inca.gold-第12部分

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y　that　he　might　stumble　across　the　bodies　of　Giordino　and　the　archaeologists　were　swept　away　in　a　wave　of　relief。　The　hunt　was　ended；　now　the　quarry；　who　did　not　yet　know　they　were　quarry；　had　to　be　quietly　canceled　out　one　by　one　until　the　odds　became　manageable。
　　　　He　moved　in　closer；　using　the　fallen　walls　of　old　residential　homes　around　the　temple　as　cover。　He　crouched　and　ran　soundlessly　from　one　shelter　to　the　next　until　he　crawled　behind　a　large　stone　figure　displaying　a　phallic　design。　He　paused　and　stared　up　at　the　entrance　to　the　temple。　The　long　stairway　leading　to　the　entrance　presented　a　formidable　obstacle。　Unless　he　somehow　possessed　the　power　of　invisibility；　Pitt　would　be　shot　down　before　he　was　a　quarter　of　the　way　up　the　steps。　Any　attempt　in　broad　daylight　was　suicidal。　No　way　in；　he　thought　bitterly。　Flanking　the　staircase　was　out　of　the　question。　The　temple's　side　walls　were　too　sheer　and　too　smooth。　The　stones　were　laid　with　such　precision　a　knife　blade　could　not　fit　between　the　cracks。
　　　　Then　providence　laid　a　benevolent　hand　on　his　shoulder。　The　problem　of　creeping　up　the　stairs　unseen　was　erased　when　Pitt　observed　that　the　terrorist　who　was　guarding　the　entrance　to　the　temple　had　fallen　hard　asleep　from　the　effects　of　the　exhausting　march　through　the　jungle　mountains。　Inhaling　and　exhaling　a　deep　breath；　Pitt　stealthily　crept　toward　the　stairway。

　　　　Tupac　Amaru　was　a　smooth　but　dangerous　character；　and　he　looked　it。　Having　taken　the　name　of　the　last　king　of　the　Incas　to　be　tortured　and　killed　by　the　Spanish；　he　was　short；　narrow…shouldered；　with　a　vacant；　brown　face　devoid　of　expression。　He　looked　as　though　he　never　learned　how　to　express　the　least　hint　of　passion。　Unlike　most　of　the　hill…country　people　whose　broad　faces　were　smooth　and　hairless；　Amaru　wore　a　huge　moustache　and　long　sideburns　that　stretched　from　a　thick　mass　of　straight　hair　that　was　as　black　as　his　empty　eyes。　When　the　narrow；　bloodless　lips　arched　in　a　slight　smile；　which　was　rare；　they　revealed　a　set　of　teeth　that　would　make　an　orthodontist　proud。　His　men；　conversely；　often　grinned　diabolically　through　jagged　and　uneven　coca…stained　bicuspids。
　　　　Amaru　had　cut　a　swath　of　death　and　destruction　throughout　the　jungle　hill　country　of　Amazonas；　a　department　in　northeastern　Peru　that　had　more　than　its　share　of　poverty；　terrorism；　sickness；　and　bureaucratic　corruption。　His　band　of　cutthroats　was　responsible　for　the　disappearance　of　several　explorers；　government　archaeologists；　and　army　patrols　that　had　entered　the　region　and　were　never　seen　again。　He　was　not　the　revolutionary　he　seemed。　Amaru　couldn't　have　cared　less　about　revolution　or　improving　the　lot　of　the　abysmally　poor　Indians　of　the　Peruvian　hinterlands；　most　of　whom　worked　tiny　plots　to　eke　out　a　bare　existence。　Amaru　had　other　reasons　for　controlling　the　region　and　keeping　the　superstitious　natives　under　his　domination。
　　　　He　stood　in　the　doorway　of　the　chamber；　staring　stonily　at　the　three　men　and　one　woman　before　him　as　if　for　the　first　time；　relishing　the　defeat　in　their　eyes；　the　weariness　in　their　bodies；　exactly　the　state　he…wanted　them。
　　　　〃I　regret　the　inconvenience；〃　he　said；　speaking　for　the　first　time　since　the　abduction。　〃It　is　good　that　you　offered　no　resistance　or　you　would　have　surely　been　shot。〃
　　　　〃You　speak　pretty　good　English　for　a　highlands　guerrilla；〃　Rodgers　acknowledged；　〃Mr。…？〃
　　　　〃Tupac　Amaru。　I　attended　the　University　of　Texas　at　Austin。〃
　　　　〃What　hath　Texas　wrought；〃　Giordino　mumbled　under　his　breath。
　　　　〃Why　have　you　kidnapped　us？〃　Shannon　whispered　in　a　voice　hushed　with　fear　and　fatigue。
　　　　〃For　ransom；　what　else？〃　replied　Amaru。　〃The　Peruvian　government　will　pay　well　for　the　return　of　such　respected　American　scientists；　not　to　mention　their　brilliant　archaeology　students；　many　of　whom　have　rich　and　respected　parents。　The　money　will　help　us　continue　our　fight　against　repression　of　the　masses。〃
　　　　〃Spoken　like　a　munist　milking　a　dead　cow；〃　muttered　Giordino。
　　　　〃The　old　Russian　version　may　well　be　history；　but　the　philosophy　of　Mao　Tse…tung　lives　on；〃　Amaru　explained　patiently。
　　　　〃It　lives　on；　all　right；〃　Doc　Miller　sneered。　〃Billions　of　dollars　in　economic　damage。　Twenty…six　thousand　Peruvians　dead；　most　of　the　victims　the　very　peasants　whose　rights　you　claim　to　be　fighting　for…〃　His　words　were　cut　off　by　a　rifle　butt　that　was　jammed　into　his　lower　back　near　the　kidney。　Miller　sagged　to　the　stone　floor　like　a　bag　of　potatoes；　his　face　twisted　in　pain。
　　　　〃You're　hardly　in　a　position　to　question　my　dedication　to　the　cause；〃　Amaru　said　coldly。
　　　　Giordino　knelt　beside　the　old　man　and　cradled　his　head。　He　looked　up　at　the　terrorist　leader　with　scorn。　〃You　don't　take　criticism　very　well；　do　you？〃
　　　　Giordino　was　prepared　to　ward　off　a　blow　to　his　exposed　head；　but　before　the　guard　could　raise　his　rifle　butt　again；　Shannon　stepped　between　them。
　　　　She　glared　at　Amaru；　the　pale　fear　in　her　face　replaced　with　red　anger。　〃You're　a　fraud；〃　Shannon　stated　firmly。
　　　　Amaru　looked　at　her　with　a　bemused　expression。　〃And　what　brings　you　to　that　curious　conclusion；　Dr。　Kelsey？〃
　　　　〃You　know　my　name？〃
　　　　〃My　agent　in　the　United　States　alerted　me　of　your　latest　project　to　explore　the　mountains　before　you　and　your　friends　left　the　airport　in　Phoenix；　Arizona。〃
　　　　〃Informant；　you　mean。〃
　　　　Amaru　shrugged。　〃Semantics　mean　little。〃
　　　　〃A　fraud　and　a　charlatan；〃　Shannon　continued。　〃You　and　your　men　aren't　Shining　Path　revolutionaries。　Far　from　it。　You're　nothing　more　than　huaqueros；　thieving　tomb　robbers。〃
　　　　〃She's　right；〃　Rodgers　said；　backing　her　up。　〃You　wouldn't　have　time　to　chase　around　the　countryside　blowing　up　power　lines　and　police　stations　and　still　accumulate　the　vast　cache　of　artifacts　inside　this　temple。　It's　obvious；　you're　running　an　elaborate　artifact　theft　ring　that　has　to　be　a　full…time　operation。〃
　　　　Amaru　looked　at　his　prisoners　in　mocking　speculation。　〃Since　the　fact　must　be　patently　apparent　to　everyone　in　the　room；　I　won't　bother　to　deny　it。〃
　　　　A　few　seconds　passed　in　silence；　then　Doc　Miller　rose　unsteadily　to　his　feet　and　stared　Amaru　directly　in　the　eye。　〃You　thieving　scum；〃　he　rasped。　〃Pillager；　ravager　of　antiquities。　If　it　was　in　my　power；　I'd　have　you　and　your　band　of　looters　shot　down　like〃

　　　　Miller　broke　off　suddenly　as　Amaru；　his　features　utterly　lacking　the　least　display　of　emotion　and　his　black　eyes　venting　evil；　removed　a　Heckler　&　Koch　nine…millimeter　automatic　from　a　hip　holster。　With　the　paralyzing　inevitability　of　a　dream；　he　calmly；　precisely；　shot　Doc　Miller　in　the　chest。　The　reverberating　blast　echoed　through　the　temple；　deafening　all　ears。　One　shot　was　all　that　was　required。　Doc　Miller　jerked　backward　against　the　stone　wall　for　one　shocking　moment；　and　then　dropped　forward　onto　his　stomach　without　a　sound；　hands　and　arms　twisted　oddly　beneath　his　chest　as　a　pool　of　red　oozed　across　the　floor。
　　　　The　captives　all　reflected　different　reactions。　Rodgers　stood　like　a　statue　frozen　in　time；　eyes　wide　with　shock　and　disbelief；　while　Shannon　instinctively　screamed。　No　stranger　to　violent　death；　Giordino　clenched　his　hands　at　his　sides。　The　ice…cold　indifference　of　the　murderous　act　filled　him　with　a　savage　rage　that　was　tempered　only　by　maddening　helplessness。　There　was　no　doubt　in　his　mind；　in　anybody's　mind；　that　Amaru　intended　to　kill　them　all。　With　nothing　to　lose；　Giordino　tensed　to　leap　at　the　killer　and　tear　out　his　throat　before　he　received　the　inevitable　bullet　through　the　head。
　　　　〃Do　not　try　it；〃　said　Amaru；　reading　Giordino's　thoughts；　aiming　the　muzzle　of　the　automatic　between　the　eyes　that　burned　with　hate。　He　inclined　his　head　toward　the　guards；　who　stood　with　guns　level　and　ready；　and　gave　them　orders　in　Spanish。　Then　he　stepped　aside　as　one　of　the　guards　grabbed　Miller　around　the　ankles；　and　dragged　his　body　out　of　sight　into　the　main　room　of　the　temple；　leaving　a　trail　of　blood　across　the　stone　floor。
　　　　Shannon's　scream　had　given　way　to　uncontrollable　sobbing　as　she　stared　with　bleak；　unwavering　eyes　at　the　bloody　streak　on　the　floor。　She　sagged　to　her　knees　in　shock　and　buried　her　face　in　her　hands。　〃He　couldn't　harm　you。　How　could　you　shoot　down　a　kindly　old　man？〃
　　　　Giordino　stared　at　Amaru。　〃For　him；　it　was　easy。〃
　　　　Amaru's　flat；　cold　eyes　crawled　to　Giordino's　face。　〃You　would　do　well　to　keep　your　mouth　closed；　little　man。　The　good　doctor　was　supposed　to　be　a　lesson　that　apparently　you　did　not　prehend。〃
　　　　No　one　took　notice　of　the　return　of　the　guard　who　had　dragged　away　Miller's　body。　No　one　except　Giordino。　He　caught　the　hat　pulled　down　over　the　eyes；　the　hands　concealed　within　the　poncho。　He　flicked　a　glance　at　the　second　guard　who　slouched　casually　against　the　doorway；　his　gun　now　slung　loosely　over　one　shoulder；　the　muzzle　pointing　at　no　one　in　particular。　Only　two　meters　separated　them。　Giordino　figured　he　could　be　all　over　the　guard　before　he　knew　what　hit　him。　But　there　was　still　the　Heckler　&　Koch　tightly　gripped　in　Amaru's　hand。
　　　　When　Giordino　spoke；　his　voice　wore　a　cold　edge。　〃You　are　going　to　die；　Amaru。　You　are　surely　going　to　die　as　violently　as　all　the　innocent　people　you've　murdered　in　cold　blood。〃
　　　　Amaru　didn't　catch　the　millimetric　curl　of　Giordino's　lips；　the　slight　squint　of　the　eyes。　His　expression　turned　curious；　then　the　teeth　flashed　and　he　laughed。　〃So？　You　think　I'm　going　to　die；　do　you？　Will　you　be　my　executioner？　Or　will　the　proud　young　lady　do　me　the　honor？〃
　　　　He　leaned　down　and　savagely　jerked　Shannon　to　her　feet；　took　hold　of　her　flowing　ponytail；　and　viciously　pulled　her　head　backward　until　she　was　staring　from　wide；　terrified　eyes　into　his　leering　face。　〃I　promise　that　after　a　few　hours　in　my　bed　you'll　crawl　to　obey　my　mands。〃
　　　　〃Oh；　God；　no；〃　Shannon　moaned。
　　　　〃I　take　great　pleasure　in　raping　women；　listening　as　they　scream　and　beg〃

　　　　A　brawny　arm　tightened　around　his　throat　and　choked　off　his　words。　〃This　is　for　all　the　women　you　made　suffer；〃　said　Pitt；　a　macabre　look　in　his　intense　green　eyes；　as　he　cast　aside　the　poncho；　jammed　the　barrel　of　the　。45　Colt　down　the　front　of　Amaru's　pants；　and　pulled　the　trigger。

　　　　For　the　second　time　the　small　confines　of　the　room　echoed　with　the　deafe