Father Benjamin Tso glanced up at Leaphorn, and then away. Even in the dim light Leaphorn could see the face change. It became tired and older.
I guess you’ve met my brother, he said.
Is that it? Leaphorn asked. Yes, it must be. He looks something like you.
A year older, Father Tso said. We weren’t raised together. He glanced up at Leaphorn.
He’s in the Buffalo Society. My returning didn’t help his plans.
But what made you . . . how did you get here? Leaphorn asked. I mean, to your grandfathers hogan?
It was a long trip. I flew back from Rome, and then to Phoenix. And then I took a bus to Flagstaff and then to Kayenta, and then I caught a ride.
And where’s the Adams girl?
He came to the hogan and got us, Tso said. My brother and that dog he has. Father Tso stopped. That dog. He’s around here and hell find us. Are there other police with you?
Have you arrested them?
The dogs dead. Just tell me what happened, Leaphorn said.
My brother came to the hogan and brought us to this cave, Father Tso said. He said wed have to stay until some sort of operation was over. Then later . . . He shrugged and looked apologetic. I don’t know how much later. Its hard to keep track of time in here and I cant see my wrist watch. Anyway, later, my brother and a man called Tull and three other men brought a bunch of Boy Scouts and put them in with us. I don’t understand it. What do you know about it?
Just what I heard on the radio, Leaphorn said. He knelt behind Tso and examined the bindings on his wrists. Keep talking, Leaphorn said. And keep it at a whisper. He fished out his pocket knife and sawed through the strips, a type of disposable handcuff developed for use by police in making mass arrests. The BIA police had bought some during the early stages of the American Indian Movement troubles, but they’d been junked because if the subject struggled, they tightened and cut off circulation. Tsos hands were ice cold and bloodless. It would be a while before he could use them.
I just know what I heard, too, Father Tso was saying. And what the Scout leader told us. I guess were involved in some sort of symbolic kidnapping.
Leaphorn had the strips cut from Tsos ankles now. Tso tried to massage them, but his numb hands dangled almost uselessly from his wrists.
It takes a while for the circulation to come back, Leaphorn said. When it does, it hurts.
Can you tell me more?
Tso began rubbing his hands briskly against his chest. Every couple of hours or so Tull or my brother comes back and they have two questions they ask the Scout leader or one of the boys. Its to prove everyone is still alive or something. It seems they told the police they have to stay completely out of this part of the reservation. I think the deal is if they see any police they say they’ll kill the hostages. Otherwise the police get to broadcast questions every couple of hours, and he
Questions? What sort of questions?
Oh, one was where did the Scout leader meet his wife. And one was why he was late for a trip, and where was the telephone in his home. Trivial stuff that no one else could know.
Father Tso grimaced suddenly and inspected his hands. I see what you mean about hurting.
Keep rubbing them. And keep talking. Do you know the timetable? Leaphorn asked. Did you hear anything about that?
They told the Scouts they’d probably be here about two or three days. Maybe less. Until they get the ransom.
Do you know how many are involved? I’ve seen three in the cave. Are there more than that?
I’ve seen at least five, Father Tso said. When my brother brought us back, first there was just a young man here they call Jackie. Just my brother and Jackie. Then when they brought the Boy Scouts there were three more of them. One with an awfully disfigured face, called Tull. He’s still here, I think. But I haven’t seen the other two again.
This Jackie. How was he dressed? Leaphorn asked.
Jeans, Father Tso said. Denim shirt. Red sweatband around his forehead.
Yes, I’ve seen him, Leaphorn said. Where are the other hostages? And how’d you get away?
They’ve got a sort of cage welded together out of reinforcing rods or something, Tso said.
Set back in a part of the cave way back there. That’s where they put Theodora and me at first, and then they brought the Boy Scouts in. Then a couple of hours ago they took me out and moved me into another part of the cave. Tso pointed behind him. A sort of big room back in that direction, and they put these things on my wrists and ankles and they sort of anchored me to a stalagmite. Tso laughed. Tied a rope around How’d you get loose?
Well, they warned me that if I moved around too much with these nylon things on they’d tighten up and cut off my circulation, but I found that if you didn’t mind a little of that, you could work the strip around so that the knot was where you could get at it.
Leaphorn remembered trying on the nylon cuffs when the department was considering them, and how quickly pulling against them caused them to cut into your wrists. He glanced at Tso, re-measuring him.
The people who invented those things counted on people not wanting to hurt themselves, Leaphorn said.
I guess so, Father Tso said. He was massaging his ankles now. Anyway, these calcite deposits are too soft to cut anything. I thought maybe I could find some sort of outcropping granite or something where I could cut the nylon off.
Is the feeling coming back? Leaphorn asked. Good. I don’t think we want to waste any time if we can help it. I don’t have a gun. He helped Tso to his feet and supported him.
When they come to the cage to get the questions answered, who comes? Just one of them?
The last time it was just the one with the red headband. The one they called Jackie.
You okay now? Ready to move?
Father Tso took a step, and then a smaller one, and sucked in his breath sharply. Just give me a second to get used to it. The breath hissed through gritted teeth. What are we going to do? he whispered.
Were going to be there when they come back to the cage. If you can find a place for me to hide. If two come, we wont try anything right now. But if just one of them comes, then you step out and confront him. Make as much noise as you can to cover me coming, and Ill jump him.
As I remember it, there’s not much to hide behind, Tso said doubtfully. Not close anyway.
They moved slowly through the dark, the priest limping gingerly, Leaphorn supporting part of his weight.
There’s one other thing, Tso said. I don’t think this Tull is sane. He thinks he dies and comes back alive again.
I’ve heard about Tull, Leaphorn said.
And my brother, Tso said. I guess you’d have to say he’s sort of crazy, too.
Leaphorn said nothing. They moved silently toward the light, feeling their way. From ahead, suddenly, there came the sound of a woman’s voice distant, and as yet undecipherable.
This is terrible for Theodora, Father Tso said. Terrible.
Yes, Leaphorn said. He was remembering Captain Largos instructions. He flicked the flash on getting direction and quickly off.
My brother, Tso said. He stayed with my father, and my father was a drunk. Tsos whisper was barely audible. I didn’t ever live with them. All I know is what I’ve heard, but I heard it was bad. My father died of a beating in Gallup. The whisper stopped and Leaphorn began thinking of other things, of what his tactics would have to be.
My brother was about fourteen when it happened, Father Tso said. I heard my brother was there when they beat him, and that it was the police that did it.
Maybe, Leaphorn said. There’re some bad cops. He flicked the light on again, and off.
That’s not what I’m talking about, Father Tso said. I’m telling you because I don’t think there’ll be any hostages released. He paused. They’ve gone too far for that, the voice whispered. Theyre not sane. None of them. Poor Theodora.