hr.thecarpetbaggers-第14节

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　〃Of　course　you're　different；〃　he　said；　looking　into　Max's　eyes。　〃Everybody　in　this　world　is　different；　like　there　are　no　two　buffalo　alike　or　no　two　mules。　Everybody　is　alike　an'　yet　everybody　is　different。〃
　By　the　end　of　Max's　first　year　in　school；　the　teacher　was　very　proud　of　him。　Much　to　her　surprise；　he　had　turned　out　to　be　her　best　pupil。　His　mind　was　quick　and　bright　and　he　learned　easily。　When　the　term　ended；　she　made　sure　to　get　Sam's　promise　that　his　son　would　return　in　the　fall。
　When　the　school　closed　down　for　the　summer；　Max　brought　his　clothing　back　from　Olsens'　and　settled　down。　During　that　first　week；　he　was　kept　busy　repairing　all　the　damage　done　to　the　cabin　by　the　winter。
　One　evening；　after　Max　had　gone　to　bed；　Kaneha　turned　to　her　husband。　〃Sam；〃　she　said　in　English。
　Sam　almost　dropped　the　leather　harness　on　which　he　had　been　working。　It　was　the　first　time　in　all　their　years　together　that　she　had　called　him　by　name。
　Kaneha　felt　the　blood　rush　into　her　face。　She　wondered　at　her　temerity。　Squaws　never　spoke　to　their　husband　except　in　reply。　She　looked　down　at　the　floor　in　front　of　her。　〃It　is　true　that　our　son　has　done　well　in　the　school　of　the　White　Eyes？〃
　She　could　feel　his　gaze　boring　into　her。　〃It's　true；〃　she　heard　his　voice　reply。
　〃I　am　proud　of　our　son；〃　she　said；　lapsing　into　Kiowa。　〃And　I　am　grateful　to　his　father；　who　is　a　mighty　hunter　and　great　provider。〃　
　〃Yes？〃　Sam　asked；　still　watching。　
　〃While　it　is　true　that　our　son　learns　many　things　in　the　school　of　the　White　Eyes　that　make　mighty　medicine；　there　are　things　also　that　he　learns　that　disturb　him　greatly。〃
　〃Such　as？〃　Sam　asked　gently。
　She　looked　up　into　his　face　proudly。　〃There　are　some　among　the　White　Eyes　who　say　to　our　son　that　he　is　less　than　they；　that　his　blood　does　not　run　red　like　theirs。〃
　Sam's　lips　tightened。　He　wondered　how　she　would　know　this。　She　never　came　into　town；　she　never　left　the　place。　He　felt　a　vague　guilt　stir　inside　him。　〃They　are　stupid　children；〃　he　said。
　〃I　know；〃　she　said　simply。
　He　reached　out　his　hand　and　touched　her　cheek　gratefully。　She　caught　his　hand　and　held　it　to　her　cheek。　〃I　think　it　is　time　we　send　our　son　to　the　tents　of　the　mighty　chief；　his　grandfather；　so　that　he　may　learn　the　true　strength　of　his　blood。〃
　Sam　looked　into　her　face。　In　many　ways；　it　was　a　wise　suggestion。　In　one　summer　with　the　Kiowa；　Max　would　learn　all　the　things　he　needed　to　survive　in　this　land。　He　would　also　learn　that　he　came　from　a　family　that　could　trace　its　blood　further　back　than　any　of　the　jackals　who　tormented　him。　He　nodded。　〃I　will　take　our　son　to　the　tents　of　my　brothers；　the　Kiowa；〃　he　said。
　He　looked　at　her　again。　He　was　now　fifty…two　and　she　was　little　more　than　half　his　age。　She　was　still　straight　and　slim　and　strong；　she　had　never　run　to　fat　the　way　Indian　women　usually　did。　He　felt　his　heart　begin　to　swell　inside　him。
　He　let　the　harness　drop　from　his　hand　and　he　drew　her　head　down　to　his　chest。　His　hand　stroked　her　hair　gently。　Suddenly　he　knew　what　he　had　felt　deep　inside　him　all　these　years。　He　turned　her　face　up　to　him。　〃I　love　you；　Kaneha；〃　he　said。
　Her　eyes　were　dark　and　filled　with　tears。　〃I　love　you；　my　husband。〃
　And　for　the　first　time；　he　kissed　her　on　the　mouth。
　
　4
　
　IT　WAS　ABOUT　TWO　O'CLOCK　on　a　Saturday　afternoon　three　summers　later　when　Max　stood　on　a　wagon　in　the　yard　back　of　Olsen's　Livery　Stable；　pitching　hay　up　into　the　open　loft　over　his　head。　He　was　naked　above　his　buckskin　breeches　and　his　body　was　burnt　a　coppery　black　by　the　blazing　sun　that　hung　overhead。　The　muscles　rippled　easily　in　his　back　as　he　forked　the　hay　up　from　the　wagon。
　The　three　men　came　riding　into　the　yard　and　pulled　their　horses　up　near　the　wagon。　They　did　not　dismount　but　sat　there；　looking　at　him。
　Max　did　not　interrupt　his　work　and　after　a　moment；　one　of　them　spoke。　〃Hey；　Injun；〃　he　said。　〃Where　is　the　Sand　boy？〃
　Max　threw　another　forkful　into　the　loft。　Then　he　sank　the　pitchfork　into　the　hay　and　looked　down　at　them。　〃I'm　Max　Sand；〃　he　said　easily；　resting　on　the　fork　handle。
　The　men　exchanged　meaningful　looks。　〃We're　lookin'　fer　yer　pappy；〃　the　man　who　had　spoken　before　said。
　Max　stared　at　them　without　answering。　His　blue　eyes　were　dark　and　unreadable。
　〃We　were　over　at　the　stage　line　but　the　place　was　closed。　There　was　a　sign　there　that　said　your　pappy　hauled　freight。〃
　〃That's　right；〃　Max　said。　〃But　this　is　Saturday　afternoon　an'　he's　gone　home。〃
　One　of　the　others　pushed　forward。　〃We　got　a　wagonload　of　freight　we　got　to　get　over　to　Virginia　City；〃　he　said。　〃We're　in　a　hurry。　We'd　like　to　talk　to　him。〃
　Max　picked　up　the　pitchfork　again。　He　tossed　another　forkful　of　hay　into　the　loft。　〃I'll　tell　him　when　I　get　home　to…night。〃
　〃We　cain't　wait　that　long；〃　the　first　man　said。　〃We　want　to　make　the　deal　and　get　on　out　of　here　tonight。　How　do　we　find　your　place？〃
　Max　looked　at　them　curiously。　They　didn't　look　like　settlers　or　miners　or　the　usual　run　of　people　that　had　freight　for　his　father　to　haul。　They　looked　more　like　gunmen　or　drifters；　the　way　they　sat　there　with　their　guns　tied　low　on　their　legs；　their　hats　shading　their　faces。
　〃I'll　be　th'ough　here　in　a　couple　of　hours；〃　Max　said。　〃I'll　take　you　out　there。〃
　〃I　said　we　was　in　a　hurry；　boy。　Your　pappy　won't　like　it　none　if　he　hears　we　gave　our　load　to　somebody　else。〃
　Max　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃Follow　the　north　road　out　about　twenty　miles。〃
　Without　another　word　the　three　turned　their　horses　around　and　began　to　ride　out　of　the　yard。　Their　voices　floated　back　on　the　lazy　breeze。
　〃Yuh'd　think　with　all　the　dough　ol'　Sand's　got　buried；　he'd　do　better　than　bein'　a　squaw　man；〃　one　of　them　said。
　Max　heard　the　others　laugh　as　he　angrily　pitched　hay　up　into　the　loft。
　
　It　was　Kaneha　who　heard　them　first。　Her　ears　were　turned　to　the　road　every　Saturday　afternoon　for　it　was　then　that　Max　came　home　from　school。　She　went　to　the　door　and　opened　it。　〃Three　men　e；〃　she　said；　looking　out。
　Sam　got　up　from　the　table　and　walked　behind　her　and　looked　out。　〃Yeah；〃　he　said；　〃I　wonder　what　they　want。〃
　Kaneha　had　a　premonition　of　danger。　〃Bolt　the　door　and　do　not　let　them　enter；〃　she　said。　〃They　ride　silently　like　Apache　on　the　warpath；　not　open　like　honest　men。〃
　Sam　laughed。　〃You're　just　not　used　to　seein'　people；〃　he　said。　〃They're　probably　jus'　lookin'　for　the　way　to　town。〃
　〃They　e　from　the　direction　of　town；〃　Kaneha　said。　But　it　was　too　late。　He　was　already　outside　the　door。
　〃Howdy；〃　he　called　as　they　pulled　their　horses　up　in　front　of　the　cabin。
　〃You　Sam　Sand？〃　the　one　in　the　lead　asked。
　Sam　nodded。　〃That's　me。　Whut　kin　I　do　for　you　gents？〃
　〃We　got　a　load　we　want　hauled　up　to　Virginia　City；〃　the　man　said。　He　took　off　his　hat　and　wiped　his　face　on　his　sleeve。　〃It's　pow'ful　hot　today。〃
　〃It　shore　is；〃　Sam　nodded。　〃e　on　inside　and　cool　off　a　bit　while　we　talk　about　it。〃
　The　men　dismounted　and　Sam　walked　into　the　cabin。
　〃Fetch　a　bottle　of　whisky；〃　he　said　to　Kaneha。　He　turned　back　to　the　men。　〃Set　yourself　down。　What　kind'a　freight　yuh　got？〃
　〃Gold。〃
　〃Gold？〃　Sam　asked。　〃They　ain't　enough　gold　out　heah　to　haul　in　a　wagon。〃
　〃That　ain't　what　we　hear；〃　one　of　the　men　said。　Suddenly　there　were　guns　in　their　hands。　〃We　hear　you　got　enough　gold　buried　out　heah　to　fill　up　a　wagon。〃
　Sam　stared　at　them　for　a　moment；　then　he　laughed。　〃Put　your　guns　away；　gents；〃　he　said。　〃Yuh　don'　believe　that　crazy　yarn；　do　yuh？〃
　The　first　man　came　slowly　toward　him。　His　arm　flashed　and　the　gun　whipped　across　Sam's　face。　Sam　fell　backward　against　the　wall。　He　stared　up　at　the　man　incredulously。
　〃Yuh'll　tell　us　where　it　is　befo'　we　through；〃　the　man　said　tightly。
　
　The　air　in　the　cabin　was　almost　unbearably　hot。　The　three　men　had　drawn　off　into　a　corner　and　were　whispering　among　themselves。　Occasionally　they　would　glance　across　the　room　at　their　captives。
　Sam　hung　limply；　tied　to　the　support　post　in　the　center　of　the　cabin。　His　head　sagged　down　on　his　naked　chest　and　the　blood　dropped　down　his　face；　matting　on　the　graying　red　hair　of　his　beard　and　chest。　His　eyes　were　swollen　and　almost　closed；　his　nose　broken　and　squashed　against　his　cheek。
　Kaneha　was　tied　in　a　chair。　Her　eyes　were　fixed　unblinkingly　on　her　husband。　She　strained　to　turn　her　head　to　hear　what　the　men　were　saying　behind　her　but　she　could　not　move；　she　was　bound　too　tightly。
　〃Mebbe　he　ain't　really　got　the　gold；〃　one　of　the　men　whispered。
　〃He's　got　it　all　right；〃　the　first　one　said。　〃He's　jus'　tough。　Yuh　don'　know　them　ol'　buffalo　hunters　like　I　do。〃
　〃Well；　you　ain't　never　goin'　to　make　him　talk　the　way　yuh're　goin'；〃　the　short　man　said。　〃He's　gonna　die　first。〃
　〃He'll　talk；〃　the　first　man　answered。　He　went　to　the　stove　and　took　a　burning　coal　from　it　with　a　pair　of　fire　tongs。　He　walked　back　to　Sam　and　pulled　his　head　back　against　the　post　by　his　hair。　He　held　the　tongs　in　front　of　Sam's　face。　〃Wheah's　the　gold？〃
　Sam's　eyes　were　open。　His　voice　was　a　husky　croak。　〃They　ain't　none。　For　God's　sake　wouldn't　I　tell　yuh　if　they　was？〃
　The　man　pressed　the　burning　coal　against　Sam's　neck　and　shoulder。　Sam　screamed　in　pain。　〃They　ain't　no　gold！〃　His　head　fell　sideways。　The　man　withdrew