p&c.thunderhead-第31部分

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he　top　of　the　plateau；　but　if　there　was　a　way　over　and　into　the　hidden　canyon　beyond；　it　was　well　hidden。　
　Dropping　the　binoculars；　she　turned　and　looked　around　the　windswept　top　of　the　ridge。　An　overlook　like　this　was　a　perfect　place　for　her　father　to　have　carved　his　initials　and　a　date：　the　calling　card　of　remote　travelers　since　time　immemorial。　Yet　there　was　nothing。　Still；　from　the　top　of　the　ridge　it　seemed　likely　that　Holroyd　would　finally　get　his　GPS　reading。　
　Swire　had　settled　his　back　against　the　rock　and　was　rolling　a　smoke。　He　placed　it　in　his　mouth；　struck　a　match。　
　〃I　ain't　bringing　my　horses　up　that　trail；〃　he　said。　
　Nora　looked　at　him　quickly。　〃But　it's　the　only　way　up。〃　
　〃I　know　it；〃　Swire　said；　drawing　smoke　into　his　lungs。　
　〃So　what　are　you　suggesting？　That　we　turn　around？　Give　up？〃　
　Swire　nodded。　〃Yep；〃　he　said。　There　was　a　brief　pause。　〃And　it　ain't　a　suggestion。〃　
　In　an　instant；　Nora's　elation　fell　away。　She　took　a　deep　breath。　〃Roscoe；　this　isn't　an　impossible　trail。　We'll　unload　and　carry　everything　up　by　hand。　Then　we'll　guide　the　horses；　unroped；　giving　them　their　heads。　It　might　take　the　rest　of　the　day；　but　it　can　be　done。〃　
　Roscoe　shook　his　head。　〃We'll　kill　horses　on　that　trail；　no　matter　what　we　do。〃　
　Nora　knelt　beside　him。　〃You've　got　to　do　this；　Roscoe。　Everything　depends　on　it。　The　Institute　will　replace　any　horse　that　gets　hurt。〃　
　From　the　expression　on　his　face；　she　saw　she　had　said　the　wrong　thing。　〃You　know　enough　about　horses　to　know　you're　talking　through　your　hat；〃　he　replied。　〃I　ain't　saying　they　can't　do　it。　I'm　saying　the　risk　is　too　high。〃　A　truculent　note　had　crept　into　his　voice。　〃No　man　in　his　right　mind　would　bring　horses　up　that　trail。　And　if　you　want　my　opinion；　I　don't　think　we're　on　any　damn　trail；　Anasazi　or　otherwise。　Neither　does　anyone　else。〃　
　Nora　looked　at　him。　〃So　you　all　think　I'm　lost？〃　
　Swire　nodded；　pulled　on　his　cigarette。　〃All　except　Holroyd。　But　that　boy　would　follow　you　into　a　live　volcano。〃　
　Nora　felt　her　face　flush。　〃Think　what　you　want；〃　she　said；　pointing　toward　the　sandstone　plateau。　〃But　that　slot　canyon　out　there　is　the　one　my　father　found。　It　has　to　be。　And　there's　no　other　way　in。　That　means　he　brought　two　horses　up　this　trail。〃　
　〃I　doubt　it。〃　
　Nora　rounded　on　him。　〃When　you　signed　on　to　this　trip；　you　knew　the　danger。　You　can't　back　out　now。　It　can　be　done；　and　we're　going　to　do　it；　with　you　or　without　you。〃　
　〃Nope；〃　he　said　again。　
　〃Then　you're　a　coward；〃　Nora　cried　angrily。　
　Swire's　eyes　widened　quickly；　then　narrowed。　He　stared　at　Nora　for　a　long；　silent　moment。　〃I　ain't　likely　to　forget　you　said　that；〃　he　said　at　last　in　a　low；　even　tone。　
　The　breeze　blew　across　the　fin　of　rock；　and　a　pair　of　ravens　rode　up　the　air　currents；　then　dipped　back　down　into　space。　Nora　slumped　against　the　rock；　resting　her　forehead　in　her　hands。　She　didn't　know　what　to　do　in　the　face　of　Swire's　flat　refusal。　They　couldn't　go　on　without　him；　and　the　horses　were　technically　his。　She　closed　her　eyes　against　a　growing　sense　of　failure；　terrible　and　final。　And　then　she　realized　something。　
　〃If　you　want　to　turn　around；〃　she　said　quietly；　glancing　over　at　Swire；　〃you'd　better　get　going。　The　last　water　I　remember　was　a　two…day　ride　back。〃　
　Swire's　face　showed　a　sudden；　curious　blankness。　Then　he　swore　softly；　as　he　realized　the　water　the　horses　so　desperately　needed　was　in　the　green　valley　that　lay　ahead；　below　their　feet。　
　He　shook　his　head　slowly；　and　spat。　Finally；　he　eyed　Nora。　〃Looks　like　you　get　your　wish；〃　he　said。　And　something　in　the　way　he　looked　at　her　made　Nora　shrink　back。　
　By　the　time　they　returned　to　camp；　it　was　noon。　A　palpable　air　of　anxiety　hung　over　the　group；　and　the　thirsty　horses；　tied　in　the　shade；　were　prancing　and　slinging　their　heads。　
　〃You　didn't　happen　to　pass　a　Starbucks；　did　you？〃　Smithback　asked　with　forced　joviality。　〃I　could　really　use　an　iced　latte。〃　
　Swire　brushed　his　way　past　them　and　stalked　off　to　where　the　horses　were　hobbled。　
　〃What's　with　him？〃　Smithback　asked。　
　〃We've　got　a　tough　stretch　of　trail　ahead；〃　Nora　said。　
　〃How　tough？〃　Black　blurted　out。　Once　again；　Nora　could　see　naked　fear　on　his　face。　
　〃Very　tough。〃　She　looked　around　at　the　dirty　faces。　The　fact　that　several　of　them　were　looking　to　her　for　guidance　and　reassurance　gave　her　another　twinge　of　self…doubt。　She　took　a　deep　breath。　
　〃The　good　news　is；　there's　water　on　the　far　side　of　the　ridge。　The　bad　news　is　that　we're　going　to　have　to　carry　the　gear　up　by　hand。　Then　Roscoe　and　I　will　bring　the　horses。〃　
　Black　groaned。　
　〃Take　no　more　than　thirty　pounds　at　a　time；〃　Nora　went　on。　〃Don't　try　to　rush　things。　It's　a　rough　trail；　even　on　foot。　We're　going　to　have　to　make　a　couple　of　trips　each。〃　
　Black　looked　like　he　was　about　to　say　something；　then　stopped。　Sloane　stood　abruptly；　walked　over　to　the　line　of　gear；　and　hefted　a　pannier　onto　her　shoulder。　Holroyd　followed；　walking　a　little　unsteadily；　then　Aragon　and　Smithback。　At　last；　Black　raised　himself　from　the　rocks；　passed　a　shaky　hand　over　his　eyes；　and　followed　them。　
　*　*　*
　Almost　three　hours　later；　Nora　stood　at　the　top　of　the　Devil's　Backbone　with　the　others；　breathing　heavily　and　sharing　the　last　of　the　water。　The　gear　had　been　brought　up　over　the　course　of　three　arduous　trips；　and　was　now　neatly　lined　up　to　one　side。　Black　was　a　wreck：　sitting　on　a　rock；　soaked　with　sweat；　his　hands　shaking；　the　rest　were　almost　as　exhausted。　The　sun　had　moved　westward　and　was　now　shining　directly　into　the　long　grove　of　cottonwoods　far　below　them；　turning　the　stream　into　a　twisted　thread　of　silver。　The　sight　seemed　inexpressibly　lush　and　beautiful　after　the　barren　wastes　behind　them。　Nora　ached　with　thirst。　
　She　turned　to　look　back　down　the　hogback　ridge　up　which　they　had　e。　The　hard　part；　bringing　the　horses　up；　was　still　before　her。　My　God；　she　thought。　Sixteen　of　them　。　。　。　The　ache　in　her　limbs　fell　away；　replaced　by　a　small　sickness　that　began　to　grow　in　the　pit　of　her　stomach。　
　〃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　voi