lla.theburninghills-第9部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　from　the　climb？　Prom　the　struggle？　Or。。。　？
　〃Thought　it　was　Lantz。〃
　She　did　not　reply。　There　was　a　suggestion　of　perfume；　some　flower　scent；　faint　but　clinging。　He　could　see　the　outline　of　her　face　against　the　outer　sky。　〃I'm　going；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　getting　you　all　into　trouble。〃
　Still　she　did　not　speak　nor　move。　The　lone　star　hung　above　the　canyon's　rim。　〃If　you　had　not　e　along；　I'd　be　dead。〃
　Her　face　turned　toward　him　but　it　was　all　darkness　and　he　could　see　nothing　of　her　expression。
　〃You're　a　woman　who　could　walk　beside　a　man；　Maria　Cristina。　Not　behind　him。〃
　〃You　talk　too　much。〃
　〃Maybe　。　。　。　maybe　not　enough。〃
　Trace　Jordan　searched　for　words　but　found　none。　There　was　a　time　he　had　talked　easily　to　women　but　with　this　girl　and　at　this　time　he　could　find　no　words　for　what　was　within　him。
　A　quail　called　questioningly　into　the　night　and　there　was　no　reply。　He　smelled　again　the　smoke　from　the　watchfires　of　the　hunting　men　and　heard　the　wind　stirring　the　manzanita；　yet　he　was　only　faintly　aware　of　them；　so　conscious　was　he　of　the　nearness　of　Maria　Cristina。
　〃You　must　not　go。〃
　〃Got　to。。。　they　know　I'm　close　by。〃　Again　she　was　silent　and　he　did　not　understand　her　silence。　He　walked　to　the　horse　and　picked　up　the　bridle　so　suddenly　that　the　horse　shied　violently。　He　waited　until　the　horse　quieted；　then　saddled　up。
　The　mere　act　of　swinging　the　saddle　to　the　animal's　back　took　his　wind　and　caught　at　his　wounded　side。　He　leaned　against　the　horse　to　catch　his　breath。　Bleakly　he　stared　across　the　saddle　into　the　night。　If　he　got　out　of　this　alive　he　would　be　pulling　more　than　his　proper　share　of　luck。
　〃You　cannot　go　up。〃
　〃The　slide？〃
　〃It　is　best　but　there　will　be　much　noise。〃　He　tightened　the　cinch。　She　had　accepted　his　going　then。　Glad　to　be　rid　of　him；　most　likely。　Yet　he　felt　a　curious　reluctance　to　go。　He　remembered　the　feel　of　her　body；　tense　and　fighting　for　that　moment　she　was　in　his　arms。　The　memory　brought　blood　rushing　to　his　head　and　he　turned　suddenly　and　reached　for　her　in　the　night。
　She　started　to　step　back　but　his　arms　were　around　her。　She　fought　fiercely；　with　almost　tigerish　wickedness　yet　he　held　her　and　drew　her　close。　Suddenly　then；　she　relaxed　but　it　was　no　submission。　She　remained　still　in　his　arms　but　there　was　no　response；　none　whatever。　When　he　released　her　she　made　no　effort　to　move　away。
　〃I　think　you　are　animal。〃
　Her　voice　was　low；　without　emotion。　He　took　her　in　his　arms　again；　kissing　her　gently　this　time；　kissing　her　lips　and　cheeks；　her　neck　and　shoulders。　She　did　not　respond　but　neither　did　she　move　away。　He　released　her　again　and　stepped　back；　his　breath　slow…drawn。　And　then　for　a　time　neither　of　them　spoke。　She　made　no　attempt　to　leave　but　neither　did　she　invite　any　further　advances。
　He　felt　strangely　lost；　helpless。　He　wanted　to　reach　her；　to　get　beneath　the　surface。　Yet　there　was　nothing　from　her；　simply　nothing　at　all。
　〃You　go　home；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　leaving　tonight。〃
　She　stooped　and　picked　up　the　package　she　had　dropped。　〃Here　is　food。〃　She　seemed　to　hesitate　an　instant；　then　turned　away。
　〃Maria　Christina？〃
　She　stopped　but　did　not　turn　around。
　〃I'm　ing　back。〃
　She　seemed　not　to　have　heard　him。　〃Ride　up　the　canyon。　Take　the　first　wide　canyon　to　the　left。　Cross　the　mesa　top　to　the　next　canyon；　then　cross　that　canyon　and　the　second　mesa。　You　will　see　a　red　rock　like　a　steeple　and　there　will　be　a　dead　cottonwood　at　its　base。　Behind　the　steeple　rock　there　is　a　place　to　hide；　and　there　is　a　way　to　escape　into　the　desert　when　the　time　is　right。〃
　〃Join　me　there。〃
　She　seemed　to　shrug。　〃For　why　I　join　you？　You　think　I　am　gringo？　I　am　Mexican。〃
　〃You　e；　Maria　Cristina。　I　want　you。〃
　〃You　are　a　fool。〃
　He　walked　up　behind　her　and　she　half…turned　her　head　toward　him。　He　could　see　her　face　in　the　vague　starlight　and　the　dark　pools　of　her　eyes。
　〃I'm　ing　back。　I　owe　you　more　than　I　can　pay。〃
　〃Tor　nada？〃
　〃If　you　do　not　e　to　the　steeple　rock；　I　shall　e　back　for　you。〃
　〃You　be　keel。〃
　〃So　。。。　but　I'll　e　back。〃
　He　started　to　take　her　in　his　arms　but　she　stepped　back；　her　eyes　flashing。　〃What　you　think？　That　I　am　some　mon　woman　to　e　when　you　call？　Some　woman　you　take　when　you　want？　I　am　not。　You　think　I　e　here　because　I　need　a　man？　I　need　no　man。　I　e　because　you　die　here　。。。　and　my　father　die　on　those　rocks　down　there。　You　take　me　for　cheap　woman。　You　go。〃
　He　waited　quietly　until　she　was　through　and　then　he　said；　〃I'm　ing　back　for　you；　Maria　Cristina。〃
　〃You　are　a　fool。〃
　〃Know　more　about　horses　than　women；〃　he　admitted。　〃And　you're　all　mustang。〃
　A　coyote　voiced　a　shrill　rumor　to　the　sky　and　listened　to　his　own　echo。　Waited；　then　tried　again。　The　lone　star　hung　on　the　canyon's　rim　like　a　lost　lantern。
　〃Man　once　said　there　were　in　a　man's　life　certain　ultimate　things　and　just　one　ultimate　woman。　You're　that　woman　for　me。〃
　〃No。〃
　He　took　her　gently　by　the　shoulders　and　kissed　her　lightly。　〃You　just　ain't　halter…broke；　that's　all。　I'll　be　back。〃
　She　walked　away　from　him　then；　without　turning；　and　he　heard　her　start　down　the　slide。　If　they　heard　her　ing　and　were　waiting；　then　he　knew　what　he　would　do。　He　would　go　down　shooting　。。。　and　he　would　go　fast。
　Trace　Jordan　waited　until　he　was　sure　Maria　Cristina　had　cleared　the　narrow　part　of　the　canyon　and　was　in　the　meadow　near　the　corral。　Then　he　led　the　horse　to　the　lip　of　the　slide。
　The　horse　might　break　a　leg　or　be　otherwise　injured　but　it　was　a　chance　he　had　to　take。　He　was　through　here　and　he　knew　they　would　stay　close　until　he　starved　or　somebody　lost　their　nerve　and　talked。
　He　knew　how　small　was　his　chance。　There　was　not　one　possibility　in　a　million　of　getting　down　that　slide　unheard。　And　there　were　two　men　up　the　canyon　who　would　be　waiting　for　him。
　He　was　in　no　shape　for　a　hard　ride。　But　men　in　just　as　bad　shape　had　e　through。　And　there　was　no　other　solution。　He　checked　all　his　gear。　His　bed　was　rolled；　his　canteen　filled。　The　food　packet　was　shoved　into　a　saddlebag。　He　was　wearing　both　guns　now　and　the　rifle　was　in　the　boot。
　He　was　stalling　。。。　he　knew　he　was　stalling。　The　thought　of　tackling　that　steep　slide　in　the　darkness　made　his　mouth　dry　and　his　stomach　hollow。　He　gathered　up　the　reins；　then　stood　listening。
　There　was　no　sound　。。。　were　they　down　there　in　the　darkness　now；　waiting　for　him？　Had　they　captured　Maria　Cristina？
　Lantz　shook　Ben　Hindeman's　shoulder。　The　fire　was　low　and　nobody　else　stirred。　It　was　very　late　and　the　coyote　had　suddenly　stopped　his　howling。　〃Ben　。。。　wake　up。〃
　Hindeman's　eyes　opened　and　he　was　instantly　awake。　He　turned　his　head　a　little；　listening。　He　heard　no　sound　but　the　old　tracker　was　bent　over　him。　〃What　is　it；　Jake？〃
　〃We　got　him；　Ben。　We　got　him　right　where　we　want　him。〃
　Hindeman　sat　up　and　began　drawing　on　his　boots。　His　mouth　was　tasting　frightful　and　his　head　felt　heavy。　His　eyes　told　him　what　time　it　was　after　a　glance　at　the　stars。　He　felt　sticky　and　unpleasant　but　it　was　time　this　was　finished　off。　It　had　taken　too　much　time　already。
　〃The　girl's　been　gettin'　to　him。　Shelf　up　on　the　rock　wall；　must　be　quite　a　bit　of　space　up　there　because　he's　got　his　horse　up　there　with　him。　Hell　be　in'　down　tonight；　I　think。〃
　〃How'd　you　figure　that？〃
　〃Hunch。〃
　Lantz　sat　back；　thinking　about　that。　〃More'n　a　hunch；〃　he　said。　〃Girl　packed　him　a　big　bait　of　grub。　Long　time　up　there；　I　don't　know　how　she　gets　there　or　where　the　place　is；　exactly；　but　I　know　where　he'll　show。〃
　Hindeman　got　up；　stamping　into　his　boots。　Then　he　spoke　sharply　and　heads　lifted。　At　his　orders　they　began　quickly　to　dress。　There　was　some　low　grumbling；　none　of　it　serious。　Just　the　automatic　grumbling　of　tired　men　awakened　from　a　quiet　sleep。　Yet　all　were　glad　to　be　called。　They　wanted　it　to　be　over　with。　The　hunt　had　begun　in　a　burst　of　passion。　With　most　of　them　that　was　gone　now　and　the　hunt　continued　out　of　duty　and　their　natural　reluctance　to　admit　themselves　defeated。
　〃The　two　men　up　the　canyon；〃　Lantz　said。　〃I　woke　them　up。　If　he　es　that　way；　they'll　take　him。　There's　two　men　down　canyon　below　the　Mexicans'　place。　He's　in　the　bottle　and　we've　got　the　thing　stoppered。〃
　Jack　Sutton　pulled　on　his　boots　and　stood　up。　He　was　unshaved　and　his　jaws　itched　under　the　stubble。　He　felt　unbathed　and　dirty　and　he　was　a　man　who　liked　to　be　clean。
　So　the　girl　had　known　after　all？　How　many　times　had　she　been　up　there　with　him？
　〃That　…　！〃　The　words　broke　from　him；　emptying　some　of　the　rankling　bitterness　within　him。
　Lantz　did　not　look　around　and　Ben　Hindeman　merely　picked　up　his　saddle　and　started　toward　the　picketed　horses。　The　other　men　were　belting　on　guns　or　picking　up　their　rifles　and　walking　into　the　night。
　They　moved　out　in　a　tight　bunch；　then　divided。　Jack　Sutton　went　along　with　Ben　Hindeman。　Once　the　rest　of　them　were　gone；　he'd　take　care　of　that　girl。　As　for　Jordan　。。。　Sutton　felt　a　tightness　in　his　throat　。。。　an　ugly　feeling。
　Trace　Jordan　held　up　a　moment　longer　on　the　edge　of　the　slide。　He　felt　the　red　horse　put　out　a　tentative　hoof；　then　draw　back。　〃e　on；　Jed。〃　He　stepped　into　the　leather　as　he　spoke　and　felt　the　horse　lurch　forward；　rocks　sliding　under　his　feet。
　The　horse　scrambled；　slipped　and　fo