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I smiled at him

“There’s one more place I need to show you, Ben,” he said “Then I reckon we’ll be ready to write an official report for Mr President”

As his mule started off, I saw Abraham wince in pain and try to hide it He saw that I had noticed and forced a smile

“Don’t worry about me, Mr Corbett,” he said “I’m old, but I ain’t even close to dyin’ yet”

But as he turned away and the smile dropped from his face like a mask, I realized that Abraham was a very old man, and probably a sick man as well His face had the hidden desperation of so on for dear life

Or maybe just to make this report to the president

Chapter 51

I SUPPOSE ABRAHAM WAS WISE to save the worst for last We rode the h a peach orchard south of the Chip-ley plantation, eneral direction of town The air was heavy with the s these peaches

At the end of the orchard we elen At the far side stood two huge old trees Frolen, I made out that these were black cherry trees; we had a nice speci up

Fro a black nizable Flies buzzed around it It had been there a while

I didn’t want to go closer, but I foundforHe was caked with blood, spit, snot, mud, and shit His head was distended, swollen fro His lips were swollen too, like balloons about to pop

I began to gag and I turned away I fell to one knee and heaved

“Go ahead, Ben,” Abrahaet rid of it like that I wish I could I guess I’et used to”

I took out es ofover me

“That’s Jimmy Patton up there,” he said