me。〃
〃Yeah；〃 Harry Rex said。 〃It's okay。 We're with him。 Now would you please leave us alone before I garnishee your check。〃
She vowed to call security； and stormed down the hall。
〃I'm Harry Rex Vonner；〃 he said； shaking hands with Sheldon Roark。
〃Step inside；〃 he said。 They followed him into the small room and stared at Ellen。 She was still asleep。
〃How bad is she？〃 Jake asked。
〃Mild concussion。 Twenty…eight stitches in her ear； and eleven in her head。 She'll be fine。 Doctor said she might leave by Wednesday。 She was awake last night and we talked for a long time。〃
〃Her hair looks awful；〃 Harry Rex observed。。
〃They yanked it and cut it with a dull knife； she said。 They also cut her clothes off； and at one time threatened to bullwhip her。 The head injuries are self…inflicted。 She thought they would either kill her or rape her； or both。 So she banged her brains out against the pole she was tied to。 Must have scared them。〃
〃You mean they didn't beat her？〃
〃No。 They didn't hurt her。 Just scared the hell out of her。〃
〃What did she see？〃
〃Not much。 Burning cross； white robes； about a dozen men。 Sheriff said it was a pasture eleven miles east of here。 Owned by some paper pany。〃
〃Who found her？〃 Harry Rex asked。
〃The sheriff received an anonymous phone call from a fella by the name of Mickey Mouse。〃
〃Ah yes。 My old friend。〃
Ellen moaned softly and stretched。
〃Let's step outside；〃 Sheldon said。
〃Does this place have a cafeteria？〃 Harry Rex asked。 〃I get hungry when I get near a hospital。〃
〃Sure。 Let's have coffee。〃
The cafeteria on the first floor was empty。 Jake and Mr。 Roark drank black coffee。 Harry Rex started with three sweet rolls and a pint of milk。
〃According to the paper； things aren't going too well；〃 Sheldon said。
〃The paper is very kind；〃 Harry Rex said with a mouthful。 〃Jake here is gettin' his ass kicked all over the courtroom。 And life ain't so great outside the courtroom； either。 When they're not shooting at him； or kidnapping his law clerk； they're burning his house。〃
〃They burned your house！〃
Jake nodded。 〃Last night。 It's still smoldering。〃
〃I thought I detected the smell of smoke。〃
〃We watched it burn to the ground。 It took four hou