hr.thecarpetbaggers-第13部分

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　these　years。　He　turned　her　face　up　to　him。　〃I　love　you；　Kaneha；〃　he　said。
　Her　eyes　were　dark　and　filled　with　tears。　〃I　love　you；　my　husband。〃
　And　for　the　first　time；　he　kissed　her　on　the　mouth。
　
　4
　
　IT　WAS　ABOUT　TWO　O'CLOCK　on　a　Saturday　afternoon　three　summers　later　when　Max　stood　on　a　wagon　in　the　yard　back　of　Olsen's　Livery　Stable；　pitching　hay　up　into　the　open　loft　over　his　head。　He　was　naked　above　his　buckskin　breeches　and　his　body　was　burnt　a　coppery　black　by　the　blazing　sun　that　hung　overhead。　The　muscles　rippled　easily　in　his　back　as　he　forked　the　hay　up　from　the　wagon。
　The　three　men　came　riding　into　the　yard　and　pulled　their　horses　up　near　the　wagon。　They　did　not　dismount　but　sat　there；　looking　at　him。
　Max　did　not　interrupt　his　work　and　after　a　moment；　one　of　them　spoke。　〃Hey；　Injun；〃　he　said。　〃Where　is　the　Sand　boy？〃
　Max　threw　another　forkful　into　the　loft。　Then　he　sank　the　pitchfork　into　the　hay　and　looked　down　at　them。　〃I'm　Max　Sand；〃　he　said　easily；　resting　on　the　fork　handle。
　The　men　exchanged　meaningful　looks。　〃We're　lookin'　fer　yer　pappy；〃　the　man　who　had　spoken　before　said。
　Max　stared　at　them　without　answering。　His　blue　eyes　were　dark　and　unreadable。
　〃We　were　over　at　the　stage　line　but　the　place　was　closed。　There　was　a　sign　there　that　said　your　pappy　hauled　freight。〃
　〃That's　right；〃　Max　said。　〃But　this　is　Saturday　afternoon　an'　he's　gone　home。〃
　One　of　the　others　pushed　forward。　〃We　got　a　wagonload　of　freight　we　got　to　get　over　to　Virginia　City；〃　he　said。　〃We're　in　a　hurry。　We'd　like　to　talk　to　him。〃
　Max　picked　up　the　pitchfork　again。　He　tossed　another　forkful　of　hay　into　the　loft。　〃I'll　tell　him　when　I　get　home　to…night。〃
　〃We　cain't　wait　that　long；〃　the　first　man　said。　〃We　want　to　make　the　deal　and　get　on　out　of　here　tonight。　How　do　we　find　your　place？〃
　Max　looked　at　them　curiously。　They　didn't　look　like　settlers　or　miners　or　the　usual　run　of　people　that　had　freight　for　his　father　to　haul。　They　looked　more　like　gunmen　or　drifters；　the　way　they　sat　there　with　their　guns　tied　low　on　their　legs；　their　hats　shading　their　faces。
　〃I'll　be　th'ough　here　in　a　couple　of　hours；〃　Max　said。　〃I'll　take　you　out　there。〃
　〃I　said　we　was　in　a　hurry；　boy。　Your　pappy　won't　like　it　none　if　he　hears　we　gave　our　load　to　somebody　else。〃
　Max　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃Follow　the　north　road　out　about　twenty　miles。〃
　Without　another　word　the　three　turned　their　horses　around　and　began　to　ride　out　of　the　yard。　Their　voices　floated　back　on　the　lazy　breeze。
　〃Yuh'd　think　with　all　the　dough　ol'　Sand's　got　buried；　he'd　do　better　than　bein'　a　squaw　man；〃　one　of　them　said。
　Max　heard　the　others　laugh　as　he　angrily　pitched　hay　up　into　the　loft。
　
　It　was　Kaneha　who　heard　them　first。　Her　ears　were　turned　to　the　road　every　Saturday　afternoon　for　it　was　then　that　Max　came　home　from　school。　She　went　to　the　door　and　opened　it。　〃Three　men　e；〃　she　said；　looking　out。
　Sam　got　up　from　the　table　and　walked　behind　her　and　looked　out。　〃Yeah；〃　he　said；　〃I　wonder　what　they　want。〃
　Kaneha　had　a　premonition　of　danger。　〃Bolt　the　door　and　do　not　let　them　enter；〃　she　said。　〃They　ride　silently　like　Apache　on　the　warpath；　not　open　like　honest　men。〃
　Sam　laughed。　〃You're　just　not　used　to　seein'　people；〃　he　said。　〃They're　probably　jus'　lookin'　for　the　way　to　town。〃
　〃They　e　from　the　direction　of　town；〃　Kaneha　said。　But　it　was　too　late。　He　was　already　outside　the　door。
　〃Howdy；〃　he　called　as　they　pulled　their　horses　up　in　front　of　the　cabin。
　〃You　Sam　Sand？〃　the　one　in　the　lead　asked。
　Sam　nodded。　〃That's　me。　Whut　kin　I　do　for　you　gents？〃
　〃We　got　a　load　we　want　hauled　up　to　Virginia　City；〃　the　man　said。　He　took　off　his　hat　and　wiped　his　face　on　his　sleeve。　〃It's　pow'ful　hot　today。〃
　〃It　shore　is；〃　Sam　nodded。　〃e　on　inside　and　cool　off　a　bit　while　we　talk　about　it。〃
　The　men　dismounted　and　Sam　walked　into　the　cabin。
　〃Fetch　a　bottle　of　whisky；〃　he　said　to　Kaneha。　He　turned　back　to　the　men。　〃Set　yourself　down。　What　kind'a　freight　yuh　got？〃
　〃Gold。〃
　〃Gold？〃　Sam　asked。　〃They　ain't　enough　gold　out　heah　to　haul　in　a　wagon。〃
　〃That　ain't　what　we　hear；〃　one　of　the　men　said。　Suddenly　there　were　guns　in　their　hands。　〃We　hear　you　got　enough　gold　buried　out　heah　to　fill　up　a　wagon。〃
　Sam　stared　at　them　for　a　moment；　then　he　laughed。　〃Put　your　guns　away；　gents；〃　he　said。　〃Yuh　don'　believe　that　crazy　yarn；　do　yuh？〃
　The　first　man　came　slowly　toward　him。　His　arm　flashed　and　the　gun　whipped　across　Sam's　face。　Sam　fell　backward　against　the　wall。　He　stared　up　at　the　man　incredulously。
　〃Yuh'll　tell　us　where　it　is　befo'　we　through；〃　the　man　said　tightly。
　
　The　air　in　the　cabin　was　almost　unbearably　hot。　The　three　men　had　drawn　off　into　a　corner　and　were　whispering　among　themselves。　Occasionally　they　would　glance　across　the　room　at　their　captives。
　Sam　hung　limply；　tied　to　the　support　post　in　the　center　of　the　cabin。　His　head　sagged　down　on　his　naked　chest　and　the　blood　dropped　down　his　face；　matting　on　the　graying　red　hair　of　his　beard　and　chest。　His　eyes　were　swollen　and　almost　closed；　his　nose　broken　and　squashed　against　his　cheek。
　Kaneha　was　tied　in　a　chair。　Her　eyes　were　fixed　unblinkingly　on　her　husband。　She　strained　to　turn　her　head　to　hear　what　the　men　were　saying　behind　her　but　she　could　not　move；　she　was　bound　too　tightly。
　〃Mebbe　he　ain't　really　got　the　gold；〃　one　of　the　men　whispered。
　〃He's　got　it　all　right；〃　the　first　one　said。　〃He's　jus'　tough。　Yuh　don'　know　them　ol'　buffalo　hunters　like　I　do。〃
　〃Well；　you　ain't　never　goin'　to　make　him　talk　the　way　yuh're　goin'；〃　the　short　man　said。　〃He's　gonna　die　first。〃
　〃He'll　talk；〃　the　first　man　answered。　He　went　to　the　stove　and　took　a　burning　coal　from　it　with　a　pair　of　fire　tongs。　He　walked　back　to　Sam　and　pulled　his　head　back　against　the　post　by　his　hair。　He　held　the　tongs　in　front　of　Sam's　face。　〃Wheah's　the　gold？〃
　Sam's　eyes　were　open。　His　voice　was　a　husky　croak。　〃They　ain't　none。　For　God's　sake　wouldn't　I　tell　yuh　if　they　was？〃
　The　man　pressed　the　burning　coal　against　Sam's　neck　and　shoulder。　Sam　screamed　in　pain。　〃They　ain't　no　gold！〃　His　head　fell　sideways。　The　man　withdrew　the　burning　coal　and　the　blood　welled　up　beneath　the　scorched　flesh　and　ran　down　his　chest　and　arm。
　The　man　picked　up　a　bottle　of　whisky　from　the　table　and　took　a　swig　from　it。　〃Th'ow　some　water　on　him；〃　he　said。　〃If'n　he　won't　talk　for　hisself；　mebbe　he'll　talk　for　his　squaw。〃
　The　youngest　man　picked　up　a　pail　and　threw　water　over　Sam。　Sam　shook　his　head　and　opened　his　eyes。　He　stared　at　them。
　The　oldest　man　put　the　bottle　down　and　walked　over　to　Kaneha。　He　took　a　hunting　knife　from　his　belt。　The　other　men's　eyes　followed　him。　He　cut　the　rope　that　bound　her　to　the　chair。　〃On　yer　feet；〃　he　said　harshly。
　Silently　Kaneha　rose。　The　man's　knife　moved　quickly　behind　her　and　her　shift　fell　to　the　floor。　She　stood　there　naked　before　them。　The　youngest　man　licked　his　lips。　He　reached　for　the　whisky　and　took　a　drink；　his　eyes　never　leaving　her。
　Holding　Kaneha　by　the　hair；　his　knife　to　her　back；　the　oldest　man　pushed　her　over　toward　Sam。　They　stopped　in　front　of　him。
　〃It's　been　fifteen　years　since　I　skinned　an　Injun；　squaw　man；〃　he　said。　〃But　I　ain't　fergot　how。〃　He　moved　swiftly　around　in　front　of　her；　his　knife　moving　lightly　up　and　down　her　skin。
　A　faint　thin　line　of　blood　appeared　where　the　knife　had　traced　from　under　her　chin　down　her　throat　through　the　valley　between　her　breasts　across　her　stomach　and　ing　to　a　stop　in　the　foliage　of　her　pubis。
　Sam　began　to　cry；　his　own　pain　forgotten；　his　body　wracked　with　bitter　sobs。　〃Leave　her　be；〃　he　pleaded。　〃Please　leave　her　be。　They　ain't　no　gold。〃
　Kaneha　reached　out　her　hand。　She　touched　her　husband's　face　gently。　〃I　am　not　afraid；　my　husband；〃　she　said　in　Kiowa。　〃The　spirits　will　return　evil　to　those　who　bring　it。〃
　Sam's　face　fell　forward；　the　tears　running　down　from　his　eyes　across　his　bearded　and　bleeding　cheeks。　〃I　am　sorry；　my　dear　one；〃　he　said　in　Kiowa。
　〃Tie　her　hands　to　the　legs　of　that　table；〃　the　older　man　manded。
　It　was　done　quickly　and　he　knelt　over　her；　his　knife　poised　at　her　throat。　He　looked　back　up　toward　Sam。　〃The　gold？〃　he　asked。
　Sam　shook　his　head。　He　could　not　speak　any　more。
　〃My　God；〃　the　youngest　man　said　in　a　wondering　voice。　〃I'm　gittin'　a　hard　on。〃
　〃That's　an　idee；〃　the　man　with　the　knife　said。　He　looked　up　at　Sam。　〃I'm　shoah　the　man　wouldn'　min'　if'n　we　used　his　squaw　a　little　bit　before　we　skinned　her。　Injuns　are　downright　hospitable　that　way。〃
　He　got　to　his　feet。　He　put　the　knife　on　the　table　and　unbuckled　his　gun　belt。
　Kaneha　drew　back　her　legs　and　kicked　at　him。
　He　swore　softly。　〃Hold　her　laigs；〃　he　said。　〃I'll　go　first〃
　
　It　was　almost　seven　o'clock　when　Max　rode　up　to　the　cabin　on　the　bay　horse　that　Olsen　lent　him。　The　cabin　was　still　and　there　was　no　smoke　ing　from　the　chimney。　That　was　strange。　Usually；　his　mother　would　be　cooking　when　he　got　home。
　He　swung　down　off　the　horse　and　started　for　the　cabin。　He　stopped　suddenly；　staring　at　it。　The　door　was　open　and　moved　lazily　in　the　thin　breeze。　An　inexplicable　fear　came　into　him　and　he　broke　into　a　run。
　He　burst　through　the　door　and　came　to　a　stop　in　surprised　shock；　his　eyes　widening　in　horror。　His　father　hung　tied　to　the　center　post；　his　mouth　and　eyes　open　in　death；　the　back　of　his　head　blown　away　by　the　。45　that　had　been　placed　in　his　mouth　and　fired。
　Slowly　Max's　eyes　went　down　to　the　floor。　There　was　a　shapeless　mass　lying　in　a　pool　of　blood；　which　bore　the　outline　of　what　once　had　been　his　mother。
　The　paralysis　left　him　at　the　same　moment　he　started　to　scream；　but　the　vomit　that　rose　in　his　throat　choked　off　the　sound。　Again　and　again　he　gagged　until　there　was　no　more　inside　him。　He　clung　weakly　to　the　side　of　the　door；　the　sour　stench　from　his　stomach　all　around。
　He　turned　and　staggered　blindly　out　of　the　cabin。　He　sank　to　the　ground　outside　and　began　to　cry。　After　a　while；　his　tears　were　gone。　He　rose　to　his　feet　wearily　and　walked　around　to　the　back　of　the　house　to　the　watering　trough。　
　He　plunged　his　head　in　and　washed　the　vomit　from　his　face　and　clothing。　Then；　still　dripping；　he　straightened　up　and　looked　around。
　His　father's　horse　was