p&c.thunderhead-第45章

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e　ridge。　
　〃Yes；〃　she　replied。　〃Swire　wasn't　seeing　things。　Somebody　did　e　up　here　on　horseback。〃　
　She　took　a　deep　breath；　then　another。　And　then　she　began　carefully　down　the　ridge；　leading　Arbuckles。　The　horse　balked　at　the　lip　of　the　trail；　and　after　some　firm　coaxing　Nora　got　him　to　take　one　step；　and　then　another。　Smithback　followed；　leading　pa？ero。　Nora　could　hear　the　horse　snorting；　the　scrape　of　bare　hoof　on　stone。　She　kept　her　eyes　firmly　fixed　on　the　trail　ahead；　breathing　regularly；　trying　to　keep　them　from　straying　over　the　edge　into　the　infinite　space　below。　Once；　instinctively；　she　looked　over：　there　was　the　dry　valley　below；　the　strange　rock　formations　like　tiny　piles　of　pebbles；　the　stunted　junipers　mere　black　dots。　Arbuckles's　legs　were　shaking；　but　he　kept　his　head　down；　nose　to　the　ground；　and　they　inched　their　way　down。　Having　been　up　the　trail　before；　Nora　was　now　aware　of　the　most　difficult　spots；　and　worked　to　guide　her　horse　past　them　when　it　was　most　necessary。　
　Just　before　the　second　switchback；　Nora　heard　Arbuckles's　hooves　skid；　and　in　a　panic　she　dropped　the　lead　rope；　but　after　a　brief　scrabble　the　horse　stopped；　shaking。　Clearly；　the　unshod　hooves　had　better　purchase　on　the　trail。　As　she　bent　down　to　pick　up　the　rope；　two　crows；　riding　air　currents　up　the　face　of　the　cliff；　hovered　past　them。　They　were　so　close；　Nora　could　see　their　beady　eyes　swiveling　around　to　look　at　them。　One　let　fly　a　loud　croak　of　displeasure　as　he　passed　by。　
　After　twenty　more　heart…stopping　minutes；　Nora　found　herself　at　the　bottom　of　the　trail。　Turning；　she　saw　Smithback　make　the　last　pitch　to　the　bottom。　She　was　so　relieved　she　almost　felt　like　hugging　him。　
　Then　the　wind　shifted；　and　a　terrible　stench　reached　her　nostrils：　the　three　dead　horses；　lying　perhaps　fifty　yards　away；　draped　over　some　broken　boulders。　
　Whoever　had　e　this　way　would　no　doubt　have　inspected　those　horses。　
　Giving　Arbuckles's　reins　to　Smithback；　she　walked　in　the　direction　of　the　dead　horses；　fighting　rising　feelings　of　horror　and　guilt。　The　animals　lay　widely　scattered；　their　bellies　burst　open；　their　guts　thrown　across　the　rocks。　And　there；　too；　were　the　tracks　she　was　seeking：　the　tracks　of　the　unshod　horse。　To　her　surprise；　she　saw　the　tracks　had　not　e　up　from　the　south；　as　their　expedition　had；　but　led　instead　from　the　north：　in　the　direction　of　the　tiny　Indian　village　of　Nankoweap；　many　days'　ride　away。　
　〃The　trail　goes　north；〃　she　said　to　Smithback；　indicating　for　him　to　dismount。　
　〃I'm　impressed；〃　the　writer　replied　as　he　slipped　to　the　ground。　〃And　what　else　can　you　tell　about　the　trail？　Was　it　a　stallion　or　a　mare？　Was　it　a　pinto　or　a　palomino？〃　
　Nora　pulled　the　horseshoes　from　a　saddlebag　and　knelt　beside　Arbuckles。　〃I　can　tell　it　was　probably　an　Indian's　horse。〃　
　〃How　in　the　hell　can　you　tell　that？〃　
　〃Because　Indians　tend　to　ride　unshod　horses。　Anglos；　on　the　other　hand；　shoe　their　horses　from　the　moment　they　start　them　under　saddle。〃　She　fitted　the　shoes　to　Arbuckles's　hooves；　tapped　the　nails　through；　then　carefully　clinched　them　down。　Swire's　horses；　their　hooves　soft　from　years　of　wearing　horseshoes；　could　not　be　left　shoeless　a　moment　longer　than　necessary。　
　Smithback　pulled　out　the　gun　Swire　had　given　him；　checked　it；　then　replaced　it　in　his　jacket。　〃And　was　there　somebody　on　that　horse？〃　
　〃I'm　not　that　good　a　tracker。　But　I　sure　don't　think　Roscoe's　the　type　to　be　seeing　things。〃　
　Nora　fitted　the　shoes　onto　Smithback's　horse。　Then；　leading　Arbuckles　by　the　guide　rope；　she　began　following　the　single　track；　which　showed　two　sets　of　prints：　one　going；　the　other　ing。　Although　the　wind　had　scoured　small　sections　away；　the　trail　was　clearly　visible　as　it　wound　north　through　the　scattered　clumps　of　Mormon　tea　bushes。　For　a　while；　it　ran　along　the　base　of　the　hogback　ridge；　and　then　it　veered　away；　into　a　series　of　parallel　defiles　hemmed　in　by　low　ridges　of　a　black　volcanic　rock。　
　〃Where'd　you　learn　to　track；　anyway？〃　Smithback　asked。　〃I　didn't　know　the　Lone　Ranger　was　still　on　the　lecture　circuit。〃　
　Nora　shot　him　an　irritated　glance。　〃Is　this　for　your　book？〃　
　Smithback　looked　back　in　ical　surprise；　his　long　face　drooping。　〃No。　Well；　yes；　I　suppose。　Everything　is　fair　game。　But　mostly　I'm　just　curious。〃　
　Nora　sighed。　〃You　Easterners　think　tracking　is　some　kind　of　art；　or　maybe　some　instinctive　ethnic　skill。　But　unless　you're　tracking　across　rock；　buffalo　grass；　or　lava；　it's　not　all　that　difficult。　Just　follow　the　footprints　in　the　sand。〃　
　She　continued　northward；　Smithback's　voice　vexing　her　concentration。　〃I　can't　get　over　how　remote　this　land　is；〃　he　was　saying。　〃When　I　first　got　here；　I　couldn't　believe　how　ugly　and　barren　it　all　was；　not　at　all　like　the　Verde　Valley　where　I　went　to　school。　But　there's　something　almost　forting　in　its　spareness；　if　you　think　about　it。　Something　clean　in　the　emptiness。　Sort　of　like　a　Japanese　tea　room　in　that　way。　I've　been　studying　the　tea　ceremony　a　lot　this　last　year；　ever　since…〃　
　〃Say；　do　you　think　you　could　hobble　that　lip？〃　Nora　interrupted　in　exasperation。　〃You　could　talk　Jesus　out　of　going　to　heaven。〃　
　There　was　a　long　moment　of　blissful　silence。　Then　Smithback　spoke　again。　〃Nora；〃　he　asked　quietly；　〃what　is　it；　exactly；　you　don't　like　about　me？〃　
　Nora　stopped　at　this；　turning　toward　him　in　surprise。　The　writer　wore　a　serious　expression；　one　of　the　few　she　remembered　seeing　on　his　face。　He　stood；　silently；　in　the　shadow　of　pa？ero。　The　cowboy　clothes；　which　had　seemed　so　ridiculous　a　week　before；　had　now　bee　a　real　working　outfit；　creased　and　dusty；　well　suited　to　his　long　frame。　The　pasty　plexion　was　gone；　replaced　by　a　ruddy　tan　that　matched　his　brown　hair。　She　realized；　with　a　small　shock；　that　this　was　the　first　time　she　had　heard　him　call　her　by　name　instead　of　the　odious　〃Madame　Chairman。〃　And　although　she　couldn't　analyze　it…and　didn't　have　the　time；　even　if　she　felt　inclined　to　do　so…a　part　of　her　was　pleased　to　think　Smithback　was　concerned　about　how　she　felt　about　him。　
　Nora　opened　her　mouth　to　reply：　You　mean；　other　than　the　fact　that　you're　a　brash；　smug　guy　with　an　ego　the　size　of　Texas？　But　she　stopped　and　turned　away；　realizing　this　wasn't　fair　to　Smithback。　For　all　his　eccentric　ways；　she　had　grown　fond　of　the　journalist。　Now　that　she　knew　him　better；　she　realized　his　ego　was　tempered　by　a　certain　self…deprecation　that　was　charming　in　its　own　way。　〃I　didn't　mean　to　snap　at　you　just　now；〃　she　said。　〃And　I　don't　dislike　you。　You　almost　screwed　up　everything；　that's　all。〃　
　〃I　did　what？〃　
　Nora　decided　not　to　answer。　It　was　too　hot；　and　she　was　too　tired；　for　this　kind　of　discussion。　
　They　moved　on　slowly　as　the　sun　climbed　toward　noon。　Though　the　trail　was　relatively　easy　to　follow；　tracking　by　eye　was　still　exhausting　work。　The　hoofprints　took　them　through　a　weird　country　of　broken　rocks；　knobs；　and　humps　of　sandstone。　The　prints　appeared　to　be　following　a　faint　and　very　old　trail。　On　horseback　now；　Nora　kept　them　moving　as　quickly　as　she　could　without　losing　the　track。　The　midday　sun　beat　down　relentlessly；　burning　off　the　glaring　white　sand；　flattening　and　draining　all　the　color　from　the　landscape。　There　was　no　sign　of　water　anywhere。　And　then；　unexpectedly；　they　passed　through　a　lush　valley；　full　of　grass…covered　sand　and　prickly　pear；　sprawling　in　gorgeous　bloom。　
　〃This　is　like　a　garden　of　Eden；〃　Smithback　said　as　they　made　their　way　through　the　brief；　verdant　patch。　〃What's　it　doing　here　in　the　middle　of　the　desert？〃　
　〃Probably　the　result　of　a　heavy　rainfall；〃　Nora　replied。　〃Rain　out　here　isn't　like　it　is　back　in　the　east。　It's　very　localized。　You　can　get　a　huge　downpour　in　one　place；　and　a　mile　away　see　ground　still　parched　and　dry。〃　
　They　made　their　way　out　of　the　lush　valley　and　back　into　the　stony　desert。　〃What　about　lunch？〃　Smithback　asked。　
　〃What　about　it？〃　
　〃Well；　it's　almost　two。　I　like　to　dine　fashionably　late；　but　my　stomach　has　its　limits。〃　
　〃It's　really　that　late？〃　Nora　looked　at　her　watch　in　disbelief；　then　stretched　in　the　saddle。　〃We　must　have　covered　fifteen　miles　from　the　base　of　the　ridge。〃　She　paused　a　moment；　considering。　〃Pretty　soon　we'll　be　crossing　into　Indian　land。　The　Nankoweap　reservation　begins　somewhere　up　ahead。〃　
　〃So　what　does　that　mean？　Any　chance　of　a　Coke　machine？〃　
　〃No；　the　village　is　still　a　two…day　ride　from　here；　and　it　doesn't　have　electricity　in　any　case。　What　I　mean　is；　we'll　be　subject　to　their　laws。　Any　Indians　we　meet　aren't　likely　to　look　too　kindly　on　a　couple　of　outsiders　blundering　in；　accusing　them　of　being　horse　killers。　We　have　to　be　careful　how　we　do　this。〃　
　Smithback　considered　this　a　moment。　〃On　second　thought；　maybe　I'm　not　so　hungry。〃　
　The　faint　trail　seemed　to　go　on　forever；　winding　through　a　senseless　tangle　of　arroyos；　hidden　valleys；　shadowy　ravines；　and　dunefields。　Vaguely；　Nora　guessed　that　by　now　they　had　crossed　into　Indian　country；　but　there　was　no　fence　and；　of　course；　no　sign。　This　was　the　kind　of　land　that　the　white　men　had　given　to　the　Indians　all　over　the　West；　she　knew；　utterly　remote　and　useless　for　just　about　anything。　
　〃So　exactly　how　did　I　screw　things　up？〃　Smithback　asked　suddenly。　
　Nora　twisted　to　look　at　him。　〃Huh？〃　
　〃At　the　bottom　of　the　ridge；　you　said　that　I　almost　screwed　things　up　for　you。　I've　been　thinking　about　that；　and　I　don't　see　what　I've　done　that　you　weren't　already　doing　yourself。〃　
　Nora　urged　Arbuckles　forward。　〃I'm　afraid　that　anything　I　say；　you'll　just　use　in　your　book。〃　
　〃I　won't；　honest。〃　
　Nora　moved　forward　without　speaking。　
　〃Really；　Nora；　I　mean　it。　I　just　want　to　know　what's　going　on　with　you。〃　
　Again；　Nora　felt　a　strange　sense　of　pleasure　from　his　interest。　〃What　do　you　know　about　how　I　discovered　Quivira？〃　she　asked；　returning　her　eyes　to　the　trail。　
　〃I　know　how　Holroyd　helped　you　pinpoint　the　location。　It　was　Dr。　Goddard　who　told　me　your　father　was　the　one　who　originally　discovered　it。　I'd　been　meaning　to　ask　you　more　about　that；　only　。　。　。〃　Smithback's　voice　fell　away。　
　Only　you　knew　I'd　snap　your　head　off；　Nora　thought　with　a　twinge　of　guilt。　〃About　two　weeks　ago；〃　she　began；　〃I　was　attacked　in　my　family's　old　ranch　house　by　a　couple　of　men。　At　least；　I　think　they　were　men；　dressed　up　as　animals。　They　demanded　I　give　them　a　letter。　My　neighbor　chased　them　away　with　her　shotgun。　At　the　time；　I　didn't　know　what　they　were　talking　about。　But　then　I　came　upon　this　letter　my　father　had　written　to　my　mother；　years　and　years　ago。　Somebody　mailed　it；　just　recently。　Who；　or　why；　I　don't　know；　and　I　can't　get　that　out　of　my　head。　Anyway；　in　the　letter；　my　father　said　that　he'd　discovered　Quivira。　He　gave　directions…vague；　but　with　Peter's　help；　enough　to　get　us　here。　I　think　those　stalkers　also　wanted　to　learn　the　location　of　Quivira。　So　they　could　loot　it；　strip　it　of　its　treasures。〃　
　She　paused　and　licked　her　lips；　painfully　dry　in　the　sun。　〃So　I　tried　to　keep　the　expedition　a　secret。　Everything　was　ing　together　just　right。　And　then　you　showed　up　at　the　marina；　notebook　in　one　hand　and　megaphone　in　the　other。〃　
　〃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