Read Online Novel 1987 - The Haunted Mesa (v5.0) by Louis L’Amour - Free Book Online Page A

laws which were not good. So some of us left them and went to a new place to live as we always had.
    â€œThey came against us because we did not obey. Some they killed and some they took as slaves, but then we found a place where my ancestor had worked when building things, and we found some other things he had made and some he had begun to make. We used those things to fight them and they left us alone. Johnny helped. He said my ancestor was another Davinch.”
    â€œDa Vinci? Leonardo da Vinci was an artist who invented many things.”
    â€œI think so.”
    â€œYou have come over to this side. Have you done this often?”
    â€œIt is not permitted. Somehow they know. I do not know how, but instantly they know. If one comes through he is seized. They do not rest until he is taken.”
    â€œWhat about those who rule? Do they go over?”
    â€œThey say no, yet sometimes do. Or once they did and then a great water covered the place and for long time they could not until Erik opened the kiva.”
    â€œBut there are other ways? He who drew the line on Erik’s blueprints must have come some other way.”
    â€œThere are sometime ways. I do not understand but sometimes there are openings. That is how I am here.”
    â€œThe great water was probably what we call Lake Powell. We built a dam to stop the water of the Colorado and drowned most of what was Glen Canyon.”
    They were both silent. His eyes sought the street. Suppose they came now? What would he do?
    â€œI must help him,” he said.
    â€œYou cannot. They have him.”
    â€œWhere will they take him?”
    â€œIt is a bad place, a place of fear. It is an old place, a place that was there before we entered into the Fourth World, your world. I have not been there but he who was my mother’s father knew it.”
    She looked at him with sudden realization. “Now it is you they must take. They must have you. They wish none to know their world exists and now you do.”
    â€œAnd you also.”
    She shrugged a shoulder. “They know of me. I am hated. I am wanted most of all. I am head of family now, of clan. They look to me. I am descend from He Who Had Magic, the old one who made many things. I must go back.”
    â€œThere’s the kiva.”
    â€œNo. That is their way. They will watch and they are very near to it.”
    â€œBut you came!”
    â€œMy way is not sure, very dangerous, but there is a way that is open, most times open. They do not know it. We do not. Only the Saqua know.”
    â€œThe Saqua? The hairy ones?”
    â€œYou know of them? They are not people, but they know things others do not. They come to hunt or to take sheep to eat.”
    â€œSheep? From the Indians?”
    â€œThey take sheep. I do not know whose sheep.”
    He finished his coffee. “We had better get away from here and do some planning.”
    Raglan started to rise but a hand dropped on his shoulder. He glanced up.
    The man was stocky, strongly built. He wore a badge. “Mind? I’ve a few questions for the lady. For you, too, for that matter.”
    He turned and called to the waitress. “Marie? Another cup of coffee.”
    He glanced from one to the other. “I’m Gallagher. I’ll ask the questions.”
    Chapter 8
----
    H E GLANCED AT Mike Raglan, then at the girl. “What’s your name, ma’am?”
    â€œKawasi.”
    â€œYou from around here?”
    â€œI am…tour-ist.” She spoke calmly, without hesitation or fear.
    â€œYou’re an Indian?”
    â€œLong ago my people live near here. I have come to see where it was.”
    He turned to Raglan. “You two old friends?”
    â€œWe’ve just met. I recognized her from the description of a mutual friend—Erik Hokart.”
    â€œHokart? Is he the one who plans to build somewhere down the river? Some kind of scientist, isn’t he?”
    â€œThat’s his