Track of the Cat Page #5

"To improve the ranch," he says.

His ranch.

They've got you believing in it, too.

You believe them.

Arthur's dead.

You don't seem to know

what that means.

It was Arthur who kept Curt from selling

this place right out from under us.

Curt was afraid of him,

but now he's dead.

And Curt has everything his way.

And all with the blessings of Mother's

wicked, selfish, ugly gods!

What's going on down there?

What's going on, I say?

All this screaming.

Ask Mother. She's the one.

Your daughter's screaming

blasphemous nonsense.

Holy, holy, holy!

We've listened to

about enough of this.

You get back in that bedroom...

and stay there until you can

keep a decent tongue in your head.

Listen to her,

with her righteousness.

She's sending Gwen home.

Grace, get back in that room,

you hear?

- Sending her home?

- Yes, yes, yes.

What are you sending her

home for, Letty?

Ask her.

Go on, ask her. She's the eye of God,

she sees everything.

What did you see, Letty?

Awful things.

Let me go. I want to go.

Please, let me go.

You...

You and your Bible.

For all your reading,

it's amazing how little you understand.

You dirty everything

with your nasty mind.

I seen you.

The little one.

Curt's intended.

He's out hunting cats, and he's got

one right here waiting for him.

What did you see?

Tell him, Mother.

You're the one who saw them.

What did you see?

They was acting up in the shed.

Acting? Like what?

She was kissing him

the way no decent...

Kissing him? She was kissing him!

Hot diggity! I wish I'd seen that!

Now, you listen to me, old woman.

Kissing's what we need around here.

Lots of kissing!

The more kissing, the better.

I could use a few myself.

Never had enough,

far back as I remember.

Clear beyond recollection,

that's how long the need's been.

You with your stingy little purse

of a mouth.

Did you watch them?

Did you learn anything?

I wish you thieving females would

leave my bottle alone.

Clothespin, that's what you are.

Always have been a clothespin,

always will be a clothespin.

I've got to keep drunk to forget

I'm married to a clothespin.

Is that all it means to you?

After a lifetime of slaving and looking

after you and bearing young ones?

That's all it means.

You want a woman

like that in your house.

Why not?

You're here, aren't you?

- Make her apologize, Father.

- Oh, shut up.

Clothespins, both of you.

You're not human.

She's human.

No clothespin at all.

If she is,

she's a mighty pretty clothespin.

Curt's bride.

We mustn't let Mother

send Gwen away, Father.

She has to apologize,

or Gwen will go away.

Of course not. I said so, didn't I?

Curt's intended.

Harold's, Father.

That's right. Not Curt's, Harold's.

Too much woman for Harold.

I'm going away,

and you can't stop me.

If you don't let me

take a horse, I'll walk.

When your back is turned,

I'll get away.

Gwen...

Gwen!

Gwen!

Is that all you can say?

You're not going anyplace,

not even when my back's turned!

I've had enough trouble

without any more out of you!

You're staying till I dig the grave.

Get over in the bunkhouse and wait.

When I'm finished, I'll take you home.

Well, what do you know?

I beat you here, didn't I?

You bet I did.

You're not dealing

with Art this time.

He just never could learn

to stop mooning.

I'm gonna put one

right between your eyes...

and I'm gonna skin you...

and I'm gonna lay

your pelt cozy in her lap.

She'll get her blanket, all right.

And I'm gonna charge her for it.

Don't you think I won't.

My own price, and no tricks.

I got all the time in the world.

I got lots of time.

I got enough grub

to last me for a week...

"When I have fears

that I may cease to be"

I've gotta get home.

I've gotta get home.

Now just take it easy.

You'll get home.

You're all right.

You've got a good fire.

You're not out there in the cold.

It's bound to let up soon.

You're not lost.

I'm worried about

your father and Grace...

and your mother,

alone in that cold room.

They'll be all right.

Somebody has to take care of them.

Not you. It'll only cause trouble.

You wait here.

I'll get your things.

We're going now.

He's taking Gwen home.

Mother, tell him he can't go.

Have you finished the grave?

- Up on the hill.

- No, you can't go.

Tell him, Mother.

Bring her here.

If that's what you want.

She wants to go home.

Mother, I said a lot of terrible things.

I'm sorry. I'm very sorry.

Oh, I am.

You'll say that much to Gwen,

won't you?

That you're sorry.

Then Harold won't have to go.

No, Harold! Please!

I'll go get Gwen.

Mother will tell her she's sorry.

You will, won't you?

Yes, she will!

You'd leave us

with everything the way it is.

I'm half out of my mind...

thinking something's happened to Curt.

I got the coffin lined...

ready for Arthur.

- I'll be back tomorrow.

- It can't wait.

You can't put it off until tomorrow.

You've got to do it now.

Joe Sam...

help Harold.

Evening, everybody!

- Good evening. Good evening.

- Go to bed.

Bed?

Oh, this decrepit old body

is already galled with sleep.

What I want is a drink.

Where's my bottle?

Some thieving female's

stolen my bottle.

The one true friend of man.

Warm, too.

Wrap him...

in that black-and-white spread.

He was always partial to it

when he was a little feller.

He used to...

run his fingers over the trees

and the birds and beasts.

Like he was drawing them himself.

I'd like we should have a preacher.

Not much chance of that.

You should do the talking by rights.

Where is Curt? Where is that boy?

He should be back.

When is he coming back?

Joe Sam.

Joe Sam!

You done real good,

picking this spot, Harold.

It's close to home.

I guess you'd better put him in.

Everybody pray

according to your own heart.

Amen.

Can't preach no proper sermon.

Don't seem much use if I could.

He was a hard one to know.

Even if I could make out clear

every last thing about him...

body and soul...

had words to tell...

don't know as it would help.

If the Lord won't judge him...

surely ain't my place to judge.

He was a good man...

like he was a good boy.

Not a mean streak in him.

All the things I could say...

seems to me I could've said them

when he was alive.

Mother...

we're going now.

When will you be back?

I've decided to stay

with Gwen's folks.

They want me to.

Oh, I'm glad! I'm glad!

What will you do in Aspen?

Work in the mines, like her pa?

Bury yourself in the ground

before your time?

He's buried here.

We all are.

But you'll be happy,

that's what counts.

You'd better go before

she changes your mind.

Dad, I...

Look at me blubbering.

Why?

Because Arthur's dead?

If I could shed this garment flesh

and die, too, I'd rejoice.

Yes, I would.

This body of mine hangs on, festering.

Well...

my little congregation.

In the Good Book...

Psalms, 63rd chapter,

seventh verse...

David said:

"Therefore in the shadow of thy wings

will I rejoice."

And Arthur is in

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