lla.thelonelymen-第15章

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！


　We　came　down　off　the　slope；　riding　scattered　out　a　little　until　we　were　channeled　by　a　lane　through　wide　fields　of　planting。
　〃Somebody　watches　us。〃　Rocca　indicated　a　low　tower；　and　we　could　see　sunlight　gleam　on　a　fieldglass　or　telescope。
　Whoever　it　was　must　have　seen　the　children　and　decided　we　could　be　trusted；　because　the　big　wooden　gates　opened；　although　nobody　was　in　sight。　But　as　we　drew　closer　we　could　see　the　black　muzzles　of　the　rifles　that　covered　our　approach。
　We　rode　in　through　the　gates　and　they　closed　behind　us。　At　least　six　vaqueros　were　now　in　sight；　and　standing　on　the　wide　veranda；　a　thin　Cuban　cigar　in　his　teeth；　was　a　tall　old　man　with　white　hair　and　an　erect；　proud　figure。
　He　came　down　two　steps　to　greet　us；　his　sharp　eyes　taking　us　in　with　quick　intelligence。　I　think　he　knew　our　story　before　I　spoke；　for　the　hard…ridden　horses；　and　the　children；　one　of　them　dressed　like　an　Apache　boy；　told　it。
　〃Buenos　dias；　se？ores；〃　he　said；　and　then　added　in　English；　〃My　house　is　yours。〃
　〃You　may　not　wish　us　to　stay；　se？or；〃　I　said。　〃We　have　taken　these　children　from　the　Apaches；　and　they　will　be　looking　for　us。〃
　〃They　have　visited　us　before；　and　with　less　reason。　You　are　my　guests；　gentlemen。　I　am　Don　Louis　Cis…neros。〃
　〃I　am　Tell　Sackett；〃　I　said；　and　introduced　the　others。
　He　greeted　them　and　then　turned　his　eyes　to　me。　〃Yours　is　a　familiar　name；〃　he　said。　〃There　was　a　Sackett　who　married　the　granddaughter　of　an　old　friend。〃
　〃That　would　be　my　younger　brother；　Tyrel。　He　married　into　the　Alvarado　family。〃
　〃e　in；〃　he　said；　and　as　we　walked　into　the　dim　coolness　of　the　interior；　he　added；　〃We　are　old　friends；　my　family　and　the　Alvarados。　I　have　heard　much　of　your　family；　amigo。　Your　brother　stood　between　Alvarado　and　his　enemies。〃
　Hours　later；　when　we　had　bathed　and　eaten　a　good　dinner　at　his　table；　we　sat　about　smoking　the　Don's　Cuban　cigars。　I　was　never　much　of　a　hand　to　smoke；　but　did　from　time　to　time；　and　this　was　one　time　I　joined　in。
　Dorset　and　the　children　had　gone　off　with　the　Don's　daughters；　and　the　boys　and　me　we　stayed　with　our　host。
　〃You　have　a　dangerous　road　before　you。　I　can　let　you　have　a　dozen　riders；〃　he　said。
　〃No。　You　may　need　them。　We've　e　this　far；　and　we'll　ride　on。〃　Sitting　back　in　the　big　cowhide　chair；　I　told　him　the　whole　story；　and　he　listened　without　ment。　At　the　end　he　said　nothing　for　several　minutes。　〃I　have　news　of　your　family。　I　wish　you　could　have　known　it　sooner。　The　woman　you　speak　of　was　married　to　your　brother　Orrin；　but　they　have　separated。　She　was　the　daughter　of　Jonathan　Pritts；　the　man　who　led　the　men　who　tried　to　seize　the　Alvarado　Grant。　It　was　your　brother　Tyrel　who　led　the　fight　that　defeated　him；　and　when　Orrin　found　his　wife　was　involved；　he　left　her。　She　has　hatred　for　all　who　bear　the　name　of　Sackett。　You　were　to　be　killed；　amigo。〃
　It　seemed　unreasonable　that　a　woman　would　go　to　such　lengths　to　get　a　man　killed；　a　man　who　had　done　her　no　harm；　but　it　all　tied　up　into　a　neat　package。　And　there　wasn't　much　I　could　do　about　it。　Maybe　the　best　way　to　get　even　would　be　just　to　get　back　alive；　so　all　her　plotting　would　e　to　nothing。
　In　the　quiet　of　the　lovely　old　hacienda；　all　that　lay　outside　seemed　far　away；　not　something　that　lurked　just　beyond　the　adobe　walls。　But　deep　in　our　hearts　not　one　of　us　thought　himself　free　of　what　was　to　e。
　The　miles　of　the　desert　that　lay　between　us　and　the　relative　safety　of　Tucson　could　be　nightmare　miles。　They　were　ever…present　in　our　minds；　but　they　were　a　fact　of　our　lives　to　be　taken　in　stride。
　Old　Don　Luis　talked　quietly　and　easily　of　the　problems　of　living　among　the　Apaches。　As　Pete　Kitchen　had　survived　north　of　the　border；　so　had　he　survived　south　of　it。　He　had　his　own　small　army　of　tough；　seasoned　vaqueros；　fighters　every　one　of　them。
　As　he　talked　he　glanced　over　at　Rocca。　〃If　you　ever　want　a　job；　se？or；〃he　said；　〃e　to　me　here。　There　is　a　place　for　you。　I　have　two　vaqueros　here　who　grew　up　with　the　Apaches。〃
　〃It　is　a　good　place；〃　Rocca　said。　〃It　may　be　that　one　day　I　shall　e　riding　here。〃
　Long　after　the　others　had　turned　in；　I　sat　in　the　quiet　of　the　old　Don's　study　and　talked　with　him。　The　walls　of　the　room　were　lined　with　shelves　of　leather…bound　books；　more　than　I　had　ever　seen；　and　he　talked　of　them　and　of　what　they　had　told　him；　and　of　what　they　meant　to　him。
　〃These　are　my　world；〃　he　said。　〃Had　I　been　born　in　another　time　or　to　another　way　of　life　I　should　have　been　a　scholar。　My　father　had　this　place　and　he　needed　sons　to　carry　on；　so　I　came　back　from　Spain　to　this　place。　It　has　been　good　to　me。　I　have　seen　my　crops　grow　and　my　herds　increase；　and　if　I　have　not　written　words　upon　paper　as　I　should　like　to　have　done；　I　have　written　large　upon　the　page　of　life　that　was　left　open　for　me。
　〃There　is　tonic　in　this。〃　He　gestured　toward　the　out…of…doors。　〃I　have　used　the　plow　and　the　Winchester　instead　of　the　pen　and　the　inkstand。　There　is　tonic　in　the　riding；　in　the　living　dangerously；　in　the　building　of　something。
　〃I　know　how　the　Apache　feels。　He　loves　his　land　as　I　do；　and　now　he　sees　another　way　of　life　supplanting　his。　The　wise　ones　know　they　can　neither　win　nor　last；　but　it　is　not　we　who　destroy　them；　but　the　times。
　〃All　things　change。　One　species　gives　way　to　another　better　equipped　to　survive。　Their　world　is　going；　but　they　brought　destruction　to　another　when　they　came；　and　just　so　will　we　one　day　be　forced　out　by　others　who　will　e。　It　is　the　way　of　the　world；　the　one　thing　we　know　is　that　all　things　change。
　〃Each　of　us　in　his　own　way　wars　against　change。　Even　those　who　fancy　themselves　the　most　progressive　will　fight　against　other　kinds　of　progress；　for　each　of　us　is　convinced　that　our　way　is　the　best　way。
　〃I　have　lived　well　here。　I　should　like　to　see　this　last　because　I　have　built　it　strong　and　made　it　good；　but　I　know　it　will　not。　Even　my　books　may　not　last；　but　the　ideas　will　endure。　It　is　easy　to　destroy　a　book；　but　an　idea　once　implanted　has　roots　no　man　can　utterly　destroy。〃
　He　paused　and　looked　at　me。　〃You　are　bored　with　an　old　man　talking。〃
　〃No；　sir。　I　am　learning。　We　are　a　people　who　have　hungered　after　learning；　Don　Luis；　and　who　have　had　too　little　of　it。　I　mean　we　Sacketts。　Our　mountain　lands　had　thin　soil；　and　they　gave　us　nothing　more　than　just　a　living　until　we　came　west。〃
　I　looked　at　him　and　felt　ashamed。　〃I　can　barely　read；　sir。　It　is　a　struggle　to　make　out　the　words；　and　what　they　mean。　Some　I　hunt　down　like　a　coyote　after　a　rabbit。　I　look　at　those　books　with　longing；　sir；　and　think　of　all　the　things　they　might　say　to　me。〃
　I　got　up；　for　of　a　sudden　there　was　a　heavy　weariness　upon　me。　〃My　books　have　been　the　mountains；〃　I　said。　〃The　desert；　the　forest；　and　the　wide　places　where　the　grass　grows。　I　must　learn　what　I　can　from　the　reading　I　can　do。〃
　Don　Luis　got　up　also；　holding　out　his　hand。　〃Each　of　us　must　find　wisdom　in　his　own　way。　Mine　is　one　way；　yours　another。　Perhaps　we　each　need　more　of　what　the　other　knows。。。。　Good　night；　se？or。〃
　When　I　went　outside　I　walked　through　the　gate　to　smell　the　wind；　to　test　the　night。　By　the　wall　near　me　a　cigarette　glowed；　cupped　in　a　hand。　〃How　goes　the　watch？〃　I　asked　in　Spanish。
　〃Well；　se？or。〃He　held　the　cigarette　behind　the　wall　in　the　darkness。　He　bowed　his　head　and　drew　deep；　the　small　red　fire　glowed　and　faded　again。　〃We　are　not　alone；　se？or。　Your　friends　and　ours；　they　are　out　there　。。。　waiting。〃
　So　they　had　caught　up　with　us。　Now　there　would　be　hell　to　pay　in　Sonora。
　Turning　on　my　heel；　I　went　back　into　the　house。　The　old　Don　was　just　leaving　his　study。
　〃You　have　many　horses？〃　I　asked。
　〃All　you　need；〃　he　assured　me。
　〃Can　you　give　us　three　apiece？　I　can't　pay　you　now；　but　…　〃
　〃Do　not　speak　of　pay；〃　he　interrupted。　〃Your　brother　is　the　husband　of　my　old　friend's　granddaughter。　You　may　have　the　horses。〃　He　looked　closely　at　me。　〃What　will　you　do？〃
　〃Your　vaquero　says　they　are　waiting　out　there　now。　I　think　he　is　right。　And　so　I　think　we　will　take　our　chances　and　run　for　it。　We'll　switch　horses　without　stopping　。。。　maybe　we　can　outdistance　them。〃
　Don　Luis　Gsneros　shrugged。　〃You　might；〃　he　said。　〃I　will　have　the　horses　ready　at　daybreak。〃
　〃An　hour　before；〃　I　said。　〃And　gracias。〃
　
　Chapter　12
　
　The　horses　were　ready　and　we　were　mounted；　the　children　with　us。　The　Don's　men　were　posted　on　the　walls　to　cover　our　going。　My　horse　was　restive；　eager　to　be　away；　but　I　glanced　around　at　Dorset。　In　the　vague　light　her　face　seemed　pale；　her　eyes　unusually　large。　I　suspected　mine　were　the　same。
　〃The　tall　pine　yonder；〃　I　said；　and　pointed　in　the　direction。　〃Ride　for　it；　ride　hard。　They　will　be　close　around；　with　their　horses　well　back　from　where。they　wait。　With　luck；　we　can　ride　through　them　and　be　away　before　they　can　get　off　more　than　a　shot　or　two。〃
　Sixteen　men　were　on　the　walls；　rifles　ready　for　firing。　Other　men　stood　by　the　gates；　prepared　to　swing　them　open。
　Don　Luis　walked　over　to　me　and　held　up　his　hand；　and　I　took　it。　〃Vaya　con　dios；　amigo；〃he　said　gravely；　and　then　he　lifted　a　hand　to　the　men　at　the　gates　and　they　swung　them　wide。
　We　went　through　the　gates　with　a　rush　at　the　same　instant　as　all　sixteen　men　fired。　Some　had　targets　chosen；　having　spotted　lurking　Apaches；　others　fired　at　bits　of　likely　cover。
　We　hit　the　trail　running；　with　Spanish　Murphy　and　myself　in　the　lead。　I　saw　the　dark　form　of　an　Apache　rise　up　almost　directly　before　me　and　chopped　down　to　fire　with　my　pistol；　but　the　horse　struck　him　and　knocked　him　rolling。　A　hoof　spurned　his　body；　and　then　we　were　past　and　running；　with　the　vaqueros　on　the　wall　picking　targets　from　those　we　drove　from　hiding。
　The　tall　pine　was　a　mile　off；　and　we　rode　directly　for　it　through　the　half…light　of　the　early　dawn。　We　covered　that　mile　at　a　dead　run；　slowing　to　a　trot　as　we　neared　the　tree。　I　glanced　around　swiftly。
　〃How　is　it？　Are　we　all　here？〃　I　asked。
　〃I　was　the　last　one；〃　Battles　said。　〃We　all　made　it。〃
　〃Anybody　hurt？〃
　〃They　burned　my　shoulder；〃　Rocca　said。　〃It　is　nothing。〃
　So　I　led　them　away　at　a　fast　trot　for　a　little　way；　then　I　ran　the　horses　again　for　a　good　half…mile；　slowed　to　a　trot　and　then　a　walk；　then　ran　them　again。
　At　noon　we　drew　up　at　a　small　seep　that　came　from　the　base　of　a　grass…covered　dune。　We　watered　our　horses；　exchanged　saddles　to　fresh　horses；　and　pushed　on。
　We　kept　a　good　pace；　riding　wide　of　any　places　of　ambush；　and　watching　for　dust　clouds。　There　were　bandits　as　well　as　Indians　to　be　feared；　and　there　were　soldiers；　too；　who　might　resent　our　being　here。　All　this　while　the　children　did　not　cry；　they　did　not　once　call　out。　The　Apaches　had　taught　them　that；　if　nothing　more。
　At　midafternoon　we　rode　into　a　deserted　village。　The　ruins　of　a　large　adobe　still　stood；　and　a　half…pleted　church。　There　was　water　running　in　an　irrigation　ditch。
　In　a　corner　of　one　of　the　houses　was　a　skeleton；　still　half…clothed；　of　a　Mexican　who　had　died　fighting。　The　left　arm　of　the　skeleton　showed　a　break　that　had　mended　badly；　leaving　the　arm　shorter　and　crooked。
　Tampico　looked　at　it　then　at　the　dried　leather　of　the　holster　on　which　an　initial　had　been　carved。　It　was　a　large　B。
　〃So　this　is　where　it　happened；　Benito；〃　he　said；　and　then　glancing　around