osc.am2.redprophet-第26章

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uld　be　let　to　have　its　own　head　and　go　its　own　way。
　　He　had　no　notion　that　he　was　doing　what　doodlebugs　do；　when　they　let　their　bug　go　out　of　their　head　and　travel　on　its　own。　And　anyway　it　wasn't　the　same；　on　account　of　there　wasn't　no　doodlebug　in　the　natural　world　who　ever　tried　to　doodle　while　he　was　running　with　a　thong　around　his　neck。
　　Now；　though；　he　didn't　have　a　speck　of　trouble　getting　into　Measure's　body；　finding　the　sore　places；　the　bleeding　cuts　on　his　feet；　the　ache　in　his　legs；　the　pain　in　his　side。　Healing　the　feet；　toughing　them　up；　callusing　them；　that　was　easy　enough。　For　the　others；　Al　felt　how　Measure's　body　was　craving　for　him　to　breathe　more；　deeper；　faster；　so　Al　got　into　his　lungs　and　cleared　them；　opened　them　into　the　deepest　places。　Now　when　Measure　sucked　in　air；　his　body　got　more　of　a　use　out　of　it；　like　it　could　wring　out　each　rag　of　air　to　get　the　very　last　drop　of　good　out　of　it。　Al　didn't　even　half　understand　what　he　was　doing　　but　he　knowed　it　worked；　cause　the　pain　in　Measure's　body　began　to　ease；　he　didn't　weary　so　much；　he　didn't　gasp　for　breath。
　　As　he　returned　to　himself；　Al　noticed　that　in　the　whole　time　he　was　helping　Measure；　he　didn't　step　on　no　twig　that　broke　or　get　smacked　by　some　snaggy　branch　flipping　back　from　the　Red　in　front　of　him。　Now；　though；　he　was　getting　poked　and　tripped　and　snapped　as　much　as　ever。　He　thought　right　off；　it　was　happening　just　the　same　all　along；　only　I　didn't　hardly　notice　cause　I　wasn't　rightly　paying　attention　to　my　own　skin。　But　even　as　he　decided　that　was　true　and　even　mostly　believed　it；　he　also　realized　that　the　sound　of　the　world　had　changed。　Now　it　was　just　breathing　and　pale…skinned　feet　thumping　on　the　dirt　or　swishing　through　ancient　dead　leaves。　A　bird　sound　now　and　then；　a　fly　buzzing。　Nothing　remarkable；　except　that　Al　could　remember；　just　as　plain　as　anything；　that　until　he　came　back　from　fixing　up　Measure's　body　he　could　hear　something　else；　a　kind　of　music；　a　kind　of　green　music。　Well；　that　didn't　make　no　sense。　There　wasn't　no　way　music　could　have　a　color　to　it；　that　was　plain　crazy。　So　Al　put　that　out　of　his　mind；　just　didn't　think　about　it。　Without　thinking　about　it；　though；　he　was　still　longing　to　hear　it　again。　Hear　it　or　see　it　or　smell　it；　however　it　came　into　him；　he　wanted　it　back　again。
　　And　one　more　little　thing。　Until　he　went　out　of　himself　to　help　Measure；　his　own　body　wasn't　doing　all　that　well；　neither；　in　fact　he　was　near　wore　out。　But　now　he　was　all　right；　his　body　was　doing　fine；　he　was　breathing　deep；　his　legs　and　arms　felt　like　he　could　go　on　forever；　sturdy　in　their　motion　as　trees　were　in　their　stillness。　Now　maybe　that　was　because　in　healing　Measure；　he　also　somehow　healed　himself　　but　he　didn't　rightly　believe　that；　cause　he　always　knew　what　he　did　and　what　he　didn't　do。　No；　to　Al　Junior's　thinking；　his　body　was　doing　better　because　of　something　else。　And　that　something　else；　either　it　was　part　of　the　green　music；　or　it　caused　the　music；　or　they　both　were　caused　by　the　same　thing。　As　near　as　Al　could　figure。
　　Running　along　like　that；　Al　and　Measure　didn't　have　no　chance　to　talk　till　getting　on　nightfall；　when　they　came　to　a　Red　village　on　the　curve　of　a　dark　deep　river。　Ta…Kumsaw　led　them　right　into　the　middle　of　the　village　and　then　walked　off　and　left　them。　The　river　was　just　down　the　slope　from　them；　maybe　a　hundred　yards　of　grassy　ground。
　　〃Think　we　could　make　it　down　to　the　river　without　them　catching　us？〃　whispered　Measure。
　　〃No；〃　said　Al。　〃And　anyways　I　can't　swim。　Pa　never　let　me　near　the　water。〃
　　Then　all　the　Red　women　and　children　e　out　of　the　stick…and…mud　huts　they　lived　in　and　pointed　at　them　two　naked　Whites；　man　and　boy；　and　laughed　and　threw　sods　at　them。　At　first　Al　and　Measure　tried　to　dodge；　but　it　just　made　them　laugh　harder　and　run　around　and　around；　throwing　wet　dirt　from　different　angles；　tying　to　catch　them　in　the　face　or　the　crotch。　Finally　Measure　just　sat　down　on　the　grass；　put　his　face　to　his　knees；　and　let　them　throw　all　they　wanted。　Al　did　the　same。　Finally　somebody　barked　a　few　words　and　the　sod…throwing　stopped。　Al　looked　up　in　time　to　see　Ta…Kumsaw　walking　away；　and　a　couple　of　his　fighting　men　e　out　to　watch　and　make　sure　nothing　else　happened。
　　〃That　was　the　farthest　I　ever　run　in　my　whole　life；〃　said　Measure。
　　〃Me　too；〃　said　Al。
　　〃Right　at　the　start　there　I　thought　I　was　like　to　die；　I　was　so　tired；〃　said　Measure。　〃Then　I　got　my　second　wind。　I　didn't　think　I　had　it　in　me。〃
　　Al　didn't　say　nothing。
　　〃Or　did　you　have　something　to　do　with　that？〃
　　〃Maybe　some；〃　said　Al。
　　〃I　never　know　what　you　can　do；　Alvin。〃
　　〃Me　neither；〃　said　Al；　and　it　was　the　truth。
　　〃When　that　hatchet　e　down　on　my　fingers　I　thought　that　was　the　end　of　my　working　days。〃
　　〃Just　be　glad　they　didn't　try　to　drownd　us。〃
　　〃You　and　water　again；〃　said　Measure。　〃Well　I'm　glad　you　done　what　you　done；　Al。　Though　I　will　say　it　might've　worked　out　better　if　you　hadn't　made　the　chief　slip　like　that　when　he　was　set　to　arm…wrassle　me。〃
　　〃Why　not？〃　said　Al。　〃I　didn't　want　him　to　hurt　you〃
　　〃There's　no　way　you　should　know　it；　Al；　so　don't　blame　yourself。　But　that　kind　of　wrassling　ain't　to　hurt　a　body；　it's　kind　of　a　test。　Of　manliness　and　quickness　and　what　all。　If　he　beat　me；　but　I　put　up　a　fair　fight；　then　I'd　have　his　respect；　and　if　I　beat　him　fair；　why；　there's　respect　in　that；　too。　Armor　told　me　about　it。　They　do　it　all　the　time。〃
　　Alvin　thought　about　this。　〃So　when　I　made　him　fall；　was　that　real　bad？〃
　　〃I　don't　know。　Depends　on　why　they　think　it　happened。　Might　be　they'll　think　it　means　that　God　is　on　my　side　or　something。〃
　　〃Do　they　believe　in　God？〃
　　〃They've　got　a　Prophet；　don't　they？　Just　like　in　the　Bible。　Anyway　I　just　hope　they　don't　think　it　means　I'm　a　coward　and　a　cheater。　Things　won't　go　so　good　for　me　then。〃
　　〃Well　I'll　tell　them　it　was　me　done　it；〃　said　Al。
　　〃Don't　you　dare；〃　said　Measure。　〃The　only　thing　saved　us　was　they　didn't　know　it　was　you　doing　them　changes　on　the　knives　and　hatchets　and　such。　If　they　knowed　it　was　you；　Al；　they　would've　hacked　your　head　open；　mashed　you　flat　and　then　done　what　they　wanted　with　me。　Only　thing　that　saved　you　was　they　didn't　know　what　was　causing　it。〃
　　Then　they　got　to　talking　about　how　worried　Pa　and　Ma　would　be；　speculating　on　how　Ma　would　be　so　mad；　or　maybe　she'd　be　too　worried　to　be　angry　at　Pa；　and　there　must　be　men　out　looking　for　them　by　now　even　if　the　horses　never　came　home；　cause　when　they　didn't　show　up　for　supper　at　the　Peachees　they　wouldn't　waste　a　minute　giving　the　warning。
　　〃They'll　be　talking　about　war　with　the　Reds；〃　said　Measure。　〃I　know　that　much　　there's　plenty　of　folks　from　down　Carthage　way　who　hate　Ta…Kumsaw　already；　from　his　running　off　their　livestock　earlier　this　year。〃
　　〃But　it　was　Ta…Kumsaw　who　saved　us；〃　said　Al。
　　〃Or　that's　how　it　looks；　anyway。　But　I　notice　he　didn't　take　us　home；　or　even　ask　us　where　home　was。　And　how　did　he　happen　to　e　along　right　at　that　very　minute；　if　he　wasn't　part　of　it　himself？　No；　Al；　I　don't　know　what's　going　on；　but　Ta…Kumsaw　didn't　save　us；　or　if　he　did　he　saved　us　for　his　own　reasons；　and　I　don't　know　as　how　I　trust　him　to　do　good　for　us。　For　one　thing；　I　really　ain't　much　for　setting　around　naked　in　the　middle　of　a　Red　village。〃
　　〃Me　neither。　And　I'm　hungry。〃
　　It　wasn't　long；　though；　before　Ta…Kumsaw　himself　came　out　with　a　pot　of　corn　mash。　It　was　almost　funny；　seeing　that　tall　Red　man；　who　carried　himself　like　a　king；　toting　a　pot　like　one　of　the　Red　women。　But　after　that　first　surprise；　Al　realized　that　when　Ta…Kumsaw　did　it；　pot…toting　looked　downright　noble。
　　He　set　down　the　pot　in　front　of　Al　and　Measure；　and　then　took　a　couple　of　strips　of　Red…weave　cloth　from　around　his　neck。　〃Wrap　up；〃　he　said；　and　handed　each　of　them　a　strip。　Neither　one　of　them　knowed　the　first　thing　about　tying　on　a　loincloth；　beginning　with　the　fact　that　Ta…Kumsaw　was　still　holding　the　deerskin　belts　that　were　supposed　to　hold　them　on。　Ta…Kumsaw　laughed　at　how　confused　they　were；　and　then　made　Al　stand　up。　He　dressed　Al　himself；　and　that　showed　Measure　how　it　was　done　so　he　could　cover　himself；　too。　It　wasn't　like　proper　clothes；　but　it　was　sure　better　than　being　buck　naked。
　　Then　Ta…Kumsaw　sat　down　on　the　grass；　the　pot　between　him　and　them；　and　showed　them　how　to　eat　the　mash　dipping　in　his　hand；　pulling　out　a　tepid；　jelly…thick　glop　of　it　and　smacking　it　into　his　open　mouth。　Tasted　so　bland　that　Alvin　like　to　gagged　on　it。　Measure　saw　it；　and　said；　〃Eat。〃　So　Alvin　ate；　and　once　he　got　some　swallowed　he　could　feel　how　much　his　belly　wanted　more；　even　though　it　still　took　real　persuasion　to　get　his　throat　to　take　on　the　job　of　transportation。
　　When　they　had　the　pot　cleaned　right　down　to　the　bottom；　Ta…Kumsaw　set　it　aside。　He　looked　at　Measure　for　a　while。　〃How　did　you　make　me　fall　down；　White　coward？〃　he　said。
　　Al　was　all　for　speaking　up　right　then；　but　Measure　answered　too　quick　and　loud。　〃I　ain't　no　coward；　Chief　Ta…Kumsaw；　and　if　you　wrassle　me　now　it'll　be　fair　and　square。〃
　　Ta…Kumsaw　smiled　grimly。　〃So　you　can　make　me　fall　down　with　all　these　women　and　children　watching？〃
　　〃It　was　me；〃　said　Alvin。
　　Ta…Kumsaw　turned　his　head；　slowly；　the　smile　not　leaving　his　face…but　not　so　grim　now；　neither。　〃Very　small　boy；〃　he　said。　〃Very　worthless　child。　You　can　make　the　ground　loose　under　my　feet？〃
　　〃I　just　got　a　knack；〃　said　Alvin。　〃I　didn't　know　you　weren't　aiming　to　hurt　him。〃
　　〃I　saw　a　hatchet；〃　said　Ta…Kumsaw。　〃Finger…marks　like　this。〃　He　waved　his　finger　to　show　the　kind　of　pattern　Measure's　fingers　had　left　in　the　blade　of　the　hatchet。　〃You　did　that？〃
　　〃It　ain't　right　to　cut　a　man's　fingers　off。〃
　　Ta…Kumsaw　laughed　out　loud。　〃Very　good！〃　Then　he　leaned　in　close。　〃White　men's　knacks；　they　make　noise；　very　much　noise。　But　you；　what　you　do　is　so　quiet　nobody　sees　it。〃
　　Al　didn't　know　what　he　was　talking　about。
　　In　the　silence；　Measure　spoke　up　bold　as　you　please。　〃What　you　plan　to　do　with　us；　Chief　Ta…Kumsaw？〃
　　〃Tomorrow　we　run　again；〃　he　said。
　　〃Well　why　don't　you　think　about　letting　us　run　toward　home？　There's　got　to　be　a　hundred　of　out　neighbors　out　now；　mad　as　hornets。　There's　going　to　be　a　lot　of　trouble　if　you　don't　let　us　go　home。〃
　　Ta…Kumsaw　shook　his　head。　〃My　brother　wants　you。〃
　　Measure　looked　at　Alvin；　then　back　at　Ta…Kumsaw。　〃You　mean　the　Prophet？〃
　　〃Tenskwa…Tawa；〃　said　Ta…Kumsaw。
　　Measure　looked　plain　sick。　〃You　mean　after　he　built　up　his　Prophetstown　for　four　years；　nobody　causing　him　a　lick　of　trouble；　White　man　and　Red　man　getting　along　real　good；　now　he　goes　around　taking　Whites　captive　and　torturing　them　and〃
　　Ta…Kumsaw　clapped　his　hands　once；　loudly。　Measure　fell　silent。　〃Chok…Taw　took　you！　Chok…Taw　tried　to　kill　you！　My　people　don't　kill　except　to　defend　our　land　and　our　families　from　Wbite　thieves　and　murderers。　And　Tenskwa…Tawa's　people；　they　don't　kill　at　all。〃
　　That　was　the　first　Al　ever　heard　of　there　being　a　split　between　Ta…Kumsaw's　people　and　the　Prophet's　people。
　　〃Then　how'd　you　know　where　we　were？〃　demanded　Measure。　〃How'd　you　know　how　to　find　us？〃
　　〃Tenskwa…Tawa　saw　you；〃　said　Ta…Kumsaw。　〃Told　me