Read Online The Collected Works of Billy the Kid by Michael Ondaatje - Free Book Online
Authors: Michael Ondaatje
Ads: Link
the body. He then washed the rotted blood from the wings, the outside, and then took it out onto the verandah to dry.)
*
MISS SALLIE CHISUM: PAT GARRETT
A tremendously tall man.
Despite his crooked mouth
and crooked smile which
made his whole face seem crooked
he was a remarkably handsome man.
BILLY THE KID & PAT GARRETT — SOME FINAL THOUGHTS
I knew both these men intimately.
There was good mixed
in with the bad in Billy the Kid
and bad mixed in with the good
in Pat Garrett.
No matter what they did in the world
or what the world thought of them
they were my friends
Both were worth knowing.
*
Sound up. Loud and vibrating in the room. My ears picking up the hum of flies across the room. The mattress under Pete Maxwell shifting its straw, each blade loud in its clear flick against another. Even the now and then crack at the glass as the day’s heat evaporates from the window against the dark of the desert.
And then that breathing, not Maxwell’s but
the other’s.
The breathing precise but forced into quiet but regular streams. Think of the dark air going up through the nose, down to the stomach rolling around on itself, and then up and out like a fountain spilling through his teeth hissssssssssssssssssssssssss
*
In the final minutes. It is Texas midnight. A large large square, well and buckets centre. The houses and sheds in rows making up the square. The long narrow porch running all around. Up to the well rides Pat Garrett and deputies Poe and Mackinnon. Scuffling slow, smoking as they dismount gentle and leave the horses and walk to the large hut which is Maxwell’s room. They pass the dog.
This is a diagram then of Maxwell’s, Pete Maxwell’s, room. Bed here against the wall, here’s the window where he put his hand through. And here, along here, is the porch. While this, about 20 yards away, is the Gutierrez home. Garrett, Poe, and Mackinnon stop near Maxwell’s door. On some vague tip Garrett has come to ask Maxwell where he thinks Billy is hiding out—where in the territory is he—he’s been escaped 3 months and nobody’s seen him. Garrett leaves the deputies sitting smoking on the porch, flicks away his own cigar and goes into the dark room where Maxwell is asleep
Meanwhile Billy is just yards away drinking with Celsa Gutierrez. He came in about an hour ago, he wears only his trousers and guns, hot night. They decide she will cook him something and he offers to go cut some meat. Carrying a knife in his left hand, and barefoot, he is up and begins walking towards the ice house. Passing the Maxwell room he sees the two men outside. Quien es? They do not answer. Again the question. No answer. Billy backs off the porch into Maxwell’s room and heads towards his friend sleeping. In the dark room Garrett has wakened and is questioning the dazed Maxwell. In fact as Billy enters he is crouching by Maxwell’s bed. Quienes son esos hombres afuera, Pete?
Garrett recognises the voice. He does the one thing that will save him. Quietly, with his long legs, he climbs over Maxwell’s body and gets into bed between Maxwell and the wall. With his rifle in his hands he watches the darkness, trying to make out the shape that is moving towards him. Billy moves over barefoot and asks Pete again. Quienes son esos hombres afuera?
Maxwell doesn’t say a word. He can feel Garrett’s oiled rifle barrel leaning against his cheek. Billy shakes Maxwell’s shoulder and then he hears the other person’s breathing. As the only other woman on the ranch, apart from Celsa Gutierrez is Paulita Maxwell—Pete’s sister—he doesn’t know what to think. Paulita? Pete Maxwell gives a nervous giggle full of fear which Billy mistakes for embarrassment. Paulita! Jesus Christ. He leans forward again and moves his hands down the bed and then feels a man’s boots. O my god Pete quien es?
He is beginning to move back a couple of yards in amazement. Garrett is about to burst out laughing so he fires, leaving a powder
*
MISS SALLIE CHISUM: PAT GARRETT
A tremendously tall man.
Despite his crooked mouth
and crooked smile which
made his whole face seem crooked
he was a remarkably handsome man.
BILLY THE KID & PAT GARRETT — SOME FINAL THOUGHTS
I knew both these men intimately.
There was good mixed
in with the bad in Billy the Kid
and bad mixed in with the good
in Pat Garrett.
No matter what they did in the world
or what the world thought of them
they were my friends
Both were worth knowing.
*
Sound up. Loud and vibrating in the room. My ears picking up the hum of flies across the room. The mattress under Pete Maxwell shifting its straw, each blade loud in its clear flick against another. Even the now and then crack at the glass as the day’s heat evaporates from the window against the dark of the desert.
And then that breathing, not Maxwell’s but
the other’s.
The breathing precise but forced into quiet but regular streams. Think of the dark air going up through the nose, down to the stomach rolling around on itself, and then up and out like a fountain spilling through his teeth hissssssssssssssssssssssssss
*
In the final minutes. It is Texas midnight. A large large square, well and buckets centre. The houses and sheds in rows making up the square. The long narrow porch running all around. Up to the well rides Pat Garrett and deputies Poe and Mackinnon. Scuffling slow, smoking as they dismount gentle and leave the horses and walk to the large hut which is Maxwell’s room. They pass the dog.
This is a diagram then of Maxwell’s, Pete Maxwell’s, room. Bed here against the wall, here’s the window where he put his hand through. And here, along here, is the porch. While this, about 20 yards away, is the Gutierrez home. Garrett, Poe, and Mackinnon stop near Maxwell’s door. On some vague tip Garrett has come to ask Maxwell where he thinks Billy is hiding out—where in the territory is he—he’s been escaped 3 months and nobody’s seen him. Garrett leaves the deputies sitting smoking on the porch, flicks away his own cigar and goes into the dark room where Maxwell is asleep
Meanwhile Billy is just yards away drinking with Celsa Gutierrez. He came in about an hour ago, he wears only his trousers and guns, hot night. They decide she will cook him something and he offers to go cut some meat. Carrying a knife in his left hand, and barefoot, he is up and begins walking towards the ice house. Passing the Maxwell room he sees the two men outside. Quien es? They do not answer. Again the question. No answer. Billy backs off the porch into Maxwell’s room and heads towards his friend sleeping. In the dark room Garrett has wakened and is questioning the dazed Maxwell. In fact as Billy enters he is crouching by Maxwell’s bed. Quienes son esos hombres afuera, Pete?
Garrett recognises the voice. He does the one thing that will save him. Quietly, with his long legs, he climbs over Maxwell’s body and gets into bed between Maxwell and the wall. With his rifle in his hands he watches the darkness, trying to make out the shape that is moving towards him. Billy moves over barefoot and asks Pete again. Quienes son esos hombres afuera?
Maxwell doesn’t say a word. He can feel Garrett’s oiled rifle barrel leaning against his cheek. Billy shakes Maxwell’s shoulder and then he hears the other person’s breathing. As the only other woman on the ranch, apart from Celsa Gutierrez is Paulita Maxwell—Pete’s sister—he doesn’t know what to think. Paulita? Pete Maxwell gives a nervous giggle full of fear which Billy mistakes for embarrassment. Paulita! Jesus Christ. He leans forward again and moves his hands down the bed and then feels a man’s boots. O my god Pete quien es?
He is beginning to move back a couple of yards in amazement. Garrett is about to burst out laughing so he fires, leaving a powder
Similar Books
