atlantis.found-第24部分

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e　shaft　was　propelled　by　pressed　air　from　a　tiny　cylinder。
　　　　　While　Giordino　was　concentrating　on　their　prisoners；　Pitt　removed　a　large　nylon　net　bag　from　his　weight　belt　and　opened　the　metal　clasp　at　the　top。　He　stared　at　the　sinister　black　skull　that　seemed　to　stare　back　through　empty　eye　sockets。　He　could　not　help　but　wonder　if　a　curse　came　with　the　skull。　What　cryptic　secrets　did　it　hold？
　　　　　Pitt's　idealistic　nature　was　overpowered　by　his　practical　side。　Though　he　was　a　daydreamer；　he　did　not　buy　into　myths　and　folktale。　If　an　object　or　conception　could　not　be　seen；　felt；　or　experienced；　it　did　not　exist　for　him。　If　he　wasn't　already　a　hundred　and　eighty　feet　under　water；　he　would　have　spat　in　the　eye　of　the　obsidian　skull。　But　because　it　was　a　link　in　a　chain　of　enigmas；　he　was　determined　to　place　it　in　the　hands　of　people　who　could　properly　study　it。
　　　　　〃Sorry；　my　friend；〃　he　murmured　so　softly　that　Giordino　didn't　hear　him；　〃but　it's　time　you　revealed　yourself。〃　He　lifted　the　skull　very　carefully　from　its　pedestal　and　slid　it　into　the　carry　bag。　At　this　depth　he　handled　it　easily；　but　once　it　carne　out　of　the　water；　he　guessed　it　would　weigh　a　solid　forty　pounds。　He　took　one　final　look　at　the　chamber；　the　inscriptions　on　the　walls；　the　still…burning　floodlights　lying　on　the　floor　where　they　had　been　hurled　during　the　struggle。　Then　he　dove　headfirst　through　the　hole　in　the　rock；　mindful　not　to　knock　the　skull　against　the　rock　and　shatter　it。　Giordino　had　already　pulled　the　two　divers　into　the　tunnel。　The　giant　of　a　man　had　regained　consciousness　and　was　struggling　violently　to　break　free　of　the　electrical　cord　that　bound　his　ankles　and　pinned　his　arms　tightly　against　his　immense　body。
　　　　　〃Need　a　hand？〃　Pitt　asked。
　　　　　〃You　carry　the　skull　and　the　bag　with　the　cameras。　I'll　tote　the　refuse。〃
　　　　　〃Best　if　you　go　first　and　I　follow。　That　way　I　can　watch　them　every　inch　of　the　way　in　case　Big　Boy　starts　breaking　loose。〃
　　　　　Giordino　handed　him　the　little　gun　with　the　barb。　〃Shoot　him　in　his　Adam's　apple　if　he　so　much　as　wiggles　a　finger。〃
　　　　　〃We'll　have　to　be　very　careful　in　our　depression　stops。　We　may　not　have　enough　air　for　the　four　of　us。〃
　　　　　Giordino　made　an　indifferent　motion　with　his　hands。　〃Sorry；　I'm　not　in　a　sacrificial　mood。〃
　　　　　The　return　went　slowly。　Giordino　made　better　time　dragging　the　two　divers　and　their　breathing　gear　by　walking　over　the　ore　track　ties　than　trying　to　swim　his　way　back　to　the　shaft。　Precious　air　was　lost　during　the　prolonged　passage。　Pitt　kept　a　close　eye　on　his　air　gauge　he　knew　that　his　air　was　seriously　depleted。　The　gauge　read　just　three　hundred　pounds。　He　and　Giordino　had　used　twice　the　amount　of　air　they　had　puted　before　the　dive；　not　having　counted　on　a　fight　with　intruders。
　　　　　He　curled　his　body　and　kicked　around　to　the　side　of　the　bound　divers；　checking　their　air　gauges。　Both　men　had　nearly　seven　hundred　pounds。　They　must　have　found　a　shorter　route　through　the　mine　to　the　chamber；　Pitt　surmised。　After　what　seemed　a　year　and　a　day；　they　finally　reached　the　vertical　shaft　and　rose　to　the　first　depression　stop。　Sheriff　Eagan　and　Luis　Marquez　had　lowered　two　spare　tanks　on　nylon　line　to　the　precise　depth　Giordino　had　calculated　earlier。
　　　　　Keeping　a　tight　eye　on　his　depression　puter；　Giordino　listened　as　Pitt　read　off　the　air　pressure　remaining　in　each　tank。　Only　when　they　went　beyond　the　safety　level　did　he　unstrap　and　push　them　aside。　The　prisoners　did　not　bee　belligerent。　They'd　e　to　realize　that　to　resist　was　to　die。　But　Pitt　didn't　let　down　his　guard　for　a　second。　He　knew　well　they　were　two　ticking　time　bombs；　waiting　to　explode　at　the　first　opportunity　that　presented　itself　for　them　to　escape。
　　　　　Time　passed　as　if　mired　in　glue。　They　used　up　the　last　of　their　air　and　went　on　the　reserve　tanks。　When　the　prisoner's　tanks　were　dry；　Pitt　and　Giordino　began　to　buddy…breathe　with　them；　exchanging　their　mouthpieces　between　breaths。　After　the　prescribed　wait；　they　lazily　swam　up　to　the　next　depression　stop。
　　　　　They　were　scraping　the　bottom　of　the　reserve　tanks　when　Giordino　finally　gave　the　〃surface〃　sign　and　said；　〃The　party's　over。　We　can　go　home　now。〃
　　　　　Pitt　climbed　the　rope　ladder　thrown　into　the　shaft　by　Marquez。　He　reached　the　rim　of　the　tunnel　floor　and　handed　Sheriff　Eagan　his　air　tanks。　Then　he　passed　up　the　skull　and　camera　bag。　Next；　Eagan　took　Pitt's　outstretched　hand　and　helped　him　onto　firm　rock。　Pitt　rolled　over　on　his　back；　removed　his　full　face　mask；　and　lay　there　for　a　minute；　thankfully　breathing　in　the　cool　damp　air　of　the　mine。
　　　　　〃Wele　home；〃　said　Eagan。　〃What　took　you　so　long？　You　were　due　back　twenty　minutes　ago。〃
　　　　　〃We　ran　into　two　more　candidates　for　your　jail。〃
　　　　　Giordino　surfaced；　climbed　up；　and　then　knelt　on　his　hands　and　knees　before　hauling　the　smaller　prisoner　into　the　tunnel。　〃I'll　need　help　with　the　other；〃　he　said；　lifting　his　face　mask。　〃He　weighs　two　of　me　put　together。〃
　　　　　Three　minutes　later；　Eagan　was　standing　over　the　intruders；　questioning　them。　But　they　glared　menacingly　at　him　and　said　nothing。　Pitt　dropped　to　his　knees　and　removed　the　dive　hood　covering　the　smaller　man's　head　and　chin。
　　　　　〃Well；　well；　my　friend　the　biker。　How's　your　neck？〃
　　　　　The　constrained　killer　lifted　his　head　and　spat　at　Pitt's　face；　narrowly　missing。　The　teeth　were　bared　like　a　rabid　dog's。　Eyes　that　had　seen　more　than　one　death　glared　at　Pitt。
　　　　　〃A　testy　little　devil；　aren't　we？〃　said　Pitt。　〃A　zealot　of　the　Fourth　Empire。　Is　that　it？　You　can　dream　about　it　while　you　rot　in　jail。〃
　　　　　The　sheriff　reached　down　and　gripped　Pitt's　shoulder。　〃I'll　have　to　let　them　go　free。〃
　　　　　Pitt　stared　up；　his　green　eyes　suddenly　blazing。　〃Like　hell　you　will。〃
　　　　　〃I　can't　arrest　them　unless　they've　mitted　a　crime；〃　Eagan　said　helplessly。
　　　　　〃I'll　press　charges；〃　Marquez　cut　in　coldly。
　　　　　〃What　charges？〃
　　　　　〃Trespassing；　claim…jumping；　destroying　private　property；　and　you　can　throw　in　theft　for　good　measure。〃
　　　　　〃What　did　they　steal？〃　Eagan　asked；　puzzled。
　　　　　〃My　overhead　lighting　system；〃　Marquez　replied　indignantly；　pointing　down　at　the　electrical　cord　binding　the　divers。　〃They've　snatched　it　from　my　mine。〃
　　　　　Pitt　placed　a　hand　on　Eagan's　shoulder。　〃Sheriff；　we're　also　talking　attempted　murder　here。　I　think　it　might　be　wise　if　you　held　them　in　custody　for　a　few　days；　at　least　until　a　preliminary　investigation　can　make　an　identification　and　perhaps　uncover　evidence　of　their　intentions。〃
　　　　　〃e　on；　Jim；〃　said　Marquez；　〃you　can　at　least　keep　them　under　lock　and　key　while　you　interrogate　them。〃
　　　　　〃I　doubt　whether　I'll　get　much　out　of　this　lot。〃
　　　　　〃I　agree；〃　said　Giordino；　running　a　small　brush　through　his　curly　hair。　〃They　don't　look　like　happy　campers。〃
　　　　　〃There's　something　going　on　here　that　goes　far　beyond　San　Miguel　County。〃　Pitt　peeled　off　his　dry　suit　and　began　dressing　in　his　street　clothing。　〃It　won't　hurt　to　cover　your　bases。〃
　　　　　Eagan　looked　thoughtful。　〃All　right；　I'll　send　a　report　to　the　Colorado　Investigation　Agency〃
　
　　　　　The　sheriff　broke　off　as　every　head　turned　and　stared　up　the　tunnel。　A　man　was　shouting　and　running　toward　them　as　if　chased　by　demons。　A　few　seconds　later；　they　could　see　that　it　was　one　of　Eagan's　deputies。　He　staggered　to　a　halt　and　leaned　over　until　his　head　was　even　with　his　hips；　panting　for　breath；　exhausted　after　running　from　the　hotel　wine　cellar。
　　　　　〃What　is　it；　Charlie？〃　Eagan　pressed。　〃Spit　it　out！〃
　　　　　〃The　bodies。　。　。〃　Charlie　the　deputy　gasped。　〃The　bodies　in　the　morgue！〃
　　　　　Eagan　took　Charlie　by　the　shoulders　and　gently　raised　him　upright。　〃What　about　the　bodies？〃
　　　　　〃They're　missing。〃
　　　　　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃
　　　　　〃The　coroner　says　they've　disappeared。　Somebody　snatched　them　from　the　morgue。〃
　　　　　Pitt　looked　at　Eagan　for　a　long　moment　of　silence；　then　said　quietly；　〃If　I　were　you；　Sheriff；　I'd　send　copies　of　your　report　to　the　FBI　and　the　Justice　Department。　This　thing　goes　far　deeper　than　any　of　us　imagined。〃
　
　
　
　IN　THE　FOOTPRINTS　OF　THE　ANCIENTS
　
　March　27；　2001
　Okuma　Bay；　Antarctica
　　　　　Captain　Daniel　Gillespie　stood　on　the　huge　glass…enclosed