inca.gold-第5部分

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　　　　The　sinkhole's　early　history　began　in　the　Cambrian　era　when　the　region　was　part　of　an　ancient　sea。　Through　the　following　geological　eras；　thousands　of　generations　of　shellfish　and　coral　lived　and　died；　their　skeletal　carcasses　forming　an　enormous　mass　of　lime　and　sand　that　pressed　into　a　limestone　and　dolomite　layer　two　kilometers　thick。　Then；　beginning　sixty…five　million　years　ago；　an　intense　earth　uplifting　occurred　that　raised　the　Andes　Mountains　to　their　present　height。　As　the　rain　ran　down　from　the　mountains　it　formed　a　great　underground　water　table　that　slowly　began　dissolving　the　limestone。　Where　it　collected　and　pooled；　the　water　ate　upward　until　the　land　surface　collapsed　and　created　the　sinkhole。
　　　　In　the　damp　air　above　the　jungle　surrounding　the　cavity；　an　Andean　condor　banked　in　great　lazy　circles；　one　emotionless　eye　fastened　on　a　group　of　people　working　around　the　edge　of　the　cenote。　Its　long；　broad　wings；　measuring　3　meters　（10　feet）；　arched　stiff　to　catch　the　air　currents。　The　huge　black　bird；　with　its　white　ruff　and　bald　pinkish　head；　soared　effortlessly　as　it　studied　the　movement　below。　Finally；　satisfied　that　no　meal　was　in　the　offing；　the　vulture　ascended　to　a　greater　height　for　distant　observation　and　drifted　eastward　in　search　of　carrion。
　　　　A　great　deal　of　unresolved　controversy　had　surrounded　the　sacred　pool；　and　now　archaeologists　had　finally　gathered　to　dive　and　retrieve　artifacts　from　its　enigmatic　depths。　The　ancient　site　was　located　on　a　western　slope　beneath　a　high　ridge　of　the　Peruvian　Andes　near　a　great　ruined　city。　The　nearby　stone　structures　had　been　part　of　a　vast　confederation　of　city…states；　known　as　the　Chachapoyas；　that　was　conquered　by　the　renowned　Inca　empire　around　A。D。1480。
　　　　The　Chachapoyan　confederation　enpassed　almost　400　square　kilometers　（150　square　miles）。　Its　metropolitan　spread　of　farms；　temples；　and　fortresses　now　lay　in　mostly　unexplored　heavily　forested　mountains。　The　ruins　of　this　great　civilization　indicated　an　incredibly　mysterious　blend　of　cultures　and　origins　that　were　mostly　unknown。　The　Chachapoyan　rulers　or　council　of　elders；　their　architects；　priests；　soldiers；　and　ordinary　working　people　in　the　cities　and　on　the　farms　left　virtually　no　record　of　their　lives。　And　archaeologists　had　yet　to　fathom　their　government　bureaucracy；　justice　system；　and　religious　practices。
　　　　As　she　stared　down　at　the　stagnant　water　through　big；　wide；　hazel　eyes　under　raised　dark　brows；　Dr。　Shannon　Kelsey　was　too　excited　to　feel　the　cold　touch　of　fear。　A　very　attractive　woman　when　dressed　and　made　up；　she　possessed　a　rather　cool　and　aloof　self…sufficiency　that　most　men　found　irritating；　particularly　so　since　she　could　gaze　into　their　eyes　with　a　teasing　boldness。　Her　hair　was　straight　and　soft　blond　and　tied　in　a　ponytail　by　a　red　bandanna；　and　the　abundance　of　skin　that　showed　on　her　face；　arms；　and　legs　was　richly　tanned。　The　inside　of　her　one…piece　black　Lycra　swim　suit　was　nicely　filled　by　an　hourglass　figure　with　an　extra　twenty　minutes　thrown　in　for　good　measure；　and　when　she　moved　it　was　with　the　fluid　grace　of　a　Balinese　dancer。
　　　　In　her　late　thirties；　Dr。　Kelsey　had　enjoyed　a　ten…year　fascination　with　the　Chachapoyan　cultures。　She　had　explored　and　surveyed　important　archaeological　sites　on　five　previous　expeditions；　clearing　the　invading　plant　growth　from　a　number　of　the　major　buildings　and　temples　of　the　region's　ancient　cities。　As　a　respected　archaeologist　of　Andes　culture；　following　in　the　footsteps　of　a　glorious　past　was　her；　great　passion。　To　work　where　an　enigmatic　and　obscure　people　had　flourished　and　died　was　a　dream　made　possible　by　a　grant　from　the　Archaeology　Department　of　Arizona　State　University。
　　　　〃Useless　to　carry　a　video　camera　unless　the　visibility　opens　up　below　the　first　two　meters；〃　said　Miles　Rodgers；　the　photographer　who　was　filming　the　project。
　　　　〃Then　shoot　stills；〃　Shannon　said　firmly。　〃I　want　every　dive　recorded　whether　we　can　see　past　our　noses　or　not。〃
　　　　A　year　shy　of　forty　and　sporting　luxuriant　black　hair　and　a　beard；　Rodgers　was　an　old　pro　at　underwater　photography。　He　was　in　demand　by　all　the　major　science　and　travel　publications　to　shoot　below…the…sea　photos　of　fish　and　coral　reefs。　His　extraordinary　pictures　of　World　War　II　shipwrecks　in　the　South　Pacific　and　ancient　submerged　seaports　throughout　the　Mediterranean　had　won　him　numerous　awards　and　the　respect　of　his　peers。
　　　　A　tall；　slender　man　in　his　sixties；　with　a　silver　gray　beard　that　covered　half　his　face；　held　up　Shannon's　air　tank　so　she　could　slip　her　arms　through　the　straps　of　the　backpack。　〃I　wish　you'd　put　a　hold　on　this　until　we've　finished　constructing　the　dive　raft。〃
　　　　〃That's　two　days　away。　By　doing　a　preliminary　survey　now　we　can　get　a　head　start。〃
　　　　〃Then　at　least　wait　for　the　rest　of　the　dive　team　to　arrive　from　the　university。　If　you　and　Miles　get　into　trouble；　we　have　no　backup。〃
　　　　〃Not　to　worry；〃　Shannon　said　gamely。　〃Miles　and　I　will　only　do　a　bounce　dive　to　test　depth　and　water　conditions。　We　won't　run　our　dive　time　past　thirty　minutes。〃
　　　　〃And　no　deeper　than　fifteen　meters；〃　the　older　man　cautioned　her。
　　　　Shannon　smiled　at　her　colleague；　Dr。　Steve　Miller　from　the　University　of　Pennsylvania。　〃And　if　we　haven't　touched　bottom　at　fifteen　meters？〃
　　　　〃We've　got　five　weeks。　No　need　to　get　antsy　and　risk　an　accident。〃　Miller's　voice　was　quiet　and　deep；　but　there　was　a　noticeable　trace　of　concern　in　it。　One　of　the　leading　anthropologists　of　his　time；　he　had　devoted　the　last　thirty　years　to　unraveling　the　mysteries　of　the　cultures　that　had　evolved　in　the　upper　regions　of　the　Andes　and　spilled　down　to　the　jungles　of　the　Amazon。　〃Play　it　safe；　make　a　study　of　water　conditions　and　the　geology　of　the　pool　walls；　then　get　back　to　the　surface。〃
　　　　Shannon　nodded　and　spit　into　her　face　mask；　smearing　the　saliva　around　the　inside　of　the　lens　to　keep　it　from　misting。　Next　she　rinsed　the　mask　from　a　canteen　of　water。　After　adjusting　her　buoyancy　pensator　and　cinching　her　weight　belt；　she　and　Rodgers　made　a　final　check　of　each　other's　equipment。　Satisfied　everything　was　in　place　and　their　digital　dive　puters　properly　programmed；　Shannon　smiled　at　Miller。
　　　　〃See　you　soon；　Doc。　Keep　a　martini　on　ice。〃
　　　　The　anthropologist　looped　under　their　arms　a　wide　strap　that　was　attached　to　long　nylon　lines；　gripped　tightly　by　a　team　of　ten　Peruvian　graduate　students　of　the　university's　archaeology　program；　who　had　volunteered　to　join　the　project。　〃Lower　away；　kids；〃　Miller　ordered　the　six　boys　and　four　girls。
　　　　Hand　over　hand　the　lines　were　paid　out　as　the　divers　began　their　descent　into　the　ominous　pool　below。　Shannon　and　Rodgers　extended　their　legs　and　used　the　tips　of　their　dive　fins　as　bumpers　to　keep　from　scraping　against　the　rough　limestone　walls。　They　could　clearly　see　the　coating　of　slime　covering　the　surface　of　the　water。　It　looked　as　viscous　and　about　as　inviting　as　a　tub　of　green　mucus。　The　aroma　of　decay　and　stagnation　was　overwhelming。　To　Shannon　the　thrill　of　the　unknown　abruptly　changed　to　a　feeling　of　deep　apprehension。
　　　　When　they　were　within　1　meter　（about　3　feet）　of　the　surface；　they　both　inserted　their　air　regulator　mouthpieces　between　their　teeth　and　signaled　to　the　anxious　faces　staring　from　above。　Then　Shannon　and　Miles　slipped　out　of　their　harnesses　and　dropped　out　of　sight　into　the　odious　slime。


　　　　Miller　nervously　paced　the　rim　of　the　sinkhole；　glancing　at　his　watch　every　other　minute　while　the　students　peered　in　fascination　at　the　green　slime　below。　Fifteen　minutes　passed　with　no　sign　of　the　divers。　Suddenly；　the　exhaust　bubbles　from　their　air　regulators　disappeared。　Frantically　Miller　ran　along　the　edge　of　the　well。　Had　they　found　a　cave　and　entered　it？　He　waited　ten　minutes；　then　ran　over　to　a　nearby　tent　and　rushed　inside。　Almost　feverishly　he　picked　up　a　portable　radio　and　began　hailing　the　project's　headquarters　and　supply　unit　in　the　small　town　of　Chachapoyas；　90　kilometers　（56　miles）　to　the　south。　The　voice　of　Juan　Chaco；　inspector　general　of　Peruvian　archaeology　and　director　of　the　Museo　de　la　Nacion　in　Lima；　answered　almost　immediately。
　　　　〃Juan　here。　That　you；　Doc？　What　can　I　do　for　you？〃
　　　　〃Dr。　Kelsey　and　Miles　Rodgers　insisted　on　making　a　preliminary　dive　into　the　sacrificial　well；〃　replied　Miller。　〃I　think　we　may　have　an　emergency。〃
　　　　〃They　went　into　that　cesspool　without　waiting　for　the　dive　team　from　the　university？〃　Chaco　asked　in　a　strangely　indifferent　tone。
　　　　〃I　tried　to　talk　them　out　of　it。〃
　　　　〃When　did　they　enter　the　water？〃
　　　　Miller　checked　his　watch　again。　〃Twenty…seven　minutes　ago。〃
　　　　〃How　long　did　they　plan　to　stay　down？〃
　　　　〃They　planned　to　resurface　after　thirty　minutes。〃
　　　　〃It's　still　early。〃　Chaco　sighed。　〃So　what's　the　problem？〃
　　　　〃We've　seen　no　sign　of　their　air　bubbles　for　the　last　ten　minutes。〃
　　　　Chaco　caught　his　breath；　closed　his　eyes　for　a　second。　〃Doesn't　sound　good；　my　friend。　This　is　not　what　we　planned。〃
　　　　〃Can　you　send　the　dive　team　ahead　by　helicopter？〃　asked　Miller。
　　　　〃Not　possible；〃　Chaco　replied　helplessly。　〃They're　still　in　transit　from　Miami。　Their　plane　isn't　scheduled　to　land　in　Lima　for　another　four　hours。〃
　　　　〃We　can't　afford　government　meddling。　Certainly　not　now。　Can　you　arrange　to　have　a　dive　rescue　team　rushed　to　the　sinkhole？〃
　　　　〃The　nearest　naval　facility　is　at　Trujillo。　I'll　alert　the　base　mander　and　go　from　there。〃
　　　　〃Good　luck　to　you；　Juan。　I'll　stand　by　the　radio　at　this　end。〃
　　　　〃Keep　me　informed　of　any　new　developments。〃
　　　　〃I　will；　I　promise　you；〃　Miller　said　grimly。
　　　　〃My　friend？〃
　　　　〃Yes？〃
　　　　〃They'll　e　through；〃　offered　Chaco　in　a　hollow　tone。　〃Rodgers　is　a　master　diver。　He　doesn't　make　mistakes。〃
　　　　Miller　said　nothing。　There　was　nothing　more　to　say。　He　broke　contact　with　Chaco　and　hurried　back　to　the　silent　group　of　students；　who　were　staring　down　into　the　sinkhole　with　dread。
　　　　In　Chachapoyas；　Chaco　pulled　out　a　handkerchief　and　mopped　his　face。　He　was　a　man　of　order。　Unforeseen　obstacles　or　problems　irritated　him。　If　the　two　stupid　Americans　drowned　themselves；　there　would　be　a　government　inquiry。　Despite　Chaco's　influence；　the　Peruvian　news　media　were　bound　to　make　an　overblown　incident　out　of　it。　Th