pdouglas.thecodex-第20部分
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They found the river at the far end of town。 It lay between steep earthen banks； about two hundred yards across and the color of mahogany。 The river curved away between two thick walls of jungle； and it smelled of mud。 The thick water moved sluggishly； the surface dimpled with whorls and eddies。 Here and there a green leaf or a twig slowly made its way downstream。 A trail made of logs descended the steep embankment； ending at a platform of bamboo sticks constructed over the water； forming a rickety dock。 Four dugout canoes were tied up。 They were each about thirty feet long and about four feet across； hewn from a single gigantic tree； tapering to a spearlike prow in front。 The stern had been cut off flat and had a mounted board designed to acmodate a small outboard engine。 Boards were laid athwartship fore and aft for seats。
They scrambled down the embankment to take a closer look。 She noticed that three of the dugouts had six…horsepower Evinrude engines bolted to the sterns。 The fourth； longer and heavier； sported an eighteen…horse。
〃There's the local hotrod；〃 said Sally； pointing。 〃That's the one for us。〃
Tom looked around。 The place seemed deserted。
〃There's somebody。〃 Sally pointed to an open…sided bamboo shed fifty yards down the riverbank。 A small fire smoked next to a pile of empty tin cans。 A hammock had been strung between two trees in a spot of shade and inside the hammock a man slept。
Sally advanced。 〃Hola；〃 she said。
After a moment the man opened one eye。 〃Si？〃
〃We want to talk to someone about renting a boat。〃 She spoke in Spanish。
With a flurry of grunts and mutterings of displeasure he sat up in the hammock； scratched his head； and grinned。 〃I speak good American。 We talk American。 Someday I go to America。〃
〃That's good。 We're going to Pito Solo；〃 said Tom。
He nodded； yawned； scratched。 〃Okay。 I take you。〃
〃We'd like to rent the big boat。 The one with the eighteen…horsepower engine。〃
He shook his head。 〃That stupid boat。〃
〃We don't care if the boat is stupid；〃 said Tom。 〃That's the one we want。〃
〃I take you in my boat。 That stupid boat belong to army mans。〃 He held out his hand。 〃Got candy？〃
Sally removed a bag she had bought earlier； expressly for that purpose。
The man's face lit up in a smile。 He put a withered hand into it； sorted through the candies； selected five or six； unwrapped them； and put them all in his mouth at once。 They formed a great lump in his cheek。 〃Bueno；〃 he said in a muffled voice。
〃We'd like to leave tomorrow morning；〃 Tom said。 〃How long is the journey？〃
〃Three days。〃
〃Three days？ I thought it was forty or fifty miles。〃
〃Water going down。 Maybe get stuck。 Have to pole。 Much wading。 Cannot use engine。〃
〃Wading？〃 Tom asked。 〃What about that toothpick fish？〃
The man looked at him blankly。
〃Don't worry； Tom；〃 Sally said； 〃you can wear tight underwear。〃
〃Ah； si！ The candiru！〃 The man laughed。 〃That favorite gringo story。 Candiru。 I swim in river every day and I still got my chuc…chic。 It working fine！〃 He swayed his hips licentiously； winking at Sally。
〃Spare me；〃 said Sally。
〃So this fish is a hoax？〃 Tom asked。
〃No； it's real！ But you got piss in river first。 Candiru smell piss in river； swim up； and chop！ If you no piss when you swim； you got no problem！〃
〃Anyone else e through here lately？ Any gringos； I mean。〃
〃Si。 We very busy。 Last month； white man e with many boxes and Indians from the mountains。〃
〃What Indians？〃 Tom asked excitedly。
〃Naked mountain Indians。〃 He spat。
〃Where did he get his boats？〃
〃He bring many new dugouts from La Ceiba。〃
〃And did the boats return？〃
The man smiled； rubbed his fingers together in the universal gesture； and held out his hand。 Sally put a five…dollar bill in it。
〃Boats not return。 Mans go upriver； never e back。〃
〃Anyone else e through？〃
〃Si。 Then last week Jesus Christ came through with drunken guides from Puerto Lempira。〃
〃Jesus Christ？〃 Sally asked。
〃Yes； Jesus Christ with long hair； beard； robes； and sandals。〃
〃That's got to be Vernon；〃 said Tom； with a smile。 〃Was he with anyone else？〃
〃Yes。 He with St。 Peter。〃
Tom rolled his eyes。 〃Any others？〃
〃Si。 Then e two gringos with twelve soldiers in two dugouts also from La Ceiba。〃
〃What did the gringos look like？〃
〃One very tall； smoke pipe； angry。 Other one shorter with four gold rings。〃
〃Philip；〃 said Tom。
They quickly made a deal for a boat to Pito Solo； and Tom gave him a ten…dollar advance。 〃We leave at first light tomorrow。〃
〃Bueno！ I be ready！〃
As they came back from the river to the cinderblock barracks that passed as the local hotel； they were surprised to see a jeep parked there with an army officer and two soldiers。 Nearby a crowd of children； jostling and whispering； waited for something to happen。 The landlady stood to one side； her hands clasped； her face pale with fright。
〃I don't like the look of this；〃 said Sally。
The officer stepped forward； a man with a very straight back； a spotless uniform； and little polished boots。 He gave a crisp bow。 〃Do I have the honor of greeting Se？or Tom Broadbent and Se？orita Sally Colorado？ I am Lieutenant Vespán。〃 He took their hands； one at a time； then stepped back。 The wind shifted； and Tom suddenly smelled a mixture of Old Spice； cigars； and rum。
〃What's the problem？〃 said Sally。
The man smiled broadly； exposing a row of silver teeth。 〃I am devastated to inform you that you are under arrest。〃
17
Tom stared at the diminutive military officer。 A little dog； which had taken a dislike to one of the soldiers； crouched in front of him； baring his teeth and yapping。 The officer kicked it away with a dainty boot； and the soldiers laughed。
〃On what charge？〃 Tom asked。
〃We will discuss that back in San Pedro Sula。 Now； if you will please e with me。〃
There was an awkward silence。 Sally said； 〃No。〃
〃Se？orita； let us not make difficulty。〃
〃I'm not creating any difficulties。 I'm just not going。 You can't force me。〃
〃Sally；〃 Tom said； 〃may I point out these men have guns？〃
〃Good。 Let them shoot me and then explain it to the U。S。 government。〃 She spread her arms out to make a target。
〃Se？orita； I pray you。〃
The two soldiers with him shifted nervously。
〃Go ahead； make my day！〃
The officer nodded at his two men； and they set their guns down； briskly stepped forward； and seized Sally。 She yelled and struggled。
Tom took a step forward。 〃Get your hands off her。〃
The two men hoisted her up and began carrying her； struggling； to the jeep。 Tom took a swing at the first man and sent him flying。 Sally wrenched free while Tom tackled the other man。
The next thing Tom knew he was lying on his back； looking up into the hot blue sky。 The officer stood over him； red faced and angry。 Tom could feel a throbbing sensation at the base of his skull where the man had struck him with the butt of his gun。
The soldiers pulled him roughly to his feet。 Sally had stopped struggling and looked pale。
〃Macho bastards；〃 she said。 〃We're going to report your assault to the American Embassy。〃
The colonel shook his head sadly； as if at the folly of it all。 〃Now； may we please go peacefully？〃
They allowed themselves to be taken to the jeep。 The colonel shoved Tom into the backseat and pushed Sally in next to him。 Their backpacks and bags had already been collected from the hotel and were piled in the back。 The jeep started down the road to the airstrip。 There； a shabby military helicopter was sitting on the grass。 A metal panel on the side of the helicopter was off； and a man with a wrench was fiddling with the engine。 The jeep came sliding to a stop。
〃What are you doing？〃 the colonel asked sharply in Spanish。
〃I am sorry； Teniente； but there is a small problem。〃
〃What problem？〃
〃We need a part。〃
〃Can you fly without it？〃
〃No； Teniente。〃
〃Mary whore of Jesus！ How many times does this helicopter have to break down？〃
〃Shall I radio for them to send a plane with the part？〃
〃By the balls of Joseph！ Yes； you deficient； radio for the part！〃
The pilot climbed into the chopper； radioed； and then came out。 〃It will be ing tomorrow morning； Teniente。 That is the
