p&c.thunderhead-第44部分

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　〃I　haven't　forgotten；〃　Nora　said；　voice　steady　despite　the　heat　of　her　anger。　〃Just　one　more　example　of　your　father　not　trusting　you；　isn't　it？〃　
　For　a　moment；　Sloane　stood　before　her　speechlessly；　limbs　taut；　face　dark　under　the　deep　tan。　Then；　wordlessly；　she　pivoted　on　her　heel。　Nora　watched　her　descend　the　ladder　and　walk　deliberately　away；　erect　and　proud；　her　dark　hair　burned　violet　by　the　sun。　
　
　
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　THE　GROUP　ASSEMBLED　IN　THE　EARLY　MORNING　silence　at　the　base　of　the　rope　ladder　leading　to　the　city。　Even　Swire　and　Bonarotti　were　on　hand。　The　swallows；　now　acclimated　to　the　human　intrusion；　no　longer　raised　their　usual　clamor　of　indignation。　An　unusually　subdued　Bill　Smithback　was　fumbling　with　a　cassette　recorder。　Beside　him　stood　Aragon；　face　gray　and　thoughtful。　Despite　his　preoccupation　with　the　bone…filled　crawlspace；　he　had　left　his　work　to　join　them。　This；　more　than　anything；　underscored　the　importance　of　what　they　were　about　to　undertake。　
　A　rough　preliminary　survey　of　the　city　had　been　pleted；　and　Holroyd　had　downloaded　the　location　coordinates　and　field　elevations　established　by　his　GPS　equipment　into　a　geographic　information　systems　database。　It　was　time　to　enter　the　Great　Kiva；　the　central　religious　structure　of　the　city。　For　much　of　the　previous　night；　Nora　had　lain　awake；　wondering　about　what　they　might　find。　In　the　end；　her　imagination　had　failed　her。　The　Great　Kiva　was　equivalent　to　the　cathedral　of　a　medieval　city：　the　center　of　its　religious　activity；　the　repository　of　the　most　sacred　items；　the　locus　of　social　life。　
　Black　was　resting　on　a　rock；　drumming　his　fingers　with　ill…disguised　anticipation。　And　chatting　with　him；　oversized　plant　in　his　hand；　was　Peter　Holroyd；　loyal　and　unplicated。　The　only　person　missing　was　Sloane；　whom　Nora　had　scarcely　seen　since　the　previous　day's　confrontation。　
　As　if　sensing　her　glance；　Holroyd　looked　her　way。　Then　he　stood　and　approached　her；　shaking　the　plant　he　was　holding。　〃Have　a　look　at　this；　Nora；〃　he　said。　
　She　took　the　plant：　an　oversized；　bushy　explosion　of　green　stalks；　with　a　tapered　root　at　one　end　and　a　creamy　flower　at　the　other。　
　〃What　is　it？〃　she　asked。　
　〃Oh；　about　five　to　ten　in　a　Federal　prison。〃　Holroyd　laughed。　
　She　threw　him　an　unprehending　gaze。　
　〃It's　datura；〃　he　explained。　〃That　root's　loaded　with　a　highly　potent　hallucinogen。〃　
　〃Hallucinogen？〃　
　〃The　alkaloid　is　concentrated　in　the　upper　sections　of　the　root；〃　Aragon　interjected。　〃Among　Yaqui　shamans；　fortitude　is　measured　by　just　how　far　up　the　root　you　can　ingest。〃　He　glanced　at　Holroyd。　〃But　certainly　you've　noticed　that's　not　the　only　illegal　plant　in　this　valley。〃　
　Holroyd　nodded。　〃Not　only　datura；　but　psilocybin；　mescal　cactus　。　。　。　the　place　is　a　veritable　smorgasbord　of　psychedelics。〃　
　〃The　curious　thing；〃　Aragon　said；　〃is　that　those　three　plants　you　mention…which　seem　to　run　riot　here…are　sometimes　taken　by　shamans　and　medicine　men。　In　bination；　they　can　induce　a　wild　frenzy。　It's　like　an　overdose　of　PCP：　you　could　get　shot　at　close　range　and　never　feel　it。〃　
　〃Those　priests　knew　what　they　were　doing；　settling　here；〃　Smithback　cackled。　
　〃The　flower's　pretty；　at　least；〃　Nora　said。　
　〃Looks　like　a　morning　glory；　doesn't　it？〃　Holroyd　asked。　〃That's　another　funny　thing。　There's　an　enzyme　in　the　datura　root　that　the　body　can't　metabolize。　Instead；　it　gets　exuded　in　the　sweat。　And　I've　heard　that's　exactly　what　people　who　take　it　smell　like。　Morning　glories。〃　
　Unconsciously；　Nora　leaned　forward；　bringing　the　flower　to　her　nose。　It　was　large　and　white；　almost　sexual　in　its　ripeness。　She　inhaled　the　delicate　scent　deeply。　
　Then　she　froze；　fingers　turning　cold。　In　a　moment；　her　mind　was　back　in　the　upstairs　hallway　of　her　parents'　abandoned　ranch　house；　hearing　the　crunch　of　glass　underfoot；　smelling　the　scent　of　crushed　flowers　on　the　still　night　air。。。　
　She　heard　a　clatter；　and　turned　to　see　Sloane　approaching；　burdened　by　a　portable　acetylene　lantern；　a　chalk　information　board；　and　the　4x5　camera。　Sloane　caught　her　eye。　Immediately；　the　woman　put　down　the　equipment　and　came　over。　She　slid　a　graceful　arm　around　Nora's　waist。　
　〃Sorry；〃　she　whispered　in　Nora's　ear。　〃You　were　right。　As　usual。〃　
　Nora　nodded；　pulling　herself　back　to　the　present。　〃Let's　not　talk　about　it。〃　
　Sloane　drew　away　slightly。　〃I　guess　it's　obvious。　I　have　a　problem　with　authority。　Something　else　I　have　to　thank　my　father　for。　It　won't　happen　again。〃　
　〃Thank　you；〃　Nora　said；　dropping　the　plant。　〃And　I　shouldn't　have　made　that　crack　about　your　father。　It　was　unkind。〃　
　Then　she　turned　to　the　group；　doing　her　best　to　push　thoughts　of　Holroyd's　plant　out　of　her　mind。　〃Okay；　here's　the　protocol。　Sloane　and　I　will　enter　the　kiva　first；　to　make　an　initial　analysis　and　do　the　photography。　The　rest　of　you　will　follow。　Agreed？〃　
　Black　frowned；　but　there　was　nodding　and　murmuring　from　the　rest　of　the　group。　
　〃Good。　Then　let's　get　started。〃　
　One　at　a　time；　they　ascended　the　rope　ladder。　Moving　through　the　central　plaza；　they　climbed　a　nearby　sandpile　and　walked　across　the　first　setback　of　roofs。　Mounting　an　Anasazi　ladder　placed　against　the　second　story…still　in　perfect　condition；　lashed　with　sinew…they　topped　out　on　the　second　story　setback。　The　entrance　to　the　Great　Kiva　lay　at　the　back；　its　vast　circular　bulk　in　purple　shadow。　Another　ladder　had　been　placed　against　its　wall；　and　in　a　moment　Nora　and　Sloane　stood　on　the　roof。　It　was　covered　with　a　thick　layer　of　adobe　and　felt　immensely　solid　beneath　Nora's　feet。　As　with　all　kivas；　it　was　entered　from　a　hole　in　the　roof。　Protruding　from　the　opening　were　the　two　ends　of　a　ladder；　leading　down　into　the　interior。　As　she　stared　at　the　ladder；　Nora　felt　her　mouth　go　dry。　
　She　moved　slowly　toward　it；　stopping　just　before　the　opening。　〃Let's　light　the　lantern；〃　she　said。　
　There　was　the　hiss　of　gas；　and　with　a　pop　of　ignition　the　lantern　sprang　to　life。　As　they　knelt　by　the　opening；　Sloane　directed　the　brilliant　white　light　down　into　the　gloom。　
　The　ladder　descended　about　fifteen　feet；　ending　in　an　anchor　groove　cut　into　the　sandstone　floor。　Sloane　angled　the　beam　around；　but　from　their　vantage　point　nothing　but　bare　floor　was　visible：　the　kiva　was　sixty　feet　in　diameter；　and　the　walls　were　beyond　reach。　
　〃You　can　go　first；〃　Nora　said。　
　Sloane　looked　at　her。　〃Me？〃　
　Nora　smiled。　
　Quickly；　Sloane　climbed　down　the　first　five　rungs；　then　held　up　her　hand　for　the　lamp。　Climbing　down　a　few　more　rungs；　she　stopped　to　direct　the　light　around　the　walls。　Nora　could　not　see　what　Sloane　was　looking　at；　but　she　could　see　the　expression　on　the　young　woman's　face。　The　kiva；　she　knew　then；　was　not　empty。　
　Sloane　rapidly　descended　to　the　bottom；　and　after　a　last　deep　breath　Nora　followed。　A　moment　later　she　stepped　off　the　ladder；　her　eyes　following　the　lamp's　broad　illumination。　
　The　circular　wall　of　the　kiva　was　covered　with　a　brilliantly　colored　mural。　The　images　were　highly　stylized；　and　Nora　had　to　examine　them　for　a　moment　before　she　realized　what　they　represented。　Ranged　around　the　top　were　four　huge　thunderbirds；　their　outstretched　wings　almost　covering　the　entire　upper　part　of　the　kiva　wall。　Jagged　lightning　shot　from　the　birds'　eyes　and　beaks。　Below；　clouds　drifted　across　a　field　of　brilliant　turquoise；　dropping　dotted　curtains　of　white　rain。　Running　through　the　clouds　was　a　rainbow　god；　his　long　body　encircling　almost　the　entire　circumference　of　the　kiva；　his　head　and　hands　outstretched　and　meeting　at　the　north。　Toward　the　bottom　of　the　mural　was　the　landscape　of　the　earth　itself。　Nora　noticed　the　four　sacred　mountains；　placed　at　each　of　the　cardinal　directions。　It　was　the　cosmography　that　still　ran　through　most　present…day　southwestern　Native　American　religions：　the　black　mountain　in　the　north；　the　yellow　mountain　in　the　west；　the　white　mountain　in　the　east；　and　the　blue　mountain　in　the　south。　The　mural　was　executed　in　the　finest　detail；　and　the　colors；　so　long　buried　in　darkness；　seemed　as　fresh　as　if　they　had　been　painted　the　day　before。　
　Nora　dropped　her　eyes。　Below　the　mural；　ranging　around　the　circumference　of　the　kiva；　was　a　stone　banco。　On　the　banco　lay　a　huge　number　of　gleaming　objects；　appearing　and　disappearing　as　the　lantern　beam　moved　slowly　over　them。　As　she　stared；　Nora　realized；　with　a　kind　of　remote　surprise；　that　they　were　all　skulls。　There　were　dozens；　if　not　hundreds　of　them：　human；　bear；　buffalo；　wolf；　deer；　mountain　lion；　jaguar…each　pletely　covered　with　an　inlay　of　polished　turquoise。　But　it　was　the　eyes　that　struck　Nora　most　of　all。　In　each　eye　socket　lay　a　carved　globe　of　rose　quartz　crystal；　inlaid　with　carnelian；　that　refracted；　magnified；　and　threw　back　the　beam　of　the　lamp；　causing　the　eyes　to　gleam　hideously　pink　in　the　murk。　It　was　a　grinning　crowd　of　the　dead；　a　host　of　lidless　ghouls；　ranged　around　them；　their　eyes　glowing　maniacally；　as　if　caught　in　the　headlights　of　a　car。　
　Aside　from　the　skulls；　Nora　saw；　the　room　was　pletely　bare。　There　was　the　usual　sipapu；　the　hole　to　the　underworld；　in　the　exact　center　of　the　kiva；　and　two　firepits　on　either　side。　To　the　east；　she　noticed　the　standard　spirit　opening；　a　narrow　keyhole　channel　running　up　and　out　of　the　kiva。　But　the　mural　and　the　skulls　were；　like　almost　everything　else　in　Quivira；　unique。　
　Nora　glanced　at　Sloane；　who　had　already　turned　away　from　the　sights　and　was　arranging　the　camera's　three　flash　units。　
　〃I'm　going　to　invite　the　others　in；〃　said　Nora。　〃There's　very　little　they　can　disturb　in　here　if　they　stay　away　from　the　walls。〃　
　Sloane　nodded　curtly。　As　she　busied　herself　with　the　exposure　meter；　Nora　thought　she　saw　a　kind　of　disappointment　on　the　woman's　face。　Then　the　first　bank　of　flashes　went　off；　illuminating　the　entire　grinning　pany　for　a　ghastly　moment。　
　The　others　filed　down　the　ladder　in　silent　astonishment　and　gathered　at　the　bottom。　Nora　found　herself　drawn　to　a　curious　design　of　two　large　circles　at　the　northern　end　of　the　mural。　One　circle　enclosed　an　incised　disk　of　blue　and　white；　showing　miniature　clouds　and　rain；　done　in　the　usual　Anasazi　geometric　style：　a　miniature　version　of　the　huge　circle　painted　on　the　kiva's　exterior。　The　second　circle　was　painted　yellow　and　whi