"She's in the pantry, all right," Olive said. She raked her fingers through her graying hair. "I got that much out of those two pupuras, but no more. I knew it was going to be that way as soon as they started talking that stupid crunk of theirs."
There was no proper word for the dialect of the Mejis vaqueros, but "crunk" served well enough among the Barony's higher-born citizens. Olive knew both of the vaqs guarding the pantry, in the vague way of a person who has once ridden a lot and passed gossip and weather with other Drop-riders, and she knew damned well these old boys could do better than crunk. They had spoken it so they could pretend to misunderstand her, and save both them and her the embarrassment of an outright refusal. She had gone along with the deception for much the same reason, although she could have responded with crunk of her own perfectly well - and called them some names their mothers never used - had she wanted.
"I told them there were men upstairs," she said, "and I thought maybe they meant to steal the silver. I said I wanted the maloficios turned out. And still they played dumb. Nohabla, sai. Shit. Shit!"
Sheemie thought of calling them a couple of big old sonuvabitches, and decided to keep silent. She was pacing back and forth in front of him and throwing an occasional burning look at the closed kitchen doors. At last she stopped in front of Sheemie again.
"Turn out your pockets," she said. "Let's see what you have for hopes and garlands."
Sheemie did as she asked, producing a little pocketknife (a gift from Stanley Ruiz) and a half-eaten cookie from one. From the other he brought out three lady-finger firecrackers, a big-banger, and a few sulfur matches.
Olive's eyes gleamed when she saw these. "Listen to me, Sheemie," she said.
8
Cuthbert patted Roland's face with no result. Alain pushed him aside, knelt, and took the gunslinger's hands. He had never used the touch this way, but had been told it was possible - that one could reach another's mind, in at least some cases.
Roland! Roland, wake up! Please! We need you!
At first there was nothing. Then Roland stirred, muttered, and pulled his hands out of Alain's. In the moment before his eyes opened, both of the other two boys were struck by the same fear of what they might see: no eyes at all, only raving pink light.
But they were Roland's eyes, all right - those cool blue shooter's eyes.
He struggled to gain his feet, and failed the first time. He held out his hands. Cuthbert took one, Alain the other. As they pulled him up, Bert saw a strange and frightening thing: there were threads of white in Roland's hair. There had been none that morning; he would have sworn to it. The morning had been a long time ago, however.
"How long was I out?" Roland touched the bruise in the center of his forehead with the tips of his fingers and winced.
"Not long," Alain said. "Five minutes, maybe. Roland, I'm sorry I hit you, but I had to. It was ... I thought it was killing you."
"Mayhap 'twas. Is it safe?"
Alain pointed wordlessly to the drawstring bag.
"Good. It's best one of you carry it for now. I might be . . ." He searched for the right word, and when he found it, a small, wintry smile touched the comers of his mouth - "tempted," he finished. "Let's ride for Hanging Rock. We've got work yet to finish."
"Roland . .." Cuthbert began.
Roland turned, one hand on the horn of his horse's saddle.
Cuthbert licked his lips, and for a moment Alain didn't think he would be able to ask. If you don't, I will, Alain thought . . . but Bert managed, bringing the words out in a rush.
"What did you see?"
"Much," Roland said. "I saw much, but most of it is already fading out of my mind, the way dreams do when you wake up. What I do remember I'll tell you as we ride. You must know, because it changes everything. We're going back to Gilead, but not for long."
"Where after that?" Alain asked, mounting.
"West. In search of the Dark Tower. If we survive today, that is. Come on. Let's take those tankers."
9
The two vaqs were rolling smokes when there was a loud bang from upstairs. They both jumped and looked at each other, the tobacco from their works-in-progress sifting down to the floor in small brown flurries. A woman shrieked. The doors burst open. It was the Mayor's widow again, this time accompanied by a maid. The vaqs knew her well - Maria Tomas, the daughter of an old compadre from the Piano Ranch.
"The thieving bastards have set the place on fire!" Maria cried, speaking to them in crunk. "Come and help!"
"Maria, sai, we have orders to guard - "
"A putina locked in the pantry?" Maria shouted, her eyes blazing. "Come, ye stupid old donkey, before the whole place catches! Then ye can explain to Senor Lengyll why ye stood here using yer thumbs for fart-corks while Seafront burned down around yer ears!"
"Go on!" Olive snapped. "Are you cowards?"
There were several smaller bangs as, above them in the great parlor, Sheemie set off the lady-fingers. He used the same match to light the drapes.
The two viejos exchanged a glance. "Andelay, " said the older of the two, then looked back at Maria. He no longer bothered with the crunk. "Watch this door," he said.