I'mgladtheyfoundthedearlittlefoalsanyway,'Samanthasaid.

'They'vefoundthem?'Iasked.Thesmallpaddockwa.s.stillempty.

'They'veputtheminthebarn,'agreedMickey.'Withtheirmothers.'

'Someoneleftthegateunlocked,'Betty-Anntoldme.'Isn't.i.tashame?Yola'sobviouslyinafearfulstate.'

Yolahadbeeninthedining-roomwhenIstrolledintobreakfast,standingsilentandrigidbythekitchendoor,checkingthatalltheguestswerethere,lookingforsignsofguilt.

Poisehaddesertedher.Thehairwasroughlytiedwitharibbonatthenapeofherneckandthelipstickwasmissing.Therehadbeennoprofessionalrea.s.suringsmiles.Amuscletwitchedinthestrongjawandshehadn'tbeenincontrolofthewildnessinhereyes.

Iateadoubleorderofbaconandbuckwheathotcakeswithmaplesyrup,anddrankthreecupsofcoffee Betty-AnnoppositemelitacigaretteandsaiddidIhavetoleave,couldn'tIstayanotherfewdays.Wilkiegrufflysaidtheyshouldn'ttrytokeepafeller.Wilkiehadcottonedon,andwasgladtoseemego.

StrongfootstepscameintotheroomfromthedoorbehindmeBetty-Annlookedovermyheadandhereyeswidened.

'Whyh.e.l.lothere,'sheexclaimedwarmly,transferringherattentions'Howgoodtoseeyou.'

Wilkie,Ithoughtinamus.e.m.e.nt,shouldbeusedtoitbynow.b.u.t.theWilkersons'problemsblinkedoutofmymindforeverwhensomeoneelsecalledthenewmanbyhisname.

Matt.

MattClivespokefrombehindmyshoulder;adrawlingba.s.svoiceunderstrictcontrol.

'Listenfolks.Iguessyouknowwe'vehadalittletroubleherethismorning.Someoneletoutthemaresandhorsesfromtheirpaddockoverthere.Nowifitwasanyofyoukids,we'dsureliketoknowabout.i.t.'

Therewasashortsilence.Thevariouschildrenlookeduncomfortableandtheirparents'eyebrowspeakedintoquestionmarks.

'Orifanyoneknowsthatthegatewasn'tproperlyfastenedyesterdayatanytime?'

Moresilence.

MattClivewalkedtentativelyroundthelongtable,intomylineofsight.AboutYola'sage,Yola'sheight.Samejawline.Samestrongbody,onlymoreso.Irememberedthetwobedroomsintheircabin:theringlessfingersofYola'shand.Yola'sbrother,Matt.Idrankmycoffeeandavoidedmeetinghiseyes.

Oneortwooftheguestslaughinglymentionedrustlers,andsomeonesuggestedcallinginthepolice.Mattsaidtheywereseriouslythinkingofit.Oneofthestallionswasquitevaluable.Butonly,ofcourse,ifitwasabsolutelycertainthatnoneoftheguestshadleftthegateopenbyaccident.

Sympatheticmurmurswereallhegot.Hemightindeedbebraveenough,ordesperateenough,tocallinthepolice.Butifhedid,theywouldn'trecoverChrysalis,whoshouldbynowbehundredsofmilesawayonaroundaboutroute,accompaniedbyastrictlylegalbillofsale.

Matteventuallywentaway,trailingathunderousauraandleavingtheguestsunsettledandembarra.s.sed.

Iaskedthegirlwhowaitedattableifshecouldfetchmyaccountforme,asIwantedtopayupbeforeleaving,andafteranintervalshereturnedwithit.Igavehercash,andwaitedwhileshewroteareceipt.

TheWilkersonfamilysaidtheirgood-byes,astheywerehopingtogoridingifanyofthewranglershadcomebackfromsearchingforthemissinghorse,andIwalkedunhurriedlybacktomycabintofinishpacking.Upthetwosteps,acrosstheporch,throughthetwodoors,andintotheroom.

Yolacameoutofthebathroomcarryingarifle.Thewayshehandleditshowedsheknewhowtouseit.Mattsteppedfrombehindthecurtainedcloset,betweenmeandthewayout.Norifleforhim.Ashotgun.

Iputonthepuzzledact,Germanaccentstronger.

'Excuseme.Idonotunderstand.'

'It'sthesameman,'Mattsaid.'Definitely.'

'Where'sourhorse?'saidYolafuriously.

'Idonotknow,'Isaidtruthfully,spreadingmyhandsoutinaheavyshrug.'Whydoyouasksuchaquestion?'

Boththegunswerepointingsteadfastlymyway.

'Excuseme,'Isaid,'Ihavemypackingtofinish.Ihavepaidthebill.Iamleavingthismorning.'

'You'renotgoinganywhere,friend,'Mattsaidgrimly.

'Whynot?'

'Yougetthathorsebackhere,andthenyoucango.Notbefore.'

Hewasgoingtohaveafineoldtimeifheintendedtokeepaprisonersilentindefinitelyonaranchfullofholidayguests.

'Ican'tgethimback,'Isaid.'Idon'tknowwhereheis.Severalfriendsofmine,however,doknowwhereIam.Theywillbeexpectingmetobeleavingherethismorning.'

Theystaredatmeinsilentfury.Childrenincrime,Ithought,foralltheiringenuity.Theyhadwalkedstraightinwiththeirgunswithoutthinkingclearlythrough.Theywere,however,lethalchildren,ruledbyimpulsemorethanreason.

Isaid,'Iamunlikelytogoaroundsaying"IstoleahorsefromtheClives."Ifyoudonothing,andInowdrivesafelyaway,youmayhearnomoreofit.That'sthebestIcanoffer.Youwillnot,whateveryoudo,recoverthehorse.'

Theonlysensiblecourseopentothemwastoletmego.ButYola'sfingertightenedonthetrigger,andIreluctantlydecideditwastimefortheLuger.Watchingher,Isawasplitsecondtoolateinthelookinggla.s.sthatMatthadtakenastepbehindmeandwa.s.swinginghisgunb.u.t.tlikeabludgeon.

HecaughtmesolidlyacrossthebackoftheskullandthepatchworkquiltonthebeddazzledintokaleidoscopicfragmentsinmyglazingeyesasIwentdown.

CHAPTERTEN.

WhenIwokeupitwasprettyclearthatIwasn'tintendedtobeahostage,butacorpse.

Thecabinwasfullofsmoke,andsmallflamesroseinalongunevenswatheacrossthefloor.Icouldn'trememberanythingatfirst.Lookedatthescenemuzzily,halfsittingup,myheaddizzyandsplittingwithpain.TheClives,Ithought.They'demptiedthewholetubofpepoutintoastragglingline,andset.i.talight.Sawdustanddieseloilburningslowlyandbillowingoutunbreathablegases.

They'dlaidmeagainstthestovesothat.i.twouldseemasifI'dfallenandhitmyheadonit.TheemptypeptinrolledawayfrommyfootasItriedtogetup,andmyhandbrushedagainstacigaretteandabookofmatches.

Mostdeathsinfiresweren'tcausedbyburnsbutbyasphyxia.Thecabinwouldn'tburndownfromfireonthefloorboards:fireneverburneddownwards,onlyup.TheCliveswerestagingmyexitforn.o.bettermotivethanrevenge.Andasanaccident.i.twasoneoftheirpoorerefforts.

Havingstaggereditswaythroughthoseuselessrandomthoughts,mybrainclearedenoughformetodecideitwashightimetomoveifIwasgoingtodoanythingaboutliving.AndIsupposedIwouldhaveto.

Istumbledontomyfeet,pulledthequiltoffoneofthebeds,totteredintothebathroomwithitandsoakeditunderthetapsinthebath.Smokewaswelldowninmylungs,thickandchoking.It'sb.l.o.o.d.ystupid,Ithoughtgroggily,it'sd.a.m.nb.l.o.o.d.ystupidthatboy-and-girlkeeptryingtoshovemewhereIwanttogo,andIkeeptryingnottoletthem.Ridiculous.Ridiculous...

Ifoundmyselfonmyknees,halfunconscious.Thebathwaterstillrunning.Pulledmyselfupalittle,hauledoutthedrippingquilt,flungitovertheworstofthefire.Silly,Ithought.Muchbettertogooutofthedoor.Triedthat.d.a.m.nthingwa.s.stuck.

Window,then.Stuck.

Wrappedmyhandinthecurtainandpusheditthroughoneofthepanesofgla.s.s.Someaircamein.Theinsectscreenstoppedmore.

Downonmykneesagain.Terriblydizzy.Ablackh.e.l.linmyhead.Smeltthequiltburning,lifteditoffonelotoffire,andontothenext.Dampeditalloutintoasmellyblackfaintlysmoulderingpathandfeltoldandweakfromtoomuchscramblingupanddownmountainsanddeeplyillfromthecrashonthebrainandtoomuchsmoke.

Openedthefrontofthefatblackstove.Shapleigh,itsaid.GraduallythesmokebegantoclearawayupitsstackpipewhileIlayinapoorstatebesidethecabindoorandbreathedthefreshairtricklinginunderneath.

SeveraleraslaterIstoppedfeelinglikemorguematerialandthehammerinmyheaddiedtoabrutalachingthrob.IbegantowonderhowlongitwouldbebeforeMattandYolareturnedtomaketheirhorrifieddiscoveryofmydeath,andwearilydecideditwastimeforaction.

Istoodupslowlyandleanedagainstthedoor.They'dfasteneditsomehowfromtheoutside,inspiteoftherebeingnolock:anditwa.s.simpleenoughtoseewhenone'seyesweren'tfilledwithsmoke.Thescreendooropenedoutwards,thewoodendoorinwards.Asmallhookleadinginthroughthelatchwasholdingthetwotogether.Ipusheditup,anditslidawayastheinnerdooropened.

Mywalletlayonthetable,notinmypocket.They'dbeenlooking.Nothingforthemtofind,excepttheirownphotograph.They'dtakenthat.b.u.t.theyhadn'tsearchedveryfar:theLugerwa.s.stillinitsholsteratmyback,undermyouthangingshirt.Icheckedthemagazine-stillloaded-andput.i.tbackinplace.

TheonlyotherthingIreallywantedtotakewithmewasmyradio.Isquasheddownits.e.xtendedantennaaerialandshoveditintomyoldsuitcaseontopofthethingsI'dpackedbeforebreakfast.Then,pickingitupandfightingdownthewhirlingchaoswhichresulted,Iopenedthescreendoor.Behindmethecabinlayinasingedshambles.Ahead,thecomparativelyshortwalktotheca.r.s.eemedamarathon.

ImighthavemadeitinoneifIhadn'tfeltanyworse:butattheendofthewoodlandtrack,whenallthatwaslefttogowastheopenexpanseofthecarpark,awaveofclammysweatingfaintnessseethedthroughmeandIdroppedthesuitcaseandleanedagainstatree,waitingweaklyforittopa.s.s.

Yolacameoutofthekitchendoorandsawme.Hermouthfellopen,thensheturnedononeheelanddivedbackintotheranch-house.Fortherifle.OrforMatt.Myhandclosedonthepistolatmyback,butIwasveryloathtouseit.Toomanyexplanationstoauthoritywouldbeinvolved,andIpreferredtoavoidthematthisstage.

'h.e.l.lo,'saidacheerfulvoicebehindme.'Wethoughtyou'dgoneagesago.'

Iturnedmywonkyheadandletmyhandfallawayfromthegun.MickeyandSamanthawerecomingdownthetrackfromthebranchwhichledtotheWilkersons'cabin.

'AndIthought,'Isaid,'thatyou'dgoneriding.'

'Thewranglershaven'tbroughtinenoughhorses,'Mickeyexplainedsadly.

'Areyousickorsomething?'askedhissister,comingtoahaltandstaringupintomyface.

'Abit,'Iadmitted.I'dbeawfullygladifyou'dcarrymysuitcaseforme,acrosstothatblackcar.'

'Sure,'saidMickeyimportantly,andSamanthatookmyhandinmotherlysolicitude.WithonechildoneachsideIcompletedthetrip.

ItwastherifleYolafetched.ShestoodwithitstifflyinherhandsandwatchedthechildrenputthesuitcaseinthecarandstandclosetomywindowwhileIstartedtheengine.Anaccidentaldrowning,anaccidentalsmotheringshecouldmanage:b.u.t.threepublicmurdersbyshootingwereoutsideherrange.Justaswell.Ifshe'dliftedthatrifletowardsthechildren,Iwouldhaveshother.

'Bye,'theysaid,waving.Nicekids.

'Bye.'

Ireleasedthebrakesandrolledawaydownthedriveinaplumeofdust,acceleratingfasta.s.soonasIhitthemetalledroad,andtakingthemainbranchdowntoJackson.IfYolathoughtoffollowinginthepickup,shedidn'tdoitfastenough.RepeatedinspectioninthemirrorshowednoCliveschasingonmytail.Theonlythingsconstantlybeforemyeyeswerebrightdancingspots.

ThroughJacksonIturnednorthandwestontothewindingroadtoIdahoFalls.AlongtheretheSnakeRiverandthePallisadesReservoir,sparklingblueagainstthedarkpines,werestunninglybeautiful.Butmyseveralstopsweren'tforappreciation:thecoldsweatingwavesofdizzinesskeptrecurring,liketwenty-twooverseven.Idroveslowly,closetotheside,neverovertaking,readytopullup.IfIhadn'twantedtoputahundredmilesorsobetweenmeandtheClives,Iwouldn'thavestartedfromJackson.MostofthetimeIwishedIhadn't.

Waltwas.p.a.cingthemotellobbylikeafreneticfilmproducerwhenIfinallyshowedupatfive-thirtyintheafternoon.

'Youarefourandahalfhourslate,'hebeganaccusingly.'Yousaid...'

'Iknow,'Iinterrupted.'Bookussomerooms.We'restayinghere.'

Heopenedhismouthandshut.i.ttight.

I'msorry,'Isaid,softeningit,'butIfeelill.'

'What'sthematter?'

'Concussion.'

Waltgavemeasearchinglook,bookedtherooms,andevenwentsofarastocarrymysuitcase.Ilaystraightdownonthebed,andhesatinaneasychairinmyroomandrubbedhisfingers.

'Doyouneedadoctor?'hesaid.

'Idon'tthinkso.It'snotgettinganyworse.'

'Well...whathappened?'

'I'llgiveyousomefreeadvice,'Isaid.'Don'teverletMattClivecomewithinbashingdistanceofyourhead.'

Thedizzinesswasn'tsobadlyingdown.

'Doyouwantadrink?'heasked.

'No...Let'slistentoataperecordinginstead.'Itoldhimhowtoopenthebackoftheradioandtorewindthereels.

'Neatlittlejob,'hecommented.'Wheredidyouget.i.t?'

'Haditspeciallymade,twoorthreeyearsago.'

Waltgrunted,andswitchedon.TheheadwranglerbangedonYola'sdoorandtoldherthatthemaresandstallionswereout.Walt'sfaceliftedintoahalfgrin.

Therecorderplayedtwentysecondsofsilenceaftereachtake,andbeganagainatthenextsound.Thenextpiecewasveryshort.

'Yola?'Aman'svoice,veryloud.'Yola!Wheretheh.e.l.liseverybody?'Adoorslammed.Silence.

'That'sMattClive,'ItoldWalt.'Hecamebackbeforebreakfast.'

Thevoicesbeganagain.Yolaspeaking,comingindoors.'...saythetracksgostraightupthehill,butheturnedbackatthehighpatchofscreeandcamedownagain.'

Thatwasabitofluck.

'They'lljusthavetogoonlooking.'Mattsaid.'Yola,forG.o.d'ssake,wecan'tlosethathorse.'Hisvoicewa.s.strainedandfurious.'I'llgoovertothehouseandseeifanyofthosekidshadahandinit.'

'Idon'tthinkso.Notadarnedoneofthemlooksnervous.'

'I'lltry,anyway.'Hisfootstepsreceded.

Yolapickedupthetelephoneandmadeacall.

'Thatyou,Jim?HaveyouseenanyhorsevanscomingthroughPikeletsincelastnight?'