Read Online the Bounty Hunters (1953) by Elmore Leonard - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Elmore Leonard
Ads: Link
Point listened to him before entering quiet, peaceful-appearing draws. The major saw to that.
Another time he listened to an officer tell a woman that her husband did not return with the patrol. He listened to the man hesitate and falter and say I'm sorry' more than a dozen times. But none of the I'm-sorrys did any good. The woman went on crying with her shoulders quivering and her mouth twisted pathetically. The two children in the next room cried because they had never heard their mother do this before.
Another time. Another soldier's wife. She waited until they left before breaking down. While he and the major were there, she cried only within, but only a little, because she was still telling herself that it could not be true.
Flynn started at the beginning, telling Hilario about missing the family in Contention. He told him everything, each detail, speaking the words quietly without hesitating. And he watched Hilario's face change from a smile at first to a dumb stare, an expression that meant nothing. He listed those they had brought back in the wagon, painfully aware of what his words were doing to the old man; but there was no other way. He told him that it had been Apaches because there was no sense in going into the other now and there was a chance Nita was still alive. He didn't say maybe it would be better if she were dead. And finally, when he had finished, he said the inevitable, I'm sorry for what it was worth. He thought it might be easier to tell a man, but it was the same.
Hilario did not cry. He sat staring with nothing in his eyes, telling himself that it was not true. Picturing them alive, because he didn't know how to picture them dead.
Flynn stood near the window, waiting for the old man to speak. He wanted to say again that he was sorry and he tried to think of other ways to say it; but all the words were without substance, and probably the old man would not even hear them. He looked across to the poster which advertised the bullfight in Hermosillo.
PLAZA DE TOROS HERMOSILLO Ma+|ana a las 4
the Bounty Hunters (1953)
Tres Grandes Toreros en Competencia
VIRAMONTES (Espa+|ol) vs. Juan Toyas y Sinaloa (Mexicanos)
Seis Hermosos Toros De la Famosa Ganader+a de don Feliz Montoya Precios de Entrada
From there down, the poster was torn from the wall.
Flynn felt the old man next to him then.
The part that is not there, the old man said, tells that it would cost three pesos to sit in the shade and one peso to sit on the side of the sun.
I was looking at it'
I hope they were able to sit in the shade. He considered this silently. Then he said, Where are they now?
We left the wagon back of the church, by the graves. There's a boy watching it. Flynn hesitated. He continued in Spanish, softly, I think we should bury them soon, Hilario.
Hilario nodded, dazedly. Yes. I will get the priest on the way.
Flynn!
He went to the door quickly. Bowers glanced at him, then beckoned up the street where it led into the square. You better get out of here!
Are they coming?
The whole Mexican Army!
Chapter 7
A dozen horsemen swung onto the square from the street siding Duro's headquarters and crossed the open area, separating at the four-sided stone shaft, bunching again to enter the narrow street with a cloud of dust billowing after them.
They swung down, all of them except Sergeant Santana, and spaced out in a ragged line along the front of the house, eager for something to happen. Just the two Americans could not offer much resistance.
From the saddle, Santana glared at the rurale who had been on guard. Pick up your rifle!
I was overpowered'
Pick up your rifle!
Flynn felt the anger return, thinking of Hilario, and now these grinning animals to make a difficult situation worse. And even though he knew they couldn't be aware of Hilario's sorrow, still their presence grated against his nerves and polite explanation wouldn't do. The rifle was in the road a few feet from the door stoop. Flynn moved to it now
Another time he listened to an officer tell a woman that her husband did not return with the patrol. He listened to the man hesitate and falter and say I'm sorry' more than a dozen times. But none of the I'm-sorrys did any good. The woman went on crying with her shoulders quivering and her mouth twisted pathetically. The two children in the next room cried because they had never heard their mother do this before.
Another time. Another soldier's wife. She waited until they left before breaking down. While he and the major were there, she cried only within, but only a little, because she was still telling herself that it could not be true.
Flynn started at the beginning, telling Hilario about missing the family in Contention. He told him everything, each detail, speaking the words quietly without hesitating. And he watched Hilario's face change from a smile at first to a dumb stare, an expression that meant nothing. He listed those they had brought back in the wagon, painfully aware of what his words were doing to the old man; but there was no other way. He told him that it had been Apaches because there was no sense in going into the other now and there was a chance Nita was still alive. He didn't say maybe it would be better if she were dead. And finally, when he had finished, he said the inevitable, I'm sorry for what it was worth. He thought it might be easier to tell a man, but it was the same.
Hilario did not cry. He sat staring with nothing in his eyes, telling himself that it was not true. Picturing them alive, because he didn't know how to picture them dead.
Flynn stood near the window, waiting for the old man to speak. He wanted to say again that he was sorry and he tried to think of other ways to say it; but all the words were without substance, and probably the old man would not even hear them. He looked across to the poster which advertised the bullfight in Hermosillo.
PLAZA DE TOROS HERMOSILLO Ma+|ana a las 4
the Bounty Hunters (1953)
Tres Grandes Toreros en Competencia
VIRAMONTES (Espa+|ol) vs. Juan Toyas y Sinaloa (Mexicanos)
Seis Hermosos Toros De la Famosa Ganader+a de don Feliz Montoya Precios de Entrada
From there down, the poster was torn from the wall.
Flynn felt the old man next to him then.
The part that is not there, the old man said, tells that it would cost three pesos to sit in the shade and one peso to sit on the side of the sun.
I was looking at it'
I hope they were able to sit in the shade. He considered this silently. Then he said, Where are they now?
We left the wagon back of the church, by the graves. There's a boy watching it. Flynn hesitated. He continued in Spanish, softly, I think we should bury them soon, Hilario.
Hilario nodded, dazedly. Yes. I will get the priest on the way.
Flynn!
He went to the door quickly. Bowers glanced at him, then beckoned up the street where it led into the square. You better get out of here!
Are they coming?
The whole Mexican Army!
Chapter 7
A dozen horsemen swung onto the square from the street siding Duro's headquarters and crossed the open area, separating at the four-sided stone shaft, bunching again to enter the narrow street with a cloud of dust billowing after them.
They swung down, all of them except Sergeant Santana, and spaced out in a ragged line along the front of the house, eager for something to happen. Just the two Americans could not offer much resistance.
From the saddle, Santana glared at the rurale who had been on guard. Pick up your rifle!
I was overpowered'
Pick up your rifle!
Flynn felt the anger return, thinking of Hilario, and now these grinning animals to make a difficult situation worse. And even though he knew they couldn't be aware of Hilario's sorrow, still their presence grated against his nerves and polite explanation wouldn't do. The rifle was in the road a few feet from the door stoop. Flynn moved to it now
Similar Books
