p&c.thunderhead-第57节

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　〃Chilbah？〃　Smithback　asked。　
　The　man　nodded。　〃The　valley　over　the　big　ridge　back　there。　I　saw　you　the　other　day；　from　the　top。〃　He　turned　to　Nora。　〃And　I　guess　you　saw　me。　And　now　you're　here；　because　someone　killed　your　horses　and　you　thought　it　might　be　me。〃　
　〃We　only　found　one　set　of　tracks；〃　Nora　said　carefully。　〃And　they　led　right　here。〃　
　Instead　of　answering；　the　man　rose；　tested　the　rabbit　with　the　point　of　his　knife；　then　sat　back　down　on　his　heels。　〃My　name　is　John　Beiyoodzin；〃　he　said。　
　Nora　paused　a　moment　to　consider　this　reply。　〃Sorry　we　didn't　introduce　ourselves；〃　she　replied。　〃I'm　Nora　Kelly；　and　this　is　Bill　Smithback。　I'm　an　archaeologist　and　Bill　is　a　journalist。　We're　here　on　an　archaeological　survey。〃　
　Beiyoodzin　nodded。　〃Do　I　look　like　a　horse　murderer　to　you？〃　he　asked　suddenly。　
　Nora　hesitated。　〃I　guess　I　don't　know　what　a　horse　murderer　should　look　like。〃　
　The　man　digested　this。　Then　the　glittering　eyes　softened；　a　smile　appeared　on　his　face；　and　he　shook　his　head。　〃Jackrabbit's　done；〃　he　said；　standing　and　flipping　the　spit　up　with　an　expert　hand。　He　leaned　it　on　a　flat　rock　and　expertly　carved　off　two　haunches。　He　placed　each　on　a　flat　thin　piece　of　sandstone　and　handed　them　to　Nora　and　Smithback。　Then　he　unwrapped　the　chiles；　carefully　saving　the　tinfoil。　He　quickly　slipped　off　the　roasted　skin　of　each　chile　and　handed　them　over。　〃We're　a　little　short　on　amenities；〃　he　said；　skewering　his　own　piece　of　rabbit　with　a　knife。　
　The　chile　was　almost　indescribably　hot；　and　Nora's　eyes　watered　as　she　ate；　but　she　felt　famished。　Beside　her；　Smithback　was　attacking　his　own　meal　avidly。　Beiyoodzin　watched　them　a　moment；　nodding　his　approval。　They　pleted　the　little　meal　in　silence。　
　Beiyoodzin　passed　the　canteen　around　and　afterward　there　was　an　awkward　pause。　
　〃Nice　view；〃　said　Smithback。　〃What's　the　rent　on　this　joint？〃　
　Beiyoodzin　laughed；　tilting　his　head　back。　〃The　rent　is　in　the　getting　here。　Forty　miles　on　horseback　over　waterless　country　from　my　village。〃　Then　he　looked　around；　the　wind　stirring　his　hair。　〃At　night；　you　can　look　out　over　a　thousand　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　ar