cussler.blueandgold-第40部分

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ths　or　five　years。〃　He　chuckled。　〃No　one　figured　it　would　go　on　this　long；　especially　me。〃　Austin　noticed　that　Martin　had　lost　his　folksy　farm　accent。　〃Who　were　you　supposed　to　kill？〃
　
　〃The　government　had　this　big　secret　they　didn't　want　any　one　to　know　about。　They　devised　a　system　so　that　if　anyone　started　snooping　and　got　too　close；　the　protocol　would　be　activated。　Here's　the　real　clever　thing。　They　would　make　potential　opposition　e　to　me。　They　set　me　up　here　in　the　middle　of　nowhere。　When　you　started　poking　around；　it　triggered　a　series　of　mands。　One　would　tell　you　where　I　was。　The　last　would　tell　me　to　carry　out　the　original　sanction　against　the　speaker　of　the　House。　Seems　he　heard　about　the　government's　secret　and　was　going　to　blow　the　whistle。〃
　
　〃This　protocol　you're　talking　about　must　be　fifty　years　old　The　congressman　you　were　supposed　to　kill　has　been　dead　for　years。〃
　
　〃That　doesn't　matter；〃　he　said　with　a　shake　of　his　head。　〃I'm　still　under　orders。　Sad　thing；　that　secret's　so　old　it　probably　doesn't　make　a　difference　one　way　or　the　other。〃　He　lapsed　back　into　his　farm　accent；　and　the　blue　eyes　grew　hard　and　cold。　〃Sure　glad　you　came；　son。　I'm　officially　retired　after　this。〃
　
　The　gun　came　up。　Austin　braced　himself　for　the　deafening　blast。　He　tensed　his　stomach　muscles　as　if　by　sheer　will　he　could　prevent　the　slug　from　tearing　into　his　rib　cage。　Had　he　time　~o　think　about　it；　he　would　have　ruminated　on　the　irony；　after　surviving　countless　near…fatal　assignments；　of　dying　at　the　hands　of　a　half…deaf；　near…blind；　octogenarian　assassin。
　
　A　figure　suddenly　materialized　behind　Martin。　It　was　Buzz。　The　old　man's　sight　was　still　keen　enough　for　him　to　detect　an
　involuntary　change　in　Austin's　expression。　He　whirled　around　as　Buzz　cried　out　in　surprise。　〃You're　not　my　father！〃
　
　　The　old　man's　body　had　shielded　the　shotgun；　but　now　Buzz's　eyes　dropped　from　Martin's　face　to　the　weapon　in　his　arms。　The　farmer　brought　his　gun　up　to　his　shoulder；　but　his　reflexes　were　dulled　by　the　years。　Austin　had　to　make　a　split　second　decision。　He　could　put　his　head　down　and　crash　into　the　man's　backside　like　an　enraged　bull。　Not　enough　time；　he　decided
　
　〃Martin！〃　he　yelled；　at　the　same　time　yanking　the　pitchfork　from　the　bale。
　
　The　farmer　turned　back　to　Austin；　who　whipped　the　pitchfork　at　him　like　a　javelin。　He　was　aiming　for　Martin's　shooting　side；　but　the　old　man　stepped　into　the　oning　pitchfork　and　the　tines　perforated　his　heart　and　lungs。　He　cried　out　in　pain；　and　the　shotgun　went　off；　barrel　pointed　toward　the　roof。　The　horse　went　crazy　and　tried　to　kick　down　its　stall。　The　gun　fell　from　Martin's　fingers。　His　eyes　rolled　into　his　head；　and　he　crumpled　to　the　wooden　floor。
　
　Austin　kicked　the　shotgun　out　of　reach　more　out　of　habit　than　necessity。　Buzz　had　been　frozen　with　shock；　but　now　he　came　over　and　knelt　by　the　body。　Austin　turned　it　over　so　they　could　see　the　face。
　
　Buzz　studied　the　man's　features　for　a　moment　and；　to　Austin's　relief；　softly　said；　〃No；　he's　definitely　not　my　father。　He's　too　tall；　to　begin　with。　My　father　was　stocky　like　me。　And　the　face　is　all　wrong。　Who　in　God's　name　is　he？〃
　
　〃He　called　himself　Martin；　but　that's　not　his　real　name。　I　don't　know　what　it　is。〃
　
　〃Why　was　he　trying　to　kill　you…I　mean；　both　of　us？〃
　
　〃He　didn't　really　know。　He　was　like　one　of　those　trick　bombs　the　Germans　used　to　drop。　They'd　go　off　when　the　bomb　squad　tried　to　defuse　them。　By　the　way；　I　thought　you　were　going　to　wait　in　the　car。〃
　
　〃I　tried；　but　I　had　to　get　out　and　walk。　I　went　behind　the　house；　didn't　see　anybody；　so　I　came　into　the　barn　looking　for　you。〃
　
　〃I'm　glad　you　did。〃　Austin　cocked　his　ear。　〃I　think　I　hear　something。〃　He　took　a　last　look　at　the　body。　〃Happy　retirement；　Bucky；〃　he　said；　and　walked　toward　the　door。
　
　Buzz　followed　him　out　into　the　yard　as　a　black…and…white　car　with　blue　roof　dome　flashing　burst　from　the　woods　and　squealed　to　a　stop　in　a　cloud　of　dust。　Printed　in　big　letters　on　the　car　door　was　the　word　SHERIFF。　Two　men　in　blue　uniforms　got　out。　One　was　burly　and　young；　and　the　other　was　slim　and　gray…haired。　The　younger　man　came　over　with　his　hand　on　his　holster。　His　badge　signified　he　was　a　deputy　sheriff。
　
　〃Which　one　of　you　is　Austin？〃　he　said。
　
　〃That's　me；〃　Kurt　said。
　
　The　deputy　must　have　been　prepared　for　an　evasion　because　he　didn't　seem　to　know　what　to　say　next。
　
　The　older　man　gently　pushed　his　deputy　aside。　〃I'm　Sheriff　Hastings。　Either　one　of　you　seen　Bucky　Martin？〃
　
　〃He's　in　the　barn；〃　Austin　said。
　
　The　deputy　hustled　into　the　barn；　and　when　he　came　out　a　moment　later　his　face　was　white。
　
　〃Jeezus；〃　he　said；　fumbling　for　his　sidearm；　〃Old　Bucky　is　dead。　Stuck　with　a　pitchfork。　Which　one　of　you　two　did　it？〃
　
　Hastings　gestured　for　his　deputy　to　calm　down　and　call　the　county　homicide　team。　〃Could　you　tell　me　what's　been　going　on；
　Mr。　Austin？〃
　
　〃Martin　tried　to　kill　us　with　that　shotgun　next　to　the　body。　T　had　to　kill　him。　I　was　trying　to　slow　him　down；　but　that's　not　the　way　it　worked　out。〃
　
　〃Thanks；　but　I　mean　what's　real~7y　going　on　with　this　whole　thing；　me　getting　calls　from　Washington　and　all。〃
　
　〃Washington？〃
　
　〃You　bet。　First　the　governor's　office　calls　and　tells　me　to　hold；　then　they　patch　through　this　maniac　Admiral　Sandecker　He　says　his　man　Austin　is　in　danger　and　I'd　better　get　out　to　Martin's　place　or　there　will　be　a　killing。　When　I　asked　what　makes　him　think　somebody's　going　to　be　killed；　he　promises　to　rip　me　a　new　belly　button　if　I　don't　stop　asking　dumb　questions　and　get　on　my　way。〃　He　grinned。　〃Guess　he　was　right。〃　He　turned　to　Buzz。　〃What's　your　name？〃　〃Buzz　Martin。〃
　
　The　sheriff　blinked　in　surprise。　'Any　relation　to　the　de　ceased？〃
　
　Austin　and　Martin　looked　at　each　other；　not　sure　how　to　answer　the　question。
　
　Finally　Austin　shook　his　head　and　said；　〃Hope　you've　got　time；　sheriff；　because　that's　a　long；　long　story。〃
　
　Chapter　25
　The　drums　had　been　beating　steadily　for　an　hour。　The　sound　was　cadenced　at　first；　ing　from　a　lone　drum　at　the　same　throbbing　tempo　as　a　human　heartbeat。　Then　other　drums　had　joined　in。　The　hollow　thumping　accelerated　in　pace；　and　a　monotonous　chanting　could　be　heard　in　the　background。　Francesca　paced　back　and　forth　in　the　throne　room　like　a　caged　lion；　her　hands　clasped　behind　her；　head　bent　low　in　thought。　The　Trouts　sat　next　to　the　throne；　waiting　patiently　for　Francesca　to　speak。　Tessa　had　pulled　her　vanishing　act　again。
　
　Something　caused　a　motion　at　the　entrance。　Seconds　later　Francesca's　two　handmaidens　rushed　into　the　throne　room；　threw　themselves　on　their　knees；　and　babbled　excitedly。　Calming　the　young　Indians　with　her　soft　voice；　Francesca　gently　lifted　them　to　their　feet　and　brushed　their　disheveled　hair　away　from　their　faces。　She　listened　to　the　women　speak　in　turn；　then　took　two　bracelets　made　of　airplane　parts　and　slipped　them　onto　their　wrists。　She　kissed　her　attendants　on　the　tops　of　their　heads　and　sent　them　on　their　way。
　
　Turning　to　the　Trouts；　Francesca　said；　〃Events　are　moving　faster　than　I　anticipated。　The　women　say　Alaric　has　talked　the　tribe　into　moving　against　us。〃
　
　Gamay　frowned。　〃I　thought　they　wouldn't　enter　your　palace。〃
　
　〃I've　always　said　Alaric　was　intelligent。　He　sent　my　servants
　to　tell　me　his　plans；　evidently　to　exert　psychological　pressure。　The　drums　are　his　work。〃　She　pointed　to　the　ceiling。　〃The　palace　walls　are　clay；　but　the　roof　is　made　of　dry　grass。　They　will　light　the　place　on　fire。　He　says　the　true　gods　will　rise　from　the　ashes。　If　we　run　outside　to　escape　the　flames　it　will　prove　that　we're　the　frauds　he　says　we　are；　and　they　will　cut　us　down。〃　〃Would　they　really　harm　their　queen？〃　Gamay　asked。
　
　〃It　wouldn't　be　the　first　time　royalty　has　fallen　fatally　out　of　favor。　Have　you　forgotten　Mary　Queen　of　Scots　or　Anne　Boleyn？〃
　
　〃I　get　your　point；〃　Gamay　said。　〃What　do　we　do　now？〃
　
　〃We　escape。　Are　you　ready？〃
　
　〃Since　all　we　have　are　the　clothes　on　our　backs；　we're　ready　when　you　are；〃　Paul　said。　〃But　how　are　we　going　to　get　past　that　unruly　crowd　out　there？〃
　
　〃I　still　have　a　few　white　goddess　tricks　up　my　sleeve。　Ah；　good；　Tessa　is　back。〃　The　Indian　woman　had　materialized　as　silently　as　a　shadow。　She　spoke　a　few　words　in　her　native　language　to　Francesca；　who　answered　with　a　nod。　Tessa　took　one　of　the　torches　flanking　the　throne。
　
　Francesca　said；　〃Dr。　Paul；　if　you　would　be　so　kind　as　to　help　Tessa。〃　Trout　went　over　and　hoisted　Tessa　up　by　the　waist。　She　was　as　light　as　a　feather。　Tessa　tucked　the　torch　in　at　an　angle　where　the　clay　met　the　thatch。　The　torch　had　only　to　burn　a　few　inches　before　the　flame　touched　the　ceiling。　They　repeated　the　procedure　with　another　torch　on　the　opposite　wall。
　
　〃I　don't　count　arson　among　my　talents；　but　this　crude　time　delay　will　create　a　distraction　when　we　need　it；〃　Francesca　said。　She　looked　around　the　throne　room。　〃Good…bye；〃　she　said　sadly　to　no　one　in　particular。　〃In　some　ways　I'll　miss　being　a　queen。〃　She　turned　to　Tessa；　and　they　talked　heatedly。　When　the　discussion　was　ended　Tessa　had　a　satisfied　look　on　her　face。　Francesca　sighed　heavily。　〃You　see　what's　happening？　My　subjects　are　al　ready　rebelling。　I　ordered　Tessa　to　stay；　but　she　wants　to　go　with　us。　We　don't　have　time　to　argue　further。　Follow　me。〃
　
　Francesca　led　the　way　along　the　dim　passageways　to　her　bed
　room。　The　two　woven　bags　on　the　bed　explained　Tessa's　temporary　absence。　She　had　been　packing　for　their　escape。　Francesca　removed　her　battered　aluminum　suitcase　from　the　wooden　chest。　It　had　been　rigged　with　a　strap　which　she　threw　over　her　shoulder。　Handing　one　bag　to　Paul　and　the　other　to　Gamay；　Francesca　said　that　the　containers　held　food　and　supplies　and　〃a　few　essentials。〃
　
　Gamay　looked　around　the　windowless　room。　〃Where　do　we　go　from　here？〃　The　sound　of　drums　was　muffled；　but　the　beating　was　more　frenetic。
　
　〃We　take　a　shower；　of　course；〃　Francesca　said。
　
　She　lit　a　small　clay　lamp　from　the　torch；　went　over　to　the　shower　stall；　and　pulled　up　the　polished　wooden　floor　to　reveal　a　rectangular　opening。
　
　〃There's　a　ladder。　It's　very　steep。　Be　careful。〃
　
　S