Doc Wilson ordered his boy, Norbert, to carry Toby Scrimshaw into his surgery. Norbert was a huge man who picked up his charge as if he were a mere child. Watching him, Francie shook his head, disgust written across his face. “Why do you have a goddamned n****r working for you, Doc?”
About to turn and go into his surgery, Wilson stopped in his tracks and swung round. “What did you say?”
“A goddamned n***o slave? Why can"t you employ a good, honest white man?”
“Like you, you mean?”
“Like me? Hell, I already got a job, and I don"t need no—”
“For your information, you ignorant, cloth-eared bastard, Norbert is ten times more honest and hard-working than most of the unworthy trash living round these parts.”
Francie"s mouth fell open. “What did you call me?”
“I"m calling you ignorant, bec
