Strikes Back 3

Chu Hanging Rock khaw te tak te chu nipui lai ni sensa hnuaia zen rim nam rum rum khawp a khaw lum chuan a ur tlawk tlawk a. Kawtthler zul zuia  a sir tawn tawn a ke a kalna inphah te chu a ruak huai a. Diego Saloon hlim bela ui tang thenkhat duhdah ang reng taka lo bawk te chu khua a mi cheng an awm ve a ni tih entirtu an ni mai awm e. Chu bawng vulhna behchhan a din khaw te tak te chhunga mi cheng zawng zawng tih theih deuh thaw chu chhun pachang ni sa lutuk tlansanin an in lamah emaw Saloon khawi emaw ah an tawm bo vek niin a lang a.

Ramri hnaih khua a nih angin, Hanging Rock chu a hunlaia Bawng vulhna khua tam  tak angin vaivutin khu in a bawh paw thur a. Building te pawh chu a then chirh zut mam a sak niin, a then thing tuma sak an ni bawk a. Chung tawmbuk satliah ni mai awma lang te chu khawtther an in felfai lem lo takin a  in tlar phei ve thliah a. Kawmkar leh in hnung lamah te chuan tin chhia te, bottle ruak te, thir bung leh chu lai rawn paltlang tuten an hnuchhiah hmanraw chhiava hrang hrang te a let darh niai nuai a.

  Hanging Rock chuan khawthlang rama hmun mawi leh chenna duhawm tak ni pawhin an inchhal lo reng a. Mi tharte pawh an lo lawm teh huam hran lova. ‘Helai hmun ngaina lemlo chu tap khawtlai kual vel loh mai tur’ tih chu he khuaa mi te thurolum a ni mai a. Amaherawh chu khaw mawng ping an ni lo tih hriatna turin zin veivak phur tawlailir a lo thleng ve thin a. Chu’ng atanga khual zin mi thar lo tlawh tute pawhin, khua a an mit an len thuak thuak hnuah kan sawi tak thurawn kha an dawng zui deuh nghal tlangpui thin a ni. 

Hanging Rock chu Bawngvulhna a sumdawnna leh Thunder Mesa a thil laichhuak tute ho sum chevel ah a innghat ber a. Anni ho hian an hlawh lakni, thla khatah vawi khat te an rawn tlawh a. Hah leh rim taka an thawhchhuah sa te chu holam tak rawn khawh ralin, nuam an rawn leng thin a. A tawp lamah intihbuaina, silaia inkahna leh tualthahna ten a zui deuh ngei ngei thin bawk a. Chung te chu Hanging Rock khua in a hlawkna a lo tel ve dan ropui lo tak chu a ni awm e.

Chung in hrang hrang, khawthlera mawihnai lem lo taka in tlar ve thliah zingah chuan pawimawhna nei chu tlemte an ni a. A lian ber chu Burkhart-a Saloon leh Lamna Inpui (Dance Hall), L – pian hmang pu a, chulai hmun sik leh sa lum tak leh sa zualpui vawng dai tura 36 inches laia chhah chirh bang a siam, mal taka bawk run chu a ni a. Hmar lam atanga intawllen tur ho an lo thlen changa an hawlh hahdamna leh an inhnangfakna ber a ni a. A neitupa tih loh mi zawng zawng in Burkhat-a chu ‘Dutchy’ tiin an hre deuh vek a. Hei hi chulai ram awphawi aia danglam deuh a hman thin  vanga an phuah te pawh niin a lang. 

Dutchy a hmunhma an chiah chuan Irish hmeithai kawlhsen tak Mrs. Mulvaney ta, zin mite chawlh lailawkna leh hotel  ni bawk chu a awm ve leh a. Hetah hian zan hnih khat riak tur khualzin tan te, thil laichhuak mi ho khua rawn tlawhtu te tan te, Cowboys leh mi dang remchang a piang tan ei leh in tur leh riahna buatsaih a ni thin a. Mrs. Mulvaney hi mi invawng leh thununna kengkawh tha deuh mai a ni a. Chulai vel phairuama mi tute mahin a chhuat nawh tlet var mai chu an pheikhawkin an dai chiar sak ngawt ngam ngai lo.

  Tlema khawtthler han zawh leh hlek chuan, Dutchy-a in awmna lam tlarah chuan City Bank chu Fal deuh nalhin a lo ding a. Piah leh deuh ah, Building ding thiang pakhat zawk an chiah chuan Saloon dang ‘The Square deal’ an tih mai chu a lo awm leh a. A neitu Mexican pa hming chawiin ‘Diego’ tia hriat lar a ni zawk mah awm e.

Barclay-a lo lan hma kha chuan Cowboy tam zawk chu Dutchy-a dawrtute an ni thin a. Barclay-a mi leh sate, hmel rum tak tak hovin Diego an dawr zawk tak fo ah chuan  Jacob Burkhart-a pawh  mut a tui deuh sawt a. Mi dik leh tlang tak niin, a saloon-ah hian Rattle snake barrel khat ai pawhin and Barclay-a te hian buaina an thlen tam zawk thin tih te chu a hriat hnu vek tawh  a ni a – A bik takin Slash 8 hnathawktute khuaa an awm lai phei chuan thin phu dep depin a awm thin a ni. Dik tak chuan, Gympy meuh pawhin ‘Square dik tak chu pawnna an thil ziah chiah saw a ni’ tiin Deago-a tawmbuk siam chungchang chu a lo rel hlak tawh nge nge a ni. Khaw chhung hmun dangah chuan General Store te, sakawr dahkhawmna lun angreng tak nena in hne reng thirdengpa dawr te, buk zar chhiava te te leh Hanging Rock  a khawsa nghet ho dangte chenna In engemaw zat a la awm bawk a ni.. 

Sudden-a leh Dave-a’n Mesa a tawhsual an tawh atanga darkar 24 hnu, a tuk leh ni a lo herchhuak a. Hemi ni hian, Sakawr chungchuang pali ten Summerfield lam atangin Hanging Rock khua chu an lo lut ve mek a. Summer field hi Santa fe lam panna kawng a khaw thenawm chiah a ni nghe nghe a. Khawlai vaivut chhah tak a an sakawr pen ri leh an sakawr hah thawri huam huam huam te chu chiang takin a hriat theih a. An rawn teilut hma mah mahin a lang nain, Bawng enkawla hnathawktute, an dangro inhnangfak tura Diego Saloon rawn pan ni maiin an lang a. A lo hmutute chuan saloon kawtkaia tawp ta mai lova Bank lama an phei tlang zel an hmuh chuan mak an ti deuh hlek a. Chung mite chu Bank kawtah chuan an sakawr atanga chhukin an sakawrte pawh chu an thlung ta a. A lo hmutute maktih lehzual turin an zinga mi pakhat chu Sakawr vengtura hnuchhiahin mi pathumte chu Bank-ah chuan an pen lut ta a. Chu pa chuan sakawr thlunna thing kamphei chu duhdah angreng taka nghengin a lukhum hlai leh hniam tak hnuai atang chuan kawtthler reh huai lam chu a rawn melh kual rul rulh a.

Minute riat atanga sawm vel a han reh leh vang vang a. Silai puak thawm chuan chulai hmun reh tak chu a rawn luahkhat ta a. Silai puak thawm boruaka a thawngkhawk rawih rawih lai chuan Bank kawngka chu a rawn inhawng a, mi pahnih hi ipkhai rit tih hriat tak darbah chungin an rawn hnungtawlh chhuak a. Mitkhap kar lovah an hotupa ni awm tak, palian leh satha tak chuan puakruk la hum khu vut vut chungin hnung a rawn dawl bawk a. An hotupa chuan sakawr a invawrhkai pah chuan a thiante chu a han buk khum nghat a. Vaivut khu mup mup karah khaw daipawn lam panin an liam ta nghal a.

  Reiloteah; Pa sang leh inphut angreng tak hi pistol hrawl ang reng tak lek chungin Bank kawngka lam pan chuan a tlan phei a. A tlan pah chuan Misual ho kalna lam hawi chuan a silai mu ruak thakin a han kap a. A silai kah chuan kori a tu lem lo hle nain, chung misual ho zinga pakhat chu rawn hawi kirin  dara chhuang meuhin a silai chuan a rawn rin kah let chiam a. A silai mu pakhat chuan verandah-a thing ban chu rawn fuhin kawtthler lamah a sawhkhawk ving phei fur fur a. Pakhat leh chuan Bank kawngkhar chu a rawn thawi rang ruak a. Chung silai puakthawm leh a mu ving vel chuan khaw mipui ho mu lai chu thawng  harhin kawtthlerah chuan an lo chhuak khawm a. Bank lamah chuan tlan khawmin fanghmir thaidarh ang main an phu ta mur mur a. Khawtual mipakhat, Dutchy-a inchhung vawt ruih atanga lo chhuak mek chuan, a bula pa pakhat lo tlan phe hlawk hlawk chu a banah lo khawihin thil awmzia a lo zawt vel a.

‘Hmaituam mi pali an ni,’ tiin chu pa chu a lo au a. ‘Bank an rut fai leng a, Charley Clark an kap bawk.’ A han tih zawm zat a.

Charley Clark-a, khawchhunga pa neinung ber pawl, Bank cashier ni bawk chu hrelo fa pawh an awm awm love. Chu pa te leh awmnem ve angreng tak kah hlum a nih thu chuan mipui ho chu a ti thinur em em a. Bank kawt vela an punkhawm lai chuan ‘Um nghal ang u’ tih te, ‘Hrui kha tuemaw in han la ula’ tih thawm te chu a ri nuai nuai a. Mi pui sa hulh hulh chu Hanging Rock Sheriff hmel rawn lang chuan a tidai deuh hlek a. Muang leia pawimawh vaklo a nihna chu hetiang buaina a lo thlen chiah hian theihnghilh a ni ta thin a ni. Sheriff Brady-a chuan rukru ho um tur Posse a han ko khawm a. Kar lovah sakawr chungchuang, chhuak mai tura inpeihsa,  sawmnga lai chuan an rawn thlawp ta nghal mai a. Au chel chul chung leh inhrosa thawm engemaw zat nen chung sakawr chungchuang ho chu khawchhung suartluanin an liam ta a.

Clark-a chatthla mek bawihsawm tur chuan, khuaa an damdawi lam timi awm chhun, pa khawsa duh dah ve angreng tak, ‘Patches-a’ tia an koh fiamthu thin chu han han pun a. Sum vawngtupa chu khualbuka pindan thengthaw nuam deuhah chuan an la phei ta thuai a Chutah chuan Pi Mulvaney chuan khua a mi la chambang ho dil chhut tak tak te chu a awm tawka a chhangin a lo dangkir zel a. Darkar engemaw zat hnuah chuan Brady-a leh a misual umtu pawl ho pawh mawng na urh leh vaivut bawh pawt thurin Hanging Rock ah chuan an lo kir leh nguai nguai a. An va hlawhchham chiang em em mai lehnghal a. 

Suamhmang ho chu an um ngei a —— Anni lah chuan hnu thup an tum hran lem hlei lova, zau taka khua chu kal hualin, hmarlam tlang bulthut lamah an kal zel a,  Box B ram hmar paltlangin — Barclay-a ram chhung lung khawkrawk hmun Baldlands ah chuan. Chutah chuan vaivut dur hmun leh lunghriam khawkrawk insirkhup mai a lo awm a. Misualho hnu chu an hloh ta hmak a. Khaw lam pana an rawn kir leh lamah chuan suamhmang ho kal tumna lam tur in rinsiakin an rawn inhnial haw nasa mai a, an tihngaihna hre lo chuan anmahni leh an hruaitupa Barady-a te chu anchhia te an han inlawh ang bawrh bawrh a. Dutchy-an dam dep dawpa a lo dawnsawn lai te chuan an la inhnial bawrh bawrh a. An awki a san lutuk hma in Brady-a chuan, chung rukru ho in felfai lutuka pawisa fai dollar singhnih zet bank atanga an ruk chhuah dan leh an chungchang chhui harsat dan te chu chu, khua a Bank neitupa Jasper de Wit chu a lo fah mawlh mawlh a. 

Chu inrawkna chungchang thu chuan Slash 8 pawh a deng ve ta a. Chu thu rawn thlen tu chu South Bend piah lama inzar pharh ve, Mike Mountford-a hnathawk te zinga mi pakhat, Tom Gunther-a a ni a. Gunther-a chu rukru umtute ho beidawnga an lo kir leh lai khan ranch thil vel chungchangah khua a a awm lai a lo ni a. A hriat ang ang te a sawi zawh chuan a sakawrah a lawn a, Mountford-a hmun Double M lam kawng chu a zawh ta zel a. 

‘Hrep tak chuan a, chanchin duhawm lo tak chu a ni,’ Tate a chuan a han ti hluk a. ‘Chutia a in khawk rat si chuan engtin chuan Witt-a chu awm zel ang maw’

‘Chu tak chu a nia hrilh tur che a ka rawn kal kher na chhan,’ Gunther-a chuan a han ti a. ‘Brady-an khawtual mi ho naktuk chawhnu lamah a ko khawm dawn a. Chutah chuan De Witt sumkunga chu hmuipuipu ber a ni leh loh a takah.’

‘A chiang e,’ Tate a chuan a lo ti zuai raih a. ‘Gunther, I chawl khawmuang rih dawn lawm ni. Chaw te pawh bar la..?’

‘A ngailove ka lawm e, Ranch lamah ka kir leh vat a ngai a,’ Gunther-a chuan a lo ti a. ‘Hetia ka rawn tlawh kawi zawk che pawh hi hria se ! Mike-a chuan Hanging Rock thleng min pet leng lawng lawng duh maithei ni..!’

A tuk leh lama khua a inhmuh an intiam hnuah Gunther-a chu phairuam lam pan chuan a thupai lawmawm lemloh tak nen chuan a inchhep chhuak leh ta a. Tate-a chu Sudden-a lam hawiin a rawn inher a.  ‘Jim, he thil hi kan tan chuan a duhawm lo hle dawnin ka hre tlat. De Witt-a hian kan dahkham hi min thin vaih chuan, ka chhe vek chu a ni mai e. Kumin chu kan bawng hralh a tlakhniam avangin pawisa thir takngial pawh ka kawl loh lai a ni si a..’

‘He Banker hian a rilru a a vei te pawh hre turin kan ngaichang ve phawt ang chu,’ Sudden-a chuan rawtna angreng deuhin a lo ti ve a. ‘Banker diktak a nih chuan chuti rum ruma sum rawn thing a, I bawng man te pawh ti tlahniam nghal rawk rawk turah ngai lo phawt ila. Chu thil chu a hlawk lovin bank tan pawh sumdawnna tha chu a ni lem lova. A rawn thlen chat hma chuan a thim zawngin thil lo thlir duh ma ta che.’

Tate-a ngui hmel pawh tlemin a zia ta deuh a. ‘I tidik mai thei, Jim. De Witt-a pawh be hmasa ve phawt ila. A rilru te kan hriat hunah a tul dan a zirin kan ngaihtuah zui  tawh mai ang chu.’

‘De Witt,’ tih pahin Coboy chu a han nui deuh a. ‘A dangdai mang e.’

‘Khawchhak lam mi a nia,’ Tate a chuan a lo ti a. ‘Finicky-a mi leh sa a nia, hetiang thil vel hi a timi lo deuh riau na chungin. A mah emaw Clark-a emaw  a tu mah mah lakah hian harsatna chu ka la nei lova.’

Sudden-a chu thil hriat duh nei hmel takin a rawn hawi chhuak a, Rancher chuan a han hrilhfiah chho zel a, ‘Clark–a, sum vawngtupa kha — De witt-a lo lan hma kum engemawzat kalta a tanga Bank lo kalpui tawhtu a nia. De Witt-a chu Bank hmunpui lama hotu lianten sumdawnna tilen zel nan an rawn tir niawm tak a ni. Ama hma ah chuan fing thiam tak mawle. Engpawh nise, a sumdawnna chu a tilian ta ngei a lawm. Pat Newman-a, Thuder Mesa a thil laihchhuahna neitu chu thlemthluin, an hnathawkte hlawh chungchang vel zawng zawng ruahman pawh Bank lamin an tum ta vek a. Chu chuan Hanging Rock mai piah lama an sumdawnna huang pawh a zauh tir ta  a ni. Henglai vela sumdawng ho reng reng chu De Witt-an a pheikhawk liak fai tura a tirh theih deuh vek an ni a lawm.’

‘Nang chu a mah ngaisang lem lotu I la ni fan a…? Sudden-a chuan a han fiam pah deuh a. 

‘Nia, ka sawi ang kha a ni mai, Jim, a chhe zawnga inbenberekna kan la nei lo na a. Ka mi ngainat lem loh te lakah hi chuan kut nghah chat hi harsa ka ti ve deuh a. Ka lo upat deuh tawh vang te pawh a ni mahna.’

Chu ngaihdan chu Green-a chuan a chhang zui hran lo nain, a remchang hmasa berah chu Banker chungchang chu ngaihven deuh tumin a rilru a siam fel ta a.

A tuk zingah chuan, khua a inhmuhkhawm tur thuthang avanga ‘Shadows’ an tih mai hoten ranch an lo beihna tur vengthawng ran chungin, midang zawng zawng chu  an hnuchhiah a. Sudden-a leh a ruaitupa chu Hanging Rock lam panin sakawrin an kal chhuak ta a. Kawtthlerah chuan Sakawr te, sakawr tawlailir te an lo awm sup sup tawh a. Hmelhmang chi hrang hrang leh thawmhnaw inbel inang lo tak tak te chu kawtthlerah chuan an lo vei nuai nuai a. Helai ah Mexican ho chu an lukhum ‘Sombrero’ hlai tak tak leh thawmhnaw chei par chuai ha in bathlarah an lo vei suau suau a, piah leh deuhah thil laichhuaktu ‘Miners’ ho tawhkhirh hmel tak tak, lukhum parh tawi tek tawk leh thawmhnaw tawt teng tawng inbelin an lo inhnial lawng lawng a. Khaw pawn lama ranch a hnathawktute, inralthuam ther fup mai ho te pawhin chanchin thar chu hriain khua an lo pan khawm ve bawk a. Chutah Saloon-te chu a khat mup mup a, rukrukna chungchanga thudik hrula an zeldin thubawl te phulpuiin an ri nuai nuai hlawm a. Tate-a leh Sudden-a pawh Dutchy-a Saloon bengchheng nuai nuai karah chuan an inzeplut ve tawlh tawlh a. A upa zawk chu, mipui kara pa tumtlang deuh, la valai hmel tak, kum sawmnga mi awm vel, beksam var deuh leh a hmuia a mei peh uai zar vapin a kekawr bah a tlak var nuai, lamah chuan a inzep phei zel a. 

‘Aw haw, Tate-a chu,’ chu pa chuan a lo ti a. ‘Hei hi an chetdan vel chu a nia, George. Enge I ngaihdan le?’

Tate-a chuan a dar a han san ak a, chutah Sudden-a chuan awmkhawm ho zinga tuemaw ber chu engzat chiah nge ruk chhuah a nih tih a han zawt a. ‘Singhnih, kan lo hriat tawh dan chuan,’ tiin a koki bula lo hnai deuh ber chuan a lo chhang a. Chu Pa tumtlang pui chuan Sudden-a chu chik fe in a han en a, chutah Tate-a chuan a lo hmelhriattir vat a.

‘Jim,’ a han ti lauh a, ‘Hei Mike Mountford-a hi, he ram bial chhunga pa dawthei ber a nih hi.’

‘Chu thil chuan chhan tha tak a nei ang chu maw,’ tiin Sudden-a chu a lo nui sak a. ‘Thawnthu ngaihnawm tak tak I hrilh thin a ni ngei ang.’

‘Thudik chauh lo chu ka sawi ngai love aw, nauva,’ Mountford chuan a rawn ti chiam a. ‘Heng mimawl leh rilru zim tak tak ho hian an rawn thlir ve kher loh chuan an awih duh lo thin a, chu mai chauh chu a ni e.’

‘Thawnthu a nih kha I sawi thin aw, Sabengtung hian ke pali a nei tih pawh hi min hrilh la ka awih lo’ng e’ Tate-a chuan fiamthu ti tak deuha nur nang chungin a lo ti a. 

‘Khai, chu chu a ni mahna,’ Mountford-a chuan tih pahin, ‘Tunah hian sabengtung ke pahnih nei chu ka kawk nghal chat thei a sin, amaherawh chu, I ring leh kher ange maw chu.’

A khabe chuan pathau deuh, khawr angreng tak a bar a lawn chhohna tura stool lo dawh mek chu a han kawk a — A chezia chu Dutchy-a bar chhung awmte tan pawh ngaihven loh theih loh hi a ni a. Chhaih titih hian an lo au nuai nuai a.

 ‘Kan Sheriff a nih saw,’ tiin Mountford-a chuan Sudden-a chu a lo hrilh a, ‘A mah ngaisang lem lo tuten ‘Shady’ ti a Brady an koh duhdahna te pawh a ni maithei a ?’

Sudden-a chuan chupa in Bar chunga zei lo fe a chevel paha a mah chhaih fiamtute a lo chhawn let dan chu a lo thlir ve reng a. A ka ang phuau leh mit meng zim sin sen avang chuan nuam a ti lo tih a lang reng mai a. Bakah chutiang taka khawtual mite ngaihsak nih chu a duh chiahlo bawk nen.

‘A va zeihawi teh chiam love,’ tih pah chuan a ruaitupa chu a han en a. ‘Ka sawi tawh ang kha a nia,’ tih pahin Tate-a chu a lo bu nghat a. ‘A thluak hi puak darh vek thei turin zen in khat mahse, Shady-a hi chuan fanghmir tihhlumna khawp pawh a nei lo’ng e.’ 

Jake Burkhart-a, Saloon neitupa, pa lianpui hmuihmul buk chep chhup in a Beer bur hawn thinna thinga suih hmanga bar a lo chhut rik dup dup lai chuan an lo hawi thap a. Reiloteah Sheriff aw fiak thak mai chiang taka hriat theih turin bengchheng pawh chu a reh ta duak a.

‘Anni hian a chinchhuak a an la hriat loh takin,’ Brady-a chuan a rawn ti lauh a, ‘Nimin khan Bank chu hmaituam paliin an rawk a. Charley Clark-a chu kapin chutah dollar singhnih vel an rut chhuak bawk a ni.’ 

Mi pahnih khat chang tum chuan boruak reh thap chu a rawn tibuai leh a. Ruk ruk chungchang hrelo hi kan la tam teh a nia tiin an rawn au leh nuai nuai a. Brady-a chuan bengchheng chu a han nghak han leh deuh a, chuan a sawi chhunzawm zel a. ‘Thil laihchhuahna a hnathawktute hlawh a lo thleng tih hi an hria a ni ngei ang, chu chu an ruk chhuah tam ber pawh a ni reng a. A bak chu pawisa nawi kutkal vel mai mai a ni e. Pu  De Witt’-a’n nakinah a la hrilh vek tho ang che u. .. Misual umtur mi leh sa ka khawm a —’

‘— I sawi dan velah khan an khawm zawk che a ni lo maw, a ni lawm ni, Sheriff ? Chulai pindan kil khat atang chuan ro hulh in a rawn ti a, Mi pui chu an nui lum nghal hul hul a. Chutih lai khawlum lutuk ah chuan Brady-a chuan theih nise khawmaw lai a lo relhruk bo daih a duh hle ang tih chu chulai awmte chuan an hrechiang hle a. Nuam ti lo tih hriat deuhin Sheriff chuan aw rawn chhuah na lai ni awm a rin chu a han melh kawk a, a han sawi chhunzawm zel a, ‘Ka sawi tawh ang khan, misual umtur ka khawm a, misual ho hnu chu kan chhui ta a. Khaw chhehvelah an vak kual hrep a, chutah Needles tlang bulthut kaltlangin, Barclay-a ram paltlangin Baldlands an lut ta a ni. Chulai chu an hnu kan hlohna chu a ni a. Chulai ram a hnu chhui han har dan chu….—’

‘— In tur in khilai tir tum che ang vel a ni !’ tiin nachina rawn sawitu aw bawk khan a rawn ti leh khauh a.

Brady-a chu aw rawn chhuahna lam hawi chuan a vir zuk a, a kawngbawr chhah mup lama a kut vai thlak pah chuan, ‘I hmui kha veng tha rawh aw, a nih loh chuan Jail-ah ni engemaw zat hun I hmang mai ang ,’ ro zetin a han ti a. ‘Tunge I nih reng reng, I han hrechiang law law teh ang.’

Sudden-a rin loh takin pa bawrchhawr angreng tak lo pen chhuak tan chuan mipui ho chuan kawng an lo kian a. ‘ Patches-a, khua a damdawi lam thiam a nih hi’ tiin Tate-a chu a lo phun sap a. ‘Lo ngai reng rawh Shady-a hi a tlawm ngei ngei ang’

A ni ta chiah reng a, A lo chhaih nawmnah tu hmel landan chuan Brady-a thinrim hmel chu a tih reh nghal vek a. ‘Patches’, tia a koh pawh chuan chuti teh chiamin ngai pawimawh hmelin a lang lem lova.  Sudden-a chuan a lo chhut neuh neuh a, Tualtah kawrchung nena rawn inthuam, a kawr hak rawng chu a tirah chuan a dum ni ngei tur, mahse vutbuak rawng kai lek lek tawh, kawr ngawng neilo chi inbel, hun leh kumten a hrut nasat tawh tih hriat taka phuai fap mai te, kekawr bal leh mawm tet nuai mai, pheikhawk rawng vantlang lam deuh chhunga in bilh lut ve nil nial te,  Chu khaw Doctor landan chu a inhmehlo vel vek hi a ni ringawt mai a. A khabehmul chu meh loh a ni a, a mitmeng te chu a de re a, a aw te lah chu a tawng zawng chuan a tham tuak mai a. A awlsam zawngin, a uaithla lam niin a hun tawp a hmang mek ni te pawhin a lang a,  a kum zat pawh a landan atang chuan hriat har tak a ni tawh a. Brady-a chu chik zetin a melh ran mai a.

‘A tha e, Shady, thianpa,  min khung dawn ta em ?’ hmai han phihfai nan hun remchang la thiamtakin a han ti a. Brady-a chuan a lo pawtchat vat a, ‘I damloh lai chuan ka khung dawn lo che tih I hria lawm, Patches. Mahse, tunlai chu I lei hi I veng zo lo deuh thin tlat a. Khatianga I tih fo chuan—’

‘Aw, chhuk mai rawh, mi a pa !’ Doctor chuan dawhtheilo tih hriat zetin a lo pawtchat leh a,. ‘Midang thu I sawitir zawk ang u. Pu De Witt-a tawngkam khat lek pawh nanga thawnthu bu ziah ai chuan kan sawtpui zawk ang tih ka chiang a ni.’ Chutah kawlh hra hian ‘I ziak thei ve tak tak ngai a nih pawhin’ a han ti zui a. Sheriff chuan ngei hmel zeta en chungin Bar atang chuan a petek thla ta nawk nawk a. Sudden-a chu a ruaitupa lamah chuan hawiin zawhna mitmengin a han en a.

 ‘I ngaihna ka hre bik lo, Jim,’ tiin Tate-a chuan a lo hrilh a. ‘Brady-a hian Patches-a hi a khung lul lovang a chhan chu han khung vaih teh se, Patches a hi a tawngthei sia, a tan chuan hremhmun pate a ni ringawt dawn a sin.  Nakin lawk darkar reilo te ah chuan a rui hi a chatthla leh hmiah mai ang.’

‘A va han khawngaihthlak ve, thawkkhat lai chuan mi pangngai tak chu a ni ve tawh thin awm sia.’

Brady-a hmun rawn luahtu hmuipuipu thar a rawn awm takah chuan an ngawi leh ta duak a. ‘De Witt-a chu a nih saw,’ Tate-a chuan a lo ti a. Sudden-a chu a lo bu nghat a, chhang lem lovin chu Hanging Rock Bank neitupa chu enin a mizia tur awm chu a lo chhut a. De Witt-a chu cher sang dun mai hi a ni a. A han din mar chiah phei chuan hma lamah a kur dulh hian a hriat a. A vunrawng chu a var eng deuh pup a, a kut chet thiak thuak chu a ta ni awm lo takin a sir tawn tawnah a khai muke thu mai a. A mit khur thuk taka mitmeng dum tak chu a mah a thilnung awm chhun ni mai hian a hriat a. A mithmul buk tak hnuaia mit kur thuk tak atang chuan a hnuai a mi pungkawm ho chu  melh zuk zuk a. A chal chu zahawm leh thui angreng takin a sam dum tho fua lamah chuan a inpharh chho a. A kawr linen puan var tih loh a ruangam pumpui chu thawmhnaw dum uk deuh hian a tuam zun mai bawk a.

‘A landan chuan min hneh lutuk lo a nih ka ring,’ Sudden-a chuan tawng lem lovin a lo ti rilru neuh neuh a, ‘Indian thisen kai a ni pawh ti ila ka sawi sual lutuk ka ring lo.’

De Witt-a chuan a kut dinglam chu a lo phar chhuak mek, chutah, Amah lo lawma phun ri leh inbe sup sup ho chuan an ngaichang ta thup a. Mipui ho chuan, a aw ki sang leh khamphei lek lek chhuah a, a thu phuh chhuah tur chu nghakhlel ang reng takin an lo chang thap a.

‘Thian duh tak te u,’ tiin a han tan a, ‘In thu lo hriat tawh sa te kha nemnghetin bul ka han tan pawt ang a — chu chu Bank atanga pawisa an ruk chhuah kha a pawisa faiin dollar singhnih lai  a ni a. Sheriff-in a la hrilh loh che u chu, khang pawisa te kha Bank-in a neih zawng zawng deuh thaw  a ni a.’ A kut suih chungin a thil puanchhuah avanga mipuite’n an ngaihdan leh rin thu an zeldin chhoh dan chu ngun takin a han ngaichang leh te te phawt a. ‘Bank atanga leiba hrang hrangte thing tura inkohkhawm mai loh chu duhthlan tur ka nei ta lo a ni. In hriat angin, thil laihchhuahna a thawktute hlawh kha an sum rukchhuah tam ber a ni a. Chu sum aiawh tur Santa fe atanga chah lut a, dahkhat leh tur chuan kar engemaw zat chu a ngai dawn a. Thil laihchhuahna a thawktute hlawh atana senso tur zat aia tam hi Bank in leiba thin tur a nei a ni. Chung hote leh Bank a sum dah tute chungchang hi ka ngaihpawimawh leh ngaihtuah hmasak ber tur chu a ni ta a ni. Ti hian sawi ta mai ila, in pawisa chu a thamral lovang. Tuma’n sum in hloh dawn lo. Kan hmunpui lam pawhin in sum hloh aia tam hi an tiam cheu a ni. Mahse, thil laihchhuahna a thawktute hlawh hi pek nghal ngei ngei tur a ni a. Chumi ti thei tur chuan, pawi ka tiin hrehawm ka ti hle na a, ka sawi ngei a tul si a — Bank hnena leiba nei zawng zawng te ka thin nghal deuh rum rum a ngai dawn a ni. Chutah chuan, hun reilote atana Bank-a dahkham neia sum puktu te, sumdawnna tih lenna atana Loan puktu te, tin, chutiang lam hawi hrim hrim a intiamkamna neia leiba nei te ka han ti deuh bik anga. Chutichuan, hemi kaihhnawih tute pawh, min hmu tura heta lo kal in awm a, ruahmanna in neih vat theih chuan a tihzia ngawt ang. Tu mimal hming mah sawilan bik ka nei dawn lova, a chhan chu in tan a nuam dawn lo em a.’ A thusawi tawp lamah chuan ngaihdan sawina leh titi hona thawm chu Saloon chhungah chuan a ri mur mur a. 

‘Shadows ho hi nangmahni rawktuah I ngai reng reng em, De Witt ?’ tiin room hnunglam deuh atang chuan zawhna a lo awm a. Banker pa in a chhan hma chuan a chhanna ngaichangin an reh duak a.

‘Tute nge an nih chiah hriattheihna tur min pe miah lo,’ tih chu De Witt-a chhanna ro ang reng tak chu a ni.

‘ I han thlir chiang deuh lawm ni ?’ tiin midangin an lo zawt leh a.

‘Aih, hmaituam vek an ni si a. An hotupa kha pa lian tak a ni a, mahse — a…, Sheriff Brady-a hnenah hriat tur tul awm thei ang zawng zawng chu ka hrilh tawh kha. Zawh belhna a awm tawh loh chuan, Bank lamah phei ka duh deuh a, tupawhin an harsatna sawipui an duh chuan, chutah chuan ka lo awm ang !

A la sawi lai mek chuan, a rawn chhuk thla a, chhuak tur chuan kawng a keu kaw phei sawt sawt a, Saloon pawn lamah chuan a chhuak ta a. Mipuite chuan a kal chhuak lai chu thlirin an reh thup a. Chutah, tumah inngaichanglo lek a tawng lawng lawng thawm chuan chulai hmun reh leh khuavang kal lai chu a rawn luah khat ta vat a. chutih lai chuan Dutchy a leh a thuhruaite chuan ti thang tih hriat takin in tur lam a piang hnenah zu no an lo sem zung zung bawk a..

Sudden-a chuan a ruaitupa, Mike Mountford-a nena lo ti ti mek, lam chu a han hawi a. An bula ding, pate lam leh tan tha angreng tak, suit vutbuak rawng felfai angreng tak nena in duang zaih mai, Sombrero nem lam deuh khum, lo kal thar chu Tate-a chuan ‘Pat Newman, tangkaraw laihchhuahna a an Manager’, tiin a han inhmelhriattir a. Newman-a hmel chu a thutak hle mai a. ‘De Witt-a chuan kan hlawh ilo vel tur chu a ruahman fel thei vat ang chu maw,’ a lo ti mek a. ‘Hnathawktu te hman chawp tur pawisa hi chu kan kawl ve reng thin a. Mahse, heti a nih si chuan kar hnih thum vel hlawh pek theih a ni dawn ta si lova. Pawisa neilo hnathawktute awmdan chu kan hriat vek tawh kha, an teihawi vak tur leh buaina chhuak tur ven char  char char a ngai dawn a ni. Chu chuan kan thawhchhuah pawh a ti tlahniam ngei ang le. Ka lo veng hram hram thei ang a. Mahse, hetiang dinhmun hi chu sutkian vat a ngaih ka ring’ a han ti a.

Chu pa, tawnhriat ngah tawh tih hriat tak a mitmeng chuar tap chu, chu enthuak pawhin Sudden-a chuan a tul dan a zir zel a harsatna hmachhawna, hnathawktute pawh vawng fel tlat thei  mi a ni ang tih a ring thei nghal mai a.

‘A tha e, ka dahkham pawh laksak ka ni ngei dawn e,’ Tate-a chuan a lo ti a. ‘Ngatinge hetiang thil hrep hi a lo thlen tak mai ni aw.. ? Thil hi a chhe zawngin a inher chho zel lo thei lo chu a ni si a. Kumin chho chu kawiah mah bawng hralhna tur a awm thei bawk si lo.. Kawng danga sum han tuak chhuahna tur lah hi a awm hlawl bawk si lova.’

‘Khai, chutiang em em dinhmun ka la tawng lo hi chu Pathian chu fakin awm rawh se,’ Mike Mountford-a chuan a dar lianpui thing chung chuang muangchangin a lo ti a. ‘Dik tak chuan, bank a ka ba chu a tam lutuk lo … Mahse, Goerge, Tangka za note tel engemaw zat chu han hum ila chu i ziawm deuh ang maw le.’

‘Rawtna lawmawm tak a nih chu, Mike,’ Tate-a chuan inngaitlawm tak chuan a lo ti a, ‘Mahse, he khuarkhurum atanga inhai chhuak tur hi chuan tangka za tel mai aia tam deuh ka mamawh dawn a ni’ a han ti a. 

Tate-a leh Mountford-a an titi bawrh bawrh lai chuan thil ngaihtuah chhuah a neih deuh thut avangin Sudden-a chuan chu Manager kiu ah chuan chelhin kilkhatah chuan a hruai phei ta 

‘Lo awm lawk teh khai,’ tiin Sudden-a chuan Newman chu a han bekbawr a. ‘Khawi atangin nge bawng hi in lei thin a ?’

Newman-a chuan makti hmel hi a han pu zawk a, chutah ‘Min rawn chawm tumna I nei deuh em ni ? South Bend a Marty Black-a hnena mi kan lei thin. Ngatinge chu chu min zawh a ?’

‘A lunungin engzatnge in lei thin a?’

‘Zanga vel a niang. Mahse, enteh tlangval, Slash 8 bawngte rawn hralh I tum a nih chuan theihnghilh nghal rawh. Marty Black a hnen atang chuan kan lei tlawm a sin. Thil laihchhuahna hmun atang chuan mel sawm lek a hla a nia. A hmun ah rawn pe char char thei a, tlang lam atang emaw Baldlands kal tlanga an rawn thlen pawhin a bawngte an hmel hem lovin an thau tha thin bawk si a. Tuemaw in Thunder kurung lam atanga rawnkhalh an tum anih chuan a rawn thleng chhun ringawt ni lo a bikimin lak vek ka duh ang.’

Sudden-a chu a bu nghat a, nui hel a rawn pu ta var var a. ‘Chumai bakah,’ tiin Newman a chuan a chhunzawm zel a. A rawn nui deuh a, ‘Black-a bawng man te chu, ka hrilh tawh ang che khan, a tlawm a. Chutianga kan in laksak dawn a nih chuan in tan rawn khalh thlen chu a hlawk lo lutuk ang.’

‘I tidik chiah lo tiin ka thap ngam sak,’ Sudden-a chuan a lo ti hram a.

‘Dik lo a? Ka tisual lo a sin, Tlangval, he thil hi ka chhut ngial tawh a. Black-a hnen atanga kan lei dan anga kan lak dawn chuan Mesa helam khawi hmun atang pawha thil laihchhuah na hmun thlenga rawn khal thlen chu a hlawk lo em em a ni.’

‘Ka sawi ang kha a ni mai.. , I tidik chiah lo tiin ka thap ngam sak. A chhan ka hrihfiah hma che in, thil min tihsak turin ka ngen thei ang che angem ?’ Newman-a chu a lo bu nghat a.Ka thil hrilh tur che hi nangmah chauhin vawng tlat ang che. Tuma hnenah hrilh suh ang che aw. Chu chu I ti thei ang em ?’ Chu Manager chu makti angreng takin a han bu leh nghat a. ‘I sawi tum lamah chuan kal tawh ila,’ a han ti nghal a.

‘Kasawi dawn mek a lawm,’ Sudden-a chuan a lo ti a. ‘Hei hi ka inthapna chu a ni: Bawng lu nung zanga —  emaw chu mi man awmtawk pawisa fai chu — Marty Black-an a rawn thlen theih ang chiah a dinhmun tha in Mines (Thil laihchhuahna hmun tih aiah hmang tawh mai ang a tawi zawkin a awlsam zawk si -MH) ka rawn thlen thei ang, chuan Marty Black-a I pek ang zat chian min pe bawk ang. Ka theih loh chuan emaw I duh ang chiah dinhmuna Bawng te awm loh chuan ranrual emaw pawisa faiin emaw I duh zawk zawk angin ka pe tawp ang che. Engtin nge I tih dawn le ?’

‘I a mange ka ti,’ tiin Newman-a chuan a lo pawtchat a. ‘Thil tih theih a ni lo.’

‘Ka thei ang’ tih chu zawi sap a chhanna a ni. ‘Intiamkamna pakhat chauh a awm.’

‘Ah,’ Newman-a chuan a han ti sap a, ‘Intiamkamna a.. Enge chu chu ?’

‘Chu chu tun atanga ni sawm chhungin I lei vek ang tih hi.’

Newman-a chuan a hma a ding pa chu a han zirchiang deuh a. A thu sawi dan leh a mizia a han chik deuh chuan a insawi anga tih a tum chu a ti ngei ang tih a ring a. Tate-a mi chhawrpa tumdan chu a man em em a ni. Ranrual a hralh theih chuan Bank a Tate-a leiba pawh rul thei dinhmunah an ding dawn a. Inkhelhna chhut lawk awlsam tak a ni. Chu chuan Newman-a chu a tiphur ta deuh a.

‘Pu Green,’ a han ti a, nui chungin a kut chu a han pe a, ‘I inthapna chu ka pawm ang.’ 

‘Jim tiin min ko la,’ tiin sudden a chu a lo nui a. Chuan… ka lawm e. Tikhan bawngte chunangmahin I la ta a ni mai a lawm.’

‘A dahna hmun ngeia a awm fel hunah ka ring ang,’ tih pahin Newman-a chuan nui chungin a han chibai lawp lawp a.

‘I hmu ang,’ Sudden-a chuan a lo ti ve leh a. ‘Ka kaltlang theih lohna chhan tur engmah a awm lo. Tuemaw chinchang hrilh tur che in ka la rawn tir ang. Kan rawn thlen hma ni khatah I bawng huangte I lo peihsa vek theih nan mi ka rawn tir ang ! 

Midangte titihona an va zawm leh chuan Tate-a chuan Sudden-a chunga thinrim der deuh chungin ‘Khawnge in va tawmbo daih a naua ?’ a lo ti hruih a. ‘Kan pahnihin banker hmuh kan tum kha. A lo sawi tur hrelawk vek ka ni bawk a, hetianga vanduaina hrui tawp lam chai tu nih reng pawh hi ka ning tawh mang e. Ti rawh le.. I zo vat teh ang.