Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 13
ForsometimeIwatchedhim,fearingthatwhenhediscoveredmehewouldordermeback.Hewouldtakealongsquintoutbetweenthewagonwheels,chewsteadilyawhile,andthenspitcarefullyintoalittledepressionhehadmadeinthesand.
“How’stricks?”Iaskedfinally.Itwasthewayhealwaysaddressedme.
“Fine,”heanswered.“Mostremarkablefine,Jesse,nowthatIcanchewagain.MymouthwasthatdrythatIcouldn’tchewfromsun-uptowhenyoubrungthewater.”
Hereamanshowedheadandshouldersoverthetopofthelittlehilltothenorth-eastoccupiedbythewhites.Labansightedhisrifleonhimforalongminute.Thenheshookhishead.
“Fourhundredyards.Nope,Idon’triskit.Imightgethim,andthenagainImightn’t,an’yourdadismightyanxiousaboutthepowder.”
“Whatdoyouthinkourchancesare?”Iasked,man-fashion,for,aftermywaterexploit,Iwasfeelingverymuchtheman.
Labanseemedtoconsidercarefullyforaspaceerehereplied.
“Jesse,Idon’tmindtellin’youwe’reinadamnedbadhole.Butwe’llgetout,oh,we’llgetout,youcanbetyourbottomdollar.”
“Someofusain’tgoingtogetout,”Iobjected.
