inca.gold-第57部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


own　as　Naymlap　who　served　the　great　Inca　ruler　Huascar。　Legend　claims　he　stood　as　high　as　any　modern　star　basketball　player　and　had　blond　hair；　blue　eyes；　and　fair　skin。　Judging　from　the　size　of　the　golden　suit　and　my　knowledge　of　its　history；　there　is　no　doubt　that　this　is　Naymlap's　mummy。〃
　　　　Sarason　moved　close　to　the　anthropologist。　〃You　and　your　wife　just　do　your　job；　no　mistakes；　no　more　lectures。〃
　　　　Zolar　quickly　stepped　in　to　defuse　what　was　rapidly　developing　into　a　nasty　confrontation。　〃Please　excuse　my　associate；　Dr。　Moore。　I　apologize　for　his　rude　behavior；　but　I　think　you　understand　that　we're　all　a　little　excited　about　finding　the　golden　suit。　You're　quite　right。　This　is　Naymlap's　mummy。〃
　　　　〃How　did　you　e　by　it？〃　asked　Moore。
　　　　〃I　can't　say；　but　I　will　promise　you　that　it　is　going　back　to　Spain　as　soon　as　it　has　been　fully　studied　by　experts　such　as　you　and　your　wife。〃
　　　　A　canny　smile　curled　Moore's　lips。　〃Very　scrupulous　of　you；　whatever　your　name　is；　to　send　it　back　to　its　rightful　owners。　But　not　before　my　wife　and　I　decode　the　instructions　leading　to　Huascar's　treasure。〃
　　　　Oxley　muttered　something　unintelligible　under　his　breath　as　Sarason　stepped　toward　Moore。　But　Zolar　stretched　out　an　arm　and　held　him　back。　〃You　see　through　our　masquerade。〃
　　　　〃I　do。〃
　　　　〃Shall　I　assume　you　wish　to　make　a　counterproposal；　Dr。　Moore？〃
　　　　Moore　glanced　at　his　wife。　She　looked　strangely　withdrawn。　Then　he　turned　to　Zolar。　〃If　our　expertise　leads　you　to　the　treasure；　I　don't　think　a　twenty　percent　share　is　out　of　line。〃
　　　　The　brothers　stared　at　one　another　for　several　moments；　considering。　Oxley　and　Zolar　couldn't　see　Sarason's　face　behind　the　ski　mask　but　they　could　see　their　brother's　eyes　blaze　with　fury。
　　　　Zolar　nodded。　〃Considering　the　potential　for　incredible　riches；　I　do　believe　Dr。　Moore　is　being　quite　generous。〃
　　　　〃I　agree；〃　said　Oxley。　〃All　things　considered；　the　good　professor's　offer　is　not　exorbitant。〃　He　held　out　his　hand。　〃You　and　Mrs。　Moore　have　a　deal。　If　we　find　the　treasure；　your　share　is　twenty　percent。〃
　　　　Moore　shook　hands。　He　turned　to　his　wife　and　smiled　as　if　blissfully　unaware　of　their　death　sentence。　〃Well；　my　dear；　shall　we　get　to　work？〃

THE　DEMON　OF　DEATH
October　22；　1998
Washington；　D。C。

　　　　She　was　waiting　at　the　curb　outside　the　terminal；　her　windblown　cinnamon　hair　glistening　under　the　morning　sun；　when　Pitt　walked　out　of　the　baggage　area　of　Dulles　airport。　Congresswoman　Loren　Smith　lifted　the　sunglasses　that　hid　her　incredible　violet　eyes；　rose　from　behind　the　wheel；　and　perched　on　top　of　the　car　seat。　She　waved；　her　hands　covered　with　supple　leather　driving　gloves。
　　　　A　tall　woman　with　an　exquisitely　proportioned　Sharon　Stone　body；　she　was　wearing　red　leather　pants　and　jacket　over　a　black　turtleneck　sweater。　Everyone　within　twenty　meters；　male　and　female；　openly　stared　at　her　as　she　sat　on　top　of　the　bright；　fire　engine　red；　1953　Allard　J2X　sports　car。　She　and　the　car　were　both　classic　works　of　stylish　elegance；　and　they　made　a　perfect　match。
　　　　She　threw　Pitt　a　seductive　look　and　said；　〃Hi；　sailor；　need　a　ride？〃
　　　　He　set　his　bag　and　a　large　metal　case　containing　the　jade　box　on　the　sidewalk；　leaned　over　the　low…slung　body　of　the　Allard　and　gave　Loren　a　hard；　quick　kiss　on　the　mouth。　〃You　stole　one　of　my　cars。〃
　　　　〃That's　the　thanks　I　get　for　playing　hooky　from　a　mittee　hearing　to　meet　you　at　the　airport？〃
　　　　Pitt　stared　down　at　the　Spartan　vehicle　that　had　won　eight　of　the　nine　sports　car　races　it　had　entered　forty…five　years　earlier。　There　was　not　enough　room　for　the　two　of　them　and　his　baggage　in　the　small　seating　area；　and　the　car　had　no　trunk。　〃Where　am　I　supposed　to　put　my　bags？〃
　　　　She　reached　down　on　the　passenger's　seat　and　handed　him　a　pair　of　bungee　cords。　〃I　came　prepared。　You　can　tie　down　your　baggage　on　the　trunk　rack。〃
　　　　Pitt　shook　his　head　in　wonderment。　Loren　was　as　bright　and　perceptive　as　they　e。　A　five…term　congresswoman　from　the　state　of　Colorado；　she　was　respected　by　her　colleagues　for　her　grasp　of　difficult　issues　and　her　uncanny　gift　for　ing　up　with　solid　solutions。　Vivacious　and　outgoing　in　the　halls　of　Congress；　Loren　was　a　private　woman；　seldom　showing　up　at　dinner　parties　and　political　functions；　preferring　to　stay　close　to　her　townhouse　in　Alexandria；　studying　her　aides'　remendations　on　bills　ing　up　for　a　vote　and　responding　to　her　constituents'　mail。　Her　only　social　interest　outside　her　work　was　her　sporadic　affair　with　Pitt。
　　　　〃Where's　A1　and　Rudi？〃　she　asked；　a　look　of　tender　concern　in　her　eyes　at　seeing　his　unshaven　face；　haggard　from　exhaustion。
　　　　〃On　the　next　flight。　They　had　a　little　business　to　clear　up　and　return　some　equipment　we　borrowed。〃
　　　　After　cinching　his　bags　on　a　chrome　rack　mounted　on　the　rear　deck　of　the　Allard；　he　opened　the　tiny　passenger　door；　slid　his　long　legs　under　the　low　dashboard　and　stretched　them　out　to　the　firewall。　〃Dare　I　trust　you　to　drive　me　home？〃
　　　　Loren　threw　him　a　wily　smile；　nodded　politely　to　the　airport　policeman　who　was　motioning　her　to　move　on；　shifted　the　Allard's　three…speed　gearbox　into　first　gear；　and　mashed　down　the　accelerator。　The　big　Cadillac　V…8　engine　responded　with　a　mighty　roar；　and　the　car　leaped　forward；　rear　tires　screeching　and　smoking　on　the　asphalt　pavement。　Pitt　shrugged　helplessly　at　the　policeman　as　they　whipped　past　him；　furiously　groping　for　the　buckle　of　his　seat　belt。
　　　　〃This　is　hardly　conduct　being　a　representative　of　the　people；〃　he　yelled　above　the　thunder　of　the　exhaust。


　　　　〃Who's　to　know？〃　She　laughed。　〃The　car　is　registered　in　your　name。〃
　　　　Several　times　during　the　wild　ride　over　the　open　highway　from　Dulles　to　the　city；　Loren　swept　the　tachometer　needle　into　the　red。　Pitt　took　a　fatalistic　view。　If　he　was　going　to　die　at　the　hands　of　this　madwoman；　there　was　little　else　he　could　do　but　sit　back　and　enjoy　the　ride。　In　reality；　he　had　plete　confidence　in　her　driving　skills。　They　had　both　driven　the　Allard　in　vintage　sports　car　races；　he　in　the　men's　events；　she　in　the　women's。　He　relaxed；　zipped　up　his　windbreaker　and　breathed　in　the　brisk　fall　air　that　rushed　over　and　around　the　little　twin　windscreens　mounted　on　the　cowling。
　　　　Loren　slipped　the　Allard　through　the　traffic　with　the　ease　of　quicksilver　running　downhill　through　a　maze。　She　soon　pulled　up　in　front　of　the　old　metal　aircraft　hangar；　on　the　far　end　of　Washington's　international　airport；　that　Pitt　called　home。
　　　　The　structure　had　been　built　during　the　late　nineteen　thirties　as　a　maintenance　facility　for　early　mercial　airliners。　In　1980；　it　was　condemned　and　scheduled　for　demolition；　but　Pitt　took　pity　on　the　deserted　and　forlorn　structure　and　purchased　it。　Then　he　talked　the　local　heritage　preservation　mittee　into　having　it　placed　on　the　National　Register　of　Historic　Landmarks。　Afterward；　except　for　remodeling　the　former　upstairs　offices　into　an　apartment；　he　restored　the　hangar　to　its　original　condition。
　　　　Pitt　never　felt　the　urge　to　invest　his　savings　and　a　substantial　inheritance　from　his　grandfather　into　stocks；　bonds；　and　real　estate。　Instead；　he　chose　antique　and　classic　automobiles；　and　souvenirs　large　and　small　collected　during　his　global　adventures　as　special　projects　director　for　NUMA。
　　　　The　ground　floor　of　the　old　hangar　was　filled　with　nearly　thirty　old　cars；　from　a　1932　Stutz　towncar　and　French　Avions　Voisin　sedan　to　a　huge　1951　Daimler　convertible；　the　youngest　car　in　the　collection。　An　early　Ford　Trimotor　aircraft　sat　in　one　corner；　its　corrugated　aluminum　wing　sheltering　a　World　War　II　Messerschmitt　ME　262　jet　fighter。　Along　the　far　wall；　an　early　Pullman　railroad　car；　with　Manhattan　Limited　lettered　on　the　sides；　rested　on　a　short　length　of　steel　track。　But　perhaps　the　strangest　item　was　an　old　Victorian　claw…footed　bathtub　with　an　outboard　motor　clamped　to　the　back。　The　bathtub；　like　the　other　collectibles　inside　the　hangar；　had　its　own　unique　story。
　　　　Loren　stopped　beside　a　small　receiver　mounted　on　a　post。　Pitt　whistled　the　first　few　bars　of　〃Yankee　Doodle〃　and　sound　recognition　software　electronically　shut　down　the　security　system　and　opened　a　big　drive…through　door。　Loren　eased　the　Allard　inside　and　turned　off　the　igniti