Nevada Smith Page #3

- Yes, sir, Warden.

- Put him in Miller's bunk.

- Yes, sir, Warden. Let's go.

Right over there.

Don't be looking at this gun.

They want you to go for it.

I'm a prisoner just like yourself.

I'm a trusty.

In there.

You don't get to keep anything,

just a blanket and clothes.

Shave once a week,

one razor for the whole barracks.

This is your bunk. Belonged to Miller.

- He died.

- The only way out, is it?

They try it through the swamps.

The dogs are after two of them now.

They tried to rob a bank in New Orleans.

- Bowdre...

- Him and Strayhorn. Friends of yours?

No, I read it in the paper.

Did they make it?

Nobody's made it since I've been here.

Go to the blacksmith,

put these leg irons on you.

Something bothering you, boy?

- Yeah.

- Let's go.

Big Foot!

Get them all out here

so they can watch this.

Let's go.

Big Foot!

Now, you listen to this.

Strayhorn died in the swamp.

Bowdre here's going to wish he did, too.

When he serves his time,

he'll serve every day of Strayhorn's.

You think about that... hard.

- A man lies where he falls here.

- He'll drown.

The warden's watching you, boy.

Back to the mess hall. Let's move!

Get back in there

and keep the fires going till morning.

- When do I sleep?

- Just don't let the fires go out.

- He's really giving it to me, ain't he?

- You made yourself a lot of enemies.

For what it's worth to you...

...you made yourself a lot of friends, too.

Thanks for what you did.

- You'd have done the same.

- I don't know.

Maybe I can do something

for you some day.

Maybe you can, some day.

- Haven't I seen you before?

- You! Back to work. No more talking.

I don't know. Maybe.

- You ever been in Santa Fe, Max?

- No.

Bowdre...

What went wrong out there?

We got lost.

- Maybe it was Juarez.

- Juarez? No, I don't think so.

- Didn't you have a plan or nothing'?

- Sure, to move fast and not get caught.

- What was it like out there?

- In the swamp?

It was just like the warden said,

miles and miles of swamp, quicksand,

razorbacks, poison snakes,

mosquitoes, everything that kills.

No food, water you couldn't drink.

We went in circles.

- I've had all the swamp I want.

- Yeah? I'm going.

- How?

- I don't know yet.

- What if I find a way?

- I've had it. You count me out.

I can't.

You're the only man here I'd risk it with.

- Nice evening.

- For people with guns.

- Take it easy, fella. I just do my job.

- And how you love it.

I love living, same as you.

Trouble with this place,

you can't pick your friends.

This is new. Where are we going?

- Didn't they tell you?

- Tell me what?

We're clearing this

for new rice paddies.

That's why everyone's so happy.

- Is that good?

- Good? They got women there, pal.

Lo and behold. Lo and behold!

Pick one for yourself.

Give her a big smile.

Smile?

- For what?

- Don't you know?

The warden rents us out to the planters.

He keeps the money,

but we get the women.

Yeah? How?

One Saturday night a month

while we're here,

he lets them come into the barracks.

They let the women

come to the barracks?

I didn't believe it at first.

- And we can talk to them?

- Talk to them?

Stop dreaming of women.

Think about a boat.

All I can see,

feel or think about is woman.

With a boat there's no struggling

in the swamps, no snakes...

- You still have to know which way to go.

- I thought about that.

And the water, the food and a gun,

but let's start with a boat.

All right, let's go. Get to work.

- Work. Let's go.

- Come with me.

Let's go.

Hurry up, don't take all day.

- What's taking so long?

- Maybe the warden changed his mind.

I'll kill him with my bare hands.

How you doing, Max?

They are coming, ain't they?

Let's douse the lights down there.

They'll come now the candles are out.

- Are you young or old?

- I'm young.

So am I.

- What's your name?

- Max.

Mine's Pilar.

- What'd you do to wind up in here?

- Nothing' much.

- Did you kill somebody?

- No.

I'm glad I didn't get one that kills.

No, I just tried to steal some money.

- For a woman?

- No.

You talk different.

You're not from here, are you?

No, I'm from the West.

Oh.

It's dry there. And clean.

You were born here, huh?

Born here, knee-deep in water all my life

and I'll likely die here.

I was thinking,

you're a prisoner here same as me.

Yeah, but one day they'll let you go.

Well, if you hate it so much,

why don't you do something about it?

- Do something? What?

- Get out. Escape.

- Escape? How?

- In a boat.

With me.

You interested, Pilar?

Bowdre...

I think she's going to help us.

She's showing me a boat.

- I don't see any boat.

- Right over there, by those bushes.

- What does she want for it?

- To go with us.

No. I like women,

but not when I'm running.

Oh, yeah. You got lost, didn't you?

She was born here, she knows

these swamps. We got to have her.

Yeah... How are you going to

arrange everything?

- And we need a gun.

- I know.

You boys better get your talking done.

You won't have much more time for it.

They're sending 20 men out

to another camp next week.

You're on the list, Max.

- Here they come.

- Hey, here they come!

Pilar...

Listen, Pilar, I have to talk to you.

Let's go outside.

They're taking me out of here next week,

to a new place.

Maybe it'll be easier to get out of.

It'll have stone walls,

we won't see each other again.

We have to get out before that.

Getting a boat by myself won't be easy.

It's the only way,

if we're going to be together.

- What happens to me then?

- I'll take care of you, Pilar.

You bring me the boat,

show me the way, I'll make you free.

And I'll start you off in life real good.

Just treat me nice, Max,

that's all I want.

- You'll be there? Certain?

- I'll try.

Trying ain't good enough,

you've got to be there.

Two hours after sunset,

meet me at the edge of the swamp.

Bring the boat by that stand of cypress.

- Let's go back inside, Max, I'm scared.

- Pilar...

If you're not there and they catch me,

you know what they'll do to me.

I'll be there.

Max... you'll treat me nice, won't you?

Yes.

...six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven...

...thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen,

seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty.

- Are you sure this is the place?

- Yeah.

That dirty, filthy, lying Cajun...

- There ain't no boats anywhere around.

- Shut up!

When Big Foot comes to they'll

be after us. We should killed him.

Get in.

Something hit me.

Let's go.

Joe.

If we don't get him back,

you'll serve out his time.

If he kills one of my men with your gun,

I'll hang you.

Yes, sir, Warden. I'll get him.

Pilar, which way?

Go right.

I got to look at it.

- Hold that.

- Bread?

Good poultice.

Right!

Bottle.

Could use swamp water for that.

Pilar...

- How do you feel?

- I don't know.

I'm so sleepy.

You've got a fever, that's all.

Max... we're not going

to get out of here, are we?

We're going to get out of here.

You just tell me if we're heading right.

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