Part 39 (2/2)
”More often than not,” Lazarus said.
His partner came up to us. Even without the dead critter, he didn't smell any too fresh. ”I'm Ely,” he said, and stuck out his hand.
It was the same hand he'd used to rid himself of the rotten carca.s.s, so I didn't shake it but touched the brim of my hat instead. ”Trevor Bentley,” I said.
”Glad you didn't poke me full of lead. Care for a licorice?” He dug into his other pocket and came out with a stick.
It put me in mind of Sarah, and how we always ate just such candy when we visited town. I felt a little pull of sadness, but that pa.s.sed as I realized Ely'd used the licorice to blacken up his tongue and lips. It had darkened his teeth, too. I'd seen they were gray, which hadn't seemed right. Death shouldn't do that to a man's teeth. I hadn't caught on, though.
”No thank you,” I told him, not wanting any truck with something he'd handled. ”I don't wish to turn my tongue black.”
They both laughed some at that. Ely tore off a piece of licorice and commenced to chew.
”Bootblack on your neck, is it?” I asked.
Lazarus clapped me on the shoulder. ”You're too quick for the likes of us.”
”And how is it you made your face such a color?” I asked Ely.
”Ashes,” he said. He licked a finger in spite of it being one that had plucked the dead thing from his pocket, and took a swipe at his face. A path of gray came off. He had ruddy skin underneath. He grinned like he'd shown me a secret of the universe.
”You two blokes certainly went to a fair piece of trouble on my account.”
”A sale's a sale,” Lazarus said. ”No hard feelings, I hope.”
”Well, you put on a lively show. Did you try it out on that pair of rascals that came along before me?”
Lazarus shook his head. ”I'm afraid we missed the opportunity. They rode up on us too quick. Had a chance to spot Ely.”
”You don't travel along in the casket, then?” I asked the deceased.
He grinned, chewing and showing me his licoriced teeth. ”Gets a mite close in there.”
”I should think so. A mite smelly, too.”
”Oh, Ely don't mind the smell.”
”Nope,” he said, and bit off another piece of licorice.
”You two certainly do beat all.”
”Now,” Lazarus said, ”how many bottles of the Glory Elixir do you suppose you might like to purchase?”
I still held a bottle of the stuff. I shook it, and watched the red fluid slosh about. ”What's it made of?”
”Secret herbs and spices from the Far East, guaranteed to...”
”Quit having me on, now.”
”Gin and cherry syrup,” Lazarus said.
”Is it, now?” Well, I believed him. I uncorked my bottle, took a sniff, then drank some. It tasted mighty fine and sweet, scorched my throat, and heated up my stomach. ”And what does it cure, actually?”
Lazarus laughed. ”Sobriety.”
Though I had a vivid recollection of my bout with a hangover following too much whiskey with the boys, I judged that some Glory Elixir might be a fine thing to sip now and again. But then I figured Ely might've had a hand in filling the bottles. Real quick, I lost my thirst for the stuff.
”Suppose I pay you a dollar for the show, and you keep your Elixir?”
Lazarus scowled and rubbed his beard. Pretty soon, he said, ”I tell you what. You keep your dollar and ride along with us. Scout up ahead. Then you let us know quick when someone's coming along so Ely can get himself set for a demonstration. We'll pay you handsomely for your services, give you ten cents on every bottle sold. How does that appeal to you, Trevor?”
I gave it some thought, then said I'd do it.
I went on over to General, mounted up, then waited while they loaded the casket into the wagon. It was good to be out of smelling range of Ely.
When they got the wagon moving, I rode on ahead.
They were quite a pair of rascals. They'd livened me up considerable with their antics.
For a while there, I aimed to follow the plan and scout ahead for them. It'd be a treat to see them have a go at tricking some folks.
I figured I might travel with them all the way to Tucson. They seemed like good company, if you don't count Ely's aroma.
I could see how we might get to be chums.
But chums of mine don't last.
If I stayed with them, they were bound to end up dead. Same as everyone else.
So I chose to spare them.
I was some distance ahead of their wagon by then, so all it took was to quicken General's pace. By the time I looked back, they were out of sight.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT.
I Get Jumped Later on that same day, another wagon came along. This one had a man and woman up front and a boy about my own age riding a mare alongside. I considered warning them not to be fooled by Lazarus and Ely, but chose to let them look out for themselves. If they were fools enough to fall for such a swindle, they deserved it. Besides, I judged it'd be lowdown of me to ruin business for those two chaps.
All I did was say ”Howdy” as I rode by. The woman acted like I wasn't there at all, but the man and boy watched me close as if they feared I might be a desperado looking for a chance to gun them down.
Lazarus and Ely weren't likely to have much luck with this crowd.
n.o.body else came along. When the sun got low, I put some distance between me and the trail. I found a sheltered place in a dry wash. After seeing to General, I did some shooting practice. Then I made myself a fire and cooked up a can of beans.
Now that I'd regained my appet.i.te, the beans didn't seem altogether satisfying. They filled me up, but I had an awful hankering for fresh meat.
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