p&c.thunderhead-第35部分

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　She　shook　her　head。　〃I　still　remember　when　I　was　in　seventh　grade；　my　piano　teacher　made　all　us　students　attend　a　recital。　I'd　worked　up　this　really　difficult　Bach　three…part　invention；　and　I　was　very　proud　of　myself。　But　the　teacher　had　this　other　student；　Ursula　Rein；　who　was　a　true　prodigy。　She's　teaching　at　Juilliard　now。　Anyway；　she　played　right　before　me；　and　did　this　Chopin　waltz　at　about　twice　normal　speed。〃　Her　face　hardened。　〃When　my　father　heard　that；　he　made　me　get　up　and　leave　with　him。　I　was　so　angry；　so　embarrassed。　I'd　practiced　for　so　long；　and　I　thought　he'd　be　proud　of　me。　。　。　。　Oh；　he　made　up　some　excuse；　said　his　stomach　was　bothering　him　or　something。　But　I　knew　the　real　reason　was　he　couldn't　stand　for　me　to　e　in　second。〃　She　laughed。　〃I'm　still　amazed　he　wanted　me　on　this　expedition。〃　
　Nora　could　hear　the　bitter　undertone　in　the　laugh。　〃It　doesn't　seem　to　have　hurt　you；〃　she　replied。　
　〃Because　I　don't　let　it　hurt　me；〃　she　said；　looking　at　Nora　with　a　defiant　flip　of　her　hair。　
　Nora　realized　Sloane　might　have　taken　the　ment　the　wrong　way。　〃No；　that's　not　what　I　meant。　I　meant；　you're…〃　
　〃And　you　know　what？〃　Sloane　interrupted；　as　if　she　hadn't　heard。　〃I　don't　ever　remember　my　father　telling　me　he　loved　me。〃　
　She　looked　away。　Nora；　unsure　how　to　answer；　decided　to　change　the　subject。　〃I've　been　curious。　You've　got　the　money；　looks；　and　talent　to　be　anything。　So　why　are　you　an　archaeologist？〃　
　Sloane　turned　back　to　her；　the　grin　returning。　〃Why？　Are　archaeologists　supposed　to　be　poor；　ugly；　and　dumb？〃　
　〃Of　course　not。〃　
　Sloane　gave　a　low　laugh。　〃It's　the　family　business；　isn't　it？　The　Rothschilds　are　bankers；　the　Kennedys　are　politicians；　the　Goddards　are　archaeologists。　I'm　his　only　child。　He　raised　me　to　be　an　archaeologist　and　I　wasn't　strong　enough　to　deny　him。〃　
　The　father　again；　Nora　thought。　She　looked　into　Sloane's　face。　〃Don't　you　like　archaeology？〃　
　〃I　love　it；〃　came　the　reply；　a　brief　note　of　passion　sounding　in　the　rich　contralto。　〃I　never　stop　thinking　about　the　precious　things　and　the　secrets　that　lie　hidden　beneath　the　soil。　They're　waiting　to　teach　us　something；　if　only　we're　smart　enough　to　find　them。　But　I'll　never　be　a　good　enough　archaeologist　to　satisfy　him。〃　She　paused　a　moment；　then　spoke　more　briskly。　〃It's　funny；　Nora；　but　if　I　find　Quivira；　you　know　who's　going　to　be　remembered？　You　know　who's　going　to　go　down　in　the　history　books　like　Wetherill　and　Earl　Morris？　Not　me。　Him。〃　She　punctuated　this　with　a　short；　harsh　laugh。　〃Isn't　that　ironic？〃　
　Nora　could　not　find　an　answer　to　this。　
　Sloane　uncrossed　her　legs　and　lay　down　atop　her　sleeping　bag。　She　sighed；　teased　her　hair　back　with　one　finger。　〃Seeing　anyone？〃　
　Nora　paused　to　consider　this　abrupt　change　of　subject。　〃Not　really；〃　she　replied。　〃And　you？　Are　you　dating　someone？〃　
　〃Not　anybody　I　wouldn't　drop　in　a　second　if　the　right　person　came　along。〃　Sloane　was　silent　for　a　moment；　as　if　thinking　about　something。　〃So　what　do　you　think　of　the　men　in　this　group　of　ours？　You　know；　as　men。〃　
　Nora　hesitated　again；　not　feeling　entirely　fortable　talking　like　this　about　people　she　was　leading。　But　the　steamy　warmth　of　the　sleeping　bag；　and　the　brightness　of　the　stars；　somehow　conspiratorial　in　their　proximity；　relaxed　her　defenses。　〃I　hadn't　really　thought　about　them　as；　you　know；　potential　dating　material。〃　
　Sloane　gave　a　low　laugh。　〃Well；　I　have。　I'd　pegged　you　for　Smithback。〃　
　Nora　sat　up。　〃Smithback？〃　she　cried。　〃He's　insufferable。〃　
　〃He's　in　a　position　to　do　a　lot　for　your　career　if　this　all　works　out。　Funny；　too；　if　you　like　your　humor　dry　as　a　martini。　He's　led　a　pretty　interesting　life　these　last　couple　of　years。　Did　you　ever　read　that　book　of　his；　about　the　New　York　museum　murders？〃　
　〃He　gave　me　a　copy。　I　haven't　really　looked　at　it。〃　
　〃It's　a　hell　of　a　read。　And　the　guy's　not　bad　looking；　either；　in　a　citified　sort　of　way。〃　
　Nora　shook　her　head。　〃He's　about　as　full　of　himself　as　they　e。〃　
　〃Maybe。　But　I　think　part　of　that　is　just　facade。　The　guy　can　take　it　as　well　as　dish　it　out。〃　She　paused。　〃And　something　about　that　mouth　tells　me　he's　a　great　kisser。〃　
　〃If　you　find　out；　let　me　know。〃　Nora　glanced　at　Sloane。　〃Got　your　eyes　on　anybody？〃　
　By　way　of　answering；　Sloane　fanned　herself　absently。　〃Black；〃　she　said　at　last。　
　It　took　a　moment　for　Nora　to　digest　this。　〃What？〃　she　asked。　
　〃If　I　had　to　choose　somebody；　I'd　choose　Black。〃　
　Nora　shook　her　head。　〃I　don't　get　it。〃　
　〃Oh；　I　know　he　can　be　obnoxious。　He's　terrified　of　being　away　from　civilization。　But　you　wait。　When　we　find　Quivira；　he'll　e　into　his　own。　It's　easy　to　forget　out　here　in　the　middle　of　nowhere　that　he's　one　of　the　most　prominent　archaeologists　in　the　country。　With　good　reason。　Talk　about　someone　who　could　do　a　lot　for　a　career。〃　She　laughed。　〃And　look　at　that　big…boned　frame　of　his。　I'll　bet　he's　hung　like　a　fire　hydrant。〃　
　And　with　that　she　stood　up；　letting　the　shirt　slide　off　her　arms　and　fall　away　to　the　ground。　〃Now　look　what　you've　done；〃　she　said。　〃I'm　going　down　to　the　stream　to　cool　off。〃　
　Nora　leaned　back。　As　if　at　a　distance；　she　heard　Sloane　down　at　the　stream；　splashing　softly。　In　a　few　moments　she　returned；　her　sleek　body　glistening　in　the　moonlight。　She　slid　noiselessly　into　her　sleeping　bag。　〃Sweet　dreams；　Nora　Kelly；〃　she　murmured。　
　Then　she　turned　away；　and　within　moments；　Nora　could　hear　her　breathing；　regular　and　serene。　But　Nora　lay　still；　eyes　open　to　the　stars；　for　a　long　time。　
　
　
24
　
　NORA　AWOKE　WITH　A　START。　SHE　HAD　slept　so　deeply；　so　heavily；　that　for　a　moment　she　did　not　know　where　she　was。　She　sat　up　in　panic。　Dawn　light　was　just　bloodying　the　rimrock　above　her　head。　A　throbbing　at　the　ends　of　her　bandaged　fingers　quickly　brought　back　the　memories　of　the　previous　day：　the　terrible　struggle　on　the　hogback　ridge；　the　discovery　of　the　slot　canyon　and　this　hidden　valley　beyond；　the　lack　of　any　signs　of　a　ruin。　She　looked　around。　The　sleeping　bag　beside　her　was　empty。　
　She　rose；　sore　muscles　protesting；　and　stirred　the　ashes　of　the　fire。　Cutting　some　dry　grass　and　folding　it　into　a　packet；　she　shoved　it　in　the　coals。　A　thread　of　smoke　came　up；　then　the　grass　burst　into　flame。　She　quickly　added　sticks。　Rummaging　in　her　pack；　she　filled　a　tiny　two…cup　espresso　pot　with　grounds　and　water；　put　it　on　the　fire；　then　went　down　to　the　creek　to　wash。　When　she　returned；　the　pot　was　hissing。　She　poured　herself　a　cup　just　as　Sloane　walked　up。　The　perpetual　smile　was　gone。　
　〃Have　some　coffee；〃　Nora　said。　
　Sloane　took　the　proffered　cup　and　sat　down　beside　her。　They　sipped　in　silence　as　the　sun　crept　down　the　canyon　walls。　
　〃There's　nothing　here；　Nora；〃　Sloane　said　at　last。　〃I　just　spent　the　last　hour　going　over　this　place　inch　by　inch。　Your　pal　Holroyd　can　scan　this　ground　with　the　magnetometer；　but　I've　never　seen　a　ruin　under　the　sand　or　in　a　cliff　that　didn't　leave　some　trace　on　the　surface。　I　haven't　found　one　potsherd　or　flint　chip。〃　
　Nora　set　down　her　coffee。　〃I　don't　believe　it。〃　
　Sloane　shrugged。　〃Take　a　look　for　yourself。〃　
　〃I　will。〃　
　Nora　walked　to　the　base　of　the　cliffs　and　began　making　a　clockwise　circuit　of　the　valley。　She　could　see　the　welter　of　footprints　where　Sloane　had　scoured　the　ground　for　artifacts。　Nora；　instead；　took　out　her　binoculars　and　systematically　searched　the　cliffs；　setbacks；　and　rimrock　above　her。　Every　twenty　steps　she　stopped　and　searched　again。　The　morning　invasion　of　light　into　the　valley　continued；　each　minute　creating　fresh　angles　and　shadows　on　the　rock。　At　each　pause　she　forced　her　eyes　across　the　same　rock　faces；　from　different　angles；　straining　to　recognize　something…a　toehold；　a　shaped　building　block；　a　faded　petroglyph；　anything　that　indicated　human　occupation。　After　pleting　the　circuit；　she　then　crossed　the　valley　from　north　to　south　and　from　east　to　west；　heedlessly　wading　through　the　stream　again　and　again；　peering　up　at　the　walls；　trying　to　get　every　possible　view　of　the　towering　cliffs　above。　
　Ninety　minutes　later　she　came　back　into　camp；　wet　and　tired。　She　sat　down　beside　Sloane；　saying　nothing。　Sloane　was　also　silent；　her　head　bowed；　staring　into　the　sand；　idly　tracing　a　circle　with　a　stick。　
　She　thought　about　her　father；　and　all　the　terrible　things　her　mother　had　said　about　him　over　the　years。　Was　it　possible　that　she　could　have　been　right　all　this　time？　Was　he　untrustworthy　and　unreliable…just　a　fantasist；　after　all？　
　They　remained　beside　the　dying　fire；　wordlessly；　for　perhaps　ten　minutes；　perhaps　twenty；　as　the　full　weight　of　the　colossal　defeat　settled　upon　them。　
　〃What　are　we　going　to　tell　the　others？〃　Nora　said　at　last。　
　Sloane　tossed　her　short　hair　back　with　a　shake　of　her　head。　〃We'll　do　it　by　the　book；〃　she　said。　〃We　can't　turn　around　now　without　going　through　the　formalities。　Like　you　said　last　night；　we'll　bring　in　the　equipment；　do　an　archaeological　survey　of　the　valley。　And　then　we'll　go　home。　You　to　your　office。　And　me　。　。　。〃　She　paused。　〃To　my　father。〃　
　Nora　glanced　over　at　Sloane。　A　haunted　look　came　into　her　amber　eyes　as　she　spoke。　The　woman　looked　back　at　Nora。　As　she　did　so；　her　expression　softened。　
　〃But　here　I　am；　moping　like　a　selfish　schoolgirl；〃　she　said；　the　old　smile　returning。　〃When　you're　the　one　who　really　needs　consoling。　I　can't　tell　you　how　sorry　I　am；　Nora。　You　know　how　much　we　all　believed　in　your　dream。〃　
　Nora　looked　up　at　the　dark　encircling　cliffs；　the　smooth　sandstone　faces　that　showed　no　trace　of　a　trail。　There　had　been　no　other　ruins　in　the　entire　canyon　system；　and　this　was　no　exception。　〃I　just　can't　believe　it；〃　she　said。　〃I　can't　believe　I　dragged　you　all　out　here；　wasted　your　father's　money；　risked　lives；　killed　horses；　for　nothing。〃　
　Sloane　took　one　of　Nora's　hands　and　gave　it　a　reassuring　squeeze。　Then　she　stood　up。　
　〃e　on；〃　she　said。　〃The　others　are　waiting　for　us。〃　
　Nora　stowed　the　cooking　gear　and　sleeping　bag　into　her　pack；　then　shouldered　it　wearily。　Her　mouth　felt　painfully　dry。　The　thought　of　the　days　to　e…going　through　the　motions；　working　without　hope…was　almost　too　much　to　bear。　She　looked　up　yet　again　at　the　rock；　picking　out　the　same　landmarks　she　had　seen　yesterday。　The　morning　light　was　ing　in　at　a　d