inca.gold-第22部分

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　　　　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　our　historical　treasures；　I　could　spend　the　rest　of　my　life　in　one　of　our　filthy　prisons。〃
　　　　〃A　foregone　conclusion。〃　Sarason　shrugged。　〃My　sources　also　revealed　that　the　local　police　have　been　ordered　to　pick　you　up。　They　should　arrive　within　the　hour。〃
　　　　Chaco　looked　at　Sarason　for　a　long　moment；　then　said　slowly　〃I　am　a　scholar　and　a　scientist；　not　a　hardened　criminal。　There　is　no　telling　how　much　I　might　reveal　during　lengthy　interrogation；　perhaps　even　torture。〃
　　　　Sarason　suppressed　a　smile　at　the　veiled　threat。　〃You　are　a　valuable　asset　we　cannot　afford　to　lose。　Your　expertise　and　knowledge　of　ancient　Andean　cultures　is　second　to　none。　Arrangements　are　being　made　for　you　to　take　over　our　collection　facilities　in　Panama。　There　you　will　direct　the　identification；　cataloguing；　and　restoration　operations　on　all　artifacts　we　either　purchase　from　the　local　huagueros　or　acquire　under　the　guise　of　academic　archaeological　projects　throughout　South　America。〃
　　　　Chaco　suddenly　looked　wolfish。　〃I'm　flattered。　Of　course　I　accept。　Such　an　important　position　must　pay　well。〃
　　　　〃You　will　receive　two　percent　of　the　price　the　artifacts　bring　at　our　auction　houses　in　New　York　and　Europe。〃
　　　　Chaco　was　too　far　down　the　rungs　of　the　organizational　ladder　to　be　privy　to　the　inner　secrets　of　the　Solpemachaco；　but　he　well　knew　the　network；　and　its　profits　were　vast。　〃I　will　need　help　getting　out　of　the　country。〃
　　　　〃Not　to　worry；〃　said　Sarason。　〃You'll　acpany　me。〃　He　nodded　out　a　window　at　the　ominous　black　aircraft　sitting　outside　the　motor　home；　the　big　threebladed　rotors　slowly　beating　the　air　at　idle。　〃In　that　aircraft　we　can　be　in　Bogota；　Colombia；　within　four　hours。〃
　　　　Chaco　couldn't　believe　his　luck。　One　minute　he　was　a　step　away　from　disgrace　and　prison　for　defrauding　his　government；　the　next　he　was　on　his　way　to　being　an　extremely　wealthy　man。　The　memory　of　his　sibling　was　rapidly　fading；　they　were　only　half…brothers　and　had　never　been　close　anyway。　While　Sarason　patiently　waited；　Chaco　quickly　gathered　some　personal　items　and　stuffed　them　in　a　suitcase。　Then　the　two　men　walked　out　to　the　aircraft　together。
　　　　Juan　Chaco　never　lived　to　see　Bogota；　Colombia。　Farmers　tilling　a　field　of　sweet　potatoes　near　an　isolated　village　in　Ecuador　paused　to　look　up　in　the　sky　at　the　strange　droning　sound　of　the　tilt…rotor　as　it　passed　overhead　500　meters　（1600　feet）　above　the　ground。　Suddenly；　in　what　seemed　a　horror　fantasy；　they　caught　sight　of　the　body　of　a　man　dropping　away　from　the　aircraft。　The　farmers　could　also　clearly　see　that　the　unfortunate　man　was　alive。　He　frantically　kicked　his　legs　and　clawed　madly　at　the　air　as　if　he　could　somehow　slow　his　plunging　descent。
　　　　Chaco　struck　the　ground　in　the　middle　of　a　small　corral　occupied　by　a　scrawny　cow；　missing　the　startled　animal　by　only　2　meters。　The　farmers　came　running　from　their　field　and　stood　around　the　crushed　body　that　was　embedded　nearly　half　a　meter　into　the　soil。　Simple　countryfolk；　they　did　not　send　a　runner　to　the　nearest　police　station　over　60　kilometers　（37　miles）　to　the　west。　Instead；　they　reverently　lifted　the　broken　remains　of　the　mysterious　man　who　had　dropped　from　the　sky　and　buried　him　in　a　small　graveyard　beside　the　ruins　of　an　old　church；　unlamented　and　unknown；　but　embellished　in　myth　for　generations　yet　to　e。

　　　　The　top　of　Shannon's　head　was　wrapped　turban　style　with　a　towel；　her　hair　still　wet　after　a　hot　blissful　bath　in　the　captain's　cabin。　She　had　allowed　the　Peruvian　female　students　to　go　first　before　luxuriating　in　the　steaming　water　while　sipping　wine　and　eating　a　chicken　sandwich　thoughtfully　provided　by　Pitt　from　the　ship's　galley。　Her　skin　glowed　all　over　and　smelled　of　lavender　soap　after　washing　the　sweat　and　grime　out　of　her　pores　and　the　jungle　mud　from　under　her　nails。　One　of　the　shorter　crewmen；　who　was　close　to　her　size；　lent　her　a　pair　of　coveralls。　The　only　female　crew　member；　a　marine　geologist；　had　used　most　of　her　wardrobe　to　reclothe　the　Peruvian　girls。　As　soon　as　Shannon　was　dressed　she　promptly　threw　the　swimsuit　and　the　dirty　blouse　in　a　trash　container。　They　held　memories　she'd　just　as　soon　forget。
　　　　After　drying　and　brushing　out　her　hair；　she　sneaked　a　bit　of　Captain　Stewart's　aftershave　lotion。　Why　is　it；　she　wondered；　men　never　use　talcum　powder　after　they　shower？　She　was　just　tying　her　long　hair　in　a　braid　when　Pitt　knocked　on　the　door。　They　stood　there　for　a　moment　staring　at　each　other　before　breaking　into　laughter。
　　　　〃I　hardly　recognized　you；〃　she　said；　taking　in　a　clean　and　shaven　Pitt　wearing　a　brightly　flowered　Hawaiian　aloha　shirt　and　light　tan　slacks。　He　was　not　what　you'd　call　devilishly　good…looking；　she　thought；　but　any　flaws　in　his　craggy　face　were　more　than　offset　by　a　masculine　magnetism　she　found　hard　to　resist。　He　was　even　more　tanned　than　she　was；　and　his　black；　wavy　hair　was　a　perfect　match　for　the　incredibly　green　eyes。
　　　　〃We　don't　exactly　look　like　the　same　two　people；〃　he　said　with　an　engaging　smile。　〃How　about　a　tour　of　the　ship　before　dinner？〃
　　　　〃I'd　like　that。〃　Then　she　gave　him　an　appraising　look。　〃I　thought　I　was　supposed　to　bunk　down　in　your　cabin。　Now　I　find　out　the　captain　has　generously　offered　me　his。〃
　　　　Pitt　shrugged。　〃The　luck　of　the　draw；　I　guess。〃
　　　　〃You're　a　fraud；　Dirk　Pitt。　You're　not　the　lecher　you　make　yourself　out　to　be。〃
　　　　〃I've　always　believed　intimacy　should　be　drifted　into　gradually。〃
　　　　She　suddenly　felt　uneasy。　It　was　as　though　his　piercing　eyes　could　read　her　mind。　He　seemed　to　sense　there　was　someone　else。　She　forced　a　smile　and　wrapped　her　arm　around　his。　〃Where　shall　we　begin？〃
　　　　〃You're　speaking　of　the　tour；　of　course。〃
　　　　〃What　else？〃
　　　　The　Deep　Fathom　was　a　state…of…the…art　scientific　work　boat；　and　she　looked　it。　Her　official　designation　was　Super…Seismic　Vessel。　She　was　primarily　designed　for　deep　ocean　geophysical　research；　but　she　could　also　undertake　a　myriad　of　other　subsea　activities。　Her　giant　stern　and　side　cranes；　with　their　huge　winches；　could　be　adapted　to　operate　every　conceivable　underwater　function；　from　mining　excavation　to　deep　water　salvage　and　manned　and　unmanned　submersible　launch　and　recovery。
　　　　The　ship's　hull　was　painted　in　NUMA's　traditional　turquoise　with　a　white　superstructure　and　azure　blue　crapes。　From　bow　to　stern　she　stretched　the　length　of　a　football　field；　berthing　up　to　thirty…five　scientists　and　twenty　crew。　Although　she　didn't　look　it　from　the　outside；　her　interior　living　quarters　were　as　plush　as　most　luxurious　passenger　liners。　Admiral　James　Sandecker；　with　rare　insight　given　to　few　bureaucrats；　knew　his　people　could　perform　more　efficiently　if　treated　accordingly；　and　the　Deep　Fathom　reflected　his　conviction。　Her　dining　room　was　fitted　out　like　a　fine　restaurant　and　the　galley　was　run　by　a　first…rate　chef。
　　　　Pitt　led　Shannon　up　to　the　navigation　bridge。　〃Our　brain　center；〃　he　pointed　out；　sweeping　one　hand　around　a　vast　room　filled　with　digital　arrays；　puters；　and　video　monitors　mounted　on　a　long　console　that　ran　the　full　width　of　the　bridge　beneath　a　massive　expanse　of　windows。　〃Most　everything　on　the　ship　is　controlled　from　here；　except　the　operation　of　deep　water　equipment。　That　takes　place　in　partments　containing　electronics　designed　for　specialized　deep　sea　projects。〃
　　　　Shannon　stared　at　the　gleaming　chrome；　the　colorful　images　on　the　monitors；　the　panoramic　view　of　the　sea　around　the　bows。　It　all　seemed　as　impressive　and　modern　as　a　futuristic　video　parlor。　〃Where　is　the　helm？〃　she　asked。
　　　　〃The　old…fashioned　wheel　went　out　with　the　Queen　Mary；〃　answered　Pitt。　He　showed　her　the　console　for　the　ship's　automated　control；　a　panel　with　levers　and　a　remote　control　unit　that　could　be　mounted　on　the　bridge　wings。　〃Navigation　is　now　carried　out　by　puters。　The　captain　can　even　con　the　ship　by　voice　mand。〃
　　　　〃For　someone　who　digs　up　old　potsherds；　I　had　no　idea　ships　were　so　advanced。〃
　　　　〃After　lagging　as　a　stepchild　for　forty　years；　marine　science　and　technology　have　finally　been　recognized　by　government　and　private　business　as　the　emerging　industry　of　the　future。〃
　　　　〃You　never　fully　explained　what　you're　doing　in　the　waters　off　Peru。〃
　　　　〃We're　probing　the　seas　in　search　of　new　drugs；〃　he　answered。
　　　　〃Drugs；　as　in　take　two　plankton　and　call　me　in　the　morning？〃
　　　　Pitt　smiled　and　nodded。　〃It's　entirely　within　the　realm　of　possibility　your　doctor　may　someday　actually　prescribe　such　a　remedy。〃
　　　　〃So　the　hunt　for　new　drugs　has　gone　underwater。〃
　　　　〃A　necessity。　We've　already　found　and　processed　over　ninety　percent　of　all　the　land　organisms　that　provide　sources　of　medicine　to　treat　diseases。　Aspirin　and　quinine　e　from　the　bark　of　trees。　Chemicals　contained　in　everything　from　snake　venom　to　secretion　from　frogs　to　lymph　from　pigs'　glands　are　used　in　drug　pounds。　But　marine　creatures　and　the　microorganisms　that　dwell　in　the　depths　have　been　an　untapped　source；　and　might　well　be　the　hope　of　curing　every　affliction；　including　the　mon　cold；　cancer；　or　AIDS。〃
　　　　〃But　surely　you　can't　simply　go　out　and　bring　back　a　boatload　of　microbes　for　processing　at　a　laboratory　for　distribution　to　your　friendly　pharmacy？〃
　　　　〃Not　as　farfetched　as　you　might　think；〃　he　said。　〃Any　one　of　a　hundred　organisms　that　live　in　a　drop　of　water　can　be　cultivated；　harvested；　and　rendered　into　medicines。　Jellyfish；　an　invertebrate　animal　called　a　bryozoan；　certain　sponges；　and　several　corals　are　currently　being　developed　into　anticancer　medicines；　anti…inflammatory　agents　for　arthritis　pain；　and　drugs　that　suppress　organ　rejection　after　transplant　surgery。　The　test　results　on　a　chemical　isolated　from　kelp　look　especially　encouraging　in　bating　a　drug…resistant　strain　of　tuberculosis。〃
　　　　〃Just　where　in　the　ocean　are　you　looking　for　these　wonder　drugs？〃　asked　Shannon。
　　　　〃This　expedition　is　concentrating　on　a　ridge　of　chimneylike　vents　where　hot　magma　from　within　the　earth's　mantle　es　in　contact　with　cold　seawater　and　spews　through　a　series　of　cracks　before　spreading　across　the　bottom。　You　might　call　it　a　deep…ocean　hot　spring。　Various　minerals　are　de