hr.thecarpetbaggers-第28节

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　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　lamp　cast　a　tiny　glow　in　the　back　room。　He　pulled　the　man　into　the　room。　He　slumped　and　lay　still　when　Max　let　him　go。
　〃Check　the　front　door！〃　Ed　hissed。
　Max　ran　back　to　the　door　and　peeped　out。　The　street　was　quiet　and　deserted。　〃No　one　out　there；〃　he　said。
　〃Good；〃　Ed　said。　〃Let's　get　to　work。〃　He　turned　to　the　other　of　the　two　men。　〃Open　the　safe。〃
　The　man　was　in　his　late　fifties。　He　was　staring　at　the　man　on　the　floor　with　a　horror…stricken　look。　〃I…　I　can't；〃　he　said。　〃Only　Mr。　Gordon　can。　He's　the　president；　the　only　one　who　knows　the　bination。〃
　Ed　turned　to　Max。　〃Wake　him　up。〃
　Max　knelt　beside　the　man。　He　turned　his　face。　The　head　looked　peculiar；　the　jaw　hung　slack。　Max　looked　up　at　Ed。　〃Ain't　nothin'　goin'　to　wake　him　up。　You　caved　his　head　in。〃
　〃My　God！〃　the　other　man　said。　He　seemed　almost　ready　to　faint。
　Ed　stepped　around　to　front　of　him。　〃I　reckon　you're　goin'　to　have　to　open　the　safe；　after　all。〃
　〃B…　but　I　can't；〃　the　bank　clerk　said。　〃I　don't　know　the　bination。〃
　Ed　hit　him　viciously　across　the　face。　The　man　fell　against　a　desk。　〃Well；　learn　it；　then！〃
　〃Honest；　mister；〃　he　sobbed。　〃I　don't　know　it。　Mr。　Gordon　was　the　only　one。　He　was…　〃
　Ed　hit　him　again。　〃Open　that　safe！〃
　〃Look；　mister；〃　the　man　begged。　〃There's　over　four　thousand　dollars　in　that　desk　there！　Take　it　and　don't　hit　me　any　more；　please。　I　don't　know　the　bination…　〃
　Ed　moved　around　the　desk　and　opened　the　center　drawer。　He　took　out　a　package　of　bills　and　stuffed　it　into　his　jacket。　He　walked　around　the　desk　and　stood　to　front　of　the　kneeling　bank　clerk。　〃Now；　open　the　safe！〃　he　said；　hitting　the　man　again。
　The　man　sprawled　out　on　the　floor。　〃I　don't　know；　mister；　I　don't　know！〃
　When　Ed　drew　his　foot　back　to　kick　him；　Max　touched　his　shoulder。　〃Maybe　he's　tellin'　the　truth。〃
　Ed　stared　at　him　for　a　moment；　then　lowered　his　foot。　〃Maybe。　I　know　how　we　can　find　out　fast。〃　He　gestured　at　Max。　〃Get　back　on　the　door。〃
　Max　walked　back　through　the　bank　to　the　front　door　and　looked　out　again。　The　street　was　still　deserted。　He　stood　there；　quietly　alert。
　Ed's　voice　came　to　him　from　the　back　room。　'〃Tie　the　bastard　to　the　chair。〃
　〃What　are　you　gonna　do？〃　the　bank　clerk　protested　in　a　weak　voice。
　Max　walked　back　and　looked　in　the　room。　Ed　was　kneeling　in　front　of　the　potbellied　stove；　stirring　the　poker　in　the　live　coals。　Charlie　straightened　up　from　tying　the　clerk　and　looked　at　Ed　curiously。　〃What're　you　doin？〃
　'He'll　talk　if　this　red…hot　poker　gits　close　enough　to　his　eyes；〃　Ed　said　grimly。
　〃Wait　a　minute；〃　Charlie　protested。　〃You　think　the　guy　is　lyin'；　kill　him。〃
　Ed　got　to　his　feet　and　turned　on　Charlie　angrily。　〃That's　the　trouble　with　you　young　ones　nowadays。　You　got　no　guts；　you're　too　squeamish。　He　can't　open　no　safe　if　he's　dead！〃　
　〃He　can't　open　it　if　he　don't　know　the　bination；　either！〃　
　〃You　don't　like　it；　scram！〃　Ed　said　savagely。　〃There's　fifty　thousand　bucks　in　that　there　safe。　I'm　goin'　to　git　it！〃
　Max　turned　from　the　door　and　started　back　toward　the　front　of　the　bank。　He　had　taken　about　two　steps　when　he　was　stopped　by　Ed's　voice；　ing　from　the　back　room。
　〃This'll　work；　believe　me；〃　Ed　was　saying。　〃　'Bout　ten；　twelve　years　back；　Rusty　Harris；　Tom　Dort　an'　me　gave　the　treatment　to　an　ol'　buffalo…skinner　an'　his　squaw…　〃
　Max　felt　his　stomach　heave　and　he　reached　for　the　wall　to　keep　from　falling。　He　closed　his　eyes　for　a　moment　and　the　scene　in　the　cabin　came　back　to　him　…　his　father　hanging　lifelessly；　his　mother　crumpled　on　the　floor；　the　orange　glow　of　the　fire　against　the　night　sky。
　His　head　began　to　clear。　He　shook　it。　A　cold；　dead　feeling　replaced　the　nausea。　He　turned　toward　the　back　room。
　Ed　was　still　kneeling　in　front　of　the　stove。　Charlie　stood　across　the　room；　his　face　white　and　sick。　〃The　ol'　miser　had　gold　stashed　somewhere　aroun'　the　place。　Everybody　in　Dodge　knew　it…　〃　Ed　looked　up　and　saw　Max；　who　had　crossed　the　room　and　was　standing　over　him。　〃What're　you　doin'　here？　I　tol'　you　to　cover　the　door！〃
　Max　looked　down　at　him。　His　voice　was　hollow。　〃Did　you　ever　git　that　gold？〃
　A　puzzled　look　crossed　Ed's　face。
　〃You　didn't；〃　Max　said；　〃because　there　wasn't　any　to　start　with。〃
　Ed　stared　at　him。　〃How　do　you　know？〃
　〃I　know；〃　Max　said　slowly。　〃I'm　Max　Sand。〃
　Recognition　leaped　into　Ed's　face。　He　went　for　his　gun；　rolling　sideways　away　from　Max。　Max　kicked　the　gun　from　his　hand　and　Ed　scrambled　after　it　as　Max　pulled　the　white…hot　poker　from　the　fire。　Ed　turned；　raising　the　gun　toward　Max；　just　as　the　poker　lunged　at　his　eyes。
　He　screamed　in　agony　as　the　white　metal　burned　its　way　through　his　flesh。　The　gun　went　off；　the　bullet　going　wild　into　the　ceiling　above　him；　then　it　fell　from　his　hand。
　Max　stood　there　a　moment；　looking　down。　The　stench　of　burned　flesh　reached　up　to　his　nostrils。　It　was　over。　Twelve　years　and　it　was　over。
　He　turned　dully　as　Charlie　pulled　at　his　arm。　〃Let's　git　outa　here！〃　Charlie　shouted。　〃The　whole　town'll　be　down　on　us　in　a　minute！〃
　〃Yeah；〃　Max　said　slowly。　He　let　the　poker　fall　from　his　hand　and　started　for　the　door。　Mike　was　holding　the　horses　and　they　leaped　into　the　saddle。　They　rode　out　of　town　in　a　hail　of　bullets　with　a　posse　less　than　thirty　minutes　behind　them。
　
　Three　days　later；　they　were　holed　up　in　a　small　cave　in　the　foothills。　Max　came　back　from　the　entrance　and　looked　down　at　his　friend。　〃How　you　doin'；　Mike？〃
　Mike's　usually　shiny　black　face　was　drawn　and　gray。　〃Poorly；　boy；　poorly。〃
　Max　bent　over　and　wiped　his　face。　〃I'm　sorry；〃　he　said。　〃We　ain't　got　no　more　water。〃
　Mike　shook　his　head。　〃It　don'　really　matter；　boy。　I　got　it　good　this　time。　I's　th'ough　travelin'。〃
　Charlie's　voice　came　from　the　back　of　the　cave。　〃It'll　be　dawn　in　another　hour。　We　better　git　movin'。〃
　〃You　go；　Charlie。　I'm　stayin'　here　with　Mike。〃
　Mike　pushed　himself　to　a　sitting　position；　his　back　against　the　wall　of　the　cave。　〃Don'　be　a　fool；　boy；〃　he　said。
　Max　shook　his　head。　〃I'm　stayin'　with　you。〃
　Mike　smiled。　His　hand　reached　for　Max's　and　squeezed　it　gently。　〃We's　friends；　boy；　ain't　we？　Real　friends？〃
　Max　nodded。
　〃An'　I　never　steered　you　bad；　did　I？〃　Mike　asked。　〃I'm　goin'　to　die　an'　they's　nothin'　you　can　do　about　it。〃
　Max　rolled　a　cigarette；　lit　it　and　stuck　it　in　Mike's　mouth。　〃Shut　up　an'　rest。〃
　〃Open　my　belt。〃
　Max　leaned　across　his　friend　and　pulled　the　buckle。　Mike　groaned　as　the　belt　slid　off。　〃Tha's　better；〃　he　said。　〃Now　look　inside　that　belt。〃
　Max　turned　it　over。　There　was　a　money　pouch　taped　to　the　inner　surface。
　Mike　smiled。　〃They's　five　thousand　dollars　in　that　pouch。　I　been　holdin'　out　for　the　right　time　…　now。　It　was　for　the　day　we　lef'　this　business。〃
　Max　rolled　another　cigarette　and　lit　it。　He　watched　his　friend　silently。　Mike　coughed。　〃You　was　born　thirty　years　too　late　for　this　business。　They　ain't　no　mo'　room　in　this　worl'　for　a　gun　fighter。　We　e　in　at　the　tail　end　with　nothin'　but　the　leavin's。〃
　Max　still　sat　silently；　his　eyes　on　Mike's　face。　〃I'm　still　not　goin'。〃
　Mike　looked　up　at　him。　〃Don'　make　me　feel　like　I　picked　the　wrong　one　back　there　in　that　prison；〃　he　said。　〃Not　now　when　I'm　a　dyin'　man。〃
　Max's　face　broke　into　a　sudden　smile。　〃You're　full　of　shit；　Mike。〃
　Mike　grinned　up　at　him。　〃I　kin　hold　the　posse　off　all　day。　By　then；　you'll　be　so　far　no'th；　they'll　never　catch　up　to　you。〃　He　started　to　laugh　and　suddenly　stopped　as　he　began　to　cough　blood。　He　reached　up　a　hand　to　Max。　〃He'p　me　to　my　feet；　boy。〃
　Max　reached　out　and　pulled　Mike　up。　The　big　man　leaned　against　him　as　they　moved　toward　the　mouth　of　the　cave。　They　came　out　into　the　night　and　there　was　a　small　breeze　just　picking　up　at　the　edge　of　the　cliffs。
　For　a　moment　they　stood　there；　savoring　the　physical　closeness　of　each　other；　the　small　things　of　love　that　men　can　share；　then　slowly　Max　lowered　his　friend　to　the　ground。
　Mike　looked　down　the　ridge。　〃I　can　hol'　them　here　forever；〃　he　said。　〃Now；　'member　what　I　said；　boy。　Go　straight。　No　more　thievin'。　No　more　gun　fightin'。　I　got　you'　word；　boy？〃
　〃You　got　my　word；　Mike。〃
　〃If　you　breaks　it；　I　sure's　hell'll　e　back　an'　haunt　you！〃　the　big　man　said。　He　turned　his　head　away　and　looked　down　the　ridge。　〃Now　git；　boy；〃　he　said　huskily。　〃Dawn　is　breakin'。〃　He　reached　for　the　rifle　at　his　side。
　Max　turned　and　walked　over　to　his　horse。　He　mounted　and　sat　there　for　a　moment；　looking　back　at　Mike。　The　big　colored　man　never　turned　to　look　back。　Max　dug　his　spurs　into　his　horse　and　it　leaped　away。
　It　wasn't　until　an　hour　later；　when　the　sun　was　bright　and　Max　was　on　the　next　ridge；　that　he　began　to　wonder　about　the　quiet。　By　this　time；　there　should　have　been　the　sound　of　gunfire　behind　him。
　He　never　knew　that　Mike　had　died　the　moment　he　was　out　of　sight。
　
　He　felt　naked　at　first　without　his　beard。　Rubbing　his　fingers　over　his　cleanly　shaven　face；　he　walked　into　the　kitchen。
　Charlie　looked　up　from　the　kitchen　table。　〃My　God；〃　he　exclaimed。　〃I　never　would've　known　you！〃
　Martha；　his　wife；　turned　from　the　stove。　She　smiled　suddenly。　〃You're　much　younger　than　I　thought。　And