p&c.thunderhead-第36部分

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　picking　out　the　same　landmarks　she　had　seen　yesterday。　The　morning　light　was　ing　in　at　a　different　angle；　raking　along　the　lower　cliffs。　Her　eyes　instinctively　scoured　the　rock　face；　but　it　remained　clear　and　barren。　She　raised　her　eyes　higher。　
　And　then　she　saw　something：　a　single；　shallow　notch　in　the　rock；　forty　feet　above　the　ground。　The　light　now　lay　at　a　perfect　raking　angle。　It　could　be　natural；　in　fact；　it　probably　was　natural。　But　she　found　herself　digging　into　her　pack　anyway　for　her　binoculars。　She　focused　and　looked　again。　There　it　was：　a　tiny　depression；　seemingly　floating　in　space　a　foot　or　so　below　a　narrow　ledge。　Magnified；　it　looked　a　little　less　natural。　But　where　was　the　rest　of　the　trail？　
　Angling　her　binoculars　down；　she　saw　the　answer：　below　the　lone　notch；　a　section　of　the　cliff　face　had　recently　peeled　off：　the　desert　varnish…that　layer　of　oxidation　built　up　on　sandstone　over　centuries…was　a　lighter；　fresher　color。　At　the　base　of　the　cliffs　was　the　proof…a　small　heap　of　broken　rubble。　Her　heart　began　to　pound。　She　turned　and　found　Sloane　staring　at　her　curiously。　
　She　handed　over　the　binoculars。　〃Look　at　that。〃　
　Sloane　examined　the　indicated　spot。　Suddenly；　her　body　tensed。　
　〃It's　a　moqui　step；〃　she　said　breathlessly。　〃The　top　of　a　trail。　The　rest　must　have　fallen　away。　Jesus；　look　at　that　pile　of　rubble　at　the　bottom。　How　could　I　be　so　stupid？　There　I　was；　so　busy　looking　for　sherds　that　I　never　thought　。　。　。〃　
　〃That　little　landslide　must　have　happened　since　my　father　saw　the　trail；〃　Nora　said。　But　Sloane　was　already　digging　into　her　pack；　pulling　out　a　rope　shot　through　with　black　fibers。　
　〃What　are　you　doing？〃　she　asked。　
　〃No　problem；〃　came　the　response。　〃It's　a　friction　climb。〃　
　〃You're　going　up　there？〃　
　〃Damn　right　I'm　going　up　there。〃　She　worked　frantically；　pulling　out　her　equipment；　kicking　off　her　hiking　boots　and　tugging　on　climbing　shoes。　
　〃What　about　me？〃　Nora　asked。　
　Sloane　glanced　up　at　her。　〃You？〃　
　〃There's　no　way　in　hell　you're　going　up　there　without　me。〃　
　Sloane　stood　up；　began　coiling　the　rope。　〃Done　any　climbing？〃　
　〃Some。　Mostly　one…pitch　scrambles　and　boulder　problems。〃　
　〃What　about　your　hands？〃　
　〃They're　fine；〃　Nora　insisted。　〃I'll　wear　my　gloves。〃　
　Sloane　hesitated　for　a　moment。　〃I　didn't　bring　a　lot　of　gear　along；　so　you're　going　to　have　to　belay　me　without　a　harness。〃　
　〃No　problem。〃　
　〃Then　let's　do　it；〃　said　Sloane；　with　a　sudden　radiant　grin。　
　In　a　moment　they　were　at　the　base　of　the　cliff。　Sloane　tied　on　with　a　figure　eight；　then　helped　Nora　set　up　the　ground　stance　and　showed　her　how　to　use　the　belay　device。　Nora　braced　the　rope　around　her　body　as　Sloane　dusted　her　hands；　then　turned　to　address　the　sheer　face。　〃Climbing；〃　she　called　out　in　a　clear　voice。　
　As　Nora　watched；　Sloane　moved　up　the　rock　with　care　and　precision；　instinctively　finding　tiny　holds　in　the　cliff　face。　As　she　climbed；　her　small　loop　of　friends；　cams；　and　carabiners　dangled　in　the　still　air。　Nora　played　out　the　rope　sparingly。　Fifteen　feet　up；　Sloane　paused　to　select　a　nut；　insert　it　into　a　crack；　and　pull　down　sharply；　testing　for　tightness。　Satisfied；　she　attached　a　quickdraw　to　the　wire　and　clipped　the　climbing　rope　into　it。　She　continued　up　the　face；　placing　a　nut　here；　a　friend　there。　At　one　point　she　called　out　〃Rock！〃　and　Nora　dodged　a　shower　of　chips。　Another　minute　and　Sloane　had　reached　the　single　toe　hold；　then　gained　the　ledge　above　it。　She　set　up　the　anchor　and　tied　in；　yelling　〃Off　belay！〃　Then；　leaning　out　onto　her　anchors；　she　called　down　to　Nora；　〃On　belay！〃　
　There　was　a　brief　silence。　Then　she　cried　out　again。　〃I　can　see　a　route！〃　The　sound　echoed　crazily　around　the　valley。　〃It　goes　up　another　two　hundred　feet　and　disappears　over　the　edge　of　the　first　bench。　Nora；　the　city　must　be　recessed　in　an　alcove　just　above！〃　
　〃I'm　ing　up！〃　Nora　shouted。　
　〃Take　it　slow；〃　came　the　voice　from　above。　〃Follow　my　chalk　marks　for　the　best　holds。　Don't　jam　straight　in；　use　the　insides　of　your　feet。　The　handholds　are　small。〃　
　〃Got　it；〃　Nora　said；　freeing　the　rope　from　the　belay　device。　〃Off　belay！〃　
　She　began　working　her　way　up　the　cliff　face；　painfully　aware　that　her　climb　had　none　of　the　grace　or　assurance　of　Sloane's。　Within　minutes；　the　muscles　of　her　arms　and　calves　were　twitching　spasmodically　from　the　strain　of　clinging　to　the　thin　holds。　Despite　the　gloves；　the　ends　of　her　fingers　were　exquisitely　painful。　She　was　aware　that　Sloane　was　keeping　the　rope　tighter　than　normal；　but　she　was　grateful　for　the　added　lift。　
　As　she　approached　the　single　ancient　step；　she　felt　her　right　foot　lose　its　purchase　on　the　rock。　Her　bandaged　hands　could　not　pensate；　and　she　began　to　slip。　〃Watch　me！〃　she　cried。　Immediately；　the　rope　tightened。　〃Lean　away　from　the　rock！〃　she　heard　Sloane　call。　〃I'll　haul　you　up！〃　
　Taking　short；　choppy　breaths；　Nora　half　climbed　and　was　half　pulled　the　last　few　feet　onto　the　ledge。　She　climbed　shakily　to　her　feet；　massaging　her　fingers。　From　this　vantage　point　she　could　see　that　the　canyon　wall　sloped　back　at　a　terrifying　angle。　But　at　least　it　wasn't　vertical；　and　as　it　continued　the　angle　lessened。　Sloane　was　right：　though　invisible　from　the　ground；　from　up　here　the　trail　was　unmistakable。　
　〃You　okay？〃　Sloane　asked。　Nora　nodded；　and　her　panion　began　a　second　pitch　up　the　rock；　rope　trailing　from　her　harness。　With　the　hand…and…toe　trail　still　in　place　it　was　a　simple　pitch。　After　another　fifty　feet；　she　anchored　herself　and　in　a　few　minutes　Nora　was　beside　her；　breathless　from　the　exertion。　The　recessed　benchland　above　them　loomed　closer；　its　hidden　secrets　now　a　single　pitch　away。　
　Another　ten　minutes　of　climbing；　and　the　trail　leveled　off　considerably。　〃Let's　solo　the　rest；〃　Sloane　said；　the　excitement　clear　in　her　voice。　
　Nora　knew　that；　technically；　they　should　keep　to　the　safety　of　the　ropes。　But　she　was　as　eager　to　reach　the　bench　as　Sloane　was。　On　an　unspoken　signal；　they　untied　from　the　ropes　and　began　moving　quickly　up　the　trail。　It　was　the　work　of　a　minute　to　climb　the　last　remaining　stretch　of　rock。　
　The　bench　was　about　fifteen　feet　wide；　sloping　gently；　covered　with　grass　and　prickly　pear　cactus。　They　stood　motionless；　staring　ahead。　
　There　was　nothing：　no　city；　no　alcove；　just　the　naked　shelf　of　rock　that　ended　in　another　cliff　face　twenty　feet　away；　which　rose　vertically　for　at　least　five　hundred　feet。　
　〃Oh；　shit；〃　Sloane　groaned。　Her　shoulders　slumped。　
　In　disbelief；　Nora　scanned　the　entire　bench　again。　There　was　nothing。　Her　eyes　began　to　sting；　and　she　turned　away。　
　And　then　she　glanced　across　the　canyon　for　the　first　time。　
　There；　on　the　opposite　cliff　face；　a　huge　alcove　arched　across　the　length　of　the　canyon；　poised　halfway　between　ground　and　sky。　The　morning　sun　shone　in　at　a　perfect　angle；　shooting　a　wedge　of　pale　light　into　the　recesses　below　the　huge　arch。　Tucked　inside　was　a　ruined　city。　Four　great　towers　rose　from　the　corners　of　the　city；　and　between　them　lay　a　plicated　arrangement　of　roomblocks　and　circular　kivas；　dotted　with　black　windows　and　doorways。　The　morning　sun　gilded　the　walls　and　towers　into　a　dream…city：　insubstantial；　airy；　ready　to　evaporate　into　the　desert　air。　
　It　was　the　most　perfect　Anasazi　city　Nora　had　ever　seen；　more　beautiful　than　Cliff　Palace；　as　large　as　Pueblo　Bonito。　
　Sloane　looked　at　Nora。　And　then　she；　too；　slowly　turned　to　look　across　the　canyon。　Her　face　went　deathly　pale。　
　Nora　closed　her　eyes；　squeezed　them　shut；　then　opened　them　again。　The　city　was　still　there。　She　gazed　slowly　across　the　vista；　drinking　it　in。　Wedged　into　the　middle　of　the　city；　she　could　make　out　the　circular　outline　of　a　Great　Kiva：　the　largest　she　had　ever　seen；　still　roofed。　An　intact　Great　Kiva　。　。　。　nothing　like　it　had　ever　been　found。　
　She　could　see　how　the　alcove　itself　was　set　back　from　the　bench；　making　it　invisible　from　below。　The　great　sandstone　cliff　above　billowed　out　in　a　huge　convex　curve　that　leaned　at　least　fifty　feet　beyond　the　bottom　of　the　alcove。　It　was　this　fortuitous　artifact　of　geology　and　erosion　that　allowed　the　city　to　be　hidden；　not　only　from　above　and　below；　but　also　from　the　opposite　canyon　rim。　She　had　a　fleeting；　desperate　thought：　I　hope　my　father　saw　this。　
　Suddenly　her　knees　grew　weak　and　she　dropped　slowly　to　the　ground。　Seated；　she　continued　to　stare　across　the　valley。　There　was　a　rustling　sound；　and　Sloane　knelt　down　beside　her。　
　〃Nora；〃　came　the　voice；　the　slightest　trace　of　irony　leavening　the　reverence；　〃I　think　we've　found　Quivira。〃　
　
　
25
　
　SHOULD　WE？〃　SLOANE　MURMURED　TO　NORA。　
　There　was　a　long　pause。　Nora's　eyes　followed　the　benchland　as　it　curved　around　the　canyon。　In　places　where　the　bench　became　a　narrow　ledge　of　slickrock；　she　could　see　that　a　shallow　groove　had　actually　been　worn　into　the　sandstone　by　countless　prehistoric　feet。　One　part　of　her　registered　all　this　quite　dispassionately；　another　part　was　far　away；　still　in　shock；　unable　to　prehend　the　magnitude　of　the　discovery。　
　The　dispassionate　part　told　her　that　they　should　go　back　for　the　others；　bring　in　the　equipment；　begin　a　formal　survey。　
　〃What　the　hell；〃　she　replied。　〃Let's　go。〃　
　She　rose　shakily　to　her　feet；　Sloane　following。　A　quick；　dreamlike　walk　brought　them　around　the　far　end　of　the　canyon　to　the　edge　of　the　great　alcove。　Here　Nora　paused。　They　were　now　looking　on　the　ruin　from　the　far　side；　at　an　acute　angle。　The　morning　sun　only　penetrated　the　facade　of　the　city；　the　rest　faded　back　into　darkness　under　the　heavy　brow　of　rock；　a　ghostly　ruin　melting　into　purple　shadow。　Quivira　had　a　gracefulness；　a　sense　of　balance；　that　belied　its　massive　stone　construction。　It　was　as　if　the　city　had　been　planned　and　built　as　a　unit；　rather　than　growing　by　accretion；　as　most　other　large　Anasazi　cliff　dwellings　had。　There　were　still　traces　of　gypsum　whitewash　on　the　outer　walls；　and　the　Great　Kiva　showed　traces　of　what　had　once　been　a　blue　disk　painted　on　its　side。　
　The　four　towers　were　paired；　two　on　each　side　of　the　alcove；　with　the　main　city　lying　between　and　the　circular　Great　Kiva　at　the　very　center。　Each　tower　rose　about　fifty　feet。　The　front　two　were　freestanding；　the　rear　two　were　actually　mortared　to　the　natural　s