Napileste

Contents

THE BEGINNING

ON THE RANCH

A BUSINESS

THE SCHEME

THE MISSION IS ACCOMPLISHED

THE SEGREGATION

A NEW COALITION

HAGER

A WIFE

ANOTHER WOUND

ANOTHER SEASON

THE UPRISING

INDEFINABLE FEELING

PLOT SUMMARY

AUTHOR

THE BEGINNING

Two hours before his release from his long imprisonment, he stood like a block before a one-eyed inmate.

Ever since I was jailed, those two tenants have never paid their rent, announced the one-eyed man. I want you, Gilbert, to take full possession of my two houses that I inherited from my father. Cast them out of my properties by force, and live in one of them till I complete my two years’ confinement. I have hidden under a heavy stone at the entrance of the house in Woodville a pistol. Go there and fetch it.

I will be very glad to do as you desire, friend, said Gilbert, with a smile that explained something of his contentment. He was a handsome, good-looking man, apparently not more than thirty-five years of age, with a pair of green eyes, and a well-shaped nose.

The day was near its close, when Gilbert appeared out of the nothingness, carrying a great loaf of bread in his hand and a bag over his shoulder. He flung himself on a doorstep of an abandoned salon, watching with breathless interest, across the street, people bustling in and out of a grocery store. He went on unobtrusively eating his bread, smirking at every one, who looked down upon him, with formal civility. An hour before midnight, he quietly passed into the store, and, looking about, beheld the grocer, a sound, old man, counting the money which he had just acquired from the last customer. Gilbert took a few steps forward to obtain a nearer view of the cash.

The store is closed for the night, said the old man, slipping the money into his pocket.

Gilbert abruptly drew a pistol from his belt, presenting it at the man’s face, and as he looked to the right and to the left, the grocer all of a sudden snatched the weapon out of robber’s hand, and raised it to his head. At this point, a withered and ugly old female appeared from behind the door, near which the old man was standing, and stopped short, stunned and motionless, like a woman turned to stone.

All right, smart man, wheezed the grocer. You sit in that stool. Gilbert retreated backwards to the seat which had been indicated to him, casting heedful glances at the leveled pistol. Go and fetch the sheriff, he told the woman. She did as she was bid, and was not long in returning with two deputy sheriffs.

He had been blindfolded, the next day, and lying shackled in the dirt outside the sheriff’s office for hours. The sheriff came out at last, and placed himself before him. There stood near a tall, lean, muscular man, but humble in appearance, some forty years old, with bright grey eyes and a pink face, gazing earnestly at the robber, waiting for orders.

Hauk, the sheriff said to the muscular man.

Yes, sir.

Uncover his eyes.

Do you want me to uncover his eyes? Hauk inquired.

Yes, stupid!

Yes sir, Hauk said, taking the piece of cloth off the Gilbert’s eyes.

What’s your name? the sheriff asked the robber.

You’ll be sorry for this, Gilbert replied snappishly, squinting with one eye at the few people passing this way or that. They showed but scant attention to him.

Listen to me now carefully, said the sheriff, flushed with anger, pointing with his baton to him. The people here take the law into their own hands; and you’re very lucky to be still alive. Now say the name.

Gilbert.

Gilbert? the sheriff inquired, superciliously looking at the man’s pale face, and still standing on the same spot, with his legs about two feet asunder.

Yeah. Gilbert Everett.

How long have you been engaged in armed robberies, Gilbert?

Do not call me a robber, Gilbert replied with a grunt.

Now I’ll ask the same question once again, the sheriff said calmly, smiling, as if he were in full command of all his powers. How long?

I am not a robber.

Very well. Now you deserve to die, the sheriff announced, rather irritably. But unfortunately the undertaker has been out of town for some days, the sheriff said, tapping his left hand with the baton. I guess you have to wait for him here till he comes back. Cover his face and stay with him, the sheriff said to Hauk, and then stepped into his office without a word. Hauk blindfolded the man again.

The sun shone brightly on their faces; and great beads of perspiration stood upon Hauk’s forehead.

He won’t leave you alone; you should have answered his question, Hauk whispered to Gilbert, wiping his eyes with his arm.

He called you stupid. A man of your size should be treated with some respect, Gilbert said to Hauk.

He’s my boss.

That doesn’t give him the right to insult you.

A boss gives orders because his job requires that he should give them, Hauk said, in a low tone.

I agree with you entirely. But I had perception enough to know the difference between an order and an insult. Order is an instruction that must be obeyed in the execution of a task. Insult is an offensive act or remark, as the word ‘stupid,’ Hauk.

I am not sure that I understand what you mean… Do you really think what he has done with regard to me is an insult? Hauk asked, growing confused, looking about to see if there was anybody watching them.

Of course. As you know very well, I’ll be killed within a few days, so I have no personal interest in saying this; it is simply in my nature to resent such unfairness and devote myself to anybody who is treated with disrespect. I’m only trying to help you to be a real human being. Hauk soon relapsed into a despondent state of mind for a good while.

I don’t earn much money from my job too; and I sleep in the sheriff office because I have no place of my own, Hauk complained.

Alas! Poor man! I can’t bear to see you deeply humiliated like this. They treat you like a dog, and will continue to treat you so as long as you are planted like a tree in the sheriff’s office. You deserve to have your own house and to be rich, and I can make you rich in a week if you listen to me, but if you don’t, you’ll be sorry that you were ever born, Gilbert said, shaking his head.

Hauk was speechless for a moment, still glancing round cautiously. How can you possibly make me rich in a week?

Your fortune is waiting for you in Easyland County.

Easyland County?

Yes, sir, confirmed Gilbert, with a nod of his head. There are two houses for each of us.

I can’t understand.

You don’t have to understand, but the only thing you have to do is that you set me free and come with me to that county to make you a homeowner.

No, sir. I can’t do that, Hauk said, passing his hand over his forehead.

Do as you please. Do as you please, Hauk.

Hauk remained standing close to Gilbert for a long time, and the idea of becoming a wealthy landowner never left his thoughts, his mind was so anxious, and his eyes were bloodshot and heavy, but immovably fastened on the office door before him; now he began to feel that his legs were too weary to carry him. He was uncertain what to do. At length he looked at Gilbert with an earnest gaze. How do I know you won’t trick me?

That’s a good question, Gilbert remarked in a calmer tone. I suppose you’ll bring your pistol with you. Shoot me dead.

Shoot you dead?

Yes. It is you who have a gun, and if you find out that I have been deceiving you, you can simply shoot me dead then.

I certainly can, Hauk whispered, with a grotesque contortion of his nose and lips.

I know you can, said Gilbert, and his mouth curled in a queer smile.

It sounds reasonable enough. But we must leave very early in the morning.

Yes, sir.

They wended their way southward. They had set forth after dawn, casting their eyes towards the unpaved, dusty road, with a look of fixed determination on their faces.

I take the first and you take the second for a reason that I have, Gilbert muttered at last, after hours of silence. But you’ll get it in a few days, as I promised you.

It sounds good to me, Hauk said, wiping the sweat from his brow.

Another mile was passed before Gilbert announced, I can see the first house in Woodville.

Hauk halted and squinted to the right with his left eyes. Oh, yeah. Is this one of them?

No, mine is farther south on the other side of the town. Yours is about ten miles from my house, Gilbert answered.

Ten miles! Hauk exclaimed, in a voice rather loud.

Gilbert remained silent, looking morosely into his companion’s face. Well, you’re only ten miles away from being a homeowner.

All right. But what’s the deal with those two houses? Hauk asked, still standing looking round with searching eyes.

The two houses belong to my father, and were expropriated by a powerful family. Now is the time to recover my stolen properties, Gilbert explained.

It is fair, I suppose, to do that.

Let’s go, Gilbert said. Then they resumed their tedious walk at a slow pace. By the time they had reached the town, the sun was so powerful that they determined to rest and recover themselves at a cocktail bar, with a sense of relief. They sat face to face at a table. Are you sure the pistol is well loaded?

It’s loaded, Hauk replied in a whisper.

I need your pistol just for one minute when we got there.

Hauk was thoughtful; his face exhibited an expression of anxiety and perplexity. Only one minute?

No doubt about that, Gilbert responded, drinking his Scotch. And while we’re in the house, don’t do anything unless I tell you to. Let me handle it myself.

They bought two ski masks from an old-clothes store next door. It was only after twenty minutes that they continued their journey on foot. The two men approached the house cautiously.

I think we’d better wear the masks before we go in, Gilbert said.

I think you’re absolutely right.

Having done so, they stared each other in the eyes. And with that, they ascended many flights of stone steps, and knocked at the door. Hauk plunged his right hand into his coat, pulled out his pistol, and handed it to Gilbert. After some little time the door was partly opened, and a woman’s head popped out, but before she could say any word, Gilbert aimed the gun at her forehead and pulled the trigger, easily and quietly. Hauk was terrified by it, but said not a single word.

When Gilbert entered the house and stepped over the dead woman, he found himself face to face with a little, lean, long-nosed, pale man who was standing six or eight feet from them, shaking with terror and amazement. Gilbert, without catching a clear sight of the man, quickly took aim at him and fired. The man fell upon his face motionless. Then Hauk went in, but could not look upon the faces of the two victims.

Go and see if there’s anybody else in the house, Gilbert said, giving him back the gun. Hauk did as he was ordered, and after a minute returned.

Nobody, said Hauk, looking so attentively at Gilbert who was vainly searching the dead man’s pockets. What are you going to do now?

Damn! Nothing. I’m sure there’s some money in the house somewhere, Gilbert jabbered. Then he crawled to the woman on his knees. She’s got a nice figure. I shouldn’t have shot her before she took care of us. But it’s never too late.

Hauk gave no heed to that remark, but asked, Tell me what we’re going to do with them after that?

Gilbert, rising slowly to his feet, walked to the window in the dining room and peeped through the blinds. "Take the man first out into the backyard and leave the senora for me. Wait outside until I finish; then take her and burn them together."

Burn them? Yeah? Hauk inquired, with his mouth open.

I guess it’s the best and easiest way to get rid of them. Hauk seemed to be convinced, and, lifting the senseless man, carried him out of the house. Outside, Hauk took off his mask and laid the man in a hole which looked as though it had been dug by animals. It was not long before Gilbert was done with the woman. Hauk knocked and waited a response; then he entered. Take her, Gilbert said, and removed his mask, hitching up his pants and twisting his belt. I don’t know why God makes them for. Hauk eyed him wistfully as Gilbert passed into one of the rooms.

Three minutes later Hauk came running in. The dead man disappeared, he said, and his face became almost indistinguishable.

Disappeared? How on earth did that happen? Gilbert inquired after a moment of reflection.

I don’t know. Then Gilbert darted out to the back of the house; and Hauk followed. I did not even catch a glimpse of his face; I won’t know him if I see him somewhere else.

I’m sure I got him… Is he some kind of ghost? Gilbert asked, without raising his eyes from the dead body of the poor woman.

Maybe he’s ghost, Hauk replied, looking fearfully about him.

Damn him! He pretended to be dead; he fled away. But there’s nothing to be afraid of. He’s too cowardly to come back, trust me.

Do you think so?

Yes, yes, Gilbert said faintly, Go and collect some firewood. I’ll stay her to make sure she won’t disappear too.

Hauk reflected, as he walked away, that he knew very little of what was actually in Gilbert’s mind, even he knew nothing of him either. What did it all matter to him? He would soon leave Gilbert, and live in his own place. I must have my own house not later than tomorrow night, Hauk said to himself.

Having gathered the firewood, he picked up the stack and descended into the back of the house, still thinking deeply on the subject, his eyes were cast downward. He laid the sticks at Gilbert’s feet.

I think we need another pile of brushwood to build a pyre, Gilbert suggested.

All right, Hauk said, after a pause, looking down upon the dead woman. He scrambled back again up the slope of the mound.

When the task was accomplished, they sat on the stone steps.

Why do you have to shoot them to get your properties back? Hauk asked, drawing his hand across his face. You could have handled the situation differently.

Whatever was usurped by force can only be recovered by force, remember that.

Are you going to kill those people who live in the other house?

I don’t know, Gilbert answered, looking straight before him. We’ll go there the day after tomorrow at ten.

But aren’t you afraid the ghostly man might come back into the house?

I don’t think he will dare come back; and I’m not afraid of him, responded Gilbert, in a lower voice. I’m so hungry; let us see what we can find in the kitchen.

Having eaten and drunk, they spent the rest of the day searching the house for money, or anything of that sort. In one of the bedrooms they found a suitcase filled with new clothes.

The owner must have been a street peddler, Hauk observed.

Let us wear whatever fits us, Gilbert said.

And when they made a further search, two handfuls of coins, of all sorts and different countries, were found in the medicine chest.

Half for you and half for me.

I am now quite convinced that you’re not a robber, Hauk declared emphatically.

That does not make me feel happy… By the way, my real name is Hunter, but you may still call me Gilbert.

ON THE RANCH

After walking some ten miles southward, the long-nosed man arrived at a large yellow house by the side of the road. He stood at the door glancing round more than once. His mind was so disturbed by the events of the day; his eyes shone with gathering tears at the sight of his murdered wife; his hands trembled with agony. Then he adjusted himself and knocked at the door. A bald-headed old man opened it slowly.

Can I help you?

My name is Jonathan. Can I have a glass of water?

You want water?

Yes, if you don’t mind, sir.

All right, said the old man, surveying Jonathan from head to foot. I’ll be right back.