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“I’ll beback to Maybelle’s tomorrow,” I said “It’s time”

Moody didn’t reply

“It’ll be better for Abraham once I’m out of here,” I said “And for you”

No answer

I said, “The only reason those bastards come around is because I’m here”

Nothing She stared out at the street

“Thanks to y’all, I’ot some decisions to make”

Her silence and stubbornness just went on and on, and I gave up trying to pierce it I sat back and watched the gray light filling in all the blank dark spaces

I think we sat another ten whole minutes without a word The sun came up and cast its first shadows of the day

At last Moody said, “You know I ain’t never gonna sleep with you”

I considered that for a moment

“I know,” I said “Is it because I’m white?”

“No,” she said “Because I’m black”

Chapter 74

“I AM JUST AS SORRY AS I can be, Mr Corbett, but we simply have no rooms available at this time,” Maybelle said to me “We are full up”