¾ÅζÊéÎÝ > ÎÄѧ¾­¹Üµç×ÓÊé > pdouglas.thecodex >

µÚ72²¿·Ö

pdouglas.thecodex-µÚ72²¿·Ö

С˵£º pdouglas.thecodex ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ4000×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡



¡¡He¡¡followed¡¡the¡¡signs¡¡as¡¡fast¡¡as¡¡he¡¡could£»¡¡putting£»¡¡as¡¡they¡¡said£»¡¡as¡¡much¡¡pressure¡¡on¡¡the¡¡trail¡¡as¡¡possible¡£¡¡As¡¡he¡¡emerged¡¡into¡¡a¡¡broad¡¡forest£»¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡one¡¡particularly¡¡clear¡¡trace£»¡¡where¡¡they¡¡had¡¡stirred¡¡up¡¡some¡¡rotten¡¡leaves¡¡in¡¡their¡¡headlong¡¡flight¡£
¡¡Too¡¡clear¡£¡¡He¡¡froze£»¡¡listened£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡crouched¡¡and¡¡minutely¡¡examined¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡ahead¡£¡¡Amateurish¡£¡¡The¡¡Viet¡¡Cong¡¡would¡¡laugh¡¡at¡¡this¡¡one£º¡¡a¡¡bent¡¡sapling£»¡¡a¡¡loop¡¡of¡¡vine¡¡hidden¡¡under¡¡leaves£»¡¡an¡¡almost¡¡invisible¡¡trip¡¡wire¡£¡¡He¡¡took¡¡one¡¡careful¡¡step¡¡back£»¡¡picked¡¡up¡¡a¡¡stick¡¡lying¡¡conveniently¡¡nearby£»¡¡and¡¡lobbed¡¡it¡¡at¡¡the¡¡trip¡¡wire¡£
¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡snap£»¡¡the¡¡sapling¡¡shot¡¡up£»¡¡the¡¡loop¡¡jerked¡£¡¡And¡¡then¡¡Hauser¡¡felt¡¡a¡¡sudden¡¡breath¡¡of¡¡air¡¡and¡¡a¡¡tug¡¡on¡¡his¡¡pantleg¡£¡¡He¡¡looked¡¡down¡£¡¡Embedded¡¡in¡¡the¡¡loose¡¡crease¡¡of¡¡his¡¡pant¡¡was¡¡a¡¡small¡¡dart£»¡¡its¡¡fire¡­hardened¡¡tip¡¡dribbling¡¡a¡¡dark¡¡liquid¡£
¡¡The¡¡poisoned¡¡dart¡¡had¡¡missed¡¡him¡¡by¡¡less¡¡than¡¡an¡¡inch¡£
¡¡For¡¡several¡¡minutes¡¡he¡¡remained¡¡frozen¡£¡¡He¡¡examined¡¡every¡¡square¡¡inch¡¡of¡¡ground¡¡around¡¡him£»¡¡every¡¡tree£»¡¡every¡¡limb¡£¡¡Satisfied¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡other¡¡trap£»¡¡he¡¡leaned¡¡over¡¡and¡¡was¡¡about¡¡to¡¡pluck¡¡the¡¡dart¡¡out¡¡of¡¡his¡¡khakis¡¡when¡¡he¡¡stopped¡¡himself¡¡yet¡¡again¡­and¡¡just¡¡in¡¡time¡£¡¡The¡¡sides¡¡of¡¡the¡¡dart¡¡had¡¡imbedded¡¡in¡¡them¡¡two¡¡nearly¡¡invisible¡¡spines£»¡¡also¡¡wet¡¡with¡¡poison£»¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡prick¡¡the¡¡finger¡¡of¡¡whoever¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡grasp¡¡it¡£
¡¡He¡¡took¡¡a¡¡twig¡¡and¡¡flicked¡¡the¡¡dart¡¡off¡¡his¡¡pantleg¡£
¡¡Very¡¡clever¡£¡¡Three¡¡multilayered¡¡traps¡¡in¡¡one¡£¡¡Simple¡¡and¡¡effective¡£¡¡This¡¡was¡¡the¡¡Indian's¡¡work£»¡¡no¡¡doubt¡¡about¡¡it¡£
¡¡Hauser¡¡moved¡¡forward£»¡¡a¡¡little¡¡more¡¡slowly¡¡now£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡newfound¡¡respect¡£
¡¡
¡¡75
¡¡
¡¡Tom¡¡ran¡¡through¡¡the¡¡forest£»¡¡speed¡¡taking¡¡precedence¡¡over¡¡silence£»¡¡swinging¡¡wide¡¡of¡¡their¡¡earlier¡¡trail¡¡to¡¡avoid¡¡running¡¡into¡¡Hauser¡£¡¡His¡¡path¡¡took¡¡him¡¡through¡¡a¡¡maze¡¡of¡¡ruined¡¡temples¡¡buried¡¡under¡¡thick¡¡mats¡¡of¡¡vines¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡no¡¡light£»¡¡and¡¡sometimes¡¡he¡¡had¡¡to¡¡feel¡¡his¡¡way¡¡down¡¡dark¡¡passageways¡¡or¡¡crawl¡¡under¡¡fallen¡¡stones¡£
¡¡He¡¡soon¡¡arrived¡¡at¡¡the¡¡eastern¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡plateau¡£¡¡He¡¡paused£»¡¡catching¡¡his¡¡breath£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡crept¡¡to¡¡the¡¡cliff¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡down£»¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡orient¡¡himself¡£¡¡It¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡him¡¡that¡¡the¡¡necropolis¡¡should¡¡lie¡¡somewhere¡¡to¡¡the¡¡south£»¡¡so¡¡he¡¡went¡¡to¡¡the¡¡right£»¡¡following¡¡the¡¡trail¡¡that¡¡skirted¡¡the¡¡cliffs¡£¡¡In¡¡another¡¡ten¡¡minutes¡¡he¡¡recognized¡¡the¡¡terrace¡¡and¡¡walls¡¡above¡¡the¡¡necropolis¡¡and¡¡found¡¡the¡¡hidden¡¡trail¡£¡¡He¡¡scurried¡¡down£»¡¡listening¡¡at¡¡each¡¡switchback¡¡in¡¡case¡¡Hauser¡¡was¡¡still¡¡there£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡had¡¡long¡¡gone¡£¡¡A¡¡moment¡¡later¡¡he¡¡came¡¡to¡¡the¡¡dark¡¡opening¡¡to¡¡his¡¡father's¡¡tomb¡£
¡¡Their¡¡backpacks¡¡still¡¡lay¡¡in¡¡a¡¡pile¡¡on¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡where¡¡they¡¡had¡¡dropped¡¡them¡£¡¡Tom¡¡picked¡¡up¡¡his¡¡machete¡¡and¡¡resheathed¡¡it¡¡and¡¡then¡¡kneeled£»¡¡rifling¡¡through¡¡the¡¡packs£»¡¡taking¡¡out¡¡some¡¡reed¡¡bundles¡¡and¡¡a¡¡pack¡¡of¡¡matches¡£¡¡He¡¡lit¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bundles¡¡and¡¡stepped¡¡into¡¡the¡¡tomb¡£
¡¡The¡¡air¡¡was¡¡pestilential¡£¡¡He¡¡breathed¡¡through¡¡his¡¡nose¡¡and¡¡ventured¡¡deeper¡¡inside¡£¡¡A¡¡tingle¡¡of¡¡horror¡¡crawled¡¡up¡¡his¡¡spine¡¡as¡¡he¡¡realized¡¡this¡¡was¡¡where¡¡his¡¡father¡¡spent¡¡the¡¡last¡¡month£»¡¡locked¡¡up¡¡in¡¡pitch¡¡darkness¡£¡¡The¡¡flickering¡¡light¡¡illuminated¡¡a¡¡raised¡¡funeral¡¡slab¡¡of¡¡dark¡¡stone£»¡¡carved¡¡with¡¡skulls£»¡¡monsters£»¡¡and¡¡other¡¡strange¡¡motifs£»¡¡surrounded¡¡by¡¡stacked¡¡boxes¡¡and¡¡crates¡¡banded¡¡with¡¡stainless¡¡steel¡¡and¡¡bolted¡¡shut¡£¡¡This¡¡was¡¡no¡¡King¡¡Tut's¡¡tomb¡£¡¡It¡¡looked¡¡more¡¡like¡¡a¡¡crowded£»¡¡filthy¡¡warehouse¡£
¡¡Tom¡¡stepped¡¡closer£»¡¡overing¡¡his¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡revulsion¡£¡¡Behind¡¡the¡¡boxes¡¡his¡¡father¡¡had¡¡set¡¡up¡¡a¡¡crude¡¡living¡¡space¡£¡¡It¡¡looked¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he¡¡had¡¡scraped¡¡together¡¡some¡¡dry¡¡straw¡¡and¡¡dust¡¡to¡¡form¡¡a¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡bed¡£¡¡Along¡¡the¡¡back¡¡wall¡¡stood¡¡a¡¡row¡¡of¡¡clay¡¡pots£»¡¡which¡¡evidently¡¡contained¡¡food¡¡and¡¡water£»¡¡the¡¡stench¡¡of¡¡rot¡¡rose¡¡from¡¡them¡£¡¡Rats¡¡came¡¡leaping¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pots¡¡and¡¡fled¡¡before¡¡the¡¡light¡£¡¡Sick¡¡with¡¡fascination¡¡and¡¡pity£»¡¡Tom¡¡peered¡¡into¡¡one¡¡and¡¡found¡¡a¡¡scattering¡¡of¡¡dried¡¡plantains¡¡at¡¡the¡¡bottom£»¡¡the¡¡food¡¡was¡¡crawling¡¡with¡¡greasy¡¡black¡¡cockroaches£»¡¡which¡¡bumped¡¡and¡¡chittered¡¡in¡¡a¡¡panic¡¡from¡¡the¡¡torchlight¡£¡¡Dead¡¡rats¡¡and¡¡mice¡¡floated¡¡in¡¡the¡¡water¡¡jugs¡£¡¡Against¡¡one¡¡wall¡¡was¡¡a¡¡pile¡¡of¡¡rotting¡¡rats¡­obviously¡¡killed¡¡by¡¡his¡¡father¡¡in¡¡what¡¡must¡¡have¡¡been¡¡the¡¡daily¡¡petition¡¡for¡¡food¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡back¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tomb¡¡Tom¡¡could¡¡see¡¡the¡¡gleaming¡¡eyes¡¡of¡¡live¡¡rats£»¡¡waiting¡¡for¡¡him¡¡to¡¡leave¡£
¡¡What¡¡his¡¡father¡¡had¡¡endured¡¡in¡¡here£»¡¡waiting¡¡in¡¡the¡¡pitch¡­dark¡¡for¡¡his¡¡sons¡¡who¡¡might¡¡not¡¡ever¡¡e¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡far¡¡more¡¡horrifying¡¡than¡¡he¡¡could¡¡possibly¡¡imagine¡£¡¡That¡¡Maxwell¡¡Broadbent¡¡had¡¡endured¡¡and¡¡lived¡­and¡¡even¡¡hoped¡­told¡¡Tom¡¡something¡¡about¡¡his¡¡father¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡not¡¡known¡¡before¡£
¡¡He¡¡wiped¡¡his¡¡face¡£¡¡He¡¡needed¡¡to¡¡get¡¡the¡¡Codex¡¡and¡¡get¡¡out¡£
¡¡The¡¡boxes¡¡were¡¡stenciled¡¡and¡¡labeled£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡took¡¡Tom¡¡only¡¡a¡¡few¡¡minutes¡¡to¡¡find¡¡the¡¡crate¡¡containing¡¡the¡¡Codex¡£
¡¡He¡¡dragged¡¡the¡¡heavy¡¡crate¡¡outside¡¡into¡¡the¡¡light¡¡and¡¡rested£»¡¡gulping¡¡in¡¡the¡¡fresh¡¡mountain¡¡air¡£¡¡The¡¡box¡¡itself¡¡weighed¡¡eighty¡¡pounds£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡contained¡¡other¡¡books¡¡besides¡¡the¡¡Codex¡£¡¡Tom¡¡examined¡¡the¡¡quarter¡­inch¡¡bolts¡¡and¡¡wing¡¡nuts¡¡holding¡¡together¡¡the¡¡steel¡¡bands¡¡that¡¡clamped¡¡down¡¡the¡¡fiberglass¡­wrapped¡¡wood¡¡sides¡¡of¡¡the¡¡box¡£¡¡The¡¡wing¡¡nuts¡¡were¡¡tight¡¡and¡¡hard¡£¡¡It¡¡would¡¡take¡¡a¡¡wrench¡¡to¡¡unscrew¡¡them¡£
¡¡He¡¡found¡¡a¡¡rock¡¡and¡¡gave¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡nuts¡¡a¡¡sharp¡¡blow£»¡¡loosening¡¡it¡£¡¡He¡¡repeated¡¡the¡¡process¡¡and¡¡in¡¡a¡¡few¡¡minutes¡¡had¡¡removed¡¡all¡¡the¡¡wing¡¡nuts¡£¡¡He¡¡pulled¡¡off¡¡the¡¡steel¡¡bands¡£¡¡A¡¡few¡¡more¡¡massive¡¡blows¡¡cracked¡¡the¡¡fiberglass¡¡covering£»¡¡and¡¡Tom¡¡was¡¡able¡¡to¡¡wrench¡¡it¡¡free¡£¡¡A¡¡half¡¡dozen¡¡precious¡¡books¡¡spilled¡¡out£»¡¡all¡¡carefully¡¡wrapped¡¡in¡¡acid¡­free¡¡paper¡­a¡¡Gutenberg¡¡Bible£»¡¡illuminated¡¡manuscripts£»¡¡a¡¡book¡¡of¡¡hours¡£¡¡He¡¡shoved¡¡aside¡¡the¡¡books¡¡and¡¡reached¡¡in£»¡¡grasped¡¡the¡¡buckskin¡­covered¡¡Codex£»¡¡and¡¡pulled¡¡it¡¡out¡£
¡¡For¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡he¡¡stared¡¡at¡¡it¡£¡¡He¡¡remembered¡¡so¡¡clearly¡¡how¡¡it¡¡had¡¡sat¡¡in¡¡a¡¡little¡¡glass¡¡case¡¡in¡¡the¡¡living¡¡room¡£¡¡His¡¡father¡¡used¡¡to¡¡unlock¡¡the¡¡case¡¡every¡¡month¡¡or¡¡so¡¡and¡¡turn¡¡a¡¡page¡£¡¡The¡¡pages¡¡had¡¡pretty¡¡little¡¡drawings¡¡of¡¡plants£»¡¡flowers£»¡¡and¡¡insects£»¡¡surrounded¡¡by¡¡glyphs¡£¡¡He¡¡remembered¡¡staring¡¡at¡¡those¡¡strange¡¡Mayan¡¡glyphs£»¡¡the¡¡dots¡¡and¡¡thick¡¡lines¡¡and¡¡grinning¡¡faces£»¡¡all¡¡wrapped¡¡and¡¡tangled¡¡around¡¡each¡¡other¡£¡¡He¡¡hadn't¡¡even¡¡realized¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡writing¡£
¡¡Tom¡¡emptied¡¡one¡¡of¡¡their¡¡abandoned¡¡backpacks¡¡and¡¡shoved¡¡the¡¡book¡¡in¡£¡¡He¡¡shouldered¡¡the¡¡pack¡¡and¡¡started¡¡back¡¡up¡¡the¡¡trail¡£¡¡He¡¡decided¡¡to¡¡head¡¡southwest£»¡¡keeping¡¡an¡¡eye¡¡out¡¡for¡¡Hauser¡£
¡¡He¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡ruined¡¡city¡£
¡¡
¡¡76
¡¡
¡¡Hauser¡¡followed¡¡the¡¡trail¡¡more¡¡carefully¡¡now£»¡¡all¡¡his¡¡senses¡¡alert¡£¡¡He¡¡felt¡¡a¡¡tingling¡¡of¡¡excitement¡¡and¡¡fear¡£¡¡The¡¡Indian¡¡had¡¡been¡¡able¡¡to¡¡rig¡¡up¡¡a¡¡trap¡¡like¡¡that¡¡in¡¡less¡¡than¡¡fifteen¡¡minutes¡£¡¡Amazing¡£¡¡The¡¡Indian¡¡was¡¡still¡¡out¡¡there¡¡somewhere£»¡¡no¡¡doubt¡¡readying¡¡another¡¡ambush¡¡for¡¡him¡£¡¡Hauser¡¡wondered¡¡at¡¡the¡¡rather¡¡interesting¡¡loyalty¡¡shown¡¡by¡¡this¡¡Indian¡¡guide¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Broadbents¡£¡¡Hauser¡¡never¡¡underestimated¡¡native¡¡skills¡¡in¡¡forestcraft£»¡¡ambush£»¡¡and¡¡killing¡£¡¡The¡¡Viet¡¡Cong¡¡had¡¡taught¡¡him¡¡respect¡£¡¡As¡¡he¡¡followed¡¡the¡¡Broadbents'¡¡trail¡¡he¡¡took¡¡every¡¡precaution¡¡against¡¡ambush£»¡¡by¡¡walking¡¡off¡¡to¡¡one¡¡side¡¡and¡¡pausing¡¡every¡¡few¡¡minutes¡¡to¡¡examine¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡and¡¡undergrowth¡¡ahead£»¡¡even¡¡smelling¡¡the¡¡air¡¡for¡¡human¡¡scent¡£¡¡No¡¡Indian¡¡up¡¡in¡¡a¡¡tree¡¡was¡¡going¡¡to¡¡surprise¡¡him¡¡with¡¡a¡¡poison¡¡dart¡£
¡¡He¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Broadbents¡¡were¡¡headed¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡center¡¡of¡¡the¡¡plateau£»¡¡where¡¡the¡¡jungle¡¡was¡¡thickest¡£¡¡No¡¡doubt¡¡they¡¡hoped¡¡to¡¡hole¡¡up¡¡there¡¡and¡¡wait¡¡for¡¡nightfall¡£¡¡They¡¡would¡¡not¡¡succeed£º¡¡Hauser¡¡had¡¡almost¡¡never¡¡encountered¡¡a¡¡trail¡¡he¡¡couldn't¡¡follow£»¡¡particularly¡¡one¡¡made¡¡by¡¡a¡¡panicked¡¡group¡¡of¡¡people£»¡¡one¡¡of¡¡whom¡¡was¡¡bleeding¡¡heavily¡£¡¡And¡¡he¡¡and¡¡his¡¡men¡¡had¡¡already¡¡thoroughly¡¡explored¡¡the¡¡entire¡¡plateau¡£
¡¡Soon¡¡the¡¡rainforest¡¡ahead¡¡became¡¡choked¡¡by¡¡a¡¡wild¡¡overgrowth¡¡of¡¡creepers¡¡and¡¡lianas¡£¡¡At¡¡first¡¡glance¡¡it¡¡looked¡¡impenetrable¡£¡¡He¡¡approached¡¡cautiously¡¡and¡¡peered¡¡down¡£¡¡There¡¡were¡¡small¡¡animal¡¡trails¡¡running¡¡every¡¡which¡¡way¡­mostly¡¡coatimundi¡¡trails¡£¡¡Fat£»¡¡pendulous¡¡drops¡¡of¡¡water¡¡hung¡¡off¡¡every¡¡leaf£»¡¡vine£»¡¡and¡¡flower£»¡¡waiting¡¡for¡¡the¡¡slightest¡¡vibration¡¡to¡¡fall¡£¡¡No¡¡one¡¡could¡¡walk¡¡through¡¡such¡¡a¡¡minefield¡¡without¡¡leaving¡¡evidence¡¡of¡¡his¡¡passage¡¡in¡¡the¡¡form¡¡of¡¡leaves¡¡brushed¡¡clean¡¡of¡¡their¡¡dew¡£¡¡Hauser¡¡could¡¡see¡¡exactly¡¡where¡¡they¡¡had¡¡gone¡£¡¡He¡¡followed¡¡their¡¡trail¡¡into¡¡the¡¡dense¡¡overgrowth£»¡¡where¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡vanish¡£
¡¡Hauser¡¡scrutinized¡¡the¡¡ground¡£¡¡There£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡damp¡¡litter¡¡of¡¡the¡¡forest¡¡floor£»¡¡were¡¡two¡¡almost¡¡invisible¡¡indentations£»¡¡formed¡¡by¡¡a¡¡pair¡¡of¡¡human¡¡knees¡£¡¡Interesting¡£¡¡They¡¡had¡¡crawled¡¡into¡¡the¡¡heart¡¡of¡¡the¡¡creeper¡¡colony¡¡along¡¡the¡¡ani

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨0£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ