Chapter 7

           HecameinthelateafternoonofthedayNortdied,andthewindwaswhoopingup,pullingawaytheloosetopsoil,sendingsheetsofgritanduprootedstalksofcornwindmillingpast.Kennerlyhadpadlockedthelivery,andtheotherfewmerchantshadshutteredtheirwindowsandlaidboardsacrosstheshutters.Theskywastheyellowcolorofoldcheeseandthecloudsmovedflyinglyacrossit,asiftheyhadseensomethinghorrifyinginthedesertwasteswheretheyhadsolatelybeen.

           Hecameinaricketyrigwitharipplingtarptiedacrossitsbed.Theywatchedhimcome,andoldmanKennerly,lyingbythewindowwithabottleinonehandandtheloose,hotfleshofhissecond-eldestdaughter’sleftbreastintheother,resolvednottobethereifheshouldknock.

           Butthemaninblackwentbywithouthawingthebaythatpulledhisrig,andthespinningwheelsspumedupdustthatthewindclutchedeagerly.Hemighthavebeenapriestoramonk;heworeablackcassockthathadbeenflouredwithdust,andaloosehoodcoveredhisheadandobscuredhisfeatures.Itrippledandflapped.Beneaththegarment’shem,heavybuckledbootswithsquaretoes.

           HepulledupinfrontofSheb’sandtetheredthehorse,whichlowereditsheadandgruntedattheground.Aroundthebackoftherigheuntiedoneflap,foundaweatheredsaddlebag,threwitoverhisshoulder,andwentinthroughthebatwings.

           Alicewatchedhimcuriously,butnooneelsenoticedhisarrival.Therestweredrunkaslords.