Part 16 (1/2)

”Who's Amelia Boynton?” Shel had never heard the name.

”In a lot of ways, Shel, she was the heart and soul of the movement. She was the lady who wouldn't let go. Who kept pus.h.i.+ng.”

When Shel went over to talk with her, Dave stayed where he was. Amelia smiled. Thanked him for being there. ”I know it's not easy,” she said.

Shel nodded. Wished her luck. Dave's face was unreadable. Shel was getting a bad feeling.

A guy with a microphone announced they were ready to start. People began forming a line, two abreast. John Lewis issued a brief statement to the reporters. Then they knelt, and Andrew Young led them in prayer.

Two of the nuns pa.s.sed close. Smiled at Shel. ”G.o.d bless you,” one of them said.

Somebody else shook Dave's hand. ”Appreciate your being here.” The line began to move. Dave looked at them, looked at Shel. ”I don't like standing aside.”

”I know. Maybe it was a mistake, coming here. Maybe you were right, and we ought to just stay away from this kind of stuff.”

Lewis was up front. In a light trench coat. Hosea Williams walked beside him.

THE ambulances, four of them, pulled in behind the marchers, keeping pace. They walked quietly. A few people, watching as they pa.s.sed, cheered, and some sang. ambulances, four of them, pulled in behind the marchers, keeping pace. They walked quietly. A few people, watching as they pa.s.sed, cheered, and some sang. ”People get ready; there's a train a-comin'.” ”People get ready; there's a train a-comin'.” But they were joined by only a few isolated voices among the marchers. But they were joined by only a few isolated voices among the marchers.

They moved along Water Street, out of the black area. Now there were whites waving Confederate flags. And sometimes wielding guns. The few voices went silent.

They turned right at Alabama Street and marched along the river. Shel and Dave followed. Shel wanted to warn them what was coming.

Dave hesitated. Closed his eyes.

”What?” said Shel.

”I can't deal with this.”

”Okay. Let's go back.”

Dave showed no indication he'd heard. ”I can't stand here and not do something.”

”There's nothing we can do.”

”Yeah, there is.”

”Dave-”

He lurched out into the street. Toward the moving line.

Shel hurried after him, grabbed hold of his arm, tried to talk sense to him. But Dave shook him off.

Several marchers looked in their direction.

”I can't walk away from this.”

In the line, two elderly women watched them approach. ”Dave, don't be a nitwit. You can't change anything.”

”Maybe that's the point.” He crossed the last few feet and got in behind the two women.

Shel backed off and watched him go. Somewhere, a voice said, ”You don't need no baggage; you just get on board.” ”You don't need no baggage; you just get on board.”

Dave was one of the tallest people in the crowd. He'd make an easy target.

At Broad Street, they turned left onto US 80 and started toward the Edmund Pettis Bridge.

SHEL pushed ahead, trying to angle himself so he could keep an eye on Dave. But it was hard to get through the crowd lining the street. Then he became aware of movement behind him. Two men were following him. One was the guy who'd been pretending to pick off people with his rifle. The weapon now was nowhere to be seen. But the other wore a large floppy hat and carried a shotgun. pushed ahead, trying to angle himself so he could keep an eye on Dave. But it was hard to get through the crowd lining the street. Then he became aware of movement behind him. Two men were following him. One was the guy who'd been pretending to pick off people with his rifle. The weapon now was nowhere to be seen. But the other wore a large floppy hat and carried a shotgun.

When their eyes met, the one with the shotgun grinned. ”You left your momma back there, didn't you?”

Shel kept walking.

”Hey,” said his partner, ”we asked you a question.”

Shel fingered the converter.

”You did did ask him a question, didn't you, Alvin?” ask him a question, didn't you, Alvin?”

”I don't think the son of a b.i.t.c.h is friendly, Will.”

”Why don't we ask him?”

It was enough for Shel. He disconnected the converter from his belt. Hoped they wouldn't think he was pulling a gun. Set it for the same location, ten minutes earlier.

”You know, you son of a b.i.t.c.h, you come here and make trouble for-”

Shel pressed the b.u.t.ton.

WITH the extra ten minutes in hand, he had no trouble beating the marchers onto US 80. He was watching when they came out of Alabama Street in a long file and turned toward the bridge. The crowd waved the Stars and Bars and screamed, but the police kept them at a distance. the extra ten minutes in hand, he had no trouble beating the marchers onto US 80. He was watching when they came out of Alabama Street in a long file and turned toward the bridge. The crowd waved the Stars and Bars and screamed, but the police kept them at a distance.

Dave was about a third of the way back. He kept his eyes straight forward. They all did.

It was a beautiful day, maybe a bit chilly. The sky was clear, and the Alabama River sparkled in the sunlight.

When you walked onto the Pettis Bridge, from either end, you went uphill until you hit the center. So the marchers couldn't see what lay at the far end of the bridge until they topped the rise in the middle.

Shel told himself Dave was in no real danger. All he had to do was use the converter when things got rough. He could get out of there anytime he wanted. Just as Shel had.

Lewis was still in the lead. And Hosea Williams.