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Sergeant Crawford dropped to his knees. The night chill filled the stockade corridor. "What in tarnation happened to you, Pennington?" he asked, shaking the prone guard.
The guard pressed his palms against the cold stone, pushing himself to a sitting position. "Um," he said in a faint voice. He winced, rubbing his neck.
Crawford hung the lantern he was carrying on a wall peg. He crossed to the open door of the cell Robinson and Morrison had been in. Not looking inside, he asked, "How long have they been gone?"
"Well," said Pennington, "I don't rightly know, sir."
"Why don't you know, Pennington?"
"I ain't quite sure what time it is now, sir."
"It's past nine."
"Thunderation!" muttered the sitting guard. "I didn't think I was out so long. I wonder how that...."
"When did they leave?"
"Musta been a lil' 'fore eight, sir."
"What's all this I hear?" Major Norton, fastening the collar of his uniform, came into the stockade. "You have men out there searching for some escaped prisoners, sergeant?"
"That I do, sir."
The plump major scowled at the open cell. "The Korean and the giant, was it?"
"It was, sir," replied Crawford.
Norton frowned down at the guard. "Why didn't you shout, corporal, yell for help?"
"Sure did think 'bout it, sir," said Pennington as he rose, swaying to his feet. "Thing is, sir, I weren't able to."
"Why not?"
The guard got a careful grip on his neck. "One a' 'em, sir, and I am sure it was the Ko-rhee-an, grabbed me right 'bouts here on th' neck an, I swear on m' mama's grave, I couldn't do nuthin'. Couldn't talk, couldn't holler.....An' then I guess I went out like a lamplight, sir."
Major Norton said, "Sergeant, it's starting to look as though these two men no only got out of the stockade but out of the post compound as well. Can you explain to me how they were able to do what no one is supposed to be able to do?"
"No, sir."
"Two killers," the major went on. "Two murderers who were in our keeping. Now they're roaming the countryside." He let out a coughing sigh. "I'm not at all happy about this, sergeant."
"I know that, sir."
"And just what are you going to do about it?"
"Bring them back, sir," said Sergeant Crawford.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPFLLRBMYr
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Chained together, wrist to wrist, they moved through the chill dawn. They were climbing into the foothills, leaving the dry area of thorny shrubs and saltbushs. Shaggy juniper bushes were showing up around them now, and thin straight pinyon pines.
Morisson, breathing heavily through his open mouth, looked back over his shoulder. "They ain't comin' after us."
"No," agreed the unwinded Robinson. "Not yet."
"Yeah, they're gonna, though," said the big man. "Gonna catch us and then Crawford will...."
"Let me see your ankle," said Robinson, slowing.
"What about it?" Morisson stopped. The tight manacle was chafing the ankle, rubbing it raw.
"It should be attended to," said Robinson.
"Aw, it's nuthin'" insisted Morrison. "Take more than that to slow the likes a' me down." He made, suddenly, a growling sound. He clutched the chain that bound their wrists with his good hand and tugged hard at it. "Gotta snap this damn thing."
Robinson watched the huge Morrison straining for several seconds. "It will not be done that way."
"I want to get shed of you, is what I want. I want to go off by myself, just run and get far away from that damn stockade. From everybody."
"You have promised to lead me to where you and my father worked."
Giving up on the chain that bound them together, Morisson laughed. "Down there was where I promised. We're up here now."
"I think you will keep your promise."
Morisson looked up at the lightening sky. "I might," he said. "But you gotta remember I'm boss now. We got to do what I say, go where I say. Because I'm boss."
Robinson gave a brief nod. "Yes. Take me to my father----in your way."
They resumed their climb, Morrison glancing suspiciously at Robinson from time to time. Up ahead, in the slanting hills, a forest of pines stretched.
"You maybe think I'm dumb," said Morisson after a while. "Down there I'm dumb. But up here, where we're going, this here's my place. Robinson, you think I'm so dumb you can fool me?"
"Why should I?" Robinson responded gently. "We made a bargain."
"Bargain!" Morisson's rage flared out. "Bargain! Gave me your word. You and the rest of them...." He spat contemptuously.
He is used to betrayal, Robinson thought compassionately, like a stray dog that everyone teases and kicks.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdU3qWrTnyg
They went upward. The day began, light and warmth spreading through the trees. Birds came to life, singing, rustling.
In a low voice, the big man said, "Cherry and me was here, once't."
"Who is Cherry?"
Morisson said, "Nobody. Never mind, I wasn't talkin' to you."
Later Robinson asked, "Is it far?"
"What?"
"Where you are taking me, is it far?"
"You let me worry 'bout that," said Morisson. "I done told you already, I'm th' boss."338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLTCu2H2q5
