A Crying Shame (120 page)

What about the lieutenant governor?” Jon asked.

He's an idiot.”

Come on, Mike. The man can't be an idiot and be the lieutenant governor of a state.”

You wanna bet?” Mike countered.
I'm telling you, Maurice Pennypacker is an idiot! He campaigned from the back of a mule. Rode that damned mule all over the state. You didn't have to know where he was speaking on any given day; just follow the shit in the highway, that'd lead you right to him. Just about the time most of us thought the state of Louisiana had changed its image, along came Pennypacker and his damned mule. Had a Bible in one hand and a soybean stalk in the other.”

The mule or Pennypacker?”

Badon...”

Sorry, Sheriff.”

The mule died. Collapsed just outside of Dry Prong. Most people thought he got into office on a pure sympathy vote.”

I thought the mule died?”

Goddamn it! The mule did die. We didn't elect a mule as lieutenant governor. Look, Badon . . . this may be a big joke to you. I think it is. I think you get your jollies out of combat and killing. But it's no joke to me. I'm in a bind, man.”

It's no joke, Mike, and I don't view it as such. Come on out, we'll talk.”

I'll be there in an hour or so. I've got to see a man first.”