atlantis.found-第12部分

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　aimed　his　beam　into　a　passage　barely　large　enough　to　walk　through。　Then　he　checked　his　pass。　〃It　heads　in　the　right　direction。　Let's　clear　a　crawl　space　and　keep　going。〃
　　　　　This　tunnel　was　narrower　than　the　others；　and　they　were　forced　to　step　over　the　ties　supporting　the　ore　cart　tracks；　making　the　going　slow　and　torturous。　An　hour　of　endless　walking　over　the　tracks　in　the　gloom；　with　only　the　miner's　lamp　for　illumination；　sapped　what　little　stamina　they　had　left。　Everyone　caught　their　feet　on　the　uneven　ties　and　stumbled　one　step　for　every　five　that　were　unimpeded。
　　　　　Another　cave…in　that　could　not　be　penetrated　caused　a　seemingly　endless　detour　that　cost　almost　two　hours。　Finally；　they　were　able　to　bypass　through　a　shaft　that　sloped　up　three　more　levels　before　ending　at　a　large　gallery　that　contained　the　corroded　remains　of　a　steam　hoist。　They　struggled　up　to　the　top　and　trudged　past　the　great　steam　cylinders　and　reels　still　holding　a　mile　of　cable。
　　　　　The　strain　of　the　past　few　hours　was　beginning　to　show　on　Marquez。　He　was　in　good　shape　for　his　age；　but　he　was　not　conditioned　for　the　exertion　and　emotional　stress　he　had　endured　the　last　several　hours。　Ambrose；　though；　looked　as　though　he　were　on　a　walk　in　a　park。　He　appeared　remarkably　calm　and　unruffled　for　a　classroom　professor。　The　only　amusement　came　from　Pitt's　mumbled　curses。　At　his　six　feet　three；　the　hard　hat；　loaned　to　him　by　Pat　because　she　was　several　inches　shorter；　struck　overhead　timbers　with　frustrating　regularity。
　　　　　Trailing　behind；　Pitt　could　not　see　their　faces　in　the　dim　and　cavorting　shadows；　but　he　knew　that　each　one　of　them　possessed　a　stubbornness　that　would　keep　them　going　until　they　dropped；　too　proud　to　be　the　first　to　suggest　a　rest　break。　He　noted　that　their　breathing　had　bee　more　labored。　Though　he　still　felt　fresh；　he　began　panting　loudly　so　the　others　could　hear　his　seemingly　desperate　plea。
　　　　　〃I'm　done　in。　How　about　stopping　to　rest　a　minute？〃
　　　　　〃Sounds　good　to　me；〃　said　Marquez；　relieved　that　someone　else　had　suggested　it。
　　　　　Ambrose　leaned　against　one　wall。　〃I　say　we　keep　going　until　we　get　out　of　here。〃
　　　　　〃You　won't　get　my　vote；〃　said　Pat。　〃My　legs　are　screaming　with　agony。　We　must　have　stepped　over　a　thousand　railroad　ties。〃
　　　　　It　was　only　after　they　all　sagged　to　the　floor　of　the　tunnel；　while　Pitt　casually　remained　standing；　that　they　knew　they　had　been　tricked。　None　of　them　plained；　everyone　happy　to　relax　and　massage　sore　ankles　and　knees。
　　　　　〃Any　idea　how　much　farther？〃　asked　Pat。
　　　　　Pitt　consulted　his　puter　for　the　hundredth　time。　〃I　can't　be　absolutely　positive；　but　if　we　can　climb　two　more　levels　and　are　not　blocked　by　another　cave…in；　we　should　be　out　of　here　in　another　hour。〃
　　　　　〃Where　do　you　reckon　we'll　e　out？〃　asked　Marquez。
　　　　　〃My　guess　is　somewhere　right　under　the　main　town　of　Telluride。〃
　　　　　〃That　would　be　the　old　O'Reilly　Claim。　It　was　a　shaft　sunk　not　far　from　where　the　gondola　runs　up　the　mountain　to　the　ski　slopes　at　Mountain　Village。　You　do　have　a　problem；　though。〃
　　　　　〃Another　one？〃
　　　　　〃The　New　Sheridan　Hotel　and　its　restaurant　now　sit　directly　on　top　of　the　old　mine　entrance。〃
　　　　　Pitt　grinned。　〃If　you're　right；　dinner　is　on　me。〃
　　　　　They　went　silent　for　the　next　two　minutes；　lost　in　their　thoughts。　The　only　sounds　came　from　their　breathing　and　the　steady　drip　of　moisture　from　the　roof　of　the　tunnel。　Despondency　gave　way　to　hope。　Knowing　the　end　was　perhaps　in　sight；　they　felt　symptoms　of　fatigue　begin　to　wash　away。
　　　　　Pitt　had　always　suspected　that　women　had　more　acute　hearing　than　men；　from　the　times　his　various　lady　friends　had　visited　his　apartment　and　plained　that　the　volume　on　his　TV　was　too　loud。　His　suspicions　were　confirmed　when　Pat　said；　〃I　think　I　hear　a　motorcycle。〃
　　　　　〃A　Harley…Davidson　or　a　Honda？〃　asked　Marquez；　laughing　for　the　first　time　since　leaving　his　house。
　　　　　〃No；　I'm　serious；〃　Pat　said　firmly。　〃I　swear　it　sounds　like　a　motorcycle。〃
　　　　　Then　Pitt　heard　something；　too。　He　turned　and　faced　the　tunnel　from　the　direction　they　had　e　and　cupped　his　hands　to　his　ears。　He　made　out　the　undeniable　sound　of　exhaust　from　a　high…performance　off…road　motorcycle。　He　stared　soberly　at　Marquez。　〃Do　the　locals　ride　around　old　mine　tunnels　on　motocross　dirt　bikes　for　a　thrill？〃
　　　　　Marquez　shook　his　head。　〃Never。　They'd　bee　lost　in　a　maze　of　tunnels；　if　they　didn't　plunge　down　a　thousand…foot　shaft　first。　Then　there's　the　danger　of　their　exhaust　noise　causing　rotted　beams　to　collapse　and　a　cave…in　to　crush　them。　No；　sir；　nobody　I　know　is　fool　enough　to　joyride　underground。〃
　　　　　〃Where　did　they　e　from？〃　Pat　asked　no　one　in　particular。
　　　　　〃From　another　mine　that's　still　accessible。　Lord　only　knows　how　they　happened　to　be　in　the　same　tunnel　as　we　are。〃
　　　　　〃A　peculiar　coincidence；〃　Pitt　said；　staring　up　the　tunnel。　He　felt　a　sense　of　uneasiness。　Why？　He　couldn't　be　sure。　He　stood　without　moving　a　muscle；　listening　to　the　rattling　sound　of　the　exhaust　as　it　grew　louder。　It　was　a　foreign　sound　in　the　old　mine　labyrinth。　It　did　not　belong。　He　stood　still　as　the　first　flash　of　light　showed　far　down　the　tunnel。
　　　　　Pitt　couldn't　tell　yet　if　it　was　one　or　more　motorcycles　ing　through　the　tunnel。　It　seemed　a　reasonable　assumption　that　he　should　treat　the　biker　or　bikers　as　a　threat。　Better　safe　than　sorry。　As　ancient　and　hackneyed　as　the　words　sounded；　they　still　had　meaning；　and　his　cautious　nature　had　saved　him　on　more　than　one　occasion。
　　　　　He　turned　and　slowly　walked　past　Ambrose　and　Marquez。　Absorbed　in　the　approach　of　the　sound　and　lights；　they　took　no　notice　as　he　slipped　along　one　wall　of　the　tunnel　in　the　direction　of　the　approaching　bikers。　Only　Pat　focused　on　Pitt　as　he　unobtrusively　stole　into　the　darkness　of　a　portal　leading　into　a　narrow　bore　between　the　timbers。　One　moment　he　was　there；　the　next　he　had　vanished　like　a　wraith。
　　　　　There　were　three　bikers。　The　front　of　their　machines　were　packed　with　an　array　of　halogen　lights　that　blinded　the　exhausted　survivors；　who　shielded　their　eyes　with　their　hands　and　turned　away　as　the　engines　slowed　and　idled　in　neutral。　Two　of　the　intruders　dismounted　their　bikes　and　walked　closer；　their　bodies　silhouetted　by　the　bright　lights　behind　them。　They　looked　like　space　aliens　in　their　black；　sleek　helmets　and　two…piece　jerseys　worn　under　chest　protectors。　Their　boots　came　halfway　to　their　knees　and　their　hands　were　encased　in　black；　ribbed　gloves。　The　third　biker　remained　on　his　machine　as　the　other　two　approached　and　raised　the　shields　on　their　helmets。
　　　　　〃You　don't　know　how　happy　we　are　to　see　you；〃　said　Pat　excitedly。
　　　　　〃We　sure　could　have　used　your　help　earlier；〃　said　Ambrose　wearily。
　　　　　〃My　pliments　on　making　it　this　far；〃　said　the　figure　on　the　right；　in　a　voice　deep　and　sinister。　〃We　thought　sure　you'd　drowned　in　the　Amenes　chamber。〃
　　　　　〃Amenes？〃　Pat　repeated；　puzzled。
　　　　　〃Where　did　you　guys　e　from？〃　demanded　Marquez。
　　　　　〃It　doesn't　matter；〃　said　the　biker；　as　if　he　were　brushing　off　a　classroom　student's　irrational　question。
　　　　　〃You　knew　we　were　trapped　in　the　chamber　by　a　rockfall　and　rising　water？〃
　　　　　〃Yes；〃　the　biker　said　coldly。
　　　　　〃And　you　did　nothing？〃　Marquez　said　incredulously。　〃You　didn't　try　to　rescue　us　or　go　for　help？〃
　　　　　〃No。〃
　　　　　　A　stimulating　conversationalist；　this　guy；　thought　Pitt。　If　he'd　been　a　tiny　bit　suspicious　earlier；　he　was　downright　convinced　now　that　these　men　were　not　local　daredevils　on　a　weekend　adventure。　These　men　were　killers；　and　heavily　armed。　He　didn't　know　why；　but　he　knew　they　were　not　going　to　allow　them　to　escape　the　mines　alive。　It　was　time　to　act；　and　surprise　was　his　only　advantage。　He　slipped　his　dive　knife　from　its　sheath　and　gripped　the　hilt。　It　was　the　only　weapon　he　had；　and　it　would　have　to　do。　He　took　several　slow　deep　breaths　and　gave　a　final　flex　to　his　fingers。　It　was　now　or　never。
　　　　　〃We　came　within　minutes　of　drowning　in　the　chamber；〃　said　Pat；　wondering　what　Pitt　was　planning；　if　anything。　She　began　to　wonder　if　he　was　a　coward　and　simply　hiding　from　danger。
　　　　　〃We　know。　That　was　the　plan。〃
　　　　　〃Plan？　What　plan？〃
　　　　　〃You　all　were　supposed　to　die；〃　the　biker　said　conversationally。
　　　　　The　words　were　greeted　with　a　stunned；　unprehending　silence。　〃Unfortunately；　your　will　to　survive　overcame　the　cave…in　and　the　flooding；〃　the　biker　continued。　〃We　did　not　foresee　your　perseverance。　But　it　is　of　no　matter。　You　merely　prolonged　the　inevitable。〃
　　　　　〃The　dynamite　blast；〃　muttered　Marquez　in　shock。　〃That　was　you？〃
　　　　　The　answer　was　candid。　〃Yes；　we　set　the　charge。〃
　　　　　Pat　began　to　look　like　a　deer　staring　into　the　headlights　of　an　approaching　truck。　She　knew　that　the　bikers　were　not　aware　of　Pitt's　presence；　so　she　acted　as　if　he　didn't　exist。　Marquez　and　Ambrose　assumed　he　was　simply　standing　behind　them　quietly；　as　stunned　with　shock　as　they　were。
　　　　　〃Why　would　you　want　to　kill　us？〃　she　asked；　her　voice　shaking。　〃Why　would　total　strangers　want　to　murder　us？〃
　　　　　〃You　saw　the　skull　and　you　saw　the　inscriptions。〃
　　　　　Marquez　looked　like　a　man　torn　between　fear　and　anger。　〃So　what？〃　he　growled。
　　　　　〃Your　discovery　cannot　be　allowed　to　bee　known　outside　these　mines。〃
　　　　　〃We've　done　nothing　wrong；〃　Ambrose　said；　strangely　calm。　〃We're　scientists　studying　historic　phenomena。　We're　not　talking　treasure　but　ancient　artifacts。　It's　insane　to　be　killed　because　of　it。〃
　　　　　The　biker　shrugged。　〃It's　unfortunate；　but　you　became　involved　with　matters　far　beyond　your　prehension。〃
　　　　　〃How　could　you　possibly　know　about　our　entry　into　the　chamber？〃　asked　Marquez。
　　　　　〃We　were　informed。　That's　all　you　need　to　know。〃
　　　　　〃By　who？　Not　more　than　five　people　knew　we　were　there。〃
　　　　　〃We're　wasting　time；〃　grunted　the　second　biker。　〃Let's　finish　our　business　and　throw　them　down　the　nearest　shaft。〃
　　　　　〃This　is　madness；〃　muttered　Ambrose；　with　little　or　no　feeling　in　his　voice。
　　　　　Pitt　silently　moved　from　the　bore；　any　sounds　of　his　footsteps　covered　by　the　soft　popping　from　the　exhaust；　and　crept　up　behind　the　rider　still　sitting　on　his　bike；　who　was　distracted　by　the　conversation。　Pitt　was　no　stranger　to　killing；　but　it　wasn't　in