The Daughter of Doctor Moreau(89)

“We can give you weapons and a horse, Englishman, but I caution you that this is not wise. You’re better off going with your companions,” the old man said. “They worry about you.”

Montgomery looked at the hybrids, bloodied and tired, and then back at the old man, who was slowly rolling a cigarette.

“The little one thinks you are both brave and foolish,” the man said. His eyes were fixed on Cachito. “But he’s brave and foolish, too. He said he’d bite me if I didn’t help you.”

“He didn’t.”

“Of course he did, and he convinced the others to help him and stay back.”

“And you went along with him.”

“He reminds me of myself.”

“You’re not afraid of them,” Montgomery said, which struck him as odd.

“I’d seen one of them before, at the water’s edge,” the man replied. “We all have an animal double, Englishman.”

He remembered what Cachito had said, that Lupe had once seen Juan Cumux near the cenote. That he was old, but not like Moreau.

“You’re not one of his lieutenants,” Montgomery said, frowning. “You are Juan Cumux.”

The man did not reply, but he didn’t need to. Montgomery spoke again. “You took a great risk helping us.”

“Those men were coming for us. It was a good thing we knew they were coming, this time. And now maybe they’ll think twice about heading in this direction.”

“You’re hoping people will be frightened away?”

“Maybe. It would be good if they said this area is dangerous.”

“I suppose so.”

“I also owed a favor. And maybe now you owe me one, too, Englishman.”

“The name’s Laughton,” he said. “And that’s fine. I pay my debts.”

“I can’t take more risks, Laughton. My men can’t hide your friends. They’ll have to fend for themselves. We can take them farther east, but we must also return to our people.”

But you are Juan Cumux, he thought. Lupe and Cachito’s hero. Yet he supposed the truth of it was that Moreau had not been a god and Cumux could not be divine, either.

“If you’d be able to reunite my friends with the others who have already gone ahead, I’d be eternally grateful. And I would beg you that they might remain hidden somewhere. I cannot have them come to any further harm.”

“We can take them farther east, but I told you, I cannot shelter them.”

“A cave, a camp you don’t use anymore,” Montgomery pleaded. “Anything will do. Please, sir.”

Cumux had finished rolling his cigarette and shook his head. He lit it and took a puff. “You owe me twice now.”

“In that case, lend me a horse and a rifle and make it thrice.”

“Things are better done in threes, so yes.”

They shook hands and walked toward the horses. Lupe and Cachito came after them quickly. “Don’t you think about it,” he told Cachito before he could attempt a word. The boy looked at Montgomery with large, startled eyes. “You’re wounded.”

“A flesh wound!”

“Wounded,” Montgomery repeated.

“Maybe he is, but I’m not,” Lupe said, grabbing hold of the bridle of a horse.

“Lupe,” Montgomery told her tiredly.

“You can’t leave me, Laughton. I stayed behind because I didn’t want to see Carlota or you dead, and I’m going to make sure neither one of you is stupid,” she replied stubbornly. “If it weren’t for Cachito and me, those men would have killed you. You should let me go with you for both your sakes.”

“Fine. But at the first sign of trouble I want you to turn back.”

Montgomery and Lupe were handed a rifle, which they carried on the saddlebow, as well as a couple of jicaras filled with water. Cachito didn’t want to let them go, insisting that he wasn’t that badly hurt, but Montgomery could tell by the way he spoke and how he winced that there was no way he’d be in any shape to put up a fight.

“Listen to me,” Montgomery said, pulling the boy aside, “the others have need of you.”

“Not of me, Montgomery. What do I know?”

“Cumux likes you and you are smart. Keep everyone together and keep them safe. You’ll have a chance if you stick together. We’ll find you. Go southeast, get far away. You understand?”

“Please don’t leave us alone again. God knows if you’ll make it back this time,” the boy said, and he had tears in his eyes.

“I have to go back for Carlota, you know that. Cachito, you saved me and Lupe today, but now we have to fetch her. Juan Cumux can’t keep the hybrids safe, but I know you can.”

“Montgomery, no.”

“You have my compass and my map.”

“That’s not enough. That’s why we decided to fetch you, so you’d help us. I can’t do this.”

He embraced the boy. Cachito finally quieted and nodded when Montgomery stepped away.

They bid the others goodbye, and Montgomery shook Cumux’s hand before they started off. When they reached the portion of the road where the confrontation had occurred, Montgomery jumped off his saddle and looked around, surveying the dead horses and dead men. In the heat of these latitudes, the bodies would soon reek.