The Sisters Brothers Read Online Free PDF

want to stay the night in that old woman’s cabin, remember.’
    ‘But it was your illness that made such a stop necessary.’
    ‘A spider crawled into my boot, there is the cause of my illness.’
    ‘You’re saying you wish to blame the spider?’
    ‘I don’t wish to blame anyone. You’re the one who brought it up.’
    Speaking to the assembled dead, Charlie said, ‘My good men, it is a spider to blame for the early demise of your group. A woolly, fat-bottomed spider in search of warmth—here is the cause of your deaths.’
    I said, ‘All I am telling you, brother, is that it’s a shame they had to go. And it is a shame. And that’s all.’ I rolled the boy over with my boot. His mouth was slack and a pair of hugely bucked upper teeth pushed past his lips.
    ‘There’s a handsome lad,’ Charlie offered drolly. But he was feeling remorseful, I could see it. He spit on the ground and tossed a handful of dirt over his shoulder. ‘All these people searching out their fortunes in California would do better to stay where they are and work their own land.’
    ‘I understand it. They are looking for adventure.’
    ‘These men found theirs.’ He resumed rifling their pockets. ‘This one has a fine watch and fob. Do you want it? Here, feel how heavy it is.’
    ‘Leave the man his watch,’ I said.
    ‘I would feel better about this if you took something.’
    ‘And I’d feel worse. Leave the watch, or take it for yourself, but I won’t have it.’
    He had also killed their horses. These lay in a group at the bottom of a gully past the camp. Normally this would not have bothered me but two of them were fine animals, greatly superior to Tub; I pointed this out to Charlie and he became bitter and told me, ‘Yes, and their marks are here for anyone to see. Would you be so stupid as to ride a murdered man’s horse into California, where his arrival is expected?’
    ‘No one is expecting these men. And you know as well as I do there’s no better place in the world to hide than California.’
    ‘I’m done talking about your horse, Eli.’
    ‘If you think it will not come up again, you are mistaken.’
    ‘Then I’m done talking about your horse today . Now, let us divide the money.’
    ‘This is your killing. You keep it.’
    ‘I killed these men to free you from the cursed shack,’ he complained. But I would not accept the coins and he said, ‘Don’t think I’m going to force it on you. I am overdue for some new clothes anyway. Do you think your mangled, brainless horse can make it to the next town without hurtling itself off a cliff? What’s that? You’re not smiling, are you? We’re in a quarrel and you mustn’t under any circumstances smile.’ I was not smiling, but then began to, slightly. ‘No,’ said Charlie, ‘you mustn’t smile when quarreling. It’s wrong, and I dare say you know it’s wrong. You must stew and hate and revisit all the slights I offered you in childhood.’
    We mounted to leave the camp. I kicked Tub in his ribs and he lay down flat on the ground.

Chapter 13
    It was after dark by the time we came to the next town, and the trading post did not look to be open for business. But the door was unlocked and the chimney was smoking, and we knocked and entered. The room was warm and still, the smell of new goods strong in my nostrils—pants and shirts and undershirts and stockings and hats filled the shelves in neat piles. Charlie knocked his boot heel on the floor and a spry old man in a sagging undershirt emerged from behind a heavy black-velvet curtain. He did not return our greeting but moved silently from place to place, lighting the lamps on the counter with a thin stick of pine, its end glowing and bobbing in his hand. Soon the room was bright in the golden glow, and the old man laid his hands on the countertop, blinking and smiling inquisitively.
    ‘I am looking for some new clothes,’ said Charlie.
    ‘Top to bottom?’ said the old man.
    ‘I am thinking of a new