pdouglas.thecodex-第21部分
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niente。 That is the earliest。〃
The lieutenant locked them in a wooden shed at the airstrip and put the two soldiers outside to guard them。 After the door clapped shut； Tom sat down on an empty fifty…five…gallon drum and held his aching head。
〃How are you feeling？〃 Sally asked。
〃Like my head is a brass gong that was just rung。〃
〃That was a nasty blow he gave you。〃
Tom nodded。
There was a rattle； and the door was flung open again。 The lieutenant stood aside while one of the soldiers tossed in their sleeping bags and a flashlight。 〃I truly regret the inconvenience。〃
〃You'll truly regret the inconvenience when I report you；〃 Sally said。
The lieutenant ignored this。 〃May I advise you not to do anything foolish。 It would be disappointing if someone were shot。〃
Sally said； 〃You wouldn't dare shoot us； you tinhorn Nazi。〃
The lieutenant's teeth glinted silvery yellow in the feeble light。 〃Accidents have been known to occur； especially to Americans who e to La Mosquitia unprepared for the rigors of the jungle。〃
He backed out of the door； and the soldier slammed it。 Tom could hear the muffled voice of the lieutenant telling the soldiers that if they fell asleep or drank on the job he would personally cut their testicles off； dry them； and hang them up as door knockers。
〃Damn Nazis；〃 said Sally。 〃Thanks for defending me back there。〃
〃Didn't do much good。〃
〃Did he hit you hard？〃 She looked at his head。 〃That's a nasty lump。〃
〃I'm fine。〃
Sally sat down next to him。 He felt the warmth of her presence。 He looked at her and could see her faint profile； just outlined in the semidarkness of the shed。 She looked at him。 They were so close that he could feel the warmth of her face on his； see the curl of her lip； the faint dimple on her cheek； the scattering of freckles on her nose。 She still smelled of peppermint。 Without even thinking of what he was doing； he leaned forward； his lips just brushing hers。 For a moment there was stillness； and then she sharply pulled away。 〃That's not a good idea。〃
What the hell was he thinking？ Tom pulled away； angry and humiliated。
The awkward moment was interrupted by a sudden banging at the door。 〃Dinner；〃 cried one of the soldiers。 The door opened briefly； letting in light； then slammed shut。 He heard the soldier relock the padlock。
Tom shined the flashlight over and picked up the tray。 Dinner consisted of two warm Pepsis； some bean tortillas； and a heap of tepid rice。 Neither of them felt like eating。 For a moment they sat there in the darkness。 The aching in Tom's head subsided； and as it did he began to get mad。 The soldiers had no right。 He and Sally had done nothing wrong。 He felt that their phony arrest had probably been engineered by the nameless enemy who had killed Barnaby and Fenton。 His brothers were in even more danger than he thought。
〃Give me the flashlight。〃
He shined it around。 The shed couldn't have been more shoddily built； just a post…and…beam frame with boards nailed over it and a tin roof。 An idea began to take shape…a plan of escape。
18
At three o'clock that morning they took their places； Sally by the door and Tom braced at the back wall。 He whispered a three…count and they both kicked simultaneously； Sally's assault on the door masking the sound of Tom's kick to the boards on the back wall。 The bined blows sounded like one； ringing loudly in the confined space。 The shabby board popped off； just as Tom hoped。
Dogs began to bark in the village； and one of the soldiers cursed。 〃What are you doing？〃
〃I have to go to the bathroom！〃 Sally cried。
〃No； no； you must go in there。〃
Tom whispered the countdown again； one； two； three； kick。 Sally gave the door another blow while he kicked out a second board。
〃Stop！〃 said the soldier。
〃But I have to go； cabrón！〃
〃Se？orita； I am sorry； but you must take care of it in there。 I am under orders not to open the door。〃
One； two； three； kick！
The third board popped off。 The opening was now big enough to squeeze through。 The dogs in town were barking hysterically。
〃One more kick and I call the teniente！〃
〃But I have to go！〃
〃There is nothing I can do。〃
〃You soldiers are barbarians。〃
〃It is our orders； se？orita。〃
〃That's just what Hitler's soldiers said。〃
〃Sally； let's go；〃 hissed Tom； gesturing to her in the dark。
〃Hitler was not such a bad man； se？orita。 He made the trains run on time。〃
〃That was Mussolini； you idiot。 You two will end up on the gallows； and good riddance。〃
〃Sally！〃 Tom called。
Sally came back。 〃Did you hear what those Nazis just said？〃
He pushed her through the hole and handed out their sleeping bags。 They ran at a crouch down the jungle track toward the town。 The town had no electricity； but the sky was clear and moonlight bathed the empty streets。 The dogs were already barking； and they were able to pass through without creating a further alarm。 Despite the noise nobody was stirring。
These people have learned to mind their own business； Tom thought。
In five minutes they were down by the boats。 Tom flashed the light over the army dugout； the one with the eighteen…horse engine。 It was in good order； with two large plastic tanks of gasoline； both full。 He began untying the prow。 Suddenly he heard a voice； speaking low； from the darkness。
〃You no want that boat。〃
It was the man they had hired earlier that day。
〃We sure as hell do；〃 hissed Tom。
〃Let stupid army mans take that boat。 Water going down。 At every bend in river they get stuck。 You take my boat。 You no get stuck。 That way you escape。〃 He leapt like a cat onto the dock and untied a slender dugout with a six…horsepower engine。 〃Get in。〃
〃Are you ing with us？〃 Sally asked。
〃No。 I tell stupid army mans you rob me。〃 He started unhooking the gas tanks from the army boat and loading them into the back of their dugout canoe。 He also gave them the gas tank from the other boat。 Tom and Sally climbed in。 Tom fished in his pocket and offered the man some money。
〃Not now。 If they search me and find money； I get shot。〃
〃How can we pay you？〃 Tom asked。
〃You pay me million dollar later。 My name Manuel Waono。 I always here。〃
〃Wait a minute。 A million dollars？〃
〃You rich American； you easy pay me million dollar。 I； Manuel Waono； save your life。 You go now。 Fast。〃
〃How do we find Pito Solo？〃
〃Last village on river。〃
〃But how do we know…〃
The Indian wasn't interested in making any more explanations。 He pushed them off with a big bare foot； and the boat slid into the blackness。
Tom lowered the engine into the water； primed it； choked it； gave it a pull。 Instantly it roared into life。 In the silence； the sound was high pitched and loud。
〃Go！〃 said Manuel from shore。
Tom threw the boat into forward。 He turned the throttle as far as it would go； and the tinny engine whined and shuddered。 The long wooden canoe began to move through the water。 Tom steered while Sally stood in the bow； probing the river ahead with the flashlight。
Not a minute later； back at the dock； Manuel began shouting in Spanish： 〃Help！ I am robbed！ My boat； they stole my boat！〃
〃Christ； he didn't wait long；〃 Tom muttered。
Soon a cacophony of excited voices came drifting toward them over the dark river。 Then the bright light of a gas lantern came bobbing down the embankment； along with flashlights； illuminating a knot of people gathering on the makeshift dock。 There was some angry and confused shouting and then a sudden hush。 A voice rang out in English： the voice of Lieutenant Vespán。 〃Turn around or I order my men to shoot； please！〃
〃He's bullshitting；〃 said Sally。
Tom didn't feel quite so sure。
〃Do not think I am joking！〃 the teniente shouted。
〃He'll never shoot；〃 said Sally。
〃One 。。。 two 。。。〃
〃It's a crock；〃 said Sally。
〃Three 。。。〃
There was a silence。
〃What did I tell you？〃
There was a sudden burst of automatic…weapons fire ing across the water； shockingly loud and close。
〃Shit！〃 Tom yelled； throwing himself down。 As the boat began to yaw； he quickly reached up with one hand and steadied the engine handle。
Sally was still standing in the prow； unconcerned。 〃Tom； they're shooting into the air。 The
