inca.gold-第18部分

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　　　　Not　in　a　thousand　years；〃　answered　Stewart。　〃Those　guys　are　in　trouble　and　Pitt's　laying　a　red　herring　to　mislead　eavesdroppers。〃　A　crewman　brought　the　map；　and　Stewart　stretched　it　flat　on　a　desk。　〃Their　rescue　mission　took　them　on　a　course　almost　due　east　of　here。　Chiclayo　is　a　good　seventy…five　kilometers　southwest　of　his　flight　path。〃
　　　　〃Now　that　we've　established　his　con　job；〃　said　Stucky；　〃what's　Pitt's　game　plan？〃
　　　　〃We'll　soon　find　out。〃　Stewart　picked　up　the　microphone　and　transmitted。　〃NUMA；　are　you　still　with　us？〃
　　　　〃Still　here；　pal；〃　came　Pitt's　imperturbable　voice。
　　　　〃I　will　fly　the　spare　copter　to　Chiclayo　and　pick　up　you　and　your　passengers　myself。　Do　you　copy？〃
　　　　〃Much　appreciated；　skipper。　Always　happy　to　see　you　never　do　things　halfway。　Have　a　beer　waiting　when　I　arrive。〃
　　　　〃Will　do；〃　answered　Stewart。
　　　　〃And　put　on　some　speed　will　you？〃　said　Pitt。　〃I　need　a　bath　real　bad。　See　you　soon。〃
　　　　Stucky　stared　at　Stewart　and　laughed。　〃Since　when　did　you　learn　to　fly　a　helicopter？〃
　　　　Stewart　laughed　back。　〃Only　in　my　dreams。〃
　　　　〃Do　you　mind　telling　me　what　I　missed？〃
　　　　〃In　a　second。〃　Stewart　picked　up　the　ship's　phone　again　and　snapped　out　orders。　〃Pull　in　the　sonar's　sensor　and　set　a　new　course　on　zero…nine…zero　degrees。　Soon　as　the　sensor　is　secured；　give　me　full　speed。　And　no　excuses　from　the　chief　engineer　that　his　precious　engines　have　to　be　coddled。　I　want　every　revolution。〃　He　hung　up　the　phone　with　a　thoughtful　expression。　〃Where　were　we？　Oh　yes；　you　don't　know　the　score。〃
　　　　〃Is　it　some　sort　of　riddle？〃　Stucky　muttered。
　　　　〃Not　at　all。　Obvious　to　me。　Pitt　and　Giordino　don't　have　enough　fuel　to　reach　the　ship；　so　we're　going　to　put　on　all　speed　and　meet　them　approximately　halfway　between　here　and　the　shore；　hopefully　before　they're　forced　to　ditch　in　water　infested　with　sharks。〃

　　　　Giordino　whipped　along；　a　bare　10　meters　（33　feet）　above　the　tops　of　the　trees　at　only　144　kilometers　（90　miles）　an　hour。　The　twenty…year…old　helicopter　was　capable　of　flying　almost　another　100　kilometers　faster；　but　he　reduced　speed　to　conserve　what　little　fuel　he　had　left　after　passing　over　the　mountains。　Only　one　more　range　of　foothills　and　a　narrow　coastal　plain　separated　the　aircraft　from　the　sea。　Every　third　minute　he　glanced　warily　at　the　fuel　gauges。　The　needles　were　edging　unfortably　close　to　the　red。　His　eyes　returned　to　the　green　foliage　rushing　past　below。　The　forest　was　thick　and　the　clearings　were　scattered　with　large　boulders。　It　was　a　decidedly　unfriendly　place　to　force…land　a　helicopter。
　　　　Pitt　had　limped　back　into　the　cargo　partment　and　begun　passing　out　the　life　vests。　Shannon　followed；　firmly　took　the　vests　out　of　his　hands；　and　handed　them　to　Rodgers。
　　　　〃No；　you　don't；〃　she　said　firmly；　pushing　Pitt　into　a　canvas　seat　mounted　along　the　bulkhead　of　the　fuselage。　She　nodded　at　the　loosely　knotted；　blood…soaked　bandanna　around　his　leg。　〃You　sit　down　and　stay　put。〃
　　　　She　found　a　first　aid　kit　in　a　metal　locker　and　knelt　in　front　of　him。　Without　the　slightest　sign　of　nervous　stress；　she　cut　off　Pitt's　pant　leg；　cleaned　the　wound；　and　petently　sewed　the　eight　stitches　to　close　the　wound　before　wrapping　a　bandage　around　it。
　　　　〃Nice　job；〃　said　Pitt　admiringly。　〃You　missed　your　calling　as　an　angel　of　mercy。〃
　　　　〃You　were　lucky。〃　She　snapped　the　lid　on　the　first　aid　kit。　〃The　bullet　merely　sliced　the　skin。〃
　　　　〃Why　do　I　feel　as　though　you've　acted　on　General　Hospital？〃
　　　　Shannon　smiled。　〃I　was　raised　on　a　farm　with　five　brothers　who　were　always　discovering　new　ways　to　injure　themselves。〃
　　　　〃What　turned　you　to　archaeology？〃
　　　　〃There　was　an　old　Indian　burial　mound　in　one　corner　of　our　wheat　field。　I　used　to　dig　around　it　for　arrowheads。　For　a　book　report　in　high　school；　I　found　a　text　on　the　excavation　of　the　Hopewell　Indian　culture　burial　mounds　in　southern　Ohio。　Inspired；　I　began　digging　into　the　site　on　our　farm。　After　finding　several　pieces　of　pottery　and　four　skeletons；　I　was　hooked。　Hardly　a　professional　dig；　mind　you。　I　learned　how　to　excavate　properly　in　college　and　became　fascinated　with　cultural　development　in　the　central　Andes；　and　made　up　my　mind　to　specialize　in　that　area。〃
　　　　Pitt　looked　at　her　silently　for　a　moment。　〃When　did　you　first　meet　Doc　Miller？〃
　　　　〃Only　briefly　about　six　years　ago　when　I　was　working　on　my　doctorate。　I　attended　a　lecture　he　gave　on　the　Inca　highway　network　that　ran　from　the　Colombian…Ecuador　border　almost　five　thousand　kilometers　to　central　Chile。　It　was　his　work　that　inspired　me　to　focus　my　studies　on　Andean　culture。　I've　been　ing　down　here　ever　since。〃
　　　　〃Then　you　didn't　really　know　him　very　well？〃　Pitt　questioned。　'
　　　　Shannon　shook　her　head。　〃Like　most　archaeologists；　we　concentrated　on　our　own　pet　projects。　We　corresponded　occasionally　and　exchanged　data。　About　six　months　ago；　I　invited　him　to　e　along　on　this　expedition　to　supervise　the　Peruvian　university　student　volunteers。　He　was　between　projects　and　accepted。　Then　he　kindly　offered　to　fly　down　from　the　States　five　weeks　early　to　begin　preparations；　arranging　permits　from　the　Peruvians；　setting　up　the　logistics　for　equipment　and　supplies；　that　sort　of　thing。　Juan　Chaco　and　he　worked　closely　together。〃
　　　　〃When　you　arrived；　did　you　notice　anything　different　about　him？〃
　　　　A　curious　look　appeared　in　Shannon's　eyes。　〃What　an　odd　question。〃
　　　　〃His　looks；　his　actions；〃　Pitt　persisted。
　　　　She　thought　a　moment。　〃Since　Phoenix；　he　had　grown　a　beard　and　lost　about　fifteen　pounds；　but　now　that　I　think　of　it；　he　rarely　removed　his　sunglasses。〃
　　　　〃Any　change　in　his　voice？〃
　　　　She　shrugged。　〃A　little　deeper　perhaps。　I　thought　he　had　a　cold。〃
　　　　〃Did　you　notice　whether　he　wore　a　ring？　One　with　a　large　amber　setting？〃
　　　　Her　eyes　narrowed。　〃A　sixty…million…year…old　piece　of　yellow　amber　with　the　fossil　of　a　primitive　ant　in　the　center？　Doc　was　proud　of　that　ring。　I　remember　him　wearing　it　during　the　Inca　road　survey；　but　it　wasn't　on　his　hand　at　the　sacred　well。　When　I　asked　him　why　it　was　missing；　he　said　the　ring　became　loose　on　his　finger　after　his　weight　loss　and　he　left　it　home　to　be　resized。　How　do　you　know　about　Doc's　ring？〃
　　　　Pitt　had　been　wearing　the　amber　ring　he　had　taken　from　the　corpse　at　the　bottom　of　the　sacred　well　with　the　setting　unseen　under　his　finger。　He　slipped　it　off　and　handed　it　to　Shannon　without　speaking。
　　　　She　held　it　up　to　the　light　from　a　round　window；　staring　in　amazement　at　the　tiny　ancient　insect　imbedded　in　the　amber。　〃Where。　。　。　？〃　her　voice　trailed　off。
　　　　〃Whoever　posed　as　Doc　murdered　him　and　took　his　place。　You　accepted　the　imposter　because　there　was　no　reason　not　to。　The　possibility　of　foul　play　never　entered　your　mind。　The　killer's　only　mistake　was　forgetting　to　remove　the　ring　when　he　threw　Doc's　body　into　the　sinkhole。〃
　　　　〃You're　saying　Doc　was　murdered　before　I　left　the　States？〃　she　stated　in　bewilderment。
　　　　〃Only　a　day　or　two　after　he　arrived　at　the　campsite；〃　Pitt　explained。　〃Judging　from　the　condition　of　the　body；　he　must　have　been　under　water　for　more　than　a　month。〃
　　　　〃Strange　that　Miles　and　I　missed　seeing　him。〃
　　　　〃Not　so　strange。　You　descended　directly　in　front　of　the　passage　to　the　adjoining　cavern　and　were　sucked　in　almost　immediately。　I　reached　the　bottom　on　the　opposite　side　and　was　able　to　swim　a　search　grid；　looking　for　what　I　thought　would　be　two　fresh　bodies　before　the　surge　caught　me。　Instead；　I　found　Doc's　remains　and　the　bones　of　a　sixteenth…century　Spanish　soldier。〃
　　　　〃So　Doc　really　was　murdered；〃　she　said　as　a　look　of　horror　dawned　on　her　face。　〃Juan　Chaco　must　have　known；　because　he　was　the　liaison　for　our　project　and　was　working　with　Doc　before　we　arrived。　Is　it　possible　he　was　involved？〃
　　　　Pitt　nodded。　〃Up　to　his　eyeballs。　If　you　were　smuggling　ancient　treasures；　where　could　you　find　a　better　informant　and　front　man　than　an　internationally　respected　archaeological　expert　and　government　official？〃
　　　　〃Then　who　was　the　imposter？〃
　　　　〃Another　agent　of　the　Solpemachaco。　A　canny　operator　who　staged　a　masterful　performance　of　his　death；　with　Amaru's　help。　Perhaps　he's　one　of　the　men　at　the　top　of　the　organization　who　doesn't　mind　getting　his　hands　dirty。　We　may　never　know。〃
　　　　〃If　he　murdered　Doc；　he　deserves　to　be　hanged；〃　Shannon　said；　her　hazel　eyes　glinting　with　anger。
　　　　〃At　least　we'll　be　able　to　nail　Juan　Chaco　to　the　door　of　a　Peruvian　courthouse…〃　Pitt　suddenly　tensed　and　swung　toward　the　cockpit　as　Giordino　threw　the　helicopter　in　a　steeply　banked　circle。　〃What's　up？〃
　　　　〃A　gut　feeling；〃　Giordino　answered。　〃I　decided　to　run　a　three…sixty　to　check　our　tail。　Good　thing　I'm　sensitive　to　vibes。　We've　got　pany。〃
　　　　Pitt　pushed　himself　to　his　feet；　returned　to　the　cockpit　and；　favoring　his　leg；　eased　into　the　copilot's　seat。　〃Bandits　or　good　guys？〃　he　asked。
　　　　〃Our　pals　who　dropped　in　on　us　at　the　temple　didn't　fall　for　your　artful　dodge　to　Chiclayo。〃　Without　taking　his　hands　from　the　controls；　Giordino　nodded　out　of　the　windshield　to　his　left　at　a　helicopter　crossing　a　low　ridge　of　mountains　to　the　east。
　　　　〃They　must　have　guessed　our　course　and　overhauled　us　after　you　reduced　speed　to　conserve　fuel；〃　Pitt　surmised。
　　　　〃No　racks　mounting　air…to…air　rockets；〃　observed　Giordino。　〃They'll　have　to　shoot　us　down　with　rifles〃

　　　　A　burst　of　flame　and　a　puff　of　smoke　erupted　from　the　open　forward　passenger　door　of　the　pursuing　aircraft；　and　a　rocket　soared　through　the　sky；　passing　so　close　to　the　nose　of　the　helicopter　Pitt　and　Giordino　felt　they　could　have　reached　out　the　side　windows　and　touched　it。
　　　　〃Correction；〃　Pitt　called。　〃A　forty…millimeter　rocket　launcher。　The　same　one　they　used　against　the　temple。〃
　　　　Giordino　slammed　the　collective　pitch　into　an　abrupt　ascent　and　shoved　the　throttles　to　their　stops　in　an　attempt　to　throw　off　the　launcher　team's　aim。　〃Grab　your　rifle　and　keep　them　busy　until　I　can　reach　those　low　clouds　along　the　coast。〃
　　　　〃Tough　luck！〃　Pitt　shouted　over　the　shrill　whine　of　the　engines。　〃I　tossed　it　away；　and　my　Colt　is　empty。　Any　of　you　carry　a　gun　on　board？〃
　　　　Giordino　made　an　imperceptible　nod　as　he　hurled　the　chopper　in　another　violent　maneuver。　〃I　can't　speak　for　the　rest　of　them。　You'll　find　mine　wedged　in　a　corn