Westaredateachotherindismay.

'Goonthen,'Isaidintheend.Therewasnothingelsetodo.

Ileftthecabandwalkedrestlesslyashortwaybackalongtheroad,fearingeverysecondtoseeMatt'sheadlightsandwonderinghowbesttodealwithhimifwehadto.Iwasallforstealingfromhimwhatwasn'this,butnotfordamaginghisskin.He,however,wouldhavenosuchinhibitions.Therewouldcertainlybeblood.NotfairtomakeitSam's.

Attwominutespastmidnighthecalledoutthathehadfinished,andIwalkedquicklybacktojoinhim.Hewaspouringwaterintotheradiator,andscrewedonthecapasIcameup.

'ItshouldbeO.K.now,'hesaid.Hishandswerecoveredingreaseandhisbigbodyhungtiredlyfromtheshoulders.'Whichwaydowego?'

'On.'

Henoddedwithawideslicinggrin.'Ifiguredyou'dsaythat.Well,Iguessthat'sO.K.byme.'

HeswungupintothecabandIclimbedinbesidehim.Theenginestartedsweetlyatfirsttry,andswitchingonhisheadlights,hereleasedthebrakeandeasedawayalongtheroad.

'Ifanyonecatchesusherefromnowon,'Isaid,'duck.'

'Yeah?'

'Yeah.'

'Tellyousomething,'hesaidcomfortably.'Iswingameanlefthook.'

'Thechapwe'dbetakingongoesforthehead.Butwithaclubofsomesortinhisfist.'

'Niceguysyouplaywith,'hesaid.'I'llrememberthat.'

Wecoveredtheremainingdistanceatagoodspeedandinsilence.Thehorseboxcreptroundthelastcorneranditsheadlightsflickeredoverthefarmahead.IputmyhandonSam'sarm,andhebrakedtoahaltashortwayfromtheyard.

'Switchoff,wouldyou?Lightstoo,'Isaid,andjumpedquicklydownfromthecabtowaitafewprecioussecondsuntilmyeyesandearsgotusedtosilenceanddark.

Nolightsinthehouse.Nosoundanywhereexcepttheultra-faintringingvibrationoflimitlessair.Thecalvesandhenswereasleep.Thehorseswerequiet.IbangedonthecabdoorandSamswitchedhisheadlightsonagainbeforeclimbingdowntojoinme.Thebrightshaftslitupthebackofthehouseandwouldn'tshinestraightintothehorses'eyeswhenIledthemfromthebarn.Overontheshadowysideoftheyardtheopendoorsofth.e.s.h.edwhereMatthadkepthiscaryawnedinadeepblacksquare.Thejumbledrubbishdumpjustinfrontofusthrewsurrealistshadowsacrossthedustyground,anditssmellofdecaybrushedbyournoses.

Samswept.i.tallwithapractisedglance.'Notmuchofaplace.'Hisvoicewasaslowasawhisper.

'No...Ifyou'lluncliptheramp,I'llgofetchthehorses.Oneatatime,Ithink.'

'O.K.'Hewasbreathingfasterandhisbighandswereclenched.Notusedtoit,afterall.

Ihurrieddowntowardsthebarn.Itwasn'tfar;aboutfortyyards.Nowthatweweretotallycommittedmymindracedwithurgencytobedone,tobeaway,tobesafelythroughKingmanbeforeMattcameback.Hecouldhavebeenontheroadbehindus,berushingatthismomentacrossthedeserttothefarm...

Whathappenednexthappenedveryfast,inoneterrifyingcataclysmicblur.

Therewasanurgentshoutbehindme.

'Gene!'

Iturned,whirling.Thereweretwosetsofheadlightswherethereshouldhavebeenone.

Matt.

Thevoiceagain,yelling.'Gene!Lookout.'Andafigurerunningdowntheyardtowardsme.

ThentherewasaroarbehindmeandIturnedagainandwasmetfullintheeyesbytheblindingglareoftwomoreheadlights,muchcloser.Muchcloser.

Moving.

IwasdazzledandoffbalanceandI'dneverhavegotclear.Therunningfigurethrewitselfatmeinaruggertacklewithoutstretchedarmsandknockedmeoveroutoftheway,andtheroaringcarcrashedsolidlyintotheflyingbodyandleft.i.tcrumpledandsmashedandlyingontopofmylegs.

Thecarwhichhadhithimturnedinawidesweepattheendoftheyardandstartedback.TheheadlightslinedthemselvesupliketwinsunsontheirtargetandwithafractionofmymindIthought.i.tironicthatnowwhenI'ddecidednotto,Iwasgoingtodie.

Halfsitting,halfkneeling,IjerkedouttheLugerandpumpedallofitseightbulletstowardsthewindscreen.Icouldn'tseetoaimstraight...myeyeswerehurtingfromtheglare...Notthatbulletswoulddoanygood...theanglewaswrong...they'dmissthedriver...BythetimeIfiredthelastonetheleftheadlightwa.s.sixfeetaway.Iuselesslysetmyteethagainstthemangling,tearing,pulpingcollision...andinthelasttenthofasecondthestraightlinewavered...thesmoothsideofthefrontwinghitthebackofmyshoulder,thefrontwheelranoverafoldofmyshirt,andtherearwheelgavemeaclearinch.

AlmostbeforeIrealisedithadmissedme,thecarcrashedheadonintooneofthebuildingsatmybackwithajoltingscreechofwoodandmetal.Thebodyworkcrumpledandcracked.Thestabbinglightswentblack.Theenginestopped.Airhissedfiercelyoutofapuncturedtyre.

Gasping,dreadingwhatIwouldfind,Ileanedovertheheavyfigurelyingonmylegs.Thereweremorerunningfootstepsintheyard,andIlookeduphopelessly,unabletodoanymore.I'dusedallthebullets...noneleft.

'You'realive!'Thevoicecamefromthelevelofmyear,themankneeling.SamHengelman.Ilookedathiminadaze.

'Ithought...'Isaid,withn.o.breath,'...thiswasyou.'

Heshookhishead.'No...'

Hehelpedmeraiseandturnthemanwho'dsavedme;andwithsicknessandunbearableregretIsawhisface.

ItwasWalt.

Welaidhimonhisback,inthedust.

'Lookinthecar,'Isaid.

Samlumberedsilentlytohisfeetandwentaway.Iheardhisfootstepsstopandthenstartback.

Waltopenedhiseyes.Ileanedoverhim,liftinghishand,feelingwithsurginghopeforhispulse.

'Gene?'Hisvoicemumbled.

'Yes.'

'Hedidn'tcome.'

'Didn't...?'

'Cametohelpyou...'

'Yes,'Isaid.'Thanks,Walt...'

Hiseyesslidaimlesslyawayfrommyface.

'Christ,'hesaiddistinctly.'Thisisit.Thisis...really...it.'

'Walt...'Hishandwaswarminmine,but.i.tdidn'tmove.

'Sodit,'hesaid.'Iwanted...Iwanted...'

Hisvoicestopped.Therewasnopulse.NoheartbeatNothing.Nothingatall.

Iputgentlydownonthegroundthewarmhandwiththeroundedfingertips,andstretchedoutmyown,andshuthiseyes.Itshouldhavebeenmelyingthere,notWalt.Ishookwithsuddenimpotentfurythat.i.twasn'tme,thatWalthadtakenwhatI'dwanted,stolenmydeath...Itwouldhavematteredsolittleifithadbeenme.Itwouldn'thavematteredatall.

Walt...Walt...

SamHengelmansaid,'Ishedead?'Inoddedwithoutlookingup.

'There'sayoungguyinthecar,'hesaid.'He'sdeadtoo.'Igotslowly,achingly,tomyfeet,andwenttolook.ThecarwastheblueFordconvertibleandtheyoungguywasMatt.Withoutcaring,automatically,Itookinthatthecarhadsmashedtheright-handdoorofthegarageshedandploughedintothewallbehindit.Mostofthewindscreenwa.s.scatteredinsplinteredfragmentsallovertheinsideofthecar,butinonecorner,wheresomestillclungtotheframe,therewasafinger-sizedhole.

Mattwaslyingoverthesteeringwheel,hisarmsdangling,hiseyesopen.Theskullabovethelefteyebrowwaspiercedandcrumpledinwards,andtherewasbloodandhaironthechromiumuprightwhichhadheldthewindscreen.Ididn'ttouchhim.AfterawhileIwentbacktoWalt.'Whatdowedo?'SamHengelmansaid.'Givemeamoment...'

HewaitedwithoutspeakinguntileventuallyIlookedupanddowntheyard.Twosetsofheadlightsstillblazedatthewayin.'That'sWalt'scarupthere?'

'Yeah.Hedroveupwiththedevilonhistailandjumpedoutandrandownafteryou...'

Iturnedtheotherwayandlookedatthedarkgarage.'Theyoungguymusthavebeeninthereallthetime,waitingforus,'Samsaid.'Hecameroaringoutanddrovestraightatyou.Icouldn'thavestoppedhim...toofaraway.Waltwashalfwaydowntheyard...'

Inodded.Matthadbeenthereallthetime.NotinLasVegas.Notontheroad.Lyinginambush,waiting.

Hehadn'tpa.s.sedusontheroad,andtherewasnootherwaytothefarm.Hemusthavegonebackaheadofus.TurnedroundontheroadtoLasVegasanddrivenbackthroughKingmanwhileIwa.s.sittinginthebusstationwaitingtotelephoneto Walt.

Butwhy?Whyshouldhehavegoneback?Hehadn'tseenmefollowinghim,I'dbeenmuchtoofarbehind,andinanycaseI'dlefthimoncehewa.s.safelyonthehighway.

Itdidn'tmatterwhy.Itonlymatteredthathehad.SamHengelmanlookeddownatWaltandsummedupthemesswewereentangledin.

'Well...whattheheckdowedonow?'

Itookadeepbreath.

'w.i.l.l.youfetchthattorchofyours?'Iasked,andhenoddedandbrought.i.tfromhisvan.IwentwithitovertotheFord,andtookalonger,closerlook.Therewasn'tmuchtoseethatIhadn'tseenbefore,exceptforabottleofbourbonthathadbeensmashedintheimpact.TheneckandjaggedtophalflayonthefloortoMatt'sright,alongwithseveralsmallerpiecesandanunevendamppatch.

IwalkedintothegarageandlookedattheFordfromthefront.Itwouldn'tbedrivinganywhereanymore.

Thebigtorchlitupclearlytheinteriorofthedeepshadowygarage.Quiteemptynow,exceptforascatterofcigarettestubsagainstthelefthandwall.Matthadbeensmokinganddrinkingwhilehewaited.Andhe'dwaitedaverylongtime.

Thebulletholefacedmeinthewindscreenandleftmewiththeworstquestionunanswered.

I'dhavetoknow.

IstoodbesideMattandwentovereveryinchofhisbodydowntothewaist.He'dtakenoffthecreamcolouredjacketandwaswearingthecheckedshirthe'dworkedin.Therewerenoholesinit:nopuncturesunderneath.Hisheadwasheavy.Ilaiditgentlyonthesteeringwheelandsteppedaway.

Noneofthebulletshadhithim.They'donlysmashedthewindscreenandblindedhim,andhe'dslewedafootoffcourseandrunintothewallinsteadofme,andhisheadhadgoneforwardhardagainsttheslimmetalpost.

SlowlyIreturnedtowhereSamHengelmanstoodbesideWalt.Hedroopedwiththeutmostdejectionandlookedatmewithouthope.

'Didyouuncliptheramp?'Iaskedabruptly.

Heshookhishead.'Didn'thavetime.'

'Goanddoitnow.We'retakingthehorses.'

Hewasaghast.'Wecan't!'

'We'vegotto.ForWalt'ssake,andyoursake,andDaveTeller'ssake.Andmine.Whatdoyoupropose?Thatwecallthepoliceandexplainwhatwewerealldoinghere?'

'We'llhaveto,'hesaiddespairingly.

'No.Definitelynot.Goandletdowntheramp.'

Hehesitatedunbelievinglyforafewseconds,andthenwentanddidasIasked.Thehorsesstoodpeacefullyinthebarn,apparentlyundisturbedbytheracket,theshotsandthecrash.Iuntiedthenearest,Showman,andledhimquietlyuptheyardandintothevan.

SamwatchedmeinsilencewhileItiedhimintooneofthestalls.

'We'llnevergetawaywithit.'

'Yeswewill,'Isaid,'aslongasyoutakethesehorsessafelybacktoLexingtonandnevertellanyone,anyoneatall,whathappenedheretonight.Blot.i.toutofyourmind.I'llletyouknow,whenyougetback,thatyou'venothingtoworryabout.Andaslongasyoutellnoone,youwon'thave.'

Thebroadfleshyfacewa.s.setinlinesofanxiety.

'You'vecollectedtwohorses,'Isaidmatter-of-factly.'Aneverydayjob,collectingtwohorses.Forgettherest.'

Ireturnedtothebarn,fetchedAllyx,andloadedhimup.Samstillhadn'tmoved.

'Look,'Isaid.'I've...arranged...thingsbefore.There'sarulewhereIcomefrom-youtakearisk,yougetintoamess,yougetout.'Heblinked.'Waltthrewhimselfinthewayofthatcar,'Isaid.'Mattdidn'tintendtokillhim...Youdidn'tseeamurder.Mattdrovestraightintothewallhimself...andthattoowasanaccident.Onlytwoautomobileaccidents.Youmusthaveseendozens.Forget.i.t.'Hedidn'tanswer,andIaddedbrusquely,'Thewatercan'sempty.Youcanfillitoverthere.'

WithsomethinglikeashudderhepickedupthecontainerandwentwhereIpointed.Sighing,Icheckedthathehadbroughtthreedays'fodderforthestallions,whichhehad,andwithhishelp,onhisreturn,shutthepreciouscargoupsnuglyfortheirlonghaul.

'Youdon'thappentohaveanyglovesaround?'Iasked.

'Onlyanoldcottonpairinthetoolkit.'

Herootedaboutandfinallyproducedthem,twofilthyobjectscoveredwithoilandgreasewhichwouldleavemarksoneverythingtheytouched,astale-bearingasfingerprints.Iturnedtheminsideoutandfoundtheywerethickenoughtobecleanontheinside.SamwatchedwordlesslywhileIputthemon,cleansideout.

'O.K.,'Isaid.'w.i.l.l.youturnthevan,readytogo?'HediditcautiouslyasfarawayfromWaltashecould;andwhenhe'dfinishedIsteppedwithequalcareintothecarWalthadcomein,touchingitaslittleandaslightlyaspossible,anddroveitdownintotheyard,stoppingalittleshortofthescreendoortothehouse.ThereIswitchedofftheengineandlights,putonthebrake,andwalkedbacktotalktoSamwherehesatinhiscab.

'I'vethreejobstodo,'Isaid.'I'llbebackasquickasIcan.Whydon'tyoujustshutyoureyesforacoupleofminutesandcatchanap.'

'You'rekidding.'

Iconcoctedareplicaofasmile,andafractionofthetensioninhisfaceunwound.

'Iwon'tbelong,'Isaid,andhenodded,swallowing.WithhistorchIsurveyedtheyard.TheLugerwasanautomaticpistol,whichmeant.i.tthrewoutthecartridgeaftereachshot.Noonewouldfindthespentbullets,buteightshinymetalsh.e.l.lsscatterednearWalt'sbodyweresomethingelse.SevenofthemwinkedinthelightasIinchedthetorchcarefullyround,andIcollectedthemintomypocket.Theeighthremainedobstinatelyinvisible.