atlantis.found-第31部分

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like　a　mule。　By　far　the　stronger　of　the　two；　he　tackled　the　heavier　rocks；　while　Gunn　worked　at　casting　aside　the　smaller　ones。　There　was　a　ruthless　determination　in　his　movements　as　he　picked　up　and　heaved　hundred…pound　rocks　as　if　they　were　made　of　cork。　In　less　than　an　hour；　they　had　excavated　a　passage　large　enough　for　them　to　crawl　beyond。
　　　　　Because　he　was　the　smallest；　Gunn　went　first。　He　paused　to　shine　his　light　inside。
　　　　　〃What　do　you　see？〃　asked　Giordino。
　　　　　〃A　short　corridor　leading　to　another　chamber　less　than　twenty　feet　away〃　Then　he　squirmed　through。　He　stood　up；　brushed　himself　off；　and　removed　several　more　rocks　from　the　opposite　side　so　Giordino；　with　his　broad　shoulders；　would　have　an　easier　passage。　They　hesitated　for　a　moment；　beaming　their　bined　lights　into　the　chamber　ahead；　seeing　strange　reflections。
　　　　　〃I'm　glad　I　listened　to　you；〃　said　Giordino；　as　he　walked　slowly　forward。
　　　　　〃I　have　positive　vibes。　I'll　bet　you　ten　bucks　nobody　beat　us　to　it。〃
　　　　　〃Skeptic　that　I　am；　you're　on。〃
　　　　　Feeling　a　little　apprehensive　now；　and　with　a　growing　sense　of　trepidation；　they　stepped　into　the　second　chamber　and　swept　their　lights　around　the　walls　and　floor。　There　were　no　inscriptions　in　here；　but　they　froze　at　the　astonishing　sight　revealed　under　the　yellow…white　beams　of　their　flashlights；　staring　in　almost　religious　awe　at　the　twenty　mummified　figures　that　sat　upright　in　stone　chairs　hewn　from　the　rock。　The　two　that　faced　the　entrance　sat　on　a　raised　platform。　The　rest　were　grouped　to　the　sides　in　the　shape　of　a　square　horseshoe。
　　　　　〃What　is　this　place？〃　Giordino　whispered；　half　expecting　to　see　ghosts　lurking　in　the　shadows。
　　　　　〃We're　in　a　tomb；〃　Gunn　muttered　unsteadily。　〃Very　ancient；　by　the　look　of　the　clothing。〃
　　　　　The　mummies　and　the　black　hair　on　their　skulls　were　in　a　remarkable　state　of　preservation。　Their　facial　features　were　perfectly　intact　and　their　garments　were　plete；　with　red；　blue；　and　green　dyes　still　discernible　in　the　fabric。　The　two　mummies　at　the　end　sat　on　stone　chairs　elaborately　carved　with　various　species　of　sea　life。　Their　finery　appeared　more　intricately　woven　and　colorful　than　the　others。　Copper　bands　with　exquisite　engraved　designs　inlaid　with　what　Gunn　recognized　as　gemstones　of　turquoise　and　black　opal　circled　their　foreheads。　High　conical　caps　rested　on　their　heads。　They　wore　long　elaborate　tunics　with　delicate　seashells　mixed　with　polished　obsidian　and　copper　disks　sewn　in　exotic　patterns　from　collar　to　hem。　All　the　feet　were　encased　in　tooled…leather；　loose…fitting　boots　that　came　halfway　up　the　calf。
　　　　　The　two　were　obviously　of　higher　rank　and　importance　than　the　others。　The　skeleton　on　the　left　was　larger　than　the　one　on　the　right。　Though　all　the　mummies　had　worn　their　hair　long　in　life；　it　was　a　matter　of　simple　deduction　to　tell　the　males　from　the　females。　Males　have　more　prominent　mandibles　and　ridges　above　the　eyes　than　do　females。　Interestingly；　their　headbands　or　crowns　were　the　same　size；　as　if　they　had　equal　power。　All　the　males　sat　to　the　right　hand　of　the　central　figure　in　a　row　at　an　angle。　All　were　dressed　similarly；　but　the　weaving　of　their　garments　was　not　as　elegant。　The　turquoise　and　black　opal　were　not　as　prevalent。　The　same　configuration　was　represented　by　the　females　who　sat　to　the　left　of　the　more　richly　adorned　mummy。
　　　　　A　line　of　beautifully　polished　spears　with　obsidian　heads　was　stacked　against　one　wall。　At　the　feet　of　each　skeleton　were　copper　bowls　with　drinking　cups　and　matching　spoons。　Both　bowls　and　spoons　had　holes　with　leather　thongs；　as　if　they　could　be　slung　around　the　neck　or　shoulder；　indicating　that　these　people　had　always　carried　their　individual　and　personalized　dinnerware　with　them。　Handsome　pottery；　well…polished　with　delightful　hand…painted　delicate　geometric　designs　on　their　surfaces；　were　laid　out　next　to　the　stone　chairs；　along　with　large　copper　urns　filled　with　withered　leaves　and　flowers　that　must　have　been　aromatic　at　the　time　the　dead　were　interred。　They　looked　handmade　by　artisans　of　great　skill。
　　　　　Gunn　studied　the　mummies　closely。　He　was　amazed　at　the　art　of　mummification。　It　looked　technically　superior　to　that　of　the　Egyptians。　〃No　sign　of　violent　deaths。　They　all　looked　like　they　died　in　their　sleep。　I　can't　believe　they　all　came　to　this　place　to　die　together；　alone　and　forgotten。〃
　　　　　〃Somebody　had　to　be　alive　to　prop　them　up　in　the　chairs；〃　observed　Giordino。
　　　　　〃That's　true。〃　Gunn　made　a　sweeping　motion　around　the　chamber　with　one　hand。　〃Notice　that　none　are　in　quite　the　same　position。　Some　have　hands　in　the　lap；　others　have　hands　on　the　arms　of　their　chairs。　The　king　and　queen；　or　whatever　their　station　in　life；　have　their　heads　resting　on　one　upraised　hand　as　if　contemplating　their　destiny。〃
　　　　　〃You're　going　theatrical　on　me；〃　Giordino　muttered。
　　　　　〃Don't　you　feel　like　Howard　Carter　when　he　first　looked　inside　King　Tut's　tomb？〃
　　　　　〃Howard　was　lucky。　He　found　something　we　didn't。〃
　　　　　〃What's　that？〃
　　　　　〃Look　around　you。　No　gold。　No　silver。　If　these　people　were　related　to　Tut；　they　must　have　been　his　poor　relations。　It　looks　as　if　copper　was　their　prized　metal。〃
　　　　　〃I　wonder　when　they　took　eternal　refuge　here；〃　Gunn　reflected　quietly。
　　　　　〃Better　you　should　ask　why；〃　stated　Giordino。　〃I'll　get　the　camera　out　of　my　backpack　so　we　can　record　this　place　and　go　home。　Fooling　around　in　sepulchral　crypts　upsets　my　delicate　stomach。〃
　　　　　For　the　next　five　hours；　while　Giordino　recorded　every　square　inch　of　the　chamber　with　his　camera；　Gunn　described　what　he　saw　in　accurate　detail　into　a　small　tape　recorder。　He　also　catalogued　every　artifact　in　a　notebook。　Nothing　was　touched；　and　everything　was　left　in　its　place。　Their　effort　wasn't　perhaps　as　scientific　as　that　of　a　team　of　archaeologists　might　have　been；　but　for　rank　amateurs　working　under　difficult　conditions；　they　did　a　mendable　job。　It　would　be　left　for　others；　the　historical　experts；　to　solve　the　mysteries　and　identify　the　tomb's　occupants。
　　　　　When　they　finished；　it　was　late　afternoon。　After　crawling　back　through　the　opening　at　the　cave…in　and　entering　the　room　with　the　bones　of　the　castaway；　Gunn　noticed　Giordino　wasn't　with　him。　He　returned　to　where　the　ceiling　of　the　tunnel　had　collapsed　and　found　Giordino　furiously　lifting　rocks　back　into　the　hole；　effectively　sealing　it。
　　　　　〃What　are　you　doing　that　for？〃　he　asked。
　　　　　Giordino　paused　to　stare　at　him；　sweat…streaked　with　dust　running　down　his　face。　〃I'm　not　about　to　give　the　next　guy　a　free　ticket。　Whoever　wants　to　get　into　the　tomb　next　will　have　to　work　for　it　the　same　as　we　did。〃
　　　　　The　two　men　made　surprisingly　good　time　on　the　return　trip　to　the　aircraft。　Although　the　rain　and　wind　had　eased　considerably　and　most　of　the　trip　was　downhill；　only　the　final　fifty　yards　dictated　a　climb。　They　were　only　a　short　distance　from　the　tilt…rotor；　negotiating　a　narrow　ledge；　when　suddenly　an　orange　column　of　flame　blossomed　and　streaked　up　into　the　damp　air。　There　was　no　great　thunderclap　or　earsplitting　crack。　The　sound　of　the　explosion　sounded　more　like　a　firecracker　exploding　inside　a　tin　can。　Then；　as　quickly　as　it　burst；　the　ball　of　flame　blinked　out；　leaving　a　pillar　of　smoke　spiraling　toward　the　dark　clouds。
　　　　　Giordino　and　Gunn　watched　helplessly　and　in　shock　as　the　tilt…rotor　burst　open　like　a　cantaloupe　dropped　from　a　great　height　onto　a　sidewalk。　Debris　was　hurled　into　the　air；　as　the　shattered　and　smoldering　remains　of　the　aircraft　toppled　over　the　ledge　and　crumpled　down　the　slope；　scattering　a　trail　of　metal　scraps　before　plunging　past　the　cliffs　and　splashing　into　the　breakers　that　crashed　against　the　island。
　　　　　The　tearing　grind　of　metal　being　shredded　against　rocks　died　away；　and　the　two　men　stood　rooted；　neither　talking　for　nearly　a　minute。　Gunn　was　stricken；　his　eyes　staring　in　disbelief。　Giordino's　reaction　was　just　the　opposite。　He　was　mad；　damned　mad；　his　hands　clenched；　his　face　white　with　fury。
　　　　　〃Impossible；〃　Gunn　mumbled　at　last。　〃There　is　no　boat　in　sight；　no　place　for　another　aircraft　to　land。　It's　impossible　for　someone　to　have　put　a　bomb　in　the　plane　and　escaped　without　us　knowing。〃
　　　　　〃The　bomb　was　placed　inside　the　plane　before　we　took　off　from　Cape　Town；〃　said　Giordino；　his　tone　like　ice。　〃Set　and　timed　to　detonate　on　our　return　trip。〃
　　　　　Gunn　stared　at　him　blankly。　〃Those　hours　we　spent　examining　the　crypt。　。　。〃
　　　　　〃Saved　our　lives。　Whoever　the　killers　are；　they　didn't　count　on　us　finding　anything　of　great　interest　or　spending　more　than　an　hour　or　two　looking　around；　so　they　set　their　detonator　four　hours　early。〃
　　　　　〃I　can't　believe　anyone　else　has　seen　the　chamber　since　the　castaway。〃
　　　　　〃Certainly　not　our　friends　from　Telluride；　or　they'd　have　destroyed　the　first　chamber。　Somebody　leaked　our　flight　to　St。　Paul　Island；　and　we　showed　them　the　way。　Now　it's　only　a　matter　of　time　before　they　arrive　to　study　the　inscriptions　in　the　first　chamber。〃
　　　　　Gunn's　mind　struggled　to　adjust　to　a　new　set　of　circumstances。　〃We've　got　to　apprise　the　admiral　of　our　predicament。〃
　　　　　〃Do　it　in　code；〃　Giordino　suggested。　〃These　guys　are　good。　Ten　to　one　they　have　a　facility　for　listening　in　on　satellite　conversations。　It's　best　that　we　let　them　think　we're　being　eaten　by　fish　on　the　bottom　of　the　Indian　Ocean。〃
　　　　　Gunn　raised　his　Globalstar　phone　and　was　about　to　dial；　when　a　thought　occurred　to　him。　〃Suppose　the　killers　get　here　before　the　admiral's　rescue　party？〃
　　　　　〃Then　we'd　better　practice　throwing　rocks；　because　that's　the　only　defense　we　have。〃
　　　　　Almost　forlornly；　Gunn　gazed　around　the　rocky　landscape。　〃Well；〃　he　said　woodenly；　〃at　least　we　don't　have　to　worry　about　running　out　of　ammunition。〃
　
　　　　　The　Polar　Storm　with　her　scientists　and　ship's　crew　had　worked　its　way　around　the　Antarctic　Peninsula　and　across　the　Weddell　Sea　when　Sandecker's　message　came　in；　ordering　Captain　Gillespie　to　shelve　the　expedition　temporarily。　He　was　to　leave　the　ice　pack　immediately　and　sail　at　full　speed　to　the　Prince　Olav　Coast。　There　he　was　to　heave　to　and　wait　off　the　Syowa　Japanese　research　station　until　further　orders。　Gillespie　called　on　his　chief　engineer　and　the　enginee