inca.gold-第21部分

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〃Your　turn；　Al。〃
　　　　Giordino　would　have　none　of　it。　〃Tradition　of　the　sea。　All　walking　wounded　go　first。〃
　　　　Before　Pitt　could　protest；　Giordino　shoved　him　out　the　door；　and　then　followed　as　the　water　swept　over　his　ankles。　Breaking　out　the　raft's　paddles；　they　pushed　clear　of　the　helicopter　as　its　long　tail　boom　dipped　into　the　waves。　Then　a　large　swell　surged　through　the　open　passenger　door　and　the　helicopter　slipped　backward　into　the　uncaring　sea。　She　disappeared　with　a　faint　gurgle　and　a　few　ripples；　her　shattered　rotor　blades　being　the　last　to　go；　the　stumps　slowly　rotating　from　the　force　of　the　current　as　if　she　were　descending　to　the　seafloor　under　her　own　power。　The　water　surged　through　her　open　door　and　she　plunged　under　the　waves　to　a　final　landing　on　the　seafloor。
　　　　No　one　spoke。　They　all　seemed　saddened　to　see　the　helicopter　go。　It　was　as　if　they　all　suffered　a　personal　loss。　Pitt　and　Giordino　were　at　home　on　the　water。　The　others；　suddenly　finding　themselves　floating　on　a　vast　sea；　felt　an　awful　sense　of　emptiness　coupled　with　the　dread　of　helplessness。　The　latter　feeling　was　particularly　enhanced　when　a　shark's　fin　abruptly　broke　the　water　and　ominously　began　circling　the　raft。
　　　　〃All　your　fault；〃　Giordino　said　to　Pitt　in　mock　exasperation。　〃He's　homed　in　on　the　scent　of　blood　from　your　leg　wound。〃
　　　　Pitt　peered　into　the　transparent　water；　studying　the　sleek　shape　as　it　passed　under　the　raft；　recognizing　the　horizontal　stabilizerlike　head　with　the　eyes　mounted　like　aircraft　wing　lights　on　the　tips。　〃A　hammerhead。　No　more　than　two　and　a　half　meters　long。　I　shall　ignore　him。〃
　　　　Shannon　gave　a　shudder　and　moved　closer　to　Pitt　and　clutched　his　arm。　〃What　if　he　decides　to　take　a　bite　out　of　the　raft　and　we　sink？〃
　　　　Pitt　shrugged。　〃Sharks　seldom　find　life　rafts　appetizing。〃
　　　　〃He　invited　his　pals　for　dinner；〃　said　Giordino；　pointing　to　two　more　fins　cutting　the　water。
　　　　Pitt　could　see　the　beginnings　of　panic　on　the　faces　of　the　young　students。　He　nestled　into　a　fortable　position　on　the　bottom　of　the　raft；　elevated　his　feet　on　the　upper　float；　and　closed　his　eyes。　〃Nothing　like　a　restful　nap　under　a　warm　sun　on　a　calm　sea。　Wake　me　when　the　ship　arrives。〃
　　　　Shannon　stared　at　him　in　disbelief。　〃He　must　be　mad。〃
　　　　Giordino　quickly　sized　up　Pitt's　scheme　and　settled　in。　〃That　makes　two　of　us。〃
　　　　No　one　knew　quite　how　to　react。　Every　pair　of　eyes　in　the　raft　swiveled　from　the　seemingly　dozing　men　from　NUMA　to　the　circling　sharks　and　back　again。　The　panic　slowly　subsided　to　uneasy　apprehension　while　the　minutes　crawled　by　as　if　they　were　each　an　hour　long。
　　　　Other　sharks　joined　the　predinner　party；　but　all　hearts　began　filling　with　newfound　hope　as　the　Deep　Fathom　hove　into　view；　her　bows　carving　the　water　in　a　spray　of　foam。　No　one　on　board　knew　the　old　workhorse　of　NUMA's　oceanographic　fleet　could　drive　so　hard。　Down　in　the　engine　room　the　chief　engineer；　August　Burley；　a　powerfully　built　man　with　a　portly　stomach；　walked　the　catwalk　between　the　ship's　big　diesels；　closely　observing　the　needles　on　the　rpm　gauges；　which　were　hard　in　the　red；　and　listening　for　any　signs　of　metal　fatigue　from　the　overstressed　engines。　On　the　bridge；　Captain　Frank　Stewart　gazed　through　binoculars　at　the　tiny　splash　of　orange　against　the　blue　sea。
　　　　〃We'll　e　right　up　on　them　at　half　speed　before　reversing　the　engines；〃　he　said　to　the　helmsman。
　　　　〃You　don't　want　to　stop　and　drift　up　to　them；　Captain？〃　asked　the　blond；　ponytailed　man　at　the　wheel。
　　　　〃They're　surrounded　by　a　school　of　sharks；〃　said　Stewart。　〃We　can't　waste　time　with　caution。〃　He　stepped　over　and　spoke　into　the　ship's　speaker　system。　〃We'll　approach　the　survivors　on　the　port　side。　All　available　hands　prepare　to　bring　them　aboard。〃
　　　　It　was　a　neat　bit　of　seamanship。　Stewart　stopped　the　ship　within　2　meters　of　the　life　raft　with　only　a　slight　wash。　Several　crewmen　stared　down　and　waved；　leaning　far　over　the　railing　and　bulwark　to　shout　greetings。　The　boarding　ladder　had　been　lowered　and　a　crewman　stood　on　the　lower　platform　with　a　boat　hook。　He　extended　it；　the　end　was　grabbed　by　Giordino；　and　the　raft　was　pulled　in　alongside　the　platform。
　　　　The　sharks　were　forgotten　and　everyone　began　smiling　and　laughing　with　unabashed　happiness　at　having　survived　death　without　major　injuries　at　least　four　times　since　being　taken　hostage。　Shannon　stared　up　at　the　towering　hull　of　the　research　ship；　took　in　the　ungainly　superstructure　and　derricks；　and　turned　to　Pitt　with　a　shrewd　twinkle　in　her　eyes。
　　　　〃You　promised　us　a　four…star　hotel　and　a　refreshing　bath。　Certainly　not　a　rusty　old　work　boat。〃
　　　　Pitt　laughed。　〃A　rose　by　any　other　name。　Any　port　in　a　storm。　So　you　share　my　attractive；　but　homespun　stateroom。　As　a　gentleman；　I'll　give　you　the　lower　berth　while　I　suffer　the　indignity　of　the　upper。〃
　　　　Shannon　looked　at　him　with　amusement。　〃Taking　a　lot　for　granted；　aren't　you？〃
　　　　As　Pitt　relaxed　and　kept　a　paternal　eye　on　the　occupants　of　the　raft；　who　were　climbing　the　ladder　one　after　the　other；　he　smiled　fiendishly　at　Shannon　and　murmured；　〃Okay；　we'll　keep　a　low　profile。　You　can　have　the　upper　and　I'll　take　the　lower。〃

　　　　Jaun　Chaco's　world　had　cracked　and　crumbled　to　dust　around　him。　The　disaster　in　the　Valley　of　Viracocha　was　far　worse　than　anything　he　could　have　imagined。　His　brother　had　been　the　first　to　be　killed；　the　artifact　smuggling　operation　was　in　shambles；　and　once　the　American　archaeologist；　Shannon　Kelsey；　and　the　university　students　told　their　story　to　the　news　media　and　government　security　officials；　he　would　be　thrown　out　of　the　Department　of　Archaeology　in　disgrace。　Far　worse；　there　was　every　possibility　he　would　be　arrested；　tried　for　selling　his　nation's　historical　heritage；　and　sentenced　to　a　very　long　jail　term。
　　　　He　was　a　man　wracked　with　anxiety　as　he　stood　beside　the　motor　home　in　Chachapoya　and　watched　the　tilt…rotor　aircraft　e　to　a　near　halt　in　the　air　as　the　twin　outboard　engines　on　the　end　of　the　wings　swiveled　from　forward　flight　to　vertical。　The　black；　unmarked　craft　hovered　for　a　few　moments　before　the　pilot　gently　settled　the　extended　landing　wheels　on　the　ground。
　　　　A　heavily　bearded　man　in　dirty　rumpled　shorts　and　a　khaki　shirt　with　an　immense　bloodstain　in　its　center　exited　the　nine…passenger　cabin　and　stepped　to　the　ground。　He　looked　neither　right　nor　left；　the　expression　on　his　face　set　and　grim。　Without　a　word　of　greeting；　he　walked　past　Chaco　and　entered　the　motor　home。　Like　a　chastised　collie；　Chaco　followed　him　inside。
　　　　Cyrus　Sarason；　the　impersonator　of　Dr。　Steven　Miller；　sat　heavily　behind　Chaco's　desk　and　stared　icily。　〃You've　heard？〃
　　　　Chaco　nodded　without　questioning　the　bloodstain　on　Sarason's　shirt。　He　knew　the　blood　represented　a　fake　gunshot　wound。　〃I　received　a　full　report　from　one　of　my　brother's　fellow　officers。〃
　　　　〃Then　you　know　Dr。　Kelsey　and　the　university　students　slipped　through　our　fingers　and　were　rescued　by　an　American　oceanographic　research　ship。〃
　　　　〃Yes；　I　am　aware　of　our　failure。〃
　　　　〃I'm　sorry　about　your　brother；〃　Sarason　said　without　emotion。
　　　　〃I　can't　believe　he's　gone；〃　muttered　Chaco；　strangely　unmoved。　〃His　death　doesn't　seem　possible。　The　elimination　of　the　archaeologists　should　have　been　a　simple　affair。〃
　　　　〃To　say　your　people　bungled　the　job　is　an　understatement；〃　said　Sarason。　〃I　warned　you　those　two　divers　from　NUMA　were　dangerous。〃
　　　　〃My　brother　did　not　expect　organized　resistance　by　an　army。〃
　　　　〃An　army　of　one　man；〃　Sarason　said　acidly。　〃I　observed　the　action　from　a　tomb。　A　lone　sniper　atop　the　temple　killed　the　officers　and　held　off　two　squads　of　your　intrepid　mercenaries；　while　his　panion　overpowered　the　pilots　and　mandeered　their　helicopter。　Your　brother　paid　dearly　for　his　overconfidence　and　stupidity。〃
　　　　〃How　could　a　pair　of　divers　and　a　juvenile　group　of　archaeologists　scourge　a　highly　trained　security　force？〃　Chaco　asked　in　bewilderment。
　　　　〃If　we　knew　the　answer　to　that　question；　we　might　learn　how　they　knocked　the　pursuing　helicopter　out　of　the　air。〃
　　　　Chaco　stared　at　him。　〃They　can　still　be　stopped。〃
　　　　〃Forget　it。　I'm　not　about　to　pound　the　disaster　by　destroying　a　U。S。　government　ship　and　all　on　board。　The　damage　is　already　done。　According　to　my　sources　in　Lima；　full　exposure；　including　Miller's　murder；　was　municated　to　President　Fujimori's　office　by　Dr。　Kelsey　soon　after　she　boarded　the　ship。　By　this　evening；　the　story　will　be　broadcast　all　over　the　country。　The　Chachapoyan　end　of　our　operation　is　a　washout。〃
　　　　〃We　can　still　bring　the　artifacts　out　of　the　valley。〃　The　recent　demise　of　Chaco's　brother　had　not　fully　pushed　aside　his　greed。
　　　　Sarason　nodded。　〃I'm　ahead　of　you。　A　team　is　on　its　way　to　remove　whatever　pieces　survived　the　rocket　attack　launched　by　those　idiots　under　your　brother's　mand。　It's　a　miracle　we　still　have　something　to　show　for　our　efforts。〃
　　　　〃I　believe　there　is　a　good　possibility　a　clue　to　the　Drake　quipu　may　still　be　found　in　the　City　of　the　Dead。〃
　　　　〃The　Drake　quipu。〃　Sarason　repeated　the　words　with　a　faraway　look　in　his　eyes。　Then　he　shrugged。　〃Our　organization　is　already　working　on　another　angle　for　the　treasure。〃
　　　　〃What　of　Amaru？　Is　he　still　alive？〃
　　　　〃Unfortunately；　yes。　He'll　live　the　rest　of　his　days　as　a　eunuch。〃
　　　　〃Too　bad。　He　was　a　loyal　follower。〃
　　　　Sarason　sneered。　〃Loyal　to　whoever　paid　him　best。　Tupac　Amaru　is　a　sociopathic　killer　of　the　highest　order。　When　I　ordered　him　to　abduct　Miller　and　hold　him　prisoner　until　we　concluded　the　operation；　he　put　a　bullet　in　the　good　doctor's　heart　and　threw　him　in　the　damned　sinkhole。　The　man　has　the　mind　of　a　rabid　dog。〃
　　　　〃He　may　still　prove　useful；〃　said　Chaco　slowly。
　　　　〃Useful；　how？〃
　　　　〃If　I　know　his　mind；　he'll　swear　vengeance　on　those　responsible　for　his　newly　acquired　handicap。　It　might　be　wise　to　unleash　him　on　Dr。　Kelsey　and　the　diver　called　Pitt　to　prevent　them　from　being　used　by　international　customs　investigators　as　informants。〃
〃We'd　be　skating　on　thin　ice　if　we　turned　a　crazy　man　like　him　loose。　But　I'll　keep　your　suggestion　in　mind。〃
　　　　Chaco　went　on。　〃What　plans　do　the　Solpemachaco　have　for　me？　I　am　finished　here。　Now　that　my　countrymen　will　know　I　have　betrayed　their　trust　with　regard　to