inca.gold-第89部分

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　　　　〃He　stayed　on　Cerro　el　Capirote？〃
　　　　〃No；　he　fell　off　Cerro　el　Capirote。　He's　dead。〃
　　　　Zolar's　reaction　was　a　psychiatrist's　dream。　His　expression　went　thoughtful　for　a　moment；　and　then　he　broke　out　laughing。　〃Matos　shot　and　the　good　colonel　dead。　More　profits　for　the　family。〃

　　　　Yuma's　prearranged　plan　with　Pitt　was　acplished。　He　and　his　people　had　secured　the　summit　and　forced　the　evil　ones　from　the　sacred　mountain　of　the　dead。　He　watched　as　two　of　his　nephews　led　Lieutenant　Ramos　and　his　army　engineers　down　the　steep　trail　to　the　desert　floor　below。
　　　　There　was　no　way　to　carry　Matos。　His　knee　was　tightly　bandaged　and　he　was　forced　to　hobble　along　as　best　he　could；　assisted　by　a　pair　of　engineers。
　　　　Curiosity　drew　Yuma　to　the　enlarged　opening　to　the　interior　passageway。　He　had　a　nagging　ache　to　explore　the　cavern　and　see　with　his　own　eyes　the　river　described　by　Pitt。　The　water　he　saw　in　his　dreams。　But　the　older　men　were　too　frightened　to　enter　the　bowels　of　the　sacred　mountain；　and　the　gold　created　a　problem　with　the　younger　men。　They　wanted　to　drop　everything　and　carry　it　off　before　armed　troops　returned。
　　　　〃This　is　our　mountain；〃　said　one　young　man；　the　son　of　Yuma's　neighboring　rancher。　〃The　little　golden　people　belong　to　us。〃
　　　　〃First　we　must　see　the　river　inside　the　mountain；〃　countered　Yuma。
　　　　〃It　is　forbidden　for　the　living　to　enter　the　land　of　the　dead；〃　warned　Yuma's　older　brother。
　　　　A　nephew　stared　at　Yuma　doubtfully。　〃There　is　no　river　that　runs　beneath　the　desert。〃
　　　　〃I　believe　the　man　who　told　me。〃
　　　　〃You　cannot　trust　the　gringo；　no　more　than　those　with　Spanish　blood　in　their　veins。〃
　　　　Yuma　shook　his　head　and　pointed　to　the　gold。　〃This　proves　he　did　not　lie。〃
　　　　〃The　soldiers　will　e　back　and　kill　us　if　we　do　not　leave；〃　protested　another　villager。
　　　　〃The　golden　people　are　too　heavy　to　carry　down　the　steep　trail；〃　the　young　man　argued。　〃They　must　be　lowered　by　rope　down　the　rock　walls。　That　will　take　time。〃
　　　　〃Let　us　offer　prayers　to　the　demon　and　be　on　our　way；〃　said　the　brother。
　　　　The　young　man　persisted。　〃Not　until　the　golden　people　are　safely　below。〃
　　　　Yuma　reluctantly　gave　in。　〃So　it　is；　my　family；　my　friends。　I　will　keep　my　promise　and　enter　the　mountain　alone。　Take　the　men　of　gold；　but　hurry。　You　do　not　have　much　daylight　left。〃
　　　　As　he　turned　and　walked　through　the　enlarged　opening　leading　to　the　passageway；　Yuma　felt　little　fear。
　　　　Good　had　e　from　the　climb　to　the　top　of　the　mountain。　The　evil　men　were　cast　down。　The　demon　was　at　peace　again。　Now；　with　the　blessing　of　the　demon；　Billy　Yuma　felt　confident　he　could　safely　enter　the　land　of　the　dead。　And　maybe　find　a　trail　leading　to　the　lost　sacred　idols　of　his　people。

　　　　Loren　sat　huddled　in　the　cramped　rock　cell；　sinking　into　the　quicksand　of　self…pity。　She　had　no　more　fight　left　in　her。　The　hours　had　merged　until　time　lost　all　sense　of　meaning。　She　could　not　remember　when　she　had　last　eaten。　She　tried　to　recall　what　it　felt　like　to　be　warm　and　dry；　but　that　memory　seemed　like　an　event　that　occurred　ages　ago。
　　　　Her　self…confidence；　the　independence；　the　satisfaction　of　being　a　respected　legislator　in　the　world's　only　superpower；　meant　nothing　in　that　damp　little　cave。　Standing　on　the　floor　of　the　House　of　Representatives　seemed　a　million　light…years　away。　She　had　e　to　the　end；　and　she　had　fought　as　long　as　she　could。　Now　she　accepted　the　end。　Better　to　die　and　get　it　over　with。
　　　　She　looked　over　at　Rudi　Gunn。　He　had　hardly　moved　at　all　in　the　last　hour。　She　didn't　have　to　be　a　doctor　to　see　that　he　had　slipped；　badly　in　that　time。　Tupac　Amaru；　in　a　storm　of　sadistic　wrath；　had　broken　several　of　Gunn's　fingers　by　stomping　them。　Amaru　had　also　injured　Gunn　severely　by　kicking　him　repeatedly　in　the　stomach　and　head。　If　Rudi　didn't　receive　medical　attention　very　soon；　he　might　die。
　　　　Loren's　mind　turned　to　Pitt。　Every　conceivable　road　to　freedom　was　blocked　unless　he　could　ride　to　their　rescue　at　the　head　of　the　U。S。　Cavalry。　Not　a　likely　prospect。
　　　　She　recalled　the　other　times　he　had　saved　her。　The　first　was　on　board　the　Russian　cruise　ship　where　she　was　held　captive　by　agents　of　the　old　Soviet　government。　Pitt　had　shown　up　and　rescued　her　from　a　savage　beating。　The　second　time　was　when　she　was　held　hostage　by　the　fanatic　Hideki　Suma　in　his　underwater　city　off　the　coast　of　Japan。　Pitt　and　Giordino　had　risked　their　lives　to　free　her　and　a　fellow　congressman。
　　　　She　had　no　right　to　give　up。　But　Pitt　was　dead；　crushed　by　concussion　grenades　in　the　sea。　If　her　countrymen　could　have　sent　a　group　of　Special　Forces　over　the　border　to　save　her；　they　would　have　done　so　by　now。
　　　　She　had　watched　through　the　cave　opening　as　the　golden　treasure　was　hauled　past　her　cell　and　through　the　guardians'　chamber　up　to　the　peak　of　the　hollow　mountain。　When　all　the　gold　was　gone；　she　knew　it　would　be　time　for　her　and　Rudi　to　die。
　　　　They　did　not　have　to　wait　long。　One　of　Amaru's　foul…smelling　henchman　walked　up　to　their　guard　and　gave　him　an　order。　The　ugly　slug　turned　and　motioned　them　out　of　the　cave。　〃Salga；　salga；〃　he　manded　them。
　　　　Loren　shook　Gunn　awake　and　helped　him　rise　to　his　feet。　〃They　want　to　move　us；〃　she　told　him　softly。
　　　　Gunn　looked　at　her　dazedly；　and　then　incredibly；　he　forced　a　tight　smile。　〃About　time　they　upgraded　us　to　a　better　room。〃
　　　　With　Gunn　shuffling　alongside　Loren；　her　arm　around　his　waist；　his　over　her　shoulders；　they　were　led　to　a　flat　area　between　the　stalagmites　near　the　shoreline　of　the　river。　Amaru　was　joking　with　four　of　his　men　who　were　grouped　around　him。　Another　man　she　recognized　from　the　ferryboat　as　Cyrus　Sarason。　The　Latin　Americans　appeared　cool　and　relaxed；　but　Sarason　was　sweating　heavily　and　his　shirt　beneath　his　armpits　was　stained。
　　　　Their　one…eyed　guard　pushed　them　roughly　forward　and　moved　slightly　apart　from　the　others。　Sarason　reminded　Loren　of　a　high　school　coach　who　was　pressed　into　service　as　a　chaperon　at　a　prom；　seeing　out　a　dull　and　boring　duty。
　　　　In　contrast；　Amaru　looked　as　if　he　were　bursting　at　the　seams　with　nervous　energy。　Excitement　gleamed　in　his　eyes。　He　stared　at　Loren　with　the　same　intensity　as　a　man　crawling　through　the　desert　who　suddenly　sights　a　saloon　advertising　cold　beer。　He　came　over　and　roughly　cupped　Loren's　chin　with　one　hand。
　　　　〃Are　you　ready　to　entertain　us？〃
　　　　〃Leave　her　be；〃　said　Samson。　〃There　is　no　need　to　prolong　our　stay　here。〃
　　　　Something　cold　and　slimy　moved　through　Loren's　stomach。　Not　this；　she　thought；　God　not　this。　〃If　you're　going　to　kill　us；　get　it　over　with。〃
　　　　〃You'll　get　your　wish　soon　enough。〃　Amaru　laughed　sadistically。　〃But　not　before　you　pleasure　my　men。　When　they　are　finished；　and　if　they　are　satisfied；　perhaps　they　will　give　you　a　thumbs…up　and　let　you　live。　If　not；　then　a　thumbs…down　like　the　Romans　judging　a　gladiator　in　the　arena。　I　suggest　you　make　them　happy。〃
　　　　〃This　is　crazy！〃　snapped　Sarason。
　　　　〃Use　your　imagination；　amigo。　My　men　and　I　have　worked　hard　helping　to　transport　your　gold　from　the　mountain。　The　least　you　can　do　is　allow　us　a　small　reward　for　our　services　before　we　leave　this　hellish　place。〃
　　　　〃You're　all　getting　well　paid　for　your　services。〃
　　　　〃What　is　the　term　you　use　in　your　country？〃　said　Amaru；　breathing　heavily。　〃Fringe　benefits？〃
　　　　〃I　don't　have　time　for　prolonged　sex　games；〃　Samson　said。
　　　　〃You　will　make　the　time；〃　Amaru　hissed；　baring　his　teeth　like　a　coiled　snake　about　to　strike。　〃Or　my　men　will　bee　most　unhappy。　And　then　I　may　not　be　able　to　control　them。〃
　　　　One　look　at　the　five　toughs　backing　up　the　Peruvian　killer　and　Samson　shrugged。　〃She　is　of　no　interest　to　me。〃　He　stared　at　Loren　for　a　moment。　〃Do　with　her　what　you　will；　but　get　it　over　with。　We　still　have　work　to　do　and　I　don't　want　to　keep　my　brothers　waiting。〃
　　　　Loren　was　on　the　verge　of　throwing　up。　She　looked　at　Sarason；　her　eyes　imploring。　〃You're　not　one　of　them。　You　know　who　I　am；　whom　I　represent。　How　can　you　stand　by　and　allow　this　to　happen？〃
　　　　〃Barbaric　cruelty　is　a　fact　of　life　where　they　e　from；〃　Sarason　replied　indifferently。　〃Every　one　of　these　vicious　misfits　would　cut　a　child's　throat　as　casually　as　you　or　I　would　slice　a　filet　mignon。〃
　　　　〃So　you'll　do　nothing　while　they　do　their　perverted　work？〃
　　　　Sarason　gave　a　detached　shrug。　〃It　might　be　rather　entertaining。〃
　　　　〃You're　no　better　than　they　are。〃
　　　　Amaru　leered。　〃I　find　great　enjoyment　in　bringing　haughty　women　like　you　to　their　knees。〃
　　　　That　was　the　signal　to　end　the　talk。　Amaru　made　a　gesture　to　one　of　his　men。　〃You　may　have　the　honor　of　going　first；　Julio。〃
　　　　The　others　looked　disappointed　at　not　being　chosen。　The　lucky　one　stepped　forward；　his　mouth　stretched　in　a　lustful　grin；　and　grabbed　Loren　by　the　arm。
　　　　Little　Rudi　Gunn；　grievously　injured　and　barely　able　to　stand；　suddenly　crouched；　launched　himself　forward；　and　rammed　his　head　into　the　belly　of　the　man　about　to　assault　Loren。　His　charge　had　all　the　impact　of　a　broomstick　against　the　gate　of　a　fortress。　The　big　Peruvian　barely　grunted　before　delivering　a　passionless　backhand　that　sent　Gunn　sprawling　across　the　floor　of　the　cavern。
　　　　〃Throw　the　little　bastard　in　the　river；〃　ordered　Amaru。
　　　　〃No！〃　Loren　cried。　〃For　God's　sake；　don't　kill　him。〃
　　　　One　of　Amaru's　men　took　Gunn　by　the　ankle　and　began　dragging　him　toward　the　water。
　　　　〃You　may　be　making　a　mistake；〃　cautioned　Sarason。
　　　　Amaru　looked　at　him　queerly。　〃Why？〃
　　　　〃This　river　probably　enters　the　Gulf。　Instead　of　providing　a　floating　body　for　identification；　perhaps　it　might　be　wiser　if　they　disappear　forever。〃
　　　　Amaru　paused　thoughtfully　for　a　moment。　Then　he　laughed。　〃An　underground　river　that　carries　them　into　the　Sea　of　Cortez。　I　like　that。　American　investigators　will　never　suspect　that　they　were　killed　a　hundred　kilometers　away　from　where　they're　found。　The　idea　appeals　to　me。〃　He　made　a　motion　to　the　man　holding　Gunn　to　continue。　〃Heave　him　as　far　as　you　can　into　the　current。〃
　　　　〃No；　please；〃　Loren　begged。　〃Let　him　live　and　I'll　do　whatever　you　demand。〃
　　　　〃You'll　do　that　anyway；〃　Amaru　said　impassively。
　　　　The　guard　hurled　Gunn　into　the　river　with　the　ease　of　an　athlete　throwing　the　shotput。　There　was　a　splash；　and　Gunn　vanished　be