lahoma(拉霍马)-第37节
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saying 'Not guilty；' according。〃
〃Brick；〃 interposed Wilfred； returning him the letter； 〃you're making a
mistake not to trust us with the whole truth。 If you wait for Lahoma's
letters and only admit what she discovers； Bill and I can't form any plan of
protecting you。 While her information is coming； bit by bit； the man who
wants you hanged is liable to show up〃
〃Let 'im come！〃 growled Brick。 〃He can't get no closer to me than I'll
be to him。 I'm not going to air my past history。 What Lahoma finds out； I
admits frank and open； otherwise I stands firm as not guilty； being on safe
ground； technical and arbitrary。〃
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〃But if Red Kimball brings the sheriffit's only a matter of timeyour
plea of not guilty won't save you from arrest。 And he'll have any number
of rascals to prove what he pleases； whether it's the truth or not。 If
Gledware comes as a witness； his position will give him great influence
against youand the fact that he'd testify after you'd saved his life； would
make a pretty hard hit with the jury。〃
〃Jury nothing！〃 retorted Brick。 〃This case ain't never going to a jury。
Such things is settled man to man； in these parts。〃
〃But as surely as the sheriff serves his writ； you'll be landed in jail。
And I happen to know the sheriff； he's a man that couldn't be turned from
his dutygood friend of mine； too。〃
〃Is； eh？ Then you'd better advise with him for his good。〃
〃Think of Lahoma。 If you killed a manwhether the sheriff； or this
Red KimballLahoma could never feel toward you as she does today。〃
〃And how would she feel toward me if I was hanged； uh？ I guess she'd
druther I laid my man low than that I swung high。〃 Willock started up
impatiently。 〃We're wasting words；〃 he said； roughly。 〃There is but the two
alternatives： I'm one of 'em； and Red Kimball is the other。 It's simply a
question of which gets which。 I tries to make it plain； for there's no going
back。 Now are you with me； or not？ If not； I'll fight it out along as I
always done in times past and goneand bedinged to 'em！ I'm sorry my
young days was as they was； and for Lahoma's sake I'd cut off this right
arm〃 he held it out； rigidly〃if that'd change the past。 But the pastand
bedinged TO itcan't be changed。 It's there； right over your shoulder； out
of reach。 This mountain might as well say； 'I don't like being a big chunk
of granite where all the rest of the country is a smooth prairie； I'm sorry I
erupted； and I guess I'll go back into the heart of the earth where I come
from。' A mountain that's erupted is erupted till kingdom come； and a man
that's did a deed； has did it till the stars fall。 But you CAN imagine this
mountain saying； with some sense； too； 'Now； since I HAS erupted； I'll do
my best to cover my nakedness with pretty cedars for to stay green in
season and out of season； and I'll embroider myself with flowers and
grasses； and send little mountain…streams down to make soft water in
people's wells so they won't all…time be fretting because I takes up so
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much of good plowing…land；' says the mountain。 I may not be a mountain；
but I've got a good top to me which reasons against the future and forgets
the past。 I know Red Kimballand now that he's learned where I live； one
of us is too many； considering the hard times。 I mean to keep hiding； not to
be took by surprise； but I 'lows to come forth one of these days and walk
about free and disposed； all danger having been removed。〃
〃What about the law？〃 demanded Bill。 〃Do you think IT'S going to let
you walk about free and disposed； after you've removed Red Kimball？〃
〃I hopes the law and me can get on peaceable together；〃 returned the
other grimly。 〃I've never had nothing to do with it； and I hopes to be let
alone。〃
Wilfred spoke with sudden decision： 〃Brick； I'm with you to the end；
and so is Bill。 I have nothing to do with your purposes or plans except to
offer the best advice I knowyou've rejected it； but I'm with you just the
same。 It strikes me I can help you by going to Kansas Cityfor you need
only Bill in the cove；he can bring you Lahoma's letters。 I'll hurry to
Lahoma； and if she decides to come back； as I'm sure she will very soon
well； she'll need a protector。 I'll bring her home。 She asks in her letter what
I'm here for。 Wouldn't that be a good answer？〃
Brick Willock laid his hand on the other's shoulder and stared into his
face with troubled eyes。 Gradually his countenance cleared and something
of his old geniality returned。 〃A first…class answer； son！ I believe you'll do
it。〃 He grasped Wilfred's hand。 〃These are troublous times； and it's good to
feel a hand like this that's steady and true。 Now I ain't going to drag you
into nothing that could hurt you nor Bill； or make you feel sore over past
days。 I don't need nobody to lean onbut Lahoma does； and if Red
Kimball pops it to me before I get a chance to keel him over； you two must
look out for her。〃
〃I'll look out for her myself； single…handed；〃 said Bill gruffly。
〃I know you would； old tap； as long as you lasts；〃 said Willock with an
unwonted note of gentleness。 Bill was so embarrassed by the tone that he
cringed awkwardly。 After a pause； Willock suggested that Wilfred wait for
one more letter from Lahoma； provided it come within the next twenty…
four hours； then start up the trail for Chickasha and board the train for
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Kansas。 〃She might write something that needed instant work；〃 he
explained。 〃If so； I'd like to have you here。 I'm looking for developments
in her next letter。〃
〃Strange to me；〃 muttered Bill； 〃about Red Feather and that sneaking
Gledware。 Wonder how came the Indian with a pin on him that Gledware
knew of？〃
Willock's face was twisted into a sardonic grin。 〃Guess I could explain
that； all rightbut I says nothing beyond Lahoma's word。 I banks on
document'ry proofs； and otherwise stands technical and arbitrary。〃
Hitherto Wilfred； as guest of honor； had been offered the cabin as his
sleeping…quarters； and he had accepted it because of the countless
reminders of Lahoma's fresh and innocent life； but this night； he shared the
dugout with Bill； from a sense of impending danger。 Until a late hour they
sat over the glowing coals； discussing their present situation and offering
conjectures about Willock's younger days。 There could hardly have been a
stronger contrast between the emaciated old man of the huge white
mustache； thin reddish cheeks and shock of white hair； and the broad…
shouldered； handsome and erect young manor the stern and gloomy
countenance of the former； and the expressive eyes and flexible lips of
Wilfred。 Yet they seemed unconscious of any chasm of age or disposition
as they spoke in low tones； not without frequent glances toward the
barricaded door and the heavily curtained window。
The wind made strange noises overhead and at times one could be
almost certain there was the stamping of a man's foot upon the earthen
roof。 The distant cry of a wild beast； and the nearer yelping of hungry
wolves mingled with the whistling of the wind。 Sometimes Wilfred rose
and； passing noiselessly to the window； raised the curtain with a quick
gesture to stare out on a dark and stormy night； and once； in doing so； he
surprised a pair of red eyes under bristling gray hair which seemed to glow
hot as molten lead； as the fire from the open stove caught them unaware。
〃If my arms were tied；〃 remarked Bill； 〃I'd rather trust myself to that
coyote than to Red Kimball。 I hate to think of Brick out yonder on the
mountain； all alone； and no fire to warm him； afraid to smoke his pipe； I
reckon。 Well； this kind of thing can't last long； that's plain。〃
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