Page 9 of Edge of Eternity (The Century 3)

"What did she say?"

"She thinks those Southern racists are going to kill us all."

"I don't think that'll happen, but you could lose your job."

"Has Mr. Renshaw said something?"

"Heck, no, he doesn't know anything about this, yet. But he'll find out soon enough if you get arrested."

Renshaw, who was from Buffalo, was a childhood friend of Greg's, and senior partner in a prestigious Washington law firm, Fawcett Renshaw. Last summer Greg had got George a vacation job as a law clerk at the firm and, as they both had hoped, the temporary post had led to the offer of a full-time job after graduation. It was a coup: George would be the first Negro to work there as anything other than a cleaner.

George said with a touch of irritation: "The Freedom Riders are not lawbreakers. We're trying to get the law enforced. The segregationists are the criminals. I would have expected a lawyer such as Renshaw to understand that."

"He understands it. But all the same he can't hire a man who has been in trouble with the police. Believe me, it would be the same if you were white."

"But we're on the side of the law!"

"Life is unfair. Student days are over--welcome to the real world."

The leader called out: "Everybody, get your tickets and check your bags, please."

George stood up.

Greg said: "I can't talk you out of this, can I?"

He looked so forlorn that George longed to be able to give in, but he could not. "No, I've made up my mind," he said.

"Then please just try to be careful."

George was touched. "I'm lucky to have people who worry about me," he said. "I know that."

Greg squeezed his arm and left quietly.

George stood in line with the others at the window and bought a ticket to New Orleans. He walked to the blue-and-gray bus and handed over his bag to be loaded in the luggage compartment. Painted on the side of the bus were a large greyhound and the slogan: IT'S SUCH A COMFORT TO TAKE THE BUS . . . AND LEAVE THE DRIVING TO US. George got on board.

An organizer directed him to a seat near the front. Others were told to sit in interracial pairs. The driver paid no attention to the Riders, and the regular passengers seemed no more than mildly curious. George opened the book his mother had given him and read the first line.

A moment later the organizer directed one of the women to sit next to George. He nodded to her, pleased. He had met her a couple of times before and liked her. Her name was Maria Summers. She was demurely dressed in a pale gray cotton frock with a high neckline and a full skirt. She had skin the deep, dark color of George's mother's, a cute flat nose, and lips that made him think about kissing. He knew she was at the University of Chicago Law School, and like him was about to graduate, so they were probably the same age. He guessed she was not only smart but determined: she would have to be, to get into Chicago Law with two strikes against her, being both female and black.

He closed his book as the driver started the engine and pulled away. Maria looked down and said: "To Kill a Mockingbird. I was in Montgomery, Alabama, last summer."

Montgomery was the state capital. "What were you doing there?" George said.

"My father's a lawyer, and he had a client who sued the state. I was working for Daddy during the vacation."

"Did you win?"

"No. But don't let me keep you from reading."

"Are you kidding? I can read anytime. How often does a guy on a bus have a girl as pretty as you sit down next to him?"

"Oh, my," she said. "Someone warned me you were a smooth talker."

"I'll tell you my secret, if you want."

"Okay, what is it?"

"I'm sincere."

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