inca.gold-第86部分

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all。　He　decided　that　it　must　feed　into　the　river　by　great　pressure　from　a　system　of　underground　aquifers。
　　　　Once　through　the　curtain　of　mist；　he　could　see　the　walls　had　spread　and　the　roof　sloped　upward　into　a　chamber　of　vast　size　and　proportion。　It　was　a　bizarrely　decorated　cavern　filled　with　grotesquely　shaped　helictites；　a　family　of　stalactites　that　ignores　gravity　and　grows　in　eccentric　directions。　Mineral　deposits　had　also　formed　beautifully　sculpted　mushrooms　over　a　meter　tall　and　delicate　gypsum　flowers　with　graceful　plumes。　The　spectacular　formations　would　have　been　described　by　veteran　spelunkers　as　a　showcase　grotto。
　　　　Pitt　couldn't　but　wonder　how　many　other　subterranean　worlds　sprawled　through　the　earth　in　eternal　darkness；　waiting　to　be　discovered　and　explored。　It　was　easy　to　let　the　mind　run　amok　and　imagine　a　long…dead　and　lost　race　who　had　lived　down　here　and　carved　the　magnificent　calcite　sculptures。
　　　　Not　Giordino。　The　beauty　was　lost　on　him。　He　turned；　gazed　back　at　Pitt　with　a　big　I'm…glad…to…be…alive　smile　and　said；　〃Looks　like　a　hangout　for　the　Phantom　of　the　Opera。〃
　　　　〃I　doubt　if　we'll　find　Lon　Chaney　playing　the　pipe　organ　down　here。〃
　　　　〃We　have　a　landing　thirty　meters　ahead　to　the　left；〃　Giordino　said；　his　spirits　lifting　considerably。
　　　　〃Right。　Start　your　turn　into　shallow　water　and　swim　like　hell　to　get　out　of　the　main　current。〃
　　　　Giordino　needed　no　urging。　He　cut　his　angle　sharply；　pulling　the　canister　behind　him　and　kicking　his　fins　furiously。　Pitt　released　his　grip　on　the　big　aluminum　tube；　swam　strongly　alongside　until　he　was　at　its　midpoint；　and　then；　using　his　body　as　a　drag；　he　heaved　it　after　Giordino。
　　　　The　approach　worked　as　Pitt　had　hoped。　Giordino　broke　free　of　the　current　and　swam　into　calmer　water。　When　his　fins　touched　the　bottom；　he　climbed　ashore；　dragging　the　canister　with　him。
　　　　Now　unhampered；　Pitt　easily　stroked　into　the　shallows；　landing　ten　meters　below　Giordino。　He　crawled　out　of　the　water；　sat　down；　removed　his　fins　and　goggles；　and　carefully　walked　back　upstream　across　the　smoothly　textured　rocks　as　he　removed　his　air　tanks。
　　　　Giordino　did　the　same　before　he　began　dismantling　the　canister。　He　looked　up　at　Pitt　with　a　look　of　profound　acplishment。　〃Nice　place　you've　got　here。〃
　　　　〃Sorry　for　the　mess；〃　muttered　Pitt；　〃but　the　seven　dwarfs　are　on　a　break。〃
　　　　〃Does　it　feel　as　good　to　you　as　it　does　to　me　that　we've　e　this　far？〃
　　　　〃I'm　not　sad　to　be　alive；　if　that's　what　you　mean。〃
　　　　〃How　far　have　we　e？〃
　　　　Pitt　tapped　in　a　mand　on　the　puter　strapped　to　his　arm。　〃According　to　my　faithful　wonder　of　technology；　we　have　traveled　two　kilometers　through　damnation　and　dropped　another　two　meters　toward　hell。〃
　　　　〃Twenty…eight　to　go。〃
　　　　〃Yes；〃　Pitt　said；　smiling　like　a　magician　about　to　bedazzle　an　audience。　〃But　from　here　on；　we　go　in　style。〃

　　　　Five　minutes　later　the　eight　air　chambers　of　the　Wallowing　Windbag　were　filled　and　the　hull　fully　inflated；　deployed；　and　ready　to　do　battle　with　the　river。　Known　as　a　water　rescue　response　vehicle；　the　ungainly　Hovercraft　could　ride　on　a　cushion　of　air　effortlessly　over　boiling　rapids；　quicksand；　thin　ice；　and　polluted　quagmires。　Vehicles　in　use　by　police　and　fire　departments　around　the　country　had　saved　countless　victims　from　death　by　drowning。　Now　this　one　was　going　on　an　endurance　trial　its　builders　never　conceived。
　　　　Three　meters　（10　feet）　in　length　and　1。5　meters　（5　feet）　wide；　the　pact　craft　mounted　a　four…cycle；　50…horsepower　engine　that　could　propel　her　over　a　flat　surface　at　64　kilometers　（40　miles）　an　hour。
　　　　〃Our　engineers　did　a　fine　job　of　modifying　the　height；〃　said　Giordino。
　　　　〃Adopting　a　horizontal　engine　and　fan　was　a　stroke　of　genius；〃　Pitt　agreed。
　　　　Amazing　how　much　equipment　they　crammed　inside　the　canister。〃
　　　　Before　they　cast　off；　they　stowed　and　tied　down　ten　reserve　air　tanks；　extra　air　bottles　to　reinflate　the　Hovercraft；　a　battery　of　lights　including　two　aircraft　landing　lights　built　into　waterproof　housings；　spare　batteries；　first　aid　equipment；　and　three　additional　breathing　regulators。
　　　　From　a　watertight　container　Pitt　retrieved　his　battered；　old　。45　Colt　automatic　and　two　ammo　clips。　He　smiled　as　he　also　found　a　thermos　of　coffee　and　four　bologna　sandwiches。　Admiral　Sandecker　never　forgot　the　details　that　make　for　a　successful　operation。　Pitt　put　the　thermos　and　sandwiches　back　in　the　container。　There　was　no　time　for　a　picnic。　They　had　to　push　on　if　they　were　to　reach　the　treasure　chamber　before　it　was　too　late　to　save　Loren　and　Rudi。　He　inserted　the　gun　and　extra　ammo　clips　into　a　plastic　bag　and　sealed　the　opening。　Then　he　unzipped　the　front　of　his　wet　suit　and　slipped　the　bag　inside　next　to　his　stomach。
　　　　He　stared　for　a　moment　at　the　black　collapsible　Hovercraft。　〃Oh；　Circe；　who　will　guide　us　on　this　journey；〃　he　quoted。　〃To　Hades　no　man　ever　went　in　a　black　ship。〃
　　　　Giordino　looked　up　from　coupling　a　pair　of　steering　oars　to　their　locks。　〃Where　did　you　hear　that？〃
　　　　〃The　Odyssey　by　Homer。〃
　　　　〃Verily　among　the　Trojans　too　there　be　men　that　dive；〃　Giordino　recited　glibly。　〃The　Iliad。　I　can　quote　Homer　too。〃
　　　　〃You　never　cease　to　amaze　me。〃
　　　　〃It's　nothing　really。〃
　　　　Pitt　climbed　aboard。　〃Gear　stashed？〃
　　　　〃All　buttoned　down。〃
　　　　〃Ready　to　shove　off？〃
　　　　〃Start　her　up。〃
　　　　Pitt　crouched　in　the　stern　just　ahead　of　the　engine　fan。　He　engaged　the　starter　and　the　air…cooled　engine　sputtered　to　life。　The　small　engine　was　well　muffled　and　the　exhaust　sounded　only　as　a　muted　throb。
　　　　Giordino　took　his　position　in　the　bow　of　the　craft　and　turned　on　one　of　the　landing　lights；　illuminating　the　cavern　as　bright　as　daylight。　He　looked　back　at　Pitt　and　laughed。　〃I　hope　no　one　fines　us　for　polluting　a　virgin　environment。〃
　　　　Pitt　laughed　too。　〃A　losing　proposition　for　the　local　sheriff。　I　forgot　my　wallet。〃
　　　　The　Hovercraft　moved　off　the　shoreline；　suspended　on　its　self…produced　20…centimeter　（8…inch）　cushion　of　air　into　the　mainstream　of　the　river。　Pitt　held　the　vertical　grips　of　the　control　bar　in　each　hand　and　easily　steered　an　arrow…straight　course　over　the　flowing　current。
　　　　It　seemed　strange　to　be　skimming　over　the　water　surface　without　a　sensation　of　contact。　From　the　bow；　Giordino　could　look　down　into　the　remarkably　transparent　water　that　had　turned　from　the　cobalt　blue　of　the　sinkhole　to　a　deep　aqua　green　and　see　startled　albino　salamanders　and　small　schools　of　blind　cave　fish　darting　amid　the　spherical　boulders　that　carpeted　the　river　bottom　like　fallen　ornaments。　He　kept　busy　reporting　the　river　conditions　ahead　and　snapping　photos　as　Pitt　maneuvered　and　recorded　data　on　his　puter　for　Peter　Duncan。
　　　　Even　with　their　rapid　motion　through　the　large　corridors；　their　sweat　and　the　extreme　humidity　bined　to　form　a　halo　like　mist　around　their　heads。　They　ignored　the　phenomenon　and　the　darkness　behind　them；　never　looking　back　as　they　continued　deeper　into　the　river…carved　canyon。
　　　　For　the　first　8　kilometers　（5　miles）　it　was　clear　sailing　and　they　made　good　time。　They　skimmed　over　bottomless　pools　and　past　forbidding　galleries　that　extended　deep　into　the　walls　of　the　caverns。　The　ceilings　in　the　string　of　river　chambers　varied　from　a　high　of　30　meters　（98　feet）　to　barely　enough　room　to　squeeze　the　Hovercraft　through。　They　bounced　over　several　small；　shallow　cascades　without　difficulty　and　entered　a　narrow　channel　where　it　took　all　their　concentration　to　avoid　the　everpresent　rocks。　Then　they　traveled　through　one　enormous　gallery　that　stretched　almost　3　kilometers　（slightly　under　2　miles）　and　was　filled　with　stunning　crystals　that　glinted　and　sparkled　beneath　the　aircraft　light。
　　　　On　two　different　occasions；　the　passage　became　flooded　when　the　ceiling　merged　with　the　water　surface。　Then　they　went　through　the　routine　of　deflating　the　Wallowing　Windbag　until　it　achieved　neutral　buoyancy；　returned　to　breathing　from　their　air　tanks；　and　drifted　with　the　current　through　the　sunken　passage　dragging　the　flattened　Hovercraft　and　its　equipment　behind　them　until　they　emerged　into　an　open　cavern　and　reinflated　it　again。　There　were　no　plaints　over　the　additional　effort。　Neither　man　expected　a　smooth　cruise　down　a　placid　river。
　　　　To　relieve　the　stress　they　began　giving　nonsensical　names　to　the　galleries　and　prominent　features。　The　Fun　House；　the　Wax　Museum；　Giordino's　Gymnasium。　A　small　spout　from　a　cavern　wall　was　labeled　Postnasal　Drip。　The　river　itself　they　called　the　Old　Sot。
　　　　After　traveling　through　a　second　submerged　passage　and　reinflating　their　boat；　Pitt　observed　that　the　current's　pace　had　quickened　by　two　knots　and　the　river　gradient　began　dropping　at　a　faster　rate。　Like　leaves　through　a　gutter　drain；　they　rushed　into　the　eternal　land　of　gloom；　never　knowing　what　dangers　lurked　around　the　next　bend。
　　　　The　rapids　increased　frighteningly　as　the　Hovercraft　was　suddenly　swept　into　a　raging　cataract。　The　emerald　water　turned　a　boiling　white　as　it　cascaded　through　a　passage　strewn　with　boulders。　Now　the　Wallowing　Windbag　was　rearing　up　like　a　rodeo　bronco　as　it　surged　between　the　rocks　and　plunged　sickeningly　into　the　next　trough。　Every　time　Pitt　told　himself　the　rapids　couldn't　possibly　get　more　violent；　the　next　stretch　of　river　slammed　the　Hovercraft　into　a　seething　frenzy　that　buried　it　pletely　on　more　than　one　occasion。　But　the　faithful　little　craft　always　shook　off　the　froth　and　fought　back　to　the　surface。
　　　　Pitt　struggled　like　a　madman　to　keep　the　boat　on　a　straight　course。　If　they　swung　halfway　around　broadside　to　the　tumult；　all　chances　for　survival　would　have　been　lost。　Giordino　grabbed　the　emergency　oars　and　put　his　back　into　keeping　the　boat　steady。　They　swept　around　a　sharp　curve　in　the　river　over　massive　rocks；　some　partly　submerged　and　kicking　up　great　waves　shaped　like　rooster　tails；　others　rising　above　the　turbulence　like　menacing　monoliths。　Several　boulders　were　skinned　by　the　little　vessel。　Then　one　rose　out　of　the　trough　that　seemed　certain　to　crush　the　boat　and　its　occupants。　But　the　outer　hull　sideswiped　the　unyielding　stone　without　a　puncture　and　was　carried　past。
　　　　Their　ordeals　never　ceased。　They　were　caught　in　a　swirling　eddy　like　a　cork　being　sucked　down　a　drain。　Pitt　braced　his　back　again