The Night Horseman by Max Brand, CHAPTER VI. THE MISSION STARTS

CHAPTER VI. THE MISSION STARTS

Then, with a shifting of the wind, a song was blown to them from the bunk-house, a cheerful, ringing chorus; the sound was like daylight—it drove the terror from the room. Joe Cumberland asked them to leave him. That night, he said, he would sleep. He felt it, like a promise. The other three went out from the room.

In the hall Kate and Daniels stood close together under a faint light from the wall-lamp, and they talked as if they had forgotten the presence of Byrne.

"It had to come," she said. "I knew it would come to him sooner or later, but I didn't dream it would be as terrible as this. Buck, what are we going to do?" "God knows," said the big cowpuncher. "Just wait, I s'pose, same as we've been doing." He had aged wonderfully in that moment of darkness.

"He'll be happy now for a few days," went on the girl, "but afterwards—when he realises that it means nothing—what then, Buck?" The man took her hands and began to pat them softly as a father might soothe a child.

"I seen you when the wind come in," he said gently. "Are you going to stand it, Kate? Is it going to be hell for you, too, every time you hear 'em?" She answered: "If it were only I! Yes, I could stand it. Lately I've begun to think that I can stand anything. But when I see Dad it breaks my heart—and you—oh, Buck, it hurts, it hurts!" She drew his hands impulsively against her breast. "If it were only something we could fight outright!" Buck Daniels sighed.

"Fight?" he echoed hopelessly. "Fight? Against him? Kate, you're all tired out. Go to bed, honey, and try to stop thinkin'—and—God help us all!" She turned away from him and passed the doctor—blindly.

Buck Daniels had set his foot on the stairs when Byrne hurried after him and touched his arm; they went up together.

"Mr. Daniels," said the doctor, "it is necessary that I speak with you, alone. Will you come into my room for a few moments?" "Doc," said the cattleman, "I'm short on my feed and I don't feel a pile like talkin'. Can't you wait till the morning?" "There has been a great deal too much waiting, Mr. Daniels," said the doctor. "What I have to say to you must be said now. Will you come in?" "I will," nodded Buck Daniels. "But cut it short."

CHAPTER VI. THE MISSION STARTS CAPITOLO VI. INIZIA LA MISSIONE

Then, with a shifting of the wind, a song was blown to them from the bunk-house, a cheerful, ringing chorus; the sound was like daylight—it drove the terror from the room. Então, com uma mudança de vento, uma canção foi soprada para eles do alojamento, um coro alegre e vibrante; o som era como a luz do dia — afastou o terror da sala. Joe Cumberland asked them to leave him. That night, he said, he would sleep. He felt it, like a promise. Ele sentiu isso, como uma promessa. The other three went out from the room. Os outros três saíram da sala.

In the hall Kate and Daniels stood close together under a faint light from the wall-lamp, and they talked as if they had forgotten the presence of Byrne. No corredor, Kate e Daniels estavam juntos sob a luz fraca do abajur de parede e conversavam como se tivessem esquecido a presença de Byrne.

"It had to come," she said. "Tinha que vir", disse ela. "I knew it would come to him sooner or later, but I didn't dream it would be as terrible as this. "Eu sabia que isso aconteceria com ele mais cedo ou mais tarde, mas não imaginava que seria tão terrível assim. Buck, what are we going to do?" Buck, o que vamos fazer?" "God knows," said the big cowpuncher. "Just wait, I s'pose, same as we've been doing." "Apenas espere, eu suponho, o mesmo que temos feito." He had aged wonderfully in that moment of darkness. Ele envelheceu maravilhosamente naquele momento de escuridão.

"He'll be happy now for a few days," went on the girl, "but afterwards—when he realises that it means nothing—what then, Buck?" "Ele vai ficar feliz agora por alguns dias", continuou a garota, "mas depois, quando perceber que isso não significa nada, e aí, Buck?" The man took her hands and began to pat them softly as a father might soothe a child. O homem pegou as mãos dela e começou a acariciá-las suavemente como um pai acalma uma criança.

"I seen you when the wind come in," he said gently. "Eu vi você quando o vento chegou," ele disse gentilmente. "Are you going to stand it, Kate? "Você vai aguentar, Kate? Is it going to be hell for you, too, every time you hear 'em?" Vai ser um inferno para você também, toda vez que você os ouvir?" She answered: "If it were only I! Ela respondeu: "Se fosse só eu! Yes, I could stand it. Sim, eu poderia suportar. Lately I've begun to think that I can stand anything. But when I see Dad it breaks my heart—and you—oh, Buck, it hurts, it hurts!" Mas quando vejo papai, isso parte meu coração - e você - oh, Buck, dói, dói!" She drew his hands impulsively against her breast. Ela puxou suas mãos impulsivamente contra seu peito. "If it were only something we could fight outright!" "Se fosse apenas algo que pudéssemos lutar abertamente!" Buck Daniels sighed. Buck Daniels suspirou.

"Fight?" he echoed hopelessly. ele ecoou desesperadamente. "Fight? Against him? Kate, you're all tired out. Kate, você está cansada. Go to bed, honey, and try to stop thinkin'—and—God help us all!" Vá para a cama, querida, e tente parar de pensar... e... Deus nos ajude!" She turned away from him and passed the doctor—blindly. Ela se afastou dele e passou pelo médico — às cegas.

Buck Daniels had set his foot on the stairs when Byrne hurried after him and touched his arm; they went up together. Buck Daniels tinha posto o pé na escada quando Byrne correu atrás dele e tocou em seu braço; subiram juntos.

"Mr. Daniels," said the doctor, "it is necessary that I speak with you, alone. "Sr. Daniels", disse o médico, "é necessário que eu fale com o senhor, a sós. Will you come into my room for a few moments?" Você vai entrar no meu quarto por alguns momentos?" "Doc," said the cattleman, "I'm short on my feed and I don't feel a pile like talkin'. "Doutor", disse o pecuarista, "estou com pouca ração e não tenho vontade de falar. "Док, - сказал скотовод, - у меня мало корма, и мне не хочется разговаривать. Can't you wait till the morning?" Você não pode esperar até de manhã?" "There has been a great deal too much waiting, Mr. Daniels," said the doctor. "Houve muita espera, Sr. Daniels", disse o médico. "What I have to say to you must be said now. Will you come in?" "I will," nodded Buck Daniels. "But cut it short." "Mas corte-o curto."