‘Who in Hell’s doin’ this? Keep yore face out of it.’
‘But why are you tying him up?’ persisted Nan. ‘He never harmed you. All we want is a chance to get out of here.’
She left the rock and came close to him. He watched her through the jagged slits in the handkerchief.
‘Keep away from me,’ he growled. ‘I never hit no woman. Never thought a man ort to hit a woman. But I got to protect myself.’
‘Oh, I’m not going to fight with you,’ wearily. ‘I just want to explain things.’
‘Yeah? You set down. I’ve gotta figure out somethin’.’
‘But won’t you let him go—please?’
‘Hell, I can’t! Set down. If I had another rope, I’d tie you, too.’
Nan sat down while the man perched on a convenient boulder. Rex was lying on his side, facing them. He was still bewildered, but unable to move. The man in the mask rolled a cigarette, but discovered that he would have to move his mask aside in order to smoke, and tossed the unlighted cigarette aside.
He made no mention of the cave, and Nan decided that he had not discovered it. For possibly five minutes they sat there silently. At times the man leaned forward, rubbing his face through the handkerchief, as though unable to arrive at a decision. At times he turned his head and looked at the buzzards, which were circling about. Finally he got to his feet, walked over and looked at the knotted rope, and then turned to Nan.