Chapter 2

           Hehadcomedownoffthelastofthefoothillsleadingthedonkey,whoseeyeswerealreadydeadandbulgingwiththeheat.Hehadpassedthelasttownthreeweeksbefore,andsincethentherehadonlybeenthedesertedcoachtrackandanoccasionalhuddleofborderdwellers’soddwellings.Thehuddleshaddegeneratedintosingledwellings,mostinhabitedbylepersormadmen.Hefoundthemadmenbettercompany.OnehadgivenhimastainlesssteelSilvacompassandbadehimgiveittoJesus.Thegunslingertookitgravely.IfhesawHim,hewouldturnoverthecompass.Hedidnotexpectto.

           Fivedayshadpassedsincethelasthut,andhehadbeguntosuspecttherewouldbenomorewhenhetoppedthelasterodedhillandsawthefamiliarlow-backedsodroof.

           Thedweller,asurprisinglyyoungmanwithawildshockofstrawberryhairthatreachedalmosttohiswaist,wasweedingascrawnystandofcornwithzealousabandon.Themuleletoutawheezinggruntandthedwellerlookedup,glaringblueeyescomingtarget-centeronthegunslingerinamomentHeraisedbothhandsincurtsaluteandthenbenttothecornagain,humpinguptherownexttohishutwithbackbent,tossingdevil-grassandanoccasionalstuntedcornplantoverhisshoulder.Hishairfloppedandflewinthewindthatnowcamedirectlyfromthedesert,withnothingtobreakit

           Thegunslingercamedownthehillslowly,leadingthedonkeyonwhichhiswaterskinssloshed.Hepausedbytheedgeofthelifeless-lookingcornpatch,drewadrinkfromoneofhisskinstostartthesaliva,andspatintothearidsoil.