AT BAY-12

"Doc, chibai le!"

Art Cotton-a awki chu a hniamin a nelawm loh kher mai. Rul tur nei a khawih ta emaw tih mai tur hian Hight-a chuan kawngkhar handle chu rang zet hian a thlah a, tlan chhuah mai a han tum a.

"Chhuak rih love," Art-a chuan a lo ti a. A awka chhuak chu a hma ai chuan a dam zawk deuh na a, tualthah chakna a in phumru tlat tho a. Che hauh lo a puakruk a a tin tun mai chuan a rilru puthmang chu a hril chhuak chiang hle bawk. Puakruk cheng a han kau zawng chuan a kut zungchal chang chu a var pap a. A kut chu a chet leh vaih chuan mitthi a ni mai tih Hight-a chuan a hrechiang hle. A ngaihtuahna chu a vak kual zung zung a, engtin nge hetah hian a lo kal dawn tih an hriat theih? Silaimu an neih tlem dan tur an chhut chhuak em ni ang? A inthlahdul a, hmel buai nak chung hian "Hetah hian enge in tih?" tiin a han zawt a.

Art Cotton-a chuan nui then thu chung hian "Kan rawn lawilut satliah mai mai mawle. A inlen pawhna khua bawk a!" a ti a, a puakruk chu a ti che zoh a, "I thianten i kawngka bula i ding reng kha mak an tih loh nan rawn lut vat mai teh," a han ti zui a.

Ban phar chungin Hight-a chu a rawn lut a, Art Cotton-a chuan Whitey lam chu a hawi a, "Pawn lamah mi hmuh i nei em?" tiin a han zawt a. Tukverh bula ding Whitey chuan a lu a thing a, "Tumah an awmlo, Art," a ti a.

Cotton-a chuan Art-a lam chu a hawi a, hmai zangthal hu hian Hight-a chu a thlek a. "Doc, i thianpa Green-a kha sakawr in lama a rawn let leh danah kan mit lak pen a duh tih a hriat a...tunah a rawn tir chhuak ta che a, engvangin nge amah kha a rawn kal tlang mai loh?" tiin a han zawt a. Hight-a chu a ngawi reng a. Art Cotton-a chuan "Engvangin nge i ko kal? Sawi vat rawh," a ti nghut a.

Hight-a chuan "Ka inthiarfihlim veleh rawn chhuah ve an tum a ni," a han ti a. Art Cotton-a chuan a lu a thing nur nur a, a meng thip rum mai bawk a. "Doc, chutiang a ni lovang, thudik sawi nan chance vawikhat chiah ka pe leh ang che. Engvanga heta rawn tir che nge an nih?" thum chhur mai hian a han ti leh a.

Hight-a chuan "Billy a inhliam a, a enkawlna tur damdawi rawn lak ka tum a ni," a han tih chuan "Kan naupang chuan darkar chanve kal taah khan tukverh atangin min rawn kap tih kan hre reng. Amah kan hmu alawm," Whitey chuan a lo ti a.

Art Cotton-a chuan "Chuti anih chuan......Doc, dawt min hrilh leh ta a ni maw?" a ti a.

"Dawt ka sawi lo,.....ka...."

Art Cotton-a chuan Doc Hight-a chuba hmaiah a kutphah hnunglamin a han beng zui a. Doc Hight-a chu a per dawrh a, bang a va deng dawt a. Art-a zungbun hrawl zetin a tih kak avangin a biang ki atang chuan thisen a rawn far zaih zaih a.

Hight-a chuan khur zawih zawih chunga a kut phar chhuak chungin "Thudik a ni ka sawi ni," a la ti ta hram a. "Thudik i sawi lo," tih pahin Art-a chuan a pan hnai a. Hight-a chu a hnek thal ta tawp mai a. Art Cotton-a chu a meng sen rum tawh mai a, a rawn din chilh leh a.

Hight-a chuan "Tlanbo turin min hrilh a ni," harsa ti fe hian a han ti a. Vin zet hiam Cotton-a chuan "Dawt sawi suh. Tlanbo tum nila in lam i pan lo tawp ang," a lo ti a. A kut chu a hum ruh a, "Engvangin nge sawi rawh," a han ti tuarh a. Hight-a chuan tawlhsawn pahin "Nilo......thudik a ni ka sawi," a la ti ta fan a. Cotton-a chuan Hight-a chu a tham kang lawp a, hnai zeta melh run chung chuan "Thudik chu sawi vat rawh Doc, chuti lo chu tun tum chu ke lehlam tliak ringawt chuan i chhuak tawh hauh lovang," tiin a han vau a. Hight-a chuan a lu a thing nawk nawk a, "Nang.....nang hi i lo ni maw? Ka hriat dan........"a tih lai mek chuan Art Cotton-a chuan "Dave Rodgers-a a nih i lo ring a ni maw? Ni e, a ni phei chu a awm ve ngei alawm. Mahse i ke ti tliaktu kha a ni hleinem," nui then thu chungin a lo tih khum a.

Hight-a chu thinrimna namenloin a rawn tuam a. Hepa hi a ke tih tliah saktu a lo ni reng mai. A thinrimna chuan a hlauhna chu a hnawtbo ta vek a. Inngaihtuah hmanloin leh a hnu lam tur pawh dawn hman loin Art-a chu a hmaiah chil a chhak ta thawt mai a. Chu chu a thiltih azawngah a la huaisen thlak ber a, a inchhir zui nghal bawk a ni.

Art Cotton-a chuan thinrim hmel ner nung chungin Hight-a chu a hnek ta bur mai a. Hight-a hnar chu a tliak ri rawp a, thisen a rawn far zawih zawih a. Pindan chu a vir muai muai hian a hria a, chutah a thim mup a, a han harh chhuah leh chuan hmai lei siin a lo tlu reng mai a.

Mi pakhat hian a nakah a rawn chhir dawt mai a, a taksa pumpui mai chu a na tek chuaih a, nikhaw hreloin a awm leh ta a. A rawn harh chhuah leh chuan an hnuk tho lawp a, nam chhuah an han tum a. Mahse a meng thei reng reng lo mai a. Art Cotton-a chuan a hnar a hnek tliah avang khan a hnar atang chuan thisen a rawn luang chhuak nguah nguah reng a. Cotton-a chuan a mit a tih del sak ta mai anih hlauthawng tak chungin a mit chu harsa ti fe hian a han chul a. Mahse a hlauhthawn ang chuan thil a lo awm lo hlauh a. Zawi zawiin a rawn meng chhuak thei ta a. Cotton-a chuan a kawrchung awma thamin bangah a nem bet a, Doc Hight-a chuan a ke hmanga din a han tum a, mahse a ke chu a lo zawi vek mai a. Cotton-a chuan engthil emaw hi a han zawt a, Hight-a chuan a lu a thing ringawt a. Thei leh theilo hian "Hremhmunah......liam rawh," a han ti hram a.

Hight-a lu chu a ri chawrh a, nikhaw hreloin a let hlawm leh ta reng mai a. Cotton-a chu thinrim hmel chuar nung chungin a hawi sawn a, Nick-a hnenah chuan "Nick, tui han la teh," a han ti a. Nick-a chuan tui chu a va la thuai a, Cotton-a chu a pe a. Art Cotton chuan tui chuan Hight-a hmai chu a han leih puat a. Doc Hight-a chu zawite hian a rawn rum chhuak a, a hmai chu harsa ti deuh mai hian a han chul a. Han thawh a tum a, mahse a hlawhchham chiang hle.

Art Cotton-a chuan Doc Hight-a chu a phih tho lawp a, "Doc, i la huaisen fo em? Nge ka zawhna kha min chhang dawn?" vin zet hian a han ti a. Hight-a chu zawhte in sazu a thing ang mai hian dimlo baksak hian a thing nawk nawk a. Hight-a chuan harsa ti fe hian "Art, min that nghal la i tan a tha zawk ang. Chuti lo chu ka la that tho tho ang che. Pathian pawhin min hriatpui......" a ti hman chauh a, Art Cotton-a thinrim lutuk chu a te tuarh a. Hight-a chu bang deng dawt khawpin a nam per lawp a. Hight-a chu engmah hreloin a let hlawm leh ta reng a, chhuatah chuan a thisen a rawn luang ngiai ngiai a.

Whitey chuan "Art, i that ta mai ani maw?" phawk zet hian a lo ti a. Art-a chuan "Engmah in lo sawi ve tur a awm lo," a ti nghut a. Vawilehkhatah a nui chhuak thut a, thâm deuh tuak hian "Engah nge a tirah khan ngaihtuah chhuah nachang ka lo hriat loh?" a rawn ti chhuak a.

Nick-a leh Whitey chu an inmelh zauh a. Art Cotton chu a â ta em ni ang?

"Art, eng thil nge ni ta?"

"In hrethiam nange?"

Whitey-a te pahnih chuan lu an thing a, Art Cotton-a chuan "Sim-an chhawrna awm miahlo leh laktlakloah min ngai a. A mi tawngkhum dan avang khan a la inchhir ngawt ang. In hre dawn alawm. Ka lamah in tang dawn em?" a han ti a.

Whitey chuan rang zetin a lu a bu a, "Tehreng mai, Art," ti a. Art-a chuan "A tha e. Ka mamawh dawn che u a ni. Doctor thawmhnaw kha han hlip teh u," a ti ta a. Chutah Nick-a lam chu a hawi a, "Nick, nang khan i thawmhnaw kha hlip bawk la," kil khatah hlauh hmel zeta Nick-a lo ding khawng reng hnenah chuan a han ti a.

Nick-a chu a han tawi khawmuang deuh a. Art-a thin chuan a tuar ta lo a. "Inhlip thuai rawh," a ti tuarh a. Nick-a chu a inhlip ta sawk sawk a. Whitey pawh chuan Doc Hight-a thawmhnaw chu a hlip fel ta a.

Art-a chuan "Ka thil ruahman chu in hre thei tawh em? Nick, Doc Hight-a thawmhnaw kha inbel rawh," a ti zut zut a. Nick-a chuan Art-a thupek ang chuan a ti thuai a. Whitey chu a nui vur vur a, "Doc Hight-a hi a kir leh an lo beisei......" a tih lai mek chuan Art Cotton-a chuan "A dik chiah. Doc Hight-a hi Hornby-a enkawlna tur damdawi la tura rawn kal pawh a ni tak tak maithei. Anih loh vek pawhin silaimu emaw tui in tur emaw an tlachham a, lam turin an rawn tir pawh a ni maithei bawk. Engpawh nise, kir leh ngei tura ngaih a ni tih a chiang a. Kan nuai chimih theih dan tur chu chuan min hmuhchhuahtir a......" a ti a, a kut zungtang chu a han piai ri fuk a, "Hetiang tluka awlsam hian," a han ti a.

Nick-a pawh chuan Doc Hight-a thawmhnaw chu a inbel fel ta a. A kut chu a humin a phelh sek a. Art Cotton-a chuan "Sim, naia sen pawh ka tluk lo maw? Kan la hre dawn alawm," a ti nghut nghut a, chutah a hote chu thiltih dan tur a hrilh ta a.

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Kawtthler leh lam a khat tawka silai an han pawng kah leh ngawt thin tih loh chu silai ri dang hriat tur a awm ta rihlo a. Bob Davis-a thlakin Sudden-a chu tukverh bulah a ding ve thung a. Davis-a chuan in hnunglam bang kila coffee bel a haichhuah hmangin coffee a lum a. Coffee rim chu boruakah chuann a nam cham cham a.

Billy chuan "Ril a tam duh hle mai. Zing thingpui leh chhang bak kha engmah ka la hmawm leh ta lo a," a rawn ti chhuak hlawl a. Sudden-a chuan "He thil hi a fel veleh bawngsa ti hem hmin hrawl tawk ka leisak ang che," a lo ti a.

Billy-a chu a nui sak a, "Bawngsa ti lian tawk, sawngbawl dan tur dik taka sawngbawl, mawm hlap mai, alu kan thahnem tawk nen, a behbawm enge maw zat bean tih vel nen......ka mitthla in ka hmu reng mai," a han ti chiam a.

Sudden-a chuan "Apache ho zinga seilian i ni hial lo maw? Zahngaihna dil khawpa hrehawm tuar tir i thiam riau mai," nui chung hian a lo ti a. Davis-a awmna lamah a phei a, "Nang chauh hi i ni lova.........." a tih lai mekin tukverh lam pan mek, Davis-a chuan "Doc pawh a rawn kal ta e," a han ti a.

Sudden-a chuan tukverh atangin pawnlam chu a han thlir ve a, "Billy, thil che zauh pawh i hmuh vaih chuan kap nghal pawp ang che," a han ti a. Davis-a chuan kawngkhar hawlhkalhna chu a phawi a, kawngkhar chu a nam kau a, pawn lam bih dak dak chung chuan "Doc, hmanhmawh rawh," a han ti a. Sudden-a chuan "Kawng khar kha khar vat rawh," a ti ta thut mai a. Davis-a chu a phu zawk a, Sudden-a lam chu a rawn hawi a. Chutih lai chuan Hight-a ni ngeia an ruat chu hmalamah a zuang dawrh a. Chumi rual chuan midang pahnih hi kawngkhar lam pan chuan kun chungin an rawn tlan phei nghal a, silai a puak thuai a, Davis-a chu hnunglamah a tawlh dawrh a, a thal ta tawp mai a.

Billy-a au thawt pahin Sudden-a kut pahnih chu a phe zawk a, mi pathum hi kawngkharah chuan an rawn lang a, silai an hmet puak zawt zawt a. An zinga pakhat chu Art Cotton-a a ni tih Sudden-a chuan a hre thei a. In chhungah chuan an rawn zuang lut ta a.

Sudden-a nak chu thir linga deh ang mai hian a rawn sa zawk a. Puakruk chu a han hmetpuak leh a, Hight-a lemchang pa khan a dul a dawm chawt a, pawnah a tlu chhuak ta a. A la dam chhun chu Billy-an a rawn kap thlu ve nghal a. Sakawr in chhungah chuan zen khu a zam chuai chuai a. An kah thluk te zinga pakhat chu a rum ngul ngul a, Art Cotton-a kha a lo ni a. Harsa ti fe hian a puakruk chu a han lek kang a. A hmeh per dawn lai tak chuan Sudden-a puakruk hmawr chu a de zawk a, Cotton-a chu a inthing nawk a, a puakruk chu a thlauh ri dawt a, che zui tur a awm ta lo. Sudden-a chu muangchangin a rawn ding mar a, a puakruk pai that pah chuan "Tih a tul miau a ni," a han ti sap a. Pawn lam chu a va en a, chutah "Tukverh pan vat rawh, kawtthler saw," Billy-a hnenah chuan a ti thut a. Billy-a chu tukverh lamah chuan a zuang phei thuai a. Silai a hmet puak nghal zawt zawt a. Cottonwood mi enge maw zat, an tawmna atanga rawn chhuak ho chu an tlan darh nghal thuai a. Reiloteah tukverh chu an rawn kah rawn ta a. Tukverh biang chu silaimu chuan a deng khawk hlawk hlawk mai a. Billy-a chu a kun hniam thuai a, Sudden-a chu a va en a, ani chu chelo changloa let hlawm reng, Bob Davis-a bulah chuan a lo thingthi mek a. Muangchangin a rawn tho a, kawngkhar chu a khar a, a kalh hnu chuan "A thi tawh," Billy-a hnenah chuan a han ti sap a. Billy-a chu a ngawi reng a, Davis-a coffee chhuanso barh barh chu a han en a, chutah bang lam hawiin a ding ngawi ta reng a.

Sudden-a chuan Art Cotton-a te ruang chu a melh zauh a, lu thing nar nar chungin tukverh lam a pan ta a. Kawngkhar bulah chuan Hight-a thawmhnaw inbel pa kha thisen chiahpiah nuaihin a lo let hlawm reng a. "Doc chu an that ta anih hmel hle mai, keini pawh min that lo chauh zawng anih kha," tiin a phun sap sap a.

Hnehna changtu zawk ang ni mahse Sudden-a te pahnih chu an hlim hranlo kher mai. Sim Cotton-a hired killer pathum chu hremhmunah liam mahse a man a tam em a ni.

Sudden-a chuan a puakruk mu chu Art Cotton-a gunbelt atanga a silaimu lak chuan a thun khat a. Engemaw chen a ngawih vang vang hnu chuan "Kawtthler lamah hmuh i nei em?" tiin Billy chu a han zawt a. Billy-a chuan "Tumah hmuh tur an awmlo," a ti zawi raih a. Bang hrulah ngil auh hian a ding a, a kawrah chuan thisen tharlam a val kalh a. Sudden-a chuan "Kha, thisen a chhuak leh elo?" tiin a han zawt a.

Billy chuan "Ka chetpui vang anih hi," a lo ti thuai a. Chutah "Doc Hight-a kha......." a tih lai mekin Sudden-a chuan "Pawna mi sawn a thawmhnaw a inbel a, a inah sawn che vel hmuh tur a awm bawk silo a," awmze nei tak hian a lo ti a.

Engemaw chen an ngawih dun vang vang hnu chuan Billy chuan "A man kan chawi tam hle mai," a ti nghat a. Sudden-a pawh chuan sawi tur a van kher mai. Ngawi rengin tukverh lam chu a pan a, pawnlam a en a, "A tlai tawh hle mai. Khua a thim thuai tawh dawn anih hi," a han ti a. Engemaw chen ngawi renga mahni ngaihtuahna kawma an thut hnu chuan Billy chuan "Jim, khaw thim hmain min rawn beih leh i ring em?" a rawn ti chhuak a. Sudden-a chuan a dar a chhin ak a, "Sawi a har khawp mai. Kan pahnih chauh kan ni tawh tih an hre ngei anga, nghah khawtlai Sim-a khan tul a tilo maithei. Mahse a hote la dam zat a zir pawh a ni ang chu," a ti a.

"Khua an nghah thim vaih chuan chance kan nei tlem hle ang," Billy-a chuan a ti bal bal a.

Inring taka silai hum reng chungin pawnlam chu an va en a, hmun hnih khatah chuan khawnvar a inchhi tawh a. Boruak chu a reh ruih a.