pdouglas.thecodex-第14部分

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　fine　cigars。
　〃Let　me　do　the　talking；〃　Sally　said。　〃My　Spanish　is　better　than　yours。〃
　〃You're　better　looking；　too。〃
　Sally　frowned。　〃I　don't　find　gender　jokes　very　funny。〃
　They　took　seats　at　the　bar。
　〃Hola〃　said　Sally　cheerfully　to　the　bartender；　a　man　with　a　heavy…lidded　face。　〃I'm　looking　for　the　man　from　the　New　York　Times。〃
　〃Mr。　Sewell？　I　haven't　seen　him　since　the　hurricane；　se？orita。〃
　〃How　about　the　reporter　for　the　Wall　Street　Journal？〃
　〃We　have　no　Wall　Street　Journal　reporter　here。　We　are　but　a　poor　country。〃
　〃Well；　what　reporters　do　you　have？〃
　〃There　is　Roberto　Rodriguez　from　El　Diario。〃
　〃No；　no；　I'm　looking　for　an　American。　Someone　who　knows　the　country。〃
　〃Would　an　Englishman　suffice？〃
　〃Fine。〃
　〃Over　there；〃　he　murmured；　pointing　with　his　lips；　〃is　Derek　Dunn。　He　is　writing　a　book。〃
　〃What　about？〃
　〃Travel　and　adventure。〃
　〃Has　he　written　any　other　books？　Give　me　a　title。〃
　〃Slow　Water　was　his　last　book。〃
　Sally　dropped　a　twenty…dollar　bill　on　the　bar　and　headed　toward　Dunn。　Tom　followed。　This　is　going　to　be　good；　he　thought。　Dunn　was　sitting　by　himself　in　a　snug；　working　on　a　drink；　a　man　with　a　shock　of　blond　hair　over　a　beefy　red　face。　Sally　halted；　pointed；　and　exclaimed；　〃Say；　you're　Derek　Dunn；　aren't　you？〃
　〃I　have　been　known　to　answer　by　that　name；　yes；〃　he　said。　His　nose　and　cheeks　were　flushed　a　permanent　pink。
　〃Oh；　how　exciting！　Slow　Water　is　one　of　my　favorite　books！　I　loved　it！〃
　Dunn　rose；　exposing　a　robust　frame；　trim　and　fit；　dressed　in　worn　khaki　pants　and　a　simple　short…sleeved　cotton　shirt。　He　was　a　handsome　man　of　the　British　Empire　type。
　〃Thank　you　very　much　indeed；〃　he　said。　〃And　you　are？〃
　〃Sally　Colorado。〃　She　pumped　his　hand。
　She's　already　got　him　grinning　like　an　idiot；　thought　Tom。　He　felt　foolish　in　his　new　clothes　that　smelled　of　a　menswear　shop。　Dunn；　in　contrast；　looked　like　he　had　been　to　the　ends　of　the　earth　and　back。
　〃Won't　you　join　me　for　a　drink？〃
　〃It　would　be　an　honor；〃　cried　Sally。
　Dunn　guided　her　into　the　banquette　next　to　him。
　〃I'll　have　what　you're　having；〃　she　said。
　〃Gin　and　tonic。〃　Dunn　waved　at　the　bartender　and　then　glanced　up　at　Tom。　〃You're　wele　to　sit；　too；　you　know。〃
　Tom　took　a　seat；　saying　nothing。　He　was　starting　to　lose　his　enthusiasm　for　this　idea。　He　did　not　like　the　red…faced　Mr。　Dunn；　who　was　looking　very　intently　at　Sally…and　not　just　at　her　face。
　The　bartender　came　over。　Dunn　spoke　in　Spanish。　〃Gin　and　tonic　for　me　and　the　lady。　And…？〃　He　glanced　at　Tom。
　〃Lemonade；〃　said　Tom　sourly。
　〃Y　una　limonada；〃　added　Dunn；　his　tone　conveying　exactly　what　he　thought　of　Tom's　choice　of　beverage。
　〃I'm　so　glad　to　have　run　into　you！〃　Sally　said。　〃What　a　coincidence！〃
　〃So　you　read　Slow　Water；〃　said　Dunn；　with　a　smile。
　〃One　of　the　best　travel　books　I've　ever　read。〃
　〃It　certainly　was；〃　said　Tom。
　〃You　read　it；　too？〃　Dunn　turned　to　him　with　an　expectant　look。
　Tom　noted　that　Dunn　had　already　polished　off　half　his　drink。
　〃I　certainly　did　read　it；〃　said　Tom。　〃I　especially　liked　the　part　where　you　fell　in　the　elephant　shit。　That　was　hilarious。〃
　Dunn　paused。　〃Elephant　shit？〃
　〃Wasn't　there　elephant　shit　in　your　book？〃
　〃There　are　no　elephants　in　Central　America。〃
　〃Oh。　I　must　be　mixing　it　up　with　another　book。　Beg　your　pardon。〃
　Tom　saw　Sally's　green　eyes　fixed　on　him。　He　couldn't　tell　if　she　was　angry　or　suppressing　a　laugh。
　Dunn　turned　in　his　chair；　placing　his　square　back　to　Tom；　devoting　his　attention　to　Sally。　〃You　might　be　interested　to　know　I'm　working　on　a　new　book。〃
　〃How　exciting！〃
　〃I'm　calling　it　Mosquitia　Nights。　It's　about　the　Mosquito　Coast。〃
　〃Oh；　that's　just　where　we're　going！〃　Sally　clapped　her　hands　in　excitement；　like　a　girl。　Tom　took　a　sip；　regretting　his　choice　of　drink。　He　was　going　to　need　something　a　little　stronger　to　get　through　this。　He　should　never　have　agreed　to　let　Sally　do　the　talking。
　〃There　are　more　than　five　thousand　square　miles　of　swamps　and　highland　rainforest　in　eastern　Honduras　that　remain　pletely　unexplored。　Parts　of　it　are　not　even　mapped　by　air。〃
　〃I　had　no　idea！〃
　Tom　shoved　the　lemonade　aside　and　looked　around　for　the　waiter。
　〃My　book　chronicles　a　journey　I　took　along　the　length　of　the　Mosquito　Coast；　through　the　maze　of　lagoons　that　mark　where　the　jungle　meets　the　sea。　I　was　the　first　white　man　to　make　the　trip。〃
　〃Incredible。　How　on　earth　did　you　do　it？〃
　〃Motorized　dugout。　The　only　mode　of　transportation　in　those　parts　besides　foot　travel。〃
　〃When　did　you　make　this　amazing　journey？〃
　〃About　eight　years　ago。〃
　〃Eight　years？〃
　〃I've　had　a　bit　of　publisher　trouble。　You　can't　rush　a　good　book；　you　know。〃　He　polished　off　the　drink　and　waved　his　hand　for　another　round。　〃It's　tough　country　down　there。〃
　〃Really？〃
　Dunn　seemed　to　take　this　as　his　cue。　He　leaned　back。　〃For　starters；　there　are　the　usual　mosquitoes；　chiggers；　ticks；　blackfly；　and　botfly。　They　don't　kill　you；　but　they　can　make　life　a　trifle　nasty。　I　had　a　botfly　bite　once；　on　my　forehead。　Felt　like　a　mosquito　at　first。　It　began　to　swell　and　turn　red。　Hurt　like　the　devil。　A　month　later　it　erupted；　and　inch…long　botfly　maggots　started　squirming　out　and　dropping　to　the　ground。　Once　you're　bitten；　the　best　thing　to　do　is　let　it　run　its　course。　If　you　try　to　dig　'em　out　you　only　make　a　muck　of　it。〃
　〃I　sincerely　hope　the　experience　didn't　affect　your　brain；〃　said　Tom。
　Dunn　ignored　him。　〃Then　there's　Chagas　disease。〃
　〃Chagas　disease？〃
　〃Trypanosoma　cruzi。　An　insect　carrying　the　disease　bites　you　and　shits　at　the　same　time。　The　parasite　lives　in　the　shit；　and　when　you　scratch　the　bite　you　infect　yourself。　You　aren't　aware　anything　is　wrong…until　ten　or　twenty　years　later。　First　you　notice　your　belly　swelling　up。　Then　you　bee　short　of　breath；　can't　swallow。　Finally　your　heart　swells　up…and　bursts。　No　known　cure。〃
　〃Lovely；〃　said　Tom。　He　had　finally　got　the　waiter's　attention。　〃Whiskey。　Make　it　a　double。〃
　Dunn　continued　looking　at　Tom；　a　smile　playing　about　his　lips。　〃Are　you　familiar　with　the　fer…de…lance？〃
　〃Can't　say　that　I　am。〃　Gruesome　stories　of　the　jungle；　it　seemed；　were　Derek　Dunn's　stock　in　trade。
　〃The　most　poisonous　snake　known　to　man。　Brown　and　yellow　bugger；　the　locals　call　it　a　barba　amarilla。　When　young　they　live　in　trees　and　branches。　Drop　down　on　you　when　disturbed。　The　bite　stops　your　heart　in　thirty　seconds。　Then　there's　the　bushmaster；　the　largest　poisonous　snake　in　the　world。　Twelve　feet　long　and　as　thick　as　your　thigh。　Not　nearly　as　deadly　as　the　fer…de…lance…with　a　bushmaster　bite；　you　might　live；　say；　twenty　minutes。〃
　Dunn　chuckled　and　took　another　gulp。
　Sally　murmured　something　about　how　dreadful　it　sounded。
　〃Naturally　you've　heard　of　toothpick　fish？　This　isn't　a　story　for　the　ladies。〃　Dunn　glanced　over　at　Tom；　winked。
　〃Do　tell；〃　said　Tom。　〃Sally's　no　stranger　to　crudity。〃
　Sally　flashed　him　a　look。
　〃Lives　in　the　rivers　around　here。　Let's　say　you　go　for　a　nice　morning　dip。　The　toothpick　fish　swims　right　up　your　Johnson；　then　flares　out　a　set　of　spines　and　anchors　itself　in　your　urethra。〃
　Tom's　drink　paused　halfway　to　his　mouth。
　〃Blocks　the　urethra。　If　you　don't　find　a　surgeon　damn　quick；　your　bladder　bursts。〃
　〃Surgeon？〃　Tom　said　weakly。
　Dunn　leaned　back。　〃That's　right。〃
　Tom's　throat　had　gone　dry。　〃What　kind　of　surgery？〃
　〃Amputation。〃
　The　drink　finally　made　it　to　Tom's　mouth；　where　he　took　a　slug；　and　then　another。
　Dunn　laughed　loudly。　〃I'm　sure　you've　heard　all　about　the　piranhas；　leishmaniasis；　electric　eels；　anacondas；　and　that　sort　of　thing。〃　Dunn　waved　his　hand　disparagingly。　〃The　dangers　of　those　are　greatly　exaggerated。　The　piranhas　only　go　after　you　if　you're　bleeding；　and　anacondas　are　rare　this　far　north　and　don't　eat　people。　There　is　one　advantage　to　the　Honduran　swamps：　no　leeches。　Watch　out　for　the　monkey　spiders；　though…〃
　〃So　sorry；　but　we'll　have　to　leave　the　monkey　spiders　for　another　day；〃　said　Tom；　looking　at　his　watch。　He　realized　that　Mr。　Derek　Dunn　had　his　hand　under　the　table；　resting　on　Sally's　knee。
　〃Not　having　second　thoughts　are　you；　old　chap？　This　is　not　a　country　for　pantywaists。〃
　〃Not　at　all；〃　said　Tom。　〃It's　just　that　I'd　rather　hear　about　your　encounter　with　the　toothpick　fish。〃
　Derek　Dunn　stared　at　Tom　unsmiling。　〃That's　a　rather　stale　joke；　my　friend。〃
　〃Well！〃　said　Sally　brightly。　〃Did　you　make　the　trip　alone？　We've　been　looking　for　a　guide　and　wondered　if　you　could　remend　someone。〃
　〃Where　are　you　chaps　headed？〃
　〃Brus　Laguna。〃
　〃You　are　getting　off　the　tourist　trail。〃　Suddenly　his　eyes　narrowed。　〃You're　not　a　writer；　are　you？〃
　Sally　laughed。　〃Oh　no；　I'm　an　archaeologist；　and　he's　a　horse　vet。　But　we're　just　here　as　tourists。　We　like　to　have　adventures。〃
　〃An　archaeologist？　There　aren't　many　ruins　around　here。　You　can't　build　in　a　swamp。　And　no　civilized　people　would　ever　live　in　those　interior　mountains。　Up　there　in　the　Sierra　Azul　there's　no　denser　rainforest　on　earth；　and　the　hills　are　so　steep　you　can　hardly　crawl　up　and　down　them。　There　isn't　a　flat　place　to　pitch　a　tent　for　a　hundred　miles。　You've　got　to　cut　your　way　through；　and　in　a　hard　day　of　travel　you're　lucky　to　make　a　mile。　A　trail　macheted　through　there　will　knit　itself　up　so　tight　in　a　week　you'd　never　know　it　existed。　If　it's　ruins　you're　after；　Sally；　why　don't　you　head　over　to　Copán？　Perhaps　I　could　tell　you　more　about　it　over　dinner。〃
　The　hand　was　still　on　her　knee；　squeezing　and　rubbing。
　〃Right；〃　said　Sally。　〃Maybe。　Getting　back　to　the　guide。　Do　you　have　any　remendations？〃
　〃Guide？　Oh　yes。　The　man　for　you　is　Don　Orlando　Ocotal。　A　Tawahka　Indian。　Absolutely　reliable。　Won't　cheat　you　like　the　others。　Knows　the　country　like　the　back　of　his　hand。　He　was　with　me　on　my　last　trip。〃
　〃How　do　we　find　him？〃
　〃He　lives　up　the　Patuca　River；　a　place　called　Pito　Solo；　the　last　real　settlement　on　the　river　before　the　big　interior　swamps　begin。　That's　forty；　maybe　fifty　miles　upriver　from　Brus。　Stay　in　the　main　channel　of　the　river　or　you'll　never　get　out　alive。　This　time　of　year　the　forests　are　flooded；　and　there're　a　zillion　side　channels　going　every　which　way。　That　country　is　virtually　unexplored；　from　the　swamps　all　the　way　past　the　Sier