inca.gold-第3部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


and　the　finest　of　recently　liberated　Spanish　wines。
　　　　Even　while　they　were　dining；　Drake's　crewmen　turned　the　ships　to　the　west　and　sailed　beyond　Spanish　sea　lanes。　The　following　morning　they　heaved　to；　trimming　the　sails　so　that　the　ship's　speed　fell　off　but　they　maintained　enough　headway　to　keep　the　bows　up　to　the　seas。　The　next　four　days　were　spent　transferring　the　fantastic　treasure　trove　from　the　cargo　holds　of　the　Concepcion　to　the　Golden　Hind。　The　vast　plunder　included　thirteen　chests　of　royal　silver　plate　and　coins；　eighty　pounds　of　gold；　twenty…six　tons　of　silver　bullion；　hundreds　of　boxes　containing　pearls　and　jewels；　mostly　emeralds；　and　a　great　quantity　of　food　stores　such　as　fruits　and　sugar。　The　catch　was　to　be　the　richest　prize　taken　by　a　privateer　for　several　decades。
　　　　There　was　also　a　hold　full　of　precious　and　exotic　Inca　artifacts　that　were　being　transported　to　Madrid　for　the　personal　pleasure　of　His　Catholic　Majesty；　Philip　II；　the　King　of　Spain。　Drake　studied　the　artifacts　with　great　astonishment。　He　had　never　seen　anything　like　them。　Reams　of　intricately　embroidered　Andean　textiles　filled　one　section　of　the　hold　from　deck　to　ceiling。　Hundreds　of　crates　contained　intricately　sculpted　stone　and　ceramic　figures　mingled　with　highly　crafted　masterpieces　of　carved　jade；　superb　mosaics　of　turquoise　and　shell；　all　plundered　from　sacred　religious　temples　of　the　Andean　civilizations　overrun　by　Francisco　Pizarro　and　succeeding　armies　of　gold…hungry　conquistadors。　It　was　a　glimpse　of　magnificent　artistry　that　Drake　never　dreamed　existed。　Oddly；　the　item　that　interested　him　most　was　not　a　masterwork　of　three…dimensional　art　inlaid　with　precious　stones　but　rather　a　simple　box　carved　from　jade　with　the　mask　of　a　man　for　a　lid。　The　masked　lid　sealed　so　perfectly　the　interior　was　nearly　airtight。　Inside　was　a　multicolored　tangle　of　long　cords　of　different　thicknesses　with　over　a　hundred　knots。
　　　　Drake　took　the　box　back　to　his　cabin　and　spent　the　better　part　of　a　day　studying　the　intricate　display　of　cords　tied　to　lesser　cords　in　vibrantly　dyed　colors　with　the　knots　tied　at　strategic　intervals。　A　gifted　navigator　and　an　amateur　artist；　Drake　realized　that　it　was　either　a　mathematical　instrument　or　a　method　of　recording　dates　as　a　calendar。　Intrigued　by　the　enigma；　he　tried　unsuccessfully　to　determine　the　meaning　behind　the　colored　strands　and　the　different　disposition　of　the　knots。　The　solution　was　as　obscure　to　him　as　to　a　native　trying　to　interpret　latitude　and　longitude　on　a　navigational　chart。
　　　　Drake　finally　gave　up　and　wrapped　the　jade　box　in　linen。　Then　he　called　for　Cuttill。
　　　　〃The　Spaniard　rides　higher　in　the　water　with　most　of　her　riches　relieved；〃　Cuttill　announced　jovially　as　he　entered　the　captain's　cabin。
　　　　〃You　have　not　touched　the　artworks？〃　Drake　asked。
　　　　〃As　you　ordered；　they　remain　in　the　galleon's　hold。〃
　　　　Drake　rose　from　his　worktable　and　walked　over　to　the　large　window　and　stared　at　the　Concepcion。　The　galleon's　sides　were　still　wet　several　feet　above　her　present　waterline。　〃The　art　treasures　were　meant　for　King　Philip；〃　he　said。　〃Better　they　should　go　to　England　and　be　presented　to　Queen　Bess。〃
　　　　〃The　Hind　is　already　dangerously　overladen；〃　Cuttill　protested。　〃By　the　time　another　five　tons　are　loaded　aboard；　the　sea　will　be　lapping　at　our　lower　gunports；　and　she　won't　answer　the　helm。　She'll　founder　sure　as　heaven　if　we　take　her　back　through　the　tempest　of　Magellan　Strait。〃
　　　　〃I　don't　intend　to　return　through　the　strait；〃　said　Drake。　〃My　plan　is　to　head　north　in　search　of　a　northwest　passage　to　England。　If　that　is　not　successful；　I'll　follow　in　Magellan's　wake　across　the　Pacific　and　around　Africa。〃
　　　　〃The　Hind　will　never　see　England；　not　with　her　cargo　holds　busting　their　seams。〃
　　　　〃We'll　jettison　the　bulk　of　the　silver　on　Cano　Island　off　Ecuador；　where　we　can　salvage　it　on　a　later　voyage。　The　art　goods　will　remain　on　the　Conception。〃
　　　　〃But　what　of　your　plan　to　give　them　to　the　queen？〃
　　　　〃That　still　stands；〃　Drake　assured　him。　〃You；　Thomas；　will　take　ten　men　from　the　Hind　and　sail　the　galleon　to　Plymouth。〃
　　　　Cuttill　spread　his　hands　in　anguish。　〃I　can't　possibly　sail　a　vessel　her　size　with　only　ten　men；　not　through　heavy　seas。〃
　　　　Drake　walked　back　to　his　worktable　and　tapped　a　pair　of　brass　dividers　on　a　circle　marked　on　a　chart。　〃On　charts　I　found　in　Captain　de　Anton's　cabin　I've　indicated　a　small　bay　on　the　coast　north　of　here　that　should　be　free　of　Spaniards。　You　will　sail　there　and　cast　off　the　Spanish　officers　and　all　wounded　crewmen。　Impress　twenty　of　the　remaining　able…bodied　seamen　to　man　the　vessel。　I'll　see　you're　supplied　with　more　than　enough　weapons　to　preserve　mand　and　prevent　any　attempt　to　wrest　control　of　the　ship。〃
　　　　Cuttill　knew　it　was　useless　to　object。　Debating　with　a　stubborn　man　like　Drake　was　a　lost　cause。　He　accepted　his　assignment　with　a　resigned　shrug。　〃I　will；　of　course；　do　as　you　mand。〃
　　　　Drake's　face　was　confident；　his　eyes　warm。　〃If　anyone　can　sail　a　Spanish　galleon　up　to　the　dock　at　Plymouth；　Thomas；　you　can。　I　suspect　you'll　knock　the　eyes　out　of　the　queen's　head　when　you　present　her　with　your　cargo。〃
　　　　〃I　would　rather　leave　that　piece　of　work　to　you；　Captain。〃
　　　　Drake　gave　Cuttill　a　friendly　pat　on　one　shoulder。　〃Not　to　fear；　my　old　friend。　I'm　ordering　you　to　be　standing　dockside　with　a　wench　on　each　arm；　waiting　to　greet　me　when　the　Hind　arrives　home。〃

　　　　At　sunrise　the　following　morning　Cuttill　ordered　the　crewmen　to　cast　off　the　lines　binding　the　two　ships。　Safely　tucked　under　one　arm　was　the　linen…wrapped　box　that　Drake　had　directed　him　to　personally　give　to　the　queen。　He　carried　it　to　the　captain's　cabin　and　locked　it　inside　a　cabinet　in　the　captain's　quarters。　Then　he　returned　to　deck　and　took　mand　of　the　Nuestra　Senora　de　la　Conception　as　she　drifted　away　from　the　Golden　Hind。　Sails　were　set　under　a　dazzling　crimson　sun　the　superstitious　crews　on　both　ships　solemnly　described　as　red　as　a　bleeding　heart。　To　their　primitive　way　of　thinking　it　was　considered　a　bad　omen。
　　　　Drake　and　Cuttill　exchanged　final　waves　as　the　Golden　Hind　set　a　course　to　the　northeast。　Cuttill　watched　the　smaller　ship　until　she　was　hull　down　over　the　horizon。　He　did　not　share　Drake's　confidence。　A　deep　feeling　of　foreboding　settled　in　the　pit　of　his　stomach。
　　　　Several　days　later；　after　dumping　many　tons　of　silver　ingots　and　coins　off　Cano　Island　to　lighten　her　draft；　the　sturdy　Hind　and　the　intrepid　Drake　sailed　north。　。　。　to　what　would　be　known　more　than　two　centuries　later　as　Vancouver　Island。　。　。　before　turning　west　across　the　Pacific　on　their　epic　voyage。
　　　　Far　to　the　south　the　Conception　tacked　and　headed　due　east；　making　landfall　and　reaching　the　bay　marked　on　the　Spanish　chart　by　Drake　sometime　late　the　next　evening。　The　anchor　was　dropped　and　the　watch　lights　set。
　　　　Daylight　brought　the　sun　shining　down　over　the　Andes　as　Cuttill　and　his　crew　discovered　a　large　native　village　of　more　than　a　thousand　inhabitants；　surrounded　by　a　large　bay。　Without　wasting　time；　he　ordered　his　men　to　begin　ferrying　the　Spanish　officers　and　their　wounded　to　shore。　Twenty　of　the　best　seamen　among　the　survivors　were　offered　ten　times　their　Spanish　pay　to　help　sail　the　galleon　to　England　where　they　were　promised　to　be　set　free　upon　landing。　All　twenty　gladly　signed　on。
　　　　Cuttill　was　standing　on　the　gun　deck　overseeing　the　landing　operation　just　after　midday　when　the　ship　began　to　vibrate　as　though　a　giant　hand　were　rocking　it。　Everyone　immediately　stared　at　the　long　streamlike　ensigns　tied　to　the　top　of　the　masts。　But　only　the　ends　of　their　tails　fluttered　under　a　slight　whisper　of　wind。　Then　every　eye　turned　to　shore　where　a　great　cloud　of　dust　rose　from　the　base　of　the　Andes　and　appeared　to　be　moving　toward　the　sea。　A　frightening　thundering　sound　increased　to　deafening　proportions　along　with　a　tremendous　convulsion　of　the　earth。　As　the　crew　gawked　in　stunned　fascination；　the　hills　east　of　the　village　seemed　to　rise　and　fall　like　breakers　rolling　on　a　shallow　shore。
　　　　The　dust　cloud　descended　on　the　village　and　swallowed　it。　Above　the　uproar　came　the　screams　and　cries　of　the　villagers　and　the　crashing　sounds　of　their　rock　and　adobe　mud　houses　as　they　shook　apart　and　crumbled　into　ruin。　None　of　the　crew　had　ever　experienced　an　earthquake；　and　few　were　even　aware　of　such　a　phenomenon。　Half　the　Protestant　English　and　every　one　of　the　Catholic　Spaniards　on　the　galleon　dropped　to　their　knees　and　began　praying　fervently　to　God　for　deliverance。
　　　　In　minutes　the　dust　cloud　passed　over　the　ship　and　dispersed　out　to　sea。　They　all　stared　unprehendingly　at　what　had　been　a　thriving　village　bustling　with　activity。　Now　it　was　nothing　but　flattened　ruins。　Cries　came　from　those　trapped　under　the　debris。　A　later　estimate　would　show　that　less　than　fifty　of　the　local　inhabitants　survived。　The　Spaniards　on　shore　ran　up　and　down　the　beach　in　panic；　shouting　and　begging　to　be　brought　back　to　the　ship。　Collecting　his　senses；　Cuttill　ignored　the　pleas；　ran　to　the　railing　and　scanned　the　surrounding　sea。　Beyond　showing　a　mild　chop；　the　water　appeared　indifferent　to　the　nightmare　tragedy　in　the　village。
　　　　Suddenly　desperate　to　escape　the　cataclysm　on　shore；　Cuttill　began　shouting　orders　to　get　the　galleon　underway。　The　Spanish　prisoners　cooperated　wholeheartedly；　working　alongside　the　English　to　unfurl　the　sails　and　pull　in　the　anchor。　Meanwhile；　the　survivors　from　the　village　crowded　the　beach；　imploring　the　galleon's　crew　to　return　and　help　them　rescue　their　relatives　from　the　shattered　wreckage　and　carry　them　aboard　the　ship　to　safety。　The　seamen　turned　deaf　ears　to　the　pleas；　concerned　only　with　their　own　preservation。
　　　　Suddenly；　another　earthquake　shook　the　land；　acpanied　by　an　even　more　thunderous　roar。　The　terrain　began　to　undulate　as　if　some　monster　were　shaking　a　giant　carpet。　This　time　the　sea　slowly　rolled　back；　stranding　the　Concepcion　and　exposing　the　floor　of　the　sea。　The　seamen；　none　of　whom　knew　how　to　swim；　possessed　an　unnatural　fear　of　what　was　under　the　water。　Now　they　stared　wonderingly　at　the　sight　of　thousands　of　fish　flipping　about　like　wingless　birds　amid　the　rocks　and　corals　where　they　had　been　left　high　and　dry　by　the　retreati