Cities of the Plain Read Online Free PDF

He couldnt even
     stand to wear laceup shoes.
    You liked him though.
    Troy looked off down through the trees. Well, he said. I dont guess like really says it. I
     cant talk about it. I wanted to be like him. But I wasnt. I tried.
    He was your dad's favorite I reckon.
    Oh yeah. It wasnt a problem with anybody. It was just known. Accepted. Hell. It wasnt even
     a contest. You ready?
    I'm ready.
    He rose. He placed the flat of his hand in the small of his back and stretched. He looked
     at Billy. I loved him, he said. So did Elton. You couldnt not. That was all there was to
     it.
    He folded the cloths under his arm together with the thermos bottles. They hadnt even
     looked to see what the soup was. He turned and looked back at Billy. So how do you like
     this country?
    I like it.
    I do too. Always have.
    So you comin down here?
    No.
    It was dusk when they rode into Fort Davis. Nighthawks were circling over the old parade
     grounds when they passed and the sky over the mountains behind them was blood red. Elton
     was waiting with the truck and horsetrailer in front of the Limpia Hotel. They unsaddled
     the horses in the graveled parking lot and put the saddles in the bed of the truck and
     wiped the horses down and loaded them in the trailer and went into the hotel and through
     the lobby to the coffeeshop.
    How did you like that little horse? said Elton.
    I liked him fine, said Billy. We got along good.
    They sat and studied the menus. What are you all havin? said Elton.
    They left around ten oclock. Elton stood in the yard with his hands in his back pockets.
     He was still standing there, just the silhouette of him against the porchlight, when they
     rounded the curve at the end of the drive and went on toward the highway.
    Billy drove. He looked over at Troy. You goin to stay awake aint you?
    Yeah. I'm awake.
    You've done decided?
    Yeah, I think so.
    We're goin to have to go somewheres.
    Yeah. I know it.
    You aint asked me what I thought.
    Well. You aint comin down here unless I do and I aint. So what would be the use in me
     askin?
    Billy didnt answer.
    After a while Troy said: Hell, I knew I wasnt comin back down here.
    Yeah.
    You go back home and everthing you wished was different is still the same and everthing
     you wished was the same is different.
    I know what you mean.
    I think especially if you're the youngest. You wasnt the youngest in your family was you?
    No. I was the oldest.
    You dont want to be the youngest. I can tell you right now. There aint no percentage in it.
    They drove on through the mountains. About a mile past the intersection with highway 166
     there was a truckload of Mexicans pulled off onto the grass. They stood almost into the
     road waving their hats. Billy slowed.
    The hell with that, said Troy.
    Billy drove past. He looked in the rearview mirror but he could see nothing but the dark
     of the road and the deep of the desert night. He pulled the truck slowly to a halt.
    Damn it, Parham, Troy said.
    I know. I just cant do it.
    You're fixin to get us in a jackpot here we wont get home till daylight.
    I know it.
    He put the truck into reverse and began to grind slowly back down the highway, using the
     white line running from under the front of the truck to steer by. When the other truck
     hove into view alongside them he could see that the right front tire was down.
    They gathered around the cab. Punchada, they said. Tenemos una Manta punchada.
    Puedo verlo, said Billy. He pulled off the road and climbed out. Troy lit a cigarette and
     shook his head.
    They needed a jack. Did they have a spare? S’. Por supuesto.
    He got the jack out of the bed and they carried it back to the truck and commenced to jack
     the front end up. They had two spares and neither of them would hold air. They spelled
     each other at the antique tirepump. Finally they raised up and looked at Billy.
    He got the tiretools out of the truckbed and came around and got the patchkit and a
     flashlight from