sk.thegunslinger-第14节

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oded　sandstone　cliffs　and　mesas　and　buttes　on　the　far　side。　This　draw　was　obscured　in　the　almost　continual　gray　membrane　of　showers。　At　night；　Jake　would　sit　fascinated　for　the　few　minutes　before　he　fell　into　sleep；　watching　the　brilliant　swordplay　of　the　far…off　lightning；　white　and　purple；　startling　in　the　clarity　of　the　night　air。
The　boy　was　fine　on　the　trail。　He　was　tough；　but　more　than　that；　he　seemed　to　fight　exhaustion　with　a　calm　and　professional　reservoir　of　will　which　the　gunslinger　fully　appreciated。　He　did　not　talk　much　and　he　did　not　ask　questions；　not　even　about　the　jawbone；　which　the　gunslinger　turned　over　and　over　in　his　hands　during　his　evening　smoke。　He　caught　a　sense　that　the　boy　felt　highly　flattered　by　the　gunslinger's　panionship　　perhaps　even　exalted　by　it　　and　this　disturbed　him。　The　boy　had　been　placed　in　his　path　　While　you　travel　with　the　boy；　the　man　in　black　travels　with　your　soul　in　his　pocket　　and　the　fact　that　Jake　was　not　slowing　him　down　only　opened　the　way　to　more　sinister　possibilities。
They　passed　the　symmetrical　campfire　leavings　of　the　man　in　black　at　regular　intervals；　and　it　seemed　to　the　gunslinger　that　these　leavings　were　much　fresher　now。　On　the　third　night；　the　gunslinger　was　sure　that　he　could　see　the　distant　spark　of　another　campfire；　somewhere　in　the　first　rising　swell　of　the　foothills。
Near　two　o'clock　on　the　fourth　day　out　from　the　way　station；　Jake　reeled　and　almost　fell。
〃Here；　sit　down；〃　the　gunslinger　said。
〃No；　I'm　okay。〃
〃Sit　down。〃
The　boy　sat　obediently。　The　gunslinger　squatted　close　by；　so　Jake　would　be　in　his　shadow。
〃Drink。〃
〃I'm　not　supposed　to　until　　〃
〃Drink。〃
The　boy　drank；　three　swallows。　The　gunslinger　wet　the　tail　of　the　blanket；　which　was　lighter　now；　and　applied　the　damp　fabric　to　the　boy's　wrists　and　forehead；　which　were　fever…dry。
〃From　now　on　we　rest　every　afternoon　at　this　time。　Fifteen　minutes。　Do　you　want　to　sleep？〃
〃No。〃　The　boy　looked　at　him　with　shame。　The　gunslinger　looked　back　blandly。　In　an　abstracted　way　he　withdrew　one　of　the　bullets　from　his　belt　and　began　to　twirl　it　between　his　fingers。　The　boy　watched；　fascinated。
〃That's　neat；〃　he　said。
The　gunslinger　nodded。　〃Sure　it　is。〃　he　paused。　〃When　I　was　your　age；　I　lived　in　a　walled　city；　did　I　tell　you　that？〃
The　boy　shook　his　head　sleepily。
〃Sure。　And　there　was　an　evil　man　　〃
〃The　priest？〃
〃No；〃　the　gunslinger　said；　〃but　the　two　of　them　had　some　relationship；　I　think　now。　Maybe　even　half…brothers。　Marten　was　a　wizard。。。　like　Merlin。　Do　they　tell　of　Merlin　where　you　e　from；　Jake？〃
〃Merlin　and　Arthur　and　the　knights　of　the　round　table；〃　Jake　said　dreamily。
The　gunslinger　felt　a　nasty　jolt　go　through　him。　〃Yes；〃　he　said。　〃I　was　very　young；　。。。〃
But　the　boy　was　asleep　sitting　up；　his　hands　folded　neatly　in　his　lap。
〃When　I　snap　my　fingers；　you'll　wake　up。　You'll　be　rested　and　fresh。　Do　you　understand？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Lay　over；　then。〃
The　gunslinger　got　makings　from　his　poke　and　rolled　a　cigarette。　There　was　something　missing。　He　searched　for　it　in　his　diligent；　careful　way　and　located　it。　The　missing　thing　was　that　maddening　sense　of　hurry；　the　feeling　that　he　might　be　left　behind　at　any　time；　that　the　trail　would　die　out　and　he　would　be　left　with　only　a　broken　piece　of　string。　All　that　was　gone　now；　and　the　gunslinger　was　slowly　being　sure　that　the　man　in　black　wanted　to　be　caught。
What　would　follow？
The　question　was　too　vague　to　catch　his　interest。　Cuthbert　would　have　found　interest　in　it；　lively　interest；　but　Cuthbert　was　gone；　and　the　gunslinger　could　only　go　forward　in　the　way　he　knew。
He　watched　the　boy　as　he　smoked；　and　his　mind　turned　back　on　Cuthbert；　who　had　always　laughed　　to　his　death　he　had　gone　laughing　　and　Cort；　who　never　laughed；　and　on　Marten；　who　sometimes　smiled　　a　thin；　silent　smile　that　had　its　own　disquieting　gleam。。。　like　an　eye　that　slips　open　in　the　dark　and　discloses　blood。　And　there　had　been　the　falcon；　of　course。　The　falcon　was　named　David；　after　the　legend　of　the　boy　with　the　sling。　David；　he　was　quite　sure；　knew　nothing　but　the　need　for　murder；　rending；　and　terror。　Like　the　gunslinger　himself。　David　was　no　dilettante；　he　played　the　center　of　the　court。
Perhaps；　though；　in　some　final　accounting；　David　the　falcon　had　been　closer　to　Marten　than　to　anyone　else。。。　and　perhaps　his　mother；　Gabrielle；　had　known　it。
The　gunslinger's　stomach　seemed　to　rise　painfully　against　his　heart；　but　his　face　didn't　change。　He　watched　the　smoke　of　his　cigarette　rise　into　the　hot　desert　air　and　disappear；　and　his　mind　went　back。
　
II
　
The　sky　was　white；　perfectly　white；　and　the　smell　of　rain　was　in　the　air。　The　smell　of　hedges　and　growing　green　was　strong　and　sweet。　It　was　deep　spring。
David　sat　on　Cuthbert's　arm；　a　small　engine　of　destruction　with　bright　golden　eyes　that　glared　outward　at　nothing。　The　rawhide　leash　attached　to　his　jesses　was　looped　carelessly　about　Cuthbert's　arm。
Cort　stood　aside　from　the　two　boys；　a　silent　figure　in　patched　leather　trousers　and　a　green　cotton　shirt　that　had　been　cinched　high　with　his　old；　wide　infantry　belt。　The　green　of　his　shirt　merged　with　the　hedges　and　the　rolling　turf　of　the　Back　Courts；　where　the　ladies　had　not　yet　begun　to　play　at　Points。
〃Get　ready；〃　Roland　whispered　to　Cuthbert。
〃We're　ready；〃　Cuthbert　said　confidently。　〃Aren't　we；　Davey？〃
They　spoke　the　low　speech；　the　language　of　both　scullions　and　squires；　the　day　when　they　would　be　allowed　to　use　their　own　tongue　in　the　presence　of　others　was　still　far。　〃It's　a　beautiful　day　for　it。　Can　you　smell　the　rain？　It's　〃
Cort　abruptly　raised　the　trap　in　his　hands　and　let　the　side　fall　open。　The　dove　was　out　and　up；　trying　for　the　sky　in　a　quick；　fluttering　blast　of　its　wings。　Cuthbert　pulled　the　leash；　but　he　was　slow；　the　hawk　was　already　up　and　his　takeoff　was　awkward。　With　a　brief　twitch　of　its　wings　the　hawk　had　recovered。　It　struck　upward；　gaining　altitude　over　the　dove；　moving　bullet…swift。
Cort　walked　over　to　where　the　boys　stood；　casually；　and　swung　his　huge　and　twisted　fist　at　Cuthbert's　ear。　The　boy　fell　over　without　a　sound；　although　his　lips　writhed　back　from　his　gums。　A　trickle　of　blood　flowed　slowly　from　his　ear　and　onto　the　rich　green　grass。
〃You　were　slow；〃　he　said。
Cuthbert　was　struggling　to　his　feet。　〃I'm　sorry；　Cort。　It's　just　that　I　Cort　swung　again；　and　Cuthbert　fell　over　again。　The　blood　flowed　more　swiftly　now。
〃Speak　the　High　Speech；〃　he　said　softly。　His　voice　was　flat。　with　a　slight；　drunken　rasp。　〃Speak　your　act　of　contrition　in　the　speech　of　civilization　for　which　better　men　than　you　will　ever　be　have　died；　maggot。〃
Cuthbert　was　getting　up　again。　Tears　stood　brightly　in　his　eyes；　but　his　lips　were　pressed　tightly　together　in　a　bright　line　of　hate　which　did　not　quiver。
〃I　grieve；〃　Cuthbert　said　in　a　voice　of　breathless　control。　〃I　have　forgotten　the　face　of　my　father；　whose　guns　I　hope　someday　to　bear。〃
〃That's　right；　brat；〃　Cort　said。　〃You'll　consider　what　you　did　wrong；　and　bookend　your　reflections　with　hunger。　No　supper。　No　breakfast。〃
〃Look！〃　Roland　cried。　He　pointed　up。
The　hawk　had　climbed　above　the　soaring　dove。　It　glided　for　a　moment；　its　stubby；　muscular　wings　outstretched　and　without　movement　on　the　still；　white　spring　air。　Then　it　folded　its　wings　and　dropped　like　a　stone。　The　two　bodies　came　together；　and　for　a　moment　Roland　fancied　he　could　see　blood　in　the　air。。。　but　it　might　have　been　his　imagination。　The　hawk　gave　a　brief　scream　of　triumph。　The　dove　fluttered；　twisting；　to　the　ground；　and　Roland　ran　toward　the　kill；　leaving　Cort　and　the　chastened　Cuthbert　behind　him。
The　hawk　had　landed　beside　its　prey　and　was　placently　tearing　into　its　plump　white　breast。　A　few　feathers　seesawed　slowly　downward。
〃David！〃　The　boy　yelled；　and　tossed　the　hawk　a　piece　of　rabbit　flesh　from　his　poke。　The　hawk　caught　it　on　the　fly；　ingested　it　with　an　upward　shaking　of　its　back　and　throat；　and　Roland　attempted　to　re…leash　the　bird。
The　hawk　whirled；　almost　absentmindedly；　and　ripped　skin　from　Roland's　arm　in　a　long；　dangling　gash。　Then　it　went　back　to　its　meal。
With　a　grunt；　Roland　looped　the　leash　again；　this　time　catching　David's　diving；　slashing　beak　on　the　leather　gauntlet　he　wore。　He　gave　the　hawk　another　piece　of　meat；　then　hooded　it。　Docilely；　David　climbed　onto　his　wrist。
He　stood　up　proudly；　the　hawk　on　his　arm。
〃What's　this？〃　Cort　asked；　pointing　to　the　dripping　slash　on　Roland's　forearm。　The　boy　stationed　himself　to　receive　the　blow；　locking　his　throat　against　any　possible　cry；　but　no　blow　fell。
〃He　struck　me；〃　Roland　said。
〃You　pissed　him　off；〃　Cort　said。　〃The　hawk　does　not　fear　you；　boy；　and　the　hawk　never　will。　The　hawk　is　God's　gunslinger。〃
Roland　merely　looked　at　Cort。　He　was　not　an　imaginative　boy；　and　if　Cort　had　intended　to　imply　a　moral；　it　was　lost　on　him；　he　was　pragmatic　enough　to　believe　that　it　might　have　been　one　of　the　few　foolish　statements　he　had　ever　heard　Cort　make。
Cuthbert　came　up　behind　them　and　stuck　his　tongue　out　at　Cort；　safely　on　his　blind　side。　Roland　did　not　smile；　but　nodded　to　him。
〃Go　in　now；〃　Cort　said；　taking　the　hawk。　He　pointed　at　Cuthbert　〃But　remember　your　reflection；　maggot　And　your　fast。　Tonight　and　tomorrow　morning。〃
〃Yes；〃　Cuthbert　said；　stiltedly　formal　now。　〃Thank　you　for　this　instr