hr.thecarpetbaggers-第14章

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　〃。　。　。　the　hide　of　the　sacred　white　buffalo；〃　Sam　said。　He　looked　around　the　circle。　Their　eyes　were　fixed　on　the　beautiful　white　skin　that　shone　before　them　like　snow　on　the　ground。
　The　albino　buffalo　was　a　rarity。　The　chief　that　could　be　laid　to　rest　on　such　a　sacred　hide　was　assured　that　his　spirit　would　enter　the　happy　hunting　grounds。　To　the　skin…traders；　it　might　be　worth　almost　as　much　as　ten　ordinary　hides。　But　Sam　knew　what　he　wanted。
　He　wanted　a　woman。　For　five　years；　he　had　lived　on　these　plains　and　had　been　able　only　to　share　the　services　of　a　whore　once　a　year　at　trading　time　in　the　small　room　back　of　the　skin…trader's　post。　It　was　time　he　had　a　woman　of　his　own。
　The　chief；　so　impressed　with　the　munificence　of　Sam's　offer　that　he　forgot　to　bargain　further；　looked　up。　〃It　is　with　honor　that　we　give　the　mighty　hunter　Red　Beard　the　woman　Kaneha　to　be　his　squaw。〃
　He　rose　to　his　feet　as　a　sign　that　the　council　was　over。　
　〃Prepare　my　daughter　Kaneha　for　her　husband；〃　he　said。　He　turned　and　walked　toward　his　tent　and　Sam　followed　him。
　In　another　tent；　Kaneha　sat　waiting。　Somehow；　she　had　known　that　Red　Beard　had　e　for　her。　In　keeping　with　maidenly　modesty；　she　had　gone　into　the　waiting　tent　so　that　she　might　not　hear　the　bargaining。　She　sat　there　calmly；　for　she　was　not　afraid　of　Red　Beard。　She　had　looked　into　his　face　many　times　when　he　had　e　to　visit　her　father。
　Now　there　was　the　sound　of　babbling　women　ing　toward　the　tent。　She　looked　toward　the　flap。　The　bargaining　was　over。　She　only　hoped　that　Red　Beard　had　at　least　offered　one　buffalo　for　her。　The　women　burst　into　the　tent。　They　were　all　talking　at　once。　No　bride　had　ever　brought　greater　gifts。　The　mule。　Beads。　Whisky。　The　hide　of　a　sacred　white　buffalo。　Two　buffalo　for　meat。
　Kaneha　smiled　proudly　to　herself。　In　that　moment；　she　knew　that　Red　Beard　loved　her。　From　outside　the　tent　came　the　sound　of　the　drums　beginning　to　beat　out　the　song　of　marriage。　The　women　gathered　in　a　circle　around　her；　their　feet　stamping　in　time　to　the　drums。
　She　dropped　her　shift　to　the　ground　and　the　women　came　close。　One　on　each　side　of　her　began　to　unplait　the　long　braid　that　hung　past　her　shoulders。　Two　others　began　to　cover　her　body　with　grease　from　the　bear；　which　was　to　make　her　fertile。　At　last；　all　was　done　and　they　stepped　back。
　She　stood　there　naked　in　the　center　of　the　tent；　facing　the　flap。　Her　body　shone　with　the　grease　and　she　was　straight　and　tall；　her　breasts　high　and　her　stomach　flat；　her　legs　straight　and　long。
　The　flap　opened　and　the　medicine　man　entered。　In　one　hand　he　carried　the　devil　wand；　in　the　other　the　marriage　stick。　He　shook　the　devil　wand　in　the　four　corners　of　the　tent　and　sprang　twice　into　the　air　to　make　sure　there　were　no　devils　hovering　over　them；　then　he　advanced　toward　her。　He　held　the　marriage　stick　over　her　head。
　She　looked　up　at　it。　It　was　made　of　highly　polished　wood；　carved　into　the　shape　of　an　erect　phallus　and　testes。　Slowly　he　lowered　it　until　it　rested　on　her　forehead。　She　closed　her　eyes　because　it　was　not　seemly　for　a　maiden　to　look　so　deeply　into　the　source　of　a　warrior's　strength。
　The　medicine　man　began　to　dance　around　her；　springing　high　into　the　air　and　mumbling　incantations　over　her。　He　pressed　the　stick　to　her　breasts；　to　her　stomach；　to　her　back　and　buttocks；　to　her　cheeks　and　to　her　eyes；　until　now　it　was　covered　with　the　bear　grease　from　her　body。　Finally；　he　leaped　into　the　air　with　a　horrible　shriek　and　when　his　feet　touched　the　earth　again；　everything　was　silent；　even　the　drums。
　As　in　a　trance；　she　took　the　marriage　stick　from　the　medicine　man。　Silently　she　held　it　to　her　face；　then　her　breasts；　then　her　stomach。
　The　drums　began　again；　beating　slowly。　In　time　with　their　rhythm；　she　lowered　the　stick　between　her　legs。　Her　feet　began　to　move　in　time　to　the　drums；　slowly　at　first；　then　faster　as　the　drums　picked　up　tempo。　Her　long　black　hair；　which　hung　to　her　buttocks；　began　to　flare　out　wildly　as　she　began　to　move　around　the　circle　of　women；　holding　out　the　marriage　stick　for　their　blessing　and　cries　of　envy。
　The　circle　pleted；　she　once　more　stood　alone　in　its　center；　her　feet　moving　in　time　with　the　drums。　Holding　the　marriage　stick　between　her　legs；　she　began　to　crouch　slightly；　lowering　herself　onto　it。
　〃Ai…ee；〃　the　women　sighed　as　they　swayed　to　the　tempo　of　the　drums。
　〃Ai…ee；〃　they　sighed　again　in　approbation　as　she　lifted　herself　from　the　stick。　It　was　not　seemly　for　a　maiden　to　be　too　eager　to　swallow　up　her　husband。
　Now　they　held　their　breath　as　once　more　the　stick　began　to　enter　her。　Each　was　reminded　of　her　own　marriage；　when　she；　too；　had　looked　up　at　the　circle　of　women；　her　eyes　pleading　for　help。　But　none　dared　move　forward。　This　the　bride　must　do　for　herself。
　Through　Kaneha's　pain；　the　drums　began　to　throb。　Her　lips　grew　tight　together。　This　was　her　husband；　Red　Beard；　the　mighty　hunter。　She　must　not　disgrace　him　here　in　the　tent　of　women。　When　he　himself　came　into　her；　instead　of　his　spirit；　the　way　for　him　must　be　easy　and　quick。
　She　closed　her　eyes　and　made　a　sudden　convulsive　movement。　The　hymen　ruptured　and　she　staggered　as　a　wave　of　pain　washed　over　her。　The　drums　were　wilder　now。　Slowly　she　straightened　up　and　removed　the　marriage　stick。　She　held　it　out　proudly　toward　the　medicine　man。
　He　took　it　and　quickly　left　the　tent。　Silently　the　women　formed　a　circle　around　her。　Naked；　in　its　center　so　she　would　be　shielded　from　other　eyes；　she　walked　to　the　tent　of　the　chief。
　The　women　stood　aside　as　she　entered。　In　the　dim　light；　the　chief　and　Sam　looked　up　at　her。　She　stood　there　proudly；　her　head　raised；　her　eyes　respectfully　looking　over　their　heads。　Her　breasts　heaved　and　her　legs　trembled　slightly。　She　prayed　that　Red　Beard　would　be　pleased　with　what　he　saw。
　The　chief　spoke　first；　as　was　the　custom。　〃See　how　profusely　she　bleeds；〃　he　said。　〃She　will　bear　you　many　sons。〃
　〃Aye；　she　will　bear　me　many　sons；〃　Sam　said；　his　eyes　on　her　face。　〃And　because　I　am　pleased　with　her；　I　pledge　my　brothers　the　meat　of　an　additional　buffalo。〃
　Kaneha　smiled　quickly　and　left　the　tent　to　go　down　to　the　river　to　bathe。　Her　prayers　had　been　answered。　Red　Beard　was　pleased　with　her。
　
　Now　she　moved　heavily；　swollen　with　his　child；　as　he　sat　at　the　table　wondering　why　the　buffalo　didn't　e。　Something　inside　him　told　him　they　would　never　e　again。　Too　many　had　been　slain　in　the　last　few　years。
　At　last；　he　looked　up　from　the　table。　〃Git　the　gear　together；〃　he　said。　〃We're　moving　out　of　here。〃
　Kaneha　nodded　and　obediently　began　to　gather　up　the　household　things　while　he　went　out　and　hitched　the　mules　to　the　cart。　Finished；　he　came　back　to　the　cabin。
　Kaneha　picked　up　the　first　bundle　and　started　for　the　door　when　the　pain　seized　her。　The　bundle　fell　from　her　hands　and　she　doubled　over。　She　looked　up　at　him；　her　eyes　filled　with　meaning。
　〃You　mean　now？〃　Sam　asked；　almost　incredulously。
　She　nodded。
　〃Here；　let　me　help　you。〃
　She　straightened　up；　the　seizure　leaving　her。　〃No；〃　she　said　firmly　in　Kiowa。　〃This　is　for　a　woman；　not　for　a　brave。〃
　Sam　nodded。　He　walked　to　the　door。　〃I'll　be　outside。〃
　It　was　two　o'clock　in　the　morning　when　he　first　heard　the　cry　of　a　baby　from　inside　the　cabin。　He　had　been　half　dozing　and　the　sound　brought　him　awake　into　a　night　filled　with　stars。　He　sat　there　tensely；　listening。
　About　twenty　minutes　passed；　then　the　door　of　the　cabin　opened　and　Kaneha　stood　there。　He　struggled　to　his　feet　and　went　into　the　cabin。
　In　the　corner　on　a　blanket　in　front　of　the　fire　lay　the　naked　baby。　Sam　stood　there；　looking　down。
　〃A　son；〃　Kaneha　said　proudly。
　〃Well；　I'll　be　damned。〃　Sam　touched　it　and　the　baby　squalled；　opening　its　eyes。　〃A　son；〃　Sam　said。　〃How　about　that？〃　He　bent　over；　looking　closely。
　His　beard　tickled　the　baby　and　it　screamed　again。　Its　skin　was　white　and　the　eyes　were　blue　like　the　father's；　but　the　hair　was　black　and　heavy　on　his　little　head。
　The　next　morning　they　left　the　cabin。
　
　3
　
　THEY　SETTLED　DOWN　ABOUT　TWENTY　MILES　OUTSIDE　of　Dodge　City　and　Sam　started　to　haul　freight　for　the　stage　lines。　Being　the　only　man　in　the　area　with　mules；　he　found　himself　in　a　fairly　successful　business