Read Online the Bounty Hunters (1953) by Elmore Leonard - Free Book Online
Authors: Elmore Leonard
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rurale nodded, but did not rise.
Flynn swung down then and approached the door. What are you, the guard of honor?
The rurale grinned at his companion and then toward Flynn. More the guard of dishonor, he said.
Where is the alcalde?
Within.
Would you move, so I can knock on the door?
No one enters, the rurale said, rising. He held his rifle diagonally across his chest. His companion rose then. Nor does the alcalde leave.
Flynn felt a sudden anger, but he waited until it passed. Why? he said.
Because the teniente orders it! the rurale said angrily.
What did the alcalde do?
The rurale smiled lazily at Flynn. You ask many questions. He glanced at his companion who moved up next to him. He asks many questions, doesn't he? Then to Flynn he said, Are you another of the great hunters of Apaches? Soyopa is honored. He bowed mockingly. His companion grinned, but he moved uneasily.
Flynn studied the two rurales. Crossed bandoleers over the gray uniforms that were worn slovenly. Shirts open at the throat and wide-brimmed sombreros off their foreheads. The one stood with his hip cocked and fingered his rifle eagerly. The other was not so sure of himself; it was apparent.
I'm going to ask you one more question, Flynn said. He unbuttoned his coat and opened it enough to show the butt of his pistol. Are you going to get out of the way?
For a moment the rurale only stared. Then his elbow touched his companion's arm. Perhaps this is something for the teniente. Bring him! He glanced after his companion as he moved off hurriedly, then back to Flynn. Man, he said, your pistol is not as large as you think it is.
Hilario Esteban saw the rurale pass the window, beginning to run. He looked out now, frowning, as he heard someone speak, then his entire face wrinkled into a smile.
Se+|or Fl+n!
The rurale was startled. He brought the rifle around abruptly. Flynn's head turned, but there was another movement close to his chest. And abruptly the rurale's eyes widened and his face muscles went slack. First he felt the barrel press into his side, then the click of the hammer.
Close to his ear, Flynn said, You're all through, soldier. Drop the rifle and go sit down.
Hilario disappeared from the window, but the door opened almost immediately and he was standing before them. Dav+d! His face beaming. What a day this is! When did you arrive? He saw the pistol then and the smile left his face.
It's all right, Hilario, Flynn said. He didn't know we were friends. He glanced at Bowers, who was holding their horses. Hilario Esteban, this is Lieutenant Bowers.
Bowers said something in a low voice and he looked at Hilario embarrassedly.
Flynn looked at Bowers curiously. Then it came to him. You forgot! he thought. How in hell could you forget! As they rode in he had been ready. Preparing himself all morning as he listened to the creaking of the wagon wheels. Now he felt suddenly self-conscious, as if Hilario was already reading it in his face.
He heard Bowers say quietly, Why don't you two go inside and talk things over.
Flynn wanted to tell him now, quickly, with Bowers there, but the presence of the rurale bothered him oddly. Maybe we'd better, he said.
Hilario stepped back to let Flynn enter first, his gaze following the scout with a frowning, puzzled expression. Bowers had not moved his position, but now he lifted his pistol and turned it on the rurale as the two men passed into the room.
Once, Flynn rode into Fort Thomas with four men straggling behind him. Four returning out of twelve' and one of the eight dead was the patrol officer; so Flynn made the report. Major it had not been Deneen then there are eight men back there in a draw, being hacked to pieces right now, because a wet-nosed lieutenant wanted to see how fast he could make a brevet. He told it bluntly because he was angry. The major knew he was sorry sorry for the men, and sorry because the lieutenant wasn't there to learn a lesson. And after that, young officers fresh from the
Flynn swung down then and approached the door. What are you, the guard of honor?
The rurale grinned at his companion and then toward Flynn. More the guard of dishonor, he said.
Where is the alcalde?
Within.
Would you move, so I can knock on the door?
No one enters, the rurale said, rising. He held his rifle diagonally across his chest. His companion rose then. Nor does the alcalde leave.
Flynn felt a sudden anger, but he waited until it passed. Why? he said.
Because the teniente orders it! the rurale said angrily.
What did the alcalde do?
The rurale smiled lazily at Flynn. You ask many questions. He glanced at his companion who moved up next to him. He asks many questions, doesn't he? Then to Flynn he said, Are you another of the great hunters of Apaches? Soyopa is honored. He bowed mockingly. His companion grinned, but he moved uneasily.
Flynn studied the two rurales. Crossed bandoleers over the gray uniforms that were worn slovenly. Shirts open at the throat and wide-brimmed sombreros off their foreheads. The one stood with his hip cocked and fingered his rifle eagerly. The other was not so sure of himself; it was apparent.
I'm going to ask you one more question, Flynn said. He unbuttoned his coat and opened it enough to show the butt of his pistol. Are you going to get out of the way?
For a moment the rurale only stared. Then his elbow touched his companion's arm. Perhaps this is something for the teniente. Bring him! He glanced after his companion as he moved off hurriedly, then back to Flynn. Man, he said, your pistol is not as large as you think it is.
Hilario Esteban saw the rurale pass the window, beginning to run. He looked out now, frowning, as he heard someone speak, then his entire face wrinkled into a smile.
Se+|or Fl+n!
The rurale was startled. He brought the rifle around abruptly. Flynn's head turned, but there was another movement close to his chest. And abruptly the rurale's eyes widened and his face muscles went slack. First he felt the barrel press into his side, then the click of the hammer.
Close to his ear, Flynn said, You're all through, soldier. Drop the rifle and go sit down.
Hilario disappeared from the window, but the door opened almost immediately and he was standing before them. Dav+d! His face beaming. What a day this is! When did you arrive? He saw the pistol then and the smile left his face.
It's all right, Hilario, Flynn said. He didn't know we were friends. He glanced at Bowers, who was holding their horses. Hilario Esteban, this is Lieutenant Bowers.
Bowers said something in a low voice and he looked at Hilario embarrassedly.
Flynn looked at Bowers curiously. Then it came to him. You forgot! he thought. How in hell could you forget! As they rode in he had been ready. Preparing himself all morning as he listened to the creaking of the wagon wheels. Now he felt suddenly self-conscious, as if Hilario was already reading it in his face.
He heard Bowers say quietly, Why don't you two go inside and talk things over.
Flynn wanted to tell him now, quickly, with Bowers there, but the presence of the rurale bothered him oddly. Maybe we'd better, he said.
Hilario stepped back to let Flynn enter first, his gaze following the scout with a frowning, puzzled expression. Bowers had not moved his position, but now he lifted his pistol and turned it on the rurale as the two men passed into the room.
Once, Flynn rode into Fort Thomas with four men straggling behind him. Four returning out of twelve' and one of the eight dead was the patrol officer; so Flynn made the report. Major it had not been Deneen then there are eight men back there in a draw, being hacked to pieces right now, because a wet-nosed lieutenant wanted to see how fast he could make a brevet. He told it bluntly because he was angry. The major knew he was sorry sorry for the men, and sorry because the lieutenant wasn't there to learn a lesson. And after that, young officers fresh from the
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