inca.gold-第38部分

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　　　　〃You're　beyond　belief；〃　she　said　helplessly。
　　　　It　was　a　long　time　since　a　woman　had　stared　at　him　like　that。　〃Do　you　think　I'm　a　head　case？　Do　you　think　I　enjoy　this？　I　damn　well　don't　enjoy　spending　my　time　saving　your　backside。　Okay；　you　want　to　die　and　be　buried　in　a　thousand　bits　and　pieces；　enjoy　the　trip。〃
　　　　Uncertainty　crept　into　her　expression。　〃You're　not　making　sense。〃
　　　　〃Perhaps　a　little　demonstration　is　in　order。〃　Pitt　gently　pulled　in　the　line　until　it　became　taut。　Then　he　gave　it　a　hard　jerk。
　　　　For　a　moment　nothing　happened。　Then　a　rumbling　came　from　the　bottom　of　the　well；　swelling　in　volume；　sending　tremors　through　the　limestone　walls。　The　violence　of　the　explosion　was　electrifying。　The　underwater　blast　came　like　the　eruption　of　a　huge　depth　charge　as　a　seething　column　of　white　froth　and　green　slime　burst　out　of　the　sinkhole；　splattering　everyone　and　everything　standing　within　20　meters　（66　feet）　of　the　edge。　The　thunder　of　the　explosion　rolled　over　the　jungle　as　the　spray　fell　back　into　the　sinkhole；　leaving　a　heavy　mist　that　swirled　into　the　sky　and　temporarily　blocked　out　the　sun。

　　　　Shannon　stood　half…drenched　and　stared　down　into　her　beloved　sacred　well　as　if　she　couldn't　make　up　her　mind　whether　or　not　to　be　sick。　Everyone　around　the　edge　stood　like　statues　suddenly　frozen　in　shock。　Only　Pitt　looked　as　though　he'd　witnessed　an　everyday　event。
　　　　Fading　inprehension　and　the　tentative　beginnings　of　understanding　appeared　in　Shannon's　eyes。　〃How　in　God's　name　did　you　know。　。　。〃
　　　　〃That　there　was　a　booby　trap？〃　Pitt　finished。　〃No　great　deduction。　Whoever　buried　a　good　forty…five　kilograms　of　high　explosive　under　the　skeleton　made　two　major　mistakes。　One；　why　clean　out　every　antiquity　but　the　most　obvious？　And　two；　the　bones　couldn't　have　been　more　than　fifty　years　old　and　the　armor　hasn't　rusted　enough　to　have　been　underwater　for　four　centuries。〃
　　　　〃Who　would　have　done　such　a　thing？〃　asked　Rodgers　dazedly。
　　　　〃The　same　man　who　murdered　Doc　Miller；〃　answered　Pitt。
　　　　〃The　imposter？〃
　　　　〃More　likely　Amaru。　The　man　who　took　Miller's　place　didn't　want　to　risk　exposure　and　investigation　by　Peruvian　authorities；　not　before　they　cleaned　out　the　City　of　the　Dead。　The　Solperrzachaco　had　robbed　the　sacrificial　well　of　its　artifacts　long　before　you　arrived。　That's　why　the　imposter　sent　out　a　call　for　help　when　you　and　Shannon　vanished　in　the　sinkhole。　It　was　all　part　of　the　plot　to　make　your　deaths　look　like　an　accident。　Although　he　felt　reasonably　sure　that　you'd　be　sucked　into　the　adjoining　cavern　by　the　underwater　surge　before　you　could　fully　search　the　bottom　and　realize　all　artifacts　had　been　removed；　he　hedged　his　bets　by　lowering　the　phony　conquistador　into　position　purely　as　a　red　herring　to　blow　you　to　pieces　in　the　event　the　surge　didn't　carry　you　away。〃
　　　　Shannon's　eyes　took　on　a　saddened　and　disillusioned　look。　〃Then　all　antiquities　from　the　sacred　well　are　gone。〃
　　　　〃You　can　take　a　small　measure　of　cheer　in　knowing　they　were　removed　and　not　destroyed；〃　said　Pitt。
　　　　〃They'll　turn　up；〃　said　Giordino　consolingly。　〃They　can't　remain　hidden　away　in　some　rich　guy's　collection　forever。〃
　　　　〃You　don't　understand　the　discipline　of　archaeology；〃　Shannon　said　dully。　〃No　scholar　can　study　the　artifacts；　classify　or　trace　them　without　knowing　their　exact　site　of　origin。　Now　we　can　learn　nothing　of　the　people　who　once　lived　here　and　built　the　city。　A　vast　archive；　a　time　capsule　of　scientific　information；　has　been　irretrievably　lost。〃
　　　　〃I'm　sorry　all　your　hopes　and　efforts　have　e　to　grief；〃　Pitt　said　sincerely。
　　　　〃Grief；　yes；〃　she　said；　thoroughly　defeated　now。　〃More　like　a　tragedy。〃
　　　　Rudi　Gunn　walked　back　from　the　helicopter　that　was　transporting　Miller's　body　to　the　morgue　in　Lima。　〃Sorry　to　interrupt；〃　he　said　to　Pitt。　〃Our　job　is　finished　here。　I　suggest　we　pack　up　the　helicopter；　lift　off；　and　rendezvous　with　Dr。　Ortiz　at　the　City　of　the　Dead。〃
　　　　Pitt　nodded　and　turned　to　Shannon。　〃Well；　shall　we　move　on　to　the　next　disaster　your　antiquity　looters　have　left　us？〃


　　　　Dr。　Alberto　Ortiz　was　a　lean；　wiry　old　bird　in　his　early　seventies。　He　stood　off　to　one　side　of　the　helicopter　landing　site　dressed　in　a　white　duck　shirt　and　matching　pants。　A　long；　flowing；　white　moustache　drooped　across　his　face；　making　him　look　like　a　wanted　poster　for　an　aging　Mexican　bandido。　If　flamboyance　was　his　trademark；　it　was　demonstrated　by　a　wide…brimmed　panama　hat　sporting　a　colorful　band；　a　pair　of　expensive　designer　sandals；　and　a　tall　iced　drink　in　one　hand。　A　Hollywood　casting　director　searching　for　someone　to　play　a　beachber　in　a　South　Seas　epic　would　easily　have　decided　that　Dr。　Ortiz　fit　the　role　to　perfection。　He　was　not　what　the　NUMA　men　had　pictured　as　Peru's　most　renowned　expert　on　ancient　culture。
　　　　He　came　smiling　to　greet　the　newers；　drink　in　left　hand；　right　extended　for　shaking。　〃You're　early；〃　he　said　warmly　in　almost　perfect　English。　〃I　didn't　expect　you　for　another　two　or　three　days。〃
　　　　〃Dr。　Kelsey's　project　was　cut　short　unexpectedly；〃　said　Pitt；　grasping　a　strong；　callused　hand。
　　　　〃Is　she　with　you？〃　asked　Ortiz；　peering　around　Pitt's　broad　shoulders。
　　　　〃She'll　be　here　first　thing　in　the　morning。　Something　about　using　the　afternoon　to　photograph　the　carvings　on　an　altar　stone　beside　the　well。〃　Pitt　turned　and　made　the　introductions。　〃I'm　Dirk　Pitt　and　this　is　Rudi　Gunn　and　Al　Giordino。　We're　with　the　National　Underwater　and　Marine　Agency。〃
　　　　〃A　great　pleasure　to　meet　you　gentlemen。　I'm　grateful　for　the　opportunity　to　thank　you　in　person　for　saving　the　lives　of　our　young　people。〃
　　　　〃Always　a　joy　to　play　the　palace　again；〃　said　Giordino；　looking　up　at　the　battle…scarred　temple。
　　　　Ortiz　laughed　at　the　distinct　lack　of　enthusiasm。　〃I　don't　imagine　you　enjoyed　your　last　visit。〃
　　　　〃The　audience　didn't　throw　roses；　that's　for　sure。〃
　　　　〃Where　would　you　like　us　to　set　up　our　tents；　Doctor？〃　Gunn　inquired。
　　　　〃Nothing　of　the　sort；〃　Ortiz　said；　his　teeth　flashing　beneath　the　moustache。　〃My　men　have　cleaned　up　a　tomb　that　belonged　to　a　rich　merchant。　Plenty　of　room；　and　it's　dry　during　a　rain。　Not　a　four…star　hotel；　of　course；　but　you　should　find　it　fortable。〃
　　　　〃I　hope　the　original　owner　isn't　still　in　residence；〃　Pitt　said　cautiously。
　　　　〃No；　no；　not　at　all；〃　replied　Ortiz；　mistakenly　taking　him　seriously。　〃The　looters　cleaned　out　the　bones　and　any　remains　in　their　frantic　search　for　artifacts。〃
　　　　〃We　could　bed　down　in　the　structure　used　by　the　looters　for　their　headquarters；〃　suggested　Giordino；　angling　for　more　deluxe　acmodations。
　　　　〃Sorry；　my　staff　and　I　have　already　claimed　it　as　our　base　of　operations。〃
　　　　Giordino　offered　Gunn　a　sour　expression。　〃I　told　you　to　call　ahead　for　reservations。〃
　　　　〃e　along；　gentlemen；〃　said　Ortiz　cheerfully。　〃I'll　give　you　a　guided　tour　of　the　Pueblo　de　los　Muertos　on　our　way　to　your　quarters。〃
　　　　〃The　inhabitants　must　have　taken　a　page　from　the　elephants；〃　said　Giordino。
　　　　Ortiz　laughed。　〃No；　no；　the　Chachapoyas　didn't　e　here　to　die。　This　was　a　sacred　burial　place　that　they　believed　was　a　way　station　on　their　journey　to　the　next　life。〃
　　　　〃No　one　lived　here？〃　asked　Gunn。
　　　　〃Only　priests　and　the　workers　who　built　the　funeral　houses。　It　was　off　limits　to　everyone　else。〃
　　　　〃They　must　have　had　a　thriving　business；〃　Pitt　said；　staring　at　the　maze　of　crypts　spread　throughout　the　valley　and　the　honeyb　of　tombs　in　the　soaring　cliffs。
　　　　〃The　Chachapoyan　culture　was　highly　stratified　but　it　did　not　have　a　royal　elite　like　the　Inca；〃　explained　Ortiz。　〃Learned　elders　and　military　captains　ruled　the　various　cities　in　the　confederation。　They　and　the　wealthy　traders　could　afford　to　erect　elaborate　mausoleums　to　rest　between　lives。　The　poor　were　put　in　adobe；　human…shaped　funeral　statues。〃
　　　　Gunn　gave　the　archaeologist　a　curious　look。　〃The　dead　were　inserted　into　statues？〃
　　　　〃Yes；　the　body　of　the　deceased　was　placed　in　a　crouched　position；　knees　tucked　under　the　chin。　Then　a　cone　of　sticks　was　placed　around　the　body　as　a　cagelike　support。　Next；　wet　adobe　was　plastered　around　the　support；　forming　a　casing　around　the　body。　The　final　step　was　to　sculpt　a　face　and　head　on　top　that　vaguely　resemb