"UncleBark?"Yola"svoicesaid,lowandclear.Oneofthebugswasbehindapictureofdroopingrosesonthewalloverthetelephonetable.
"...honey."Theoccasionalwordescapedfromthereceiverinreturn,butYolamusthavebeenholdingitclosetoherear.
"Sure.Everything"sjustfinehere,"shesaid."Absolutelynokindoftrouble."
"...Matt?..."
"That"swhatIcalledabout,UncleBark.Mattwrotemehe"shavingtogiveupinEurope.Hesayshecan"tgetneartoyou-know-who,they"vegothimholedupastightasFortKnox.SoIguesswe"lljusthavetokeepeverythingunderwrapsforawhilelonger."
"Itsureisanuisance,yeah.Butaslongaswegethimtoyoubeforethesnowscomeagain..."
"Howcanwe?Youknowitisn"tbuiltforthat."
"...stay..."
"Wecertainlycan"tsendhimdowntoClint"swiththeothers.We"dwasteawholeyearandhemightbreakalegorsomething."
"...desert."
"Wedon"twanthimatPitts,itisn"tbuiltforit.b.u.t.there"sagoodlongtimeforMatttoarrangesomething."
"...hadn"tstarted."
"Yeah,I"msureyouwould.But.i.t"stoolatenow.HowwerewetoknowthatsomethingsoG.o.ddamstupidwouldhappen?Mattwillprobablybehomesometimetomorrow.I"llhavehimcallyou."
Sheputdownthereceiversoonafterthat:andIwoundbackthetapeandplayedtheconversationoveragain.Twounsubstantialpointsemerged.IfDaveTellerhadbeentooobviouslyguarded,Mattwouldhaverealisedthatthepuntepisodewasnotconsideredtobeanaccident.Andthesomething"G.o.ddamstupid"whichhadsomewhereorotherupsettheClives"originalplansmightbethatI"dbeentheretofishDaveoutoftheriver,ormightbesomethingelsequitedifferent;somethingwhichhadmadetheremovalofDavenecessaryinthefirstplace.ThehorsehadbeenstolenonJune15th,Tuesday,andYolahadaskedtheLondonhotelforDave"sweek-endaddressonJune19th,Sat.u.r.day.Sowhat,ifanything,hadhappenedinthefourdaysbetween?SomethingG.o.ddamstupid...
ItoldYolaafterbreakfastonSat.u.r.daymorningthatIhadenjoyedmystayimmenselyandwouldbeleavingthefollowingday.Shesmiledtheregulationsmilewithoutclearlyfocussing,andthankedmeforlettingherknow.
"SoifIcouldhavemybillatbreakfasttomorrow?"Isuggested.
"Sure,"shesaid,"Butyoucan"tstayoverMondayfortheFourth?"
I"mafraidnot."
Shenodded,notcaringonewayortheother."I"llget.i.treadyforyou,then."
TheWilkersons.e.xclaimedovermygoing."You"llmissthebarbecue,"Samanthasaid."Andthefloattripdowntheriver."
AlocalmantookpartiesdownthefastflowingSnakeonblackinflatedrubberraftdinghies:oneofthearea"sattractions,liketherodeoandtheskilift.TheWilkersonshadaskedmetojointhem."MaybeI"llcomebacknextyear,"Isaid.AndmaybeIwouldn"t.
IlookedafterthechildrenthatafternoonwhileBetty-AnnwenttothehairdresserandWilkiedrovetoadistantlakeforthefishing.Theyswaminthestream,whereIrefusedtojointhemincasemyheadinthewaterjoggedYola"ssleepingmemory,andwefedsugarandhandfulsofgra.s.sthroughtherailstotheleggyfoalsinthelittlepaddock.Therailsweresolidyoungtreetrunksdove-tailedandnailedintoevenst.u.r.dierposts,andthegatewasjusta.s.substantial.Itshingeswereboltedthroughthegatepost,andaheavypadlockfasteneditthroughtwostronghasps.Noneofthisstrengthwasnew.
SamanthaandMickeydidn"tthinkmuchofthesardinebay.
"Toospindly,"Mickeysaid."Hislegswouldsnapifhewentupthemountain."IlookedacrossattheTetonrange,thetopsshiningwhiteinthehotsun.Thesure-footedborn-to-itranchhorsespickedtheirwayeasilyupanddownthesteeprockypathsoverthere,throughthewoodsgrowingwithflathuckleberryleaves,acrossthescreesleftfromlandslips,andontothebarestonypatchesabovethesnowline.
"Whydon"tyoustay"I"lllMondaynight?"saidMickey."Ifyougotomorrow,you"llmissthefireworks."
CHAPTERNINE.
Atoneo"clock,earlySundaymorning,Istoodontheporchofmycabinwaitingformyeyestodilate,andlisteningtothenight.
Aslightwind,rifflingthetrees.Acarhorn,verydistant.Thefainthumoftheelectricgeneratorinitsspecialhouse.NosoundfromYola"scabin.Noneallevening.Matthadn"tyetcomehome.
WithsomemisgivingsIhadleftmyridingbootsinthecabin,andworeonlythinrubber-soledplimsolls,withapairofsocksontop.Iwalkedquietlythroughthesagebrushonthelongwayroundtothelittlepaddock,thespicyfragrancerisingintomynoseasIdisturbedthesilvergreyleaves.Thehalfmoonlightwasenoughtoseebywithoutatorchandstreakycloudsmadeshiftingshadowsacrosstheground:itcouldn"thavebeenbetterifI"dsentinanorder.
Thepadlock"sstrengthwasillusory.Ithadasimplelevermovementinsidewhichtookmelessthanfiveminutestofiddleopen.Noonecouldhaveheardtheclickofsuccess.Northetinysqueakofthegateopening.Islippedthroughanddistributedsugartothemaresandfoals.Thebaywiththewhiteblazegreetedthiswithatrumpetingwhinny;butnolightswentoninYola"scabinorthewranglers"bunkhouse.
ThesardinehorseflaredhisnostrilsatmebutatethesugarandletmeslipoverhisheadthesimpleropehalterIhadcomearmedwith.Ispentsometimerubbinghisnoseandpattinghisneck,andwhenIwalkedtowardsthegatehecamewithmedocilelyenough.Iopenedthegateandledhimthrough,andthemaresandfoalsquietlyfollowed,theirunshodhoovesmakingdulllittleclopsontheloamyground.
Thegentleprocessionwentslowlyacrosstowardstheriver,overtheflatbridgewithhollowthuds,andupintothedarknessofthepinewoods.Themaressoonstoppedtograze,andthefoalswiththem,b.u.t.thebaystallionwiththeblazesuddenlyrealisedhewasfreeagain,andcrashedpastmeathighspeed,squealingandcanteringupthepathandmakingasmuchnoiseasatrain-loadoffootb.a.l.l.supporters.Anxious,heart-quickenedmomentspa.s.sed:butstillnoreactionfrombelow.
Thesardinebaytuggedhardtofollow.Isoothedhimandsteadiedhim,andwepresentlywalkedon.Hepickedhiswaytoocautiouslyoverthestonesandcornersofrocksstickingupinthenarrowpath,butIcouldn"thurryhimwithoutrisk;myneckp.r.i.c.kledatthethoughtofbeingslungintoaWyomingjailforhorsestealing;but.i.twasnothingtothefearIhadthatMickeymightberightaboutthosespindlylegs.
Inplacesallthewayupthewidthofthepathdwindledtotwofeet,withawallofrockononesideandasteepslopeontheother.Ridingalongthembydayonesimplyhadtotrustthatone"shorsewouldn"ttumbleovertheedge,asnothingcouldthenhavestoppedarock-strewnrollingdescentoftwoorthreehundredfeet.Atthesepointstherewasn"troomtowalksidebysidewithahorseonewasleading:Iinchedupthepathaheadofhim,andslowly,cautiously,heputhisfeetdelicatelydownbetweenthebiggerstones,andscrunchedafterme.
Twoorthreetimeswepa.s.sedsmallgroupsofhorsesfromtheranch,thecowbellclankinggentlyroundtheneckoftheleaderandbetrayingtheirpresence.Theirdarkshapesmeltedintothejumbledbackgroundofwoodsandrocks,andthemoonlightpickedoutonlyaneye,arump,aswishingtail.Thewranglersfoundthemeachmorningbytracking,asthebellswereonlyaudibleforafurlong.I"dhadalongtalkwithoneoftheboysabouttracking,andhe"dshownmehowtheydidit.TheyweregoingtobeabletofollowmywayupthemountainasclearlyasifI"dgiventhemdirections,andtotellthetimeIwentbytheamountofdewwhichformedinthehoofprints.Theboyhadshownmehoofprints,toldmehowmanyhorseshadgonebyandwhen,andallIhadseenweresomescattereddustymarks.Theyreadthegroundlikeabook.IfItriedtoobliteratethesardinehorse"shoofprints,IobliteratedalsoanychanceoftheClivesbelievinghehadwanderedoffbyaccident.Thefuzzyoutlineofplimsollsundersockswas,Ihoped,goingtopa.s.sunnoticed:nothinglesswasworththediscomfortofwearingthemonsuchjaggedgoing.
IttooktwohourstoreachtwelvethousandfeetandtocometotheendofthetracksI"dlearnedinthepastfourdays.Fromthereitwasacaseoftrustingmyownnose.ThedriftingstreaksofcloudmadeblackshadowslikepitsacrosstherocksandseveraltimesIstoodstillandfeltaheadwithonetoetomakesurethatthegroundwasinfactstillthere,andIwasnotsteppingstraightoffaprecipice.Themoonitself,andthecoldmountainairmovingagainstmyrightcheek,keptmegoingintherightgeneraldirection,b.u.t.thedotted-linetrailIhadstudiedonthemapprovedmoreoptimisticthanactual.
Thehorse"slegsstooduptoitremarkablywell.Minehadalreadyhadenough.MountaineeringwasnotamongCivilServicerequirements.
ThepeakoftheGrandTetonrosetothirteenthousandsevenhundredfeet.Thesummitloomedveryclose.Patchesofsnow,halfmelted,exposedblack-lookingbanksofscree.Icamesuddenlyacrossanarrowtrailwindingpastthemlikeaneel:peoplehadwalkedalongthererecently,sc.r.a.pingintothesnow.Ihad,withsomeluck,cometherightway.Thecoldbitdownundermyblackjerseyandthroughthethinshirtunderneath,andIwishedIhadhadthesensetobringgloves.But.i.tcouldn"tbeagreatdealfurther:throughtheshortcanyonpa.s.s,andouttheotherside.Ilookedatmywatch.TheclimbhadtakennearlythreehoursandIwaslate.
Itwasdarkerinthecanyon,butalsoinvisiblefromthevalleybelow.Itookthesmalltorchoutofmyjeanspocket,andshoneitinfrontofmyfeet.Becauseofthat,thewholeexpeditioncameunstuck.
Amansuddenlyroundedacornerashortwayaheadandstoodfoursquareinthecentreofthetrail.StartledevenmorethanIwas,thehorsebackedinstantlyaway,toretheropeoutofmyhand,pulledmeflatoverasItriedtohangon,andskippedsharplyawayalonganarrowridgebranchingofftotheleft.
SickandfuriousIgotbackonmyfeetandturnedtogoafterhim.Themantookatentativestepdownthetrailandcalledout.
"Gene?"
ItwasWalt.
Ibitmytongueliterallytostoptherageinmymindfromspillingoverhim.Therewasn"ttimeforit.
"Isawyoucoming.Thelight,"heexplained."IthoughtI"dcomealongtomeetyou.You"relaterthanyousaid."
"Yes."Ishutmymouth.Therewashalfamillionpoundslooseinadeathtrap.Myresponsibility,andmyfault.
Themoonpushedoutafeebletwentywatts.Icouldn"tseethehorse.Thepathhehadtakeninpanicwasaledgeeighteenincheswidewithsheerrockontheleftandafierceslopeofscreeontheright.Agradientsosteepthat.i.twasasdangerousasastraightdowndrop:andinitsblackinvisibledepthstherewouldbetheusualbigslabswithupjuttingedges.
"Stayhere,"IsaidtoWalt."Andkeepquiet."
Henoddedwithoutspeaking,understandingthatthesituationwasbeyondapology.Hisinstructionshadbeenexpresslytowaitformeatonearrangedspot.
Theledgewasthirtyfeetlongwithabendtotheleft.Iwalkedalongitslowly,notusingthetorch,mylefthandtrailingalongtherockwall,thegreylightjustenoughtoshowthecrumblyunevenouteredge.
Afterthirtyfeettheledgewidenedintoasaucer-shapedbowlthreequarterssurroundedbytoweringrocks.Theslopingfloorofthebowlleddirectlyintothesharperslopeofthescree.Onthefloorofthebowl,patchysnowandroughblackpebble.
Thehorsewa.s.standingthere,sweating.Quiveringineveryrigidlimb.Therewasnowayoutexceptbackalongtheledge.
Istrokedhismuzzleandgavehimfourlumpsofsugar,speakinggentlytohiminavoicemuchcalmerthanmyfeelings.Ittooktenminutesfortheexcessivetensiontoleavehisbody,andanotherfivebeforehewouldmove.ThenIturnedhimcarefullyrounduntilhewasfacingthewayhehadcome.
Horsesreactinstantlytohumanfear.TheonlychanceIhadofgettinghimsafelybackwastowalkroundthereasifitwereabroadconcretepathacrosshisownstableyard.Ifhesmeltfear,hewouldn"tcome.
Wheretheledgebegan,hebaulked.Igavehimmoresugarandmoresweettalk.ThenIturnedmybackonhimandwiththehalterropeleadingovermyleftshoulder,walkedslowlyaway.Therewasthefaintestofprotestingbackwardtugs.Thenhecame.
Thirtyfeethadneverseemedsointerminable.Butananimal"ssixthsensekepthimfromputtingafootovertheedge,andtheslitheringclopofhishoovesonthebrokengroundcamesteadilyaftermealltheway.
Walt,thistime,madenosoundatall.Icameacrosshimstandingmotionlessseveralyardsuptheintendedtrailandheturnedwithoutspeakingandwentonahead.
Lessthanhalfamilefurtherthepathdescendedandwidenedintoabroadsweepingbasin:andthere,whereWalthadbeensupposedtomeetme,waitedanotherman,stampinghisfeettokeepwarm.
SamKitchens.Holdinganotherhorse.
WithapowerfultorchheinspectedeveryinchoftheoneI"dbrought,whileIheldhis.
"Well?"Isaid.
Henodded."It"sChrysalisallright.Seethattinyscarupthere,underhisshoulder?Hecuthimselfonametalgatepostonedaywhenhewasatwo-year-oldandabitfullofhimself.Andtheseblackdots,sortoffreckles,alongthatpatchofhisbelly.Andthewayhishidegrowsinawhirljustthereinsidehishock.Healwayshadcleanlegs.There"samarkortwoonthemnowthatwasn"ttherewhenIhadhim.Butapartfromknowinghimfromhisgeneralshape,like,I"dcertainlysweartothoseotherthingsinanycourtyou"dliketomention."
"Wasthecutfromthegatepostbadenoughtobetreatedbyavet?"
Henodded"Fiveorsixst.i.tches."
"Good,"Isaid."Thenoffyougowithhim.Andtakegoodcare."
SamKitchensgrinned."Who"dhavethoughtI"dhaveseenhimagainuptheRockyMountainsinthemiddleofthenight?Neveryoumind,I"lltakecareallright."
HeturnedChrysalis.e.xpertlyround,clickinghistongueaffectionately,andbeganthemile-longwalkdowntothe Tetoncampingground,towhereheandWaltandSamHengelmanhadcomeinahorsebox.
Waltsaid,"It"stoolateforyoutogoback.Comewithus."
Ishookmyhead."I"llmeetyouinIdahoFallsaswearranged."
Waltmoveduncomfortably."It"snotsafetogoback."
"I"llbefine.YoujustgetthetwoSamscracking.They"vegottobewellontheirwaybeforedawn.They"vegotthatbillofsale?"
Waltnodded,lookingatthebigmountainponybesideme.
"Hecostfivehundreddollars.Onebayhorse,nomarkings,entire,agedsevenoreight.Asordered.That"swhatthebillofsalesays,andthat"swhatwe"vegotinthevan,ifanyoneasks.SamKitchenschoseit.Saiditwasasnearasyouwouldget,withoutactuallypayingthousandsforabloodhorse."
"Thisonelooksfine.Seeyou,then,Walt."
HestoodinsilencewhileIleveredmyselfontothenewhorse"sbarebackandgatheredupthereins.Inoddedtohim,turnedaway,andstartedbackupthetrailtothecanyon.
Late,Ithought.Almosttoolate,now.Thewranglerswouldbehighupinthehillsbysix,roundingupthehorses.DudesrodeasusualonSundaymornings.Itwasalreadyfive,andthefirstgreynessofdawnhadcreptinasthemoonfaded.Iftheysawmeoutsoearly,Iwasintrouble.
Atajogtrot,hisst.u.r.dylegsabsolutelyathomeontheterrain,thenewhorsetookmebackupintothecanyon,pastthefearfullittleridgethatChrysalishadtaken,andoutontotheClivevalleysideoftheTetons.FromtheredownIlookedoutforabunchofHighZeehorses,butIwaswellbelowthesnowlinebeforeIheardanyofthebells.
Therewasalittlegroupinatree-filledhollow.Theymovedawayatmyapproach,butslowly,andwhenIwasamongthemandstopped,theystoppedalso.IslidoffthehorseIwasriding,threadedmyfingersthroughthemaneofoneoftheHighZeegroup,andtransferredthebridlefromonetotheother.Then,leavingDaveTeller"sfive-hundred-dollarpurchasefreeonthehill,Ipointedmynewmount"snosehomewards,andgavehimakick.
Heknewtheway,andheconsequentlycouldgomuchfaster.
TheWilkersonshadtoldmethewranglerscantereddownthosesteeprockyinclines,butuntilIdiditIhadn"timaginedwhatahair-raisingbusinessitwouldbe.ThehorseputhisfeetwhereIwouldhavesaidnomancouldbalance,letaloneaquadruped,andwhenIturnedhimofftheregularpathhehardlyslackenedhis.p.a.ce.Wewentheadlongdownwardsthroughpinesandaldersandgrovesofsilver-trunkeddeadtrees,backtothethickerwoodswithpatchesofgra.s.sunderfoot,andmoreundergrowthofhuckleberryandsapling.Therewasonestickyinclineofblackbogwhereamountainstreamhadspilledoutsidewaysontoaslopofearth,butmyponystaggeredacrossit,tackingdownwards,sinkingintohiskneesateverystep.Furtheron,hecrossedthetumblingstreamitself,pickinghiswaythroughama.s.sofunderwaterrocks,andlowerstillhewentstraightdownabarepebblyslopewherethenormalpathranfromsidetosideineasierzigzags.Whippybranchescaughtatusunderthetrees,butIlaidmyheadflatbesidehisears,andwherehecouldgo,Iwenttoo.
Thegentleduderideshadbeennopreparationforthisrecklessdescent,andtheoneortwopoint-to-pointsI"dtriedinmyteensweredistantmemoriesandmilksopstuffincomparison.Butskillslearnedinchildhoodstayforever:balancestillcameinstinctively.Ididn"tfalloff.
Wekeptupthepaceuntiltherewaslessthanamiletogo,thenIveeredtheponyalongtotheright,upalongthevalleyandawayfromthebridgetotheranch.
Thewranglerswouldnodoubtfollowhimuptheretoroundhimup,butIhadn"ttimetodothewholedetouronfoot.Itwastoolightandtoolatetogetbackintotheranchacrossthebridge.IwasgoingtohavetocrossthestreamhigherupandG.o.downtomycabinthroughthewoodsonthefarside.
Islidofftheponynearlyhalfamileupstream,andtookoffthebridle.Theroughbrownhidewa.s.streakeddarkwithsweat,andhedidn"tlookatalllikeananimalwhohadspentapeacefulnightgrazing.Igavehimaslapandhetrottedaway,wheelingroundandupwards,backontothehill.Withluckthewranglerswouldn"tfindhimuntilhe"dcooleddown,especiallyasitwouldn"tbehimthey"dbelookingfor.
Icouldhearthepanicgoingondownbytheranch-housea.s.soonasIsteppedcautiouslyoutofthewoodsandbeganthefreezingcoldtraverseofthestream.Thestonesdugintomybarefeet,andthewatersplashedmyrolled-uptrouserlegs.ButasIcouldn"tfromwhereIwa.s.seeanyofthebuildings,Itrustedthatnoonetherecouldseeme.Theshoutscameupclearly,andthenthethudofseveralhorsescanteringacrossthebridge.BythetimeIwasacrossthestreamandsittingdowntoputonmyshoesagain,theyweregoinguptowardsthewoods,andIcouldseethem.Sixwranglers,movingfast.Iftheylookedback,theycouldseemyheadandshouldersstickingupoutofthestretchofsagebrush.
Ahundredyardsofitbetweenmeandthesafetyofthetreesontheranch-housesideofthevalley.Ilaydownflatonthegroundforafewexhaustedminutes,lookingupatthedawn-filledsky:ahighclearpalebluetakingoverfromgrey.Thetracksofthemaresandfoalsandboththestallionsledstraightuphill.Igavethewranglerstimetogosomewayafterthem,andthenquietlygottomyfeetandslippedunhurriedlyacrossthesagebrushanddownthroughthetreestomycabin.Itwastenpastsix.Broaddaylight.
Ipulledoffmyfilthysweatyclothesandranadeephotbath.Tirednesshadgonedowntothebone,andthewatertingledlikeafrictionrubonmyskin.Relaxing,reviving,Istayedinitforhalfanhour.
ThetapeplayedbackformetheheavyknockingonYola"sdoorandtheheadwranglertellingherthatthemaresandstallionswereout.
"Whatdoyoumean,out?"
"Thetracksleaddowntothebridge.They"reoutonthehills."
"What?"Yola"svoicescreechedasthefullmeaninghither."Theycan"tbe."
"Theysureare."Thewrangler"svoicewasmuchcalmer.Hedidn"tknowthesizeofthedisaster:wasn"tinthegame."ButIcan"tunderstandit.Thepadlockwasfastenedlikeyousaiditmustbe,whenIcheckedaroundyesterdayevening."
"Getthemback,"saidYolasharply."Getthemback."Hervoicerosehysterically."Thatnewstallion.Gethim.Gethimback."
Thereweresoundsafterthatofdrawersbeingpulledroughlyopen,andadoorslamming,andsilence.YolawasoutlookingforChrysalis.AndChrysaliswasonhiswaytoKentucky.
Theranchguestsknewallabout.i.t,atbreakfast.
"Whatafuss,"Wilkiesaid."You"dthinkthey"dlostthedeedstoagoldmine."
Theyhad.