inca.gold-第57部分

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he　Incas　erected。　They　all　have　to　be　interpreted。〃
　　　　Samson　smiled。　It　was　a　cold　and　evil　smile。　〃You　wouldn't　lie　to　me　now；　would　you；　Henry？　You　wouldn't　deceive　my　brother　and　me　into　thinking　Isla　Bargo　isn't　the　treasure　site　so　you　can　return　later　on　your　own　and　dig　it　up？　I　sincerely　hope　that　little　plot　isn't　running　through　your　mind。〃
　　　　Moore　glared　at　him；　simple　dislike　showing　where　there　should　have　been　fear。　〃Blow　off　the　top　of　the　island；〃　he　said　with　a　shrug；　〃and　see　what　it　gets　you。　Level　it　to　the　waterline。　You　won't　find　an　ounce　of　Huascar's　treasure；　not　in　a　thousand　years。　Not　without　someone　who　knows　the　secrets　of　the　markers。〃
　　　　〃He　may　be　right；〃　Oxley　said　quietly。　〃And　if　he's　lying；　we　can　return　and　excavate　on　our　own。　Either　way；　we　win。〃
　　　　Sarason　smiled　bleakly。　He　could　read　Henry　Moore's　thoughts。　The　anthropologist　was　playing　for　time；　waiting　and　scheming　to　use　the　ultimate　end　of　the　search　to　somehow　claim　the　riches　for　himself。　But　Samson　was　a　schemer　too　and　he　had　considered　every　option。　At　the　moment　he　could　see　no　avenue　open　for　Moore　to　make　a　miraculous　escape　with　tons　of　gold。　Certainly　not　unless　Moore　had　a　plan　that　he　had　not　yet　fathomed。
　　　　Leniency　and　patience；　they　were　the　watchwords　for　now；　Samson　decided。　He　patted　Moore　on　the　back。　〃Forgive　my　frustration。　Let's　get　back　to　the　plane　and　call　it　a　day。　I　think　we　could　all　use　a　cool　bath；　a　tall　margarita；　and　a　good　supper。〃
　　　　〃Amen；〃　said　Oxley。　〃We'll　take　up　tomorrow　where　we　left　off　today。〃
　　　　〃I　knew　you'd　see　the　light；〃　said　Moore。　〃I'll　show　you　the　way。　All　you　boys　have　to　do　is　keep　the　faith。〃
　　　　When　they　arrived　back　at　the　aircraft；　Samson　entered　first。　On　a　hunch；　he　picked　up　Moore's　discarded　martini　shaker　and　shook　a　few　drops　onto　his　tongue。　Water；　not　gin。
　　　　Sarason　silently　cursed　himself。　He　had　not　picked　up　on　how　dangerous　Moore　was。　Why　would　Moore　act　the　role　of　a　drunk　if　not　to　lull　everyone　into　thinking　he　was　harmless？　He　slowly　began　to　prehend　that　Henry　Moore　was　not　entirely　what　he　seemed。　There　was　more　to　the　famous　and　respected　anthropologist　than　met　the　eye；　much　more。
　　　　As　a　man　who　could　kill　without　the　slightest　remorse；　Sarason　should　have　recognized　another　killer　when　he　saw　one。
　　　　Micki　Moore　stepped　out　of　the　blue…tiled　swimming　pool　below　the　hacienda　and　stretched　out　on　a　lounge　chair。　She　was　wearing　a　red　bikini　that　did　very　little　to　conceal　her　thin　form。　The　sun　was　warm　and　she　did　not　dry　herself；　preferring　to　let　the　water　drops　cling　to　her　body。　She　glanced　up　at　the　main　house　and　motioned　to　one　of　the　servants　to　bring　her　another　rum　collins。　She　acted　as　though　she　were　the　mistress　of　the　manor；　totally　disregarding　the　armed　guards　who　roamed　the　grounds。　Her　behavior　was　hardly　in　keeping　with　someone　who　was　being　held　hostage。
　　　　The　hacienda　was　built　around　the　pool　and　a　large　garden　filled　with　a　variety　of　tropical　plants。　All　major　rooms　had　balconies　with　dramatic　views　of　the　sea　and　the　town　of　Guaymas。　She　was　more　than　happy　to　relax　around　the　pool　or　in　her　skylit　bedroom　with　its　own　patio　and　Jacuzzi　while　the　men　flew　up　and　down　the　Gulf　in　search　of　the　treasure。　She　picked　up　her　watch　from　a　small　table。　Five　o'clock。　The　conniving　brothers　and　her　husband　would　be　returning　soon。　She　sighed　with　pleasure　at　the　thought　of　another　fabulous　dinner　of　local　dishes。
　　　　After　the　servant　girl　brought　the　rum　collins；　Micki　drank　it　down　to　the　ice　cubes　and　settled　back　for　a　brief　nap。　Just　before　she　drifted　off；　she　thought　she　heard　a　car　drive　up　the　road　from　town　and　stop　at　the　front　gate　of　the　hacienda。
　　　　When　she　awoke　a　short　time　later；　her　skin　felt　cool　and　she　sensed　that　the　sun　had　passed　behind　a　cloud。　But　then　she　opened　her　eyes；　and　was　startled　to　see　a　man　standing　over　her；　his　shadow　thrown　across　the　upper　half　of　her　body。
　　　　The　eyes　that　stared　at　her　looked　like　stagnant　black　pools。　There　was　no　life　to　them。　Even　his　face　seemed　incapable　of　expression。　The　stranger　appeared　emaciated；　as　if　he　been　sick　for　a　long　time。　Micki　shivered　as　though　an　icy　breeze　suddenly　swept　over　her。　She　thought　it　odd　that　he　took　no　notice　of　her　exposed　body；　but　gazed　directly　into　her　eyes。　She　felt　as　if　he　were　looking　inside　her。
　　　　〃Who　are　you？〃　she　asked。　〃Do　you　work　for　Mr。　Zolar？〃
　　　　He　did　not　reply　for　several　seconds。　When　he　spoke；　it　was　with　an　odd　voice　with　no　inflection。　〃My　name　is　Tupac　Amaru。〃
　　　　And　then　he　turned　and　walked　away。

　　　　Admiral　Sandecker　stood　in　front　of　his　desk　and　held　out　his　hand　as　Gaskill　and　Ragsdale　were　ushered　into　his　office。　He　gave　a　friendly　smile。　〃Gentlemen；　please　take　a　seat　and　get　fortable。〃
　　　　Gaskill　looked　down　at　the　little　man　who　stood　slightly　below　his　shoulders。　〃Thank　you　for　taking　the　time　to　see　us。〃
　　　　〃NUMA　has　worked　with　Customs　and　the　FBI　in　the　past。　Our　relations　were　always　based　on　cordial　cooperation。〃
　　　　〃I　hope　you　weren't　apprehensive　when　we　asked　to　meet　with　you；〃　said　Ragsdale。
　　　　〃Curious　is　more　like　it。　Would　you　like　some　coffee？〃
　　　　Gaskill　nodded。　〃Black　for　me；　thank　you。〃
　　　　〃Whatever　artificial　sweetener　that's　handy　in　mine；〃　said　Ragsdale。
　　　　Sandecker　spoke　into　his　inter；　and　then　looked　up　and　asked；　〃Well；　gentlemen；　what　can　I　do　for　you？〃
　　　　Ragsdale　came　straight　to　the　point。　〃We'd　like　NUMA's　help　settling　a　thorny　problem　dealing　with　stolen　artifacts。〃
　　　　〃A　little　out　of　our　line；〃　said　Sandecker。　〃Our　field　is　ocean　science　and　engineering。〃
　　　　Gaskill　nodded。　〃We　understand；　but　it　has　e　to　Customs'　attention　that　someone　in　your　agency　has　smuggled　a　valuable　artifact　into　the　country　illegally。〃
　　　　〃That　someone　was　me；〃　Sandecker　shot　back　without　batting　an　eye。
　　　　Ragsdale　and　Gaskill　glanced　at　each　other　and　shifted　uneasily　in　their　chairs。　This　turn　of　events　was　not　what　they　had　expected。
　　　　〃Are　you　aware；　Admiral；　that　the　United　States　prohibits　the　importing　of　stolen　artifacts　under　a　United　Nations　convention　that　seeks　to　protect　antiquities　worldwide？〃
　　　　〃I　am。〃
　　　　〃And　are　you　also　aware；　sir；　that　officials　at　the　Ecuadorian　embassy　have　filed　a　protest？〃
　　　　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　instigated　the　protest。〃
　　　　Gaskill　sighed　and　visibly　relaxed。　〃I　had　a　feeling　in　my　bones　there　was　more　to　this　than　a　simple　smuggling。〃
　　　　〃I　think　Mr。　Gaskill　and　I　would　both　appreciate　an　explanation；〃　said　Ragsdale。
　　　　Sandecker　paused　as　his　private　secretary；　Julie　Wolff；　entered　with　a　tray　of　coffee　cups　and　set　them　on　the　edge　of　his　desk。　〃Excuse　me；　Admiral；　but　Rudi　Gunn　called　from　San　Felipe　to　report　that　he　and　Al　Giordino　have　landed　and　are　making　final　preparations　for　the　project。〃
　　　　〃What　is　Dirk's　status？〃
　　　　〃He's　driving　and　should　be　somewhere　in　Texas　about　now。〃
　　　　Sandecker　turned　back　to　the　government　agents　after　Julie　had　closed　the　door。　〃Sorry　for　the　interruption。　Where　were　we？〃
　　　　〃You　were　going　to　tell　us　why　you　smuggled　a　stolen　artifact　into　the　United　States；〃　said　Ragsdale；　his　face　serious。
　　　　The　admiral　casually　opened　a　box　of　his　cigars　and　offered　them。　The　agents　shook　their　heads。　He　leaned　back　in　his　desk　chair；　lit　a　cigar；　and　graciously　blew　a　cloud　of　blue　smoke　over　his　shoulder　toward　an　open　window。　Then　he　told　them　the　story　of　Drake's　quipu；　beginning　with　the　war　between　the　Inca　princes　and　ending　with　Hiram　Yaeger's　translation　of　the　coiled　strands　and　their　knots。
　　　　〃But　surely；　Admiral；〃　questioned　Ragsdale；　〃you　and　NUMA　don't　intend　to　get　into　the　treasure　hunting　business？〃
　　　　〃We　most　certainly　do。〃　Sandecker　smiled。
　　　　〃I　wish　you'd　explain　the　Ecuadorian　protest；〃　said　Gaskill。
　　　　〃As　insurance。　Ecuador　is　in　bitter　conflict　with　an　army　of　peasant　rebels　in　the　mountains。　Their　government　officials　were　not　about　to　allow　us　to　search　for　the　quipu　and　then　take　it　to　the　United　States　for　decoding　and　preservation　for　fear　their　people　would　think　they　had　sold　a　priceless　national　treasure　to　foreigners。　By　claiming　we　stole　it；　they're　off　the　hook。　So　they　agreed　to　loan　the　guipu　to　NUMA　for　a　year。　And　when　we　return　it　with　the　proper　ceremony；　they'll　be　applauded　as　national　heroes。〃
　　　　〃But　why　NUMA？〃　Ragsdale　persisted。　〃Why　not　the　Smithsonian　or　National　Geographic？〃
　　　　〃Because　we　don't　have　a　proprietary　interest。　And　we're　in　a　better　position　to　keep　the　search　and　discovery　out　of　the　public　eye。〃
　　　　〃But　you　can't　legally　keep　any　of　it。〃
　　　　〃Of　course　not。　If　it's　discovered　in　the　Sea　of　Cortez；　where　we　believe　it　lies；　Mexico　will　cry　‘finders　keepers。'　Peru　will　claim　original　ownership；　and　the　two　countries　will　have　to　negotiate；　thereby　assuring　the　treasures　will　eventually　be　displayed　in　their　national　museums。〃
　　　　〃And　our　State　Department　will　get　credit　for　a　public　relations　coup　with　our　good　neighbors　to　the　south；〃　added　Ragsdale。
　　　　〃You　said　it；　sir；　not　me。〃
　　　　〃Why　didn't　you　notify　Customs　or　the　FBI　about　this？〃　inquired　Gaskill。
　　　　〃I　informed　the　President；〃　Sandecker　replied　matter…of…factly。　〃If　he　failed　to　filter　the　information　from　the　White　House　to　your　agencies；　then　you'll　just　have　to　blame　the　White　House。〃
　　　　Ragsdale　finished　his　coffee　and　set　the　cup　on　the　tray。　〃You've　closed　the　door　on　one　problem　that　concerned　us　all；　Admiral。　And　believe　me　when　I　say　we　are　extremely　relieved　at　not　having　to　put　you　through　the　hassle　of　an　investigation。　Unfortunately；　or　fortunately；　depending　on　your　viewpoint；　you've　opened　the　door　to　another　dilemma。〃
　　　　Gaskill　looked　at　Ragsdale。　〃The　coincidence　is　nothing　short　of　astonishing。〃
　　　　〃Coincidence？〃　Sandecker　asked　curiously。
　　　　〃That　after　almost　five　hundred　years；　two　vital　clues　to　the　mystery　of　Huascar's　treasure　surfaced　from　two　different　sources　within　five　days　of　each　other。〃
　　　　Sandecker　shrugged。　〃I'm　afraid　I　don't　follow　you。〃
　　　　In　turn；　Gaskill　filled　the　admiral　in　on　the　Golden　Body　Suit　of　Tiapollo。　He　finished　by　giving　a　brief　summary　of　the　case　against　Zolar　International。
　　　　〃Are　you　telling　me　that　another　party　is　searchin