Novel 1987 - The Haunted Mesa (v5.0) by Louis L’Amour

work. They know where are park places. To go far from where we sleep or work is not allowed.”
    She paused. “Sometimes I believe even they do not know, those who command us. I think they know little more than we.”
    She paused. “Once it was not so. When my people ruled—”
    â€œYour people?”
    â€œYes. My great-grandfather was…was what you call He Who Rules. There was sudden attack. He was kill. Others took control, and we escape. Now my people live in far hills where nobody comes. Or nobody did come until Erik. Then all is change.”
    Slowly, the story took shape. Evidently her family had ruled for many years, and then there had been a palace revolution. The evil ones took control, or the ones she implied were evil. Her family and a few others had escaped to the lonely canyons where nobody came, and lived as the Old Ones had lived.
    â€œThe ones the Navajo called the Anasazi?”
    â€œYes, I—” She caught her breath, and something moved out in the darkness.
    Mike Raglan stood very still. His gun was in his holster but he was wishing it was in his hand.
    There was something out there, something very close, something coming nearer, and nearer.…
    Chapter 11
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    T HE FACE OF Kawasi was very pale. She moved closer to him.
    The sky was clear, blue with early night, and already a few bright stars shone. Downriver and across loomed the long dark bulk of the great mesa.
    â€œIt’s all right, Kawasi.” He spoke quietly. “No need to be afraid.”
    Something moved out there beyond the firelight, something drawing closer. His hand went to his gun. Suddenly it was there, looming across the fire at the very edge of the light.
    It was a dog, a very large dog. It was Chief.
    He sighed in relief. “Chief?” He spoke quietly. “Come, Chief!”
    The mastiff remained where he was, testing the air with his nose, watchful and wary.
    â€œIt’s all right, Chief. Don’t you remember me?”
    The big dog came forward another step, then another. “Come on, Chief. It’s all right. Where’s Erik, Chief? Where’s your master?”
    The dog drew nearer, then came around the fire, and Mike put out a hand. “You remember me, Chief? We’re old friends. We came out of Tibet together, you and I. We walked down the mountains and we camped in the desert.”
    With sudden realization the big dog leaped up, yelping with excitement. “Easy! Easy, boy! You’re too big for that now! You’d knock a man down!”
    Kawasi had drawn back in amazement while he ruffled the hair around Chief’s neck and talked to him. “Where’d you leave Erik, Chief? We’ve got to find him, Chief.”
    The big dog was beside himself with joy. “Settle down now, boy, and I’ll find you something to eat. Seems to me I saw a case of dog food back here.” He went over to a box under the drafting table and got out two cans of dog food and emptied them into the dog’s dish. Chief wasted no time but went to eating as if starved.
    Kawasi stared at him. “It is a beast? You speak like to person.”
    Mike chuckled. “You’ve asked a good question, Kawasi. To me, Chief has always been a person. We met each other when he was a tiny puppy in Tibet, up in the Chang-Tang. He was given to me by an old friend there, and I gave him to Erik when he was coming out here. I thought he might need him. He’s been with Erik a while now but I guess at heart we both still felt he was my dog.”
    He looked up at her, apologetically. “I was traveling a lot and had no place to keep a dog. This fellow is used to big, open country. He needs room to move.”
    Chief had emptied his dish and Mike filled it with water. The big dog drank greedily.
    â€œYou like beasts?” She was puzzled. “Why is this?”
    He glanced at her. “You do not have dogs over there?”
    â€œIt is not permitted.”