第 8 节
作者:爱之冰点      更新:2022-04-14 11:03      字数:9287
  ever suggested to him; as if she filled out her own shadow。
  She pushed him away and shot past him out into the rain。
  〃Now for it; Fred;〃 she called back exultantly。  The rain
  was pouring steadily down through the dying gray twilight;
  and muddy streams were spouting and foaming over the
  cliff。
  Fred caught her and held her back。  〃Keep behind me;
  Thea。  I don't know about the path。  It may be gone alto…
  gether。  Can't tell what there is under this water。〃
  But the path was older than the white man's Arizona。
  The rush of water had washed away the dust and stones
  that lay on the surface; but the rock skeleton of the Indian
  trail was there; ready for the foot。  Where the streams
  poured down through gullies; there was always a cedar or
  a PINON to cling to。  By wading and slipping and climbing;
  they got along。  As they neared the head of the canyon;
  where the path lifted and rose in steep loops to the surface
  of the plateau; the climb was more difficult。  The earth
  above had broken away and washed down over the trail;
  bringing rocks and bushes and even young trees with it。
  The last ghost of daylight was dying and there was no time
  to lose。  The canyon behind them was already black。
  〃We've got to go right through the top of this pine tree;
  Thea。  No time to hunt a way around。  Give me your hand。〃
  After they had crashed through the mass of branches; Fred
  stopped abruptly。  〃Gosh; what a hole!  Can you jump it?
  Wait a minute。〃
  He cleared the washout; slipped on the wet rock at the
  farther side; and caught himself just in time to escape a
  tumble。  〃If I could only find something to hold to; I could
  give you a hand。  It's so cursed dark; and there are no
  trees here where they're needed。  Here's something; it's a
  root。  It will hold all right。〃  He braced himself on the rock;
  gripped the crooked root with one hand and swung himself
  across toward Thea; holding out his arm。  〃Good jump!  I
  must say you don't lose your nerve in a tight place。  Can
  you keep at it a little longer?  We're almost out。  Have to
  make that next ledge。  Put your foot on my knee and catch
  something to pull by。〃
  Thea went up over his shoulder。  〃It's hard ground up
  here;〃 she panted。  〃Did I wrench your arm when I slipped
  then?  It was a cactus I grabbed; and it startled me。〃
  〃Now; one more pull and we're on the level。〃
  They emerged gasping upon the black plateau。  In the
  last five minutes the darkness had solidified and it seemed
  as if the skies were pouring black water。  They could not
  see where the sky ended or the plain began。  The light at
  the ranch house burned a steady spark through the rain。
  Fred drew Thea's arm through his and they struck off
  toward the light。  They could not see each other; and the
  rain at their backs seemed to drive them along。  They kept
  laughing as they stumbled over tufts of grass or stepped
  into slippery pools。  They were delighted with each other
  and with the adventure which lay behind them。
  〃I can't even see the whites of your eyes; Thea。  But I'd
  know who was here stepping out with me; anywhere。  Part
  coyote you are; by the feel of you。  When you make up your
  mind to jump; you jump!  My gracious; what's the matter
  with your hand?〃
  〃Cactus spines。  Didn't I tell you when I grabbed the
  cactus?  I thought it was a root。  Are we going straight?〃
  〃I don't know。  Somewhere near it; I think。  I'm very
  comfortable; aren't you?  You're warm; except your
  cheeks。  How funny they are when they're wet。  Still; you
  always feel like you。  I like this。  I could walk to Flagstaff。
  It's fun; not being able to see anything。  I feel surer of you
  when I can't see you。  Will you run away with me?〃
  Thea laughed。  〃I won't run far to…night。  I'll think
  about it。  Look; Fred; there's somebody coming。〃
  〃Henry; with his lantern。  Good enough!  Halloo!  Hallo
  oo!〃 Fred shouted。
  The moving light bobbed toward them。  In half an hour
  Thea was in her big feather bed; drinking hot lentil soup;
  and almost before the soup was swallowed she was asleep。
  VIII
  ON the first day of September Fred Ottenburg and Thea
  Kronborg left Flagstaff by the east…bound express。
  As the bright morning advanced; they sat alone on the
  rear platform of the observation car; watching the yellow
  miles unfold and disappear。  With complete content they
  saw the brilliant; empty country flash by。  They were
  tired of the desert and the dead races; of a world without
  change or ideas。  Fred said he was glad to sit back and let
  the Santa Fe do the work for a while。
  〃And where are we going; anyhow?〃 he added。
  〃To Chicago; I suppose。  Where else would we be
  going?〃  Thea hunted for a handkerchief in her hand…
  bag。
  〃I wasn't sure; so I had the trunks checked to Albu…
  querque。  We can recheck there to Chicago; if you like。
  Why Chicago?  You'll never go back to Bowers。  Why
  wouldn't this be a good time to make a run for it?  We
  could take the southern branch at Albuquerque; down to
  El Paso; and then over into Mexico。  We are exceptionally
  free。  Nobody waiting for us anywhere。〃
  Thea sighted along the steel rails that quivered in the
  light behind them。  〃I don't see why I couldn't marry you
  in Chicago; as well as any place;〃 she brought out with
  some embarrassment。
  Fred took the handbag out of her nervous clasp and
  swung it about on his finger。  〃You've no particular love
  for that spot; have you?  Besides; as I've told you; my
  family would make a row。  They are an excitable lot。  They
  discuss and argue everlastingly。  The only way I can ever
  put anything through is to go ahead; and convince them
  afterward。〃
  〃Yes; I understand。  I don't mind that。  I don't want to
  marry your family。  I'm sure you wouldn't want to marry
  mine。  But I don't see why we have to go so far。〃
  〃When we get to Winslow; you look about the freight
  yards and you'll probably see several yellow cars with
  my name on them。  That's why; my dear。  When your
  visiting…card is on every beer bottle; you can't do things
  quietly。  Things get into the papers。〃  As he watched her
  troubled expression; he grew anxious。  He leaned forward
  on his camp…chair; and kept twirling the handbag between
  his knees。  〃Here's a suggestion; Thea;〃 he said presently。
  〃Dismiss it if you don't like it: suppose we go down to
  Mexico on the chance。  You've never seen anything like
  Mexico City; it will be a lark for you; anyhow。  If you
  change your mind; and don't want to marry me; you can
  go back to Chicago; and I'll take a steamer from Vera
  Cruz and go up to New York。  When I get to Chicago;
  you'll be at work; and nobody will ever be the wiser。  No
  reason why we shouldn't both travel in Mexico; is there?
  You'll be traveling alone。  I'll merely tell you the right
  places to stop; and come to take you driving。  I won't put
  any pressure on you。  Have I ever?〃  He swung the bag
  toward her and looked up under her hat。
  〃No; you haven't;〃 she murmured。  She was thinking
  that her own position might be less difficult if he had used
  what he called pressure。  He clearly wished her to take the
  responsibility。
  〃You have your own future in the back of your mind all
  the time;〃 Fred began; 〃and I have it in mine。  I'm not
  going to try to carry you off; as I might another girl。  If you
  wanted to quit me; I couldn't hold you; no matter how
  many times you had married me。  I don't want to over…
  persuade you。  But I'd like mighty well to get you down to
  that jolly old city; where everything would please you; and
  give myself a chance。  Then; if you thought you could have
  a better time with me than without me; I'd try to grab you
  before you changed your mind。  You are not a sentimental
  person。〃
  Thea drew her veil down over her face。  〃I think I am; a
  little; about you;〃 she said quietly。  Fred's irony somehow
  hurt her。
  〃What's at the bottom of your mind;