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BIG BOOM290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthY59NFPGv
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKC2TSG8PWV
The sun was hot on the compound as two heavily laden wagons drew up. A guard rode over to the drivers, conferred briefly with them, and then called to Eucher, "Where do you want us to park this dynamite?"
Eucher looked up. "Over there," he said. "Let's keep it away from the tents."
He entered Bronco's tent and poured himself a cup of coffee from the urn Bronco kept going all day there. Bronco, studying a ledger, barely glanced at him.
"It's here," Eucher announced. "You want to start blasting again tomorrow?"
When Bronco didn't reply, Eucher continued, "There's a crew up there bringing out what's left of the bodies."
Remembering the consequences of the first day of dynamiting, neither spoke. Finally, Eucher demanded, "What's wrong? You think there's any more gas in that tunnel?"
Bronco's voice was flat as he said, "We'll find out tomorrow."
Eucher turned, spat through the door, and walked out. Seeing a couple of the guards heading for the cook tent, he ordered, "Go get yourself some grub. Then get over to the blasting site."
They nodded and went off. Absently Eucher noticed that the horses had been unhitched from the dynamite wagons and were being led over to the watering trough.
Supposing there was gas in the tunnel still. Another explosion. More deaths. More delays in getting the track laid. And what about the laborers? They'd be a problem. It was bad enough last time, Eucher thought gloomily. This time---well, maybe there wouldn't be any....
Eucher's thoughts---and everything else---came to a halt as a deafening explosion rocked the camp. As if in slow motion, Eucher saw a burst of flame, smoke, and debris---the dynamite wagon!"
He heard the horses scream with terror and saw them trying to bolt from the camp. As he started running over to help with them a second explosion nearly flung him to the ground. The other wagon had blown up!
Flame and smoke shot into the air. Gasping, he hurried to grab the bridle of the panicked horse nearest him. Eucher could only think of one thing. Robinson. Somehow, it must be the priest behind this. Watched for, they cannot be seen, listened for, they cannot be heard. One of the laborers had said that.
"Easy, easy," he told the plunging horse mechanically. A burning spark fell on his hand and he cursed. The horse reared again, nearly pulling him off his feet.
Eucher saw a corner of flame lick at the edge of the laborers' tent. If that too went, he thought! "The horse trough!" he yelled. "Get the water!"
The horse he was holding calmed down enough for him to hand it over to the driver. "Where's Bronco?" he demanded.
The driver shrugged. "Right behind you."
Eucher wheeled.
"Let's go to my tent," Bronco said. "Looks like we've got a couple of things to discuss."
"I think Robinson did it," Eucher blurted out. "Them Japs ain't got the guts."
Bronco waited until he was inside his tent to answer. "You sure it was sabotage?"
"Dynamite don't make a big boom all by its lonesome. The wagons was just sitting there."
"So how did Robinson get into camp, blow up the dynamite, and get out without any of us seeing him?"
Eucher hesitated. "Maybe somebody did see him. But they wouldn't tell. Unless maybe Kazuo..." He stuck his head out of the tent and called a guard. "Bring Kazuo in here, will you?"
Bronco had moved over to the easel where he kept a map of the area. "Not too long ago," he remarked, studying the map, "you were saying nothing could survive out there."
"Yeah, but he's gotta be there. There's no other explanation."
Silently they studied the map until the guard came back, pushing Kazuo into the tent ahead of him. Snatching his hat from his hand, Kazuo eyed them tearfully.
"Sit down," Bronco said. "Go on. Nobody'll hurt you."
Looking terrified, he shook his head.
"What are you scared of, anyway?" Bronco demanded. Then, as there was no answer, "It's that Korean varmint, isn't it? You've seen him."
Still no response.
"Well, where's he hiding?" Bronco persisted. "Look, you helped us, we'll help you. We'll put you someplace he can't find you."
"No!" Kazuo said, finding his voice at last. "You know nothing about the Koreans. A Hwarangdo, they have said, can walk through walls."
"Don't worry about that," Eucher said soothingly. "We'll put guards around you."
"It will make no difference!" Kazuo persisted. "The Koreans say, 'Listened for, he cannot be heard; looked for, he cannot be seen; felt, he cannot be touched!'"
"Where is he?!" Bronco demanded.
"I don't know."
Bronco turned to the guard. "Get him out of my sight."
As the guard pushed Kazuo from the tent, Dillon went over to the coffee pot. "Well?"
"Let me go after him," Eucher suggested.
Bronco picked up his coffee cup and refilled it. "Why? Aren't you scared?"
"It'd take more than the likes o' him to scare me!" Eucher said scornfully.
"Oh, I don't know," Bronco said sarcastically. "Walks through walls. You won't hear him, see him, or touch him."
Eucher picked up his shotgun. "I'll touch him with this."
"Are you sure?"
"Let me take two men."
Bronco thought for a moment. "Do it," he said finally. As Eucher left the tent, Bronco was still staring at his coffee cup.290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1qTIAhEbb
