Chapter 10

           Kennerlywastoothless,unpleasant,andplaguedwithdaughters.Twohalf-grownonespeekedatthegunslingerfromthedustyshadowsofthebarn.Ababydrooledhappilyinthedirt.Afull-grownone,blonde,dirty,sensual,watchedwithaspeculativecuriosityasshedrewwaterfromthegroaningpumpbesidethebuilding.

           Thehostlermethimhalfwaybetweenthedoortohisestablishmentandthestreet.Hismannervacillatedbetweenhostilityandacravensortoffawning-likeastudmongrelthathasbeenkickedtoooften.

           "It’sbein’caredfor,"hesaid,andbeforethegunslingercouldreply,Kennerlyturnedonhisdaughter:"Yougetin,Soobie!Yougetrightthehellin!"

           Soobiebegantodragherbucketsullenlytowardtheshackappendedtothebarn.

           "Youmeantmymule,"thegunslingersaid.

           "Yes,sir.Ain’tseenamuleinquiteatime.Timewastheyusedtogrowupwildforwantof’em,buttheworldhasmovedon.Ain’tseennothin’butafewoxenandthecoachhorsesand...Soobie,I’llwhaleyou,’foreGod!"

           "Idon’tbite,"thegunslingersaidpleasantly.

           Kennerlycringedalittle.’Itain’tyou.No,sir,itain’tyou."Hegrinnedloosely."She’sjustnaturallygawky.

           She’sgotadevil.She’swild."Hiseyesdarkened."It’scomingtoLastTimes,mister.YouknowhowitsaysintheBook.Childrenwon’tobeytheirparents,andaplague’llbevisitedonthemultitudes."

           Thegunslingernodded,thenpointedsouth."What’soutthere?"

           Kennerlygrinnedagain,showinggumsandafewsociableyellowteeth."Dwellers.Weed.Desert.