hr.thecarpetbaggers-第27节

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　The　smaller　man　didn't　even　look　up。　He　filled　his　friend's　glass　first；　then　his　own。　He　lifted　it　to　his　lips。
　The　glass　shattered　against　the　floor　and　silence　abruptly　fell　across　the　cantina。　〃Get　your　nigger　outa　here；〃　the　big　man　said。　He　stared　at　them　for　a　moment；　then　turned　and　strode　back　to　the　bar。
　The　Negro　started　to　rise　but　the　smaller　man　stopped　him　with　a　gesture　from　his　eyes。　Slowly　the　Negro　sank　back　into　his　chair。
　It　was　only　when　the　smaller　man　left　the　table　to　go　to　the　bar　that　the　alcalde　realized　that　he　wasn't　as　small　as　he　had　first　thought。　It　was　only　by　parison　to　the　Negro　that　he　seemed　small。
　〃Who　makes　the　rules　here？〃　he　asked　the　bartender。　
　The　bartender　gestured　toward　the　rear。　〃The　alcalde；　se？or。〃
　The　americano　turned　and　came　toward　the　table。　His　eyes　surprised　the　alcalde；　they　were　a　hard；　dark　blue。　He　spoke　in　Spanish；　with　a　trace　of　Cuban　accent。　〃Does　the　swine　speak　the　truth；　se？or？〃
　〃No；　se？or；〃　the　alcalde　replied。　〃All　are　wele　here　who　have　the　money　to　pay　their　way。〃
　The　man　nodded　and　returned　to　the　bar。　He　stopped　in　front　of　the　man　who　had　e　over　to　his　table。　〃The　alcalde　tells　me　my　friend　can　stay；〃　he　said。
　The　man　turned　to　him　angrily。　〃Who　the　hell　cares　what　that　greaser　thinks？　Just　because　we're　across　the　border；　doesn't　mean　I　have　to　drink　with　niggers！〃
　The　smaller　man's　voice　was　cold。　〃My　friend　eats　with　me；　drinks　with　me；　sleeps　with　me；　and　he's　not　goin'。〃　He　turned　his　back　calmly　and　went　back　to　his　table。
　He　was　just　seating　himself　again　when　the　angry　americano　started　for　him。　〃If　you　like　niggers　so　much；　nigger…lover；　see　how　you　like　sleepin'　with　a　dead　one！〃　he　shouted；　pulling　his　gun。
　The　smaller　americano　seemed　scarcely　to　move　but　the　gun　was　in　his　hand；　smoke　rising　from　its　barrel；　the　echo　of　a　shot　fading　away　in　the　rafters　of　the　cantina。　And　the　loud…mouthed　one　lay　dead　on　the　floor　in　front　of　the　bar。
　〃I　apologize　for　the　disturbance　we　have　made　against　the　hospitality　of　your　village；〃　he　said　in　his　strange　Spanish。
　The　alcalde　looked　down　at　the　man　on　the　floor；　and　shrugged。　〃De　nada；〃　he　said。　〃It　is　nothing。　You　were　right。　The　swine　had　no　grace。〃
　Now；　almost　three　years　later；　the　alcalde　sighed；　remembering。　The　little　one　had　grace；　much　grace　…　natural　like　a　panther。　And　the　gun。　Caramba！　There　had　never　been　anything　so　fast。　It　seemed　almost　to　have　a　life　of　its　own。　What　a　pistolera　this　one　would　have　made。　Juárez　would　have　been　proud　of　him。
　Several　times　each　year；　the　two　friends　would　quietly　disappear　from　the　village　and　as　quietly　reappear　…　several　weeks；　sometimes　several　months　later。　And　each　time　they　came　back；　they　had　money　to　pay　for　their　rooms；　their　women；　their　whisky。
　But　each　time；　the　alcalde　could　sense　a　deeper　solitude　in　them；　a　greater　aloneness。　There　were　times　he　felt　a　strange　kind　of　pity　for　them。　They　were　not　like　the　others　that　came　to　the　village。　This　way　of　life　held　no　pleasure　for　them。
　And　now　they　were　drinking　tequila　again。　How　many　times　before　they　would　go　out　like　this　and　never　return？　Not　only　to　this　village　but　to　nowhere　on　this　earth。
　
　Max　swallowed　the　tequila　and　bit　into　the　lime。　The　tart　juice　burst　into　his　throat；　giving　his　mouth　a　clean；　fresh　feeling。　He　looked　at　Mike。　〃How　much　we　got　left？〃　
　Mike　thought　for　a　moment。　〃Maybe　three　more　weeks。〃　
　Max　rolled　a　cigarette　and　lit　it。　〃What　we　gotta　do　is　make　a　big　hit。　Then　maybe　we　could　go　up　into　California　or　Nevada　or　someplace　where　they　don'　know　us　an'　git　ourselves　straightened　out。　Money　shore　don'　last　long　around　this　place。〃
　The　Negro　nodded。　〃It　sho'　don'；〃　he　agreed。　〃But　that　ain'　the　answer。　We　gotta　split　up。　They　lookin'　for　us　together。　When　they　see　me；　it's　like　you　carryin'　a　big　ol'　sign　with　you'　name　on　it。〃
　Max　filled　his　glass　again。　〃Tryin'　to　get　rid　of　me？〃　He　smiled；　throwing　the　liquor　down　his　throat　and　reaching　for　the　lime。
　Mike　said　seriously；　〃Maybe　'thout　me；　you　could　settle　down　someplace　an'　make　a　life　fo'　yourself。　You　won'　have　to　run　no　mor'。〃
　Max　spit　out　a　lime　seed。　〃We　made　us　a　deal　to　stick　together。　We　get　enough　money　this　time；　we'll　head　for　California。〃
　The　door　opened　and　a　tall；　redheaded　cowboy　came　in。　He　walked　over　to　their　table　and　dropped　into　an　empty　chair。　〃Ol'　Charlie　Dobbs　got　here　in　the　nick　o'　time；　I　reckon。〃　He　laughed。　〃That　there　tequila'll　eat　the　linin'　off　your　stomach　sure　as　hell。　Bartender；　bring　us　a　bottle　of　whisky。〃
　The　bartender　put　whisky　and　glasses　on　the　table　and　walked　away。　Charlie　filled　the　glasses　and　they　drank。
　〃What　brings　you　back；　Charlie？〃　Max　asked。　〃I　thought　you　were　headin'　up　Reno　way。〃
　〃I　was。　But　I　run　into　the　biggest　thing　ever　I　saw。　It　was　too　good　to　pass　up。〃
　〃What　kinda　job？〃　Max　asked；　leaning　across　the　table。
　Charlie　lowered　his　voice。　〃A　new　bank。　You　remember　I　tol'　you　I　heard　las'　year　they　were　minin'　for　oil　up　in　Texas？　I　decided　to　pay　them　diggin's　a　visit　on　my　way　north。〃　He　poured　another　drink　and　swallowed　it　quickly。　〃Well；　they　found　it　all　right。　It's　the　craziest　thing　you　ever　saw。　They　sink　a　well　down　in　the　groun'　an'　instead　of　water；　up　es　oil。　Then　they　pipe　it　off；　barrel　it　an'　ship　it　east。　There's　oil　all　over　the　place　an'　that　bank's　just　bustin'　with　money。〃
　〃Sounds　good　to　me；〃　Max　said。　〃What's　the　deal？〃　
　〃A　local　man　set　up　the　job　but　he　needs　help。　He　wants　two　shares；　we　get　one　share　each。〃　
　〃Fair　enough；〃　Max　said。　He　turned　to　Mike。　〃What　do　you　think？〃
　Mike　nodded。　〃When　we　pull　the　job？〃　he　asked。　
　Charlie　looked　at　him。　〃Right　after　the　new　year。　The　bank　is　gettin'　in　a　lot　of　money　then　for　new　diggin'。〃　He　refilled　all　the　glasses。　〃We'll　have　to　start　tomorrow。　It　took　me　three　weeks　to　ride　down　here。〃
　
　15
　
　MAX　PUSHED　HIS　WAY　INTO　THE　SALOON　BEHIND　Charlie　Dobbs。　It　was　crowded　with　oil…miners　and　cowboys　and　the　dice　table　and　faro　layouts　were　working　full　blast。　Men　were　standing　three　deep　around　them　waiting　for　a　chance　at　the　games。
　〃What'd　I　tell　you？〃　Charlie　chortled。　〃This　is　a　real　boom　town　all　right。〃　He　led　the　way　down　the　bar　to　where　a　man　was　standing　by　himself。
　The　man　turned　and　looked　at　him。　〃You　took　long　enough　gettin'　here；〃　he　said　in　a　low　voice。
　〃It's　a　long　ride；　Ed；〃　Charlie　said。
　〃Meet　me　outside；〃　Ed　said；　throwing　a　silver　dollar　on　the　bar　and　walking　out。　He　glanced　quickly　at　Max　as　he　passed。
　Max　caught　a　glimpse　of　pale　gimlet　eyes　without　expression。　The　man　seemed　to　be　in　his　late　forties；　with　a　long；　sandy　mustache　trailing　across　his　lip。　There　was　something　familiar　about　him　but　Max　couldn't　place　it。　There　was　only　the　feeling　that　he　had　seen　him　before。
　The　man　was　waiting　outside　the　saloon　for　them。　He　walked　ahead　and　they　followed　him　into　a　dark　alley。　He　turned　to　face　them。　〃I　said　we　needed　four　men；〃　he　said　angrily。
　〃There's　another　man；　Ed；〃　Charlie　said　quickly。　〃He's　layin'　up　just　outside　of　town。〃
　〃All　right。　You　got　here　just　in　time。　Tomorrow　night　…　that's　Friday　night　…　the　president　and　the　cashier　of　the　bank　work　late　makin'　up　the　riggin'　crews'　payrolls　for　Saturday。　They　usually　get　through　about　ten　o'clock。　We　get　them　as　they　e　out　the　door　an'　hustle　them　back　inside。　That　way；　they　can　open　the　safe　for　us；　we　don't　have　to　blow　it。〃
　〃All　right　with　me；〃　Charlie　said。　〃What　do　you　think；　Max？〃
　Max　looked　at　Ed。　〃They　carry　guns？〃
　〃I　reckon。　You　afraid　of　gunplay？〃
　Max　shook　his　head。　〃No。　I　jus'　like　to　know　what　to　expect〃
　〃How　much　you　think　we'll　get？〃　Charlie　interjected。
　〃Fifty　thousand；　maybe　more。〃
　Charlie　whistled。　〃Fifty　thousand！〃
　〃You'll　drift　over　here　one　at　a　time。　Quiet。　I　don't　want　no　one　to　be　lookin'　at　us。　We'll　meet　in　back　of　the　bank　at　nine　thirty　sharp。〃　Ed　looked　at　them　and　they　nodded　again。　He　started　to　walk　away；　then　came　back。　He　peered　at　Max。　〃Ain't　I　seen　you　someplace　before？〃
　Max　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃Mebbe。　I　been　aroun'。　You　look　familiar　to　me；　too。〃
　〃Maybe　it'll　e　to　me　tomorrow　night。〃　He　started　to　walk　down　the　alley。
　Max　watched　him　until　he　turned　into　the　street。　He　turned　slowly　to　Charlie。　〃There's　somethin'　about　that　man。　I　got　the　feelin'　I　should　know　who　he　is。〃
　Charlie　laughed。　〃Let's　go。　Mike'll　be　wonderin'　what　happened　to　us。〃
　
　〃Set　yourself！〃　Ed　whispered　hoarsely。　〃They're　in'！〃
　Max　pressed　tightly　against　the　wall　near　the　door。　On　the　other　side　of　the　doorway；　Ed　and　Charlie　were　waiting。　He　could　hear　the　sound　of　two　men's　voices　as　they　approached　the　door　inside　the　bank。
　They　all　moved　at　once　as　the　door　opened；　pushing　it　inward　with　sudden　force。
　〃What　the　hell's　goin'…　〃　a　voice　said　from　the　darkness　inside。　It　was　followed　by　a　thud；　then　the　sound　of　a　body　falling。
　〃You　keep　your　mouth　shet；　mister；　if　you　want　to　keep　livin'！〃　There　was　a　frightened　gasp；　then　silence。　〃Git　them　into　the　back　room。〃　Ed's　voice　came　harshly。
　Max　bent　swiftly　and　pulled　the　fallen　man　along　the　floor　toward　the　back。　There　was　the　sound　of　a　match　behind　him　and　then　a