inca.gold-第56部分

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retary　of　environment。　There　was　a　magnetism　that　had　drawn　her　to　him。　He　was　not　handsome　in　the　movie　star　sense；　but　there　was　a　masculine；　no…nonsense　air　about　him　that　awakened　a　desire　she　hadn't　experienced　with　other　men。　He　was　tall　and　lean。　That　helped。　As　a　congresswoman　she　had　known　many　wealthy　and　powerful　men；　several　of　them　devilishly　good…looking。　But　here　was　a　man　who　wore　the　reputation　of　an　adventurer　fortably　and　cared　nothing　for　power　or　fame。　And　rightly　so。　He　was　the　genuine　article。
　　　　There　were　no　strings　attached　to　their　off…and…on　ten…year　affair。　He　had　known　other　women；　she　had　known　other　men；　and　yet　their　bond　still　held　firm。　Any　thought　of　marriage　had　seemed　remote。　Each　was　already　married　to　his　or　her　job。　But　the　years　had　mellowed　their　relationship；　and　as　a　woman　Loren　knew　her　biological　clock　did　not　have　too　many　ticks　left　if　she　wished　to　have　children。
　　　　〃It　doesn't　have　to　be　like　that；〃　she　said　finally。
　　　　He　sensed　her　feeling。　〃No；〃　he　said　affectionately；　〃we　can　make　several　major　improvements。〃
　　　　She　gave　him　a　peculiar　look。　〃Are　you　proposing　to　me？〃
　　　　A　quiet　look　deepened　his　green　eyes。　〃Let's　just　say　I　was　making　a　suggestion　about　things　to　e。〃

　　　　〃Can　you　put　us　closer　to　the　dominant　peak？〃　Sarason　asked　his　brother　Charles　Oxley；　who　was　at　the　controls　of　a　small　amphibious　flying　boat。　〃The　crest　of　the　lower　one　is　too　sharp　for　our　requirements。〃
　　　　〃Do　you　see　something？〃
　　　　Sarason　peered　through　binoculars　out　a　side　window　of　the　aircraft。　〃The　island　has　definite　possibilities；　but　it　would　help　if　I　knew　what　sort　of　landmark　to　look　for。〃
　　　　Oxley　banked　the　twin　turboprop…engined　Baffin　CZ410　for　a　better　view　of　Isla　Danzante；　a　steep…sided；　5…square…kilometer　（3…square…mile）　rock　formation　that　jutted　400　meters　（1312　feet）　above　the　Sea　of　Cortez　just　south　of　the　popular　resort　town　of　Loreto。　〃Has　the　right　look　about　it；〃　he　mented；　staring　down。　〃Two　small　beaches　to　land　boats。　The　slopes　are　honeybed　with　small　caves。　What　do　you　say；　brother？〃
　　　　Sarason　turned　and　looked　at　the　man　in　the　rear　passenger　seat。　〃I　say　the　esteemed　Professor　Moore　is　still　holding　out　on　us。〃
　　　　〃You'll　be　alerted　to　the　proper　site　when　I　see　it；〃　Moore　said　curtly。
　　　　〃I　say　we　throw　the　little　bastard　out　the　hatch　and　watch　him　try　to　fly；〃　Sarason　snapped　harshly。
　　　　Moore　crossed　his　arms　smugly。　〃You　do；　and　you'll　never　find　the　treasure。〃
　　　　〃I'm　getting　damned　sick　of　hearing　that。〃
　　　　〃What　about　Isla　Danzante？〃　asked　Oxley。　〃Has　it　got　the　right　features？〃
　　　　Moore　snatched　the　binoculars　from　Sarason　without　asking　and　peered　at　the　broken　terrain　running　across　the　ridge　of　the　island。　After　a　few　moments；　he　handed　them　back　and　relaxed　in　his　seat　with　an　iced　shaker　of　martinis。　〃Not　the　one　we're　looking　for；〃　he　proclaimed　regally。
　　　　Sarason　clasped　his　hands　tightly　to　prevent　them　from　strangling　Moore。　After　a　few　moments；　he　regained　a　degree　of　posure　and　turned　the　page　of　the　same　boater's　guide　that　was　being　used　by　Pitt。　〃Next　search　point　is　Isla　Carmen。　Size；　one　hundred　and　fifty　square　kilometers。　Length；　thirty　kilometers。　Has　several　peaks　rising　over　three　hundred　meters。〃
　　　　〃That's　a　pass；〃　announced　Moore。　〃Far　too　large。〃
　　　　〃Your　speedy　response　is　duly　noted；〃　Sarason　muttered　sarcastically。　〃After　that　we　have　Isla　Cholla；　a　small　flat…topped　rock　with　a　light　tower　and　a　few　fishing　huts。〃
　　　　〃Skip　that　one　too；〃　said　Moore。
　　　　〃Okay；　next　up　is　Isla　San　Ildefonso；　six　miles　offshore　east　of　San　Sebastian。〃
　　　　〃Size？〃
　　　　〃About　two　and　a　half　square　kilometers。　No　beaches。〃
　　　　〃There　has　to　be　a　beach；〃　said　Moore；　taking　another　slug　from　his　martini　shaker。　He　swallowed　the　last　few　drops　and　his　face　took　on　an　expression　of　deprivation。　〃The　Incas　could　not　have　landed　and　unloaded　their　rafts　without　a　beach。〃
　　　　〃After　San　Ildefonso　we　e　to　Bahia　Coyote；〃　said　Sarason。　〃There　we'll　have　a　choice　of　six　islands　that　are　little　more　than　huge　rocks　rising　from　the　sea。〃
　　　　Oxley　eased　the　Baffin　amphibian　into　a　slow　climb　until　he　reached　700　meters　（about　2300　feet）。　Then　he　set　a　course　due　north。　Twenty…five　minutes　later　the　bay　and　the　long　peninsula　that　shield　it　from　the　Gulf　came　into　view。　Oxley　descended　and　began　circling　the　small　rocky　islands　scattered　around　the　entrance　to　the　bay。
　　　　〃Isla　Guapa　and　Isla　Bargo　are　possibilities；〃　observed　Sarason。　〃They　both　rise　sharply　from　the　water　and　have　small　but　open　summits。〃
　　　　Moore　squirmed　sideways　in　his　seat　and　peered　down。　〃They　don't　look　promising　to　me〃　He　stopped　talking　and　grabbed　Sarason's　binoculars　again。　〃That　island　down　there。〃
　　　　〃Which　one？〃　queried　Sarason　irritably。　〃There　are　six　of　them。〃
　　　　〃The　one　that　looks　like　a　floating　duck　looking　backward。〃
　　　　〃Isla　Bargo。　Fits　the　profile。　Steep　walls　on　three　sides；　rounded　crest。　There　is　also　a　small　beach　in　the　crook　of　the　neck。〃
　　　　〃That's　it；〃　Moore　said　excitedly。　〃That　must　be　it。〃
　　　　Oxley　was　skeptical。　〃How　can　you　be　so　sure？〃
　　　　A　curious　look　crossed　Moore's　face　for　a　fleeting　instant。　〃A　gut　feeling；　nothing　more。〃
　　　　Sarason　snatched　back　the　glasses　and　studied　the　island。　〃There；　on　the　crown。　It　looks　like　something　carved　in　the　rock。〃
　　　　〃Don't　pay　any　attention　to　that；〃　said　Moore；　wiping　a　trickle　of　sweat　from　his　forehead。　〃It　doesn't　mean　a　thing。〃
　　　　Sarason　was　no　fool。　Could　it　be　a　signpost　cut　by　the　Incas　to　mark　the　passageway　to　the　treasure；　he　wondered　in　silence。
　　　　Moore　sank　back　in　his　seat　and　said　nothing。
　　　　〃I'll　land　and　taxi　to　that　little　beach；〃　said　Oxley。　〃From　the　air；　at　least；　it　looks　like　a　relatively　easy　climb　to　the　summit。〃
　　　　Sarason　nodded。　〃Take　her　down。〃
　　　　Oxley　made　two　passes　over　the　water　off　the　island's　beach；　making　certain　there　were　no　underwater　reefs　or　rocks　that　could　tear　out　the　bottom　of　the　aircraft。　He　came　into　the　wind　and　settled　the　plane　on　the　blue　sea；　striking　the　light　swells　and　riding　them　like　a　speedboat　across　a　choppy　lake。　The　propellers　flashed　in　the　sun　as　they　whipped　sheets　of　spray　over　the　wing。
　　　　The　plane　quickly　slowed　from　the　drag　of　the　water　as　Oxley　eased　back　on　the　throttles；　keeping　just　enough　power　to　move　the　plane　toward　the　beach。　Forty…six　meters　（151　feet）　from　shore；　he　extended　the　wheels　into　the　water。　The　tires　soon　touched　and　gripped　the　sandy　shelf　that　sloped　toward　the　island。　Two　minutes　later　the　plane　rose　from　a　low　surf　and　rolled　onto　the　beach　like　a　dripping　duck。
　　　　Two　fishermen　wandered　over　from　a　small　driftwood　shack　and　gawked　at　the　aircraft　as　Oxley　turned　off　the　ignition　switches　and　the　propellers　swung　to　a　stop。　The　passenger　door　opened　and　Sarason　stepped　down　to　the　white　sand　beach；　followed　by　Moore　and　finally　Oxley；　who　locked　and　secured　the　door　and　cargo　hatch。　As　an　added　security　measure；　Samson　generously　paid　the　fishermen　to　guard　the　plane。　Then　they　set　off　on　a　scarcely　defined　footpath　leading　to　the　top　of　the　island。
　　　　At　first　the　trail　was　an　easy　hike　but　then　it　angled　more　steeply　the　closer　they　came　to　the　summit。　Gulls　soared　over　them；　squawking　and　staring　down　at　the　sweating　humans　through　indifferent　beady　eyes。　Their　flight　was　majestic　as　they　steered　by　the　feathers　in　their　tails；　wings　outstretched　and　motionless　to　catch　the　warm　updrafts。　One　particularly　curious　bird　swooped　over　Moore　and　splattered　his　shoulder。
　　　　The　anthropologist；　appearing　to　suffer　from　the　effects　of　alcohol　and　exertion；　stared　dumbly　at　his　stained　shirt；　too　tired　to　curse。　Samson；　a　wide　grin　on　his　face；　saluted　the　gull　and　climbed　over　a　large　rock　blocking　the　trail。　Then　the　blue　sea　came　into　view　and　he　looked　across　the　channel　to　the　white　sand　beach　of　Playa　el　Coyote　and　the　Sierra　el　Cardonal　mountains　beyond。
　　　　Moore　had　stopped；　gasping　for　air；　sweat　flowing　freely。　He　looked　on　the　verge　of　collapse　when　Oxley　grabbed　his　hand　and　heaved　him　onto　the　flat　top　of　the　summit。
　　　　〃Didn't　anybody　ever　tell　you　booze　and　rock　climbing　don't　mix？〃
　　　　Moore　ignored　him。　Then　suddenly；　the　exhaustion　washed　away　and　he　stiffened。　His　eyes　squinted　in　drunken　concentration。　He　brushed　Oxley　aside　and　stumbled　toward　a　rock　the　size　of　a　small　automobile　that　was　crudely　carved　in　the　shape　of　some　animal。　Like　a　drunk　who　had　witnessed　a　vision；　he　staggered　around　the　rock　sculpture；　his　hands　fluttering　over　the　rough；　uneven　surface。
　　　　〃A　dog；〃　he　gasped　between　labored　breaths；　〃it's　only　a　stupid　dog。〃
　　　　〃Wrong；〃　said　Samson。　〃A　coyote。　The　namesake　of　the　bay。　Superstitious　fishermen　carved　it　as　a　symbol　to　protect　their　crews　and　boats　when　they　go　to　sea。〃
　　　　〃Why　should　an　old　rock　carving　interest　you？〃　asked　Oxley。
　　　　〃As　an　anthropologist；　primitive　sculptures　can　be　a　great　source　of　knowledge。〃
　　　　Samson　was　watching　Moore；　and　for　once　his　eyes　were　no　longer　filled　with　distaste。　There　was　no　question　in　his　mind　that　the　drunken　professor　had　given　away　the　key　to　the　treasure's　location。
　　　　He　could　kill　Moore　now；　Samson　thought　icily。　Throw　the　little　man　over　the　edge　of　the　island's　west　palisade　into　the　surf　that　crashed　on　the　rocks　far　below。　And　who　would　care？　The　body　would　probably　drift　out　with　the　tide　and　bee　shark　food。　Any　investigation　by　local　Mexican　authorities　was　doubtful。
　　　　〃You　realize；　of　course；　that　we　no　longer　require　your　services；　don't　you；　Henry？〃　It　was　the　first　time　Sarason　had　uttered　Moore's　given　name；　and　there　was　an　unpleasant　familiarity　about　it。
　　　　Moore　shook　his　head　and　spoke　with　an　icy　posure　that　seemed　unnatural　under　the　circumstances。　〃You'll　never　do　it　without　me。〃
　　　　〃A　pathetic　bluff；〃　Samson　sneered。　〃Now　that　we　know　we're　searching　for　an　island　with　a　sculpture；　an　ancient　one　I　presume；　what　more　can　you　possibly　contribute　to　the　search？〃
　　　　Moore's　drunkenness　had　seemingly　melted　away；　and　he　abruptly　appeared　as　sober　as　a　judge。　〃A　rock　sculpture　is　only　the　first　of　several　benchmarks　the　Incas　erected。　They　all　have　to　be　interpreted。〃
　　　　Samson　smiled。　It　was　a　cold　and　evil　smile