Lynniewasn"tback.IleftamessageatthedeskforherandjoinedWalt.Hispalebluesuitlookedasifithadjustcomeoutofaspindryerandtherewasadamptranslucentlooktohisskin.Repentant,Iboughthimalargescotchontherocksandwaiteduntilhehaditwhereitwoulddomostgood.Hesighed,rubbedthebackofonewristacrosshiseyes,fishedacrumpledpieceofpaperoutofhispocket,andspreaditopenonthebar.
"Tostartwith,"hesaiddisgustedly,"it"snotYogiBear."
Iwaitedinsympatheticsilenceandbeckonedtothebarmanforarefill.Onthepaperalistofabouteightsouvenirmanufacturersanddistributorshadbeencrossedout,asinglelinethrougheach.Thetoplineswereneatandstraight,thelastthreeagreatwildslashacrossthepaper.Walthadhadaverybadday.
"Thehandkerchiefcamefromj.a.pan,likeyousaid."Hetookaswallowofhisseconddrinkandbegantorevive."Severalofthefirms"phonedtheirwestcoastofficesforme.Nodice.Itseemsasifatleasthalfofthesouvenirssoldinthewestaremadeinj.a.pan,butalltheseYogiBearconcessionistssaythatthisisn"tYogiBearatall,it"sthewrongshapedhead."
Hepulledoutofthebynowbatteredenvelopeaverybedraggledlookinghandkerchiefandlookedat.i.twithloathing.
"Ifitwa.s.soldatornearYellowstonePark,itcouldhavecomefromanytwo-bitimportbusiness.Asit"snotYogiBear,noonewillhavehadtopaycommissiontousethepicture,andthereisn"tanywaythatIknowoffindingwhobrought.i.tintothecountryandwhosoldittowhere."
AftertensecondsIsuggesteddiffidently,"Wecouldstartfromtheotherend."
Heglaredatmeincredulously."Areyouplumbnuts?Youcan"tmeanwhat.i.thinkyoumean."
Therocksinmydrinkhadmeltedtopebbles.Itastedthedrownedwhiskyandputthegla.s.sbackonthebar.
Isaid,"OneoftheSnailExpresstrailerswascheckedinatRockSprings,Wyoming.It"sstillthere:theyhaven"thadanothercustomerforityet.I"veaskedthemtoholdituntilI"vehadalookat.i.t."
"Whythatone?Whythatoneparticularly?"Waltasked.Irritationonlyhalfrepressedsharpenedhisvoice.
"Becauseit"soneofthethreewithnophonenumber.Becauseit"sinthesameStateasYellowstone.Andbecauseitgivesmeanitch."
"YellowstoneisclearacrossWyomingfromRockSprings,"hesaid."Mustbefourhundredmiles."
"Threehundred.Ilookedatamap."
Hedrankandrubbedhisthumboverhisfingersmuchfastertha.n.u.sual.Tiredlineshadappearedroundhiseyes.
"Ithinkit"safutilewasteoftime,"hesaidabruptly.
"I"vetimetowaste."
"AndIhaven"t."
Heputhisgla.s.sdownwithathump,reachedintoaninnerpocketandbroughtoutanotherwhitepackagewhichhetosseddowninfrontofme.
"Theseareyourphotographs."
"Thanks."
Thelookhegavemewasalongwayfromthesmileofthatmorning.IwonderedwhetherIwouldhavelethimgolookingforanswersifI"dknownhewa.s.shortonstamina,anddecidedIprobablywould.Hehadn"tgivenuphalfway:onlyattheend.
Lynnieappearedinthebardoorwayinherorangedressandthetiredlookingmentherestraightenedtheirspinesinahurry.Shewouldn"tcomein.IeasedWaltwithmeacrosstheheavycarpetandintroducedhimtoherinthehalloutside.Hemadeonlyafewperfunctoryremarksandleftinashorttimewithagloweringfaceandsolidback.
"Whatever"sbittenhim?"saidLynnie,lookingafterhim.
"He"shadatiringdayandhe"sgoinghometohiswife."
Shelookedatmequickly,halflaughing."Doyoualwaysknowwhatyou"resaying?"
"Frequently."
Shechuckled."Anyway,youlookalottirederthanhedoes."Westartedtowalkovertothedesktocollectourkeys.
"That"smostencouraging."
"Whatshallwedothisevening?Ordoyouwanttosleep?"Shewasunselfishenoughtokeepanxietyentirelyoutofhervoice,butwhenIsaidwe"dgowherevershewantedtherewasanextrabounceinherstride.Shedecidedonatwohourtaxiridetoeverywhereinthecityshe"deverheardofthatshehadn"tmanagedtoseethatafternoon,followedbydinnerinasecondfloorgla.s.s-walledrestaurant,lookingdownandacrossthelightsofBroadwayandTimesSquare.Ateleven-thirty,whenwegotbacktotheBiltmore,shewa.s.stillwideawake.
"Whatafabulous,fantasticday,"shesaidinthelift.
"Good."
"I"llrememberitaslongasIlive."
Ismiledatherenthusiasm.ItwasathousandyearssinceI"dbeenashappyasthat,butsometimesIcouldstillimaginehowitfelt.Thateveningithadbeenquiteeasy.
"Youarefarfromdrizz,"shesaid,contentedlygrinning.
"You"dbenogreatdragtobestuckinaliftwithyourself."
b.u.t.theliftstoppedunimaginativelyattheeighthfloora.s.scheduledandwewalkedalongtoourrooms.Herdooroppositemine.
Ikissedhercheek."Goodnight,littleLynnie."Herbrowneyessmiledserenelyback."GoodnightGene.Sleepwell."
"Youtoo,"Isaid."Kentuckyfirststopinthemorning."
Ittookfourmoredaystofindthegirlinthephotograph,thoughmaybeIcouldhavedoneitintwoifithadn"tbeenforLynnie.Privatelyawarethat.i.twasn"tnecessaryformetodothejobmyselfIdredgedupacastironsoundingreasonforhavingtoaccompanyhertoLexington,andweflewdownviaWashington,whichinvolvedanotherquicktaxitourinsteadofalengthywaitattheairport.Lynniedidn"tintendtomissathing.
EunicemetusatLexingtonairfieldanddroveustoMidway,andafteraprawnandavocadolunchlentmehercartogoonmyerrand.IgreasedChrysalis"s.e.x-groomintogoingwithmewithtwentydollarsofhisemployer"smoney,andtookhimofftoSamHengelman"s.Thehorsevan,Samsaidoutofthecornerofhismouthashewatchedanoldmovieonacyan-heavycolourset,wa.s.stillincareofthepolicedepartment.IfIwantedtolookat.i.t,gotalktothem.
AtthepolicedepartmentastatetrooperlistenedtowhatIhadtosay,said"Yeah,"severaltimes,consultedhigherauthority,andsortedoutsomekeys.Higherauthorityturnedouttobeagood-lookingdetectivehihistwenties,andweallfourrepairedtotheparkinglotbehindthepolicebuilding,wherethehorsevanstoodinonecorner.
Chrysalis"sladpointedoutthestallthestallionhadinhabited,andthestatetroopercameupwithasuccessfulconclusiontotheexpedition:fourlongshiningbayhairs.
"Fromhismane,"saidthegroomauthoritatively.
ThedetectivekepttwofortheStateandsentofftheothertwospecialdeliverytoWaltatb.u.t.tressLife,andthegroomandIdrovebacktoMidway.
EuniceandLynniewerebothinthepool,andtherestofthedayandnightcamecloseenoughtomydaydreamontheplane,exceptthatthesixteenhours"sleepshranktosix,buteventhatwa.s.spectacularbyrecentstandards.
WhenLynniesaidoverlargecupsofbreakfastcoffeethenextmorningthatshewishedIwasn"tgoing,Iverynearlydidn"t.IfI"dstayed,b.u.t.tressLifewouldhavepaidtheinsuranceandaloadofgriefwouldneverhavehappened.YetifIcouldgobacktothatcross-roadsmomentagainIknowIwouldinevitablymakethesamedecision.Onceahunter,alwaysahunter:theinnercompulsionhadn"tlooseneditsgrip:thequalitythey"dhauledmeoutoftheArmyforwas...o...b..sicinmynature,andbeingwhatIwas,whatIam,sloppingoutofthechasewasimpossible.Keeblehadknown,Iadmittedwryly,thathehadonlytogetmehooked.
"Imustgo,"Isaid,"ifI"mtofindthehorse."
"d.a.m.nthehorse,"Lynniesaid.
Ilaughedather."You"velearntquickly."
"IlikeEunice,"shesaiddefensively."Shedoesn"tshockme."
Igatheredfromthatthatshecertainlydid,b.u.t.thatLynniewouldneveradmit.i.t.
"Butyouwillcomebackhere?Beforeyougohome,Imean."
"Iexpectso,"Isaid.
Shefiddledwithhercoffeecup,lookingdown."It"sonlyaweeksinceIpickedyouupatyourflat,lastSunday."
"Andyou"veagedayear."
Shelookedupquickly,startled."Whydidyousaythat?"
"Itwaswhatyouwerethinking."
"Iknow,"shesaid,puzzled,"butIdon"tknowhowyoudo."
"Crystalsetintheattic.Intermittentthough,unfortunately."
"Justaswell,ifyouaskme."Therewasahealthymockeryonherlaughingface."HowwouldyouLiketobetunedinpermanentlytoEunice?"
Euniceherselftrailedthroughthedoorwayatthatmomentwearinganelectricbluewrapperandamanageablehangover.Withbothstillinplace,aftertwocupsofcoffeeandacigarette,shetrundledLynnieandmetotheairport.
"Good-bye,yousonofab.i.t.c.h,"shesaidtome,asIstoodbesideherwindow."Iguessyoucancomebackanytimeyouwantto."
Lynnieglancedathersharply,withsuddenspeculation:growingupinfrontofone"seyes.Ismiledgood-byetothembothandwalkedawayintotheairport.FromthereIbus-stoppedathousandmilestoDenver,andcharteredatwin-enginedPiperfromalocalfirmforthelasttwohundredtoRockSprings.Thepilotchewedhisnailssavagelybesidemeallthewayasifhewereadedicatedauto-cannibal,andIarrivedfeelingsick.
OnthehotlateSundayafternoonthelittledeserttownlookedlifeless.Shimmeringairroseendlesslyoverthedumpofabandonedrustingmotorcars,aGreyhoundbusrolledpastwithpa.s.sengersstaringlikefishthroughitsgreengla.s.swindows,andsprinklersonthericherfrontlawnskepttheparchingheatatbay.AtthebusstationIlearntthatoldmanHagstrom"sboywastheagentforSnailExpress,butwhenIfoundoldmanHagstrom,fanninghimselfinarockeronthefrontporchofhissmallframehouse,hesaidthathisboywasoutcalling.
Hagstromhimselfseemedtobegladtohavecompanyandtoldmetogoinsideandbringtwobeersoutoftheicebox.Theiceboxwasintheliving-room,justthroughthescreendoor.Itwasashamblesofaroomwithsaggingbroken-springchairs,dirtywornoutragrugs,ascattereda.s.sortmentofcups,gla.s.sesandbottles,allunwashed,andavastnewtelevision.Itookthebeeroutontotheporch,satonthetopstep,anddrankfromthebottle,likemyhost.
Theoldmanrocked,scratchedhimself,drank,andsaidvaguelythathisboywouldberightalong,Icouldbetonit.Ilookedupanddownthehotemptystreet.Therewereothershapesrockinggentlyintheshadeoftheporches,halfinvisiblebecausemanyhadtheinsectscreensroundtheoutsiderails.Frombehindthemtheywatchedtheworldgoby:onlythingwas,theworldrolledpastinautomobilesanddidn"tstoptotalk.
Twobeerslater,whileoldmanHagstromwastellingmehowhepersonallywouldhavedealtwiththeSaigonsituationin"67,hisboyrolledupinapock-markedChrysler.Hisboywasliterallyaboy,notmorethaneighteen:oldmanHagstrom"sgrandson.Herubbedhishandsdownhisgrease-markedT-shirtandjeans,andheldoneouttomewithaseasygoingawelcomeashisgrandfather"s.IexplainedwhatIwanted.
"Sureyoucanlookatthetrailer,"hesaid,amiably."Now?"
"Ifyoudon"tmind."
"You"rewelcome."
Hewavedmeintohisbakingcarandwhirleditcasuallyroundafewcorners,drawingupwithajerkoutsidearicketylookinggatesetinahead-highwall.Throughthegate,inadustyarea,stoodfourSnailExpresstrailers,alldifferentsizes.
"Thatone,"Isaid,pointingtothelargest.
"CameinlastSat.u.r.day,Ithink.I"lllookitup."Heunlockedasmallbrick-builtofficeononeside,andIfollowedhimin.HotenoughintheretopleaseSatan.
"That"sright.Sat.u.r.day,"hesaid,consultingtheledger."CamefromNewYorkState,rentingchargepaidinadvanceforoneweek.Theweekwasn"tupuntilMonday."
"Doyourememberwhobrought.i.there?"
"Uh,let"ssee.Ohyes.Anoldguy.Can"tremembermuchabouthim.Hehadwhitehair,Iguess."
"Whatsortofcardidhehave,topullthetrailer?"
"Ihelpedhimunhitch...astationwagon,Ithink.Grey,mebbe."
"Itwasn"tthesetwo?"Ishowedhimthephotograph.
"Nope."Hewasdefinite.Asfarasheknew,he"dneverseenthem.HadIaskedhisgrandfather?Ihad.
Hesaidhe"dsweptoutthetrailer,butIcouldlookinsideifIwantedto.
"Whydidyousweepit?"Iasked.
"Usuallydo.Itwasprettyclea.n.a.lready,though."
Ilookedanyway.Thereweren.o.bayhairs.NothingatalltosuggestthatChrysalishadeverbeensqueezedintoit.Theonlysuggestivethingabout.i.twasthewayitwasbuilt:theroofopenedoutwardsrightalongthecentreline,tomaketheloadingoftallobjectseasier.IthadbeenworryingmethatChrysaliswouldnothavewalkedintoatinydarktrailer:butoneopentotheskywasadifferentmatter.
OldmanHagstrom"sboyobliginglydugouttheHertzagent,wh.o.r.entedmeanair-conditionedblackChevroletwithonlyfivethousandontheclock.OvernightIaddedthreehundredandthirty-fourmore,anddroveintoGardinerforbreakfast.
TheroadtherehadledthroughYellowstoneParkitselfwherethedawnhadcreptinmistilybetweenthepinetrees,andglimpsesoflakeshadlookedlikeflatpuddlesofquicksilver.Ihadseenanuglygreatmoose,butn.o.bears.Yogiwasasleep.
Ispentallmorningwalkingroundthetown.Noneoftheshopsweresellingthehandkerchief,orhadeverstockedanylikeit.Thephotographproducednoreactionsatall.Afteratoastedbacon,tomatoandlettucesandwichatalunchcounterIleftGardinerandwentfifty-fourmilestoWestYellowstone.
Theafternoon"strudgeproducedexactlythesameabsenceofresults.Hot,tired,andfrustrated,IsatintheChevroletandwonderedwhattodonext.NotraceofChrysalisinthetrailer,eventhoughitseemedlikelyitwastheonethedrivershadseen.NomatchinghandkerchiefsatYellowstonePark.Walthadbeenright.Thetripwasonepointlesswasteoftime.
Ithoughtofthelongforestdrivebackthroughthepark,thecanyongradientsatmidway,andthefinalhundredmilesofdeserttoRockSprings,anddecidedtoput.i.toffuntilthenextday.Sighing,Ifoundthebestlookingmotelandbookedthebestroomtheyhad,stoodundertheshoweruntiltheday"sacheshadrundownthedrainwiththedust,andstretchedoutforacoupleofhoursonthekingsizedSlumberland.
Thewaitresswhobroughtmysteakatdinnerwaslarge,looselyupholstered,kindnatured,andwithan.o.bviousconvictionthatama.n.a.lonelikedabitofgossip.Iwantedhertogoawayandletmeeatinpeace,butcustomwa.s.slackandIlearntmorethanIcaredabouthercomplicatedhomelife.Intheend,simplytostoptheflow,IpulledoutthecrumpledhandkerchiefandaskedifsheknewwhereIcouldgetanewonelikeit.
Shethought"thegirls"mightknow,andwentofftoaskthem.Relieved,Ifinishedmysteak.Thenshecamebackanddoubtfullyputthewhitesquaredownbesidemeonthetablecloth.
TheysayyoumightgetoneinJackson.Theydohavebearsonashtraysandthingsdownthere.DownintheTetons.Ahundred,hundredfiftymiles.It"saholidaytown,Jackson."
I"ddrivenstraightthroughJacksonthenightbeforeonthewayupfromRockSprings,andseenonlyasmallwesterntownfastasleep.WhenIwentbackonTuesdaymorningitwasbuzzingwithholidaymakersandlocalinhabitants,dressedallalikeincowboyclothes.Duderanchcountry,Ilearnt.Themainstreetwaslinedwithsouvenirshops,andthefirstoneIwentintohadawholepileofsmallwhitehandkerchiefswithbearson.
CHAPTEREIGHT.
Thegirlinthepuntopenedtheranchhousedoor,walkedhalfwaytomeetmefromthecar,andgreetedmewithprofessionalinstantwelcome.
"MrHochner?Hownicetohaveyouwithus."