Frank had been sure that Lisa would leave with Dave. They had seemed to be growing close. But in the end he had simply turned and left her standing with the others, walking the short distance to the smaller group. She had seemed hesitant, about to follow, but instead had turned her back on the smaller crowd and remained. Frank felt saddened by their leaving. He knew, and suspected they knew, that they were making some sort of a choice. He was not positive what kind of a choice he had made, other than that for him; it was the choice of good. It was equally clear cut to him that the other choice was evil, or bad. He did not go beyond that in his thinking. He was only glad that Annie had made the same choice.
Ira stood from the stone steps, and walked slowly down the risers to the crowd below. He walked to the police car, and stood close to Jimmy. He turned and looked at Ira, and Ira could see the tracks his tears had left as they found their way from his eyes and across his face. He did not seem to be sad though. He had a soft smile on his face as he spoke to Ira.
"Did you see?" he asked, as he looked back over the crowd of people. "I didn't have the slightest idea of what I was going to say when I got out of that stupid car. I just talked, and its’ kind of funny, but I don't even remember everything I said," he looked at Ira as though he might not believe him.
"I kin understand that real well," Ira said softly, "been there myself a few times. I ain't sure it matters what you said, so much as you said what you felt had to be said."
Jimmy nodded his head in agreement. "Did you find the man you were looking for?" he asked.
"You might say he found me," Ira said. "But if you mean have I spoke to him yet, I ain't. I'm hoping he's still in this crowd somewhere."
Even though Ira's statement hadn't entirely made sense to him, the young man nodded his head.
"Buy you another cup of coffee?" Ira asked.
"Sure. Sure," Jimmy replied. He turned and walked back towards the old court house building with Ira. They mounted the worn stone steps, and went inside.
Apart from the older woman behind the long table serving coffee and sandwiches, the inside of the building was empty. Everyone had left and gone outside into the night air. Some to leave, and some to decide to stay.
"Back for seconds?" she asked with a smile as Ira and Jimmy approached the long table.
"Maybe so," Ira said, smiling back, "maybe even thirds."
"They done out there?" she asked, motioning towards the dark outside the doors.
"As done as they can be," Ira said. "I ain't so sure, that a thing is ever really done, but I suppose they're mostly done."
She nodded her head as he spoke, and when he finished she handed him a fresh cup of coffee. As she handed another steaming Styrofoam cup to Jimmy, she spoke. "Made up my own mind yesterday," she said. "I just figured it was time, so I did. What's next?" she asked.
"Well... I ain't sure myself," Ira said. "I suppose it's time to stand and fight," he leveled his eyes at her as he spoke.
"It's what I figured," she said. The smile did not leave her face. "I'll stand with you, and you can take that to the bank."
"I believe you will," Ira said.
"Me too," Jimmy said. "I'm with you."
"I believe you too," Ira said, "but I want to make it clear, it ain't me you'll be making a stand with."
"I know that," Jimmy replied calmly. "I knew when you walked up to the car, like you were just out for a Sunday stroll. I think I made up my mind before you left, and to be honest I'm glad I did," his eyes were calm as he spoke, matching his voice.
Ira turned back to the woman behind the table. He knew her name from his last trip in to get coffee. "Bess?"
"Me too," she replied. "I know the difference between following God and following a man. I'm glad he brought you though, Ira, I was beginning to think we'd be here forever before somebody showed up. Whether you admit it, or want to take the credit for it, you got us moving. It's important. I suppose you were just doing what you felt was right, but you didn't have to. I guess that's why I'm glad. You didn't have to, but you did." Bess poured herself a cup of coffee as she finished.
"Bring it with you, Bess," Ira said, "bring it on outside. People kin get their own coffee if they want it."
Ira turned and they walked as a group down the stairs, back out into the crowd.
FOUR
- 1 -
The trek out of Seattle was much harder than Joe and Arlene had thought it would be.
It was close to noon before they reached the outskirts of the city, and decided to try to find some kind of four wheel drive vehicle, at one of the many dealerships that dotted I 405. They had hoped to leave via I-90 and cross Mercer Island, but after a two hour walk, most of which consisted of crawl-walking over the tops of stalled vehicles, they had been forced to turn back when they reached the edge of Lake Washington. I-90 was gone, and nothing but
