Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 12
“CedarCityisthelastsettlement.We’llhavetogoon,that’sall,andthankourstarswearequitofthem.Twodays’journeybeyondisgoodpasture,andwater.TheycallitMountainMeadows.Nobodylivesthere,andthat’stheplacewe’llrestourcattleandfeedthemupbeforewetacklethedesert.Maybewecanshootsomemeat.Andiftheworstcomestotheworst,we’llkeepgoingaslongaswecan,thenabandonthewagons,packwhatwecanonouranimals,andmakethelaststagesonfoot.Wecaneatourcattleaswegoalong.ItwouldbebettertoarriveinCaliforniawithoutaragtoourbacksthantoleaveourboneshere;andleavethemwewillifwestartaruction.”
Withfinalreiteratedwarningsagainstviolenceofspeechoract,theimpromptumeetingbrokeup.Iwasslowinfallingasleepthatnight.MyrageagainsttheMormonhadleftmybraininsuchatinglethatIwasstillawakewhenmyfathercrawledintothewagonafteralastroundofthenight-watch.TheythoughtIslept,butIheardmotheraskhimifhethoughtthattheMormonswouldletusdepartpeacefullyfromtheirland.Hisfacewasturnedasidefromherashebusiedhimselfwithpullingoffaboot,whileheansweredherwithheartyconfidencethathewassuretheMormonswouldletusgoifnoneofourowncompanystartedtrouble.
ButIsawhisfaceatthatmomentinthelightofasmalltallowdip,andinitwasnoneoftheconfidencethatwasinhisvoice.
