inca.gold-第48部分

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　　　　〃Ah；　but　it　soothes　the　savage　beast；〃　Giordino　waxed　poetically；　〃to　live　in　a　modern　world。〃

　　　　Yaeger's　scan　of　the　Drake　quipu　took　closer　to　an　hour　and　a　half；　but　when　he　was　finished　the　graphics　made　it　look　better　than　when　it　was　brand　new。　Four　hours　later　he　made　his　first　breakthrough　in　deciphering　its　message。　〃Incredible　how　something　so　simple　can　be　so　plex；〃　he　said；　gazing　at　the　vividly　colored　simulation　of　the　cables　that　fanned　out　across　a　large　monitor。
　　　　〃Sort　of　like　an　abacus；〃　said　Giordino；　straddling　a　chair　in　Yaeger's　puter　sanctuary　and　leaning　over　the　backrest。　Only　he　and　Pitt　had　remained　with　Yaeger。　Straight　had　returned　to　his　lab　with　the　quipu　while　Sandecker　and　Gunn　went　off　to　a　Senate　mittee　hearing　on　a　new　underwater　mining　project。
　　　　〃Far　more　plicated。〃　Pitt　was　leaning　over　Yaeger's　shoulder；　studying　the　image　on　the　monitor。　〃The　abacus　is　basically　a　mathematical　device。　The　quipu；　on　the　other　hand；　is　a　much　more　subtle　instrument。　Each　color；　coil　thickness；　placement　and　type　of　knot；　and　the　tufted　ends；　all　have　significance。　Fortunately；　the　Inca　numerical　system　used　a　base　of　ten　just　like　ours。〃
　　　　〃Go　to　the　head　of　the　class。〃　Yaeger　nodded。　〃This　one；　besides　numerically　recording　quantities　and　distances；　also　recorded　a　historical　event。　I'm　still　groping　around　in　the　dark；　but；　for　example。　。　。〃　He　paused　to　type　in　a　series　of　instructions　on　his　keyboard。　Three　of　the　quipu's　coils　appeared　to　detach　themselves　from　the　main　collar　and　were　enlarged　across　the　screen。　〃My　analysis　proves　pretty　conclusively　that　the　brown；　blue；　and　yellow　coils　indicate　the　passage　of　time　over　distance。　The　numerous　smaller　orange　knots　that　are　evenly　spaced　on　all　three　coils　symbolize　the　sun　or　the　length　of　a　day。〃
　　　　〃What　brought　you　to　that　conclusion？〃
　　　　〃The　key　was　the　occasional　interspacing　of　large　white　knots。〃
　　　　〃Between　the　orange　ones？〃
　　　　〃Right。　The　puter　and　I　discovered　that　they　coincide　perfectly　with　phases　of　the　moon。　As　soon　as　I　can　calculate　astronomical　moon　cycles　during　the　fifteen　hundreds；　I　can　zero　in　on　approximate　dates。〃
　　　　〃Good　thinking；〃　said　Pitt　with　mounting　optimism。　〃You're　onto　something。〃
　　　　〃The　next　step　is　to　determine　what　each　cable　was　designed　to　illustrate。　As　it　turns　out；　the　Incas　were　also　masters　of　simplicity。　According　to　the　puter's　analysis；　the　green　coil　represents　land　and　the　blue　one　the　sea。　The　yellow　remains　inconclusive。〃
　　　　〃So　how　do　you　read　it？〃　asked　Giordino。
　　　　Yaeger　punched　two　keys　and　sat　back。　〃Twenty…four　days　of　travel　over　land。　Eighty…six　by　sea。　Twelve　days　in　the　yellow；　whatever　that　stands　for。〃
　　　　〃The　time　spent　at　their　destination；〃　Pitt　ventured。
　　　　Yaeger　nodded　in　agreement。　〃That　figures。　The　yellow　coil　might　denote　a　barren　land。〃
　　　　〃Or　a　desert；〃　said　Giordino。
　　　　〃Or　a　desert；〃　Pitt　repeated。　〃A　good　bet　if　we're　looking　at　the　coast　of　northern　Mexico。〃
　　　　〃On　the　opposite　side　of　the　quipu；〃　Yaeger　continued；　〃we　find　cables　matching　the　same　blue　and　green　colors；　but　with　a　different　number　of　knots。　This　suggests；　to　the　puter；　the　time　spent　on　the　return　trip。　Judging　by　the　additions　and　shorter　spacing　between　knots；　I'd　say　they　had　a　difficult　and　stormy　voyage　home。〃
　　　　〃It　doesn't　look　to　me　as　if　you're　groping　in　the　dark；〃　said　Pitt。　〃I'd　say　you　have　a　pretty　good　grasp　of　it。〃
　　　　Yaeger　smiled。　〃Flattery　is　always　gratefully　accepted。　I　only　hope　I　don't　fall　into　the　trap　of　inventing　too　much　of　the　analysis　as　I　go。〃
　　　　The　prospect　did　not　sit　well　with　Pitt。　〃No　fiction；　Hiram。　Keep　it　straight。〃
　　　　〃I　understand。　You　want　a　healthy　baby　with　ten　fingers　and　ten　toes。〃
　　　　〃Preferably　one　holding　a　sign　that　says　‘dig　here；'　〃　Pitt　said　in　a　cold；　flat　voice　that　almost　curled　Yaeger's　hair；　〃or　we'll　find　ourselves　staring　down　a　dry　hole。〃
　　　　High　on　the　funnel…shaped　peak　of　a　solitary　mountain　that　rises　like　a　graveyard　monument　in　the　middle　of　a　sandy　desert　there　is　an　immense　stone　demon。
　　　　It　has　stood　there；　legs　tensed　as　if　ready　to　spring；　since　prehistoric　times；　its　claws　dug　into　the　massive　basalt　rock　from　which　it　was　carved。　In　the　desert　tapestry　at　its　feet　ghosts　of　the　ancients　mingle　with　the　ghosts　from　the　present。　Vultures　soar　over　it；　jackrabbits　leap　between　its　legs；　lizards　scurry　over　its　giant　paws。
　　　　From　its　pedestal　on　the　summit；　the　beast's　snakelike　eyes　mand　a　panoramic　vista　of　sand　dunes；　rocky　hills　and　mountains；　and　the　shimmering　Colorado　River　that　divides　into　streams　across　its　silted　delta　before　merging　with　the　Sea　of　Cortez。
　　　　Exposed　to　the　elements　on　the　top　of　the　mountain；　which　is　said　to　be　mystic　and　enchanted；　much　of　the　intricate　detail　of　the　sculpture　has　been　worn　away。　The　body　appears　to　be　that　of　a　jaguar　or　a　huge　cat　with　wings　and　a　serpent's　head。　One　wing　still　protrudes　above　a　shoulder；　but　the　other　has　long　since　fallen　on　the　hard；　rocky　surface　beside　the　beast　and　shattered。　Vandals　have　also　taken　their　toll；　chipping　away　the　teeth　from　the　gaping　jaws　and　digging　their　names　and　initials　on　the　flanks　and　chest。
　　　　Weighing　several　tons　and　standing　as　high　as　a　bull　elephant；　the　winged　jaguar　with　the　serpent's　head　is　one　of　only　four　known　sculptures　produced　by　unknown　cultures　before　the　appearance　of　the　Spanish　missionaries　in　the　early　fifteen　hundreds。　The　other　three　are　static　crouching　lions　in　a　national　park　in　New　Mexico　that　were　far　more　primitive　in　their　workmanship。
　　　　Archaeologists　who　had　scaled　the　steep　cliffs　were　mystified　as　to　its　past；　They　had　no　way　of　guessing　its　age　or　who　carved　the　beast　from　one　enormous　outcropping　of　rock。　The　style　and　design　were　far　different　from　any　known　artifacts　of　the　prehistoric　cultures　of　the　American　Southwest。　Many　theories　were　created；　and　many　opinions　offered；　but　the　enigma　of　the　sculpture's　significance　remained　shrouded　in　its　past。
　　　　It　was　said　that　the　ancient　people　feared　the　awesome　stone　beast；　believing　it　to　be　a　guardian　of　the　underworld；　but　present…day　elders　of　the　Cahuilla；　Quechan；　and　Montolo　tribes　that　live　in　the　area　cannot　recall　any　significant　religious　traditions　or　detailed　rituals　that　pertain　to　the　sculpture。　No　oral　history　had　been　passed　down；　so　they　simply　created　their　own　myth　on　the　ashes　of　a　forgotten　past。　They　invented　a　supernatural　monster　that　all　dead　people　must　pass　on　their　journey　to　the　great　beyond。　If　they　led　bad　lives；　the　stone　beast　came　to　life。　It　snatched　them　in　its　mouth；　chewed　them　with　its　fangs；　and　spat　them　out　as　maimed　and　disfigured　ghosts　doomed　to　walk　the　earth　forever　as　malignant　spirits。　Only　those　good　of　heart　and　mind　were　allowed　to　proceed　unmolested　into　the　afterworld。
　　　　Many　of　the　living　made　the　difficult　climb　up　the　sharp　walls　of　the　mountain　to　lay　gifts　of　hand…modeled　clay　dolls；　and　ancient　seashells　etched　with　the　figures　of　animals；　at　the　feet　of　the　sculpture　as　tribute；　a　bribe　to　ease　the　way　when　their　time　came。　Bereaved　family　members　often　stood　on　the　desert　floor　far　below　the　menacing　sculpture　and　sent　an　emissary　to　the　top　while　they　prayed　for　the　beast　to　grant　their　loved　one　safe　passage。

　　　　Billy　Yuma　had　no　fear　of　the　stone　demon　as　he　sat　in　his　pickup　truck　under　the　shadow　of　the　mountain　and　gazed　up　at　the　forbidding　sculpture　far　above　him。　He　was　hopeful　his　parents　and　his　friends　who　had　died　had　been　allowed　to　freely　pass　the　guardian　of　the　dead。　They　were　good　people　who　had　harmed　no　one。　But　it　was　his　brother；　the　black　sheep　of　the　family；　who　beat　his　wife　and　children　and　died　an　alcoholic；　that　Billy　feared　had　bee　an　evil　ghost。
　　　　Like　most　Native　Americans　of　the　desert；　Billy　lived　in　the　constant　presence　of　the　hideously　deformed　spirits　who　wandered　aimlessly　and　did　malicious　things。　He　knew　his　brother's　spirit　could　rise　at　any　moment　and　throw　dirt　on　him　or　tear　his　clothes；　even　haunt　his　dreams　with　horrible　visions　of　the　restless　dead。　But　Billy's　greatest　worry　was　that　his　brother　might　bring　illness　or　injury　to　his　wife　and　children。
　　　　He　had　seen　his　brother　three　times。　Once　as　a　whirlwind　that　left　behind　a　trail　of　choking　dust；　next　as　a　wavering　light　spinning　around　a　mesquite；　and　finally　as　a　shaft　of　lightning　that　struck　his　truck。　These　were　ominous　signs。　Billy　and　his　tribe's　medicine　man　had　huddled　around　an　open　fire　to　discuss　a　way　to　bat　his　brother's　ghost。　If　not　stopped；　the　apparition　could　pose　an　eternal　threat　to　Billy's　family　and　his　future　descendants。
　　　　Everything　was　tried；　and　nothing　worked。　The　tribe's　old　shaman　prescribed　eating　a　mixture　of　cactus　buds　and　herbs　as　a　measure　of　protection　while　fasting　for　ten　days　alone　in　the　desert。　A　cure　that　failed　miserably。　Near…starvation　induced　Billy　to　see　his　brother's　apparition　on　a　regular　basis　and　hear　eerie　wails　during　the　lonely　nights。　Powerful　rituals　such　as　ceremonial　chanting　were　tried；　but　nothing　appeased　the　brother's　evil　spirit；　and　his　manifestations　became　more　violent。
　　　　Billy　was　not　the　only　one　of　his　tribe　with　problems。　Ever　since　the　tribe's　most　sacred　and　secret　religious　objects　were　found　missing　from　their　hiding　place　in　an　isolated　ruin　belonging　to　their　ancestors；　whole　villages　had　suffered　ill　fortune。　Poor　crops；　contagious　sickness　among　the　children；　unseasonably　hot　and　dry　weather。　Fights　broke　out　when　men　became　drunk；　and　some　were　killed。　But　by　far　the　worst　calamity　was　the　sudden　increase　of　ghost　sickness。　People　who　had　never　before　seen　or　heard　an　evil　spirit　began　describing　haunted　visitations。　Ghosts　of　early　Montolos　suddenly　appeared　during　their　dreams；　often　materializing　in　broad　daylight。　Almost　everyone；　including　young　children；　claimed　to　have　seen　supernatural　phantoms。
　　　　The　theft　of　the　wooden　idols　that　represented　the　sun；　moon；　earth；　and　water　shattered　the　Montolos'　religious　society。　The　anguish　of　not　having　their　presence　during　the　initiation　ceremony　for　entering　adulthood　devastated　the　tribe's　young　sons　and　daughters。　Without　the　carved　deities　the　centuries…old　rituals　could　no