Blood Sport Part 24

'Iwis.h.i.+didn'tbelieveit.Areyoucertain?'

'Yes.'

Hissighwasheartfelt.'We'dbetterstartproceedings...'

'I've...er...alreadystartedthem.Wemayinadayortwohavetwohorsesonourhandswhichwillneedtobestabledsomewhereeminentlyrespectablewhiletheirident.i.tyisbeinginvestigated.Owingtothelengthoftimethey'vebeenlost,itmaytakeacoupleofmonthstore-establishthem.Wherewouldyouthinkitwouldbebesttoputthem?'

Afterapause,hesaid,'Isupposeyou'reaskingmetohavethemhere?'

'Notreally,'Iexplained.'ToomuchofacoincidenceafterChrysalis,perhaps.I'dthoughtratherofamoreofficialplace...Idon'tknowwhatyouhave.'

'I'llthinkofsomething.'Hecoughedslightly.Therewon'tbeanythingillegalabouttheirrecovery?'

'NomorethanforChrysalis.'

'That'snoanswer.'

'Thereshouldn'tbeanytroublewiththepolice,'Isaid.

'Iguessthat'llhavetodo,'hesighed.'WhendoIexpectthem?'

'Ifallgoeswell,theyshouldreachLexingtononSunday.'

'Andifalldoesn'tgowell?'

'You'llhavenoproblem.'

Helaughed.'Andyou?'

'Onemorewon'tmatter.'

CHAPTERSIXTEEN.

FormostofthirtyhoursIsatinthemountainousArizonadesertandlookeddownatMattCliveleadingaboringlife.

Likehissister,hewascapable,quick,efficient.Hewateredthestockandmendedafence,sweptoutthehouseandfedthehens;andspentagooddealoftimeinthelargestbarnontheplace.

Ihadfoundmyselfaperchamongtherocksontheeastfacingsideofthevalley,halfamileoffthedustyroadtothefarm.Atnearlythreethousandfeetabovesealeveltheheatwasbearable,thoughthemiddaysunblazeddownfromnearlystraightoverhead,andeggswouldhavefriedonthesidewalksiftherehadbeenany.Desertplantsweredesignedtosavethemselvesandnooneelse:atmybackgrewalargeagave,itscentralstemrisingsixfeethighwithflatoutspreadingflowersturningfromredtobrilliantyellow.Forleavesithadrazorsharpspikesspringingoutwardsfromthegroundinonelargeclump.Stiff;angular;notavestigeofshade.Thespindlybuckhornandtheflatdevil'sringerswouldhavebeenprettyuselesstoamidget.Ifoldedmyselfundertheoverhangofajaggedboulderandinchedroundwiththemeagreshadepatchuntilthesuncriedquitsbehindthehill.

ShowmanandAllyxhadtobeinthebigbarn:thoughIsawnosignofthem,norofanyotherhorses,onthefirstafternoon.

ByairtoLasVegasandhiredcartoKingmanhadtakenmeallmorning,andatthelastforkonthewaytothefarmI'dhadtodecidewhethertoriskmeetingMattheadonontheroadortowalktenmilesinstead.I'driskedit.Tenmilestherewasalsotenmilesback.Thecarhadb.u.mpedprotestinglyofftheroadtwomilesshortofhisfarm,andwasnowoutofsightinagulley.

Binocularsbroughteverydetailofthemeagrespreadupclearandsharp.Thesmalldilapidatedhouselaytotheleft,withthebigbarnontherightacrossalargedustyyard.Alongmostofathirdsideoftheroughquadranglestretchedanunevenjumbleofsimplestonebuildings,andbehindthosetherustinggutsoftwoabandonedcarslayexposedtothesky.

Maintenancewasataminimum:noendemicprosperityhere.TheownersscratchedforalivinginatinyvalleyamongtheArizonahills,existingthereonlybycourtesyofthequirkofrockformationwhichhadbroughtundergroundwatertothesurfaceinaspring.ThesmallriverbedwaseasytofollowfromwhereIsat:Gra.s.sandtreescircleditsorigin,spa.r.s.epaddocksstretchedawaytosaggingfencesoneachsideofitsupperreaches,acornpatchgrewbesideitnearthefarmbuildings,andlowerdownitranoffintothedesertinadrywideshallowsandytrough.Heavyrainwouldturniteverytimeintoaragingtorrent,asdestructiveasitwasvital.Highbehindthehouse,dominatingthewholeplace,ahugeonion-shapedwaterstoragetanksatsquatlyontopofaspindlylookingtower.

Mileaftermileofplaindarkpolesstretchedalongtheroadtothefarm,carryinganelectriccableandatelephonewire,butcivilisationhadfallenshortofrefusecollection.Asprawlingdumpatonesideofthebigbarnseemedtoconsistofabra.s.sbedstead,halfatractor,abottomlesstinbath,thebonesofanoldwagon,atangledheapofunidentifiablerustingmetal,androughlyfiftytreadlesstyresofvaryingsizes.Fillingeverycreviceamongthislotwerebottlesandemptyfoodcanswithlabelspeelingandjaggedlids.m.u.telyopenlikemouths.Overthetoptheairs.h.i.+mmeredwithreflectedheat.

Matthadalreadyspentatleastaweekinthisuglyoasis.Waltshouldn'tfindittoohardtopersuadehimtomakeaneveningvisittoLasVegas.

Iwatcheduntillongafterdark.Lightswentonandoffinthehouse,andMattmovedabout,visiblethroughtheinsectscreensbecausehedidn'tdrawanycurtains.If,indeed,therewereany.

Cautiouslyatsometimeafteroneo'clock,whenallthelightsonmysideofthehousehadbeenoutformorethantwohours, Ipickedmywaydowntothefarm.Thenightwa.s.stillwarm,butastheonlylightcamefromthestarsitwasblackdarkontheground,andwithagaveclumpsinmindIreckonedmytorchheldlesserrisk.

Ireachedthefarmyard.Nothingstirred.Quietly,slowly,Imadethecrossingtothebarn.Mattinthehouseslepton.

Nopadlocks:notevenbolts.Thereweren'tany.Thewidedoorofthebarnstoodopen;andwiththisinvitation,Iwentin.Inside,thebarnwasdividedintosixstallsalongoneside,withfeedbinsandsaddlerystorageracksalongtheother.Hereandeverywhereelsedilapidationanddecaywerewinninghandsdown:everythingmytorchflickedoverlookedinneedofhelp.

Fourofthestallswereempty,butinthetwocentralones,sidebyside,stoodtwohorses.Gently,soasnottofrightenthem,Iwentover,talkingsoothinglyinamurmurands.h.i.+ningthetorchbeamonthewallinfrontoftheirheads.Theireyesinthedimlightrolledroundenquiringly,butneithergavemorethanasinglestampofalarm.

ThefirstonetriedtobackawaywhenIshonethetorchintohismouth:butanexceedinglystronglookingheadcollarandaremarkablynewchainkepthimfromgoingmorethanafewfeet.Iranmyhanddownhisneckandtalkedtohim.andintheendgotmyinspectiondone.Thetattooedmark,asoften,wasnonetooclear:butdiscerniblyitwas752:07.TheregistrationnumberofMoviemaker.

Thetattooonthesecondhorsewasmorerecentandalsoclearer:theregistrationnumberofCentigrade.

Satisfied,Igavethemeachafriendlyslap,andwithgreatcareleftthebarn.Mattstillslept.Ihesitated,thinkingthatenoughwasenough,butintheendwentdowntotheendofthefarmyardtotakeaquicklookthroughtheotherbuildings.Inoneonly,adeepnarrowgarage,wasthereanythingofinterest:acar.

ItwasnotMatt'spaleblueconvertible,butatinnyblacksaloonthreeorfouryearsold.Myflashlightpickedoutapieceofpaperlyingonthepa.s.sengerseat,andIopenedthedoorandtookalookat.i.t.AcopyofaworksheetfromagarageinKingman.Customer'sname:Clive.Workrequired:RemoveyellowpaintfromFordconvertible.Furtherinstructions:Completea.s.soonaspossible.

Iputthepaperbackontheseatandshonethelightoverthedashboard.AsmallmetalplatescrewedontoitborethenameofthegarageinKingman:Matthadrentedthiscarwhilehisownwasbeingcleaned.

Outside,everythingwa.s.still,andfeelinglikeashadowamongshadowsIwentquietlyoutofthefarmyardandalongthedustyroadtowardsKingman.ItseemedalotfurtherthantwomilestotheflatstonesIhadleftoneontopoftheotherasamarker,andevenafterIhadreachedthemittookmequiteawhiletofindthehiddencarandget.i.tbackontotheroad.

ItwaswellafterthreewhenIcalledWalt.Hesoundedresigned,buthe'dknownitwouldbesometimeinthenight.

'Aretheythere?'hesaid.

'Theyare.They'requiteunguarded,andthere'sonlyMattontheplace.Howaboutthingsyourend?'

'Oh.'Amus.e.m.e.ntcreptin.'Offenwasfullofoffendeddignity.Didn'tknowhowanyonecouldsuggesthewasengagedinfraud;thatsortofthing.Itdidn'timpresstheD.A.'ssquadatall,becausetheygetthatsortofbl.u.s.tereverytime.Madethemallthekeener,ifanything.Theyhadquitealongsessionwithhim,allfairlypolitebutdefinitelyneedling.Artists,theyare.FromourpointofviewOffensaidnothingsignificantexceptforonelittlegem.TheD.A.'sguysaskedtoseethestudgroom.That'sKiddo,remember?Theonewhotoldusaboutthemaresfoalingatnight?'

'Iremember,'Isaid.

'Well,itseemsit'saslowtimearoundstudsjustnow,andKiddowentoffonavacationthedayafterourfirstvisit.'

'Hedidn'tsayanythingaboutthatwhenwewerethere.'

'Hesuredidn't.OffensaysKiddowillbebackinthreeweeks.Bythen,Iguess,heexpectstohavehadMoviemakerandCentigradeidentifiedasthemselves,andthenwhenthedustha.s.settledhecanbringShowmanandAllyxquietlyback,andit'llbesafeforKiddotoreturn.IguessOffendidn'tknowwhichwayhe'djump,andbootedhimoffoutoftrouble.'

'I'msureyou'reright,'Isaid.'Anythinginterestingonthetape?'

'I'vebeenlisteningtothatd.a.m.nedmachineuntilI'mboredtodeathwithit,'hesaidwearily.'Today'srunwasmostlytheD.A.'smentalkingtoOffen,soIheardallthattwiceover.HethencalledbothYolaandMattandtoldthemabout.i.t,andhesoundedprettypleasedwiththewaythingsweregoing.I'dsayMattwasamiteannoyedathavingtostaywhereheis:Offenwastellinghimnottobestupid,whatwasaweekortwowithsomuchatstake.AlsoYolamustbewantingMattback,becauseOffensmoothedherdownwiththesamespiel.'Waltpausedandclearedhisthroat.'Whatwouldyousayistherelations.h.i.+pbetweenMattandYola?'

SmilingintothereceiverIsaid,'Suchthoughts,Walt,fromyou!'

'It'spossible...'hesaiduncomfortably.

'Itsureis.b.u.t.there'snothingtoindicateitexceptfortheirnotbeingmarried.'

'Thenyoudon'tthink...?'

'I'dsaythey'recertainlycentredoneachother,buthowfaritgoesIcouldn'tguess.TheonlytimeI'veseenthemtogetherthey'vehadtheirhandsfullofpuntsandguns.'

'Yeah...well,maybecrimeishowittakesthem.'

Iagreedthat.i.tprobablywas,andaskedhimifhe'dgotMattsetupfortheinsurancemeeting.

'Isurehave,'hesaidwithsatisfaction.'Icalledhimthisafternoon.Itmusthavebeensoonafterhe'dbeentalkingtoOffen,Iguess,becauseheseemedtobegladenoughtobegivenareasonforgoingtoLasVegas.Isuggestedsixp.m.whichsoundedallright,buthehimselfaskedifIcouldmakeitlater.'

'He'llprobablywanttofeedthehorsesaboutthen,whenthedaygetscooler,'Isaid.'Andthosehorseswouldcomefirst.'

'Yeah.Atthreemillionfortwo,theysurewould.Itbeatsmewhyhedoesn'tguardthemeveryminute.'

'Againstwhat?'Isaid.

'Yougotapoint,'heconceded.'Onlyus.Andwe'reobviouslyconcentratingonthetwoatOrpheus.Right?'

'Right.'

'Anyway,MattsaidcouldImakeitlaterthansix,andweagreedintheendonnine.Thatshouldmeanhe'lltakethatganderattheroulettetablesonhiswayhome,andmaybegiveusmostofthenighttogetthehorsesclear.'

'Good.'Isaid.'That'sfine.ButWalt...'

'Yes?'

'Takecare.'

'Goteachyourgrandmother,'hesaid,andIsmiledwrylyandaskedhimifhe'dheardfromSamHengelman.

'Sure,hecalledthisevening,likeyouasked.He'dreachedSantaRosainNewMexicoandhewasgoingontoAlbuquerquebeforestoppingforthenight.Hesaidhe'dbeinKingmanbyfourorfivetomorrowafternoon...today,Isuppose,technically...andhe'llmeetyouattheMojaveMotel.Itoldhimthereturntripwouldn'tbestartingbeforeeight,sohe'sgoingtotakearoomthereandcatchacoupleofhourssleep.'

'Thanks,Walt,that'sgreat,'Isaid.

'We'reallset,then?'Therewasahintofuneaseinhisvoice,anditraisedp.r.i.c.klesagaininmyearlywarningmechanism.

'Youdon'thavetogotoLasVegas,'Isaidreasonably.'We'vetimeenoughwithout.i.t.'

'I'mgoing,'hesaid.'Andthat'sthat.'

'Well...allright.Ithinkwecoulddowithacheckpoint,though,incaseanythinggoeswrong.Let'ssayyouwaitinthelobbyoftheAngelInnfromeighttoeightthirtytomorrowevening.That'swhereIstayed.It'srightontheedgeofLasVegas,but.i.t'saneasytriptoPittsvilleBoulevard.I'llcallyoutheresometimeduringthathalfhour;andifIdon't,youstayput,anddon'tgoouttoMatt'shouse.'

'O.K.,'hesaid,andalthoughhetried,therewasdistinctreliefinhisvoice.

Wedisconnected,andIateasandwichanddrankcoffeeata.n.a.llnightlunchcounteratthebusstationbeforereturningtomyhirecarandpointingitsnoseagaintowardsthefarmandthehills.Thetwoflatstonescameupagainintheheadlights,andre-stowingthecarinitsformerhidingplace,Ifinishedthejourneyonfoot.

Backinth.e.s.h.elterofthesamejaggedrockItriedforatimetosleep.Therewa.s.stillanhourormorebeforedawn,andthesunwouldn'tbetoohotforawhileafterthat,butinspiteofknowingthatI'dgetnorestatallduringthefollowingnight.

Mybrainstayedobstinatelyawake.Isupposedaninabilitytosleeponopengroundsurroundedbycactiandwithinyellingdistanceofamanwho'dkillmeifhehadachancecouldhardlybecla.s.sedasinsomniaintheordinaryway:butIhadnoillusions.Thatwaspreciselywhat.i.twas.Therestless,racingthoughts,theelectricalawareness,thefeelingthateverythinginone'sbodywasworkingfullsteamaheadandwouldn'tslowdown;Iknewallthesymptomsmuchtoowell.Onecouldliewitheyesshutandrelaxeverymuscleuntilonecouldn'ttellwhereone'sarmsandlegswere,andstillsleepwouldn'tcome.Breathedeeply,countallth.e.s.h.eepofCanterbury,repeatonce-learnedverses;nothingworked.

Thesuncameupandshoneinmyeyes.InchingoutofitsrevealingspotlightIretreatedroundthesideoftherockandlookeddowntothefarmthroughthebinoculars.Nomovement.AtfivethirtyMattwa.s.stillinbed.

Iputdownthegla.s.sesandthoughtaboutacigarette.Therewereonlyfourleftinthepacket.Sighing,IreflectedthatIcouldeasilyhaveboughtsomeinKingman,ifI'dgivenitathought.Itwasgoingtobealongday.AllI'dbroughtwithmebesidethebinocularswasabottleofwater,apairofsungla.s.ses,andtheLugerinmybelt.

AtseventhirtyMattcameoutthroughthericketyscreendoorofthehouse,andstoodintheyardstretchingandlookingaroundatthecloudlesscobaltbluesky.Thenhewentacrosstothebarnandpokedhisheadbrieflyinside.

Satisfiedthatthegoldwa.s.stillinthebank,hefetchedbucketsofwaterandjoineditforlongenoughtomuckoutthestallsandseetothefeed.Afteratimehecameoutwithabarrow-fulofdroppingsandwheeleditawaytoemptyonthefarsideofthebarn,outofmysight.

Thehensgottheirgrits,andthecalvesinanearcompoundtheirrationofwater,andMattretiredforhisbreakfast.Themorningworeon.Thetemperaturerose.Nothingelsehappened.

AtnoonIstoodupforawhilebehindtherocktostretchmylegsandrestoresomefeelingtothebitsthatwerenumbfromsitting.Idranksomewaterandsmokedacigarette,andputonthesungla.s.sestocirc.u.mventahoveringglareheadache,andhavingexhaustedmyrepertoireexceptforafewshotsfromtheLuger,foldedmyselfbackintothewedgeofslowlymovingshade,andtookanotherlookatthefarm.

Statusquoentirelyunchanged.MaybeMattwasasleep,ortelephoning,orwatchingtelevision,orinventingsystemsforhistriptoLasVegas.Hecertainlywasnotdoingmuchfarming.Nordidheapparentlyproposetoexercisethehorses.Theystayedintheirstallsfromdawntodusk.

BytwoIknewintimatelyeveryspinyplantgrowingwithinaradiusoftenfeetofmyrock,andfoundmyeyesgoingfaroftenertothebroadsweepofdesertonmyleftthantothedirtylittlefarmbelow.Thedesertwascleaninitsway,andfierce,andstarklybeautiful.Allhillsandendlesssky.Parchedsandygreydustandscratchycactus.Killingheat.Awild,uncompromising,lonelyplace.

WhenIfirstfelttheurgejusttogetupandwalkawayintoitIdraggedmyeyesdutifullybacktothefarmandsmokedthesecondcigaretteandthoughtfirmlyaboutMattandthehorses.Thatonlyworkedforawhile.Thebarrencountrypulledlikeamagnet.

Ihadonlytowalkoutthere,Ithought,andkeepongoinguntilIwasfilledwithitsemptiness,andthensitdownsomewhereandputthebarreloftheLugeragainstmyhead,andsimplysqueeze.Sochildishlyeasy;soappallinglytempting.

Walt,Ithoughtdesperately.Icouldn'tdoitbecauseofWaltandtheunfinishedbusinesswewereembarkedon.Thehorseswerethereinfrontofme,andWaltandSamHengelmanwereontheirway.Itwasimpossiblejusttoabandonthem.Ihitmyhandagainsttherockanddraggedmymindbacktothefarmandthenightahead.AndwhenI'dgonethroughthatpiecebypieceIconcentratedoneatatimeonYolaandOffen,andEuniceandDaveTeller,andKeebleandLynnie,tryingtousethemaspegstokeepmebelievingthatwhatIdidmatteredtothem.ThatanythingIdidmatteredtoanybody.ThatIcaredwhetheranythingIdidmatteredtoanybody.

Myhandhadbeenbleeding.Ihadn'tevenfelt.i.t.Ilookeddispa.s.sionatelyatthesc.r.a.pedskin,andloathedmyself.Ishutmyeyes,andthedesolationwentsodeepthatforanunmeasurableageIfeltdizzywithit,asifIwereinsomefearfulpitchblacklimbo,withnohelp,nohope,andnoescape.Spinningslowlydownanendlessshaftinsolitarydespair.Lost.

Thespinningstopped,afterawhile.Theinternaldarknessstayed.

Iopenedmyeyesandlookeddownatthefarm,onlyhalfseeingit,feelingmyselftremblingandknowingthattherewasn'tmuchfurthertogo.

Mattcameoutofthehouse,walkedacrosstheyard,tookalookintothebarn,andretracedhissteps.Iwatchedhiminadisorientatedhaze:thosehorsesinthebarn,whatdidtheymatter?Whatdidanythingmatter?Whocaredasixpennyd.a.m.naboutbloodlines,itwouldallbethesameinahundredyears.

DaveTellercared.

Lethim.

DaveTellercaredatenthousanddollard.a.m.nwhathappenedtothem.

Crystalclear,likedistilledwaterlogic,itoccurredtomethatIcouldgiveusbothwhatwewantedifIpostponedmywalkintothedesertuntillaterthatnight.IwouldpackthehorsesoffwithHengelman,andinsteadofdrivingbacktoKingmanafterhim,Iwouldsetoffonfoot,andwhenitwasnearlydawn,andeverythinglookedgreyandshadowy,andthestepwouldbesmall...then...

Then.

Ifelt,immediatelyaftermakingthisfirmdecision,whichseemedtomeextremelysensible,agreatinvasionofpeace.Nomorestruggle,nomorefuss.Mybodyfeltrelaxedandfullofwell-being,andmymindwascalm.Icouldn'tthinkwhysuchan.o.bvioussolutionhadn'toccurredtomebefore.Allthesweatandsleeplessnesshaddissolvedintoacool,inner,steadylight.

ThisstagelasteduntilIrememberedthatIhadoncebeendeterminednottoreachit.