:21:07
"The village of Holcomb stands on
the high wheat plains of western Kansas...
:21:12
"a Ionesome area
that other Kansans call 'out there. '
:21:16
"Until one morning in mid-November, 1959...
:21:20
"few Americans, in fact, few Kansans,
had ever heard of Holcomb.
:21:24
"Like the waters of the Arkansas River...
:21:27
"like the motorists on the highway...
:21:29
"exceptional happenings
never stopped there.
:21:44
"Perry Smith's voice
was both gentle and prim.
:21:48
"A voice that, though soft...
:21:50
"manufactured each sound exactly...
:21:54
"ejected it like a smoke ring
issuing from a parson's mouth.
:22:03
"The four coffins, which quite filled
the small, flower-crowded parlor...
:22:08
"were to be sealed at the funeral services...
:22:11
"very understandably...
:22:13
"for the effect was disquieting.
:22:18
"Nancy wore her dress of cherry-red velvet...
:22:21
"her brother a bright plaid shirt.
:22:24
"The parents were more sedately attired...
:22:26
"Mr. Clutter in navy-blue flannel,
his wife in navy-blue crepe.
:22:32
"And it was this especially
that lent the scene an awful aura...