pdouglas.thecodex-第13部分

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　He　adjusted　himself；　unable　to　get　fortable。　Hauser；　carrying　a　Discman；　came　back　from　the　prow　of　the　dugout　and　eased　himself　down　next　to　him。　He　smelled　of　cologne　instead　of　bug　juice；　and　he　looked　as　cool　and　fresh　as　Philip　felt　hot　and　sticky。　He　removed　the　earphones　to　speak。
　〃Gonz　has　been　picking　up　traces　of　Max's　passage　all　day。　We'll　learn　more　when　we　get　to　Pito　Solo　tomorrow。〃
　〃How　can　they　follow　a　trace　on　a　river？〃
　Hauser　smiled。　〃It's　an　art；　Philip。　A　cut　vine　here；　a　landing　place　there；　the　mark　of　a　barge　pole　on　a　submerged　sandbar。　The　river　is　so　sluggish　that　marks　on　the　bottom　persist　for　weeks。〃
　Philip　sucked　irritably　on　his　pipe。　He　would　endure　this　one　last　torture　of　his　father's　and　then　he　would　be　free。　Free；　finally；　to　live　the　life　he　wanted　to　live　without　that　old　bugger　interfering；　criticizing；　doling　out　niggardly　parcels　of　money　like　Scrooge。　He　loved　his　father　and　at　one　level　felt　bad　about　his　cancer　and　his　death；　but　that　didn't　change　his　feelings　about　this　scheme。　His　father　had　done　many　asinine　things　in　his　life；　but　this　took　the　cake。　It　was　vintage　Maxwell　Broadbent；　this　parting　beau　geste。
　He　smoked　and　watched　the　four　soldiers　in　the　front　of　the　boat　gambling　with　a　greasy　pack　of　cards。　The　other　boat　with　its　plement　of　eight　soldiers　was　fifty　yards　ahead　of　them；　laying　a　foul　trail　of　blue　exhaust　over　the　water。　Gonz；　the　lead　〃tracker；〃　lay　on　his　belly　in　the　prow；　staring　down　into　the　dark　water；　occasionally　dipping　a　finger　into　the　water　to　taste　it。
　Suddenly　a　shout　went　up　from　one　of　the　soldiers　in　the　front　of　their　dugout。　He　had　stood　up　and　was　pointing　excitedly　at　something　swimming　in　the　water。　Hauser　winked　at　Philip　and　leapt　to　his　feet；　withdrawing　the　machete　he　kept　strapped　to　his　waist；　and　scrambled　to　the　bow。　The　boat　angled　toward　the　swimming　animal　while　Hauser　positioned　himself；　legs　apart；　in　the　prow。　As　the　boat　drew　alongside　the　now　desperately　swimming　animal　he　leaned　over　and；　with　a　sudden　movement；　slashed　into　the　water　with　his　machete；　then　reached　down　and　pulled　out　an　animal　that　looked　like　a　two…foot…long　rat。　It　had　almost　been　decapitated　by　the　blow；　its　head　hanging　by　a　flap　of　skin。　It　gave　one　convulsive　jerk　and　then　went　still。
　Philip　watched　with　a　vague　sense　of　horror　as　Hauser　tossed　the　dead　animal　toward　him。　It　landed　with　a　thud　on　the　bottom；　the　head　jouncing　free；　rolling　to　a　stop　at　Philip's　feet；　mouth　open；　yellow　rat's　teeth　gleaming；　blood　still　draining　out。
　Hauser　rinsed　the　machete　in　the　river；　stuck　it　back　in　his　belt；　and　walked　back　to　Philip；　stepping　over　the　dead　animal。　He　grinned。　〃Ever　eaten　agouti？〃
　〃No；　and　I'm　not　sure　I　care　to　begin。〃
　〃Skinned；　gutted；　split；　and　roasted　over　the　coals…it　was　one　of　Maxwell's　favorites。　Tastes　a　bit　like　chicken。〃
　Philip　said　nothing。　That's　what　Hauser　claimed　about　all　the　revolting　bush　meat　they　had　been　forced　to　eat…tastes　like　chicken。
　〃Oh！〃　said　Hauser；　looking　at　Philip's　shirt。　〃I　beg　your　pardon。〃
　Philip　glanced　down。　A　single　drop　of　fresh　blood　had　struck　his　shirt　and　was　now　soaking　into　the　material。　Philip　wiped　at　it；　which　only　spread　it。　〃I'd　appreciate　it　if　you　were　a　little　more　careful　when　tossing　around　decapitated　animals；〃　he　said；　dipping　his　handkerchief　into　the　water　and　giving　the　spot　a　scrubbing。
　〃It's　so　difficult　to　keep　one's　hygiene　in　the　jungle；〃　Hauser　said。
　Philip　scrubbed　a　little　more　and　then　gave　up。　He　wished　Hauser　would　leave　him　in　peace。　The　man　was　starting　to　give　him　the　creeps。
　Hauser　slid　a　couple　of　CDs　out　of　his　pocket。　〃And　now；　to　stave　off　the　ever　encroaching　savagery　surrounding　us；　would　you　care　to　hear　some　Bach；　or　some　Beethoven？〃
　
　14
　
　Tom　Broadbent　wallowed　on　an　overstuffed　sofa…chair　in　the　〃executive　suite〃　in　the　Sheraton　Royale　de　San　Pedro　Sula；　examining　a　map　of　the　country。　Maxwell　had　flown　with　all　his　cargo　to　the　town　of　Brus　Laguna　on　the　Mosquito　Coast；　at　the　mouth　of　the　Rio　Patuca。　And　then　he　had　disappeared。　They　said　he　had　gone　upriver；　which　was　the　only　route　into　the　vast；　mountainous；　and　wild　interior　of　southern　Honduras。
　He　followed　the　wandering　blue　line　of　the　river　on　the　map　with　his　finger；　through　swamps　and　hills　and　high　plateaus　until　it　vanished　in　a　web　of　tributaries　pouring　out　of　a　rugged　line　of　parallel　mountain　ranges。　The　map　showed　no　roads　or　towns；　it　was　truly　a　lost　world。
　Tom　had　discovered　they　were　at　least　a　week　behind　Philip　and　almost　two　weeks　behind　Vernon。　He　was　deeply　worried　about　his　brothers。　It　took　balls　to　kill　two　police　officers；　and　do　it　so　quickly　and　successfully。　The　killer　was　clearly　a　professional。　His　two　brothers　were　surely　next　on　the　killer's　list。
　Sally；　wrapped　in　a　towel；　came　out　of　the　bath　humming　to　herself　and　crossed　their　sitting　room；　her　glossy　wet　hair　spilling　down　her　back。　Tom　followed　her　with　his　eyes　as　she　disappeared　into　her　bedroom。　She　was　even　taller　than　Sarah　。。。
　He　stepped　down　hard　on　that　thought。
　In　ten　minutes　she　was　back　out；　dressed　in　lightweight　khakis；　a　long…sleeved　shirt；　a　canvas　hat　with　mosquito　netting　rolled　down　around　her　face；　and　a　pair　of　heavy　gloves；　all　bought　during　a　shopping　expedition　that　morning。
　〃How　do　I　look？〃　she　asked；　turning　around。
　〃Like　you're　in　purdah。〃
　She　rolled　up　the　mosquito　netting　and　took　off　the　hat。
　〃That's　better。〃
　She　tossed　the　hat　and　gloves　on　the　bed。　〃I　have　to　admit　I'm　very　curious　about　this　father　of　yours。　He　must've　been　a　real　eccentric。〃
　〃He　was。〃
　〃What　was　he　like？　If　you　don't　mind　me　asking。〃
　Tom　sighed。　〃When　he　walked　into　a　room；　every　head　turned。　He　radiated　something…authority；　power；　assurance。　I'm　not　sure　what。　People　were　awed　by　him；　even　if　they　had　no　idea　who　he　was。〃
　〃I　know　the　type。〃
　〃Wherever　he　went；　whatever　he　did；　journalists　chased　him　around。　There　were　sometimes　paparazzi　waiting　outside　the　gate　to　our　house。　I　mean；　here　we　were　going　to　school　and　the　damn　paparazzi　are　chasing　us　down　the　Old　Santa　Fe　Trail　like　we're　Princess　Diana　or　something。　It　was　ridiculous。〃
　〃What　a　burden　for　you。〃
　〃It　wasn't　always　a　burden。　At　times　it　was　even　fun。　Father's　marriages　were　always　big　news；　a　time　for　head　shaking　and　tongue　clucking。　He　married　extremely　beautiful　women　no　one　had　ever　seen　before…no　models　or　actresses　for　him。　My　mother；　before　he　met　her；　was　a　dental　receptionist。　He　loved　the　attention。　Once　in　a　while；　just　for　fun；　he'd　take　a　swing　at　some　paparazzo　and　have　to　pay　damages。　He　was　proud　of　himself。　He　was　like　Onassis；　larger　than　life。〃
　〃What　happened　to　your　mother？〃
　〃She　died　when　I　was　four。　Some　rare　and　sudden　form　of　meningitis。　She　was　the　only　one　of　his　wives　he　didn't　divorce…didn't　have　enough　time；　I　guess。〃
　〃I'm　sorry。〃
　〃I　hardly　remember　her；　except；　well；　as　feelings。　Warm　and　loving；　that　sort　of　thing。〃
　She　shook　her　head。　〃I　still　don't　get　it。　How　could　your　father　do　this　to　his　sons？〃
　Tom　stared　down　at　the　map。　〃Everything　he　did　and　everything　he　owned　had　to　be　extraordinary。　That　applied　to　us；　too。　But　we　didn't　turn　out　like　he　wanted。　Running　off　and　burying　himself　with　his　money　was　his　last　gasp；　trying　to　force　us　to　do　something　that　would　ring　down　through　history。　Something　that　would　make　him　proud。〃　He　laughed　bitterly。　〃If　the　press　ever　got　wind　of　this；　it　would　be　incredible。　Gigantic。　A　half…billion…dollar　treasure；　buried　in　a　hidden　tomb　somewhere　in　Honduras。　The　whole　world　would　be　down　here　looking　for　it。〃
　〃It　must've　been　difficult　having　a　father　like　that。〃
　〃It　was。　I　don't　know　how　many　tennis　matches　I　played　when　he　left　early　because　he　didn't　want　to　see　me　lose。　He　was　a　ruthless　chess　player…but　if　he　realized　he　was　going　to　beat　one　of　us；　he'd　quit　the　game。　He　couldn't　bear　to　see　us　lose；　even　to　him。　When　the　grades　arrived　he　never　said　anything；　but　you　could　see　the　disappointment　in　his　eyes。　Anything　less　than　straight　A's　was　such　a　catastrophe　that　he　couldn't　bring　himself　to　talk　about　it。〃
　〃Did　you　ever　get　straight　A's？〃
　〃Once。　He　laid　his　hand　on　my　shoulder　and　gave　me　an　affectionate　squeeze。　That　was　all。　But　it　said　volumes。〃
　〃I'm　sorry；　how　terrible。〃
　〃Each　of　us　found　a　refuge。　I　found　mine　first　in　fossil　collecting…I　wanted　to　be　a　paleontologist…and　then　in　animals。　They　didn't　judge　you。　They　didn't　ask　you　to　be　someone　else。　A　horse　accepts　you　for　what　you　are。〃
　Tom　fell　silent。　It　was　amazing　to　him　how　much　it　hurt　to　think　back　on　his　childhood；　even　now　at　thirty…three。
　〃I'm　sorry；〃　said　Sally；　〃I　didn't　mean　to　pry。〃
　Tom　waved　his　hand。　〃I　don't　mean　to　tear　him　down。　He　was　a　good　father　in　his　own　way。　Maybe　he　loved　us　too　much。〃
　〃Well；〃　said　Sally　after　a　moment；　standing　up。　〃At　the　moment；　we　need　to　find　ourselves　a　guide　to　take　us　up　the　Patuca　River；　and　I　have　no　idea　where　to　start。〃　She　picked　up　the　phone　book　and　began　leafing　through　it。　〃I've　never　done　this　sort　of　thing　before。　I　wonder　if　there's　a　listing　in　here　for　'Adventure　Travel'　or　something。〃
　〃I've　a　better　idea。　We　need　to　find　the　local　watering　hole　for　foreign　journalists。　They're　the　savviest　travelers　in　the　world。〃
　〃Chalk　one　up　to　you。〃
　She　bent　over　and　pulled　out　a　pair　of　pants　and　tossed　them　at　him；　followed　by　a　shirt；　a　pair　of　socks；　and　a　pair　of　lightweight　hiking　shoes。　They　all　landed　in　a　pile　in　front　of　him。　〃Now　you　can　take　off　those　macho　cowboy　boots。〃
　Tom　scooped　up　his　clothes　and　went　into　his　room　and　put　them　on。　They　seemed　to　be　mostly　pockets。　When　he　emerged；　Sally　eyed　him　sideways　and　said；　〃After　a　few　days　in　the　jungle；　maybe　you　won't　look　quite　so　silly。〃
　〃Thanks。〃　Tom　went　to　the　phone　and　called　the　front　desk。　The　journalists；　it　seemed；　hung　out　in　a　bar　called　Los　Charcos。
　
　Tom　was　surprised　to　find　Los　Charcos　not　the　cheap　dive　he　imagined　but　an　elegant；　wood…paneled　affair　off　the　lobby　of　a　fine　old　hotel。　It　was　air…conditioned　to　just　above　Arctic　conditions；　and　the　place　was　filled　with　the　aroma　of　fine　cigars。
　〃Let　me　do　the