Westaredateachotherindismay.
"Goonthen,"Isaidintheend.Therewasnothingelsetodo.
Ileftthecabandwalkedrestlesslyashortwaybackalongtheroad,fearingeverysecondtoseeMatt"sheadlightsandwonderinghowbesttodealwithhimifwehadto.Iwasallforstealingfromhimwhatwasn"this,butnotfordamaginghisskin.He,however,wouldhavenosuchinhibitions.Therewouldcertainlybeblood.NotfairtomakeitSam"s.
Attwominutespastmidnighthecalledoutthathehadfinished,andIwalkedquicklybacktojoinhim.Hewaspouringwaterintotheradiator,andscrewedonthecapasIcameup.
"ItshouldbeO.K.now,"hesaid.Hishandswerecoveredingreaseandhisbigbodyhungtiredlyfromtheshoulders."Whichwaydowego?"
"On."
Henoddedwithawideslicinggrin."Ifiguredyou"dsaythat.Well,Iguessthat"sO.K.byme."
HeswungupintothecabandIclimbedinbesidehim.Theenginestartedsweetlyatfirsttry,andswitchingonhisheadlights,hereleasedthebrakeandeasedawayalongtheroad.
"Ifanyonecatchesusherefromnowon,"Isaid,"duck."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"Tellyousomething,"hesaidcomfortably."Iswingameanlefthook."
"Thechapwe"dbetakingongoesforthehead.Butwithaclubofsomesortinhisfist."
"Niceguysyouplaywith,"hesaid."I"llrememberthat."
Wecoveredtheremainingdistanceatagoodspeedandinsilence.Thehorseboxcreptroundthelastcorneranditsheadlightsflickeredoverthefarmahead.IputmyhandonSam"sarm,andhebrakedtoahaltashortwayfromtheyard.
"Switchoff,wouldyou?Lightstoo,"Isaid,andjumpedquicklydownfromthecabtowaitafewprecioussecondsuntilmyeyesandearsgotusedtosilenceanddark.
Nolightsinthehouse.Nosoundanywhereexcepttheultra-faintringingvibrationoflimitlessair.Thecalvesandhenswereasleep.Thehorseswerequiet.IbangedonthecabdoorandSamswitchedhisheadlightsonagainbeforeclimbingdowntojoinme.Thebrightshaftslitupthebackofthehouseandwouldn"tshinestraightintothehorses"eyeswhenIledthemfromthebarn.Overontheshadowysideoftheyardtheopendoorsofth.e.s.h.edwhereMatthadkepthiscaryawnedinadeepblacksquare.Thejumbledrubbishdumpjustinfrontofusthrewsurrealistshadowsacrossthedustyground,anditssmellofdecaybrushedbyournoses.
Samswept.i.tallwithapractisedglance."Notmuchofaplace."Hisvoicewasaslowasawhisper.
"No...Ifyou"lluncliptheramp,I"llgofetchthehorses.Oneatatime,Ithink."
"O.K."Hewasbreathingfasterandhisbighandswereclenched.Notusedtoit,afterall.
Ihurrieddowntowardsthebarn.Itwasn"tfar;aboutfortyyards.Nowthatweweretotallycommittedmymindracedwithurgencytobedone,tobeaway,tobesafelythroughKingmanbeforeMattcameback.Hecouldhavebeenontheroadbehindus,berushingatthismomentacrossthedeserttothefarm...
Whathappenednexthappenedveryfast,inoneterrifyingcataclysmicblur.
Therewasanurgentshoutbehindme.
"Gene!"
Iturned,whirling.Thereweretwosetsofheadlightswherethereshouldhavebeenone.
Matt.
Thevoiceagain,yelling."Gene!Lookout."Andafigurerunningdowntheyardtowardsme.
ThentherewasaroarbehindmeandIturnedagainandwasmetfullintheeyesbytheblindingglareoftwomoreheadlights,muchcloser.Muchcloser.
Moving.
IwasdazzledandoffbalanceandI"dneverhavegotclear.Therunningfigurethrewitselfatmeinaruggertacklewithoutstretchedarmsandknockedmeoveroutoftheway,andtheroaringcarcrashedsolidlyintotheflyingbodyandleft.i.tcrumpledandsmashedandlyingontopofmylegs.
Thecarwhichhadhithimturnedinawidesweepattheendoftheyardandstartedback.TheheadlightslinedthemselvesupliketwinsunsontheirtargetandwithafractionofmymindIthought.i.tironicthatnowwhenI"ddecidednotto,Iwasgoingtodie.
Halfsitting,halfkneeling,IjerkedouttheLugerandpumpedallofitseightbulletstowardsthewindscreen.Icouldn"tseetoaimstraight...myeyeswerehurtingfromtheglare...Notthatbulletswoulddoanygood...theanglewaswrong...they"dmissthedriver...BythetimeIfiredthelastonetheleftheadlightwa.s.sixfeetaway.Iuselesslysetmyteethagainstthemangling,tearing,pulpingcollision...andinthelasttenthofasecondthestraightlinewavered...thesmoothsideofthefrontwinghitthebackofmyshoulder,thefrontwheelranoverafoldofmyshirt,andtherearwheelgavemeaclearinch.
AlmostbeforeIrealisedithadmissedme,thecarcrashedheadonintooneofthebuildingsatmybackwithajoltingscreechofwoodandmetal.Thebodyworkcrumpledandcracked.Thestabbinglightswentblack.Theenginestopped.Airhissedfiercelyoutofapuncturedtyre.
Gasping,dreadingwhatIwouldfind,Ileanedovertheheavyfigurelyingonmylegs.Thereweremorerunningfootstepsintheyard,andIlookeduphopelessly,unabletodoanymore.I"dusedallthebullets...noneleft.
"You"realive!"Thevoicecamefromthelevelofmyear,themankneeling.SamHengelman.Ilookedathiminadaze.
"Ithought..."Isaid,withn.o.breath,"...thiswasyou."
Heshookhishead."No..."
Hehelpedmeraiseandturnthemanwho"dsavedme;andwithsicknessandunbearableregretIsawhisface.
ItwasWalt.
Welaidhimonhisback,inthedust.
"Lookinthecar,"Isaid.
Samlumberedsilentlytohisfeetandwentaway.Iheardhisfootstepsstopandthenstartback.
Waltopenedhiseyes.Ileanedoverhim,liftinghishand,feelingwithsurginghopeforhispulse.
"Gene?"Hisvoicemumbled.
"Yes."
"Hedidn"tcome."
"Didn"t...?"
"Cametohelpyou..."
"Yes,"Isaid."Thanks,Walt..."
Hiseyesslidaimlesslyawayfrommyface.
"Christ,"hesaiddistinctly."Thisisit.Thisis...really...it."
"Walt..."Hishandwaswarminmine,but.i.tdidn"tmove.
"Sodit,"hesaid."Iwanted...Iwanted..."
Hisvoicestopped.Therewasnopulse.NoheartbeatNothing.Nothingatall.
Iputgentlydownonthegroundthewarmhandwiththeroundedfingertips,andstretchedoutmyown,andshuthiseyes.Itshouldhavebeenmelyingthere,notWalt.Ishookwithsuddenimpotentfurythat.i.twasn"tme,thatWalthadtakenwhatI"dwanted,stolenmydeath...Itwouldhavematteredsolittleifithadbeenme.Itwouldn"thavematteredatall.
Walt...Walt...
SamHengelmansaid,"Ishedead?"Inoddedwithoutlookingup.
"There"sayoungguyinthecar,"hesaid."He"sdeadtoo."Igotslowly,achingly,tomyfeet,andwenttolook.ThecarwastheblueFordconvertibleandtheyoungguywasMatt.Withoutcaring,automatically,Itookinthatthecarhadsmashedtheright-handdoorofthegarageshedandploughedintothewallbehindit.Mostofthewindscreenwa.s.scatteredinsplinteredfragmentsallovertheinsideofthecar,butinonecorner,wheresomestillclungtotheframe,therewasafinger-sizedhole.
Mattwaslyingoverthesteeringwheel,hisarmsdangling,hiseyesopen.Theskullabovethelefteyebrowwaspiercedandcrumpledinwards,andtherewasbloodandhaironthechromiumuprightwhichhadheldthewindscreen.Ididn"ttouchhim.AfterawhileIwentbacktoWalt."Whatdowedo?"SamHengelmansaid."Givemeamoment..."
HewaitedwithoutspeakinguntileventuallyIlookedupanddowntheyard.Twosetsofheadlightsstillblazedatthewayin."That"sWalt"scarupthere?"
"Yeah.Hedroveupwiththedevilonhistailandjumpedoutandrandownafteryou..."
Iturnedtheotherwayandlookedatthedarkgarage."Theyoungguymusthavebeeninthereallthetime,waitingforus,"Samsaid."Hecameroaringoutanddrovestraightatyou.Icouldn"thavestoppedhim...toofaraway.Waltwashalfwaydowntheyard..."
Inodded.Matthadbeenthereallthetime.NotinLasVegas.Notontheroad.Lyinginambush,waiting.
Hehadn"tpa.s.sedusontheroad,andtherewasnootherwaytothefarm.Hemusthavegonebackaheadofus.TurnedroundontheroadtoLasVegasanddrivenbackthroughKingmanwhileIwa.s.sittinginthebusstationwaitingtotelephoneto Walt.
Butwhy?Whyshouldhehavegoneback?Hehadn"tseenmefollowinghim,I"dbeenmuchtoofarbehind,andinanycaseI"dlefthimoncehewa.s.safelyonthehighway.
Itdidn"tmatterwhy.Itonlymatteredthathehad.SamHengelmanlookeddownatWaltandsummedupthemesswewereentangledin.
"Well...whattheheckdowedonow?"
Itookadeepbreath.
"w.i.l.l.youfetchthattorchofyours?"Iasked,andhenoddedandbrought.i.tfromhisvan.IwentwithitovertotheFord,andtookalonger,closerlook.Therewasn"tmuchtoseethatIhadn"tseenbefore,exceptforabottleofbourbonthathadbeensmashedintheimpact.TheneckandjaggedtophalflayonthefloortoMatt"sright,alongwithseveralsmallerpiecesandanunevendamppatch.
IwalkedintothegarageandlookedattheFordfromthefront.Itwouldn"tbedrivinganywhereanymore.
Thebigtorchlitupclearlytheinteriorofthedeepshadowygarage.Quiteemptynow,exceptforascatterofcigarettestubsagainstthelefthandwall.Matthadbeensmokinganddrinkingwhilehewaited.Andhe"dwaitedaverylongtime.
Thebulletholefacedmeinthewindscreenandleftmewiththeworstquestionunanswered.
I"dhavetoknow.
IstoodbesideMattandwentovereveryinchofhisbodydowntothewaist.He"dtakenoffthecreamcolouredjacketandwaswearingthecheckedshirthe"dworkedin.Therewerenoholesinit:nopuncturesunderneath.Hisheadwasheavy.Ilaiditgentlyonthesteeringwheelandsteppedaway.
Noneofthebulletshadhithim.They"donlysmashedthewindscreenandblindedhim,andhe"dslewedafootoffcourseandrunintothewallinsteadofme,andhisheadhadgoneforwardhardagainsttheslimmetalpost.
SlowlyIreturnedtowhereSamHengelmanstoodbesideWalt.Hedroopedwiththeutmostdejectionandlookedatmewithouthope.
"Didyouuncliptheramp?"Iaskedabruptly.
Heshookhishead."Didn"thavetime."
"Goanddoitnow.We"retakingthehorses."
Hewasaghast."Wecan"t!"
"We"vegotto.ForWalt"ssake,andyoursake,andDaveTeller"ssake.Andmine.Whatdoyoupropose?Thatwecallthepoliceandexplainwhatwewerealldoinghere?"
"We"llhaveto,"hesaiddespairingly.
"No.Definitelynot.Goandletdowntheramp."
Hehesitatedunbelievinglyforafewseconds,andthenwentanddidasIasked.Thehorsesstoodpeacefullyinthebarn,apparentlyundisturbedbytheracket,theshotsandthecrash.Iuntiedthenearest,Showman,andledhimquietlyuptheyardandintothevan.
SamwatchedmeinsilencewhileItiedhimintooneofthestalls.
"We"llnevergetawaywithit."
"Yeswewill,"Isaid,"aslongasyoutakethesehorsessafelybacktoLexingtonandnevertellanyone,anyoneatall,whathappenedheretonight.Blot.i.toutofyourmind.I"llletyouknow,whenyougetback,thatyou"venothingtoworryabout.Andaslongasyoutellnoone,youwon"thave."
Thebroadfleshyfacewa.s.setinlinesofanxiety.
"You"vecollectedtwohorses,"Isaidmatter-of-factly."Aneverydayjob,collectingtwohorses.Forgettherest."
Ireturnedtothebarn,fetchedAllyx,andloadedhimup.Samstillhadn"tmoved.
"Look,"Isaid."I"ve...arranged...thingsbefore.There"sarulewhereIcomefrom-youtakearisk,yougetintoamess,yougetout."Heblinked."Waltthrewhimselfinthewayofthatcar,"Isaid."Mattdidn"tintendtokillhim...Youdidn"tseeamurder.Mattdrovestraightintothewallhimself...andthattoowasanaccident.Onlytwoautomobileaccidents.Youmusthaveseendozens.Forget.i.t."Hedidn"tanswer,andIaddedbrusquely,"Thewatercan"sempty.Youcanfillitoverthere."
WithsomethinglikeashudderhepickedupthecontainerandwentwhereIpointed.Sighing,Icheckedthathehadbroughtthreedays"fodderforthestallions,whichhehad,andwithhishelp,onhisreturn,shutthepreciouscargoupsnuglyfortheirlonghaul.
"Youdon"thappentohaveanyglovesaround?"Iasked.
"Onlyanoldcottonpairinthetoolkit."
Herootedaboutandfinallyproducedthem,twofilthyobjectscoveredwithoilandgreasewhichwouldleavemarksoneverythingtheytouched,astale-bearingasfingerprints.Iturnedtheminsideoutandfoundtheywerethickenoughtobecleanontheinside.SamwatchedwordlesslywhileIputthemon,cleansideout.
"O.K.,"Isaid."w.i.l.l.youturnthevan,readytogo?"HediditcautiouslyasfarawayfromWaltashecould;andwhenhe"dfinishedIsteppedwithequalcareintothecarWalthadcomein,touchingitaslittleandaslightlyaspossible,anddroveitdownintotheyard,stoppingalittleshortofthescreendoortothehouse.ThereIswitchedofftheengineandlights,putonthebrake,andwalkedbacktotalktoSamwherehesatinhiscab.
"I"vethreejobstodo,"Isaid."I"llbebackasquickasIcan.Whydon"tyoujustshutyoureyesforacoupleofminutesandcatchanap."
"You"rekidding."
Iconcoctedareplicaofasmile,andafractionofthetensioninhisfaceunwound.
"Iwon"tbelong,"Isaid,andhenodded,swallowing.WithhistorchIsurveyedtheyard.TheLugerwasanautomaticpistol,whichmeant.i.tthrewoutthecartridgeaftereachshot.Noonewouldfindthespentbullets,buteightshinymetalsh.e.l.lsscatterednearWalt"sbodyweresomethingelse.SevenofthemwinkedinthelightasIinchedthetorchcarefullyround,andIcollectedthemintomypocket.Theeighthremainedobstinatelyinvisible.