“It broke up before any formal agreement was signed when we got your message, but....”
“Gee, I’m sorry about that.”
“Forget it. I only had the chance to say a few words to Ralph while they were organizing the posse, but he told me the tribes understand each other’s position now. It’s just a matter of ironing out details before they agree to put those boundary-line leases up for bids.”
“That’ll be great for you,” Sandy said, “but I sure wish I hadn’t had to....”
“Forget it, I said.” Hall patted his shoulder too. (Why did everybody have to pat him as if he were a dog? Sandy wondered crossly. Then he burst out laughing, although to do so hurt his face and chest. Why, he almost was a dog, wasn’t he?)
“Young man, you’re getting much too excited,” the doctor warned as he approached the bed, hypodermic needle in hand. “I’d better put you to sleep for a while.”
Sandy pushed him away.
“There’s something else,” he cried. “John, did Pepper tell you about the message Cavanaugh received from Washington?”
“I told him there had been a message, and what Cavanaugh said to Elbow Rock,” Pepper spoke up. “But I couldn’t hear the message itself. Cavanaugh was wearing the earphones.”
“Better forget all this for a while and go to sleep, Sandy,” said Hall. His face was gaunt with worry.