McKee took a short step backward and stared. Canfield's mouth was stretched open in some frozen, soundless shout. McKee swallowed and then sat on the tailgate. With his thumb he gently closed Canfield's eyes. The eyelids felt sandy under his touch and he noticed then that there was also sand around the mouth and in his friend's thinning hair. He rubbed his hand absently against his pant leg and stared blindly out across the canyon. He found himself wondering where Canfield had left his guitar. Back in the tent, he thought. Canfield had been working on one of his 'ethnics' to celebrate the arrival of Miss Leon. McKee tried to remember the words. They were witty, he recalled, and unusually unprofane for one of Jeremy's productions. Then he could think only of Miss Leon, a slight, slender, weary figure sitting on the rock with her head resting on her arm.
McKee got up, pushed Canfield's body a few inches back up the steep incline of the pickup bed and closed the tailgate. He moved rapidly down the canyon.
There was no alternative now. No question of turning back. But was there a way to get Miss Leon out of this trap without bringing her past this truck? He looked again at the canyon walls. With two good hands he might be able to make it to the top here, but he was sure she couldn't. And he didn't have two good hands. He cursed vehemently as his jogging trot started the throbbing again..If only he hadn't been so clumsy. He would have to bring her past the truck. There was no other way. But he would keep her from looking in.
She was still on the rock when he pushed his way through the bushes, and she looked up and smiled at him.
'We have to go now,' he said. 'How's the ankle?'
'I don't think I can do more than hobble on it,' she said. 'We'll have to go back.'
'We're not going back. I found Canfield's truck up there. Someone broke in the back window and he's gone.'
'But we can't possibly…'
'Get up,' McKee ordered. His voice was hoarse. 'Get on your feet. I'll help you.'
'I'm not going,' Miss Leon said.
'You're going, and right now.' McKee's voice was grim. He gripped her arm and lifted her to her feet, surprised at how light she seemed. The box of crackers was on the rock where he had left it. How could he have been silly enough to bring crackers?
She tried to jerk away from his grip, and then faced him. McKee noticed there were tears in her eyes.
'You've got a concussion. We just can't go stumbling around like this. We've got to get you to a doctor. Please,' she said. 'Please, Dr. McKee. Please come back to the camp and Dr. Canfield will help you.'
McKee looked at her. There was dust on her face and a tear had streaked it. He looked away, feeling baffled and helpless. Maybe he would have to tell her about Canfield.
'Come on,' he said. 'I'll help you.'
'You're hurting my arm.'
McKee was suddenly conscious of the feel of her arm under his fingers, of the softness under the shirt sleeve. He jerked his hand away.
Miss Leon ran. She spun away from him and ran lightly down the rocks toward the Volkswagen. McKee stood, too surprised to move, thinking; There's nothing wrong with her ankle. Then he swore, and ran after her, clumsily because of his injured hand. Before he reached the Volkswagen, she had rolled up the windows and locked herself in. For a wild moment, McKee thought she would start the car and drive off and he had a vision of himself trying to keep himself in front of the Volkswagen-performing an idiotic game of dodgem in reverse. But she simply sat behind the wheel, looking at him.
He tapped on the window, and tried to keep his voice sounding normal.
'Really, Miss Leon. I'm not crazy. And we really do have to get out of here.'
Miss Leon looked at him. He saw no fear in her expression, nor anger. She simply looked worried.
'Roll down the window.'
'Not until you give me your word of honor you'll go back to the camp.'
Her voice was faint through the glass.
My day for breaking windows, McKee thought. He picked up a rock, and wrapped the handkerchief around his left hand again. He saw Miss Leon looked frightened now.
'Roll it down.'
'No.'
McKee hesitated. He thought of Jeremy's body, and of the sand on his face. Breaking his word would be quicker than the window.
'I promise,' he said. 'Let me in and we'll go back to camp.'
'I don't know now,' Miss Leon said. 'I'm not sure I can trust you.'
Good lord, McKee thought. Women left him utterly baffled.
He held up the rock.
'Open up, or I break in.'
Miss Leon unlocked the door and he pulled it open.
'Get out now. No more of this horsing around. Get out of there or I'll have to drag you out.'
Miss Leon got out. He gripped her arm and walked with her rapidly up the canyon. And then he stopped.
