Blood Sport Part 11

Lynniewasn'tback.IleftamessageatthedeskforherandjoinedWalt.Hispalebluesuitlookedasifithadjustcomeoutofaspindryerandtherewasadamptranslucentlooktohisskin.Repentant,Iboughthimalargescotchontherocksandwaiteduntilhehaditwhereitwoulddomostgood.Hesighed,rubbedthebackofonewristacross.h.i.+seyes,fishedacrumpledpieceofpaperoutofhispocket,andspreaditopenonthebar.

'Tostartwith,'hesaiddisgustedly,'it'snotYogiBear.'

Iwaitedinsympatheticsilenceandbeckonedtothebarmanforarefill.Onthepaperalistofabouteightsouvenirmanufacturersanddistributorshadbeencrossedout,asinglelinethrougheach.Thetoplineswereneatandstraight,thelastthreeagreatwildslashacrossthepaper.Walthadhadaverybadday.

'Thehandkerchiefcamefromj.a.pan,likeyousaid.'Hetookaswallowofhisseconddrinkandbegantorevive.'Severalofthefirms'phonedtheirwestcoastofficesforme.Nodice.Itseemsasifatleasthalfofthesouvenirssoldinthewestaremadeinj.a.pan,butalltheseYogiBearconcessionistssaythatthisisn'tYogiBearatall,it'sthewrongshapedhead.'

Hepulledoutofthebynowbatteredenvelopeaverybedraggledlookinghandkerchiefandlookedat.i.twithloathing.

'Ifitwa.s.soldatornearYellowstonePark,itcouldhavecomefromanytwo-bitimportbusiness.Asit'snotYogiBear,noonewillhavehadtopaycommissiontousethepicture,andthereisn'tanywaythatIknowoffindingwhobrought.i.tintothecountryandwhosoldittowhere.'

AftertensecondsIsuggesteddiffidently,'Wecouldstartfromtheotherend.'

Heglaredatmeincredulously.'Areyouplumbnuts?Youcan'tmeanwhat.i.thinkyoumean.'

Therocksinmydrinkhadmeltedtopebbles.Itastedthedrownedwhiskyandputthegla.s.sbackonthebar.

Isaid,'OneoftheSnailExpresstrailerswascheckedinatRockSprings,Wyoming.It'sstillthere:theyhaven'thadanothercustomerforityet.I'veaskedthemtoholdituntilI'vehadalookat.i.t.'

'Whythatone?Whythatoneparticularly?'Waltasked.Irritationonlyhalfrepressedsharpenedhisvoice.

'Becauseit'soneofthethreewithnophonenumber.Becauseit'sinthesameStateasYellowstone.Andbecauseitgivesmeanitch.'

'YellowstoneisclearacrossWyomingfromRockSprings,'hesaid.'Mustbefourhundredmiles.'

'Threehundred.Ilookedatamap.'

Hedrankandrubbedhisthumboverhisfingersmuchfastertha.n.u.sual.Tiredlineshadappearedroundhiseyes.

'Ithinkit'safutilewasteoftime,'hesaidabruptly.

'I'vetimetowaste.'

'AndIhaven't.'

Heputhisgla.s.sdownwithathump,reachedintoaninnerpocketandbroughtoutanotherwhitepackagewhichhetosseddowninfrontofme.

'Theseareyourphotographs.'

'Thanks.'

Thelookhegavemewasalongwayfromthesmileofthatmorning.IwonderedwhetherIwouldhavelethimgolookingforanswersifI'dknownhewa.s.shortonstamina,anddecidedIprobablywould.Hehadn'tgivenuphalfway:onlyattheend.

Lynnieappearedinthebardoorwayinherorangedressandthetiredlookingmentherestraightenedtheirspinesinahurry.Shewouldn'tcomein.IeasedWaltwithmeacrosstheheavycarpetandintroducedhimtoherinthehalloutside.Hemadeonlyafewperfunctoryremarksandleftinashorttimewithagloweringfaceandsolidback.

'Whatever'sbittenhim?'saidLynnie,lookingafterhim.

'He'shadatiringdayandhe'sgoinghometohiswife.'

Shelookedatmequickly,halflaughing.'Doyoualwaysknowwhatyou'resaying?'

'Frequently.'

Shechuckled.'Anyway,youlookalottirederthanhedoes.'Westartedtowalkovertothedesktocollectourkeys.

'That'smostencouraging.'

'Whatshallwedothisevening?Ordoyouwanttosleep?'Shewasunselfishenoughtokeepanxietyentirelyoutofhervoice,butwhenIsaidwe'dgowherevershewantedtherewasanextrabounceinherstride.Shedecidedonatwohourtaxiridetoeverywhereinthecityshe'deverheardofthatshehadn'tmanagedtoseethatafternoon,followedbydinnerinasecondfloorgla.s.s-walledrestaurant,lookingdownandacrossthelightsofBroadwayandTimesSquare.Ateleven-thirty,whenwegotbacktotheBiltmore,shewa.s.stillwideawake.

'Whatafabulous,fantasticday,'shesaidinthelift.

'Good.'

'I'llrememberitaslongasIlive.'

Ismiledatherenthusiasm.ItwasathousandyearssinceI'dbeenashappyasthat,butsometimesIcouldstillimaginehowitfelt.Thateveningithadbeenquiteeasy.

'Youarefarfromdrizz,'shesaid,contentedlygrinning.

'You'dbenogreatdragtobestuckinaliftwithyourself.'

b.u.t.theliftstoppedunimaginativelyattheeighthfloora.s.scheduledandwewalkedalongtoourrooms.Herdooroppositemine.

Ikissedhercheek.'Goodnight,littleLynnie.'Herbrowneyessmiledserenelyback.'GoodnightGene.Sleepwell.'

'Youtoo,'Isaid.'Kentuckyfirststopinthemorning.'

Ittookfourmoredaystofindthegirlinthephotograph,thoughmaybeIcouldhavedoneitintwoifithadn'tbeenforLynnie.Privatelyawarethat.i.twasn'tnecessaryformetodothejobmyselfIdredgedupacastironsoundingreasonforhavingtoaccompanyhertoLexington,andweflewdownviaWas.h.i.+ngton,whichinvolvedanotherquicktaxitourinsteadofalengthywaitattheairport.Lynniedidn'tintendtomissathing.

EunicemetusatLexingtonairfieldanddroveustoMidway,andafteraprawnandavocadolunchlentmehercartogoonmyerrand.IgreasedChrysalis's.e.x-groomintogoingwithmewithtwentydollarsofhisemployer'smoney,andtookhimofftoSamHengelman's.Thehorsevan,Samsaidoutofthecornerofhismouthashewatchedanoldmovieonacyan-heavycolourset,wa.s.stillincareofthepolicedepartment.IfIwantedtolookat.i.t,gotalktothem.

AtthepolicedepartmentastatetrooperlistenedtowhatIhadtosay,said'Yeah,'severaltimes,consultedhigherauthority,andsortedoutsomekeys.Higherauthorityturnedouttobeagood-lookingdetectivehihistwenties,andweallfourrepairedtotheparkinglotbehindthepolicebuilding,wherethehorsevanstoodinonecorner.

Chrysalis'sladpointedoutthestallthestallionhadinhabited,andthestatetroopercameupwithasuccessfulconclusiontotheexpedition:fourlongs.h.i.+ningbayhairs.

'Fromhismane,'saidthegroomauthoritatively.

ThedetectivekepttwofortheStateandsentofftheothertwospecialdeliverytoWaltatb.u.t.tressLife,andthegroomandIdrovebacktoMidway.

EuniceandLynniewerebothinthepool,andtherestofthedayandnightcamecloseenoughtomydaydreamontheplane,exceptthatthesixteenhours'sleepshranktosix,buteventhatwa.s.spectacularbyrecentstandards.

WhenLynniesaidoverlargecupsofbreakfastcoffeethenextmorningthatshewishedIwasn'tgoing,Iverynearlydidn't.IfI'dstayed,b.u.t.tressLifewouldhavepaidtheinsuranceandaloadofgriefwouldneverhavehappened.YetifIcouldgobacktothatcross-roadsmomentagainIknowIwouldinevitablymakethesamedecision.Onceahunter,alwaysahunter:theinnercompulsionhadn'tlooseneditsgrip:thequalitythey'dhauledmeoutoftheArmyforwas...o...b..sicinmynature,andbeingwhatIwas,whatIam,sloppingoutofthechasewasimpossible.Keeblehadknown,Iadmittedwryly,thathehadonlytogetmehooked.

'Imustgo,'Isaid,'ifI'mtofindthehorse.'

'd.a.m.nthehorse,'Lynniesaid.

Ilaughedather.'You'velearntquickly.'

'IlikeEunice,'shesaiddefensively.'Shedoesn'tshockme.'

Igatheredfromthatthatshecertainlydid,b.u.t.thatLynniewouldneveradmit.i.t.

'Butyouwillcomebackhere?Beforeyougohome,Imean.'

'Iexpectso,'Isaid.

Shefiddledwithhercoffeecup,lookingdown.'It'sonlyaweeksinceIpickedyouupatyourflat,lastSunday.'

'Andyou'veagedayear.'

Shelookedupquickly,startled.'Whydidyousaythat?'

'Itwaswhatyouwerethinking.'

'Iknow,'shesaid,puzzled,'butIdon'tknowhowyoudo.'

'Crystalsetintheattic.Intermittentthough,unfortunately.'

'Justaswell,ifyouaskme.'Therewasahealthymockeryonherlaughingface.'HowwouldyouLiketobetunedinpermanentlytoEunice?'

Euniceherselftrailedthroughthedoorwayatthatmomentwearinganelectricbluewrapperandamanageablehangover.Withbothstillinplace,aftertwocupsofcoffeeandacigarette,shetrundledLynnieandmetotheairport.

'Good-bye,yousonofab.i.t.c.h,'shesaidtome,asIstoodbesideherwindow.'Iguessyoucancomebackanytimeyouwantto.'

Lynnieglancedathersharply,withsuddenspeculation:growingupinfrontofone'seyes.Ismiledgood-byetothembothandwalkedawayintotheairport.FromthereIbus-stoppedathousandmilestoDenver,andcharteredatwin-enginedPiperfromalocalfirmforthelasttwohundredtoRockSprings.Thepilotchewedhisnailssavagelybesidemeallthewayasifhewereadedicatedauto-cannibal,andIarrivedfeelingsick.

OnthehotlateSundayafternoonthelittledeserttownlookedlifeless.s.h.i.+mmeringairroseendlesslyoverthedumpofabandonedrustingmotorcars,aGreyhoundbusrolledpastwithpa.s.sengersstaringlikefishthroughitsgreengla.s.swindows,andsprinklersonthericherfrontlawnskepttheparchingheatatbay.AtthebusstationIlearntthatoldmanHagstrom'sboywastheagentforSnailExpress,butwhenIfoundoldmanHagstrom,fanninghimselfinarockeronthefrontporchofhissmallframehouse,hesaidthathisboywasoutcalling.

Hagstromhimselfseemedtobegladtohavecompanyandtoldmetogoinsideandbringtwobeersoutoftheicebox.Theiceboxwasintheliving-room,justthroughthescreendoor.Itwasashamblesofaroomwithsaggingbroken-springchairs,dirtywornoutragrugs,ascattereda.s.sortmentofcups,gla.s.sesandbottles,allunwashed,andavastnewtelevision.Itookthebeeroutontotheporch,satonthetopstep,anddrankfromthebottle,likemyhost.

Theoldmanrocked,scratchedhimself,drank,andsaidvaguelythathisboywouldberightalong,Icouldbetonit.Ilookedupanddownthehotemptystreet.Therewereothershapesrockinggentlyintheshadeoftheporches,halfinvisiblebecausemanyhadtheinsectscreensroundtheoutsiderails.Frombehindthemtheywatchedtheworldgoby:onlythingwas,theworldrolledpastinautomobilesanddidn'tstoptotalk.

Twobeerslater,whileoldmanHagstromwastellingmehowhepersonallywouldhavedealtwiththeSaigonsituationin'67,hisboyrolledupinapock-markedChrysler.Hisboywasliterallyaboy,notmorethaneighteen:oldmanHagstrom'sgrandson.Herubbedhishandsdownhisgrease-markedT-s.h.i.+rtandjeans,andheldoneouttomewithaseasygoingawelcomeas.h.i.+sgrandfather's.IexplainedwhatIwanted.

'Sureyoucanlookatthetrailer,'hesaid,amiably.'Now?'

'Ifyoudon'tmind.'

'You'rewelcome.'

Hewavedmeintohisbakingcarandwhirleditcasuallyroundafewcorners,drawingupwithajerkoutsidearicketylookinggatesetinahead-highwall.Throughthegate,inadustyarea,stoodfourSnailExpresstrailers,alldifferentsizes.

'Thatone,'Isaid,pointingtothelargest.

'CameinlastSat.u.r.day,Ithink.I'lllookitup.'Heunlockedasmallbrick-builtofficeononeside,andIfollowedhimin.HotenoughintheretopleaseSatan.

'That'sright.Sat.u.r.day,'hesaid,consultingtheledger.'CamefromNewYorkState,rentingchargepaidinadvanceforoneweek.Theweekwasn'tupuntilMonday.'

'Doyourememberwhobrought.i.there?'

'Uh,let'ssee.Ohyes.Anoldguy.Can'tremembermuchabouthim.Hehadwhitehair,Iguess.'

'Whatsortofcardidhehave,topullthetrailer?'

'Ihelpedhimunhitch...astationwagon,Ithink.Grey,mebbe.'

'Itwasn'tthesetwo?'Ishowedhimthephotograph.

'Nope.'Hewasdefinite.Asfarasheknew,he'dneverseenthem.HadIaskedhisgrandfather?Ihad.

Hesaidhe'dsweptoutthetrailer,butIcouldlookinsideifIwantedto.

'Whydidyousweepit?'Iasked.

'Usuallydo.Itwasprettyclea.n.a.lready,though.'

Ilookedanyway.Thereweren.o.bayhairs.NothingatalltosuggestthatChrysalishadeverbeensqueezedintoit.Theonlysuggestivethingabout.i.twasthewayitwasbuilt:theroofopenedoutwardsrightalongthecentreline,tomaketheloadingoftallobjectseasier.IthadbeenworryingmethatChrysaliswouldnothavewalkedintoatinydarktrailer:butoneopentotheskywasadifferentmatter.

OldmanHagstrom'sboyobliginglydugouttheHertzagent,wh.o.r.entedmeanair-conditionedblackChevroletwithonlyfivethousandontheclock.OvernightIaddedthreehundredandthirty-fourmore,anddroveintoGardinerforbreakfast.

TheroadtherehadledthroughYellowstoneParkitselfwherethedawnhadcreptinmistilybetweenthepinetrees,andglimpsesoflakeshadlookedlikeflatpuddlesofquicksilver.Ihadseenanuglygreatmoose,butn.o.bears.Yogiwasasleep.

Ispentallmorningwalkingroundthetown.Noneoftheshopsweresellingthehandkerchief,orhadeverstockedanylikeit.Thephotographproducednoreactionsatall.Afteratoastedbacon,tomatoandlettucesandwichatalunchcounterIleftGardinerandwentfifty-fourmilestoWestYellowstone.

Theafternoon'strudgeproducedexactlythesameabsenceofresults.Hot,tired,andfrustrated,IsatintheChevroletandwonderedwhattodonext.NotraceofChrysalisinthetrailer,eventhoughitseemedlikelyitwastheonethedrivershadseen.NomatchinghandkerchiefsatYellowstonePark.Walthadbeenright.Thetripwasonepointlesswasteoftime.

Ithoughtofthelongforestdrivebackthroughthepark,thecanyongradientsatmidway,andthefinalhundredmilesofdeserttoRockSprings,anddecidedtoput.i.toffuntilthenextday.Sighing,Ifoundthebestlookingmotelandbookedthebestroomtheyhad,stoodundertheshoweruntiltheday'sacheshadrundownthedrainwiththedust,andstretchedoutforacoupleofhoursonthekingsizedSlumberland.

Thewaitresswhobroughtmysteakatdinnerwaslarge,looselyupholstered,kindnatured,andwithan.o.bviousconvictionthatama.n.a.lonelikedabitofgossip.Iwantedhertogoawayandletmeeatinpeace,butcustomwa.s.slackandIlearntmorethanIcaredabouthercomplicatedhomelife.Intheend,simplytostoptheflow,IpulledoutthecrumpledhandkerchiefandaskedifsheknewwhereIcouldgetanewonelikeit.

Shethought'thegirls'mightknow,andwentofftoaskthem.Relieved,Ifinishedmysteak.Thenshecamebackanddoubtfullyputthewhitesquaredownbesidemeonthetablecloth.

TheysayyoumightgetoneinJackson.Theydohavebearsonashtraysandthingsdownthere.DownintheTetons.Ahundred,hundredfiftymiles.It'saholidaytown,Jackson.'

I'ddrivenstraightthroughJacksonthenightbeforeonthewayupfromRockSprings,andseenonlyasmallwesterntownfastasleep.WhenIwentbackonTuesdaymorningitwasbuzzingwithholidaymakersandlocalinhabitants,dressedallalikeincowboyclothes.Duderanchcountry,Ilearnt.Themainstreetwaslinedwithsouvenirshops,andthefirstoneIwentintohadawholepileofsmallwhitehandkerchiefswithbearson.

CHAPTEREIGHT.

Thegirlinthepuntopenedtheranchhousedoor,walkedhalfwaytomeetmefromthecar,andgreetedmewithprofessionalinstantwelcome.

'MrHochner?Hownicetohaveyouwithus.'