p&c.thunderhead-第35节

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　〃Let　me　help　with　the　horses；〃　Sloane　said。　
　Nora　opened　her　mouth　to　answer；　but　Swire　interrupted。　〃No！〃　he　barked。　〃The　fewer　there　are　of　us　on　that　ridge；　the　fewer　are　gonna　get　hurt。〃　
　Leaving　Sloane　in　charge；　Nora　hiked　back　down　the　trail。　Swire；　his　face　dark；　brought　the　animals　around；　bare　except　for　their　halters。　Only　his　own　horse；　which　would　lead；　had　a　rope　clipped　to　the　halter。　
　〃We're　gonna　drive　them　up　the　trail；　single　file；〃　he　said　harshly。　〃I'll　guide　Mestizo；　you　bring　up　the　rear　with　Fiddlehead。　Keep　your　head　up。　If　a　horse　falls；　get　the　hell　out　of　the　way。〃　
　Nora　nodded。　
　〃Once　we　get　to　the　upper　trail；　you　can't　stop。　Not　for　anything。　Give　a　horse　time　to　think　on　that　ridge；　and　he'll　panic　and　try　to　turn　around。　So　keep　them　moving；　no　matter　what。　Got　that？〃　
　〃Loud　and　clear；〃　she　said。　
　They　started　up　the　trail；　careful　to　keep　the　horses　well　apart。　At　one　point　the　animals　hesitated；　as　if　by　general　consensus；　but　with　some　prodding　Swire　got　Mestizo　moving　again　and　the　rest　instinctively　followed；　noses　down；　picking　their　way　among　the　rocks。　The　air　was　punctuated　with　the　clatter　of　hooves；　the　occasional　scrabble　among　the　rocks　as　an　animal　missed　its　footing。　As　they　began　to　gain　altitude；　the　horses　grew　more　fearful；　they　lathered　up　and　started　blowing　hard；　showing　the　whites　of　their　eyes。　
　Halfway　up　the　ridge；　the　rubble…filled　crevasse　ended　and　the　much　more　dangerous　slickrock　trail　began。　Nora　craned　her　neck　upward。　The　worst　part　of　the　journey　stretched　ahead；　just　a　cut　in　the　sloping　sandstone；　eroded　by　time　into　the　merest　whisper　of　a　path。　In　the　places　where　it　had　peeled　away；　the　horses　would　have　to　step　over　blue　space。　She　stared　at　the　series　of　wicked　switchbacks；　trying　to　suppress　the　anxiety　that　welled　up　deep　within　her。　
　Swire　paused　and　looked　back　at　her；　his　eyes　cold。　We　can　turn　back　now；　his　expression　seemed　to　say。　Beyond　this　point；　we　won't　have　that　option。　
　Nora　gazed　back　at　the　bandy…legged　wrangler；　his　shoulders　barely　higher　than　the　horse's　withers。　He　looked　as　frightened　as　she　felt。　
　The　moment　passed。　Without　a　word；　Swire　turned　and　began　leading　Mestizo　forward。　The　animal　took　a　few　hesitant　steps　and　balked。　The　wrangler　coaxed　a　few　more　steps；　then　the　horse　balked　again；　whinnying　in　fear。　His　shoe　skidded　slightly；　then　bit　once　again　into　the　sandstone。　
　Speaking　in　low　tones　and　flicking　the　end　of　his　lasso　well　behind　the　horse；　Swire　got　Mestizo　moving　again。　The　others　followed；　their　trail　experience　and　strong　herd　attachment　keeping　them　going。　They　worked　their　way　upward　at　a　painful　pace；　the　only　sounds　now　the　thump　and　scrape　of　iron…shod　toes　digging　into　canted　slickrock；　the　occasional　blow　of　fear。　Swire　began　singing　a　low；　mournful；　soothing　song；　words　indistinct；　his　voice　quavering　slightly。　
　They　arrived　at　the　first　switchback。　Slowly；　Swire　guided　Mestizo　around　the　curve；　then　continued　up　the　rockface　and　past　a　deep　crack　until　he　was　directly　above　Nora's　head。　Once；　Sweetgrass　skidded　on　the　slickrock　and　scrabbled　at　the　edge；　and　for　a　moment　Nora　thought　she　would　go　over。　Then　she　recovered；　eyes　wide；　flanks　trembling。　
　After　agonizing　minutes　they　arrived　at　the　second　switchback：　a　wickedly　sharp　turn　over　a　narrow　section　of　trail。　Reaching　the　far　side；　Mestizo　suddenly　balked　once　again。　The　second　horse；　Beetlebum；　stopped　as　well；　then　began　to　back　up。　Watching　from　below；　Nora　saw　the　animal　place　one　hind　foot　over　the　edge　of　the　trail　and　out　into　space。　
　She　froze。　The　horse's　hindquarters　dropped　and　the　foot　kicked　out　twice；　looking　for　a　purchase　that　wasn't　there。　As　she　watched；　the　horse's　balance　shifted　inexorably　backward；　the　animal　dropped　over　the　edge；　rolled　once；　and　then　hurtled　down　toward　her；　letting　out　a　strange；　high…pitched　scream。　Nora　watched；　paralyzed。　Time　seemed　to　slow　as　the　horse　tumbled；　limbs　kicking　in　a　terrifying　ballet。　She　felt　its　shadow　cross　her　face；　and　then　it　struck　Fiddlehead；　directly　in　front　of　her；　with　a　massive　smack。　Fiddlehead　vanished　as　both　animals　hurtled　off　the　edge　of　the　ridge　into　the　void。　There　was　a　moment　of　horrible；　listening　silence；　followed　by　double　muffled　thumps　and　the　sharp　crackle　of　falling　rocks　far　below。　The　sounds　seemed　to　echo　forever　in　the　dry　valley；　reverberating　from　ever　more　distant　walls。　
　〃Close　up　and　keep　moving！〃　came　the　harsh；　strained　mand　from　above。　Forcing　herself　into　action；　Nora　urged　the　new　rearward　horse　forward…Smithback's　horse；　Hurricane　Deck。　But　he　wouldn't　move；　a　clonus　of　horror　trembled　along　the　animal's　flanks。　Then；　in　a　galvanic　instant；　he　reared　up；　whirling　around　toward　her。　Nora　instinctively　grabbed　his　halter。　With　a　frenzied　clawing　of　steel　on　rock；　Hurricane　scrabbled　at　the　edge　of　the　trail；　wide　eyes　staring　at　her。　Realizing　her　mistake；　she　released　the　halter；　but　her　timing　was　slow　and　already　the　falling　horse　had　pulled　her　off　balance。　She　had　a　brief　glimpse　of　yawning　blue　space。　Then　she　landed　on　her　side；　her　legs　rolling　over　the　edge　of　the　cliff；　hands　scrabbling　to　grip　the　smooth　sandstone。　She　heard；　as　if　from　a　great　distance；　Swire　shouting；　and　then　from　below　the　soggy；　bursting　sound　of　a　wet　bag　as　Hurricane　Deck　hit　bottom。　
　She　clawed　at　the　rock；　fingernails　fighting　for　purchase　as　she　dangled　in　the　abyss。　She　could　feel　the　updrafts　of　wind　tickling　her　legs。　In　desperation；　she　clutched　the　stone　tighter；　her　nails　tearing　and　splitting　as　she　continued　to　slide　backward　down　the　tipped　surface　of　stone。　Then　her　right　hand　brushed　against　a　projecting　rill；　no　more　than　a　quarter　inch　high；　but　enough　to　get　a　handhold。　She　strained；　feeling　her　strength　draining　away。　Now　or　never；　she　thought；　and　she　gave　a　great　heave；　swinging　herself　up　sideways。　It　was　just　enough　to　get　one　foot　back　onto　the　trail。　With　a　second　heave　she　managed　to　roll　her　body　up　and　over。　She　lay　on　her　back；　heart　hammering　a　frantic　cadence。　Ahead　and　above　came　a　whinny　of　fear；　and　the　clatter　of　hooves　on　stone。　
　〃Get　the　hell　up！　Keep　moving！〃　she　heard　faintly　from　above。　She　rose　shakily　to　her　feet　and　started　forward；　as　if　in　a　dream；　driving　the　remnant　of　the　remuda　up　the　trail。　
　She　did　not　remember　the　rest　of　the　journey。　The　next　clear　memory　was　of　lying　facedown；　hugging　the　warm；　dusty　rock　of　the　ridge　summit；　then　a　pair　of　hands　were　gently　turning　her　over；　and　Aragon's　calm；　steady　face　stared　down　into　her　own。　Beside　him　were　Smithback　and　Holroyd；　gazing　at　her　with　intense　concern。　Holroyd's　face　in　particular　was　a　mask　of　agonizing　worry。　
　Aragon　helped　Nora　to　a　nearby　rock。　〃The　horses…〃　Nora　began。　
　〃There　was　no　other　way；〃　Aragon　interrupted　quietly；　taking　her　hands。　〃You're　hurt。〃　
　Nora　looked　down。　Her　hands　were　covered　with　blood　from　her　ruined　fingernails。　Aragon　opened　his　medical　kit。　〃When　you　swung　out　over　that　cliff；〃　he　said；　〃I　thought　you　were　done　for。〃　He　dabbed　at　the　fingertips；　removing　a　few　pieces　of　grit　and　fingernail　with　tweezers。　He　worked　swiftly；　expertly；　smearing　on　topical　antibiotic　and　placing　butterfly　bandages　over　the　ends　of　her　fingertips。　〃Wear　your　gloves　for　a　few　days；〃　he　said。　〃You'll　be　unfortable　for　a　while；　but　the　injuries　are　superficial。〃　
　Nora　glanced　at　the　group。　They　were　looking　back　at　her；　motionless；　shocked　to　silence　by　what　had　happened。　〃Where's　Roscoe？〃　she　managed　to　ask。　
　〃Back　down　the　trail；〃　Sloane　replied。　
　Nora　dropped　her　head　into　her　hands。　And　then；　as　if　in　answer；　three　well…spaced　gunshots　sounded　below；　echoing　crazily　among　the　canyons　before　dying　away　into　distant　thunder。　
　〃God；〃　Nora　groaned。　Fiddlehead；　her　own　horse。　Beetlebum；　Smithback's　nemesis。　Hurricane　Deck。　Gone。　She　could　still　see　the　wide　pleading　eyes　of　Hurricane；　the　teeth；　so　strangely　long　and　narrow；　exposed　in　a　final　grin　of　terror。　
　Ten　minutes　later　Swire　appeared；　breathing　heavily。　He　passed　Nora　and　went　toward　the　horses；　redividing　and　repacking　the　loads　in　silence。　Holroyd　came　over　to　her　and　gently　took　her　hand。　〃I　got　a　decent　reading；〃　he　whispered。　
　Nora　glanced　up　at　him；　hardly　caring。　
　〃We're　right　smack　on　the　trail；〃　he　said；　smiling。　
　Nora　could　only　shake　her　head。　
　*　*　*
　pared　to　the　nightmarish　ascent；　the　trail　down　into　the　valley　beyond　the　hogback　ridge　offered　few　difficulties。　The　horses；　smelling　water；　charged　ahead。　Tired　as　they　were；　the　group　began　to　jog；　and　Nora　found　the　events　of　the　last　hours　temporarily　receding　in　her　devouring　thirst。　They　splashed　into　the　water　upstream　from　the　horses　and　Nora　fell　to　her　stomach；　burying　her　face　in　the　water。　It　was　the　most　exquisite　sensation　she　had　ever　felt；　and　she　drank　deeply；　pausing　only　to　gasp　for　air；　until　a　sudden　spasm　of　nausea　contracted　her　stomach。　She　backed　away；　retiring　to　a　spot　beneath　the　rustling　cottonwoods；　breathing　hard　and　feeling　the　sting　of　evaporation　on　her　wet　clothes。　Gradually　the　waves　of　nausea　passed。　She　saw　Black　bent　double　in　the　trees；　vomiting　up　water；　joined　shortly　by　Holroyd。　Smithback　was　kneeling　in