p&c.thunderhead-第18部分

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e　months　on　the　Gallegos　Divide；　excavating　the　burned　jacal　site；　had　taught　her　that　the　human　dynamic　in　an　expedition　of　this　sort　was　of　crucial　importance；　and　she　didn't　like　his　resolute　silence。　Something　was　not　right　with　him。　Casually；　she　strolled　forward　until　she　was　standing　at　the　rail　beside　him。　He　looked　over；　then　nodded　politely。　
　〃Quite　a　dinner；〃　she　said。　
　〃Astonishing；〃　said　Aragon；　folding　his　brown　hands　over　the　railing。　〃Signore　Bonarotti　is　to　be　plimented。　What　do　you　suppose　is　in　that　curio　box　of　his？〃　
　He　was　referring　to　an　antique　wooden　chuckbox　with　innumerable　tiny　partments　the　cook　kept　locked　and　under　jealous　guard。　
　〃No　idea；〃　Nora　said。　
　〃I　can't　imagine　how　he　managed　it。〃　
　〃You　watch。　It'll　be　salt　pork　and　hardtack　tomorrow。〃　
　They　laughed　together；　an　easy　laugh；　and　once　again　Aragon　gazed　forward；　toward　the　lake　and　its　vast　ramparts　of　stone。　
　〃You've　been　here　before？〃　Nora　asked。　
　Something　flitted　across　the　hollow　eyes：　the　shadow　of　a　strong　emotion；　quickly　concealed。　〃In　a　way。〃　
　〃It's　a　beautiful　lake；〃　Nora　went　on；　uncertain　how　to　engage　the　man　in　conversation。　
　There　was　a　silence。　At　last；　Aragon　turned　toward　her　again。　〃Forgive　me　if　I　don't　agree。〃　
　Nora　looked　at　him　more　closely。　
　〃Back　in　the　early　sixties　I　was　an　assistant　on　an　expedition　that　tried　to　document　sites　here　in　Glen　Canyon；　before　it　was　drowned　by　Lake　Powell。〃　
　Suddenly；　Nora　understood。　〃Were　there　many？〃　
　〃We　were　able　to　document　perhaps　thirty…five；　and　partially　excavate　twelve；　before　the　water　engulfed　them。　But　the　estimate　of　total　sites　ran　to　about　six　thousand。　I　think　my　interest　in　ZST　dates　from　that　event。　I　remember　shoveling　out…shoveling　out…　a　kiva；　water　lapping　just　three　feet　below。　That　was　no　way　to　treat　a　sacred　site；　but　we　had　no　choice。　The　water　was　about　to　destroy　it。〃　
　〃What's　a　kiva？〃　Smithback　asked　as　he　strolled　over；　his　new　cowboy　boots　creaking　on　the　rubber　deck。　〃And　who　were　the　Anasazi；　anyway？〃　
　〃A　kiva　is　the　circular；　sunken　structure　that　was　the　center　of　Anasazi　religious　activity　and　secret　ceremonies；〃　Nora　said。　〃It　was　usually　entered　through　a　hole　in　the　roof。　And　the　Anasazi　were　the　Native　Americans　who　peopled　this　region　a　thousand　years　ago。　They　built　cities；　shrines；　irrigation　systems；　signaling　stations。　And　then；　around　1150　A。D。　their　civilization　suddenly　collapsed。〃　
　There　was　a　silence。　Black　joined　the　group。　〃Were　these　sites　you　worked　on　important？〃　he　asked；　working　a　toothpick　between　two　molars。　
　Aragon　looked　up。　〃Are　there　any　unimportant　sites？〃　
　〃Of　course；〃　Black　sniffed。　〃Some　sites　have　more　to　say　than　others。　A　few　poor　outcast　Anasazi；　scrabbling　out　a　living　in　a　cave　for　ten　years；　don't　leave　us　as　much　information　as；　say；　a　thousand　people　living　in　a　cliff　dwelling　for　two　centuries。〃　
　Aragon　looked　coolly　at　Black。　〃There's　enough　information　in　a　single　Anasazi　pot　to　occupy　a　researcher　for　his　entire　career。　Perhaps　it's　not　a　matter　of　unimportant　sites；　but　unimportant　archaeologists。〃　
　Black's　face　darkened。　
　〃What　sites　did　you　work　on？〃　Nora　asked　quickly。　
　Aragon　nodded　toward　an　open　reach　of　water　to　starboard。　〃About　a　mile　over　there；　maybe　four　hundred　feet　down；　is　the　Music　Temple。〃　
　〃The　Music　Temple？〃　Smithback　echoed。　
　〃A　great　hollow　in　the　canyon　wall；　where　the　winds　and　the　waters　of　the　Colorado　River　bined　to　make　haunting；　unearthly　sounds。　John　Wesley　Powell　discovered　and　named　it。　We　excavated　the　floor　and　found　a　rare　Archaic　site；　along　with　many　others　in　the　vicinity。〃　He　pointed　in　another　direction。　〃And　over　there　was　a　site　called　the　Wishing　Well；　a　Pueblo　III　cliff　dwelling　of　eight　rooms；　built　around　an　unusually　deep　kiva。　A　small　site；　trivial；　of　no　importance。〃　He　glanced　pointedly　at　Black。　〃In　that　site；　the　Anasazi　had　buried　with　loving　care　two　small　girls；　wrapped　in　woven　textiles；　with　necklaces　of　flowers　and　seashells。　But　by　then　there　was　no　time　left。　We　couldn't　save　the　burials；　the　water　was　already　rising。　Now　the　water　has　dissolved　the　burials；　the　adobe　masonry　that　held　the　stones　of　the　city　in　place；　destroyed　all　the　delicate　artifacts。〃　
　Black　snorted　and　shook　his　head。　〃Hand　me　a　tissue；　somebody。〃　
　The　boat　moved　past　the　Grand　Bench。　Nora　could　see　the　dark　prow　of　the　Kaiparowits　Plateau　rising　far　behind　it；　wild；　inaccessible；　tinged　dusky　rose　by　the　setting　sun。　As　if　in　response；　the　boat　began　to　turn；　heading　for　a　narrow　opening　in　the　sandstone　walls：　the　foot　of　Serpentine　Canyon。　
　Once　the　boat　was　inside　the　narrow　confines　of　the　canyon；　the　water　turned　a　deeper　green。　The　sheer　walls　plunged　straight　down；　so　perfectly　reflected　it　was　hard　to　tell　where　stone　stopped　and　water　began。　The　captain　had　told　Nora　that　almost　nobody　came　up　into　that　canyon：　there　were　no　camping　sites　or　beaches；　and　the　walls　were　so　high　and　sheer　that　hiking　was　impossible。　
　Holroyd　stretched。　〃I've　been　reading　about　Quivira；〃　he　said；　indicating　the　book。　〃It's　an　amazing　story。　Listen　to　this：　
　The　Cicuye　Indians　brought　forward　a　slave　to　show　the　General；　who　they　had　captured　in　a　distant　land。　The　General　questioned　the　slave　through　interpreters。　The　slave　told　him　about　a　distant　city；　called　Quivira。　It　is　a　holy　city；　he　said；　where　the　rain　priests　live；　who　guard　the　records　of　their　history　from　the　beginning　of　time。　He　said　it　was　a　city　of　great　wealth。　mon　table　service　was　of　the　purest　smoothed　gold；　and　the　pitchers；　dishes　and　bowls　were　also　of　gold；　refined；　polished　and　decorated。　He　said　they　despised　all　other　materials。〃　
　〃Aaah；〃　Smithback　said；　rubbing　his　hands　with　an　exaggerated　air。　〃I　like　that：　they　despised　all　other　materials。　Gold。　Such　a　pleasant　word；　don't　you　think？〃　
　〃There　isn't　a　shred　of　evidence　of　any　Anasazi　Indians　having　gold；〃　Nora　said。　
　〃Dinner　plates　made　of　gold？〃　Smithback　said。　〃Excuse　me；　Madame　Chairman；　but　that　sounds　pretty　specific　to　me。〃　
　〃Then　prepare　to　be　disappointed；〃　said　Nora。　〃The　Indians　were　only　telling　Coronado　what　they　knew　he　wanted　to　hear　in　order　to　keep　him　moving　on。〃　
　〃But　listen；〃　Holroyd　said；　〃it　goes　on：　'The　slave　warned　the　General　not　to　approach　the　city。　The　Rain　and　Sun　Priests　of　Xochitl　guard　the　city；　he　said；　and　call　down　the　God　of　the　Dust　Devil　on　those　who　approach　without　their　leave；　and　thereby　destroy　them。'〃　
　〃D…d…d…destroy　them？〃　Smithback　leered。　
　Nora　shrugged。　〃Typical　in　these　old　reports。　A　hard　kernel　of　truth　at　the　center；　embellished　to　increase　dramatic　effect。〃　
　Hicks　stepped　out　of　the　cabin；　his　stringy　form　framed　in　the　battered　pilothouse　light。　〃Sonar's　giving　me　shoaling　water　here；〃　he　said。　〃The　canyon　bottom's　ing　up。　We'll　probably　be　hitting　the　end　of　the　lake　'round　another　bend　or　two。〃　
　Now　everyone　came　to　the　front　rail；　peering　eagerly　into　the　gloom。　A　searchlight　snapped　on　above　the　pilothouse；　illuminating　the　water　ahead　of　them。　It　had　changed　color　again　to　a　dirty　chocolate。　The　barge　nosed　its　way　past　battered　tree　limbs；　around　dark　curtains　of　stone　that　rose　hundreds　of　feet。　
　They　passed　another　sharp　bend　and　dismay　suddenly　dragged　at　Nora's　heart。　Blocking　the　far　end　of　the　canyon　was　a　huge　mass　of　floating　debris：　scarred　tree　trunks；　branches；　and　stinking　mats　of　rotting　pine　needles。　Some　of　the　tree　trunks　were　five　feet　in　diameter；　horribly　gouged　and　ripped　as　if　by　supernatural　force。　Beyond　the　tangle；　Nora　could　make　out　the　end　of　the　lake：　a　wedge　of　sand　at　the　mouth　of　a　creek；　deep　crimson　in　the　gloom。　
　Hicks　threw　the　engine　into　neutral　and　came　out　of　the　pilothouse；　puffing　silently　and　staring　down　the　beam　of　the　searchlight。　
　〃Where　did　all　those　huge　trees　e　from？〃　Nora　asked。　〃I　haven't　seen　a　tree　since　we　left　Page。〃　
　〃Flash　floods；〃　said　Hicks；　chewing　on　his　corncob。　〃All　that　stuff　gets　washed　down　from　the　mountains；　hundreds　of　miles　sometimes。　When　the　wall　of　water　hits　the　lake；　it　just　dumps　everything　here。〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃Never　seen　such　a　snarl。〃　
　〃Can　you　get　through　it？〃　
　〃Nope；〃　said　Hicks。　〃Tear　my　propellers　right　up。〃　
　Shit。　〃How　deep　is　the　water？〃　
　〃Sonar　says　eight　feet；　with　holes　and　channels　down　to　fifteen。〃　He　gave　her　a　curious　look。　〃Might　be　a　good　time　to　think　about　turning　around；〃　he　murmured。　
　Nora　glanced　at　his　placid　face。　〃Now　why　would　we　want　to　do　that？〃　
　Hicks　shrugged。　〃It　ain't　no　business　of　mine；　but　I　wouldn't　head　into　that　backcountry　for　all　the　money　in　the　world。〃　
　〃Thanks　for　the　advice；〃　Nora　said。　〃You　have　a　life　raft；　right？〃　
　〃Yup；　inflatable。　You　sure　can't　load　horses　into　it。〃　
　The　expedition　had　gathered　around；　listening。　Nora　heard　Black　mutter　something　about　knowing　horses　were　a　bad　idea。　
　〃We'll　swim　the　horses　in；〃　Nora　said。　〃Then　we'll　bring　the　gear　on　the　raft。〃　
　〃Now；　hold　on…〃　began　Swire。　
　Nora　turned　to　him。　〃All　we　need　is　a　good　horse　to　lead　and　the　others　will　follow。　Roscoe；　I'll　bet　you've　got　a　good　swimmer　in　that　bunch。〃　
　〃Sure；　Mestizo；　but…〃　
　〃Good。　You　swim　him　in　yourself；　and　we'll　push　the　others　in　afterward。　They　can　swim　through　one　of　those　gaps　between　the　logs。〃　
　Swire　stared　at　the　blockage　before　them；　a　crazy　dark　tangle　in　the　ghostly　illumination　of　the　searchlight。　〃Those　gaps　are　pretty　small。　A　horse　could　get　snagged　on　brush；　or　maybe　gut　himself　on　an　underwater　limb。〃　
　〃Do　you　have　another　idea？〃　
　Swire　looked　out　over　the　water。　〃Nope；〃　he　said。　〃Guess　I　don't。〃　
　Hicks　opened　a　large　deck　locker　and；　with　the　help　of　Holroyd；　pulled　a　heavy；　shapeless　rubber　mass　out　of　its　depths。　Swire　led　a　large　horse　out　of　one　of　the　trailers；　then　threw　a　saddle　over　his　back。　Nora　noticed　he　did　not　put　on　a　halter　or　bridle。　Aragon　and　Bonarotti　began　to　move　the　gear　toward　the　raft；　readying　it　for　transport。　Black　was　standing　near　the　trailers；　watching　the　proceedings　with　a　doubtful　expression。　Swire　handed　him　a　quirt。　
　〃What's　this　for？〃　Black　asked；　holding　it　at　arm's　length。　
　〃I'm　going　to　swim　this　horse　in　to　shore　first；〃　Swire　replied。　〃Nor