The Mexicans constructed the roofs of their jacals by laying willow
shoots in a herringbone pattern across the bare vigas which formed the
rafters, and then piling a foot or so of earth atop the shoots. It was
this pattern Crawford saw when he first opened his eyes. Then it was
the estufa, built of adobe, in one corner of the room, with a raised
hearth and a cone-shaped opening in front, the hood rounding from the
center to each wall with two mantels terraced back toward the chimney.
It was over this oven that the old man stood.
"Delcazar!"
Crawford's voice turned the aged Mexican, a rusty black frying pan
still held in one gnarled fist. His face was seamed like an ancient
satchel, and he squinted with the effort of focusing his rheumy eyes
on Crawford. His soiled white cotton shirt hung slack from stooped,
bony shoulders, and the inevitable _chivarras_ were on his skinny
legs, glistening with daubs of grease. They gazed at each other in an
uncomfortable silence, and finally Delcazar made a vague movement with
the frying pan.
"Hard to know what to say," he mumbled. "After such a long time, and
all that's happened."
"Yeah." Crawford put the rotting bayeta blanket off him, moving his
arms and legs tentatively, grimacing with the pain it caused him. Hail
had come after that first downpour of rain, and the white skin of his
shoulders was marked with small purple bruises. He sat up, swinging
his legs off, watching the Mexican. "I remember we had a terrible time
in that storm. Last I recollect is trying to build a fire beneath some
coma trees."
"That must have been a long time before I find you," said Delcazar.
"I was in my jacal here when I hear somebody yelling my name. You was
carrying Merida across your shoulder. Both near froze to death. I put
you to bed like that time in Austin when the red-eye got you." He saw
how Crawford was looking around the dim room, and Delcazar grinned
hesitantly. "She's out getting water for the coffee."
They were still watching one another that way, waiting, and Crawford
waved his hand around the room. "I didn't think you'd hide out here."