Blood Sport Part 24
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'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.
Blood Sport Part 24
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Blood Sport Part 24 summary
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