osc.am2.redprophet-第39节

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　　〃Then　I'm　going　with　you；　too；〃　said　Measure。　〃I　gave　my　word　to　Pa　and　Ma　both。〃
　　The　Prophet　looked　coldly　at　Measure。　〃You　will　go　back　to　your　own　people。〃
　　〃Then　Alvin　es　with　me。〃
　　〃You　are　not　the　one　who　says；〃　the　Prophet　retorted。
　　〃And　you　are？　Why；　because　your　boys　got　all　the　arrows？〃
　　Ta…Kumsaw　reached　out；　touched　Measure　on　the　shoulder。　〃You　are　not　a　fool；　Measure。　Someone　has　to　go　back　and　tell　your　people　that　you　and　Alvin　aren't　dead。〃
　　〃If　I　leave　him　behind；　how　do　I　know　he　ain't　dead；　tell　me　that？〃
　　〃You　know；〃　said　Ta…Kumsaw；　〃because　I　say　that　while　I　live　no　Red　man　will　hurt　this　boy。〃
　　〃And　while　he's　with　you；　nobody　can　hurt　you；　either；　is　that　it？　My　little　brother's　a　hostage；　that's　all〃
　　Measure　could　see　that　Ta…Kumsaw　and　Tenskwa…Tawa　were　both　about　as　mad　as　they　could　be　without　killing　him；　and　he　knew　he　was　so　mad　he　was　ready　to　break　his　hand　on　somebody's　face。　And　it　might've　e　to　that；　too；　except　Alvin　stood　up；　all　ten　years　and　sixty　inches　of　him；　and　took　charge。
　　〃Measure；　you　know　better　than　anybody　that　I　can　take　care　of　myself。　You　just　tell　Pa　and　Ma　about　what　I　did　with　them　Chok…Taw；　and　they'll　see　that　I'm　fit。　They　were　sending　me　off　anyway；　weren't　they？　To　be　a　prentice　to　blacksmith。　Well；　I'm　going　to　serve　as　prentice　for　a　little　while　to　Ta…Kumsaw；　that's　all。　And　everybody　knows　that　except　for　maybe　Tom　Jefferson；　Ta…Kumsaw　is　the　greatest　man　in　America。　If　I　can　somehow　keep　Ta…Kumsaw　alive；　then　that's　my　duty。　And　if　you　can　stop　a　war　from　happening　by　going　home；　then　that's　your　duty。　Don't　you　see？〃
　　Measure　did　see；　right　enough；　and　he　even　agreed。　But　he　also　knew　that　he　was　going　to　have　to　face　his　parents。　〃There's　a　story　in　the　Bible；　about　Joseph；　the　son　of　Jacob。　He　was　his　father's　favorite　son；　but　his　brothers　hated　him　and　sold　him　into　slavery；　and　then　they　took　some　of　his　clothes　and　soaked　them　in　goat's　blood　and　tore　them　up　and　came　and　told　their　father；　Look；　he　got　hisself　et　by　lions。　And　his　father　tore　his　clothes　and　he　just　wouldn't　stop　grieving；　not　ever。〃
　　〃But　you're　going　to　tell　them　I　ain't　dead。〃
　　〃I'm　going　to　tell　them　I　saw　you　turn　a　hatchet　head　soft　as　butter；　walk　on　the　water；　fly　up　into　a　tornado　　that'll　just　make　them　feel　all　safe　and　warm；　knowing　you're　tucked　into　such　a　mon　ordinary　life　with　these　here　Reds。〃
　　Ta…Kumsaw　interrupted。　〃You　are　a　coward；〃　he　said。　〃You're　afraid　to　tell　the　truth　to　your　father　and　mother。〃
　　〃I　made　an　oath　to　them；〃　said　Measure。
　　〃You're　a　coward。　You　take　no　risk。　No　danger。　You　want　Alvin　with　you　to　keep　you　safe！〃
　　That　was　just　too　much　for　Measure。　He　swung　out　with　his　right　arm；　aiming　to　connect　with　Ta…Kumsaw's　smile。　It　didn't　surprise　him　that　Ta…Kumsaw　blocked　the　blow　　but　it　was　kind　of　a　shock　that　he　caught　Measure's　wrist　so　easy；　twisted　it。　Measure　got　even　madder；　punched　at　Ta…Kumsaw's　stomach；　and　this　time　he　did　connect。　But　the　chief's　belly　was　about　as　soft　as　a　stump；　and　he　snagged　Measure's　other　hand　and　held　them　both。
　　So　Measure　did　what　any　good　wrassler　knows　to　do。　He　popped　his　knee　up　right　between　Ta…Kumsaw's　legs。
　　Now；　Measure　had　done　that　only　twice　before；　and　both　times　he　did　it；　the　other　fellow　got　right　down　on　the　ground；　writhing　like　a　half…squished　worm。　Ta…Kumsaw　just　stood　there；　rigid；　like　he　was　soaking　up　the　pain；　getting　madder　and　madder。　Since　he　was　still　holding　on　to　Measure's　arms；　Measure　had　a　good　notion　that　he　was　about　to　die；　ripped　right　in　half　down　the　middle　　that's　how　mad　Ta…Kumsaw　looked。
　　Ta…Kumsaw　let　go　of　Measure's　arms。
　　Measure　took　his　arms　back；　rubbed　his　wrists　where　the　chief's　fingermarks　were　white　and　sore。　The　chief　looked　angry；　all　right；　but　it　was　Alvin　he　was　mad　at。　He　turned　and　looked　down　at　that　boy　like　he　was　ready　to　peel　off　Alvin's　skin　and　feed　it　to　him　raw。
　　〃You　did　your　filthy　White　man's　tricks　in　me；〃　he　said。
　　〃I　didn't　want　neither　of　you　getting　hurt；〃　said　Al。
　　〃You　think　I'm　a　coward　like　your　brother？　You　think　I'm　afraid　of　pain？〃
　　〃Measure　ain't　no　coward！〃
　　〃He　threw　me　to　the　ground　with　White　man's　tricks。〃
　　Measure　didn't　like　hearing　that　same　accusation。　〃You　know　I　didn't　ask　him　to　do　that！　I'll　take　you　now；　if　you　want！　I'll　fight　you　fair　and　square！〃
　　〃Strike　a　man　with　your　knee？〃　said　Ta…Kumsaw。　〃You　don't　know　how　to　fight　like　a　man。〃
　　〃I'll　face　you　any　way　you　want；〃　said　Measure。
　　Ta…Kumsaw　smiled。　〃Gatlopp；　then。〃
　　By　now　a　whole　bunch　of　Reds　had　gathered　round；　and　when　they　heard　the　word　gatlopp；　they　started　hooting　and　laughing。
　　There　wasn't　a　White　in　America　who　hadn't　heard　stories　about　how　Dan　Boone　ran　the　gatlopp　and　just　kept　on　running；　that　first　time　he　escaped　from　the　Reds；　but　there　was　other　stories；　about　Whites　who　got　beat　to　death。　Taleswapper　told　about　it　somewhat；　the　time　he　visited　last　year。　It's　like　a　jury　trial；　he　said；　where　the　Reds　hit　you　hard　or　easy　depending　on　how　much　they　think　you　deserve　to　die。　If　they　think　you're　a　brave　man；　they'll　strike　you　hard　to　test　you　with　pain。　But　if　they　think　you're　a　coward；　they'll　break　your　bones　so　you　never　get　out　of　the　gatlopp　alive。　The　chief　can't　tell　the　gatlopp　how　hard　to　strike；　or　where。　It's　just　about　the　most　democratic　and　vicious　system　of　justice　ever　seen。
　　〃I　see　you're　afraid　of　that；〃　said　Ta…Kumsaw。
　　〃Of　course　I　am；〃　said　Measure。　〃I'd　be　a　fool　not　to；　specially　with　your　boys　already　thinking　I'm　a　coward。〃
　　〃I'll　run　the　gatlopp　before　you；〃　said　Ta…Kumsaw。　〃I'll　tell　them　to　strike　me　as　hard　as　they　strike　you。〃
　　〃They　won't　do　it；〃　said　Measure。
　　〃They　will　if　I　ask　them；〃　said　Ta…Kumsaw。　He　must　have　seen　the　disbelief　on　Measure's　face；　cause　then　he　said；　〃And　if　they　don't；　I'll　run　the　gatlopp　again。〃
　　〃And　if　they　kill　me；　will　you　die？〃
　　Ta…Kumsaw　looked　up　and　down　Measure's　body。　Lean　and　strong；　Measure　knew　he　was；　from　chopping　trees　and　firewood；　toting　pails；　lifting　hay；　and　hoisting　grain　bags　in　the　mill。　But　he　wasn't　tough。　His　skin　was　burnt　something　awful　from　being　near　naked　in　the　sun　out　here　on　the　dunes；　even　though　he　tried　to　use　a　blanket　to　cover　up。　Strong　but　soft；　that's　what　Ta…Kumsaw　found　when　he　studied　Measure's　body。
　　〃The　blow　that　would　kill　you；〃　said　Ta…Kumsaw；　〃it　might　bruise　me。〃
　　〃So　you　admit　it　ain't　fair。〃
　　〃Fair　is　when　two　men　face　the　same　pain。　Courage　is　when　two　men　face　the　same　pain。　You　don't　want　fair；　you　want　easy。　You　want　safe。　You're　a　coward。　I　knew　you　wouldn't　do　it。〃
　　〃I'll　do　it；〃　said　Measure。
　　〃And　you！〃　cried　Ta…Kumsaw；　pointing　at　Alvin。　〃You　touch　nothing；　you　heal　nothing；　you　cure　nothing；　you　don't　take　away　pain！〃
　　Alvin　didn't　say　a　word；　just　looked　at　him。　Measure　knew　that　look。　It　was　the　expression　Alvin　got　on　his　face　whenever　he　had　no　intention　of　doing　a　thing　you　said。
　　〃Al；〃　said　Measure。　〃You　better　promise　me　not　to　meddle。　〃
　　Al　just　set　his　lips　and　didn't　speak。
　　〃You　better　promise　me　not　to　meddle；　Alvin　Junior；　or　I　just　won't　go　home。〃
　　Alvin　promised。　Ta…Kumsaw　nodded　and　walked　away；　talking　in　Shaw…Nee　to　his　boys。　Measure　felt　sick　with　fear。
　　〃Why　are　you　afraid；　White　man？〃　asked　the　Prophet。
　　〃Cause　I'm　not　stupid；〃　said　Measure。　〃Only　a　stupid　man　wouldn't　be　scared　to　run　the　gatlopp。〃
　　The　Prophet　just　laughed　and　walked　off。
　　Alvin　was　sitting　in　the　sand　again；　writing　or　drawing　or　something　with　his　finger。
　　〃You　ain't　mad　at　me；　are　you；　Alvin？　Cause　I　got　to　tell　you；　you　can't　be　half　as　mad　at　me　as　I　am　at　you。　You　got　no　duty　to　these　Reds；　but　you　sure　got　a　duty　to　your　ma　and　pa。　Things　being　how　they　are；　I　can't　make　you　do　nothing；　but　I　can　tell　you　I'm　ashamed　of　you　for　siding　with　them　against　me　and　your　kin。〃
　　Al　looked　up；　and　there　was　tears　in　his　eyes。　〃Maybe　I　am　siding　with　my　kin；　did　you　think　of　that？〃
　　〃Well　you　sure　got　a　funny　way　of　doing　it；　seeing　as　how　you'll　keep　Ma　and　Pa　worried　sick　for　months；　no　doubt。　〃
　　〃Don't　you　think　about　anything　bigger　than　our　family？　Don't　you　think　maybe　the　Prophet's　working　out　a　plan　to　save　the　lives　of　thousands　of　Reds　and　Whites？〃
　　〃That's　where　we're　different；〃　said　Measure。　〃I　don't　believe　there　is　anything　bigger　than　our　family。〃
　　Alvin　was　still　writing　as　Measure　walked　away。　It　didn't　even　occur　to　Measure　what　Alvin　wrote　in　the　sand。　He　saw；　but　he　didn't　look；　he　didn't　read　it。　Now；　though；　the　words　came　to　his　mind。　RUN　AWAY　NOW；　that's　what　Al　was　writing。　A　message　to　him？　Why　didn't　he　say　it　with　his　mouth；　then？　Nothing　made'sense。　The　writing　probably　wasn't　for　him。　And　he　sure　wasn't　going　to　run　away　and　have　Ta…Kumsaw　and　all　them　Reds　sure　he　was　a　coward　forever。　What　difference　would　it　make　if　he　ran　away　now？　The　Reds'd　catch　him　in　a　minute；　there　in　the　woods；　and　then　he'd　run　the　gatlopp　anyway；　only　it'd　even　be　worse　for　him。
　　The　warriors　formed　two　lines　in　the　sand。　They　were　carrying　heavy　branches　fallen　or　cut　from　trees。　Measure