No country for old men - By Cormac McCarthy Page 0,44

not.

We’ll see, wont we?

Some of us will. What did you do with the money?

I spent about two million dollars on whores and whiskey and the rest of it I just sort of blew it in.

Wells smiled. He leaned back in the chair and crossed his legs. He wore an expensive pair of Lucchese crocodile boots. How do you think he found you?

Moss didnt answer.

Have you thought about that?

I know how he found me. He wont do it again.

Wells smiled. Well good on you, he said.

Yeah. Good on me.

There was a pitcher of water on a plastic tray on the bedside table. Moss no more than glanced at it.

Do you want some water? Wells said.

If I want somethin from you you’ll be the first son of a bitch to know about it.

It’s called a transponder, Wells said.

I know what it’s called.

It’s not the only way he has of finding you.

Yeah.

I could tell you some things that would be useful for you to know.

Well, I go back to what I just said. I dont need no favors.

You’re not curious to know why I’d tell you?

I know why you’d tell me.

Which is?

You’d rather deal with me than with this sugar guy.

Yes. Let me get you some water.

You go to hell.

Wells sat quietly with his legs crossed. Moss looked at him. You think you can scare me with this guy. You dont know what you’re talkin about. I’ll take you out with him if that’s what you want.

Wells smiled. He gave a little shrug. He looked down at the toe of his boot and uncrossed his legs and passed the toe under his jeans to dust it and recrossed his legs again. What do you do? he said.

What?

What do you do.

I’m retired.

What did you do before you retired?

I’m a welder.

Acetylene? Mig? Tig?

Any of it. If it can be welded I can weld it.

Cast iron?

Yes.

I dont mean braze.

I didnt say braze.

Pot metal?

What did I say?

Were you in Nam?

Yeah. I was in Nam.

So was I.

So what does that make me? Your buddy?

I was in special forces.

I think you have me confused with somebody who gives a shit what you were in.

I was a lieutenant colonel.

Bullshit.

I dont think so.

And what do you do now.

I find people. Settle accounts. That sort of thing.

You’re a hit man.

Wells smiled. A hit man.

Whatever you call it.

The sort of people I contract with like to keep a low profile. They dont like to get involved in things that draw attention. They dont like things in the paper.

I’ll bet.

This isnt going to go away. Even if you got lucky and took out one or two people—which is unlikely—they’d just send someone else. Nothing would change. They’ll still find you. There’s nowhere to go. You can add to your troubles the fact that the people who were delivering the product dont have that either. So guess who they’re looking at? Not to mention the DEA and various other law enforcement agencies. Everybody’s list has got the same name on it. And it’s the only name on it. You need to throw me a bone. I dont really have any reason to protect you.

Are you afraid of this guy?

Wells shrugged. Wary is the word I’d use.

You didnt mention Bell.

Bell. All right?

I take it you dont think much of him.

I dont think of him at all. He’s a redneck sheriff in a hick town in a hick county. In a hick state. Let me get the nurse. You’re not very comfortable. This is my number. I want you to think it over. What we talked about.

He stood and put a card on the table next to the flowers. He looked at Moss. You think you wont call me but you will. Just dont wait too long. That money belongs to my client. Chigurh is an outlaw. Time’s not on your side. We can even let you keep some of it. But if I have to recover the funds from Chigurh then it will be too late for you. Not to mention your wife.

Moss didnt answer.

All right. You might want to call her. When I talked to her she sounded pretty worried.

When he was gone Moss turned up the photographs lying on the bed. Like a player checking his hole cards. He looked at the pitcher of water but then the nurse came in.

VI

Young people anymore they seem to have a hard time growin up. I dont know why. Maybe it’s just that you dont grow up any faster than what you have to. I had a