inca.gold-第87部分

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　　　　Their　ordeals　never　ceased。　They　were　caught　in　a　swirling　eddy　like　a　cork　being　sucked　down　a　drain。　Pitt　braced　his　back　against　an　air…filled　support　cell　to　stay　upright　and　pushed　the　throttle　to　its　stop。　The　howl　of　the　racing　engine　was　lost　in　the　roar　of　the　rapids。　All　his　will　and　concentration　were　focused　on　keeping　the　Hovercraft　from　twisting　broadside　from　the　force　of　the　speeding　current　as　Giordino　assisted　by　pulling　mightily　on　the　oars。
　　　　Lost　when　Giordino　took　up　the　oars；　the　landing　lights　had　fallen　overboard　into　the　froth。　Now　the　only　light　came　from　the　lamps　on　their　hardhats。　It　seemed　a　lifetime　had　passed　before　they　finally　broke　clear　of　the　whirlpool　and　were　hurled　back　into　the　rapids。
　　　　Pitt　eased　back　on　the　throttle　and　relaxed　his　hands　on　the　grips　of　the　control　bar。　There　was　no　point　in　fighting　the　river　now。　The　Wallowing　Windbag　would　go　where　the　surging　water　threw　it。
　　　　Giordino　peered　into　the　black　unknown　ahead；　hoping　to　see　calmer　water。　What　he　saw　was　a　fork　in　the　river　that　divided　the　mainstream　into　two　different　galleries。　He　shouted　above　the　tumult；　〃We're　ing　to　a　junction！〃
　　　　〃Can　you　tell　which　is　the　main　conduit？〃　Pitt　yelled　back。
　　　　〃The　one　on　the　left　looks　the　largest！〃
　　　　〃Okay；　pull　to　port！〃
　　　　The　Hovercraft　came　terrifyingly　close　to　being　smashed　against　the　great　mass　of　rock　that　split　the　river　and　only　missed　turning　turtle　by　a　hair　as　it　was　overwhelmed　by　a　giant　backwash。　The　little　vessel　dug　into　the　turbulence　and　lurched　forward　sickeningly；　burying　its　bow　under　a　wall　of　water。　Somehow　it　regained　a　level　keel　before　being　thrown　forward　by　the　relentless　current。
　　　　For　an　instant　Pitt　thought　he'd　lost　Giordino；　but　then　the　burly　little　man　rose　out　of　the　deep　pool　filling　the　inside　of　the　boat　and　shook　his　head　to　clear　the　dizziness　brought　on　by　being　spun　around　like　a　ball　in　a　roulette　wheel。　Incredibly；　he　cracked　a　smile　and　pointed　to　his　ears。
　　　　Pitt　understood。　The　continuous　roar　of　the　rapids　seemed　to　be　slackening。　The　Hovercraft　responded　to　his　control　again；　but　sluggishly；　because　it　was　half…full　of　water。　The　excess　weight　was　making　it　impossible　to　maintain　an　air…cushion。　He　increased　the　throttle　and　yelled　to　Giordino。
　　　　〃Start　bailing！〃
　　　　The　boat　designers　had　thought　of　everything。　Giordino　inserted　a　lever　into　a　small　pump　and　began　shoving　it　back　and　forth；　causing　a　gush　of　water　to　shoot　through　a　pipe　over　the　side。
　　　　Pitt　leaned　over　and　studied　the　depths　under　his　headlamps。　The　channel　seemed　more　constricted；　and　although　the　rocks　were　no　longer　churning　up　the　water；　the　river　seemed　to　be　moving　at　a　horrifying　speed。　Suddenly；　he　noticed　that　Giordino　had　stopped　bailing　and　was　listening　with　an　apocalyptic　look　on　his　face。　And　then　Pitt　heard　it　too。
　　　　A　deep　rumble　boomed　from　the　black　void　downriver。
　　　　Giordino　stared　at　him。　〃I　think　we　just　bought　the　farm！〃　he　shouted。
　　　　The　vision　of　going　over　Niagara　Falls　returned。　This　was　no　spout　from　above　they　were　approaching。　The　sound　that　reverberated　through　the　cavern　was　that　of　an　enormous　volume　of　water　rushing　over　an　immense　cascade。
　　　　〃Hit　the　inflator　on　your　buoyancy　pensator！〃　Pitt　roared　above　the　chaos。
　　　　The　water　was　sweeping　them　along　at　a　good　twenty　knots　and　appeared　to　be　funneling　into　a　concentrated　surge。　A　million　liters　of　water　sucked　them　toward　the　unseen　precipice。　They　rounded　the　next　bend　and　sailed　into　a　maelstrom　of　mist。　The　thunderous　rumble　became　deafening。
　　　　There　was　no　fear；　no　sense　of　helplessness；　no　feeling　of　despair。　All　Pitt　felt　was　a　strange　numbness　as　if　all　power　of　intelligent　thought　had　abruptly　evaporated。　It　seemed　to　him　that　he　was　entering　a　nightmare　where　nothing　had　any　shape　or　form。　His　final　moment　of　clarity　came　when　the　Wallowing　Windbag　hung　suspended　for　a　moment　before　soaring　into　the　mist。
　　　　With　no　point　of　reference；　there　was　no　sensation　of　falling；　rather；　it　seemed　as　if　they　were　flying　through　a　cloud。　Then　his　hold　on　the　control　bar　was　lost　and　he　was　hurled　out　of　the　Hovercraft。　He　thought　he　heard　Giordino　shout　something；　but　the　voice　was　lost　in　the　roar　of　the　falls。　The　drop　through　the　vortex　seemed　to　take　forever。　And　then　came　the　impact。　He　struck　a　deep　pool　at　the　base　of　the　falls　like　a　meteor。　The　air　was　driven　from　his　lungs　and　he　thought　at　first　that　he　was　smashed　to　bloody　pulp　on　rocks；　but　then　he　felt　the　forting　squeeze　of　water　all　around　him。
　　　　Instinctively　holding　his　breath；　he　fought　to　reach　the　surface。　Aided　by　his　inflated　buoyancy　pensator；　he　quickly　broke　clear　and　was　immediately　swept　away　by　the　torrent。　Rocks　reached　out　for　him　like　shrouded　predators　of　the　underworld。　He　was　flung　down　a　spill　of　rapids；　colliding；　he'd　have　sworn；　with　every　boulder　that　protruded　from　the　river。　The　contact　rasped　and　shredded　his　wet　suit；　stripping　skin　from　his　legs　and　outspread　arms。　He　suffered　a　blow　to　his　chest　and　then　his　head　struck　something　hard　and　ungiving。　But　for　the　protection　of　the　hardhat　that　absorbed　80　percent　of　the　blow；　he'd　have　cracked　his　skull　open。
　　　　Incredibly；　his　buoyancy　pensator　stayed　inflated　and　he　floated　half…unconscious　through　a　short　spill　of　rapids。　One　of　the　lights　on　his　helmet　was　smashed　by　the　impact　and　the　other　one　seemed　to　cast　an　indistinct　red　beam。　Gratefully；　he　felt　loose　stone　beneath　his　feet　and　saw　he　was　being　spun　toward　shallows　leading　to　a　small　open　space　along　the　shoreline。　He　swam　until　his　knees　scraped　the　coarse　gravel；　struggling　to　loosen　the　grip　of　the　murderous　current。　He　extended　his　hands　to　pull　himself　over　the　slippery　stones　onto　the　dry　shelf。　A　groan　of　pain　escaped　his　lips　as　one　of　his　wrists　exploded　in　agony。　At　some　point　after　going　over　the　falls；　he　had　broken　something　there。　His　wrist　was　not　all　that　was　broken。　He'd　also　cracked　two　or　more　ribs　on　his　left　side。
　　　　The　rumbling　thunder　of　the　falls　sounded　far　in　the　distance。　Slowly　his　mind　came　back　on　track　and　he　wondered　how　far　he'd　been　swept　by　the　ungodly　torrent。　Then；　as　more　of　the　cobwebs　cleared；　he　remembered　Giordino。　In　desperation　he　shouted　Al's　name；　his　voice　echoing　through　the　air　chamber；　hoping　but　never　really　expecting　to　hear　a　reply。
　　　　〃Over　here。〃
　　　　The　answer　didn't　e　much　louder　than　a　whisper；　but　Pitt　heard　it　as　if　it　came　out　of　a　loudspeaker。　He　rose　unsteadily　to　his　feet；　trying　to　get　a　fix。　〃Say　again。〃
　　　　〃I'm　only　six　meters　upstream　of　you；〃　said　Giordino。　〃Can't　you　see　me？〃
　　　　A　red　haze　seemed　to　block　Pitt's　field　of　vision。　He　rubbed　his　eyes　and　found　he　could　focus　them　again。　He　also　realized　the　red　haze　that　had　been　clouding　his　sight　came　from　blood　that　was　spilling　from　a　gash　in　his　forehead。　Now　he　could　clearly　discern　Giordino　lying　on　his　back　a　short　distance　away；　half　out　of　the　water。
　　　　He　staggered　over　to　his　friend；　clutching　the　left　side　of　his　chest　in　a　vain　attempt　to　contain　the　pain。　He　knelt　stiffly　beside　Giordino。　〃Am　I　ever　glad　to　see　you。　I　thought　you　and　the　Windbag　had　sailed　off　without　me。〃
　　　　〃The　remains　of　our　trusty　boat　were　swept　downstream。〃
　　　　〃Are　you　badly　injured？〃　Pitt　asked。
　　　　Giordino　smiled　gamely；　held　up　his　hands　and　wiggled　his　fingers。　〃At　least　I　can　still　play　Carnegie　Hall。〃
　　　　〃Play　what？　You　can't　even　carry　a　tune。〃　Then　Pitt's　eyes　filled　with　concern。　〃Is　it　your　back？〃
　　　　Giordino　weakly　shook　his　head。　〃I　stayed　with　the　Windbag　and　my　feet　were　caught　in　the　lines　holding　the　equipment　when　she　struck　bottom。　Then　she　went　one　way；　and　I　went　the　other。　I　think　both　legs　are　broken　below　the　knees。〃　He　explained　his　injuries　as　calmly　as　if　he　were　describing　a　pair　of　flat　tires。
　　　　Pitt　gently　felt　Giordino's　calves　as　his　friend　clenched　his　fists。　〃Lucky　you。　Simple　breaks；　no　pound　fractures。〃
　　　　Giordino　stared　up　at　Pitt。　〃You　look　like　you　went　through　the　spin　cycle　in　a　washing　machine。〃
　　　　〃A　few　scrapes　and　bruises；〃　Pitt　lied。
　　　　〃Then　why　are　you　talking　through　clenched　teeth？〃
　　　　Pitt　didn't　answer。　He　tried　to　call　up　a　program　on　the　puter　on　his　arm；　but　it　had　been　knocked　against　a　rock　and　was　broken。　He　unbuckled　the　straps　and　threw　it　in　the　river。　〃So　much　for　Duncan's　data。〃
　　　　〃I　lost　the　camera　too。〃
　　　　〃Tough　break。　Nobody　will　be　ing　this　way　again　soon；　certainly　not　over　those　falls。〃
　　　　〃Any　idea　how　far　to　the　treasure　cavern？〃　asked　Giordino。
　　　　〃A　rough　guess？　Maybe　two　kilometers。〃
　　　　Giordino　looked　at　him。　〃You'll　have　to　go　it　alone。〃
　　　　〃You're　talking　crazy。〃
　　　　〃I'll　only　be　a　burden。〃　He　was　no　longer　smiling。　〃Forget　about　me。　Get　to　the　treasure　cavern。〃
　　　　〃I　can't　leave　you　here。〃
　　　　〃Busted　bones　or　not；　I　can　still　float。　I'll　follow　you　later。〃
　　　　〃Take　care　when　you　get　there；〃　said　Pitt　grimly。　〃You　may　drift；　but　you　can't　escape　the　current。　Mind　you　stay　close　to　shore　out　of　the　mainstream　or　you'll　be　swept　beyond　recovery。〃
　　　　〃No　big　deal　if　I　am。　Our　air　tanks　went　with　the　Wallowing　Windbag。　If　we　meet　a　flooded　gallery　between　here　and　the　treasure　chamber　longer　than　we　can　hold　our　breath；　we'll　drown　anyway。〃
　　　　〃You're　supposed　to　look　on　the　bright　side。〃
　　　　Giordino　removed　a　spare　flashlight　from　a　belt　around　one　thigh。　〃You'll　need　this。　Your　headlamp　looks　like　it　lost　a　fight　with　a　rock。　e　to　think　of　it；　your　face　is　a　mess　too。　You're　bleeding　all　over　the　shredded　remains　of　your　nice　clean　wet　suit。'
　　　　〃Another　dip　in　the　river　will　fix　that；〃　said　Pitt；　attaching　the　flashlight　around　the　forearm　above　his　broken　left　wrist　where　the　puter　used　to　be。　He　dropped　his　weight　belt。　〃I　won't　be　needing　this　any　longer。〃
　　　　〃Aren't　you　taking　your　air　tank？〃
　　　　〃I　don't　want　to　be　hindered　any　more　than　I　have　to。〃
　　　　〃What　if　you　e　to　a　flooded　chamber？〃
　　　　〃I'll　have　to　free　dive　through　as　far　as　I　can　on　my　lungs。〃
　　　　〃One　last　favor；〃　said　Giordino；　holding　up　the　empty　harness　straps　that　once　supported　his　air　tanks。　〃Wrap　my　legs　together　to　keep　them　from　flopping　around。〃
　　　　Pitt　cinched　the　straps　as　tight　as　he　dared；　cons