cussler.blueandgold-第30部分

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　A　red　light　was　blinking　on　the　phone　console。　
　〃We'll　speak　again。　Good…bye；　Senator。〃
　
　She　pressed　a　button；　and　a　door　opened　in　the　wall　of　the　room。　The　Kradzik　brothers；　wearing　their　usual　black　leather；　stepped　inside。
　
　〃Well？〃　she　said。
　
　The　thin　lips　widened　in　identical　metallic　smiles。
　
　〃We　have　fired　Mexican　farmer　。　。　。〃
　
　〃。　。　。　and　lawyer　as　you　ordered。〃
　
　〃No　plications？〃
　
　They　shook　their　heads。
　
　〃The　authorities　will　spend　little　time　on　the　farmer's　case；〃　she　said。　〃The　lawyer　had　many　enemies。　Now　to　other　matters。　There　have　been　some　developments　on　the　explosion　at　our　Mexican　operation。〃
　
　She　touched　the　screen；　and　two　photos　appeared。　One　of　the　photos；　taken　by　a　surveillance　camera；　showed　Austin　and　Zavala　in　the　reception　area　of　the　tortilla　plant。　The　other　picture　was　an　enlarged　shot　of　the　two　men　standing　on　the　deck　of　the　Sea　Robin　off　Ensenada。　Brynhild's　eye　went　from　the　wide…shouldered　man　with　the　silver…white　hair　for　a　moment；　then　shifted　to　the　handsome　dark…haired　man。
　
　〃Do　you　know　who　these　men　are？〃
　
　The　brothers　shrugged。
　
　〃That's　Kurt　Austin；　head　of　NUMA's　Special　Assignments　Team；　and　Jose　Zavala；　a　member　of　the　team。〃
　
　〃When　can　we　。　。　。〃
　
　〃。　。　。　eliminate　them？〃
　
　The　temperature　in　the　cool　room　seemed　to　drop　another　twenty　degrees。
　
　〃If　they　were　responsible　for　the　destruction　of　the　Baja　facility；　they　will　pay　with　their　lives；〃　Brynhild　said。　〃But　not　now。　There's　a　minor　problem　to　be　taken　care　of。〃　She　gave　them　the　name　of　the　newspaper　editor　and　said；　〃That's　all。　You　can　go。〃
　
　The　brothers　hastened　from　the　room　like　a　pair　of　dogs　sent　to　fetch　a　bone；　and　Brynhild　was　alone　again。　She　sat　there　brooding　about　the　Baja　facility。　All　that　work　wasted。　Even　worse；　the　supply　of　the　catalyst　was　destroyed　in　the　blast。　She　stared　with　hate…filled　eyes　at　the　faces　of　the　two　men　on　the　puter　monitor。
　〃Little　people；〃　she　snarled。
　With　a　wave　of　her　hand　the　screen　went　blank。
　
　
　Chapter　17
　Paul　Trout　turned　the　shower　off　and　again　examined　its　workings　with　scientific　admiration。　Water　flowed　through　a　wooden　pipe　and　sprayed　out　through　tiny　holes　in　the　hardened　shell　of　a　hollowed…out　gourd。　A　simple　wooden　valve　controlled　the　flow。　The　water　disappeared　through　a　drain　hole　in　the　hardwood　floor。　He　stepped　from　the　wooden　stall；　dried　himself　with　a　cotton　towel；　wrapped　his　body　in　another；　and　went　through　a　doorway　into　an　adjacent　room　lit　by　clay　lamps。
　
　Gamay　was　stretched　out　on　a　fortable　grass…filled　mat　tress　placed　on　a　platform　bed。　She　had　fashioned　her　towel　into　a　toga；　had　bed　and　braided　her　dark　red　hair；　and　was　sampling　fruit　from　a　large　bowl　like　a　woman　of　ancient　Rome。　She　eyed　Paul；　whose　towel　looked　ridiculously　small　on　his　tall　figure。　〃What　do　you　think　of　all　this；　nature　boy？〃
　
　〃I've　seen　worse　plumbing　back　in　the　so…called　civilized　world。〃
　
　〃Did　you　know　a　civilization　can　be　measured　by　the　sophistication　of　its　plumbing？〃
　
　〃I　can't　say　much　for　the　uncivilized　habit　the　locals　have　of　sticking　heads　on　sharpened　poles；　but　this　whole　village　is　a　miracle。　Look　at　the　workmanship　in　these　walls；〃　he　said；　running　his　fingers　over　the　white　plastered　surface。　〃I've　got　a　mil　lion　questions。　Any　word　from　our　hostess？〃　
　
　　〃She　sent　Tessa　by　and　said　she　would　see　us　after　we've　had　a　chance　to　rest。　Talk　about　pulling　a　rabbit　out　a　hat。　I　thought　the　Chulo　grabbed　Dieter's　wife。〃
　
　The　goddess　had　offered　no　explanations。　After　greeting　the　Trouts　by　name　and　producing　Tessa；　she　simply　said；　〃Please　be　patient。　I'll　explain　everything　in　time。〃
　
　At　a　clap　of　her　hands　two　young　Indian　women　had　emerged　with　heads　lowered　from　behind　the　curtain。　The　bare…breasted　ladies…in…waiting　led　the　Trouts　to　their　bedroom；　demonstrated　the　workings　of　the　shower；　and　left　them　with　a　bowl　of　fruit。
　
　〃I　know　better　than　to　disobey　a　white　goddess；〃　Paul　said；　sitting　alongside　his　wife。　〃What　do　you　make　of　her？〃
　
　〃Let's　deal　with　the　obvious。〃　Gamay　tallied　her　conclusions　on　her　fingers。　〃She　didn't　grow　up　in　these　parts。　She　speaks　English　with　a　slight　accent。　She's　smart。　She's　friendly。　And　certainly　knows　her　fruit。　Here；　try　one　of　these　little　yellow　ones。　It　tastes　like　an　orange　sprinkled　with　cinnamon。〃
　
　Trout　sampled　the　plum…sized　blob　and　agreed　with　the　assessment。　Then　he　stretched　out　on　the　bed；　his　feet　sticking　out　over　the　end。　They　only　intended　to　rest　a　little　while；　but　exhausted　from　the　long　trek　in　the　sun　and　relaxed　by　the　shower；　they　fell　asleep。
　
　When　they　awoke　they　saw　an　Indian　lady…in…waiting　sitting　cross…legged　on　the　floor　watching　them。　Seeing　them　stir；　she　slipped　silently　from　the　room。　Lying　on　a　table　were　their　clothes；　which　had　disappeared　when　they　were　in　the　shower。　Their　shorts　and　shirts　had　been　washed　clean　of　sweat　and　grime　and　were　neatly　folded。　Trout　checked　his　watch。　They　had　slept　three　hours。　They　dressed　quickly；　hastened　by　the　aroma　of　cooking　food。
　
　Tessa　arrived　and　beckoned　for　them　to　follow。　She　led　them　along　a　passageway　to　a　large　chamber。　A　dark　wood　table　and　three　covered　stools　occupied　the　center　of　the　room。　An　Indian　woman　was　tending　to　clay　pots　bubbling　on　a　ceramic　stove　whose　exhaust　was　carried　through　the　ceiling　by　pipes。
　
　The　white　goddess　arrived　a　moment　later；　her　barefoot　presence　announced　by　the　soft　jingle　of　her　metal　bracelets　and　anklets。　A　pendant　similar　to　that　worn　by　the　dead　Indian　hung　from　her　neck。　She　was　wearing　a　two…piece　suit　of　jaguar　skin　which　hugged　the　contours　of　her　bronzed　body　nicely。　She　had　Oriental　eyes　and　high　cheekbones。　Her　hair；　bleached　to　a　honeyed　blond　by　the　sun；　was　bed　back　and　cut　in　bangs　the　way　the　native　women　wore　theirs。　Taking　a　seat　at　the　table；　she　said；　〃You　look　more　rested。〃　〃The　shower　helped　immensely；〃　Gamay　said。
　
　〃That's　a　remarkable　setup；〃　Paul　added。　〃As　a　native　New　Englander；　I　was　intrigued　by　your　Yankee　inventiveness。〃
　
　〃It　was　one　of　my　first　projects；　thank　you。　The　water　is　pumped　by　windmill　into　a　holding　tank　to　maintain　pressure。　It　ties　in　with　a　ventilated　system　of　pipes　that　runs　through　these　walls　and　keeps　this　place　cool　even　on　the　hottest　days。　It　was　the　best　air　conditioning　I　could　e　up　with　given　the　materials　I　had　to　work　with。〃　Anticipating　their　curiosity；　she　said；　〃First　we'll　eat；　and　then　we'll　talk。〃
　
　The　cook　brought　over　a　vegetable　and　meat　stew　served　with　salad　greens　in　blue…and…white　bowls。　Questions　were　for　gotten　as　Gamay　and　Paul　plunged　into　their　food；　washing　their　meal　down　with　a　refreshing　faintly　alcoholic　beverage。　Sugar　sweetened　cakes　were　served　for　dessert。　The　goddess　looked　on；　amused　at　their　hunger。
　
　When　the　dishes　were　cleared；　the　goddess　declared；　〃Now　it　is　time　to　pay　for　your　dinner。〃　She　smiled。　〃You　must　tell　me　what　has　been　going　on　in　the　outside　world　for　the　past　ten　years。〃
　
　〃That's　a　cheap　price　for　a　meal　like　that；〃　Paul　said。
　
　〃You　may　not　think　so　when　I'm　through。　Start　with　science　if　you　will。　What　advances；　great　or　small；　have　e　about　in　the　last　decade？〃
　
　They　took　turns；　describing　the　advances　in　puters；　the　widespread　use　of　the　Internet　and　wireless　munication；　the　space　shuttle　missions；　the　Hubble　telescope；　unmanned　space　probes；　discoveries　by　NUMA　in　the　field　of　oceanography；　and　
　advances　in　medicine。　She　listened　with　fascination；　her　chin　resting　on　her　folded　hands。　Occasionally　she　asked　a　probing　question　that　indicated　her　own　scientific　background；　but　mostly　she　absorbed　the　information　with　the　dreamy　look　of　an　addict　inhaling　opium　fumes。　〃Now　tell　me　about　the　political　situation；〃　she　requested。
　
　Again　they　pored　through　the　events　in　their　memory：　American　presidential　politics；　relations　with　Russia；　the　Persian　Gulf　wars；　the　strife　in　the　Balkans；　droughts；　famines；　terrorism；　the　European　Union。　She　asked　about　Brazil　and　seemed　pleased　when　they　said　the　country　had　bee　a　democracy。　They　talked　about　movies　and　plays；　music　and　art；　about　the　deaths　of　well…known　figures。　Even　Paul　and　Gamay　were　surprised　at　the　incredible　busyness　of　the　past　decade。　Their　jaws　were　get　ting　tired　from　the　litany　of　events。
　
　〃What　about　cancer？　Have　they　found　a　cure？〃
　
　〃Unfortunately　no。〃
　
　〃What　about　fresh　water？　Is　it　still　a　problem　for　many　countries？〃
　
　〃Worse　than　ever；　between　development　and　pollution。〃
　
　She　shook　her　head　sadly。　〃So　much；〃　she　said　in　a　faraway　voice。　〃I've　missed　so　much。　I　don't　know　if　my　parents　are　still　alive。　I　miss　them；　my　mother　especially。〃　A　tear　gleamed　in　her　eye；　and　she　wiped　it　away　with　her　napkin。　〃I　must　apologize　for　being　so　demanding；　but　you　have　no　idea　how　awful　it　is　to　be　isolated　here　in　the　forest；　with　no　munication　to　the　out　side　world。　You　have　been　very　kind　and　patient。　Now　it　is　time　for　you　to　hear　my　story。〃　She　called　for　tea　to　be　served；　then　dismissed　the　Indian　women　so　that　there　were　only　the　three　of　them。
　
　〃My　name　is　Francesca　Cabral；〃　she　began。　For　an　hour　the　Trouts　listened　raptly　to　the　goddess's　story；　starting　with　her　family；　going　through　her　education　in　Brazil　and　America；　up　to　the　time　of　the　plane　crash。
　
　〃I　was　the　only　survivor　of　the　crash；〃　she　said。　〃The　copilot　was　a　scoundrel；　but　he　knew　how　to　fly。　The　jet　skidded　into　
　muddy　wetlands　near　the　river。　The　mud　cushioned　the　landing　and　prevented　fire。　When　I　woke　up　I　found　myself　in　a　hut　where　the　Indians　carried　me。　I　was　in　terrible　pain　from　my　cuts　and　bruises；　and　my　right　leg　was　broken。　A　pound　fracture；　the　worst　kind。　As　you've　heard；　the　rain　forest　medicines　can　be　potent。　They　set　my　leg　and　treated　me　with　potions　that　dulled　the　suffering　and　promoted　healing。　I　learned　later　that　the　plane　had　landed　on　top　of　their　chief's　house　and　killed　him。　They　held　me　no　ill。　In　fact；　it　was　just　the　opposite。〃　〃They　made　you　their　goddess；〃　Gamay　said。
　
　〃You　can　see　why。　The　Chulo　retreated　from　the　onslaught　of　the　white　man　a