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The Laughing Man
Thesubjectofthisuniqueexperiencegrewintomanhoodwithahairless,pecan-shapedheadandafacethatfeatured,insteadofamouth,anenormousovalcavitybelowthenose.Thenoseitselfconsistedoftwoflesh-sealednostrils.Inconsequence,whentheLaughingManbreathed,thehideous,mirthlessgapbelowhisnosedilatedandcontractedlike(asIseeit)somesortofmonstrousvacuole.(TheChiefdemonstrated,ratherthanexplained,theLaughingMan’srespirationmethod.)StrangersfainteddeadawayatthesightoftheLaughingMan’shorribleface.Acquaintancesshunnedhim.Curiouslyenough,though,thebanditslethimhangaroundtheirheadquarters—aslongashekepthisfacecoveredwithapale-redgossamermaskmadeoutofpoppypetals.Themasknotonlysparedthebanditsthesightoftheirfosterson’sface,italsokeptthemsensibleofhiswhereabouts;underthecircumstances,hereekedofopium.
Everymorning,inhisextremeloneliness,theLaughingManstoleoff(hewasasgracefulonhisfeetasacat)tothedenseforestsurroundingthebandits’hideout.Therehebefriendedanynumberandspeciesofanimals:dogs,whitemice,eagles,lions,boaconstrictors,wolves.Moreover,heremovedhismaskandspoketothem,softly,melodiously,intheirowntongues.Theydidnotthinkhimugly.
(IttooktheChiefacoupleofmonthstogetthatfarintothestory.Fromthereonin,hegotmoreandmorehigh-handedwithhisinstallments,entirelytothesatisfactionoftheComanches.)
