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Margarita LI
Contributed by
ramfire
on
Thursday, 31st March 2005 @ 04:50:37 PM in AEST
Topic:
fictional
|
They came upon the bear eating honey among the cottonwood trees. The Grizzly was in a sitting position with a broken hive held up between his front paws. Jaws and tongue were at work on the inner comb. His snout was covered with its sticky mess. Vicioso gave himself joyfully to his task, seemingly unconcerned about the world around him. The bear's insouciance infuriated Miguel. His horn-hooked scar became red and inflamed. " Look!" he spoke with an angry voice and a finger point. " He thinks he can do anything he wants. What does he care about angry bees? What does he care about snorting bulls? What does he care about men on horses? Nothing! He cares only about the honey on his paws and the hives in the other trees."
" He is big, Miguel."
" Do you think I care how big he is, Jose? When he comes after me, muchachos, put your reatas over his head; catch him by the neck."
Jose spoke again to his brother. " How are you going to get him out from among the trees?"
" I will insult him."
" What will you say?"
" I will tell him he is too fat to run."
Men laughed at Miguel's humorous words. Huerra spoke. " He's only interested in his stomach, Miguel. He won't chase you."
" I will hit him on the end of his nose with my reata."
" Yes, he'll come after you then."
Segundo put in good words. " Bring him to me, Patron. I will take care of him."
" Is your knife ready, vaquero?"
" I have it here." Knife was unsheathed. The blade glistened in the morning sun.
" His left ear, vaquero. I want you to notch his left ear."
" Si, Patron. His left ear."
Miguel addressed words to Pedro. " Pedro, if he brings my horse down, shoot him."
" With much pleasure, papa."
" Jose, you throw the first reata. Pedro, you the second. Arracho, you throw the third. Diego, you the fourth. I will throw the last."
" I won't miss, brother."
" If you do, I'll kick you when we get home."
Men laughed.
" I go now."
" Via con Dios, papa!"
" I don't need God's help. Vicioso needs God's help! Have your rifle ready, Pedro."
" Yes, papa."
Miguel rode to where the grizzly sat eating. The bear ignored him. Miguel called over to him. " Vicioso! Hey, Vicioso! I have come to make a visit. You could be polite and say hello."
The bear continued eating his honey. He didn't look up. Miguel took the coiled reata in his hand. Putting spurs to his horse, he charged the bear slapping the animal across his nose in defiance. Vicioso howled in a surprised rage. He dropped the hive from his paws and charged the man and horse in great anger. Miguel maneuvered his horse in and out of the trees. The bear was very fast. With great luck, Miguel's horse escaped the bear's teeth and claws.
Jose threw his reata around the bear's big shaggy head. The bear slashed Jose's rawhide freeing itself. Pedro's, Arracho's, Segundo's, and Miguel's reatas went around the bear's neck then. The bear in furry stood on his hind legs biting and clawing the reatas. Spittle drooled from its jaws; eyes were wild with insane anger. Bear's bellows of defiance filled the horses with fear; they quickly pulled away at different sides of the bear. The reatas held firm from four directions. The bear begin chocking.! Segundo hurriedly passed his rawhide to Jose. He jumped off his horse going for Vicioso's left ear with his big knife. The Grizzly was too tall for him to reach the ear. The skinny man tried to keep away from the sharp teeth and flailing claws. " Pull him over!" he shouted. " Pull him over! You need to pull him over! He is too tall for me!"
The four horses pulled together in one backward direction. The bear tumbled to its side. Working in concert, the men allowed Vicioso to regain his feet tumbling him a second time. Repeatedly they played this game. The bear begin rolling his eyes, breathing hard. His grunts became grunts of frustration. With extraordinary strength he broke two reatas charging Jose and Arracho. Madden bear knocked Arracho's sorrel to the ground throwing Arracho clear. The bear ripped the horse's side open exposing its entrails. The horse screamed in pain and fright.
Pedro took his rifle and put a bullet in the bear. Vicioso didn't slow down; he charged Arracho. Pedro came between the bear and the man. He hit the grizzly along side of its head with the rifle butt. Vicioso charged Pedro. Miguel put three bullets into Vicioso's chest with his pistol. Vicioso didn't slow down. Segundo put four pistol bullets into the bear. Vicioso fell on his side. His grunts suddenly were changing to cries of great hurt.
Segundo took his big knife and went to work. Vicioso cried in greater pain; blood flowed down
side of its head; eyes were rolled back into their sockets; blood came from his nose and jaws. The bear's four paws scratched the air in a frenzy. Miguel took his rifle and put it to Vicioso's heart. The bear jerked violently as the bullet tore his heart to pieces. No longer would the bulls and bees be bothered with him. Arracho took his pistol and shot his dying horse in the head.
Others joined Arracho and Segundo squatting on their heels looking at the dead bear. They praised Vicioso's courage and made jokes about the fight. Miguel gave everyone glowing words about Viscioso' strength. " He broke three reatas! Never has it been done before."
Jose spoke. " When he broke mine, Miguel, I thought for sure I was going to get that kick.
Men laughed. Pedro gave his papa some words. " Look at his silver gray coat, papa. Feel it! It is going to make a good rug for big sister and Arracho."
Miguel asked his son a question. " Where is your rifle?"
" I don't know, papa. It is some place. When I hit Vicioso, it broke in my hands."
Arracho spoke " It's over by your dead sorrel, Miguel.. Pedro hit bear so hard that the stock broke away from the barrel."
Segundo spoke. " I thought Vicioso was going to get us, Patron."
" No, amigo. You needn't have worried. Pedro wouldn't have let that happen." Turning, he spoke to Pedro on his right. " You wouldn't have let that happen would you, Torro?"
" No, Patron. Papa might have kicked me."
Miguel doubled over in laughter. He laughed because Pedro's words were funny. He laughed because his son was one much man. He laughed because Pedro made him proud. He laughed because -- he laughed because the fight was over. He laughed because he was relieved that no one was killed.
Jose asked a question. " Do we skin the bear here?"
Still laughing, Miguel considered Jose's question. " No," he said at last. " I will have some vaqueros bring the carreta and take him back later to the hacienda. We will save and dry the meat. They also can take Arracho's saddle back with them. " Arracho, do you want to ride behind Pedro?"
" El Toro can sit behind me, if he wants."
Pedro considered Arracho's words. Never would he ride behind anyone. But, for Arracho he would." It is all right," he said.
" Good," Miguel finalized. " Let us go home and get some sleep."
Copyright ©
ramfire
... [
2005-03-31 16:50:37]
(Date/Time posted on
site)
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Re: Margarita LI
(User Rating: 1 )
by Archie on
Thursday, 31st March 2005 @ 05:04:21 PM AEST
(User
Info | Send
a Message)
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| I like your story. It seemed true and it was very interesting. |
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