p&c.thunderhead-第47章

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sand　square　miles　and　not　see　a　single　light。〃　
　The　sun　was　beginning　to　set；　and　the　strange；　plicated　bowl　of　landscape　was　turning　into　a　pointillist　surface　of　gold；　purple；　and　yellow。　Nora　glanced　in　Beiyoodzin's　direction。　Though　he　had　never　actually　denied　it；　somehow　she　felt　certain　he　was　not　the　one　they　were　searching　for。　
　〃Can　you　help　us　find　out　who　killed　our　horses？〃　she　asked　him。　
　Beiyoodzin　glanced　at　her　intently。　〃I　don't　know；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃What　kind　of　survey　you　doing？〃　
　Nora　hesitated；　uncertain　if　this　was　a　change　of　subject　or　the　beginning　of　some　revelation。　Even　if　he　hadn't　killed　the　horses　himself；　perhaps　he　knew　who　had。　She　took　a　deep　breath；　confused　and　tired。　〃It's　kind　of　confidential；〃　she　said。　〃Would　it　be　all　right　if　I　didn't　tell　you　right　now？〃　
　〃It's　in　Chilbah　Valley？〃　
　〃Not　exactly；〃　said　Nora。　
　〃My　village；〃　he　said；　gesturing　northward；　〃is　that　way。　Nankoweap。　It　means　'Flowers　beside　the　Water　Pools'　in　our　language。　I　e　out　here　every　summer　to　camp　for　a　week　or　two。　The　grass　is　good；　plenty　of　firewood；　and　there's　a　good　spring　down　below。〃　
　〃You　don't　get　lonely？〃　Smithback　asked。　
　〃No；〃　he　said　simply。　
　〃Why？〃　
　Beiyoodzin　seemed　a　little　taken　aback　by　his　directness。　He　gave　Smithback　a　curiously　penetrating　look。　〃I　e　here；〃　he　said　slowly；　〃to　bee　a　human　being　again。〃　
　〃What　about　the　rest　of　the　year？〃　Smithback　asked。　
　〃I'm　sorry；〃　Nora　jumped　in。　〃He's　a　journalist。　He　always　asks　too　many　questions。〃　She　knew　that　in　most　Native　American　cultures　it　was　rude　to　show　curiosity　and　ask　direct　questions。　
　Beiyoodzin；　however；　merely　laughed　again。　〃It's　all　right。　I'm　just　surprised　he　doesn't　have　a　tape　recorder　or　a　camera。　Most　white　people　carry　them。　Anyway；　I　herd　sheep　most　of　the　time；　and　I　do　ceremonies。　Healing　ceremonies。〃　
　〃You're　a　medicine　man？〃　Smithback　asked；　unchecked。　
　〃Traditional　healer。〃　
　〃What　kind　of　ceremonies？〃　Smithback　asked。　
　〃I　do　the　Four　Mountain　ceremony。〃　
　〃Really？〃　Smithback　asked　with　obvious　interest。　〃What's　it　for？〃　
　〃It's　a　three…night　ceremony。　Chanting；　sweats；　and　herbal　remedies。　It　cures　sadness；　depression；　and　hopelessness。〃　
　〃And　does　it　work？〃　
　Beiyoodzin　looked　at　the　journalist。　〃Sure　it　works。〃　He　seemed　to　grow　evasive　in　the　wake　of　Smithback's　continued　interest。　〃Of　course；〃　he　went　on；　〃there　are　always　those　even　our　ceremonies　can't　reach。　That's　also　why　I　e　out　here。　Because　of　the　failures。〃　
　〃Some　kind　of　vision　quest？〃　Smithback　asked。　
　Beiyoodzin　waved　his　hand。　〃If　you　call　ing　out　here；　praying；　and　even　fasting　for　a　while；　a　vision　quest；　then　I　suppose　that's　what　it　is。　I　don't　do　it　for　visions；　but　for　spiritual　healing。　To　remind　myself　that　we　don't　need　much　to　be　happy。　That's　all。〃　
　He　shifted；　looking　around。　〃But　you　folks　need　a　place　to　lay　your　bedrolls。〃　
　〃Plenty　of　room　out　here；〃　said　Nora。　
　〃Good；〃　said　Beiyoodzin。　He　leaned　back　and　threw　his　wizened　hands　behind　his　head；　resting　his　back　on　the　rock。　They　watched　as　the　sun　sank　below　the　horizon　and　darkness　came　rolling　over　the　landscape。　The　sky　glowed　with　residual　color；　a　deep　strange　purple　that　faded　to　night。　Beiyoodzin　rolled　a　cigarette；　lit　it；　and　began　puffing　furiously；　holding　it　awkwardly　between　thumb　and　index　finger；　as　if　it　were　the　first　time　he　had　smoked。　
　〃I'm　sorry　to　bring　this　up　again；〃　Nora　said；　〃but　if　you　know　anything　about　who　might　have　killed　our　horses；　I'd　like　to　hear　it。　It's　possible　our　activities　might　have　offended　someone。〃　
　〃Your　activities。〃　The　man　blew　a　cloud　of　smoke　into　the　still　twilight。　〃You　still　haven't　told　me　about　those。〃　
　Nora　thought　for　a　moment。　It　seemed　that　information　was　the　price　of　his　assistance。　Of　course；　there　was　no　guarantee　he　could　help　them。　And　yet　it　was　critical　they　find　out　who　was　behind　the　killings。　〃What　I'm　about　to　say　is　confidential；〃　she　said　slowly。　〃Can　I　count　on　your　discretion？〃　
　〃You　mean；　am　I　going　to　tell　anyone？　Not　if　you　don't　want　me　to。〃　He　flicked　the　cigarette　butt　into　the　fire　and　began　rolling　another。　〃I　have　many　addictions；〃　he　said；　nodding　at　the　cigarette。　〃That's　another　reason　I　e　out　here。〃　
　Nora　looked　at　him。　〃We're　excavating　an　Anasazi　cliff　dwelling。〃　
　It　was　as　if　Beiyoodzin's　movements　were　suddenly；　pletely　arrested；　his　hand　freezing　in　the　act　of　twisting　the　cigarette　ends。　Then　he　was　in　motion　again。　The　pause　was　brief　but　striking。　He　lit　the　cigarette　and　sat　back　again；　saying　nothing。　
　〃It's　a　very　important　city；〃　Nora　continued。　〃It　contains　priceless；　unique　artifacts。　It　would　be　a　huge　tragedy　if　it　were　looted。　We're　afraid　that　these　people　might　want　to　drive　us　away　so　they　can　plunder　the　site。〃　
　〃Plunder　the　site；〃　he　repeated。　〃And　you　will　remove　these　artifacts？　Take　them　to　a　museum？〃　
　〃No；〃　said　Nora。　〃For　now；　we're　going　to　leave　everything　as　is。〃　
　Beiyoodzin　continued　to　smoke　the　cigarette；　but　his　movements　had　bee　studied　and　deliberate；　and　his　eyes　were　opaque。　〃We　never　go　into　Chilbah　Valley；〃　he　said　slowly。　
　〃Why　not？〃　
　Beiyoodzin　held　the　cigarette　in　front　of　his　face；　the　smoke　trickling　between　his　fingers。　He　looked　at　Nora　through　veiled　eyes。　〃How　were　the　horses　killed？〃　he　asked。　
　〃They　were　sliced　open；〃　she　replied。　〃Their　guts　pulled　out　and　arranged　in　spirals。　Sticks　tipped　with　feathers　were　shoved　into　their　eyes。　And　pieces　of　skin　had　been　cut　off。〃　
　The　effect　of　this　on　Beiyoodzin　was　even　more　pronounced。　He　became　agitated；　quickly　dropping　the　cigarette　into　the　fire　and　smoothing　a　hand　across　his　forehead。　〃Skin　cut　off　？　Where？〃　
　〃In　two　places　on　the　breast　and　lower　belly；　and　on　the　forehead。〃　
　The　old　man　said　nothing；　but　Nora　could　see　his　hand　was　shaking；　and　it　frightened　her。　
　〃You　shouldn't　be　in　there；〃　he　said　in　a　low；　urgent　voice。　〃You　should　get　out　immediately。〃　
　〃Why？〃　Nora　asked。　
　〃It's　very　dangerous。〃　He　hesitated　a　moment。　〃There　are　stories　among　the　Nankoweap　about　that　valley；　and　that　other　valley　。　。　。　the　valley　beyond。　You　might　laugh　at　me；　because　most　white　people　don't　believe　in　such　things。　But　what　happened　to　your　horses　is　a　kind　of　witchcraft。　It's　a　terrible　evil。　What　you're　doing；　digging　in　that　city；　is　going　to　kill　you　if　you　don't　get　out；　right　now。　Especially　now　that　。　。　。　they've　found　you。〃　
　〃They？〃　Smithback　asked。　〃Who's　'they'？〃　
　Beiyoodzin's　voice　dropped。　〃The　spotted…clay　witches。　The　skinwalkers。　The　wolfskin　runners。〃　
　In　the　darkness；　Nora's　blood　went　cold。　
　Beside　her；　Smithback　stirred。　〃I'm　sorry；〃　he　spoke　up。　〃You　said　witches？〃　
　There　was　a　faint　tone　in　his　voice　that　the　Indian　picked　up。　He　gazed　at　the　writer；　his　face　indistinct　in　the　growing　darkness。　〃Do　you　believe　in　evil？〃　
　〃Of　course。〃　
　〃No　normal　Nankoweap　person　would　kill　a　horse：　to　us；　horses　are　sacred。　I　don't　know　what　you　call　your　evil　people；　but　we　call　ours　skinwalkers；　wolfskin　runners。　They　have　many　names；　and　many　forms。　They　are　pletely　outside　our　society；　but　they　take　what　is　good　in　our　religion　and　turn　it　upside　down。　Whatever　you　may　think；　Nankoweap　wolfskin　runners　exist。　And　they　are　drawn　to　Chilbah。　Because　the　city　was　a　place　of　sorcery；　cruelty；　witchcraft；　sickness；　and　death。〃　
　But　Nora　barely　heard　this。　Wolfskin　runners。　Her　mind　fled　back　to　the　shadow…knitted　ranch　house：　the　dark　matted　form　that　had　towered　over　her；　the　furred　thing　that　had　kept　pace　with　her　truck　along　the　rutted　dirt　road。　
　〃I　don't　doubt　what　you　say；〃　Smithback　replied。　〃Over　the　last　couple　of　years；　I've　seen　some　pretty　strange　things　myself。　But　where　do　these　skinwalkers　e　from？〃　
　Beiyoodzin　fell　silent；　arms　propped　on　his　knees；　dark　hands　clasped。　He　rolled　another　cigarette；　then　turned　his　gaze　toward　the　ground　and　fell　motionless。　The　silence　grew　as　the　minutes　passed。　Nora　could　hear　the　faint　cropping　sounds　of　the　horse　grazing　in　the　draw。　Then；　eyes　still　fixed　on　the　ground；　cigarette　held　loosely　between　two　fingers；　Beiyoodzin　spoke　again。　
　〃To　bee　a　witch；　you　have　to　kill　someone　you　love。　Someone　close；　brother　or　sister；　mother　or　father。　You　kill　them；　to　get　the　power。　Then；　when　that　person　is　buried；　you　secretly　dig　the　body　up。〃　He　lit　the　cigarette。　〃Then　you　turn　the　life　force　of　that　person　to　evil。〃　
　〃How？〃　Smithback　whispered。　
　〃When　life　is　created；　Wind；　liehei；　the　life　force；　enters　the　body。　Where　the　Wind　enters　the　body；　it　leaves　a　little　eddy；　like　a　ripple　in　water。　It　leaves　these　marks　on　the　tips　of　the　fingers；　toes；　the　back　of　the　head。　The　witch　cuts　these　off　the　corpse。　They　dry　them；　grind　them　up；　make　a　kind　of　powder。　And　they　drill　out　the　skull　behind　and　make　a　disk；　for　throwing　spells。　If　it　is　a　murdered　sister；　the　witch　has　sex　with　the　dead　body。　He　uses　the　fluids　to　make　another　powder。　It's　called　Alchi'bin　lehh　tsal。　Incest　corpse　powder。〃　
　〃Good　God；〃　Smithback　groaned。　
　〃You　go　to　a　remote　spot　at　night。　You　strip　off　your　clothes。　You　cover　your　body　with　spots　of　white　clay；　and　wear　the　jewelry　buried　with　the　dead；　the　silver　and　turquoise。　You　place　wolfskins　or　coyoteskins　on　either　side　of　you。　Then　you　say　certain　lines　of　the　Night　Wind　Chant　backwards。　One　of　those　skins　will　leap　off　the　ground　and　stick　to　you。　And　then　you　have　the　power。〃　
　〃What　is　this　power？〃　Nora　asked。　
　Beiyoodzin　lit　the　cigarette。　The　repeated　hoot　of　an　owl　echoed　mournfully　through　the　endless　canyons。　
　〃Our　people　believe　you　get　the　power　to　move　at　night；　like　the　wind；　but　without　sound。　You　can　bee　invisible。　You　learn　powerful　spells；　spells　to　witch　people　from　a　distance。　And　with　the　corpse　powder；　you　can　kill。　Oh；　can　you　kill。〃　
　〃Kill？〃　Smithback　asked。　〃Witch　people？　How；　exactly？〃　
　〃If　a　skinwalker　can　get　something　from　their　victim's　body…spit；　hair；　a　sweaty　piece　of　clothing…they　place　it　in　the　mouth　of　a　corpse。　With　that；　they　can　cast　a　spell　on　the　person。　Or　on　his　horse；　his　sheep；　his　house；　his　belongings。　They　can　break　his　tools；　make　his　machines　refuse　to　operate。　They　can　make　his　wife　fall　sick；　kill　his　dogs　or　children。〃　
　He　lapsed　into　silence。　The　owl　hooted　again；　closer　now。　
　〃Witch　people　from　a　distance；〃　Smithback　repeated。　〃Move　at　night；　without　sound。〃　He　grunted；　shook　his　head。　
　Beiyoodzin　glanced　at　the　writer　briefly；　his　eyes　luminous　in　the　gathering　darkness；　then　looked　away　again。　
　〃Let　me　tell　you　a　story；〃　Beiyoodzin　said；　after　a　moment's　hesitation。　〃Something　that　happened　to　me　many　years　ago；　when　I　was　a　boy。　It's　a　story　I　haven't　told　for　a　long；　long　time。〃　
　A　hot　red　ember　flashed　out　of　the　dark；　and　Beiyoodzin's　face　was　briefly　lit　crimson　as　he　drew　on　the　cigarette。　
　〃It　was　summer；〃　he　went　on。　〃I　was　helping　my　grandfather　bring　some　sheep　up　to　Escalante。　It　was　a　two…day　trip；　so　we　brought　the　horse　and　wagon。　We　stopped　for　the　night　at　a　place　called　Shadow　Rock。　Built　a　brush　corral　for　the　sheep；　turned　the　horse　out　to　graze；　went　to　sleep。　Around　midnight；　I　woke　up　suddenly。　It　was　pitch　black：　no　moon；　no　stars。　There　was　no　noise。　Some