s deal。〃
Mitch started for the door。 〃How about another fifty thousand？〃
〃I'll take it。〃
He winked at her and closed the door； wondering if he would ever see her again。
The cell was eight by eight； with a toilet in a corner and a set of bunk beds。 The top bunk was uninhabited and had been for a year。 Ray lay on the bottom bunk with wires running from his ears。 He spoke to himself in a very foreign language。 Turkish。 At that moment on that floor； it was safe to bet he was the only soul listening to Berlitz jabber in Turkish。 There was quiet talk up and down the hall； but most lights were out。 Eleven o'clock； Tuesday night。
The guard walked silently to his cell。 〃McDeere；〃 he said softly； secretly； through the bars。 Ray sat on the edge of the bed； under the bunk above； and stared at him。 He removed the wires。
〃Warden wants to see you。〃
Sure； he thought； the warden's sitting at his desk at 11 P。M。 waiting on me。 〃Where are we going？〃 It was an anxious question。
〃Put your shoes on and e on。〃
Ray glanced around the cell and took a quick inventory of his worldly possessions。 In eight years he had accumulated a black…and…white television； a large cassette player； two cardboard boxes full of tapes and several dozen books。 He made three dollars a day working in the prison laundry； but after cigarettes there had been little to spend on tangibles。 These were his only assets。 Eight years。
The guard fitted a heavy key in the door and slid it open a few inches。 He turned off the light。 〃Just follow me； and no cute stuff。 I don't know who you are； mister； but you got some heavy…duty friends。〃
Other keys fit other doors； and they were outside under the basketball hoop。 〃Stay behind me；〃 the guard said。
Ray's eyes darted around the dark pound。 The wall loomed like a mountain in the distance； beyond the courtyard and walking area where he had paced a thousand miles and smoked a ton of cigarettes。 It was sixteen feet tall in the daylight； but looked much larger at night。 The guard towers were fifty yards apart and well lit。 And heavily armed。
The guard was casual and unconcerned。 Of course； he had a uniform and a gun。 He moved confidently between two cinder…block buildings； telling Ray to follow and be cool。 Ray tried to be cool。 They stopped at the corner of a building； and the guard gazed at the wall； eighty feet away。 Floodlights made a routine sweep of the courtyard； and they backed into the darkness。
Why are we hiding？ Ray asked himself。 Are those guys up there with the guns on our side？ He would like to know before he made any dramatic moves。
The guard pointed to the exact spot on the wall where James Earl Ray and his gang went over。 A rather famous spot； studied and admired by most of the inmates at Brushy Mountain。 Most of the white ones anyway。 〃In about five minutes； they'll throw a ladder up there。 The wire has already been cut on top。 You'll find a heavy rope on the other side。〃
〃Mind if I ask a few questions？〃
〃Make it quick。〃
〃What about all these lights？〃
〃They'll be diverted。 You'll have total darkness。〃
〃And those guns up there？〃
〃Don't worry。 They'll look the other way。〃
〃Dammit！ Are you sure？〃
〃Look； man； I've seen some inside jobs before； but this takes the cake。 Warden Lattemer himself planned this one。 He's right up there。〃 The guard pointed to the nearest tower。
〃The warden？〃
〃Yep。 Just so nothing'll go wrong。〃
〃Who's throwing up the ladder？〃
〃Coupla guards。〃
Ray wiped his forehead with his sleeve and breathed deeply。 His mouth was dry and his knees were weak。
The guard whispered； 〃There'll be a dude waiting for you。 His name is Bud。 White dude。 He'll find you on the other side； and just do what he says。〃
The floodlights swept through again； then died。 〃Get ready；〃 the guard said。 Darkness settled in； followed by a dreadful silence。 The wall was now black。 From the nearest tower； a whistle blew two short signals。 Ray knelt and watched。
From behind the next building； he could see the silhouettes running to the wall。 They grabbed at something in the grass； then hoisted it。
〃Run； dude；〃 the guard said。 〃Run！〃
Ray sprinted with his head low。 The homemade ladder was in place。 The guards grabbed his arms and threw him to the first step。 The ladder bounced as he scurried up the two… by…fours。 The top of the wall was two feet wide。 A generous opening had been cut in the coiled barbed wire。 He slid through without touching it。 The rope was right where it was supposed to be； and he eased down the outside of the wall。 Eight feet from pay dirt； he turned loose and jumped。 He squatted and looked around。 Still dark。 The floodlights were on hold。
The clearing stopped a hundred feet away； and the dense woods began。 〃Over here；〃 the voice said calmly。 Ray started for it。 Bud was waiting in the first cluster of black bushes。
〃Hurry。 Follow me。〃
Ray followed him until the wall was out of sight。 They stopped in a small clearing next to a dirt trail。 He stuck out a hand。 〃I'm Bud Riley。 Kinda fun； ain't it？〃
〃Unbelievable。 Ray McDeere。〃
Bud was a stocky man with a black beard and a black beret。 He wore bat boots； jeans and a camouflage jacket。 No gun was in sight。 He offered Ray a cigarette。
〃Who are you with？〃 Ray asked。
〃Nobody。 I just do a little free…lance work for the warden。 They usually call me when somebody goes over the wall。 Course； this is a little different。 Usually I bring my dogs。 I thought we'd wait here for a minute until the sirens go off； so you can hear。 Wouldn't be right if you didn't get to hear 'em。 I mean； they're sorta in your honor。〃
〃That's okay。 I've heard them before。〃
〃Yeah； but it's different out here when they go off。 It's a beautiful sound。〃
〃Look； Bud； I…〃
〃Just listen； Ray。 We got plenty of time。 They won't chase you； much。〃
〃Much？〃
〃Yeah； they gotta make a big scene； wake ever'body up； just like a real escape。 But they ain't ing after you。 I don't know what kinda pull you got； but it's something。〃
The sirens began screaming； and Ray jumped。 Lights flashed across the black sky； and the faint voices of the tower guards were audible。
〃See what I mean？〃
〃Let's go；〃 Ray said； and began walking。
〃My truck's just up the road a piece。 I brought you some clothes。 Warden gave me your sizes。 Hope you like them。〃
Bud was out of breath when they reached the truck。 Ray quickly changed into the olive Duckheads and navy cotton work shirt。 〃Very nice； Bud；〃 he said。
〃Just throw them prison clothes in the bushes。〃
They drove the winding mountain trail for two miles； then turned onto blacktop。 Bud listened to Conway Twitty and said nothing。
〃Where are we going； Bud？〃 Ray finally asked。
〃Well； the warden said he didn't care and really didn't want to know。 Said it was up to you。 I'd suggest we get to a big town where there's a bus station。 After that； you're on your own。〃
〃How far will you drive me？〃
〃I got all night； Ray。 You name the town。〃
〃I'd like to get some miles behind us before I start hanging around a bus station。 How about Knoxville？〃
〃Knoxville it is。 Where are you going from there？〃
〃I don't know。 I need to get out of the country。〃
〃With your friends； that should be no problem。 Be careful； though。 By tomorrow； your picture will be hanging in every sheriff's office in ten states。〃
Three cars with blue lights came blazing over the hill in front of them。 Ray ducked onto the floorboard。
〃Relax； Ray。 They can't see you。〃
He watched them disappear through the rear window。 〃What about roadblocks？〃
〃Look； Ray。 Ain't gonna be no roadblocks； okay？ Trust me。〃 Bud stuck a hand in a pocket and threw a wad of cash on the seat。 〃Five hundred bucks。 Hand…delivered by the warden。 You got some stout friends； buddy。〃
34
WEDNESDAY morning。 Tarry Ross climbed the stairs to the fourth floor of the Phoenix Park Hotel。 He paused on the landing outside the hall door and caught his breath。 Sweat beaded across his eyebrows。 He removed the dark sunglasses and wiped his face with the sleeve of his overcoat。 Nausea hit