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Chapter no 46 – King of the World

Where the Crawdads Sing

1969

The September sea and sky glistened pale blue from a soft sun as Kya churned in her little boat toward Jumpinโ€™s to get the

bus schedule. The thought of busing with strange people to a strange town unnerved her, but she wanted to meet her editor, Robert Foster. For more than two years, they had exchanged short notesโ€”and even some long lettersโ€”mostly discussing editorial adjustments for the prose and art in her books, but the correspondence, written so often in biological phrases blended with poetic descriptions, had become a bond welded in its own language. She wanted to meet this person on the other end of the mail line, who knew how ordinary light is shattered by microscopic prisms in the feathers of hummingbirds, creating the iridescence of its golden-red throat. And how to say it in words as startling as the colors.

As she stepped onto the wharf, Jumpinโ€™ greeted her and asked

if she needed gas.

โ€œNo thanks, not this time. I need to write down the bus schedule. You have a copy, right?โ€

โ€œShoโ€™ do. Tacked up right on the wall, left aโ€™ the doah. Hep yurself.โ€

After she stepped from the shop with the schedule, he asked, โ€œYa goinโ€™ on a trip somewheres, Miss Kya?โ€

โ€œI might. My editor invited me to Greenville to meet him. Not sure yet.โ€

โ€œWell then, thataโ€™ be mighty fine. Itโ€™s a fur piece over there, but a trip aโ€™ do ya good.โ€

As Kya turned to get back into her boat, Jumpinโ€™ leaned in and looked at her more closely. โ€œMiss Kya, whatโ€™s done happened to yoโ€™ eye, yoโ€™ face? Look like you been beat up, Miss Kya.โ€ Quickly she turned her face away. The bruise from Chaseโ€™s slug, almost a month old, was faded to a faint yellowish stain, which Kya thought no one would notice.

 

 

โ€œNo, I just walked into a door inโ€”โ€

โ€œDonโ€™t ya go tellinโ€™ me a story now, Miss Kya. I didnโ€™t jusโ€™ fall off the turnip truck. Who done hit ya like that?โ€

She stood silent.

โ€œWas it Mr. Chase done this to ya? Ya know ya can tell me. In fact, we gwine stand right here tills ya tell me.โ€

โ€œYes, it was Chase.โ€ Kya could barely believe the words came from her mouth. She never thought she had anyone to tell such things. She turned away again, fighting tears.

Jumpinโ€™s entire face frowned. He didnโ€™t speak for several seconds. And then, โ€œWhat else he done?โ€

โ€œNothing, I swear. He tried, Jumpinโ€™, but I fought him off.โ€ โ€œThat man gotta be horsewhupped, then run outta this town.โ€ โ€œJumpinโ€™, please. You canโ€™t tell anybody. You know you canโ€™t

tell the sheriff or anybody. Theyโ€™d drag me into the sheriffโ€™s office and make me describe what happened to a bunch of men. I canโ€™t live through that.โ€ Kya dropped her face in her hands.

โ€œWell, sumpโ€™m gotta be done. He cainโ€™t go anโ€™ do a thing like that, and then just go on boatinโ€™ โ€™round in that fancy boat aโ€™ his. King of the World.โ€

โ€œJumpinโ€™, you know how it is. Theyโ€™ll take his side. Theyโ€™ll say Iโ€™m just stirring up trouble. Trying to get money out of his parents or something. Think what would happen if one of the girls from Colored Town accused Chase Andrews of assault and attempted rape. Theyโ€™d do nothing. Zero.โ€ Kyaโ€™s voice became more and more shrill. โ€œIt would end in big trouble for that girl. Write-ups in the newspaper. People accusing her of whoring. Well, itโ€™d be the same for me, and you know it. Please promise me you wonโ€™t tell anybody.โ€ She ended in a sob.

โ€œYa right, Miss Kya. I know ya right. Ya donโ€™t gotta worry โ€™bout me doinโ€™ anythang to make this thang worse. But how dโ€™ya know

he ainโ€™t cominโ€™ after ya again? And ya aโ€™ways on yoโ€™ lonesome out there?โ€

 

 

โ€œIโ€™ve always protected myself before; I just slipped up this time because I didnโ€™t hear him coming. Iโ€™ll stay safe, Jumpinโ€™. If I decide to go to Greenville, when I come back, maybe I could live out at my reading cabin awhile. I donโ€™t think Chase knows about it.โ€

โ€œAโ€™right, then. But I wantcha to come in here more ofโ€™en, I wantcha to come by and let me know how thingsโ€™re goinโ€™. Ya know ya can always come out and stay with Mabel and me, ya know that.โ€

โ€œThank you, Jumpinโ€™. I know.โ€ โ€œWhen ya goinโ€™ over to Greenville?โ€

โ€œIโ€™m not sure. The editorโ€™s letter mentioned late October. I havenโ€™t made arrangements, havenโ€™t even accepted the invitation.โ€ She knew now she couldnโ€™t go unless the bruise had disappeared completely.

โ€œWell, ya let me know when ya gwine over thar and when ya get back. Ya hear? I gotta know if ya outer town. โ€™Cause, ifโ€™n I donโ€™t see ya fer moreโ€™n a day or so, Iโ€™m goinโ€™ out to yoโ€™ place maself.

Bring along a posse if need be.โ€ โ€œI will. Thank you, Jumpinโ€™.โ€

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