p&c.thunderhead-第48章

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Around　midnight；　I　woke　up　suddenly。　It　was　pitch　black：　no　moon；　no　stars。　There　was　no　noise。　Something　was　wrong。　I　called　out　to　my　grandfather。　Nothing。　So　I　sat　up；　tossed　twigs　into　the　coals。　As　they　flared　up　I　caught　a　glimpse　of　him。〃　
　Beiyoodzin　took　a　long；　careful　drag　on　the　cigarette。　〃He　was　lying　on　his　back；　eyes　gone。　His　fingertips　were　missing。　His　mouth　had　been　sewed　shut。　Something　had　been　done　to　the　back　of　his　head。〃　The　red　firebrand　of　the　cigarette　tip　wavered　in　the　dark。　〃I　stood　up　and　threw　the　rest　of　the　brush　onto　the　fire。　In　the　light　I　could　see　our　horse　maybe　twenty　feet　away。　He　was　lying　on　the　ground；　guts　mounded　beside　him。　The　sheep　in　the　pen　were　all　dead。　All　this…all　this…without　even　the　sound　of　a　mouse。〃　
　The　pinpoint　of　red　vanished　as　Beiyoodzin　ground　out　the　cigarette。　〃As　the　fire　died　back；　I　saw　something　else；〃　he　continued。　〃A　pair　of　eyes；　red　in　the　flames。　Eyes　in　the　darkness；　but　nothing　else。　They　never　blinked；　they　never　moved。　But　somehow；　I　felt　them　ing　closer。　Then　I　heard　a　low；　puffing　sound。　Dust　hit　my　face；　and　my　eyes　stung。　I　fell　back；　too　scared　even　to　cry　out。　
　〃I　don't　remember　how　I　made　my　way　home。　They　put　me　to　bed　with　a　high　fever。　At　last；　they　put　me　in　a　wagon　and　took　me　to　the　hospital　in　Cedar　City。　The　doctors　there　said　it　was　typhoid；　but　my　family　knew　better。　One　by　one；　they　left　my　bedside。　Except　for　my　grandmother；　I　didn't　see　any　of　my　relatives　for　a　couple　of　days。　But　by　the　time　they　returned　to　the　hospital；　the　worst　of　the　sickness　had　passed。　To　the　surprise　of　the　doctors。〃　
　There　was　a　brief　silence。　〃I　later　learned　where　my　relatives　had　been。　They'd　returned　to　Shadow　Rock；　where　we'd　camped。　They　took　the　village's　best　tracker　with　them。　A　set　of　huge　wolfprints　led　away　from　the　site。　They　followed　the　tracks　to　a　remote　camp　east　of　Nankoweap。　Inside　was　。　。　。　well；　I　guess　you　would　have　to　call　him　a　man。　It　was　noon；　and　he　was　sleeping。　My　relatives　took　no　chances。　They　shot　him　while　he　slept。〃　He　paused。　〃It　took　a　great　many　bullets。〃　
　〃How　did　they　know？〃　Smithback　asked。　
　〃Beside　the　man　was　a　witchcraft　medicine　kit。　There　were　certain　roots；　plants；　and　insects：　taboo　items；　forbidden　items；　used　only　by　skinwalkers。　They　found　corpse　powder。　And　up　in　the　chimney；　they　found　certain　。　。　。　pieces　of　meat；　drying。〃　
　〃But　I　don't　understand　how　。　。　。　　？〃　Smithback's　question　trailed　off　into　the　darkness。　
　〃Who　was　it？〃　Nora　asked。　
　Beiyoodzin　did　not　answer　directly。　But　after　a　moment；　he　turned。　Even　in　the　dark；　Nora　could　feel　the　intensity　of　his　gaze。　
　〃You　said　your　horses　were　cut　in　five　places；　on　the　forehead　and　two　places　on　each　side　of　breast　and　belly；〃　he　said。　〃Do　you　know　what　those　five　places　have　in　mon？〃　
　〃No；〃　Smithback　said。　
　〃Yes；〃　Nora　whispered；　her　mouth　dry　with　sudden　fear。　〃Those　are　the　five　places　where　the　fur　of　a　horse　forms　a　whorl。〃　
　The　light　had　pletely　vanished　from　the　sky；　and　a　huge　dome　of　stars　was　cast　over　their　heads。　Somewhere　in　the　distance；　out　on　the　plain；　a　coyote　began　yipping　and　wailing；　and　was　answered　by　another。　
　〃I　shouldn't　have　told　you　any　of　this；〃　Beiyoodzin　said。　〃No　good　can　e　to　me。　But　maybe　now　you　know　why　you　must　leave　this　place　at　once。〃　
　Nora　took　a　deep　breath。　〃Mr。　Beiyoodzin；　thank　you　for　your　help。　I'd　be　lying　if　I　told　you　I　wasn't　frightened　by　what　you've　said。　It　scares　me　to　death。　But　I'm　running　the　excavation　of　a　ruin　that　my　father　gave　up　his　life　to　find。　I　owe　it　to　him　to　see　it　through。〃　
　This　seemed　to　astonish　Beiyoodzin。　〃Your　father　died　out　here？〃　he　asked。　
　〃Yes；　but　we　never　found　his　body。〃　Something　about　the　way　he　spoke　put　her　on　guard。　〃Do　you　know　something　about　it？〃　
　〃I　know　nothing。〃　Then　the　man　was　abruptly　on　his　feet。　His　agitation　seemed　to　have　increased。　〃But　I'm　sorry　to　hear　about　it。　Please　think　over　what　I've　said。〃　
　〃We're　not　likely　to　forget　it；〃　said　Nora。　
　〃Good。　Now　I　think　I'll　turn　in。　I've　got　to　get　up　early。　So　I'll　say　goodbye　to　you　right　now。　You　can　turn　your　horses　out　to　graze　in　the　draw。　There's　plenty　of　grass　down　by　the　stream。　Tomorrow；　help　yourself　to　breakfast　if　you　like。　I　won't　be　around。〃　
　〃That　won't　be　necessary…〃　Nora　began。　But　the　old　man　was　already　shaking　their　hands。　He　turned　away　and　began　to　busy　himself　with　the　bedroll。　
　〃I　think　we've　been　given　the　brushoff；〃　murmured　Smithback。　They　went　back　to　their　horses；　unsaddled　them；　and　made　a　small　camp　of　their　own　on　the　far　side　of　the　pile　of　rocks。　
　*　*　*
　〃What　a　character；〃　Smithback　muttered　a　little　later　as　he　unrolled　his　bag。　The　horses　had　been　watered　and　were　now　nickering　and　muttering　contentedly；　hobbled　nearby。　〃First　he　spooks　us　with　all　that　talk　about　skinwalkers。　Then　he　suddenly　announces　it's　bedtime。〃　
　〃Yes；〃　Nora　replied。　〃Just　when　the　talk　got　around　to　my　father。〃　She　shook　out　her　own　bedroll。　
　〃He　never　said　what　tribe　he　was　from。〃　
　〃I　think　Nankoweap。　That's　how　the　village　got　its　name。〃　
　〃Some　of　that　witchcraft　stuff　was　pretty　vile。　Do　you　believe　it？〃　
　〃I　believe　in　the　power　of　evil；〃　Nora　said　after　a　moment。　〃But　the　thought　of　wolfskin　runners；　witching　people　with　corpse　powder；　is　tough　to　swallow。　There　are　millions　of　dollars　worth　of　artifacts　at　Quivira。　It　seems　more　likely　that　we're　dealing　with　a　couple　of　people　playing　at　witchcraft　to　frighten　us　away。〃　
　〃Maybe　so；　but　it　seems　like　a　pretty　elaborate　plan。　Dressing　up　in　wolfskins；　cutting　up　horses　。　。　。〃　
　They　both　fell　silent；　and　the　cool　night　air　moved　over　them。　Nora　rubbed　her　arms　in　the　sudden　chill。　She　could　offer　no　explanation　for　what　had　happened　to　her　at　the　ranch　house；　the　matted　form　running　alongside　her　truck。　Or　the　same　dark　figure；　racing　away　from　her　kitchen　door。　Or　the　disappearance　of　Thurber。　
　〃Which　way　is　downwind？〃　Smithback　asked　suddenly。　
　Nora　looked　at　him。　
　〃I　want　to　know　where　to　put　my　boots；〃　he　explained。　In　the　dark；　Nora　thought　she　could　see　a　crooked　smile　on　the　journalist's　face。　
　〃Put　them　at　the　foot　of　your　bedroll　and　point　them　east；〃　she　said。　〃Maybe　they'll　keep　the　rattlers　away。〃　
　She　pulled　off　her　own　boots　with　a　sigh；　lay　down；　and　pulled　the　bag　up　around　her　dusty　clothes。　A　half…moon　had　begun　to　rise；　veiled　by　tatters　of　cloud。　A　few　yards　away；　she　could　hear　Smithback　grunting　as　he　flounced　around；　making　preparations　for　sleep。　In　the　calm　darkness；　the　thought　of　skinwalkers　and　witches　fell　away　under　the　weight　of　her　weariness。　
　〃It's　strange；〃　Smithback　said。　〃But　something　is　definitely　rotten　in　the　State　of　Denmark。〃　
　〃What；　your　shoes？〃　
　〃Very　funny。　Our　host；　I　mean。　He's　hiding　something。　But　I　don't　think　it　has　to　do　with　the　horses。〃　
　From　far　overhead　came　the　sound　of　a　jet。　Idly；　Nora　located　its　faint；　blinking　light；　crawling　across　the　velvety　blackness。　As　if　reading　her　mind；　Smithback　spoke：　〃There's　some　guy；〃　he　said；　〃sitting　up　in　that　plane；　guzzling　a　martini；　eating　smoked　almonds；　and　doing　the　New　York　Times　crossword　puzzle。〃　
　Nora　laughed　quietly。　〃Speaking　of　the　Times；　how　long　have　you　written　for　them？〃　
　〃About　two　years　now；　since　my　last　book　was　published。　I　took　a　leave　of　absence　to　e　on　this　trip。〃　
　Nora　sat　up　on　one　elbow。　〃Why　did　you　e？〃　
　〃What？〃　The　question　seemed　to　take　the　writer　by　surprise。　
　〃It's　a　simple　enough　question。　This　is　a　dangerous；　dirty；　unfortable　trip。　Why　did　you　leave　fortable　old　Manhattan？〃　
　〃And　maybe　miss　out　on　the　greatest　discovery　since　King　Tut's　tomb？〃　Smithback　turned　in　his　sleeping　bag。　〃Well；　I　guess　it's　more　than　that。　After　all；　I　knew　there　was　no　guarantee　we'd　find　anything。　If　you　get　right　down　to　it；　newspaper　work　can　be　boring。　Even　if　it's　the　New　York　Times　and　everyone　genuflects　when　you　enter　the　room。　But　you　know　what？　This　is　what　it's　all　about；　really；　discovering　lost　cities；　listening　to　tales　of　murder；　lying　under　the　stars　with　a　lovely…〃　He　cleared　his　voice。　〃Well；　you　know　what　I　mean。〃　
　〃No；　I　don't；〃　Nora　said；　surprised　at　the　sudden　excitement　that　flooded　through　her。　
　〃Lying　under　the　stars　with　someone　like　you；〃　he　finished。　〃Sounds　kind　of　lame；　doesn't　it？〃　
　〃As　e…ons　go；　yes　it　does。　But　thanks　just　the　same。〃　
　She　glanced　at　the　lanky　form　of　Smithback；　faintly　outlined　in　starlight；　his　eyes　glinting　as　he　looked　skyward。　〃So？〃　she　said　after　a　moment。　
　〃So　what？〃　
　〃Over　the　last　week；　you've　had　your　spine　realigned　by　hard　saddles；　you've　gone　without　water；　been　bitten　by　horses；　almost　fallen　off　cliffs；　avoided　rattlesnakes；　quicksand；　and　skinwalkers。　So　are　you　glad　you　came　along？〃　
　His　eyes　turned　toward　her；　luminous　in　the　starlight。　〃Yes；〃　he　said　simply。　
　Holding　his　gaze　in　her　own；　she　reached　toward　him　in　the　darkness。　Finding　his　hand；　she　squeezed　it　briefly。　
　〃I'm　glad；　too；〃　she　replied。　
　
　
36
　
　BY　MIDNIGHT；　A　HALF…MOON　HAD　RISEN　IN　the　dark　sky；　and　the　gnarled　badlands　of　southern　Utah　were　bathed　in　pale　light。　At　the　foot　of　Lake　Powell；　Wahweap　Marina　dozed；　its　jetskis　and　houseboats　silent。　To　the　north　and　west；　the　labyrinthine　system　of　narrow　canyons　leading　ultimately　toward　the　Devil's　Backbone　were　still。　
　In　the　valley　of　Chilbah；　two　forms　moved　slowly　up　a　secret　notch。　It　was　less　a　trail　than　a　fissure　in　the　rock；　fiendishly　hidden；　now　worn　away　to　the　faintest　of　lines　after　centuries　of　erosion　and　disuse。　It　was　the　Priest's　Trail：　the　back　door　to　Quivira。　
　Emerging　out　of　the　inky　blackness　of　the　rocks；　the　figures　topped　out　on　the　sandstone　plateau　in　which　the　valley　of　Quivira　was　hidden。　Far　below；　in　the　long　valley　behind　them；　a　horse　nickered　and　stamped　in　agitation。　But　this　evening　they　had　left　the　horses　unharmed；　just　as　they　had　slipped　past　the　cowboy　who　guarded　them　without　running　a　knife　across　his　throat。　He　sat　there　still；　hand　on　his　gun；　the　ground　around　him　damp　with　tobacco　juice。　Let　him　sit；　his　time　would　e　soon　enough。　
　Now；　with　animal　stealth；　they　scuttled　along　the　wide　mesa　far　above　the　valley　floor。　Though　the　moon　laid　a　dappled　byway　across　the　sandstone；　the　figures　avoided　the　faint　light；　keeping　to　the　shadows。　The　heavy　animal　pelts　on　their　backs　draped　down　over　their　sides；　dragging　along　the　rough　rock　beneath　them。　The　figures　moved　on；　silent　as　ghosts。　
　After　an　eternity　of　movement　they　stopped；　as　if　possessed　of　a　single　mind。　Ahead；　a　well　of　darkness　loomed：　the　tiny　valley　of　Quivira。　Far　below；　at　the　base　of　the　canyon；　the　little　stream　shimmered　in　the　moonlight。　From　the　higher　ground　away　from　the　stream；　a　faint　glow　arose　from　the　dying　campfire；　and　the　even　fainter　smell　of　woodsmoke　reached　the　figures　peering　down　from　the　canyon　rim。　
　Their　eyes　moved　from　the　fire　to　the　dim　figures　that　lay　around　it。　
　Several　tents　ringed　the　camp；　pallid　in　the　dim　moonlight。　A　number　of　bedrolls　lay　near　the　campfire；　seemingly　flung　down　at　random。　With　the　tents　closed　and　darkened；　it　was　impossible　to　count　the　number　of　the　pany。　They　stared　long；　bodies　motionless。　Then　they　eased　f