The Lighthouse Road(61)

"Jacque here will testify as to the horse crime. Your honor, Jacque Chadel."



Mayfair had yet to say a word. He looked at Jacque, who looked back. There passed a moment of awkward silence.



"Well, boy?" Mayfair finally asked. "What about this horse?"



"The horse was shot," Jacque said.



The magistrate looked at the constable and shook his head. "You'd think these fellas live in the woods might enjoy a little conversation. Not so." He turned his attention to Jacque. " Would you mind elaborating? I'd like to hear the story of the horse from your perspective."



So Jacque told him in plainspoken English. When he was finished with his one-minute testimony, he concluded with a question: "When will we get another horse? We're going to need us one."



The magistrate was finishing his transcription in a gilt-edged log. When he finished he looked sternly at Jacque. "Do I look like a horse salesman? Did you see a sign above my door that said horses for sale?"



Jacque only clenched his jaw.



"Your boss man's in charge of new horses." Again he turned to the constable. "Show this fella the door." To Jacque he said, "I thank you for the fine storytelling." He spit again, then pulled the wad of snoose from his cheek and dumped it into the spittoon.



The constable led Jacque to the door and shook his hand and thanked him properly. He told Jacque that the testimony of the girl might take longer and suggested that Jacque walk up to the Traveler's Hotel and get himself a cup of coffee for the wait. He even offered him a nickel from his own pocket.



When the constable returned, Trond came with him. He wiped his muddy boots vigorously on a rug for such purpose and crossed over to the magistrate's desk. "Curtis," he said, offering his hand.



"Trond. How goes it?"



"Well," he said, looking back at Rolf and Thea, "I can honestly say I've been better. I'm anxious to hear your thoughts on this mess. I saw Jacque on the way in."



"He wants another horse," Mayfair said.



"So do I. But that's a conversation for a different time, with a different man. About this Smith."



"Yes, about this Smith."



The constable repeated for the magistrate the story he'd told earlier that morning, the story of Thea and her strange testimony culled from Deuteronomy. He admitted that they'd not actually heard her say Smith had assaulted her. He concluded by adding, "I trust your interrogation might get it out of her."



Before the magistrate could commence his questioning, Trond quickly added, "She's scared, Curtis, if you'd bear that in mind. And she don't speak our language. But she's a good lass."



Mayfair nodded, then offered his first question. "Did you see the watch salesman Smith on the night before last?"



Rolf translated.

"Yes," she said.

" Where did you see him?"

"In the mess hall."

The magistrate was chronicling her responses in his log. "Why was he in the mess hall?"



At this Thea looked down. "For me. He came for me."



Rolf translated slowly.



Mayfair stopped writing, looked up at her. "What did he do when he got there?"



When Rolf was finished translating Thea put her face in her hands and started to cry.



Mayfair took a deep breath. "My wife and I, we go to church every Sunday." He waited for Rolf to finish translating. "The constable tells me you're an ardent believer yourself. Is that true?"



Thea could not imagine what he meant to ask. "Beg your pardon?" she said.



"Am I wrong that you came to your meeting with the constable here with the good book last night?"



Thea paged through her old testament and offered the judge the same scripture she had offered the constable twelve hours before.



Mayfair listened patiently and when she was finished, he took another deep breath. An uneasy silence came over the room. Finally the magistrate said, "Have you known this girl to be a liar, Trond?"



"I don't know the girl well, but no, I haven't known her to lie. And cookee would have her a saint. She does the work of three."



"Does anyone here object to the statement regarding this girl's integrity?" He went from face to face and watched them shake their heads no.



"Trond, what do you make of Smith's character?"



"I don't have much of an opinion. He's a souse. He was easy pickings at our stud game the other night. He had nice wares in his haversacks. I can't say much beyond that."



"What about you, old man?" the judge asked Rolf. "Do you have any opinion about Smith, accusations notwithstanding?"