p&c.thunderhead-第56部分

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　〃Oh。〃　Even　without　turning　around；　she　could　hear　the　sheepish　note　in　the　writer's　voice。　〃Sorry。　I　knew　the　purpose　of　the　expedition　was　secret；　but　I　didn't　realize　the　expedition　itself　was。〃　He　paused。　〃I　didn't　give　anything　away；　you　know。〃　
　Nora　sighed。　〃Maybe　not。　But　you　certainly　created　quite　a　stir。　But　let's　forget　it；　okay？　I　overreacted。　I　was　a　little　tense　myself…for　obvious　reasons。〃　
　They　rode　quietly　for　a　while。　〃So　what　do　you　think　of　my　story？〃　Nora　asked　at　last。　
　〃I　think　I'm　sorry　I　said　I　wouldn't　print　it。　Do　you　suppose　these　guys　are　really　still　after　you？〃　
　〃Why　do　you　think　I　insisted　on　taking　this　little　field　trip　myself？　I'm　pretty　sure　that　the　people　who　killed　our　horses；　and　the　ones　who　attacked　me；　might　be　the　same。　If　so；　that　means　they've　learned　where　Quivira　is。〃　
　Abruptly；　the　trail　left　the　weird　tangle　of　stone　and　topped　out　on　a　narrow；　fingerlike　mesa。　Breathtaking　views　surrounded　them　on　all　sides；　canyons　layered　against　canyons；　disappearing　into　the　purple　depths。　The　snowcapped　peaks　of　the　Henry　Mountains　were　now　visible　to　the　east；　blue　and　inexpressibly　lonely　in　the　vast　distance。　At　the　far　side　of　the　mesa　stood　some　rocks；　hiding　the　landscape　beyond　from　view。　
　〃I　didn't　realize　we　were　gaining　so　much　altitude；〃　said　Smithback；　stopping　his　horse　and　gazing　around。　
　Just　then　Nora　caught　a　faint　whiff　of　cedar　smoke。　She　signaled　Smithback　to　dismount　quietly。　
　〃Smell　that？〃　she　whispered。　〃We're　not　far　from　a　campfire。　Let's　leave　our　horses　here　and　go　ahead　on　foot。〃　
　Tying　their　mounts　to　sagebrush；　they　began　walking　through　the　sand。　〃Wouldn't　it　be　nice　if　there　were　a　bathtub　full　of　ice　and　cervezas　on　the　other　side？〃　Smithback　said　under　his　breath　as　they　approached　the　jumble　of　rocks。　Nora　dropped　to　her　knees　and　peered　through　a　gap　in　the　rocks。　Smithback　did　the　same；　creeping　up　beside　her。　
　At　the　naked　end　of　the　mesa；　under　a　dead；　corkscrewed　juniper；　was　a　small　fire；　smoking　faintly。　What　appeared　to　be　a　jackrabbit；　skinned　and　spitted；　was　propped　between　two　forked　sticks　nearby。　An　old　army　bedroll　lay　unrolled　in　the　lee　of　the　rock；　beside　several　buckskin　bundles。　To　the　left　of　the　little　camp　the　mesa　sloped　downward；　and　Nora　could　see　a　horse；　picketed　on　a　fifty…foot　rope；　grazing　grass。　
　The　view　from　the　point　of　the　mesa　was　spectacular。　The　land　dropped　away　in　a　great　sweep　of　erosion；　down　into　a　wrinkled　and　violent　landscape；　dry；　lifeless；　webbed　with　alkali　washes；　dissolving　into　a　badlands　peppered　with　great　rock　megaliths；　casting　long　shadows。　Beyond　lay　the　heavily　forested　Aquarius　Plateau；　a　black　irregular　line　on　the　horizon。　A　grasshopper　scratched　forlornly　in　the　late　afternoon　heat。　
　Nora　slowly　exhaled。　It　was　a　barren　place；　and　she　knew　she　ought　to　feel　a　little　silly；　crawling　up　the　ridge；　peering　melodramatically　through　the　rocks　on　hands　and　knees。　Then　she　thought　about　the　matted；　hairy　figures　in　the　deserted　farmhouse；　and　about　the　coils　of　horse　entrails；　flyblown　and　steaming　in　the　sun。　
　The　unshod　tracks　they　had　been　following　led　around　the　rocks　and　straight　into　the　camp。　
　〃Looks　like　nobody's　home；〃　whispered　Nora。　Her　voice　sounded　loud　and　thin　in　her　ears；　and　she　could　feel　her　skin　prickle　with　fear。　
　〃Yeah；　but　they　couldn't　be　far。　Look　at　that　rabbit。　What　do　we　do　now？〃　
　〃I　think　we　mount　up　and　ride　in；　nice　and　easy。　And　then　wait　until　they　or　whoever　returns。〃　
　〃Oh；　sure。　And　get　shot　right　out　of　the　saddle。〃　
　Nora　turned　to　him。　〃Got　a　better　idea？〃　
　〃Yeah。　How　about　if　we　head　back　and　see　what　Bonarotti's　got　cooking　for　supper？〃　
　Nora　shook　her　head　impatiently。　〃Then　I'll　go　in　there　alone；　on　foot。　They're　not　likely　to　kill　a　lone　woman。〃　
　Smithback　considered　this。　〃I　wouldn't　remend　that。　If　these　are　the　same　guys　who　attacked　you；　being　a　woman　didn't　stop　them　before。〃　
　〃So　what　do　we　do？〃　
　Smithback　thought　for　a　while。　〃Maybe　we　should　hide　ourselves；　and　just　wait　near　here　for　them　to　return。　We　could　surprise　them。〃　
　Nora　looked　at　the　writer。　〃Where？〃　
　〃Back　up　in　those　rocks；　behind　us。　We　can　look　down　and　over　the　end　of　the　mesa。　We'll　see　them　as　they　e　in。〃　
　They　returned　to　their　horses；　moved　them　well　off　the　trail；　and　brushed　out　their　tracks。　Then　they　climbed　up　behind　the　camp　and　waited　in　a　small　nook　between　two　large　boulders。　As　they　settled　in；　Nora　heard　an　ominous；　rattling　buzz。　About　fifty　yards　away；　in　the　shadow　of　a　rock；　a　rattlesnake　had　reared　up　in　an　S…coil；　its　anvil…shaped　head　swaying　slightly。　
　〃Now　you　can　show　me　your　brilliant　marksmanship；〃　said　Smithback。　
　〃No；〃　said　Nora　instantly。　
　〃Why　not？〃　
　〃That　gun's　going　to　make　a　pretty　loud　doorbell。　Do　you　really　want　to　alert　whoever's　out　there？〃　
　Smithback　suddenly　stiffened。　〃I　think　it's　too　late　for　that；〃　he　said。　
　There；　on　one　of　the　flanking　ridges　behind　them；　Nora　saw　a　lone　man　silhouetted　against　the　sky；　his　face　in　shadow。　A　gun　was　hanging　off　his　right　hip。　How　long　he　had　been　waiting　there；　watching　them；　Nora　could　not　say。　
　A　dog　appeared　over　the　ridge　behind　the　man。　As　it　saw　them；　it　broke　into　a　flurry　of　outraged　barking。　The　man　spoke　a　brief　mand　and　it　slunk　behind　his　legs。　
　〃Oh；　God；〃　Smithback　said。　〃Here　we　are；　hiding　in　the　rocks。　This　isn't　going　to　look　too　good。〃　
　Nora　waited　in　indecision。　The　weight　of　her　own　gun　felt　heavy　on　her　hips。　If　this　was　one　of　the　men　who　had　attacked　her；　killed　the　horses　。　。　。　
　The　man　stood　motionless　as　the　late　afternoon　deepened。　
　〃You　got　us　into　this；〃　Smithback　said。　〃What　do　we　do　now？〃　
　〃I　don't　know。　Say　hello？〃　
　〃There's　brilliance　for　you。〃　Smithback　raised　a　tentative　hand。　After　a　moment；　the　man　on　the　ridge　made　a　similar　gesture。　
　Then　he　stepped　down　from　the　ridge　and　began　walking　toward　them；　a　curious　walk　on　stiff；　long　legs；　the　dog　trotting　behind　him。　
　And　then；　in　a　instant　of　terrifying　speed；　Nora　saw　him　stop　short；　draw　his　gun；　and　fire。　
　
　
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　INSTINCTIVELY；　NORA'S　HAND　DROPPED　TO　HER　own　weapon　as　the　rattler's　head　blew　apart　in　a　spray　of　blood　and　venom。　She　glanced　from　the　snake　to　Smithback。　The　writer's　face　was　ashen；　his　gun　drawn。　
　The　man　walked　toward　them　with　slow　deliberate　steps。　〃Jumpy；　ain't　you；〃　he　said；　holstering　his　gun。　〃These　damned　rattlers。　I　know　they　keep　the　mice　down；　but　when　I　go　out　to　piss　at　night；　I　don't　want　to　step　on　any　mousehunting　coontail。〃　
　He　was　an　extraordinary…looking　man。　His　hair　was　long　and　white；　and　plaited　in　two　long　braids　in　the　traditional　Native　American　fashion。　A　bandanna　was　tied　around　his　head　and　formed　into　a　bun　to　one　side。　His　pants；　indescribably　old　but　very　clean；　were　at　least　eight　inches　too　short。　Beneath；　dusty；　sticklike　legs　plunged　sockless　into　a　pair　of　red　high…top　sneakers；　brand…new　and　laced　up　tight。　His　shirt　was　beautifully　made　out　of　tanned　buckskin；　decorated　with　strips　of　fine　beadwork；　and　a　turquoise　necklace　circled　his　neck。　But　it　was　the　face　above　the　necklace　that　most　arrested　Nora。　There　was　a　gravity　and　dignity　to　the　face；　a　gravity　that　seemed　at　variance　with　the　glittering；　amused　liveliness　of　his　black　eyes。　
　〃You　look　a　long　way　from　home；〃　the　man　said　in　a　thin；　reedy　voice；　with　the　peculiar　kind　of　clipped　yet　melodious　tone　mon　to　many　native　speakers　in　the　Southwest。　〃Did　you　find　what　you　needed　in　my　camp？〃　
　Nora　looked　into　the　mercurial　eyes。　〃We　didn't　disturb　your　camp；〃　she　said。　〃We're　searching　for　the　person　that　murdered　our　horses。〃　
　The　man　gazed　back　steadily；　the　eyes　narrowing　slightly。　The　good　humor　seemed　to　vanish。　For　a　moment；　Nora　wondered　if　he　would　raise　his　gun　again；　and　she　felt　her　right　hand　flex　involuntarily。　
　Then　the　tension　seemed　to　ease；　and　the　man　took　a　step　forward。　〃It's　a　hard　thing　to　lose　horses；〃　he　said。　〃I've　got　some　cool　water　down　there　in　camp；　and　some　roasted　jackrabbit　and　chiles。　Why　don't　you　e　along？〃　He　paused。　
　〃We'd　be　happy　to；〃　said　Nora。　They　followed　him　down　the　rockpile　and　into　camp。　He　gestured　for　them　to　find　a　seat　on　the　nearby　rocks；　then　he　squatted　by　the　fire　and　turned　the　jackrabbit。　He　poked　a　stick　into　the　ashes　and　pulled　out　several　tinfoil…wrapped　chiles；　piling　them　at　the　edge　of　the　fire　to　keep　warm。　〃I　heard　you　folks　ing；　so　I　decided　to　head　on　up　there　and　check　you　out　from　above。　Don't　get　a　lot　of　visitors　out　here；　you　know。　Pays　to　be　careful。〃　
　〃Were　we　that　obvious？〃　Smithback　asked。　
　The　man　looked　at　him　with　cool　brown　eyes。　
　〃Really；〃　said　Smithback。　〃That　obvious；　huh？〃　
　The　man　pulled　a　canteen　out　of　the　sand　in　the　shadow　of　a　rock　and　passed　it　to　Nora。　She　accepted　the　water　silently；　realizing　how　thirsty　she　was。　The　man　stirred　the　ashes　of　the　fire；　freshened　it　with　a　few　pieces　of　juniper；　then　turned　the　jackrabbit　again。　
　〃So　you're　the　folks　down　in　Chilbah　Valley；〃　he　said；　sitting　down　across　from　them。　
　〃Chilbah？〃　Smithback　asked。　
　The　man　nodded。　〃The　valley　over　the　big　ridge　back　there。　I　saw　you　the　other　day；　from　the　top。〃　He　turned