wildfire-第53节

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could　do。　They　made　fast　time。　The　level　forest　floor；　hard　and　springy；
afforded　the　best　kind　of　going。

A　cold　dread　had　once　more　clutched　Lucy's　heart。　What　would　be　the　end　of
this　flight？　The　way　Creech　looked　back　increased　her　dread。　How　horrible　it
would　be　if　Cordts　accomplished　what　he　had　always　threatenedto　run　off　with
both　her　and　the　King！　Lucy　lost　her　confidence　in　Creech。　She　did　not　glance
again　at　Joel。　Once　had　been　enough。　She　rode　on　with　heavy　heart。　Anxiety　and
dread　and　conjecture　and　a　gradual　sinking　of　spirit　weighed　her　down。　Yet　she
never　had　a　clearer　perception　of　outside　things。　The　forest　loomed　thicker
and　darker。　The　sky　was　seen　only　through　a　green；　crisscross　of　foliage
waving　in　the　roaring　gale。　This　strong　wind　was　like　a　blast　in　Lucy's　face；
and　its　keen　dryness　cracked　her　lips。

When　they　rode　out　of　the　forest；　down　a　gentle　slope　of　wind…swept　grass；　to
an　opening　into　a　canyon　Lucy　was　surprised　to　recognize　the　place。　How
quickly　the　ride　through　the　forest　had　been　made！

Creech　dismounted。　〃Git　off；　Lucy。　You；　Joel；　hurry　an'　hand　me　the　little
pack。　。　。　。　Now　I'll　take　Lucy　an'　the　King　down　in　hyar。　You　go　thet　way　with
the　hosses　an'　make　as　if　you　was　hidin'　your　trail；　but　don't。　Do　you　savvy？〃

Joel　shook　his　head。　He　looked　sullen；　somber；　strange。　His　father　repeated
what　he　had　said。

〃You're　wantin'　Cordts　to　split　on　the　trail？〃　asked　Joel。

〃Sure。　He'll　ketch　up　with　you　sometime。　But　you　needn't　be　afeared　if　he
does。〃

〃I　ain't　a…goin'　to　do　thet。〃

〃Why　not？〃　Creech　demanded；　slowly；　with　a　rising　voice。

〃I'm　a…goin'　with　you。　What　d'ye　mean；　Dad；　by　this　move？　You'll　be　headin'
back　fer　the　Ford。　An'　we'd　git　safer　if　we　go　the　other　way。〃

Creech　evidently　controlled　his　temper　by　an　effort。　〃I'm　takin'　Lucy　an'　the
King　back　to　Bostil。〃

Joel　echoed　those　words；　slowly　divining　them。　〃Takin'　them　BOTH！　The　girl。　。
。　。　An'　givin'　up　the　King！〃

〃Yes；　both　of　them。　I've　changed　my　mind；　Joel。　Nowyou〃

But　Creech　never　finished　what　he　meant　to　say。　Joel　Creech　was　suddenly
seized　by　a　horrible　madness。　It　was　then；　perhaps；　that　the　final　thread
which　linked　his　mind　to　rationality　stretched　and　snapped。　His　face　turned
green。　His　strange　eyes　protruded。　His　jaw　worked。　He　frothed　at　the　mouth。　He
leaped；　apparently　to　get　near　his　father；　but　he　missed　his　direction。　Then；
as　if　sight　had　come　back；　he　wheeled　and　made　strange　gestures；　all　the　while
cursing　incoherently。　The　father's　shocked　face　began　to　show　disgust。　Then
part　of　Joel's　ranting　became　intelligible。

〃Shut　up！〃　suddenly　roared　Creech。

〃No；　I　won't！〃　shrieked　Joel；　wagging　his　head　in　spent　passion。　〃An'　you
ain't　a…goin'　to　take　thet　girl　home。　。　。　。　I'll　take　her　with　me。　。　。　。　An'
you　take　the　hosses　home！〃

〃You're　crazy！〃　hoarsely　shouted　Creech；　his　face　going　black。　〃They　allus
said　so。　But　I　never　believed　thet。〃

〃An'　if　I'm　crazy；　thet　girl　made　me。　。　。　。　You　know　what　I'm　a…goin'　to　do？　。
。　。　I'll　strip　her　nakedan'　I'll〃

Lucy　saw　old　Creech　lunge　and　strike。　She　heard　the　sodden　blow。　Joel　went
down。　But　he　scrambled　up　with　his　eyes　and　mouth　resembling　those　of　a　mad
hound　Lucy　once　had　seen。　The　fact　that　he　reached　twice　for　his　gun　and　could
not　find　it　proved　the　breaking　connection　of　nerve　and　sense。　Creech　jumped
and　grappled　with　Joel。　There　was　a　wrestling；　strained　struggle。　Creech's
hair　stood　up　and　his　face　had　a　kind　of　sick　fury；　and　he　continued　to　curse
and　command。　They　fought　for　the　possession　of　the　gun。　But　Joel　seemed　to
have　superhuman　strength。　His　hold　on　the　gun　could　not　be　broken。　Moreover；
he　kept　straining　to　point　the　gun　at　his　father。　Lucy　screamed。　Creech　yelled
hoarsely。　But　the　boy　was　beyond　reason　or　help；　and　he　was　beyond　over
powering！　Lucy　saw　him　bend　his　arm　in　spite　of　the　desperate　hold　upon　it　and
fire　the　gun。　Creech's　hoarse　entreaties　ceased　as　his　hold　on　Joel　broke。　He
staggered。　His　arms　went　up　with　a　tragic；　terrible　gesture。　He　fell。　Joel
stood　over　him；　shaking　and　livid；　but　he　showed　only　the　vaguest　realization
of　the　deed。　His　actions　were　instinctive。　He　was　the　animal　that　had　clawed
himself　free。　Further　proof　of　his　aberration　stood　out　in　the　action　of
sheathing　his　gun；　he　made　the　motion　to　do　so；　but　he　only　dropped　it　in　the
grass。

Sight　of　that　dropped　gun　broke　Lucy's　spell　of　horror；　which　had　kept　her
silent　but　for　one　scream。　Suddenly　her　blood　leaped　like　fire　in　her　veins。
She　measured　the　distance　to　Sage　King。　Joel　was　turning。　Then　Lucy　darted　at
the　King；　reached　him；　and；　leaping；　was　half　up　on　him　when　he　snorted　and
jumped；　not　breaking　her　hold；　but　keeping　her　from　getting　up。　Then　iron
hands　clutched　her　and　threw　her；　like　an　empty　sack；　to　the　grass。

Joel　Creech　did　not　say　a　word。　His　distorted　face　had　the　deriding　scorn　of　a
superior　being。　Lucy　lay　flat　on　her　back；　watching　him。　Her　mind　worked
swiftly。　She　would　have　to　fight　for　her　body　and　her　life。　Her　terror　had
fled　with　her　horror。　She　was　not　now　afraid　of　this　demented　boy。　She　meant
to　fight；　calculating　like　a　cunning　Indian；　wild　as　a　trapped　wildcat。

Lucy　lay　perfectly　still；　for　she　knew　she　had　been　thrown　near　the　spot　where
the　gun　lay。　If　she　got　her　hands　on　that　gun　she　would　kill　Joel。　It　would　be
the　action　of　an　instant。　She　watched　Joel　while　he　watched　her。　And　she　saw
that　he　had　his　foot　on　the　rope　round　Sage　King's　neck。　The　King　never　liked
a　rope。　He　was　nervous。　He　tossed　his　head　to　get　rid　of　it。　Creech；　watching
Lucy　all　the　while；　reached　for　the　rope；　pulled　the　King　closer　and　closer；
and　untied　the　knot。　The　King　stood　then；　bridle　down　and　quiet。　Instead　of　a
saddle　he　wore　a　blanket　strapped　round　him。

It　seemed　that　Lucy　located　the　gun　without　turning　her　eyes　away　from　Joel's。
She　gathered　all　her　forcerolled　over　swiftlyagain　got　her　hands　on　the
gun　just　as　Creech　leaped　like　a　panther　upon　her。　His　weight　crushed　her
flathis　strength　made　her　hand…hold　like　that　of　a　child。　He　threw　the　gun
aside。　Lucy　lay　face　down；　unable　to　move　her　body　while　he　stood　over　her。
Then　he　struck　her；　not　a　stunning　blow；　but　just　the　hard　rap　a　cruel　rider
gives　to　a　horse　that　wants　its　own　way。　Under　that　blow　Lucy's　spirit　rose　to
a　height　of　terrible　passion。　Still　she　did　not　lose　her　cunning；　the　blow
increased　it。　That　blow　showed　Joel　to　be　crazy。　She　might　outwit　a　crazy　man；
where　a　man　merely　wicked　might　master　her。

Creech　tried　to　turn　her。　Lucy　resisted。　And　she　was　strong。　Resistance
infuriated　Creech。　He　cuffed　her　sharply。　This　action　only　made　him　worse。
Then　with　hands　like　steel　claws　he　tore　away　her　blouse。

The　shock　of　his　hands　on　her　bare　flesh　momentarily　weakened　Lucy；　and　Creech
dragged　at　her　until　she　lay　seemingly　helpless　before　him。

And　Lucy　saw　that　at　the　sight　of　her　like　this　something　had　come　between
Joel　Creech's　mad　motives　and　their　execution。　Once　he　had　loved　herdesired
her。　He　looked　vague。　He　stroked　her　shoulder。　His　strange　eyes　softened；　then
blazed　with　a　different　light。　Lucy　divined　that　she　was　lost　unless　she　could
recall　his　insane　fury。　She　must　begin　that　terrible　fight　in　which　now　the
best　she　could　hope　for　was　to　make　him　kill　her　quickly。

Swift　and　vicious　as　a　cat　she　fastened　her　teeth　in　his　arm。　She　bit　deep　and
held　on。　Creech　howled　like　a　dog。　He　beat　her。　He　jerked　and　wrestled。　Then
he　lifted　her；　and　the　swing　of　her　body　tore　the　flesh　loose　from　his　arm　and
broke　her　hold。　Lucy　half　rose；　crawled；　plunged　for　the　gun。　She　got　it；　too；
only　to　have　Creech　kick　it　out　of　her　hand。　The　pain　of　that　brutal　kick　was
severe；　but　when　he　cut　her　across　the　bare　back　with　the　rope　she　shrieked
out。　Supple　and　quick；　she　leaped　up　and　ran。　In　vain！　With　a　few　bounds　he
had　her　again；　tripped　her　up。　Lucy　fell　over　the　dead　body　of　the　father。　Yet
even　that　did　not　shake　her　desperate　nerve。　All　the　ferocity　of　a　desert…bred
savage　culminated　in　her；　fighting　for　death。

Creech　leaned　down；　swinging　the　coiled　rope。　He　meant　to　do　more　than　lash
her　with　it。　Lucy's　hands　flashed　up；　closed　tight　in　his　long　hair。　Then　with
a　bellow　he　jerked　up　and　lifted　her　sheer　off　the　ground。　There　was　an
instant　in　which　Lucy　felt　herself　swung　and　torn；　she　saw　everything　as　a
whirling　blur；　she　felt　an　agony　in　her　wrists　at　which　Creech　was　clawing。
When　he　broke　her　hold　there　were　handfuls　of　hair　in　Lucy's　fists。

She　fell　again　and　had　not　the　strength　to　rise。　But　Creech　was　raging；　and
little　of　his　broken　speech　was　intelligible。　He　knelt　with　a　sharp　knee
pressing　her　down。　He　cut　the　rope。　Nimbly；　like　a　rider　in　moments　of　needful
swiftness；　he　noosed　one　end　of　the　rope　round　her　ankle；　then　the　end　of　the
other　piece　round　her　wrist。　He　might　have　been　tying　up　an　unbroken　mustang。
Rising；　he　retained　hold　on　both　ropes。　He　moved　back；　sliding　them　through
his　hands。　Then　with　a　quick　move　he　caught　up　Sage　King's　bridle。

Creech　paused　a　moment；　darkly　triumphant。　A　hideous　success　showed　in　his
strange　eyes。　A　long…cherished　mad　vengeance　had　reached　its　fruition。　Then　he
l