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instant. The minister let Smith speak first.
    â€œLike I said, Reverend, I been tryin’ like hell to get back on my feet, to do somethin’ worthwhile with my life.”
    â€œIf we can achieve our goals for equality here, I think things will be better for you.”
    â€œWhat if you don’t?”
    â€œExcuse me?” The minister scratched his cheek.
    â€œI guess you think the Lord puts us all here with a definite purpose, don’t you?”
    â€œThat’s right. Everyone is equal in His eyes.”
    â€œI don’t see that.”
    King was silent, perhaps uncertain of what to say, or so challenged by the sharpness of Smith’s voice that his own thoughts were stilled.
    â€œSir, I
need
work. That’s all I’m asking for. Right now I can’t rub two dimes together. Problem is, there ain’t too many places that’ll hire me. But I figure there is maybe one thing I
can
do, if you’re willin’, and I been praying night and day you will be.”
    â€œWhat is that?”
    â€œI read that when you was in Montgomery you got over forty death threats a day—is that so?”
    â€œYes,” the minister said, nodding, “and I still get them.”
    â€œThat woman who stabbed you? Weren’t you signing books when that happened? The knife come within an inch of your heart, didn’t it?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œI coulda been there instead of you,” said Smith.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œWhen you go somewhere or leave a place, I could be there too, and if somebody’s tryin’ to hurt you, they won’t know whichaway to turn. That’s all I’m askin’, that you let me do somethin’—maybe the only thing in this world—I
can
do.”
    â€œNo.” The minister stood up so suddenly the back of his legs sent his chair skidding a foot behind him. “Absolutely not. I could never agree to anything like that.”
    Smith smiled bitterly. “Thought you might say that. You ain’t the first person to turn me away. Or to take a shot at me ’cause I favor you so much.”
    â€œWhat did you say?”
    â€œI said I been catching hell since you come to Chicago.
    Last week a couple of boys pushed me off the El platform.” Smith measured five inches between his forefinger and thumb. “I was ’bout
that
far from landin’ on the third rail. Lots of people know where you’re stayin’ in town, but some don’t. They see me and come to
my
place. Some of ’em tore up my room. Scared my landlady so much she’s askin’ me to leave. But where am I gonna go? Hell, I can’t walk down the street or go to the store without somebody stoppin’ me. Some of ’em spit in my face. That’s colored as well as white. That’s why I come here. I figure if I’m catchin’ hell ’cause of you, I might’s well catch it
for
you instead.”
    â€œYou’ve no place to stay?”
    â€œNot after tomorrow.”
    The minister made a sharp intake of breath. He rubbed the back of his neck, then paced back and forth in the kitchen, perhaps thinking—as I had been all evening—of that ancient Christian story of the couple who found a bedraggled old man at their door, invited him inside, fed and comforted him, and only after their guest left discovered he was the Nazarene. Finally King took his seat. “Would you all come here with me at the table? Mr. Smith has suffered much. I’d like to say a prayer for him.”
    Amy and I sat down; she was to my left, the minister to my right, and Smith directly in front of me. We joined hands and closed our eyes. Looking back, I cannot recall the whole content of King’s prayer, but it was appropriate, an affirmation that all, regardless of circumstance, were loved by the Lord. And I would not have opened my eyes before he’d finished, but I felt pressure beneath the table on my left foot, a