atlantis.found-第42部分

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。　To　the　opera　lovers　who　buy　the　tickets；　they　are　ranked　and　admired　more　for　their　elegance　and　flamboyance。　Some　are　noted　for　their　baroqueness；　others　for　pompousness；　a　few　for　trappings　and　festoons。　But　none　can　hold　a　candle　to　the　unmatched　grandiloquence　of　the　Teatro　Colon　on　the　Avenida　9　de　Julio　in　Buenos　Aires。
　　　　　Construction　began　in　1890；　and　no　expense　was　spared。　pleted　when　Puccini　reigned　supreme　in　1908；　the　Teatro　Colon　opera　house　stands　sidewalk　to　sidewalk　on　one　entire　block　of　the　city。　A　spellbinding　blend　of　French　art　deco；　Italian　Renaissance；　and　Greek　classic；　its　stage　has　felt　the　feet　of　Pavlova　and　Nijinsky。　Toscanini　conducted　from　its　podium；　and　every　major　singer　from　Caruso　to　Callas　has　performed　there。
　　　　　The　horseshoe　interior　is　decorated　on　a　grand　scale　that　boggles　the　eye。　Incredibly　intricate　brass　molding　on　the　upper　railings；　sweeping　tiers　with　velveted　chairs　and　gold　brocaded　curtains；　spanned　by　ceilings　filled　with　masterworks　of　art。　On　dazzling　opening　nights；　the　society　elite　of　Argentina　sweep　through　the　foyer　with　its　Italian　marble　and　beautiful　stained…glass　dome　up　the　magnificent　stairways　through　the　glitter　to　their　luxuriously　appointed　seats。
　　　　　Every　seat　in　the　house　was　occupied　sixty　seconds　before　the　overture　to　the　opera　The　Coronation　of　Poppea　by　Claudio　Monteverdi；　except　for　the　preeminent　box　on　the　right　side　of　the　stage。　That　was　still　empty。　Poppea　had　been　the　Roman　emperor　Nero's　mistress　during　the　glory　of　Rome；　yet　the　singers　wore　costumes　from　the　seventeenth　century；　and　to　rub　salt　in　the　wounds；　all　the　male　parts　were　sung　by　women。　To　some　opera　lovers；　it　is　a　genuine　masterpiece；　to　others　it　is　a　four…hour　drone。
　　　　　A　few　seconds　before　the　houselights　dimmed；　a　party　of　one　man　and　four　women　flowed　unobtrusively　into　the　remaining　empty　box　and　sat　in　the　maroon　velvet　chairs。　Unseen　outside　the　curtains；　two　bodyguards　stood　alert　and　fashionably　dressed　in　tuxedos。　Every　eye　in　the　opera　house；　every　pair　of　binoculars；　every　pair　of　opera　glasses　automatically　turned　and　focused　on　the　people　entering　the　box。
　　　　　The　women　were　dazzlingly　beautiful；　not　simply　pretty　or　exotic；　but　shimmering　beauties　in　the　classical　sense。　Their　matching　flaxen　blond　hair　was　coiffed　in　long　ringlets　below　their　bare　shoulders；　with　tightly　woven　braids　running　across　a　center　part　on　top。　They　sat　regally；　delicate　hands　demurely　laid　on　their　laps；　staring　down　at　the　orchestra　pit　through　uniform　blue…gray　eyes　that　gleamed　with　the　intensity　of　moonlight　on　a　raven's　wing。　The　facial　features　were　enhanced　with　high　cheekbones　and　a　tanned　plexion　that　might　have　e　from　skiing　in　the　Andes　or　sunbathing　on　a　yacht　anchored　off　Bahia　Blanca。　Any　one　of　them　could　have　easily　passed　for　twenty…five；　although　they　were　all　thirty…five。　It　took　no　imagination　to　believe　they　were　sisters　in　fact；　they　were　four　of　a　brood　of　sextuplets。　Enough　of　their　body　proportions　could　be　discerned　through　their　dresses　to　show　that　they　were　trim　and　fit　from　arduous　exercise。
　　　　　Their　long；　shimmering　silk　gowns　with　dyed　fox　trim　were　identical　except　for　color。　Sitting　in　a　semicircle　in　the　box；　they　radiated　like　yellow；　blue；　green；　and　red　sapphires。　They　were　bejeweled　in　a　glittering　display　of　parable　diamond　chokers；　earrings；　and　bracelets。　Strikingly　sensuous　and　sultry；　they　had　an　ethereal；　untouchable　goddess　quality　about　them。　It　seemed　unthinkable；　but　they　were　all　married　and　each　had　given　birth　to　five　children。　The　women　were　attending　the　opening　night　of　the　opera　season　as　a　family　affair；　graciously　nodding　and　smiling　to　the　man　who　sat　in　their　midst。　Ramrod…straight；　the　male　centerpiece　possessed　the　same　hair　and　eye　color　as　his　sisters；　but　there　any　further　resemblance　ended。　He　was　as　handsome　as　his　sisters　were　stunning；　but　ruggedly　so；　with　thin　waist　and　hips　accented　by　lumberjack　shoulders　and　a　weight　lifter's　arm　and　leg　muscles。　His　face　was　square…cut；　sporting　a　chin　indented　with　a　dimplelike　cleft；　an　arrow…straight　nose；　and　a　head　jangled　with　thick　blond　hair　through　which　women　dreamed　of　running　their　fingers。　He　was　tall　at　six…feet　six…inches；　he　towered　over　his　five…foot　ten…inch　sisters。
　　　　　When　he　turned　and　spoke　to　his　siblings；　he　smiled；　flashing　brilliantly　white　teeth　framed　by　a　friendly　mouth　that　found　it　impossible　to　turn　down　in　a　grimace。　The　eyes；　though；　showed　no　warmth。　They　stared　as　if　they　belonged　to　a　panther　gazing　over　the　grasslands　in　search　of　prey。
　　　　　Karl　Wolf　was　a　very　wealthy　and　powerful　man。　The　chief　executive　officer　of　a　vast　family…owned　financial　empire　that　stretched　from　China　through　India　and　across　Europe　over　the　Atlantic；　and　from　Canada　and　the　United　States　into　Mexico　and　South　America；　he　was　stupendously　rich。　His　personal　wealth　was　estimated　at　well　over　a　hundred　billion　dollars。　His　vast　conglomerate；　engaged　in　a　multitude　of　scientific　and　high…technology　programs；　was　known　throughout　the　business　world　as　Destiny　Enterprises　Limited。　Unlike　his　siblings；　Karl　was　unmarried。
　　　　　Wolf　and　others　of　his　family　easily　could　have　slipped　into　the　new　Argentine　celebrity　society。　He　was　sophisticated；　confident；　and　prosperous；　and　yet　he　and　the　other　members　of　his　family　lived　frugally；　considering　their　vast　fortune。　But　the　Wolf　family　dynasty；　consisting　of；　incredibly；　over　two　hundred　members；　was　seldom　seen　at　fashionable　restaurants　or　high…society　functions。　The　Wolf　women　almost　never　made　their　presence　known　in　the　exclusive　stores　and　boutiques　around　Buenos　Aires。　Except　for　Karl；　who　made　a　show　of　openness；　the　family　remained　low…profile　and　reclusive；　and　was　a　great　mystery　to　Argentineans。　There　were　no　friendships　with　outsiders。　No　one；　not　even　celebrities　and　high　government　officials；　had　ever　cracked　the　Wolf　family　shell。　The　men　who　married　the　women　in　the　family　seemed　to　have　e　from　nowhere　and　had　no　history。　Strangely；　they　all　took　up　the　family　name。　Everyone；　from　the　newest　born　to　the　most　recently　wed；　carried　the　name　of　Wolf；　whether　male　or　female。　They　were　a　fraternal　elite。
　　　　　When　Karl　and　his　four　sisters　showed　up　on　opening　nights　at　the　opera；　it　was　a　major　gossip　event。　The　overture　ended　and　the　curtains　pulled　open　and　the　audience　reluctantly　turned　their　attention　from　the　stunning　and　resplendent　brother　and　sisters　sitting　in　the　premier　box　and　gazed　at　the　singers　on　the　stage。
　　　　　Maria　Wolf；　the　sister　sitting　immediately　to　Karl's　left；　leaned　over　and　whispered；　〃Why　must　you　subject　us　to　this　terrible　ordeal？〃
　　　　　Wolf　turned　to　Maria　and　smiled。　〃Because；　dear　sister；　if　we　didn't　display　the　family　on　different　occasions；　the　government　and　the　public　might　begin　to　think　of　us　as　a　gigantic　conspiracy　wrapped　in　an　enigma。　It's　best　to　make　an　appearance　occasionally　to　let　them　know　we're　not　extraterrestrial　aliens　bent　on　secretly　controlling　the　country。〃
　　　　　〃We　should　have　waited　until　Heidi　returned　from　Antarctica。〃
　　　　　〃I　agree；〃　whispered　Geli；　the　sister　on　Wolf's　right。　〃She's　the　only　one　who　would　have　enjoyed　this　awful　bore。〃
　　　　　Wolf　patted　Geli's　hand。　〃I'll　make　it　up　to　her　when　La　Traviata　opens　next　week。〃
　　　　　They　ignored　the　stares　of　the　audience；　who　were　torn　between　observing　the　elusive　Wolf　family　and　the　singing　and　acting　on　stage。　The　curtain　for　Act　III　had　just　risen　when　one　of　the　bodyguards　entered　from　the　rear　hall　and　whispered　in　Wolf's　ear。　He　stiffened　in　his　chair；　the　smile　vanished；　and　his　facial　expression　turned　grave。　He　leaned　over　and　spoke　softly。　〃My　dear　sisters；　an　emergency　has　e　up。　I　must　go。　You　stay。　I've　reserved　a　private　room　at　the　Plaza　Grill　for　a　little　after…show　dinner。　You　go　ahead；　and　I'll　catch　up　later。〃
　　　　　All　four　women　turned　from　the　opera　and　looked　at　him　with　controlled　trepidation。　〃Can　you　tell　us　what　it　is？〃　asked　Geli。
　　　　　〃We'd　like　to　know；〃　said　Maria。
　　　　　〃When　I　know；　you'll　know；〃　he　promised。　〃Now；　enjoy　yourselves。〃　Wolf　rose　and　left　the　box；　acpanied　by　one　of　the　bodyguards；　while　the　other　remained　outside　the　box。　He　hurried　out　a　side　exit　and　slipped　into　a　waiting　limousine；　a　1969　Mercedes…Benz　600；　a　car　that　after　more　than　forty　years　still　retained　its　reputation　as　the　world's　most　luxurious　limousine。　The　traffic　was　heavy；　but　then　it　was　never　light　in　Argentina。　The　streets　were　busy　from　late　evening　through　to　the　early…morning　hours。　The　driver　steered　the　big　Mercedes　to　the　barrio　of　Recoleta；　which　was　centered　around　the　lush　gardens　of　the　Plaza　Francia　and　Plaza　Intendente　Alvear。　It　was　considered　Buenos　Aires'　answer　to　Michigan　Avenue　in　Chicago　and　Rodeo　Drive　in　Beverly　Hills；　with　its　tree…lined　boulevards　featuring　chic　stores；　exclusive　hotels；　and　palatial　residences。
　　　　　The　car　passed　the　renowned　Recoleta　cemetery；　with　its　narrow　stone　paths　squeezed　between　more　than　seven　thousand　ornate　and　statued　mausoleums　with　bands　of　concrete　angels　watching　over　the　inhabitants。　Eva　Peron　rests　in　one　belonging　to　the　Duarte　family。　Foreign　tourists　are　usually　amazed　that　her　epitaph　on　the　gate　to　the　crypt　actually　reads；　〃Don't　cry　for　me；　Argentina。　I　remain　quite　near　you。〃
　　　　　The　chauffeur　turned　through　guarded　gates；　past　a　spectacular　wrought…iron　fence；　and　up　a　circular　drive；　stopping　at　the　portal　of　a　huge　nineteenth…century　mansion　with　tall　colonnades　and　ivy…covered　walls　that　had　been　the　German　Embassy　prior　to　World　War　II。　Four　years　after　the　war；　the　German　government　had　moved　its　diplomats　to　a　fashionable　enclave　known　as　Palermo　Chico。　Since　then；　the　mansion　had　served　as　the　corporate　headquarters　of　Destiny　Enterprises　Limited。
　　　　　Wolf　exited　the　car　and　entered　the　mansion。　The　interior　was　anything　but　sumptuous。　The　marble　floors　and　columns；　the　richly　paneled　walls；　and　the　tile…inlaid　ceilings　were　a　reminder　of　a　fabulous　past；　but　the　furnishings　were　sparse　and　any　sign　of　elaborate　decor　was　nonexistent。　There　was　a　white　marble　staircase　leading　to　the　offices　above；　but　Wolf　stepped　into　a　small　elevator　concealed　in　one　wall。