I"mgladtheyfoundthedearlittlefoalsanyway,"Samanthasaid.
"They"vefoundthem?"Iasked.Thesmallpaddockwa.s.stillempty.
"They"veputtheminthebarn,"agreedMickey."Withtheirmothers."
"Someoneleftthegateunlocked,"Betty-Anntoldme."Isn"t.i.tashame?Yola"sobviouslyinafearfulstate."
Yolahadbeeninthedining-roomwhenIstrolledintobreakfast,standingsilentandrigidbythekitchendoor,checkingthatalltheguestswerethere,lookingforsignsofguilt.
Poisehaddesertedher.Thehairwasroughlytiedwitharibbonatthenapeofherneckandthelipstickwasmissing.Therehadbeennoprofessionalrea.s.suringsmiles.Amuscletwitchedinthestrongjawandshehadn"tbeenincontrolofthewildnessinhereyes.
Iateadoubleorderofbaconandbuckwheathotcakeswithmaplesyrup,anddrankthreecupsofcoffee Betty-AnnoppositemelitacigaretteandsaiddidIhavetoleave,couldn"tIstayanotherfewdays.Wilkiegrufflysaidtheyshouldn"ttrytokeepafeller.Wilkiehadcottonedon,andwasgladtoseemego.
StrongfootstepscameintotheroomfromthedoorbehindmeBetty-Annlookedovermyheadandhereyeswidened.
"Whyh.e.l.lothere,"sheexclaimedwarmly,transferringherattentions"Howgoodtoseeyou."
Wilkie,Ithoughtinamus.e.m.e.nt,shouldbeusedtoitbynow.b.u.t.theWilkersons"problemsblinkedoutofmymindforeverwhensomeoneelsecalledthenewmanbyhisname.
Matt.
MattClivespokefrombehindmyshoulder;adrawlingba.s.svoiceunderstrictcontrol.
"Listenfolks.Iguessyouknowwe"vehadalittletroubleherethismorning.Someoneletoutthemaresandhorsesfromtheirpaddockoverthere.Nowifitwasanyofyoukids,we"dsureliketoknowabout.i.t."
Therewasashortsilence.Thevariouschildrenlookeduncomfortableandtheirparents"eyebrowspeakedintoquestionmarks.
"Orifanyoneknowsthatthegatewasn"tproperlyfastenedyesterdayatanytime?"
Moresilence.
MattClivewalkedtentativelyroundthelongtable,intomylineofsight.AboutYola"sage,Yola"sheight.Samejawline.Samestrongbody,onlymoreso.Irememberedthetwobedroomsintheircabin:theringlessfingersofYola"shand.Yola"sbrother,Matt.Idrankmycoffeeandavoidedmeetinghiseyes.
Oneortwooftheguestslaughinglymentionedrustlers,andsomeonesuggestedcallinginthepolice.Mattsaidtheywereseriouslythinkingofit.Oneofthestallionswasquitevaluable.Butonly,ofcourse,ifitwasabsolutelycertainthatnoneoftheguestshadleftthegateopenbyaccident.
Sympatheticmurmurswereallhegot.Hemightindeedbebraveenough,ordesperateenough,tocallinthepolice.Butifhedid,theywouldn"trecoverChrysalis,whoshouldbynowbehundredsofmilesawayonaroundaboutroute,accompaniedbyastrictlylegalbillofsale.
Matteventuallywentaway,trailingathunderousauraandleavingtheguestsunsettledandembarra.s.sed.
Iaskedthegirlwhowaitedattableifshecouldfetchmyaccountforme,asIwantedtopayupbeforeleaving,andafteranintervalshereturnedwithit.Igavehercash,andwaitedwhileshewroteareceipt.
TheWilkersonfamilysaidtheirgood-byes,astheywerehopingtogoridingifanyofthewranglershadcomebackfromsearchingforthemissinghorse,andIwalkedunhurriedlybacktomycabintofinishpacking.Upthetwosteps,acrosstheporch,throughthetwodoors,andintotheroom.
Yolacameoutofthebathroomcarryingarifle.Thewayshehandleditshowedsheknewhowtouseit.Mattsteppedfrombehindthecurtainedcloset,betweenmeandthewayout.Norifleforhim.Ashotgun.
Iputonthepuzzledact,Germanaccentstronger.
"Excuseme.Idonotunderstand."
"It"sthesameman,"Mattsaid."Definitely."
"Where"sourhorse?"saidYolafuriously.
"Idonotknow,"Isaidtruthfully,spreadingmyhandsoutinaheavyshrug."Whydoyouasksuchaquestion?"
Boththegunswerepointingsteadfastlymyway.
"Excuseme,"Isaid,"Ihavemypackingtofinish.Ihavepaidthebill.Iamleavingthismorning."
"You"renotgoinganywhere,friend,"Mattsaidgrimly.
"Whynot?"
"Yougetthathorsebackhere,andthenyoucango.Notbefore."
Hewasgoingtohaveafineoldtimeifheintendedtokeepaprisonersilentindefinitelyonaranchfullofholidayguests.
"Ican"tgethimback,"Isaid."Idon"tknowwhereheis.Severalfriendsofmine,however,doknowwhereIam.Theywillbeexpectingmetobeleavingherethismorning."
Theystaredatmeinsilentfury.Childrenincrime,Ithought,foralltheiringenuity.Theyhadwalkedstraightinwiththeirgunswithoutthinkingclearlythrough.Theywere,however,lethalchildren,ruledbyimpulsemorethanreason.
Isaid,"Iamunlikelytogoaroundsaying"IstoleahorsefromtheClives."Ifyoudonothing,andInowdrivesafelyaway,youmayhearnomoreofit.That"sthebestIcanoffer.Youwillnot,whateveryoudo,recoverthehorse."
Theonlysensiblecourseopentothemwastoletmego.ButYola"sfingertightenedonthetrigger,andIreluctantlydecideditwastimefortheLuger.Watchingher,Isawasplitsecondtoolateinthelookinggla.s.sthatMatthadtakenastepbehindmeandwa.s.swinginghisgunb.u.t.tlikeabludgeon.
HecaughtmesolidlyacrossthebackoftheskullandthepatchworkquiltonthebeddazzledintokaleidoscopicfragmentsinmyglazingeyesasIwentdown.
CHAPTERTEN.
WhenIwokeupitwasprettyclearthatIwasn"tintendedtobeahostage,butacorpse.
Thecabinwasfullofsmoke,andsmallflamesroseinalongunevenswatheacrossthefloor.Icouldn"trememberanythingatfirst.Lookedatthescenemuzzily,halfsittingup,myheaddizzyandsplittingwithpain.TheClives,Ithought.They"demptiedthewholetubofpepoutintoastragglingline,andset.i.talight.Sawdustanddieseloilburningslowlyandbillowingoutunbreathablegases.
They"dlaidmeagainstthestovesothat.i.twouldseemasifI"dfallenandhitmyheadonit.TheemptypeptinrolledawayfrommyfootasItriedtogetup,andmyhandbrushedagainstacigaretteandabookofmatches.
Mostdeathsinfiresweren"tcausedbyburnsbutbyasphyxia.Thecabinwouldn"tburndownfromfireonthefloorboards:fireneverburneddownwards,onlyup.TheCliveswerestagingmyexitforn.o.bettermotivethanrevenge.Andasanaccident.i.twasoneoftheirpoorerefforts.
Havingstaggereditswaythroughthoseuselessrandomthoughts,mybrainclearedenoughformetodecideitwashightimetomoveifIwasgoingtodoanythingaboutliving.AndIsupposedIwouldhaveto.
Istumbledontomyfeet,pulledthequiltoffoneofthebeds,totteredintothebathroomwithitandsoakeditunderthetapsinthebath.Smokewaswelldowninmylungs,thickandchoking.It"sb.l.o.o.d.ystupid,Ithoughtgroggily,it"sd.a.m.nb.l.o.o.d.ystupidthatboy-and-girlkeeptryingtoshovemewhereIwanttogo,andIkeeptryingnottoletthem.Ridiculous.Ridiculous...
Ifoundmyselfonmyknees,halfunconscious.Thebathwaterstillrunning.Pulledmyselfupalittle,hauledoutthedrippingquilt,flungitovertheworstofthefire.Silly,Ithought.Muchbettertogooutofthedoor.Triedthat.d.a.m.nthingwa.s.stuck.
Window,then.Stuck.
Wrappedmyhandinthecurtainandpusheditthroughoneofthepanesofgla.s.s.Someaircamein.Theinsectscreenstoppedmore.
Downonmykneesagain.Terriblydizzy.Ablackh.e.l.linmyhead.Smeltthequiltburning,lifteditoffonelotoffire,andontothenext.Dampeditalloutintoasmellyblackfaintlysmoulderingpathandfeltoldandweakfromtoomuchscramblingupanddownmountainsanddeeplyillfromthecrashonthebrainandtoomuchsmoke.
Openedthefrontofthefatblackstove.Shapleigh,itsaid.GraduallythesmokebegantoclearawayupitsstackpipewhileIlayinapoorstatebesidethecabindoorandbreathedthefreshairtricklinginunderneath.
SeveraleraslaterIstoppedfeelinglikemorguematerialandthehammerinmyheaddiedtoabrutalachingthrob.IbegantowonderhowlongitwouldbebeforeMattandYolareturnedtomaketheirhorrifieddiscoveryofmydeath,andwearilydecideditwastimeforaction.
Istoodupslowlyandleanedagainstthedoor.They"dfasteneditsomehowfromtheoutside,inspiteoftherebeingnolock:anditwa.s.simpleenoughtoseewhenone"seyesweren"tfilledwithsmoke.Thescreendooropenedoutwards,thewoodendoorinwards.Asmallhookleadinginthroughthelatchwasholdingthetwotogether.Ipusheditup,anditslidawayastheinnerdooropened.
Mywalletlayonthetable,notinmypocket.They"dbeenlooking.Nothingforthemtofind,excepttheirownphotograph.They"dtakenthat.b.u.t.theyhadn"tsearchedveryfar:theLugerwa.s.stillinitsholsteratmyback,undermyouthangingshirt.Icheckedthemagazine-stillloaded-andput.i.tbackinplace.
TheonlyotherthingIreallywantedtotakewithmewasmyradio.Isquasheddownits.e.xtendedantennaaerialandshoveditintomyoldsuitcaseontopofthethingsI"dpackedbeforebreakfast.Then,pickingitupandfightingdownthewhirlingchaoswhichresulted,Iopenedthescreendoor.Behindmethecabinlayinasingedshambles.Ahead,thecomparativelyshortwalktotheca.r.s.eemedamarathon.
ImighthavemadeitinoneifIhadn"tfeltanyworse:butattheendofthewoodlandtrack,whenallthatwaslefttogowastheopenexpanseofthecarpark,awaveofclammysweatingfaintnessseethedthroughmeandIdroppedthesuitcaseandleanedagainstatree,waitingweaklyforittopa.s.s.
Yolacameoutofthekitchendoorandsawme.Hermouthfellopen,thensheturnedononeheelanddivedbackintotheranch-house.Fortherifle.OrforMatt.Myhandclosedonthepistolatmyback,butIwasveryloathtouseit.Toomanyexplanationstoauthoritywouldbeinvolved,andIpreferredtoavoidthematthisstage.
"h.e.l.lo,"saidacheerfulvoicebehindme."Wethoughtyou"dgoneagesago."
Iturnedmywonkyheadandletmyhandfallawayfromthegun.MickeyandSamanthawerecomingdownthetrackfromthebranchwhichledtotheWilkersons"cabin.
"AndIthought,"Isaid,"thatyou"dgoneriding."
"Thewranglershaven"tbroughtinenoughhorses,"Mickeyexplainedsadly.
"Areyousickorsomething?"askedhissister,comingtoahaltandstaringupintomyface.
"Abit,"Iadmitted.I"dbeawfullygladifyou"dcarrymysuitcaseforme,acrosstothatblackcar."
"Sure,"saidMickeyimportantly,andSamanthatookmyhandinmotherlysolicitude.WithonechildoneachsideIcompletedthetrip.
ItwastherifleYolafetched.ShestoodwithitstifflyinherhandsandwatchedthechildrenputthesuitcaseinthecarandstandclosetomywindowwhileIstartedtheengine.Anaccidentaldrowning,anaccidentalsmotheringshecouldmanage:b.u.t.threepublicmurdersbyshootingwereoutsideherrange.Justaswell.Ifshe"dliftedthatrifletowardsthechildren,Iwouldhaveshother.
"Bye,"theysaid,waving.Nicekids.
"Bye."
Ireleasedthebrakesandrolledawaydownthedriveinaplumeofdust,acceleratingfasta.s.soonasIhitthemetalledroad,andtakingthemainbranchdowntoJackson.IfYolathoughtoffollowinginthepickup,shedidn"tdoitfastenough.RepeatedinspectioninthemirrorshowednoCliveschasingonmytail.Theonlythingsconstantlybeforemyeyeswerebrightdancingspots.
ThroughJacksonIturnednorthandwestontothewindingroadtoIdahoFalls.AlongtheretheSnakeRiverandthePallisadesReservoir,sparklingblueagainstthedarkpines,werestunninglybeautiful.Butmyseveralstopsweren"tforappreciation:thecoldsweatingwavesofdizzinesskeptrecurring,liketwenty-twooverseven.Idroveslowly,closetotheside,neverovertaking,readytopullup.IfIhadn"twantedtoputahundredmilesorsobetweenmeandtheClives,Iwouldn"thavestartedfromJackson.MostofthetimeIwishedIhadn"t.
Waltwas.p.a.cingthemotellobbylikeafreneticfilmproducerwhenIfinallyshowedupatfive-thirtyintheafternoon.
"Youarefourandahalfhourslate,"hebeganaccusingly."Yousaid..."
"Iknow,"Iinterrupted."Bookussomerooms.We"restayinghere."
Heopenedhismouthandshut.i.ttight.
I"msorry,"Isaid,softeningit,"butIfeelill."
"What"sthematter?"
"Concussion."
Waltgavemeasearchinglook,bookedtherooms,andevenwentsofarastocarrymysuitcase.Ilaystraightdownonthebed,andhesatinaneasychairinmyroomandrubbedhisfingers.
"Doyouneedadoctor?"hesaid.
"Idon"tthinkso.It"snotgettinganyworse."
"Well...whathappened?"
"I"llgiveyousomefreeadvice,"Isaid."Don"teverletMattClivecomewithinbashingdistanceofyourhead."
Thedizzinesswasn"tsobadlyingdown.
"Doyouwantadrink?"heasked.
"No...Let"slistentoataperecordinginstead."Itoldhimhowtoopenthebackoftheradioandtorewindthereels.
"Neatlittlejob,"hecommented."Wheredidyouget.i.t?"
"Haditspeciallymade,twoorthreeyearsago."
Waltgrunted,andswitchedon.TheheadwranglerbangedonYola"sdoorandtoldherthatthemaresandstallionswereout.Walt"sfaceliftedintoahalfgrin.
Therecorderplayedtwentysecondsofsilenceaftereachtake,andbeganagainatthenextsound.Thenextpiecewasveryshort.
"Yola?"Aman"svoice,veryloud."Yola!Wheretheh.e.l.liseverybody?"Adoorslammed.Silence.
"That"sMattClive,"ItoldWalt."Hecamebackbeforebreakfast."
Thevoicesbeganagain.Yolaspeaking,comingindoors."...saythetracksgostraightupthehill,butheturnedbackatthehighpatchofscreeandcamedownagain."
Thatwasabitofluck.
"They"lljusthavetogoonlooking."Mattsaid."Yola,forG.o.d"ssake,wecan"tlosethathorse."Hisvoicewa.s.strainedandfurious."I"llgoovertothehouseandseeifanyofthosekidshadahandinit."
"Idon"tthinkso.Notadarnedoneofthemlooksnervous."
"I"lltry,anyway."Hisfootstepsreceded.
Yolapickedupthetelephoneandmadeacall.
"Thatyou,Jim?HaveyouseenanyhorsevanscomingthroughPikeletsincelastnight?"