pdouglas.thecodex-第60部分

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　Vernon；　oblivious　to　the　undercurrent　of　tension；　tucked　into　the　dried　plantains。　〃Delicious；〃　he　said；　his　mouth　full。　〃We　should　eat　two　lunches　every　day。〃
　〃Very　good！　Two　lunches！　Good　idea！〃　said　Borabay；　laughing　uproariously。
　And　then　it　happened。　Without　any　noise　or　apparent　movement；　Tom　suddenly　realized　they　were　surrounded　by　men　on　all　sides；　with　bows　drawn　to　the　limit；　a　hundred　stone…tipped　arrows　pointing　at　them。　It　was　as　if　the　jungle　had　imperceptibly　withdrawn；　leaving　the　men　exposed　like　rocks　at　low　tide。
　Vernon　let　out　a　scream　and　fell　to　the　ground　and　was　instantly　surrounded　by　bristling；　tense　men；　with　fifty　arrows　drawn　and　poised　inches　from　his　throat　and　chest。
　〃No　move！〃　Borabay　cried。　He　turned　and　spoke　rapidly　to　the　men。　Slowly；　the　bows　began　to　relax　and　the　men　stepped　back。　He　continued　talking；　less　rapidly　and　at　a　lower　pitch；　but　just　as　urgently。　Finally　the　men　took　another　step　back　and　lowered　their　arrows　pletely。
　〃You　move　now；〃　said　Borabay。　〃Stand　up。　No　smile。　No　shake　hand。　Look　everyone　in　eye。　No　smile。〃
　They　did　as　they　were　told；　rising。
　〃Go　get　packs　and　weapons　and　knifes。　Do　not　show　you　afraid。　Make　angry　face　but　say　nothing。　Smile　and　you　die。〃
　They　followed　Borabay's　orders。　There　was　a　brief　flurry　of　raised　bows　as　Tom　picked　up　his　machete；　but　when　he　sheathed　it　in　his　belt　the　bows　went　back　down。　Tom；　following　Borabay's　instructions；　raked　the　warriors　near　them　with　a　baleful　stare；　and　they　stared　back　so　ferociously　that　he　felt　weak　in　the　knees。
　Borabay　was　now　talking　in　a　lower　voice；　but　he　sounded　angry。　He　was　directing　his　ments　to　one　man；　taller　than　the　others；　with　a　brilliant　set　of　feathers　bristling　from　rings　on　his　muscled　upper　arms。　He　wore　a　string　around　his　neck；　on　which　dangled　as　jewelry　the　detritus　of　Western　technology；　a　CD…ROM　offering　six　free　months　of　AOL；　a　calculator　with　a　hole　drilled　through　it；　a　dial　from　an　old　telephone。
　The　man　looked　at　Tom　and　stepped　forward。　Halted。
　〃Brother；　take　step　toward　man；　tell　him　in　angry　voice　he　must　apologize。〃
　Tom；　hoping　that　Borabay　understood　the　psychology　of　the　situation；　scowled　and　stepped　toward　the　warrior；　〃How　dare　you　draw　your　bows　at　us？〃　he　demanded。
　Borabay　translated。　The　man　answered　angrily；　gesturing　with　a　spear　close　to　Tom's　face。
　Borabay　spoke。　〃He　say；　'Who　are　you？　Why　you　e　into　Tara　land　without　invitation？'　You　tell　him　in　angry　voice　you　e　to　save　your　father。　Shout　at　him。〃
　Tom　obeyed；　raising　his　voice；　taking　a　step　toward　the　warrior　and　shouting　at　him　inches　from　his　face。　The　man　answered　in　an　even　angrier　voice；　shaking　his　spear　in　front　of　Tom's　nose。　At　this；　many　of　the　warriors　put　up　their　bows　again。
　〃He　say　Father　cause　big　trouble　for　Tara　and　he　very　angry。　Brother；　you　must　be　very　angry　now。　You　tell　them　to　put　down　bows。　Say　you　no　talk　unless　they　put　arrows　away。　Make　big　insult。〃
　Tom；　sweating　now；　tried　to　push　aside　the　terror　he　felt　and　feign　anger。　〃How　dare　you　threaten　us？〃　he　cried。　〃We　have　e　into　your　land　in　peace；　and　you　offer　us　war！　Is　this　how　the　Tara　treat　their　guests？　Are　you　animals　or　people？〃
　Tom　caught　a　flash　of　approval　from　Borabay　as　he　translated…no　doubt　adding　his　own　nuances。
　The　bows　came　down；　and　this　time　the　men　unnocked　their　arrows　and　put　them　back　into　their　quivers。
　〃Now　you　smile。　Short　smile；　not　big　smile。〃
　Tom　flashed　a　smile；　then　let　his　face　settle　back　into　sternness。
　Borabay　spoke　at　length；　then　turned　to　Tom。　〃You　must　hug　and　kiss　that　warrior　in　Tara　way。〃
　Tom　gave　the　man　an　awkward　hug　and　a　pair　of　kisses　on　the　neck；　just　as　Borabay　had　done　to　him　so　many　times。　He　ended　up　with　red　and　yellow　paint　on　his　face　and　lips。　The　warrior　returned　the　courtesy；　smearing　more　paint　on　him。
　〃Good；〃　said　Borabay；　almost　giddy　with　relief。　〃Everything　fine　now！　We　go　to　Tara　village。
　
　The　village　consisted　of　an　open　plaza　of　packed　dirt；　surrounded　by　two　irregular　rings　of　thatched　huts　of　the　kind　they　had　slept　in　a　few　nights　before。　The　huts　had　no　windows；　just　a　hole　in　the　peak。　Cooking　fires　were　burning　in　front　of　many　of　the　huts；　tended　by　women　who；　Tom　noticed；　were　cooking　with　the　French　cooking　pots；　copper　braising　pans；　and　Meissen　stainless　steel　cutlery　that　Maxwell　Broadbent　had　brought　them。　As　he　followed　the　group　of　warriors　into　the　center　of　the　plaza；　thatched　doors　popped　open　and　various　people　came　out　to　stand　and　gape　at　them。　The　small　children　were　pletely　naked；　the　older　ones　wore　dirty　shorts　or　breechclouts。　The　women　wore　a　piece　of　cloth　tied　around　their　waists　and　were　naked　above；　with　their　breasts　and　chests　smeared　with　red。　Many　had　disks　in　their　lips　and　ears。　Only　the　men　wore　feathers。
　There　was　no　formal　greeting　ceremony。　The　warriors　who　had　brought　them　in　wandered　off；　going　about　their　business　with　plete　indifference；　while　the　women　and　children　of　the　village　gaped。
　〃What　do　we　do　now？〃　Tom　asked；　standing　in　the　middle　of　the　dirt　plaza　and　looking　around。
　〃Wait；〃　said　Borabay。
　A　toothless　old　woman　soon　emerged　from　one　of　the　huts；　bent　double　from　age；　leaning　on　a　stick；　her　short　white　hair　made　her　look　like　a　witch。　She　made　her　way　toward　them　with　excruciating　slowness；　her　beady　eyes　never　leaving　their　faces；　sucking　on　her　lips　and　muttering　to　herself。　She　finally　arrived　in　front　of　Tom　and　peered　up　at　him。
　Borabay　said　quietly；　〃Do　nothing。〃
　She　raised　a　withered　hand　and　gave　Tom　a　blow　across　the　knees；　then　whacked　him　across　the　thighs；　once；　twice；　three　times…surprisingly　painful　blows　for　an　old　lady…all　the　while　muttering　to　herself。　She　then　raised　her　stick　and　struck　him　across　the　shins　and　again　on　the　buttocks。　She　dropped　the　stick　and　reached　up　and　groped　him　obscenely　between　his　legs。　Tom　swallowed　and　tried　not　to　flinch　as　she　made　a　thorough　check　of　his　masculinity。　Then　she　reached　up　toward　Tom's　head；　making　a　motion　with　her　fingers。　Tom　bent　slightly；　and　she　grabbed　his　hair　and　gave　such　a　yank　that　tears　sprang　to　his　eyes。
　She　stepped　back；　the　inspection　apparently　plete。　She　gave　him　a　toothless　smile　and　spoke　at　length。
　Borabay　translated。　〃She　say　contrary　to　appearance　you　are　definitely　a　man。　She　invite　you　and　your　brothers　stay　in　village　as　guest　of　the　Tara　people。　She　accept　your　help　for　fight　against　bad　men　in　White　City。　She　say　now　you　in　charge。〃
　〃Who　is　she？〃　Tom　glanced　at　her。　She　was　peering　up　and　down；　examining　him　from　head　to　toe。
　〃She　is　wife　of　Cah。　Look　out；　Tom；　she　like　you。　Maybe　she　e　to　your　hut　tonight。〃
　It　broke　the　tension；　and　they　all　laughed；　Philip　most　of　all。
　〃What　am　I　in　charge　of？〃　Tom　asked。
　Borabay　looked　at　him。　〃You　now　war　chief。〃
　Tom　was　stunned。　〃How　can　that　be？　I've　been　here　ten　minutes。〃
　〃She　say　Tara　warriors　fail　in　attack　against　white　man　and　many　killed。　You　white　man；　too；　maybe　you　understand　enemy　better。　Tomorrow；　you　lead　fight　against　bad　men。〃
　〃Tomorrow？〃　Tom　said。　〃Thanks；　really；　but　I　decline　the　responsibility。〃
　〃You　not　have　choice；〃　said　Borabay。　〃She　say　if　you　do　not；　Tara　warriors　kill　us　all。〃
　
　That　night　the　villagers　lit　a　bonfire；　and　a　party　of　sorts　got　under　way；　starting　with　a　multicourse　feast；　which　arrived　on　leaves；　culminating　in　a　tapir　roasted　in　a　pit。　The　men　danced　and　then　gave　a　hauntingly　strange　orchestral　performance　on　flutes；　led　by　Borabay。　Everyone　went　to　bed　late。　Borabay　roused　them　a　few　hours　later。　It　was　still　dark。
　〃We　go　now。　You　speak　to　people。〃
　Tom　stared　at　him。　〃I　have　to　give　a　speech？〃
　〃I　help　you。〃
　〃This　I've　got　to　see；〃　said　Philip。
　The　bonfire　had　been　heaped　with　fresh　logs；　and　Tom　could　see　that　the　whole　village　was　standing；　silently　and　respectfully；　waiting　for　his　speech。
　Borabay　whispered；　〃Tom；　you　tell　me　to　get　ten　best　warriors　for　fight。〃
　〃Fight？　What　fight？〃
　〃We　fight　Hauser。〃
　〃We　can't…〃
　〃Be　quiet　and　do　what　I　say；〃　Borabay　hissed。
　Tom　gave　the　order；　and　Borabay　then　went　through　the　crowd；　clapping　his　hands；　slapping　the　shoulders　of　various　men；