gc.shadowslinger-第25章
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pper； he returned to the Lily and started an inventory。
At least Wally hadn't sold what he had bought on credit。 The Lily was well…stocked。
Only what was he going to do about his mother？
The house was paid for。 That was a plus。 But the old girl needed her servants to survive。 And he couldn't pay their wages。 But he didn't want her back in the Lily。 He could sell all those clothes。 He'd spent a fortune on them and couldn't wear them。 He did some figuring。 Yes。 Sell the clothes and he could support his mother till next summer。
No more clothes。 No more women。 No more improvements on the Lily。 。 。 。 Maybe Wally hadn't spent it all。
Finding Wally was not difficult。 He returned to his family after two days in hiding。 He thought Shed would endure the loss。 He didn't know he was dealing with a new Shed。
Shed stormed to his cousin's tiny one…room apartment； kicked the door in。 〃Wally！〃
Wally squealed。 His children and wife and mother all screeched questions。 Shed ignored them。 〃Wally； I want it back！ Every damned copper！〃
Wally's wife got in his way。 〃Calm down； Marron。 What's the matter？〃
〃Wally！〃 Wally cowered in a corner。 〃Out of my way； Sal。 He stole damned near a hundred leva。〃 Shed grabbed his cousin and dragged him out the doorway。 〃I want it back。〃
〃Shed。 。 。 。〃
Shed shoved him。 He staggered backward； tripped； rolled down a flight of stairs。 Shed charged after him； hurled him down another flight。
〃Shed； please。 。。。〃
〃Where's the money； Wally？ I want the money。〃
〃I don't have it； Shed。 I spent it。 Honest。 The kids had to have clothes。 We had to eat。 I couldn't help it； Shed。 You had so much。 。 。 。 You're family； Shed。 You're supposed to help。〃
Shed shoved him into the street； kicked him in the groin； dragged him upright； started slapping。 〃Where is it； Wally？ You couldn't have spent that much。 Hell； your kids are wearing rags。 I paid you enough to handle that。 Because you were family。 I want the money you stole。〃 As he raged； Shed drove his cousin toward the Lily。
Wally whined and begged； refusing to tell the truth。 Shed guessed he had stolen upward of fifty leva； enough to have pleted the renovation of the Lily。 This hadn't been petty pilfering。 He hurled blows in an angry rain。
He herded Wally around behind the Lily； away from prying eyes。 〃Now I get nasty； Wally。〃
〃Shed； please。 。。。〃
〃You stole from me and you're lying about it。 I could forgive you for doing it for your family。 But you didn't。 Tell me。 Or give it back。〃 He punched Wally hard。
The pain in his hands； from hitting the man； sapped his rage。 But then Wally broke。 〃I lost it gambling。 I know I was stupid。 But I was so sure I was going to win。 They took me。 They let me think I was going to win big； then took me； and the only way out was to steal。 They would have killed me。 I borrowed from Gilbert after I told him how good you were doing。 。。。〃
〃Lost it？ Gambling？ Borrowed from Gilbert？〃 Shed muttered。 Gilbert had moved in on Krage's territories。 He was a bad as his predecessor。 〃How could you be so stupid？〃 The rage took him again。 He snatched a board off a scrap pile left for kindling。 He hit Wally hard。 And hit him again。 His cousin went down； stopped trying to fend
off the blows。
Shed froze； suddenly coldly rational。 Wally wasn't moving。 〃Wally？ Wally？ Hey； Wally。 Say something。〃
Wally did not respond。
Shed's stomach knotted。 He tossed the board into the pile。 〃Have to get that inside before people cart it off。〃 He gripped his cousin's shoulder。 〃e on； Wally。 I won't hit you anymore。〃
Wally did not move。
〃Oh； shit；〃 Shed muttered。 〃I killed him。〃 This tore it。 What now？ There wasn't much justice in the Buskin； but what there was was quick and rough。 They would hang him sure。
He whirled； looking for witnesses。 He saw no one。 His mind flew in a hundred directions。 There was a way out。 No body； no proof that murder had been done。 But he'd never gone up that hill alone。
Hastily； he dragged Wally to the scrap pile and covered him。 The amulet he needed to get into the black castle。 Where was it？ He dashed into the Lily； roared upstairs； found the amulet； examined it。 Definitely serpents intertwined。 The workmanship was amazingly detailed。 Tiny jewels formed the eyes of the snakes。 They sparkled menacingly in the afternoon sun。
He stuffed the amulet into his pocket。 〃Shed； get yourself together。 Panic and you're dead。〃
How long before Sal yelled for the law？ A few days； surely。 Plenty of time。
Raven had left him his wagon and team。 He hadn't thought to keep paying the stable…keeper。 Had the man sold them？ If so； he was in trouble。
He cleaned out his coin boxes； left the Lily in Lisa's care。
The stable…keeper hadn't sold off； but the mules were looking lean。 Shed cursed him。
〃I should feed them at my own expense； mister？〃
Shed cursed him some more and paid what was owed。 He said； 〃Feed them。 And have them hitched and ready at the tenth hour。〃
Shed remained panicky all afternoon。 Somebody might find Wally。 But no lawman came stamping in。 Soon after dark he stole away to the stable。
He spent the journey alternately being terrified and wondering how much Wally would bring。 And how much he could get for his wagon and team。 He hadn't factored them into his earlier calculations。
He ought to help Wally's family。 He had to。 It was the decent thing。 。。。 He was acquiring too many dependents。
Then he was facing the dark gate。 The castle； with all its monstrous decoration； was terrible； but it didn't seem to have grown since last he had been there。 He knocked as Raven had done； his heart in his throat。 He gripped his amulet in his left hand。
What was taking them so long？ He hammered again。 The gate jumped open； startling him。 He fled to his wagon； got the mules moving。
He entered exactly as Raven had done； ignoring everything but his driving。 He halted in the same place； climbed down； dragged Wally out。
No one came for several minutes。 He grew ever more nervous； wishing he'd had the sense to e armed。 What guarantee did he have that they wouldn't turn on him？ That silly amulet？
Something moved。 He gasped。
The creature that stepped out of the shadow was short and wide and radiated an air of contempt。 It never looked at him。 Its examination of the cadaver was detailed。 It was being difficult； like some petty official with a helpless citizen momentarily in his power。 Shed knew how to handle that。 Stubborn patience and refusal to bee irritated。 He stood motionless； waiting。
The creature finally placed twenty…five pieces of silver near Wally's feet。
Shed grimaced； but collected the cash。 He returned to his seat； backed the wagon； got the team aligned with the gate。 Only then did he register his protest。 〃That was a prime corpse。 Next time you'll do better； or there won't be a time after that。 Git up。〃 Out the gate he went； amazed at his temerity。
Going down the hill he sang。 He felt great。 Except for a fading guilt about Wally…the bastard had earned it…he was at peace with his world。 He was free and safe； out of debt； and now had money in reserve。 He returned his team to its stable； wakened the stable…keeper； paid four months in advance。 〃Take good care of my animals；〃 he admonished。
A representative of the precinct Magistrate showed up next day。 He had questions about Wally's disappearance。 Sal had reported the fight。
Shed admitted it； 〃I kicked the shit out of him。 But I don't know what happened to him。 He just took off。 I would've run； too； if I had somebody that mad at me。〃
〃What was the fight about？〃
Shed played the role of a man who didn't want to get anybody in trouble。 Finally； he admitted； 〃He worked for me。 He stole money to pay back money he borrowed to pay gambling debts。 Check with my suppliers。 They'll tell how he bought on credit。 He told me he was paying cash。〃
〃How much was involved？〃
〃Can't say exactly；〃 Shed replied。 〃More than fifty leva。 My whole profit for the summer； and then some。〃
The questioner whistled。 〃I don't blame you for getting pissed。〃
〃Yeah。 I wouldn't have begrudged him money to help his fa
