pdouglas.thecodex-第31部分

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d　Pingo　die；　and　Vernon　die；　and　to　see　the　Curandera　die；　who　is　so　pretty　with　many　fine　years　of　lovemaking　ahead　of　her。　And　it　will　be　very　sad　for　me　to　see　you　die；　Tomás；　because　you　are　now　my　friend。〃
　
　33
　
　Tom　could　not　sleep　for　thinking　about　the　White　City。　Vernon　was　right。　It　all　fit　so　perfectly。　It　was　so　obvious　Tom　wondered　why　he　hadn't　figured　it　out　before。
　While　he　tossed　and　turned；　Bugger　squeaked　irritably；　then　finally　climbed　up　the　hammock　pole　and　slept　in　the　rafters　over　Tom's　head。　About　four　o'clock　in　the　morning；　Tom　gave　up。　He　rose　from　his　hammock；　built　a　fire　in　the　ashes　of　the　old；　and　put　a　pot　on　to　boil。　Bugger　came　down；　still　annoyed；　climbed　into　his　pocket；　and　tilted　his　head　up　to　get　scratched　under　the　chin。　Don　Alfonso　soon　made　an　appearance；　sitting　down　and　accepting　a　cup　of　coffee。　They　sat　in　the　jungle　darkness　for　a　long　time　without　speaking。
　〃There's　something　I've　been　wondering；〃　Tom　said。　〃When　we　left　Pito　Solo；　you　talked　as　if　you'd　never　be　ing　back。　Why　was　that？〃
　Don　Alfonso　sipped　his　coffee；　his　glasses　reflecting　the　flickering　glow　of　the　fire。　〃Tomasito；　when　the　time　es；　you　will　learn　the　answer　to　this　question　and　many　others。〃
　〃Why　did　you　e　on　this　trip？〃
　〃It　was　prophesied。〃
　〃That's　not　a　good　reason。〃
　Don　Alfonso　turned　his　face　to　Tom。　〃Destiny　is　not　a　reason。　It's　an　explanation。　We　will　speak　no　more　of　this。〃
　*　*　*
　The　Macaturi　was　the　broadest　of　the　five　rivers　flowing　into　the　Laguna　Negra。　It　was　a　more　navigable　river　than　the　Patuca；　deep　and　clean；　without　sandbars　or　hidden　snags。　As　they　motored　up　the　river　the　sun　broke　over　the　distant　hills；　tingeing　them　a　greenish　gold。　Don　Alfonso　had　taken　his　usual　throne　on　top　of　the　heap　of　supplies；　but　his　mood　was　different。　No　longer　did　he　offer　philosophical　reflections　on　life；　talk　about　sex；　plain　about　his　ungrateful　sons；　or　call　out　the　names　of　the　birds　and　animals。　He　just　sat　and　smoked　and　gazed　ahead　with　troubled　eyes。
　The　two　boats　continued　upriver　in　silence　for　several　hours。　As　they　rounded　a　bend；　a　large　tree　appeared；　lying　across　the　river；　blocking　their　way。　It　had　recently　fallen；　and　the　leaves　were　still　green。
　〃This　is　strange；〃　muttered　Don　Alfonso。　He　called　out　to　Chori；　and　they　slowed　their　boat　to　let　Pingo's　boat；　which　was　behind　them；　catch　up　and　pass。　Vernon　was　amidships；　leaning　back　against　the　gunwale；　taking　in　the　sun。　He　waved　as　they　went　by。
　Pingo　angled　the　dugout　toward　the　far　side　of　the　river；　where　the　fallen　tree　was　thinnest　and　therefore　easiest　to　chop　through。
　Suddenly　Don　Alfonso　dove　for　the　tiller　and　shoved　it　all　the　way　to　the　right。　Their　dugout　swerved　and　heeled　almost　to　the　point　of　capsizing。　〃Get　down！〃　he　screamed。　〃Down！〃
　At　the　same　instant　a　burst　of　automatic…weapons　fire　rang　out　of　the　forest。
　Tom　threw　himself　on　Sally　and　slammed　her　to　the　bottom　of　the　boat　as　a　line　of　bullets　ripped　through　the　side　of　the　dugout；　showering　them　with　splinters。　He　could　hear　the　bullets　slapping　the　water　around　them　and　the　shouts　of　the　attackers。　He　twisted　his　head　and　saw　Don　Alfonso　crouching　in　the　stern；　one　hand　still　on　the　handle　of　the　motor；　steering　them　toward　the　shelter　of　an　overhanging　embankment。
　An　unearthly　scream　rose　up　from　the　boat　behind　them。　Somebody　had　been　hit。
　Tom　lay　on　top　of　Sally。　He　could　see　nothing　but　the　mass　of　her　blond　hair　and　the　scarred　wooden　hull　beneath　them。　The　screaming　continued　in　the　other　boat…an　inhuman　wail　of　terror　and　pain。　Tom　thought；　It's　Vernon。　Vernon's　been　shot。　The　firing　continued；　but　now　the　bullets　seemed　to　be　passing　above　their　heads。　The　boat　scraped　the　bottom；　scraped　again；　the　propeller　grinding　on　rocks　in　the　shallows。
　The　firing　and　the　screaming　stopped　at　the　same　time。　They　had　reached　the　cover　of　the　embankment。
　Don　Alfonso　scrambled　back　to　his　feet　and　looked　behind。　Tom　could　hear　him　shouting　in　Tawahka；　but　there　was　no　answer。
　Tom　rose　cautiously；　lifting　Sally。　There　were　flecks　of　blood　on　her　cheek　where　splinters　of　wood　had　cut　her。
　〃Are　you　all　right？〃
　She　nodded　mutely。
　Their　boat　was　now　running　alongside　a　high　embankment　of　boulders　and　brush；　almost　underneath　the　overhanging　bushes。　He　sat　up　and　turned　to　the　dugout　behind；　calling　to　his　brother。　〃Vernon！　Vernon！　Are　you　hurt？〃　Tom　could　see　there　was　a　bloody　hand　clutching　the　tiller　of　the　dugout　behind。　〃Vernon！〃　Tom　screamed。
　Vernon　rose　up　shakily　from　the　center　of　the　boat。　He　looked　stunned。
　〃Vernon！　My　God；　are　you　okay？〃
　〃Pingo's　hurt。〃
　〃How　bad？〃
　〃Really　bad。〃
　The　cough　and　roar　of　a　boat　engine　sounded　upriver；　and　then　a　second　one。　Tom　could　hear　distant　shouts。
　Don　Alfonso　steered　the　boat　as　close　as　possible　to　the　embankment。　Vernon　had　taken　the　tiller　of　his　boat　and　was　following。
　〃We　can't　outrun　them；〃　Tom　said。
　Sally　turned　to　Chori。　〃Give　me　your　gun。〃
　Chori　looked　at　her；　unprehending。
　Without　waiting　Sally　grabbed　the　gun；　checked　to　see　it　was　loaded；　slammed　the　bolt　back；　and　crouched　in　the　stern。
　〃You　can't　stop　them　with　that；〃　Tom　cried。　〃They've　got　automatic　weapons。〃
　〃I　can　sure　as　hell　slow　them　down。〃
　Tom　could　see　their　two　boats　ing　around　the　bend　in　the　river；　the　soldiers　aiming　their　weapons。
　〃Down！〃
　Tom　heard　a　single　shot　from　Sally's　gun　just　as　a　burst　of　gunfire　raked　the　vegetation　hanging　down　over　them；　showering　them　with　leaves。　The　shot　had　the　desired　effect：　The　two　boats　veered　off　in　a　panic　for　the　cover　of　the　riverbank。　Sally　dropped　down　next　to　Tom。
　Don　Alfonso　was　steering　their　boat　under　the　embankment；　the　propeller　striking　rocks　and　whining　as　it　was　forced　out　of　the　water。　More　bullets　whizzed　overhead；　and　there　was　a　dull　metallic　clank　as　one　of　the　rounds　struck　the　engine。　The　engine　spluttered；　then　there　was　a　whoosh　as　it　caught　fire；　the　boat　turning　broadside　to　the　sluggish　current。　The　fire　spread　with　incredible　speed；　the　flames　leaping　up　from　the　melting　rubber　gas　lines。　The　prow　of　Pingo　and　Vernon's　boat　bumped　into　their　hull　from　behind；　jamming　up　against　it　as　burning　gas　began　to　spread　on　the　bottom　of　their　boat；　licking　up　around　the　gas　tanks。
　〃Out！〃　said　Tom。　〃They're　going　to　blow。　Grab　what　you　can！〃
　They　threw　themselves　over　the　sides　and　into　the　shallows　along　the　riverbank。　Vernon　and　Chori　grabbed　Pingo　and　carried　him　up　the　embankment。　Another　burst　of　gunfire　slammed　into　the　bank　above　them；　sending　dirt　and　pebbles　cascading　down；　but　Sally's　shot　had　made　the　soldiers　cautious；　and　they　were　keeping　their　distance。　The　fugitives　scrambled　up　the　dirt　embankment　and　took　cover　beneath　a　mass　of　overhanging　vegetation；　stopping　to　catch　their　breath。
　〃We've　got　to　keep　going；〃　Tom　cried。
　At　the　top　of　the　embankment　Tom　looked　back　only　once；　to　see　their　boats　drifting　downstream；　flames　leaping。　There　was　a　muffled　explosion　as　the　gas　can　in　one　of　the　boats　exploded；　sending　a　ball　of　flame　skyward。　Beyond；　the　boats　with　the　soldiers　were　cautiously　angling　in　toward　shore。　Sally；　still　carrying　Chori's　gun；　dropped　to　a　knee　and　fired　a　second　shot　through　the　screen　of　vegetation。
　They　retreated　deeper　into　the　jungle；　taking　turns　carrying　Pingo；　forcing　their　way　through　the　thick　vegetation。　From　behind　Tom　could　hear　more　shouting；　followed　by　some　random　shooting　through　the　forest　and　the　muffled　crump　of　another　exploding　gas　tank。　The　men　had　evidently　landed　their　boats　and　were　halfheartedly　chasing　them。　But　as　they　pushed　deeper　into　the　forest；　the　sporadic　gunfire　grew　fainter　until　the　sounds　disappeared　altogether。
　They　halted　in　a　small　grassy　clearing。　Tom　and　Vernon　laid　Pingo　down；　and　Tom　bent　over　him；　desperately　feeling　for　a　pulse。　There　was　none。　He　located　the　wound。　It　was　horrifying。　An　expanding　bullet　had　struck　Pingo　in　the　back；　between　the　shoulder　blades；　and　emerged　with　explosive　force　from　his　chest；　leaving　a　gaping　hole　more　than　six　inches　across。　It　had　passed　directly　through　the　heart。　It　was　amazing　he　had　lived　for　even　a　few　seconds　after　a　wound　like　that。
　Tom　glanced　up　at　Chori。　The　man　had　an　expression　on　his　face　that　was　absolutely　cold。
　〃I'm　sorry。〃
　Don　Alfonso　said；　〃There　is　no　time　to　be　sorry。　We　must　go。〃
　〃And　leave　the　body　here？〃
　〃Chori　will　stay　with　it。〃
　〃But　the　soldiers　are　surely　ing…〃
　Don　Alfonso　cut　him　off。　〃Yes。　And　Chori　must　do　what　he　must　do。〃　He　turned　to　Sally。　〃You　keep　his　gun　and　ammunition。　We　will　not　see　Chori　again。　Let　us　go。〃
　〃We　can　t　leave　him　here！〃　Tom　protested。
　Don　Alfonso　grabbed　Tom's　shoulders。　His　hands　were　surprisingly　strong；　like　steel　clamps。　He　spoke　quietly　but　with　intensity。　〃Chori　has　unfinished　business　with　his　brother's　killers。〃
　〃Without　a　gun？〃　Sally　asked　as　Chori　took　out　of　his　leather　bag　a　tattered　box　of　ammunition　and　handed　it　to　her。
　〃Silent　arrows　are　more　effective　in　the　jungle。　He　will　kill　enough　of　them　to　die　with　honor。　This　is　our　way。　Do　not　interfere。〃　Without　a　backward　glance　Don　Alfonso　turned；　swiped　his　machete　across　a　wall　of　vegetation；　and　plunged　through　the　opening。　They　followed；　struggling　to　keep　up　with　the　old　man；　who　moved　with　the　speed　and　silence　of　a　bat。　Tom　had　no　idea　where　they　were　heading。　They　walked　for　hours　up　and　down　ravines；　wading　swift　streams；　at　times　hacking　their　way　through　dense　stands　of　bamboo　or　ferns。　Biting　ants　rained　down　on　them　and　crawled　down　their　shirts；　and　several　times　Don　Alfonso　impaled　small　snakes　with　his　machete　and　flicked　them　aside。　It　rained　briefly　and　they　were　soaked。
　The　sun　came　out　and　they　steamed。　Clouds　of　insects　followed　them；　biting　viciously。　Nobody　spoke。　No　one　could　speak。　It　was　all　they　could　do　to　keep　up。
　Hours　later；　when　the　light　began　to　die　in　the　treetops；　Don　Alfonso　halted。　Without　a　word　he　sat　on　a　fallen　tree　trunk；　fished　out　his　pipe；　and　lit　it。　Tom　watched　the　match　flare　up　and　wondered　how　many　more　they　had。　They　had　lost　almost　everything　with　the　burning　of　the　boats。
　〃What　now？〃　Vernon　asked。
　〃We　camp；〃　said　Don　Alfons