"Hi, pa." "Well, you didn't waste much time gettin' home from school." "You bet I didn't, I wouldn't miss this for anythin'." "You can watch, but from a safe distance." "Can't I help?" "Not with blasting' powder, son." "All right." "You think you'll be" "Able to finish clearing' the field this afternoon?" "I think so." "There's only one stump left in the south acre." "Say, there's a coil o' fuses" "In on the table." "Will you go get 'em for me?" "All right." "I got it, pa." "Pa!" "Pa!" "Pa!" "Lemme see." "Pa?" "Pa!" "Micah, come here, please." "Would you hold his head up gently?" "Lucas is in shock, but he'll be all right" "Just as soon as the pain eases up a little." "Nothin' broken as far as I can see." "I don't want him moved out of here for 2 days, at least," "Cuz I wanna keep an eye on 'im." "Maybe by that time he'll be able to go home." "Mark, how did it happen" "That your pa let that powder blast blow up in his face?" "Well, he didn't let it happen." "Something..." "Must've happened" "When he put the tools in the wagon." "Well, it don't make no difference." "Powder does some strange things sometimes." "The force o' the explosion went straight up." "Lucas would have" "Been all right if he hadn't stared right into the flash." "Dr. Burrage, please what're you tryin' to say?" "Mark, you love your pa, don't you?" "Yes, sir." "And he loves you, too." "That's gonna matter a heap." "Doc?" "I only know what I see, micah, and that ain't good." "Of course, rest, care, things might change," "I seen it happen before." "But it's just that we don't know much about things like this." "But you said he'd be all right." "He'll mend, that's what I said." "As to the other, well," "That's up to the almighty." "You see, boy, your pa's blind." "Oh, my god." "blind?" "No human eye was ever meant to look straight into a powder" "Flash." "It's just like the wind blowin' out a candle." "Oh, no." "No." "Not pa." "Not my pa." "Oh, hello, micah." "All fixed?" "Mark's waitin' to load the supplies." "Well, it's about as good as new, considering'." "Now I'm" "Surprised that the wagon," "Or luke could- well, you know what I mean, micah." "Yeah, I know." "How is he?" "Well, the doc's turnin' 'im loose today." "I mean, how's he takin' it?" "Well, you know lucas." "By the way, he said he'd be in to pay," "As soon as he's able to get around." "Oh, tell 'im to forget it, micah." "Why, luke's a- well, luke's a good friend." "I'll tell 'im, nils, but he'll be in to pay just the same." "Yeah, yeah, I reckon he will." "Sure." "Giddy up!" "Hiya!" "Oh, wait a minute, lucas." "Let me help you." "I remember what this office looks like, doc!" "Now remembering' what it looks" "Like don't give you any right to smash it up." "I'm sorry, doc." "And that's another thing." "Come on, luke, sit down." "Right there." "Now, you start feelin' sorry, an' you're gonna be doin' that" "The rest of your life, sorry for yourself." "That's easy for you to say." "Now listen to me, lucas, if you weren't the man you are," "You'd be dead right now." "The shock would've killed you before" "They could've brought you to me." "Your face is not gonna be scarred," "An' you're alive, you got that to be thankful for." "There's different ways to be alive, doc." "Now, you bet there are." "A lot o' men go through life blind" "As bats, when they can see just as much as anybody else." "Then there's the other kind without eyes, born blind," "When they can see a whole lot more than most people." "You understand me?" "Now look" "Wait, luke." "You got a lot o' nice friends, you got your boy," "People who love you, they're" "Gonna be watchin', praying' for you, see what you're gonna do." "Don't make it sound like I'm on trial or somethin'." "Well, in a way you are on trial." "These people have got to" "Live with you, and you've got to" "Learn to live with them just as you are." "Hm, and you don't think I can do it, huh?" "On the contrary, I know you can." "If you just stop being" "Angry with yourself." "Oh, mark's comin'." "Doc?" "Do- doc." "Doc, come here." "Doc, now, you tell me," "Doc, is there a chance?" "Any kind of a chance?" "Of course, there's a chance!" "In a week we'll take the bandages off, an' then we'll" "Know more about it." "In the meantime, don't you tamper with 'em, because the least little light, any kind," "That's your worst enemy." "All right, doc." "All set, pa?" "All set, son." "Doc, thanks." "Let's go." "Oh, I'm all right, I'm all right." "Micah?" "Well, who else?" "I'm fine, micah, fine." "Mark, don't worry about 'im too much." "The buckboard's over" "Over at milly's, I know, son." "How'd you know?" "Well, I've hitched that team often enough, I know they've got" "A sound and a smell o' their own." "Come on." "Luke, look out!" "Gee, what're you tryin' to do?" "You should've waited, pa." "I'm sorry." "Well, all I mean" "Is I..." "I guess this isn't gonna be as easy as I figured." "You gotta give it time, lucas boy." "You're right, micah." "Let me take your hand, pa." "Yeah, son." "You- you do that." "Step down." "Lucas?" "Oh, hello, milly." "I" " I fixed some chicken an'" "Sandwiches for you." "You'll be hungry when you get home." "Why, thank you, that was nice of you, milly." "Son, fried chicken." "And soup." "Micah?" "Mark's gonna take good care of you." "Yes, sure he is, milly." "Sure he is." "You better take your father on home now, boy." "Everything's gonna be all right, lucas." "Sure it will, milly." "Thanks, thanks." "Let's go- mark!" "Mark!" "Son!" "Here I am." "Let's go." "Oh, micah." "He's so- so proud." "What is it?" "Micah, what's the matter?" "Nothing." "Nothing, milly." "Excuse me, I'll see you later." "Leave it." "Solby, isn't it?" "Jack solby." "That's right, marshal." "Something I can do for you?" "Yeah, yeah." "As a matter o' fact there is." "I'd like to know" "How long you plan to be in town?" "I come and go as I please, marshal, stay as long as I like." "Nobody wants me cuz I ain't done" "Nothing." "I spent 6 years in yuma prison makin' it that way." "From what I hear, you got off easy." "That could be, but it's over an' I spent my time." "Now I'm as free as the wind." "The wind blew you right into north fork, eh?" "Well now, not exactly, marshal." "You see, I was over in" "Hobbs when I heard it's a day's ride from there." "Sure shame." "I don't think I follow you." "The accident, marshal, what happened to mccain." "Mccain- mccain an' me..." "We know each other way back." "I don't reckon you know about that." "You shot 'im, so I understand." "Yeah, I shot 'im, but not good enough." "He shot back, lamed me." "That's how they come to find me." "Sent me off to yuma for 6 years." "Solby, whatever happened" "Between you and mccain was over years ago." "You know, you're right, marshal, you're absolutely" "Right." "I just come by here with a natural curiosity." "A big man" "Like that carrying' that gun." "You see, that's what I wanna see, lucas mccain, the rifleman." "Carryin' his rifle, not havin' the eyes to see how to use it." "Mark?" "Mark!" "Who's that, son?" "It's micah." "Oh." "Evening, lucas, mark." "Micah, what brings you out here this time o' evenin'." "Well, things were quiet in town, I thought I'd take a ride out," "See how you're gettin' along." "That's fine, you can keep pa company" "While I finish the dishes." "Any coffee?" "No." "No, thanks, unless lucas here..." "No, I've had mine, micah." "Well, I won't be long." "Sure is a fine evening." "Is it?" "No coffee, micah?" "Why did you come out?" "Jack solby's in town." "He, uh, heard about your accident." "jack solby." "He wrote me once from yuma prison" "Sayin' he was comin' around when he got out." "He never showed up." "That figured, unless the odds were in his favor." "I guess they are now, huh?" "Or, could be he just wants to plague you, lucas." "After all," "No man in his right mind" "Shoot a blind man, huh?" "You don't know jack solby." "They'd lynch 'im, lucas." "Nobody'll let a thing like that" "Happen, the whole town would be against 'im, an' solby knows it." "He wouldn't do it in town." "Then I'll stay out here," "Or deputize a couple o' men to stay out here with you." "For how long?" "Solby's got nothing but time." "Lucas, those bandages will be comin' off in a week." "Things might be different then." "Doc burrage said" "Doc burrage doesn't know." "Now, you go ahead and watch" "Solby in town, I'll" " I'll be ready for 'im out here." "Just how do you propose to be ready for 'im?" "I dunno." "All right, lucas boy, have it your way." "But if it'll make you" "Feel any better I just want you" "To know I have deputies watchin' solby round the clock." "Then why'd you come out here bothering' me for?" "Because I thought you ought to know, that's all." "Dishes are finished." "Something wrong?" "Oh, no." "No, son, micah's just gettin' ready to leave." "You sure didn't stay very long." "Oh, your father's tired, mark," "And, uh, it's a long ride back to town." "Micah, thanks for comin' up." "Sure, lucas." "Good night." "Good night, mark." "Night, micah." "I kinda get the feelin' he doesn't think I can take care" "O' you, him comin' all the way out here like he did." "No, micah's a good friend, son." "Worry just comes natural to 'im." "Well, he can stop worryin', natural or not." "We'll make it out." "I know we will." "Say, how about you pickin' up a good book" "An' reading to me before we turn in, huh?" "Sure, pa." "Pa, what're you doin'?" "Pa, if that lantern had been lit!" "Go to bed, son." "No, pa." "You're the one that" "Should go to bed." "What were you doin' with this rifle?" "Go to bed, mark!" "Yes, sir." "Son." "Son." "Son, come here, son." "Mark, I didn't mean to speak to you that way, I" "That's all right, pa." "Just tell me what's the matter." "Of course I should tell you what's the matter." "Mark, I'm gonna need your help." "You know all you've gotta do is ask." "Mm, you take me in the bedroom, I'll tell you all about it." "Ready, pa?" "Ready, son." "15 paces, quarter right." "How was it?" "Better." "You're still fallin' 'bout 5 feet short." "All right, son." "Let's try it again." "All right." "Ready." "20 paces, quarter left." "You got it!" "Good." "Let's try it again, son." "All right, son." "Ready." "You got it!" "Good." "Your ears are getting better than a rabbit's." "Well, I hope they're not gettin' that big." "Who's that?" "It's micah, pa." "Oh." "What's all the firing' about?" "Oh, just keeping up practice, micah." "Can I, uh, talk with you a few minutes, lucas." "Well, if it's about solby, mark knows." "Oh." "Solby spent 3 days in the saloon tryin' to drink up all" "The stock and talkin' big" "About what's gonna happen when he meets up with you." "And?" "Well, I thought it was all a big bluff," "Until early this mornin'." "What happened?" "Well, he slugged one o' my deputies, nearly killed 'im," "Then he slipped out o' town on me." "Well, thanks for comin' out an' telling us, micah." "I'm gonna stay around here as" "Long as I can, till you get your eyes back, one way or the other." "All right, if you insist." "I do." "You're a good friend, micah." "Hungry?" "Well, I" " I haven't had much breakfast." "Son, will you take micah into the house and give im some" "O' the hot soup you got in the stove, I'm gonna wash up." "All right, an' I'll save enough for you." "Mm, that's what I was afraid of." "Say, he's doin' real well by himself." "He's doin' fine." "Pa, he says that with the yard being the" "Last thing saw, well, it kind of sticks in his mind like" "A picture." "He's even been helpin' me with the chores." "Soup'll be ready in a minute, micah." "Fine." "Smells good." "Get a cup an' try some, micah." "So, it's gonna make it real easy for you, isn't it, solby?" "I heard you was blind, mccain, how'd you know it was me?" "I can smell you." "The years haven't erased your stink." "Yeah, that may be." "I heard people what can't see, sometimes" "They learn other ways." "I've been waitin' for this a long time," "Mccain, 6 years." "Yeah, you know 6 years is a long time." "If you think I'm gonna change" "My mind, you're wrong." "Go on, finish your washing'." "The great mccain, blinded." "how?" "Solby?" "Solby!" "Easy, lucas." "Pa." "He won't bother you anymore, lucas." "Son, you- you got anything stronger in the house" "Than that soup?" "Hold still now." "Now, don't expect miracles, lucas." "Lucas?" "Can you see?" "Yes, son." "I can see." "I can see." "I can see."