thillerman.theblessingway-第22节

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　of　warmer　air　escaping　from　the　camper　partment　and　what　had　been　Dr。　J。　R。　Canfield　slid　a　few　inches　toward　him。
　McKee　took　a　short　step　backward　and　stared。　Canfield's　mouth　was　stretched　open　in　some　frozen；　soundless　shout。　McKee　swallowed　and　then　sat　on　the　tailgate。　With　his　thumb　he　gently　closed　Canfield's　eyes。　The　eyelids　felt　sandy　under　his　touch　and　he　noticed　then　that　there　was　also　sand　around　the　mouth　and　in　his　friend's　thinning　hair。　He　rubbed　his　hand　absently　against　his　pant　leg　and　stared　blindly　out　across　the　canyon。　He　found　himself　wondering　where　Canfield　had　left　his　guitar。　Back　in　the　tent；　he　thought。　Canfield　had　been　working　on　one　of　his　〃ethnics〃　to　celebrate　the　arrival　of　Miss　Leon。　McKee　tried　to　remember　the　words。　They　were　witty；　he　recalled；　and　unusually　unprofane　for　one　of　Jeremy's　productions。　Then　he　could　think　only　of　Miss　Leon；　a　slight；　slender；　weary　figure　sitting　on　the　rock　with　her　head　resting　on　her　arm。
　McKee　got　up；　pushed　Canfield's　body　a　few　inches　back　up　the　steep　incline　of　the　pickup　bed　and　closed　the　tailgate。　He　moved　rapidly　down　the　canyon。
　There　was　no　alternative　now。　No　question　of　turning　back。　But　was　there　a　way　to　get　Miss　Leon　out　of　this　trap　without　bringing　her　past　this　truck？　He　looked　again　at　the　canyon　walls。　With　two　good　hands　he　might　be　able　to　make　it　to　the　top　here；　but　he　was　sure　she　couldn't。　And　he　didn't　have　two　good　hands。　He　cursed　vehemently　as　his　jogging　trot　started　the　throbbing　again。。If　only　he　hadn't　been　so　clumsy。　He　would　have　to　bring　her　past　the　truck。　There　was　no　other　way。　But　he　would　keep　her　from　looking　in。
　She　was　still　on　the　rock　when　he　pushed　his　way　through　the　bushes；　and　she　looked　up　and　smiled　at　him。
　〃We　have　to　go　now；〃　he　said。　〃How's　the　ankle？〃
　〃I　don't　think　I　can　do　more　than　hobble　on　it；〃　she　said。　〃We'll　have　to　go　back。〃
　〃We're　not　going　back。　I　found　Canfield's　truck　up　there。　Someone　broke　in　the　back　window　and　he's　gone。〃
　〃But　we　can't　possibly。。。〃
　〃Get　up；〃　McKee　ordered。　His　voice　was　hoarse。　〃Get　on　your　feet。　I'll　help　you。〃
　〃I'm　not　going；〃　Miss　Leon　said。
　〃You're　going；　and　right　now。〃　McKee's　voice　was　grim。　He　gripped　her　arm　and　lifted　her　to　her　feet；　surprised　at　how　light　she　seemed。　The　box　of　crackers　was　on　the　rock　where　he　had　left　it。　How　could　he　have　been　silly　enough　to　bring　crackers？
　She　tried　to　jerk　away　from　his　grip；　and　then　faced　him。　McKee　noticed　there　were　tears　in　her　eyes。
　〃You've　got　a　concussion。　We　just　can't　go　stumbling　around　like　this。　We've　got　to　get　you　to　a　doctor。　Please；〃　she　said。　〃Please；　Dr。　McKee。　Please　e　back　to　the　camp　and　Dr。　Canfield　will　help　you。〃
　McKee　looked　at　her。　There　was　dust　on　her　face　and　a　tear　had　streaked　it。　He　looked　away；　feeling　baffled　and　helpless。　Maybe　he　would　have　to　tell　her　about　Canfield。
　〃e　on；〃　he　said。　〃I'll　help　you。〃
　〃You're　hurting　my　arm。〃
　McKee　was　suddenly　conscious　of　the　feel　of　her　arm　under　his　fingers；　of　the　softness　under　the　shirt　sleeve。　He　jerked　his　hand　away。
　Miss　Leon　ran。　She　spun　away　from　him　and　ran　lightly　down　the　rocks　toward　the　Volkswagen。　McKee　stood；　too　surprised　to　move；　thinking；　There's　nothing　wrong　with　her　ankle。　Then　he　swore；　and　ran　after　her；　clumsily　because　of　his　injured　hand。　Before　he　reached　the　Volkswagen；　she　had　rolled　up　the　windows　and　locked　herself　in。　For　a　wild　moment；　McKee　thought　she　would　start　the　car　and　drive　off　and　he　had　a　vision　of　himself　trying　to　keep　himself　in　front　of　the　Volkswagen…performing　an　idiotic　game　of　dodgem　in　reverse。　But　she　simply　sat　behind　the　wheel；　looking　at　him。
　He　tapped　on　the　window；　and　tried　to　keep　his　voice　sounding　normal。
　〃Really；　Miss　Leon。　I'm　not　crazy。　And　we　really　do　have　to　get　out　of　here。〃
　Miss　Leon　looked　at　him。　He　saw　no　fear　in　her　expression；　nor　anger。　She　simply　looked　worried。
　〃Roll　down　the　window。〃
　〃Not　until　you　give　me　your　word　of　honor　you'll　go　back　to　the　camp。〃
　Her　voice　was　faint　through　the　glass。
　My　day　for　breaking　windows；　McKee　thought。　He　picked　up　a　rock；　and　wrapped　the　handkerchief　around　his　left　hand　again。　He　saw　Miss　Leon　looked　frightened　now。
　〃Roll　it　down。〃
　〃No。〃
　McKee　hesitated。　He　thought　of　Jeremy's　body；　and　of　the　sand　on　his　face。　Breaking　his　word　would　be　quicker　than　the　window。
　〃I　promise；〃　he　said。　〃Let　me　in　and　we'll　go　back　to　camp。〃
　〃I　don't　know　now；〃　Miss　Leon　said。　〃I'm　not　sure　I　can　trust　you。〃
　Good　lord；　McKee　thought。　Women　left　him　utterly　baffled。
　He　held　up　the　rock。
　〃Open　up；　or　I　break　in。〃
　Miss　Leon　unlocked　the　door　and　he　pulled　it　open。
　〃Get　out　now。　No　more　of　this　horsing　around。　Get　out　of　there　or　I'll　have　to　drag　you　out。〃
　Miss　Leon　got　out。　He　gripped　her　arm　and　walked　with　her　rapidly　up　the　canyon。　And　then　he　stopped。
　A　tall　man　wearing　a　new　black　hat　emerged　from　the　screen　of　bushes　just　in　front　of　them。
　He　was　the　Big　Navajo　who　had　been　shopping　in　Shoemaker's。　In　his　right　hand　he　held　a　machine　pistol；　pointed　approximately　at　McKee's　stomach。　It　was　of　shiny；　gunmetal　blue…something　which　would　have　reflected　in　the　moonlight。
　〃That's　right；〃　the　man　said。　〃Just　stand　still。〃
　He　walked　across　the　rocks　toward　them；　keeping　his　eyes　on　McKee。
　The　pistol；　McKee　saw；　had　a　wire　stock；　now　folded　down；　and　a　long　cartridge　magazine　extending　downward　from　the　chamber。
　〃You're　Bergen　McKee；〃　the　man　said。　〃And　the　young　lady　would　be　Ellen　Leon。〃
　McKee　pulled　Miss　Leon's　arm；　moving　her　behind　him。
　〃What　do　you　want？〃
　The　man　smiled　at　McKee。　It　was　a　pleasant　smile。　And　the　face　was　pleasant。　A　long；　raw…boned　Navajo　face；　with　heavy　eyebrows　and　a　generous　mouth。　McKee　saw　he　wore　short　braids；　tied　with　red　cord。
　〃Just　the　pleasure　of　your　pany　for　a　while；〃　the　big　man　said。　〃But　right　now　I　want　you　to　take　that　hand　out　of　your　shirt　front；　very；　very　slowly。〃
　McKee　pulled　out　the　hand。
　〃Well；〃　the　man　said。　〃I　see　I've　been　too　suspicious。〃　He　smiled　again。　〃That's　quite　a　finger。〃
　McKee　said　nothing。
　〃Now；　I'll　have　you　put　your　hands　against　that　tree。〃　He　flicked　the　long　barrel　of　the　pistol　toward　the　trunk　of　a　pi？on。　〃Lean　against　it　while　I　see　what　you　have　in　those　pockets。　And；　Ellen；　you　stand　over　here　where　I　can　watch　you。〃
　The　man　stood　behind　McKee　and　searched　him　deftly。　He　pulled　out　the　cans　of　meat　and　dropped　them；　took　the　pickup　keys　and　his　billfold；　ran　his　hand　quickly　around　McKee's　belt　line　and　patted　his　shirt。　Then　the　hand　was　gone；　but　the　voice　came　from　directly　behind　him。
　〃You　will　hold　that　position　until　I　finish　checking　Miss　Leon's　possessions。　I　don't　want　any　movement　at　all。　I　don't　have　to　tell　you　that　I　will　use　this　pistol。〃
　〃No；〃　Bergen　said　glumly。　〃You　don't。〃
　He　heard　the　voice　telling　Miss　Leon　to　hold　her　arms　out。　McKee　looked　back　over　his　shoulder。
　The　blow　was　so　sudden　and　vicious　that　he　dropped　to　his　knees　and　huddled　against　the　pain　of　it。　The　man　had　jabbed　him；　full　strength；　above　the　kidney　with　the　muzzle　of　the　pistol。
　〃You　didn't　pay　attention　to　what　I　said；〃　he　heard　the　man　saying。　〃I　said　not　to　move。　But　now　you　can　get　up。〃
　McKee　pulled　himself　to　his　feet。　He　had　hurt　his　finger　again　and　his　hand　throbbed　violently。　He　saw　Miss　Leon　looking　at　him；　her　face　very　white。　The　man　was　looking　at　him　too；　still　smiling　slightly。　He　wore　a　black　shirt　and　denims　tucked　into　the　tops　of　his　boots。
　〃You　know；　I　almost　missed　you　again；〃　the　man　said。　He　stopped　smiling。　〃You've　been　a　hell　of　a　lot　of　trouble。　When　we　have　a　little　time　I　want　you　to　tell　me　how　you　got　away　from　me　last　night　at　your　camp。　That's　been　puzzling　me。〃　The　man　stopped　a　moment；　staring　at　McKee。
　〃I　think　I　know　why　I　didn't　catch　you　at　my　tree。　You　were　farther　down　the　canyon　than　I　thought　you　could　be　and　you　heard　the　winch。　Didn't　you？〃
　〃That's　right；〃　McKee　said。
　〃I　almost　waited　there　too　long；〃　the　man　said。　〃You　were　smart　enough　to　run；　but　then　you　gave　away　your　advantage。　I　wonder　why　you　waited　for　me　here。〃　He　looked　at　McKee　thoughtfully。　〃You　could　have　made　me　hunt　you　another　day；〃　he　said。　〃Why　did　you　stop？　Did　you　give　up？〃
　McKee　didn't　look　at　Miss　Leon。
　〃We　didn't　think　anyone　would　know　where　we　were。〃
　The　Navajo　laughed。　He　seemed　genuinely　amused。　〃If　you　didn't　know　this　was　the　only　way　out；　I　had　some　luck　with　you。〃
　〃Who　the　hell　are　you？〃　McKee　asked。　〃And　what　do　you　want　with　us？〃
　〃Let's　go　now。　You　will　walk　a　little　ahead　and　do　as　you're　told。〃
　He　turned　the　machine　pistol　sideways；　and　tapped　the　safety　button　beside　the　trigger　guard。
　〃I　carry　it　cocked；　with　the　safety　off。　It's　a　。38　caliber　and　I'm　good　with　it。〃
　〃I'll　bet　you　are；〃　McKee　said。
　The　man　kept　well　behind　them　as　they　walked　past　the　brush　and　over　the　rocks。　McKee　walked　silently；　trying　to　think。
　Miss　Leon　touched　his　arm。　〃I'm　sorry。〃　Her　voice　was　very　small。
　〃Nothing　to　be　sorry　for。〃
　〃If　I　hadn't　been　so　stupid；〃　she　whispered。　〃I　thought　it　was　because　you　had　hurt　your　head。〃
　〃What　else　could　you　think？　It　still　seems　craz