inca.gold-µÚ75²¿·Ö
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Once¡¡they¡¡passed¡¡the¡¡Colorado¡¡River£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡water£¿¡¨¡¡asked¡¡Loren¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Not¡¡a¡¡drop£»¡¡not¡¡until¡¡Borrego¡£¡¡That¡¡was¡¡long¡¡before¡¡the¡¡valley¡¡was¡¡irrigated¡£¡¡Only¡¡after¡¡them¡¡old¡¡boys¡¡died¡¡from¡¡the¡¡sun¡¡did¡¡they¡¡learn¡¡their¡¡bodies¡¡lay¡¡not¡¡five¡¡meters¡¡from¡¡water¡£¡¡The¡¡trauma¡¡was¡¡so¡¡great¡¡they've¡¡all¡¡e¡¡back¡¡as¡¡ghosts¡¡to¡¡haunt¡¡the¡¡desert¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Loren¡¡looked¡¡perplexed¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡think¡¡I¡¡missed¡¡something¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨There's¡¡no¡¡water¡¡on¡¡the¡¡surface£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡old¡¡fellow¡¡explained¡£¡¡¡¨But¡¡underground¡¡there's¡¡whole¡¡rivers¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡some¡¡as¡¡wide¡¡and¡¡deep¡¡as¡¡the¡¡Colorado¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Pitt¡¡was¡¡curious¡£¡¡¡¨I've¡¡never¡¡heard¡¡of¡¡large¡¡bodies¡¡of¡¡water¡¡running¡¡under¡¡the¡¡desert¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨There's¡¡two¡¡for¡¡sure¡£¡¡One£»¡¡a¡¡really¡¡big¡¡sucker£»¡¡runs¡¡from¡¡upper¡¡Nevada¡¡south¡¡into¡¡the¡¡Mojave¡¡Desert¡¡and¡¡then¡¡west£»¡¡where¡¡it¡¡empties¡¡into¡¡the¡¡Pacific¡¡below¡¡Los¡¡Angeles¡£¡¡The¡¡other¡¡flows¡¡west¡¡under¡¡the¡¡Imperial¡¡Valley¡¡of¡¡California¡¡before¡¡curling¡¡south¡¡and¡¡spilling¡¡into¡¡the¡¡Sea¡¡of¡¡Cortez¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡proof¡¡do¡¡you¡¡have¡¡these¡¡rivers¡¡actually¡¡exist£¿¡¨¡¡asked¡¡Loren¡£¡¡¡¨Has¡¡anyone¡¡seen¡¡them£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨The¡¡underground¡¡stream¡¡that¡¡flows¡¡into¡¡the¡¡Pacific£»¡¨¡¡answered¡¡the¡¡cook£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡prepared¡¡Loren's¡¡chiliburger£»¡¡¡¨was¡¡supposedly¡¡found¡¡by¡¡an¡¡engineer¡¡searching¡¡for¡¡oil¡£¡¡He¡¡alleged¡¡his¡¡geophysical¡¡instruments¡¡detected¡¡the¡¡river¡¡and¡¡tracked¡¡it¡¡across¡¡the¡¡Mojave¡¡and¡¡under¡¡the¡¡town¡¡of¡¡Laguna¡¡Beach¡¡into¡¡the¡¡ocean¡£¡¡So¡¡far¡¡nobody¡¡has¡¡proved¡¡or¡¡disproved¡¡his¡¡claim¡£¡¡The¡¡river¡¡traveling¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Sea¡¡of¡¡Cortez¡¡es¡¡from¡¡an¡¡old¡¡story¡¡about¡¡a¡¡prospector¡¡who¡¡discovered¡¡a¡¡cave¡¡that¡¡led¡¡down¡¡into¡¡a¡¡deep¡¡cavern¡¡with¡¡a¡¡river¡¡running¡¡through¡¡it¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Pitt¡¡tensed¡¡as¡¡Yaeger's¡¡translation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡quipu¡¡suddenly¡¡flashed¡¡through¡¡his¡¡mind¡£¡¡¡¨This¡¡prospector£»¡¡how¡¡did¡¡he¡¡describe¡¡this¡¡underground¡¡river£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡diner's¡¡owner¡¡talked¡¡without¡¡turning¡¡from¡¡his¡¡stove¡£¡¡¡¨His¡¡name¡¡was¡¡Leigh¡¡Hunt£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡was¡¡probably¡¡a¡¡very¡¡inventive¡¡liar¡£¡¡But¡¡he¡¡swore¡¡up¡¡and¡¡down¡¡that¡¡back¡¡in¡¡1942¡¡he¡¡discovered¡¡a¡¡cave¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Castle¡¡Dome¡¡Mountains¡¡not¡¡too¡¡far¡¡northeast¡¡of¡¡here¡£¡¡From¡¡the¡¡mouth¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cave£»¡¡through¡¡a¡¡chain¡¡of¡¡caverns£»¡¡he¡¡descended¡¡two¡¡kilometers¡¡deep¡¡into¡¡the¡¡earth¡¡until¡¡he¡¡encountered¡¡an¡¡underground¡¡river¡¡rushing¡¡through¡¡a¡¡vast¡¡canyon¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡there¡¡Hunt¡¡claims¡¡he¡¡found¡¡rich¡¡deposits¡¡of¡¡placer¡¡gold¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡think¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡movie£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Loren¡¡skeptically¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡old¡¡cook¡¡turned¡¡and¡¡waved¡¡a¡¡spatula¡¡in¡¡the¡¡air¡£¡¡¡¨People¡¡at¡¡the¡¡assay¡¡office¡¡stated¡¡that¡¡the¡¡sand¡¡Hunt¡¡carried¡¡back¡¡from¡¡the¡¡underground¡¡canyon¡¡assayed¡¡at¡¡three¡¡thousand¡¡dollars¡¡per¡¡ton¡£¡¡A¡¡mighty¡¡good¡¡recovery¡¡rate¡¡when¡¡you¡¡remember¡¡that¡¡gold¡¡was¡¡only¡¡twenty¡¡dollars¡¡and¡¡sixty¡five¡¡cents¡¡an¡¡ounce¡¡back¡¡then¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Did¡¡Hunt¡¡ever¡¡return¡¡to¡¡the¡¡canyon¡¡and¡¡the¡¡river£¿¡¨¡¡asked¡¡Pitt¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨He¡¡tried£»¡¡but¡¡a¡¡whole¡¡army¡¡of¡¡scavengers¡¡followed¡¡him¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡mountain£»¡¡hungering¡¡for¡¡a¡¡piece¡¡of¡¡the¡¡River¡¡of¡¡Gold£»¡¡as¡¡it¡¡became¡¡known¡£¡¡He¡¡got¡¡mad¡¡and¡¡dynamited¡¡a¡¡narrow¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡passage¡¡about¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡meters¡¡inside¡¡the¡¡entrance¡£¡¡Brought¡¡down¡¡half¡¡the¡¡mountain¡£¡¡Neither¡¡Hunt¡¡nor¡¡those¡¡who¡¡followed¡¡him¡¡were¡¡ever¡¡able¡¡to¡¡dig¡¡through¡¡the¡¡rubble¡¡or¡¡find¡¡another¡¡cave¡¡leading¡¡inside¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨With¡¡today's¡¡mining¡¡technology£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Pitt£»¡¡¡¨reexcavating¡¡the¡¡passage¡¡should¡¡be¡¡a¡¡viable¡¡project¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Sure£»¡¡if¡¡you¡¡want¡¡to¡¡spend¡¡about¡¡two¡¡million¡¡dollars£»¡¨¡¡snorted¡¡the¡¡cook¡£¡¡¡¨Nobody¡¡I¡¡ever¡¡heard¡¡about¡¡was¡¡willing¡¡to¡¡gamble¡¡that¡¡much¡¡money¡¡on¡¡a¡¡story¡¡that¡¡might¡¡be¡¡pure¡¡hokum¡£¡¨¡¡He¡¡paused¡¡to¡¡set¡¡the¡¡chiliburger¡¡and¡¡coleslaw¡¡dishes¡¡on¡¡the¡¡counter¡£¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡drew¡¡a¡¡mug¡¡of¡¡beer¡¡from¡¡a¡¡tap£»¡¡walked¡¡around¡¡the¡¡bar¡¡and¡¡sat¡¡down¡¡on¡¡a¡¡stool¡¡next¡¡to¡¡Pitt¡£¡¡¡¨They¡¡say¡¡old¡¡Hunt¡¡somehow¡¡made¡¡it¡¡back¡¡inside¡¡the¡¡mountain¡¡but¡¡never¡¡came¡¡out¡£¡¡He¡¡disappeared¡¡right¡¡after¡¡he¡¡blew¡¡the¡¡cave¡¡and¡¡was¡¡not¡¡seen¡¡again¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡talk¡¡that¡¡he¡¡found¡¡another¡¡way¡¡inside¡¡and¡¡died¡¡there¡£¡¡A¡¡few¡¡people¡¡believe¡¡in¡¡a¡¡great¡¡river¡¡that¡¡flows¡¡through¡¡a¡¡canyon¡¡deep¡¡beneath¡¡the¡¡sands£»¡¡but¡¡most¡¡think¡¡it's¡¡only¡¡another¡¡tall¡¡tale¡¡of¡¡the¡¡desert¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Such¡¡things¡¡do¡¡exist£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Pitt¡£¡¡¡¨A¡¡few¡¡years¡¡ago¡¡I¡¡was¡¡on¡¡an¡¡expedition¡¡that¡¡found¡¡an¡¡underground¡¡stream¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Somewhere¡¡in¡¡the¡¡desert¡¡Southwest£¿¡¨¡¡inquired¡¡the¡¡cook¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨No£»¡¡the¡¡Sahara¡£¡¡It¡¡flowed¡¡under¡¡a¡¡hazardous¡¡waste¡¡plant¡¡and¡¡carried¡¡pollutants¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Niger¡¡River£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡into¡¡the¡¡Atlantic¡¡where¡¡it¡¡caused¡¡a¡¡proliferation¡¡of¡¡red¡¡tides¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨The¡¡Mojave¡¡River¡¡north¡¡of¡¡here¡¡goes¡¡underground¡¡after¡¡running¡¡above¡¡the¡¡surface¡¡for¡¡a¡¡considerable¡¡distance¡£¡¡Nobody¡¡knows¡¡for¡¡certain¡¡where¡¡it¡¡ends¡¡up¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Between¡¡bites¡¡of¡¡the¡¡chiliburger¡¡Loren¡¡asked£»¡¡¡¨You¡¡seem¡¡convinced¡¡that¡¡Hunt's¡¡river¡¡flows¡¡into¡¡the¡¡Sea¡¡of¡¡Cortez¡£¡¡How¡¡do¡¡you¡¡know¡¡it¡¡doesn't¡¡enter¡¡the¡¡Pacific¡¡off¡¡California£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Because¡¡of¡¡Hunt's¡¡backpack¡¡and¡¡canteen¡£¡¡He¡¡lost¡¡them¡¡in¡¡the¡¡cave¡¡and¡¡they¡¡were¡¡found¡¡six¡¡months¡¡later£»¡¡having¡¡drifted¡¡up¡¡on¡¡a¡¡beach¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Gulf¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Don't¡¡you¡¡think¡¡that's¡¡highly¡¡improbable£¿¡¡The¡¡pack¡¡and¡¡canteen¡¡could¡¡have¡¡belonged¡¡to¡¡anyone¡£¡¡Why¡¡would¡¡anyone¡¡believe¡¡they¡¡were¡¡his£¿¡¨¡¡Loren¡¡questioned¡¡the¡¡cook¡¡as¡¡if¡¡she¡¡was¡¡sitting¡¡on¡¡a¡¡congressional¡¡investigation¡¡mittee¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡guess¡¡because¡¡his¡¡name¡¡was¡¡stenciled¡¡on¡¡them¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡unexpected¡¡obstacle¡¡did¡¡not¡¡deter¡¡Loren¡£¡¡She¡¡simply¡¡sidestepped¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¨There¡¡could¡¡be¡¡a¡¡good¡¡twenty¡¡or¡¡more¡¡logical¡¡explanations¡¡for¡¡his¡¡effects¡¡being¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Gulf¡£¡¡They¡¡could¡¡have¡¡been¡¡lost¡¡or¡¡thrown¡¡there¡¡by¡¡someone¡¡who¡¡found¡¡or¡¡stole¡¡them¡¡from¡¡Hunt£»¡¡or¡¡more¡¡likely¡¡he¡¡never¡¡died¡¡in¡¡the¡¡cave¡¡and¡¡dropped¡¡them¡¡from¡¡a¡¡boat¡¡himself¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Could¡¡be¡¡he¡¡lost¡¡them¡¡in¡¡the¡¡sea£»¡¨¡¡admitted¡¡the¡¡cook£»¡¡¡¨but¡¡then¡¡how¡¡do¡¡you¡¡explain¡¡the¡¡other¡¡bodies£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Pitt¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¨What¡¡other¡¡bodies£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨The¡¡fisherman¡¡who¡¡disappeared¡¡in¡¡Lake¡¡Cocopah£»¡¨¡¡replied¡¡the¡¡cook¡¡in¡¡a¡¡hushed¡¡voice£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he¡¡was¡¡afraid¡¡of¡¡being¡¡overheard¡£¡¡¡¨And¡¡the¡¡two¡¡divers¡¡that¡¡vanished¡¡into¡¡Satan's¡¡Sink¡£¡¡What¡¡was¡¡left¡¡of¡¡their¡¡bodies¡¡was¡¡found¡¡floating¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Gulf¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨And¡¡the¡¡desert¡¡telegraph¡¡sends¡¡out¡¡another¡¡pair¡¡of¡¡tall¡¡tales£»¡¨¡¡suggested¡¡Loren¡¡dryly¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡cook¡¡held¡¡up¡¡his¡¡right¡¡hand¡£¡¡¡¨God's¡¡truth¡£¡¡You¡¡can¡¡check¡¡the¡¡stories¡¡out¡¡with¡¡the¡¡sheriff's¡¡department¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Where¡¡are¡¡the¡¡sink¡¡and¡¡lake¡¡located£¿¡¨¡¡asked¡¡Pitt¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Lake¡¡Cocopah£»¡¡the¡¡spot¡¡where¡¡the¡¡fisherman¡¡was¡¡lost£»¡¡is¡¡southeast¡¡of¡¡Yuma¡£¡¡Satan's¡¡Sink¡¡lies¡¡in¡¡Mexico¡¡at¡¡the¡¡northern¡¡foot¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Sierra¡¡el¡¡Mayor¡¡Mountains¡£¡¡You¡¡can¡¡draw¡¡a¡¡line¡¡from¡¡Hunt's¡¡mountain¡¡through¡¡Lake¡¡Cocopah¡¡and¡¡then¡¡Satan's¡¡Sink¡¡right¡¡into¡¡the¡¡Sea¡¡of¡¡Cortez¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Loren¡¡continued¡¡the¡¡interrogation¡£¡¡¡¨Who's¡¡to¡¡say¡¡they¡¡didn't¡¡drown¡¡while¡¡fishing¡¡and¡¡diving¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Gulf£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨The¡¡fisherman¡¡and¡¡his¡¡wife¡¡were¡¡out¡¡on¡¡the¡¡lake¡¡for¡¡the¡¡better¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡day¡¡when¡¡she¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡head¡¡back¡¡to¡¡their¡¡camper¡¡to¡¡start¡¡dinner¡£¡¡He¡¡rowed¡¡her¡¡ashore¡¡and¡¡then¡¡continued¡¡trolling¡¡around¡¡the¡¡lake¡£¡¡An¡¡hour¡¡later£»¡¡when¡¡she¡¡looked¡¡for¡¡him£»¡¡all¡¡she¡¡could¡¡see¡¡was¡¡his¡¡overturned¡¡boat¡£¡¡Three¡¡weeks¡¡later¡¡a¡¡water¡skier¡¡spotted¡¡his¡¡body¡¡floating¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Gulf¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡and¡¡fifty¡¡kilometers¡¡from¡¡the¡¡lake¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I'm¡¡more¡¡inclined¡¡to¡¡believe¡¡his¡¡wife¡¡did¡¡him¡¡in£»¡¡dumped¡¡his¡¡remains¡¡in¡¡the¡¡sea¡¡and¡¡threw¡¡off¡¡suspicion¡¡by¡¡claiming¡¡he¡¡was¡¡sucked¡¡into¡¡an¡¡underground¡¡waterway¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡about¡¡the¡¡divers£¿¡¨¡¡Pitt¡¡queried¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Not¡¡much¡¡to¡¡tell¡£¡¡They¡¡dove¡¡into¡¡Satan's¡¡Sink£»¡¡a¡¡flooded¡¡pool¡¡in¡¡an¡¡earthquake¡¡fault£»¡¡and¡¡never¡¡came¡¡out¡£¡¡A¡¡month¡¡later£»¡¡battered¡¡to¡¡a¡¡pulp£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡also¡¡pulled¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Gulf¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Pitt¡¡stabbed¡¡a¡¡fork¡¡at¡¡his¡¡coleslaw£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡was¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡hungry¡£¡¡His¡¡mind¡¡was¡¡shifting¡¡gears¡£¡¡¡¨Do¡¡you¡¡happen¡¡to¡¡know¡¡approximately¡¡where¡¡Hunt's¡¡gear¡¡and¡¡the¡¡bodies¡¡were¡¡found£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡haven't¡¡made¡¡a¡¡detailed¡¡study¡¡of¡¡the¡¡phenomena£»¡¨¡¡answered¡¡the¡¡diner's¡¡owner£»¡¡staring¡¡thoughtfully¡¡at¡¡the¡¡heavily¡¡scarred¡¡wooden¡¡floor¡£¡¡¡¨But¡¡as¡¡I¡¡recollect¡¡most¡¡of¡¡them¡¡were¡¡found¡¡in¡¡the¡¡waters¡¡off¡¡Punta¡¡el¡¡Macharro¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Gulf¡¡would¡¡that¡¡be£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨On¡¡the¡¡western¡¡shore¡£¡¡Macharro¡¡Point£»¡¡as¡¡we¡¡call¡¡it¡¡in¡¡English£»¡¡is¡¡two¡¡or¡¡three¡¡kilometers¡¡above¡¡San¡¡Felipe¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Loren¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡Pitt¡£¡¡¡¨Our¡¡destination¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Pitt¡¡made¡¡a¡¡wry¡¡smile¡£¡¡¡¨Remind¡¡me¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡a¡¡sharp¡¡eye¡¡for¡¡dead¡¡bodies¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡cook¡¡finished¡¡off¡¡his¡¡beer¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡folks¡¡heading¡¡for¡¡San¡¡Felipe¡¡to¡¡do¡¡a¡¡little¡¡fishing£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Pitt¡¡nodded¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡guess¡¡you¡¡might¡¡call¡¡it¡¡a¡¡fishing¡¡expedition¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨The¡¡scenery¡¡ain't¡¡much¡¡to¡¡look¡¡at¡¡once¡¡you¡¡drop¡¡below¡¡Mexicali¡£¡¡The¡¡desert¡¡seems¡¡desolate¡¡and¡¡barren¡¡to¡¡most¡¡folks£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡has¡¡countless¡¡paradoxes¡£¡¡There¡¡are¡¡more¡¡ghosts£»¡¡skeletons£»¡¡and¡¡myths¡¡per¡¡kilometer¡¡than¡¡any¡¡jungle¡¡or¡¡mountain