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"Remember," Charlie told all the faces looking up at him, "De
De
De
De
Charlie said, "And now world champion De
Charlie said, after, "How was l?"
Robert said, "They love you, man."
Billy Darwin said, "That's the show?"
De
Billy Darwin had his assistant, Carla, with him, Carla a knockout, tan, dark hair, Carla in a slim brown sundress. He said to her, "What do you think?"
Carla said, "It was cool," looking at De
Billy Darwin said, "Okay," and they left.
Robert said, "Time to go see Massa Kirkbride."
7
THE BLACK MAN IN THE PHOTOGRAPH was hanging naked less than ten feet above the river. Lining the rail of the bridge above him were fifty-six people. De
It was lying on the seat when De
"There little children in the picture," De
"A bunch of 'em. Couple of dogs, too, wondering what the fuck everybody's doing out on the bridge."
De
"In my case, on the backseat."
De
"You're not go
Robert glanced over. "Nooo, we go
"What is it?"
"Walther PPK, the kind James Bond packs. No, it's just-you know, in case. Like I find myself in the kind of situation you find yourself in."
They turned into Southern Living Village to So
"So
Signs in front of the models they passed identified the VICKSBURG, the BILOXI, the GREENVILLE. "The Yazoo," Robert said. "That's my dream, live in a house called the Yazoo."
The big manufactured log cabin with no name turned out to be the office of American Dream, Inc., Kirkbride's manufacturing company. They angle-parked in front.
Walter Kirkbride stood by his desk wearing a Confederate officer's coat, gold buttons, gold braid on the collar, over a pair of khakis. They took him by surprise coming in una
"I hope you boys have come to sign up." A Confederate battle flag filled the wall behind him. "You want a job, you got it. You want to buy a house, take your pick. Ah, but if you came in here to join Kirkbride's Brigade your timing couldn't be better, as I'm looking for a few good men. I'll commission you a lieutenant," he said to De
"Something special, huh?"
That was all Robert said. De
"I've been the general many times," Kirkbride said. "And it's kind of you to say that. But my wife has refused to kiss me if I dye my beard again. I have a lot of nerve posing as Ole Bedford anyway. There he is," Kirkbride said, turning to a wall of paintings, "in his prime."
Robert said, "The man that started the KKK?"
"It wasn't as racially oriented as it is now. Oh my, no." He turned to the wall again. "Left to right you have Forrest, Jackson, Jeb Stuart and Robert E. Lee, the most loved by his men of any general who ever lived. Outside of Ole Stonewall and maybe Napoleon."
"Got their love," Robert said, "and then got 'em killed."
A flush came over Kirkbride's face. "They fought and died," he said, "out of a sense of honor."
"Six thousand killed and wounded," Robert said, "three days before the war ended. That make sense, die knowing the war's good as over?"
"You're certain of your facts?"
" Battle of Sayler's Creek. Had to be April '65."
De
The man was still flushed, but saw Robert raising his attache case and said, "Here, use the desk." He looked at De
Robert had the photo out of his case. He said, "Mr. Kirkbride?" Handed him the eight-by-ten and waited until he was looking at it. "That's my great-grandfather hanging from the Hatchie Bridge, August 30th, 1915."
Walter Kirkbride said, "Oh my God."
"And that's your grampa up there," Robert said, "in the dark suit, his arm raised?"