Chapter 5

           HehadboughtthemuleinPricetown,andwhenhereachedTull,itwasstillfresh.Thesunhadsetanhourearlier,butthegunslingerhadcontinuedtraveling,guidedbythetownglowinthesky,thenbytheuncannilyclearnotesofahonky-tonkpianoplayingHeyJude.Theroadwidenedasittookontributaries.

           Theforestshadbeengonelongnow,replacedbythemonotonousflatcountry:endless,desolatefieldsgonetotimothyandlowshrubs,shacks,eerie,desertedestatesguardedbybrooding,shadowedmansionswheredemonsundeniablywalked;leering,emptyshantieswherethepeoplehadeithermovedonorhadbeenmovedalong,anoccasionaldweller’shovel,givenawaybyasingleflickeringpointoflightinthedark,orbysullen,inbredclanstoilingsilentlyinthefieldsbyday.Cornwasthemaincrop,buttherewerebeansandalsosomepeas.Anoccasionalscrawnycowstaredathimlumpishlyfrombetweenpeeledalderpoles.Coacheshadpassedhimfourtimes,twicecomingandtwicegoing,nearlyemptyastheycameuponhimfrombehindandbypassedhimandhismule,fullerastheyheadedbacktowardtheforestsofthenorth.

           Itwasuglycountry.IthadshoweredtwicesincehehadleftPricetown,grudginglybothtimes.Eventhetimothylookedyellowanddispirited.Uglycountry.Hehadseennosignofthemaninblack.Perhapshehadtakenacoach.

           Theroadmadeabend,andbeyonditthegunslingercluckedthemuletoastopandlookeddownatTull.Itwasatthefloorofacircular,bowl-shapedhollow,ashoddyjewelinacheapsetting.