p&c.thunderhead-第8部分

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Red　Stones。　Eventually；　Coronado　returned　to　Mexico；　a　broken　man；　convinced　he'd　been　chasing　a　chimera。〃　
　〃Interesting；〃　Holroyd　said。　〃But　it　doesn't　prove　anything。〃　
　〃Coronado　wasn't　the　only　one　to　hear　these　stories。　In　1776；　two　Spanish　friars；　Escalante　and　Dominguez；　traveled　westward　from　Santa　Fe；　trying　to　blaze　an　overland　route　to　California。　I've　got　their　report　here　somewhere。〃　She　dug　into　her　portfolio；　retrieved　a　creased　sheet　of　paper；　and　began　reading。　
　Our　Paiute　guides　took　us　through　difficult　country；　by　what　seemed　to　us　a　perverse　route；　northward　instead　of　westward。　When　we　remarked　upon　this；　the　response　was　that　the　Paiutes　never　traveled　through　the　country　to　the　west。　Asked　the　reason；　they　became　sullen　and　silent。　Halfway　through　our　journey；　near　the　Crossing　of　the　Fathers　on　the　Colorado　River；　half　of　them　deserted。　It　was　never　clear　from　the　rest　exactly　what　lay　to　the　west　that　caused　such　strong　emotion。　One　spoke　of　a　great　city；　destroyed　because　the　priests　there　had　enslaved　the　world；　and　tried　to　usurp　the　power　of　the　sun　itself。　Others　hinted　darkly　of　a　slumbering　evil　which　they　dared　not　awaken。　
　She　replaced　the　sheet　of　paper。　〃And　that's　not　all。　In　1824；　an　American　mountain　man　by　the　name　of　Josiah　Blake　was　captured　by　Ute　Indians。　In　those　days；　exceptionally　brave　captives　were　sometimes　offered　a　choice　between　death　or　joining　the　tribe。　Blake　naturally　joined　the　tribe。　He　later　married　a　Ute　woman。　Utes　are　nomadic；　and　at　certain　times　of　the　year　they　would　venture　deep　into　the　Utah　canyon　country。　Once；　in　a　particularly　remote　area　west　of　the　Escalante；　a　Ute　pointed　toward　the　setting　sun　and　mentioned　that　in　that　direction　lay　a　ruined　city　of　fabulous　wealth。　The　Utes　never　ventured　any　closer；　but　they　gave　Blake　an　engraved　turquoise　disk　that　had　supposedly　e　from　the　city。　When　he　finally　got　back　to　white　civilization　ten　years　later；　he　swore　that　one　day　he　would　find　this　lost　place。　Eventually；　he　went　back　to　look　for　it　and　was　never　seen　again。〃　
　She　took　another　sip　of　tea　and　placed　the　bottle　carefully　beside　the　portfolio。　〃Today；　people　assume　these　are　all　just　myths；　or　maybe　lies　told　by　the　Indians。　But　I　don't　think　it　was　either　a　myth　or　a　lie。　The　location　of　the　lost　city　is　too　consistent　across　all　of　the　stories。　I　believe　the　reason　nobody　has　ever　found　this　city　is　because　it　is　hidden　in　the　most　remote　section　of　the　lower　48。　Like　other　Anasazi　cities；　it　was　probably　built　high　up　on　a　cliff；　in　an　alcove　or　under　an　overhang。　Or　perhaps　it's　simply　been　buried　in　drifting　sand。　And　that's　where　you　e　in。　You've　got　what　I　need；　Peter。　A　radar　system　that　can　pinpoint　the　city。〃　
　Despite　himself；　Holroyd　found　himself　drawn　into　the　story　and　its　promise　of　adventure。　He　cleared　his　throat；　searching　for　a　note　of　reasonableness。　〃Excuse　me　for　saying　it；　but　this　is　rather　a　long　shot。　First　of　all；　if　the　city　is　hidden；　no　radar　could　see　it。〃　
　〃But　I　understand　your　Terrestrial　Imager　can　see　through　sand　as　well　as　clouds　and　darkness。〃　
　〃That's　correct。　But　not　rock。　If　it's　under　a　ledge；　forget　it。　Second…〃　
　〃But　I　don't　want　you　to　find　the　city　itself。　Just　the　road　leading　up　to　it。　Here；　look　at　this。〃　She　opened　her　portfolio　and　pulled　out　a　small　map　of　the　Southwest；　overlain　with　several　thin；　straight　lines。　〃A　thousand　years　ago；　the　Anasazi　built　this　mysterious　road　system；　connecting　their　large　cities。　These　are　the　roads　that　have　been　mapped。　Each　one　leads　to　or　from　a　major　city。　Your　radar　could　surely　see　those　roads　from　space。　Right？〃　
　〃Maybe。〃　
　〃I　have　an　old　report…a　letter；　actually…that　states　there　is　a　similar　road　leading　into　this　warren　of　canyons。　I'm　certain　it　leads　to　the　lost　city　of　Quivira。　If　we　could　trace　that　road　on　a　satellite　image；　we'd　know　where　to　look。〃　
　Holroyd　spread　his　hands。　〃But　it's　not　that　simple。　There's　the　waiting　list。　I'm　sure　Watkins　must　have　told　you　about　that；　he　loves　to　talk　about　it。　There's　two　years'　worth　of　applications　for…〃　
　〃Yes；　he　told　me　all　about　that。　But　who　actually　decides　what　the　radar　examines？〃　
　〃Well；　the　imaging　applications　are　prioritized　by　urgency　and　date　of　receipt。　I　take　the　pending　jobs；　and…〃　
　〃You。〃　Nora　nodded　in　satisfaction。　
　Holroyd　fell　silent。　
　〃I'm　sorry。〃　Nora　said　suddenly。　〃Your　dinner's　getting　cold。〃　She　replaced　the　map　in　her　portfolio　as　Holroyd　gathered　up　the　congealing　slices　of　pizza。　〃So　it　would　be　a　simple　matter　to；　say；　push　one　of　the　applications　to　the　top　of　the　queue？〃　
　〃I　suppose。〃　Holroyd　sank　his　teeth　into　the　pizza；　barely　tasting　it。　
　〃See？　I　fill　out　an　application；　you　move　it　to　the　top　of　the　pile；　and　we　get　our　images。〃　
　Holroyd　swallowed　hard。　〃And　just　what　do　you　think　Dr。　Watkins；　or　the　boys　at　NASA；　would　think　of　my　ordering　an　orbit　change　for　the　space　shuttle　just　so　it　could　fly　over　your　area？　Why　should　I　help　you　with　this？　I'd　be　risking　my　ass…I　mean；　my　job。〃　
　Nora　looked　at　him。　〃Because　I　think　you're　more　than　just　some　bean…counting　drone。　Because　I　think　you've　got　the　same　kind　of　fire　in　your　gut　that　I've　got。　To　find　something　that's　been　lost　for　centuries。〃　She　gestured　at　the　table。　〃Why　else　would　you　be　reading　these　books？　Each　one　of　them　is　about　discovering　the　unknown。　Finding　Quivira　would　be　like　discovering　those　cliff　dwellings　at　Mesa　Verde。　Only　greater。〃　
　Holroyd　hesitated。　
　〃I　can't；〃　he　said　after　a　moment；　in　a　very　quiet　voice。　〃You're　asking　for　the　impossible。〃　He　realized　with　a　thrill　of　fear　that；　for　an　instant；　he'd　actually　been　considering　how　he　could　help　her。　But　the　whole　idea　was　crazy。　This　woman　had　no　proof；　no　credentials；　nothing。　
　And　yet　he　found　himself　unaccountably　drawn　in　by　her；　by　her　passion　and　excitement。　He　had　been　to　Mesa　Verde　as　a　child。　The　memory　of　those　vast　silent　ruins　still　haunted　him。　He　looked　around；　trying　to　collect　his　thoughts。　He　glanced　at　Nora；　gazing　back　at　him　expectantly。　He'd　never　seen　hair　quite　that　color；　a　burnished　coppery　sheen；　almost　metallic。　Then　his　view　moved　back　to　the　little　image　on　the　television　screen　of　the　Republic　floating　in　space。　
　〃It's　not　impossible；〃　Nora　said　in　an　undertone。　〃You　give　me　the　application；　I　fill　it　out；　and　you　do　what　you　have　to　do。〃　
　But　Holroyd　was　still　staring　at　the　image：　the　shining　ivory　shuttle　drifting　through　space；　the　stars　hard　as　diamonds；　the　earth　endless　miles　below。　It　was　always　like　that。　The　excitement　of　discovery　that　he　had　longed　for　growing　up；　the　chance　to　explore　a　new　planet　or　fly　to　the　moon…all　those　dreams　had　withered　in　a　cubicle　at　JPL；　while　he　watched　someone　else's　adventure　unfold　on　a　dirty　monitor。　
　Then　he　realized　with　a　start　that　Nora　had　been　staring　at　him。　〃When　did　you　join　JPL？〃　she　asked；　abruptly　changing　the　subject。　
　〃Eight　years　ago；〃　he　said；　〃right　out　of　graduate　school。〃　
　〃Why？〃　
　He　stopped；　surprised　by　the　bluntness　of　the　question。　〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃I　always　wanted　to　be　part　of　the　exploration　of　space。〃　
　〃I　bet　you　grew　up　wanting　to　be　the　first　man　on　the　moon。〃　
　Holroyd　blushed。　〃I　was　a　little　late　for　that。　But　I　did　have　dreams　of　going　to　Mars。〃　
　〃And　now　they're　up　there；　orbiting　the　earth；　and　you're　sitting　here　in　a　greasy　pizza　parlor。〃　
　It　was　as　if　she　had　read　his　mind。　Holroyd　felt　a　surge　of　resentment。　〃Look；　I'm　doing　just　fine。　Those　guys　wouldn't　be　up　there　if　it　weren't　for　me　and　others　like　me。〃　
　Nora　nodded。　〃But　it's　not　quite　the　same　thing；　is　it？〃　she　said　softly。　
　Holroyd　remained　silent。　
　〃What　I'm　offering　is　a　chance　for　you　to　be　part　of　what　might　be　the　greatest　archaeological　discovery　since　King　Tut。〃　
　〃Yeah；〃　said　Holroyd。　〃And　my　part　would　be　to　do　for　you　just　what　I　do　for　Watkins：　crunch　some　data　and　let　someone　else　run　with　it。　I'm　sorry；　but　the　answer　is　no。〃　
　But　the　woman　never　took　her　hazel　eyes　from　his。　She　was　silent；　and　it　seemed　to　Holroyd　that　she　was　making　some　kind　of　private　decision。　
　〃Maybe　I　can　offer　you　more　than　that；〃　she　said　at　last；　her　voice　still　low。　
　Holroyd　frowned　sharply。　〃Like　what？〃　
　〃A　place　on　the　expedition。〃　
　Holroyd　felt　his　heart　accelerate。　〃What　did　you　say？〃　
　〃I　think　you　heard　me。　We'll　need　a　remote　sensing　and　puter　specialist。　Can　you　handle　munications　gear？〃　
　Holroyd　swallowed；　his　throat　suddenly　dry。　Then　he　nodded。　〃I've　got　gear　you've　never　even　dreamed　of。〃　
　〃And　how　are　you　set　for　vacation？　Could　you　take　two；　maybe　three　weeks　off？〃　
　〃I've　never　taken　a　vacation；〃　Holroyd　heard　himself　say。　〃I've　got　so　much　time　accrued；　I　could　leave　for　six　months　and　still　get　paid。〃　
　〃Then　that's　it。　You　get　me　the　data；　and　I　get　you　on　the　expedition。　I　guarantee　it；　Peter；　you　won't　be　sorry。　It's　an　adventure　you'd　remember　for　the　rest　of　your　life。〃　
　Holroyd　glanced　down　at　the　woman's　hands；　tapered　and　beautiful；　clasped　together　expectantly。　He　had　never　met　anyone　so　passionate　about　something。　He　realized　he　was　having　a　hard　time　catching　his　breath。　
　〃I…〃　he　began。　
　She　leaned　forward　quickly。　〃Yes？〃　
　He　shook　his　head。　〃This　is　all　too　sudden。　I　have　to　think　about　this。〃　
　She　looked　at　him；　appraisingly。　Then　she　nodded。　〃I　know　you　do；〃　she　said　softly。　Reaching　into　her　purse；　she　pulled　out　a　piece　of　paper　and　handed　it　to　him。　〃Here's　the　number　of　the　friend's　apartment　where　I'm　staying。　But；　Peter；　don't　think　too　long。　I　can　only　stay　a　couple　of　days。〃　
　But　Holroyd　barely　heard　her。　He　was　putting　something　together　in　his　head。　〃I'm　not　necessarily　saying　I'll　do　it；　you　understand；〃　he　said　in　a　lower　tone。　〃But　here's　how　it　could　work。　You　wouldn't　need　to　put　in　a　request。　The　shuttle's　devoting　the　last　three　days　of　the　mission　to　radar　sweeps；　sixty…five　orbits　at　varying　latitudes。　There's　this　mineral　exploration　pany　that's　been　wanting　a　sweep　of　some　areas　of　Utah　and　Colorado。　We've　put　them　off　for　a　while　now。　I　could　fit　them　into　the　lineup。　Then　I'd　extend　their　run　slightly　to　get　the　areas　you　need。　The　only　thing　you'd　have　to　do　is　put　in　a　purchase　reque