Kabnis: Hardly, hardly, I know— Halsey: Course y do. (To Layman) See, northern niggers aint as dumb as they make out t be. Kabnis (overlooking the remark): Just stirs them up to sting. Halsey: T perfection. An put just like a professor should put it. Kabnis: Thats what actually did happen? Layman: Well, if it aint sos only because th stingers already movin jes as fast as they ken go. An been goin ever since I ken remember, an then some mo. Though I dont usually make mention of it. Halsey: Damn sight better not. Say, Layman, you come from where theyre always swarmin, dont y? Layman: Yassur. I do that, sho. Dont want t mention it, but its a fact. I’ve seed th time when there werent no use t even stretch out flat upon th ground. Seen um shoot an cut a man t pieces who had died th night befo. Yassur. An they didnt stop when they found out he was dead—jes went on ahackin at him anyway. Kabnis: What did you do? What did you say to them, Professor? Layman: Thems th things you neither does a thing or talks about if y want t stay around this away, Professor. Halsey: Listen t what he’s tellin y, Kabnis. May come in handy some day. Kabnis: Cant something be done? But of course not. This preacher-ridden race. Pray and shout. Theyre in the preacher’s hands. Thats what it is. And the preacher’s hands are in the white man’s pockets. Halsey: Present company always excepted. Kabnis: The Professor knows I wasnt referring to him. Layman: Preacher’s a preacher anywheres you turn. No use exceptin. Kabnis: Well, of course, if you look at it that way. I didnt mean— But cant something be done? Layman: Sho. Yassur. An done first rate an well. Jes like Sam Raymon done it. Kabnis: Hows that? What did he do? Layman: Th white folks (reckon I oughtnt tell it) had jes knocked two others like you kill a cow—brained um with an ax, when they caught Sam Raymon by a stream. They was about t do fer him when he up an says, “White folks, I gotter die, I knows that. But wont y let me die in my own way?” Some was fer gettin after him, but th boss held um back an says, “Jes so longs th nigger dies—” An Sam fell down ont his knees an prayed, “O Lord, Ise comin to y,” an he up an jumps int th stream. Singing from the church becomes audible. Above it, rising and falling in a plaintive moan, a woman’s voice swells to shouting. Kabnis hears it. His face gives way to an expression of mingled fear, contempt, and pity. Layman takes no notice of it. Halsey grins at Kabnis. He feels like having a little sport with him. Halsey: Lets go t church, eh, Kabnis? Kabnis (seeking control): All right—no sir, not by a damn sight. Once a days enough for me. Christ, but that stuff gets to me. Meaning no reflection on you, Professor. Halsey: Course not. Say, Kabnis, noticed y this morning. What’d y get up for an go out?