osc.am2.redprophet-第40节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　The　warriors　formed　two　lines　in　the　sand。　They　were　carrying　heavy　branches　fallen　or　cut　from　trees。　Measure　watched　as　an　old　man　took　the　beads　from　around　Ta…Kumsaw's　neck；　then　pulled　off　his　loincloth。　Ta…Kumsaw　turned　to　Measure　and　grinned。　〃White　man　is　naked　when　he　has　no　clothes。　Red　man　is　never　naked　in　his　own　land。　The　wind　is　my　clothing；　the　fire　of　the　sun；　the　dust　of　the　earth；　the　water　of　rain。　I　wear　all　these。　I　am　the　voice　and　the　face　of　the　land！〃
　　〃Just　get　on　with　it；〃　said　Measure。
　　〃I　know　someone　who　says　a　man　like　you　has　no　poetry　in　his　soul；〃　said　Ta…Kumsaw。
　　〃And　I　know　plenty　of　people　who　say　that　a　man　like　you　has　no　soul　at　all。〃
　　Ta…Kumsaw　glared　at　him；　barked　a　few　words　to　his　men；　and　then　stepped　between　the　lines。
　　He　walked　slowly；　his　chin　high　and　arrogant。　The　first　Red　struck　him　a　blow　across　his　thighs；　using　the　skinny　end　of　a　branch。　Ta…Kumsaw　snatched　the　branch　out　of　his　hands；　turned　it　around；　and　made　him　strike　again；　this　time　in　the　chest；　a　harsh　blow　that　drove　the　air　out　of　Ta…Kumsaw's　lungs。　Measure　could　hear　the　grunting　sound　from　where　he　stood。
　　The　lines　ran　up　the　face　of　a　dune；　so　that　progress　up　the　hill　was　slow。　Ta…Kumsaw　never　paused　as　the　blows　came。　His　men　were　stern…faced；　dutiful。　They　were　helping　him　show　courage；　and　so　they　gave　him　pain　　but　no　damaging　blows。　His　thighs　and　belly　and　shoulders　took　the　worst　of　it。　Nothing　on　his　shins；　nothing　in　his　face。　But　that　didn't　mean　he　had　it　easy。　Measure　could　see　his　shoulders；　bloody　from　the　rough　bark　of　the　branches。　He　imagined　himself　receiving　every　blow　that　fell；　and　knew　that　they'd　strike　him　harder。　I'm　a　royal　fool；　he　said　to　himself。　Here　I　am　matching　courage　with　the　noblest　man　in　America；　as　everybody　knows。
　　Ta…Kumsaw　reached　the　end；　turned；　faced　Measure　from　the　top　of　the　dune。　His　body　was　dripping　with　blood；　and　he　was　smiling。　〃e　to　me；　brave　White　man；〃　he　called。
　　Measure　didn't　hesitate。　He　started　toward　the　gatlopp。　It　was　a　voice　from　behind　that　stopped　him。　The　Prophet；　shouting　in　Shaw…Nee。　The　Reds　looked　at　him。　When　he　was　finished；　Ta…Kumsaw　spat。　Measure；　not　knowing　what　had　been　said；　started　forward　again。　When　he　got　to　the　first　Red；　he　expected　at　least　as　hard　a　blow　as　Ta…Kumsaw　got。　But　there　was　nothing。　He　took　another　step。　Nothing。　Maybe　to　show　their　contempt　they　meant　to　hit　him　in　the　back；　but　he　climbed　higher　and　higher　up　the　dune；　and　still　there　was　not　a　blow；　not　a　move。
　　He　should　have　been　relieved；　he　knew；　but　instead　he　was　angry。　They　gave　Ta…Kumsaw　help　in　showing　his　courage；　and　now　they　were　making　Measure's　passage　through　the　gatlopp　a　walk　of　shame　instead　of　honor。　He　whirled　around　and　faced　the　Prophet；　who　stood　at　the　bottom　of　the　dune；　his　arm　across　Alvin's　shoulders。
　　〃What　did　you　say　to　them？〃　Measure　demanded。
　　〃I　told　them　that　if　they　killed　you；　everyone　would　say　Ta…Kumsaw　and　the　Prophet　kidnapped　these　boys　and　murdered　diem。　I　told　them　that　if　they　marked　you　in　any　way；　when　you　went　home　everybody　would　say　we　tortured　you。〃
　　〃And　I　say　I　want　a　fair　chance　to　prove　I'm　not　a　coward！〃
　　〃The　gatlopp　is　a　stupid　idea；　for　men　who　forget　their　duty。〃
　　Measure　reached　down　and　grabbed　a　club　from　a　Red　man's　hand。　He　struck　his　own　thighs　with　it；　again；　again；　trying　to　draw　blood。　It　hurt；　but　not　very　bad；　because　whether　he　wanted　to　or　not；　his　arms　flinched　at　causing　pain　to　his　own　self。　So　he　thrust　the　branch　back　into　the　warrior's　arms　and　demanded；　〃Hit　me！〃
　　〃The　bigger　a　man　is；　the　more　people　he　serves；〃　said　the　Prophet。　〃A　small　man　serves　himself。　Bigger　is　to　serve　your　family。　Bigger　is　to　serve　your　tribe。　Then　your　people。　Biggest　of　all；　to　serve　all　men；　and　all　lands。　For　yourself；　you　show　courage。　For　your　family；　your　tribe；　your　people；　my　people　　for　the　land　and　all　people　in　it；　you　walk　this　gatlopp　with　no　mark　on　you。〃
　　Slowly；　Measure　turned　around；　walked　up　the　dune　to　Ta…Kumsaw；　untouched。　Again　Ta…Kumsaw　spat　on　the　ground；　this　time　at　Measure's　feet。
　　〃I　ain't　no　coward；〃　said　Measure。
　　Ta…Kumsaw　walked　away。　Walked；　slipped；　slid　down　the　dune。　The　warriors　of　the　gatlopp　also　walked　away。　Measure　stood　at　the　top　of　the　hill；　feeling　ashamed；　angry；　used。
　　〃Go！〃　shouted　the　Prophet。　〃Walk　south　from　here！〃
　　He　handed　a　pouch　to　Alvin；　who　scrambled　up　the　dune　and　gave　it　to　Measure。　Measure　opened　it。　It　contained　pernmican　and　dried　corn；　so　he　could　suck　on　it　on　his　way。
　　〃You　ing　with　me？〃　Measure　asked。
　　〃I'm　going　with　Ta…Kumsaw；〃　said　Alvin。
　　〃I　could've　made　it　through　the　gatlopp；〃　said　Measure。
　　〃I　know；〃　said　Alvin。
　　〃If　he　wasn't　going　to　let　me　go　through　it；〃　said　Measure；　〃how　e　the　Prophet　allowed　it　to　happen　at　all？〃
　　〃He　ain't　telling；〃　said　Alvin。　〃But　something　terrible's　going　to　happen。　And　he　wants　it　to　happen。　If　you'd've　went　before；　when　I　told　you　to　run　away〃
　　〃They　would've　caught　me；　Al。〃
　　〃It　was　worth　a　try。　Now　when　you　leave；　you're　doing　just　what　he　wants。〃
　　〃He　plans　for　me　to　get　killed　or　something？〃
　　〃He　promised　me　you'd　live　through　this；　Measure。　And　all　the　family。　Him　and　Ta…Kumsaw；　too。〃
　　〃Then　what's　so　terrible？〃
　　〃I　don't　know。　I'm　just　scared　of　what's　going　to　happen。　I　think　he's　sending　me　with　Ta…Kumsaw　to　save　my　life。〃
　　One　more　time；　it　was　worth　a　try。　〃Alvin；　if　you　love　me；　e　with　me　now。〃
　　Alvin　started　to　cry。　〃Measure；　I　love　you；　but　I　can't　go。〃　Still　crying；　he　ran　down　the　dune。　Not　wanting　to　watch　him　out　of　sight；　Measure　started　walking。　Almost　due　south；　a　little　bit　east。　He　wouldn't　have　no　trouble　finding　the　way。　But　he　felt　sick　with　dread；　and　with　shame　for　having　let　them　talk　him　into　leaving　without　his　brother。　I　failed　at　everything　here。　I'm　pretty　near　useless。
　　He　walked　the　rest　of　that　day　and　spent　the　night　in　a　pile　of　leaves　in　a　hollow。　Next　day　he　walked　till　late　afternoon；　when　he　came　to　a　south…flowing　creek。　It　would　flow　into　the　Tippy…Canoe　or　the　Wobbish；　one　or　the　other。　It　was　too　deep　to　walk　down　the　middle；　and　too　overgrown　to　walk　alongside。　So　he　just　kept　the　stream　within　earshot　and　made　his　own　way　through　the　forest。　He　wasn't　no　Red；　that　was　for　sure。　He　got　scratched　up　by　bushes　and　branches　and　bit　by　insects；　none　of　which　felt　too　good　on　his　sunburnt　skin。　He　also　kept　running　into　thickets　and　having　to　back　out。　Like　the　land　was　his　enemy；　slowing　him　down。　He　kept　wishing　for　a　horse　and　a　good　road。
　　Hard　as　it　was　to　go　through　the　woods；　though；　he　was　up　to　it。　Partly　cause　Alvin　toughened　up　his　feet　for　him。　Partly　cause　of　the　way　he　seemed　to　breathe　deeper　than　ever　before。　But　it　was　more　than　that。　Strength　was　wound　in　among　his　muscles　in　a　way　he　never　felt　in　his　life。　Never　so　alive　as　now。　And　he　thought；　If　I　had　a　horse　right　now；　I　think　maybe　I'd　be　wishing　I　was　on　foot。
　　It　was　late　afternoon　on　the　second　day　when　he　heard　a　splashing　sound　in　the　river。　There　was　no　mistaking　it　　horses　were　being　walked　in　the　stream。　That　meant　White　men；　maybe　even　folks　from　Vigor　Church；　still　searching　for　him　and　Alvin。
　　He　scrambled　his　way　to　the　Stream；　getting　scratched　something　awful　on　the　way。　They　were　headed　downstrewn；　away　from　him；　four　men　on　horseback。　It　wasn't　till　he　was　already　out　into　the　stream；　yelling　to　bust　his　head　off　that　he　noticed　they　were　wearing　the　green　uniform　of　the　U。S。　Army。　He　never　heard　of　them　ing　up　in　these　parts。　This　was　the　country　where　White　folks　didn't　go　much；　on　account　of　not　wanting　to　rile　up　the　French　at　Fort　Chicago。
　　They　heard　him　right　off；　and　wheeled　their　horses　around　to　see　him。　Almost　quick　as　they　saw　him；　three　of　them　had　their　muskets　up　to　the　ready。
　　〃Don't　shoot！〃　Measure　cried。
　　The　soldiers　rode　toward　him；　making　pretty　slow　progress　as　their　horses　had　some　trouble　breasting　the　water。
　　〃Don't　shoot；　for　heaven's　sake；〃　Measure　said。　〃You　can　see　I　ain't　armed；　I　don't　even　have　a　knife。〃
　　〃He　talks　English　real　good；　don't　he？〃　said　one　soldier　to　another。
　　〃Of　course　I　do！　I'm　a　White　main。〃
　　〃Now　don't　that　beat　all；〃　said　another　soldier。　〃First　time　I　ever　heard　one　of　them　claim　to　be　White。〃
　　Measure　looked　down　at　his　own　skin。　It　was　a　vivid　red　color　from　his　sunburn；　much　lighter　than　any　true　Red　man。　He　was　wearing　a　loincloth；　and　he　looked　pretty　wild　and　dirty。　But　his　beard　was　growing　somewhat；　wasn't　it？　For　the　first　time　Measure　found　himself　wishing　he　was　a　hairy　man；　with　thick　heavy　beard　and　lots　of　chest　hair。　Then　there'd　be　no　mistake；　since　Reds　didn't　grow　much。　As　it　was；　though；　they　wouldn't　see　his　light…colored　mustache　hair　or　the　few　little　hairs　on　his　chin　till　they　were　up　cIdse。
　　And　they　weren't　taking　no　chances；　either。　Only　one　rode　right　up　to　him。　The　others　hung　back；　their　muskets　out；　ready　to　open　fire　in　case　Measure　had　some　boys　lying　in　ambush　on　the　riverbank。　He　could　see　that　the　man　riding　toward　him　was　plumb　scared　to　death；　looking　this　way　and　that；　waiting　to　see　a　Red　man