atlantis.found-第7部分

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　　　　　As　the　plane　dropped　lower　into　the　valley；　the　slopes　of　the　mountains　rose　majestically　on　both　sides。　They　appeared　so　close　that　it　seemed　to　the　passengers　as　if　the　aircraft's　wings　would　brush　the　aspen　trees　on　the　rocky　outcroppings。　Then　the　landing　gear　dropped；　and　a　minute　later　the　wheels　thumped　and　screeched　as　they　touched　the　narrow　asphalt　runway。
　　　　　The　Beechcraft　carried　only　nineteen　passengers；　and　the　unloading　went　quickly。　Patricia　O'Connell　was　the　last　one　to　step　to　the　ground。　Taking　the　advice　of　friends　who　had　flown　into　the　resort　town　for　the　skiing；　she　had　asked　for　a　rear　seat　so　she　could　enjoy　the　fantastic　view　without　its　being　blocked　by　one　of　the　aircraft's　wings。
　　　　　At　9；000　feet　in　altitude；　the　air　was　thin　but　incredibly　pure　and　refreshing。　Pat　inhaled　deeply　as　she　walked　from　the　plane　to　inside　the　terminal　building。　As　she　passed　through　the　door；　a　short；　stocky　man　with　a　shaved　head　and　a　dark　brown　beard　walked　up　to　her。
　　　　　〃Dr。　O'Connell？〃
　　　　　〃Please　call　me　Pat；〃　she　replied。　〃You　must　be　Dr。　Ambrose。〃
　　　　　〃Please　call　me　Tom；〃　he　said；　with　a　warm　smile。　〃Did　you　have　a　good　flight　from　Denver？〃
　　　　　〃It　was　wonderful。　A　little　rough　ing　over　the　mountains；　but　the　beautiful　scenery　easily　offset　any　disfort。〃
　　　　　〃Telluride　is　a　lovely　spot；〃　he　said　wistfully。　〃There　are　times　I　wish　I　could　live　here。〃
　　　　　〃I　don't　imagine　there　are　many　archaeological　sites　to　study　for　a　man　of　your　experience。〃
　　　　　〃Not　this　high；〃　he　said。　〃The　ancient　Indian　ruins　are　at　much　lower　altitudes。〃
　　　　　Dr。　Thomas　Ambrose　may　not　have　fit　the　stereotype　of　an　eminent　anthropologist；　but　he　was　one　of　the　most　respected　people　in　the　field。　A　professor　emeritus　at　Arizona　State　University；　he　was　an　acplished　researcher；　meticulous　with　written　reports　of　his　on…site　investigations。　Now　in　his　late　fifties　Pat　guessed　him　to　be　ten　years　younger　he　could　boast　of　thirty　years　spent　on　the　trail　of　early　man　and　his　cultures　throughout　the　Southwest。
　　　　　〃Dr。　Kidd　was　very　mysterious　over　the　phone。　He　offered　almost　no　information　at　all　about　the　discovery。〃
　　　　　〃And　neither　will　I；〃　said　Ambrose。　〃It's　best　that　you　wait　and　see　for　yourself。〃
　　　　　〃How　did　you　bee　involved　with　this　find？〃　she　asked。
　　　　　〃The　right　place　at　the　right　time。　I　was　on　a　skiing　vacation　with　an　old　girlfriend　when　I　received　a　call　from　a　colleague　at　the　University　of　Colorado；　asking　if　I'd　take　a　look　at　the　artifacts　a　miner　reported　finding。　After　a　quick　study　of　the　site；　I　realized　that　I　was　in　over　my　head。〃
　　　　　〃I　find　that　hard　to　believe　of　a　man　with　your　reputation。〃
　　　　　〃Unfortunately；　my　area　of　expertise　does　not　include　epigraphy。　And　that's　where　you　e　in。　The　only　one　I　know　personally　who　specializes　in　deciphering　ancient　inscriptions　is　Dr。　Jerry　Kidd　at　Stanford。　He　wasn't　available；　but　remended　you　highly　to　take　his　place。〃
　　　　　Ambrose　turned；　as　the　outside　doors　to　the　luggage　drop　were　opened　and　the　terminal　ticket　ladies　who　doubled　as　luggage　handlers　began　throwing　suitcases　onto　a　sloping　metal　tray。　〃The　big　green　one　is　mine；〃　said　Pat；　thankful　a　man　was　there　to　tote　her　fifty…pound　bag；　which　was　packed　with　reference　books。
　　　　　Ambrose　grunted　but　said　nothing　as　he　manhandled　the　heavy　bag　out　to　a　jeep　Cherokee　that　he'd　parked　in　the　lot　outside　the　terminal。　Pat　hesitated；　before　entering　the　car；　to　absorb　the　magnificent　view　of　the　pine　and　aspen　forests　ascending　the　slopes　of　Mount　Wilson　and　Sunshine　Peak　across　the　valley。　As　she　stood　enthralled　with　the　panoramic　scene；　Ambrose　took　a　moment　to　study　her。　Pat's　hair　was　a　radiant　red　and　cascaded　to　her　waist。　Her　eyes　were　a　sage　green。　She　stood　as　if　sculptured　by　an　artist；　her　weight　on　her　right　leg　with　her　left　knee　turned　slightly　inward。　Her　shoulders　and　arms　suggested　a　build　more　muscular　than　most　women's；　no　doubt　fashioned　by　long　hours　of　exercise　in　a　gym。　Ambrose　guessed　her　height　at　five　feet　eight　inches；　her　weight　at　a　solid　135　pounds。　She　was　a　pretty　woman；　not　cute　or　strikingly　beautiful；　but　he　imagined　she'd　look　very　desirable　when　dressed　in　something　more　alluring　than　jeans　and　a　mannish　leather　jacket。
　　　　　Dr。　Kidd　claimed　there　was　no　better　person　than　Patricia　O'Connell　to　decipher　ancient　writings。　He　had　faxed　her　history；　and　Ambrose　was　impressed。　Thirty…five　years　old；　with　a　doctorate　in　ancient　languages　from　St。　Andrews　College　in　Scotland；　she　taught　early　linguistics　at　the　University　of　Pennsylvania。　Pat　had　written　three　well…received　books　on　inscriptions　she　had　deciphered　on　stones　found　in　different　parts　of　the　world。　Married　and　divorced　from　an　attorney；　she　supported　a　young　daughter　of　fourteen。　A　confirmed　diffusionist；　one　who　embraced　the　theory　that　cultures　spread　from　one　to　another　without　being　independently　created；　she　firmly　believed　ancient　seafarers　had　visited　American　shores　many　hundreds　of　years　before　Columbus。
　　　　　〃I've　put　you　up　at　a　nice　bed…and…breakfast　in　town；〃　said　Ambrose。　〃If　you　wish；　I　can　drop　you　off　for　an　hour　or　so　to　freshen　up。〃
　　　　　〃No；　thank　you；〃　Pat　said；　smiling。　〃If　you　don't　mind；　I'd　like　to　go　straight　to　the　site。〃
　　　　　Ambrose　nodded；　took　a　cellular　phone　from　a　coat　pocket；　and　dialed　a　number。　〃I'll　let　Luis　Marquez；　the　owner　of　the　mine；　who　made　the　discovery；　know　that　we're　ing。〃
　　　　　They　drove　in　silence　through　the　heart　of　Telluride。　Pat　stared　up　at　the　ski　slopes　of　Mountain　Village　to　the　south　and　saw　skiers　assaulting　the　steep　moguls　on　the　run　that　dropped　to　the　edge　of　town。　They　passed　old　buildings　that　had　been　preserved　over　the　past　century；　restored　and　now　housing　retail　stores　instead　of　a　sea　of　saloons。　Ambrose　pointed　to　a　building　on　his　left。　〃That's　the　spot　where　Butch　Cassidy　robbed　his　first　bank。〃
　　　　　〃Telluride　must　have　a　rich　history。〃
　　　　　〃It　does；〃　replied　Ambrose。　〃Right　there　in　front　of　the　Sheridan　Hotel　is　where　William　Jennings　Bryan　gave　his　famous　‘cross　of　gold'　speech。　And　farther　up　the　South　Fork　Valley　was　the　world's　first　generating　plant；　which　produced　alternating…current　electricity　for　the　mines。　The　plant's　equipment　was　designed　by　Nikola　Tesla。〃
　　　　　Ambrose　continued　through　the　town　of　Telluride；　busy　with　the　invasion　of　skiers；　and　drove　into　the　box　canyon　to　where　the　paved　road　ended　at　Pandora。　Pat　stared　in　wonder　at　the　steep　cliffs　surrounding　the　old　mining　town；　taking　in　the　beauty　of　Bridal　Veil　Falls；　which　was　beginning　to　cascade　with　the　runoff　from　the　melting　snow　brought　on　by　the　prelude　of　a　warm　spring。
　　　　　They　came　to　a　side　road　that　led　to　the　ruins　of　several　old　buildings。　A　van　and　a　jeep　painted　a　bright　turquoise　were　parked　outside。　A　pair　of　men　were　wearing　wet　suits　and　unloading　what　looked　to　Pat　like　diving　equipment。　〃What　can　divers　possibly　be　doing　in　the　middle　of　the　mountains　of　Colorado？〃　she　asked　vaguely。
　　　　　〃I　stopped　and　talked　to　them　yesterday；〃　answered　Ambrose。　〃They're　a　team　from　the　National　Underwater　and　Marine　Agency。〃
　　　　　〃A　long　way　from　the　sea；　aren't　they？〃
　　　　　〃I　was　told　they're　exploring　a　plex　system　of　ancient　waterways　that　once　drained　the　western　flank　of　the　San　Juan　Mountains。　There　is　a　maze　of　caverns　that　connect　to　the　old　mine　tunnels。〃
　　　　　Half　a　mile　up　the　road；　Ambrose　passed　a　huge　abandoned　ore　mill；　where　a　large　semitruck　and　trailer　were　parked　beside　the　San　Miguel　River　below　the　mouth　of　another　old　abandoned　mine。　Tents　had　been　set　up　around　the　vehicles；　and　several　men　could　be　seen　wandering　about　the　camp。　The　sides　of　the　big　trailers　were　painted　with　words　advertising　the　Geo　Subterranean　Science　Corporation　with　home　offices　in　Phoenix；　Arizona。
　　　　　〃Another　bunch　of　scientists；〃　Ambrose　volunteered　without　being　asked。　〃A　geophysical　outfit；　searching　through　the　old　mine　shafts　with　fancy　ground…penetrating　equipment　that　is　supposed　to　detect　any　veins　of　gold　overlooked　by　the　old　miners。〃
　　　　　〃Think　they'll　find　anything？〃　asked　Pat。
　　　　　Ambrose　shrugged。　〃I　doubt　it。　These　mountains　have　been　dug　pretty　deep。〃
　　　　　A　short　distance　later；　Ambrose　pulled　to　a　stop　in　front　of　a　picturesque　little　house　and　parked　next　to　an　old　Chevy　pickup　truck。　Marquez　and　his　wife；　Lisa；　alerted　to　their　ing；　came　out　and　greeted　them；　as　Ambrose　introduced　them　to　Pat。
　　　　　〃I　envy　you；〃　said　Pat；　〃living　amid　such　gorgeous　scenery。〃
　　　　　〃Sad　to　say；〃　said　Lisa；　〃that　after　a　year　you　don't　notice　it　anymore。〃
　　　　　〃I　don't　think　I　could　ever　bee　immune　to　it。〃
　　　　　〃Can　I　get　you　folks　anything？　A　cup　of　coffee？　A　beer？〃
　　　　　〃I'm　fine；〃　answered　Pat。　〃I　would　like　to　see　your　discovery　as　soon　as　it's　convenient。〃
　　　　　〃No　problem；〃　said　Marquez。　〃We　still　have　five　hours　of　daylight　left。　More　than　enough　time　for　you　to　see　the　chamber　and　get　back　before　dark。〃
　　　　　〃I'll　have　dinner　waiting；〃　said　Lisa。　〃I　thought　you　might　like　barbecued　elk。〃
　　　　　〃Sounds　wonderful；〃　Pat　said；　already　feeling　the　pangs　of　hunger。
　　　　　Marquez　nodded　his　head　at　the　old　truck。　〃You　folks　will　have　a　more　fortable　ride　up　to　the　mine　if　we　take　your　jeep；　Doc。〃
　　　　　Fifteen　minutes　later；　they　were　sitting　in　the　ore　cart；　making　the　descent　from　the　portal　into　the　old　Paradise　Mine。　It　was　a　new　experience　for　Pat。　She　had　never　entered　a　mine　shaft。
　　　　　〃It　feels　warmer；〃　she　observed；　〃the　deeper　we　go。〃
　　　　　〃As　a　rule　of　thumb；〃　explained　Marquez；　〃the　temperature　increases　by　five　degrees　every　hundred　feet　you　descend　into　the　earth。　In　the　lower　levels　of　the　mine　that　are　now　flooded；　the　heat　used　to　be　over　a　hundred　degrees。〃
　　　　　The　ore　cart　came　to　a　stop。　Marquez　climbed　out　and　dug　into　a　large　wooden　toolbox。　He　handed　Pat　and　Ambrose　each　a　hard　hat。
　　　　　〃For　falling　rock？〃　asked　Pat。
　　　　　Marquez　laughed。　〃Mostly　to　keep　your　scalp　from　knocking　against　low　timbers。〃
　　　　　The　dim　yellow　lights　attached　to　the　overhead　timbers　flickered　overhead　as　they　made　their　way　through　the　damp　tunnel　with　Marquez　in　the　lead。　When　one　of　them　spoke；　the　voice　sounded　hollow　against　the　surrounding　roc