hr.thecarpetbaggers-第15部分

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　With　a　muttered　curse；　he　sat　up；　looking　forward；　his　gun　in　his　hand。　He　never　knew　what　hit　him　as　Max　brought　the　war　club　down　on　his　head　from　behind。
　Max　came　back　with　the　pinto　about　the　time　that　dawn　was　breaking　in　the　east。　He　tied　his　horse　to　the　scrub　near　the　others　and　walked　back　to　look　at　the　man。
　His　eyes　were　still　closed。　He　was　breathing　evenly　though　there　was　a　smear　of　blood　along　his　cheek　and　ear　where　the　club　had　caught　him。　He　lay　naked　on　his　back　on　the　ground；　his　arms　and　legs　outstretched　tautly；　staked　to　the　ground。
　Max　sat　down　on　the　rock　and　began　to　whet　his　knife　along　its　smooth　surface。　When　the　sun　came　up；　the　man　opened　his　eyes。　They　were　dull　at　first；　then　gradually　they　began　to　clear。　He　tried　to　sit　up　and　became　aware　that　he　was　tied　down。　He　twisted　his　head　and　looked　at　Max。　
　〃What's　the　idee？〃　he　asked。
　Max　stared　at　him。　He　didn't　stop　whetting　his　knife。　〃I'm　Max　Sand；〃　he　said。　〃Remember　me？〃
　Max　walked　over　to　him。　He　stood　there　looking　down；　the　knife　held　loosely　in　his　hand。　There　was　a　sick　feeling　inside　him　as　he　looked　at　the　man　and　pictured　what　must　have　happened　in　the　cabin。　The　image　chased　the　feeling　from　him。　When　he　spoke；　his　voice　was　calm　and　emotionless。　〃Why　did　you　kill　my　folks？〃
　〃I　didn't　do　nothing　to　them；〃　the　man　said；　his　eyes　watching　the　knife。　
　〃You　got　my　pa's　hoss　out　there。〃　
　〃He　sol'　it　to　me；〃　the　man　replied。　
　〃Pa　wouldn'　sell　the　on'y　hoss　he　had；〃　Max　said。
　〃Let　me　up　outa　here；〃　the　man　screamed　suddenly。　
　Max　held　the　knife　to　the　man's　throat。　〃You　want　to　tell　me　what　happened？〃
　〃The　others　did　it！〃　the　man　screamed。　〃I　had　nothin'　to　do　with　it。　They　wanted　the　gold！〃　His　eyes　bugged　out　hysterically。　In　his　fear；　he　began　to　urinate；　the　water　trickling　down　his　bare　legs。　〃Le'　me　go；　you　crazy　Injun　bastard！〃　he　screamed。
　Max　moved　swiftly　now。　All　the　hesitation　that　he　had　felt　was　gone。　He　was　the　son　of　Red　Beard　and　Kaneha　and　inside　him　was　the　terrible　vengeance　of　the　Indian。　His　knife　flashed　bright　in　the　morning　sun　and　when　he　straightened　up　the　man　was　silent。
　Max　looked　down　impassively。　The　man　had　only　fainted；　even　though　his　eyes　stared　upward；　open　and　unseeing。　His　eyelids　had　been　slit　so　they　could　never　again　be　closed　and　the　flesh　hung　like　strips　of　ribbon　down　his　body　from　his　shoulders　to　his　thighs。
　Max　turned　and　walked　until　he　found　an　anthill。　He　scooped　the　top　of　it　up　in　his　hands　and　went　back　to　the　man。　Carefully　he　set　it　down　on　the　man's　pubis。　In　a　moment；　the　tiny　red　ants　were　everywhere　on　the　man。　They　ran　into　all　the　blood…sweetened　crevices　of　his　body；　up　across　his　eyes　and　into　his　open　mouth　and　nostrils。
　The　man　began　to　cough　and　moan。　His　body　stirred。　Silently　Max　watched　him。　This　was　the　Indian　punishment　for　a　thief；　rapist　and　murderer。
　It　took　the　man　three　days　to　die。　Three　days　of　the　blazing　sun　burning　into　his　open　eyes　and　blistering　his　torn　flesh　while　the　ants　industriously　foraged　his　body。　Three　days　of　screaming　for　water　and　three　nights　of　agony　as　insects　and　mosquitoes；　drawn　by　the　scent　of　blood；　came　to　feast　upon　him。
　At　the　end；　he　was　out　of　his　mind；　and　on　the　fourth　morning；　when　Max　came　down　to　look　at　him；　he　was　dead。　Max　stared　at　him　for　a　moment；　then　took　out　his　knife　and　lifted　his　scalp。
　He　went　back　to　the　horses　and　mounted　his　pinto。　Leading　the　other　two　animals；　he　turned　and　rode　north　toward　the　land　of　the　Kiowa。
　The　old　chief；　his　grandfather；　came　out　of　his　tepee　to　watch　him　as　he　dismounted。　He　waited　silently　until　Max　came　up　to　him。
　Max　looked　into　the　eyes　of　the　old　man。　〃I　e　in　sadness　to　the　tents　of　my　people；〃　he　said　in　Kiowa。
　The　chief　did　not　speak。
　〃My　father　and　mother　are　dead；〃　he　continued。
　The　chief　still　did　not　speak。
　Max　reached　to　his　belt　and　took　off　the　scalp　that　hung　there。　He　threw　it　down　in　front　of　the　chief。　〃I　have　taken　the　scalp　of　one　of　the　murderers；〃　he　said。　〃And　I　e　to　the　tent　of　my　grandfather；　the　mighty　chief；　to　spend　the　time　of　my　sorrow。〃
　The　chief　looked　down　at　the　scalp；　then　up　at　Max。　〃We　are　no　longer　free　to　roam　the　plains；〃　he　said。　〃We　live　on　the　land　that　the　White　Eyes　allow　us。　Have　any　of　them　seen　you　as　you　approached？〃
　〃None　saw　me；〃　Max　answered。　〃I　came　from　the　hills　behind　them。〃
　The　chief　looked　down　at　the　scalp　again。　It　had　been　a　long　time　since　the　scalp　of　an　enemy　hung　from　the　post　before　his　tepee。　His　heart　swelled　with　pride。　He　looked　at　Max。　The　White　Eyes　could　imprison　the　bodies　but　they　could　not　imprison　the　spirit。　He　picked　up　the　scalp　and　hung　it　from　the　post　then　turned　back　to　Max。
　〃A　tree　has　many　branches；〃　he　said　slowly。　〃And　when　some　branches　fall　or　are　cut　down；　other　branches　must　be　grown　to　take　their　place　so　their　spirits　may　find　where　to　live。〃
　He　took　a　feather　from　his　headdress　and　held　it　toward　Max。　〃There　is　a　maiden　whose　brave　was　killed　in　a　fall　from　his　horse　two　suns　ago。　She　had　already　taken　the　marriage　stick　and　now　must　live　alone　in　a　tent　by　the　river　until　his　spirit　is　replaced　in　her。　Go　now　and　take　her。〃　
　Max　stared　at　him。　〃Now？〃　he　asked。　
　The　chief　thrust　the　feather　into　his　hand。　〃Now；〃　he　said；　with　the　knowledge　of　all　his　years。　〃It　is　the　best　time；　while　the　spirit　of　war　and　vengeance　still　rages　like　a　torrent　in　your　blood。　It　is　the　best　time　to　take　a　woman。〃
　Max　turned　and　picked　up　the　lead　and　walked　down　through　the　camp　with　the　horses。　The　Indians　watched　him　silently　as　he　passed　by。　He　walked　slowly　with　his　head　held　high。　He　reached　the　bank　of　the　small　river　and　followed　it　around　a　bend。
　A　single　tent　stood　there；　out　of　sight　of　the　rest　of　the　camp。　Max　walked　toward　it。　He　tied　the　horses　to　some　shrubs　and　lifted　the　flap　of　the　tent　and　walked　in。
　The　tent　was　empty。　He　lifted　the　flap　again　and　looked　out。　There　was　no　one　in　sight。　He　let　the　flap　down。　He　walked　to　the　back　of　the　tent　and　sat　down　on　a　bed　of　skins　stretched　out　on　the　floor。
　A　moment　later　the　girl　came　in。　Her　hair　and　body　were　wet　from　the　river　and　her　dress　clung　to　her。　Her　eyes　went　wide　as　she　saw　him。　She　stood　there　poised　for　flight。
　She　wasn't　much　more　than　a　child；　Max　saw。　Fourteen；　maybe　fifteen　at　the　most。　Suddenly　he　knew　why　the　chief　had　sent　him　down　here。　He　picked　up　the　feather　and　held　it　toward　her。　〃Don't　be　afraid；〃　he　said　gently。　〃The　mighty　chief　has　put　us　together　so　that　we　may　drive　the　devils　from　each　other。〃
　
　6
　
　ASTRIDE　THE　WIRY　PINTO；　MAX　CAME　DOWN　THE　RAMP　from　the　railroad　car　behind　the　last　of　the　cattle。　He　waited　a　moment　until　the　last　steer　had　entered　the　stockyard　and　then　dropped　the　gate　behind　it。　He　took　off　his　hat　and　wiped　the　sweat　from　his　forehead　on　his　sleeve　and　looked　up　at　the　sun。
　It　hung　almost　overhead；　white　hot；　baking　into　the　late　spring　dust　of　the　yards。　The　cattle　lowed　softly　as　if　somehow　they；　too；　knew　they　had　e　to　the　end　of　the　road。　The　long　road　that　led　up　from　Texas；　to　a　railroad　that　took　them　to　Kansas　City；　and　their　impending　doom。
　Max　put　the　hat　back　on　his　head　and　squinted　down　the　fence　to　where　the　boss　sat　with　the　cattle…buyers。　He　rode　down　toward　them。
　Farrar　turned　as　he　stopped　his　horse　beside　them。　〃They　all　in？〃
　〃They　all　in；　Mr。　Farrar；〃　Max　answered。
　〃Good；〃　Farrar　said。　He　turned　to　one　of　the　cattle…buyers。　〃The　count　O。K。？　Eleven　hundred　and　ten　head　I　make　it。〃
　〃I　make　it　the　same；〃　the　buyer　said。
　Farrar　got　down　from　the　fence。　〃I'll　e　over　to　your　office　this　afternoon　to　pick　up　the　check。〃
　The　buyer　nodded。　〃It'll　be　ready。〃
　Farrar　got　up　on　his　horse。　〃C'mon；　kid；〃　he　said　over　his　shoulder。　〃Let's　get　over　to　the　hotel　and　wash　some　of　this　steer…shit　stink　off'n　us。〃
　〃Man；〃　Farrar　said；　after　a　bath。　〃I　feel　twenty　pounds　lighter。〃
　Max　straightened　up　from　putting　on　his　boots　and　turned　around。　〃Yeah；〃　he　said。　〃Me；　too。〃
　Farrar's　eyes　widened　and　he　whistled。　Max　had　on　an　almost　white　buckskin　shirt　and　breeches。　His　high…heeled　cowboy　boots　were　polished　to　a　mirror…like　sheen　and　the　kerchief　around　his　throat　was　like　a　sparkle　of　yellow　gold　against　his　dark；　sun…stained　skin。　His　hair；　almost　blue　black；　hung　long　to　his　shoulders。
　Farrar　whistled　again。　〃Man；　where'd　you　get　them　clothes？〃
　Max　smiled。　〃It　was　the　last　set　my　ma　made　for　me。〃　
　Farrar　laughed。　〃Well；　you　shore　enough　look　Injun　with　them　on。〃
　Max　smiled　with　him。　〃I　am　Indian；〃　he　said　quietly。　
　Farrar's　laughter　disappeared　quickly。　〃Half　Indian；　kid；〃　he　said。　〃Your　pappy　was　white　and　he　was　a　good　man。　I　hunted　with　Sam　Sand　too　many　years　to　hear　you　not　proud　of　him。〃
　〃I　am　proud　of　him；　Mr。　Farrar；〃　Max　said。　〃But　I　still　remember　it　was　white　men　killed　him　an'　Ma。〃
　He　picked　his　gun　belt　up　from　the　chair　and　strapped　it　on。　Farrar　watched　him　bend　over　to　tie　the　holster　to　his　thigh。　〃You　still　ain't　give　up　lookin'　for　them？〃　he　asked。　
　Max　looked　up。　〃No；　sir；　I　ain't。〃
　〃Kansas　City's　a　big　place；〃　Farrar　said。　〃How　you　know　you'll　find　him　here？〃
　〃If　he's　here；　I'll　find　him；〃　Max　answered。　〃This　is　where　he's　supposed　to　be。　Then　I'll　go　down　into　West　Texas　an'　get　the　other　one。〃
　Farrar　was　silent　for　a　moment。　〃Well；　dressed　like　that；　you　better　look　out　he　don't　recognize　you　and　find　you　first。〃
　〃I'm　hopin'　he　does；〃　Max　said　quietly。　〃I　want　him　to　know　what　he's　dyin'　for。〃
　Farrar　turned　away　from　the　bleak　look　in　the　boy's　eyes　and　picked　up　a　shirt。　Max　waited　quietly　for　him　to　finish　dressing。　〃I'll　pick　up　my　time　now；　Mr。　Farrar；〃　he　said　when　the　man　had　pulled　on　his　trousers。
　Farrar　walked　over　to　the　dresser　and　picked　up　his　poke。　〃There　you　are；〃　he　said。　〃Four　months'　pay　…　eighty　dollars　…　an'　the　sixty　dollars　you　won　at　poker。〃
　Max　put　the　money　in　a　back　pocket　without　counting　it。　〃Thanks；　Mr。　Farrar。〃
　〃Sure　I　can't　talk　you　into　in'　back　with　me？〃　Farrar　asked。
　〃No；　thank　you；　Mr。　Farrar。〃
　〃You　can't　keep　all　that　hate　in　your　soul；　boy；〃　the　older　man　said。　〃It　ain't　healthy。　You'll　only　wind　up　harmin'　yourself。〃　
　〃I　can't　help