inca.gold-第6部分

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　The　consequences　might　very　well　prove　to　be　nothing　less　than　disastrous。
　　　　〃All　we　need　now；〃　he　muttered　to　himself；　〃are　two　dead　archaeologists　in　the　pool。〃
　　　　Then　with　shaking　hands　he　gripped　the　radio　transmitter　and　began　sending　out　an　urgent　call　for　help。

　　　　One　hour　and　forty…five　minute　had　passed　since　Shannon　and　Miles　had　entered　the　sacrificial　pool。　Any　attempt　at　rescue　now　seemed　an　empty　gesture。　Nothing　could　save　Shannon　and　Miles　now。　They　had　to　be　dead；　their　air　used　up　long　ago。　Two　more　victims　added　to　the　countless　number　who　had　disappeared　into　the　morbid　waters　through　the　centuries。
　　　　In　a　voice　frantic　with　desperation；　Chaco　had　informed　him　that　the　Peruvian　navy　was　caught　unprepared　for　an　emergency。　Their　water　escape　and　recovery　team　was　on　a　training　mission　far　to　the　south　of　Peru　near　the　Chilean　border。　It　was　impossible　for　them　to　airlift　the　dive　team　and　their　equipment　to　the　sinkhole　before　sundown。　Chaco　helplessly　shared　Miller's　anxiety　over　the　slow　response　time。　But　this　was　South　America　and　speed　was　seldom　a　priority。
　　　　One　of　the　female　students　heard　it　first。　She　cupped　her　hands　to　her　ears　and　turned　back　and　forth　like　a　radar　antenna。　〃A　helicopter！〃　she　announced　excitedly；　pointing　in　a　westerly　direction　through　the　tops　of　the　trees。
　　　　In　an　expectant　hush　everyone　around　the　rim　of　the　pool　listened。　The　faint　thumping　sound　of　a　rotor　blade　beating　the　air　came　toward　them；　growing　louder　with　each　passing　moment。　A　minute　later　a　turquoise　helicopter　with　the　letters　NUMA　painted　on　its　sides　swept　into　view。
　　　　Where　had　it　e　from？　Miller　wondered；　his　spirits　rising。　It　obviously　didn't　have　the　markings　of　the　Peruvian　navy。　It　had　to　be　a　civilian　craft。
　　　　The　tops　of　the　surrounding　trees　were　whipped　into　a　frenzy　as　the　helicopter　began　its　descent　into　a　small　clearing　beside　the　sinkhole。　The　landing　skids　were　still　in　the　air　when　the　fuselage　door　opened　and　a　tall　man　with　wavy　black　hair　made　an　agile　leap　to　the　ground。　He　was　dressed　in　a　thin；　shorty　wet　suit　for　diving　in　warm　waters。　Ignoring　the　younger　people；　he　walked　directly　up　to　the　anthropologist。
　　　　〃Dr。　Miller？〃
　　　　〃Yes；　I'm　Miller。〃
　　　　The　stranger；　a　warm　smile　arched　across　his　face；　shoved　out　a　calloused　hand。　〃I'm　sorry　we　couldn't　have　arrived　sooner。〃
　　　　〃Who　are　you？〃
　　　　〃My　name　is　Dirk　Pitt。〃
　　　　〃You're　American；〃　Miller　stated；　staring　into　a　craggy　face　with　eyes　that　seemed　to　smile。
　　　　〃Special　Projects　Director　for　the　U。S。　National　Underwater　and　Marine　Agency。　As　I　understand　it；　two　of　your　divers　are　missing　in　an　underwater　cave。〃
　　　　〃A　sinkhole；〃　Miller　corrected　him。　〃Dr。　Shannon　Kelsey　and　Miles　Rodgers　entered　the　water　almost　two　hours　ago　and　have　failed　to　resurface。〃
　　　　Pitt　walked　over　to　the　edge　of　the　pool；　stared　down　at　the　stagnant　water；　and　quickly　determined　that　diving　conditions　were　rotten。　The　pool　went　from　slime　green　at　the　outer　edges　to　pitch　black　in　the　center；　giving　the　impression　of　great　depth。　There　was　nothing　to　indicate　that　the　operation　would　prove　to　be　anything　more　than　a　body　recovery。　〃Not　too　inviting；〃　he　mused。
　　　　〃Where　did　you　e　from？〃　queried　Miller。
　　　　〃NUMA　is　conducting　an　underwater　geological　survey　off　the　coast　due　west　of　here。　The　Peruvian　naval　headquarters　radioed　a　request　to　send　divers　on　a　rescue　mission　and　we　responded。　Apparently　we're　the　first　to　arrive　on…site。〃
　　　　〃How　can　oceanographic　scientists　carry　out　a　rescue　and　recovery　operation　in　a　hellhole？〃　Miller　snapped；　being　suddenly　angry。
　　　　〃Our　research　ship　contained　the　necessary　diving　equipment；〃　Pitt　explained　unemotionally。　〃I'm　not　a　scientist　but　a　marine　engineer。　I've　only　had　a　few　training　sessions　in　underwater　recovery；　but　I'm　a　reasonably　good　diver。〃
　　　　Before　a　discouraged　Miller　could　reply；　the　helicopter's　engine　died　as　the　rotor　blades　slowly　swung　to　a　stop；　and　a　short　man　with　the　broad　shoulders　and　barrel　chest　of　a　dock　worker　squeezed　through　the　exit　door　and　approached。　He　looked　the　plete　opposite　of　the　tall　lean　Pitt。
　　　　My　friend　and　associate；　Al　Giordino；〃　Pitt　said；　introducing　him。
　　　　Giordino　nodded　under　a　mass　of　dark；　curly　hair　and　said　simply；　〃Hello。〃
　　　　Miller　looked　behind　them　through　the　windshield　of　the　aircraft；　and　seeing　the　interior　held　no　other　passengers；　groaned　in　despair。　〃Two　of　you；　only　two　of　you。　My　God；　it　will　take　at　least　a　dozen　men　to　bring　them　out。〃
　　　　Pitt　wasn't　the　least　bit　annoyed　by　Miller's　outburst。　He　stared　at　the　anthropologist　with　tolerant　understanding　through　deep　green　opaline　eyes　that　seemed　to　possess　a　mesmeric　quality。　〃Trust　me；　Doc；〃　he　said　in　a　tone　that　stopped　any　further　argument。　〃Al　and　I　can　do　the　job。〃
　　　　Within　minutes；　after　a　brief　planning　session；　Pitt　was　ready　to　be　lowered　into　the　pool。　He　was　wearing　a　full　EXO…26　face　mask　from　Diving　Systems　International　with　an　exothermic　air　regulator　good　for　polluted　water　applications。　The　earphone　sockets　were　connected　to　an　MK1…DCI　Ocean　Technology　Systems　diver　radio。　He　earned　twin　100…cubic…foot　air　tanks　on　his　back　and　wore　a　buoyancy　pensator　with　an　array　of　instruments　indicating　depth；　air　pressure；　and　pass　direction。　As　he　geared　up；　Giordino　connected　a　thick　nylon　Kermantle　munications　and　safety　line　to　Pitt's　earphone　and　an　emergency　release　buckle　on　a　strap　cinched　around　Pitt's　waist。　The　remainder　of　the　safety　line　wound　around　a　large　reel　mounted　inside　the　helicopter　and　connected　to　an　outside　amplifier。　After　a　final　check　of　Pitt's　equipment；　Giordino　patted　him　on　the　head　and　spoke　into　the　munication　system's　microphone。
　　　　〃Looking　good。　Do　you　read？〃
　　　　〃As　though　you　were　inside　my　head；〃　Pitt　answered；　his　voice　audible　to　everyone　through　an　amplifier。　〃How　about　me？〃
　　　　Giordino　nodded。　〃Clear　and　distinct。　I'll　monitor　your　depression　schedule　and　dive　time　from　here。〃
　　　　〃Understood。〃
　　　　〃I'm　counting　on　you　to　give　me　a　running　account　of　your　situation　and　depth。〃
　　　　Pitt　wrapped　the　safety　line　around　one　arm　and　gripped　it　with　both　hands。　He　gave　Giordino　a　wink　from　behind　the　lens　of　the　face　mask。　〃Okay；　let's　open　the　show。〃
　　　　Giordino　motioned　to　four　of　Miller's　students　who　began　unwinding　the　reel。　Unlike　Shannon　and　Miles　who　bounced　their　way　down　along　the　sinkhole　walls；　Giordino　had　strung　the　nylon　line　over　the　end　of　a　dead　tree　trunk　that　hung　2　meters　（over　6　feet）　beyond　the　edge　of　the　vertical　precipice；　allowing　Pitt　to　drop　without　scraping　against　the　limestone。
　　　　For　a　man　who　was　conceivably　sending　his　friend　to　an　untimely　death；　Miller　thought；　Giordino　appeared　incredibly　calm　and　efficient。　He　did　not　know　Pitt　and　Giordino；　had　never　heard　of　the　legendary　pair。　He　could　not　know　they　were　extraordinary　men　with　almost　twenty　years　of　adventuring　under　the　seas　who　had　developed　an　unerring　sense　for　assessing　the　odds　of　survival。　He　could　only　stand　by　in　frustration　at　what　he　was　certain　was　an　exercise　in　futility。　He　leaned　over　the　brink　and　watched　intently　as　Pitt　neared　the　green　surface　scum　of　the　water。
　　　　〃How's　it　look？〃　asked　Giordino　over　the　phone。
　　　　〃Like　my　grandmother's　split　pea　soup；〃　replied　Pitt。
　　　　〃I　don't　advise　sampling　it。〃
　　　　〃The　thought　never　entered　my　mind。〃
　　　　No　further　words　were　spoken　as　Pitt's　feet　entered　the　liquid　slime。　When　it　closed　over　his　head；　Giordino　slackened　the　safety　line　to　give　him　freedom　of　movement。　The　water　temperature　was　only　about　ten　degrees　cooler　than　the　average　hot　tub。　Pitt　began　breathing　through　his　regulator；　rolled　over；　kicked　his　fins；　and　dove　down　into　the　murky　world　of　death。　The　increasing　water　pressure　squeezed　his　ear　drums　and　he　snorted　inside　his　mask　to　equalize　the　force。　He　switched　on　a　Birns　Oceanographics　Snooper　light；　but　the　hand…held　beam　could　barely　penetrate　the　gloom。
　　　　Then；　abruptly；　he　passed　through　the　dense　murk　into　a　yawning　chasm　of　crystal　clear　water。　Instead　of　the　light　beam　reflecting　off　the　algae　into　his　face；　it　suddenly　shot　into　the　distance。　The　instant　transformation　below　the　layer　of　slime　stunned　him　for　a　moment。　He　felt　as　if　he　were　swimming　in　air。　〃I　have　clear　visibility　at　a　depth　of　four　meters；〃　he　reported　topside。
　　　　〃Any　sign　of　the　other　divers？〃
　　　　Pitt　slowly　swam　in　a　360…degree　circle。　〃No；　nothing。〃
　　　　〃Can　you　make　out　details　of　the　bottom？〃
　　　　〃Fairly　well；〃　replied　Pitt。　〃The　water　is　transparent　as　glass　but　quite　dark。　The　scum　on　the　surface　cuts　the　sunlight　on　the　bottom　by　seventy　percent。　It's　a　bit　dark　around　the　walls　so　I'll　have　to　swim　a　search　pattern　so　I　won't　miss　the　bodies。〃
〃Do　you　have　enough　slack　on　the　safety　line？〃
　　　　〃Maintain　a　slight　tension　so　it　won't　hinder　my　movement　as　I　go　deeper。〃
　　　　For　the　next　twelve　minutes　Pitt　circled　the　steep　walls　of　the　sinkhole；　probing　every　cavity；　descending　as　if　revolving　around　a　giant　corkscrew。　The　limestone；　laid　down　hundreds　of　millions　of　years　earlier；　was　mineral　stained　with　strange；　abstract　images。　He　planed　horizontally　and　swam　in　languid　slow　motion；　sweeping　the　beam　of　light　back　and　forth　in　front　of　him。　The　illusion　of　soaring　over　a　bottomless　pit　was　overwhelming。
　　　　Finally；　he　leveled　out　over　the　floor　of　the　sacrificial　pool。　No　firm　sand　or　plant　life；　just　one　uneven　patch　of　ugly　brown　silt　broken　by　clusters　of　grayish　rock。　〃I　have　the　bottom　at　slightly　over　thirty…six　meters。　Still　no　sign　of　Kelsey　or　Rodgers。〃
　　　　Far　above　the　pool；　Miller　gave　Giordino　a　dazed　look。　〃They　must　be　down　there。　Impossible　for　them　to　simply　vanish。〃
　　　　Far　below；　Pitt　kicked　slowly　across　the　bottom；　careful　to　stay　a　good　meter　above　the　rocks　and　especially　the　silt；　which　might　billow　into　a　blinding　cloud　and　reduce　his　visibility　to　zero　within　seconds。　Once　disturbed；　silt　could　remain　suspended　for　several　hours　before　settling　back　to　the　bottom。　He　gave　an　involuntary　shudder。　The　water　had　turned　unfortably　cold　as　he　passed　into　a　cool　layer　suspended　beneath　the　warmer　water　above。　He　slowed　and　drifted；　adding　enough　lift　from　his　pensator　for　sligh