p&c.thunderhead-第77部分

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t　a　few　useless　bones。　
　But　they　still　had　the　gun。　
　Shielding　the　flashlight；　Nora　leaned　back　out　into　the　cool　dark　shaft　of　the　tower。　Two　bobbing　red　eyes　reflected　the　feeble　beam：　it　was　on　the　second　ladder　again；　and　ing　inexorably　closer。　
　She　shrank　back　into　the　redoubt　and　looked　at　Sloane。　A　pale　face　stared　back　at　her；　drawn　with　fear　and　tension。　Beneath　it；　the　necklace　of　micaceous　beads　gave　off　a　faint　golden　sheen。　Nora　cupped　her　hand　over　the　light。　A　part　of　her　could　not　fully　prehend　what　was　happening：　stuck　here；　with　the　woman　who　had　caused　the　death　of　her　friends；　while　a　creature　out　of　nightmare　was　climbing　toward　them。　She　shook　her　head；　trying　to　clear　it。　
　〃How　many　bullets？〃　she　whispered；　shining　the　veiled　light　toward　Sloane。　
　Mutely；　Sloane　held　up　three　fingers。　
　〃Listen；〃　Nora　went　on；　〃There's　no　time　left。　I'll　turn　off　the　light；　and　we'll　wait　here　in　the　opening。　When　it's　close；　I'll　aim　the　beam；　and　you　fire。　Okay？〃　
　Sloane　suppressed　a　cough；　nodded　urgently。　
　〃We'll　only　have　time　for　one　shot；　maybe　two。　Make　them　count。〃　
　She　snapped　off　her　light；　and　together　they　moved　toward　the　opening　of　the　redoubt。　As　Nora　inched　out　cautiously；　she　became　acutely　aware　of　every　sense：　the　cool　air　rolling　up　from　the　darkness　of　the　tower；　the　hard　metal　of　the　flashlight　in　her　hand；　the　smell　of　dust　and　decay　from　the　redoubt。　
　And　the　sound　of　scrabbling　claws　on　wood；　growing　closer；　ever　closer。　
　〃Get　ready；〃　she　whispered。　
　She　waited　a　moment；　then　another；　then　she　snapped　on　the　light。　
　And　there　it　was　below　her；　terrifyingly　close。　With　an　involuntary　cry；　she　took　in　the　petrifying　image：　musky　wolfskin；　feral　eyes；　tortured；　howling　mask。　
　〃Now！〃　she　cried；　even　as　the　roar　of　the　gun　drowned　out　her　voice。　
　In　the　faint　beam；　she　saw　the　skinwalker　jerk　to　one　side；　pelt　flying　wildly　about　him。　
　〃Again！〃　she　shouted；　fighting　to　keep　the　dwindling　pinpoint　of　light　on　the　twisting　figure。　There　was　another　blast；　superimposed　by　a　muffled　howl　from　below。　As　the　light　guttered　out　Nora　saw　the　figure　crumple　in　on　itself　and　fall　away；　swallowed　by　the　well　of　darkness。　
　She　dropped　the　useless　flashlight　into　the　gulf　and　listened。　But　there　was　nothing：　no　groan；　no　rasping　intake　of　breath。　The　faint　glowing　rectangle　of　doorway　far　below　them　betrayed　no　movement；　no　twisted　shadow。　
　〃e　on！〃　Sloane　said；　pulling　her　back　into　the　redoubt　and　urging　her　toward　the　hole　in　the　ceiling。　Grasping　the　adobe　framework；　Nora　pulled　herself　up　onto　the　roof。　She　backed　away　from　the　opening　as　Sloane　came　up　behind；　gasping　and　coughing。　
　Here；　far　above　the　ruins　of　Quivira；　it　was　cool；　with　a　faint　breeze。　The　dome　of　the　alcove　was　only　a　few　feet　above　her　head；　a　rough；　fractured　surface。　Nora　stood　motionless；　exhausted。　There　was　no　parapet　on　the　tower；　the　roof　ended　in　open　space。　Beyond　it；　the　city　lay　stretched　out　below　her　feet。　The　moon　was　struggling　to　show　itself　behind　an　expanse　of　fast…scudding　rainclouds；　and　there　was　the　whisper　of　rain。　The　pale　illumination；　waxing　and　waning；　gave　the　roomblocks；　towers；　and　plazas　a　fleeting　spectral　glow。　Moist　air　brushed　her　cheek；　stirred　her　hair。　She　heard　a　faint　flutter　of　wings；　a　low　wind　in　the　valley。　Somewhere　out　in　that　valley　lay　Smithback's　body。　
　She　turned　quickly　toward　Sloane。　The　woman　was　kneeling　at　the　opening　in　the　roof；　gun　drawn；　staring　intently　downward。　Nora　came　over；　and　together　they　waited　in　tense　silence。　But　no　sound　or　movement　came　from　the　darkness　below。　
　At　last；　Sloane　stood　and　backed　away。　〃It's　over；〃　she　said。　
　Nora　nodded　absently；　still　staring　into　the　dark　cavity；　her　thoughts　clouded；　her　mind　troubled。　
　For　what　seemed　several　minutes；　they　stood　motionless；　overwhelmed　by　the　furious　emotion　of　the　chase。　Then；　at　last；　Sloane　snugged　the　gun　into　her　belt。　
　〃So　what　now；　Nora？〃　she　asked　huskily。　
　Nora　looked　up　at　her；　slowly；　unprehending。　
　〃I　just　saved　your　life；〃　Sloane　went　on　slowly。　〃Isn't　that　going　to　count　for　something？〃　
　Nora　could　not　bring　herself　to　speak。　
　〃It's　true；〃　Sloane　said。　〃I　saw　that　storm。　So　did　Black。　But　I　didn't　lie　about　the　weather　report。　You　gave　me　no　choice。〃　There　was　a　sudden　flash　of　anger　in　the　almond　eyes。　〃You　were　willing　to　abandon　everything；　keep　the　glory　to　yourself…〃　A　sudden　racking　cough　cut　short　the　sentence。　Nora　could　see　Sloane　fighting　to　keep　her　voice　calm。　
　〃I'm　not　proud　of　what　I　did；〃　she　went　on。　〃But　it　had　to　be　done。　People　have　died　for　far　lesser　causes　than　this。　The　true　wrong　was　yours：　walking　away；　ready　to　deprive　the　world　of　the　most　glorious　pottery　ever　made　by　man。〃　
　〃Pottery；〃　Nora　repeated。　
　〃Yes。　The　Sun　Kiva　was　full…is　full…of　black…on…yellow　micaceous　pottery。　It's　the　mother　lode；　Nora。　You　didn't　know　it。　You　didn't　even　suspect　it。　But　I　knew。〃　
　〃I　knew　there　was　no　gold　in　that　kiva。〃　
　〃Of　course　there　wasn't。　Neither　one　of　us　ever　really　believed　that。　But　all　those　ancient　reports　weren't　totally　fabricated…not　really。　It　was　a　translational　blip。〃　
　Sloane　leaned　forward。　〃You　know　the　value　of　black…on…yellow　micaceous。　No　intact　examples　have　ever　been　found。　That's　because　they're　all　here；　Nora。　They　were　the　true　treasure　of　Anasazi。　And　they're　more　than　just　pots。　I've　seen　them。　The　designs　are　unique…they　tell；　in　pictographic　form；　the　entire　history　of　the　Anasazi。　That's　why　they　were　made　and　hoarded　here；　and　nowhere　else：　knowledge　is　power。　They　hold　the　answers　to　all　the　great　mysteries　of　southwestern　archaeology。〃　
　For　a　moment；　Nora　froze　at　these　words。　The　horror　and　danger　were　forgotten　as　she　thought　of　the　magnitude　of　such　a　discovery。　If　this　is　true；　she　thought；　then　it　makes　all　of　our　other　discoveries　seem　like　。　。　。　
　And　then　Sloane　coughed；　drawing　the　back　of　her　hand　across　her　mouth。　The　climb　seemed　to　have　drained　all　the　energy　from　her：　she　seemed　pale；　her　breathing　rapid。　Instantly；　Nora　returned　to　the　present。　The　sickness　is　ing　on　her；　she　thought。　
　〃Sloane；　the　entire　back　of　the　city…especially　the　Sun　Kiva…is　full　of　fungal　dust；〃　she　said。　
　Sloane　frowned；　as　if　doubting　she　had　heard　correctly。　〃Dust？〃　
　〃Yes。　That's　what　killed　Holroyd。　The　skinwalkers　are　using　it　for　corpse　powder。〃　
　Sloane　shook　her　head　impatiently。　〃What　are　you　doing…trying　to　distract　me　with　bullshit？　Don't　change　the　subject。　I'm　talking　about　the　greatest　discovery　of　the　century。〃　
　Sloane　fell　silent　for　a　moment。　Then　she　began　again。　〃You　know；　we　could　keep　the　mistaken　weather　report　between　ourselves。　We　could　forget　about　what　happened　to　Aragon；　forget　the　storm。　This　find　is　bigger　than　all　that。〃　She　looked　away。　〃You　can't　possibly　understand　what　it　means　to　me…what　it　would　have　meant　to　me…to　be　the　sole　discoverer。　To　have　my　name　go　down　in　history　beside　Carter　and　Wetherill。　If　it　weren't　for　me；　we　would　have　left　this　place；　the　pottery　undiscovered；　ripe　for　looting　by…〃　
　〃Sloane；〃　Nora　said；　〃the　skinwalkers　weren't　after　the　pottery。　They　wanted　to　keep　us　away　from　it。〃　
　But　Sloane　put　her　hand　up　for　silence。　〃Listen　to　me；　Nora。　Together；　we　could　give　this　great　gift　to　the　world。〃　She　drew　a　ragged　breath。　〃If　I'm　willing　to　share　this　with　you；　then　surely　you　can　forget　what's　happened　here　today。〃　
　Nora　looked　at　Sloane；　her　tawny　face　dappled　in　the　moonlight。　〃Sloane…〃　she　began；　then　stopped。　〃You　don't　get　it；　do　you？　I　can't　do　that。　It's　not　about　archaeology　anymore。〃　
　Sloane　stared　at　her；　wordlessly；　for　a　moment。　Then　she　placed　her　hand　on　the　butt　of　her　gun。　〃It's　like　I　told　you；　Nora。　You　leave　me　no　choice。〃　
　〃You　always　have　a　choice。〃　
　Sloane　drew　the　gun　quickly；　pointing　it　at　her。　〃Right；〃　she　said。　〃Endless　fame；　or　a　lifetime　in　disgrace？　That's　not　a　choice。〃　
　There　was　a　brief　silence　as　the　two　women　stood；　facing　each　other。　Sloane　coughed　once　again；　a　sharp　sound。　
　〃I　didn't　want　things　to　end　up　like　this；〃　she　said；　more　calmly。　〃But　you've　made　it　clear　it's　either　you　or　me。　And　I'm　the　one　holding　the　gun。〃　
　Nora　said　nothing。　
　〃So　turn　around；　Nora。　Walk　to　the　edge　of　the　roof。〃　
　Sloane's　voice　had　grown　very　quiet。　Nora　stared　at　her。　In　the　pale　light；　the　amber　eyes　were　hard　and　dry。　
　Her　gazed　still　locked　on　Sloane；　Nora　took　a　step　backward。　
　〃There's　only　one　bullet　left　in　the　chamber。　But　that's　all　I'll　need；　if　it　es　down　to　that。　So　turn　around；　Nora。　Please。〃　
　Slowly；　Nora　turned　around　to　face　the　night。　
　Open　space　stretched　out　before　her；　a　vast　river　of　darkness。　Across　the　narrow　valley；　Nora　could　make　out　the　dark　violet　of　the　far　wall　of　cliffs。　She　knew　she　should　feel　fear；　regret；　despair。　And　yet　the　only　emotion　she　was　aware　of　was　a　cold　rage：　rage　at　Sloane；　for　her　pathetic；　misplaced　ambition。　One　bullet　。　。　。　she　wondered；　if　she　threw　herself　to　one　side；　whether　she　stood　a　chance　in　hell　of　dodging　that　bullet。　She　tensed；　readying　herself　for　sudden　movement。　
　Sloane　shifted　behind　her。　〃Step　off　the　roof；〃　she　said。　
　But　still　Nora　stood；　eyes　and　ears　open　to　the　night。　The　storm　had　passed。　She　could　hear　the　frogs　calling　from　below；　the　hum　and　drone　of　insects　going　about　their　nocturnal　business。　In　the　intense　stillness；　she　could　even　hear　the　blood　as　it　rushed　through　her　veins。　
　〃I'd　rather　not　shoot　you；〃　she　heard　Sloane　say。　〃But　if　I　have　to；　I　will。〃　
　〃Damn　you；〃　Nora　whispered。　〃Damn　you　for　wrecking　the　expedition。　And　god　damn　you　for　killing　Bill　Smithback。〃　
　〃Smithback？〃　The　tone　in　Sloane's　voice　was　one　of　such　surprise　that；　despite　herself；　Nora　turned　toward　it。　As　she　did；　she　saw　a　form　suddenly　emerge　from　the　hole　in　the　roof：　a　dark；　matted　shape；　wolf　pelt　twisting　around　naked　painted　skin。　Pale　light　glistened　off　a　crimson　patch　of　fur　that　stained　the　figure's　midriff。　
　Sloane　pivoted　as　the　thing　rushed　at　her　with　a　great　howl　of　vengeance。　There　was　a　flash　of　moonlight　on　the　gun；　the　arc　of　a　knife；　and　both　figures　went　down；　rolling　frantically　in　the　loose　dirt　of　the　tower　roof。　Nora　dropped　to　her　knees　an