p&c.thunderhead-第59部分

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　〃Nora；　e　up　with　us；〃　she　said　with　a　quick　smile。　〃All　we'll　do　is　look。　What　harm　is　there　in　that？〃　
　〃Absolutely；〃　said　Black。　〃I've　touched　nothing。　Nothing　has　happened　here　that　can't　go　into　a　public　report。〃　
　Nora　looked　at　each　of　them　in　turn。　Smithback；　Swire；　and　Bonarotti　had　e　over　and　were　listening　intently。　Only　Aragon　was　missing。　She　glanced　at　her　watch：　almost　seven　o'clock。　She　thought　about　what　Black　had　said：　a　hidden　city；　the　Sun　Kiva。　What　was　it　Aragon　had　said　in　the　Rain　Kiva？　〃There's　a　piece　of　the　puzzle　still　missing。　I　thought　it　would　be　in　this　kiva。　But　now；　I　am　not　so　sure。〃　If　Aragon　were　here；　no　doubt　he'd　disapprove。　But　she　knew　Black's　find　could　mean　the　key　to　everything。　The　fact　that　it　might　be　looted　and　destroyed　after　they　were　gone　filled　her　with　a　helpless　anger。　Because　of　that；　they　had　an　obligation　to　document　the　inner　cave；　at　least　in　photographs。　Besides；　if　she　were　to　keep　the　group　together；　she　felt　she　had　no　choice　but　to　bend　just　a　little。　The　harm　had　been　done；　Black's　transgression　would　be　dealt　with　later；　and　not　by　her。　
　〃All　right；〃　she　said。　〃We'll　make　a　short　visit。　Only　long　enough　to　take　photographs　and　decide　how　best　to　reseal　the　cave。　No　more　violations　of　any　sort。　Am　I　understood？〃　She　turned　to　Sloane。　〃Bring　the　four…by…five　camera。　And　Aaron；　you　get　the　fluorescent　lamp。〃　
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　Ten　minutes　later；　a　small　group　stood　huddled　together　in　the　confines　of　the　inner　cave。　Nora　gazed　in　awe；　overwhelmed　despite　herself　by　the　richness　of　the　site；　by　the　perfect　little　gem　of　an　Anasazi　pueblo　hidden　behind　the　mysterious　kiva。　The　greenish　glare　of　the　lamp　threw　magic…lantern　patterns　on　the　irregular　walls。　It　was　a　small　pueblo；　no　more　than　thirty　rooms；　no　doubt　some　kind　of　sanctum　sanctorum　for　the　priests。　For　that　reason　alone；　it　would　be　exceedingly　interesting　to　study。　
　The　Sun　Kiva　itself　was　unadorned　except　for　the　great　polished　disk；　glinting　in　the　harsh　light。　Thick　ribbed　dust　lay　in　drifts　against　its　base　and　along　its　walls。　The　kiva　had　been　carefully　plastered　with　adobe；　and　she　saw　that　the　only　opening　in　its　side　had　been　blocked　with　rocks。　
　〃Look　at　that　stonework；〃　said　Black。　〃It's　the　most　fortified　kiva　I've　ever　seen。〃　
　A　pole　ladder　was　leaning　against　one　side　of　the　kiva。　〃That　was　leaning　against　the　roomblocks；〃　Black　said　eagerly；　following　Nora's　glance。　〃I　brought　it　over　and　climbed　onto　the　roof。　There's　no　roof　opening。　It's　been　totally　sealed　shut。〃　His　voice　dropped　a　notch。　〃As　if　it's　hiding　something。〃　
　Sloane　broke　away　from　the　group　and　walked　up　to　the　sun　disk。　She　stroked　it　lightly；　almost　reverently；　with　her　fingers。　Then　she　glanced　back　at　Nora；　briskly　unpacked　her　camera　kit；　and　began　setting　up　the　first　shot。　
　The　group　stood　silently　while　Sloane　moved　about　the　cavern；　shooting　the　kiva　and　its　associated　roomblocks　from　a　variety　of　angles。　Soon　she　rejoined　them；　folded　up　her　tripod；　and　put　the　camera　body　back　in　its　case。　
　Even　the　loquacious　Smithback　had　remained　silent　and；　most　uncharacteristically；　taken　no　notes。　There　was　a　palpable　tension　in　the　air；　a　tension　quite　different；　Nora　realized；　than　any　she　had　felt　at　the　site　before。　
　〃Done？〃　she　asked。　Sloane　nodded。　
　〃Before　we　leave　tomorrow　morning；〃　Nora　went　on；　careful　to　keep　her　voice　neutral；　〃we'll　reblock　the　hole　as　best　we　can。　There's　not　much　to　bring　a　looter　back　behind　the　granaries。　If　we　hide　it　well；　they'll　miss　it。〃　
　〃Before　we　leave？〃　Black　repeated。　
　Nora　looked　at　him　and　nodded。　
　〃By　God；　not　until　we　open　this　kiva；〃　said　Black。　
　Nora　looked　at　his　face；　then　at　Sloane。　And　then　at　Swire；　and　Bonarotti；　and　Smithback。　〃We're　leaving　tomorrow；〃　she　said　quietly。　〃And　nobody's　opening　this　kiva。〃　
　〃If　we　don't　do　it　now；〃　Sloane　said；　her　voice　loud；　〃nothing　will　be　left　when　we　return。〃　
　There　was　a　tense　silence；　broken　by　Bonarotti。　〃I　would　also　like　to　see　this　kiva　full　of　gold；〃　he　said。　
　Nora　waited；　taking　measured　breaths；　thinking　about　what　she　was　going　to　say　and　how　she　was　going　to　say　it。　
　〃Sloane；〃　she　began　quietly。　〃Aaron。　This　expedition　is　facing　a　crisis。　One　person　has　died。　There　are　people　out　there　who　killed　our　horses；　and　who　may　try　to　kill　us。　To　open　and　document　this　kiva　properly　would　take　days。　We　don't　have　days。〃　She　paused。　〃I'm　the　leader　of　this　expedition。　It's　my　choice　to　make。　And　we're　leaving　tomorrow。〃　
　A　tense　silence　gathered　in　the　cave。　
　〃I　don't　accept　your　so…called　choice；〃　Sloane　said　in　a　low　tone。　〃Here　we　are；　on　the　verge　of　the　greatest　discovery；　and　what　is　your　answer？　Go　home。　You're　just　like　my　father。　You　have　to　control　everything。　Well；　this　is　my　career；　too。　This　is　my　discovery　as　much　as　it　is　yours。　If　we　leave　now；　this　kiva　will　be　looted。　And　you'll　have　thrown　away　perhaps　the　greatest　discovery　in　American　archaeology。〃　Nora　saw　that　she　was　shaking　in　anger。　〃I've　been　a　threat　to　you　from　the　beginning。　But　that's　your　problem；　not　mine。　And　I'm　not　going　to　let　you　do　this　to　my　career。〃　
　Nora　looked　hard　at　Sloane。　〃You　mention　your　father；〃　she　said　slowly。　〃Let　me　tell　you　what　he　said　to　us；　right　before　we　left　for　Quivira：　'You　are　representing　the　Institute。　And　what　the　Institute　represents　is　the　very　highest　standard　of　archaeological　research　and　ethical　conduct。'　Sloane；　what　we　do　here；　what　we　say　here；　will　be　studied；　debated；　second…guessed　by　countless　people。〃　She　softened　her　tone。　〃I　know　how　you　feel。　I　want　to　open　this　kiva　as　much　as　you　do。　And　we　will　be　back　to　do　this　the　right　way。　I　promise　you'll　get　all　the　credit　you　deserve。　But　until　that　time；　I　absolutely　forbid　the　opening　of　this　kiva。〃　
　〃If　we　leave　here　now；　there　will　be　nothing　left　when　we　return；〃　Sloane　said；　her　eyes　locked　on　Nora。　〃And　then　we'll　be　the　ones　doing　the　second…guessing。　Go　on　and　run；　if　you　want。　Just　leave　me　a　horse　and　some　supplies。〃　
　〃Is　that　your　final　word？〃　Nora　asked　quietly。　
　Sloane　merely　stared　in　return。　
　〃Then　you　leave　me　no　choice　but　to　relieve　you　of　your　position　on　the　archaeological　team。〃　
　Sloane's　eyes　widened。　Then　her　gaze　swivelled　to　Black。　
　〃I'm　not　sure　you　can　do　that；〃　Black　said；　a　little　weakly。　
　〃You're　damn　right　she　can　do　it；〃　Smithback　suddenly　spoke　up。　〃Last　time　I　checked；　Nora　was　leader　of　this　expedition。　You　heard　what　she　said。　We　leave　the　kiva　alone。〃　
　〃Nora；〃　Black　said；　a　pleading　note　entering　his　voice；　〃I　don't　think　you　appreciate　the　magnitude　of　this　discovery。　Just　on　the　other　side　of　that　adobe　wall　is　a　king's　ransom　in　Aztec　gold。　I　just　don't　think　we　can　leave　it　for　。　。　。〃　
　His　voice　trailed　off。　Ignoring　Black；　Nora　continued　to　look　hard　at　Sloane。　But　Sloane　had　turned　away；　her　eyes　fixed　on　the　large　painted　disk　on　the　kiva's　side；　glowing　brilliantly　in　the　fluorescent　light。　Then　she　gave　Nora　one　last；　hateful　look　and　walked　to　the　low　passageway。　In　a　moment　she　was　gone。　Black　stood　his　ground　a　little　longer；　staring　from　the　kiva　to　Nora　and　back　again。　Then；　swallowing　heavily；　he　tore　himself　away　and　wordlessly　made　his　way　out　into　the　Crawlspace。　
　
　
43
　
　SKIP　KELLY　MADE　HIS　CAREFUL　WAY　DOWN　THE　far　reaches　of　Tano　Road　North；　doing　his　best　to　keep　the　VW　from　bottoming　out　on　the　dirt　road。　It　was　terrible　road；　all　washboard　and　ruts：　the　kind　of　road　that　was　a　much…coveted　asset　in　many　of　Santa　Fe's　priciest　neighborhoods。　Every　quarter　mile　or　so；　he　passed　another　enormous　set　of　wrought…iron　gates；　flanked　by　adobe　pillars；　beyond　which　a　narrow　dirt　road　wound　off　through　pi？on　trees：　portals　to　unseen　estates。　Occasionally；　he　caught　glimpses　of　buildings…a　caretaker's　cottage；　an　immaculate　set　of　barns；　an　enormous　house　rising　from　a　distant　ridgeline…but　most　of　the　great　estates　along　Tano　Road　were　so　well　hidden　that　one　hardly　knew　they　existed。　
　The　road　narrowed；　the　pi？ons　crowding　in　on　either　side。　Skip　slowed　even　further；　eased　his　foot　onto　the　clutch；　elbowed　Teddy　Bear's　huge　muzzle　out　of　his　face；　and　once　again　checked　the　number　scribbled　onto　a　folded　sheet　of　paper；　dim　in　the　evening　light。　Not　far　now。　
　He　came　over　the　brow　of　a　hill　and　saw　the　road　peter　out　a　quarter　mile　ahead；　ending　in　a　thicket　of　chamisa。　To　the　left；　a　great　rock　of　granite　rose　out　of　the　earth。　Its　face　had　been　polished　flat；　and　ESG　had　been　engraved　on　it　in　simple；　sans…serif　letters。　Beyond　the　rock　was　an　old　ranch　gate。　It　looked　much　more　battered　than　the　shiny　monstrosities　he　had　just　driven　past。　As　he　eased　the　car　closer；　however；　he　saw　that　the　shabbiness　of　the　gate　belied　its　immensely　strong　construction。　Beside　it　was　a　small　keypad　and　an　inter。　
　Leaving　the　engine　running；　he　got　out　of　the　car；　pushed　the　single　red　button　beneath　the　inter's　speaker；　and　waited。　A　minute　passed；　then　two。　Just　as　he　was　preparing　to　get　back　into　the　car；　the　speaker　crackled　into　life。　
　〃Yes？〃　came　a　voice。　〃Who　is　it？〃　
　With　mild　surprise；　Skip　realized　that　the　voice　wasn't　that　of　a　housekeeper；　chauffeur；　or　butler。　It　was　the　authoritative　voice　of　the　owner；　Ernest　Goddard　himself。　
　He　leaned　toward　the　inter。　〃It's　Skip　Kelly；〃　he　said。　
　The　speaker　was　silent。　
　〃I'm　Nora　Kelly's　brother。〃　
　There　was　a　brief　movement　in　the　vegetation　beside　the　gate；　and　Skip　turned　to　see　a　cleverly　hidden　camera　swivel　toward　him。　Then　it　panned　away；　toward　the　Volkswagen。　Skip　winced　inwardly。　
　〃What　is　it；　Skip？〃　the　voice　said。　It　did　not　sound　particularly　friendly。　
　Skip　swallowed。　〃I　need　to　talk　to　you；　sir。　It's　very　important。〃　
　〃Why　now？　You're　working　at　the　Institute；　are　you　not？　Can't　it　wait　until　Monday？〃　
　What　Skip　didn't　say　was　that　he　had　spent　the　entire　day　locked　in　a　debate　with　himself　over　whether　or　not　to　make　this　trip。　Aloud；　he　said；　〃No；　it　can't。　At　least；　I　don't　think　it　can。〃　
　He　waited；　painfully　conscious　of　the　camera　regarding　him；　wondering　what　the　old　man　would　say　next。　But　the　inter　remained　silent。　Instead；　there　was　the　heavy　clank　of　a　lock　being　released；　and　the　old　gate　began　to　swing　open。