thillerman.theblessingway-第7章

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　he　would　change　the　subject。　He　wanted　to　learn　more；　if　Old　Woman　Gray　Rocks　would　tell　him；　about　why　this　witch　was　thought　to　be　a　stranger。
　〃I　don't　know　why　they　think　this　Wolf　doesn't　live　around　here；〃　McKee　said。　〃Maybe　he　made　that　dry　camp　in　the　arroyo　because　he　thought　somebody　would　e　to　the　spring　and　he　didn't　want　them　to　find　him。〃
　〃Somebody　saw　him　one　night；〃　the　old　woman　said。　She　spoke　very　slowly；　weighing　what　she　would　say；　and　how　much　she　would　say。　〃Witches　e　out　mostly　when　there　is　a　moon　and　there　was　a　moon　that　night。　This　man　he　woke　up　in　the　night　and　heard　a　coyote　singing　and　he　went　out　to　see　about　some　lambs　he　had　penned　up　out　there　and　he　saw　the　witch　there　in　the　moonlight。　It　wasn't　anyone　who　has　his　hogan　around　here。〃
　McKee　started　to　ask　the　name　of　this　man；　and　thought　better　of　it。　This　〃someone〃　would　be　Afraid　of　His　Horse；　the　old　woman's　son…in…law。
　〃But　how　did　this　man　know　he　was　seeing　a　witch？〃　McKee　asked。　〃Maybe　it　was　just　somebody　walking　through　there。〃
　McKee　thought；　for　a　long　moment；　that　Old　Woman　Gray　Rocks　would　ignore　the　question。　He　let　it　hang　in　the　heavy　silence。　Behind　the　winter　hogan；　the　dogs　began　to　bark　and　McKee　heard　the　sound　of　the　pickup　truck…Canfield　ing　back　from　Shoemaker's　with　the　groceries。
　〃The　way　I　heard　it；〃　Old　Woman　Gray　Rocks　said；　still　slowly；　〃this　witch　had　a　wolf　skin　over　his　back　and　he　was　down　where　those　rams　were　penned；　killing　them　with　a　knife。〃
　Canfield　arrived　from　Shoemaker's　with　43　worth　of　groceries　in　the　camper；　a　case　of　beer；　and　a　letter　from　Ellen　Leon；　postmarked　Page；　Arizona。　She　planned　to　spend　a　day　or　two　checking　the　trading　posts　around　Mormon　Ridge　and　the　Kaibab　Plateau　in　the　northwest　section　of　the　Reservation。　And　then　she　would　e　to　Chinle　on　Thursday　and　drive　over　to　Shoemaker's　trading　post　and　find　out　where　she　could　meet　them。　Canfield　had　left　a　note　and　a　penciled　map　telling　her　they　would　be　camped　about　five　miles　up　the　main　branch　of　Many　Ruins　Canyon　and　showing　her　how　to　get　there。
　〃Works　out　good　for　everybody；〃　Canfield　said。　〃You've　got　your　witchery　business　going　on　in　the　neighborhood；　and　if　we　have　time；　we　can　look　around　up　in　there　and　see　if　we　can　find　that　green　van。〃　He　grinned。　〃Let's　hope　we　don't　find　it。　We'll　get　out　my　guitar　and　serenade　her　and　spend　bacchanal　evenings　under　the　Navajo　moon。〃
　〃I　don't　know　if　I've　got　any　witchery　business　yet；〃　McKee　said。　〃I've　got　to　find　this　Tsosie　family　and　find　out　what　their　trouble　is；　if　anything。　According　to　the　old　lady；　Charley　usually　has　his　summer　hogan　just　a　few　miles　south　of　where　we'll　be　camping；　so　that　should　be　easy。　Then　maybe　the　Tsosies　can　tell　me　where　to　find　Afraid　of　His　Horse。　The　old　lady　didn't　want　to　talk　about　him。　They　don't　like　witch　trouble　in　the　family。〃
　〃What　are　you　going　to　do　about　Horseman？〃
　McKee　thought　about　it。　〃I　think　I　ought　to　go　on　back　to　Chinle　tomorrow　and　call　Leaphorn　about　it；〃　he　said。
　〃Your　cop　really　thinks　it　wasn't　a　natural　death？〃
　〃I　don't　think　he　knows；〃　McKee　said。　〃But　he　guessed　right　about　Horseman　ing　back　in　here　to　hide。〃
　Canfield　let　the　pickup　idle　along　the　hard…packed　sand　of　the　canyon　floor；　turning　occasionally　to　side　canyons　to　check　his　map　and　his　memory　of　where　cliff　ruins　he　would　inspect　were　located。　The　sun　was　low　as　they　penetrated　the　upper　canyon。　Here　the　cliffs　closed　in；　rising　in　sheer；　almost　smooth　walls　nearly　four　hundred　feet　to　a　narrow　slit　of　sky　above。　Here　in　this　slot　of　eroded　stone　darkness　came　early。　Canfield　had　switched　on　his　headlights　before　he　found　a　likely　camp…a　hillock　of　rocky　debris　which　had　collected　enough　soil　to　support　an　expanse　of　grass　and　even　a　growth　of　young　cottonwoods　and　willows。
　By　the　time　they　had　Canfield's　working　tent　pitched　and　supper　cooked；　the　first　stars　were　visible　over　the　canyon　walls。　A　nighthawk　flashed　past　them；　hunting。　Up　canyon　a　rasping　hoot　touched　off　a　dull　pattern　of　echoes。
　〃Saw…whet　owl；〃　Canfield　said。　He　grinned　at　McKee。　〃If　Leaphorn　was　right；　maybe　that's　Horseman's　ghost　enjoying　the　night　out。〃
　They　ate　and　then　sat　in　the　silent　darkness；　watching　the　light　of　the　early　moon　light　the　top　of　the　canyon　walls。　From　some　infinite　distance　came　the　faint　sound　of　barking。
　〃Take　your　pick；〃　McKee　said。　〃A　coyote；　some　sheepherder's　lost　dog；　or　one　of　my　witches　turned　into　a　wolf　for　the　evening。〃
　Canfield　took　the　turquoise　frog　from　his　pocket　and　rubbed　it；　chuckling。
　〃I'll　say　it's　a　witch；〃　he　said；　〃because　this　keeps　me　safe　from　witches。〃
　Actually；　McKee　remembered；　the　turquoise　shape　wasn't　a　Navajo　charm。　It　was　a　much　older　Anasazi　fertility　totem　with　nothing　at　all　to　do　with　witches。
　Of　course　it　didn't　really　matter。
　
　Chapter　8
　
　McKee　left　the　campsite　before　dawn；　called　Leaphorn's　office　from　the　Gulf　station　on　the　highway　at　Chinle；　and　then　ate　a　leisurely　breakfast　at　Bishbito's　Diner　while　he　waited　for　the　policeman　to　make　the　sixty…mile　drive　from　Window　Rock。　Leaphorn　arrived　while　he　was　finishing　his　third　cup　of　coffee。　He　handed　McKee　a　sheet　of　paper　and　sat　down。
　〃Take　a　look　at　that；〃　he　said。　〃And　then　let's　go　and　find　that　boy　who　went　to　warn　Horseman。〃
　The　paper　was　a　carbon　of　an　autopsy　report　form：
　SUBJECT：　Luis　Horseman　（war　name　unknown）。
　AGE：　23。
　ADDRESS：　27　miles　southwest　of　Klagetoh。
　NEXT　OF　KIN：　Wife；　Agnes　（Tso）　Horseman；　Many　Goats　Clan。
　TIME　OF　DEATH：　Between　6　P。M。　and　12　midnight；　June　11　（estimated）。
　CAUSE　OF　DEATH：　Suffocation。　Substantial　accumulation　of　fine　granular　material　in　lung　tissue；　windpipe；　throat　and　nostrils。
　There　was　more　information；　negative　reports　on　blood　alcohol　and　on　abrasions　and　concussions；　and　an　analysis　indicating　the　〃fine　granular　material〃　was　mon　silica…based　sand。
　〃The　medical　examiner　said　it　looked　like　he　got　caught　in　a　cave…in；〃　Leaphorn　said。　〃Like　he　had　been　buried　in　sand。〃
　〃You　think　so？〃
　〃And　somebody　dug　him　out？　And　laid　him　out　there　at　Teastah　Wash　with　the　bottle　of　whiskey　he　hadn't　drunk？〃　Leaphorn　thought　about　his　own　questions。　〃I　don't　know。　Maybe。　But　there　wasn't　any　sand　in　his　cuffs；　or　in　his　pockets；　or　anywhere　else。〃
　〃It　wouldn't　make　any　sense　anyway；〃　McKee　said。
　Leaphorn　was　looking　out　the　window。　〃I　think　I　know　a　lot　about　witches；〃　he　said。　〃You　think　you　know　a　lot　about　witches。　How　do　you　kill　a　witch？〃
　The　question　surprised　McKee。　He　thought　about　it。　〃You　mean　do　you　smother　them？〃
　〃Remember　that　case　over　at　Fruitland？〃　Leaphorn　asked。　〃That　guy　whose　daughter　died　of　t。b。？　He　shot　four　of　them。　And　then　there　was　that　old　Singer　up　near　Teec　Nos　Pas　a　couple　of　years　ago。　He　was　beaten　to　death。〃
　〃There's　no　special　way　that　I　know　of；〃　McKee　said。　〃There　was　supposed　to　be　a　hanging　back　in　the　1930's　but　there　wasn't　any　proof　and　they　think　it　was　just　gossip。　Usually；　though；　it's　heat…of…passion　stuff…beating；　shooting；　or　knifing。　Something　like　that。　Why？　You　think　somebody　thought　Horseman　was　a　witch？〃
　〃Makes　a　certain　amount　of　sense；〃　Leaphorn　said。　〃But　I　don't　know。〃　He　was　still　staring　out　the　window。　〃Why　kill　somebody　like　Horseman？　Just　another　poor　soul　who　didn't　quite　know　how　to　be　a　Navajo　and　couldn't　learn　to　act　like　a　white。　No　good　for　anything。〃
　McKee　could　think　of　nothing　to　say。　Out　the　window　there　was　the　highway；　the　asphalt　strip　of　Navajo　Route　9；　and　across　it　to　the　east；　the　blue…gray　mass　of　the　Lukachukai　Range。　He　wondered　what　Leaphorn　was　seeing　out　there。
　〃I　was　in　charge　of　the　Shiprock　subagency　when　that　Fruitland　thing　happened；〃　Leaphorn　said。　〃That　one　was　mine。　I　heard　that　Navajo　Wolf　talk　and　I　didn't　pay　much　attention　to　it　and　so　we　had　five　bodies　to　bury。〃
　〃Four；〃　McKee　said。
　〃No。　It　was　five。〃　Leaphorn　turned；　smiling　grimly。　〃This　isn't　Salem；〃　he　said。　〃We　don't　recognize　witchcraft　legally　and　the　guy　shot　an　old　Hand　Trembler　and　his　wife；　and　a　schoolteacher　and　her　husband；　and　then　he　shot　himself。　Didn't　want　to　stand　trial　for　murder。〃
　〃What　are　you　trying　to　do？〃　McKee　asked。　〃Figure　out　a　way　to　blame　yourself　for　Horseman？〃
　〃I　could　have　gone　in　and　looked　for　him。〃
　〃But　not　found　him；〃　McKee　said。　〃Besides；　Horseman　wasn't　a　stranger。　The　old　woman　said　the　Wolf　is　a　stranger。〃
　〃Yeah；〃　Leaphorn　said。　〃That's　what　she　said。　Maybe　she　had　a　reason　to　lie。　Let's　go　find　that　boy　who　went　out　to　warn　Horseman。〃　He　looked　at　his　notes。　〃Billy　Nez。　Let's　go　find　Billy　and　see　what　he　knows。〃
　But　finding　Billy　Nez　was　not　possible。
　They　found　his　family's　hogans　east　of　Chinle；　not　far　from　Shoemaker's；　but　not　Billy。　His　uncle　was　sore　about　it。
　〃Kid　took　a　horse　and　took　off　after　breakfast；〃　he　said。　〃He's　gone　all　the　time。　Screwing　around　back　up　in　the　mountains　somewhere；　when　he's　supposed　to　be　helping　out。〃
　Would　he　be　back　tonight？　The　uncle　couldn't　guess。　Sometimes　he　was　gone　for　days。　He　and　Leaphorn　talked　a　moment　and　then　the　lieutenant　returned　to　the　carryall；　and　turned　it　back　toward　Chinle。
　〃Found　out　a　little；〃　Leaphorn　said。　〃The　boy　knew　where　Horseman　was　hiding…somewhere　back　up　in　those　canyons。　But　when　he　went　to　tell　him　he　hadn't　killed　anybody；　Horseman　was　gone。〃　Leaphorn　paused。　〃Or　at　least　the　kid　said　he　was　gone。〃
　〃You　don't　think　he　was？〃
　〃Probably；〃　Leaphorn　said。　〃The　uncle　also　told　me　something　else。　Billy　Nez　is　Horseman's　younger　brother。〃
　〃His　brother？〃　McKee　said。　〃How　about　the　different　name？〃
　〃Family　broke　up；〃　Leaphorn　said。　〃Billy　was　living　with　his　uncle　so　he　used　Nez　instead　of　Horseman。　You　know　how　it　is　with　the　Dinee。　The　only　name　that　really　counts　is　the　war　name　you　get　when　you're　little。　And　that　one's　a　secret　inside　your　family　and　it's　only　used　in　your　Blessing　Way　ceremonial　or　if　you　get　somebody　to　sing　you　a　cure。〃
　It　was　noon　when　they　reached　the　Chinle　sub　agency　office　and　the　man　Leaphorn　wanted　to　see　was　at　lunch。　They　found　him　at　the　diner；　and　Leaphorn　introduced　him　as　Sam　George　Takes。　He　was　a　round…faced；　barrel…chested　young　man；　wearing　the　uniform　of　a　Law　and　Order　sergeant。　McKee　ordered　chicken…fried　steak；　more　lunch　than　he　usually　allowed　himself。
　〃Hell；　you　know　how　it　is；　Joe；〃　Takes　was　saying。　〃It's　summer；　school's　out。　He's　probably　chasing　some　girl　and　no　telling　when　he　gets　back。〃
　〃That's　right；〃　Leaphorn　said。　〃That's　what　you　do　when　you're　sixteen　or　so。　Hanging　around　some　girl's　hogan。　Or；　if　your　brother　is　missing；　maybe　looking　for　your　brother。〃
　Takes　put　down　his　fork。　〃And　he　don't　find　him　and　he　es　home　and　his　uncle　sends　him　in　here　like　he　said　he　would　and　we　find　out　whatever　he　knows；　which　is　probably　nothing；　and　that's　the　end　of　it。　Why　are　you　worrying？〃
　〃It　could　work　out　like　that；〃　Leaphorn　said。　〃But　you　know　how　news　travels　on　this　reservation。　It　could　be　by　now　he　knows　his　brother　is　dead。　So　maybe　he　connects　it　to　this　witching　gossip。　Then　he　collects　some　cousins　and　uncles　and　goes　looking　for　the　Wolf。〃
　McKee's　lunch　arrived；　with　the　gravy　poured　over　the　French　fries。
　〃Al's　cook　quit　again；〃　Tak