sk.thegunslinger-第16章

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ay　and　located　it。　The　missing　thing　was　that　maddening　sense　of　hurry；　the　feeling　that　he　might　be　left　behind　at　any　time；　that　the　trail　would　die　out　and　he　would　be　left　with　only　a　broken　piece　of　string。　All　that　was　gone　now；　and　the　gunslinger　was　slowly　being　sure　that　the　man　in　black　wanted　to　be　caught。
What　would　follow？
The　question　was　too　vague　to　catch　his　interest。　Cuthbert　would　have　found　interest　in　it；　lively　interest；　but　Cuthbert　was　gone；　and　the　gunslinger　could　only　go　forward　in　the　way　he　knew。
He　watched　the　boy　as　he　smoked；　and　his　mind　turned　back　on　Cuthbert；　who　had　always　laughed　　to　his　death　he　had　gone　laughing　　and　Cort；　who　never　laughed；　and　on　Marten；　who　sometimes　smiled　　a　thin；　silent　smile　that　had　its　own　disquieting　gleam。。。　like　an　eye　that　slips　open　in　the　dark　and　discloses　blood。　And　there　had　been　the　falcon；　of　course。　The　falcon　was　named　David；　after　the　legend　of　the　boy　with　the　sling。　David；　he　was　quite　sure；　knew　nothing　but　the　need　for　murder；　rending；　and　terror。　Like　the　gunslinger　himself。　David　was　no　dilettante；　he　played　the　center　of　the　court。
Perhaps；　though；　in　some　final　accounting；　David　the　falcon　had　been　closer　to　Marten　than　to　anyone　else。。。　and　perhaps　his　mother；　Gabrielle；　had　known　it。
The　gunslinger's　stomach　seemed　to　rise　painfully　against　his　heart；　but　his　face　didn't　change。　He　watched　the　smoke　of　his　cigarette　rise　into　the　hot　desert　air　and　disappear；　and　his　mind　went　back。
　
II
　
The　sky　was　white；　perfectly　white；　and　the　smell　of　rain　was　in　the　air。　The　smell　of　hedges　and　growing　green　was　strong　and　sweet。　It　was　deep　spring。
David　sat　on　Cuthbert's　arm；　a　small　engine　of　destruction　with　bright　golden　eyes　that　glared　outward　at　nothing。　The　rawhide　leash　attached　to　his　jesses　was　looped　carelessly　about　Cuthbert's　arm。
Cort　stood　aside　from　the　two　boys；　a　silent　figure　in　patched　leather　trousers　and　a　green　cotton　shirt　that　had　been　cinched　high　with　his　old；　wide　infantry　belt。　The　green　of　his　shirt　merged　with　the　hedges　and　the　rolling　turf　of　the　Back　Courts；　where　the　ladies　had　not　yet　begun　to　play　at　Points。
〃Get　ready；〃　Roland　whispered　to　Cuthbert。
〃We're　ready；〃　Cuthbert　said　confidently。　〃Aren't　we；　Davey？〃
They　spoke　the　low　speech；　the　language　of　both　scullions　and　squires；　the　day　when　they　would　be　allowed　to　use　their　own　tongue　in　the　presence　of　others　was　still　far。　〃It's　a　beautiful　day　for　it。　Can　you　smell　the　rain？　It's　〃
Cort　abruptly　raised　the　trap　in　his　hands　and　let　the　side　fall　open。　The　dove　was　out　and　up；　trying　for　the　sky　in　a　quick；　fluttering　blast　of　its　wings。　Cuthbert　pulled　the　leash；　but　he　was　slow；　the　hawk　was　already　up　and　his　takeoff　was　awkward。　With　a　brief　twitch　of　its　wings　the　hawk　had　recovered。　It　struck　upward；　gaining　altitude　over　the　dove；　moving　bullet…swift。
Cort　walked　over　to　where　the　boys　stood；　casually；　and　swung　his　huge　and　twisted　fist　at　Cuthbert's　ear。　The　boy　fell　over　without　a　sound；　although　his　lips　writhed　back　from　his　gums。　A　trickle　of　blood　flowed　slowly　from　his　ear　and　onto　the　rich　green　grass。
〃You　were　slow；〃　he　said。
Cuthbert　was　struggling　to　his　feet。　〃I'm　sorry；　Cort。　It's　just　that　I　Cort　swung　again；　and　Cuthbert　fell　over　again。　The　blood　flowed　more　swiftly　now。
〃Speak　the　High　Speech；〃　he　said　softly。　His　voice　was　flat。　with　a　slight；　drunken　rasp。　〃Speak　your　act　of　contrition　in　the　speech　of　civilization　for　which　better　men　than　you　will　ever　be　have　died；　maggot。〃
Cuthbert　was　getting　up　again。　Tears　stood　brightly　in　his　eyes；　but　his　lips　were　pressed　tightly　together　in　a　bright　line　of　hate　which　did　not　quiver。
〃I　grieve；〃　Cuthbert　said　in　a　voice　of　breathless　control。　〃I　have　forgotten　the　face　of　my　father；　whose　guns　I　hope　someday　to　bear。〃
〃That's　right；　brat；〃　Cort　said。　〃You'll　consider　what　you　did　wrong；　and　bookend　your　reflections　with　hunger。　No　supper。　No　breakfast。〃
〃Look！〃　Roland　cried。　He　pointed　up。
The　hawk　had　climbed　above　the　soaring　dove。　It　glided　for　a　moment；　its　stubby；　muscular　wings　outstretched　and　without　movement　on　the　still；　white　spring　air。　Then　it　folded　its　wings　and　dropped　like　a　stone。　The　two　bodies　came　together；　and　for　a　moment　Roland　fancied　he　could　see　blood　in　the　air。。。　but　it　might　have　been　his　imagination。　The　hawk　gave　a　brief　scream　of　triumph。　The　dove　fluttered；　twisting；　to　the　ground；　and　Roland　ran　toward　the　kill；　leaving　Cort　and　the　chastened　Cuthbert　behind　him。
The　hawk　had　landed　beside　its　prey　and　was　placently　tearing　into　its　plump　white　breast。　A　few　feathers　seesawed　slowly　downward。
〃David！〃　The　boy　yelled；　and　tossed　the　hawk　a　piece　of　rabbit　flesh　from　his　poke。　The　hawk　caught　it　on　the　fly；　ingested　it　with　an　upward　shaking　of　its　back　and　throat；　and　Roland　attempted　to　re…leash　the　bird。
The　hawk　whirled；　almost　absentmindedly；　and　ripped　skin　from　Roland's　arm　in　a　long；　dangling　gash。　Then　it　went　back　to　its　meal。
With　a　grunt；　Roland　looped　the　leash　again；　this　time　catching　David's　diving；　slashing　beak　on　the　leather　gauntlet　he　wore。　He　gave　the　hawk　another　piece　of　meat；　then　hooded　it。　Docilely；　David　climbed　onto　his　wrist。
He　stood　up　proudly；　the　hawk　on　his　arm。
〃What's　this？〃　Cort　asked；　pointing　to　the　dripping　slash　on　Roland's　forearm。　The　boy　stationed　himself　to　receive　the　blow；　locking　his　throat　against　any　possible　cry；　but　no　blow　fell。
〃He　struck　me；〃　Roland　said。
〃You　pissed　him　off；〃　Cort　said。　〃The　hawk　does　not　fear　you；　boy；　and　the　hawk　never　will。　The　hawk　is　God's　gunslinger。〃
Roland　merely　looked　at　Cort。　He　was　not　an　imaginative　boy；　and　if　Cort　had　intended　to　imply　a　moral；　it　was　lost　on　him；　he　was　pragmatic　enough　to　believe　that　it　might　have　been　one　of　the　few　foolish　statements　he　had　ever　heard　Cort　make。
Cuthbert　came　up　behind　them　and　stuck　his　tongue　out　at　Cort；　safely　on　his　blind　side。　Roland　did　not　smile；　but　nodded　to　him。
〃Go　in　now；〃　Cort　said；　taking　the　hawk。　He　pointed　at　Cuthbert　〃But　remember　your　reflection；　maggot　And　your　fast。　Tonight　and　tomorrow　morning。〃
〃Yes；〃　Cuthbert　said；　stiltedly　formal　now。　〃Thank　you　for　this　instructive　day。〃
〃You　learn；〃　Cort　said；　〃but　your　tongue　has　a　bad　habit　of　lolling　from　your　stupid　mouth　when　your　instructor's　back　is　turned。　Mayhap　the　day　will　e　when　it　and　you　will　learn　their　respective　places。〃　He　struck　Cuthbert　again；　this　time　solidly　between　the　eyes　and　hard　enough　so　that　Roland　heard　a　dull　thud　　the　sound　a　mallet　makes　when　a　scullion　taps　a　keg　of　beer。　Cuthbert　fell　backward　onto　the　lawn；　his　eyes　cloudy　and　dazed　at　first。　Then　they　cleared　and　he　stared　burningly　up　at　Cort；　his　hatred　unveiled；　a　pinprick　as　bright　as　the　dove's　blood　in　the　center　of　each　eye。
Cuthbert　nodded　and　parted　his　lips　in　a　scarifying　smile　that　Roland　had　never　seen。
〃Then　there's　hope　for　you；〃　Cort　said。　〃When　you　think　you　can；　you　e　for　me；　maggot。〃
〃How　did　you　know？〃　Cuthbert　said　between　his　teeth。　Cort　turned　toward　Roland　so　swiftly　that　Roland　almost　fell　back　a　step　　and　then　both　of　them　would　have　been　on　the　grass；　decorating　the　new　green　with　their　blood。　〃I　saw　it　reflected　in　this　maggot's　eyes；〃　he　said。　〃Remember　it；　Cuthbert。　Last　lesson　for　today。〃
Cuthbert　nodded　again；　the　same　frightening　smile　on　his　face。　〃I　grieve；〃　he　said。　〃I　have　forgotten　the　face　〃
〃Cut　that　shit；〃　Cort　said；　losing　interest。　He　turned　to　Roland。　〃Go　on；　now。　The　both　of　you。　If　I　have　to　look　at　your　stupid　maggot　faces　any　longer　I'll　puke　my　guts。〃
〃e　on；〃　Roland　said。
Cuthbert　shook　his　head　to　clear　it　and　got　to　his　feet　Cort　was　already　walking　down　the　hill　in　his　squat；　bowlegged　stride；　looking　powerful　and　somehow　prehistoric。　The　shaved　and　grizzled　spot　at　the　top　of　his　head　loomed　at　a　slant；　hunched。
〃I'll　kill　the　son　of　a　bitch；〃　Cuthbert　said；　still　smiling。　A　large　goose　egg；　purple　and　knotted；　was　rising　mystically　on　his　forehead。
〃Not　you　or　me；〃　Roland　said；　suddenly　bursting　into　a　grin。　〃You　can　have　supper　in　the　west　kitchen　with　me。　Cook　will　give　us　some。〃
〃He'll　tell　Cort。〃
〃He's　no　friend　of　Cort's。〃　Roland　said；　and　then　shrugged。　〃And　what　if　he　did？〃