Vernon God Little Read Online Free PDF Page A

girls – come on up for a soda.’
    â€˜More trouble, Doris?’ asks Leona.
    â€˜Well gosh,’ says Mom. ‘These cakes are perspiring!’ Believe me, there ain’t the life in those cakes to perspire.
    Vaine Gurie preps her throat to speak, but just then Moltenbomb steps up to her with his camcorder and his alligator smile. ‘A few words for the camera, Captain?’
    An audience forms around them, consisting of Pam, Georgette, Leona, and Betty. Georgette’s cigarettes appear. She’s settling in. Betty’s mope turns into a scowl, she steps back. ‘You’re not going to smoke on TV, are you – George?’
    â€˜Shhh,’ says Georgette. ‘I ain’t on TV –
she
is. Don’t piss me off, Betty.’
    Deputy Gurie’s lips tighten. She draws a long breath, and frowns at the reporter. ‘Firstly, sir, I’m a deputy, and secondly you should consult the media room for updates.’
    â€˜Actually, I’m doing a background story,’ says Moltenbomb.
    Gurie looks him up and down. ‘Is that right. And you are . . .?’
    â€˜CNN, ma’am – Eulalio Ledesma, at your service.’ Sunlight strikes some gold in his mouth. ‘The world awaits.’
    Gurie chuckles and shakes her head. ‘The world’s a long way from Martirio, Mr Ledesma.’
    â€˜Today the world
is
Martirio, ma’am.’
    Gurie’s eyes dart to Pam. Pam’s mouth jacks wide open like a kid in a fast-food commercial. The shape of the word ‘TV!’ shines out. ‘Your Barry’ll be so proud!’ she says.
    Deputy Gurie looks herself over. ‘But I can’t just go on like this, can I?’
    â€˜You’re spotless, Vaine – get a grip,’ tuts Pam.
    â€˜Is that right. G
h
. And precisely what am I supposed to say?’
    â€˜Relax, I’ll lead you right in,’ says Mr Ledesma. Before Guriecan object, he sets down his tripod, aims the camera at her, and steps in front. His voice ripens to melted wood. ‘Once again we don the cloak of mourning – a cloak worn ragged by the devastating fallout of a world in change. Today, the good citizens of Martirio, Central Texas, join me in asking – how do we heal America?’
    â€˜Gh-
rr
,’ Gurie opens her mouth like she has the fucken answer. No, Vaine, duh – he ain’t finished.
    â€˜We start on the front line, with the people whose role in the aftermath of tragedy is changing; our law-enforcement professionals. Deputy Vaine Gurie – does the community relate differently to you at a time like this?’
    â€˜Well, this is our first time,’ she says. Like, fucken
duh
.
    â€˜But, are you increasingly called upon to counsel, to lend moral as well as civil support?’
    â€˜Stuss-tistically sir, there are more counselors in town than officers of the law. They don’t enforce laws, so we don’t counsel.’
    â€˜The community is meeting the challenge, then – pulling together?’
    â€˜We have some manpower over from Luling, and the dogs are here from Smith County, sure. A committee in Houston even sent up some home-made fudge.’
    â€˜Obviously freeing valuable time for you to spend with survivors . . .’ Ledesma motions me over.
    Gurie falters. ‘Sir, the survivors have survived – my job is to find the cause. This town won’t rest until the cause of the problem is identified. And corrected.’
    â€˜But surely it’s open and shut?’
    â€˜Nothing happens without an underlying cause, sir.’
    â€˜You’re saying the community has to search inside itself, maybe face some hard truths about its role in the tragedy?’
    â€˜I’m saying we have to find the one who caused it.’
    Twinkles stab Ledesma’s eyes. He reaches for my shoulder and pulls me into the frame.
    â€˜Did this young man cause it?’
    Gurie’s chins recoil like snails shot