hr.thecarpetbaggers-第17节

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　The　chief　looked　down　at　the　scalp；　then　up　at　Max。　〃We　are　no　longer　free　to　roam　the　plains；〃　he　said。　〃We　live　on　the　land　that　the　White　Eyes　allow　us。　Have　any　of　them　seen　you　as　you　approached？〃
　〃None　saw　me；〃　Max　answered。　〃I　came　from　the　hills　behind　them。〃
　The　chief　looked　down　at　the　scalp　again。　It　had　been　a　long　time　since　the　scalp　of　an　enemy　hung　from　the　post　before　his　tepee。　His　heart　swelled　with　pride。　He　looked　at　Max。　The　White　Eyes　could　imprison　the　bodies　but　they　could　not　imprison　the　spirit。　He　picked　up　the　scalp　and　hung　it　from　the　post　then　turned　back　to　Max。
　〃A　tree　has　many　branches；〃　he　said　slowly。　〃And　when　some　branches　fall　or　are　cut　down；　other　branches　must　be　grown　to　take　their　place　so　their　spirits　may　find　where　to　live。〃
　He　took　a　feather　from　his　headdress　and　held　it　toward　Max。　〃There　is　a　maiden　whose　brave　was　killed　in　a　fall　from　his　horse　two　suns　ago。　She　had　already　taken　the　marriage　stick　and　now　must　live　alone　in　a　tent　by　the　river　until　his　spirit　is　replaced　in　her。　Go　now　and　take　her。〃　
　Max　stared　at　him。　〃Now？〃　he　asked。　
　The　chief　thrust　the　feather　into　his　hand。　〃Now；〃　he　said；　with　the　knowledge　of　all　his　years。　〃It　is　the　best　time；　while　the　spirit　of　war　and　vengeance　still　rages　like　a　torrent　in　your　blood。　It　is　the　best　time　to　take　a　woman。〃
　Max　turned　and　picked　up　the　lead　and　walked　down　through　the　camp　with　the　horses。　The　Indians　watched　him　silently　as　he　passed　by。　He　walked　slowly　with　his　head　held　high。　He　reached　the　bank　of　the　small　river　and　followed　it　around　a　bend。
　A　single　tent　stood　there；　out　of　sight　of　the　rest　of　the　camp。　Max　walked　toward　it。　He　tied　the　horses　to　some　shrubs　and　lifted　the　flap　of　the　tent　and　walked　in。
　The　tent　was　empty。　He　lifted　the　flap　again　and　looked　out。　There　was　no　one　in　sight。　He　let　the　flap　down。　He　walked　to　the　back　of　the　tent　and　sat　down　on　a　bed　of　skins　stretched　out　on　the　floor。
　A　moment　later　the　girl　came　in。　Her　hair　and　body　were　wet　from　the　river　and　her　dress　clung　to　her。　Her　eyes　went　wide　as　she　saw　him。　She　stood　there　poised　for　flight。
　She　wasn't　much　more　than　a　child；　Max　saw。　Fourteen；　maybe　fifteen　at　the　most。　Suddenly　he　knew　why　the　chief　had　sent　him　down　here。　He　picked　up　the　feather　and　held　it　toward　her。　〃Don't　be　afraid；〃　he　said　gently。　〃The　mighty　chief　has　put　us　together　so　that　we　may　drive　the　devils　from　each　other。〃
　
　6
　
　ASTRIDE　THE　WIRY　PINTO；　MAX　CAME　DOWN　THE　RAMP　from　the　railroad　car　behind　the　last　of　the　cattle。　He　waited　a　moment　until　the　last　steer　had　entered　the　stockyard　and　then　dropped　the　gate　behind　it。　He　took　off　his　hat　and　wiped　the　sweat　from　his　forehead　on　his　sleeve　and　looked　up　at　the　sun。
　It　hung　almost　overhead；　white　hot；　baking　into　the　late　spring　dust　of　the　yards。　The　cattle　lowed　softly　as　if　somehow　they；　too；　knew　they　had　e　to　the　end　of　the　road。　The　long　road　that　led　up　from　Texas；　to　a　railroad　that　took　them　to　Kansas　City；　and　their　impending　doom。
　Max　put　the　hat　back　on　his　head　and　squinted　down　the　fence　to　where　the　boss　sat　with　the　cattle…buyers。　He　rode　down　toward　them。
　Farrar　turned　as　he　stopped　his　horse　beside　them。　〃They　all　in？〃
　〃They　all　in；　Mr。　Farrar；〃　Max　answered。
　〃Good；〃　Farrar　said。　He　turned　to　one　of　the　cattle…buyers。　〃The　count　O。K。？　Eleven　hundred　and　ten　head　I　make　it。〃
　〃I　make　it　the　same；〃　the　buyer　said。
　Farrar　got　down　from　the　fence。　〃I'll　e　over　to　your　office　this　afternoon　to　pick　up　the　check。〃
　The　buyer　nodded。　〃It'll　be　ready。〃
　Farrar　got　up　on　his　horse。　〃C'mon；　kid；〃　he　said　over　his　shoulder。　〃Let's　get　over　to　the　hotel　and　wash　some　of　this　steer…shit　stink　off'n　us。〃
　〃Man；〃　Farrar　said；　after　a　bath。　〃I　feel　twenty　pounds　lighter。〃
　Max　straightened　up　from　putting　on　his　boots　and　turned　around。　〃Yeah；〃　he　said。　〃Me；　too。〃
　Farrar's　eyes　widened　and　he　whistled。　Max　had　on　an　almost　white　buckskin　shirt　and　breeches。　His　high…heeled　cowboy　boots　were　polished　to　a　mirror…like　sheen　and　the　kerchief　around　his　throat　was　like　a　sparkle　of　yellow　gold　against　his　dark；　sun…stained　skin。　His　hair；　almost　blue　black；　hung　long　to　his　shoulders。
　Farrar　whistled　again。　〃Man；　where'd　you　get　them　clothes？〃
　Max　smiled。　〃It　was　the　last　set　my　ma　made　for　me。〃　
　Farrar　laughed。　〃Well；　you　shore　enough　look　Injun　with　them　on。〃
　Max　smiled　with　him。　〃I　am　Indian；〃　he　said　quietly。　
　Farrar's　laughter　disappeared　quickly。　〃Half　Indian；　kid；〃　he　said。　〃Your　pappy　was　white　and　he　was　a　good　man。　I　hunted　with　Sam　Sand　too　many　years　to　hear　you　not　proud　of　him。〃
　〃I　am　proud　of　him；　Mr。　Farrar；〃　Max　said。　〃But　I　still　remember　it　was　white　men　killed　him　an'　Ma。〃
　He　picked　his　gun　belt　up　from　the　chair　and　strapped　it　on。　Farrar　watched　him　bend　over　to　tie　the　holster　to　his　thigh。　〃You　still　ain't　give　up　lookin'　for　them？〃　he　asked。　
　Max　looked　up。　〃No；　sir；　I　ain't。〃
　〃Kansas　City's　a　big　place；〃　Farrar　said。　〃How　you　know　you'll　find　him　here？〃
　〃If　he's　here；　I'll　find　him；〃　Max　answered。　〃This　is　where　he's　supposed　to　be。　Then　I'll　go　down　into　West　Texas　an'　get　the　other　one。〃
　Farrar　was　silent　for　a　moment。　〃Well；　dressed　like　that；　you　better　look　out　he　don't　recognize　you　and　find　you　first。〃
　〃I'm　hopin'　he　does；〃　Max　said　quietly。　〃I　want　him　to　know　what　he's　dyin'　for。〃
　Farrar　turned　away　from　the　bleak　look　in　the　boy's　eyes　and　picked　up　a　shirt。　Max　waited　quietly　for　him　to　finish　dressing。　〃I'll　pick　up　my　time　now；　Mr。　Farrar；〃　he　said　when　the　man　had　pulled　on　his　trousers。
　Farrar　walked　over　to　the　dresser　and　picked　up　his　poke。　〃There　you　are；〃　he　said。　〃Four　months'　pay　…　eighty　dollars　…　an'　the　sixty　dollars　you　won　at　poker。〃
　Max　put　the　money　in　a　back　pocket　without　counting　it。　〃Thanks；　Mr。　Farrar。〃
　〃Sure　I　can't　talk　you　into　in'　back　with　me？〃　Farrar　asked。
　〃No；　thank　you；　Mr。　Farrar。〃
　〃You　can't　keep　all　that　hate　in　your　soul；　boy；〃　the　older　man　said。　〃It　ain't　healthy。　You'll　only　wind　up　harmin'　yourself。〃　
　〃I　can't　help　that；　Mr。　Farrar；〃　Max　said　slowly。　His　eyes　were　empty　and　cold。　〃I　can't　ferget　it's　the　same　breast　that　fed　me　that　bastard's　usin'　to　keep　his　tobacco　in。〃
　The　door　closed　behind　him　and　Farrar　stood　there　staring　at　it。
　
　Mary　Grady　smiled　at　the　boy。　〃Finish　your　whisky；〃　she　said；　〃while　I　get　my　dress　off。〃
　The　boy　watched　her　for　a　moment；　then　drank　the　whisky　quickly。　He　coughed　as　he　went　over　to　the　edge　of　the　bed　and　sat　down。
　Mary　looked　over　at　him　as　she　slipped　the　dress　up　over　her　head。　〃How　are　you　feelin'？〃
　The　boy　looked　at　her。　She　could　see　the　vagueness　already　in　his　eyes。　〃All　ri'；　I　guess；〃　he　answered。　〃I　ain'　used　to　drinkin'　so　much。〃
　She　came　over　and　stood　looking　down　at　him；　her　dress　over　her　arm。　〃Stretch　out　and　shut　your　eyes。　You'll　be　all　right　in　a　few　minutes。〃
　He　looked　up　at　her　dumbly；　without　response。
　She　put　out　her　hand　and　pushed　his　shoulder。　A　hint　of　awareness　sparked　in　his　eyes。　He　tried　to　get　to　his　feet；　his　hand　locked　around　the　butt　of　his　gun；　but　the　effort　was　too　much。　He　collapsed；　falling　sideways　across　the　bed。
　Expertly　Mary　bent　over　him　and　lifted　his　eyelid。　The　boy　was　out　cold。　She　smiled　to　herself　and　crossing　to　the　window；　looked　out　into　the　street。
　Her　pimp　was　standing　across　the　street　in　front　of　a　saloon。　She　raised　and　lowered　the　shade　twice　in　the　agreed　signal　and　he　started　toward　the　hotel。
　She　was　dressed　by　the　time　he　got　up　to　the　room。　〃You　took　long　enough　gettin'　him　up　here；〃　he　said　surlily。
　〃What　could　I　do？〃　she　said。　〃He　wouldn't　drink。　He's　just　a　kid。〃
　〃How　much　did　he　have　on　him？〃　the　pimp　asked。
　〃I　don't　know；〃　Mary　answered。　〃The　money's　in　his　back　pocket。　Get　it　an'　let's　get　out　of　here。　This　hotel　always　gives　me　the　creeps。〃
　The　pimp　crossed　to　the　bed　and　pulled　the　money　out　of　the　boy's　back　pocket。　He　counted　it　swiftly。　〃A　hundred　and　thirty　dollars；〃　he　said。
　Mary　went　over　to　him　and　put　her　arms　around　him。　〃A　hundred　and　thirty　dollars。　Maybe　we　can　take　the　night　off　now；〃　she　said；　kissing　his　chin。　〃We　could　go　over　to　my　place　and　have　a　whole　night　together。〃
　The　pimp　looked　down　at　her。　〃What？　Are　you　crazy？〃　he　rasped。　〃It's　only　eleven　o'clock。　You　can　turn　three　more　tricks　tonight。〃
　He　turned　to　look　down　at　the　boy　while　she　picked　up　her　pocketbook。　〃Don't　forget　the　bottle　of　whisky；〃　he　said　over　his　shoulder。
　〃I　won't；〃　she　answered。
　〃He　don't　look　like　no　cowboy；〃　he　said。　〃He　looks　more　like　an　Indian　to　me。〃
　〃He　is；〃　she　said。　〃He　was　looking　for　some　guy　who　had　a　tobacco　pouch　made　from　an　Indian　woman's　skin。〃　She　laughed。　〃I　don't　think　he　even　wanted　to　get　laid。　I　got　him　up　here　by　lettin'　him　think　I　knew　who　he　was　lookin'　for。〃
　The　pimp　looked　down　thoughtfully。　〃He's　carryin'　a　gun；　too。　It　should　be　worth　somethin'　to　the　guy　he's　lookin'　for　to　know　about　him。〃
　〃You　know　who　he's　lookin'　for？〃
　〃Maybe；〃　the　pimp　said。　〃C'mon。〃
　
　It　was　almost　two　o'clock　in　the　morning　before　the　pimp　found　the　man　he　was　looking　for。　He　was　playing　cards　in　the　back　of　the